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Best Orange Eyeshadows: 6 MAC Eyeshadows

6 Must-Have Orange MAC Eyeshadows

About the Temptalia Must-Haves Series

A series of posts showcasing must-have products from MAC Cosmetics’ permanent line of products. Selections are based on quality, universality, uniqueness amongst the line, and the like. Limited edition shades are deliberately excluded to make buying easier. Readers’ comments act as a supplement to these lists of their favorites and must-haves. You can find the entire series here.

Orange eyeshadow is the truest orange available by MAC. It’s an oldie, but it’s a goody. With a matte texture, Orange can provide a ton of dimension whether used on the lid or crease.

Motif eyeshadow is a peachy-orange duochrome with a shimmery finish. I love it for the different ways it’ll look, depending on the colors next to it.

Gleam eyeshadow is a light, highlighter peachy shade. It’s pretty and easy to use for even someone who may be color shy.

See three more must-haves, plus get pairing recommendations!

Arena eyeshadow is an orangey-brown, almost a deep peach color for me. I love it for neutral looks, but it’s also nice to use in the crease for brighter looks.

Rule eyeshadow is a slightly dirty orange color. It’s matte, like Orange, but it’s not quite as true orange in color.

Samoa Silk eyeshadow is a smooth, veluxe-finish peach-orange color. It’s pale without being pastel, and it is a great all-over-lid color.

Pair these shadows with…

yellows (like Chrome Yellow), golds (like Goldmine), browns (like Amber Lights), reds (like Coppering)

Check your stash for a few awesome limited edition finds…

Fab & Flashy, Firespot, Orange Tangent, D’Bohemia, Sunsplosion, Juiced

What are your favorite orange eyeshadows?

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of great eyeshadows — these are shades I personally think are worth getting as a whole. I also only list permanent eyeshadow colors (and eyeshadows only–no other eye products, *just* eyeshadows for this list), which is why limited edition colors do not make the list.

42 Comments

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IZzySA Avatar

I have Orange, Samoa Silk, Rule, Arena, Juiced.. and I use orange as a shadow or over the contour to give an orangey blush to the eye (well blended and buffed). Orange is THE best color to give brown eyes, green eyes and blue eyes a huge color pop!:)

Jessie Avatar

I think it falls into the category with Club and Smut lol It depends on what you pair it with. I think it looks orange-y, I love it and I’m not a huge orange fan.

I picked up Evening Aura from a friend of mine who never wore it lol I was like OKAY!

Saira Avatar

Oooh, thanks for this post! I really like these posts a lot – it’s fun to read about the shades that people really like, how versatile the colours are and what they can be paired withi.

I don’t currently have any orange eyeshadows (I have Coppering but that’s more coppery-red-orange than an actual orange), so it’s great to get some suggestions for must-have oranges. I’ve checked Orange out a few times when I’ve been at the Mac counter but haven’t been very sure how versatile it would be. Sounds like it would go pretty well with the other eyeshadows I have (Chrome Yellow, Goldmine, Coppering), so I might have to give it a try soon :o) .

tremorviolet Avatar

Cool, I love oranges (they really make blue eyes pop) and I only have Orange and Rule; I’ll have to check out the other recs. My all-time favorite orangey color is Evening Aura, a golden orangey peach from Neo SciFi. I picked it up a month or so ago from a CCO and I use it almost every other day.

Margot Avatar

I’m definitely going to check out oranges next time I’m at my MAC store … I like colours that make my blue eyes even brighter, so I guess orange is a good way to go :p

kat Avatar

Mmmm firespot! I will be so sad when mine runs out :(! I also really liked evening aura! But I guess its pretty similar to some perm colours so it isn’t so tragic when it’s gona haha!

aradna Avatar

i only have samoa silk from that list…i guess i have been orange-shy! i often check out ‘orange’ at the mac counter…but not sure how it’ll work with my colouring…does anyone know if its suitable for nw35? will it bring out the yellow undertones?

Amy Avatar

I love Motif on the lid paired with Haux in the crease. It makes for an interesting yet still neutral eye.

I also LOVE Mythology paired with Waveline eyeliner. It’s a weird combo that looks awesome together!

Brightness Avatar

I’ve got lots of orange in my palettes…My tops (LE & perm) are: Orange, Samoa Silk, Rule, Motif, Sunsplosion, Juiced & Orange Tangent

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