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Best Yellow/Gold Eyeshadows: 5 MAC Eyeshadows

5 Must-Have Yellow/Gold 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.

Chrome Yellow eyeshadow is about as yellow as they come. Matte in texture, smooth in finish, Chrome Yellow has been a long-time favorite for those who can make it work.

Goldmine eyeshadow is a deliciously true-gold color. It’s shimmery and frosty and everything I think gold should be. I would say this gold runs slightly orange over yellow, though. I still think it’s a pretty dead-on gold replication.

Gorgeous Gold eyeshadow is a green-cast gold that works really well with green, teals, and blues. It’s a nice way to lighten those shades or accent them.

See two more, plus pairing recommendations

Nylon eyeshadow is a frosty white-gold. It’s great as a highlighter or all over the lid to brighten up tired eyes.

Bright Sunshine eyeshadow is a bright pop of smooth sunshine yellow. MAC does not make nearly enough yellow eyeshadows, so I couldn’t resist not putting this PRO-only shadow on the list.

Pair these shadows with…

pinks (like Passionate), oranges (like Orange), golds (like Goldmine), coppers (like Amber Lights), reds (like Coppering)

Check your stash for a few awesome limited edition finds…

Going Bananas, Pollen, Spring Up, Rose Blanc, Amazon

What are your favorite yellow 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.

41 Comments

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Sugarcrumb Avatar

Dream-Maker (Starflash) is a really bright light gold which i usually use in the inner corners of my eyes; i use paint pot in Cash Flow (similar colour) for more intensity. Another one that i love is Melon (although its a pigment)

Margot Avatar

I love goldmine. I bought it after seeing a girl that did a look with goldmine and passionate, I thought it was so beautiful I had to buy it huhu …

as for nylon .. it comes out very green on my skin tone … but it’s a nice highlighter for goldeny and green looks (because it’s so greeny on me)

Catherine Avatar

No Retrospeck? It’s my HG gold eyeshadow…

It’s gorgeous. If I’m in a rish and don’t have time to do a full-on eyeshadow application, I’ll put some Retrospeck in the inner corners of my eyes and I still get compliments all day long

Saira Avatar

I love Goldmine! It’s such a great true gold colour and it goes with so many other shades. I really like Chrome Yellow too – it’s such a nice zingy yellow. I hadn’t thought of trying it with pinks – I normally wear it with greens, blues and peaches. Will have to try it with pink!

ali Avatar

just a thought – it would be great if we could see some swatches along with the recommendations too! for those of us who dont have any of these shadows or are new to mac

cmferrets Avatar

thanx so much christine, i love these posts b.c it makes it so much easier going to MAC and picking up needed colors i dont have, i cant wait for u to post more musthave eyeshadows, like someone else said, swatches would be cool too.

Courtney Avatar

I love gorgeous gold…to bad i neglect it. 🙁
never tried golden lemon though. i’ve been wanting to try it just never got the chance to, yet.

Jessika Avatar

PRIMARY YELLOW PIGMENT! Man, this one is awesome, much nicer application than Chrome Yellow. I use it with Clear Sky Blue Pigment for a really dramatic look. But for everyday I like it with Retrospeck and Juiced with a little Cork to define the crease.

christina Avatar

Hi Christine! Is any of the gold colors you recommended similar to creme royal (from the lucky tom palette Hello Kitty collection). Thanks.

Bettina Avatar

am I crazy..I thought Romp was a purple?? I need to get gourgeous gold and retrospeck is on my list as well even if that isn’t a gold really. I love goldmine..I stick in there with just about anything really. I did an olive color today with Nocturnelle on the outer corners and then put goldmine in the crease and on the brow and then decided to add a touch of Rule to the brow as well. I also stick goldmine in with most greens. I’m sure the combos for golds are endless really. 🙂

scarlettholly Avatar

All that glitters is maybe more coppery, but it is awesome with folie in the crease and black liner – it was my wedding look and the only shadow I’ve gone to pan on.

Chelle Avatar

Just wanna clarify if Goldmine is in the permanent line?

Here in the Philippines Mac cosmetics say that it is part of the limited edition Colour Craft but I don’t buy it, I know it’s not a part of Colour Craft, I called all of the branches and Goldmine is out of stock already and they all claim it’s a part of the limited edition ='(

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