MAC Art of the Eye Eyeshadows Reviews, Photos, Swatches
MAC Banafsaji Eyeshadow
MAC Art of the Eye Eyeshadows ($15.00 for 0.05 oz.) include five shades, and they are: Banafsaji (deep purple blue), Farasha (bright deep orange), Gameela (deep pink magenta), Hajar Karim (clean warm green), and Parrot (deep aqua blue with bright green and blue pearl). Parrot is a repromote.
Banafsaji is a frosted, cool-toned purple with bluish tones and a violet base color. It had good color payoff, and the texture was soft but a little dry. It could have been a bit more blendable, but it was not difficult to use. OCC Technoir is bluer. Estee Lauder Violet Underground #5 is very similar. MAC Drawn to Drama is purpler. Giorgio Armani Ecailles Black Pearl #2 is brighter. NARS Marie-Galante is more muted. MAC Warm & Smoky is warmer, less blue. Urban Decay Blue Bus is lighter, purpler.
Farasha is a brightened, medium-dark orange with a matte finish. This looks lighter in the pan than it does on; consistently, whether on the lid or on my arm, it was darker swatched. It has fairly good pigmentation, but it is more buildable than it is incredibly intense right out of the pan, so I did need to pack it on the lid to get opaque, even color payoff. NARS Persia is darker, redder. Jasmine Rajah is shimmery, so it is a little lighter. MAC Rule is more muted. MAC Orange is darker, redder.
Gameela is a bold, bright medium-dark pink with subtle cool undertones and a matte finish. It had good color payoff and was buildable to fully opaque color. The texture is soft but a little dry; it’s not MAC’s best matte eyeshadow though decent to good. I recommend patting and packing the color on (and use a primer, if you have one) for best results. Chanel Rose Favorite is lighter. MAC Embrace Me is darker (between the two, since they both are recent releases, I’d get this all day long over Gameela). MAC More AMour is redder, more subdued. MAC Tease With Ease is more fuchsia. MAC Passionate is a bit richer and darker.
Hajar Karim is a grassy, medium-dark green with a matte finish and a dusty quality to it. It had so-so color payoff that required building to get to opaque color, but it is possible to get there. Again, patting the color on rather than sweeping will go a long way, and if you use a primer or white eyeshadow base, you’ll get true-to-pan color with less layering. NARS Self Portrait 1 #3 is yellower. Illamasqua Fledgling is brighter, bolder. MAC Feeling Fresh is shimmery and a bit darker. MAC Fresh Flare is shimmery and warmer. Inglot #384 is richer and yellower (in tone).
Parrot is a medium-dark blue with a hint of aqua/teal that is layered with green and gold shimmer; it’s not a strong duochrome, but there’s a slight tint and sheen to it at certain angles. I think this shade was interesting and unique three or four years ago, but now, there are so many options that are similar to it. The texture is a smidgen dry (I’ve been noticing all of the recent Veluxe Pearls have this dryness) that doesn’t seem to impede application or color payoff, but it’s there. Jasmine Diamond is darker. Tom Ford Emerald Lust is tealer. Urban Decay Unhinged is bluer. Urban Decay Deep End is darker. Tarina Tarantino Ozma is similar. theBalm Open to Offers Olwen is slightly darker. Urban Decay Haight is bluer. Inglot #415 is lighter, more metallic (but has a stronger golden sheen). Make Up For Ever #83 is brighter.
On the whole, they’re decent to good, but a few of them require some work to get them applied with full, rich color, as well as extra effort to blend them out. I had the best luck with Parrot, which had good color payoff without having to build and layer it on. The worst performer was Hajar Karim, which really needs to be packed on (three or four layers). Farasha and Gameela were in the middle of the pack; they both require two or three layers of product to be packed on, but the textures are soft enough that they’re still blendable. Banafsaji had better pigmentation than some, but it was a bit stiff to blend. I wore all five yesterday (three on one eye, two on the other), and Hajar Karim was the first to show signs of fading (after seven hours), while Farasha and Gameela lasted nine hours without fading or creasing but Gameela stained my lids. Banafsaji had slight fading after eight hours, while Parrot didn’t show any signs of fading after nine hours.
MAC Banafsaji Eyeshadow
MAC Banafsaji Eyeshadow
MAC Banafsaji Eyeshadow
MAC Banafsaji Eyeshadow
MAC Banafsaji Eyeshadow
MAC Banafsaji Eyeshadow
MAC Farasha Eyeshadow
MAC Farasha Eyeshadow
MAC Farasha Eyeshadow
MAC Farasha Eyeshadow
MAC Farasha Eyeshadow
MAC Farasha Eyeshadow
MAC Gameela Eyeshadow
MAC Gameela Eyeshadow
MAC Gameela Eyeshadow
MAC Gameela Eyeshadow
MAC Gameela Eyeshadow
MAC Gameela Eyeshadow
MAC Hajar Karim Eyeshadow
MAC Hajar Karim Eyeshadow
MAC Hajar Karim Eyeshadow
MAC Hajar Karim Eyeshadow
MAC Hajar Karim Eyeshadow
MAC Hajar Karim Eyeshadow
MAC Parrot Eyeshadow
MAC Parrot Eyeshadow
MAC Parrot Eyeshadow
MAC Parrot Eyeshadow
MAC Parrot Eyeshadow
MAC Parrot Eyeshadow
MAC Eyeshadows: Farasha (inner half of lid), Gameela (outer half of lid/crease)
MAC Eyeshadows: Hajar Karim (inner third of lid), Parrot (outer two-thirds of the lid), Banafsaji (crease)
Ooh I love the colorful looks you created with these!
farasha n gameela combo is so vibrant,its like bright sunset
woooa MAC, steppin it up! Was not expecting the quality to be this good!
I think I am going to have to pass! Maybe I am getting too old 🙁
Love the names! In Arabic, Farasha means butterfly, Gameela is beautiful in an Egyptian accent, Banafsaji is the colour violet and Hajar Karim mean gemstone (or opal, but I guess MAC was referencing emeralds considering the colour).
I kinda wanna buy them just because it’s my language ha.
you said it habeebati! a whole MAC collection with such beautiful Arabic names. I am so tempted to buy more out of sentimentality alone.
I am totally doing it. Even if I never use those colours!
Gorgeous colors; Parrot is my favourite 🙂
Wasn’t the older Parrot more teal-ish?
I do remember Parrot being bluer.
I agree. I have the original and it definitely is bluer.
It’s funny that it sticks out in my mind – mostly because I envisioned a really teal color (and I tend to think of teal as more green-leaning than blue) and was kind of disappointed when it was rather blue! It turns teal at angles, but straight on, it tends to look blue.
Fabulous technique, Christine
You make all those shades look appealing. Banafsaji would be my favorite.
these are absolutely gorgeous! Only the first shade isn’t as impressive as the others, but Parrot has such a beautiful sheen to it, and they look great on your eyes 🙂
I LOVE THE ARABIC NAMES!!! SO COOL! considering that middle-eastern women are known for their arabic eye makeup (try youtub-ing arabic makeup) this is great!
Oh, I want the green and the orange shades, but I have so many green and orange shadows like that. 🙁
Is Hajar Karim basically Sassy Grass?
Sassy Grass is deeper/richer – Hajar Karim has a dusty quality to it that keeps it a bit muted – http://www.temptalia.com/mac-dare-to-wear-eyeshadows-review-photos-swatches-part-1
I think MAC really missed the boat not re-releasing Parrot a few years back, I remember in 2009 I was desperate to get my hands on it, now I have so many eyeshadows I’m just not tempted at all, and I think that will be similar for a lot of makeup lovers.. Though it is a very pretty colour.
I love the pink/orange combo on you, Christine.. But orange is a colour I steer well clear of! Shame, but good for the bank balance!
Yeah, it was cool and innovative at the time (and I was newer to makeup, so it’s entirely possible it wasn’t), but now there are SO many similar shades and great teals/blues.
Overall I think these are really pretty, but I can say that there is one that seems worth it to me.
Thanks for swatching! I think I’m going to get Barafsaji and Farasha. I agree about Parrot; metallic teals are pretty, but we’ve all got at least 2 or 3 by now.
Woww, the looks you made are so pretty!
Interesting, I’m noticing that some of these are .04oz and some are .05 oz is that new or has MAC always had eyeshadows of differing weights?
Love your two eye looks.
I know Veluxe Pearls are usually 0.04 oz. but I don’t remember Veluxes being 0.04 oz. (but I haven’t been checking very consciously on those).
I’m so happy that MAC has recently released a few of their single shadows again. I’m sick of poorly performing quads and don’t even get me started on the over abundance of releasing mineralize eyeshadows!
How does Banafsaji compare to Half Truth (Urban Decay, 15th anniversary) ? Maybe it’s because of my screen, but I see them as possibly dupes.
Half Truth is purpler, not so blue.
Thank you very much 🙂 Btw, you two looks are gorgeous
Christine Would you recommend Fresh Flair over Hajar Karim
Fresh Flare is warmer and yellower, plus shimmery, so it’s not really a dupe – more a matter of what you prefer!
Farasha looks awesome! Perfect for summer!
Banafsaji is stunning, but I probably have something similar already, so tracking it down doesn’t seem worth it. Next to red eyeshadow, purples run a close second, LOL.
Hi.. Love these colors on you amazing… Would you Recommend getting the quads in this collection do you think that thy are the same quality and consistency as a single shadows?
It just varies shade by shade; there isn’t enough consistency to say yes or no either way. At $40, I really think each shade should be perfect, so since they’re not, I would not recommend either quad.
Thank you that’s helps so much btw I really your Reviews
Thank you, Lori! 🙂
Probably going to pass since I have enough make up and I don’t use many products on a day-to-day basis. I would recommend the collection to people that have limited choices in their stash, though.
Really? I just tried to order these on the MAC UK site and they are already out of Parrot… Didn’t this collection just get released today? I am fed up with these limited edition collections and the hoards that buy them up just to sell them for double on e-bay… So I think I will just pass on the collection now because this is just absurd.
Now a couple more are sold out on the UK site– but all still available on the US one so maybe I will have them sent to my parents house there… I guess UK probably gets a lot less!
Sorry about the rant earlier– I am still bitter about missing out on the Alice in Wonderland Urban Decay palette (I am a huge Alice in Wonderland Fan) and nail polishes (OPI)… Not to mention a few other collections… It just upsets me about these releases that basically you have to buy pretty much anything you might have been thinking about the moment it comes out or it will be gone! I have also ended up with items I am not crazy about because I had no time to think about it or the collection would sell out and I have also missed out on items that sold out…
I would love to thank Temptalia though! Because on this site we get to know about collections that are coming up and also about quality so we aren’t stuck with a poor performing product and also dupes in case we do miss out! I love how detailed and thorough your reviews are and this site is a must check for me before I purchase a product!! 🙂
Thank you! 🙂
I wish all brands gave release dates and all brands gave specific times and/or stuck to their release dates AND made enough stock for us all!
The green look a lot like sassy green from a couple of years ago which was also matte….could be a repromote?
Hajar Karim is dustier – more muted/subdued and less yellow-toned!
Very pretty! And I have all these colors, from MAC. Either pans or pigments, in fact Gulf Stream covers a lot of them.
That’s terrible, because there’s no thrill of the new.
I have Offers to Owen- the Balm. That is what Parrot reminds me of. I pair “Offers to Owen” with “Jealousy Wakes”.
Ummmm Christine, what color/ brand did you put on yout lashes? I dont see it anywhere.
I used MAC’s Suma mascara – the one from this collection – which is a navy blue.
I love how these e/s were given beautiful Arabic names 🙂
Banafsaji reminds me of the color Cinders and Queen’s Jewel in the holiday palettes from a couple years ago,so I can safely pass 🙂 ty for swatches,they are beautiful summer shades!
Why does your Parrot say frost but on the MAC website it says Parrot is a matte? Certainly doesn’t look matte to me!
Mine is purchased from the MAC site!
How does hajar Karim compare to mac sassy grass?
Sassy Grass is much brighter/bolder!
Australia isn’t getting this collection 🙁 at least not in stores, I don’t know about online
How does Farasha compare with Sugarpill’s Flamepoint??
Definitely similar – Farasha is a bit darker, not quite as bright. http://www.temptalia.com/sugarpill-eyeshadows-review-swatches
I was going to get Gameela but I swatched in store and it seemed awful. Are there any dupes in any other brand, like inglot’s? I was wondering about dollipop but that looks totally neon.
waterline liner is very pretty