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MAC Art Supplies Collection: Greasepaint Sticks Review, Photos, Swatches

MAC Art Supplies Collection:  Greasepaint Sticks
Greasepaint Sticks: Zinc Zone, Uniformly Blue, Slick Black, Greengrease,
Dirty, Charred Mauve, Brown Now, Below Ground

MAC Art Supplies Collection: Greasepaint Sticks Review, Photos, Swatches

MAC Art Supplies Collection launches in-stores on April 1st (late April for international locations) and online March 30th. The collection includes eight new and limited edition shades of Greasepaint Sticks ($17.50), six new and limited edition shades of Pearlglide Intense Eye Liners ($14.50), and nine new and limited edition shades of Pro Longwear Lipstain Marker ($16.00).

Today, I’m going to review the new Greasepaint Sticks and (in a separate post) three of the six Pearlglide Intense Eye Liners. I’m going to mull over the Lipstain Markers until tomorrow, but I’ll give you my review of the three (of nine) shades I tried so far–so stay tuned! 🙂

Greasepaint Sticks ($17.50)

  • Below Ground is a soft bronzed chocolate brown with lighter bronze flecks. It reminded me of a lighter, less frosty version of Bronze eyeshadow.  I liked this one a lot, because I felt like it was light enough to be used in lighter looks as well as darker looks.
  • Brown, Now is a burgundy-brown. I don’t know why it’s called Brown, Now, to be honest, because it’s pretty burgundy to me.
  • Charred Mauve is a cool-toned blue-based purple with soft blue-violet flecks/sheen. It is similar to V, but it’s not the same–it’s a darker, grayer version–but the two are close enough that you don’t need both.
  • Dirty is a taupe brown with multi-colored shimmer. Kind of cool how it has all different colors of shimmer in it.
  • Greengrease is a forest green over a blackened base. It has flecks of gold, blue, and green shimmer. I found this one to be the least pigmented of the eight, though you can layer to get a more opaque look.
  • Slick Black is a matte, all-black shade. It’s rich and dark. It’s not like the original Greasepaint Stick from Style Black, because the original Greasepaint Stick is a black base with flecks of blue and violet shimmer. It reminded me a lot of Blacktrack fluidline, though.
  • Uniformly Blue is a medium-dark navy blue over a blackened blue-gray base with flecks of blue shimmer/sheen. Compared to B, it is a darker version; Uniformly Blue has a blackened base that the blue shade sits over. It’s close enough, though, that unless you’re a huge fan of Greasepaint Sticks, you only need one of the two.
  • Zinc Zone is a gunmetal silver over a lightly blackened base with silver and black shimmer/sheen. This is a fun shade, and I think it would make a nice base for a very dramatic, near-black smoky eye.

The good: I loved the variety of the shades offered in the collection. There are eight to choose from, so you aren’t stuck with just one or two like in the past. On me, I find they wear quite well–no real budging, smudging, or transferring throughout the day. They’re very smooth, soft, and easy to apply without tugging on the eyelid too much.

They’ve also improved the scent/smell of the Greasepaint Sticks this time–which is huge. My previous Greasepaint Sticks have a funky scent that’s unpleasant, but I didn’t notice any scent on these (whereas the scent on the original shades is still overwhelming!). These might have the faintest scent if you’re particularly gifted in the smelling department, but I didn’t detect anything with my sniffer.

The bad: Even though a nice dark base can be useful, I don’t necessarily need eight different variations on the theme. I’ve always found that most darker bases eat color rather than enhance it, so you’re always left with some sort of darkened smoky eye. Personally, I find that they’re a bit too thick to use as eyeliner without having to do some clean-up after application with a cotton swab.

My picks: Below Ground, Brown Now, Greengrease, Zinc Zone

Skip if you have…: Charred Mauve if you have V, Uniformly Blue if you have B, Slick Black if you have Blacktrack (Fluidline)

How to Use Greasepaint Sticks

  • As an all-over eyeshadow base — think of them as darker versions of shadesticks
  • As a smudged out eyeliner — make sure to sharpen them (sharpener is found on the opposite end) so you don’t get too thick of a line
  • As a defined crease — draw it into the crease and then smudge with a brush and/or eyeshadow

MAC Art Supplies Collection:  Greasepaint Sticks
Greasepaint Sticks: Zinc Zone, Uniformly Blue, Slick Black, Greengrease,
Dirty, Charred Mauve, Brown Now, Below Ground

MAC Art Supplies Collection:  Greasepaint Sticks
Greasepaint Sticks: Zinc Zone, Uniformly Blue, Slick Black, Greengrease,
Dirty, Charred Mauve, Brown Now, Below Ground

MAC Art Supplies Collection:  Greasepaint Sticks
Greasepaint Sticks: Zinc Zone, Uniformly Blue, Slick Black, Greengrease,
Dirty, Charred Mauve, Brown Now, Below Ground

MAC Art Supplies Collection:  Greasepaint Sticks
Greasepaint Sticks: Zinc Zone, Uniformly Blue, Slick Black, Greengrease,
Dirty, Charred Mauve, Brown Now, Below Ground

MAC Art Supplies Collection:  Greasepaint Sticks
Greasepaint Sticks: Zinc Zone, Uniformly Blue, Slick Black, Greengrease

MAC Art Supplies Collection:  Greasepaint Sticks
Greasepaint Sticks: Dirty, Charred Mauve, Brown Now, Below Ground

MAC Art Supplies Collection:  Greasepaint Sticks
Greasepaint Sticks: Below Ground, Brown Now, Charred Mauve

MAC Art Supplies Collection:  Greasepaint Sticks
Greasepaint Sticks: Dirty, Greengrease, Slick Black

MAC Art Supplies Collection:  Greasepaint Sticks
Greasepaint Sticks: Slick Black, Uniformly Blue, Zinc Zone

MAC Art Supplies Collection:  Greasepaint Sticks
Style Black Greasepaint Stick vs. Slick Black

MAC Art Supplies Collection:  Greasepaint Sticks
B vs. Uniformly Blue

MAC Art Supplies Collection:  Greasepaint Sticks
V vs. Charred Mauve

99 Comments

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Jae Avatar

Christine, question, how many times did you have to run the liner on your skin before you got this intensity? Cause I don’t wanna tug at my eye area too much… And >_< [s]where is V and B from?[/s]

Christine Avatar

I just went up and down so I got a rectangle – didn’t really layer it 🙂 If you layer it too much, it can actually end up looking less intense (from what I’ve found) – it’s a directional thing, I guess – you have to keep layering in the same directly or else you’ll move it around, lol!

V & B are from DSquared — http://www.temptalia.com/mac-dsquared-collection-greasepaint-stick-feline-kohl-power-reviews-photos-swatches

Black (or “original”) was also from DSquared but originally from Style Black — http://www.temptalia.com/mac-style-black-cream-colour-base-greasepaint-stick-review-swatches

blu3 Avatar

I have to agree with you, the greasepaint sticks all look pretty much the same as a base. Even a plain black base would give a very similar effect. I guess they’re still a novelty though so thats why they came out with so many colours.

Greengrease was the only one I was lemming but since you said its the least pigmented, I can skip it! Yay more money for my vacation lol 😀

Rosanna Avatar

When I saw this collection I thought I would get the greasepaint sticks but they’re too dark for bases (unless you want a smokey eye, just use a black base as you said). Despite them being nice, Think I’d rather use the paint pots.

Now I’m swaying to the pearlglide liners and lipstain markers which actually didn’t catch my attention at all before!

Haley Avatar

I only use them on the waterlline because they stay FOREVER!! I don’t even use them as a base because they are too dark for me and freak me out lol. But i have the original black greasepaint stick and it stays on the water liner allll day

Anitacska Avatar

I really don’t think I need these since I don’t use dark bases, but I have to say that Charred Mauve is definitely my favourite and I might just check it out in the hope that I can somehow use it as an eyeliner. 🙂

Chester Avatar

Thanks for your review, Christine.

I want every greasepaint stick except for Slick Black (plan on buying Blacktrack in the future and have Point Black already) and Uniformly Blue (I’m not one for blue eye shadow).

Do you know if Brown, Now is similar to the Warm&Cozy Shadestick (from the Warm&Cozy Collection)? I have the suspicion that they are.

Chester Avatar

Thank you Christine!

Yes, I meant if they are similar in color. I know they’ll be different in texture since they are different products. So, I will skip this one. My bank account surely does celebrate it. 😉

Petra Avatar

Oh, I never even thought of that. I own Penny and Warm and Cozy shadesticks, which are similar, but based on my memory, those are more copperish, have more of an orange tint to them, while Brown Now seems to have a reddish tint. I would never have thought to compare the two, but now I definately will! 🙂 Though Brown Now seems to be the one I’m craving the most, I guess i’m just drawn in by these colours. 😛
Thanks for the great comparisons! (I’m happy I own V and B instead of these blue and purple shades)

Mora Avatar

the sharpener is in the back? very good, you mentioned that. i have my greasepaint stick since style black and i always wondered how to get it sharp!
Thank you so much, Christine.

Chester Avatar

Could you please post a picture of the sharpener, Christine? I’d like to know what to look for.

Also, I heard that they’ll be easier to sharpen if you put them in the fridge or freezer for a short time so that it’s not too soft and melt-y. Does it work?

t_zwiggy Avatar

No, no, no! I want all of them. Unfortunately my wallet is still trying to recover from SCF (bought way too much stuff). But I’m getting charred mauve, zinc zone and dirty for sure.

Eliana Avatar

Hi Christine!Thanks for posting these.I have a question for you.Did you find that these were easy to blend?I got the greasepaint stick that was released with Style Black and had to return it cause it was literally impossible for me to blend it out using my finger or a blending brush. I am just wondering whether these have the same texture. Thanks 🙂

Christine Avatar

Hi Eliana,

They have the same texture – I find that if you want to blend them, if you have to work quickly as these will set fast. I use them more as an eyeshadow base or eyeliner, than an eyeshadow myself since it’s hard to work quite so fast!

Leidy Avatar

Hey Christine!

Im giving myself a headache trying to collect all things MAC lol. Are these a must have or can I skip them? I will definitely get the pearlglide eyeliners. Maybe Ill just buy two of the greasepaint sticks to see how much i love it…

Christine Avatar

If you like dark smoky eyes or like a color a lot and want to use it as a liner, I’d say grab one 🙂

But if you’re able to – buy one, try it out, see how you like it. If you love it, keep it (and/or buy more!), but if you don’t, you can always return it 🙂

Roxanne Avatar

I like Below Ground and Zinc Zone! Only problem is, I never know what colors to put on top of them (same with pigments and paint pots)! I just bought Stacked 1 and 2 but every color I put on top of them makes it look muddy 🙁

Please, oh pretty please, could you do a post on this subject, Christine? Thanks!

Christine Avatar

For something like Zinc Zone, you can do really metallic or iridescent shades – e.g. Shimmermoss, Freshwater, Bronze, etc. They’ll work well together without Zinc Zone eating up the color. More matte or satin-finish eyeshadows have a tendency to get absorbed with darker bases like Zinc Zone.

Below Ground would work with shades like Cranberry, Bronze, Goldmine, Nylon – again, richer, more frost-based shadows layer better over these kinds of bases in my experience!

When layering over purples, try shades like Stars ‘n Rockets, Parfait Amour, Beautiful Iris, Sketch, Cranberry

When layering over golds, so much works – but try greens like Sumptuous Olive, Humid, and Juxt as well as teals like Shimmermoss and blues like Freshwater — also the obvious like Goldmine, Bronze, Amber Lights

When layering over greens, try golds (which will lighten) like Goldmine or Nylon; try darker greens like Humid, or teals like Shimmermoss to enhance

Roxanne Avatar

Wow! I barely hit enter and there you were to answer all my makeup-related prayers 🙂 Thank you so much! Will definitely try it out!!

Phyrra Avatar

Thank you so much for the comparisons with Greasepaint Black, V and B. I have those 3 and I wondered how close Slick Black, Uniformly Blue and Charred Mauve were to them. Now I know I don’t need them 🙂

Simone Avatar

Dirty, Below Ground, Slick Black and Zinc Zone are so mine! thinking about greengrease too though, I’m feeling a bit let down by this collection, it seemed better than it is 🙁

Kristina Avatar

This doesn’t strike me as a spring collection… I’m craving very different colours right now so I’m not inspired to buy them, but I know that if I don’t, I will regret it in the fall, when I want darker colours. Oh, dilemma!

claudia Avatar

Christine, I don’t own any dark base and wonder if I should get slick black or the black paintpot or the black cream color base. I wanted to get a black base mostly because of Young Punk MES. Which one would you recommend ? Thanks 🙂

SayAnythingBr00ke Avatar

If you ever get around to more swatching, or know off the top of your head, I’d be interested in these comparisons:

-Brown Now VS Foxy Lady Eye Kohl
-Charred Mauve VS Royal Hue Shadestick

Thanks as always for being the first to have these swatches, I’ve been dying for em!

Christine Avatar

I don’t own either of those!

I haven’t owned Royal Hue in sometime (I don’t like Shadesticks that much–find them a bit rough on the eyes!), but based on memory, Royal Hue may be a little redder. Close? Yeah, close enough that unless you’re using Royal Hue a lot, you could easily use that instead of Charred Mauve 🙂

kali Avatar

I’m trying to figure out how to work with Greasepaint Sticks. Everyone’s raving about them but I just don’t get it. Do you just use it as a base -like paint pots? Are they better? What makes them so “great?”

Christine Avatar

Yes, you can use them as a base. I see most people using them as an eyeshadow base or eyeliner.

I think they’re just dark and rich and smoky, which makes them fun to look at. I find they work just as well as paint pots (but I have heard woes of some creasing for a few when it comes to Greasepaint sticks… but I suppose there are a few who say paint pots don’t work either!), the colors are just different.

resham Avatar

How close is Relaxed shadestick and Below Ground? Pls tell me if you can, as I have to order online this time…won;t be able to see the collection in person as soon as it releases….

kirayna Avatar

I definitely want Slick Black as the black was sold out last time 🙁
Other than that I’m thinking Below Ground and Brown Now, maybe Greengrease and Zinc Zone if I have the money, not liking Dirty very much so can pass on that.
I have B and V so no need for the dupes.
Thanks for the sharpener tip, had no idea that was there!

Phyrra Avatar

Since I have Style Black, B and V, I don’t think I need their corresponding colors. Thank you SO MUCH for the comparisons!
Greengrease does look really nice, regardless.

Alexis Avatar

Definitely picking up Dirty and Greengrease. I can’t wait to try out Greengrease with Bottle Green e/s. I’m trying to figure out an EOTD with those two key items. Dirty might just become my “go to” when I’m too lazy to do a full on eye. It looks like I can just smudge the crap out of that one on my lid – apply lots of mascara and call it a day.

kali Avatar

I’m buying Zinc Zone for sure.. I wasn’t planning on really getting any of these in the beginning but I’ve been seeing so many swatches from all different blogs and now I’m starting to want them. I saw Muse do a really pretty look where she smudge it along her lower lashline and I thought, “Cool! I can do THAT with Greasepaint Sticks.” Anyways, I don’t want to go and invest in a much of them yet because I’ve never owned any and I wanted to know what you think is best for a more “neutral” look.. I’ve been thinking about Dirty, Below Ground, and Brown Now.. Any suggestions?

kfm Avatar

Charred Mauve, Dirty and Zinc Zone are pretty definite for me. I don’t know if it’s worth grabbing Slick Black, since I think I can achieve the same effect with Blackground PP.

aradhana Avatar

i was pretty happy to see that these were released here today! collections are always so late for us…we just got liberty of london today as well…
i found the brown now swatched slightly more copper on me, but as you say, not really particularly brown!
i didn’t end u getting anything, just swatched a million items (all the art supplies + liberty of london) on my hand… i’ll probably mull it over and go back on the weekend….otherwise i would have just bought everything on the spot!

Stacy Avatar

I checked out the collection today and was looking forward to sooo many items. However, I ended up only getting Dirty and a blush from the Too Fab collection. I was sooo looking forward to Zinc Zone but when I swatched it, it was way darker than the color in your picture. I would have gotten it in an instant had the color payoff shown the same color as what you had in yours. 🙁

ak Avatar

To me these Greasepaint Sticks are the best after swatching them on my hand. I don’t see why you HAVE to use them as a base for something as for those people who love smoky eye looks can just use these sticks by themselves for a quick smoky eye look that’s hopefully less involved, and that’s why I’m so interested in them.

I’m in love with Dirty, Brown Now, Charred Mauve, and Greengrease.

I love that Slick Black is matte but I already have the Style Black one but this one is matte but I don’t think I can justify it. The Uniformly Blue on is attractive but to me this one is the least pigmented, Zinc Zone is attractive but too close to Dirty and I’d rather get Dirty, and Below Ground is too close to my coloring to be deep and smoky enough so those ones I don’t need.

Charred Mauve to me is alot darker than V from the DSquared collection and I prefer the Charred Mauve to it so…

MereMakeupManiac Avatar

hi Christine, great job on the swatches and details on these products!

i have a question on applying them. i asked the MUA how to use it and he said it can used as a base OR alone. i’ve tried applying it on its own (without any other eyeshadow primer). it was a bit hard to apply color for the first time then when i kept applying color on top of it, it sort of “cracks” that the first layer chafes off! when i tried again with UDPP this time around, the first application kinda got better but still results to chafing off.

what could i be doing wrong? should i just stick to applying one layer then finish off with eyeshadow? i actually bought two (Charred Muave and Uniformly Blue) because i love dark shades and because the MUA told me they can be used alone.

look forward to your expert advice! (^,~)

MereMakeupManiac Avatar

i’ve decided to put shadow on them after all. managed to make it work by applying UDPP first and stretched my lids a bit to apply smoothly instead of tugging it on the lids with the applicator. you’re right, it’s very hard to blend so i’ve to make sure to not extend application above the crease area – will just fill in with powder eyeshadow. thanks sweetie, you’re the best! ;D

Tasmin Avatar

Which colour of eyeshadow could i use on top of dirty for an everyday look. I love dirty greasepaint, given that I’m a blusher/lipstick gal!

Danielle Avatar

The word “grease” has always been a turn-off for me. I mean, slicking colored grease onto my lids? I’ll pass.

Below Ground and Zinc Zone sure are pretty, though. And V! Can you say new lemming?!

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