MAC Bronze Influence Eyeshadow Palette Review & Swatches

Christine — Sun, 18 Jun 2023 21:00:00 +0000

Bronze Influence

MAC Bronze Influence Connect in Colour 6-Pan Eyeshadow Palette ($34.00 for 0.22 oz.) is a new, permanent six-pan palette that included two matte shades and four shimmers in a neutral color story. I was not impressed by the formula used for the new Connect in Colour palettes as the shimmers were dry, thin, dusty, and/or powdery with sheer coverage and poor longevity, while the mattes were better, they weren’t as blendable as they could (or should!) have been. The new formula is supposed to have “one-swipe” pigmentation and they are being sold as VERY pigmented eyeshadows, yet three shimmers were very, very weak eyeshadows… period.

The only thing that kept this palette from dropping into the D-rating range is that MAC only made an eight-hour wear time claim (whereas most brands aren’t specific, so 8 hours of wear typically garners 8.5/10 rating, and here 8-hour wear would be 10/10).

Ingredients

Bronze Influence

PPermanent. $34.00.

D+

6.5

Product

7.5

Pigmentation

6.5

Texture

6.5

Longevity

3.5

Application

68%

Total

Retrospeck

Retrospeck is a light-medium gold with moderate, warm undertones and a frosted finish.

Semi-sheer pigmentation
Thin, somewhat dry, harder to pick up evenly
Applied unevenly, had fallout, prone to sheering out
Poor longevity (5 hours before fading noticeably)

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes
Formula Overview

Top Dupes

View All Dupes

These are the dupes the editor has pulled but not yet rated and officially entered.

Formula Overview

MAC describes their latest formula as "one-swipe, pure pigment payoff" with a "lightweight, silky-smooth texture" that has eight-hour wear (well, at least they're realistic!). They actually state that the formula has "up to 25% higher pigment load." Can't say that seemed true in practice, though.

The new formula is thinner, more powdery or drier, and less pigmented than prior MAC formulas, which have been inconsistent at best in the last few years. The matte shades were semi-opaque to opaque, typically buildable, and fairly blendable, while the shimmers were drier with poor adhesion, fallout, and were particularly prone to fading.

In the past, sometimes MAC's formula didn't swatch as well as it performed, often being a particularly buildable and blendable formula without being powdery, but I did not find performance to be better than swatches and it was often a little worse. In a time when so many brands are pushing metallics to the next level in terms of intensity, it is interesting to see MAC's shimmers worsen over time -- and they don't seem like they're actually trying to go for a more satin-like sheen, they're just... weak metallics.

Some of the mattes lasted as long as eight hours on me, while some were closer to six to seven hours. Most of the shimmers lasted six hours on me with a couple lasting longer and shorter.

Browse all of our MAC Connect in Colour Eyeshadow swatches.

Retrospeck

PiPPermanent in Palette.

Product

4.5

Pigmentation

Texture

5.5

Longevity

Application

44%

Total

Data Mine

Data Mine is a medium copper with warm, orange undertones and a frosted finish.

Semi-opaque pigmentation
Thin, crumbly, dry, harder to pick up evenly
Applied somewhat evenly, moderate fallout, prone to sheering out
Poor longevity (6 hours before fading noticeably)

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes
Formula Overview

Top Dupes

View All Dupes

These are the dupes the editor has pulled but not yet rated and officially entered.

ColourPop Here for It (PiP, $4.50).
Dior Bayadere #3 (LE, ).
Natasha Denona Alloy (312DC) (PiP, $29.00).
ColourPop Dream On (PiP, $4.50).
Huda Beauty Toffee Brown #8 (PiP, ).
Charlotte Tilbury Celestial Eyes (Pop) (LE, ).
Linda Hallberg Cosmetics Ara (LE, ).
NABLA Cosmetics Creation Crown (PiP, ).
Urban Decay Sinful (LE, $19.00).
ColourPop Heart 2 Heart (PiP, $4.50).

Formula Overview

Some of the mattes lasted as long as eight hours on me, while some were closer to six to seven hours. Most of the shimmers lasted six hours on me with a couple lasting longer and shorter.

Browse all of our MAC Connect in Colour Eyeshadow swatches.

Data Mine

PiPPermanent in Palette.

Product

Pigmentation

Texture

6.5

Longevity

Application

66%

Total

Olive Twist

Olive Twist is a light-medium, golden brown with subtle, gold micro-sparkle over a satin finish.

Semi-sheer pigmentation
Thin, somewhat dry, harder to pick up evenly
Applied unevenly, had fallout, prone to sheering out
Poor longevity (5 hours before fading noticeably)

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes
Formula Overview

Top Dupes

View All Dupes

These are the dupes the editor has pulled but not yet rated and officially entered.

LORAC Rendezvous (PiP, ).
LORAC Firefly (LE, ).
Glaminatrix Divine (P, $8.04).
Natasha Denona Raw Gold (13M) (PiP, $29.00).
Too Faced Dear Diary (LE, $16.00).
KKW Beauty Glam (LE, ).
Tom Ford Beauty Noir Fume #2 (PiP, ).
Sydney Grace Vibrant Madness (DC, $8.00).
Tarte Starfish (LE, ).
Isamaya Belt (PiP, ).

Formula Overview

Some of the mattes lasted as long as eight hours on me, while some were closer to six to seven hours. Most of the shimmers lasted six hours on me with a couple lasting longer and shorter.

Browse all of our MAC Connect in Colour Eyeshadow swatches.

Olive Twist

PiPPermanent in Palette.

Product

Pigmentation

Texture

5.5

Longevity

Application

41%

Total

Overnight Influencer

Overnight Influencer is a muted, dark, forest green with cool undertones and a matte finish.

Mostly opaque, buildable coverage
Lightly powdery and slightly thin
Applied fairly evenly but could have been more blendable
Average longevity (7 hours before fading visibly; brand only claimed 8-hour wear)

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Formula Overview

Some of the mattes lasted as long as eight hours on me, while some were closer to six to seven hours. Most of the shimmers lasted six hours on me with a couple lasting longer and shorter.

Browse all of our MAC Connect in Colour Eyeshadow swatches.

Overnight Influencer

PiPPermanent in Palette.

Product

9.5

Pigmentation

8.5

Texture

7.5

Longevity

4.5

Application

84%

Total

Bronze

Opaque pigmentation
Smooth, not too firmly nor too loosely pressed
Applied and blended out evenly
Average longevity (7 hours before fading noticeably)

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes
Formula Overview

Top Dupes

View All Dupes

These are the dupes the editor has pulled but not yet rated and officially entered.

Milani Foxy Lady (PiP, $5.99).
Bad Habit D'Orsay (PiP, ).
Anastasia Teak (LE, $12.00).
ColourPop Come On (LE, $4.50).
Urban Decay Smog (DC, $19.00).
Anastasia Paris (LE, $12.00).
Sydney Grace Mascot (LE, $6.25).
Pat McGrath Sable Bronze (LE, $25.00).
NARS Love Train (LE, $19.00).
MAC Golden Petals Scattering (LE, $17.00).

Formula Overview

Some of the mattes lasted as long as eight hours on me, while some were closer to six to seven hours. Most of the shimmers lasted six hours on me with a couple lasting longer and shorter.

Browse all of our MAC Connect in Colour Eyeshadow swatches.

Bronze

PiPPermanent in Palette.

B+

8.5

Product

Pigmentation

8.5

Texture

7.5

Longevity

Application

88%

Total

Logged Out

Logged Out is a light beige with subtle, warm undertones and a matte finish.

Semi-opaque, buildable coverage
Moderately powdery, slightly dry with light fallout
Applied fairly evenly and blended out decently
Average longevity (7 hours before fading visibly; brand only claimed 8-hour wear)

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes
Formula Overview

Top Dupes

View All Dupes

These are the dupes the editor has pulled but not yet rated and officially entered.

Tom Ford Beauty Sous Le Sable #1 (PiP, ).
ColourPop Salted Caramel (PiP, $4.50).
Marc Jacobs Beauty At the Office (PiP, ).
MAC Elemental (LE, $17.00).
Clinique Nude Rose (PiP, $15.00).
MAC Cozy Grey (P, $17.00).
Marc Jacobs Beauty Flesh (LE, ).
Pretty Vulgar Rise (PiP, ).
Marc Jacobs Beauty About Last Night No. 09 (LE, ).
Viseart Sand (Cool Mattes 2 #2) (P, ).

Formula Overview

Some of the mattes lasted as long as eight hours on me, while some were closer to six to seven hours. Most of the shimmers lasted six hours on me with a couple lasting longer and shorter.

Browse all of our MAC Connect in Colour Eyeshadow swatches.

Logged Out

PiPPermanent in Palette.

Product

Pigmentation

Texture

7.5

Longevity

Application

83%

Total

MAC Bronze Influence Connect in Colour 6-Pan Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Retrospeck Connect in Colour Eyeshadow

MAC Data Mine Connect in Colour Eyeshadow

MAC Olive Twist Connect in Colour Eyeshadow

MAC Overnight Influencer Connect in Colour Eyeshadow

MAC Bronze Connect in Colour Eyeshadow

MAC Logged Out Connect in Colour Eyeshadow

MAC Bronze Influence Connect in Colour 6-Pan Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Retrospeck Connect in Colour Eyeshadow

MAC Data Mine Connect in Colour Eyeshadow

MAC Olive Twist Connect in Colour Eyeshadow

MAC Overnight Influencer Connect in Colour Eyeshadow

MAC Bronze Connect in Colour Eyeshadow

MAC Logged Out Connect in Colour Eyeshadow

Temptalia

MAC Bronze Influence Eyeshadow Palette Review & Swatches

Bronze Influence

Ingredients

Bronze Influence

PPermanent. $34.00.

Quick Shop: Ulta, MAC Cosmetics, Nordstrom, Saks

Retrospeck

Top Dupes

Formula Overview

Retrospeck

PiPPermanent in Palette.

Quick Shop: Ulta, MAC Cosmetics, Nordstrom, Saks

Data Mine

Top Dupes

Formula Overview

Data Mine

PiPPermanent in Palette.

Quick Shop: Ulta, MAC Cosmetics, Nordstrom, Saks

Olive Twist

Top Dupes

Formula Overview

Olive Twist

PiPPermanent in Palette.

Quick Shop: Ulta, MAC Cosmetics, Nordstrom, Saks

Overnight Influencer

Formula Overview

Overnight Influencer

PiPPermanent in Palette.

Quick Shop: Ulta, MAC Cosmetics, Nordstrom, Saks

Bronze

Top Dupes

Formula Overview

Bronze

PiPPermanent in Palette.

Quick Shop: Ulta, MAC Cosmetics, Nordstrom, Saks

Logged Out

Top Dupes

Formula Overview

Logged Out

PiPPermanent in Palette.

Quick Shop: Ulta, MAC Cosmetics, Nordstrom, Saks