MAC Chen Man Love & Water Collection: Mineralize Eyeshadow Duos Review, Photos, Swatches
MAC Love Cycle Mineralize Eyeshadow Duo
MAC Chen Man Love & Water Collection: Mineralize Eyeshadow Duos
There are three limited edition MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow Duos ($20.00 for 0.10 fl. oz.) in the new Love & Water Collection: Love Cycle (light blue, white, dark blue melange/dark royal blue), Pink Union (taupe, lavender, brown melange/dark violet), and Supersweet (bronze, pink, gold melange/golden pink).
Don’t get too excited–two of these duos are repromotes with new names, which is one of the worst things a brand can do (unless they’re extremely transparent about it, e.g. Urban Decay and their Alice in Wonderland palette). Two of these duos come from Electroflash, which was out four long years ago, so it’s not a bad thing that they’re repromoted–just bad that it’s not clear! (Boy, we’ve come a long way since 2008.)
Love Cycle has a muted medium-dark blue with a silver-ish sheen and frosted finish paired with a rich, deep blue with a frosted metallic sheen. This duo is the same as MAC Sea & Sky. The marbled side is lighter than theBalm Sensational, much bluer than Urban Decay Strip, slightly darker than MAC Moon’s Reflection, and bluer than Urban Decay Mary Jane. The solid side is a more shimmered NARS Outremer and MAC Atlantic Blue, slightly less blue than Inglot #428. Both shades had fairly good color payoff both dry and wet, though when applied wet, as per usual, the color applied smoother, more opaque, and the metallic sheen became more pronounced.
Pink Union has a muted plum-mauve with a frosted, metallic finish paired with a medium-dark violet purple with very, very subtle red undertones. The marble side is, generally, pinker than a lot of mauves on the market. It is a touch pinker than MAC Circa Plum and a fair amount pinker than shades like MAC Tendersmoke. Inglot #445 is purpler and darker. theBalm Curvy Cami is slightly purpler. Inglot #399 is pinker. The solid side is darker than MAC Violet, not as red-toned as Urban Decay Delinquent, and a touch more red-toned compared to MAC Parfait Amour. When used dry, the marbled shade goes on fairly well, though the solid side is much more muted and softened. They both apply more intensely and with a smoother appearance when applied damp.
Supersweet has a muted brown with a hint of gray-taupe in it with a frosted finish paired with a pop of cotton candy pink with a golden sheen. This duo is the same as MAC Pink Split. The marbled side is a bit browner than it is most taupe eyeshadows. If you have more of the gray marbling, you may find it turns more taupe. Urban Decay Midnight Rodeo is similar but a touch lighter. Inglot #363 is darker and matte. MAC Aloha is less gray. MAC Aurora is a little lighter. The solid side is similar to pinks like Dior Garden Roses, MAC Taupeless, MAC Goody Goody Gum Drop, and Inglot #431, but those pinks lack the strong golden sheen. Both shades, though the pink shade more so, were really chunky–they had a rougher, almost gritty texture, so I would expect a healthy amount of fall out, especially if used dry. The color payoff is so-so when they are both used dry and gets better when applied damp.
Long-time readers will remember that I am not a fan of MAC’s Mineralize formulas. My major issues tend to be fall out and wear, which are both biggies as far as eyeshadows go! As much as I’d like these to work, because they do offer some really gorgeous shades and always look gorgeous in the pan, I continue to experience fall out during application, which continues while its worn (if the shade has sparkles of any sort) and have noticeable fading even when used damp and over a primer. MAC has definitely refined the formula over the years in regards to texture (though Supersweet didn’t seem to get that treatment), because they have felt softer and smoother (overall) each year. I tested Love Cycle (which applied the best) and still had noticeable fading after five hours used damp and over a primer. It faded after three to four hours when used dry and over a primer.
MAC Chen Man Love & Water Collection: Mineralize Eyeshadow Duos Review, Photos, Swatches
MAC Love Cycle Mineralize Eyeshadow Duo
MAC Love Cycle Mineralize Eyeshadow Duo
MAC Love Cycle Mineralize Eyeshadow Duo
MAC Love Cycle Mineralize Eyeshadow Duo
MAC Love Cycle Mineralize Eyeshadow Duo
MAC Love Cycle Mineralize Eyeshadow Duo
MAC Pink Union Mineralize Eyeshadow Duo
MAC Pink Union Mineralize Eyeshadow Duo
MAC Pink Union Mineralize Eyeshadow Duo
MAC Pink Union Mineralize Eyeshadow Duo
MAC Pink Union Mineralize Eyeshadow Duo
MAC Pink Union Mineralize Eyeshadow Duo
MAC Supersweet Mineralize Eyeshadow Duo
MAC Supersweet Mineralize Eyeshadow Duo
MAC Supersweet Mineralize Eyeshadow Duo
MAC Supersweet Mineralize Eyeshadow Duo
MAC Supersweet Mineralize Eyeshadow Duo
MAC Supersweet Mineralize Eyeshadow Duo
I shall never be seduced by the beauty of a MES! If they don’t perform well, what’s the point?
I even thought Pink Union was an exact dupe of a previous MES, but I can’t place it since I don’t buy the MES. I only own two of the MES MAC has released, which are Danger Zone and Outspoken. (Can’t remember the collection, but it was around the holidays in 2008 or 2009, I believe.) I’m personally not at all a fan of the formula because of how much it flakes and how dull they end up looking. They look so pretty in their little pots, but wear so poorly.
I, too, am irked that MAC slapped on a new name and put a different design down the middle and thinks that makes it ok to not note that it is actually just a repromote. I’m really getting fed up with MAC’s attitude and tactics.
I’m pretty sure Pink Union is an exact dupe of Odd Couple (I used to own it) – all these combinations aren’t new at all!
it’s true all of these have already been out, a lot of people have this colors
Well…don’t buy it, ignore this collection and wait for future ones.
I LOVE MAC and yes they are not perfect but who is, what matters to me is the makeup, the rest is just extra stuff that doesn’t really matter to me, as long as it makes me feel pretty everything is OK. 🙂
How would you say the marbled side in pink union
compares to daylight mineralized es from naturally?
I usually love MES, but these just aren’t grabbing me. This whole collection feels a bit slap dash to me. The promo is just stunning and the lipsticks are nice, but the rest seems poorly though out. I like the design of the shadows, but I prefer a little more…idk…glitter?…nuanced shimmer? in the e/s.
Christine, how does Pink Union compare to Odd Couple?
The purple may be similar, but the other shade is not at all like it.
I am drooling over pink union… I’ve never purchased mes’ before though.. I generally only wear my makeup for a 4 hours tops anyway actually….
I’m a Chinese. So proud of Chen! Those eyeshadows are inspired by Chinese Yin Yang symbol!!
What a lame move, to repromote and be so “hidden” about it. When I saw the blue one, I thought “isn’t that Sea and Sky?” and then I saw your review/comments.
Some of the newer MES’s are really good (a few I really like are Golden Gaze, Illusionary/Burning Ambition and Gilt by Association, though this has some fallout) but some can be really crummy. I think it will be very easy for me to pass on these (good thing, as I’m going a bit mad for Chanel shadows lately)
So not only did MAC re-promote a product that came out less than 5 years ago they were sneaky about it and hid it under a different item name? Geez…glad I got Sea and Sky originally, on principle I think I’m going to pass on the eyeshadows.
That really rubs me the wrong way.
None of these really look like the eyeshadows used in the promo photo. I am disappointed 🙁 I was looking forward to a pretty aqua, periwinkle and a bright pink like the model is wearing 🙁
Second this; frankly, none of these look like they were used in the promo photo at all. Boo, MAC!
Totally agree. Apparently MAC was just inspired by the artist’s photoshopping techniques.
I absolutely love the pink side of Supersweet, but I’m not sure about the chunkyness and the pigmentation of Mineralize Eyeshadows. I’m so confused on if I should get it or not. I wish MAC would release a Pigment that is that exact color.
I feel pretty lukewarm about this whole collection which sucks because I usually try to buy at least a few items from every collection that comes out. I don’t know, either I have too much MAC or it is all starting to look the same…since there are a ton of repromotes & shade duplicates, I think it is the latter. Oh well, I guess I will just have to shop other brands’ spring/summer collections (Chanel, Dior, Guerlain). There are a lot of nice collections out there this season && the products && colors are actually new- wow, new products in upcoming collections instead of repromotes? What a concept!
I love MES, but I have ones like this. Supersweet almost reminds me of Moon Rover blush, but darker? I don’t see a lot of creativity in these.. ohh well more money for me! Thanks for these swatches!
Not only is MAC repromoting itself, I’m pretty sure Ulta’s got dupes of all of these (though the marbled sections’ colors vary, of course, due to the veining). At less than half the price, before any BOGO deals that may be running.
Can’t compare ’em to the MAC version, the dry swatches here look better than Ulta’s version dry, but the wet looks about the same. I haven’t experienced much fallout with Ulta’s. So there may be different binders involved.
I’m not a really big fan of anyone’s mineralized shadows because they take extra effort to work with, but they are so pretty in the pan, so they can be hard to resist…until I remind myself I rarely ever use them.
Thanks for the swatches – I think I can safely skip these. I was tempted by Pink Union but I have Circa Plum and Daylight (MES from the Naturally collection) which seem close enough to the melange side, and I have Parfait Amour, Violet pigment and a whole host of other purples which are probably similar to the solid side.
love cycle just might have to be my first MES. i’m a sucker for navy/dark blue! the rest i’ll pass on.
I’ve had Sea & Sky for several years and, I have to say, it is probably the nicest Mineralize eyeshadow MAC has ever released (I have…far too many). The darker blue especially has an intensity and smooth sheen to it that I have never been able to reproduce with a pressed shadow. It’s truly stunning, and a joy to use. Sadly, my tastes have changed since then, so it doesn’t get much use anymore. But on the few occasions that I want DRAMA, I happily pull out Sea & Sky. 🙂
I definitely agree with you, Chantal – it is one of the better ones MAC has released, both then and now!
I don’t know about you guys but I think MAC needs to calm down with bringing out new collections like every day!!!! Their frequency ruins the exclusivity of having collections which is the point of that type of marketing. I feel their brand image is also very obscure now. May be it’s just me but every time im on Temptalia and I see a MAC collection it just pisses me off! I do love their products but they need some new marketing techniques! and the recent collections have been very BLAH too!
The only time the MES have ever been even remotely satisfactory to me in terms of wear is when a MAC rep applied it. I wasn’t paying enough attention, but I think she used a grease stick in a matching/corresponding color underneath, applied it wet with mixing medium, and then she must have sprayed it with hairspray or something to get it to stick. I’m kidding about the last part.
They actually look really good! Especially the first one 🙂
Didnt know if you had noticed Christine that Mac rereleased their Style black mineralized eyeshadows from 2010 into their permanent line for the next six months.Shocked me when I found out today. I had always regretted not picking up Cinderfella back then. Glad to see it back and didn’t have to resort to eBay!
purple <3! i can't wait
Pink Union is the same as Odd Couple MES.
WOW
too bad mineralized things are not very longlasting on me
Finding myself wanting Pink Union despite hearing bad things about MAC’s Mineralize Eyeshadows! These look nicely pigmented though, so why the (bad ish) B- rating?
Poor wear, fall out.