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MAC Cracked Emerald, Holy Holy, Overnight Sensation, Win Paints Reviews, Photos, Swatches

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MAC Cracked Emerald Paint
MAC Cracked Emerald Paint
MAC Cracked Emerald Paint
MAC Cracked Emerald Paint
MAC Cracked Emerald Paint
MAC Cracked Emerald Paint
MAC Cracked Emerald Paint
MAC Cracked Emerald Paint
MAC Cracked Emerald Paint
MAC Cracked Emerald Paint
MAC Cracked Emerald Paint
MAC Cracked Emerald Paint

Cracked Emerald

MAC Cracked Emerald Paint ($22.00 for 0.22 oz.) is a vibrant, medium emerald green with subtle, warm undertones and cooler, green-teal pearl. It was smooth, creamy without being too wet, and easy to work with; the coverage was easily opaque but just as easily sheered out for a softer, sheerer look. It dried down and set, so it actually lasted for a solid nine hours on me before creasing faintly.

The Paint formula is supposed to be a cream eyeshadow that dries to a “powdery finish in just ten seconds” that is “long-wearing” and can be applied from “sheer to full.” Many years ago, I remember this formula being one of the must-have primers/bases for making eyeshadows pop, and MAC has discontinued all but two shades at this point, so it was a real surprise (and treat) to see four new, limited edition shades released recently. I highly recommend un-crimping the tube once or twice, which alleviated issues I had with the tube squirting out more products than I wanted.


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MAC Holy, Holy Paint
MAC Holy, Holy Paint
MAC Holy, Holy Paint
MAC Holy, Holy Paint
MAC Holy, Holy Paint
MAC Holy, Holy Paint
MAC Holy, Holy Paint
MAC Holy, Holy Paint
MAC Holy, Holy Paint
MAC Holy, Holy Paint
MAC Holy, Holy Paint
MAC Holy, Holy Paint

Holy, Holy

MAC Holy, Holy Paint ($22.00 for 0.22 oz.) is a silvery white with a metallic sheen. It had semi-sheer coverage at its best, and it could definitely be worn as a sheer wash of color, too. This was the only one of the four shades released that I couldn’t build up to opaque coverage as it seemed too emollient and prone to moving around while it was setting. It took a bit longer to dry, and if I wore it over a more lined/crease-prone area, I did get some faint creasing initially. Once it set, the color lasted for eight hours on me.

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MAC Overnight Sensation Paint
MAC Overnight Sensation Paint
MAC Overnight Sensation Paint
MAC Overnight Sensation Paint
MAC Overnight Sensation Paint
MAC Overnight Sensation Paint
MAC Overnight Sensation Paint
MAC Overnight Sensation Paint
MAC Overnight Sensation Paint
MAC Overnight Sensation Paint
MAC Overnight Sensation Paint
MAC Overnight Sensation Paint

Overnight Sensation

MAC Overnight Sensation Paint ($22.00 for 0.22 oz.) is a bright, medium-dark purple with a cooler tone to it overall (although sheered out, it appeared warmer in tone). The consistency was smooth, creamy without being too slick or wet, and was easy to blend. Sheer coverage was possible, but it required using a lot less and working quickly, and I’d say it was more of a medium to opaque coverage product. It wore well for eight and a half hours before creasing.

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MAC Win Paint
MAC Win Paint
MAC Win Paint
MAC Win Paint
MAC Win Paint
MAC Win Paint
MAC Win Paint
MAC Win Paint
MAC Win Paint
MAC Win Paint
MAC Win Paint
MAC Win Paint

Win

MAC Win Paint ($22.00 for 0.22 oz.) is a bright, bold medium-dark blue with cool undertones and a satin sheen. It had mostly medium to opaque coverage, and if I was very careful to use the barest amount, I could get a sheer wash of color, but it was fairly pigmented. The texture was slightly more emollient than Cracked Emerald or Overnight Sensation, but it still dried down nicely and didn’t take too long to set. It lasted for eight hours on me before creasing.

52 Comments

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Kimmyyy Avatar

These are gorgeous! I’ve only made a few MAC purchases because I’ve never really been drawn to any of it, but I may end up having to get Overnight Sensation! 🙂

Fran Avatar

Now I’m drooling over Cracked Emerald — I actually already bought the other three, because one of your readers really liked blue and the purple. I also bought a beige/tan, Sublime Nature.

I don’t think I’m applying the blue and the purple correctly, though. They sheer out way more than I want when I try to blend them.

I put Sublime Nature above my crease and buff it with MUFE #236, and it looks great. After it sets, I place a bit of Holy, Holy with a very small flat synthetic brush where I want highlights, and buff it out with the #236 that I’ve wiped off. And that looks good, even though Holy-Holy is harder to work with.

Then I place Win or Overnight Sensation on my lid with MUFE #228, a thick flat synthetic brush, and try to spread/blend up into my crease and onto my hood with a combination of the 228, 216 (a mini buffer/blender like 236), and 236, to kind of smoke/diffuse it out, but I’m not quite getting the results I want. It gets too sheer, and kind of patchy and uneven. I should probably mention that my eyes are small, hooded, wrinkled, and tucked pretty far under my browbone, so there’s that. But I am used to working with my own anatomy. Maybe I’m asking these paints to do something too complicated? I can add a second layer to my lids and get the intensity back there. I can’t use the #236 on my lids, because they’re too small, I’d wind up with a smeared mess. I’m also not really seeing the sheen I’m seeing in your swatch photos, mine look more matte. And my Overnight Sensation looks much redder. Maybe I just need to practice and play with them! I do like them — paints are fun 🙂

Fran Avatar

Thank you, Christine, I’m going to give that a try!

I actually liked the results better once I saw them in natural light, and in photos, compared to how it looked in my mirror this morning 🙂

Aj Avatar

These are so pretty! I love that you can also sheer them out for a softer pop of color. I can’t wait to check them out!
I’m also happy they put out some bright, bold colors instead of neutrals & that they rated well – makes it even better. 😀

Tammy Avatar

I almost bought the blue and purple today when I ordered my Taraji lipstick and gloss, but removed them from my cart at the last minute. I am always looking for good blue and purple bases, it seems like they are hard to find. Now I can order these. Thank you!

Katherine T. Avatar

Wow, the bold colors are stunning! Almost tooo pigmented for me. Since I have to use industrial strength primer on my lids, blending can be a challenge even for traditional powder shadows, think it will be trickier with these. And unless you are an MUA, one tube might last a lifetime, but to be fair, this is called the Makeup Artist collection!

Lacy Avatar

I loved the MAC Paints! And had them all (Flammable, Blue Boy, Infamous, etc…). I was sad when they were discontinued and the Paint Pots took there place. I am very happy to see these have returned, even for a limited time.

Josephine Avatar

OH MY GOSH. I remember this formula. It was the BEST. I may still have one old Mac Paint kicking around somewhere. I would be so happy if they seriously revived this product. (And…gonna buy that blue. So bright, so beautiful.)

sarina Avatar

This may be a stupid question… what kind of colours would you put on top of the green, blue and purple shades if you were using them as a base? I’m interested to try them as it’s unchartered territory for me.

Alecto Avatar

I have Sublime Nature, and I really like it, but completely forgot about it. I used to use it when I knew I’d be in the water as it didn’t budge on me, and is also the perfect neutral shade on me. I’ll have to pull it out and give it another run.

Even though it’s LE, I’m seriously considering the blue.

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