MAC Ebony Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line Eyeshadow Review, Photos, Swatches
MAC Ebony Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line
MAC Ebony Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line ($21.00 for 0.06 oz.) contains a white and charcoal gray eyeshadow with a black eyeliner. The Studio Sculpt Shade & Line Eyeshadows can be used wet “for a defined look with super-saturated colour” or dry for “medium buildable coverage.” The eyeshadow shades were somewhat powdery when applied dry, and less so when used with a dampened brush, while the the color coverage noticeably improved with a damp application for the gray eyeshadow and eyeliner shades. The black eyeliner shade was barely-there when applied dry, and the texture was very stiff to work with, even when dampened. You really need to wet the brush to get any sort of blendability with this shade, but once it dries down, it doesn’t blend well. Worn, the colors seemed to wear well for eight hours.
Ebony Blend #1 is described as a “white frost.” It’s a neutral-to-warm-toned white with a frosted finish. It had semi-opaque color coverage applied dry or damp–I really didn’t feel like damp application improved intensity, just minimized the powderiness. It’s a more basic color, so there are plenty of similar shades out there: see comparison swatches / view dupes.
Ebony Blend #2 is described as a “carbon black.” It’s a medium-dark, neutral-to-warm-toned black with a satin finish. It was almost non-existent when applied dry, and with a fairly damp brush, it had semi-opaque pigmentation, but it was a struggle to work with due to a very stiff, dry consistency. I tried using it as an eyeliner as well as an eyeshadow, but performance was the same either way. It was only somewhat manageable once the brush was wet enough. Again, another shade we’ve seen often, so there are many alternative options to consider: see comparison swatches / view dupes.
Ebony Blend #3 is described as a “dirty blue-grey.” It’s a cool-toned, purpled gray taupe with a muted, coppery gold shimmer-sheen. It’s an interesting, complex shade with a lot going on, and what a bummer the whole trio isn’t fantastic. It was semi-sheer when applied dry, and then it was pretty full coverage when applied damp. The texture was a little powdery but blendable. Laura Mercier Twilight (LE, $24.00) is a cream product. MAC Graphic Style (LE, $15.00) is similar. MAC Smokeluxe #4 (P) is darker, grayer. Urban Decay Armor (LE, $18.00) is browner. MAC Dangerous Cuvee (P, $18.50) is lighter, cream product. Giorgio Armani #4 (P, $33.00) is darker, warmer. Chanel Illusoire (P, $36.00) is a cream product, darker. See comparison swatches / view dupes.
Ebony Blend
LELimited Edition. $21.00.
Ebony Blend #1
LELimited Edition.
Ebony Blend #2
LELimited Edition.
Ebony Blend #3
LELimited Edition.
MAC Ebony Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line
MAC Ebony Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line
MAC Ebony Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line
MAC Ebony Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line
MAC Ebony Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line
MAC Ebony Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line
MAC Ebony Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line
MAC Ebony Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line
MAC Ebony Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line
MAC Ebony Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line
If the third shade was a single, I’d be all over that. It’s so pretty!
It is a pretty shade!
Really? Is it called Number 3? Seriously… What is the name? You have to keep rocking it!
No names, but for our system, I need to give them some sort of unique name/identity (so they each have a unique set of dupes, photos/swatches, rating), so I usually add a number if brands do not give them individual names 🙂
Please pardon my sarcasm. It went undetected.
Ooh, sorry, lol! It’s early 🙂
I have a really bad feeling about all the eyeshadows in this collection :/
Aww 🙁 Sorry to make that feeling come true!
That grey colour is gorg and your eye look is so pretty. Well.. the ‘carbon’ black..bahahahaha
A reader once called swatches like that “struggle swatches,” and I can attest that it was very much a struggle to get any color out!
I’m going to pick this up just for that grey shadow.. it’s still cheaper than the Chanel dupe. I can’t find the MAC LE dupe anywhere.. so… suckered in, but *shrug* justifying it is a really interesting grey.
I use eyeshadow all the time as liner. I fail to see how it has to differ from a regular shadow. I wet down shadows to get better precision and they never remotely resemble like your ‘struggle swatch’ LOL
Right? Your thoughts are echoing mine. I’ve been wondering why the formula is different on the “eyeliner” shade when you could use the two eyeshadows as eyeliners, if you were so inclined, simply by applying them wet (to get more precision). It just seems to make it less versatile.
I feel the same. <3
This doesn’t look very exciting. The look you created is really nice though.
Thank you!
Well isn’t this another huge letdown? I feel like MAC has completely given up on quality and pride in their products in favour of packaging and advertising.
I feel like a lot of these types of products are never as good as singles 🙁 I think UD’s split-pans have been the best I’ve seen.
Agreed!
The third shade is so gorgeous, it hurts. Such a bummer that the second one is garbage.
Right? Hopefully they’ll release one like it sometime else… as a single.
Oh, that poor F…
Ha!
I could tell by looking that the texture would be dry. Not impressed with MAC’s latest offerings at all.
Surprisingly dry 🙁
Oooh, I REALLY like that on you! ( And it’s yet another nifty alluring product with packaging to fancy!)
Thank you!
You’re welcome! It’s a different look as of late and that GORGEOUS 3rd color is MAGIC on you! The entirety of the look just works beautifully on you! I love that third color, have now read it is available as a single, but I highly doubt it would work like it does with your eye color. I really like it.
It’s not available as a single (I have to go back and look where I said that, I wish it was a single!), unfortunately!
You said it in response to Emi. 🙂
Oh, sorry – I was agreeing that it is a pretty shade! I will clarify.
I hope some of the others rate better simply because these seem like small, “fit in your purse” practical 3-somes to have.
So far, if you don’t mind only two being usable (and giving up on the eyeliner), you might be in luck. If you want all three to perform well… not so much 🙁
I love the concept of 3 shadows in one pot. It’s great for on-the-go and travelling, but the pigmentation is really lacking. Too bad.
If you actually get three usable colors, it’s not a bad way to get them at $21, even though the quantity (weight) is low.
These reviews are heartbreaking. I really wanted these.
Oh well *moves on with life*
Haha!
The look you did is pretty though!
Thank you!
#3 is really pretty!!!!
Glad you liked it!
Too bad about #3!
I know! 🙁 Wish it was better.
Thank you so much for your honest review! This product isn’t for me.
No prob, Deborah!
I have a little bit of a fixation on grey/black/silver/while type palettes, the grey shade here is gorgeous, and I think the look you created with this one is so pretty and dreamy (I actually gasped!)…but that eyeliner performance…ouch, MAC!
Aww, thank you! <3