MAC Electric Cool Eyeshadows (2015) Reviews, Photos, Swatches
MAC Black Sands Electric Cool Eyeshadow
MAC Black Sands Electric Cool Eyeshadow ($22.00 for 0.07 oz.) is described as a “black with green pearl.” It’s a medium-dark black with light blue and green pearl paired with neutral-to-cool undertones. It had semi-sheer coverage, and it was really patchy/difficult to blend as it never looked even. It lasted for seven hours before creasing. Lancome My French #9 (LE, ) is darker (95% similar). ColourPop Knight (LE, $6.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Viseart Diane (PiP, ) is more shimmery (95% similar). Make Up For Ever D104 Black Diamond (DC, $21.00) is darker, more pigmented, better quality (90% similar). Sugarpill Stella (P, $13.00) is darker, more pigmented, better quality (90% similar). MAC Nutcracker (LE, $17.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). CoverGirl Molten Black (300) (P, $4.99) is more shimmery (90% similar). Tarina Tarantino Diamond Dusk #5 (DC, ) is more shimmery, darker, more pigmented (90% similar). Buxom Black Tie (LE, $12.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). MAC Dark Soul (PiP, $21.00) is darker (90% similar). ColourPop Raven (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery, darker, better quality (90% similar). MAC Black Tied (P, $17.00) is darker (90% similar). Rouge Bunny Rouge Volcano Fairy Wren (P, $19.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Chanel Mirifique (P, $32.00) is more shimmery, darker, more pigmented (90% similar). ColourPop Shameless (LE, $6.00) is darker, more pigmented, better quality (90% similar). Buxom Black Lab (P, $18.00) is darker (90% similar). Sephora Ilde (LE, ) is warmer (90% similar). Dior Smoky Canvas #3 (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar). Dior Moonlight #5 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Badass #4 (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
MAC Emerald Power Electric Cool Eyeshadow ($22.00 for 0.07 oz.) is described as a “emerald green.” It’s a muted, medium-dark emerald green with neutral-to-cool undertones and a pearly sheen. There was a lot of slip to the texture, which resulted in more uneven, patchy coverage. The color wore for eight hours at least! MAC Neoprene Green (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Make Up For Ever ME304 Emerald (DC, $21.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar). Buxom Pre-nup (P, $12.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar). Buxom Saint Bernard (P, $18.00) is lighter (90% similar). Make Up For Ever S238 Blue Cedar (DC, $17.00) is lighter, more muted (85% similar). ColourPop Donna (LE, $6.00) is cooler (85% similar). Estee Lauder Extreme Emerald (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar). Make Up For Ever S228 Petrol Blue (DC, $17.00) is less shimmery, darker, more muted (85% similar). Milani Green Safari (P, $6.49) is warmer (85% similar). Make Up For Ever S300 Pine Green (P, $17.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar). Urban Decay Indo (DC, $19.00) is darker (90% similar). MAC Ever Evergreen (LE, $22.00) is cooler (85% similar). Urban Decay Grasshopper (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar). Make Up For Ever #52 (LE, $23.00) is lighter, brighter, glossier (85% similar). Sephora Walk on the Wild Side (08) (DC, $10.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar). MAC Cracked Emerald (LE, $22.00) is lighter, brighter (85% similar). Sugarpill Midori (P, $13.00) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar). Disney by Sephora Fins (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (80% similar). Too Faced Central Perk (LE, $16.00) is more shimmery, darker (80% similar). Urban Decay Graffiti (LE, $19.00) is darker (80% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
MAC In Orbit Electric Cool Eyeshadow ($22.00 for 0.07 oz.) is described as a “light warm neutral.” It’s a sparkling, golden copper with warm undertones and a pearly sheen paired with copper sparkle. It had semi-sheer pigmentation that was somewhat buildable. This was the better-applyling shade out of the four, but it added a noticeable texture to the lid due to the chunkier consistency. I had some fall out over the eight hours it lasted. MAC Gilded Thrill (LE, $22.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Stila Vitality (PiP, ) is more shimmery, brighter (90% similar). Tarte No Champagne, No Gain (LE, ) is less shimmery (90% similar). Charlotte Tilbury Icon Diva Eyes #1 (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar). Dior Golden Shock #3 (LE, ) is warmer (90% similar). Chanel Vision (LE, $32.00) is warmer (90% similar). Make Up For Ever 4 Golden Peach (P, $24.00) is lighter (90% similar). MAC Natural Vigor #2 (LE, $21.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). Urban Decay Dirtysweet (PiP, $19.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). Buxom Gold Status (P, $12.00) is lighter (85% similar). MAC Creative Copper (PiP, $17.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar). MAC I Like 2 Watch (P, $18.00) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
MAC Electric Illumination Electric Cool Eyeshadow ($22.00 for 0.07 oz.) is described as a “bright silver.” It’s a bright, very light silver with lighter white and silver sparkle. It had semi-sheer color payoff, and the texture was noticeably chunky, so it didn’t apply evenly and the glittery bits often clumped together. I had some fall out over time, though the “color” didn’t seem to crease for eight hours. Tom Ford Beauty Ice Queen #2 (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar). Sleek MakeUP Pretty in Paris (LE, $9.99) is less shimmery, brighter (95% similar). MAC Bleuluxe #1 (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar). Too Faced String of Lights (LE, $16.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Bobbi Brown Tinsel (LE, ) is darker (95% similar). Sephora Ice (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar). MAC Lovesmoke (LE, $17.00) is warmer (90% similar). MAC Filament (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). MAC Morning Ticket (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar). MAC Tree Topper (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Starry Night #2 (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar). Make Up For Ever ME202 Iceberg Blue (DC, $21.00) is less shimmery, brighter (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Lilac Dream #2 (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar). MAC Tattle-Tale (LE, ) is darker (90% similar). bareMinerals Silver Dollar (LE, $14.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). MAC A Party of Pastels #1 (PiP, $21.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). Lancome Tower Bridge (LE, $19.00) is darker (90% similar). MAC A Waft of Grey #2 (PiP, $21.00) is darker (90% similar). MAC Unfazed (PiP, ) is darker (85% similar). Dior Volcanic #2 (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
FORMULA SUMMARY | MAC Electric Cool Eyeshadow ($22.00 for 0.07 oz.) has a sponge-like texture with some spring, so they are a cream eyeshadow but dry down and set to more of a powder finish. If you’ve tried Chanel’s Illusion d’Ombres, ColourPop Super Shock Shadows, Dior Diorshow Fusion Ombres, or Buxom Stay There Eyeshadows, these are similar in regards to texture. The performance of these really ranges from shade to shade, and the major weakness is really in the application/texture as some shades sheer out easily or apply unevenly (usually the darker shades). I recommend MAC’s 242 for application, as it lays down color well and you can use it to blend out the edges. They wear well without creasing or fading, but there is some fall out with the more sparkly shades. For summer, MAC is re-releasing the formula with a lot of repromotes that I’ve reviewed previously here as well as seven new shades.
Black Sands
LELimited Edition. $22.00.
Emerald Power
LELimited Edition. $22.00.
In Orbit
LELimited Edition. $22.00.
Electric Illumination
LELimited Edition. $22.00.
MAC Black Sands Electric Cool Eyeshadow
MAC Black Sands Electric Cool Eyeshadow
MAC Black Sands Electric Cool Eyeshadow
MAC Black Sands Electric Cool Eyeshadow
MAC Emerald Power Electric Cool Eyeshadow
MAC Emerald Power Electric Cool Eyeshadow
MAC Emerald Power Electric Cool Eyeshadow
MAC Emerald Power Electric Cool Eyeshadow
MAC In Orbit Electric Cool Eyeshadow
MAC In Orbit Electric Cool Eyeshadow
MAC In Orbit Electric Cool Eyeshadow
MAC In Orbit Electric Cool Eyeshadow
MAC Electric Illumination Electric Cool Eyeshadow
MAC Electric Illumination Electric Cool Eyeshadow
MAC Electric Illumination Electric Cool Eyeshadow
MAC Electric Illumination Electric Cool Eyeshadow
I think MAC is looking pretty arrogant -how can they charge $22 (which is $1 more than MUFE Artist shadows) when these perform so poorly? I have Colour Pop Raven for $5, and it performs so much better than MAC Black Sands for $22. I can buy 4 Colour Pop shadows that perform better than 1 of these MAC shadows, and still have some change left over. I’m starting to think MAC is really out of touch with reality
Some shades in this formula are really nice, but the recent ones have been more misses than hits!
These seem horrible, and they are overpriced. MAC should release less products and make them better quality. Definitely not getting these.
I was bummed!
These really look just awful. Super easy PASS. I have one from last year that I totally love and do use a quite often, Superwatt, but it applies sooo much more smoothly than these! In fact, Superwatt is one of the only shades I enjoy as a lovely all-over lid wash.
It’s so odd — some are lovely, others are total misses!
There are so many powder and cream to powder type shadows that perform so much better than these. I don’t understand MAC releasing and re-releasing/re-promoting these as they never seem very good. I totally agree with those who’ve said that MAC should focus on releasing fewer but better products rather than these ongoing gluts of collections that seem to come out so often that they overlap one another.
It is strange, because I know that this formula CAN work quite well but there are more misses than hits at this point, I think.
Not so cool. Mac must be straight trippin’ thinking we are going to spend our hard earned money on these! Ha! Sorry,ColourPop won this time. They can’t even send the best blogger in the biz an intact sample?! For real?! I hope everyone has read the ColourPop reviews!
The fall’s set of shades seemed drier – I am not sure why. I would say heat, but ColourPop’s have been shipped in the heat, too… Plus, MAC usually goes air, so it isn’t even as hot!
If we are comparing the shipping of Mac with CP- My Mac shipments literally get to me within 2 business days even without an overnight code. My ColourPop comes in 2 weeks or more these days and the quality of the shadows have never been compromised. That’s just pathetic in my opinion. I am sure Mac knows you are a well known blogger and these are going to be splashed all over the internet. It makes them look totally careless to not take the time to package these shadows properly( if they are fragile).
I’m glad I skipped these. Midori looks as though it would be pretty with a primer. I’m guessing the other three would benefit from a glitter glue primer, but they look awful on their own.
I found an original Infra-Violet on Glambot, barely used and for much less, so I grabbed it. I’m loving that.
Infra-violet has a really pretty sheen!
I don’t know how the girl working at Mac convinced me to buy In Orbit but she did. It’s not great as a lid color but it’s pretty nice as an inner corner highlight. I’ll still use it but $22 is too expensive for a product that’s not that great and in cheap looking packaging.
At least it is working as an inner corner highlight!
I’m genuinely curious- why does MAC or any brand even release products that aren’t good? You would think somebody would say “hey guys, these aren’t swatching well! Maybe we should change the formula!?”
Conspiracy theory.. they make the eyeshadows crappy so we HAVE to buy eyeshadow primer!
What’s funny is that they originally had a formula called Electric Cool that was more of a liquid-y cream eyeshadow (but not a true liquid) that was AWFUL. These came out and were better, but there are a fair number of misses in the range.
OMG – lovely colours but dismal ratings! Love the green – but I would never buy a single like that. MAC you are destroying your own business by putting out such poor offerings to savvy consumers like us. Thank you for the honest review Christine.
They looked so much better in their pots, lol!
I must say I like Emerald, the rest are easy an easy pass. I do think, given that they are $22, and then we add something like 50% to that, yes, makeup is expensive here, I can find another emerald eyeshadow. I don’t think I have a real emerald one, so it is a pity this has both quite a bad review and is expensive.
I don’t think my English is working, it’s really late, and I should sleep, not drool over pretty colours 🙂
Emerald is hard to find, but there are a few now (though I am not sure what is available where you are, unfortunately) 🙁
The quest for emerald(s) continues!
Wow, those swatches were painful to look at.
They were sad 🙁