MAC Embedded Burgundy Eyeshadow Palette Review & Swatches

Christine — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 21:00:00 +0000

Embedded Burgundy

MAC Embedded Burgundy 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 rose-toned 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.

Ingredients

Embedded Burgundy

PPermanent. $34.00.

C+

7.5

Product

8.5

Pigmentation

7.5

Texture

Longevity

4.5

Application

78%

Total

Haux

Haux is a light-medium mauve with strong, warm undertones and a matte finish.

Semi-opaque, buildable coverage
Moderately powdery and slightly thin
Applied evenly and blended out well
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.

KVD Beauty Plum (Base) (PiP, ).
Fenty Beauty Rock and Rose (LE, ).
ColourPop Kickstart (PiP, $4.50).
Natasha Denona Belle (466CM) (PiP, ).
Kaleidos Stardust (PiP, ).
ColourPop Big Hugs (PiP, $4.50).
ColourPop Pillow Fight (PiP, $4.50).
ColourPop Rose Ave (PiP, $4.50).
Lethal Cosmetics Archetype (P, $6.50).
Tom Ford Beauty Insolent Rose #3 (PiP, ).

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.

Haux

PiPPermanent in Palette.

Product

7.5

Pigmentation

Texture

7.5

Longevity

4.5

Application

74%

Total

Naked Lunch

Naked Lunch is a light-medium peach with warm, orange undertones and a pearly sheen.

Opaque pigmentation
Thin, somewhat dry and lightly powdery
Applied fairly evenly
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.

NARS Alhambra I (PiP, $19.00).
Anastasia Gleam (P, $12.00).
NARS Amanecer (LE, $19.00).
Charlotte Tilbury Walk of No Shame #1 (PiP, ).
ColourPop Aerial (LE, $6.00).
BH Cosmetics Foil Eyes 2 #1 (PiP, ).
Dior Golden Snow #1 (LE, ).
Lisa Eldridge Love in Venice (P, $16.00).
Kosas Electric (P, $15.00).
Tom Ford Beauty Soleil d'Hiver #2 (LE, ).

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.

Naked Lunch

PiPPermanent in Palette.

B-

7.5

Product

Pigmentation

7.5

Texture

6.5

Longevity

Application

81%

Total

Mega-Mocha

Mega-Mocha is a medium-dark taupe-brown with subtle, 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.

Mega-Mocha

PiPPermanent in Palette.

Product

9.5

Pigmentation

Texture

7.5

Longevity

4.5

Application

83%

Total

Wanna Chat

Wanna Chat is a dark, reddened plum with subtle, warm 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).

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 Resident Rep (LE, $4.50).
Urban Decay Devilish (PiP, $19.00).
ColourPop Fly By Night (LE, $4.50).
ColourPop Pretty Cruel (P, $4.50).
ColourPop Awakened (LE, $4.50).
ColourPop Poppin' (LE, $4.50).
ColourPop Up in the Air (LE, $6.00).
MAC Land of Delights (LE, $17.00).
Sephora Talisman (PiP, ).
Ciate Bijou (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.

Wanna Chat

PiPPermanent in Palette.

B+

8.5

Product

Pigmentation

8.5

Texture

7.5

Longevity

Application

88%

Total

Loading

Loading is a light-medium, rosy brown with moderate, warm undertones and a pearly sheen.

Opaque coverage
Thin feel but emollient enough to apply evenly
Picked up well dry brush and blended out decently
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.

Pat McGrath Life on Mars (LE, $25.00).
Anastasia Aura (LE, $12.00).
NARS Copycat (LE, $19.00).
MAC Midnight Stunner (LE, ).
ColourPop Fine Day (LE, $4.50).
Pat McGrath Rose Gold 005 (PiP, $25.00).
Laura Mercier Strike a Rose (P, $29.00).
Natasha Denona Affinity (476SF) (PiP, ).
Sephora Karoline (LE, ).
ColourPop Feeling Flirtatious (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.

Loading

PiPPermanent in Palette.

B+

8.5

Product

Pigmentation

8.5

Texture

7.5

Longevity

Application

88%

Total

Giga-Glitz

Giga-Glitz is a light-medium copper with warm, orange 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.

Sephora Lucky Penny (220) (P, $9.00).
Charlotte Tilbury Love Glow (Prime) (LE, ).
Too Faced Push-up (2018) (PiP, $16.00).
Dior Mitzah #1 (PiP, ).
ColourPop Wild Out (LE, $4.50).
Milani Afterglow (PiP, $5.99).
Makeup by Mario Ethereal Eyes #6 (LE, ).
Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Muse #1 (LE, ).
NARS Do It Right (LE, $19.00).
Bad Habit Sofia (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.

Giga-Glitz

PiPPermanent in Palette.

Product

Pigmentation

Texture

5.5

Longevity

Application

46%

Total

MAC Embedded Burgundy Connect in Colour 6-Pan Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Haux Connect in Colour Eyeshadow

MAC Naked Lunch Connect in Colour Eyeshadow

MAC Mega-Mocha Connect in Colour Eyeshadow

MAC Wanna Chat Connect in Colour Eyeshadow

MAC Loading Connect in Colour Eyeshadow

MAC Giga-Glitz Connect in Colour Eyeshadow

MAC Embedded Burgundy Connect in Colour 6-Pan Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Haux Connect in Colour Eyeshadow

MAC Naked Lunch Connect in Colour Eyeshadow

MAC Mega-Mocha Connect in Colour Eyeshadow

MAC Wanna Chat Connect in Colour Eyeshadow

MAC Loading Connect in Colour Eyeshadow

MAC Giga-Glitz Connect in Colour Eyeshadow

Temptalia

MAC Embedded Burgundy Eyeshadow Palette Review & Swatches

Embedded Burgundy

Ingredients

Embedded Burgundy

PPermanent. $34.00.

Quick Shop: MAC Cosmetics, Ulta, Nordstrom, Saks

Haux

Top Dupes

Formula Overview

Haux

PiPPermanent in Palette.

Quick Shop: MAC Cosmetics, Ulta, Nordstrom, Saks

Naked Lunch

Top Dupes

Formula Overview

Naked Lunch

PiPPermanent in Palette.

Quick Shop: MAC Cosmetics, Ulta, Nordstrom, Saks

Mega-Mocha

Formula Overview

Mega-Mocha

PiPPermanent in Palette.

Quick Shop: MAC Cosmetics, Ulta, Nordstrom, Saks

Wanna Chat

Top Dupes

Formula Overview

Wanna Chat

PiPPermanent in Palette.

Quick Shop: MAC Cosmetics, Ulta, Nordstrom, Saks

Loading

Top Dupes

Formula Overview

Loading

PiPPermanent in Palette.

Quick Shop: MAC Cosmetics, Ulta, Nordstrom, Saks

Giga-Glitz

Top Dupes

Formula Overview

Giga-Glitz

PiPPermanent in Palette.

Quick Shop: MAC Cosmetics, Ulta, Nordstrom, Saks