MAC Espresso Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line Eyeshadow Review, Photos, Swatches
MAC Espresso Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line
MAC Espresso Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line ($21.00 for 0.06 oz.) contains a copper and brown 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 copper eyeshadow was the least troublesome, though it wasn’t a boon of an eyeshadow, and the shade itself is one that so many brands do over and over again (MAC included!)–and they do them quite well. The eyeliner shade was stiff, dry, and a real nuisance to blend dry or wet. The brown eyeshadow as drier and stiffer, though not as tough to use as the eyeliner shade. When worn, they lasted eight hours on me.
Espresso Blend #1 is described as a “rich penny-copper.” It’s a medium-dark, warm-toned copper with a frosted sheen. It had semi-sheer color payoff when applied dry, while the texture was a bit dry to work with. Applied damp, it was nicely pigmented and much smoother. Kat Von D Dog Roses (LE) is darker. Tarina Tarantino Wonderful #3 (P) is less coppery. Makeup Geek Glamorous (P, $5.99) is similar. NARS Isolde #1 (P, $24.00) is also similar. MAC Amber Lights (P, $15.00) is slightly brighter. Guerlain Calligraphy #2 (LE) is similar. bareMinerals Bragging Rights (LE) is similar. See comparison swatches / view dupes.
Espresso Blend #2 is described as a “charcoal black.” It’s a medium-dark, cool-toned black with a satin finish. If you’ve been reading the last couple of reviews, you’ll notice that there’s a trend with the eyeliner shade: it’s very difficult to use dry, if you can manage to use it at all, as the texture is incredibly stiff and doesn’t apply with much color and is a challenge to blend. With a very damp brush, it can work with more color payoff, but the blendability is still poor. I tried using it as an eyeliner as well as an eyeshadow, but performance was the same either way. See comparison swatches / view dupes.
Espresso Blend #3 is described as a “warm brown.” It’s a medium-dark, subtly warm-toned brown with a satin finish. It had semi-sheer pigmentation when applied dry, but the texture was difficult to work with as it didn’t want to blend–just kind of stuck where it landed and didn’t move from there. Applied with a dampened brush, it was more pigmented and slightly easier to work with, but only for the first couple of seconds. Divergent Bold Espresso (LE) is darker. Laura Mercier Rich Cocoa (P, $22.00) is similar. Sleek MakeUP Flora (P, $9.99) is more matte. MAC Dark Brew (P, $15.00) is slightly lighter. Dior Golden Flower #5 (LE) is a touch lighter, warmer. Chanel Seduction #4 (LE) is darker. LORAC Sable (P) is more matte. NARS Flowers 3 #4 (LE, $24.00) is redder in tone. See comparison swatches / view dupes.
Espresso Blend
LELimited Edition. $21.00.
Espresso Blend #1
LELimited Edition.
Espresso Blend #2
LELimited Edition.
Espresso Blend #3
LELimited Edition.
MAC Espresso Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line
MAC Espresso Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line
MAC Espresso Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line
MAC Espresso Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line
MAC Espresso Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line
MAC Espresso Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line
MAC Espresso Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line
MAC Espresso Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line
MAC Espresso Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line
MAC Espresso Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line
Nooo, I was hoping this one would have a very good grade because of espresso in its name. [sips coffee]
Got my coffee next to me, too 😀
I don’t have a problem with the eye liner strips being hard to use dry – I remember decades ago when my fave eye liners were dry, cake ones from Max Factor and Estee Lauder (I’m talking back in the 70’s). I’m just not crazy for the colours of these but I’m eager to see the other shades.
I was trying to treat them more as a cake eyeliner, but I was surprised at the lack of ease in guiding/moving it along the skin even when wet!
So glad I skipped these…
Phew!
I really like the idea of these, it’s too bad they don’t rate higher..I love MAC eyeshadows!
They could have been good for travel if they were easier to use!
Holy lack of pigmentation, Batman!
Haha!
This looks like the worst of the bunch so far which is really too bad. Another terrible liner shade and ridiculous that a liner shadow cannot be applied ‘dry’.. the wet version doesn’t look much better. No thanks.
Right? I could at least be more understanding if the eyeliner had to be used wet, but if used wet, it was really stunning/lovely/easy to use, but it’s just not the case.
I’ll admit I’m a sucker for clever packaging, and I was so excited for these shadows. 🙁 Thanks for the reviews, which will save me both money and pain!
No prob, Jammies!
This is such a neat idea, it’s a real shame that the formula wasn’t all that great. Of all the shades options, this combo would be the one I was interested in. But given your reviews of it, I’m going to have to skip out on it! Thanks Christine!
No prob, Amanda!
Once again, I like the eyeliner shade, and the copper eyeshadow is very bright and pretty in colour, but it’s sad that the whole thing is overall kind of ‘meh’.
I think this is one of the “better” ones so far, too 🙁
I really like chocolate brown eye shadows and got excited when I saw this. But Espresso Blend #3 is really disappointing!
Aww, sorry to get your hopes up!
Is it possible that shade #2 in these combos are meant to be applied like a cake liner? That might explain the dryness/stiffness.
Oh, lol, I just realized the comment above addressed my question.
Definitely tried it that way (using a really wet brush) – the left swatch is dry, right swatch is dry (for all three shades)! 🙂
The eyeshadow looked so prettyy in the pan but sadly it didnt fared that well on application front. Wish they had got better ratings here..
Me too, Poo! I wish these weren’t so sad.
I really like this one, but the black is not nearly dark enough to be a liner.
Agreed!
So close but….
Still so far!