MAC Her Cocoa Eyeshadow Quad Review, Photos, Swatches (RiRi Hearts MAC)
MAC Her Cocoa Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Her Cocoa Eyeshadow Quad ($44.00 for 0.19 oz.) is a new and limited edition palette from the upcoming RiRi Hearts MAC (Fall Edition) that launches at MAC stores on September 26th, online on September 30th, and counters and international locations on October 3rd.
Edited at 9/18 at 10:24AM PST: It features four eyeshadows, and the eyeshadows do not have names (only the actual quad has a name). Originally, the shades were listed with working names (so they are not finalized and often serve as placeholders). When I wrote the review, I swatched each shade to the corresponding working name (because they were permanent shades) to try to determine if, in fact, they were the same. I’ve kept that information below, but I wanted to update and clarify based on information I received this morning. I also received official shade descriptions and corresponding finishes, which I’ve added to the shades below.
To that end, I swatched each supposedly permanent shade against the individual, permanent eyeshadow I had previously (some of mine are quite old, so you may find quality differences even when colors are similar). I’ve included these swatches below for your reference. The one that really stuck out as being quite different was “Retrospeck,” which is a deeper gold with orange tones in this palette but a muted gold in the permanent range.
Her Cocoa #1 is described as a “bright bronze gold [with a Lustre finish].” It is a sparkling gold with strong orange undertones and some copper shimmer. It actually somewhat resembles Retrospeck #2, which was another shade labeled as Retrospeck but did not look anything like the permanent shade. The finish did seem like a Lustre finish, though–a little sparkly/gritty. It had fairly good color payoff, though, and felt soft and smooth, but it seemed to have some fall out throughout the day. Urban Decay Blunt is lighter. MAC Barefoot is more muted. Estee Lauder Bronze Dunes #5 is less sparkly. bareMInerals Surreal is less orange. See comparison swatches.
Whisper Peach is described as a “soft peach [with a Satin finish].” It is a gold-shimmered peach-pink with a pearly sheen. It had decent to good color payoff, though naturally as a result of my skin tone, you might have thought otherwise based on the swatch (but I assure you, it is semi-opaque). It was soft and blendable and almost lasted well for eight hours. Urban Decay Dope is pinker. Marc Jacobs The Tease #4 is pinker, smoother. Urban Decay X is brighter, pinker. MAC Dynamic Duo 1 #1 is pinker. MAC A Natural Flirt is more frosted. See comparison swatches.
Her Cocoa #3 is a “warm antique gold [with a Veluxe Pearl finish].” It is a warm-toned, medium-dark brown with a frosted sheen. It had good color payoff, and the texture was soft and smooth. It was easy to blend on the eye. This was listed as Woodwinked per my information, but Woodwinked is actually grayer with a stronger sheen and a noticeable gray cast, whereas Her Cocoa #3 is noticeably warmer, almost orange-red in tone, and has a different sheen altogether. My Woodwinked, for the record, is probably five or six years old, so it could have changed over the years as well. This shade wore well with very faint fading after eight hours. Urban Decay A mbush is darker. MAC Romantico is less frosted. MAC Lie Low is darker, less frosted. MAC Woodwinked has a grayer cast, more golden sheen. See comparison swatches.
Her Cocoa #4 is described as a “chocolate bronze [with a Lustre finish].” It is a dark brown with warm, reddish undertones with gold and bronze shimmer for a frosted finish. It had good pigmentation, and it applied smoothly and evenly. This is what was listed as Mulch in my information, and at the very best, Her Cocoa #4 is a smidgen darker, and it was only noticeable under a lot of light. It wore well for just over eight hours. MAC Divine Decadence is less frosted. Urban Decay West is darker. MAC Mulch is dead-on when I swatched the two side-by-side. MAC Buckwheat is browner. See comparison swatches.
MAC Her Cocoa Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Her Cocoa Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Her Cocoa Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Her Cocoa Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Her Cocoa Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Her Cocoa #1 Eyeshadow
MAC Her Cocoa #1 Eyeshadow
MAC Her Cocoa #1 Eyeshadow
MAC Her Cocoa #2 Eyeshadow
MAC Her Cocoa #3 Eyeshadow
MAC Her Cocoa #3 Eyeshadow
MAC Her Cocoa #4 Eyeshadow
MAC Her Cocoa #4 Eyeshadow
MAC Her Cocoa Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Her Cocoa Eyeshadow Quad
Retrospeck vs. Her Cocoa #1
Woodwinked vs. Her Cocoa #3
Her Cocoa #4 vs. Mulch
The only thing holding me back from completely needing this before was that I own Woodwinked and since they are not 100% I can allow myself to want it again! LOVE your swatches!!
Hopefully yours looks like my super old one – I am a wee bit worried since I’m not sure if there was any formula changes over the years!
I bought a pro pan eyeshadow less than 3 months ago, and mine looks like your original woodwinked so I don’t think they changed formula/color.
I recall Retrospeck was different in another recent collection. I think the one with the eyeshadow duos.
And you totally wrote that in your review. Ok, never mind. But it is very weird that both eye shadows are called Retrospeck. You can’t fool us, MAC.
This is too similar to my Benefit World Famous Neutrals to justify buying.
Which world famous kit are you referring to?
I love the look you did! Been craving golds and bronzes lately. Will probably buy this one.
i agree with you Christine, my retrospeck looks like yours and not like the one in this quad.
Christine:
Can you remove these shadows so that the case can be reused again with other colors?
Not easily – they’re glued in, so you’d have to de-pan well and good, and then make sure to get rid of the glue. It’s possible, but it’s not just pop ’em out like an empty quad.
I never go for these LE quads, but I’m pretty sure I am going to get this one! These are the sort of colors I wear on an everyday basis.
My Woodwinked, from the 2006 Warm Eyes holiday palette, is a lot closer in color to the Her Cocoa #3 than to your Woodwinked. It’s very warm, almost orangey copper, and while it has a slight gray cast in the pan, it disappears once it’s been applied.
The lack of transparency is what makes this palette a miss for me. Shame, I like the colors, but it’s too expensive for me at the moment and I feel I’m only paying for the packaging. Not a big Rihanna fan, so this doesn’t matter to me.
Love this palette! I’ll be picking this up as soon as it comes out!
I’d love a new warm palette. The Bobbi Brown Rich chocolate palette that I so looked forward to has too many dark colors and unuseable light ones, and they are rather on the cool brown side. These colors are the perfect warm browns, and graduate perfectly from light to dark ( I always wonder why palettes don’t, that’s why the make your own that are offered by many companies now really is the way to go to get exactly what you need). That being said, I do wish there were more matte shades. It really does seem to be very sparkly. MAC’s recent releases have been on the very sparkly side. I hope I get a chance to swatch it for myself, but I find these LE products are hard to find at the department stores, I cannot always be there on release date! If I miss it, your naming of the colors makes making a custom palette a good option. Thanks for your quick review. If my job were to stay up all night swatching products (oh, I do that anyway!!), I’d be tired but happy! Hope you are too!!
This might be a stupid question and you may have even answered it in your review but did MAC use permanent shades for this (Mulch, Woodwinked etc)? I hoped for more creativity with colors instead of using ones they already have….the hype was not worth the wait if that’s the case. Beautiful look you did! Keep up the great work! 🙂
(Deciding whether it’s worth the buy.)
Hi Chloe!
This is covered in detail in the review – there are two paragraphs dedicated to this alone, plus references by each shade! 🙂 The answer isn’t simple, so it’s easiest to direct you to the post!
I really am going to grab this one because my lovely Woodwinked committed suicide a couple years ago, and I miss it so much… I also am that kind of person who, oddly, is in a huge lack of neutrals, and these colors look just wonderful for fall!!. I just am a little confused about this collection ’cause in my MAC counter I’ve been told twice different versions of this collection: 1) It will arrive everywhere and 2)It won’t, and it’ll be distributed only in selected MAC counters and stores. Christine, do you know which one of these versions is the real one?. I honestly don’t like it AT ALL to be lied about something at my MAC counter only because they don’t want swarms of people lurking around them daily checking for the collection to be released…
Hi Ro,
It’s supposed to be at MAC stores on 9/26, online 9/30, and then at all the remaining counters (and international locations) on 10/3. Your best bet is to call the day before – so maybe 9/25 to confirm with your local store/counter.
This is a worldwide collection that will be at all MAC doors as far as I know – it is not limited by location from what I have been told!
These colors are so basic but I love the packaging! I wish there was a less dupable quad tossed in the mix
Christine,
I wonder how these compare to the Warm and Cozy Collection from 2009 (?)
They’re all brown-ish, but I don’t think they’re quite dupes or the same products!
Christine,
I like this palette but I have the Naked 1 and 2. Do you think this palette is still worth getting?
No, but I think at $44, a MAC quad has to be spectacular to really be compelling!
Great question! I was wondering the same. Thx for asking it 😉
I have woowdwinked, all that glitters, mulch and retrospeck. do I really need this palette? lol I want it but the price is killing me!
Nope, you don’t!
Those colors are gorgeous. I’m not one to get excited about neutrals, but the warm brass golds are too tempting. They do look like some of the permanent Mac eyeshadows, but not quite.
Do you know which shades from the Naked 1 & 2 palette could work as dupes for these eyeshadows?
Hey Pily!
All dupes I could think of are listed above, including looking at possibilities from Urban Decay!
Thank you, love your blog!
Love this palette. I am pale skinned with blue eyes and it really makes my eyes pop. 🙂