MAC Iced, Photosphere, Gravitational Electric Cool Eyeshadows Reviews, Photos, Swatches
MAC Iced Electric Cool Eyeshadow
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. I have three ready to review in this post, and I just received my order of the remaining four this week. The collection is online now and will be available in stores on August 6th.
MAC Iced Electric Cool Eyeshadow ($22.00 for 0.07 oz.) is described as a “pearly white.” It’s a sparkling, lightly brightened white with a frosted sheen. It had semi-sheer to semi-opaque color payoff that applied fairly smoothly but may look odd without a base, since it is still translucent. It lasted for eight hours on me before creasing slightly. (I also have no idea why it arrived cracked, because it wasn’t dry!) Buxom Sheepdog (P, $18.00) is less shimmery. Tarina Tarantino Glinda’s Kiss (LE, ) is warmer. MAC 2x Dare #1 (LE, ) is more shimmery. Disney by Sephora Ball Gown (LE, ) is cooler. MAC White (P, $21.00) is brighter. MAC She’s Got Class (LE, $32.50) is more shimmery. MAC Pearl (LE, $32.50) is cooler. Viseart Yves (P, ) is warmer. Burberry Optic White (000) (P, $29.00) is brighter. Clarins Garden Escape #1 (LE, ) is brighter, warmer. YSL Eau d’Argent (02) (P, $30.00) is more shimmery, lighter. Guerlain Les Nuees #2 (LE, ) is brighter. ColourPop Tassel (P, $5.00) is more shimmery. MAC Smoky Black Friday #1 (LE, ) is lighter. Make Up For Ever ME122 Snow (P, $21.00) is brighter. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
MAC Photosphere Electric Cool Eyeshadow ($22.00 for 0.07 oz.) is described as a “soft gold.” It’s a softened, light-medium champagne gold with warm undertones and a frosted, slightly metallic, finish. It had semi-opaque coverage at best, which tended to apply with semi-sheer color payoff in practice. The texture of this seemed slightly drier compared to past iterations of the formula, and it “thickened” on the lid and emphasized the skin’s natural texture while applying unevenly. On me, the color lasted for eight hours before fading. Viseart Champagne (P, ) is darker, warmer. Dior Contraste Horizon #2 (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker. Rouge Bunny Rouge Golden Rhea (P, $19.00) is darker. Milani Bella Chiffon (28) (P, $4.49) is brighter, cooler. Too Faced Butter Pecan (P, $16.00) is darker, warmer. LORAC Uninhibited (P, ) is darker, warmer. ColourPop High Tide (P, $5.00) is less shimmery. ColourPop Fringe (P, $5.00) is darker. Burberry Gold #4 (LE, ) is darker. Guerlain Petrouchka #1 (LE, ) is darker. MAC Canter (LE, $16.00) is darker, warmer. Make Up For Ever ME512 Golden Beige (P, $21.00) is darker, warmer. Make Up For Ever D416 Crystalline Yellow (P, $21.00) is more shimmery. MAC In the Meadow #2 (LE, $21.00) is less shimmery, darker. MAC Cool Companions #1 (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker, more muted. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
MAC Gravitational Electric Cool Eyeshadow ($22.00 for 0.07 oz.) is described as a “coppery neutral.” It’s a rich, medium-dark copper brown with warm undertones and fine, gold pearl. It had rich color payoff and went on with full coverage without having to layer it on, but it remained blendable on the skin. The color started to crease after nine hours of wear. Surratt Beauty Cuivre (P, $20.00) is lighter. ColourPop Hot Tamale (LE, $5.00) is darker. Anastasia Truffle (LE, $12.00) is more shimmery. ColourPop Deluxe (P, $5.00) is warmer. Makeup Geek Brown Sugar (P, $5.99) is lighter. Too Faced Hazelnut (P, $16.00) is more shimmery, lighter. Sisley Paris Toffee (7) (P, $47.00) is lighter, warmer. LORAC Untamed (P, ) is darker. ColourPop Bandit (P, $5.00) is less shimmery, darker. Urban Decay Twice Baked (P, $18.00) is darker. MAC Lie Low (P, $21.00) is less shimmery. MAC Exposed (LE, $16.00) is less shimmery, lighter. MAC Antiqued (P, $16.00) is lighter, brighter, warmer. Viseart Chantille (P, ) is lighter. See comparison swatches/ compare dupes side-by-side.
Iced
LELimited Edition. $22.00.
Photosphere
LELimited Edition. $22.00.
Gravitational
LELimited Edition. $22.00.
MAC Iced Electric Cool Eyeshadow
MAC Iced Electric Cool Eyeshadow
MAC Iced Electric Cool Eyeshadow
MAC Photosphere Electric Cool Eyeshadow
MAC Photosphere Electric Cool Eyeshadow
MAC Photosphere Electric Cool Eyeshadow
MAC Gravitational Electric Cool Eyeshadow
MAC Gravitational Electric Cool Eyeshadow
MAC Gravitational Electric Cool Eyeshadow
MAC Iced, Photosphere, Gravitational Electric Cool Eyeshadow with Marc Jacobs Re(cocoa) Eyeliner
MAC Iced, Photosphere, Gravitational Electric Cool Eyeshadow with Marc Jacobs Re(cocoa) Eyeliner
I guess this is a really nitpicky complaint, but it just seems like these were pressed into the pan really haphazardly, especially with Iced being cracked! Do you find that these types of problems (broken/cracked powders, overfilled tubes, etc) happen more often with press samples, Christine?
No, I had the same issue with ones I have purchased.
i love MAC, but is it just me or do the performance (and price!) of Colourpop shadows kind of make these an easy pass?
ColourPop’s are better for sure.
Yeah, I loved my two electric cool shadows until I got colourpop. No question which one works better, I never reach for my MAC electric cool anymore. Not enough pigment, not unique enough.
Ohhhh Christine!!! Will you be reviewing the others??? Like the green?? I pre bought and I can exchange or cancel if the others got average grades. PULLEEEAASSSE tell me you are lol !
Honestly, I USUALLY only buy per your recommendation but if it is something I like and you did’t review, I buy it. Nine times, out of 10, I read your review on an already purchased item and you are correct. Then I wish I didn’t lol. Case in point that MAC Ledisko collection.
Haven’t tried the rest – they only just arrived, but I’m working on everything as fast as I can!
Hi Tracie,
I mentioned this in my post: “I have three ready to review in this post, and I just received my order of the remaining four this week.”
Hope that helps!
sorry only read the grades
Pretty, but I’d dupe from ColourPop.
These aren’t even good versions of Electric Cool (I like some of their shades – like Gravitational was nice!), so ColourPop all the way!
Photosphere going to be joining Pure Flash! and Superwatt that I have from last year. Love these! The only pan I hit on anything in the last 5 years is Pure Flash. The eye look that you’ve posted is very pretty!
Wow!! 🙂
For the last couple of days, I’ve been admiring your eye look with these shadows, thought for sure they would all rate well. I especially liked Photosphere, but at $22 each, it has to get an A. Oh well, I have enough dupes in my stash
Reminds me of the line in the movie Clueless, where it’s like a Monet – pretty from afar but a mess close-up!
I don’t get why MAC at the very least didn’t fix how they packaged these. If I remember correctly, this was a problem with the initial release as well! Colour Pop has very similar packaging, and I’ve never had a problem with cracking/falling out, unlike these MAC shadows that cost $17 more and don’t even have anything exciting color/finish-wise.
The packaging looks exactly the same as ColourPop, so I don’t know if it’s a packaging problem – it is more of an integrity issue of the formula. I have heard of ColourPop’s eyeshadows falling out, though, since they are a cream product, they can come lose from the base entirely as a clump (same with Chanel, Dior, etc.).
Let me first say; the eye look you put together here is so beautifully eye BRIGHTENING and very perfectly on point! Having been inspired, I am going to see about taking my dupes and recreating this because it actually has such a visually “cooling” effect!
As for these Electric Cool shadows; I will be sticking with ColourPop’s close iterations as well my trusty and much-loved MAC Antiqued, MUFE Golden Beige and for the time being, a really bright, metallic white that’s in one of my old Nyx palettes!
Thank you so much, Nancy! 🙂
I wanted Iced to be nicer but I agree that colour pop is putting out better quality.
It’s a real shame that these didn’t all knock it out of the park!
Lately brands like ColourPop have been delivering way more consistently and much better quality products. I’m starting to feel disillusioned by MAC and other similar expensive brands. Why pay more for less quality?
Like most things in life, quality typically doesn’t equal price!
I love the look you created. But, I’m just not seeing anything special with these shadows.I’ll be passing.
Thanks, Nicole!
IDK, they look more like highlighter potential than eyeshadow holy grails. Guess I will play with them on my cheek to see if I like them
That might work!
Allura Beauty’s Iced was cracked too I believe!
Good to know!
The other day you had these shades on in a lipstick review, I think. I remember scrolling down right away to see what shadows you were wearing. The swatches are so uninspiring and blah but dang you managed to make a beautiful look with them. I’m going to copy you 😉 but with dupes. MAC why ya gotta keep breaking my heart?
Glad the look could inspire you 🙂
Yeah, no. I’ll stick of Colourpop. Sorry MAC.
I was surprised by how Iced/Photosphere applied for sure!
Even though I love the white and the gold, I think these are poor quality. Speaking of Emerald Pretty in the question section, I do have Glinda’s Kiss and I like Milani’s Bella Chiffon much better for more than half the price. Besides Iced looks cracked – which is tough when it is brand new and used once. Colour Pop’s alternatives are better as well.
It’s a real bummer they aren’t better!
Hah, funny, I just reviewed two of these today as well, Photosphere and Infra-Violet! I was hoping for a bit more intensity from Photosphere but Infra-Violet really wowed me!
At least one did well!