MAC Into the Well Eyeshadows Reviews, Photos, Swatches
MAC Beg For It Into the Well Eyeshadow
MAC Into the Well Eyeshadow ($20.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a new, limited edition formula that can be used dry or wet, and there is a well in the middle for mixing the powder with water. I think they are better as eyeliners–used with a wet brush–than as eyeshadow, as they have a tendency to turn patchy and apply unevenly on the skin without a really solid base and some patience. If you’re applying it dry as an eyeliner, I recommend a small, flat edge brush and pressing into the lash line rather than sweeping. If you’re applying it wet as an eyeliner, use enough water that the surface of the powder darkens but not enough that the water is visibly sitting on the surface of the powder. I felt like there was a decent learning curve between too much and too little water; too much resulted in uneven and sheer coverage while too little resulted in dry, dragged-out lines. I think they’re best patted over pencil eyeliner to really set and lock in place–these will add two to three hours on top of my pencil eyeliner’s wear. There are six shades, and I have three of them, which are reviewed below:
MAC Beg For It Into the Well Eyeshadow ($20.00 for 0.08 oz.) is described as a “black.” It’s a medium-dark black with neutral undertones and a matte finish. It was fairly pigmented with a really soft texture, but I wish it was easier to blend out on the skin–it had a tendency to stick wherever it applied initially but then turn patchy any time I tried to diffuse or even it out. The product performed better as an eyeliner, where it lasted for eight hours when applied dry, nine hours when applied wet. Tarte Punk (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar). Chanel Modern Glamour #3 (PiP, ) is warmer (95% similar). MAC Carbon (LE, $17.00) is warmer (95% similar). MAC Cinderblack (LE, $22.00) is more shimmery, glossier (95% similar). MAC Lune Noire (LE, $17.00) is darker, warmer (95% similar). Milani Bella Black (12) (P, $4.49) is more shimmery (95% similar). MAC Point 'n' Shoot (LE, $17.00) is darker, warmer (95% similar). L'Oreal Noir C'est Noir (P, $5.99) is lighter (95% similar). KVD Beauty Jet (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar). Smashbox Big Night (PiP, ) is more shimmery (95% similar). Viseart Chroma #3 (PiP, ) is more shimmery (95% similar). MAC Structured Satin (LE, $17.00) is darker (95% similar). Too Faced Stiletto (LE, $16.00) is warmer (95% similar). Too Faced Cookies and Cream (LE, $16.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). bareMinerals Black Leather (LE, $14.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). Laura Mercier Noir (PiP, $23.00) is lighter, cooler (95% similar). LORAC Tails & Top Hats #5 (LE, $19.00) is warmer (95% similar). City Color Black Widow (P, $6.99) is more shimmery (95% similar). KVD Beauty Devotion (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar). Too Faced Noir (LE, $16.00) is lighter (95% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
MAC Dark Desires Into the Well Eyeshadow ($20.00 for 0.08 oz.) is described as a “blackened eggplant.” It’s a blackened plum with subtle, warm undertones and a matte finish. The texture was very soft, but it ran powdery, so use less than you think you need and build-up the color in layers to avoid a lot of fall out. It applied decently as an eyeshadow, but it was somewhat uneven in places. It applied well both dry and wet as an eyeliner, but the wear was longer with wet application (nine hours). Marc Jacobs Beauty The Free Spirit No. 17 (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar). ColourPop Lounge (LE, $4.50) is lighter (90% similar). theBalm Matt Batali (LE, $16.00) is warmer (90% similar). Anastasia Rowdy (DC, $12.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Dior Mitzah #5 (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). Urban Decay Blackheart (PiP, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar). Bobbi Brown Rich Chocolate (LE, $22.00) is warmer (85% similar). theBalm #27 (P, $6.50) is lighter (80% similar). bareMinerals Ensemble (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
MAC Switch Me On Into the Well Eyeshadow ($20.00 for 0.08 oz.) is described as a “dark navy.” It’s a blackened navy blue with cool undertones and a matte finish. The texture felt very soft and smooth, but it was ultimately on the powdery side and didn’t apply evenly. When I tried to blend it (as an eyeshadow), it just turned so patchy. It faded after seven hours as an eyeshadow, while it lasted about eight hours on the lower lash line dry and nine hours applied wet. Tarte Inked (LE, )(100% similar). Tarte Midnight Kiss (LE, ) is less pigmented (95% similar). NARS Mandchourie #1 (DC, $25.00) is cooler (95% similar). Smashbox Harbor (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar). bareMinerals Maven (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar). Urban Decay Pseudonym (LE, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar). LORAC Dark Navy (LE, $19.00) is more muted (95% similar). NABLA Cosmetics Zodiac (PiP, $8.00) is darker (95% similar). Estee Lauder Saphir (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar). Laura Mercier Deep Night (PiP, $23.00) is lighter (90% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty Crow's Nest (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). ColourPop Stunner (LE, $4.50) is lighter, cooler (85% similar). ColourPop Merryweather (LE, $4.50) is lighter (85% similar). Giorgio Armani #02 (P, $32.00) is lighter (85% similar). Urban Decay Heroine (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter, brighter (85% similar). MAC Midnight Shadows (LE, $22.00) is lighter, brighter (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Beg For It
LELimited Edition. $20.00.
Dark Desires
LELimited Edition. $20.00.
Switch Me On
LELimited Edition. $20.00.
See more photos & swatches!
MAC Beg For It Into the Well Eyeshadow
MAC Beg For It Into the Well Eyeshadow
MAC Beg For It Into the Well Eyeshadow
MAC Beg For It Into the Well Eyeshadow
MAC Beg For It Into the Well Eyeshadow
MAC Beg For It Into the Well Eyeshadow
MAC Beg For It Into the Well Eyeshadow
MAC Beg For It Into the Well Eyeshadow
MAC Beg For It Into the Well Eyeshadow
MAC Dark Desires Into the Well Eyeshadow
MAC Dark Desires Into the Well Eyeshadow
MAC Dark Desires Into the Well Eyeshadow
MAC Dark Desires Into the Well Eyeshadow
MAC Dark Desires Into the Well Eyeshadow
MAC Dark Desires Into the Well Eyeshadow
MAC Switch Me On Into the Well Eyeshadow
MAC Switch Me On Into the Well Eyeshadow
MAC Switch Me On Into the Well Eyeshadow
MAC Switch Me On Into the Well Eyeshadow
MAC Switch Me On Into the Well Eyeshadow
MAC Switch Me On Into the Well Eyeshadow
So, basically, these are like cake liners?
Yes! 🙂
If you were rating these If they were marketed as cake liners, would the scores be in the much higher?
Is the skinny line swatch done wet?
A little higher! Yes, the skinny line is applied with a thin eyeliner brush that was wet and used wet in the well! 🙂
strange product
I can see why MAC put it out, but I think it would be better marketed as an eyeliner and then maybe eyeshadow as a “off-label” usage.
The well design in the center is clever. The colors look so different swatched than they do in the pan, though.
It does work well for mixing, but trying to find the right ratio of water/powder is interesting, haha.
Ha, ha! I’ll bet! Start with a barely wet brush and add a teeny amount until it’s right. Each cake liner is different.
Well these are disappointing ?
Just wanted to say that I love your blog so much and you do such a fantastic job. I always come and check your reviews before I buy something ?
Thank you, Misha!
So how do they compare to the Laura Mercier cake liner? Or how do they stack up as a cake liner? LM Cake Liner has been in and out of my cart forever. I just can’t decide if I want to try cake liner.
I don’t think I’ve tried that!
The Laura cake eyeliner is good, but it doesn’t activate with just water, you need the special liquid that Laura Mercier sells as well. I spent like 20 minutes at Sephora with a girl with water not getting anything, and then we both realized you need the liquid. Worked properly then!
I’ve used the LM tight line cake liner for years. The cake liner works great with Visine or any drugstore eye drops. For those who are interested, I recommend the color called Bleu Marine. It’s basically a darkened navy blue color.
I think this is actually a good idea! I use dark shadows as eyeliners often, but sometimes I use Makeup Forever Aqua Seal as a mixer, but you have to use it on a different part of the pan because it creates a waterproof crust. Its hard to keep them separate sometimes and I can see how this would be useful.
Definitely haven’t seen any hardening yet!
Ugh, I was SO excited for this collection, but these swatches look terrible, and they sound really tricky to use. Fortunately, there are so many other great options out there, that I don’t have to bother with these.
There’s looking on the bright side!
I didn’t like the looks of this collection from the Instagram photos. Your grades and review has confirmed my original thoughts. Definite pass on this collection
I’m surprised these weren’t just marketed as eyeliners!
I was excited about these after falling in love with the eyeliner palettes in the Bobbi Brown Greige collection but these don’t seem to perform nearly as well. Looks like I’m better off shelling out the extra bucks
Sounds like a plan!
I’m disappointed in the navy shade, I wanted it to use as an eyeliner but the shade is not what I was expecting..
They were pretty dark — a little too dark, I think, so they lose a lot of nuance!
Hmmmm….they are definitely interesting if nothing else! I have been eyeing the burgundy-brown shade, but I don’t know until I get a chance to swatch it.
Keep me posted! 😀
Great idea, subpar execution.
Wish they were better and then just marketed as eyeliners!
I haven’t used cake liner since, oh forever almost. Iäm not in a hurry to go back in time to use one again. I don’t dislike them, but I much prefere all other options availabe.
I don’t really have to say I’ll not get these after that intro, right 🙂
lol! 🙂
These are really strange products – far too dark for a lot of people to wear I think and not enough contrast between the colours on the eye. Having to use water just makes it a bit messy to apply I think. Not exactly an easy eye makeup choice when there are so many great eye liner pencils and caviar sticks out there.
My guess is that for anyone who doesn’t like pencil, powder eyeliner or cake eyeliner is a nice alternative, but they definitely take some getting used to!
pfffftttttt… not excited anymore. I can use any old shadow as a liner with a bit of medium or a push brush. .. and most of them work as shadows too. Magic!
That is true!
This is true, come to think of it! Fix+ or something similar and a push brush are all one needs. Curiosity just flew out my front door, Wendy! TY for the idea!
A bit of a disappointing product for a pro brand, I think.
It is!
I love the concept of putting a well in the center of the pot so that you can mix it with liquids but I don’t think that the formula itself is all that stellar, especially for the price. There are matte eyeshadows out there by Urban Decay or Make Up Forever that don’t need any water to work and they are WAY more buttery unlike this formula.
I wish they had just marketed these as an eyeliner 🙁
Tsk Tsk Tsk Mac!!! They must be running out of ideas or something cuz they are trying to do anything to hold our attention smh! I don’t like havin to work hard for a product n with the lack of time people spend on doin their makeup, I don’t wanna have to calculate n guess how many drops of water should go in the “well” to work.
lol! That is true. Perhaps a system where they had the activator and you could easily get a drop out of it.
Athese well pots had such promise. I love when Clinique sold an eyeshadow/liner rectangular compact. I used a wet brush with the product for a liner and it was superb. I’m sure it work dry as well. Disappointed coming from MAC.
I should try that one!
I like the concept but these are disappointing at best.
They’d be better marketed solely as eyeliners, as they’re more workable that way!
I am a huge fan of cake liners and I think these have the potential to be good. I think your swatches are too wet, I’ve seen other swatches that have resulted in a beautifully pigmented line.
The Laura mercier cake liners are great, especially as there is a good shade choice. If you decide to use the liquid she sells with it, it will create a surface where you can’t mix with water, so I just use it on half the liner.
The recent bobbi brown ones were a little disappointing for me. Trish mcevoy does some ok ones, yaby’s are super pigmented.
I can’t wait to play with these.
Keep me posted, Shane! I didn’t use a lot of water at all, as I actually wet the brush more than dropped a bunch of water in the well!