MAC Keepsakes/Plum Eyes Eyeshadow Palette Review, Photos, Swatches
MAC Keepsakes/Plum Eyes Eyeshadow Palette
MAC Keepsakes/Plum Eyes Eyeshadow Palette ($39.50 for 0.112 oz.) is one of three, 8-pan eyeshadow palettes for the holidays. Each eyeshadow is 0.014 oz., and even though there are eight of them, it’s noticeably less than past holiday palettes. In 2012 and 2013, they were 0.14 oz., and in 2011, they contained 0.21 oz. while pricing has stayed about the same. This year’s holiday packaging is very plastic-feeling, and the “pearls” that wrap around the palette lift a bit, so I don’t know if this is going to be particularly travel-friendly as far as durability goes. Since they put eight shades into the palette, each pan is on the smaller side, though it fits a MAC 239 and 217 brush comfortably. I do not find the quality of the holiday eyeshadow palettes to be on par with the average full-sized eyeshadow. This palette is all right; it works decently on the skin, but it takes some layering and packing on to make it all work.
Sensibility is described as a “pale frosty pink [with a Frost finish].” It’s a semi-sheer, light pink with subtle warm undertones and a satin finish. The texture was somewhat stiff. It lasted for eight hours. See swatches of all dupes / view dupes side-by-side.
Taupeless is described as an “icy pink with silver sparkle [with a Lustre finish].” It’s a light-medium, cool-toned pink with silver sparkle. Lustre finishes are supposed to be sheerer shades, which this is, though the texture is also chunky and a little stiff. It lasted for eight hours, but there was fall out during wear. This shade has been out in a couple of holiday palettes previously. See swatches of all dupes / view dupes side-by-side.
Plum Grand is described as a “dirty frosty lavender [with a Veluxe Pearl finish].” It’s a medium-dark, purple plum with warm undertones and a frosted finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation with a soft, but dry, consistency. It lasted for eight hours. See swatches of all dupes / view dupes side-by-side.
Nocturnelle is described as a “pinked-up chrome purple [with a Frost finish].” It’s a brightened, medium-dark purple with cool, pink undertones and a satiny sheen. It had fully opaque color payoff, and the texture was fairly soft and blendable. This shade stayed on well for eight hours. See swatches of all dupes / view dupes side-by-side.
Fashion Beat is described as a “dirty violet grey [with a Lustre finish].” It’s a muted, golden beige with a hint of gray and subtle, warm undertones. It had a more frosted finish, and it didn’t really have the sparkle content that you’d expect from a Lustre finish. It was also mostly opaque, which is more payoff than Lustres have. It lasted for eight hours on me. See swatches of all dupes / view dupes side-by-side.
Subtly Elegant is described as a “light grey lilac [with a Matte finish].” It’s a light-medium, gray-leaning taupe with subtle warm undertones and matte finish. It had really nice color payoff with a silky, velvety texture that was just a smidgen powdery. The color wore well for eight hours. See swatches of all dupes / view dupes side-by-side.
Shadowy Lady is described as a “blackened plum [with a Matte finish].” It’s a blackened purple-plum with a matte finish. This version seemed darker, slightly cooler-toned, than my permanent version (which is older). It had decent color payoff, but the texture was on the stiffer side, which made it harder to blend on the lid. It lasted for eight hours. See swatches of all dupes / view dupes side-by-side.
Magic Moor is described as a “rich blackened plum with pearl [with a Veluxe Pearl finish].” It’s a blackened, plummy taupe with subtle, warm undertones and a frosted finish. It had good pigmentation, and the texture was fairly soft. This shade started to fade after eight hours of wear. a href=”https://www.temptalia.com/swatch-gallery?sg=159293,144423,142943,109619,109567,108086,105593,105101,142526″>See swatches of all dupes / view dupes side-by-side.
See more photos & swatches!
MAC Keepsakes/Plum Eyes Eyeshadow Palette
MAC Keepsakes/Plum Eyes Eyeshadow Palette
MAC Keepsakes/Plum Eyes Eyeshadow Palette
MAC Keepsakes/Plum Eyes Eyeshadow Palette
MAC Keepsakes/Plum Eyes Eyeshadow Palette
MAC Keepsakes/Plum Eyes Eyeshadow Palette
MAC Sensibility Eyeshadow
MAC Sensibility Eyeshadow
MAC Taupeless Eyeshadow
MAC Taupeless Eyeshadow
MAC Plum Grand Eyeshadow
MAC Plum Grand Eyeshadow
MAC Nocturnelle Eyeshadow
MAC Nocturnelle Eyeshadow
MAC Fashion Beat Eyeshadow
MAC Fashion Beat Eyeshadow
MAC Subtly Elegant Eyeshadow
MAC Subtly Elegant Eyeshadow
MAC Shadowy Lady Eyeshadow
MAC Shadowy Lady Eyeshadow
MAC Magic Moor Eyeshadow
MAC Magic Moor Eyeshadow
MAC Keepsakes/Plum Eyes Eyeshadow Palette
MAC Keepsakes/Plum Eyes Eyeshadow Palette
I really like the colours, and the cameo design concept. If only the execution had been…er… a little more positive.
I like Subtly Elegant and Plum Grand especially for colour, but it feels kind of awkward that what I mostly took out of this is that if I were going to shop at a MAC store, I would just get the Nocturnelle single, which seems to be pretty much the best thing there…and its permanent!
There’s something about the more recent MAC holiday palettes that feels cheap to me. They didn’t always give me that feeling…
I honestly don’t feel much for this palette! The packaging although pretty seems a bit cheap and fragile which is a let down! I am yet to come across a MAC palette which is super quality all-round!
It definitely feels cheap 🙁
I’m going to skip this as it’s not performing on top. Pity, as this was thepalette I though of getting. Nocturnelle is really pretty. I wish this palette had been a lot better.
Well, more money for something else.
MAC’s holiday palettes are always a bit of a let down 🙁
I don’t really care for the packaging too much and it’s really disappointing that Mac keeps releasing these palettes that perform so poorly compared to their regular shadows.
I don’t know why they keep doing it 🙁 They must sell well.
Because they know people will buy them no matter how bad they are, even if ot means paying outrageous prices on eBay… You’d also think while they’re cutting corners on quality, it’s likely the costs are down, so making more product shouldn’t be problematic…
Christine, do you know if the white-bristled end of the brush is a flat brush or more like a pencil brush?
It is a 213/219 brush 🙂
Seeing the packaging close-up, I really don’t like it. It looks like cheap packaging that is trying to look “elegant”. But I’m very tempted by this assortment, even though a few of them (ones I don’t really care about anyway) performed poorly. Magic Moor, Subtly Elegant and Fashion Beat are the ones I really like and they’d make this a reasonably “worth it” purchase.
That is kind of the vibe I get – it just feels cheap in the hand.
Nocturnelle is pretty! Dont like the other shades so much.
Luckily that’s perm!
LM de Laduree, this is not.
When I initially saw the press release for them, I was reminded of that brand.
Doesn’t do it for me. The colors are nice, but I expected more quality. Plus I don’t like the packaging.
It should be better!
This is a bummer, as I really liked the colors. Christine, what plummy eyeshadow palette(s) do you recommend?
Maybe one of Chanel’s new ones?
Thanks, Christine! If you ever have time, I and some other readers would really appreciate a palette edition of you top five series, like “Five Plummy Eyeshadow Palettes for Fall,” “Five Green-Themed Eyeshadow Palettes..” etc. or something. Just an idea – I really appreciate everything that you do already!
Most palettes are LE, so I doubt there are even five good plum eyeshadow palettes to talk about, to be honest! That’s why I don’t do top 5s for palettes – there aren’t enough options! 🙁
Oh, I see. That’s probably why I can’t find any 🙂 Blog-wise, I’ll leave the expertise to you! Thank you for your terrific advice.
No problem! 🙂 Just keep your eyes peeled for those pesky LE palettes – usually not the mega-sized ones – but things like Too Faced Pretty Rebel, UD Naked, etc. tend to be better!
That looks gorgeous, especially the Plum grande eyeshadow. Great value for Mac and the packaging is so cute! Great post 🙂
Glad you liked it, Georgia!
The packaging is gorgeous!
Glad you’re digging it!
PASS. Thanks for the swatches and honest review as always though 🙂
No prob, Zoe! Sorry to be Debbie Downer this holiday season!
Yeah, no, this isn’t something I’ll be picking up. There are so many wonderful releases this year, and MACs holiday palettes are not good enough in quality to compete with other brands or other releases within their own holiday collection.
MAC palettes usually fall short 🙁
MAC has really left me disappointed lately.
Awwww!
Don’t really love the grandma packaging for this.
The packaging is definitely one of those things you’d have to enjoy, I think – there’s no getting around it!
Although quite pretty .. and I’ve been looking for a purple palette like this .. the swatches look a bit disappointing esp Taupeless and Fashion Beat .. the eye look that you did is lovely though.
Monica.
Thank you, Monica!
After being supremely disappointed with the mac all about beige look in a box, I’ve been put off the mac le palettes.
I would skip this for sure!
This packaging is so pretty but I own so many eyeshadows that are similar to these palettes. I’ll just sit here consumed with desire and probably pass on buying.
You can resist!
I actually really like this one, both the packaging, and the composition of shades. Thos is probably the first “cohesive” palette I’ve seen from any brand in a long time, and includes shadows for a complete look.
Glad you like it, Amy!
I like the idea but they are just mostly too powdery to make it worthwhile.
🙁
I really love this color family, but, I think I’ll save my money for a Chanel or other better performing palette.
Good idea!
Shoot. This was the one I was most excited about. The texture on most of these just doesn’t look good. I think I would just get Nocturnelle as a single. I like Magic Moor and Plum Grand, but not enough to buy the cruddy colors and the cheap-looking packaging. Too bad they are LE.
It’s so hard to get a purple palette right!
Don’t I know it. It’s weird the lighter, pinker shades got the worst grades. Usually it’s the bluer, darker shades that will be problematic.
Gah would it kill them to just release something good for once?
Maybe one day they’ll make these great again 🙁
I kinda dig Magic Moor, I wish it was permanent with a little more longevity. This palette is a pass for me, which is a pity, but I’m going to buy a pan of Nocturnelle, at least.
At least Nocturnelle is permanent! 🙂
It’s unfortunate tht the quality of MAC’s holiday palettes are subpar! The colours look so promising 🙂
I wish they were better!
I think I’ll pass – it seems a little expensive for what is, especially considering the formula is not as good as the standard shadows. 🙂
They really have gone up over the years in regards to price!
Cant wait to buy this next summer at CCO for half the price!
Haha!
Too bad it’s lacking in quality cause I love a purple palette. Not crazy about packaging either.
MAC’s A Passionate Quest Quad and Tarina Tarantino’s Frantastical are the plum/purple palettes I reach for frequently.
The packaging definitely seems to be a miss for most!
I keep thinking of BareMinerals Ready Quad in The Dream Sequence when I see this!
Ooh, I could see that!
Awhh man…i got this one coming too! Ugh. I eve made a Z-palette of all MAC Purples similar to this but without the browns/taupes.. I wonder how the other palettes are?? The bigger ones too?
Awwww!
This was the palette I was most excited about. I absolutely love all of these shades. I am so disappointed that the quality is not there. I was still thinking about getting it anyway since it’s probably workable (why should I have to settle for “workable” though), but I would want it mainly for travel or touch ups, and with the packaging being flimsy it seems that it would not fare well.
I’m really getting tired of MAC’s collections. So many of their limited releases sell out immediately (at least the items that I – and everybody else wants), or the quality isn’t there. I appreciate them trying to be innovative, but maybe they ought to focus less on the quantity of collections, and zero in on the quality… End of rant.
I hope 2015 is better for you + MAC 🙂
Here, here! I raise a glass of (imaginary) champagne in a toast to that! Thank you Christine 🙂
I bought it, and tried it today. Decided to read up what other people thought. This is the first time I have tried mac shadows. I am going to be returning it. It is as you described it – stiff. The color pay off and consistency, I am just not happy with it. I have tried better else wheres. The packaging though I loved. Nuts about the vintagey feel. What a bummer :/
So sorry to hear you had a similar experience, Beth! 🙁