MAC Tartan Tale: Eyeshadows Review, Photos, Swatches
MAC A Wish Come True Eyeshadow
MAC Tartan Tale: Eyeshadows
MAC Tartan Tale Eyeshadows ($19.50 for 0.10 oz.) are new and limited edition as part of the Tartan Tale Color Collection. These eyeshadows are twice the size of regular pressed MAC Eyeshadows (0.05 oz. vs. 0.10 oz.), and they are the same size pot as Mineralize Eyeshadows or Cream Colour Bases. Given the quantity, they’re actually a better value (when you look at price/quantity) than MAC’s normal eyeshadows.
The six limited edition shades include: A Wish Come True (dirty mauve with bubblegum pink Tartan striping), Enviably Fun (grass green with dark green Tartan striping), Follow Your Fantasy (mid-tone peach with chocolate Tartan striping), Golden Crown (light gold with bronze Tartan striping), Glamora Castle (dark grey with teal Tartan striping), and Semi-Precious (aubergine with chocolate Tartan striping).
I wish MAC included a better description of the product itself, because “dressed in a playfully tartan pattern finish” doesn’t tell me how I should expect these to perform. My experience with them is that they are a very soft, silky powder with decent color payoff. All of the colors seemed just a touch more muted when swatched than they looked in the pan.
I tried to remove the top layer with the tartan striping, so the swatches are of what was beneath the striping. Doing so also showed that the colored striping is only on the top layer, and the pattern itself doesn’t go all the way through. You can see the shadow cut in half, over at BBB — thanks @mylipsbutbetter!
- A Wish Come True is a softened pink with light plumminess and a frosted finish. It seems like a warmer pink to me. It’s a warmer Swish and a lighter and more muted Da Bling.
- Enviably Fun is a soft chartreuse green with stronger golden sheen and yellow undertones. It’s similar to Juxt eyeshadow, but it’s brighter and greener–think Bitter and Juxt coming together.
- Follow Your Fantasy is a soft medium orange with champagne shimmer-sheen. MAC doesn’t have a lot of orange eyeshadows, so there didn’t seem like there was anything similar in the permanent range. Paradisco would come the closest, but it is more coral.
- Golden Crown is a gilded champagne gold with soft sheen. This one was the least pigmented of the six and gave more shimmer than heavy color. It’s like a sheerer, less yellow Goldmine.
- Glamora Castle is a steel blue with silver sheen. This seemed a little less frosty than the others. It’s a bluer version of Surreal (without the duochrome). It’s also a less intense version of Urban Decay’s Money (a BoS III exclusive shade).
- Semi-Precious is a brightened red plum with soft violet sheen. This was the most pigmented shade of the six. It is rather similar to both Hepcat and Plum Dressing.
I don’t think any of these shades really jumped out as being particularly new or original, and they seem rather soft and muted for fall–like I would expect to see this kind of soft, springy palette in spring/summer. I’m lukewarm on these; they’re soft and smooth, but a little powdery, and while they’re good, they’re not excellent.
If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ! 🙂
- Product: 26/30
- Value: 9/10
- Ease of Use: 4/5
- Packaging: 4/5
RECOMMENDATION: Nice but not outstanding–if there’s a color that grabs you, I don’t think you’d be disappointed. They have a very soft, smooth texture.
AVAILABILITY: Online now, October 28th in-store
MAC A Wish Come True Eyeshadow
MAC A Wish Come True Eyeshadow
MAC A Wish Come True Eyeshadow
MAC Enviably Fun Eyeshadow
MAC Enviably Fun Eyeshadow
MAC Enviably Fun Eyeshadow
MAC Enviably Fun Eyeshadow
MAC Follow Your Fantasy Eyeshadow
MAC Follow Your Fantasy Eyeshadow
MAC Follow Your Fantasy Eyeshadow
MAC Golden Crown Eyeshadow
MAC Golden Crown Eyeshadow
MAC Golden Crown Eyeshadow
MAC Glamora Castle Eyeshadow
MAC Glamora Castle Eyeshadow
MAC Glamora Castle Eyeshadow
MAC Semi-Precious Eyeshadow
MAC Semi-Precious Eyeshadow
MAC Semi-Precious Eyeshadow
Sad Shadows! 🙁
Sad Shadows! 🙁
A Wish Come True, Enviably Fun, Follow Your Fantasy
Golden Crown, Glamora Castle, Semi-Precious
these have some really fun designs in them!
=/ I am so disappointed in this collection. These are so sheer and the colors are NOT appealing to me. Pretty print, but I am not sold.
Me too. I was expecting much more from it 🙁
The colors do look INCREDIBLY springy, especially given the way they swatch!
Sort of re-thinking wanting golden crown!
So sheer! Not liking them at all!
Love the look of ‘Semi-Precious’ I’d definitely want that one! x
I’m liking A Wish Come True, Follow Your Fantasy and Semi-precious. Not sure whether to get them, though, as although I’m not fussed about the pattern on them I’m one of those people who likes my things to look pristine for as long as possible, which means I’d not want to use them. Had they been plain from the start, I may well have been more tempted.
I’m not going to lie – most of these colors are ugly. MAC ain’t selling me on this one. It looks like little kid play makeup.
I sprung for Glamora Castle since I’m a gray eyeshadow ho (LOL) and have been looking for a midtone grey.
I ordered Golden Crown because that soft gold is so up my alley. I also plan to get Glamora Castle. It looks like a gorgeous shade and I don’t have anything like it.
Thanks for doing this review! I don’t think I’ll b purchasing any of these shadows because the only one that appealed to me was glamoura castle but I’ve already got money from UD and think it’s just ok.
I can’t wait to get my hands on A wish come true, Glamora Castle and Semi-Precious. :))
i’m rather torn on these. i want some of them because they are cool looking – but i don’t think i would ever end up using them so i think i’d just be waisting money. i did pick up glamora castle for myself (because i LOVE grey and silver shadows and wear them on me all the time). other than that, i’m curious to try “follow your fantasy” as a blush. “semi-prescious” is pretty – but if it’s too close to something i already have (and i have “hepcat” AND “plum dressing”) i’ll send it back.
These look like makeup Smackers would make…stuff for little kids! Thumbs down.
I totally agree! These reminded me of that too!
These shades reminds me of the Pearlmatte shadow from last year. All frost but no base pigmentation. 🙁 However some do pack a bit more punch.
This is such a weird collection. So far I’m very disappointed and not planning on getting anything!
they look so pretty and original in the pan, but the swatches are sooo dull and boring!
semi-prescious is red or purple?
It’s a red-plum!
im getting all of these eyshadows. Its weird becuase they arent amazing or anything but i got my self so pumped up that I think i need to get them to stay sane.
I was wondering if Glamora Castle is anything like Love Lace eyeshadow from last year’s winter collection?
It seems similar!
oh, ew… this is not what I expected. These are gross.
Glamora Castle and Semi-Precious are the only two that are almost alright. The rest just don’t appeal to me.
Is follow your fantasy anything like Pollinator from naked honey?
Kind of, not as frosty.
Oh look, you destroyed them. Nice! The things you do for the sake of blogging… XD
haha so many people hate these, but I saw the colors and fell in love so I’m going to buy all them
hey christine,
which shadow and lippie would you recommend for nc45?
Please see the overall review which includes recommendations!
i really wanted golden crown but it looks way too sheer, unfortunately.
The colors are up my alley more than I expected them to be, so I’m pleasantly surprised.
I wish I would have checked here before ordering. Stupid me for not looking to Temptalia! I did order Glamora Castle tonight along with a face kit. I know I will love the face kit but now I am afraid of how disappointed I am going to be with my new eyeshadow. Although Glamora Castle and Semi-Precious are the only two colors in this collection that I would consider for a fall look.
I think you’ll still like it! I’m not over the moon with the eyeshadows, but they’re not rubbish either!
Hi Christine
I really wanna buy Follow Your Fantasy
dose it have a better pay off
than paradisco ,, I’ve it already but im not too fan
about the pigmentation ,,,
Yeah, better than Paradisco.
These swatched so much more sheer and less vibrant than I expected. I thought they would have a bit more bang to them. Oh well….
Christine, do you think Golden Crown would be a good base eyeshadow?
Not really, since it’s pretty sheer.
I order all six of the shadows. I looking for to Golden Crown. I think I might pair that with MAC Glamor check or Antiqued. I also excited about Evinaly Fun I might paired that with Humind
do we get discount on these ones? or is it just the sets we dont get?
Check with MAC PRO! 🙂
Christine, you said it exactly what I said when I saw them on the sneek peak. I was originally excited for these due to the pattern, yet none of them were any different than what I already have. I agree that the orange/coral shade was the most unique, but none of them really impressed me much!
I like Follow Your Fantasy and Glamora Castle, but I would cry at messing up the adorable patterns! Follow Your Fantasy reminds me of Urban Decay Jones, only peachier? I’m not sure.
Follow Your Fantasy looks like a lot of LE shades: Evening Aura, Straw Harvest, etc. I feel like we see this same soft orange a lot.
Semi Precious is swatched a lot prettier than I expected – it has a nice glow to it.
I want them all, esp Follow Your Fantasy!
Semi-Precious and Glamora Castle are nice. Thinking about getting Golden Crown, since I’m getting back into eyeshadows so a little sheer is okay for me.
do you think these would be too sheer to be worn as blushers?? (obv only certain shades!!)follow your fantasy and a wish come true look like they could be really nice. thanks
They might be a lil’ powdery, but I think you could use it on cheeks.
Hmm, probably gonna give these a miss. I have too much that’s close to A Wish Come True and Enviably Fun; Golden Crown looks pretty dupeable and unexciting, and Follow Your Fantasy would just look awful on me.
Semi-Precious is pretty but I’m sure I have similar shades (maybe UD’s Last Call?), and I’d rather get Hepcat or Plum Dressing so it can go in a palette. Glamora Castle is the only one I might be tempted by.
Very pretty shadows!!! :3
I wish the pattern would have gone all the way through the shadows though… :/
I bought a wish come true and golden crown love those
I got Golden Crown today! I figured I’d take advantage of the sheerness and use it as a cheek highlighter. The large size of the pan is pretty convenient to accommodate a cheek brush too, so perfect! Thank you for the review, Christine! =D
Now that these are only $14.50 on the MAC website, I may have to get one or two!