MAC Masat al Lail Eyeshadow Quad Review, Photos, Swatches
MAC Masat al Lail Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Masat al Lail Eyeshadow Quad ($40.00 for 0.21 oz.) contains these shades: Rondelle (platinum silver frost), Waft (deep navy with pearl), Gentle Fume (dirty concrete grey with silver pearl), and Carbon (intense black). Long-time MAC collectors may remember this composition, as it was originally launched in Smoke Signals (2007) as the Gentle Fume quad.
Rondelle is a gray-tinged white with a frosted finish. It had decent to good color payoff, but it was a little dusty, though I was able to get it to apply smoothly for the most part. Tarte Silver Burst is brighter, whiter. Guerlain Les Aquas #4 is more metallic. Bobbi Brown Iced Blue is cooler-toned.
Waft is a dark, bluish-gray with a subtle, frosted finish. The texture is rather dry, which is why this shade looks a bit patchy (and it does look dry, too) when swatched. It has so-so color payoff, but it was buildable and when used with a soft, fluffier brush, it did seem to apply better and more smoothly. theBalm Matt McDonald is very similar. MAC Warm Thunder is more metallic. Tarina Tarantino DIamond DUsk is more metallic, lighter. MAC Weathered is bluer.
Gentle Fume is a medium-dark matte gray base with silver sparkle. The silver sparkle doesn’t adhere or bind with the base color very well, so it flakes and disappears the moment you go to blend out the color. If you want any sparkle to survive, pat the color on, and then leave it alone. There will be fall out during the day, though. MAC Fabulous Fit doesn’t have the sparkle and is a touch lighter. MAC Silver Gull is much lighter. NARS Delphes #2 is close to the base color but doesn’t have the silver sparkle. Chanel Gris Exquis is a darker gray with no silver sparkle.
Carbon is a medium-dark black with a matte finish. It is part of the permanent range, and it varies in its dryness. This isn’t the worst iteration I’ve seen of it, but it’s certainly not the best and is by no means a favorite of mine to use. The beauty world can do better black eyeshadows now, so Carbon could use a reformulation to put it on par with current black eyeshadows. It’s just so dry and stiff, so the color payoff is sheerer and patchy–even applied on the lid, it can be a pain to blend out. You can find numerous black eyeshadows that compare to this (in terms of color).
It is a cool-toned, silver-and-gray smoky eye palette. Over the years, I’ve grown frustrated with Carbon, so the inclusion of it in the quad is tiresome, as it is so often released in quads and palettes, so you very likely have one already (and it’s just not a great quality eyeshadow to begin with, so why have doubles or triples of it?). I think the color of Waft is the most interesting, but it turns out that Weathered ends up looking more nuanced on the lid because it is bluer. I wish the silver sparkle stuck to Gentle Fume, because then it would be something harder to dupe or find, but it just disappears and gets everywhere else. Rondelle is the best performing shade in the palette. I’m going to be wearing this quad for wear today, so I’ll report back with the results this afternoon–based on my experience with MAC’s drier/sheerer shades, I don’t get great wear (between seven and eight hours, some fading), I’ve assessed a rating but if it is better/worse, I’ll be sure to let you know.
MAC Masat al Lail Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Masat al Lail Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Masat al Lail Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Masat al Lail Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Masat al Lail Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Rondelle Eyeshadow
MAC Rondelle Eyeshadow
MAC Waft Eyeshadow
MAC Waft Eyeshadow
MAC Gentle Fume Eyeshadow
MAC Gentle Fume Eyeshadow
MAC Carbon Eyeshadow
MAC Carbon Eyeshadow
MAC Eyeshadows: Gentle Fume (inner lid), Rondelle (middle of lid), Waft (outer lid), Carbon (crease)
That is an absolutely beautiful eye look. I have Waft (and I’m almost 100% positive Gentle Fume) from a smokey blue quad a couple years ago. -Tone Grey- I think it was called. I am going to be recreating that look with stuff I already have! So pretty, though.
I have the Tone Grey quad, too! I know Waft is in there, but I am pretty sure Gentle Fume isn’t, though there is another soft grey color in there. I think you’re right, though: Tone Grey would probably give a similar look!
A very generous grade, Christine. 😉
I would never have thought this palette could look as gorgeous on brown eyes as it does on you. That is very impressive.
I love this look on you Christine, I don’t think I ‘ve ever saw you wearing this kind of colors before. It looks very flattering on you. It must be because I love neutral colors. Thank you for the review.
To change the name of an already released quad, to put very low quality eyeshadows on it, sell it for $40 and sell out anyway…only at MAC!
C, what a shame 🙁 I like the look you’ve created with it though.
Waft is lovely and the only shadow out of the collection that looks worthy of even bothering with. Just a pissy comment because it needs to be said: C’mon, MAC, get your freaking black eyeshadow right. Jeez.
This is gorgeous on you! Rondelle originally launched with the 2006 Danse collection. I still have mine! It’s too bad the formula isn’t as good now.
I just don’t get it: How can MAC make such fantastic single eye shadows, but at the same time constantly disappoint with their quads? I love the look you crated with the palette though, Cristine.
It looks really pretty on your eye, Christine! But even with the bad review, these aren’t the most unique colors, either.
Saw a quad that had the word “MAC” attached to it. I said “Let me guess, it’s complete crap.”
I scrolled down, and whaddya know. -sigh- Thanks for the review, Christine!
the sad thing is that carbon actually USED to be an intense matte black, but they reformulated it. i used to use it on myself and clients all the time but it’s just awful now.
I don’t know how old yours is, but I have one that’s probably 5 or 6 years old – so a year or so ago (I don’t remember exactly when but somewhat recent), I went back to my old pan of it, because I just didn’t remember it being AS bad as recent releases… and it was better, but it wasn’t great. Still a so-so black eyeshadow! Definitely nothing compared to ones from MUFE, Sugarpill, etc.
I haven’t bought a MAC quad in years because the quality doesn’t seem to be there anymore. It’s a shame!
The Kat von D True Romance palette in Sinner pretty much has these same shades (not “dupes”, but I think the same feel is there), and the quality is superb, and you get 8 pans for $36 USD. Also, you don’t have to chase it down.
Love the look…this may be worth $40! I think I know what I’m buying this weekend…thanks!
For poor quality, you pulled off a beautiful smoky look!
I was looking at the swatches and was not impressed, then I saw how you managed it on your eye-look and did a double-take (literally!). You are a true talent to take what looks like it would be a mess and turn it into something magic. Wait, that must be magic, right? Nice work, Christine.
Thank you! 🙂
I didn’t have high hopes for this palette. It’s a pity the quality is so poor though, your smoky eye is absolutely beautiful.
I agree with a lot of the comments, that is a great look on you. Thank goodness it can be recreated with a lot of other brands since this one is disappointing.
I’ve never been crazy about Carbon. I think it’s such a mediocre black (even the one I first tried 4 years ago). I don’t understand why it’s so popular. MAC needs a high-quality matte black.
So it’s basically the smoke signals gentle fume quad repromoted? Meh. Pass. Man MAC has been letting me down a lot this past year and a half!
Not very nice pigmentation on some of them, but I lovee the eye look you did!
I really like the concept – too bad the execution needs work!
These swatch SO terribly but look pretty damn rad on the eye.
Wow! The look you created is stunning!
For $40 may be a good buy. I think I may give it a try. Just look how incredible this looks on you Christine 😉
How funny that this exact combination was released with Smoke Signals! I really wanted the warm toned palette that came out with that collection, but I hesitated and of course it sold out. Anyone remember what it was called?
It means jewels of the night in Arabic. haha
I don’t understand all the hate for carbon. Yes, there are more pigmented, darker blacks out there, but carbon serves a purpose too. You don’t want an intensely pigmented black when just needing to slightly darken up an outer v to deepen a color. I use carbon all the time, on myself and clients. There are times that less pigmented shadows are what’s needed, I think this gets forgotten.
The problem is MAC says it is an intense black — and it’s not merely a softer or lighter black, it’s dry, stiff, and hard to work with, period. You can do sheer and still have a great, blendable texture and even (but sheer) color payoff. Carbon is nothing but trouble.
Well true, they do make that claim and it’s not correct. But I don’t have a problem using it. I just with they’d stop putting it in quads already!!!! 🙂
I agree – who needs 40 Carbons? 😉
Well, if they’re gonna repromote entire quads, can we get a repeat of the Spiced Chocolate (from Cult of Cherry) then?