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MAC Naturally Mineralize Eyeshadows Review, Photos, Swatches

MAC Cloudy Afternoon Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Cloudy Afternoon Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Naturally: Mineralize Eyeshadows

MAC Mineralize Eyeshadows ($20.00 for 0.07oz.) make an appearance in the Naturally collection as well, with five new and limited edition shades to choose from: Cloudy Afternoon (cream with gold, grey, and pink veining), Daylight (peach with dirty blue lavender veining), In the Sun (gold with violet veining), Summer Haze (palest gold with deeper gold veining), and Twilight Falls (cool brown with bronze veining).

  • Cloudy Afternoon is a slightly gray-brown with a silvered edge. It has a frosted finish. When applied dry, it looks less brown and has some sheerness, while when applied damp, it holds together better. I applied this to my lid, and it looked mostly gray, because it tends to lose the character it takes on when applied damp once it dries down and “settles” in a way. theBalm Selfish is darker and browner. NARS Grand Palais is browner. More like Bobbi Brown Rockstar, which had subpar pigmentation.
  • Daylight is a pinked lavender with a frosted finish that turns more metallic when it is applied damp. It had good color payoff both wet and dry, though. MAC Circa Plum has more purple. MAC Tendersmoke is smokier.
  • In the Sun is burnished copper with gold sparkle. The pigmentation is good both wet and dry, but it has a grittier consistency, which I suspect is partially due to the larger sparkle used in this. I would anticipate some fall out with this shade as well. MAC Red Hot Copper is similar in color. MAC Coppering is more intense and coppery.
  • Summer Haze is a beige champagne with a metallic finish. It takes on a darker quality when it is applied wet, but the color payoff is nice both wet and dry. The beige in Chanel Eclosion is similar but a bit darker and has a subtler finish. MAC Sweet Satisfaction looks darker because it has less of a metallic sheen.
  • Twilight Falls is a dark, almost sooty, brown with subtle teal sparkle. It’s softer when applied dry compared to the result when applied wet, but the payoff is decent both ways. Urban Decay Busted is more intense. theBalm Silly is more burgundy. theBalm Caught in the Act Courtney is also similar.

I tested out three of the five shades by wearing them in a look yesterday for ten hours: I wore Summer Haze on the inner two-thirds of the lid with Cloudy Afternoon on the outer third of the lid and Twilight Falls in the crease. There was noticeable fading after six hours when used over a primer (fading after four hours, creasing after six without a primer), which has always been a major issue for me when it comes to the Mineralize product line as the wear never seems to last a full work day (eight to nine hours). There was also a fair amount of fall out underneath my eyes. I feel like these get better each year, especially texturally, but I’m still missing the wear. When an eyeshadow fades over primer and used wet, it’s just not a product that endears itself!

The texture is soft, and only In the Sun felt a little rougher, almost gritty, from the sparkle. If you’re normally a fan of Mineralize Eyeshadows, I imagine you’ll enjoy these–they feel a little softer without being powdery than previous iterations. If you’re less of a fan but like your colors soft, you may not mind the faded look of these. For me, especially when shelling out $20 a pop as I did with these, I want true color for at least a day of wear.

MAC Naturally Mineralize Eyeshadows Review, Photos, Swatches

B
8
Product
9.5
Pigmentation
9.5
Texture
7
Longevity
4
Application
84%
Total

MAC Cloudy Afternoon Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Cloudy Afternoon Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Cloudy Afternoon Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Cloudy Afternoon Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Cloudy Afternoon Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Cloudy Afternoon Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Cloudy Afternoon Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Cloudy Afternoon Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Cloudy Afternoon Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Cloudy Afternoon Mineralize Eyeshadow (Dry/Wet)

MAC Daylight Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Daylight Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Daylight Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Daylight Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Daylight Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Daylight Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Daylight Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Daylight Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Daylight Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Daylight Mineralize Eyeshadow (Dry/Wet)

MAC In the Sun Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC In the Sun Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC In the Sun Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC In the Sun Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC In the Sun Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC In the Sun Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC In the Sun Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC In the Sun Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC In the Sun Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC In the Sun Mineralize Eyeshadow (Dry/Wet)

MAC Summer Haze Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Summer Haze Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Summer Haze Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Summer Haze Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Summer Haze Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Summer Haze Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Summer Haze Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Summer Haze Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Summer Haze Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Summer Haze Mineralize Eyeshadow (Dry/Wet)

MAC Twilight Falls Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Twilight Falls Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Twilight Falls Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Twilight Falls Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Twilight Falls Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Twilight Falls Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Twilight Falls Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Twilight Falls Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Twilight Falls Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Twilight Falls Mineralize Eyeshadow (Dry/Wet)

MAC Twilight Falls Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Summer haze, Cloudy Afternoon, Twilight Falls Mineralize Eyeshadows

51 Comments

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Chelle Avatar

I actually really love Mineralize eyesshadows (they wear well on me, I haven’t noticed any real fading, etc.) but god are these colours ever boring. I have an easy dupe for all of these suckers (in normal eyeshadow sizes), which makes them totally redundant in my opinion.

And enough with the “pretty swirled pattern”! None of these colours are particularly stellar and it’s getting really frustrating. I’m tired of a messy swirled together brown or grey blob from these shadows. Give me some freaking colour already!

This is the third recent mineralize eyeshadow release that I can recall that has left me totally disappointed. And as someone who LOVES mineralize eyeshadows, that’s really sad! I WANT to love the colours, I WANT to buy them, but they keep giving me “dirty” colours. Booo!

Rae // theNotice Avatar

Hrngh. MAC, dammit, we need you to stop releasing Mineralize shadows. Seriously! I’m always so tempted by the way they look in the pan (er, Cloudy Afternoon, anyone?), or even by the way they swatch (Twilight Falls), but I know I’d hate these in execution.

/flails dramatically

Joan Avatar

I could live 80 years and not need another eyeshadow, let alone these with the poor pay off that you’ve described. Thank you for saving me money Christine. I’ll spend it on something else to satisfy my insatiable need to buy makeup:)

Elisabetta Avatar

Christine, which eyeshadow do you recommend the most for dark brown eyes (and fair skin) between Daylight and Summer Haze?? please, answer me, I’d be so glad!! 😀

Sunny Avatar

I like Twilight Falls, but I never know how to play with mineralize shadows! From my experience the amount of fallout could be pretty bad, and I don’t want to get into the mess of using shadows wet (I know I’m weird)! Also, I know the colors vary slightly depending on the particular shadow you get, and I honestly don’t want to take the risk!

Ava Avatar

See, I’m the total opposite — the Mineralize eyeshadows are the only MAC shadows I buy because I like the application/wear so much. AND… I actually kind of like the greige colors from this collection (in fact, I bought Cloudy Afternoon and am now kicking myself for not also buying Twilight Falls and Summer Haze). These are the kinds of no-brainer, one-color-washes I love for days when I’m not feeling the whole makeup routine.

Chelle Avatar

They wear all day on me, don’t crease (although I always use UDPP), and no unusual fallout (not any more than the norm anyway). I just use toner on a cotton pad to wipe it away and I’m set for the day.

Ava Avatar

I will preempt this by saying that a large majority of my eyeshadow collection are mineral formulas, but
I do find that the staying power of MAC’s minerals is on par with any of my other e/s (around 10-12 hours). I almost always wear a base of some sort under mine, but I never seem to have issues with creasing or fading. Some shades are more prone to fall out than others, but it’s never been enough of an issue for me to be turned off by the shade.

Emily Avatar

I’m going to take your advice Christine!
You have taught me to love other brands!
I would rAther 1 great Chanel product rather than 3 average Mac ones!!!!
So thankyou for opening my eyes!
Unless something is outstanding I don’t want it!!

Tarah Avatar

Last time i got a mineral eyeshadow i ended up with one with lots of black veining , which was very sad because trying to pick up lighter colors is pretty impossible , for me i cant wear as often as i like without getting the dramatic look no matter how i try to apply them , wont be spending another $20. on these eyeshadows

Rachel Avatar

I can totally relate to this, and why I will NOT buy any Mineralized eyeshadows from MAC online. I will actually stand at the store and go through every single box to find one with less of the dark veining (and of course the prettiest looking one). The MAC artists say they change as you get farther into the pan, and that may be true, but my experience has been once you get one with visibly darker veining it does not fade much throughout the pan, and vice versa, the color pattern seems to stay pretty consistant throughout.
I just recently found this site, and I must say I’m hooked! I actually am a huge fan of MAC’s mineralized shadows, they wear well on me (and I rarely bother with primer, sometimes the painterly pot depending on what color I’m applying, but most of the time meh, I’m too lazy to be bothered lol), but your in depth descriptions and GREAT color swatch pics are a HUGE help!
Later today I was headed to Nordstroms to pick up Cloudy Afternoon and Daylight, but after reading your detailed color descriptions and seeing the color swatches I think I can do without Cloudy Afternoon, however Daylight still appeals to me.
You do a fantastic job, and I just added you to my favorites…thank you!! 🙂

Melody Avatar

I really love to layer the MES over paintpots and other creamy bases. I agree with most people that the fallout can be ungodly but it’s usually not a big deal for me and I just love the nuance of sparkle they usually have. I fell head over heals for Clarity that came out with Semi-Precious because it was like a grey with a rainbow of sparkle. I guess I’m pale enough that I can forgive the lack of pigmentation MES sometimes have.

buntewollsocke Avatar

Thank you so much for the swatches. Now I know that I don’t _need_ more than one of these MES. Ha, so I can spend more money on blushers and MSF. I’m just going to buy “In the Sun” because of its beautiful appearance. Of course not only because of that but also ’cause I like the color. Last decision will be made while swatching it by my own.

Nina Avatar

Is MAC Quartz Fusion somewhat the same as MAC In the Sun Mineralize Eyeshadow ?

It seems to me that they look the same in the swathces ?!

Nancy Avatar

These shadows are actually not to bad. They are a bit better than some of the older ones…very smooth to apply. As far as the colors go they fit in perfectly with the “Naturally” release! Your swatches were very helpful in choosing colors. Thanks!

Annie Avatar

The collection will be available here in NL tomorrow and im banging my head against the wall to decide whether i should get them. I love mineralise eyeshadows but its difficult to reach out when i can place them all invisible on my desk….and what i dont see is what i dont acknowledge 🙁

I found the colours represent themselves best when you have a bit of densed skin…noy with water as they often lower the shine in it.

Do you think applying primer around where you wore eyeshadows instead of applying all over the lids would resolve it get smudged?

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