MAC Painterly, Bare Study, Groundwork, Vintage Selection Pro Longwear Paint Pots Reviews & Swatches
Painterly
MAC Painterly Pro Longwear Paint Pot ($23.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a light mauve with subtle, warm undertones and a matte finish. It was richly pigmented with a smooth, lightly creamy texture that was denser and a little thick in the jar but ended up applying as a thin, even layer of product that was flexible as it dried down. The product was quick to set, so I had to work quickly to soften any edges if desired. Once on, it didn’t show any creasing until after 15 hours of wear, which was slow to worsen from there.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC Share My Blanket (LE, $17.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop All In (PiP, $4.50) is cooler (90% similar).
- LORAC Unconditional (PiP, $19.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Silent Treatment #1 (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Laced (DC, $19.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Glaminatrix Cupcake (P, $7.30) is darker (85% similar).
- ColourPop Teeny Bikini (LE, $4.50) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Smashbox Hit Reply (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (80% similar).
- Natasha Denona Vintage Taupe (303CM) (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (80% similar).
- MAC Malt (P, $17.00) is lighter, warmer (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$23.00/0.17 oz. - $135.29 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be "highly pigmented, long-wearing, blendable" and can be used as either an "eye primer" or as a "cream shadow." The brand says it's supposed to wear for "24 hours" without flaking or creasing.
The matte finish is most consistent in performance and tended to perform better than the shades with some level of shimmer. The matte shades were lightly creamy to slightly stiffer to work with, and with the stiffer ones, I preferred using a brush to get the initial product out of the jar and then use a fingertip to furiously diffuse the product. The matte shades were typically semi-opaque to opaque in coverage and longer-wearing--12 to 14 hours before showing a bit of fading--but were varying degrees of blendable (related to how creamy the initial texture was).
The shimmery finish, particularly more pearlescent/metallic, were significantly more emollient than the matte shades, and this led to sheerer coverage that often applied unevenly and was difficult to apply with precision. They were best applied in thin layers and built up, but the results were inconsistent and varied a lot between shades. I didn't find that they applied any better using brushes over fingertips or vice versa. The wear of the shimmer shades was shorter, too, and there was often a bit of creasing within 10 hours of wear.
With 24-hour wear claims like this, I wear for as long as I'm awake, but I don't want to sleep in makeup, so I extrapolate based on the state of it at 16-hours. (Plus, it is rare that products actually go as long as 12, let alone 16, hours without some sign(s) of wear.) I don't recall this product having a specific, 24-hour wear claim before (and my prior reviews don't mention it, just that it was "long-wearing"), so ratings did change for certain shades as a result.
Browse all of our MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot swatches.
Ingredients
Isododecane, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Dimethicone, Polyethylene, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Quaternium-90 Bentonite, Dimethicone Silylate, Silica, Octyldodecanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lecithin, Trihydroxystearin, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) WaxCera CarnaubaCire De Carnauba, Propylene Carbonate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Tin Oxide, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Aluminum Powder (Ci 77000), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Bronze Powder (Ci 77400), Carmine (Ci 75470), Chromium Hydroxide Green (Ci 77289), Chromium Oxide Greens (Ci 77288), Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide (Ci 77510), Ferric Ferrocyanide (Ci 77510), Manganese Violet (Ci 77742), Ultramarines (Ci 77007), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140)]
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Painterly
PPermanent. $23.00.
Bare Study
MAC Bare Study Pro Longwear Paint Pot ($23.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a light, peachy beige with warmer undertones and a pearly sheen. The texture was moderately emollient with some slip, but it wasn’t as prone to sheering out nor as slippery as some of the other pearl finish shades in the range. It had semi-sheer to medium coverage that was buildable to semi-opaque coverage if preferred.
The color applied evenly to bare skin and blended out without difficulty, though I had to work quickly as it set fast. It wore decently for 10 hours before creasing very faintly, which worsened at a slow pace.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC Nano Nude (LE, $21.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Bad Habit Eternal (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Inglot J305 Ivory (LE, $10.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Morphe Beam (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- LORAC Dream It (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Lumino (212M) (PiP, $29.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop Beak-a-Boo (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Lethal Cosmetics Nymph (P, $6.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- MAC Satin Ochre (Left) (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Harsh Stone White (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$23.00/0.17 oz. - $135.29 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be "highly pigmented, long-wearing, blendable" and can be used as either an "eye primer" or as a "cream shadow." The brand says it's supposed to wear for "24 hours" without flaking or creasing.
The matte finish is most consistent in performance and tended to perform better than the shades with some level of shimmer. The matte shades were lightly creamy to slightly stiffer to work with, and with the stiffer ones, I preferred using a brush to get the initial product out of the jar and then use a fingertip to furiously diffuse the product. The matte shades were typically semi-opaque to opaque in coverage and longer-wearing--12 to 14 hours before showing a bit of fading--but were varying degrees of blendable (related to how creamy the initial texture was).
The shimmery finish, particularly more pearlescent/metallic, were significantly more emollient than the matte shades, and this led to sheerer coverage that often applied unevenly and was difficult to apply with precision. They were best applied in thin layers and built up, but the results were inconsistent and varied a lot between shades. I didn't find that they applied any better using brushes over fingertips or vice versa. The wear of the shimmer shades was shorter, too, and there was often a bit of creasing within 10 hours of wear.
With 24-hour wear claims like this, I wear for as long as I'm awake, but I don't want to sleep in makeup, so I extrapolate based on the state of it at 16-hours. (Plus, it is rare that products actually go as long as 12, let alone 16, hours without some sign(s) of wear.) I don't recall this product having a specific, 24-hour wear claim before (and my prior reviews don't mention it, just that it was "long-wearing"), so ratings did change for certain shades as a result.
Browse all of our MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot swatches.
Ingredients
Isododecane, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Dimethicone, Polyethylene, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Quaternium-90 Bentonite, Dimethicone Silylate, Silica, Octyldodecanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lecithin, Trihydroxystearin, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) WaxCera CarnaubaCire De Carnauba, Propylene Carbonate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Tin Oxide, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Aluminum Powder (Ci 77000), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Bronze Powder (Ci 77400), Carmine (Ci 75470), Chromium Hydroxide Green (Ci 77289), Chromium Oxide Greens (Ci 77288), Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide (Ci 77510), Ferric Ferrocyanide (Ci 77510), Manganese Violet (Ci 77742), Ultramarines (Ci 77007), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140)]
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Bare Study
PPermanent. $23.00.
Groundwork
MAC Groundwork Pro Longwear Paint Pot ($23.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a light, taupe-brown with subtle, warm undertones and a mostly matte finish. It appeared grayish when applied as full coverage and warmer, more red-toned when applied as a sheerer wash of product.
The texture was smooth, lightly creamy without being too emollient but wasn’t as thick or as dry as some of the matte shades in the range, which made it an easier shade to work with for all-over application where blending was needed. It had opaque color payoff that lasted well for 14 hours before fading a bit and 16 hours before creasing became visible.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Urban Decay Cover (PiP, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Naked 2 (PiP, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Fossil (P, $8.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Chanel Clair-Obscur #2 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Sweet Dreams (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- NARS Mahe #2 (PiP, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Sydney Grace Relax (P, $5.25) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- Sephora Mushroom (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Chanel Blurry Grey #1 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- Tarte Jingle All the Grey (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$23.00/0.17 oz. - $135.29 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be "highly pigmented, long-wearing, blendable" and can be used as either an "eye primer" or as a "cream shadow." The brand says it's supposed to wear for "24 hours" without flaking or creasing.
The matte finish is most consistent in performance and tended to perform better than the shades with some level of shimmer. The matte shades were lightly creamy to slightly stiffer to work with, and with the stiffer ones, I preferred using a brush to get the initial product out of the jar and then use a fingertip to furiously diffuse the product. The matte shades were typically semi-opaque to opaque in coverage and longer-wearing--12 to 14 hours before showing a bit of fading--but were varying degrees of blendable (related to how creamy the initial texture was).
The shimmery finish, particularly more pearlescent/metallic, were significantly more emollient than the matte shades, and this led to sheerer coverage that often applied unevenly and was difficult to apply with precision. They were best applied in thin layers and built up, but the results were inconsistent and varied a lot between shades. I didn't find that they applied any better using brushes over fingertips or vice versa. The wear of the shimmer shades was shorter, too, and there was often a bit of creasing within 10 hours of wear.
With 24-hour wear claims like this, I wear for as long as I'm awake, but I don't want to sleep in makeup, so I extrapolate based on the state of it at 16-hours. (Plus, it is rare that products actually go as long as 12, let alone 16, hours without some sign(s) of wear.) I don't recall this product having a specific, 24-hour wear claim before (and my prior reviews don't mention it, just that it was "long-wearing"), so ratings did change for certain shades as a result.
Browse all of our MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot swatches.
Ingredients
Isododecane, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Dimethicone, Polyethylene, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Quaternium-90 Bentonite, Dimethicone Silylate, Silica, Octyldodecanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lecithin, Trihydroxystearin, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) WaxCera CarnaubaCire De Carnauba, Propylene Carbonate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Tin Oxide, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Aluminum Powder (Ci 77000), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Bronze Powder (Ci 77400), Carmine (Ci 75470), Chromium Hydroxide Green (Ci 77289), Chromium Oxide Greens (Ci 77288), Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide (Ci 77510), Ferric Ferrocyanide (Ci 77510), Manganese Violet (Ci 77742), Ultramarines (Ci 77007), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140)]
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Groundwork
PPermanent. $23.00.
Vintage Selection
MAC Vintage Selection Pro Longwear Paint Pot ($23.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a very light taupe with cooler, silvery pearl and warmer, rosy undertones. When I applied and blended out the product, it took on a warmer, rosier tone–more like it appeared in the jar–but when applied more heavily, it had a stronger sheen that looked grayer.
It had opaque pigmentation with a creamy consistency that was thin and spreadable without being prone to sheering out too readily (so a wash of color was achievable, but it could also be used as a full coverage kind of color!). There was creasing visible after 12 hours of wear, though it did not get that much worse by the 16-hour mark.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Benefit RSVP (P, $20.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Sandy (P, $8.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- ColourPop Babydoll (PiP, $4.50) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Tarte Monochrome (LE, ) is cooler (90% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Entropy (P, $8.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Clarins The Essentials #8 (LE, ) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Sephora Flirting Game (DC, $10.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Badass #1 (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Viseart Chroma #4 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Ciate Ellie (LE, ) is cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$23.00/0.17 oz. - $135.29 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be "highly pigmented, long-wearing, blendable" and can be used as either an "eye primer" or as a "cream shadow." The brand says it's supposed to wear for "24 hours" without flaking or creasing.
The matte finish is most consistent in performance and tended to perform better than the shades with some level of shimmer. The matte shades were lightly creamy to slightly stiffer to work with, and with the stiffer ones, I preferred using a brush to get the initial product out of the jar and then use a fingertip to furiously diffuse the product. The matte shades were typically semi-opaque to opaque in coverage and longer-wearing--12 to 14 hours before showing a bit of fading--but were varying degrees of blendable (related to how creamy the initial texture was).
The shimmery finish, particularly more pearlescent/metallic, were significantly more emollient than the matte shades, and this led to sheerer coverage that often applied unevenly and was difficult to apply with precision. They were best applied in thin layers and built up, but the results were inconsistent and varied a lot between shades. I didn't find that they applied any better using brushes over fingertips or vice versa. The wear of the shimmer shades was shorter, too, and there was often a bit of creasing within 10 hours of wear.
With 24-hour wear claims like this, I wear for as long as I'm awake, but I don't want to sleep in makeup, so I extrapolate based on the state of it at 16-hours. (Plus, it is rare that products actually go as long as 12, let alone 16, hours without some sign(s) of wear.) I don't recall this product having a specific, 24-hour wear claim before (and my prior reviews don't mention it, just that it was "long-wearing"), so ratings did change for certain shades as a result.
Browse all of our MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot swatches.
Ingredients
Isododecane, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Dimethicone, Polyethylene, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Quaternium-90 Bentonite, Dimethicone Silylate, Silica, Octyldodecanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lecithin, Trihydroxystearin, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) WaxCera CarnaubaCire De Carnauba, Propylene Carbonate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Tin Oxide, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Aluminum Powder (Ci 77000), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Bronze Powder (Ci 77400), Carmine (Ci 75470), Chromium Hydroxide Green (Ci 77289), Chromium Oxide Greens (Ci 77288), Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide (Ci 77510), Ferric Ferrocyanide (Ci 77510), Manganese Violet (Ci 77742), Ultramarines (Ci 77007), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140)]
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Well, I’m pleased as punch that Painterly is still good. I was worried that if MAC tweaked with the formulation, would it still be my go-to eye primer? Thankfully, that looks to be the case!
Vintage Selection looks so “taupe” on the left side swatch but much warmer on the right side (blended out) – very odd. Painterly looks so much darker than the one’s I’ve had (I’m on my 2nd jar of it) but I’m glad it rated well. With all of these “pre-existing” shades, I’m curious as to how the new ones compare to the originals.
I’m also curious about that.
I’m also a long time Painterly user, I don’t use it a lot, but need it to hide the redness I sometime have on my lids. I also use it when I need the makeup to really last.
I’m glad it still works as it should, though.
Vintage Selection would be my favourite out of this group, and I am pleased to see that it rates well. The quality of these pots are so inconsistent though.
I could really see Groundwork and Vintage Selection making for an easy neutral eye look that could last the entire day! These four are really good ones!
So glad that Painterly still rates well. It and Soft Ochre were my go-to eyeshadow primers for years! May need to look into them again.
It’s a huge relief painterly is still good to great. I love Painterly.
I have four of these (soft ochre, Bare study, layin’ low and groundwork). They all perform well for what I use them for which is a thin wash of color applied with a brush before powder eyeshadow. I layer these over another colourless eyeshadow primer and that’s the only way to ensure my makeup lasts past eight hours. I picked up vintage selection a year ago and immediately returned it. It’s no good for a sheer wash, as the base is pretty colourless and it’s just chunky glitter that remains.
Oh I’m so excited I finally ran out of my Groundwork and pleased it hasn’t changed!! I use as a base for quick eyeshadow looks.