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MAC Playland Pigments Reviews, Photos, Swatches

MAC Playland Pigments
MAC Playland Pigments

The MAC Playland Collection features four shades of MAC Pigments ($21.00 for 0.15 oz.). Two shades are part of the permanent PRO range, while one is part of the permanent range.

Ever So Yellow is described as a “soft yellow with pearl.” It’s a vibrant, medium yellow with a frosted sheen. Applied dry, it has more of a satin-like finish, but applied with a dampened brush, it becomes much, much more pearly and high-shine. It had good color payoff both wet and dry, though, but it can be a little powdery if used loose and dry. This shade stains, so you might want to use a thicker base or primer to avoid the staining on the skin. It wore well for eight hours before showing very slight creasing. Makeup Geek Lemon Drop (P, $5.99) is very similar. Sephora Collection Banana Split (05) (P, $13.00) is slightly darker. NARS Flowers 1 #5 (LE, $24.00) is similar. MAC Bright Sunshine (P, $15.00) is a touch lighter. Make Up For Ever Jaune (LE, $20.00) is less shimmery. Make Up For Ever #24 (P, $23.00) is a cream product, less shimmery. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Golden Olive is described as a “high frosted green-gold.” It’s a medium-dark, muted green with warm undertones and a golden khaki frosted finish. Applied dry, it had fairly good color payoff and had a frosted finish, and applied with a dampened brush, it had excellent color payoff and a high-shine sheen. This shade wore well for almost eight hours before I saw slight creasing. For reference, this shade is “not for use in the lip area” per the warning on the box. Urban Decay Jealous #1 (LE, $18.00) is darker. Urban Decay Mildew (P, $18.00) is darker. MAC Spread the Wealth (LE, $16.50) is a cream product. Guerlain Coup de Foudre #1 (LE) is darker, less shimmery. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Hi-Def Cyan is described as a “cyan blue.” It’s a brightened, light-medium blue with a matte finish. It’s part of the permanent PRO range, and I remember buying this, along with the rest of the neon pigments, and discovering just how much work it was to get it to perform half-decently. The texture is very finely-milled but dry, almost chalky, so it doesn’t apply evenly and is difficult to blend. It’s very prone to fading and creasing–within six hours–but leaves a green-ish stain behind. For reference, this shade is “not for use in the lip area” per the warning on the box. Wet ‘n’ Wild A Regular at the Factory #2 (LE, $2.29) is darker. NARS Mad Mad World #1 (P, $24.00) and MAC Electric Eel (P, $15.00) are much darker. MAC Blue Candy (LE, $15.00) is cooler-toned, darker. Make Up For Ever #118 (P, $20.00) is warmer. Inglot #371 (P, $6.00) is darker. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Neo-Orange is described as an “intense neon salmon.” It’s a brightened, coral-orange with warm undertones and a matte finish. Like Hi-Def Cyan, it’s difficult to use, because it has a very chalky, dry consistency and feel. It’s a real challenge to apply, blend, and even wear, as it fades within six hours but leaves a splotchy stain behind. For reference, this shade is “not for use in the lip or eye area” per the warning on the box. Sephora Collection Rio (91) (P, $13.00) is lighter. Kat Von D Placebo (LE) is pinker. MAC Ablaze (LE, $15.00) is darker. Make Up For Ever #5 (P, $20.00) is darker. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

See more photos & swatches!

MAC Ever So Yellow Pigment
MAC Ever So Yellow Pigment

MAC Ever So Yellow Pigment
MAC Ever So Yellow Pigment

MAC Ever So Yellow Pigment
MAC Ever So Yellow Pigment

MAC Golden Olive Pigment
MAC Golden Olive Pigment

MAC Golden Olive Pigment
MAC Golden Olive Pigment

MAC Golden Olive Pigment
MAC Golden Olive Pigment

MAC Hi-Def Cyan Pigment
MAC Hi-Def Cyan Pigment

MAC Hi-Def Cyan Pigment
MAC Hi-Def Cyan Pigment

MAC Hi-Def Cyan Pigment
MAC Hi-Def Cyan Pigment

MAC Neo-Orange Pigment
MAC Neo-Orange Pigment

MAC Neo-Orange Pigment
MAC Neo-Orange Pigment

MAC Neo-Orange Pigment
MAC Neo-Orange Pigment

52 Comments

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Joanna Avatar

Check out Dustin Hunter’s Youtube channel. He did a series of 4 videos on the myriad of ways one can use MAC pigments a few years ago. Only one video is on eyes.

CeliaV Avatar

Hm. The only one I’m really coveting is the Golden Olive because I like pretty much anything that color. While they look great in the jar, I feel like I’m generally disappointed by MAC pigments compared to other brands. Too much chalk, inconsistency, and extra work required when there’s such a huge market for amazing pigments out there. Thanks for the reviews, Christine!

CeliaV Avatar

Definitely some great ones. Especially when foiled properly. I have a very similar yellow from Geek Chic that I adore, but I’m definitely going to look into that one as well. Sometimes they’re just fussy 🙂

CeliaV Avatar

(Oops. I should mention the shade name in case anyone wants to try a similar one. The color is Geek Chic’s Combustible Lemon. The sparkle looks more tonal online than on my lids. Reads much more as a golden shift to a very lemon yellow base. Super lovely wet or dry)

Jyoti Avatar

I do have one yellow from Inglot refills and I love it to bits. With my typical Indian wheatish skin tone-yellow looks amazing when used on the inner corner. It makes my eyes pop but gels with my skin so doesn’t look too pushy. ^_^

Lotus Avatar

My Clear Sky Blue pigment faded.. Did yours? 🙁 No others of mine ever have. 🙂 The Neo Orange reminds me of Pink Coral and I like chalky ones as they are great for mixing! With pigments, any shade of pigment can easily be duplicated so I’ve found I don’t need to own all but I think I actually do! (With backups) It possibly reverts to my obsession with giant crayola boxes of crayons, and putting them in color/tone order. I’m a bit neurotic about that and, I fully believe in Pigment Parties! 😀

Lotus Avatar

Frozen White, to be exact, is a shimmering wet white/black light blue & violet duochrome at first glance that, when examined closely, has attributes reflected of all colors in the teal-violet range.. Very cool, very frozen, and brilliantly gorgeous! To me, more so than other companies changing as time progresses, MAC has become more competitive, adding numerous collections that are usually consisting of newly named pre-existing shades in more expensive containers. Long ago, they didn’t do so at such a rate as they have digressed to. MAC was the color authority, period. But other brands creativity has perhaps played a role in their decision to have a collection based on everything and everyone, sadly while leaving the original shining stars as memories.. The choices of where their products are sold have changed as well as what products are available or seemingly marooned. I love your pro choices but I’d really as Pink Opal and Frozen White! 😀 (recommends alone or to add for variations in dimension and color to others) 🙂 <3

Capri Avatar

Frozen White is one of my all time favorites. I am SO glad I bought it when I did. I use it with Pink Pearl and several purples I mixed up from pigments. It is gorgeous. Frozen White is also gorgeous as an accent on hot pink lips or red blue lipstick too.

indira Avatar

I bought the golden olive pigment, but it creases a lot! wahh… i’ve used it wet and dry…very beautiful but it creases a lot…i also do use eye primer. I’ve used different primers always notice creasing.

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