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MAC All About Plum Look in a Box Review, Photos, Swatches

MAC All About Plum Look in a Box
MAC All About Plum Look in a Box

MAC All About Plum Look in a Box ($49.50 for 0.43 oz.) is described as “shades of cool-toned lilacs, soft pale pinks, and silvery warm greys.” The palette contains two blushes, six eyeshadows, two lipsticks, and a double-ended brush (275SE/316SE). Each eyeshadow is 0.0176 oz. each (0.106 oz. total), blush is 0.14 oz. each (0.28 oz. total), and lipstick is 0.02 oz. each (0.04 oz. total). Based on price per ounce, the kit contains $31.68 worth of eyeshadow, $28 worth of blush, and $6.40 worth of lipstick, which adds up to $66.08. There is also a dual-ended brush, so I guess that’s valued at $34.92 in order to add up to the $101 value listed.

There were a couple of complete misses in this palette, but most of it was just average, which isn’t impressive. There were only three shades (out of 10) that were B+ or better rated. It’s always disappointing when MAC puts out subpar palettes like this, because they can do an excellent eyeshadow, so I don’t know why they don’t improve the formula in these. I’d rather they offer less product if they could be more consistent with the quality.

Lessons in Love (Blush) is a light-medium pink with warm undertones and a soft, golden shimmer-sheen. It had decent color payoff, though it was slightly dry and powdery. It wore well for seven and a half hours before fading. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

All Races (Eyeshadow) is a pale, cool-toned, lavender-gray with a matte finish. It is lighter and very, very stiff/dry in the pan–very unlike the single version I’ve used (it is limited edition but has been released previously). It started to fade after seven hours of wear. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Elementary Pink (Eyeshadow) is a brightened, light pink with cool undertones and a matte finish. It had good color payoff, and the texture was soft and finely-milled, though a touch powdery. I noticed fading after eight hours of wear. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Lingering Dusk (Eyeshadow) is a muted, bronzy pink with warm undertones and a pearly sheen. It had a drier consistency, which made getting the pigment out of it more difficult, and it didn’t blend as easily on the skin. The color wore well for seven and a half hours. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Dress to Impress (Lipstick) is a light, cool-toned milky pink. It had semi-opaque color coverage, and it applied fairly evenly, though not perfectly. The lipstick wore well for three hours and was neither drying nor hydrating. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Style Cast (Blush) is a light-medium, muted orange with gold shimmer. It had decent color payoff that was fairly blendable. The color stayed on for seven and a half hours before fading. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Fashion Beat (Eyeshadow) is a light-medium, golden taupe with warm undertones and a pearly sheen. It had good pigmentation that applied smoothly and was easy to blend. The color didn’t fade until after eight hours of wear. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Stormy Sunset (Eyeshadow) is a muted, light-medium gray with a hint of purple and a frosted finish. It had decent color payoff, but it wasn’t fully pigmented as a result of the slightly dry texture. The color wore well for seven and a half hours. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Blackboard (Eyeshadow) is a medium-dark, warm-toned black with a matte finish. It was powdery, semi-opaque, and faded after seven and a half hours. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Up the Amp (Lipstick) is a brightened, pinky purple with subtle, cool undertones and a soft shine. It had rich, opaque color coverage and wore well for five hours. This is a permanent shade. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

MAC All About Plum Look in a Box
MAC All About Plum Look in a Box

MAC All About Plum Look in a Box
MAC All About Plum Look in a Box

MAC All About Plum Look in a Box
MAC All About Plum Look in a Box

MAC All About Plum Look in a Box
MAC All About Plum Look in a Box

MAC All About Plum Look in a Box
MAC All About Plum Look in a Box

MAC All About Plum Look in a Box
MAC All About Plum Look in a Box

MAC Lesson in Love Blush
MAC Lesson in Love Blush

MAC Lesson in Love Blush
MAC Lesson in Love Blush

MAC Lesson in Love Blush
MAC Lesson in Love Blush

MAC All Races Eyeshadow
MAC All Races Eyeshadow

MAC All Races Eyeshadow
MAC All Races Eyeshadow

MAC Elementary Pink Eyeshadow
MAC Elementary Pink Eyeshadow

MAC Elementary Pink Eyeshadow
MAC Elementary Pink Eyeshadow

MAC Lingering Dusk Eyeshadow
MAC Lingering Dusk Eyeshadow

MAC Lingering Dusk Eyeshadow
MAC Lingering Dusk Eyeshadow

MAC Dress to Impress Lipstick
MAC Dress to Impress Lipstick

MAC Dress to Impress Lipstick
MAC Dress to Impress Lipstick

MAC Dress to Impress Lipstick
MAC Dress to Impress Lipstick

MAC Dress to Impress Lipstick
MAC Dress to Impress Lipstick

MAC Dress to Impress Lipstick
MAC Dress to Impress Lipstick

MAC Style Cast Blush
MAC Style Cast Blush

MAC Style Cast Blush
MAC Style Cast Blush

MAC Style Cast Blush
MAC Style Cast Blush

MAC Fashion Beat Eyeshadow
MAC Fashion Beat Eyeshadow

MAC Fashion Beat Eyeshadow
MAC Fashion Beat Eyeshadow

MAC Stormy Sunset Eyeshadow
MAC Stormy Sunset Eyeshadow

MAC Stormy Sunset Eyeshadow
MAC Stormy Sunset Eyeshadow

MAC Blackboard Eyeshadow
MAC Blackboard Eyeshadow

MAC Blackboard Eyeshadow
MAC Blackboard Eyeshadow

MAC Up the Amp Lipstick
MAC Up the Amp Lipstick

MAC Up the Amp Lipstick
MAC Up the Amp Lipstick

MAC Up the Amp Lipstick
MAC Up the Amp Lipstick

MAC Up the Amp Lipstick
MAC Up the Amp Lipstick

MAC Up the Amp Lipstick
MAC Up the Amp Lipstick

MAC Eyeshadows: All Races (inner lid), Fashion Beat (middle of lid), 
Stormy Sunset (outer lid), Blackboard (crease)
MAC Eyeshadows: All Races (inner lid), Fashion Beat (middle of lid),
Stormy Sunset (outer lid), Blackboard (crease)

MAC Eyeshadows: All Races (inner lid), Fashion Beat (middle of lid), 
Stormy Sunset (outer lid), Blackboard (crease)
MAC Eyeshadows: All Races (inner lid), Fashion Beat (middle of lid),
Stormy Sunset (outer lid), Blackboard (crease)

37 Comments

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Erica Avatar

This palette is disappointing in person. I saw it the 1st day of the Nordstrom Anniversary sale and again today at Nordstroms. There are lots of the Mac palettes left for sale. I don’t think they did very well in my area.

Helene Avatar

I love Up the Amp. It’s one of my favourite lipsticks. Comfortable to wear, I think. Pity about the eyeshadows, but as I said in the previous MAC palette comment, I don’t have high hopes when it comes to these.
I do think the idea, though not in the least new, of having all you need to do and then to refresh the makeup in one little palette is good, but it must perform well, not just be pretty.

Sylirael Avatar

…Lingering Dusk is a pretty colour? I’m not sure how this palette is ‘All About Plum’ when the one thing in the palette (Blackboard?) that looks even vaguley ‘plum’ on the packaging turns out to swatch brown. The lipstick is gertainly leaning towards the purple end of the pink family, but why no plummy blush, at least? Why are the eyeshadows predominantly ‘white’?!

I am confused…

Morgan Avatar

I love all your informative post about products & you never steer us ladies wrong. I received this as a free gift from Mac with some other items.As you state the lipsticks are awesome & I even like the blushes. I already have Heroine & Up the Amp is similar but slightly more Mauve.Its a very universally flattering palette regardless of skin tone.My Mother used it & love it & we have different skin tone.I found the key with the dry/stiff eye shadows is to thinly shave off some pigment.Then use your brush to pick up the pigment & voila.

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