MAC Rose Lens Eyeshadow Palette Review & Swatches
Rose Lens
MAC Rose Lens Connect in Colour 6-Pan Eyeshadow Palette ($34.00 for 0.22 oz.) is a new, permanent six-pan palette that included two matte shades and four shimmers. I was not impressed by the formula used for the new Connect in Colour palettes as the shimmers were dry, thin, dusty, and/or powdery with sheer coverage and poor longevity, while the mattes were better, they weren’t as blendable as they could (or should!) have been. The new formula is supposed to have “one-swipe” pigmentation and they are being sold as VERY pigmented eyeshadows, yet three shimmers were very, very weak eyeshadows… period.
The only thing that kept this palette from dropping into the D-rating range is that MAC only made an eight-hour wear time claim (whereas most brands aren’t specific, so 8 hours of wear typically garners 8.5/10 rating, and here 8-hour wear would be 10/10).
Ingredients
Rose Lens
PPermanent. $34.00.
DM Me
DM Me is a medium, rosy copper with moderate, warm undertones and a frosted sheen.
- Semi-opaque pigmentation
- Thin, somewhat dry, harder to pick up evenly
- Applied somewhat evenly, light fallout, prone to sheering out
- Poor longevity (6 hours before fading noticeably)
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Melt Cosmetics Sagrado (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Stunt Queen (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- NYX Clementine Fine (P, $10.50) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Misty (P, $4.50) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Bay Watch (PiP, $4.50) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Ciate Love Letter (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- MAC Fan the Flames (PiP, $17.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Huda Beauty Nude Rich #4 (PiP, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Muse (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Cast a Chateau (LE, $4.50) is cooler (95% similar).
Formula Overview
-
MAC describes their latest formula as "one-swipe, pure pigment payoff" with a "lightweight, silky-smooth texture" that has eight-hour wear (well, at least they're realistic!). They actually state that the formula has "up to 25% higher pigment load." Can't say that seemed true in practice, though.
The new formula is thinner, more powdery or drier, and less pigmented than prior MAC formulas, which have been inconsistent at best in the last few years. The matte shades were semi-opaque to opaque, typically buildable, and fairly blendable, while the shimmers were drier with poor adhesion, fallout, and were particularly prone to fading.
In the past, sometimes MAC's formula didn't swatch as well as it performed, often being a particularly buildable and blendable formula without being powdery, but I did not find performance to be better than swatches and it was often a little worse. In a time when so many brands are pushing metallics to the next level in terms of intensity, it is interesting to see MAC's shimmers worsen over time -- and they don't seem like they're actually trying to go for a more satin-like sheen, they're just... weak metallics.
Some of the mattes lasted as long as eight hours on me, while some were closer to six to seven hours. Most of the shimmers lasted six hours on me with a couple lasting longer and shorter.
Browse all of our MAC Connect in Colour Eyeshadow swatches.
DM Me
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Strong Connection
Strong Connection is a darker, reddish-plum with moderate, warm undertones and a pearly sheen.
- Opaque pigmentation
- Smooth, somewhat thin but not powdery or dry
- Applied evenly and blended out fairly well
- Average-longevity (7 hours before fading noticeably)
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Sydney Grace Flirty (Deep) (PiP, $6.25) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Sephora Camellia (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Custom Design (LE, $4.50) is lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop The Scorpio (P, $4.50) is warmer (90% similar).
- Lethal Cosmetics Euphoria (P, $6.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Mercurial #4 (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Holidaze (LE, $19.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Lost Love (P, $6.25) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Chanel Lame Pourpre (35) (LE, $36.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Never Grow Up (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
Formula Overview
-
MAC describes their latest formula as "one-swipe, pure pigment payoff" with a "lightweight, silky-smooth texture" that has eight-hour wear (well, at least they're realistic!). They actually state that the formula has "up to 25% higher pigment load." Can't say that seemed true in practice, though.
The new formula is thinner, more powdery or drier, and less pigmented than prior MAC formulas, which have been inconsistent at best in the last few years. The matte shades were semi-opaque to opaque, typically buildable, and fairly blendable, while the shimmers were drier with poor adhesion, fallout, and were particularly prone to fading.
In the past, sometimes MAC's formula didn't swatch as well as it performed, often being a particularly buildable and blendable formula without being powdery, but I did not find performance to be better than swatches and it was often a little worse. In a time when so many brands are pushing metallics to the next level in terms of intensity, it is interesting to see MAC's shimmers worsen over time -- and they don't seem like they're actually trying to go for a more satin-like sheen, they're just... weak metallics.
Some of the mattes lasted as long as eight hours on me, while some were closer to six to seven hours. Most of the shimmers lasted six hours on me with a couple lasting longer and shorter.
Browse all of our MAC Connect in Colour Eyeshadow swatches.
Strong Connection
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Grain
Grain is a light, yellowed beige with moderate, warm undertones and a satin sheen.
- Sheer pigmentation
- Thin, somewhat dry, quite powdery
- Prone to sheering out, fallout
- Poor longevity (5 hours before fading noticeably)
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Dior House of Dreams #1 (LE, ) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Meta Data (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona True (357M) (LE, $29.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Destiny (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Fit for a Queen #2 (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Lisa Eldridge Cressida (P, $27.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Dior Toile de Jouy #1 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Ladybird (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Stop Ruffling My Feathers #2 (LE, ) is more shimmery, cooler (85% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Manipulative (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
Formula Overview
-
MAC describes their latest formula as "one-swipe, pure pigment payoff" with a "lightweight, silky-smooth texture" that has eight-hour wear (well, at least they're realistic!). They actually state that the formula has "up to 25% higher pigment load." Can't say that seemed true in practice, though.
The new formula is thinner, more powdery or drier, and less pigmented than prior MAC formulas, which have been inconsistent at best in the last few years. The matte shades were semi-opaque to opaque, typically buildable, and fairly blendable, while the shimmers were drier with poor adhesion, fallout, and were particularly prone to fading.
In the past, sometimes MAC's formula didn't swatch as well as it performed, often being a particularly buildable and blendable formula without being powdery, but I did not find performance to be better than swatches and it was often a little worse. In a time when so many brands are pushing metallics to the next level in terms of intensity, it is interesting to see MAC's shimmers worsen over time -- and they don't seem like they're actually trying to go for a more satin-like sheen, they're just... weak metallics.
Some of the mattes lasted as long as eight hours on me, while some were closer to six to seven hours. Most of the shimmers lasted six hours on me with a couple lasting longer and shorter.
Browse all of our MAC Connect in Colour Eyeshadow swatches.
Grain
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Pink Net
Pink Net is a bright, medium-dark pink with subtle, warm undertones and a matte finish.
- Semi-opaque, buildable coverage
- Moderately powdery, slightly dry with light fallout
- Applied fairly evenly but could have been more blendable
- Average longevity (7 hours before fading visibly; brand only claimed 8-hour wear)
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Pat McGrath Venusian Peony (LE, $25.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Sugarpill Melody (PiP, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- ColourPop Loves It (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Uggghhh (LE, $4.50) is darker, warmer (95% similar).
- ColourPop Glamverse (LE, $4.50) is darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Lovecraft (LE, $4.50) is warmer (95% similar).
- Anastasia E1 (Norvina Vol. 4) (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- ColourPop Fan Fiction (LE, $4.50) is cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Pillow Mint (LE, $4.50) is warmer (95% similar).
- Huda Beauty Amethyst #7 (LE, ) is cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
-
MAC describes their latest formula as "one-swipe, pure pigment payoff" with a "lightweight, silky-smooth texture" that has eight-hour wear (well, at least they're realistic!). They actually state that the formula has "up to 25% higher pigment load." Can't say that seemed true in practice, though.
The new formula is thinner, more powdery or drier, and less pigmented than prior MAC formulas, which have been inconsistent at best in the last few years. The matte shades were semi-opaque to opaque, typically buildable, and fairly blendable, while the shimmers were drier with poor adhesion, fallout, and were particularly prone to fading.
In the past, sometimes MAC's formula didn't swatch as well as it performed, often being a particularly buildable and blendable formula without being powdery, but I did not find performance to be better than swatches and it was often a little worse. In a time when so many brands are pushing metallics to the next level in terms of intensity, it is interesting to see MAC's shimmers worsen over time -- and they don't seem like they're actually trying to go for a more satin-like sheen, they're just... weak metallics.
Some of the mattes lasted as long as eight hours on me, while some were closer to six to seven hours. Most of the shimmers lasted six hours on me with a couple lasting longer and shorter.
Browse all of our MAC Connect in Colour Eyeshadow swatches.
Pink Net
PiPPermanent in Palette.
In Living Pink
In Living Pink is a light, peachy-pink with warmer undertones and a pearly sheen.
- Semi-sheer, somewhat buildable pigmentation
- Thin, somewhat dry, quite powdery
- Prone to sheering out, fallout
- Poor longevity (5 hours before fading noticeably)
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop On the Edge (PiP, $4.50) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics I Got You (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (80% similar).
- Kevyn Aucoin Laser (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (80% similar).
- ColourPop Sing-a-Song (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (80% similar).
- Coloured Raine Pinkleberry (LE, $6.99) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (80% similar).
- Dior Fusion (764) (P, $29.50) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (80% similar).
- Stila Dollish (LE, $24.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (80% similar).
- ColourPop Estrella (She's Got Solstice) (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, darker (80% similar).
- Morphe Sissy (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (80% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Meteor Crush (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (80% similar).
Formula Overview
-
MAC describes their latest formula as "one-swipe, pure pigment payoff" with a "lightweight, silky-smooth texture" that has eight-hour wear (well, at least they're realistic!). They actually state that the formula has "up to 25% higher pigment load." Can't say that seemed true in practice, though.
The new formula is thinner, more powdery or drier, and less pigmented than prior MAC formulas, which have been inconsistent at best in the last few years. The matte shades were semi-opaque to opaque, typically buildable, and fairly blendable, while the shimmers were drier with poor adhesion, fallout, and were particularly prone to fading.
In the past, sometimes MAC's formula didn't swatch as well as it performed, often being a particularly buildable and blendable formula without being powdery, but I did not find performance to be better than swatches and it was often a little worse. In a time when so many brands are pushing metallics to the next level in terms of intensity, it is interesting to see MAC's shimmers worsen over time -- and they don't seem like they're actually trying to go for a more satin-like sheen, they're just... weak metallics.
Some of the mattes lasted as long as eight hours on me, while some were closer to six to seven hours. Most of the shimmers lasted six hours on me with a couple lasting longer and shorter.
Browse all of our MAC Connect in Colour Eyeshadow swatches.
In Living Pink
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Cute on Mute
Cute on Mute is a light, pinky-coral with moderate, warm undertones and a frosted sheen.
- Semi-sheer pigmentation
- Thin, somewhat dry, quite powdery
- Prone to sheering out, fallout
- Poor longevity (5 hours before fading noticeably)
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Pat McGrath Smuggler's Spice (LE, $32.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Buzzy (P, $9.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Clionadh Prophecy (P, $5.25) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Blushing Peach (P, $6.25) is darker (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath VR Rose Venus (LE, $25.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Cheers Babe (P, $4.50) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Terra Moons Wicked Rose (P, $6.25) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- ColourPop Beggin' U (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- Natasha Denona Golden Rose (60M) (P, $29.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (80% similar).
- Huda Beauty Angelic (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (80% similar).
Formula Overview
-
MAC describes their latest formula as "one-swipe, pure pigment payoff" with a "lightweight, silky-smooth texture" that has eight-hour wear (well, at least they're realistic!). They actually state that the formula has "up to 25% higher pigment load." Can't say that seemed true in practice, though.
The new formula is thinner, more powdery or drier, and less pigmented than prior MAC formulas, which have been inconsistent at best in the last few years. The matte shades were semi-opaque to opaque, typically buildable, and fairly blendable, while the shimmers were drier with poor adhesion, fallout, and were particularly prone to fading.
In the past, sometimes MAC's formula didn't swatch as well as it performed, often being a particularly buildable and blendable formula without being powdery, but I did not find performance to be better than swatches and it was often a little worse. In a time when so many brands are pushing metallics to the next level in terms of intensity, it is interesting to see MAC's shimmers worsen over time -- and they don't seem like they're actually trying to go for a more satin-like sheen, they're just... weak metallics.
Some of the mattes lasted as long as eight hours on me, while some were closer to six to seven hours. Most of the shimmers lasted six hours on me with a couple lasting longer and shorter.
Browse all of our MAC Connect in Colour Eyeshadow swatches.
WHAT happened to Grain??? 😱
Not like it was anything beyond a browbone or inner corner highlight shade for me personally, but I remember it looking a whole lot better than what I’m seeing above.
Newp. This one isn’t doing it for me either. 🙅🏻♀️
Honestly, you’ve got to wonder why they even bother! This is really bad and Grain looks nothing like the pan of Grain I have (just like their “new and unimproved Tempting in the other palette you reviewed). If these are targeted largely at newer MAC customers, it’s a sad introduction to the brand.
Once upon a time, long, long ago MAC was THE brand that was renowned for fabulous eyeshadows……now it is in the bad DS category
I agree – MAC used to lead the way. Now it’s like MAC is following UD into brand destruction….
I thought about buying this palette, but now I`m far away. Maybe the burgundy is better.
While Grain isn’t one of my most used Mac eyeshadows, I’m sure it’s not this bad.
Why, oh why MAC are you doing this?
MAC is really hellbent on being subpar at this point. I can’t think of anything I would need to buy from them again that isn’t done 100x better than other brands at this point. Such a shame.
Wow, glad I didn’t push the Order button on this one.
wow. I have a Grain that must be 10+ years old by now and it still out performs this nonsense!
I wish MAC hadn’t messed with the line up they had in 2005-2010. I used to go to the pro store in Toronto quite often. Haven’t set foot in any MAC for over 4 years.