MAC Silver Screen, Born to Beam, Belle Epic, Princess Cut Pro Longwear Paint Pots Reviews & Swatches
Silver Screen
MAC Silver Screen Pro Longwear Paint Pot ($23.00 for 0.17 oz.) seemed to have more of a transparent base with larger flecks of silver sparkle and finer silver pearl. It had sheer color coverage, which wasn’t buildable, and applied somewhat evenly but was by no means high performing.
The texture was more emollient, though not as slippery as some of the shimmery shades in the range, so it didn’t sheer out further. It dried down fast but had some time to diffuse and blend out the product on my skin. This shade stayed on decently for nine hours before creasing visibly.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Dior Blue Velvet #1 (LE, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Ice Crystals (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- KVD Beauty Static Age (DC, $21.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- KVD Beauty Moonshine (LE, ) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Viseart Mercury (GPV2 #14) (P, ) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Thickems (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Dior Plum Tulle #1 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Chromatic (04M) (PiP, $29.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Viseart Icy (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Linda Hallberg Cosmetics Illusion (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, 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.
Silver Screen
PPermanent. $23.00.
Born to Beam
MAC Born to Beam Pro Longwear Paint Pot ($23.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a medium-dark gold with moderate, warm undertones and a sparkling finish. It had a sheerer base that resulted in semi-sheer coverage, at best, as the texture was very emollient to the point where the product slid around and did not want to apply evenly.
I tried to wait a little to give it time to set before diffusing, and this just resulted in larger chunks of product moving and bunching up in places–so it looked worse! There was creasing after nine hours of wear on me, though it was faint and was slow to progress.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Sydney Grace Major (P, $6.25) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Club Scene (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Make Up For Ever D410 Gold Nugget (P, $17.00) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Golightly (P, $5.00) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Dior Celebrate in Gold #1 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Origami (P, $9.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Pat McGrath Refined Gold 002 (LE, $25.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Here We Go Again (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Coloured Raine Spoiled (PiP, $6.99) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Coloured Raine Superstar (DC, $6.99) is more shimmery, darker (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.
Born to Beam
PPermanent. $23.00.
Belle Epic
MAC Belle Epic Pro Longwear Paint Pot ($23.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a brighter, medium copper with strong, warm orange undertones and a matte finish. It had rich color coverage in a single layer, which applied evenly to bare skin and was one of the more blendable shades from the matte finish in this formula.
You’ll want to work very quickly to get softer edges, but it was doable. The texture was lightly creamy and picked up well with a brush as well as fingertips. There was a touch of fading after 14 hours and faint creasing that started after 16 hours of wear.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Huda Beauty Caramel Brown #4 (PiP, ) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Dig It (LE, $4.50) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
- LORAC Tangerine (LE, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Playing Game (P, $4.50) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
- Sydney Grace Redstart (P, $5.25) is lighter (95% similar).
- Make Up For Ever M705 Canyon (P, $17.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- MAC 15 Minutes of Flame (LE, $20.00) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Pass It On (LE, $4.50) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
- KVD Beauty Rust (Contour) (PiP, ) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Shag Van (LE, $19.00) is brighter (95% 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.
Belle Epic
PPermanent. $23.00.
Princess Cut
MAC Princess Cut Pro Longwear Paint Pot ($23.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a pinkish-white with a sparkling finish. It had medium color coverage, which was prone to sheering out as the consistency was very emollient to the point where it slid around on my skin. This made it harder to apply the product precisely or to keep an even layer of it on my skin. It started to crease–albeit slowly–after nine hours of wear.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Pop a Bottle (PiP, $6.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Rose #3 (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Dior Cruise Look #2 (LE, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Bad Habit Freyja (PiP, ) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- Ciate Baby (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Sensuelle (P, $12.00) is more shimmery (85% similar).
- MAC Keep on Twinkling (LE, $17.00) is darker, warmer (80% similar).
- MAC Bleached Out (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (80% similar).
- Stila Ballet Baby (P, $24.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (80% similar).
- Urban Decay Hardhome (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, 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.
Every shade I have on my list, appears to receive horrible reviews.
Such a shame, since I absolutely love the few paintpots I have in my possession and was looking forward to expand. Guess I’ll spend my money elsewhere.
I learned my lesson after buying MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study that the shimmery colors are a totally different formula and experience than the matte ones. My favorite eyeshadow base of all time is the MAC Paint Pot in Painterly, but the shimmery ones are too emollient and on me, they crease easily.
It’s so strange how different they are!
Your comments echo my experience too, Kira. I love painterly, but I have never had success with the shimmery formula.
This was my experience as well! Painterly is my favorite without any competition!
I wonder if they changed the matte formula a bit also. I had Soft Ochre before and the one I have now is very very dry.
I only have one shimmery Paint Pot, or had as I tossed it. It was a disastrously bad buy. I have hooded eyes and oily lids. It was a bad combo.
Where is that Chrissy Teigen reaction GIF? Yikes!
It’s so interesting that they wear so poorly on their own. I have the same experience. I have Soft Ochre and Vintage Selection, and I never wear them on their own because they crease and don’t last. However, when placed on the lid over primer and under powder eyeshadow, they make my lid eyeshadow last FOREVER. In fact, I will wear them on my lids under powder eyeshadow when I know I will be up late and need my shadow to last and look good for more than 12-14 hours.
Trying this today!
Oh noooo!!! How depressing, darn!! I have belle epic and love it, but its true you gotta work fast! I also got a few others and art therapeachy is good too!
Definitely seems like sticking with the matte shades is the way to go!
Oh no, no, no…the only shade that didn’t absolutely blow chunks (perhaps literally, in some cases) is a colour I wouldn’t/don’t/can’t wear. Oh, MAC – we’re all accustomed to you releasing some real stinkers but so far, this whole new release (of a product that so many of us have relied on over the years) is too disheartening for words! In the face of other, far more serious issues (all Covid related), it’s really not the end of the world but in the face of COVID, some nice Paint Pots would brighten the day for a lot of us.
Wow…other than Belle Epic (which I love!) the rest of these in this review get a giant thumbs down from me. They are HORRIBLE.
Now on to Belle Epic. This one may make for a nice one ‘n done or a base for a warm eye look, I’m thinking.
I just ordered Belle Epic. I think it’s going to work perfectly as a one ‘n done.
What a shame the shades are so poorly formulated and have received such an awful rating. The original paint pots were excellent and I wonder why MAC didn’t dig deep into their archive of formulas to recreate these.
I agree, I often wonder this about MAC releases in general. Maybe I don’t understand the process of making different colors and that different pigments/colors are going to work differently? I’m always wondering why there are duds when they’ve already had good formulas……..
From the swatch preview, it looks like those shimmers would review horribly. Too bad that turned out to be correct 🙁
Aww rats. The white-pink shade looks so cool looking. It reminds me of an ethereal princess ice fairy. At least the matte shades are bearable.
I own Belle Epic and it’s a lovely shade to throw on for a quick warm-toned eye. Used with a fluffy undyed natural hair brush, it is actually quite easy to build up and work with, and I didn’t have issues with creasing once set, assuming I don’t pile it on too much. I also own Soft Ochre which I love using as a primer.
Was there really a *need* for an extended range of Paint Pots? Really? The original curated group was just fine, and didn’t need jazzing up with inferior formulas that dilute the whole line.