MAC Spellbinder Shadow ($22.00 for 0.02 oz.) is described as “black, ionized pigments [that] are magnetically charged, fusing the loose powder together so it magically maintains its form and dimension” and will “cling to lids like pure velvet.” Per “usage,” MAC actually says they are “best” when used over their 24-Hour Primer, so the wear and application are rated as they performed over primer (I also tested without primer, as I was not sure what the claims were going to be, so you will still see that information below). It feels like velvet if you touch it with a fingertip, as the powder is finely-milled but “fuses” together, so there is less mess in the pot. They are supposed to be as pigmented and as intense as loose eyeshadows but in an easier-to-use format. They are less messy in the pot, as the pot seems to have a magnet within it, but I don’t find that it is particularly less messy during application as I still had some fall out while working with it; in some ways, it was harder to tap away excess as the product did seem more inclined to stick to itself on the brush initially. If you push the product too close to the rim of the jar, it will creep over the edge and is too far from the base to stay in. The powders do maintain their wavy pattern, even as you push and move the loose pigment around.

I am, personally, a big fan of MAC’s regular Pigments, as they have more to them that give them better binding and adhesion on the lids, so I find them easy to work with, pigmented, and longer-wearing. I liked the fineness and smoothness of the Spellbinder Shadows, but the black base made the harder to blend and diffuse on the lid. These worked best as lid colors, where one can use other products for crease/transition shades, blending around the edges, and so forth. I did not see anything in the press copy about using them damp, but as most loose pigments/eyeshadows can be used that way, I did try some of these with a damp brush, which I thought was useful for really bringing out the depth and sheen of the colors overall. They perform better over primer, as the fineness of the powder seemed to apply somewhat unevenly and was more prone to appearing patchy over bare skin, as some particles would adhere well but not diffuse.

They seemed quite pigmented, but the texture seemed more prone to sheering out when I applied it to dry lids; there was a faded, slightly translucent quality to the majority of the shades when applied to bare skin. The wear was average at seven to eight hours without primer and no signs of wear after nine and half hours of wear (I did not test further). Primer seemed to help primarily with getting more even, true-to-pot coverage, as the product didn’t sheer out as easily, and of course, the wear, but it did not help as much as was needed for blending out the colors. I think the deeper colors and the finer shimmer makes them worth checking out, but it’s a product where I could see just one or two shades being necessary. They will also come together better when mixed with other shades, as together, they can run together as they have a similar depth and base color.

As a note, it really does contain only 0.02 oz. of product, which is definitely on the low-end for loose eyeshadows, and it is particularly low when compared to MAC Pigments (0.10 oz. for the same price).

MAC Retrograde Spellbinder Shadow ($22.00 for 0.02 oz.) is a deep gray with cooler, bluish pearl. It had good color coverage with a soft, silky texture, but I noticed that some of the color would stick more readily to some areas, and then it would not want to diffuse much from there, so the end result was somewhat patchy. I had better luck when I used it over a primer getting more even intensity but did not experience easier blending. It started to crease after seven and a half hours of wear on bare lids, and it had no signs of wear with primer after nine and a half hours. MAC Hint of Sapphire (LE, $21.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). Illamasqua Android (P, $25.50) is more shimmery (95% similar). Tarina Tarantino Silver Shoes (DC, ) is lighter (95% similar). Make Up For Ever 28 Anthracite Black (P, $21.00) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar). Hourglass Graphite #4 (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Caviar (P, $45.00) is darker (95% similar). Urban Decay Redemption (LE, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar). MAC Deep Cravings (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery, cooler (95% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty The Parisienne #1 (LE, ) is lighter, cooler (95% similar). NARS Smash It Up (LE, $25.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar). MAC A Sprinkle of Blues #4 (PiP, $21.00) is lighter (90% similar). Urban Decay Ace (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). Pat McGrath Black Metal (PiP, $25.00) is more shimmery, more muted (90% similar). Giorgio Armani #1 (DC, $33.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar). NARS Give In Take II (LE, $29.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). Urban Decay Gunmetal (DC, $19.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). BH Cosmetics Foil Eyes 2 #21 (PiP, ) is warmer (85% similar). LORAC Slate (PiP, $19.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar). Bobbi Brown Silver (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, brighter (85% similar). Giorgio Armani #21 (DC, $33.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

MAC Aphrodisiatic Spellbinder Shadow ($22.00 for 0.02 oz.) is a deep, blackened navy blue with lighter medium blue pearl that gives is a more pearlized finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation with a fine, smooth consistency that was soft to the touch but had a tendency to sheer out a bit on the lid and look a bit uneven. I highly recommend using it over a primer as a result, which helped even out the coverage a lot. The color lasted for seven hours before creasing on me, and it had no signs of wear with primer after nine and a half hours. Marc Jacobs Beauty The Parisienne #2 (LE, ) is lighter, brighter, warmer (95% similar). bareMinerals Climax (P, ) is more shimmery, lighter, brighter (95% similar). Bobbi Brown Blue Onyx (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar). Pretty Vulgar Wing It (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar). Melt Cosmetics Dead Inside (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Night Sky (Cream) (LE, $45.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar). MAC Blue Storm (LE, $21.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). MAC Thru the Night (DC, $21.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Clinique Massively Midnight (P, $17.00) is brighter (95% similar). Pat McGrath Underworld (PiP, $25.00) is warmer (90% similar). Givenchy Bleu Soie (4) (P, $23.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar). Jouer Midnight (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar). Sephora So Demure (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, more muted (90% similar). Chanel Apparition (LE, $32.00) is less shimmery, lighter, more muted (90% similar). ColourPop Baby T (LE, $6.00) is brighter (90% similar). Burberry Midnight Blue (DC, $29.00) is cooler (90% similar). MAC Naval Blue (P, $21.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar). Sydney Grace Moonlit Kingdom (PiP, $6.25) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Soleil Neige #3 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar). Urban Decay Danger (LE, $19.00) is lighter, brighter (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

MAC Blue Karma Spellbinder Shadow ($22.00 for 0.02 oz.) is a medium-dark green-leaning teal with subtle, cool undertones and warmer green-gold and bluish-teal pearl. It had semi-opaque pigmentation that applied fairly evenly, but it had a translucency that made it appear faded and more subdued. The consistency was soft, felt velvety in the pot, and it blended out fairly well on the lid. It wore well for just over seven and a half hours, and it had no signs of wear with primer after nine and a half hours. Make Up For Ever I300 Pine Green (DC, $21.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar). bareMinerals Deep Sea (LE, $14.00) is darker (95% similar). Chanel Road Movie #1 (PiP, ) is warmer (90% similar). ColourPop Fishy (LE, $4.50) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). MAC Rain Drop (LE, $32.50) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Natasha Denona Deep Pacific (03V) (PiP, $29.00) is darker (90% similar). Natasha Denona Deep Teal (19M) (PiP, $29.00) is more shimmery, lighter, brighter (90% similar). Urban Decay Junkie (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter, brighter (90% similar). Makeup Geek Sea Mist (DC, $6.00) is lighter (90% similar). Milani Mix It Up (DC, $6.99) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). Smashbox Pacific (LE, ) is lighter, brighter (90% similar). NABLA Cosmetics Babylon (P, $8.00) is lighter (90% similar). Too Faced Sequin (LE, $16.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar). Fyrinnae Sleepy Hollow (P, $7.00) is brighter (90% similar). Kevyn Aucoin Impulse (LE, ) is cooler (85% similar). Cle de Peau Pewter Veil #1 (LE, ) is lighter, brighter, cooler (85% similar). Anastasia Throne (LE, $12.00) is darker (85% similar). Viseart Dark Matter (GPV2 #18) (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar). Makeup Geek Autumn Breeze (DC, $6.00) is lighter (85% similar). Too Faced Too Glam (LE, $16.00) is more shimmery, lighter, brighter (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

MAC Cosmic Clash Spellbinder Shadow ($22.00 for 0.02 oz.) is a blackened brown with cooler, emerald green pearl that gives it a slightly metallic finish overall. It had medium coverage, which was somewhat buildable, but I struggled to get true-to-pan intensity without using a damp brush or patting it on two to three layers over a primer. The color was harder to blend out evenly and tended to look patchy and dotty over bare skin as some product stuck and did not want to budge, and it was somewhat improved over primer but still finnicky. It wore well for seven and a half hours on me, and it had no signs of wear with primer after nine and a half hours. Smashbox G*psy (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar). MAC Clarity (LE, $21.00) is warmer (95% similar). MAC Legendary Lure (P, $20.00) is warmer (95% similar). Urban Decay Loaded (DC, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar). MAC Woodsmoke (LE, $17.00) is warmer (95% similar). Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Poison (DC, $14.00) is brighter (90% similar). Tarina Tarantino Very Wicked (DC, ) is lighter (90% similar). Urban Decay Floss (LE, $19.00) is brighter (90% similar). Makeup Geek Envy (DC, $6.00) is less shimmery, brighter (90% similar). NARS Heartbreaker (DC, $25.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar). Bobbi Brown Forest (P, $28.00) is brighter (90% similar). bareMinerals Max Volume (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Make Up For Ever ME302 Peacock (DC, $21.00) is brighter (90% similar). ColourPop Disco Ball (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar). Fyrinnae Jaguar (DC, $6.75) is brighter (85% similar). NARS Snake Eyes (P, $25.00) is brighter, warmer (90% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

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MAC Spellbinder Shadow

MAC Spellbinder Shadow

MAC Spellbinder Shadow

MAC Spellbinder Shadow

MAC Spellbinder Shadow

MAC Retrograde Spellbinder Shadow

MAC Retrograde Spellbinder Shadow

MAC Retrograde Spellbinder Shadow

MAC Retrograde Spellbinder Shadow

MAC Aphrodisiatic Spellbinder Shadow

MAC Aphrodisiatic Spellbinder Shadow

MAC Aphrodisiatic Spellbinder Shadow

MAC Aphrodisiatic Spellbinder Shadow

MAC Aphrodisiatic Spellbinder Shadow

MAC Blue Karma Spellbinder Shadow

MAC Blue Karma Spellbinder Shadow

MAC Blue Karma Spellbinder Shadow

MAC Blue Karma Spellbinder Shadow

MAC Blue Karma Spellbinder Shadow

MAC Cosmic Clash Spellbinder Shadow

MAC Cosmic Clash Spellbinder Shadow

MAC Cosmic Clash Spellbinder Shadow

MAC Cosmic Clash Spellbinder Shadow

MAC Cosmic Clash Spellbinder Shadow

Blue Karma, Aphrodisiatic, Cosmic Clash, Retrograde

Blue Karma, Aphrodisiatic, Cosmic Clash, Retrograde