MAC Starring You Spellbinder Shadows Reviews & Swatches
Stairs to the Stars
MAC Stairs to the Stars Spellbinder Shadow ($25.00 for 0.02 oz.) is a slightly blackened, reddish-burgundy with warmer undertones and fine, shimmer finish that looked more satin-like applied dry and more metallic applied wet. The texture was incredibly finely-milled and soft to the touch.
There’s nothing that really suggests that they could (or should) be used with a dampened brush, but they were so dismal when I initially swatched them dry, I thought, while we’re here… and there’s a massive improvement when working with it with a dampened brush (just water). The pigmentation was semi-sheer applied dry and opaque applied wet, while I had light fallout working with it dry, I had no fallout working with it wet and it still had all the blendability of a great powder eyeshadow. It wore well for seven hours before fading noticeably applied dry, and it wore for a full eight hours well when I used it with a dampened brush.
(Because this wasn’t advertised as a wet/dry formula, the rating is only for the product used dry.)
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Urban Decay Drunk Dial (PiP, $19.00) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- LORAC Wildflower (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Lisa Eldridge Viola (P, $27.00) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Sydney Grace My Fair Lady (P, $6.25) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Celestial Eyes (Smoke) (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Nude Rich #6 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Ultraviolit (LE, ) is brighter, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Like a Butterfly (LE, $6.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Mon Sherry (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop So Into U (P, $8.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$25.00/0.02 oz. - $1250.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be "long-wearing," "non-fading," and "non-creasing" with a "rich, meteoric metallic finish" and "stay-true colour." It uses "black, ionized pigments" that "are magnetically charged" to fuse the "loose powder together." You can see some of that at play in the jar, but it doesn't really seem particularly remarkable on the lid--I still had some fallout during application when working with the shades dry with a brush. I had less trouble applying with a fingertip when it came to fallout.
I don't think the shades really seem complex unless applied with a dampened brush or over a tacky base--then they seem to intensify, deepen, and the finish really sparkles ("meteoric metallic finish"). Dry, they are more satin-to-pearl, look a little faded, and don't have much dimension. The pigmentation ranged from medium to semi-opaque dry and were all opaque when applied with a dampened brush. They wore between seven and eight hours on me before fading, and they were less prone to fading when just applied with a dampened brush (using water, not an adhesive or setting spray).
Browse all of our MAC Spellbinder Shadow swatches.
Ingredients
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Alumina, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Silica, Tin Oxide, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (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), Copper Powder (Ci 77400), 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.
Look Using this Product
Stairs to the Stars
LELimited Edition. $25.00.
Stars Align
MAC Stars Align Spellbinder Shadow ($25.00 for 0.02 oz.) is a medium-dark gray with cool undertones and a soft sheen. It had semi-sheer coverage with a very silky-smooth texture that felt finely-milled to the touch. It applied evenly and blended out well, but there was light fallout and the color wouldn’t build up. The color stayed on well for seven hours before fading a bit.
I’d recommend using it with a wet brush, which intensified the coverage to opaque, finish to metallic, and improved adhesion and wear.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Make Up For Ever ME108 Steel (P, $17.00) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Digitalized (P, $26.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Pat McGrath Divine Mink (PiP, $25.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Stila Vivid Labradorite (P, $24.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Tarina Tarantino Silver Shoes (DC, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- NARS Flourish (DC, $25.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Glaminatrix Pistol (P, $8.04) is lighter (90% similar).
- NYX Smoke & Mirrors (P, $6.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Juvia's Place Vai (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Viseart Diane (PiP, ) is darker (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$25.00/0.02 oz. - $1250.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be "long-wearing," "non-fading," and "non-creasing" with a "rich, meteoric metallic finish" and "stay-true colour." It uses "black, ionized pigments" that "are magnetically charged" to fuse the "loose powder together." You can see some of that at play in the jar, but it doesn't really seem particularly remarkable on the lid--I still had some fallout during application when working with the shades dry with a brush. I had less trouble applying with a fingertip when it came to fallout.
I don't think the shades really seem complex unless applied with a dampened brush or over a tacky base--then they seem to intensify, deepen, and the finish really sparkles ("meteoric metallic finish"). Dry, they are more satin-to-pearl, look a little faded, and don't have much dimension. The pigmentation ranged from medium to semi-opaque dry and were all opaque when applied with a dampened brush. They wore between seven and eight hours on me before fading, and they were less prone to fading when just applied with a dampened brush (using water, not an adhesive or setting spray).
Browse all of our MAC Spellbinder Shadow swatches.
Ingredients
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Alumina, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Silica, Tin Oxide, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (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), Copper Powder (Ci 77400), 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.
Look Using this Product
Stars Align
LELimited Edition. $25.00.
Swing on a Star
MAC Swing on a Star Spellbinder Shadow ($25.00 for 0.02 oz.) is a blackened-brown base with flecks of olive green and blue-teal shimmer and larger sparkle. It had semi-opaque pigmentation applied with a dry brush, which was hard to build up without getting fallout.
The texture was very, very finely-milled, but it was so fine that it could easily puff up and you could see it in the air. The formula, while it’s not marketed as such, really benefits from being applied with a dampened brush–it’s opaque, metallic, and rich; all the things it was supposed to be dry. It wore well for seven and a half hours dry on bare skin.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Dose of Colors Leaf Me Alone (P, $20.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Viseart Medusa (GPV2 #8) (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Emerald Eyes (LE, $34.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Zodiac (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Turn the Beat (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever D308 Aquatic Khaki (DC, $17.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty TFX10 (LE, $36.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Stila Mystic (LE, $24.00) is lighter, less pigmented (85% similar).
- ColourPop Friskie (P, $6.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Givenchy Inattendue #2 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$25.00/0.02 oz. - $1250.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be "long-wearing," "non-fading," and "non-creasing" with a "rich, meteoric metallic finish" and "stay-true colour." It uses "black, ionized pigments" that "are magnetically charged" to fuse the "loose powder together." You can see some of that at play in the jar, but it doesn't really seem particularly remarkable on the lid--I still had some fallout during application when working with the shades dry with a brush. I had less trouble applying with a fingertip when it came to fallout.
I don't think the shades really seem complex unless applied with a dampened brush or over a tacky base--then they seem to intensify, deepen, and the finish really sparkles ("meteoric metallic finish"). Dry, they are more satin-to-pearl, look a little faded, and don't have much dimension. The pigmentation ranged from medium to semi-opaque dry and were all opaque when applied with a dampened brush. They wore between seven and eight hours on me before fading, and they were less prone to fading when just applied with a dampened brush (using water, not an adhesive or setting spray).
Browse all of our MAC Spellbinder Shadow swatches.
Ingredients
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Alumina, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Silica, Tin Oxide, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (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), Copper Powder (Ci 77400), 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.
Look Using this Product
Swing on a Star
LELimited Edition. $25.00.
Wishful Thinking
MAC Wishful Thinking Spellbinder Shadow ($25.00 for 0.02 oz.) is a medium purple with subtle, warm undertones and a soft sheen. It had sheer color payoff that wasn’t buildable without using it with a dampened brush, and then it was opaque and metallic in a single layer.
The texture felt incredibly silky and finely-milled, and there was minimal fallout during application when I worked with it dry. The color stayed on decently for seven hours before fading a bit on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Kaleidos Glowing Iris (Radiate) (PiP, ) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Urban Decay The Artist (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Kaleidos Flowing Haze (Radiate) (PiP, ) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- NARS Argentina (P, $22.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Lisa Eldridge Iris (P, $27.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Synthetica (DC, $25.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- NARS Kauai II (PiP, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Purple Haze #9 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, less pigmented (90% similar).
- Too Faced That's My Jam (PiP, $16.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- NARS Jardin Perdu (Right) (DC, $25.00) is lighter, more muted (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$25.00/0.02 oz. - $1250.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be "long-wearing," "non-fading," and "non-creasing" with a "rich, meteoric metallic finish" and "stay-true colour." It uses "black, ionized pigments" that "are magnetically charged" to fuse the "loose powder together." You can see some of that at play in the jar, but it doesn't really seem particularly remarkable on the lid--I still had some fallout during application when working with the shades dry with a brush. I had less trouble applying with a fingertip when it came to fallout.
I don't think the shades really seem complex unless applied with a dampened brush or over a tacky base--then they seem to intensify, deepen, and the finish really sparkles ("meteoric metallic finish"). Dry, they are more satin-to-pearl, look a little faded, and don't have much dimension. The pigmentation ranged from medium to semi-opaque dry and were all opaque when applied with a dampened brush. They wore between seven and eight hours on me before fading, and they were less prone to fading when just applied with a dampened brush (using water, not an adhesive or setting spray).
Browse all of our MAC Spellbinder Shadow swatches.
Ingredients
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Alumina, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Silica, Tin Oxide, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (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), Copper Powder (Ci 77400), 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.
The only one I really could see myself possibly buying, and likely on clearance, is Swing On A Star. Used damp, it looks like the perfect replacement of MUFE Aquatic Khaki. Something I missed out on while it was still around.
Kiko had these a few years ago, but they were much better than these. And cheaper lol
MAC had them out a few years ago, too! (2016)
That’s when I got the one I have – Mysterious Influence. Reading your new review might be all I need to get me to dig it out again! A perfect colour for this time of year (and why, oh why, couldn’t they have brought back Dynamically Charged???)
The rich plum shade is beautiful as well as the silvery grey.
I bought all four of these and was THISCLOSE to returning them all until I read this just now and now I’m going to give them another shot with a damp brush. They truly are dismal applied dry so here’s hoping!!
Let us know if it works for you, Bonnie!
I swatched these in Macy’s last weekend and was amazed by how soft and lush they felt. But I wasn’t impressed by the way they swatched dry. Spellbinder is so pretty applied damp, but I’ll pass.
Oops, I meant Stars Align, not Spellbinder!
It’s a shame these aren’t better. I got one from the last collection and there was one I missed as it was sold out. How I wish they’d repromoted that shade (I think it was Dynamically Charged) along with these new shades. I like Stars Align but a C- … no thanks!
I was not super impressed with these. I got Swing On a Star. They are serious glitter bombs and IMO not worth the $25 price tag. I sprayed my brush with setting spray and probably didn’t use enough. I’m guess full wet brush and then spray it to keep it in place ?
I just used a dampened brush with water – definitely not sopping wet – just to be clear 🙂
There’s always something ‘new’ here, meaning that you have not yet discovered that feature. Decided to check the formula before intragoogling the swatches from the previous Spellbinders. Lo and behold, there was the link under formula…leading to the 2016 swatches. I clearly might not, but Christine thinks of everything!
These are $32 each in Canada, one shadow, no way, even if it was fantastic I wouldn’t buy these. I purchased these a few years ago from MAC and they where amazing in pigmentation and not $32. I also remember these going on sale shortly after the holidays. MAC must be on crack to price these at such a high cost. There was a time…..but MAC has so much competition now and they are quickly becoming irrelevant.