MAC Stroke of Midnight Face Palette/Cool Review, Photos, Swatches
MAC Stroke of Midnight Face Palette/Cool
MAC Stroke of Midnight Face Palette/Cool ($49.50 for 0.295 oz.) is a cool-toned palettes with products for eyes, lips, and face. It contains three eyeshadows (0.028 oz. each), two lipsticks (0.024 oz. each), one iridescent powder (0.176 oz.), and one eye pencil (0.015 oz.). The products represent a a total value of $44.09 –$16.80 worth of eyeshadows, $7.20 worth of lipsticks, $15.09 worth of iridescent powder, and $5 worth of eyeliner. Over time, as more and more brands churn out mega palettes for the holidays all around $50 or so, and I wish MAC would step-up the value (or reduce the cost) of their holiday sets and kits. The biggest misses in this palette were Scene and Ebony, and they were both really pitiful products. There are several nice products here–Romantically Inclined, All Races, Magic Moor–but they don’t make up for the two bombs.
Sparkling Rose is described as a “soft pink with gold frost.” It’s a soft, golden beige with a light, frosted finish that looked rather metallic on. It had decent pigmentation, and the texture was soft and fairly smooth. It wore well for seven hours, but it looked noticeably patchy after eight hours of wear. It did lightly emphasize pores as it looked quite metallic applied. Urban Decay Glint (LE) is warmer. bareMinerals The Love Affair (LE, $26.00) is darker. Bobbi Brown Rose Gold (LE, $42.00) is pinker. See comparison swatches.
Sublime Pleasure is described as a “soft mauve cream [with a Lustre finish].” It’s a soft, cool-toned, medium pink with a luminous sheen. It had semi-sheer pigmentation, and it applied smoothly overall. It lasted two and a half hours and was a little drying on me. MAC Flair for Finery (LE, $15.00) is lighter, less pink. theBalm Milly (P) is warmer. MAC Dreaminess (P, $22.00) is pinker. Chanel Candeur (P, $34.00) is similar. Bobbi Brown Orchid Pink (LE, $23.00) is cooler-toned. See comparison swatches.
Romantically Inclined is described as a “cool plum cream [with a Cremesheen finish].” It’s a magenta purple with cool undertones and a soft sheen. It had semi-opaque color coverage, and it applied evenly and smoothly. It wore for five hours and was neither drying nor hydrating. MAC Feel My Pulse (LE, $15.00) is similar. Maybelline Brazen Berry (P, $7.49) is lighter. MAC Seductive Intent (LE, $16.00) is more magenta/purple. MAC Violetta (P, $15.00) is more iridescent. MAC Strong Woman (LE, $15.00) is purpler, darker. MAC Heroine (LE, $15.00) is slightly purpler. MAC Bust Out (LE, $15.00) is similar. See comparison swatches.
All Races is described as a “cool light mauve taupe [with a Matte finish].” It’s a pale, gray-ish lavender with cool undertones and a matte finish. The texture was soft and finely-milled with great color payoff. It lasted well for eight hours on the lid. NARS Namibia (P, $24.00) is grayer. Disney by Sephora What’s-It (LE) is similar. MAC Creative Whim (LE, $15.00) is shimmery. MAC Fresh Ice (LE, $21.00) is lighter. MAC Silver Gull (LE, $15.00) is grayer. MAC Silverwear (LE, $15.00) is frosted. MAC Look at the Eyes (LE, $15.00) is darker. See comparison swatches.
Scene is described as a “muted blue-grey [with a Satin finish].” It’s a dirty gray with neutral undertones and a satin finish. The texture was dry and stiff, so the color payoff reflected that–it was very sheer. It had noticeably faded after six and a half hours of wear. Guerlain Crazy Paris #5 (LE)is darker. NARS Delphes #2 (LE, $24.00) is similar. MAC Interior Life (LE, $15.00) is darker, grayer. MAC All Woman (LE, $15.00) is warmer. See comparison swatches.
Magic Moor is described as a “rich blackened plum with pearl [with a Veluxe Pearl].” It’s a deep, dark purple burgundy with a pearly sheen. The color payoff was fantastic, and the texture was soft and smooth. LORAC Deep Purple (P) is similar. Fyrinnae Alchemist’s Curse (P, $6.80) is brighter. Urban Decay Rapture (LE, $18.00) is purpler. Urban Decay Rockstar (P, $18.00) is purpler. Estee Lauder Cyber Lilac (LE, $24.00) is also purpler. See comparison swatches.
Ebony is described as an “intense black.” It’s a sheer, stiff black eyeliner. The consistency of it was really dry–it just wasn’t creamy at all, so it skipped and dragged on the skin. I highly recommend dulling the initial point, as it is extremely sharp, which doesn’t help the color payoff but does make it less painful to use. It lasted for almost eight hours with light shrinkage. There is no shortage in black eyeliners, so you can see comparison swatches of many blacks that out-perform this one.
MAC Stroke of Midnight Face Palette/Cool Review, Photos, Swatches
Sparkling Rose
LELimited Edition. $26.00.
Sublime Pleasure
LELimited Edition. $19.00.
Romantically Inclined
LELimited Edition. $19.00.
All Races
LELimited Edition. $17.00.
Scene
PPermanent. $17.00.
Magic Moor
LELimited Edition. $17.00.
Ebony
PPermanent. $21.00.
MAC Stroke of Midnight Face Palette/Cool
MAC Stroke of Midnight Face Palette/Cool
MAC Stroke of Midnight Face Palette/Cool
MAC Stroke of Midnight Face Palette/Cool
MAC Stroke of Midnight Face Palette/Cool
MAC Sparkling Rose Iridescent Pressed Powder
MAC Sparkling Rose Iridescent Pressed Powder
MAC Sparkling Rose Iridescent Pressed Powder
MAC Sublime Pleasure Lipstick
MAC Sublime Pleasure Lipstick
MAC Sublime Pleasure Lipstick
MAC Sublime Pleasure Lipstick
MAC Sublime Pleasure Lipstick
MAC Romantically Inclined Lipstick
MAC Romantically Inclined Lipstick
MAC Romantically Inclined Lipstick
MAC Romantically Inclined Lipstick
MAC Romantically Inclined Lipstick
MAC All Races Eyeshadow
MAC All Races Eyeshadow
MAC Scene Eyeshadow
MAC Scene Eyeshadow
MAC Magic Moor Eyeshadow
MAC Magic Moor Eyeshadow
MAC Ebony Eye Kohl
MAC Ebony Eye Kohl
I like Magic Moor, but not enough to purchase the whole palette. I hope MAC releases it as a single eyeshadow in the future. 🙂
I actually love most of the products on this palette, but it’s really not worth that price, especially with that deceptive kohl, ouch. A lot of drugstore brands make some very good kohl pencils I would expect more from MAC
Christine, could you recommend a dupe for Romantically inclined from other brands with good quality i could purchase in HK (maybelline brazen berry is not available here /.\) ? II hv been looking for this shade but can’t find a perfect match, been looking forward to this face palette, but I don’t wanna take up the bomb for the sake of one lip color ……..many thanks!
Hi Alexa!
I listed all the dupes that I could think, unfortunately, so that is all I know of!
What a shame. I think that I’ve been wearing Scene longer than any other eyeshadow, and I really don’t have any problems with it. Oh well, I’ve been having a lot of fun with the rest of the holiday palettes, so I really don’t need one that has a color that I already own!
A lot of times when permanent shades get put into palettes, they do not perform as well!
The color palette doesn’t appeal to me at all.
Romantically Inclined looks so pretty! But I know this is not a set I would get much use from.
What face products are you wearing here? Your whole face is glowing!!
Hi Cat!
Guerlain Parure de Lumiere + Guerlain Crazy Meteorites (Pressed) 🙂
Ahhh, I should have guessed! I thought maybe the Hourglass Ambient powders but it looked even MORE glowy than that!
All of these look so lovely on you. I ♥ the fresh-faced look this palette gives!
x
Could be because English is not my first language and I’m missing a meaning here, but isn’t moor a racial slur?!
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moor
I have never heard it used in that way?! I’m from the UK, and I don’t think it’s ever been used like that here, to me it’s either used for expanses of land ie “The Yorkshire Moors” or when you tie up a boat “mooring the boat”. Ok Christine’s dictionary link makes more sense than me, but at least in the UK I have never heard it used as a racial slur. o_0
Oh, sorry to post again, but I Googled and apparently it is a very, very old term when used that way, which is probably why I had never heard of it. http://www.rsdb.org/slur/moor
Race: Arabs
For the Muslims that invaded Europe during the Middle Ages. Also used as derogatory against those of ancestry where the Moors settled (Spain, Sicily) – they are “part Moor”.
Apparently it’s used in Shakespeare’s Othello, which is one I don’t know very well. Othello is “The Moor Of Venice” so perhaps you learnt of this through Shakespeare? In 2013, however, it’s not a commonly used term!!
Wow, I learn more than just stuff about make-up here!
I think it might be.in Spain “Los moros ” means Moors (refering to the Moroccans )
And in cuba there is a dish called. “Blancos y moros ” referring to the black beans and white rice in the dish. :/
What is going on with “Scene”?? I’m sure that’s a repromote or permanent, and it didn’t used to be like that. I know because someone was selling a pan of it in the MAC LJ community so I Googled swatches, and it wasn’t like that at all. It looks like it’s gone all “Carbon” 🙁
Scene is permanent.
The one I have is a bit powdery and can be a PITA to work with, which is a shame because it’s a very pretty colour, IMO.
Ah, so it’s always been a little awkward? It’s not one I own, but I have seen some strongly coloured swatches, but I don’t know how many swipes they’ve used or what primer they’ve used really! I’m just disappointed with MAC shadows nowadays. They’ve reformulated them to make them drier and stiffer lately imho.
you skin looks phenomenal! angelic even ..wow
Thanks, Khadija!
Where did u use the pressed powder in that pic? Would luv suggestions on using the eyeshadows, pic is missing showing how u used them. ty 4 ur reviews.
Hi Wendy,
I applied the pressed powder on cheek only, as it is an Iridescent powder, so it is more like a highlighter. I wouldn’t use it all over. I did not take any photos of the eyeshadows applied, that is why none are included! 🙂
All Races is my all-time favorite all-over wash color for purple and gray looks – so wish they’d re-promote it on its own or make it permanent! Instead, it’s shown up in a couple of palettes in recent years – at least I liked a past quad enough to buy, this notsomuch. Would def. buy Magic Moor if it was single, too!
(Christine, the link to the warm palette in the collection entry today isn’t working.)
Thank you!
I’m looking for a lipstick just like Sublime Pleasure. But I’m not going to buy whole palette for one lipstick 🙁 Maybe I should check Chanel Candeur instead, but something tells me, that its’s lighter and cooler toned than Sublime Pleasure.
If there were only lipsticks & iridescent powder in the palette, I would consider the purchase. But I don’t need any eyeshadows. So unfortunately I have to skip. 🙁
I really like Romantically Inclined, I wish there was a way to get it without buying this (and including two useless products)