MAC Stroke of Midnight/Warm Eyeshadow Palette ($39.50 for 0.14 oz.) features five shades with warm undertones. Amber Lights and Mulch are both part of the permanent range, while the other three are all repromotes.  Femme-fi is a repromote of a limited edition shade, while the other two are new (I do believe!).  Midnight Hour was the only miss in the palette, and it was a soft miss; because it is a darker color, with a soft, fluffy brush, it can still be usable–it’s just not ideal because it lacks a softer texture that would deliver better color payoff and blendability.  Femme-Fi and Amber Lights were a smidgen powdery at times, but they were quite pigmented and easy to blend.  Mulch could have been softer, denser, but it had fairly good color payoff and was fairly easy to blend.  All of the shades except Midnight Hour wore well for eight hours without fading or creasing; Midnight Hour was slightly faded after eight hours of wear.  This is a nice palette overall, especially given past years’ palettes from MAC at holiday, but the competition on palettes during the holiday is stiff–$40 for 5 shades isn’t the best deal around, so since it’s not a total home run, I’m not sold.

Femme-Fi is described as a “frosty golden cream [with a Veluxe Pearl].” It’s a soft, golden beige with a frosted finish. It had a soft, buttery texture and really nice color payoff. Kat Von D Galore (LE) is similar. Disney by Sephora Sea Shells (LE) is lighter. Estee Lauder Halo (P, $24.00) is a cream product. See comparison swatches.

Amber Lights is described as a “peachy brown with shimmer [with a Frost finish].” It’s a warm-toned, medium copper with strong orange undertones and a frosted, metallic finish. It had really intense pigmentation, and the texture was soft and smooth. There are quite a few near-identical dupes for this–see comparison swatches.

Mulch is described as a “red-brown with bronze pearl [with a Velvet finish].” It’s a medium-dark, reddish-toned brown with a golden sheen and warm undertones. It had a pearly finish. The consistency was soft, and it applied smoothly, but it did seem a little lighter/weaker compared to the permanent shade. Too Faced Chestnut (LE) is less red-toned. MAC Eclair (LE, $18.50) is a cream product. MAC Lie Low (P, $21.00) is similar. See comparison swatches.

Socialite is described as a “warm copper [with a Satin finish].” It’s a warm-toned, mustard-y color. This one is a color that I found hard to describe, as it’s a mix of brown, orange, and yellow with a barely-there satin finish. It had excellent color payoff and applied very smoothly. MAC Juiced was the only similar shade that came to mind, but it is yellower. See comparison swatches.

Midnight Hour is described as a “warm blackened plum [with a Velvet finish].” It’s a dark brown with neutral-to-warm undertones and a barely-there satin finish. The texture was a bit dry to work with, but a soft, fluffy brush (like a good crease brush) helped out during application quite a bit. Tom Ford Beauty She Wolf #1 is cooler-toned. (LE) MAC Diamond Dove (LE, $15.00) is similar, more matte.Benefit Quick, Look Busy (P, $20.00) is a touch lighter. See comparison swatches.

MAC Stroke of Midnight/Warm Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Stroke of Midnight/Warm Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Stroke of Midnight/Warm Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Stroke of Midnight/Warm Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Stroke of Midnight/Warm Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Femme-Fi Eyeshadow

MAC Femme-Fi Eyeshadow

MAC Amber Lights Eyeshadow

MAC Amber Lights Eyeshadow

MAC Mulch Eyeshadow

MAC Mulch Eyeshadow

MAC Socialite Eyeshadow

MAC Socialite Eyeshadow

MAC Midnight Hour Eyeshadow

MAC Midnight Hour Eyeshadow

MAC Eyeshadows: Socialite (inner lid), Amber Lights (middle of lid), Mulch (outer lid),
Midnight Hour (crease), Femme-Fi (inner tear duct)

MAC Eyeshadows: Socialite (inner lid), Amber Lights (middle of lid), Mulch (outer lid),
Midnight Hour (crease), Femme-Fi (inner tear duct)