MAC Violet Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line ($21.00 for 0.06 oz.) contains pink and plum eyeshadows with a purple eyeliner. The Studio Sculpt Shade & Line Eyeshadows can be used wet “for a defined look with super-saturated colour” or dry for “medium buildable coverage.” Looking at the big picture, this trio still doesn’t represent a really high quality product, but within the eight trios released, it is one of the “better” ones. The eyeshadows are both usable, only slightly powdery, and had decent color payoff. The eyeliner still had that stiff, dry texture where you really have to wet the brush significantly to yield any color payoff, but getting even, smooth color isn’t easy. When you manage to get them on, though, the wear is eight hours.

Violet Blend #1 is described as a “light white-pink.” It’s a light-medium, cool-toned pink with a frosted, metallic sheen. It had semi-opaque pigmentation whether applied dry or wet–it just became more metallic when applied damp. The texture was a little powdery but not too bad. MAC Pink Sensibilities #2 (LE, $21.00) is darker. MAC A Medley of Mauves #1 (P, $21.00) is a touch darker. MAC Pinkluxe #1 (P) is darker. MAC Joy & Laughter #1 (P, $21.00) is similar. MAC Fresh & Mint #2 (P, $21.00) is lighter. MAC Young Venus (LE, $19.50) is similar. MAC Maribu (LE, $32.50) is similar. Dior Garden Roses #5 (LE) is also similar. Dior Garden Roses #1 (LE) is darker. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Violet Blend #2 is described as a “deep violet.” It’s a medium-dark, muted purple with subtle cool undertones and a satin-matte finish. It had sheer color payoff when applied dry, which intensified to semi-opaque color payoff when applied with a very damp brush. The texture was fairly dry, stiff, and generally had to be used with a very wet brush to get any usability out of it, whether you wanted to use it as an eyeliner or as an eyeshadow. Makeup Geek Duchess (P, $5.99) is very similar. Giorgio Armani Fatal #4 (P) is darker. Inglot #379 (P, $6.00) is brighter. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Violet Blend #3 is described as an “iridescent cool pink.” It’s a brightened, pinky-plum with warm, red undertones and a frosted sheen. Applied dry, it had semi-sheer pigmentation, and applied damp, it was mostly opaque. The texture was just a little bit powdery. Illamasqua Ensnare (P) is brighter, warmer. Chanel Pink Lagoon (LE, $34.00) is lighter. Chanel Abstraction (LE, $36.00) is lighter. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

MAC Violet Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line

MAC Violet Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line

MAC Violet Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line

MAC Violet Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line

MAC Violet Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line

MAC Violet Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line

MAC Violet Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line

MAC Violet Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line

MAC Eggplant Blend + Violet Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line

MAC Eggplant Blend + Violet Blend Studio Sculpt Shade & Line