MAC x Guo Pei Morning Light Eyeshadow Quad Review, Photos, Swatches
MAC Morning Light Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Morning Light Eyeshadow Quad ($70.00 for 0.19 oz.) is a warm-toned set of hues with three being more golden and the last being a deep brown. For someone who likes their golds and yellows, this might make for an easy go-to. The quality is there, which is a good thing since the packaging of the products drives the price up from the more typical $40 to $44 for a quad to whopping $70. The MAC x Guo Pei collaboration launches online on September 24th at maccosmetics.com, and it will only be available at MAC 5th Avenue in NYC and MAC at South Coast Plaza (in southern California) for U.S. locations.
Earth Scent is described as a “blackened brown [with a Matte finish].” It’s a deep brown with warm, reddish undertones and a matte finish. It was intensely pigmented, and it had the same dense, cream-like texture of Nehru from the other quad in the collection. The eyeshadow is very smooth and blendable on the lid, and it wore well for nine hours.
L'Oreal Continuous Cocoa (P, $7.99) is cooler (95% similar). Stila Chocolate (LE, $18.00) is lighter (95% similar). Tarte Activist (PiP, ) is cooler (95% similar). Tarte Dark Drive (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar). LORAC Espresso (PiP, $19.00) is lighter, more muted (90% similar). Natasha Denona Glam (327CM) (PiP, ) is darker, cooler (90% similar). NARS Give In Take VI (LE, $29.00) is more shimmery, lighter, brighter (90% similar). MAC Give a Glam (P, $20.00) is cooler (90% similar). LORAC Espresso (Mega Pro) (LE, $19.00) is lighter, more muted (90% similar). Stila Bark (LE, $18.00) is lighter (85% similar). NARS Moshpit (LE, $25.00) is cooler (85% similar). KVD Beauty Shadow Box (DC, ) is lighter (85% similar). Becca Ombre Nudes #5 (PiP, ) is lighter (85% similar). Give Me Glow Dirt Road (P, $7.00) is cooler (80% similar). Sydney Grace Daystar (Deep) (PiP, $5.25) is cooler (80% similar). Melt Cosmetics Rott #2 (PiP, ) is cooler (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Amber Lights is described as a “peachy brown with shimmer [with a Frost finish].” It’s a bright, medium-dark golden copper with a frosted, metallic finish. The color payoff was fully opaque, while the texture was soft, buttery, and dense, which made it adhere well to the lid for eight and a half hours on me. This shade is part of the permanent range. ColourPop Uninhibited (PiP, $4.50) is less shimmery (95% similar). Milani Bella Copper (23) (P, $4.49) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar). Make Up For Ever ME728 Copper Red (P, $17.00) is darker, cooler (95% similar). LORAC Unleashed (PiP, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar). bareMinerals Bragging Rights (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar). NARS Isolde #1 (DC, $25.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). ColourPop Crackle (P, $4.50) is more shimmery (95% similar). KVD Beauty Dog Roses (LE, ) is lighter, cooler (95% similar). bareMinerals Louder (LE, ) is lighter, more muted, cooler (90% similar). Urban Decay Lucky (LE, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar). NARS Isolde #1 (DC, $25.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty The Starlet #4 (PiP, ) is warmer (95% similar). NARS Isolde #1 (DC, $25.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Make Up For Ever ME728 Copper Red (DC, $21.00) is lighter (95% similar). Makeup Geek Glamorous (DC, $6.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). Viseart Cindi (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Viseart Boheme Dream #5 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Urban Decay Starfire (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar). ColourPop Game Face (P, $6.00) is darker, more muted (90% similar). Illamasqua Bronx (PiP, ) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Waking Dawn is described as a “light medium gold [with a Veluxe Pearl finish].” It’s a bright, sunshine yellow with a frosted sheen and slight orange-y undertones. It had great pigmentation with a smooth, dense consistency that blended out easily without losing its intensity. On me, it started to fade after eight and a half hours of wear. NARS Reborn (DC, $25.00) is less shimmery, more muted (90% similar). City Color Pharaoh (P, $6.99) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). Viseart Coy #1 (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar). Inglot #403 (P, $7.00) is lighter (90% similar). MAC Amberluxe #2 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). ColourPop So Meta (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). theBalm #40 (P, $6.50) is lighter (90% similar). Fyrinnae Banana Mochi (P, $6.75) is darker (90% similar). MAC Big Kahuna (LE, $17.00) is darker, more muted (90% similar). Dominique Cosmetics Lemon Soda (PiP, ) is cooler (90% similar). Make Up For Ever D410 Gold Nugget (DC, $21.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). Makeup Geek Yellow Brick Road (DC, $6.00) is darker (90% similar). Make Up For Ever ME400 Buttercup (DC, $21.00) is darker, brighter (85% similar). Makeup Geek Lemon Drop (DC, $6.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar). MAC Sun's Out, Buns Out (LE, $17.00) is more shimmery, lighter, more muted (85% similar). Disney by Sephora Triton (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar). Make Up For Ever ME400 Buttercup (P, $17.00) is cooler (85% similar). Make Up For Ever ME406 Golden (DC, $21.00) is darker, more muted (85% similar). ColourPop Floating (LE, $6.00) is darker (85% similar). theBalm #12 (P, $6.50) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Sweet Vapours is described as a “soft beige with a pink duochrome [with a Pearl Lustre finish].” It’s a light-medium, pinky-beige with a cooler pink iridescent sheen paired with gold sparkle. The texture was drier and tended to apply unevenly over the skin, so this one would need a base or primer of some sort to give it a smoother appearance on the skin. It wore well for eight hours. Sephora + Pantone Universe Pale Mauve (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Guerlain Cygne Blanc #1 (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar). Dior Constellation (864) #3 (LE, ) is lighter, brighter (90% similar). MAC Harpooned Heart (LE, $17.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar). Hello Kitty Friendship (LE, ) is lighter (85% similar). NARS Cassiopeia (P, $29.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar). MAC Ready to Party (P, $20.00) is lighter, brighter, cooler (85% similar). Urban Decay Fast-Ball (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, darker (80% similar). Dior Electrify #1 (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (80% similar). Urban Decay Aura #1 (LE, $19.00) is darker (90% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Morning Light
LELimited Edition. $70.00.
Earthy Scent
LELimited Edition. $17.00.
Amber Lights
PPermanent. $17.00.
Waking Dawn
LELimited Edition. $17.00.
Sweet Vapours
LELimited Edition. $17.00.
See more photos & swatches!
MAC Morning Light Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Morning Light Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Morning Light Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Morning Light Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Earthy Scent Eyeshadow
MAC Earthy Scent Eyeshadow
MAC Amber Lights Eyeshadow
MAC Amber Lights Eyeshadow
MAC Waking Dawn Eyeshadow
MAC Waking Dawn Eyeshadow
MAC Sweet Vapours Eyeshadow
MAC Sweet Vapours Eyeshadow
MAC Sweet Vapours Eyeshadow
MAC Morning Light Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Morning Light Eyeshadow Quad
Now I can breathe! I pre-saled this last night from the Southern Ca. location. OMG..the price! I love the blue quad as well. but, this for me, is one I will wear more and will accent my eyes best. I am super happy this did well. But, I do wish that last shade would have done as well as the others for this price range. Oh well, I use primer daily anyhow. Gorgeous look. Thank you Christine for getting these reviews up so quick!
My pleasure, Nicole! 🙂
Told you 😉
Haha! You have a good eye Katherine. That’s for sure.(;
Hey Katherine, Just Fyi, I called the store in southern Ca. They closed pre-sales this am. She said to try to call the morning that they go on sale if I have no luck online. But, they have to sell to people in line outside or in-store. Good for my wallet. I was going to try to go for the blue quad and Brave red. Knowing myself, although I say it’s ridiculous, I will be going nuts on the 24th ! lol. I’m glad I let you talk me into getting the first one at least.
Oh, SO glad I was able to grab Night Sky, would’ve been CRUSHED if I missed out ! I’d figure they would have to close the pre-order soon, or there wouldn’t be any stock left for online and in-store sales, didn’t think it would be so soon. SO glad you were able to grab at least Morning Light. Happy to help/enable 😉 That’s a really beautiful quad, great colors. Let me know how it goes online on 24th!
I will! That is,unless this ” thinking time” let’s me change my mind,:)
I’m sorry for a second comment Christine! What eyeliner do you have on. I can’t seem to find it.
Palm Tree Fluidline!
This a million ways of gorgeous! I especially like Waking Dawn; it’s hard to get a good yellow.
That was my fave! It was unexpected — not too many yellows come out!
So pretty! Not the most unique palette, maybe, but certainly more impressive than a lot of the LE palettes MAC has put out in recent memory. Given the limited availability, high price and the fact that I already own more neutral palettes than one person could reasonably wear in a lifetime, I won’t be going the extra mile to snap this one up, but I predict it will sell out very quickly, and I understand why. 🙂
At least they did it justice this time!
Not my colors personally, but I’m glad the quality is there – I have been disappointed in the quality of MAC LE items before.
Same! The quality of the palettes seems to be going up slowly but surely… the test will be their holiday palettes, though.
I’m not normally into such warm (and common) tones, but this quad looks fantastic in swatches and on you! I’m tempted to pick it and the blue one up, though the price definitely gives me pause. I want it more for the packaging than anything else, but that’s a lot to spend for packaging, even if I do like the contents inside.
Do you think you’ll get something from the collection just for packaging? At least this is good quality 🙂
Aside from the quads, I’d probably pick up a lipstick or one of the glosses.
$70? Really? For $10 more I can get Tom Ford.
It is pricey!
The colors are SO gorgeous!! So glad this scored well. I really wish I could pull off yellow golds and yellows well, but I have some yellow undertones, and they tend to make me look jaundiced. Otherwise, I would grab this quad too, as the colors remind me of Guo Pei’s couture dresses, especially Amber Lights. And I love the iridescent pink sparkle of Sweet Vapors
It is a pretty mix of shades!
This is beautiful on you Christine! Do you know if it will be available on MAC Canada’s website?
I believe so!
This is quite pretty, and more unusual than I thought. The bright yellow of Waking Dawn and the pink in Sweet Vapours keep it from being just another neutral brown-gold quad. I’m glad it’s a little more unique for the money.
Whoop! I’m so glad to see all my favorites from the collection perform so well 🙂 Another one that’s staying on the wish list.
Love the sweet vapors shade.
Even though I already have Amber Lights, this palette is stunning! Yes, I do want it, but with the release being on Sept. 24th, I doubt very seriously that I will be able to nab this, or anything else in this collection. But I am going to hope and pray that some of the items I’m loving will hang around until Oct. 1st.
I like this one! To splurge or not to splurge….still thinking 🙂
The packaging for this collection is phenomenal, omg I love it. God I wish I had the $70 for this because I love the colors in this quad
It’s great to see a MAC quad getting a good rating. The colours (for neutral fans) are lovely and striking. Great look on your eyes Christine.
Gahh!! I wish I had never looked! I love this!!
Gorgeous look, Christine!
I love the colors! Good thing I already own them in like 10 different forms. It’s a gorgeous palette and I’m happy it’s high quality but the colors are so easily dupable that I’m not lamenting over not being able to afford this one.
This is a beautiful quad! Finally a LE one with excellent pigmentation all round 🙂 Been seeing so many misses.
I cannot even . . . The packaging IS spectacular. That, and the fact I’ve always thought about buying Amber lights anyway, made me look at this. But $70?! It’s not just that 10 more will get me Tom Ford, because quality is quality, despite brand. It’s that 14×4 is NO WHERE near 70. How to math MAC? Pretty isn’t the same as dipped in gold or even shat out by civets or impossible to get stateside. Just, just no. So much no.
Hunh. Just went to MAC’s site. Apparently, I haven’t bought from them in a long while, as price per pan is now 16. And pans are .04oz. which would be $64 for .16oz. So .19 at $70 with gorgeous packaging is not bad AT ALL. Nvm that entire rant. This is kind of a deal.
This looks really good. I have Amber Lights, making buying the quad even less economical. I will look inte the dupes for Waking Dawn. Pretty, sunny yellow!
Very pretty palette, but I don’t think I can get over the price!! I had to do a double take to make sure I wasn’t seeing things. 🙁
I don’t need this palette, but I find the combination of golds and that beautiful pearly pink fascinating.
I am SO in love with this palette, but at $70 I just can’t, especially when I already own Amber Lights. Walking Dawn is amazing though, I am hoping I can find the Inglot one you mentioned and be happy with it!!
I never comment, but your reviews are often invaluable. I find you very accurate, and love the way you provide “looks” using the products. I am so going to copy the eye you show in this post, as soon as I get my own palette and eyeliner. Soon as I saw these fluidlines and palette I knew I wanted them. But I came to check your review, first. Thank you. 🙂
Aw, thank you Deirdre <3
I fell in love with the morning light quad. I just can’t justify 70 dollars for a quad palette unless I can easily pop the colors out and replace them with other Mac shadows. No depotting or anything, just popping them out like you can with a MUFE quad palette. Does anyone know if this is possible?