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MAC x Guo Pei Night Sky Eyeshadow Quad Review, Photos, Swatches

MAC Night Sky Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Night Sky Eyeshadow Quad

MAC Night Sky Eyeshadow Quad ($70.00 for 0.19 oz.) includes three cooler-toned shades paired with a warm white. It is a good set of shades overall, though you may find the black and white shades within your stash as they are more basic shades. This is a limited edition piece in the MAC x Guo Pei collaboration, which has limited edition packaging (and pricing!) to match. The exterior of the lid is covered in a printed fabric, which may this less durable/travel-friendly (not sure about cleaning it/whether it’ll catch and fray over time). 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.

Nehru (Guo Pei) is described as a “black grey [with a Matte finish].” It’s a deep black with cooler undertones and a matte finish. This isn’t like the Nehru I know from the permanent range, which translates as gray, and it might have something to do with the texture of this being incredibly dense, smooth, and almost cream-like. This was very, very pigmented and just an intense shade to work with, but it was still blendable — it’s just not really like the permanent version, so I have distinguished it as the Guo Pei version. It wore well for eight and a half hours before fading. Makeup Geek Corrupt (DC, $6.00) is warmer (95% similar). Pat McGrath Xtreme Black (PiP, $25.00) is darker (95% similar). Le Metier de Beaute Fin (LE, $30.00) is warmer (95% similar). L'Oreal Noir C'est Noir (P, $5.99) is lighter (95% similar). Anastasia Noir (P, $12.00) is cooler (95% similar). Tarte Silhouette (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty The Free Spirit No. 17 (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar). NARS Loverboy (DC, $25.00) is lighter (95% similar). Viseart Chroma #3 (PiP, ) is more shimmery (95% similar). Tarte Fashionista (LE, ) is more muted (95% similar). Urban Decay Blackjack (PiP, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar). Too Faced Panther (LE, $16.00) is warmer (95% similar). KVD Beauty Black Metal (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar). MAC Lune Noire (LE, $17.00) is lighter (95% similar). City Color Black Widow (P, $6.99) is more shimmery (95% similar). KVD Beauty Killing Moon (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar). Too Faced Wanted (LE, $16.00) is lighter (95% similar). Make Up For Ever M100 Black (DC, $21.00) is warmer (95% similar). Too Faced Licorice Rope (LE, $16.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). Surratt Beauty Scandal Eyes (Cream) (PiP, ) is glossier (95% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Celestial Peak is described as a “dark frosted blue [with a Veluxe Pearl finish].” It’s a muted, dark navy blue with a soft, frosted sheen. It’s a “warmer” navy blue, but it isn’t truly warm-toned. The texture was soft with a slight dustiness but was fairly easy to work with, though it sheers out a bit when applied to the skin so two layers may be necessary to achieve true-to-pan color. It wore well for eight hours on me. NARS Underworld II (PiP, $19.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (95% similar). Makeup Geek Ocean Breeze (DC, $6.00) is darker (95% similar). ColourPop Rhinestone (LE, $6.00) is warmer (95% similar). Sephora Stormy Seas (113) (LE, $13.00) is warmer (95% similar). Urban Decay Time (LE, $19.00) is darker (90% similar). bareMinerals Nightfall (LE, ) is darker (90% similar). NABLA Cosmetics Under Pressure (P, $8.00) is cooler (90% similar). Clarins Jade #3 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Viseart Bijoux Royal #12 (LE, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar). MAC Lunar (P, $20.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar). Viseart Bijoux Royal #8 (LE, ) is cooler (90% similar). Urban Decay Goddess (LE, $19.00) is cooler (90% similar). Natasha Denona Metallic Steel Blue (11M) (PiP, $29.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar). LORAC Navy #6 (LE, $19.00) is cooler (85% similar). Dior Electrify #5 (PiP, ) is warmer (85% similar). Urban Decay Moonshadow (DC, $19.00) is cooler (85% similar). MAC Heavy, Black and Pendulous (LE, $17.00) is lighter (85% similar). Urban Decay LSD (P, $26.00) is darker, cooler (80% similar). ColourPop Antimatter (P, $4.50) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (80% similar). Wet 'n' Wild Mythicool Creatures #3 (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (80% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Blue Horizon is described as a “mid-tone frosted blue [with a Frost finish].” It’s a medium blue with subtle, cool undertones and a pearly sheen. It had good color payoff with a soft, blendable texture that was a smidgen powdery so it is best patted on with minimal blending/sweeping motions to main its intensity. It lasted for eight hours before fading. MAC Blue Candy (LE, $17.00) is lighter (90% similar). Sephora Rio (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Urban Decay Gonzo (DC, $19.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar). Shiseido Esmaralda (BL 620) (P, $25.00) is warmer (90% similar). Make Up For Ever S214 Ultramarine Blue (DC, $21.00) is brighter (90% similar). Sugarpill Afterparty (P, $13.00) is darker (90% similar). MAC Beehive Blue (LE, $17.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar). Sleek MakeUP Sunset #6 (PiP, $9.99) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar). Natasha Denona Petroleum Blue (92M) (PiP, $29.00) is more shimmery (85% similar). Urban Decay Peace (DC, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar). KVD Beauty Paranoid (DC, $21.00) is more shimmery, lighter, brighter (85% similar). KVD Beauty Bukowski (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar). MAC Denim Genes (PiP, ) is more shimmery (85% similar). NARS Showgirl (P, $19.00) is more shimmery, brighter, cooler (85% similar). CoverGirl Sapphire Flare (315) (LE, $4.99) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar). Disney by Sephora Blue Lagoon (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar). KKW Beauty Libra (LE, ) is more shimmery, more muted, cooler (80% similar). ColourPop Detour (LE, $4.50) is darker, cooler (80% similar). MAC Blue Calm (DC, $17.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Bright Moon is described as a “warm white [with a Veluxe Pearl finish].” It’s a creamy white with warm, yellow undertones and a frosted sheen. It had nice pigmentation with a soft, buttery texture that was easy to use and apply. I felt like it turned almost silvery when combined with the cooler blue tones from the other shades, but it may appear truer in undertone on someone with naturally cool undertones. This shade wore for eight hours before fading. Make Up For Ever I514 Pink Ivory (DC, $21.00) is darker (95% similar). Natasha Denona Ice Gold (122K) (PiP, ) is cooler (95% similar). theBalm Wipe Out (LE, $16.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Too Faced La Croisette (PiP, $16.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). Sephora Flagstone (DC, $10.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Tarte Pearl (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar). ColourPop Girly (P, $6.00) is darker (95% similar). Too Faced Famous in a Small Town (PiP, $16.00) is warmer (95% similar). KVD Beauty Thunderstruck (DC, $21.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). LORAC Vanilla (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). NARS Andromeda (P, $29.00) is darker (95% similar). Becca Pearl (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar). NARS Abyssinia (DC, $25.00) is darker (95% similar). Buxom Satin Seduction (P, $12.00) is darker (95% similar). Pretty Vulgar Break Free (PiP, ) is more shimmery (90% similar). Chanel Poesie #2 (LE, ) is darker (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Double Indemnity #1 (PiP, ) is more shimmery (90% similar). MAC This or That #1 (LE, $21.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). LORAC Dream Girl #9 (LE, $19.00) is brighter (90% similar). Charlotte Tilbury Fallen Angel #1 (LE, ) is darker (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

See more photos & swatches!

MAC Night Sky Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Night Sky Eyeshadow Quad

MAC Night Sky Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Night Sky Eyeshadow Quad

MAC Night Sky Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Night Sky Eyeshadow Quad

MAC Night Sky Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Night Sky Eyeshadow Quad

MAC Nehru Eyeshadow
MAC Nehru Eyeshadow

MAC Nehru Eyeshadow
MAC Nehru Eyeshadow

MAC Celestial Peak Eyeshadow
MAC Celestial Peak Eyeshadow

MAC Celestial Peak Eyeshadow
MAC Celestial Peak Eyeshadow

MAC Blue Horizon Eyeshadow
MAC Blue Horizon Eyeshadow

MAC Blue Horizon Eyeshadow
MAC Blue Horizon Eyeshadow

MAC Clear Bright Moon Eyeshadow
MAC Clear Bright Moon Eyeshadow

MAC Clear Bright Moon Eyeshadow
MAC Clear Bright Moon Eyeshadow

MAC Night Sky Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Night Sky Eyeshadow Quad

MAC Night Sky Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Night Sky Eyeshadow Quad

46 Comments

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Katherine T. Avatar

YEESSSS!!! I’ve been eyeing this quad since I saw the promo pictures back in April, and as soon as I saw your swatches last night, I knew this would be a winner. I dropped everything and speed-dialed the MAC store in South Coast Plaza to pre-order it. Thanks Jilliene for the tip! So hard to find a quad with high quality black and blue shadows, and the floral packaging is so unique. I do wish the fabric was covered in plastic to make it more durable though. And I love the eye look you did!

Nancy T Avatar

What a gorgeous and more unique pairing of shades in this quad! All 4 look richly pigmented, too, so that’s a deciding factor. Perhaps the only thing that made me stop and reconsider it is that I have one of those Nyx quints from the Caribbean collection ( those were GREAT ), called I Dream Of Antigua? Well, it’s quite similar it seems, so if nothing else, the review and your eye look have spurred me to put Antigua back into rotation!

kjh Avatar

Hate to be a Debbie Downer, but there were three, sometimes four, adds for pitch perfect 2. One of them was playing at all times + if you figured out which one was playing + turned it off, another one started up. It also restarted every time you clicked. MAJOR annoying. Aside from that, this is a lovely collection with super packaging, and quality maintenance. Good job, MAC. Your look is great. Why didn’t you put up an icky pic of yourself in the beauty powder?

Andrew Avatar

I was on the fence after seeing swatches of everything, but now I know I’ll have to pass. I really, REALLY wanted to design on top of the compacts to be painted porcelain, especially after the prices were revealed. It seemed so chic when I thought it was porcelain but now it just seems rather ‘meh’.

Thanks again for your work Christine!

Ren Avatar

What a gorgeous palette! If I actually wore blue eyeshadows, I might be tempted to buy it. Luckily for my wallet, I can do without. I keep checking back hoping you’ll review the lipsticks next 🙂

Diana Avatar

NIce packaging and pretty colors, but not sure that I want to spend so much for blue eyelids. If there was at least at least one other color I might say yes. They also could have tried a different color combo more consistent with the packaging.

Joanna Avatar

I’m very impressed with the pigmentation on these quads…..I’m not even that interested in them, but Nehru especially is very luxe.

I hope this is indicative of a trend- that all of MACs quads will be better, even without fancy packaging upping the price.

Rebekkah Avatar

Thanks for the review! Your site is marvelous. 🙂 I love the colors of Night Sky but have had oodles of trouble applying Nehru: I can’t get it to go on smoothly at all. Any tips and tricks? or suggestions as to which brush to use?

We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!