MAC x Jeremy Scott Lo-Fi Eyeshadow x 29 Palette Review, Photos, Swatches
Lo-Fi
MAC Lo-Fi Jeremy Scott Eyeshadow x29 Palette ($75.00 for 0.51 oz.) is an example where there’s a lot of attention paid to the packaging but not enough toward the actual product inside. I like the concept, and one thought to solve the “wasted space” aspect of the palette would have been to made a hinged lid (that was black) that hid additional shades, so you could get the visual effect while providing more shades (perhaps making each pan a little bigger).
Unfortunately, the formula used throughout the palette is weak, even compared to past misses by MAC. Most of the shimmers are bordering on atrocious–dry, loosely packed, almost sandy–and many of the mattes are sheer, dry, firm, or chalky. The quality was bad enough that it was difficult to put together any semblance of a cohesive look without primer, as there was so much patchiness, sheerness, and unevenness that it looked like I wasn’t even trying. So, I tested the palette with and without primer, and while it did improve over primer, it was still a difficult palette to use–it took between two to three times longer to get decent results (that were still not where I’d want them to be) compared to other, better performing “bright” style palettes.
The palette contains quite a bit of eyeshadow spread over a lot of shades, and MAC lists the total weight as 0.51 oz., which would work out to be 0.0175 oz. per shade. Depending on whether you’d compare it to single pans or smaller palettes or single eyeshadows, you might get a different total value; I’d say that using the smaller palettes (like the pre-made 9-pan palettes) might be the most one-to-one methodology – that would yield a value of $90.67. The highest value would be using single eyeshadows, which would yield a value of $163.20.
If you normally use larger brushes, the pans may seem too small, and if you have very rounded, fluffy crease brushes, those may also not fit as comfortably in each pan. I didn’t have trouble using brushes with the palette myself, but I do tend to use small and medium-sized brushes normally.
Lo-Fi
Lo-Fi is a light yellow with warm undertones and a satin finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation with a moderately dusty consistency that had a tendency to sheer out too easily on the lid (even with primer, though it wasn’t as bad). The eyeshadow stayed on well for six and a half hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Inglot J335 Pearl (LE, $10.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- NARS Night Star (P, $19.00) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Tarte Breakfast in Bed (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Sephora Whitewashed (DC, $10.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Tarte Free Spirit (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- MAC Glamour Light (LE, $17.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Hourglass Obscura #1 (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Milani Bare It All (PiP, $5.99) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Juvia's Place Kesi (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Kat Von D Entomology (DC, ) is lighter (95% similar).
Creative Copper
Creative Copper is a light-medium, golden copper with warm undertones and a sparkling finish. It is listed as a Lustre finish, which is supposed to be a sheerer, more glittery finish, and it is, in fact, pretty much what most Lustres are, though it was considerably drier and grittier compared to the last time I came across this shade. It had sheer coverage, was loosely packed and dry, so it did not function as a usable eyeshadow without applying it with a dampened brush or over a tacky primer. There was little wear out of it since it all fell off my lid shortly after applying it.
Top Dupes
- Too Faced Honey Honey (LE, $16.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- MAC Up the Ante (LE, $16.50) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Half Baked (P, $19.00) is lighter (85% similar).
- MAC Exquisite Ego #2 (LE, $21.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- Too Faced Angel Hair (LE, $16.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- theBalm Manic Maribel (LE, $16.00) is darker (95% similar).
- LORAC Gold (DC, $19.00) is less shimmery, more muted (90% similar).
- MAC Brownluxe #3 (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Viseart Petit Pro #6 (LE, ) is cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Phresh Out #2 (LE, ) is darker, more muted (90% similar).
Ingredients
Talc , Zinc Stearate , Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate , Isostearyl Neopentanoate , Tocopheryl Acetate , Caprylyl Glycol , Hexylene Glycol , Phenoxyethanol , [+/- Silica , Mica , Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891) , Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499) , Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163) , Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090) , Carmine (Ci 75470) , Chromium Hydroxide Green (Ci 77289) , Chromium Oxide Greens (Ci 77288) , Ferric Ferrocyanide (Ci 77510) , Manganese Violet (Ci 77742) , Red 40 Lake (Ci 16035) , Ultramarines (Ci 77007) , Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140)]
Bite the Beat
Bite the Beat is a soft, light brown with subtle, warm undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-sheer pigmentation due to the very powdery consistency that kicked up a lot of excess product in the pan and had some fallout during application when I attempted to build it up. It was better over primer but a weak neutral even so. It lasted for seven hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Too Faced Cashmere Bunny (PiP, $16.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Too Faced Fawned of You (LE, $16.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- theBalm Score (LE, $16.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Tarte Tan-gled Up in You (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- NYX Tryst (P, $4.50) is brighter (95% similar).
- Pat McGrath Statuesque (P, $25.00) is darker, warmer (95% similar).
- Tarte Cookie Swap (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Buxom Gimme Gorgeous (P, $12.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- LORAC Cognac (PiP, $19.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Bling Mistress (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Endless Frequency
Endless Frequency is a light-medium, peachy coral with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-sheer pigmentation, which did not build up, and it had a tendency to dust away a bit more on the lid. The consistency was rather powdery, so it was difficult to get it to adhere well to bare skin. It was somewhat better over primer but not something I could use as an opaque color. It wore well for six hours.
Top Dupes
- Viseart Siren #1 (PiP, ) is brighter (95% similar).
- Zoeva Profusion (LE, ) is more muted (90% similar).
- Too Faced Georgia (PiP, $16.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Shell Peach (LE, $17.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Too Faced Reindeer (LE, $16.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Urban Decay House Lannister (LE, $19.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Tarte Peach Poppy (LE, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Sephora Desert Rose (90) (DC, $10.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- KKW Beauty Chi (PiP, ) is cooler (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Nudist (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
Disco Therapy
Disco Therapy is a brighter, medium orange with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had excellent pigmentation with a soft, lightly dusty consistency that was thinner but not too powdery to work with. The eyeshadow blended out easily and lasted for eight hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Colour Pop Thic (LE, $4.50) is lighter (95% similar).
- Dominique Cosmetics Sweet Tea (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Too Faced Bunny Fu-Fu (LE, $16.00) is darker, more muted (90% similar).
- Tarte Toucan Do It (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Viseart Curcumin (Dark Matte #7) (PiP, ) is brighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Colour Pop Dynamite (LE, $4.50) is lighter (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Neon Orange #7 (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Kat Von D Analogue (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
- Coloured Raine Natural (LE, $6.99) is warmer (90% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Not a Basic Peach #4 (PiP, ) is darker, more muted (90% similar).
Superior Sound
Superior Sound is a light, peachy pink with warm undertones and a frosted finish. It had nice color payoff with a soft, lightly dusty consistency that applied well over bare skin as well as over primer. This shade wore well for eight hours before fading on me.
Top Dupes
- MAC Enchanted Beauty (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- MAC Good Fortune (LE, $16.50) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty About Last Night No. 17 (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- MAC A Party of Pastels #2 (PiP, $21.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Dior Trafalgar #1 (PiP, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Dior House of Pinks #1 (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Kat Von D Instaglam (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- BH Cosmetics Foil Eyes 2 #8 (PiP, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Soleil d'Ambre #1 (Eye Color) (LE, ) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Too Faced Coquet (LE, $16.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
Happy Song
Happy Song is a light-medium pink with warm, yellow undertones and a matte finish. The pigmentation was quite good, but the texture was moderately powdery, so it had some fallout and seemed to darken as it came into contact with my skin over time. It stayed on well for seven and a half hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Buxom Feather Boa (P, $12.00) (100% similar).
- Viseart Cool Mattes 2 #3 (PiP, ) is cooler (90% similar).
- Zoeva Quite Realistic (LE, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty The Enigma #5 (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Ciate Be Sassy (LE, ) is more muted, cooler (90% similar).
- Viseart Ballet (GPV1 #17) (PiP, ) is cooler (90% similar).
- Too Faced Too-Too (LE, $16.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Lancome My French #3 (LE, ) is warmer (90% similar).
- Makeup Atelier Wood Pink #2 (P, ) is darker (90% similar).
- Colour Pop Lucky You (DC, $4.50) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Bird's Eye View
Bird’s Eye View is a medium-dark pink with subtle, warm undertones and a mostly matte finish. It had nearly opaque pigmentation with a soft, lightly dusty consistency that was a bit thinner, but it blended out fairly well and applied evenly over bare skin. The eyesahdow wore well for eight hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Huda Beauty Ruby #9 (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Viseart Grande Pro (Vol. 1) #15 (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- Colour Pop Fair Play (P, $4.50) is lighter (95% similar).
- NARS Domination (P, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- MAC Fuchsia Fury (LE, $17.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Sephora Eliza D (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Colour Pop Seas the Day (P, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Dior Bow (887) (P, $29.00) is more muted (95% similar).
- Makeup Geek Unleashed (P, $9.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Kat Von D Swoon (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
Walking Heartbeats
Walking Heartbeats is a bright, medium red with subtle, warm undertones and a matte finish. It had rich color payoff in a single layer with a soft, lightly dusty consistency. The eyeshadow applied nicely to bare skin as well as over primed lids, and I had no trouble blending out the edges or working with it. The color stayed on well for eight and a half hours on me.
Top Dupes
- NARS Fatale (P, $19.00) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
- Colour Pop Hop On (P, ) is warmer (90% similar).
- Smashbox Fling (P, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Strike While Haute (LE, $17.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Viseart Bright Editorial #9 (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar).
- Makeup Geek Razzleberry (P, $6.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Kat Von D Destroyer (LE, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Coral #2 (PiP, ) is warmer (90% similar).
- Colour Pop Daiquiri (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Colour Pop Like It's Hot (PiP, ) is warmer (85% similar).
Vacation Speed Zone
Vacation Speed Zone is a medium-dark plum with warm undertones and a satin sheen. It had decent color payoff, though the texture was drier and dustier in the pan. I found it applied better in practice than it felt or seemed initially, which was good, and it was much improved over primer. On its own, it lasted for eight hours.
Top Dupes
- KKW Beauty Vegas (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Ciate Morello Cherry (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Sleek MakeUP A Vow in Venice (LE, $9.99) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Sydney Grace The Deep Love (P, $8.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- MAC Pure Bred #3 (LE, $21.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- NARS Desdemona (P, $29.00) is brighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Colour Pop Empress (LE, $4.50) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Chameleon (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Colour Pop Aristocat (LE, $5.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Cranberry (P, $17.00) is warmer (90% similar).
Ghost Story
Ghost Story is a very light lavender with cool undertones and a pearly sheen. It had semi-sheer pigmentation with a slightly drier, looser consistency that had some excess product kicked up in the pan. It wore well for six and a half hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Smashbox Spectacle (PiP, ) is lighter, brighter (95% similar).
- Smashbox Techno (P, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Mind Game (LE, $19.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Coloured Raine Chameleon (P, $6.99) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Kat Von D Gravitron (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Chanel Tisse Beverly Hills #1 (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Mo'rockin Ice (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Smashbox Say What (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar).
- MAC Great Beyond #3 (LE, $21.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Colour Pop Feels (PiP, $4.50) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Morning Ticket
Morning Ticket is a light silver with a sparkling finish. It had semi-sheer pigmentation that did not build up. The texture was drier, loosely packed, and prone to sheering out and yielding fallout both during application as well as later on during wear. It was somewhat workable over primer, though for a shimmery silver, which many brands do well, I can’t imagine reaching for one that’s “somewhat workable.”
Top Dupes
- Cle de Peau Pewter Veil #4 (LE, ) is brighter (95% similar).
- MAC Platinum Shadow (LE, $17.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Sephora + Pantone Universe Nimbus Cloude (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- MAC Electric Illumination (LE, $22.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Lancome Tower Bridge (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- bareMinerals Steam (LE, $14.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- MAC Guise (LE, $21.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Sephora Silver Coin (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- MAC In the Meadow #1 (LE, $21.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Ciate Platinum (LE, ) is cooler (90% similar).
US Dance Remix
US Dance Remix is a light-medium, golden brown with warm undertones and a metallic finish. It had semi-sheer pigmentation with a drier, looser consistency that was prone to sheering out and had some fallout during application. The eyeshadow stayed on for five hours and had some fallout without primer. It was better applied with a dampened brush or over primer.
Top Dupes
- Viseart Gitte (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar).
- NARS Dione (P, $29.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Tarina Tarantino Agate (DC, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Permanent Press #2 (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
- Smashbox Doe (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- MAC Eternal Optimist (LE, ) is darker (85% similar).
- Surratt Beauty Zibeline (P, $20.00) is darker (85% similar).
- MAC Omigaud (LE, $17.00) is darker (85% similar).
- Too Faced Y'all (PiP, $16.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Too Faced Tickle Me (LE, $16.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
Subtly Elegant
Subtly Elegant is a medium taupe with neutral-to-warm undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation with a slightly powdery texture, but it applied decently to bare skin and blended out without any issues. The color stayed on well for seven and a half hours on me.
Top Dupes
- theBalm #25 (P, $6.50) is darker (95% similar).
- Sephora Cashmere Coat (DC, $10.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Sweet as Candy #1 (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- NARS Shade II (2015) (LE, $25.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- NARS Bali (P, $19.00) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
- Make Up For Ever S556 Taupe Gray (DC, $21.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Sephora Coffee (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- NARS Belladonna (DC, $25.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Tarte Power Player (LE, ) is warmer (90% similar).
- bareMinerals Head Over Heels (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
Bonus Track
Bonus Track is a medium-dark brown with warm, olive undertones and a golden shimmer. It was loosely packed, dry, and almost sandy as a result, which meant sheer coverage, tons of fallout, and little that was workable without damping the brush (primer was insufficient). On its own, it lasted for two hours or less and had a lot of fallout; dampened, it lasted for almost seven hours and had minimal fallout (the latter is for your knowledge but is not reflected in the rating).
Top Dupes
- Tom Ford Beauty African Violet #3 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- Too Faced After Hours (LE, $16.00) is more shimmery, lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- Too Faced Don't Settle (LE, $16.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Lithium (PiP, $20.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Givenchy Palette Ors Audacieux #2 (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Dior Fire (584) (P, $29.50) is more shimmery, lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- Colour Pop Far Side (P, $5.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- MAC Tempting (P, $17.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- MAC Permanent Press #2 (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Dior Infinity (751) (LE, $31.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Beautifully Charred
Beautifully Charred is a medium-dark brown with subtle, warm red undertones and a pearly sheen. It had semi-opaque color payoff, but it was extremely dry and dusty in the pan, which resulted in sheerer coverage that did not build up and a lot of fallout. The color lasted for seven hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Burberry Gold #1 (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Tarte Bastille in the Night (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Nude Dip #4 (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Too Faced Jackpot (LE, $16.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Too Faced Hot Fudge (PiP, $16.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty The Social Butterfly #5 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Anastasia Baby I'm a Star (LE, $12.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever ME614 Graphite Brown (DC, $21.00) is darker (90% similar).
- NARS Ursa Major (LE, $29.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Anastasia Chocolate (Titanium) (P, $12.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
Raven Eyed
Raven Eyed is a dark black-brown with subtle, warm undertones and a matte finish. It was dry, stiff, and extremely difficult to pick up and blend out on the skin, with or without primer. It had medium coverage that was buildable, but the result was rather splotchy and ragged along the edges. The patchy mess did last for a solid eight hours (and I’ve found MAC’s eyeshadow formula to wear rather well on bare skin, despite being a thinner formula).
Top Dupes
- MAC Cool Companions #3 (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- MAC Night Whisper (LE, $17.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- LORAC Navy #7 (LE, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Anastasia LBD (LE, $12.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Smashbox Ebony (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild The Night's Quad #3 (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Sleek MakeUP Acid #12 (PiP, $9.99) is darker (90% similar).
- Tarte Don't Stand Black (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Anastasia Black Diamond (PiP, $12.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Dior Pied de Poule #3 (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar).
Video Emotions
Video Emotions is a blackened purple with neutral-to-cool undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque color coverage in a single layer, and it was buildable, though the drier, stiffer texture made it difficult to blend and diffuse along the edges without getting a ragged edge. It lasted for eight hours on me before fading slightly.
Top Dupes
- Chanel Tisse Beverly Hills #4 (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Tarte Evening Affair (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Colour Pop Chopper (LE, $4.50) is lighter (95% similar).
- Colour Pop Round Trip (LE, $4.50) is lighter (90% similar).
- Makeup Geek Taboo (P, $6.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- bareMinerals Starry Night (LE, $14.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Lover In Me (LE, $17.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Stila Eggplant (LE, $18.00) is darker (90% similar).
- bareMinerals Center Stage (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Too Faced Jungle Love (LE, $16.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Memories of Space
Memories of Space is a light-medium yellow with soft, warm undertones and a satin sheen. It had medium pigmentation, which wasn’t buildable on its own; with primer, I was able to get almost semi-opaque coverage out of it. The consistency was drier, thin, and dusty. It wore well for seven hours on me.
Top Dupes
- NARS Reborn (DC, $25.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Kat Von D Star (LE, ) is darker, brighter (90% similar).
- MAC Bright-Sided (LE, $17.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever M405 Straw Yellow (DC, $17.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever S404 Straw Yellow (DC, $21.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Smashbox Bolt (P, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Kat Von D Feather (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- NARS Goldfinger (P, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Royal Woo (LE, $17.00) is darker, brighter (90% similar).
- MAC Chrome Yellow (P, $17.00) is less shimmery, darker, brighter (90% similar).
Remixology
Remixology is a light-medium chartreuse with warm, yellow undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-sheer pigmentation paired with a thin, dusty texture that was hard to apply evenly to bare skin. It applied a bit more evenly over primer but was still under-pigmented. It stayed on well for seven hours.
Top Dupes
- MAC Bowlarama (LE, $17.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Lime (P, $17.00) is darker (90% similar).
- MAC Lisa's Spikes (LE, $17.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Bitter (DC, $17.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- MAC Savant (LE, $17.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Sour Lemon (DC, $17.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Thrash (DC, ) is more shimmery, brighter (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Sapphire #7 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- MAC Lemon Rush (LE, $17.00) is lighter, brighter (85% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild I'm Seeing Triples Browbone (DC, $2.29) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
Beatallica
Beatallica is a deep, forest green with subtle, warm undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation, which was buildable both over bare skin as well as over primer. Applied to bare skin, it was a nightmare trying to blend out the edges as the color darkened in places, looked patchy, and did not diffuse well. Over primer, it was somewhat more blendable but needed cheating by layering other shades over it to minimize the harsh lines. It lasted for seven and a half hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Viseart Forest (Absinthe #5) (P, ) is darker (90% similar).
- Kat Von D Sage (Define) (PiP, ) is darker, more muted, warmer (90% similar).
- Viseart Dark Matte #11 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Coloured Raine Showtime (LE, $6.99) is warmer (90% similar).
- Anastasia Untamed (DC, $12.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Cle de Peau Modern Era #4 (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Viseart Beryl (PiP, ) is warmer (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Trailhead (PiP, $5.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Island Paradise (P, $5.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Kat Von D Moss (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
Syntheseyes
Syntheseyes is a very light aqua with subtle, warm undertones and semi-matte finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation with a soft, lightly powdery texture, but there was more substance to the consistency that enabled it to apply better to bare skin without sheering out to nothingness. The color stayed on well for seven and a half hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Sephora + Pantone Universe Honeydew (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
- MAC Atomic Blush (LE, $17.00) is brighter (85% similar).
- Kat Von D Archangel (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- Colour Pop Flux (LE, $5.00) is darker (85% similar).
Oldie but Goodie
Oldie but Goodie is a light-medium, greenish aqua with subtle, warm undertones and a matte finish. It had good pigmentation, and while it was soft with some powderiness in the pan, it had more substance to it and applied rather well to bare skin. It wore well for eight hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Inglot #345 (P, $6.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Kat Von D Archangel (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Makeup Geek Shore Thing (P, $6.00) is warmer (85% similar).
- Huda Beauty Emerald #2 (LE, ) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Colour Pop Flux (LE, $5.00) is lighter (85% similar).
- NYX The Next Morning (P, $4.50) is lighter, brighter, cooler (85% similar).
- LORAC Avocado Toast (LE, $19.00) is cooler (85% similar).
- MAC Atomic Blush (LE, $17.00) is lighter, cooler (80% similar).
- Sugarpill Cheat Code (PiP, ) is darker, cooler (80% similar).
- Linda Hallberg Cosmetics Phantom (PiP, ) is darker, cooler (80% similar).
Powerful Performance
Powerful Performance is a medium blue with subtle, cool undertones and a satin finish. It had medium pigmentation, but the powdery texture made it hard to build up coverage if desired. It was better over a primer, but it still had a faded, sheered out appearance and never looked true-to-pan. It stayed on well for six and a half hours.
Top Dupes
- Disney by Sephora Blue Oasis (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- MAC Pale Pipa (LE, $17.00) is more muted (90% similar).
- Sephora + Pantone Universe Cascade (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- Zoeva Childhood Adaption (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Colour Pop Muscle Beach (P, $4.50) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Dior Dulcinee #5 (LE, ) is lighter (85% similar).
- Sephora Helen P (LE, ) is less shimmery, brighter, more pigmented (85% similar).
- Linda Hallberg Cosmetics Phantom (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (80% similar).
- LORAC Avocado Toast (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, lighter (80% similar).
- MAC Aqua (P, $17.00) is less shimmery, lighter (80% similar).
At the Turntable
At the Turntable is a bright, light-medium sky blue with cool undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation with a drier, chalkier consistency that was prone to sheering out and apply unevenly. It tended to look less blue and more white within 10 minutes of application. It was marginally improved over primer but was did not build up much, so it always looked a bit washed out. It lasted for seven hours on its own.
Top Dupes
- Make Up For Ever M208 Baby Blue (P, $17.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Colour Pop Beauty Call (LE, $5.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- NARS Baby Jane (P, $19.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever S208 Baby Blue (DC, $21.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Hi-Def Cyan (P, $21.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Colour Pop Starry Eyed (PiP, $4.50) is cooler (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Narcotic (P, $19.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Kat Von D Waters (LE, ) is darker, more muted, cooler (85% similar).
- Sydney Grace Perfect Storm (P, $5.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Huda Beauty Sapphire #4 (LE, ) is lighter, more muted, warmer (85% similar).
Electric Eel
Electric Eel is a medium blue with cool undertones and a matte finish. This shade is a lot worse than it was compared to the last single I have of it–much dustier and thinner with less pigmentation. It had a tendency to fade to a more muted blue after a few minutes in practice. It wore well for seven and a half hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Wet 'n' Wild A Regular at the Factory #2 (DC, $2.29) is lighter (90% similar).
- Anastasia C2 (Norvina Vol. 2) (LE, $12.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Gonzo (DC, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Colour Pop Zoomship (P, $5.00) is brighter (90% similar).
- Coloured Raine Drip Drop (P, $6.99) is darker (90% similar).
- Disney by Sephora Blue Lagoon (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, more muted (90% similar).
- Kat Von D Synth (LE, ) is lighter (85% similar).
- Makeup Geek Tenacious (P, $9.00) is warmer (85% similar).
- Dominique Cosmetics Evil Eye (LE, ) is less shimmery, cooler (85% similar).
- MAC Les Portes Bleus (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
She's a Machine
She’s a Machine is a light-medium lavender with subtle, cool undertones and a satin shimmer. It had sheer pigmentation, did not build up, and only managed to get to semi-sheer coverage over primer. The texture was thin, powdery, and almost grainy. It lasted for five hours on me.
Top Dupes
- MAC Style & Influence (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever I916 Frosted Mauve (DC, $21.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- NARS Pulp Fiction #3 (PiP, $19.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- MAC Great Beyond #3 (LE, $21.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Freakshow (LE, $17.00) is darker, more muted (85% similar).
- Make Up For Ever S900 Marshmallow (DC, $21.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- LORAC Unicorn (LE, $19.00) (85% similar).
- Fyrinnae Unicorn (P, $7.00) is lighter, brighter (85% similar).
- Dior Rosee (141) (LE, $31.00) is more shimmery (85% similar).
- Smashbox Techno (P, ) is lighter (85% similar).
Jam Session
Jam Session is a medium purple with subtle, cool undertones and a mostly matte finish. It had sheer pigmentation that applied dismally to my bare skin and only marginally less disappointing over primer. The texture was powdery, thin, and drier–not a recipe for eyeshadow perfection. It wore well for six hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Sydney Grace Regal (P, $5.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- MAC Purple Haze (DC, $17.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Daydream #2 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Violet Blend #2 (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Zena (LE, ) is lighter, brighter (85% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Outrageously (PiP, ) is darker (85% similar).
- Kat Von D Dope (LE, ) is cooler (85% similar).
- Anastasia Soul (LE, $12.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Your 15 Minutes Aren't Up #2 (DC, $2.29) is brighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Natasha Denona Electric Violet (28V) (PiP, $29.00) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar).
Club New Wave Mix
Club New Wave Mix is a deep purple with cool undertones and a matte finish. It had medium coverage, which was hard to build up as the texture was quite stiff and difficult to pickup, blend out, and work with regardless of whether I used a primer underneath it or not. I had to use the lighter shades in the palette to help cheat the edges on this one. It lasted for seven hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Natasha Denona Electric Violet (28V) (PiP, $29.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Outrageously (PiP, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Viseart Cool Mattes 2 #12 (PiP, ) is darker, more muted (85% similar).
- Maybelline Painted Purple (P, $6.99) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty The Free Spirit No. 15 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Make Up For Ever M924 Purple (P, $17.00) is lighter, brighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Juvia's Place Ife (LE, ) is warmer (85% similar).
- Juvia's Place Zulu #9 (LE, ) is brighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Make Up For Ever I922 Electric Purple (DC, $21.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Viseart Bougainvillea (Grande Pro (Vol. 1) #20) (P, ) is lighter, brighter, warmer (85% similar).
Wow, this is bad. I love the eye looks you got out of it but I definitely don’t want to work that hard to get a decent eye look and I definitely do not have your skill. Sad to see MAC put forth such a terrible palette.
This is truly awful – what a waste of money to purchase this one – it is just like some really bad DS eyeshadow palettes. How can MAC do this?
I knew there was going to be some F’s in this one, but oh boy….. 🙁
F this and F that pretty much sums up my feelings about this particular product and MAC in general, unfortunately.
🙁
Well said! lol
Wow, I was so close to pulling the trigger on this, but I’m glad I waited. I don’t understand what MAC is doing anymore. They’re having their crown snatched by people selling shadows for a fraction of what they’re charging. It’s baffling that the company that everybody looked to is now the one no one even looks at anymore.
It’s hilarious that this is terrible. Even if it was the best palette in the world, I’d still refuse to buy it due to the incredibly wasteful packaging.
This breaks my heart ! I felt like last year, Mac made gains with the quality of their pre-made palettes. Additionally, the packaging and color selection could have made this a real gem.
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Wow – but not too surprising from what we’ve seen in recent years from MAC special collections. Definitely not interested in buying this one.
This palette makes me sad. Like really, really sad, morose, depressed, you get the general idea. How any famous designer could *allow* his name and image to be attached to this woeful travesty of an 80’s nostalgia themed eyeshadow palette thoroughly perplexes me! That MAC suddenly dropped the ball (again!) after having quite a lovely stretch of well thought out, high quality collections *shouldn’t* surprise me, it does this time around. And it stings a bit, as I was so looking forward to this collection. Christine, I do want to thank you so much for saving me $75 that almost got spent on utter trash. This is why I always try to wait for your review on things, because you give it to us straight and honest!
Totally bummed here too! I too was really looking forward to this. i truly wish we could send this back with a printout of this review and make them reformulate it, so it would actually be worth buying. I absolutely loved this palette and really wanted it, but just can’t with such poor quality.
Rachael, we could copy and paste the link to their Facebook page and IG account, though! I’ve been thinking about doing exactly that, because accountability.
On point! Totally agree! I often read your opinion. Big hugs from Greece.
What a shame it’s so cute!!
I would have bought this hands down, no questions asked if the quality was there. This is everything that I look for in a palette – Beautiful colors, arranged in a rainbow and a fun packaging. I don’t mind the ‘negative space’. I do understand why some perceive this to be wasteful but I get the visual effect that MAC was going for and I think it’s a cool idea!
I’m truly baffled by the quality of this palette, or should I say, lack there of. I know every company has their ‘misses’ when it comes to certain colors / textures but I always held MAC in such high regard. I know there have been bumps in the road with them in recent years but this palette seems to be a real dud and it makes me so sad. I really wanted to add this to my collection but I can’t overlook a palette that has this many problematic shadows. Thankfully, I have plenty of dupes for all of the shades.
Thank you so much Christine, as always for your un- biased and honest reviews and amazing swatches. Your blog has been my go – to for everything beauty related for almost a decade!
Wow, $75 for a product that gets a “D.” WTH, Mac?! What a waste of cool packaging.
AGREE
i bought this as i was SO EXCITED for the collection and wanted Lunar New Year and it sold out in five minutes so i expected the same of this. i admit from vague press photos, i had a FEELING it would be poor quality. Milani and Morphe are outdoing MAC in terms of quality at this point and that is pathetic. My palette just arrived in the mail today…..and i am going to return it (thank gosh we still have that option in the US) because there is no way i am spending $75 for a palette that is unusable.
Looked like a good palette, what a shame.
This makes me so sad!!!!! The packaging is just so amazing and the colors are beautiful but for them not to perform well at all is just hurtful! And for $75?!!!! Seriously?! I love Jeremy Scott but to collab with mac and have it flop is so disappointing!
I was waiting this collab with Jeremy Scott but as mush as I love the packaging I’m so dissapointed to see that much poor grades :/
Oh, MAC, you are so funny, expecting me to pay $98 for CRAP just because it has “clever” (but ridiculously oversized) packaging! I guess this is what you get when a company and its collaborator put more thought into image that into quality. I didn’t like this from first sight because of the proliferation of colour I personally don’t like and the wasted space in the packaging but now, seeing the really dreadful quality, I just feel really sad.
I don’t understand how the shimmer shades can be so BAD! There’s just not any excuse anymore for crappy metallics, especially when you have brands like City Color, BH Cosmetics, Juvia’s Place and even Morphe putting out rich, opaque shimmers at a fraction of the cost of these. Did anyone at MAC actually swatch this before approving the formula???
I was particularly surprised by the shimmers being so dry!
Other brands have really perfected their eyeshadow formulas and here’s MAC still putting out garbage because they know people will buy it.
I really wanted this palette to be good; the whole idea of this collection and the packaging is so amazing–even the boxes are well-designed and feel authentically 90’s (I get a more 90’s vibe since that’s the time frame when I grew up with cassettes, CDs, and boomboxes). I did purchase the whole collection when it launched and while I am going to hang onto my items, I am really disappointed with the performance of these shadows. I’m also torn; I know most of the money and time with this collection was spent on the packaging and paying for the collab and that’s exactly what I bought this collection for. If Mac had released the same exact colors in a normal palette but with a phenomenal formula, I probably would not have purchased it since I already own quite a few excellent bright-themed palettes. Makeup has such an interesting intersection of form and function in the consumer market; do we want products that are amazing function-wise but that will either get used up or go bad or are we more interested in an amazing presentation that might not be usable but will last much longer? What does it take to get both?
“it did not function as a usable eyeshadow without applying it with a dampened brush or over a tacky primer. There was little wear out of it since it all fell off my lid shortly after applying it.”
These two lines on the review for Creative Copper made me laugh – it doesn’t get much worse than “does not actually function as eyeshadow.” 🙂 Thanks for the reviews.
Yikes! I was never interested in this palette, but seeing the performance of the shadows made me sad. This is worst than the super cheap makeup from the dollar store. MAC needs to really invest and up the quality of their shadows b/c good packaging is not going to keep their business going.
Ditto on the MAC uping the quality fo their eyeshadows.
Thank you for your review and your quality work in general! It is sad to think except for the poor quality and waste of money, the environmental aspects of packaging. MAC does not know anything about rules and measures on the production, marketing and use? I always wait for your reviews, even when I have purchased products with a B or B- rating (that looks beautiful at your photos), I can totally see the difference between those and an A or A+ product. sorry for my english..
Wow, I’m sooooo shocked! This looked great on you and when I scrolled down and saw the rating my jaw dropped, seriously. And like you this looked so promising. Well, thanks God for me! It was a tempting one. I do like how God is answering my prayers! I so needed help to stop buying palettes, so I’m soooo glad another bites the dust.
When did MAC stop caring entirely?
I’m so glad I decided to pass on this. It’s hard to believe MAC would even release shadows that bad. What’s more concerning is they seemed to have included some of the F rated LE shades in Patric Starr’s new collab.