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MAC x Rocky Horror Picture Show Riff-Raff Eyeshadow Palette Review, Photos, Swatches

MAC Riff-Raff Eyeshadow Palette
MAC Riff-Raff Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Riff-Raff Eyeshadow Palette ($44.00 for 0.25 oz.) contains six eyeshadows. Two shades are part of the permanent range, one was permanent at a time but is presently discontinued, one is a repromote, and two are new. It’s a cooler-toned set of shades overall, and there are a few looks that could be created with this palette. The eyeshadows ranged from decent to good, with one being a miss and one being more standout.

Oh, Rocky! is described as a “soft muted white with pearl [with a Frost finish].” It’s a light, white-beige with subtle neutral-to-warm undertones and a satiny sheen. It had good color payoff, while the texture was soft, smooth, and blendable. The color stayed on well for eight hours. theBalm High Tide (LE, $16.00) is lighter. theBalm Wipe Out (LE, $16.00) is lighter. MAC Apricot Blend #1 (LE) is similar. Guerlain Les Tendres #1 (LE) is slightly pinker. bareMinerals Celebrate (LE) is a touch darker. Chanel Seduction #2 (LE) is similar. MAC Smoked Cocoa #1 (LE, $15.00) is brighter. LORAC Nude (P) is warmer. MAC Smokeluxe #1 (P) is more shimmery. theBalm Promiscuous Pearl (LE, $16.00) is similar. MAC Phloof! (P, $15.00) is slightly pinker. Dior Fairy Golds #1 (LE) is similar. bareMinerals Serendipitous (P) is less shimmery. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Crystal is described as a “violet duochrome with pearl [with a Frost finish].” It’s a light-medium lavender with cool undertones and a pink-ish iridescent, frosted sheen. It had so-so color payoff with a thin, slightly dry, consistency that was still blendable on the skin. The color wore well for eight hours on me. bareMinerals Skinny Dip (LE) is lighter. Tarina Tarantino Diamond Dusk #1 (LE) is cooler-toned. Dior Rosee (141) (LE, $30.00) is a cream product. Fyrinnae Unicorn (P, $8.25) is similar. MAC Fresh Ice (LE, $21.00) is more muted, less pink. MAC Silverwear (LE, $15.00) is less shimmery. MAC Digit (P, $15.00) is less shimmery. MAC Ready to Party (LE, $19.50) is more shimmery. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Datura (P, $14.00) is similar. Inglot #440 (P, $6.00) See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Blackberry is described as a “muted burgundy plum brown [with a Matte finish].” It’s a muted, neutral-to-warm-toned plummy brown with a matte finish. It had a soft texture that was a little dusty, but it was fairly blendable on the skin. It’s the type of matte that will work better used over primer than on bare skin. The color didn’t show signs of fading until after eight hours of wear. Anastasia Deep Plum (LE) s darker, richer. Sleek MakeUP Stallion (LE, $9.99) is cooler-toned. LORAC Plum (P) is purpler. theBalm #13 (P, $6.50) is warmer. Tom Ford Beauty Orchid Haze #4 (P) is similar. Tarte Plums Up (LE) is a touch brighter. Kat Von D Fur Elise (P) is cooler-toned. theBalm Sexy (P, $16.00) is darker. theBalm Moderato (P, $16.00) is similar. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Graphic Style is described as a “deep silver [with a Veluxe Pearl finish].” It’s a medium-dark gray with a frosted finish and cool, bluish undertones. It had good pigmentation that went on smoothly and evenly, while it was easy to work with. This shade wore well for eight and a half hours before fading slightly. NARS Jardin Perdu (Left) (LE, $24.00) is lighter. Tarina Tarantino Lovely #3 (P) is darker. bareMinerals Abracadabra (LE) is warmer. Makeup Geek Galaxy (P, $5.99) Makeup Geek Prince Charming (P, $6.99) is darker, warmer. Kat Von D Piaf (LE) is less shimmery. MAC Showgirl (LE, $15.00) is slightly bluer. MAC Frozen Blue (LE, $21.00) is bluer, lighter. MAC Cyber (LE) is more silver. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Heavy, Black and Pendulous is described as a “grayish blue with pearl [with a Frost finish].” It’s a muted, medium-dark blue with a gray cast and frosted finish. It had nice color payoff, and the texture was soft, slightly buttery, and very blendable on the skin. I was able to get eight and a half hours of wear out of this shade. theBalm Pipeline (LE, $16.00) is brighter, more shimmery. Make Up For Ever I112 Chrome (P, $21.00) is lighter. Divergent Erudite Sapphire (LE) is similar. Makeup Geek Ocean Breeze (P, $5.99) is warmer. Makeup Geek Nautica (P, $5.99) is similar. Chanel Apparition (LE, $36.00) is a cream product, darker. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Carbon is described as an “intense black [with a Matte finish].” It’s a medium black with a matte finish, which has been often promoted in various palettes from MAC and is part of the permanent range. Its performance varies from nightmarish to fairly good, depending on the release. Here, it’s middling at best. With a fluffy brush, it functions decently for darkening other shades on the lid, but it’s not great for a really intense, opaque, all-over black eyeshadow. The texture seemed soft but less blendable on the lid. It lasted for eight hours on me. I’ll never understand why MAC doesn’t promote a shade like Typographic, which isn’t quite as dark as Carbon, but it is more pigmented and easier to blend. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

See more photos & swatches!

MAC Riff-Raff Eyeshadow Palette
MAC Riff-Raff Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Riff-Raff Eyeshadow Palette
MAC Riff-Raff Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Riff-Raff Eyeshadow Palette
MAC Riff-Raff Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Riff-Raff Eyeshadow Palette
MAC Riff-Raff Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Riff-Raff Eyeshadow Palette
MAC Riff-Raff Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Riff-Raff Eyeshadow Palette
MAC Riff-Raff Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Oh, Rocky! Eyeshadow
MAC Oh, Rocky! Eyeshadow

MAC Oh, Rocky! Eyeshadow
MAC Oh, Rocky! Eyeshadow

MAC Crystal Eyeshadow
MAC Crystal Eyeshadow

MAC Crystal Eyeshadow
MAC Crystal Eyeshadow

MAC Blackberry Eyeshadow
MAC Blackberry Eyeshadow

MAC Blackberry Eyeshadow
MAC Blackberry Eyeshadow

MAC Graphic Style Eyeshadow
MAC Graphic Style Eyeshadow

MAC Graphic Style Eyeshadow
MAC Graphic Style Eyeshadow

MAC Heavy, Black and Pendulous Eyeshadow
MAC Heavy, Black and Pendulous Eyeshadow

MAC Heavy, Black and Pendulous Eyeshadow
MAC Heavy, Black and Pendulous Eyeshadow

MAC Carbon Eyeshadow
MAC Carbon Eyeshadow

MAC Carbon Eyeshadow
MAC Carbon Eyeshadow

MAC Carbon Eyeshadow
Crystal (inner lid), Heavy, Black and Pendulous (middle/outer lid),
Graphic Style (outer lid), Blackberry (crease), Urban Decay Chaos Eyeliner

MAC Carbon Eyeshadow
Crystal (inner lid), Heavy, Black and Pendulous (middle/outer lid),
Graphic Style (outer lid), Blackberry (crease), Urban Decay Chaos Eyeliner

61 Comments

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Helene Avatar

What a lovely ice princess look!
I really like the look of Graphic Style and Heavy, Black and Pendulous. Blackberry is also nice.
I’ll not buy this palette, I think. I’m hoping for a good lipstick instead. I also think I must watch RHPS again.

Mariella Avatar

Karen, herein lies the problem – Christine makes the loveliest looks with even the most disappointing eye products! Thank goodness the looks she creates are counterbalanced by her honest reviews, otherwise I’d have a whole lot of crummy shadows in my collection!

Mariella Avatar

I like this palette but it’s nothing I need. I thought I’d have to buy it just for Graphic Style but I see now that I’ve got about 5 or 6 dupes all in the 90-95% similarity range. Christine, is Crystal a repromote or something from the permanent line? The name seems familiar but perhaps I’m thinking of Digit (recently discontinued, I think, and the name isn’t at all the same but my mind is going in circles!) Oh, and I still really dislike (as in “grossed out”) the graphics for this.

Ginny Avatar

If I had infinite monies I would get this because the red/blue color scheme appeals to me. I could see layering the shimmers over the blackberry. But I can probably dupe most of the shades so I’ll have to pass. Anyone who likes the color scheme of this but doesn’t want to pay 44$ should check out Bad Girl or Storm palettes from Sleek.

Mariella Avatar

Why do they keep trying to force Carbon on us? For anyone new to MAC and trying a palette for the value and as a start to their collection, it is certainly going to colour (no pun intended) their perception of MAC products. And those of us who’ve been around for a long time either have it (and quite possibly hate it) or have avoided it. And heck, can’t they put in something different for a change – Typographic or, go crazy and put in something like Plumage or Nehru! They’re dark; they’re almost black and they’re possibly not total crap, nor have they been trotted out with almost every single quad or palette that MAC has released since the dawn of makeup!

Mariella Avatar

They might have to re-name it, though, since people who’ve been familiar with MAC would stay away from anything with the name “Carbon” unless they made a huge fanfare over it being reformulated and really prove it (and even then, I think some of us might be wary; I fell for the “reforumulated” line with UD Maui Wowie and should have saved myself the money; it still has way too much fallout to make it wearable for every day)

Krista Avatar

I didn’t know if it was another instance of them coming out with a new eyeshadow but giving it the same name as a permanent collection shadow. I hate when they do that!

Marina Avatar

Hmmm… None of the other colors interests me much. I think I’m just going to continue with my Plum/Burgundy addiction (it’s becoming a monomania) and just by a pan of Blackberry 🙂

I really like the way your eye turned out. Beautiful 🙂

Quinctia Avatar

I don’t get this palette at all. Oh Rocky honestly isn’t anywhere near enough gold colored at all to be named that, and every character in the movie had more dramatic eye makeup than you could do with this palette. (Although part of that is just that Carbon is sub-par, but the other colors are odd.)

Very strange, in contrast with the bold lip colors.

Quinctia Avatar

Yeah, Rocky’s a character in a gold lame speedo, and a quick google image search of Frank N Furter will show you Tim Curry’s dramatic makeup, which is I think what pops into most people’s head if they think “Rocky Horror Makeup.”

Of course, this palette might actually be Riff Raff themed, but that character is basically like IGOR, so… XD

jgordon121 Avatar

Riff Raff is also the character who basically wears the least about of makeup other than Dr. Scott. So it really doesn’t makes sense to make a whole eye pallet geared for his character.

alie Avatar

is this SERIOUSLY sold out already online or am i in some twilight zone style BS right now??? OMG i am in TEARS if my computer lied to me for the past 36 hours, telling me it was all ‘coming soon” … i refreshed it again just now and it says all the items that are LE are sold out… someone help!

Hex Avatar

So I dropped like $200 at the store and got 2 things from this collection and even an Alluring Aquatic lipstick which I was shocked they still had (they had 2 tubes left) and I also got my hands on the Brooke Shields Gravitas palette.
I was standing there trying to choose between the Gravitas and Riff-Raff. I ended up choosing the Gravitas because I thought it was a good deal and it was the LAST ONE (on the first day of launch too). But the whole night and next day I was regretting that decision because the RHPS shadows are much more my style and I know there are shades in the Brooke Shields that I will NEVER touch. I might sell it on eBay.
I ended up going back 2 days later and got the Riff Raff palette even though I was so going over budget at this point, I almost couldn’t justify the purchase after setting myself back $115 on the Brooke Shields. Even though there are only 6 shadows vs 15 in the other palette I know I’ll be using this a lot more. I just love it.

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