MAC x Steve J. & Yoni P. Touch Me Baby Eyeshadow Duo Review, Photos, Swatches
Touch Me Baby
MAC Touch Me Baby Eyeshadow Duo ($22.00 for 0.10 oz.) features two powder eyeshadows with one of them–Soba–being part of MAC’s permanent range. The two shades worked well paired together, but it was the type of duo that still made me want to reach for other shades. I was pleasantly surprised at how well Soba incorporated with Keep On Twinkling as the latter had a much more shimmery texture and sometimes mattes and shimmers do not play well together for blending/layering next to each other.
The Steve J. and Yoni P. Collection will be available in select stores and online on June 1st.
Look Using this Product
Touch Me Baby
LELimited Edition. $22.00.
Keep on Twinkling
Keep on Twinkling is a light-medium pink with warm, yellow undertones and a sparkling, frosted finish. It had good pigmentation with a soft, sparkly texture (not smooth to the touch due to the shimmer but not dry or dusty) that applied with minimal fallout. The eyeshadow applied evenly, and it wore well for seven and a half hours with a bit of fallout over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Chanel Impulsion (93) (LE, $32.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- MAC Love Power (LE, $22.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Too Faced Marshmallow (LE, $16.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Too Faced Je t'aime (LE, $16.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Winterful (LE, $4.50) is darker (95% similar).
- MAC Pink Sensibilities #3 (LE, $21.00) is less shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- Too Faced Peach Ice (PiP, $16.00) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop On the Fence (P, $4.50) is less shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Chanel Au Fil des Fleurs #1 (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- MAC Da Bling (DC, $17.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$17.00/0.05 oz. - $340.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be a "highly pigmented powder" that goes on "evenly and blends well." MAC eyeshadows run the gamut from total failures to long-time, cult-favorite staples. In general, the permanent line has been more consistent in performance--and higher performance at that--compared to limited edition launches, but it can really depend.
The Matte finish tends to have a firmer press and a bit of thinness compared to other matte formulas on the market, so MAC matte eyeshadows tend to build up better and have better wear-time without fallout as they're not powdery at all. Some of the newer matte finish shades have had a more velvety quality to them that gives them a softer feel but aren't powdery; these have been easier to blend and are often more pigmented in one layer.
The Lustre finish is designed to have sheerer pigmentation, and it often has more sheer to medium coverage with a drier, dustier consistency that can be hard to apply with a dry brush. Lustre finish shades can suffer from fallout during application, too. They are the old school version of an eyeshadow "topper." I would recommend applying with a fingertip or applying with a dampened brush to get smoother, more even coverage and minimize fallout.
The Satin finish is few and far in-between, but it is softer and more yielding than the Matte finish but performs similarly. They tend to have very low sheen but are quite blendable with medium to opaque coverage. It can be easy to mix the finish up with the Velvet finish, which has more of a sparkle-over-matte effect but are more powdery than the true Matte finish.
The Frost finish is more firmly-pressed into the pan but doesn't have fallout, is often pigmented, and blends out well enough. They can sometimes be a little drier to the touch depending on how much shimmer is in the shade. The Veluxe Pearl finish is one of the creamier takes within the range, and newer shades released in the finish tend to have more moderate, silicone-like slip. I've found that Veluxe Pearl finish shades tend to have more semi-opaque pigmentation and are more consistent in performance than some of the other finishes.
One thing I've found with MAC eyeshadows is that they tend to last longer without primer than the average brand (eight hours). While some eyeshadow shades don't swatch well, they often apply better in practice--as in on the eyes!--than just swatched on the skin. They can be quite hit or miss, and they have inconsistencies between releases (see Carbon and its sordid review history!).
Browse all of our MAC Eyeshadow swatches.
Look Using this Product
Keep on Twinkling
LELimited Edition. $17.00.
Soba
Soba is a soft, golden brown with warm undertones and a fine, golden shimmer. The consistency was smooth, soft, and blendable without being powdery or dusty in the pan. The eyeshadow had opaque color payoff that applied evenly to bare skin and stayed on for eight hours before starting to fade on me. This shade is part of the permanent range.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Milani Bella Cappuccino (03) (P, $4.49) is lighter (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Zand (189CM) (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- theBalm C3 (LE, $16.00) is lighter, more muted (80% similar).
- Edward Bess Cosmic Bliss #2 (PiP, $30.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- MAC A Harvest of Greens #2 (PiP, $21.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- MAC Nano Nude #4 (LE, $21.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- NARS Your Move (DC, $25.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- Chanel Tisse Mademoiselle #1 (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Safari (187CM) (PiP, ) is less shimmery, cooler (85% similar).
- Chanel Ombres Lamées de Chanel #1 (LE, ) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$17.00/0.05 oz. - $340.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be a "highly pigmented powder" that goes on "evenly and blends well." MAC eyeshadows run the gamut from total failures to long-time, cult-favorite staples. In general, the permanent line has been more consistent in performance--and higher performance at that--compared to limited edition launches, but it can really depend.
The Matte finish tends to have a firmer press and a bit of thinness compared to other matte formulas on the market, so MAC matte eyeshadows tend to build up better and have better wear-time without fallout as they're not powdery at all. Some of the newer matte finish shades have had a more velvety quality to them that gives them a softer feel but aren't powdery; these have been easier to blend and are often more pigmented in one layer.
The Lustre finish is designed to have sheerer pigmentation, and it often has more sheer to medium coverage with a drier, dustier consistency that can be hard to apply with a dry brush. Lustre finish shades can suffer from fallout during application, too. They are the old school version of an eyeshadow "topper." I would recommend applying with a fingertip or applying with a dampened brush to get smoother, more even coverage and minimize fallout.
The Satin finish is few and far in-between, but it is softer and more yielding than the Matte finish but performs similarly. They tend to have very low sheen but are quite blendable with medium to opaque coverage. It can be easy to mix the finish up with the Velvet finish, which has more of a sparkle-over-matte effect but are more powdery than the true Matte finish.
The Frost finish is more firmly-pressed into the pan but doesn't have fallout, is often pigmented, and blends out well enough. They can sometimes be a little drier to the touch depending on how much shimmer is in the shade. The Veluxe Pearl finish is one of the creamier takes within the range, and newer shades released in the finish tend to have more moderate, silicone-like slip. I've found that Veluxe Pearl finish shades tend to have more semi-opaque pigmentation and are more consistent in performance than some of the other finishes.
One thing I've found with MAC eyeshadows is that they tend to last longer without primer than the average brand (eight hours). While some eyeshadow shades don't swatch well, they often apply better in practice--as in on the eyes!--than just swatched on the skin. They can be quite hit or miss, and they have inconsistencies between releases (see Carbon and its sordid review history!).
Browse all of our MAC Eyeshadow swatches.
This is a darling duo! I really like these two colors paired together, though I can definitely see why you ended up reaching for a few extra shades when using it.
They worked well together!
I like Soba, thankfully it comes in a pro pan and I can swatch it.
Phew! 🙂
Wow, monitors/displays. I think. In the eye look on my iPad, the Soba looks to be purple leaning gray. Or is that due to the blending with the sparkly pink? I never would have predicted that lid shade, given the duo. Soba is so warm by itself. Or is it the display? Maybe I’ll look on the work computer. Confused.
The eye uses this duo and the other duo – that’s where you’re getting the purple/gray from!
Getting this! I had a gut feeling that this was going to review quite well! However, like yourself, I also know it will need at least one other shade (plus a browbone highlighter) to get a cohesive look most of the time. I know I I’ll have to pull in a crease shade, for instance.
Enjoy the duo, Nancy! 🙂
Just wanted to tell you how I enjoy your reviews and have bought many of your recommendations! You are so gorgeous-LOOOOOOVE your eyes and LOOVE how you do your eye makeup! Just wanted to say how much I appreciate what you do !!!! Take care now!!
Aw, thank you so much, Renee! 🙂
I love the look you created using all 4 shadows but the other duo reviewed so poorly I’ll pass.
Thanks, Brenda!
These look unlikely pairs in a duo and I think, as you did Christine, that you would have to reach for other shades to make the look work. If that is the case, then you may as well reach for a palette in stash that has the approximation to those shades. There are lots of dupes for both those colours – as pretty as they are.
I think if you like a soft look, the duo works on its own, but I need more contrast myself!
Christine what other shadows did you use, it’s so pretty!
Right underneath the photos, there’s a link that says “Look Details” – this lists all of the details for the look.
I love the eye look!
I like this duo, but fall out over time is such a deal breaker for me, so I’ll probably skip it. If I find it here I’ll swatch it though, and I might change my mind.