Beauty Product Reviews | Page 16

One of the better Velvet textures of MAC

I basically gave up on MAC Velvet textured eye shadows because of my Beauty Marked debacle (see my Beauty Marked review -_-) When I saw Mulch, I had to try it because the color in the pan was so gorgeous. The shadow is aptly named, it really does look like mulch - an elegant deep bronze/brown with strong reddish undertones. It's gorgeous with golds and peaches, and looks very dramatic with orange and reddish shades. Beware, it's very red toned so if that's not your thing, you might not like it.

The feel of the shadow is great; it's not as smooth as frosts and satins, but its texture gives an interesting finish on the lids (not gritty at all)

***Please see my review on Sumptuous Olive for a quick and general overview of MAC eyeshadows

It's JEST a good staple to have...

I'd describe Jest as the slightly peachier and froster cousin of MAC Shroom. It's a great staple to have in any collection. The frost factor is definitely in full swing on this one, so if you prefer a SUBTLE shimmer, this is not the neutral base for you.

I like pairing this shadow with lots of colors because it's so versatile, but I tend to combine it with taupes (like MAC Satin Taupe or Shu ME 850) for the day, then amp it up with black shadow on the outer corners at night.

There are a ton of dupes out there for this particular shade, but it's a high quality and buttery shadow to have :)

***Please see my review on Sumptuous Olive for a quick and general overview of MAC eyeshadows

A "humid" rainforest green...

Another winner from MAC. It's a shimmering deep forest green. Goes on really pigmented and will make ANY eye color pop! Pair this with butter yellows, lavender, pinks, taupes, and aquas. It's a medium to deep shade, meaning it can be worn on the crease, as an eyeliner, for a pop of corner in the outer corner, or even smoked out on the lid with smokey black eyeliner.

Regardless of quality, this shade IS found elsewhere. Urban Decay Mildew, MAC Emerald Green Pigment, and Milani Clover all dupe it pretty well. However, if you are an OCD freak like me and like to have matching packaging, buy Humid for a high quality shimmering green.

***Please see my review on Sumptuous Olive for a quick and general overview of MAC eyeshadows

You've struck gold with goldmine!

It's hard to find pressed metalllic eyeshadows with amazing pigment. I came across MAC Goldmine and was immediately enticed. A lot of golds shade can either have too much green or yellow tones in them; it's not a flattering shade on the eyes. Goldmine is the exception. It's a very well balanced gold and actually matches with a lot of shades. It can stand on its own with some black liquid liner and mascara, or look totally outrageous with a dramatic purple or burgundy shade (remember, yellow and purple are complements on the color wheel and make each other look brighter). Goldmine is a great basic gold to have in your collection that will brighten eyes. It's very pigmented, but if are going for the look of liquid metal on your eyes, I recommend MAC Gold Pigment (a loose powder) instead of this one.

***Please see my review on Sumptuous Olive for a quick and general overview of MAC eyeshadows

One of the most stunning turquoise shadows

I can't hide my love for MAC Veluxe Pearl shadows. Their texture is divine, their color payoff, rich.

Freshwater is a clear and pure turquoise blue with fine shimmers. It's a bright color and makes a statement on its own. With blue eyes, however, you need to be cautious on color placement because it could overpower. I like wearing it with either a shimmering white or cream highlight, and LOTS of mascara. Try pairing this with a royal purple or yellow shade (like MAC Chrome Yellow) for gorgeous and festive contrast.

***Please see my review on Sumptuous Olive for a quick and general overview of MAC eyeshadows

A staple sapphire navy to have in your collection

Deep Truth is a shimmering navy blue with sapphire shimmers that is a great shadow to have in your collection. It's a frost formula but I don't think it's too frosty. It can be paired with so many colors: Beige, peach, gray...practically all neutrals! For a unique look, I like pairing it with a REDDISH VIOLET like MAC Hepcat eyeshadow. Put MAC hepcat on the lid and lightly smudge on the lower lash line. Then blend MAC Deep Truth on the outer corners of the lid/crease. This is sure to make brown, green, and hazel eyes pop!

For blue eyes, blue eyeshadow can definitely be a challenge; you don't want to scream MIMI from the Drew Carey Show. With a shimmering beige on the lid and a satiny taupe on the lid, use deep truth with a MAC 266 Angle Liner brush on the lash line and lightly smudge it up for a subtle use of blue that enhances your eyes, not competes with them.

***Please see my review on Sumptuous Olive for a quick and general overview of MAC eyeshadows

Coppering brings the copper rings out in my eyes!

Seriously. This bronzey orange red shade makes my honey brown eyes blaze! Normally, I would be skeptical about putting an ORANGE. RED. shade around my eyes. No thank you I don't want to look like I haven't slept in a week. But, at the behest of the makeup artist, I tried a little copper ring on and I fell in love. Of course, it's a veluxe pearl, meaning it has the smoothest and best texture of MAC shadows. (If you don't like Veluxe pearl texture, try Stila Jezebel for a similar shade)

I highly recommend pairing this with a black eyeliner/dark mascara to give it contrast between your eye color, otherwise the dreaded red eye could happen. I usually pair shades like this with blacks and deep chocolate bronzes (neutral shimmery beiges as base/highlight).

Here's a very sexy nighttime look: A frosty neutral as a base/highlight/dabbed on inner corners (MAC Phloof or Stila Kitten shadows would do the trick) MAC Coppering applied on the lids MAC Blacktrack fluidliner on top lashline only and winged out for a cateye (you can use any black liquid or gel liner as well) For outer corner and lower lashline, apply a shimmering black or brown/bronze shadow depending on your outfit

Apply mascara and you've got yourself a sultry and unique nighttime look :)

***Please see my review on Sumptuous Olive for a quick and general overview of MAC eyeshadows

A very unique shadow

Club is one of those unique shadows that you can't help but want to try. It sounds very ugly (a satin brownish taupe with reddish undertones, shot through with green iridescence). It's definitely not a practical everyday color, but can be used for extraordinary and eye catching looks. For a smokey/avante garde dramatic look, blend a black base onto the lid (like MAC Blacktrack Fluidliner, or a black MAC cream color base). Then, heavily pat MAC Club eyeshadow onto the lid and blend out toward the crease. Using a MAC 217 brush, blend a matte black shadow (like MAC Carbon) in the crease toward the browbone, and around to the lower lashline.

For a brighter look that enhances the green iridescence of Club, pair this with a matching green eyeliner (I like to use Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner in Covet). First, blend a neutral base (like Stila Starlight or MAC Shroom) on the lid, put MAC Club on the lid with a simple eyeshadow brush and slightly blend up to the crease (love the MAC 217 for that). Then, take your green liner on smudge it on the lashline for a bright jewel toned effect.

***Please see my review on Sumptuous Olive for a quick and general overview of MAC eyeshadows

Carbon is essential to all life on earth. Carbon eyeshadow is essential to all makeup junkies on earth.

What can I say about MAC Carbon Eyeshadow. It's a matte black. This particular matte formula of MAC's has a great texture. Surprisingly, there are a not A LOT of really good quality matte black shadows on the market at a reasonable price. Carbon feels smooth to the touch and can be packed very densely, or blended out sheer for a more smokey look. You can use this with a MAC 266 angle liner brush to line the eyes (wet your brush for a more intense line!) You can smoke this out around the upper and lower lash line with a MAC 219 brush, or you can heavily "soot" your eyes with a MAC 217 crease brush by fading it up toward the brow bone. I recommend pairing this with practically any shadow you can think of! Try it with MAC Shroom on the lid/brow bone, MAC Satin Taupe on the lid and crease, and MAC Carbon on the lash lines, outer corners of the eye for an everyday neutral office look (apply more Carbon Shadow depending on how dramatic you like your everyday looks).

***Please see my review on Sumptuous Olive for a quick and general overview of MAC eyeshadows

Underrated matte blackberry shade

Matte eyeshadow doesn't have the bling and the glitz of shimmering shadows, but it is essential in every person's cosmetic wardrobe. In the pan, MAC Blackberry just looks like a boring matte grapey-taupe-burgundy, and...that's exactly what it is.

However, it's one of those underrated beauties that subtly brings out everyone's eyes. Be warned that this is a purple undertoned shadow, so this won't work for people who can't do red based shadows. However I've seen this on girls with blue, green, hazel, and browns eyes and it magically adds a subtle OOMPH to an everyday work look (an oxymoron, I know, but trust me on this one). Since it's a medium to deep shadow, I don't recommend packing this directly on the lid. I use a MAC 217 crease brush to lightly define my crease and a MAC 219 smudger brush to lightly line my lower lash line. This, combined with a neutral shadow (like Stila Starlight), some black eyeliner (I use Bobbi Brown Black Gel liner or MAC Blacktrack Fluidliner), and some mascara make for a great everyday office look.

***Please see my review on Sumptuous Olive for a quick and general overview of MAC eyeshadows