As a lot of you may already know, MAC cosmetics sell customisable palettes that you can buy and make your own. They sell palettes for 2 shadows, 4 shadows and there is also a large palette that can hold around 24 eyeshadows/8 blushes (magnetised to the inside of the palette itself) or 15 shadows/6 blushes with an insert tray.
With a lot of time, money, and decision making, I have finally built up what I would call my perfect palette. It mainly consists of mattes, some shimmers, a few glitters and all neutral shades.
(Also just a little disclaimer, I'd really hate for anyone to think any of my posts are bragging in anyway shape or form, I absolutely have no intention of doing so whatsoever)
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| I own the new palette with the clear cover, the old one was opaque so you couldn't see the shadows. |
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| Colours go from left to right, starting from the top row: Vanilla, Shroom, Retrospeck, Grain, Naked Lunch. Tempting, Era, Patina, Charcoal Brown, Mulch. Espresso, Mystery, Smut, Black Tied, Carbon. |
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| Believe it or not, there is actually a swatch at the very beginning of the photo, Vanilla is just incredibly low pigmented. Again the colours are swatched from left to right in order or the colours above. |
Vanilla (velvet): This shadow isn't very pigmented at all and I often struggle to get on with it very well due to its inability to show up much on my eyes or blend easily. Its an incredibly faint powder pink colour with the finest milled glitter in it imaginable.
Shroom (satin): Shroom is a really pretty shimmer thats sort of a milky pink/off white colour. It blends quite easily and is also quite pigmented, it works great as a brow bone highlighter or to brighten the inner corner of the eye.
Retrospeck (lustre): This is the perfect gold shimmer that stands out, but at the same time isn't overpowering. Its so pigmented and really easy to blend, and is the perfect staple for any look, whether it be dressy and sophisticated or calm and casual, it just works and looks effortless yet done up all at the same time.
Grain (satin): Grain is a lot like vanilla, it works with some people but for me its just not meant to be. I'd describe the formulation the same as vanilla, sort of matte yet sort of glittery at the same time and again I find that it doesn't blend very well either.
Naked Lunch (frost): I quite like this shadow, its a really nice vintage sort of pink shimmer that is easy to apply, its pigmented, it blends well and it really suits a lot of eye colours and skin tones.
Tempting (lustre): Tempting is a beautiful brown with really visible flecks of gold glitter in it. Its heavily pigmented but I find it quite hard to blend and I've found that it works best with quite a coarse haired brush.
Era (satin): I have to admit Era isn't on my list of most used colours out of this palette, but it works well as a subtle crease contouring colour and is quite pigmented. Its also very easy to blend.
Patina (frost): Patina is one of my favourites. Its the prettiest neutral brown with a pink shimmer that almost comes across as rose gold. Its pigmented, blend-able and super easy to apply.
Charcoal Brown (matte): Charcoal Brown is like the perfect staple warm, brown colour. A little goes a long way and it is quite pigmented but its build-able so you can wear it as intense or as faint as you'd like.
Mulch (velvet): MAC describes Mulch as a red-brown with bronze pearl, and there isn't really any other way to describe this shadow. Its really pigmented and build-able and also blends really well.
Espresso (matte): Espresso is a lot like Charcoal Brown, its another staple matte brown and is quite warm and red toned. Again its great for the crease, its well pigmented and works well with a soft haired blending brush.
Mystery (satin): Mystery is a really nice dark matte brown, its a shadow with a lot of depth in it and a little goes a long way. Its pigmented and easy to blend and is one of my most used shadows (Its also a perfect brow colour).
Smut (velvet): Velvet is so dark brown that it almost has purple tones in it. Like most other velvets and mattes its super blend-able and pigmented and there isn't much more to say about it apart from the fact that its really good for creating a smokey eye with more depth than just a plain black.
Black Tied (Velvet): Black Tied might just be my favourite. Its the glitteriest, sparkliest, most beautiful black glitter I've ever seen in a shadow that isn't a pigment. It's not very pigmented but it is build-able and looks great for a smokey eye if you're going out or for a special occasion.
Carbon (matte): Carbon is your average matte black shadow. Like Black Tied, its not incredibly pigmented but is build-able and with the right brush you can be successful at blending, but it does take some effort.
I hope this explanation (turned review) has been helpful to anyone, I do own other MAC eyeshadows and love them, but these are just the ones I chose to fill my palette with. I'd hate to say that I regret purchasing any of these eyeshadows but unfortunately there are a few that I wouldn't rave about. I'd like to replace and change some of them but until I get round to it the ones I have I am more than happy with!
I'd love to know what anyone else's favourite MAC shadows are in the comments :)
Thankyou for reading! x
