My MAC Eyeshadow Collection + Review & Swatches

When I uploaded a picture of my MAC eyeshadow collection on my Instagram and Facebook Page, I honestly did not expect such good feedback! I suppose it’s a good thing because it really pushed me to sit down and re-organize my entire collection. The purpose of this review is to give you a quick overview of each formula and to provide swatches of every color to help those who may be looking to customize their very own MAC eyeshadow palette. I have also created some Pinterest-worthy pictures in this post so that you can save or pin them to your board for future reference. :)

How I store my MAC eyeshadows

I buy MAC eyeshadows in refill pans and store them in a Pro Palette Large (“Single“; US$8) with a 15-well insert (US$2). The refill pan format is much cheaper than the full compact (US$10 versus US$16) and eliminates the need to “depot” the shadows. The Pro Palette is magnetized and has a clear window so you can identify the shades inside right away. MAC also makes a Pro Palette Large “Duo” which is a double-sided Pro Palette that fits 2 inserts; each side is separated by a clear window.

Brief formula review

MAC offers their eyeshadows in several finishes. Below are 8 in the permanent line that I have had experience with. I find that some colors can perform so differently even when they have the same type of finish, so please use this quick formula review as a general guide only.

Frost

Frost finish has ultra fine shimmer particles infused throughout. It can range from slightly shimmery to moderately shimmery to full-on frost. The texture is soft, smooth, and highly blendable. They are great for highlighting purposes and/or all-over-the-lid color.

In my collection: White Frost, Vex, Ricepaper, Naked Lunch, Goldmine, Amber Lights, Patina, Bronze, Satin Taupe, Electra, Deep Truth, Humid, Steamy, Swish, Creme de Violet, Lala, Nocturnelle, Moth Brown, 100 Strokes, Canter, Luscious, and Psyche

Lustre

Lustre finish has loose glitter particles infused throughout. I’m not very fond of this texture in general because they are dry, sheer, and produce lots of glitter fallout. It’s a little tricky to get them to stay on the lid so they are best applied over a cream base. Once they are on, they leave such an intense sparkly effect on the lids!

In my collection: Honey Lust and Swimming

Satin

Satin appears mostly matte with very subtle sheen. The texture is very soft and satiny and basically such a pleasure to apply. They usually have good color payoff, go on smoothly and blend beautifully on the lids.

In my collection: Shroom, Brule, Hocus Pocus, Shale, Pretty, Clove, and Lofty

Velvet

Velvet has a matte base with either shimmer or chunky glitter particles in the texture. They are usually quite pigmented but the texture is rather thin. The application isn’t the smoothest and without proper blending it can result in patchiness.

In my collection: Mulch, Contrast, Beauty Marked, Smut, Black Tied, Trax, Sketch, and Pepper

Matte

Matte has a 1-dimensional texture without any shimmer or glitter particles. The majority of them are soft, smooth, creamy, and blend really well. They are mostly base or crease color to add definition to the eyes. I really like most of the mattes that I have except Carbon.

In my collection: Yogurt, Malt, Wedge, Soft Brown, Espresso, Carbon, and Persuade

Matte²

Matte² is basically an improved version of matte. They appear flat without any shimmer or glitter particles. They are buttery smooth, incredibly soft, and effortless to apply and blend. They don’t feel powdery or patchy in any way. The color payoff is also excellent.

In my collection: Copperplate and Typographic

Veluxe

I have only one color in this category so I’m going to base my review on this particular shade that I have which is Kid. It has a creamy, smooth matte finish that applies and blends beautifully. The texture is very soft and does not produce fallout or excess powder at all.

In my collection: Kid

Veluxe Pearl

This is my favorite finish! Veluxe Pearl has excellent texture and color payoff. The application is soft, smooth, and most shades leave a gorgeous, multi-dimensional semi-metallic finish. They pair well with other formulas but they also look just as beautiful on their own in a single-shadow makeup look.

In my collection: Crystal Avalanche, Dazzlelight, Gorgeous Gold, Expensive Pink, All That Glitters, Woodwinked, Antiqued, Mythical, Coppering, Carbonized, Sumptuous Olive,Knight Divine, Plum Dressing, and Plummed

My collection

My collection with corresponding swatches

*The last three rows are from the Gravitas palette (see in-depth review here).

Shade breakdown

Shades marked with * are limited-edition or discontinued shades that are no longer available. Everything else is permanent and you can buy them in refill pans.

• White Frost – shimmery white; frost
• Crystal Avalanche – pearly white; veluxe pearl
• Shroom – off-white beige; satin
• Brule – vanilla beige; satin
• Dazzlelight – shimmery champagne beige; veluxe pearl

• Vex – beige with pink-green pearl; frost
• Gorgeous Gold – muted yellow gold; veluxe pearl
• Ricepaper – shimmery peachy gold; frost
• Naked Lunch – pale shimmery peachy pink; frost
• Honey Lust – peachy bronze; lustre

• Yogurt – soft pale pink; matte
• Expensive Pink – coppery peachy pink; veluxe pearl
• All That Glitters – beige with gold pearl; veluxe pearl
• Goldmine – intense shimmery gold; frost
• Amber Lights– intense shimmery peachy brown; frost

• Bamboo – peachy beige; matte
• Malt – pinkish beige; matte
• Kid – peachy brown; veluxe pearl
• Wedge – muted beige brown; matte
• Soft Brown – golden peachy brown; matte

• Woodwinked – warm antique gold; veluxe pearl
• Patina – taupe brown with golden pearl; frost
• Bronze – shimmery gold bronze; frost
• Mulch – pearly brown bronze; velvet
• Antiqued – reddish brown bronze; veluxe pearl

• Mythical* – orange brown copper; veluxe pearl
• Coppering – bright orange copper; veluxe pearl
• Satin Taupe – silvery purple taupe; frost
• Espresso – muted golden brown; matte
• Carbonized* – shimmery bronze brown; veluxe pearl

• Electra – bluish silver; frost
• Parisian Skies* – darkened sky blue; satin
• Deep Truth – dark royal blue; frost
• Contrast – plum purple with blue pearl; velvet
• Beauty Marked – black with red sparkle; velvet

• Swimming – shimmery sea green; lustre
• Humid – forest green; frost
• Sumptuous Olive – pearly khaki; veluxe pearl
• Steamy – teal with gold pearl; frost
• Hocus Pocus* – shimmery silvery gray; satin

• Copperplate – muted mid-tone gray; matte²
• Smut – charcoal brown; velvet
• Knight Divine – blackened gray with silver pearl; veluxe pearl
• Black Tied – black with silver sparkle; velvet
• Typographic – asphalt black; matte²

• Swish – icy pink; frost
• Trax – burgundy plum with shimmer; velvet
• Creme de Violet – pink violet with gold pearl; frost
• Plum Dressing – reddish pink; veluxe pearl
• Lala* – bright pink with blue undertones; frost

• Nocturnelle – burgundy pink; frost
• Shale – mauve plum with subtle shimmer; satin
• Moth Brown* – shimmery purple gray; frost
• Sketch – burgundy with red shimmer; velvet
• 100 Strokes* – burgundy brown; frost

• Pretty* – pale peach beige; satin
• Soft Brown – golden peachy brown; matte
• Expensive Pink – coppery peachy pink; veluxe pearl
• Clove* – mid-tone golden brown; satin
• Satin Taupe – silvery purple taupe; frost

• Canter* – pale neutral gold; frost
• Luscious* – neutral bronze; frost
• Antiqued – reddish brown bronze; veluxe pearl
• Psyche* – medium golden olive; frost
• Carbon – intense black; matte

• Shroom – off-white beige; satin
• Persuade* – cool gray brown; matte
• Plummed* – pink berry plum; veluxe pearl
• Lofty* – cool blackened brown; satin
• Pepper* – dark charcoal; velvet

Even though I own a multitude of eyeshadow palettes, I still like the idea of customizing my own palettes filled with only the colors that I like and see myself wearing. MAC eyeshadow refill pans are affordable but not inexpensive so I would advise you start customizing with a few colors at a time. That’s what I did (and still do) anyway. It took me years to have come this far but to me, it is more fun to pick out a few colors here and there and slowly build my palette than buying all at once because it makes me appreciate each color more. :)

Well, I hope my review was helpful! Let me know if you have any questions at all! Please also feel free to suggest your favorite colors so that I can take a look and possibly add them to my palettes!

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