My Mac Quad and Possible Alternatives

I have only four Mac eyeshadows in my collection. For a makeup junkie that I am, I think that is kind of shameful. The main reason why I haven't accumulated more is simply because I discovered Makeup Geek eyeshadows. Those are just the best. However, I figured I'd share with you the Mac eyeshadows I do own and suggest possible alternatives. In case you are looking for more budget friendly, paraben, talc and cruelty free options. Let's dive right in!

 Mac Quad Clockwise : Patina, Texture, Swiss Chocolate and Quarry

There is no logic as to how I put my Mac quad together. I just went along with colours that appealed to me. Mac can be pretty overwhelming with their shadow selection. My tip would be to do your research prior. Check reviews online, swatches and watch Youtube videos. This would give you an idea as to what colours and finishes you prefer. I picked of course neutral colours, because that is what I gravitate towards. The ones I got can be paired together or worn on their own. That is why I find it to be a pretty versatile palette that's good for travelling. But now let's get into the shades, shall we:

Patina - taupe brown with golden pearl(frost)
Texture - peachy-brown with shimmer(velvet)
Swiss Chocolate - muted reddish brown(matte)
Quarry - soft-muted plum brown(matte)

Clockwise: Patina, Texture, Swiss Chocolate, Quarry

L-R: Patina, Texture, Swiss Chocolate, Quarry

I would agree with the shade descriptions on most parts (I took them directly from the Mac website), but I feel like Texture is more of a burnt orange shade that has slight shimmer running through it, which is barely noticeable. Mac eyeshadows come in a compact and a pan format. It's cheaper to get them in pans and the palette itself is surprisingly affordable for Mac. You can also put the eyeshadows in a Z palette if you have that already. Just remember to attach the magnets at the back, those usually come with Z palettes anyway. 

The eyeshadows that I use the most are Patina and Texture. They are just easy everyday colours. Swiss Chocolate is a lovely colour with great pigmentation but I don't wear it often. Quarry, oh this one did let me down. The pigmentation is just not there. You need to layer this colour a lot for it to show (like on the swatches above), which is a real bummer.

Clockwise:  Moondust, Unexpected, Creme Brulee, Cocoa Bear

L-R: Moondust, Creme Brulee, Cocoa Bear, Unexpected

That being said, I did find the colour that is almost identical to Quarry but with much better pigmentation. That's Makeup Geek's shadow in Unexpected. If you fancy something similar to Patina, Makeup Geek's Moondust looks comparable on the lids. The colours that were a little bit more tricky to "dupe" are Texture and Swiss Chocolate. I don't have anything quite like that. But, the shades that perform similarly are Makeup Geek's Creme Brulee (transition shade with warm undertones like Texture) and Cocoa Bear (good for darkening up the crease with reddish undertones like Swiss Chocolate). As a result, you can create very similar looks using both "quads".

Overall, I am content with my Mac quad. Do I reach for it? Not really. I still like having it in my collection and coming back to it once in a while. Nevertheless, I would warmly suggest checking out Makeup Geek shadows if you can't afford Mac. You can find some spot on dupes for permanent and limited edition shades (e.g Desert Sands = Mac's Uninterrupted, Cosmopolitan = Mac's Expensive Pink and Peach Smoothie = Mac's Samoa Silk). If you are interested in my Makeup Geek eyeshadow collection, you can check it out here.

Let me know what are your most used Mac eyeshadows!

Cheers,
Muffy