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

Mac Paint Pot vs Milani Shadow Eyez Pencil

If you want to get into Mac and don't know where to start, Mac Paint Pots are among the first things you should go for. They are very common in the beauty world and many people swear by them. I was very intrigued to try them for myself and after careful deliberation I decided to go with Mac Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Groundwork. I was looking for an everyday eyeshadow base with a slight hint of colour that I can just slap on and go. Little did I know that I could have saved pennies big time!

Mac Paint Pot in Groundwork and Milani Shadow Eyez in Cafe Au Lait

In a nutshell Mac Paint Pots are cream eyeshadows that can be worn alone or used as an eyeshadow base. They come in an array of mostly neutral colours but you can find some really unique shades like sea foam (a.k.a Mac Paint Pot in Clearwater). Finishes vary as well from matte, to shimmery, to frost, to metallic. Mac Paint Pot in Groundwork is a matte neutral taupe colour. It is not too warm and not too cool, it gives just enough colour to make your eyelids look more put together. I really enjoy this colour. I usually wear it on its own. It would work especially well as a base for cooler shadows, since it has that taupe hue. Mac Paint Pots claim to be long-wearing up to 15 hours, water-resistant, stay-true to colour and crease-proof. I do not completely agee with that. In terms of staying true to colour it is so, what you see is what you get. However, long-wearing and crease-proof, not so much. When worn on its own it creases on me after maybe 5 hours of wear. However if used as an eyeshadow base it creases on me within a couple of hours. I need to use a separate eyeshadow primer like Nars Smudge Eyeshadow Base underneath to ensure it stays all day.

Mac Paint Pot in Groundwork

Milani Shadow Eyez in Cafe Au Lait

Now let's look at Milani Shadow Eyez in Cafe Au Lait. Milani is a US based affordable makeup brand that offers a wide range of products, among which are Shadow Eyez. They are eyeshadow pencils that can be worn alone as an eyeshadow base or as an eyeliner. I picked two colours: Almond Cream and Cafe Au Lait. They do have a decent selection of colours and finishes (matte & shimmery), but nowhere near to that of Mac's Paint Pots. Cafe Au Lait is a matte mid-toned, brownish-taupe colour. It is extremely similar to Groundwork. It might not look like it when swatched but on the lids when blended they look identical. One day I wore Mac's Groundwork on one eye and Milani's Cafe Au Lait on the other and nobody told me I look crazy. Shadow Eyez are not as creamy in consistency so you have to work a little bit harder to blend them out. They claim to be long lasting up to 12 hours, water-resistant and crease-proof. Here again I would disagree, as with Paint Pots they last around 5 hours on me until I start seeing a slight creasing. 

L-R:Milani Shadow Eyez Cafe Au Lait and Mac Paint Pot Groundwork

Mac Paint Pot in Groundwork and Milani Shadow Eyez in Cafe Au Lait are dupes in my eyes. They serve the same purpose, the colour is spot on and the longevity is the same. The only difference is that Mac's Groundwork comes in a pot, while Milani's Cafe Au Lait is a pencil which you need to sharpen. It is worth pointing out that the glass jar is not particularly travel friendly, while a pencil you can just throw in your bag. Another substantial difference is that Milani is a cruelty free brand and these pencils are paraben free. In terms of price Mac Pro Longwear Paint Pots retail for 20,50€, while Milani Shadow Eyez are sold for 6,99$. You do get 5g of product in Mac Paint Pots and only 2,8g with Shadow Eyez pencils. That being said, for you to use up an entire Mac Paint Pot before it dries out you have to use it every single day. 

I enjoy both products and iterate depending on my mood. If you have been wondering what is all the rave surrounding Mac Paint Pots and wanted to see for yourself, I say try Milani Shadow Eyez first. I would imagine Milani's Shadow Eyez in Almond Cream to be a great alternative to the very popular Mac Paint Pot in Painterly. You can get Milani products from BeautyJoint. 

Let me know if you will be giving Shadow Eyez by Milani a go!

Cheers,
Muffy

Can it Be a Dupe for Mac Rebel?

Mac Rebel has a cult following. It is one of the most popular and sold lipsticks that Mac carries. It is up there with Rubby Woo, Viva Glam V and Girl About Town. It is a gorgeous colour no doubt, but is it unique? Is it dupable? I think so.

Mac Rebel and Urban Decay Venom 

Mac Rebel is a pinkish - purple berry colour. I think about ripe raspberries when I look at it. On their website Mac describes it as mid-tonal cream plum. I would disagree, since in my opinion plum shades have a bit more purple in them and less pinky/red. It does look very deep in the bullet with purple hues, so I can see why they described it as such. Upon application however, the colour is less intimidating. Mac Rebel is a Satin formula, which for me falls somewhere in between their Matte and Cremesheen finishes. It is not as creamy as the cremsheen lipsticks but is not as opaque as the matte ones. You can sheer out the colour or wear it as a full on statement lip. I think it works really well for a fall season but if you want you can wear it all year round. Whatever rocks your boat!

A rival that comes very close to Mac Rebel is Urban Decay Revolution lipstick in Venom. They are very similar in texture, the only difference you can pick out is that Venom has more slip to it and a slight shimmer running through it. Mac Rebel has no shimmer. In terms of colour, they are identical. I have tried wearing one on the top lip and another one on the bottom lip and you could not tell the difference. I do think that Mac Rebel has a better staying power as it is less creamy, in a good way. With Venom I suggest using a lipliner for a more precise and even application. Both will stain your lips, but that is expected from darker colours.

Mac Rebel and Urban Decay Venom

Urban Decay Venom Closer Look at the Texture

An aspect that can tip the scales in the favour of Urban Decay Venom for some people is that it is cruelty free. In terms of price they are more or less the same. Mac Rebel retails for 20,50€ while Urban Decay Venom is sold at 21,86€. You can purchase Urban Decay products from Feelunique plus they offer worldwide shipping. 

I think both lipsticks perform great, but do you need both? I don't think so (unless you are a fuchsia, berry tones lover). When deciding which one to get I would say it all boils down to whether you mind a shimmer in your lipstick and how much you value the product not being tested on animals.

Let me know if you have more budget alternatives for berry lipsticks!

Until next time,
Muffy

Top 5 Mac Lipsticks

Let me present to you my top 5 Mac lipsticks and the only Mac lipsticks I own. Luckily they weren't difficult to narrow down. I have only a few vivid shades as on the everyday basis I like to stick with more neutral colours.

L-R: Viva Glam III, Heroine, Cream in your Coffee, Faux, Velvet Teddy

Mac lipsticks are one of my favourite. I like the simple but yet chic packaging, formula and scent. They smell like vanilla. These lipsticks come in a variety of finishes: matte, cremesheen, amplified, satin and lustre. In my collection I have matte and cremesheen finishes, so I can't say much about the rest. They retail for 20,50€ in Finland. You can find Mac counters at central Stockmann in Helsinki and Tampere. They also started carrying Mac products at the Helsinki-Vantaa airport duty free store and the selling price is 17,50€.

I have the following shades in my collection: 

Heroine - bold purple (matte)
Viva Glam III - brick red (matte)
Creme in your coffee - dark dusty mauve (chremecheen)
Faux - darker pinkish nude (matte)
Velvet Teddy - darker beige nude (matte)

L-R: Heroine, Viva Glam III, Creme in Your Coffee, Faux, Velvet Teddy

As you could have guessed my preferred Mac lipsticks are matte. They last forever on the lips and are non-drying. I am not particularly in love with the cremesheen formula, as it can be too creamy and your lipstick can slide outside your lips' contours. I would recommend using a lipliner in this case.

Mac lipsticks are far from being perfect and contain colorants, fragrances, synthetically derived ingredients, etc. I can't help it, I like the formula and immense colour selection. However, for those of you that have been thinking what ingredients to avoid, if you are looking for more natural choices, see the list below.

- methylparaben (toxic and may increase risk of cancer) 
- retinyl palmitate (may increase risk of cancer can and be harmful to pregnant women) 
- tocopheryl acetate (can cause itching, burning, hives)
- synthetic fragrances (among the top 5 allergens)

Overall, I can't fault Mac lipsticks, they do everything I want a lipstick to do. That being said, if you are searching for a lipstick with natural ingredients and safe synthetics, I would skip Mac and look into Lush. I will be surely testing out some Lush lipsticks, so keep your eyes peeled for that!

Cheers,
Muffy.