MAC Eyeshadows for Dark Skin. For dark skin, we would avoid any pale eyeshadow, as you may end up looking ashy. It all depends on how dark your skin is, actually. We would recommend MAC eyeshadow in dark or neutral shades. Not only does it show on your eyes, but it makes your skin pop as well. Learn how to highlight and strobe dark skin without looking greasy. The key is to balance matte and shine for the perfect glow. Highlighting/Strobing for Dark Skin Tutorial MAC Cosmetics. The deep bronze shimmer in this shadow gives the perfect amount of depth and warmth to darker skin tones, he says. Apply it with a damp eye shadow brush for a more pigmented, dramatic effect.
MAC has an amazing number of highlighting eyeshadows!
I must say, any makeup addict might be tempted to hoard all or most but you in no way need this many!.. well, unless you are a MUA working on a remarkable variety of skintones and looks.
It is wise to mention that as the swatches of most of the colors look close enough to be thoroughly confusing so visiting a store and trying it on your skintone is the best option!
I would recommend having at least one matte and one shimmery highlighter to begin with. On a bit more advanced mode, it’s good to have one neutral, one yellow based, and one pink based highlight – but it is not absolutely necessary!
I hope that you find this helpful in your search for the perfect highlighting eyeshadow from MAC!
• GESSO
Finish – Matte
Color – Stark white
I would advise to use this only if you want a very strong highlight, or if wearing purples, yellows, blacks or greens. The texture is a bit chalky.
If you would like one similar to this with shimmer I would suggest you to go with MAC Crystal Avalanche or MAC Vapour.
• CRYSTAL AVALANCHE
Finish – Veluxe Pearl
Color – Highly frosted bright white
It can be an interesting shade to use, because of both its brightness and the frostiness of its finish, so using a light touch with it may be best. It’s the perfect inner corner/brow bone highlight shade, especially if you have fair, porcelain skin. Dark skin tones might find this a bit bold and bright. It’s a really pigmented shimmery white that makes you look more awake, and it really makes your eyes look bigger. I compared this to White Frost, and this is a much more pigmented eyeshadow, and it blends really well.
• VAPOUR
Finish – Velvet
Color – Peach pink with violet pearl
I would prefer to describe it a wash of pink with a HINT of lavender. Because of the slight bluish tone, I think it pairs easily with other MAC colors such as Shale, Steamy, & Surreal.
• BLANC TYPE
Finish – Matte
Color – Creamy beige
This is a perfect matte highlight. It is great for blending out other colors or toning down anything a bit too extreme or harsh looking. It’s also one of those shades that looks classic on its own. It does a great job of covering up any discoloration under the brow.
• VANILLA
Finish – Velvet
Color – Ivory with slight pink undertones
Vanilla is a thumbs-up shade for fair, light and even medium skintones. There is a tiny bit of sparkle in the pan, but it doesn’t really translate to the eye. It’s soft and easy to work with and has good pigmentation. Orb is similar but more pinky/peachy.
• MYLAR
Finish – Satin
Color – Creamy white with shimmer but it is more like a subtle sheen
I think it is great to wear when you want to do a neutral no-makeup look. Mylar has a mostly-matte finish though MAC enlists it under satin. It can look a little chalky because of its finish and color, though the payoff is good and application is smooth.
• BRULE
Finish – Satin
Color – Soft creamy beige
Brule is a close match to most light skintones. It can be used as an all over wash or a very subtle highlight and also for for transition blending. Just like Mylar, MAC calls it a Satin, but Brule appears nearly matte on the eye.
• SHROOM
Finish – Satin
Color – Beige with shimmer
Although MAC considers it a Satin, I think it is much more like a frost. This color is extremely popular since it is a very neutral highlight, meaning it does not lean pink or yellow. If you like a noticeable shimmer in your highlights Shroom might be a good option for you!
• DAZZLELIGHT
Finish – Veluxe Pearl
Color – Soft beige
MAC says Dazzlelight is a neutral with shimmer but I think it is more of a soft beige white with a hint of warmth. Goes quite well for all light to dark-medium skintone range. Most people love to wear it in the inner corners of the eyes! This and Vanilla are my eternal fav!
• NYLON
Finish – Frost
Color – Pale gold with shimmer
It is one of the frostiest eyeshadow I have ever seen. This is a very shimmery and pigmented pale gold eyeshadow. It gives a perfect glow that almost looks ‘wet’. This eyeshadow is perfect to use as a brow highlight, in the inner corner of the eye, or to add a bit of glow to the tops of your cheek bones.
• RICEPAPER
Finish – Frost
Color – Peachy gold with shimmer
Has great texture and is very smooth! It is versatile, shows up well, and does not fade. Really brightens up the eyes. You can wear this color alone or blend which a darker shade such as ‘Cocoa’ ‘Charcoal’ or ‘Chimney’. For skintones NC 44 onwards, it might show up as a bit whitish but still is good for highlighting brow bones and inner corner of the eyes.
• NAKED LUNCH
Finish – Frost
Color – Minimal pink with shimmer
It’s a warm peachy-beige shade that comes off almost looking champagne coloured when applied. Due to it being a frost shadow it adds just the right amount of shimmer to open up the eye area and pulling a little bit of focus. You can wear it as a lid shade, but it makes a great highlight, especially if you are doing a look with other pinks! It’s pigmented yet discreet, so you can definitely wear it on an everyday basis even though it is a frost eyeshadow.
• ORB
Finish – Satin
Color – Soft peachy-beige
A soft pinky-peach beige color, Orb is ideal for warm skin tones. You can use it on the brow to warm up a look or blend away harsh lines when working with pigments. Great all over or brow bone color for neutral looks.
• BISQUE
Finish – Matte
Color – Soft muted pink beige
This functions much like Orb. It has more of a tan base, is a little deeper in color than Orb and looks especially great when paired with brown as a neutral combination.
• PHLOOF
Finish – Frost
Color – Pinky-beige
It has good color payoff and applies smoothly. It helps define and brighten eyes with a little sparkle. looks fab on lighter lovelies and darker divas alike. Because it’s neither too cool nor warm, it’s a little unlike many other highlighting MAC eyeshadows like Shroom and Vex. I think it works well on a wide range of skin tones.
• VELLUM
Finish –Lustre
Color – Iridescent white with bluish-violet shimmer-sheen
In the pan it looks like a simple white shade, but on the lid it transforms into a gorgeous off-white duochrome infused with iridescent light purple and blue. The color payoff is decent but not great, though the uniqueness of the shade tends to make it worth the effort. It has good pigmentation for a frost finish, applies smoothly.
• VEX
Finish – Frost
Color – Grayish-beige-pink with a tinge of olive-green
It has good color payoff, and it’s one of the more unique shades by MAC. A light wash all over the lid makes me look fresh and awake. Since it has a pink/green duochrome it pairs well with tons of shadows, from purples to greens to neutrals. If applied heavily, might look stark for skintones beyond NC 40.
• WHITE FROST
Finish – Frost
Color – Shimmery soft white
It has a smooth feel. Some people have color payoff issues with this shade. I find it to be fairly buttery and blendable. The shimmer is subtle, and keeps the color from looking chalky unlike matte whites. I sometimes use it for lighting up dark shadows and blending harsher colors together. But dark-medium beauties, proceed with caution as it might look a bit too light.
• GRAIN
Finish – Satin
Color – Soft, warm beige
It’s like a lighter version of MAC Arena. Goes with almost anything and everything. This is the perfect nude shadow that gives a no-makeup correction to the eyelids. Lovely low sheen, no glitter here. It really seems to brighten my eyes without being glittery or shiny.
• RETROSPECK
Finish –Lustre
Color – Paled gold
Really nice subtle beige gold shade. It’s a little rough and a tad bit glittery but the color is beautiful. It has a slightly gritty texture which makes it prone to fall out. This is a perfect highlight color for a brown/gold/black smokey eyes.
• HUSH
Finish – Frost
Color – Peach-pink with a subtle iridescence
It is a light peachy beige, with subtle pink duochrome effect. Sheerer color than one would expect after seeing the pan. A lovely brightness comes through without any noticeable shimmer, MAC has got the balance just right and it is very useable as a highlighter, all over lid colour or a good base.
• JEST
Finish – Frost
Color – Light-medium peach
Jest which has a more pinkish tone than Naked Lunch. It’s a frosty peachy beige, blendable and brightens up eye area. Medium to dark skintones will find this to be a good highlighter.
• SAY YEAH
Finish – Veluxe Pearl
Color – Apricot pink with a golden shimmer-sheen
Incredible color. When I want a glowy natural look I use this. comparatively, Expensive Pink but far more peachy. It has a hint of pink and yellow, but not much at allIt’s quite shimmery, and the color payoff/pigmentation is good. Again, a blessing for medium to dark skintones.
Most of you may have tried quite a few of these shades. Which one is your favorite?
Don’t forget to write if you find the post useful and informative.
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Ok ladies, how many of you obsess over MAC eyeshadows? Personally, I think MAC has some of the best shadows out there because they are super pigmented and stay on till you take them off! I have made a list of what I think are the top 21 MAC eyeshadows every girl should have. So whether you have been buying MAC products for years (in which case, you probably already own most of these), or you are just starting your own MAC collection, here are my ultimate faves and must-have shades.
Table of contents:
1 VANILLA
Starting off the list for must-have MAC eyeshadows is MAC Vanilla. This is definitely a holy grail for MAC lovers. It is an ivory shade with very slight pink undertones. It has a velvet finish, so it is more matte type of shadow. However, this shadow specifically has a teensy bit of shimmer in it, but not too much. Perfect for a natural highlight, and can brighten up any look.
2 SHROOM
This shadow is a lovely light beige with hint of shimmer. It has a satin finish, which means that it is not too frosty or too matte. It is a happy medium between the two, and gives a beautiful finish. It's common for satin shades to vary in finish, so just be mindful when buying. It is also a very neutral shade, so it doesn't really have any undertones, unlike it's sister shade Nylon, which has gold undertones.
3 MYSTERY
Another staple satin shade is MAC Mystery. This is more of a muted black-brown color, and doesn't have too much of a sheen to it. MAC satin shades usually range from more frosty to almost completely matte finishes. In this case, Mystery is wonderful to use for a smokey eye because it leans more to the matte side. It is easier to blend with other shades, and gives you the perfect smoky effect. Although it is almost identical to MAC Brun, I find Mystery to be the softer shade, as well as the easiest to work with.
4 NYLON
Moving on, we have Mac Nylon. This is a pale gold shimmery shadow, and is very pigmented! It is considered a frost finish, which means it contains small shimmery particles that give it a shiny, metallic appearance. Use it in the inner corners of your eyes and it's sure to make your eyes pop.
5 NAKED LUNCH
This is a minimal pink with a hint of shimmer. It is a frost finish, like the MAC Nylon. I love this as a lid shade because it is subtle and sweet, so it's great if your going for a minimal look. It is a neutral color you can pair with with various other shades.
6 PATINA
Depending on your skin color, this can be a very neutral shade, almost skin tone shade. MAC describes it as a taupe brown with a gold pearl finish. It is yet another one of the frost finish shadows. But again, depending on your skin tone it can appear more or less shimmery.
7 SATIN TAUPE
This shade is a dark taupe color with a metallic frost finish. It can be a great day shadow, AND a night shadow, depending on what you pair it with. Also, depending on your skin tone it may look lighter or darker. Nonetheless, it is a beautiful shade overall, and a good one to have.
8 AMBER LIGHTS
This is probably one of the frostiest Mac eyeshadows. It is a beautiful peachy-brown color with lots of shimmer. This is great to wear if you are going for a more vibrant and intense look, rather than a soft neutral look. This looks amazing on brown eyes because of how bright and pigmented it is. The gold in this shadow really compliments the eyes, and brings them a lot of attention.
9 CORK
Dubbed a medium matte finish brown, this is a great basic shade. It is great for blending in your crease, or for filling in in your eyebrows (for which I only recommend matte shades, because they look the most natural)… This is definitely one to have if you are going for a natural look.
10 WOODWINKED
This lovely shade a veluxe pearl finish, meaning it is very buttery and pigmented, and looks quite metallic. It is one of my favorites! It's bronze brown, so it is great for a day look, or a night look. For a day look, you can pair it with other subtle shades. As for a night look, you can pair it with darker tones. Either way, it is a fabulous shadow, and an absolute must-have.
11 EXPENSIVE PINK
Now I have never been much of a pink girl, but I have fallen in love with this shade! It is a can be worn day or night, because it is a versatile shade. It is a shimmery warm pink with a veluxe pearl finish. It has tiny hints of gold in it, but nothing too crazy. It looks great blended with darker pinks, plums, and browns. But there are plenty of other combinations that would look amazing.
12 TWINKS
Another one of my favorites, is MAC Twinks. It is a beautiful deep plum shade with a veluxe pearl finish. It is great for blending, and not as metallic as other deluxe pearl shades. I love to wear this during the fall season because it is a great color with a soft, subtle sheen. Perfect as an all over lid color, or great as a transition shade.
13 KNIGHT DIVINE
Yet another veluxe pearl finish shadow? My, my, my! This sultry, deep, shimmery grey is another fabulous shadow to have on hand. This looks stunning when worn with MAC Electra in the inner corner, and smudged out with MAC Carbon in the outer corner. These three together make a killer smokey eye, and make for a very mysterious and sultry look.
14 TEMPTING
Declared a luster finish, this lovely, rich, dark cocoa gives some warmth with a bit of shimmer. Now, any die-hard MAC lover will advise you to steer clear of Luster eyeshadows. They tend to have a bad rap because their dry, chunky glitter texture can cause a lot of fallout. Still, this is the one Luster shadow that is a must-have. Still worried about fallout? Use a fixing spray to keep the powder in place, and to make it easier to apply to your eyes.
15 All That Glitters
I love shimmery eyeshadow! It makes your eyes glow and pop, plus, since its MAC, the sparkle lasts for hours! All That Glitters will provide your eyes with a sultry, enticing look as well as bring out the color in your eyes.
16 Kid
A simple staple for ladies with a light brown complexion is MAC’s, Kid eyeshadow. You can use it by itself to create a natural look, or in combination with a dark smoky eye to smooth out the creases and blend it into your natural skin tone.
17 Ground Brown
Ground Brown is the ideal brown eyeshadow! Brown eyeshadow belongs in every girl's makeup collection, so you might as well choose the best! This deep, warm color makes your lashline look thicker and your eyes look sexier. It's perfect for both a night out, or a day at the office.
18 Trax
Trax is MAC's super pink, super sparkly eyeshadow designed for the bold at heart! It's definitely noticeable, and looks spectacular paired with other colors or blended into the crease.
19 Goldbit
The classic gold shadow has an element of glamour unmatched by any other eye shadow color! Among many beautiful gold eyeshadows, I would say that one of the best comes from MAC. It's natural enough so that you don't look like a circus performer, but daring enough so that people will notice your shimmering eyelids with every bat of your eyelashes!
Best Mac Eyeshadow For Dark Skin Tone
20 Rose Gold
This eye shadow looks different from the rest because it IS different! It is a combination of rosy and gold pigments that looks stunning on every skin tone and type! Pigment adheres to your skin better than most eyeshadows, doesn't streak or cake, and is easy to blend. MAC’s Rose Gold pigment is certain to change the way you think about makeup.
Top Mac Eyeshadows For Dark Skin
21 CARBON
Eyeshadow For Brown Skin
And last but most certainly not least, we have the matte Carbon shadow. You really only need one black eyeshadow in your collection, and this has to be the best. Because it is a matte eyeshadow, it is perfect for blending and wonderful for a smoky look. It is similar to Nehru, however is doesn't seem to have the same subtle blue tint to it.
So there you have it ladies. These are the 21 basic must-have MAC eyeshadows that will make a perfect starter palette. Yes, they are pretty neutral tones, but that is what makes them so versatile and great! What are some of your favorite shades and finishes?