MAC Eyeshadows: Brule, Malt, Haux....and new MAC Rewards Program!

It's been a minute since I've placed an order with MAC or even browsed their website. I was drawn to their web page after receiving an email from the brand telling me to claim my 'Anniversary gift.' Say whaaaaaaat????  Turns out I joined MAC's new reward program a year ago and its totally legit. At the most basic, bottom tier level, you get a free eyeshadow once a year (your choice of colors in store and online you get a choice from their top selling shadows, a $16 value). While browsing the website, I discovered that MAC offers free shipping to the US with ANY order, no minimum, AND all eyeshadow refill pans are now only $6. I'm guessing this was either done to be more competitive with brands like Makeupgeek ($7 pans) or because MAC is doing a reformulation and is pushing out old stock. We shall see if the new price tag sticks! 

For my free eyeshadow, I chose the satin cult favorite, Brule. It came in a little 'Adore You Reward You' cardboard sleeve. Well done, MAC! I also got pans of the colors, 'Malt' and 'Haux' to pop into my z-palette. I highly recommend pans as they are less cumbersome when you can open a palette full of 12-20 colors and do your whole eye look from there rather than be digging through and opening multiple containers for one look. I do love getting more special colors that I know I'll want to travel with in pot form so I can take my z-palette with my basics as well as my pots of special colors. 

Top to bottom: Brule, Malt, Haux

Brule is a satin shade and is a creamy, bisque color. It is a tanner, yellower, cream shade that I love for packing all over my lid as my base. 'Malt' is a color I got hoping to dupe my current favorite shade in the UD Naked Smokey palette, Combust (more on that below!). Malt is a neutral pink shade that shifts a bit purple orange. 'Haux' is a medium purple brown. 

Above is 'Haux' swatched next to Lorac's Unconditional from the Unzipped Palette and UD Nooner from the Naked 3 palette. It is definitely a more unique color and I've been loving putting this color in my outer V to deepen a neutral eye look. 

Here is 'Malt' next to UD Combust from the Naked Smokey palette, UD Limit from the Naked 3 palette, and Stila Understanding from the Eyes are the Window palette in Mind. Malt is a bit warmer than Combust and a bit less gray, but I think the colors are pretty close. As you can see, Malt is far less pinker than UD's Limit which I think makes it a more versatile transition color.

Here is an eye look I've been doing with just these 3 colors from MAC! I lay Brule down all over my lid and hit my browbone hard for that highlighted effect. Then I buff Malt into my crease and add Haux in the outer V for some extra depth. I tightline my lashes with some brown eyeliner and add some mascara and voila! That's it for a simple, professional look that took all of about 2 minutes. I've also loved adding rose golds, taupes, and pinks to the lid for some extra pizzazz, but just these 3 colors are definitely enough for a complete eye look.

Check out MAC to get a great deal on cult eyeshadow faves! Again, pans are only $6 each right now with free shipping, no minimum!

xxSJ

New Favorite: Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

When I bought the bulk of my eyeshadows in my collection I was all about the glitter and shimmer! I have a TON of pretty shades but not a lot of matte shadows that will create a pretty, sophisticated, and basic look. I thought the least expensive and quickest way to get me a nice array of shadows would be to purchase the Naked Basics palette by Urban Decay. 

This little palette was so perfect for what I needed! It was $28 at Sephora for 6, 1.5g eyeshadows (for reference that is the same size as Urban Decay single pot shadows, the shadows in the Naked palettes, and MAC single eyeshadows). 

The colors from left to right are Venus, the only shimmery shade in the palette that is a great highlighter; Foxy, a yellowy bone-toned highlighter; Walk of Shame, a beigey pink shade; Naked2, a  taupe gray shade; Faint, a deep brown color; and Crave, a blackest black charcoal color.

All of these shades are buttery soft to the touch except for Crave which feels like a piece of charcoal. I don't mind it, though, because I think the texture helps make it so inky black! These shadows work so wonderfully on their own for an all matte, sophisticated look, and they also work fantastically to begin a look which you can add shimmer or colors to later.  This little palette is a seriously amazing addition to my makeup collection because I feel like I can just use this little guy for a work or school-appropriate eyeshadow look.  No fuss of reaching for a bunch of different palettes since everything I need is all in one place!

I highly recommend this little palette for its practicality, quality, and affordability.

xxSJ