See, this is how they get ya — cold, hard numbers, baby.
When you run the numbers, $85 for each of the two new MAC Eye Shadow X 15 palettes sounds beyond reasonable — and not just reasonable, but actually wise. Considering that a Pro Palette Insert ($2), an empty Pro Palette ($8) and 15 individual shadow pan refills ($150) would set you back $160, $85 is a steal!
At least that’s what I plan to tell my husband when I go to Nordstrom later this week to “take a look” at another 15-pan MAC palette, this one recently released and filled with some of the brand’s bestselling shades (codename: Nordstrom Naturals).
“But, babe!” I’ll tell him, “It’s basically half off. I’m doing this for the good of the family.” 🙂
Something tells me I’ll be met with rolling eyes and a sigh, but whatevs.
So, these two palettes — Warm Neutral and Cool Neutral — I can’t even think about them without feeling a little gooey inside. Filled with a mix of perennial permanent collection faves and limited edition colors, they’re the two new Eye Shadow X 15 palettes from the Eyes on MAC collection, and they’re available now at MAC stores and online.
If they look familiar, gold star! You might remember them from last year. They’re essentially re-promotes of those palettes, so you may already have them.
If not, this could be a good time to pounce, and not just because the palettes are a pretty good value (the pans are the same size as MAC’s full-size 0.05-oz. refills). They’re also a good way to quickly build up your collection of MAC workhorse shades, as both of them are bristling with useful, everyday neutrals that never go out of style.
But which one? — that’s the million-dollar question.
Well, what kind of colors do you currently wear? Do you wear more cool grays, pinks and silvers, or more warm, buttery coppers and golds?
Some other things to consider…
Overall, the colors in the Cool palette seem less pigmented than the colors in the Warm palette, at least on my NC 42 skin, and I find myself building them up in layers (especially Flounce, Sweet Allure, Pick Me Up and Cozy Grey).
The Cool Neutrals seem like they’d be better suited for paler skin tones rather than deep. For that reason I haven’t been reaching for it as much as the Warm Palette.
The Warm one’s shadows pack more pigment than the Cools, and the palette has several shades that I know I can wear every day…for the next three lifetimes (like Saddle, Brule and Amber Lights).
And then there’s Honey Lust — in this case, the dicey shade. It’s definitely a chunky monkey, I know, but that’s just the way it goes with Honey Lust. Whenever I wear it, I use a wet brush, and/or gently pat it on my lids with a flat brush. Be patient, and try not to sweep it, lest you end up with shadow all over the place. It can be worth the effort, though. Honey Lust can look really beautiful when it’s packed on the lids.
Oh, and can we talk about Saddle for a second? It is, hands down, one of my MAC ride-or-die transition shades. I could wear it in the crease with any of the shimmery shades in the Warm palette and be a happy kitty cat forever. Meow, meow, purr, purr. 🙂
The Warm Neutral palette also has several shades with finishes that look scary and dangerously frosty in swatches, but turn out to be more satiny than shimmery on the eyes, like Butterfudge, Dark Brew, Vanilla Extract and Warm Breeze. I like them for simple, single-shadow looks.
Buff one on your lids for eyes that glow, and you know how this homegirl loves her glow. Extra great with long, luxe lashes. 🙂
The Eye Shadow X 15/Cool Neutral Palette includes…
- Flounce, a chalky white pink
- Sweet Allure, a soft light pink
- Sun Tweaked, a soft frosty coral
- Blackberry, a muted burgundy-plummy brown
- After Dusk, a mid-tone rosy pink with pearl
- Pick Me Up, a pale ivory
- Crushed Cove, a dirty golden olive
- Cozy Grey, a cool gray
- Deception, a chocolate gold
- Brun, a muted blackish brown
- Silver Fog, a white with silvery pearl
- French Clay, a white with gray frost
- Cumulus, a dirty gray charcoal
- Pearled Earth, a deep bluish gray
- Black Tied, a black with silvery sparkle
The Eye Shadow X15/Warm Neutral Palette includes…
- Hey, a metallic coral
- Warm Breeze, a pastel coral
- Gingersnap, a deep rosy pink
- Dark Brew, a deep chocoalte with pinkish pearl
- Dance in the Dark, a dark brown
- Brule, a soft creamy beige
- Vanilla Extract, a warm yellow beige
- Honey Lust, a bronzy peach
- Amber Lights, a peachy brown with shimmer
- Saddle, a golden orange brown
- Lemon Tart, a metallic gold
- Butterfudge, a dirty mocha with golden pearl
- Creative Copper, a warm copper
- Divine Decadence, a golden brown
- Unwind, a dirty olive
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Erin says
Damn, I really like the cool one!
Kim Henrichs says
These are both gorgeous!
Rachel R. says
I like both. They are a great deal. Less than $6 a pan.
denise says
I bought the warm palette last year for $100 and thought it was a steal, and now I see it’s the same one for $85 🙁
Kelli says
They are now $65 on Macy’s website and Nordstrom! What a steal!
Jaa says
These are tempting, Karen! But I don’t know what to do. I already have 4 (or 5?) customized MAC palettes already! And if I decide to get one, I also don’t know which one to choose because both look equally great! You wearing it so beautifully doesn’t help, either! 😀
Debra says
Actually, the chunky monkey is the only shade that interests me!! Would Honey Lust love blue eyes?
Fancie says
Man these swatches look really nice! The warm palette seems right up my alley.
Roda says
Good gawd! I am once again sold on these palettes! (P.S.Liking your videos…really neat to put a voice to a face!)
Anne says
Oh dear. I had just talked myself out of buying the warm one. Now, after looking at these swatches, I’m not so sure anymore… XD
I might have to use your reasoning from above with my significant other, too! We’re saving every penny for our new house.
Anyway, thanks for all the beautiful swatches.
Have a wonderful day!
Anne xo
Kiss & Make-up says
I love the warm palette! <3
LindaLibraLoca says
The warm palette, if any. But I think the joy of filling your own step by step can’t be beaten by the bargain.
At least for me.
Stefi says
Oh gosh, you are SOOO cute!! <3
Definitely on my shopping list, you are so right, I love the feeling that they are already prefilled since I would have gotten a lot of them anyway 😉
Love,
Stefi
Mary says
OOOOOOOHHHH my gosh. I need both of these in my life. It’s like my dream neutral palette – all the colours are so perfect! x
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Deanna says
Oh, Karen. I do not need another neutral palette, but the warm palette is calling out to me! I don’t have a ton of MAC eye shadows, and I think these palettes would be a great way to expand my collection. Thank you for your review! 🙂
Ankita@corallista says
I quite like the look of the warm palette!
Shawna says
Hey Karen! These are gorgeous!! And such a steal!
I was wondering, when you run out of a shade, are you able to replace it/change it out for something else like if it was a customizable MAC palette? It would be so awesome if that were the case bc it would be like getting another one of their refillable palettes out of the deal too.. nothing worse than when you run out of your favorite shade in a palette (cough*saddle*cough), and you just have to deal with the sad empty spot that you can’t do anything about. I really hope MAC built us something that could solve that pesky problem! Is the palette itself like one of thier customizable ones that you fill with your own shadow choices? Or are the shadows permanently stuck in there? Hope that makes sense! Thank you!
I wish the warm palette came with Woodwinked tho! Then it would be perfect IMO 🙁