The long-running Unsung Heroes series here on Makeup and Beauty Blog features some of my all-time favorite permanent collection products.
When you’re on your second pot of MAC Constructivist — wait, I think this might be my third? — it’s probably time to put flowers in its hair, stick it on a float, and throw a parade for it (don’t forget the brass band). Or, you could give it the Unsung Heroes treatment. 🙂
Dude, what a snazzy little Paint Pot! This pearlescent reddish brown cream eyeshadow is a $22 member of the MAC permanent line, and we’ve been hanging out even more than usual lately.
If you love brown eyeshadows as much as I do (and I know my girls are out there; I can’t be the only one!), Constructivist is absolutely must-have, especially if you’re also a MAC fan and a lover of neutral shadows.
Flexibility is Constructivist’s super power. You can wear it by itself (which I do all the time), or use it as a base under other powder eyeshadows, and hello! — it looks lovely with so many different shades, but I’ll talk about that more in a second.
Highly recommended for hop-to-it mornings when you can’t dilly-dally. On days like that I’ll grab Constructivist and set my timer for 20 minutes (or sometimes 15…), and I know I’ll be able to finish an eye look with it because Constructivist is one of those products with a lot of leeway to improvise.
Because it’s creamy like soft serve, edges are easy to erase, and it lasts so long on its own that I can skip primer and just apply it on mah bare lids.
Sometimes I’ll pat it on with a MAC 239 brush, then buff out the edges with a MAC 217, repeating that process a few times. Then I’ll do a little Teddy, Costa Riche or Prunella eyeliner on my water lines, add some mascara, finish the rest of my face, and I’m done.
And when I have a little more time and somewhere special to go, I might add some black winged liner along my upper lash lines, because I think that elevates the whole ensemble.
Constructivist rocks those quickie eye looks! It’s also really beautiful when worn as a base for classic MAC shades like Sable and Mulch (particularly those two), but basically anything brown, reddish brown, golden brown, purply brown or bronze should work well with it too.
I use it all the time with the Nordstrom Naturals 15-pan palette. That one has several shades that look great on top of Constructivist. One combo I like to do involves Saddle in the crease, Mulch on my lids and a bit of Beauty Marked in the outer corner.
The MAC Warm Neutral Palette is another one. Even the Brooks Shields Gravitas palette… Remember that one?
The thing about the Paint Pots is that they tend to dry out, but if you screw the cap on tightly, and store the Paint Pot upside down, it helps. It also makes it so you can see the name of the color right there on the bottom label. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
The MAC Unsung Heroes series (a subset of my regular Unsung Makeup Heroes series) features some of my all-time favorite products from MAC’s permanent collection
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Texture Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Saddle Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Cork Eye Shadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Fleur Power Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Swiss Chocolate Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Costa Riche Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Mineralize Skinfinish Natural
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Havana
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Chicory Lip Pencil
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Smoked Almond Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Half ‘n Half Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Chili Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Coffee Eye Pencil
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Mineralize Skinfinish in Global Glow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Havana
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour in Burnt Spice
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Mineralize Foundation/Loose
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Giddy Lustre Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Amorous Alloy Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Texture Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Prep + Prime 24-Hour Extend Eye Base
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Swiss Chocolate Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Saddle Eyeshadow
- Unsung Heroes: MAC In Extra Dimension Waterproof Mascara
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Minted Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Take the Plunge Technakohl Liner
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Cork Eye Shadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: 221 Mini Tapered Blending Brush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Matchmaster Shade Intelligence Compact
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Oh My Mocha Eye Shadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Pro Longwear Waterproof Colour Stick in Lilacked
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Satin Taupe Eye Shadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: High Tea Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Blooz Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Fleur Power Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Layin’ Low Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Constructivist Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Prep + Prime Fix+
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Mineralize Skinfinish Natural
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Persistence Matte Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow in Brownluxe
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Costa Riche Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: The Studio Chromagraphic Pencils
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Brun Eye Shadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Staunchly Stylish Pro Longwear Lip Pencil
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Warm Soul Mineralize Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Reflects Antique Gold Glitter
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Style Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Shaping Powder in Lightsweep
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Painterly
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Era Eye Shadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Bronze Eye Shadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Honey Lust Eye Shadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sun Rush Lustre Drops
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Nice Buzz Plushglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: 33 Lash
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Shale Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Harmony Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Careblends Pressed Powder
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Fulfilled Plushglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Bamboom Paint
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sublime Nature Paint
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Face and Body Foundation
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Prunella Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: The 239 Eye Shader Brush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Greensmoke Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Ample Pink Plushglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Indianwood Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Bare Study Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Rubenesque Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Tarnish Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Big Baby Plushglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Kohl Power Pencil Liner in Feline
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Format Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Ambering Rose Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Iridescent Powder/Loose in Silver Dusk
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Iridescent Powder/Loose in Golden Bronze
- MAC Unsung Heroes: C-Thru Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Fresh Flare Pro Longwear Eye Shadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Viva Glam V Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Loud & Lovely Cremesheen Glass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Viva Glam VI Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Breezy Sheertone Shimmer Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Care Blends Essential Oils, Grapefruit + Chamomile
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Prep + Prime Vibrancy Eye Primer
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Right Image Cremesheen Glass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Modesty Cremesheen Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Double Dare Cremesheen Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Bamboo Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Speak Louder Cremesheen Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sandy B Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Club Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Uniform Technakohl Liner
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sweet Satisfaction Pro Longwear Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Red Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Lady Danger Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Tempting Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Ruby Woo Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Retrospeck Eyeshadow
Katie says
I think a lot of the Paint Pots, besides like Painterly and Soft Ochre which are so popular, are underrated! I have Indianwood and it’s a great richening base for coppers, bronzes, and browns, or just smoked out on its own!
CrystalCandy says
Ohhh that’s a gorgeous color!
Savannah says
Hmm… Maybe I should try this one out. I had Indianwood and I really wasn’t a fan, the chocolate color on my skin tone wasn’t flattering. I liked rubenesque, but I b2m’d it because it was getting old already and I keep on top of stuff like how long I’ve had eye products for.
Laarni says
This has been in my wishlist since the day I discovered Painterly! Gotta love these pots! Thank you for the reminder, Mommy Karen! Hihi
Kwmechelle says
*raises hand* I’m a neutral/brown eyeshadow lover! I have & love Mulch. And I’ve hit pan. Give me a moment, though, * insert tears here,* I didn’t get the Brooke Shields palette. Sad day when I went to purchase it & it was sold out. Cool of you to introduce this color. I need to go & make its acquaintance. Love MAC paint pots.
Kiss & Make-up says
I just got a new Paint Pot, from the new MACnificent collection and uuuuugh it just reminded me of how GOOD the paint pots are!!! 🙂
LindaLibraLoca says
I love my paintpots for everyday use, but I somehow never tried Constructivist. I stick to Groundwork If I do a brown shadow, but that one seems to have a little more oomph.
Amber says
This is such a beautiful shade, and it’s been on my to-buy list for ages. I love deep browns like this. Thanks for the extra nudge Karen. I’ll pick it up stat! 😉
Erin says
Love the color in the swatch on your arm. Great for you skin tone. I don’t think I could pull it off.
Stephanie A. says
I LOOOOVVVVVVEEEEE Constructivist! I’m wearing it now–hell, I’ve worn it almost daily for the last month. It’s so easy, and just does something pretty awesome for my dark brown eyes. I apply it with my fingers, and blend it up, then run a little on my lower lash line. To “fancy” it up, I will sometimes press a bit of Half Baked, from my Naked palette, on top of Constructivist in the center of my lid. If I were a poet, I would write freaking sonnets about my love of Constructivist!
Valerie C. says
I have this one and Painterly. I love using them both for a quick smoky look!