So, that shade right there? — one-two-three-four from the left? That’s Woodwinked.
I know! I didn’t realize it until I was halfway through an eye look yesterday morning. I was scooting along, doing my makeup, when I thought, “That one looks really familiar,” but it didn’t look too familiar, so I flipped it over, saw the name and said, “Holy sh*t! That’s Woodwinked. How can that be Woodwinked??”
I couldn’t believe my eyes. I had to keep flipping the compact over, back and forth. One of my favorite MAC colors of all time (here’s a look with it from 2013!) is in this palette, but it doesn’t look or feel like the Woodwinked I know.
M∙A∙C Nutcracker Sweet
Available online October 20, 2016
Available in stores on October 27, 2016 through December 8, 2016
#MACNutcrackerSweet
Basically, that set the tone for how I feel about the Warm Eye Compact Eye Shadow X 9 palette, one of three X 9 palettes in the MAC Nutcracker Sweet holiday collection.
Like the other two — Smoky and Cool — it has nine eyeshadows, a dual-ended brush and snazzy packaging. Some of the colors are re-promotes, like Woodwinked, Era and Showstopper, and some are new.
I really like the Cool palette from this collection, but it set a high bar for me, and I think that’s influencing how I feel about the Warm palette now.
The Warm Eye Compact Eye Shadow X 9 ($39.50) — Showstopper (Matte), Twelve Chimes (Lustre), Beyond Gorgeous (Veluxe Pearl), Unwind (Veluxe Pearl), Lady Fingers (Matte), Era (Satin), Woodwinked (Veluxe Pearl), Filament (Lustre) and Whirling (Lustre).
It’s one of three X 9 palettes in the MAC Nutcracker Sweet holiday collection (the other two are Cool and Smoky).
The set also comes with…
The 214/213 Dual-Ended Brush
What I mean is that I don’t normally love the shadows in MAC’s holiday palettes. Oftentimes I feel like they aren’t made as well as the shadows in the permanent collection or the shadows in the palettes MAC releases the rest of the year, but the Cool palette blew me away. Its shadows are just as smooth and pigmented as I’ve come to expect from MAC over the years.
The shadows in the Warm palette, however, aren’t. Maybe it’s just me being X-Files about it, but I don’t think so. They aren’t as pigmented as usual, don’t feel as smooth to me, and they kick up lots of powder.
Woodwinked is normally pigmented and easy to blend, but even after applying three layers, I couldn’t get this Woodwinked to look like it usually does. I also ended up with a lot of fallout, which was a bummer because I did my foundation and concealer first.
Among the three X 9 holiday palettes this year — Smoky, Cool and Warm — the Cool palette is my favorite by far, followed by Smoky.
Next time I get the urge to wear Woodwinked, though, which will probably happen, like, I don’t know…five minutes from now, I think I’ll grab my MAC single pan instead.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Chris25 says
Yeah, it looks pinker than the Woodwinked I own. Other than that I like all the shades.
Karen says
Yup, definitely different.
Becky says
That looks very weird compared with my Woodwinked! There’s a huge difference! I think I’ll be skipping this one!
Karen says
Save your tacos for the Cool Palette! ?
Kiss & Make-up says
Yeah, I also notice inconsistencies between MAC singles and palettes. WHich is why I have a ton of MAC singles and not many (big) palettes.
Karen says
The singles are awesome. You can never have enough!
tatiane breda says
Delighted with this palette! commented on instagram, I loved the swatches of it, is really a perfection!
huge beijao
Karen says
Hi Tati,
I think the one on Instgram was the cool toned one? That one’s my fave!
Rachel B says
It’s so funny because I just bought this last night and I fell in love with it right away, I swatched in-store and then played with it when I got home, and the shadows are very pigmented and smooth! I wonder if somehow you got a bad one?? I’m really loving the colors. I want the other two as well!