Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup

A beauty blog blooming with fresh makeup reviews, swatches and beauty tips from your friendly neighborhood beauty addict

MAC Unsung Hero: Groundwork Paint Pot

by 30 Comments

The beginning of my relationship with MAC Groundwork Paint Pot ($16.50) was white hot and heavy. Oh, that creamy taupe and gorgeous matte finish… I must have worn it every day for weeks!

But then like most relationships, things cooled, and we started spending more and more time apart (it happens).

When we recently bumped into each other one rainy afternoon, I was rifling through a drawer of makeup at the time.

Hello, good looking. 🙂

And the spark was still there.

At first glance, Groundwork doesn’t look like much, but it’s what I like to call a “work horse” shade, the kind of color I’ll wear day after day.

As an added bonus, lovelies with medium-to-dark skin (those upon which shimmery beige Bare Study and matte beige Painterly look ashy, for example) might try using it as an eyeshadow base, where a thin layer applied to lids with a finger can really boost wear time.

And lighter-skinned cuties could try contrasting Groundwork’s matte finish with shimmery shadows in purple, pink or taupe.

I think it looks incredible popped in the crease… For an easy eye look, I’ll apply and work Groundwork onto my lids and into the crease with a finger, patting and blending a shimmery shadow on the lid with a flat eyeshadow brush (the MAC 239 comes to mind).

Add some eyeliner and mascara, et voila — all done!

Have you met MAC Groundwork? How did things go?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The MAC Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorite products from MAC’s permanent collection

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Agreed. I was so happy to find this at the Company Store for $10. I have been using this baby on a daily basis. I think all my other paint pots and creaseless shadows are jealous!

    Reply

  4. Hm, I fear that if I use this as a base everyday, then it would accentuate my dark lids. Maybe as a smokey eye base?? I love these matte paint pot’s from MAC, they are so versatile!

    Reply

  9. Love it! I actually bought this, but I never looked at the name, and now I realize I actually have it. I’m pale, so it looks really good up to a little above the crease, with peach shimmer on top and bronze gel eyeliner. Then, I use an angled eyeliner brush, swirl it around and paint a thin, thin like along the bottom lash line and on the corners of my eyes.

    Reply

  10. I’ve never used a MAC Paintpot, but am intrigued by the pictures! I don’t wear eyeshadow that often so really don’t feel the need to purchase a shadow base…but I like the looks of this as an eyeshadow on its own.

    Reply

  11. I’ll have to try this out in stores with my skin colour – I’ve been looking for something like this though! Does it stay well? Some cream shadows tend to crease, so I was wondering what this one is like, whether on its own or with a shadow on top.

    Reply

  14. groundwork has been my favorite paint pot for at least a year…i love using it as a base or you can blend in a little past your crease and add a nude shimmery shadow to the lids for a super quick contoured eye!

    Reply

  20. I found Bare Study and Painterly to be a bit too beige on my lids. Ive been using Constructivist a lot – I like that it gives some depth to the eyeshadow colors without really changing it. I can also use it by itself to just to make my eyes more lively on a sleepy weekend day.

    Groundwork and I have not met … but she seems very promising. Id LOVE to meet her. Soon. 😛

    Reply

  21. i haven’t met groundwork yet. i’ve admired him from afar. i’ve been secretly a little jealous when i’ve seen him with other women. i’ve googled him and looked at pics of him online. i think it’s time for me to give up my stalker tendencies and work up the courage to introduce myself. i just might fall in love.
    .-= Sara’s last blog post… How much is your face worth? (Not as much as A.Rod.) =-.

    Reply

  22. I think my sis was the first to comment on this, appropriate enough since she’s the one that got me into Groundwork! I was soooo fixed on Too Faced Shadow Insurance as a base. Tried to use Rubenesque as a base a couple times but didn’t work, I think it was just dried out, so at that point I gave up on pp as a base. Then my sis showed me Groundwork….love! Especially for tan and darker skin tones, Groundwork makes your entire lid all nice and even. Love the matte finish. Lay down the Groundwork!

    Reply

  23. I met Groundwork by accident. I was in Macy’s around the holidays buying the Devil May Dare palette when the MUA suggested it as a base that would match my NC45 complexion. I don’t use it everyday but when I do I love that it does not alter the color of the shadows I use with it:)

    Reply

  25. My favorite thing is to use paint pot Quite Natural to fill in brows. It is amazing and natural looking and is waterproof…its like eyeshadow and brow pencil had a gorgeous baby called paint pot!!!

    Reply

  26. I’m light olive toned. Painterly is just too pink for me (sorry to say) so I bought Soft Ocher, which I like but it’s sort of light… well…

    THEN I discovered Groundwork – omg – it’s purrrrfect for me, almost invisible for an easy go to daytime work look. Add some depth into the crease and some liner (and lashes if I’m feelin’ frisky) for an easy transition into Happy Hour – WOOHOO

    MACs Groundwork ROCKS!

    Reply

  27. Yes like you an bit of love affair with this.. Groundwork for me personally is great because you can achieve a natural look in no time. What really great is how you can create texture and depth using other eye shadow and as for pigment on top for a really dramatic look.. i’m lovin it!!!!

    Reply

  28. This is probably my single most loved and used makeup product. I actually purchased it after seeing Lisa Eldridge using it in a video. It’s been a hot and heavy love affair ever since. It’s the only thing that stands up to my oily lids. Absolutely wonderful product.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badge

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Copyright © 2021 Makeup and Beauty Blog. Get in touch.