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MAC Unsung Heroes: All That Glitters Eyeshadow Is Not Just Another Gold

by 55 Comments

There’s an old saying that goes, “all that glitters is not gold.” And it’s true, because sometimes All That Glitters is more like a shimmery golden beige. 🙂

I’m totally kicking myself for not getting to know MAC All That Glitters eyeshadow ($14.50) sooner. It’s been a member of the MAC permanent posse for years but just moseyed into my life last week.

A real team player

Ladies, this powder shadow is the BOMB DOT COM! Like a purse that goes with everything, it’s super flexible. I’ve been trying to stump it for a week, wearing it with other products in brown, beige, peach, taupe, bronze, pink and gold, but I have yet to find a color All That Glitters doesn’t like.

Able to work alone

Even though it’s not afraid of complicated eye looks with lots of steps and colors, it still looks great on its own. For a fast and fresh work-friendly look, I’ve been using it as a wash on the lid with a wee bit of black eyeliner (see it in action here).

The MAC Unsung Heroes series highlights some of my favorite tried-and-true products from the MAC makeup line, products like…

All That Glitters applies easily, too (easy like Sunday morning), with a smooth texture that blends like a charm. It melts into other colors almost like it was made to mingle, and the energy it saves has been super handy since I haven’t been getting enough sleep.

MAC All That Glitters: Try it with any of these colors…

Brown

Beige

Taupe

Gold

Peach

Bronze


All That Glitters on NC35 skin

Have you met All That Glitters?

If you have, how did it go, and what did you wear it with? 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Damn Karen you are reading my mind!!
    Just yesterday I was searching all over the net to find a swatch of this! Will definitely get it, I’m sure I’ll adore it just as I adore Patina!
    Not having MAC around it’s always difficult to choose from all that make up, so when I finally get to order, or go in a country where they have it i always give up or buy something that’s just ok, but not amazing!

    Reply

  2. Hey Karen! This eyeshadow is my all time favorite from MAC because of the versatility! My current favorite look is to wear this as a wash over my whole lid, with Chanel Ombre Essentiel Eyeshadow in Tigre on the outer third of my eye and into my crease, with MAC Cork eyeshadow to darken my crease and my lashline up a bit. It’s the PERFECT gentle, subtle smokey eye look for daytime, paired with MAC Big Baby lipgloss.. hot hot hot!

    Reply

    • Hi Elaine,

      Ooh, ooh, ooh! I have all those colors… can’t wait to try this look (maybe tonight!).

      Hope you had a nice Friday! What are your plans for the weekend?

      Reply

      • I get to have a super relaxing weekend! I’m done exams and get to sleep in, plus I have a friend’s birthday this weekend. No work and all fun! I’m quite excited 🙂 What are you up to this weekend?

        Reply

        • That sounds like fun. 🙂 Congrats on finishing your exams, btw! How do you think you did?

          Tomorrow I’m going to this seminar called WordCamp. It’s basically boot camp for WordPress bloggers. 🙂 On Sunday I’ll probably just putter around the house… totally boring, I know, but I need to just veg!

          Reply

  3. Pretty, maybe that will be my next Back-to-MAC freebie!

    I just ordered Nymphette! I’m psyched. I also ordered Dior’s Crush Glow. I went to the counter at Macy’s (gift cards to burn) and the girl was like, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I know it’s Friday afternoon, but seriously?
    .-= Amber’s last blog post… Surrounded by love =-.

    Reply

  7. All That Glitters is one of my all time favorite MAC shadows! You are so right, it’s extremely versatile and goes on like a dream!

    Reply

  9. I would be lost without this eyeshadow! I think I wore this on my lid, with sketch on my outer v, & texture in my crease almost everyday for a month lmao. I was so in love with the combo. =)

    Hi Karen! This is my 1st time commenting on ur blog, though I’ve been reading dilligently for a few months now. I love ur articles!

    Reply

  10. I love this shadow too! I wear it with haux in the crease and then a bronze eyeliner just about everday! It’s so gorgeous and flattering–my eyes are hazel but it makes them look so green!

    Reply

  12. I must have this. Stat! Its pretty and I have a tendency to go for bronzey browns. This is going to be great with a purple shadow too, I think. Maybe Nocturnelle or Hepcat. <3

    Reply

  13. Interesting color. Sorta looks like Naked Lunch does on my pale skin and that is my go-to color these days. Would love a satin version. There are days I’m just not feeling the frost.

    Reply

  14. Hi Karen, would this shade be similiar to Stila Kitten? I bought kitten after hearing all the hype but I’m so not impressed with it. I love the idea of the color but the fact that I end up with glitter all over my face does not work for me.

    Reply

  15. I have this shadow – a friend gave it to me. However, I go back and forth on whether I like it or not. Sometimes I like it, but sometimes it seems to pull orange on me (not so much now that I have stopped wearing eye shadow primer). I’ll have to try it with one of the taupe colors you mentioned above.

    Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  16. I’ve been really interested in this shade because it seemed to remind me of Urban Decay’s “Sellout” shadow which is one of my favorite eyeshadows. I think All That Glitters is a tad darker but it should work the same. Have you had any experience with Sellout?

    I’m adding this to my wishlist along with Satin Taupe 😀 I don’t own any MAC yet =O >.<

    Reply

  17. I’m a former mac artist and this is everyone’s fav eyeshadow at work! we use it with everything! looks so pretty for bridal makeup and the combos are endless!

    my fav include all that glitters all over the lid, kid in the crease, cranberry in the outer third and sketch along the lash line

    also looks AMAZING with club and motif.

    this is my go to shadow for every day pretty!

    Reply

  19. Ever since you did that smokey eye with smog and all that glitters – i’ve been doing that look the rest of the week just altering the lid color but i’ve used all that glitters as my highlighter. I love it – it’s one of those colors that I had for so long that I sadly neglected it. Thanks for re-introducing me to an old friend. I need to come to you before I buy new shadows because I keep thinking I need more. Yes, I’m pretty sure I’ve got a lot of hidden gems I need to revisit. Like that Chanel single shadow in bamboo in the bottom of my makeup case that’s just dying to come up to bat!

    Reply

    • PS – I tried Sumptous Olive on the lid/lined with UD Stash – thurs and today I used Satin Taupe – lined with graphblack tecknakohl – ATG used as highlighter for both those looks. It’s like magic!

      Reply

  21. I do not wear All that Glitters often, but just this week I had it on the lid as a quick wash with a liner because I woke up almost one hour too late…

    Reply

  25. this is the first e/s i got from mac! and i love it!!!! lmao (my friend is next to me laughing about me commenting ^-^ but i had to) it goes great with everything else i have! cant wait for my mac collection to grow 🙂 so far loving this e/s

    Reply

    • Hi Nathalie,

      I still remember my very first shadows from MAC… they were Print and Brule. They’re so old that they have the old school screw-on caps, yikes!

      What colors are you thinking of getting next? Here are a few to consider: Soft Brown, Sable, Club, Satin Taupe, Woodwinked, Mulch and Soba. Most of these are neutrals, but you’ll be able to wear ’em with everything.

      Reply

  26. One of my go -to colours ! I love it and whenever I travel its the one that often makes the trek with me. 🙂

    Reply

    • Hi Reese,

      I seriously can’t believe that I didn’t pick this up years ago. I love this color!

      What do you like to wear it with?

      Reply

  29. oh maaaan, i have a huge SOFT SPOT for all that glitters! it was my first MAC eyeshadow, and i still use it whenever i can! i just love it, SO MUCH. definitely my go-to eyeshadow. i love how it’s so versatile, and just so simple at the same time.
    usually, i just wear it on my lid and have either MAC technakohl in uniform or UD 24/7 in bourbon as my liner… and then i’m off!

    Reply

  30. “The BOMB DOT COM” – lol!!!!
    I love this series. It helps so much to see the recommendations you add to it. Thank you!!!

    Reply

  31. Thanks, I too am just starting my MAC eyeshadow collection. What colours would you recommend for dark brown hair, brown eyes and a fair complexion? Thanks, love your blog-I’ve learned so much!

    Reply

  32. I bought this eyeshadow after reading your article and really love it. I was a little worried that it would be too ‘glittery’ but it is not. I have never bought a veluxe pearl eyeshadow from MAC, I usually stick to the satin ones. This shadow goes on so creamy and lovely and I found that it lasted all day at work without creasing which really surprised me! I usually crease somewhat- even with paint pot as a primer. The color is so pretty!!! I swapped my Arena shadow for All That Glitters and am much happier with it. Thanks for you wonderful posts and keep them coming.

    Reply

  33. All hail ALL THAT GLITTERS..
    My fav is a graduated look incorporating naked lunch, all that glitters, woodwinked then antiqued, I highlight my brow with naked pigment, swipe my 224 over everything a couple times and VIOLA!! The perfect day to night look, for the evening I simply use my 219 to add some black tied or carbon to the outer corner “V” and blend to the crease line my waterline and off I go!
    I know this sounds like alot of steps, but seriously give it a shot, if you do not have antiqued (go buy it!! lol) then I have used bronze, mulch or even satin taupe:
    In the inner corner 1/4 of the lid naked lunch blend up toward the inner brow bone, next 1/4 swipe all that glitters and up towards the brow bone, next 1/4 swipe woodwinked and up toward the brow bone, the last 1/4 swipe the antiqued ( or other shade suggested) and you can shape this how you like to accentuate your eye, for these colors I use the 217, then I grab my 242 and naked pigment for my browbone, then grab my 224 and give it 3-4 “window washer” swipes to ensure there are no harsh lines.
    On the lowers I bring the naked lunch about 1/2 way across then finish with my end color, in my case antiqued.
    I swear this looks like these colors appear seamless and it honestly takes just a few mins for both eyes!!
    HAPPY FRIDAY!

    Reply

  34. Hey Karen,

    You posted this a long time ago, but I wanted to chime in.
    Not only did you give suggestions for good pairings for Al That Glitters,
    you grouped your recommendations into colour families!
    Thank you!

    This is helpful and I’ve bookmarked this page.

    🙂

    Reply

  35. *Sigh* it seems this shade was not made for me 🙁 . When I first got woodwinked I hated it since it pulled so orange and the only way I would wear it was with a cool brown in the crease, then I forgot about it for a while. Now it’s in my top 5, I’ve already hit pan. I guess i just needed to open my mind and try some new techniques. I tried to do this with my forgotten ATG e/s, but no dice. It doesn’t like me, and I don’t like it either. Mutual hate 😛

    Reply

  36. All that glitters looks great on camera and on pictures but I don’t like it when you look up close 🙁 I actually think it does not go on creamy or smooth it doesn’t look opaque or even up close 🙁 and I tried anything

    Reply

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