• Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

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

  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
    • FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
    • Advertising & Media
  • Categories
    • Product Reviews
    • Makeup
    • Skincare & Fragrance
    • Style & Fashion
    • Hair
    • Nails
    • Tips & Tutorials
    • Just for Fun
  • Brands
  • Store

MAC Unsung Heroes: Layin’ Low Paint Pot

October 29th, 2015 by Karen 23 Comments

mac layin low
MAC Layin’ Low Paint Pot, $22

The long-running Unsung Heroes series here on Makeup and Beauty Blog features some of my all-time favorite permanent collection products.

When was the last time you heard somebody flip their lid and rave about MAC Layin’ Low?

Ever…? Have you ever heard it? Because I can’t remember ever hearing somebody rave about MAC Layin’ Low. It really does lay low and keep a low profile. Among the MAC Paint Pots, it just doesn’t get the same kind of love that Soft Ochre and Painterly get and, yes, while they’re also cream eyeshadows, I think Layin’ Low deserves some love of its own, because it’s one of THE BEST base colors for warm browns.

There, I said it! WARM BROWNS. I know I go on and on about how much I like to wear cool browns on my lids (the gray tones create fabulous faux shadows that give the illusion of a deeper crease, which is something I’m always striving for since my crease is pretty shallow), but there’s something about warm orangey browns and reddish browns in the fall and winter. They just feel right, and they go oh, so well with plum, wine, brown and red lips.

Warm and creamy matte beige Layin’ Low is like Soft Brown’s creamy shadow cousin, and if you like warm browns like MAC Saddle, Texture, Swiss Chocolate (and others), it’s an absolute must.

If you’re warm toned like I am with a skin tone around NC20 or up, it’s like friggin’ David Copperfield (i.e. magic). If you’re lighter than NC20, just in case, give it a swatch first before committing, because it can look a little more orange than warm beige on some gals.

mac-layin-low-on-lids
A quick daytime look with Layin’ Low on my lids and MAC Costa Riche Eye Kohl on my lash lines; the lipstick is bareMinerals Lead the Way


I’m a MAC NC42, and Layin’ Low is in my category of everyday staples. For fast looks, I’ll wear it as a standalone shadow, just popping it right on my lids, diffusing it into the crease and smudging Costa Riche on my lash and water lines before adding mascara and a bold plum, wine or berry lip. It lasts all day and doesn’t even need primer!

mac layin low
MAC Layin’ Low as a base (you can see it on my lids and brow bones), with MAC Soft Brown, Saddle and Swiss Chocolate in the crease and MAC Smolder Eye Kohl on my lash lines

It’s also a superstar eyeshadow base for warm orangey brown or reddish brown smoky eyes. I’ll buff it on my lids from lash line to brow bone with a MAC 217, then sweep Soft Brown into the crease, then Saddle or Texture slightly lower into the crease, Swiss Chocolate on my lids and a black liner (usually Smolder) on my lash and water lines.

mac layin low swatch
A swatch of MAC Layin’ Low on my NC42 skin

If you’re one of those gals or guys for whom the MAC Paint Pots look thick and heavy on your lids, try applying a very thin layer of Layin’ Low with a domed eyeshadow brush like the MAC 217. I’ll just do quick, little sweeping motions and make tight circles to buff the layers down as thin as humanly possible, which is something I learned from a MAC makeup artist, and it changed my worldview on the MAC Paint Pots, LOL! Before that I’d always press them into my skin with my fingers, and they’d look heavy and dry on my lids.

I hope you give Layin’ Low a chance one of these days, because I think it’s a totally underrated everyday workhorse. You can find it now for $22 in the MAC permanent line, hoping to change lives one sweep at a time. 🙂

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: 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
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Eyeshadow in Phloof!
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Twig Lipstick
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Creme in Your Coffee Lipstick
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Party Line Lipstick
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Dubonnet Lipstick
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Paramount Lipstick
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Mocha Blush
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Melon Pigment
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Sumptuous Olive Eyeshadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Oh Baby Lipglass
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Mulch Eyeshadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: The Cremestick Liners

MAC Unsung Heroes: Layin’ Low Paint Pot / Originally published October 29th, 2015

There are 23 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Eyes, MAC Makeup, Unsung Heroes

Previous Post: Cute Betsey Johnson Bag Alert!
Next Post: How to Line Your Lips

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kaprice says

    October 29th, 2015 at 4:51 pm

    This is my favorite MAC paint pot to use! I’m so glad I’m not the only one!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 29th, 2015 at 8:56 pm

      Hi Kaprice,

      Yay! It’s such a great workhorse product, right? What eyeshadows do you usually like to wear with it?

      Reply
      • Kaprice says

        October 30th, 2015 at 4:28 pm

        Hey Karen,

        Lately, I’ve been loving it with Rule in the crease, with Hepcat on the lid, and maybe some Sketch in the crease. It’s so pretty!

        Reply
  2. Lulle says

    October 29th, 2015 at 5:01 pm

    I’ve stayed away from MAC Paint Pots because of the dry/heavy look problem, but of course I was applying with my fingers. Thanks for the tip, I’ll look into them again trying that application method!
    Lulle recently posted … Barely purple: Tarte Energy Noir LipSurgence Skintuitive Lip Tint review

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 29th, 2015 at 8:55 pm

      You’re welcome, Lulle! Let me know has it goes. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Jane says

    October 29th, 2015 at 5:08 pm

    I don’t have any MAC paint pots, but I have used and still have some of Bobbi Brown’s cream shadows which I use as a base for when I do use Metallic eyeshadow (which is not too often). I also wear them alone when I don’t want to spend alot of time on my eyes. my two favorites are Shore which is a Pale nude and Mocha which has a bit more pink . I have always used my fingers, but I like the idea of buffing them out more. They are great basics to have in my collection.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 29th, 2015 at 8:53 pm

      Hi Jane,

      I’ve worn Bobbi’s cream shadows too and hers are great! I have a couple; need to bust them out soon. 🙂 Let me know how it goes with the buffing brush action.

      Happy (almost) Friday! I’m so ready for the weekend. Are you doing anything fun?

      Reply
  4. Yessenia says

    October 29th, 2015 at 11:12 pm

    Ive always wanted to pick up a paint pot and this is the color I gravitate toward and on of my favorite youtubers xxsarahnicolexx raves about it too!

    Reply
  5. Carol in a Page says

    October 30th, 2015 at 12:29 am

    The application method you described is exactly the one I use with my beloved Maybelline Color Tattoo in Creamy Beige (which looks very much like MAC Groundwork) and I agree it’s the best way to apply it!
    Carol in a Page recently posted … Monthly Favorites: October 2015

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 30th, 2015 at 8:39 am

      Yeah the buffing makes a difference!

      Reply
  6. LindaLibraLoca says

    October 30th, 2015 at 4:01 am

    Too orange on my skin, as I am NC 15, but you are right, I never ever heard someone rave about it.
    LindaLibraLoca recently posted … Going through phases – Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Concealer + Treatment

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 30th, 2015 at 8:38 am

      Try Painterly or Soft Ochre instead!

      Reply
  7. Kiss & Make-up says

    October 30th, 2015 at 4:07 am

    Yep, there’s no denying it, the MAC Paint Pots still deserve major praise! They make such good bases! They don’t budge at all.
    Kiss & Make-up recently posted … Review | New Le Petit Marseillais soap and shower products fall 2015

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 30th, 2015 at 8:38 am

      So good!

      Reply
  8. Astrild says

    October 30th, 2015 at 5:07 am

    I fell this one is too peachy/orange for my taste on my NC20. But last week I had a makeup lesson at MAC and they use Perky paint pot on me applied in the same way as you describe. The put Swiss Chocolate on top and it was a GORGEOUS combination. It’s on my wishlist since then. I will give another try to layin’ low with this technique to see If I was wrong.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 30th, 2015 at 8:38 am

      I love Perky too, Astrild! I’ll try it with Swiss Chocolate. Did she put Swiss Chocolate on the lid or in the crease?

      Reply
      • Astrild says

        October 30th, 2015 at 9:21 am

        She put it in the outer V and the crease with sweet lust eyeshadow in the lid.

        Reply
  9. Agata says

    October 30th, 2015 at 5:45 am

    I am NW20 so I am not sure it would work for me but this look is gorgeous. So simple, yet so beautiful! And that lip color is TO DIE FOR! And your eyeliner looks so good and perfect!
    Agata recently posted … Makeup Revolution London- Affirmation Ultra Eyeshadow Palette Review

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 30th, 2015 at 8:37 am

      Something like Painterly would probably work better for you. Give that a swatch!

      Reply
  10. MonicaP says

    October 30th, 2015 at 9:21 am

    That’s quite a list!! I’ve literally never heard anyone mention Layin Low as a base. It’s always Painterly or Soft Ochre.

    Monica.
    MonicaP recently posted … Mold and Hold – Absolution Jeggings by Democracy

    Reply
  11. Lauren says

    October 30th, 2015 at 11:43 am

    I found this month’s ago at a CCO! I’m horrible at applying paint pots, so thanks for the tips! You look fab as always. I swear you could wear lime green lipstick and still look freaking stunning!!

    Reply
  12. Tatiana says

    October 30th, 2015 at 12:03 pm

    I love your Unsung Heroes and New To Me posts. They always send me out searching for a great product I might have missed. I like the paint pot in Painterly, even though I sometimes feel like it’s too dark and too pink.

    Reply
  13. Erica says

    October 31st, 2015 at 6:45 pm

    I guess it’s a matter of perspective lol. I’m a medium dark girl and Layin Low and Grounwork paint pots are my usual go to base shadows for neutral looks. Layin Low was LE before Mac came to its senses & made it a permanent shade. Glad it’s working for you Karen!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

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

Primary Sidebar

About Makeup and Beauty Blog

Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog
Hi there! I’m Karen, your friendly neighborhood beauty addict, and I’m a Bay Area girl who hoards brown eyeshadow and covets coral lipstick. Every morning, I wake up and say, “I’m going to do something other than a smoky eye today.” Then…I end up doing a smoky eye anyway (most days). When I’m not putting on makeup, taking pictures of makeup or writing about makeup, you’ll find me hanging out with my hubby (“El Hub”), my almost-three-year-old daughter (Connor Claire) and my kitty supermodel cat (Tabs).

Featured Posts

Weird Things I Like to Do

brows fill out beforehand

Before Your Pluck or Wax Your Brows, You Must Do This

current bare skin status

What’s One Thing That Drastically Changed Your Skin for the Better?

red brown smokey eyes tutorial top pic 2

A Glamorously Grungy Makeup Tutorial: Smoky Reddish Brown Eyes and Vampy Matte Lips [MODERATE SKILL LEVEL]

rainy day makeup tutorial 2

A Rainy Day Minimalist Makeup Tutorial: Cheerful Pink Cheeks, Rosy Lips and Doe Eyes

Recent Posts

cats in charge

Saturday Surfing, February 23, 2019

elf cosmetics

Bay Area Beauty Love: E.L.F.

mac powder kiss new shades february 2019

Eight New Shades of MAC Powder Kiss Moisture Matte Lipstick Join the MAC Permanent Line

makeup backups

Buying Beauty Backups: Do I Really Need to Have Extras Sitting Around?

Bay Area Beauty Love: H2O+ Beauty

Shop the Store

Social

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2019 Makeup and Beauty Blog. Get in touch.