Oh, the buckets of glittery tears I’d shed if MAC ever discontinued Soft Brown Matte Eyeshadow ($14.50).
Don’t be fooled by how uninspiring it looks in the pan. Soft Brown’s like the sun and the rain, and it makes my life a foolish game. Okay, well, that may be going a little too far, but I do think I could probably wear it every day for the rest of my life (no joke).
Because it’s a color I reach for so often, I think of Soft Brown as an “anchor” shade — like the glue that holds many of my eye looks together.
Worn in the crease, Soft Brown’s warm orangey brown gives depth and dimension to smokey looks. In a matte finish, I think it also ups the contrast of any shimmery shades I wear with it in blue, green, peach, pink — you name it.
A few shots of Soft Brown in action…
With a shimmery green shadow in the Bobbi Brown Ivy League Look
With a teal eyeshadow in the Freida Pinto SAG look
With browns and beiges in this office-inspired makeup look using colors from the MAC Originals collection
But what I love about it most is how well it works on such a wide range of skin tones from light to dark.
Soft Brown Fun Fact: Fan of the show, Mad Men (I am!)? Soft Brown is one of the key shades MAC makeup artists use on characters Joan Holloway (the stunning redhead) and Betty Draper (a beautiful blonde).
Joan Holloway, played by actress Christina Hendricks
Elizabeth “Betty” Draper, played by actress January Jones
I’m sure I could live without this MAC Unsung Hero, but would I want to?? 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. The MAC Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorite products from MAC’s permanent collection…
- MAC Unsung Hero: Woodwinked Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Powersurge Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: All That Glitters Eyeshadow Is Not Just Another Gold
- MAC Unsung Heroes: The Technakohl Liners
- MAC Unsung Hero: Groundwork Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Hero: Nymphette Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Hero: Blacktrack Fluidline
- MAC Unsung Hero: Gorgeous Gold Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Patina Eyeshadow
Michelle says
May 27th, 2010 at 9:16 amIt is a great go-to shade. I use it with a 224 brush in the crease to blend out everything!
Karen says
May 27th, 2010 at 8:50 pmIt’s a minor miracle in the crease, isn’t it? LOVE Soft Brown!
Lindsay says
May 27th, 2010 at 9:25 amI use this shade with just about everything. I love it’s blendability. Thanks for the great review, as always!
.-= Lindsay’s last blog post… Wet N Wild Lust FOTD =-.
Karen says
May 27th, 2010 at 8:49 pmMe too. It just melts into the skin!
Arianne says
May 27th, 2010 at 9:42 amI wholeheartedly agree. Soft Brown is a great anchor shade, for both bold and neutral looks.
.-= Arianne’s last blog post… Getting My Glow On Thanks to Genuine Health! =-.
Karen says
May 27th, 2010 at 8:49 pmYay for Soft Brown!
Karen B says
May 27th, 2010 at 9:49 amYes, I remember it being featured on Joan in Mad Men. I do have Kid and Cork eyeshadow, how different is Soft Brown from those two?
.-= Karen B’s last blog post… Shopaholic =-.
Karen says
May 27th, 2010 at 8:49 pmSoft Brown is warmer and has more peach/orange in it.
Karen B says
May 28th, 2010 at 6:29 amHmm, don’t know if it’ll play nicely with my colouring. Will try on my next visit to the store 😉
.-= Karen B’s last blog post… Shopaholic =-.
Karen says
May 29th, 2010 at 11:30 amHmm, maybe check out Wedge and Soba. Those might look better on you!
Tiffany says
May 27th, 2010 at 10:04 amI need a shade like this! I love me some neutral eyeshadows!
Karen says
May 27th, 2010 at 8:48 pmI can’t believe you don’t have Soft Brown. You need it in your life, ASAP.
Tiffany says
May 28th, 2010 at 5:38 amI feel so overwhelmed looking through their huge rack o’ eyeshadows. and then I usually pick a few shades, look at the names and realize all the colors I’m drawn to I already own, and then I give up. LOL!
Karen says
May 29th, 2010 at 11:32 amOh, I totally get that. I have to go in with a LIST, otherwise I get too overstimulated.
What neutrals do you have? These are a few of my go-tos:
Shroom
Soba
Saddle
Soft Brown
Cork
Brule
Ricepaper
Arena
All That Glitters
Brownscript
I’m sure there are a few more but I can’t think of ’em right now, oy!
Liza says
May 27th, 2010 at 10:04 amHey hey, I’m looking for a brown eyeshadow hero of my own. What do you think would be a cool-toned but still matte counterpart to this?
Karen says
May 27th, 2010 at 8:48 pmHi Liza,
Check out Wedge, Omega or Charcoal Brown.
Chibu74 says
May 27th, 2010 at 10:36 amI love ur pic in Black…ur skin looks so glowy….very pretty
Karen says
May 27th, 2010 at 10:45 amThanks Chibu! 🙂 How’s your day going? We’re almost to Friday, wee!
Michelle (LipstickRules) says
May 27th, 2010 at 10:57 amI bought this last year because of you! I love it to death as well.
.-= Michelle (LipstickRules)’s last blog post… To Review or Not to Review – that is the Question =-.
Karen says
May 27th, 2010 at 8:41 pmYay! I’m so glad you like it and love it.
Vet says
May 27th, 2010 at 11:40 amThanks for posting this Karen, I’ve been looking for a soft brown color for everyday (work day) look. I’ll have to check it out!
Tania says
May 27th, 2010 at 12:04 pmKaren,
This is my fav Unsung Hero post thus far. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this color!!! My eyes are dark brown and this just oomph’s them up a bit. I like it on top of Painterly Paint Pot and it’s great if you’ve gone overboard with eyeshadow. My new fav way to wear it is with the blue eyeshadow from the Dame Edna eyeshadow palette. Great post!! Happy Thursday!!!
-Tania
Karen says
May 27th, 2010 at 8:41 pmSounds like a fabulous combo — soft Brown looks so great with blues!
Happy Thursday to you, too. 🙂
Lydia W says
May 27th, 2010 at 12:18 pmmmm, looks fab 🙂
tempted to grab some of this next time I’m in town, but I’m kinda pale (NW15) and wondering if it might look a bit too orange?
help! x
Karen says
May 27th, 2010 at 8:40 pmHi Lydia,
Maybe look into more golden or beige-y browns like Soba, Cork, Era or Omega.
Holly G says
May 27th, 2010 at 1:09 pmI’m exceedingly pale and a MAC makeup artist advised me to use it on my wedding day, in conjunction with cork satin and a pinkish shade I can’t remember the name of, and it looked amazing!!! Now it’s one of my everyday staples! 🙂
Karen says
May 27th, 2010 at 8:34 pmOh, your look sounds beautiful.
Cork is another one of my faves, actually! Have you tried Soba? If you like Cork, you might like Soba, too.
Nina says
May 27th, 2010 at 1:31 pmI believe I need this eyeshadow in my life. Immediately! 😀
Karen says
May 27th, 2010 at 8:34 pmYes you do! You can wear it with all the MAC neutral greats: All That Glitters, Arena, Naked Lunch, Woodwinked, Sable, Shroom, Ricepaper…
JamieJamez says
May 27th, 2010 at 1:57 pmUgh!, I went to a sneak peek of Mac’s to the beach collection on the 18th and the only thing I really wanted was sand & sun E/S and after your review knew the color payoff wasn’t worth it but still wanted to see it for myself. The MUA did a quick eye demo with rubenesque paint pot as my base and over all lid with sand & sun and soft brown in my crease. The look was so pretty. I got the paint pot and sand & sun but left soft brown coz I thought is was an easy dupeable color, now I’m not so sure. =(
Karen says
May 27th, 2010 at 8:33 pmHmmm. I’m always down for a drugstore alternative, but I have to say I still haven’t found anything quite like Soft Brown.
Do you do smokey eyes often? It looks really great blended out in the crease.
JamieJamez says
May 28th, 2010 at 7:12 amI really don’t do smokey eyes often but that’s only coz I can never get the look right. No matter how many brushes (mac, sephora, ulta, drug store), makeup and tutorials I watch and read it just never looks good.
Karen says
May 28th, 2010 at 9:56 amOkay, I have two pretty easy smokey eye tutorials for you to try. The first one’s a little dramatic because I did it for Halloween a couple years ago, but you can always tone it down with more subtle colors:
MAC Smokey Eye Tutorial
This one’s waaay easy, and suitable for day:
Smokey Eyes 101
Catherine says
May 27th, 2010 at 2:22 pmKaren, I have a whole list of MAC neutrals I want now because of you. =P
.-= Catherine’s last blog post… MAC To The Beach Marine Life High-Light Powder pt. 1 =-.
Karen says
May 27th, 2010 at 8:31 pmTrust me, you’ll be so happy when you finally get them in your stash. You’ll be able to get a lot of use out ’em.
How are you feeling? I hope you aren’t sick anymore!
Christina says
May 27th, 2010 at 2:34 pmwow…soft brown looks nice…I love, love love the third look, with the orange/reddish lip…
P.s: totally off-topic BUT your eyebrows look killer, I wish mine were in such great shape 🙂
Karen says
May 27th, 2010 at 8:31 pmLOL, you should’ve seen them before I started plucking and filling them in when I was in college. They were a hot mess!
Maggie says
May 27th, 2010 at 3:03 pmI’ve been wanting Soft Brown for the longest time…and Naked Lunch too! I really need to go out and by them now. Seriously.
.-= Maggie’s last blog post… Let’s Rejoice! It’s a Mini CVS Haul =-.
Karen says
May 27th, 2010 at 8:30 pmI just picked up Naked Lunch recently… it looks faboo with Soft Brown.
scarlettholly says
May 27th, 2010 at 3:50 pmI havent tried this one yet. I can feel a haul of mac permanent shades coming up!!
.-= scarlettholly’s last blog post… Urban Decay Stardust Shadows: A Glittery Feast! =-.
Karen says
May 27th, 2010 at 8:29 pmYeaaaah!! I feel one coming on too… I need more purples in my life to wear with Soft Brown.
rachel says
May 27th, 2010 at 4:07 pmbest. eyeshadow. EVER.
.-= rachel’s last blog post… Project 10 Pan – PRODUCT THE FIRST =-.
Karen says
May 27th, 2010 at 8:28 pmNo kidding! It always comes with me on vacation.
Beauty Is Diverse says
May 27th, 2010 at 5:58 pmThis shade looks really good.
.-= Beauty Is Diverse’s last blog post… Fashion Business: Victor Dzenk S/S 2011 =-.
Karen says
May 29th, 2010 at 11:32 amIt’s really great! Try it sometime.
Ewa Linsey says
May 28th, 2010 at 12:25 pmKaren, You are so persuasive. I am totally sold on that shade. I LOVE how you look in that green/ brown smokey eye: so beautifull and classy. My unsung hero is more taupe: I really like Taupe Satin by MAC. Ewa@LoveSmokeyEyes
Karen says
May 29th, 2010 at 11:33 amThat’s a beautiful shade! I know many ladies that can’t live without it.
Vonvon says
May 28th, 2010 at 6:39 pmSoft Brown has some red in it, no?
My neutrals are usually from the champagne shade family. wonder if this brown would make my eyes look like I’ve rubbing my eyes…..as my eyes are quite puffy.
.-= Vonvon’s last blog post… Photos: MAC To The Beach – Look, Outfit & Tote! =-.
Karen says
May 29th, 2010 at 11:33 amHi Vonvon,
Hmm… I’d say it’s more orange than red.
Anne says
July 26th, 2010 at 9:19 amdear karen,
you totally made my day (which has been an too-much-work&no-sunshine-only-rain monday so far). i have been forever looking for a neutral shade every day eye shadow & i wanted it to a mac one 😉 i’m more of a blush & lipgloss kinda girl, but this shade looks simply perfect.
thanks again, have a sparkling week & greetings from a summer-rainy germany,
anne
Karen says
July 26th, 2010 at 9:23 amHi Anne,
So glad to hear that you ind this helpful! If you’re a makeup minimalist, you might also want to check out MAC Soba and MAC Woodwinked eyeshadows, too. 🙂
Savannah says
November 19th, 2012 at 4:31 pmI’m definitely wanting some new shades for my collection, (not to say that I don’t have enough, I have three quads, and one 15 palette and they’re all almost full :S) I just want some new things, and some shades turned out to be duds or are too colorful and I can’t wear them everyday. I’m thinking of soft brown, espresso, grain, rice paper and brule? To spice things up 🙂
Arlene says
March 5th, 2013 at 12:55 pmIs there any dupes for soft brown? It’s not sold at mac in Ireland and was wondering wud harmony blush be similar
Mz Nanee says
April 9th, 2013 at 11:27 pmhi Karen…
I love natural colour..!!
my skin is NC40…can u suggest which colour of eyeshadow for my skin tone?