





I received an email from a reader asking about the different finishes of MAC eyeshadows, so I thought I should write a post! Please keep in mind, like all things written in my blog, these are my opinions… Something I don’t like might be something you’d love and vice versa.

Let’s get started!







FROST

Frost finish eyeshadows have small shimmer particles that create a shining iridescent appearance. They can range from very metallic to minimally shiny. While frost finish eyeshadows are extremely popular, they can highlight flaws such as creases or wrinkles. They are shimmery, but not glittery. Overall I am a big fan of MAC’s Frosts!

(Pictured: Satin Taupe)







LUSTRE

Lustre finish eyeshadows are the outcasts… ask any MAC die hard what to avoid and they will probably tell you Lustre eyeshadows. Typically speaking they have a very dry but shimmery texture with chunky glitter and lots of fall out.

(Pictured: Greensmoke)







MATTE







Matte eyeshadows are those without any shimmer/sheen/glitter. They have flat color with varying degrees of opacity. MAC’s Mattes are known for their finicky nature. Most of the permanent Matte eyeshadows are good qualilty while a majority of the limited edition ones released are dry and not worth purchasing.

(Pictured: Omega)

MATTE²







Pronounced Matte squared — most people either love em or hate em. They are like regular Matte eyeshadows in that they have zero shimmer/sheen/glitter but they have a buttery texture with amazing payoff. The one downside is that I find them more difficult to blend.

(Pictured: Handwritten)







SATIN

MAC’s Satin eyeshadows vary in their finish. Some appear completely matte (Brun) while a few are super frosty (Shroom). The majority have a very subtle sheen or demi-matte appearance. Overall I like Satin finish eyeshadows a lot because they are in that happy middle ground — not too matte, not too frosty.

(Pictured: Era)







VELUXE

Veluxe is a finish unique to MAC. It applies matte but with a smoother less powdery appearance. They aren’t as pigmented as Matte eyeshadows… They were being discontinued earlier this year, but MAC brought them back. I’m not too sure how long they will be around.

(Pictured: Kid)

VELUXE PEARL

My favorite finish! Veluxe Pearls are like a Frost but with a more metallic, pearly shimmer. They are soooooo buttery and pigmented. As with any finish there are just a few that aren’t completely up to par, but overall I think they are beautiful and worth getting your hands on!

(Pictured: Woodwinked)







VELVET

Most Velvets appear matte or demi-matte — some with a hint of sparkle (Vanilla, Texture) and others with glitter that doesn’t translate to the eye (Beauty Marked, Mulch). I didn’t realize how many I own and love until I wrote this post! A few have a reputation of being patchy when applied, but I would repurchase all listed below, aside from Beauty Marked.

(Pictured: Smut)

Below are all of MAC’s permanent eyeshadows categorized below by finish… please let me know if I’ve left any out!

(*) denotes eyeshadows that I either currently own or have owned in the past and would be able to go into detail regarding their performance. Leave a comment below with any questions.

FROST

Amber Lights*

Bronze*

Cranberry*

Crystal

Electra

Goldmine

Jest*

Motif

Nylon*

Ricepaper*

Sable*

Satin Taupe*

Swish

Tilt*

Vex*

White Frost

Pink Freeze

Patina*

Humid*

Creme de Violet

Parfait Amour*

Steamy*

Paradisco

Seedy Pearl

Nocturnelle*

Phloof

Naked Lunch*

Deep Truth

Lucky Green*

LUSTRE

Greensmoke*

Retrospeck*

Honesty*

Mythology

Forgery

Sweet Lust

Swimming

Aquadisiac

Pink Venus

Idol Eyes

Filament

Gleam

Honey Lust

Tempting*

MATTE

Blackberry

Chrome Yellow

Corduroy

Espresso*

Malt*

Nehru

Omega*

Quarry

Rule

Saddle*

Swiss Chocolate*

Wedge*

Yogurt

Carbon*

Embark*

Bamboo

Charcoal Brown

Orange

Soft Brown*

Shadowy Lady

Plumage*

Gesso*

Free To Be

Passionate

MATTE2

Blanc Type*

Brown Script

Typographic

Handwritten*

Fig 1*

Copperplate*

SATIN

Arena

Brule*

Brun*

Concrete

Coquette

Cork*

Era*

Folie

Girlie

Haux

Mylar*

Mystery

Orb

Print*

Scene

Shale*

Club*

Shroom*

Soba*

Sushi Flower

Electric Eel*

Grain

VELUXE

Kid*

Brown Down*

Samoa Silk*

VELUXE PEARL

Crystal Avalanche*

Da Bling

Expensive Pink*

Plum Dressing*

Star Violet*

All That Glitters*

Dazzlelight*

Gorgeous Gold*

Sumptuous Olive*

Freshwater*

Moon’s Reflection

Blue Calm

Stars ‘N’ Rockets*

Satellite Dreams*

Beautiful Iris*

Woodwinked*

Coppering*

Antiqued*

Twinks*

Silver Ring

Knight Divine*

VELVET

Bitter

Contrast*

Sketch*

Vanilla*

Vapour

Trax*

Mulch*

Black Tied

Beauty Marked*

Smut*

Texture*

Whew, that was a long post! Hope it was helpful!

What is your favorite finish?