MAC Holiday '09: Magic, Mirth and Mischief Eye Palettes Review and Swatches

I was able to play with the colors of the MAC Holiday lip, face and eye palettes, and I am loving them, especially the eyeshadows. I've been watching out for MAC Holiday collections since 2005, and I'd thought that the quality of the palettes was not as good as those shadows from the regular line. However, upon swatching these new eyeshadow palettes, I was pleasantly surprised at how pigmented they applied on the skin, even without a base. Another thing I liked was that the colors in the palettes this season are more coordinated with each other than in the past holiday collections, meaning they complement each other more, and there are a lot more interesting and pretty shades. Here are some swatches and my thoughts on these.



6 Devil May Care Eyeshadows

The shadows in this palette are very pretty, very neutral and great for everyday application, but this is the palette I am least interested in because I feel that I have a lot of similar shades in my stash. Nonetheless, for the average makeup user, this would be a very versatile and useful palette.

Dare Ya! is light frosty peachy pink that would make for a good lid color. Oh My Darling is a pale frosty cream that looks like your average low sheen highlighter. It is a satin finish and would work great to balance very shimmery lid or crease colors. I don't see too many satin highlighters so this may be a keeper. Sorcery is blackened burgundy that is one of the prettiest colors in the palette for me. Make it THE prettiest one for me. Prankster is a mid-tone frosted olive that would be a good lid color, but this really didn't do anything for me. Gold Tease is a frosty mid-tone gold that works great with the other colors in this palette. Lastly, Devilishly Dark is a rich brown with gold pearl that reminds me of the dark brown with gold pearl called Smoking in the Smoking Eyes quad (Smoke Signals collection).



6 Sorceress Eye Shadows

Sorceress is another pretty palette. I like Magnetized, a light frosted lavender that would work great as a lid or inner lid color. It applies very silky, typical Veluxe Pearl finish. Altered State is a deep frosted blue purple that would look amazing as a crease color or even a liner. White Rabbit is as frosted as Oh My Darling is low sheen. White Rabbit would be good to highlight the inner corners of the eyes. Edge of Dark is a pretty charcoal with silver pearl that would be great to smokify the peepers. Hold My Gaze is a mid-tone cool green grey, and Hypnotizing is a frosted grey mauve that would work to blend gradient colors together and as a crease color.

(See more swatches and the rest of the review after the jump)






Smoke and Mirrors is another palette that has shades that are similar to the ones I have in my stash, but it is still pretty nonetheless. The colors are neutral and very wearable. Fire In Her Eyes is a frosted neutral beige, Black Magique is another black with gold pearl similar to Mont Black from the Chill collection, although the gold flecks in Mont Black are more prominent. Deception is a frosty golden brown that will work as a crease color. Spell No. 9 is a soft muted pink beige that would work great to blend gradient colors to create a smooth, well-blended eye look. Wide Eyed Wonder is my fave from this palette, a mid-frosty grey taupe that reminds me of Satin Taupe. Smoke & Mirrors is a dark chocolate brown; very plain to my eyes.



6 Mystic Cool Eye Shadows

Gorgeous colors! Cool Incantation is an opalescent white gold that is so beautiful - perfect highlighter. Shhh, Don't Tell is a pale neutral pink that is a good lid color. Blue Enchantment is my favorite, a dark frosted turquoise. Very festive! Rose Potion is a mid-tone frosted rose that I least liked from this palette. Deep Secret is a deep frosted indigo that has very pretty nuances. Violet Vow is a deep cool brown that I love because it has no red undertones at all. This is one of my favorite palettes from this collection.

All in all, I believe you will find at least one palette from this Holiday collection that will pique your interest. I believe the color combinations were well thought of and the shades truly complemented each other. If you like neutral colors, I recommend Smoke and Mirrors. Mystic Cool and Sorceress are also pretty palettes that have unique, eye-catching shades.

Watch out for the rest of the swatches and reviews of the MAC Holiday collections in the next entries.