MAC Basic Eye Shadow Quad Swatches, Review, EOTD

MAC Quad swatches, review and EOTD

Recently I picked up a custom MAC eye shadow quad. The MAC quad and palette system is the same as that of INGLOT only a little more expensive. However the Quads are definitely more value for money than the MAC singles, each refill is Rs 680 and the pan is for Rs 380. When the colors run out you can simply buy more refills as and when needed.

The other day, I put together my first quad. I was looking to put together a set of eyeshadows that I can work with everyday, since my other INGLOT palette is brighter and shinier and slightly tougher to work with for daily wear.

MAC Basic eyeshadow quad

Swatches Without flash

MAC Basic eyesahdow quad

From Left to Right: Swiss Chocolate, Swiss Chocolate on Groundwork paintpot, Soft brown, Soft brown on Groundwork Paintpot, Rice Paper, Rice Paper on Groundwork paint pot, Atlantic Blue, Atlantic Blue on Groundwork Paint pot, Atlantic blue single swipe.

MAC Basic eyesahdow quad

From Left to Right: Swiss Chocolate, Swiss Chocolate on Groundwork paintpot, Soft brown, Soft brown on Groundwork Paintpot, Rice Paper, Rice Paper on Groundwork paint pot, Atlantic Blue, Atlantic Blue on Groundwork Paint pot, Atlantic blue single swipe.
Now let me review these one by one.

MAC Swiss Chocolate was an accidental purchase. I was looking to buy Folie but unfortunately its refill was out of stock. Furthermore its reddish purple undertones were giving my eyes a bruised look. Then when I was looking at close substitutes of Folie, the MUA showed me Swiss chocolate and I fell in love. It’s a gorgeous matte brown that works brilliantly as a crease shade as well as an all over lid shade. It is decently pigmented and it’s a joy to use.

Will I repurchase ? Probably

Soft Brown. This was a shadow I really wanted. It’s a lightish brown color, ideally for all over the lid. It could be a highlight shade for really dark skintones but most definitely not for me. I find that without a base this shade matches my eyelid shade almost exactly. So when I wear it, its great for that no make up look. However because it’s a light shade, when I put it on the Groundwork Paint pot it barely shows as Groundwork is a darker shade. For lighter colors such as Soft Brown, one needs a lighter paint pot or a transparent base. This shade is not the most pigmented but it would look beautiful on slightly fairer skin tones. All in all this is actually my least favourite of the quad, its very useable and workable but since I sometimes use groundwork as an actual eye shadow, Soft Brown is a bit redundant.

Will I repurchase ? I doubt it.

Rice paper. This is my most favourite shade out of all four. It’s the perfect highlight shade. It brightens the under brow area instantly without looking either too white or too yellow. I find this the most useful shade. On my lazy days its Groundwork + rice paper and kajal and omg I have an instant eye lift ! This is a frost finish shade, unlike the other three which are all matte.
To give you a better idea of the shade, this is rice paper on the left next to my INGLOT highlighter.

MAC Basic eyesahdow quad

Will I repurchase ? YES and YES and a million times yes

Atlantic Blue. I spotted this shade in a display for the Dare to Wear collection. Then I saw it was part of their permanent collection so I could include it in my quad 😀 When the MUA applied it on my lid it looked like a lovely deep blue. I fell in love with the shade because it found it to be an everyday wearable kind of blue, either all over the lid, or just a crease color or even just as an eye liner on either the upper or lower lash line. Whats great about this eye shadow is the color, it is just such a beautiful blue, on lighter skintones it would be a lot brighter, on my NC 40 skin its reasonably darker. Unfortunately or fortunately this is not very pigmented. It not good because you need a good base to bring out the color and you need to have the patience to build it up. However its good in a way because it makes the shade a lot more everyday wearable, as in a light was all over the lid for a day look would actually not look OTT at all. It is also MACs only matte blue. MUFE doesn’t have a matte dark blue and neither does INGLOT … they all have their blues with either a satin, pearl or frost finish or in the case of INGLOT even Double Sparkle… grrrrrrrrrrrr

Would I re-purchase ? Unless I find a nicer blue, yes 😀

And here is a look I did with this quad. This is without using an eyeshadow base or primer. The colors stayed on my lid for a good 6 hour before they creased and that too not a lot. The only non-quad item used is MAC blacktrack Fluidline.

MAC Basic eyesahdow quad look

As you can see soft brown looks like my natural lid color. You can see Swiss Chocolate in my outer V and Rice Paper under the brow, sorry its not super awesomely blended. Effectively this helps me get a My eye but better kind of look.

MAC Basic eyesahdow quad

Atlantic Blue on my lower lashline , it looks kind of black but not. It needs to be used all over the lid for the full effect to show 😀

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100 thoughts on “MAC Basic Eye Shadow Quad Swatches, Review, EOTD

  1. reaaallly liked rice paper and soft brown.. 🙂

    but how is is that if u take a pallete the shadows come for 680 each whn their actual prices are way higher? ?:) ?:) ?:) how like that?? ?:) ?:) ?:)

    1. I think it’s because the regular eyeshadows come enclosed in a packaging..like a snapshut case..and when you buy a palette you just buy refills to fill the empty space…so basically the company saves a lot of money on the extra packaging 😀 Don’t know if the weights are also different…don’t think so..but I really don’t know ?:)

  2. I have swiss chocolate in my 15 palette and it really is nice 🙂 i’m planning to pick up 2 more matte shades soon – saddle and handwritten 😀

    try indianwood paint pot – that and groundwork are my HGs :victory:

        1. One day I also get :smug: MAC ka palette…I keep palettes palettes palettes everywhere and take photos and post..Special for Ki :smug: :smug: :smug:

          1. Okaaaaay O:) Arre it’s actually quite reasonable – go check it out 😀 the eyeshadows really are a must have!

            And i’m recommending indianwood paint pot to you too! One swipe, some liner and that’s it – BEAUTIFUL eyes! :toothygrin:

              1. I love TWINKS…it is such a pretty brown na.. :yahoo: :yahoo: I always keep finding reason for using it he he..It’s like my MAC Taupe Gris. 😛

                I am not a huge fan of carbon though.. :wilt: I need a super pretty black black…

                1. I know 😀 I am wearing it today with indianwood 😀

                  I didn’t buy carbon – I found it looked grey-ish black, not BLACK in the crease 😐 Try patina – it’s an antique golden taupe with slight shimmer and ooh amber lights too! They are my most used shades :victory2:

  3. Waah Waah…. :clap: :waytogo: :waytogo: :waytogo: :waytogo: :waytogo: :waytogo: :waytogo: :waytogo: :clap: Itna detailed review!!!! Me super like :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: !!!!
    Januuuuuu itna achcha explain kiya hai…u shud be a prof of makeup :nerd: !!!! Me want eyeshadows now!!!
    Rati r u listenin i dnt hav a single eyeshadow :weep: :weep: :weep: :duck: …send me ur bekaar waaalas ( Non – EL) :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin:

    1. And you Farha…I make aloo paranthas and dahi and eat right now and then get back here on IMBB…err..on second thoughts..a little later maybe..:D

        1. Rati..u ignorriiiing my maang :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :dog2: :dog2: !!!! i go back to eatin my aloo paratha n chocolate barfi…chocolate eyeshadow to milne se raha :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :struggle: :struggle: :struggle: :struggle: :struggle: :sidefrown: :sidefrown: :sidefrown: :sidefrown: :sidefrown: :sidefrown: :sidefrown: !!!!

            1. Just like teeny meeny collection of blushes 😉 :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue:

              Me supeerrrrrrrrrr haaaaaappppppppppyyyyy abhi abhi pata chala 2 din chutti!!! YAY!!!!!! Shandaar dinner,LOoooooongggg weeeeeeeeekeeeeenddddd,Uttaran with friends…aur kya chaihiye jeevan mein O:) O:) O:) O:) O:) O:) O:) :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :jiggy1: :jiggy1: :jiggy1: :jiggy1: :jiggy1: :jiggy1: :jiggy1: :jiggy1:

              1. Oh wowie!! ENjoy :woot: :woot: :woot:

                No I just have some 88 chotu motu colours in one palette and then a few more single eye shadows from inglot, lakme etc O:) O:) O:)

                    1. i dnt coz Rads told me to buy Chanel instead :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep:

                    2. Heheheeeeeeeeeeeee…you know I dont even feel like saying ke no no I wont say it :spank: :spank: :jiggy2: :jiggy2: :jiggy2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2:

                    3. Noo Farha..your dream naaa…I was thinking..I am perfectly capable of saying such things…buy Chanel kind of statements :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2:

  4. I loovvee soft brown. That was my first every eyeshadow purchase. 😀 😀 But you are right you need a lighter base for it or else it’ll won’t look as bootifool as it should. And thanks a ton for the rice paper comparison. i have the inglot same highlighter and I always wonder if I really need another one..but now I guess I do :toothygrin: Thankoo :-*

  5. :announce: :announce: BTW..all you MAC ppl…I can access MAC website now…which mean now I actually understand what you all are talking about…hmmmmmmmmmmph..just you wait all of you….palette palette..paint pot..paint pot…I shall plaster pics everywhere once I buy :hunterwali:

    1. Me with u Rads!!!!!! :zombiekiller: :zombiekiller: :zombiekiller: :zombiekiller: :zombiekiller: :zombiekiller: :zombiekiller: :zombiekiller: :zombiekiller: :zombiekiller: :zombiekiller: :zombiekiller: :zombiekiller: :zombiekiller: :zombiekiller: :zombiekiller: :skywalker: :skywalker: :skywalker: :skywalker: :skywalker: :skywalker: :skywalker: :soldier: :soldier: :soldier: :soldier: :soldier: :soldier: :soldier: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank:

      1. Thankoooooooooo Farha..me no like these MAC showoffs :smug: :smug: :smug: :smug: We will just pretend we are not impressed with anything till we also buy something :toothygrin:

        1. Deal :handshake: ALl MAC eyeshadows waale :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :finger :duel: :knife: :knife: :knife: :knife: :knife: :knife: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: :poop: :poop: :poop: :poop: :poop: :poop: :spank: :spank: :spank:

  6. I own soft brown and ricepaper…….nice neutral colors :))
    I liked Atlantic blue too….its a close dupe to NYX atlantic but slight purple tinge this has which reminds me of NYX daffodil O:) where as NYX atlantic is pure blueeeeee :woot: :woot:
    love your Quad Janhavi :-*
    Just a suggestion….you may like Cork as it is darker that soft brown. But yes its darker than Swiss chocolate. So you can have Swiss chocolate for all over lid and cork for crease. :))

  7. Totally out of context but..Makar sankranti is celebrated as Uttaran ( kite flyin festival) in Surat/Gujarat…its amazing!!!! I thnk evryone shud visit Gujarat in Uttaran…u lose the count of kites in the sky… :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: It is the only thng i like abt Surat bettr than Mumbai..the way Uttaran is celebrated :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin:

  8. Hehee…we stayed in Bhuj for some time..and we used to have kite-fights all the time :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin:

    1. he he..I loveeeeeeeeeeeeee flying kites…we call it “guddi” at my hometown!! 😀 😀 …I recall my nanajee used to say “Betu raani, guddi udaayegi???” :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin:

  9. I dont have anything of MAC…..I dont have any leave!! :weep: BF has got conjunctivitis. My office work is making my brain dead… my parents have stopped talking to me!! :(( I should leave everything and go to the himalayas!! :(( 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁

    1. awwwwww :hugleft: :hugleft:
      Dont be sad…I shall accompany you too
      same with me…..parents not talking as I said no to few rishtas…..BF not talking as we had a major fight on silliest topic…..me having fever and headache…..and the work load is increasing because of student’s exams…. :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep:

    2. AWWWWWWW :-* Cali..u have crazy ppl frm IMBB to make u smile :hugleft: :hughright: :cheers: :aajanachle: ..and remember always…Jo hota hai achche ke liye hota hai…its the biggest truth of my life atleast….Inshallah sab achcha hoga :-*

      1. yeah..IMBB is keeping me sane somehow!! :P….Me louuuuuuuu you guys..and Jinalll..tight huggsssssssssss to you!! :righthug: …he he..and Farha..you simply make everyone buddhu here..that poem you wrote for jomol was not in sanskrit..coz in sanskrit “Padam” means “feet” 😛 😛 :toothygrin: he he he!!!

        1. Cali….haawwwwwww :shout: ….Dont reveal my secrets to ppl here :silly: :silly: :silly: :silly: :silly: :silly: :silly: :silly: :silly: :silly: :silly: and i dnt know ene Sanskrit 😉 …i wanted to try sumthn new this time hehehe :yelo: :yelo: :yelo: :yelo: :yelo: :yelo: :yelo: :yelo: :yelo:

  10. nice EOTD Janhavi..love how blacktrack looks on your eyes! I wasn’t liking atlantic blue much but I really like the way it looks on your lower lash line. I have ‘cranberry’ and ‘amberlights’ in my 4 palette right now..going to get ‘wedge'(similar to soft brown but cooler-soft brown has a slight orange undertone) and ‘sable’ next! MAC e/s are so awesome!

  11. Loved reading this… and I specially liked your swatches… with and w/o the base plus in different lights… you made such an effort! :yes: :yes: :yes:

  12. Janhavi – Atlantic Blue looks gorgeous on you.

    Btw, if you find Soft Brown looking just like your own skin shade – as in it doesn’t really show up, you can use it as a bridge colour. If you’re doing a dramatic look and you need to soften the edges of the brighter colours, Soft Brown will come in handy. Use a fluffy brush like MAC 224 and blend it into the edges or your eyeshadow, like around the eye. It can make your eyeshadow look less harsh.

  13. Jdddddooooooooo you have such pretty eyes!!! you cant see mine in the pool of dark circles!!!:( :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank:

  14. Well ive never used the chai latte quad but from all the swatches Ive seen swiss chocolate is closest to the lid shade but a bit more browny and rice paper is similiar to the brow bone shade from the quad but rice paper is frost and not shimmery like the chai latte shade and its also not so white but has a peachy/pinky/yellow undertone.

    Hope that helps :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin:

  15. Hi Janhavi! I’m looking to buy a neutral paint pot from MAC and was confused between Painterly, Soft Ochre and Groundwork.. i’m an NC40 too and want something closest to my shade.. how’s groundwork for you? is it darker than ur lid colour or jus right? Pls help! :struggle: :cute:

    1. Hello 🙂 I’m NW43 and I alternate between Painterly and Cronstructivist. This is because although Painterly is too light for me – it really, really makes the eyeshadow colours pop. It’s a great base that I combine with Urban Decay Primer Potion to keep my eyeshadow crease-free.

      If you don’t wan to use a bright base, then I’d suggest Constructivist or Indianwood.

  16. Ground work is pretty much my exact lid shade, and its also a satin finish so it gives a nice finish unlike painterly and soft ochre which are matte… also soft ochre and painterly are just way too light … so i could use them as a base but never as eyeshadows directly … so it a need kind of thing .. also check out jinals review of groundwork here 😀 and try all three on yourself when you go to the mac store … its what I did 😀

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