Holy Grails # 1 – MAC PAINTS


Holy Grails # 1 – MAC PAINTS

MAC Paints
MAC Paints

MAC paints have been among my favourite beauty products for quite some time now and I do use them almost on a daily basis in my make up. You might ask yourselves now what kind of role do the MAC paints play in my daily make up routine, well, the solution is quite simple, the paints are one fabulous eyeshadow base.

There have been numerous discussions all around the globe whether or not it is necessary to use an eyeshadow base or not. The answer to that question in my opinion is plain simple: YES! Eyeshadow Primer/Bases not only prevent your eyeshadow from creasing, but they also intensify the brilliance and luminosity of your eyeshadow as well as prevent your shadow from fading or greying out throughout the day. But, to be honest, the main reason why some beauties are not fond of using the paints as a base is the feature to intensify the eyeshadow colors, the so called color popping effect.

MAC Paints
MAC Paints

It seems some of them actually experience a reversed effect, meaning that color intense eyeshadows actually fade out on a paint base, as the paint swallows too much of the actual eyeshadow color. You might think now how is it possible, that there are these completely different opinions about the paints? Well, I think the reason is to be found in our skin chemistry, which is a very individual factor and some colors react very differently depending on the skin the some in contact with. Personally, I haven’t experienced any color fading or washed out effect with the paints, so that’s why they are definitely a part of my Holy Grail collection.

The most popular regular eyeshadow bases that are used in the US and Europe should be the following:

  • UDPP – Urban Decay Primer Potion
  • TFSI – Too Faced Shadow Insurance
  • Artdeco – Eyeshadow Base
  • MAC PPE – Prep & Prime Eye
  • Sans Soucis – Eyeshadow Base

And one brand new product

  • NARS – Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base

I actually have tried them all, except for the NARS base. I don’t really share the buzz about UDPP and TFSI. Maybe it’s because I am over 40 and wearing contact lenses, so my eyes are quite sensitive and the skin on my eyelids quite dry. Regarding those facts, it’s no wonder both bases won’t work for me as the turn my eyelid skin into desert lands, even if I use a special moisturizing product before applying the base, my eyelids are extremely dried out. The TFSI is not quite as bad as the UDPP, but both products are a no go for me personally. I had a similar experience using MAC PPE, my skin did not feel quite as parched, but still dried out to a level that was uncomfortable. The Sans Soucis Base has a very creamy texture and does not contain any oils, so that combination neither dries out nor makes my eyelids greasy. So all in all, it’s a good allrounder.

MAC Paint Untitled
MAC Paint Untitled
MAC Paint Untitled
MAC Paint Untitled

The Paints, which actually are cream eyeshadows packaged in a tube, feature a creamy texture and are available in different colors. You can chose among matte, shimmering or frosty finishes. Combining these finishes with regular eyeshadows you will be able to create stunning and unique effects and on top of that, your eyeshadow will stay put throughout the day. An even more luxurious effect can be created using MAC’s paint pots as a base, which are also available in different colors. If your looking to really add some wow and color explosion to your make up, go ahead and try one of MAC’s Chromalines. So in general, any cream eyeshadow can be used as a base to intensify any dry texture like powder eyeshadows, Khols and eyeliner. It’s up to you to try out which ones will work for you, as I mentioned, your skin chemistry might work with different products as those that work for me. So go ahead and play around. 🙂 Some cream eyeshadows, especially those with a frosty finish, tend to turn into a quite powdery finish and any added powder eyeshadow might start creasing. Again, I am talking about my personal experiences, the younger beauties among you might have no problems with frosty finishes at all 🙂

As mentioned above, very good cream eyeshadws are the MAC Paintpots as well. Used as base they create a stunning and color-popping eye make up – depending on the Paintpot texture if it´s shiny, shimmery or matte. I had no problems with creasing with MAC Paintpots so far and also never heard about any fading of color when they are used as eyeshadow base 🙂

So, you can go ahead and use MAC Paints and Paintpots just as pure color or as an eyeshadow base to either make your eye make up stay put or to play up the intensity of your eyeshadow. Unfortuntaly, only the following Paint colors are currently available, all the others have been dicontinued:

  • Bare Canvas (pale, whitish beige with shimmer)
  • Untitled (pale, soft greyish mauve
  • Base Light (yellowish beige with gold pearl)
  • Stilife (pale peach with icy shimmer)
  • Bamboom (beige-brown with golden shimmer)
  • Sublime Nature (mid-tone naked beige)

My favourite paint is Untitled, the name says it all 🙂

MAC Paint Untitled
MAC Paint Untitled

For giving you an impression of the difference between MAC Paints and MAC Paint pots I would like to show you two green eye make up looks. First one was applied on MAC Paint Untitled as eyeshadow base, for the second I used the MAC Paint pot Rollickin´ as base. The light was not very good for taking any daylight pictures but they show enough to give you an idea of the difference.

Eye Makeup using MAC Paint Untitled for base

Eye Makeup using MAC Untitled Paint
Eye Makeup using MAC Untitled Paint
Eye Makeup using MAC Untitled Paint
Eye Makeup using MAC Untitled Paint
Eye Makeup using MAC Untitled Paint
Eye Makeup using MAC Untitled Paint

Eye Makeup using MAC Paintpot Rollickin´ as base:

Eye Makeup using MAC Paintpot Rollickin´ as base
Eye Makeup using MAC Paintpot Rollickin´ as base
Eye Makeup using MAC Paintpot Rollickin´ as base
Eye Makeup using MAC Paintpot Rollickin´ as base
Eye Makeup using MAC Paintpot Rollickin´ as base
Eye Makeup using MAC Paintpot Rollickin´ as base

In my next posts I will show you more of my favorite products 🙂

Which is your favourite eyeshadow base?

IMBB RECOMMENDS

69 thoughts on “Holy Grails # 1 – MAC PAINTS

  1. I have always wondered what eye shadow base will I buy next. I don’t want to repurchase paint pot because they go on forever and i am so bored of my painterly now.. :yawn: :yawn: :yawn: :yawn: :yawn: I think it is going to last me another 8-10 months. :pain: :pain:

    I am picking up paints next. Thank you , Tatjana. You are a life saver. 😛 😛

    1. Thank you Rati, you are very welcome :-* :-* :-*

      You should try out if you have any color fading on paint base as there are several beauties having this problem. Has to do with skin chemistry and eyecream used etc. The Paints are very comfortable due to the very smooth texture. Bare Canvas finihes very powdry, I do not like that on older skin like mine because it accentuates wrinkles – but the Bare Canvas Paint is very popular among youner beauties here in Europe and the US.

      I guess for Indian skin the darker Paints will work very good, too.
      Just waiting for your impressions 🙂

      1. No I don’t face any fading problem with Painterly. Just that there is so much product in the post that I am not able to finish it up only. So bored using the same eye shadow base. That’s it . :))

        1. Never heard about fading problems with Paint POTs – but, as mentioned, some beauties have this problem with the Paints (tube product) due to the fact it´s a different product. So maybe it would be a good idea to try it before buying some of the Paints 🙂

    1. Well, there is no warm Green at all 😀

      I used a neutral Yellow (MAC Goin´Bananas which was an LE eyeshadow) and a neutral Green (MAC Forest Green pigment) for the first eye makeup shown. Warm greens are Olive Greens and Grass greens, means: Greens containing dominant golden and/or yellow shimmer. For accentuating crease and eye I used MAC Contrast and blended it to a greyish blue.

      So, the eye make up is not warm at all 😛
      It´s a neutral-cool make up but I guess you mean the yellowish green on the outer corner where I blended the Going Bananas into the Green 🙂 For Winter color type it is recommended to use primary yellow shades or cool yellow shades like lemon green etc. You will notice that they fit the blueish skin undertone better than any warm shade can 😎

      1. yeah you always mention this no.. I am starting to wear more cooler colours now. yeah I was talking about that yellow you put at the center only. Doesn’t look very neutral though. Guess you magic of blending… 🙂

        1. At least it´s really an AHA-effect.
          I was wearing lots of gold and copper shades and… well, it does not look bad but not that good as cool tones look. As I have brown hair and brown eyes the staff at many make up counters recommended warm and golden tones for me. Till I found out about the color types.

          It´s very easy. The color type depends on the skin UNDERTONE, not the skin OVERTONE.
          That´s the reason people are confused when it says: Indian beauties, asian beauties, african beauties etc. are 99,9% winter color type, means: primary clear, secondary cool type. Because the skin OVERTONE often looks warm as it is olive or yellowish or brown etc. But this has nothing to do with the skin undertone which is major for the color type.

          There are only two skin UNDERTONES: yellow and blue.
          And yours is BLUEish 🙂
          Since the color type consultants reached the Emirates you can find more and more white gold (18 Carat and up) in the shops there. Especially in combination with Diamonds this is one perfect color spectrum for the winter color type because it is the only color type which can wear icy colors and hard, brilliant contrast without looking overloaded :-))

    1. I used:

      MAC Paint Rollickin´ which is a frosty mint-green for base.
      Then I applied MAC pigment Mutiny, which is a bright, frosty white-silvery blue/teal.
      For accentuating the Crease I used MAC Contrast and dipped a little bit MAC Forest Green into the outer Corner 🙂 The Light was not very good and so the Forest Green pigment got “swallowed” by the cam/bad light :silly:

        1. Thank you :-* :-*

          It´s a very simple and quick one.
          I used the MAC 217 Brush to apply the Rollickin´ – best brush to apply and blend cream colored bases :chic: :chic: :-*

          1. The only reason i don’t use 217 to apply cream bases is i feel that the brush would get damaged…I mean not exactly if you take care of your brushes . But i am more comfortable using natural bristles brushes for cream eye shadows.

            1. You won´t damage it, believe me.
              But I really understand what you mean and that´s the reason I use the SH (the short handle LE) 217 Brushes for that. But the Long Handle will do it as well without any damage, you can apply it with the little bit more pressure you need to blend the paint pot texture without any problems.

              Last but not least: The 217 IS a natural fibre Brush. 🙂
              It´s a goat hair brush 😉

  2. Tatjana, :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* I am your Fan :rose: :rose: :rose: :rose: :rose: :rose: :rose:

  3. TATJANAAAAAAAA…I SAID IT FIRST….the green eye makeup is superawesome…I AM YOUR FAN :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :rose: :rose: :rose: :rose: :rose: :rose :inlove: :inlove: :inlove: :rose: :rose: :rose: :inlove: :-* :-* :-* :-*

    Rati – :razzmad:

  4. CHEATER, Radsss.. :-X :-X :-X :-X

    Tajana, I am first in your line of fans.. :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :rose: :rose: :rose: :rose: :rose: :rose: :rose: :heart: :heart: :rose: :rose:

      1. :knife: :knife: :knife:

        Me bherry happy today. I dunno why but bherry happy. :party: :party: :party: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :clap: :clap: :clap:

        1. 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 me no like it at allll when certain creatures get very happy 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 :idk: :idk: :idk: :idk: :wilt: :wilt: :wilt: :wilt: :cyclops: :cyclops:

  5. Creatures???? Me bherry bherryy happy hooman.. :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :clap: :clap: :clap: :jump: :jump: :jump:

    You phrom dipherent planet?? Welcome to Planet Earth, Miss :alien: :alien: :alien:

    1. Same here; in my Oppinion it´s an overhyped product but I guess the UDPP is a good product for beauties who have oily lids as the drying-out effects gives them a good oil control. At least, the TFSI is better when it comes to the long-lasting effect.

      I love the Paint Pots, too but I do not use Painterly very often because of the golden Shimmer.
      And I have to apologize if I am boring all of you with my suggestions on cool and neutral clear colors – but, when you look close to it, you will recognize that a icy, stunning silver (or white gold) fits better to any oriental, asian etc. skin tone and makes every cool color type (winter, summer) look more fresh :yes: :yes: :yes:

      1. Haaaa…see now I am going to copy paste it and send it to a whole bunch of people I know who insist on buying gold gold and more gold!! I love silver….feel gold looks tooo gaudy :smug:

        1. Well, gold has a huge cultural tradition – not only in India.
          It´s the same in southern Europe, the Emirates, parts of Africa and many ohter places all around the world.
          But there is the possibility to wear WHITE GOLD, 750/18 Carat and up, which is the same price/worth as yellow/ish Gold so nobody gets in trouble …. I mean there is a tradition in gold in my country, too and not many people there would buy silver as a gift, exept it is a gift for children. But they would buy white gold and this is accepted as a great gift, too.

          Warm gold tones look lovely on the warm color types, especially the autumn color type – but you are right: for us cool types silver or white gold fit so much better… beyond words :-* :-* :-*

    1. :laugh: :laugh: 😉
      You guys are so nice, thank you :-* :-* :-*

      One thing I really have to say: Please, no fans 😀 😀 :silly: :beauty: :chic: 😛 :-* :-* 😉
      I prefer friends :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :chic: :chic: 😉 :-* :-*

      Thanks a ton for liking my HG-Post :-* :-* :-*

            1. I am in Europe, I can´t do anything about that :rotfl: :rotfl:
              You two together make one new first friend: Ratika 😀

              lol, just kidding :-* :-* :-*
              Thank you so much for enjoying the looks – both of you :-* :-* :-*

  6. Hi…I have a question. I am not very makeup savvy and i’m a little confused. Isn’t PPE a primer and paints e/s base? So can you use either or use them interchangeably? Or am I totally wrong? ?:-) ?:-)
    Btw, the eye-make up is simply gorgeous!!

    1. Thank you Meenal :-* :-* :-*

      Yes, PPE is a primer but it is often used as base so far.
      There were several discussions on many beauty boards if this could work – but it works for some beauties and this means: If it works, go ahead 🙂

      The paints are tube packaged cream eyeshadows often used as base.
      You can use both products interchangeably or use your favorite primer. A good moisture booster or good eye cream can do the primer job as well :-))

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