MAC Semi Precious Mineralize Eye Shadow Review and EOTD

In its latest collection Semi Precious, MAC released a whopping 12 Mineralize eye shadows all limited edition. MAC's Mineralize eye shadows are baked shadows using pure minerals and with no additional binders or fillers. Past releases of Mineralize shadows have often suffered from  issues with sheerness, chunkiness and fallout.

Semi Precious's shadow offerings are spectacular to look at - sparkling domed shadows swirling with multiple, glistening colours. However, as the Black Keys once said "the look of the cake ain't always the taste" and this is commonly true with many of the shadows offered in this collection. Many of the shades offered in Semi Precious were very, very sheer with big fallout issues.

However, there are some true gems in this collection and I picked up a few of them. The three shades I picked up and used in this EOTD are Golden Gaze, Jade's Fortune and Dark Indulgence.

Clockwise from bottom left: Jade's Fortune, Golden Gaze and Dark Indulgence

Jade's Fortune - A swirl of glittery white, chartreuse and black. This shade when mixed turns into a graphite grey with a slight teal sheen and multi coloured glitter. This shade applied dry is very sheer and is in my opinion, not very workable. When applied wet however, the pigmentation is decent and the glitter adheres fairly well.

Golden Gaze - A swirl of gold and black, this shade when mixed turns into a deep slightly khaki bronze gold. This shadow has excellent pigmentation and applies richly both wet and dry.

Dark Indulgence - A swirl of forest green and black, this shade applies as a deep metallic green with a black base. Like Golden Gaze this shadow has excellent pigmentation when applied dry or wet.

General Comments

Mineralize shadows apply best wet over a sticky base like Too Faced Shadow Insurance. It is important to apply the shadows on the base while the base is still sticky to ensure maximum adherence. While Golden Gaze and Dark Indulgence have great colour payoff wet or dry, I would still opt to use these wet. Jade's Fortune is only really workable wet.

Mineralize shadows will generally be sheerer because of their composition. Taking that into account, Golden Gaze and Dark Indulgence are overachievers. A shade like Jade's Fortune is a little more standard for a Mineralize shadow.

The Look

I wanted to do a look that plays up the metallic gleam of the Mineralize eye shadows. Because all three of these shades have a dark base, the look was dramatic.

Products Used

MAC Select Cover Concealer in NW 25

MAC Blot Powder in Medium Dark

Too Faced Shadow Insurance 

MAC Eye Shadow in Mylar

MAC Mineralize Eye Shadows in Golden Gaze, Jade's Fortune and Dark Indulgence

MAC Eye Kohl in Feline

Lancome Hypnose Precious Cells Mascara in Black

Anastasia Brow Powder Duo in Brunette


Start by applying concealer and powder. Using your ring finger gently apply Too Faced Shadow Insurance all over the lid and up to the brow bone bare. Using a flat brush like the 242, apply Jade's Fortune wet all over the lid up to the crease and on the bottom lash line. When Jade's Fortune is dry, take a crease brush like the 224 and apply Jade's Fortune dry to the crease, creating a soft blended edge. When doing this step, avoid running the blending brush over the wet applied shadow too much, as it can cause the shadow to lift. 

Using the clean side of the 242, apply Golden Gaze wet to the center of the lid, concentrating the shadow above the iris. 

Next apply Dark Indulgence dry using the 224 to the crease creating a v shape on the outer corner of the eye working the shadow to follow the outer contour of the eye.Using the 242 apply Dark Indulgence dry to the bottom lash line, 1/3 of the way in. Blend out using the 224. 

Apply Mylar to the brow bone for highlighting. For a finishing touch, strengthen the center lid with another wet application of Golden Gaze and line the bottom waterline with Feline Eye Kohl. Apply mascara and voila!