MAC Alluring Aquatic Extra Dimension Eye Shadows Review, Swatches and Photos

After a long hiatus from blogging I have a review for you featuring items from one of the most anticipated collections from summer 2014: MAC's Alluring Aquatic. This review is for the new, LE Extra Dimension eye shadows ($22.50 CA/$19.50 US). All photos taken in natural light on NC 35 skin.

From top clockwise: Sea Worship, Silver Sun, Fathoms Deep, Soul Serenade, 

Lorelei and Legendary Lure (center)

MAC Extra Dimension Eye Shadow: Lorelei, Sea Worship and Silver Sun

MAC Extra Dimension Eye Shadow: Soul Serenade, Legendary Lure and Fathoms Deep

Lorelei - described by MAC as a "golden beige", this is a shimmery, medium dark peachy beige. It reminds me of a more metallic, darker version of MAC Grain eye shadow.

Sea Worship - described by MAC as "tarnished olive", this is an antiqued gold that leans a bit olive but on my skin does not shout "green."

Silver Sun - aptly described by MAC as "mid-tone dirty sea foam green", this is a greyed out, pale sea foam that alternately looks more grey/silver or green depending on what angle you look at it.

Soul Serenade - described by MAC as "deep plum brown", this is a neutral, dark brown-grey taupe with fine sliver shimmer. On my skin I don't pick up any hints of plum.

Legendary Lure - described by MAC as "deep cerulean", this is a shimmery blackened forest green with fine silver shimmer. This is not, in any sense of the word "cerulean."

Soul Serenade - described by MAC as "deep blue", this is a shimmery, blackened grape purple with fine silver shimmer.It is a cooler toned purple but nowhere near "deep blue"!

Indirect sunlight: Lorelei, Sea Worship, Silver Sun, Soul Serenade, 

Legendary Lure and Fathoms Deep

Direct sunlight: Lorelei, Sea Worship, Silver Sun, Soul Serenade, 

Legendary Lure and Fathoms Deep

Despite the confusing colour descriptions given by MAC, these new ED eye shadows are all outstanding in terms of pigment, texture and finish. The texture in the pan is a bit powdery (as with all ED products), but they apply smoothly and blend well. In indirect light these shadows all have a smooth medium level shimmer/frost look which turns to fireworks type sparkle in direct sunlight. I think all the colours are very pretty, but my favourites have to be Sea Worship, Silver Sun and Legendary Lure. 

As well, the much talked about packaging with the faux water droplets is whimsical and very well executed. The tactile feel of the "water droplets" is really unique, and I appreciate that MAC has altered the pattern of droplets on every shade. This is one of the few times I have really been impressed by specialty packaging and I don't mind paying a bit extra for it! 

Although these are sold out online, the whole collection launches in-store tomorrow, so you can still get your fill!

Grade: A  (all shades)

J

MAC Alluring Aquatic Preview

M·A·C Alluring Aquatic

Available online  May 15^th

Available in stores May 22, 2014 through July 3, 2014

Eyes take on a subtle radiance in tarnished olive, sea foam and darkened plum Extra Dimension Eye Shadow, lined with the pearlized black of Pearlglide Intense Eye Liner. Luminous Extra Dimension Blush gives cheeks a goddess glow and nails a glisten in aquatic chrome. Lipstick, Lipglass and Lip Pencil feature dark, mystical violets and ice-cold pearlized nudes. Limited-edition teal packaging, elegantly accented with sheer water droplets, leave you totally seduced by the sea. Bronzing primers and powders set sumer skin refreshingly aglow, as Extra Dimension Bronzer washes over the face with a subtle gleam and Bronzing Powder sculpts and highlights in gentle pearlized shades with a touch of shimmer. The MAC Alluring Aquatic Makeup Bag, out chic, teal clutch, is elegantly accented with sheer water droplets. Perfectly sized for all your necessities. A MAC store exclusive.

Bronzing Powder in Refined Golden
Finely spun golden with soft pearl.
$33.00 CDN/$27.50 US

Bronzing Powder in Golden
Muted golden tan-beige with shimmer
$33.00 CDN/$27.50 US

127 Split Fibre Face Brush
$42.00 CDN/$35.00 US

233 Split Fibre Eye Shadow Brush
$30.00 CDN/$25.00 US

Extra Dimension Blush in See Me, Hear Me
Beige pink
$32.00 CDN/$27.50 US

Extra Dimension Blush in Seduced At Sea
Mid-tone neutral plum
$32.00 CDN/$27.50 US

Extra Dimension Bronzer in Aphrodite's Shell
Golden bronze with a touch of fine shimmer
$38.50 CDN/$33 US

Extra Dimension Bronzer in Delphic
Soft brick tan with a touch of fine shimmer
$38.50 CDN/$33 US

Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Fathom's Deep
Deep blue
$22.50 CDN/$19.50 US

Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Legendary Lure
Deep cerulean
$22.50 CDN/$19.50 US

Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Lorelei
Golden beige
$22.50 CDN/$19.50 US

Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Sea Worship
Tarnished olive
$22.50 CDN/$19.50 US

Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Silver Sun
Mid-tone dirty sea foam green
$22.50 CDN/$19.50 US

Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Soul Serenade
Deep plum brown
$22.50 CDN/$19.50 US

Lipglass in Clear Water
Sheer nude with multidimensional pearl
$20.00 CDN/$16.50 US

Lipglass in Modern Lure
Deep violet with pink pearl
$20.00 CDN/$16.50 US

Lipglass in Peachstock
Creamy true nude
$20.00 CDN/$16.50 US

Lipglass in Seducing Sound
Mid-tone plum bronze
$20.00 CDN/$16.50 US

Lipglass in Water Deities
Light bronzy pink
$20.00 CDN/$16.50 US

Lip Pencil in Half-Red
Soft burgundy
$20.00 CDN/$16.50 US

Lip Pencil in What Comes Naturally
Light nude
$20.00 CDN/$16.50 US

Lipstick in Enchanted One
Mid-tone neutral pink (matte)
$21.00 CDN/$17.50 US

Lipstick in Goddess of the Sea
Dark vibrant violet (cremesheen)
$21.00 CDN/$17.50 US

Lipstick in Mystical
Mid-tone creamy rose (cremesheen)
$21.00 CDN/$17.50 US

Lipstick in Pet Me, Please
Light, shimmering mauve (frost)
$21.00 CDN/$17.50 US

Lipstick in Siren Song
Sheer pale beige (lustre)
$21.00 CDN/$17.50 US

Nail Lacquer in Neptune
Tarnished gold
$21.00 CDN/$17.50 US

Nail Lacquer in Shimmerfish
Sparkling aluminum
$21.00 CDN/$17.50 US

Nail Lacquer in Submerged
Dark teal chrome
$21.00 CDN/$17.50 US

Pearlglide Intense Eye Liner in Black Line
Black with gold pearl
$21.00 CDN/$17.50 US

Pearlglide Intense Eye Liner in Black Swan
Black with pearl
$21.00 CDN/$17.50 US

Makeup Bag
$42.00 CDN/$35.00 US

MAC Magnetic Nude Extra Dimension Eyeshadows Amorous Alloy and Silver Dawn: Photos, Swatches and Review

MAC's Magnetic Nudes collection was made available in stores on December 26 in Canada and after seeing all the online buzz about this collection, I did what I don't normally do on Boxing Day. I went shopping. I bought a lipstick, two eyeshadows and a blush from the Magnetic Nudes collection. This post will look at the Extra Dimension Blush in Autoerotique. 

But first, MAC didn't send us the preview photos and info about this collection (or Huggable Lipcolours or Punk Couture, etc) so here is some info about this gorgeous, shimmery collection.

Glimmering metallics and natural nudes redefine winter opulence. Skin is radiant with Extra Dimension Skinfinish. Smoky eyes get a metal effect, shaded with vibrant Extra Dimension Eye Shadow. Fluidline shines with a steely touch, while Opulash provides a powerful finish. Flushed nudes in Extra Dimension Blush, Lipstick and Lipglass are subtle yet sexy, for a look that’s naturally magnetic. Apply with the 128 Split Fibre Cheek and 235 Split Fibre All Over Eye Brushes.

This collection will sell out. So if you like the sound of metallic nude shades, including peachy tones and rose-gold, get thee to a MAC counter immediately! There are tonnes of swatches online as well - check out Temptalia's reviews and photos here, and Makeup and Beauty Blog's overview here. Trust me, it's gorgeous and there's something here for 
everyone.

In those post, I'll take a look at two of the eyeshadows from the Magnetic Nude collection = Amorous Alloy and Silver Dawn. 

All of the eyeshadows in this collection are Extra Dimension Eye Shadows, which means that they are "liquid powder eye shadows with prismatic reflections. Impact ranges from sheer crystallized light to to a highly polished metallic effect."

Amorous Alloy is described as a deep terracotta copper with metallic finish. It's a dark copper with red-brown tones and shimmery, soft texture. 

I wasn't sure about Amorous Alloy as I don't typically wear red-toned eyeshadows. While the red works beautifully with my blue eyes, it usually makes me look sick. But Amorous Alloy swatched so beautifully on my hand at the MAC counter, I couldn't say no. 

It's a beautiful coppery-red-brown shade and it's so beautifully frosted. It goes on smoothly, with gorgeous sparkle. Swatched it looks less red than it does in the pan. 

Amorous Alloy has excellent wear time. I saw no fading and there was no creasing after 8 hours and while it faded slightly after that, there was no creasing by the time I washed it off at the end of the day. I always wear a primer on my lids.

Amorous Alloy eyeshadow swatched on NW15 skin.

Silver Dawn is described as a dirty grey mauve with a metallic finish. I see a bit of green-gold in it. It's cool-toned.

I'm a big fan of greyish-browns - they're very easy to wear and tend to stand out in a subdued but dramatic way. Silver Dawn is no different though its layers of colour - grey, brown, gold, green, mauve - make it a real stand-out. And the gorgeous sheen. This is a shade that can be worn on its own or as an addition to a smoky eye.

Silver Dawn swatches very smoothly and has good wear time. With a primer (I always wear a primer), it lasted 12 hours without creasing. 

Silver Dawn Eyeshadow swatches on NW15 skin.

You can see how I wore both of these in my Magnetic Nude FOTD. 

Grade: A (for both)