I haven’t used a lot of makeup from MAC. I wish they were cruelty-free. A few years ago, I won a limited edition MAC cream base in a giveaway. I never wore it much because I wasn’t sure what it actually did. Then a couple of years ago, I picked up a pot of cream brow gel. I liked it because it was a good shade match although I think brow gels with a wand are easier to apply.
MAC Paint Pots
Last November, I bought one of MAC’s Paint Pots, a cream shadow or base, in Stormy Pink, a shade that is more of a grey-mauve than any form of pink. 
At any rate, I love this Paint Pot because it’s so creamy, it blends so well, and the Paint Pot hasn’t dried out at all.
I took advantage of a recent 25% off sale online to MAC Select members. As far as I can tell, anyone who signs up can become a MAC Select member. It’s free, and they have periodic sales. I made a mini-haul of three shadows and one lipstick.
I decided to buy another Paint Pot in the shade, Painterly, MAC’s nude beige shade that I’d describe as ballet or shell pink. Many people use it as a shadow base though some wear it on its own as a shadow. I hope to do both.
I’ve been on the hunt for a good grey cream shadow, and based on the swatches online, I chose Antique Diamond, a metallic shade though I was looking for a matte.
I only received my products about a week ago, so I haven’t been able to wear them a lot, but my first impression is that Painterly is indeed a terrific base. On its own, I don’t love it as much as I thought I would because my own eyelids are already this shade of pink! Not Painterly’s fault, lol.
Now that I own it and have seen it in person, Antique Diamond is more of a metallic taupe than metallic grey. It’s a shade that I’m going to have to get used to and that I must experiment with. It’s on the sheer side, and I didn’t expect that. It’s very shimmery. I think I will use this for a pop of bling in the center of my lid rather than as an all-over lid shade. Or I may return it. $22
MAC Pro Palette Refill Powder Shadow
I decided to try one of the Pro Palette powder shadow refill singles in a matte medium gray, Silver Ring (the swatch below is over bare skin). So far, I love this shade. I use it in the crease or V. For those of you who do smoky eyes, this would definitely work. $6
MAC Satin Lipstick
I had never tried any of MAC’s lipsticks though they seem to have so many great shades and different formulas. For some inexplicable reason, I bought one of the Satin Lipsticks in the shade, Sushi Kiss.
Again, I chose this shade from swatches online. To be honest, I do not love this shade. I’d describe it as orangeade.It’s a good summer shade, but I just don’t love it and I don’t think I’ll reach for it much.
The formula is nice and very lightweight. It’s neither hydrating nor drying. I don’t know why, but I expected “Satin” to be a cream formula. It isn’t. It’s not quite matte. $17
MAC Upward Lash
So the major good surprise of the order was the sample of MAC Upward Lash mascara that I received. I am totally smitten with this mascara.
The Upward Lash sample came in a squeeze tube, but the regular size product is in a traditional mascara tube. The wand is the kind I prefer: small plastic teeth that makes it so easy to get small lashes in the inner corner and under my eyes and to coat the outer lashes on my downturned eyes.
The wand is very short, and that’s also how it is in the full size tube. I actually love this stubby wand!
The formula is creamy and easy to apply. I’ve been wearing it everyday for a week, and it doesn’t clump or flake.
Upward Lash is black black black, and it’s sold as an “Extreme Volume. Extreme Lengthening” mascara. On me, it does both though I don’t like to build up too much volume. Overall, it’s the consistency and look that I really like.
The thing it does that it almost miraculous is it curls my lashes without me bothering to curl them first with a lash curler. It’s amazing! And they stay curled till I remove the mascara.
This stuff rocks! $23
My Thoughts
At this point, I’m happy with Painterly and the powder shadow, Silver Ring. I loooooove Upward Lash. I’m still on the fence about the Antique Diamond Paint Pot, and I don’t love Sushi Kiss, the lipstick shade. I am thinking about driving to the Burlington Mall and seeing if I can return Sushi Kiss and exchange Antique Diamond for another matte Paint Pot. I definitely have Upward Lash on my “to buy” list.
Do you have any favorite MAC makeup or shades that I should check out?
Would love to see the lipstick on a full make up look.
Flora, thank you so much for your comment and request! That’s a great idea. Sushi Kiss would pair well with the Too Faced Peach Palette and either my Youngblood Tropicana Cream Blush or one of the shades in my Stila Cream Blush Palette. I’ll work on that (though I’m still considering exchanging Sushi Kiss for a shade I will wear more often)
I haven’t bought anything from Mac since forever! Sushi Kiss does look a touch pale for you which is such a shame because when I check swatches online, it looks like a really pretty shade. This is another reason why I usually spent days checking swatches online and still walk into store to see the shade in person. Too many bloggers Photoshopped or adjust lighting to the point that the shade isn’ the same in real life.
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You’re absolutely right, Shireen. I should have gone to Macy’s to check the shades in person, but it was a limited time online offer and I never made it to the mall. The swatch on the MAC website and the color of the bullet both look nothing like what the shade looks like on. The shade is both too bright and too pale for me to wear it often. I will most likely try to exchange it, but it’s a long trip to the MAC store 🙁
Morning ☕️☕️🍩🍩🙋🏻 Thanks for sharing and taking the time to show the swatches. I do love Mac. I really love their eye shadows. (I only wear matte) Right now my go to shadows are Too Faced matte eye shadows. Off to get my “hairs” cut. Have a beautiful day………🦋⛲️
I definitely recommend the matte Paint Pots! And I’m pleased with the powder shadow refill too. I have the TF Matte shadow palette as well. I should dig it out and give it some love xoxo Have a good visit to the salon!
Antique diamond is AMAZING!!
Thanks, Jessalyn! Maybe I should reconsider exchanging it!
I’m surprised you don’t like the lipstick shade – I love it! I want a CF dupe!
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Per one of my reader’s suggestions, I’m going to do a full face with complimentary shades say from the TF peach palette and see what I think. I expected it to be a somewhat deeper and somewhat less bright shade. I think I used to have a dupe from Obsessive Compulsive Lip Tar but it was too drying for my lips. I forgot about that one
Great picks, Allison. I love their Paint Pots so much, but also wish that they were CF. There really is no excuse not to be!
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I guess MAC would have to decide not to sell in China 🙁
I love MAC paintpots. I haven’t bought one in awhile though. That Stormy Pink looks pretty. I used to wear Painterly all the time for neutral looks.
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Stormy Pink is a really useful shade but not sure if they still make it. I’m enjoying Painterly!
Bummer about Sushi Kiss and Antique Diamond! Painterly looks awesome, I need that in my life.
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Painterly is a wonderful base. I’m probably going to end up keeping both the lipstick and the sparkly shadow coz I discovered I would have to mail them back, and that’s not going to happen 🙁
Sorry to tell you but I don’t think the store will exchange your products. I think you have to return it to the original source. My sister worked for MAC for over 10 years and Painterly is her favorite base. She likes it for keeping her eyeshadows on all day. Now that she works for Bobbi Brown and others she still sticks with Painterly. I have a love hate thing with Paint Pots, some of the best colors are just too glittery for me. I like the lipstick but you know I like lighter shades. The Cremesheen formula is one you should look at since they are very creamy and feel good. End of novel.
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Thank you so much, Marcia, for the info. I don’t want to pay to mail the products back plus I probably want to exchange them but I don’t know for which shades without seeing them in person. I guess I’ll call the closest MAC store (a half hour away) and just verify that I have to mail them back. And if that’s still true, I’ll just keep them. I’m going to try doing a peach look and see how Sushi Kiss looks with a lot of peach. And Antique Diamond is pretty but it is glitterier than I ever imagined! It’s not bad for a pop of bling in the center of the lid. Thank you for telling me about Cremesheen – that’s what I should have purchased but I got overwhelmed by all the lipstick lines on the website.
I’ve got a few paint pots and I’m never tried them. I need to get out this brand and play around with it!
Do it! Use them before they dry out!
Stormy Pink is gorgeous! It reminds me of Maybelline Black Orchid, which I adore.
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lipstick shade is stunning, after reading your post, mac lipstick has reach the top of my wish list.
I adore that shade of lipstick on you!!
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