April 29, 2014

MAC Studio Sculpt Shade and Line Eyeshadow Review & Swatches

This was provided to me by a brand for review and I receive a small commission if you shop using the links in this post but all opinions are my own.

MAC Studio Sculpt Shade and Line Eyeshadow

Oh MAC what are you doing to me? Your new MAC Studio Sculpt Shade and Line Eyeshadow is simply awful. What an innovative idea that’s executed so poorly.

The new MAC Studio Sculpt Shade and Line Eyeshadow release in eight shades this May for a limited time. They combine two eyeshadows with a single shade of matte powder eyeliner. I mean what could be more simple yet so complex to create dramatic contrasting eye looks in one easy step. Here’s an eyeshadow palette that combines to contrasting shades of eyeshadow that you don’t have to think about! They compliment each other perfect so no matching on your part is required and you even get a powder line to use with those shades. It’s makeup application at it’s easiest.

But gosh the formula is all wrong!

I tried three out of the eight shades of MAC Studio Sculpt Shade & Line Eyeshadows ($21) and all three disappointed me in a major, major way. I think the idea is a good one but they fail in a major way when it comes to the formula.

Each shade comes housed in the larger MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow pots so they are about twice the size of a regular size eyeshadow packaging (the actual shadow the pot holds is 0.1 oz). Each shadow is designed with two shades and a liner color in the middle. They are a raised design with lines running through the shade. They can be used wet or dry but either way I used them I still experienced a super dry texture.

MAC Apricot Blend

MAC Studio Sculpt Shade and Line Eyeshadow swatches

MAC Apricot Blend Studio Sculpt Shade and Line Eyeshadow Swatches

MAC Ebony Blend

MAC Ebony Blend swatches

MAC Ebony Blend Studio Sculpt Shade and Line Eyeshadow Swatches

MAC Indigo Blend

MAC Indigo Blend swatches

MAC Indigo Blend Studio Sculpt Shade and Line Eyeshadow Swatches

The shadows are dry and stiff out of the box so you kinda have to chisel away at them. You can see how poorly they swatch on my arm below. I could not get an even swatch at all, it’s just a messy, patchy swatch. They are not only dry but they also apply very, very patchy. I was unable to get an even, smooth finish on my lid. I actually looked like I did a really poor blending job after application since they just drag around your eye as you apply! I’m not really sure what happened here but it was bad whatever it was. The formula is just too stiff and unyielding and nothing like MAC’s permanent range of eyeshadows. Even the liner shade was difficult to use as the pigment was very sheer when I used a dry brush and applying it wet had the same results! I just kept going back and fourth over the line I created to get better intensity.

Overall, I’d say MAC Studio Sculpt Shade and Line Eyeshadow is a big fail. MAC creates some seriously incredible eyeshadows but these are not in the incredible realm hell they aren’t even in the ok one!

Save your money.

You’ve been warned.

Have you tried these shadows?

What was your experience with them?

This was provided to me by a brand for review and I receive a small commission if you shop using the links in this post but all opinions are my own.

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Carrie

    I was so sad when I saw reviews for these because they’re such a good concept but these are such flops!

    • Isabella Muse

      I liked the idea as well! I’m one of those people that sits and thinks too hard about colors that would go well together. This takes the guess work out of that plus you get the liner shade too! It’s just a really cool idea…! But man what a horrible formula! Worst I’ve run across in a while!

  • Justin

    I wanted to love these and when I swatched them in the store they crumbled so bad! Mixing all the color together 🙁

  • Deb

    MAC sucks. There, I said it. I realize that makes me a demon spawn in the world of makeup lovers but I just don’t care anymore. There was a time when MAC was a go to for me for eyeshadow, lippies, and blush. And you knew you were getting solid quality for a really reasonable price compared to other counter brands. And then…..somebody in that company lost their damn minds. The endless collections, the non-stop MAC collaboration with ( insert whatever name you can think of here). I stopped buying their stuff years ago because the QC went off the rails and you truly could not be assured you weren’t getting crap. I dread it when they have new releases because I have to wade through all of those reviews and posts on my favorite blogs. It seems like they’re just throwing stuff out there every other day and I just don’t get it. I mean really, how many collections does one company need to put out in a year? Here’s a suggestion MAC; focus on quality over quantity. Betcha can’t do it!

  • Linda

    These stopped me in my tracks at Macy’s yesterday — glad I waited to buy them. The swatches are gawd-awful.

  • Joanna

    MAC Apricot Blend Studio Sculpt Shade and Line Eyeshadow looks really pretty but unfortunately I will past. You always give sound advice 🙂