MAKEUP LOOK | MAC Smoky Metallic Times Nine Review with Swatches

While my husband was away this week, I decided to make use of my nights alone by...playing with makeup! We work opposite schedules so I try not to do any blog related things in the evenings and do the Dr. Phil thing and "respect our marriage". However, the last few days I threw that rule out the window and lived it up!

I received the MAC Smoky Metallic x 9 Eyeshadow Palette* (0.8g each/$42.00 CDN) awhile ago and finally decided to give it a go. I like smoky eyes, but I can't say it's a look I think of doing immediately and looking at the mix of both matte and shimmery shades in this palette initially had me drawing a blank. Each individual shade was gorgeous, but putting them all together seemed a challenge.

There a number of x 9 palettes available (unfortunately this one doesn't seem to be around anymore) and all are about the size of the palm of my hand. The shadows themselves are also available for individual purchase so if there are just a few shades you keep using, you don't have to worry about hitting pan because there is always the full-sized version available!

Pigmentation was quite good with even the chunky glitter shadows like By the Silver Moon and Richy-Rich swatching easily without much fallout. Carbon was a little bit patchy, but was buildable to desired intensity.

I could have gone a little smokier, but I felt the contrast with the nude lips and blush with a brown smoky eye was enough glam for the look I was going for.

Face:

Skindinavia Primer Spray*
Guerlain Meteorites Baby Glow Light Revealing Sheer Makeup Anti-fatigue Effect Baby Glow SPF 25 PA++ in #3 Medium**

Brows:

Dior Brow Styler in #002 Universal Dark Brown

Eyes:

Apply Too Faced Shadow Insurance on eyelids.
Apply Simple Sensation all over the lid as a base colour.
Apply Spice Bar all over lid and into crease.
Using fingers, apply Richy-Rich on top of lid using patting motions.
Apply Black Factor to outer third of lid and smoke out and down to lower lash line.
Apply Black Factor along lower lash line.
Line lower lash line with black eyeliner like Lise Watier Waterproof Eyeliner in Anthracite*.
Line upper lash line with Kat Von D Trooper
Apply MAKE UP FOR EVER Smoky Stretch Mascara*. 
Apply KISS Natural Flourish Blooming Lash

Cheeks:

Tarte Amazonian 12 Hour Clay Blush in Adored
MAC Powder Blush in This Could Be Fun* 

Lips:

MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Pure Zen

Final verdict: I still don't know if this is necessarily the palette I would have picked up if left to my own devices, BUT what I did discover is that this palette let's you create "smoky" using a range of shades that I normally wouldn't have reached for to create a smoky eye. This palette is on the pricier side considering the size of each pan, but it does let you try a number of MACs bestselling shades without committing to the full-sized version at $19.

MAC Times Nine Eyeshadow Palettes available at www.maccosmetics.ca