When writing my top 10 beauty products recently, I was struggling towards the end and chose MAC pigments because they are such a versatile and high-quality product.
Before I tried them out, I was under the impression that pigments were really just a way for the big dogs at MAC to make a ... Read review
Advantages: Last FOREVER, versatile, good range to choose from Disadvantages: Initial expense
...towards the end and chose MAC pigments because they are such a versatile and high-quality product.
Before I tried them out, I was under the impression that pigments were really just a way for the big dogs at MAC to make a quick buck, because they are pretty expensive. Now I understand a little better, I really think they're quite reasonable.
In short, pigments are simply a loose powder which is rich in colour and can ... ...like. Over at the official MAC website, there are usually around 15 shades on offer, limited edition ones come and go and there are more yet on MAC Pro, which is for registered users (usually makeup artists). When you buy samples, you can often choose from all of these, giving you a really wide range to choose from. Of course you can also find the rarer ones on eBay, but bidding wars could get pretty agressive!
When writing my top 10 beauty products recently, I was struggling towards the end and chose MAC pigments because they are such a versatile and high-quality product.
Before I tried them out, I was under the impression that pigments were really just a way for the big dogs at MAC to make a quick buck, because they are pretty expensive. Now I understand a little better, I really think they're quite reasonable.
In short, pigments are simply a loose powder which is rich in colour and can be used as more than just an eyeshadow. A little (and I mean VERY little) goes a long way, and expensive as they may seem, pick the right shade and you will get a lot of use out of it.
Okay, so what is the right shade? Well, if like me you don't fancy shelling out £14.68 for a full-size jar, you can always grab some samples (usually from the US) for around $3 each for 1/4 teaspoon. As you need such a tiny amount, this is a good way to start out with pigments, although there are some fakes around so look out for stores with feedback. I'm not entirely sure whether I fully agree with the idea of someone buying a product to spin a profit...but really it would be very hard to use an entire pigment yourself, so if it introduces someone to the great product..I guess it's okay? I don't know...anyway I'm not here to talk about morals, it's all about the pigments!
A lot of these samples come in deals where you get to pick 10 shades or what have you, so I recommend starting with some staple colours and then picking whatever fun ones you like. Over at the official MAC website, there are usually around 15 shades on offer, limited edition ones come and go and there are more yet on MAC Pro, which is for registered users (usually makeup artists). When you buy samples, you can often choose from all of these, giving you a really wide range to choose from. Of course you can also find the rarer ones on eBay, but bidding wars could get pretty agressive!
Some must-haves for me would be vanilla, melon, rose and chocolate brown. Be aware that not all pigments are suitable for wearing on the eyes, but this is clearly labelled. MAC also offer pigments specifically for the lips. Vanilla makes a great base and highlight for the brow bone or cheekbones. Rose can be mixed with lip products for a nice colour or used on cheeks. Melon is also a good all-round colour and I love chocolate brown for a liner or crease colour to darken up an eye look.
Of course you can also get some really bright and fun colours - I love teal and golden lemon particularly.
Okay, so you bought your pigment, now what? Well, here's just some of the ways you can use it:
Eyes - Using a base such as Urban Decay Primer Potion or whatever you prefer, just a few "grains" of pigment give a rich colour on the lid. If you prefer, mix with water or a mixing medium (I use old saline eye drops) to form a sort of paint if you like, and achieve a really vivid "wow" affect not for the faint-hearted! I also like using a liner brush with one of the more vibrant colours to make a change from dull-coloured eye liner.
Lips - Either mix the desired amount of pigment with the gloss or balm of your choice, or add gloss to your lips, dab on a bit of pigment and layer gloss over the top. Now that winter is upon us and my lips are pretty sore, I've been using melon pigment mixed with a Body Shop Born Lippy balm (mango). The colours are really similar so it was tricky to mix in a good amount (a clear balm would be much better), but the affect is a nice subtle shimmer which still moisturises my lips.
Nails - You can either mix pigment in with a clear polish or dab/sprinkle on top before it has dried, and then add a clear top coat. If you choose to mix pigment with a polish, you will need to have a ball-bearing in the bottle (often seen in glittery polishes) otherwise it won't mix properly. You can pick up ball-bearings at craft or hobby shops.
Cheeks - Dab a little onto your cheek in a line (think war paint) and blend with a brush. This also applies to highlight colours - vanilla makes a nice alternative to Benefit's High Beam and at the same price you get a hell of a lot more use for it.
Body shimmer - Add a dab of moisturiser to the back of your hand and mix in a little of your desired colour. Mix for a shimmer wherever you desire it!
As you can see, your imagination is pretty much the limit. A full-size pigment is 7.5g (just over a quarter of an ounce) and this will really, honestly, last you forever. You can also sometimes find smaller "charm" pigments although these are a lot rarer. So, choose your colour wisely and money well spent.
If you really can't shell out £15 for one eyeshadow, and in this economy who really can, Barry M's dazzle dusts are a similar product in a vast range of colours for a much more wallet-friendly £4.50!
Pigments can be bought from www.maccosmetics.co.uk, eBay or at a MAC counter.
Advantages: So many! - shade range, blend easily, different textures, pot lasts forever.... Disadvantages: Very pricey but quite inexpensive considering the endless list of advantages!
MAC Pigments...well, what can I say about them? Not enough, in my opinion - I could rave about these little gems all day!
I was first (indirectly) introduced to MAC Pigments on a make-up site I very often visit. A girl had posted a "Parrot Eye Tutorial" on the forum in which she used green, blue, orange, yellow Pigments - all of which looked absolutely stunning on her. Her technique appeared so advanced and professional and, although I wanted to ... ...could go and buy the MAC counter out of their Pigment stock!!
I wasn't sure how much to use at first, so I tried the tiniest amount using my eye shadow brush (Ruby and Millie if anyone would like to know!)...when I say tiny, I mean literally the same as 5 grains of sugar. I was in disbelief - the colour spread across my whole eye lid as if I'd used a much more generous amount. Not only that, but approx. 6 hours later the pigment was in its original ...
verna-carina88x 16.07.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of MAC Pigment
Advantages: High quality/value4money/Beautiful colours Disadvantages: Price-slightly expensive!!
MAC pigments are truly more than just any eye shadow!!!
The first time i seen the MAC range, i was pretty dazzled by its vibrant and appealing colours - something which I have not seen before. They are nicely presented and lined up in pots that have been estimated to last you a lifetime! I was pleasantly surprised by the presentation as well as the actual content within these pots.... AMAZING. The first thing to be aware of is the smooth feel they ... ...definitely be aware that the MAC range will remain on even after a long energetic night out. It is definitely long lasting unlike the other eye shadow products I have invested in.
I first purchased a fuchsia Mac pigment, the colour was amazing. It did not dull out as soon as it was applied to my lids. The colour remains exactly how it looks in its tub. It cost me £15 for a tub, now to some like myself you may be slightly hesitant to splash out on ...
angelicme 28.11.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of MAC Pigment
Advantages: Pigment does not streak or cake, is easy to blend and long-lasting. Disadvantages: Quite expensive
I've been using MAC Pigment for about a year now, they are basically a loose colour powder that contains ingredients to help it adhere to the skin. I always use an eye primer before application of the Eye pigment. I usually buy my pigment from the MAC website where they retail at £15, they come in a 7.5g pot which lasts me about 6 months so in my opinion its worth the price. I currently own Cornflower which is a blue colour, Golden Olive which is ... ...If you are going to purchase a pot of MAC Pigment I would suggest you don't purchase one from Ebay as I've heard that they are copies and do not contain the same ingredients that the authentic MAC products contain I also review on dooyoo under the name daniabr ...
metaldani1 12.10.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of MAC Pigment
Advantages: Easy to use, great range of colours, high quality product, doesn't crease Disadvantages: Price, can be messy
...(all made of plastic). The MAC logo graces the front of the pot in sophisticated black lettering. The pot is easy to open and close, and doesn't leak.
--Application--
You will need to purchase an eyeshadow brush (or sponge, it doesn't matter) for this. Dip the tip of the brush/sponge into the pigment and either apply all over the eyelid, or follow the line of the top lashes and then smudge outwards (either with water or without). This was all very ... ...I think all of the MAC pigments have some sort of shimmer or pearlescence to them. On the eyelids the powder feels very smooth and non-irritating.
--Appearance--
While this could so easily look over the top, it really doesn't. With the smoky grey, brown and black shades, you can create smoky eyes with ease without looking like you've been in a fight.
--Longevity--
Utterly perfect. I haven't attempted it without a primer, but with my usual combination ...
Angelil 30.03.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of MAC Pigment
Advantages: Works better than other eyeshadows, stays on throughout the day, plenty of choice Disadvantages: Expensive, difficult to apply
I was first recommended MAC pigments through an online forum and I happily decided to try some samples. My other eyeshadows had started to feel useless - not only did they crease on application and wear out easily, but they were not very bright and it was difficult to tell different colours apart. MAC has a huge variety of pigment and I was surprised that it was in powder form, something I'd never really tried before. Though I found applying it a ... ...need a LOT of practice and time to do a good job and often I prefer dabbing on my usuals in order to save the bother. But especially for special occasions MAC pigment is completely worth it - it really does look good and stay looking good throughout the day. ...
rushda 30.12.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of MAC Pigment
Ease of Application
Waterproof?
Does it irritate your e...
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Advantages: Wide range of colour, last all night Disadvantages: Bit expensive
bracket which has made it quite unobtainable to me as I am on a strict budget when it comes to make up.
However whilst browsing on good old Ebay (yes another one of my addictions) I found out that you can actually buy sample sized pots of the MAC Eyeshadow Pigments for a much cheaper price. You can buy a teaspoon, which doesn't sound much but these products have such a high pigmentation of colour you really don't need to use much at all so they last for absolutely ages. I think I paid about £3 for mine, they come in small screw top clear pots with the colour easily viewable, they are ideal for having in your make up bag as they don't take up hardly any room at all.
I have bought about 3 of these so far - Teal, which as you would imagine is a really rich emerald green colour, Green Olive which is a greeny gold colour, and another colour ...
shazzaspannered 26.07.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of MAC Pigments
Advantages: Very concentrated and lasts and lasts, versatile and a wide range Disadvantages: Hard to get out of your brushes
MACpigments are one of the best most versatile cosmetics products I have ever come across. They can be used pretty much anywhere and come in a huge range of colours.
Just one of the ways in which they can be used are: cheek colour, eye colour, mix with the mixing medium (only available in pro stores eg London) for more intense colour or eyeliner, mix with MAC clear lip glass for a totally original shade of lipgloss that's 100% you and many more.
The jars are fantastic value when you think of what you get from them, as £15 at first may seem a little pricey but they are worth it. The bright colours are great for eyes, like the RebelRock Blue which matches well with Teal, and the lighter colours are good for cheeks, highlighting and mixing with gloss, like Vanilla and Fairy Dust.
The colours are often discontinued to make room ...
chocolate_fund 28.10.2005 (02.11.2005)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of MAC Pigments
Advantages: Very versatile, a pot lasts for ever! Disadvantages: Tends to spill everywhere.
MACPigment in Vanilla is a must own product for any make up bag. It is a creamy ivory colour loose powder shot through with a hint of gold shimmer.
You can use it as an eyeshadow - either dry for a sheer effect or wet for a more intense look.
You can use it on the cheeks as a highlighter, either on it's own, or over other colours or powder or cream blush. (It looks fantastic worn as a highlghter over Benefit's Dandelion powder on the cheeks)
You can mix it with body lotion to make a great long lasting body shimmer, or you can dust it straight on to shoulders or legs with a big dusting brush.
You can mix it with foundation or tinted moisturiser for an instant radiant glow.
Mix with lipgloss to make it shimmery.
A pot lasts for ever, MACPigments are great quality so a little goes a long way, and they have so many uses ...
pootle77 11.09.2005 (13.09.2005)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of MAC Pigments
