MAC Cool Neutral Palette Swatches, Looks & Review
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Looking for MAC Cool Neutral palette reviews? We’ve got that here + swatches and custom looks!
The MAC Eye Shadow x15 Cool Neutral palette (available here) is one of two fifteen-pan eyeshadow palettes that were originally released last year and are being repromoted this year (the other being the MAC X15 Warm Neutral palette – available here).
A third, limited edition palette has been added and is a Nordstrom-exclusive product: the Nordstrom Naturals palette (available here).
All three sell for $85.
These palettes are a great way start a MAC eyeshadow collection, as each has a nicely curated assortment of colors and finishes.
While the $85 price tag may seem steep, this palette contains 15 full sized MAC eyeshadow pans, which would normally retail for $10 each.
Adding a MAC Pro Palette ($8) and Pro Palette insert ($2) brings the total value of this palette to $160.
So even if you only liked half of the eyeshadows, you’d still be getting a good deal! (Don’t you just LOVE makeup math?)
The MAC Cool Neutral palette
The MAC Cool Neutral palette has a mixture of 15 permanent, repromoted and brand new limited edition shades designed to enhance cool skin tones.
MAC Cool Neutral Palette Swatches
top row: Flounce, Sweet Allure, Sun Tweaked After Dusk and Blackberry
Top Row:
Flounce (matte)
Sweet Allure (satin)
Sun Tweaked (frost)
After Dusk (veluxe pearl)
Blackberry (matte, permanent shade)
middle row: Pick Me Up, Cozy Grey, Crushed Clove, Deception and Brun
Middle Row:
Pick Me Up (matte)
Cozy Grey (matte)
Crushed Clove (frost)
Deception (frost)
Brun (satin, permanent shade)
bottom row: Silver Fog, French Clay, Cumulus, Pearled Earth and Black Tied
Bottom Row:
Silver Fog (lustre)
French Clay (frost)
Cumulus (frost)
Pearled Earth (veluxe pearl)
Black Tied (velvet, permanent shade)
Some of the lighter pastel and shimmer shades that make up the first two columns (obvious FYI: that’s top to bottom) are a bit sheer (Flounce, Sweet Allure, Pick Me Up, Crushed Clove, Silver Fog and French Clay).
Because I have medium tan skin (NC35-ish), they don’t stand out much against my skin, even when used with a primer.
MAC Cool Neutral Palette Looks
This is a look using the top row: Flounce, Sweet Allure, Sun Tweaked, After Dusk and Blackberry (a very light hand on Blackberry.)
Additionally, some of the darkest shades are a smidge chalky and harder to blend, particularly Black Tied.
However, as MAC points out, all of these shades can be used wet or dry, and the less pigmented and chalky shades are beautifully transformed when applied with a damp brush or damp sponge applicator.
Here I used the bottom row: Silver Fog, French Clay, Cumulus, Pearled Earth and Black Tied.
I LOVE the three shades in column three (Sun Tweaked, Crushed Clove, Cumulus), and the three shades in column four (After Dusk, Deception, Pearled Earth).
They are smooth and have a nice sheen to them without being over the top.
They blend beautifully and are nicely pigmented. And I feel that they’re all that fantastic sort of color that helps tie together a look–they’re almost chameleon-esque!
I really love the combination of shades and finishes in this palette, and the way they’re laid out–a nice variety, in three rows of colors that complement each other, going from lightest value (left) to darkest value (right).
It really makes this a VERY user-friendly palette, and incredibly versatile–you can do a natural, “no makeup” type look, or go for the smokiest sultry eye.
The MAC Eye Shadow x15 Cool Neutral palette keeps neutrals from being anything but boring!
Not ready to make the leap to X15?
They’ve also released x9 palettes; $53 worth of shadow for $40. Shown here (clockwise from bottom) are Burgundy Times Nine, Purple Times Nine and Amber Times Nine. (There’s also a Navy Times Nine.)
Have you tried the MAC Cool Neutral palette?
You may also like these MAC reviews:
- MAC Liptensity Lipstick Swatches and Review
- MAC Next to Nothing Face Colour Foundation and Pressed Powder Swatches + Review
- MAC Matchmaster Concealer Swatches and Review
Mega swoon! I need this!!
I don’t usually swoon over cool tones… but yeah, major swoon!
Ooooh it’s gorgeous! I love the colors, I have the Nordstrom Exclusive MAC palette which is a favorite!
Oh how I would love to own this!!! I love their make up, but sometimes my budget gets the better of me. This time though I think I’m going to throw caution to the wind and go out shopping!!!!!
I love the “makeup math” lol, helps justify the price tag for me! I tried the Purple x Nine which is a fabulous collection of cool colors. It’s also really nice to have a bunch of them all together, to mix and match, and not have to go scrambling around looking for different pots etc!
Sadly, this will be one neutral palette I’ll be skipping—I’m so pale that most of these shadows won’t even show up on me :( wah waaaaaah *sad trombone*
Great post and pics, @lipglossandspandex!
Pretty pretty pretty! You really do such a GREAT job @lipglossandspandex!! I’ll be visiting the store today! Thanks for the post!
@lipglossandspandex can you just live at my house and do my eye makeup everyday for me? Yet another flawless look!! I guess that I will have to settle for the next best thing and get the MAC Cool Neutral Palette. Gorgeous!!
Beautiful shades! This seems like a great staple palette.