A couple weeks ago it came to my attention that MAC had not only reduced the price of their single eyeshadows, but also of their premade palettes. I had always wanted a MAC palette but didn't want to pay for 15 single shadows or put up with the stress of trying to choose the perfect shades. So once I saw that a premade palette was a more reasonable price for me, I jumped at the chance to grab one and ended up with the Cool Neutrals Palette.
MAC has several different premade 15-pan palettes, including a warm-toned one that everyone has been going crazy for. As you probably know (because I never shut up about it), cool tones suit me better, and the Cool Neutrals Palette just looked absolutely gorgeous.
Top to bottom: Flounce, Sweet Allure, Sun Tweaked, After Dusk, Blackberry
Top to bottom: Pick Me Up, Cozy Grey, Crushed Clove, Deception, Brun
Top to bottom: Silver Fog, French Clay, Cumulus, Pearled Earth, Black Tied
The shades are broken up into color families by row - the top row has more pink/plum tones, the middle row is cool browns and taupes, and the bottom row are more gray-toned. The shades included are:
Pick Me Up - (matte) pale ivory
Cozy Grey - (matte) cool grey
Crushed Clove - (frost) dirty gold olive
Deception - (frost) chocolate gold
Brun - (satin) muted blackish brown
Flounce - (matte) chalky white pink
Sweet Allure - (satin) soft light pink
Sun Tweaked - (frost) soft frosty coral
After Dusk - (veluxe pearl) midtonal rose
Blackberry - (matte) muted burgundy brown
Silver Fog - (lustre) white w/ silver pearl
French Clay - (frost) white grey frost
Cumulus - (frost) dirty grey charcoal
Pearled Earth - (veluxe pearl) deep blue grey
Black Tied - (velvet) black w/ silver sparkle
As cool as it sounds to make your own palette, I actually really like that this palette gave me the chance to try some MAC shadows I probably wouldn't have tried on my own. If I made my own palette, it would be full of "blogger favorite" shades like Satin Taupe and All That Glitters. I love every single color in this palette, but there are only two or three that I had heard of before.
The quality of the shadows is the same as other single MAC eyeshadows I've tried. Some shades are softer and creamier than others in the palette (for example, Crushed Clove has a beautiful texture while Deception, right next to it, feels a little rougher). There isn't a bad formula in the bunch, though. They last on me all day long with a primer, as do the other MAC eyeshadows I've used. I love that I have this palette now, as it's made me feel more adventurous when it comes to putting eye looks together (although it is still all neutrals). I was in a bit of a no-makeup rut for a few weeks, but this has inspired me to start putting makeup on again. My favorite shades in the palette are Blackberry, Crushed Clove, Deception, and Cumulus, but I can definitely see myself using every shade. I certainly won't be needing more eyeshadow for a long, long time (so remind me if you see me lusting after any more on Twitter), and I honestly don't want to reach for any other palette but this. This has filled the gap of cool-toned eyeshadows in my collection perfectly, and I might even replace my beloved Naked2 palette with this.
Have you tried any of MAC's premade palettes? What's your favorite? If I didn't have enough eyeshadow to last me a lifetime I'd probably go for the Nordstrom Now Palette next.