REVIEW & SWATCHES | MAC Extra Dimension Eye Shadows

REVIEW & SWATCHES | MAC Extra Dimension Eye Shadows

Extra Dimension Eye Shadow
A liquid-powder Eye Shadow with prismatic reflections in ten shimmering tints. Impact ranges from sheer crystallized light to a highly polished metallic effect. Lasts up to 6 hours.
2 g / 0.07 US oz US$20.00
  

Young Venus - Pale white pink (Metallic)

Warm Thunder - Dirty silver grey (Metallic)

Modern Pewter - Dirty olive gold (Metallic)

Havana - Dirty copper brown (Metallic)

                                                         Lunar - Royal blue (Metallic)

                                                   Dark Dare - Charcoal black (Glow)

       

       

  

Availability:  April 3, 2012 - Online and April 5,  2012 in stores (North America)

May 2012 (International)

PRO Discount Available

 

The MAC Extra Dimension Eye Shadows are priced at $20 for 2 g/0.07 oz of product. 

The price of these eyeshadows is definitely daunting especially when you are used to the $15 price tag of the regular MAC Eyeshadows (0.05 oz). These are larger sized eyeshadows although they do not contain as much product as other larger MAC Eyeshadows - think Pro Longwear (0.11 oz) and Mega Metal Eye Shadows (0.11 oz).

Also, when compared to eyeshadows from other brands you will find that the price/amount of product is not such a great bargain either especially for MAC, a brand that usually skates on the cheaper end of the mid-end cosmetics brands. MAC seems (I have heard that this is their ultimate goal) to be trending towards higher priced products in the realm of NARS, Chanel, Lancome, Estee Lauder and other higher-end brands. Such a shame since MAC is was always considered one of those mid-high-end brands that were still within the reach of consumers with smaller budgets.

After you read the review you will figure out that I do NOT think these are worth the price! Although they are nice products and have a 'different' texture to them, I just didn't get blown away enough by the colors or their uniqueness to send you on your merry shopping way. Collectors should at least grab one to say they own a piece of the collection but otherwise I think the regular consumer can find cheaper alternatives.

 

The M∙A∙C Extra Dimension Eye Shadows are Limited Edition products and are a part of the M∙A∙C In Extra Dimension Collection - release date April 5, 2012. They are available for purchase at M∙A∙C (stores and online) and other M∙A∙C retailers such as Nordstrom, Macy's, Bloomingdale's and Dillard’s.

There are 10 available shades to choose in both neutral and colorful colors. There is sure to be at least one color (or a few) that appeals to your tastes. I think a couple of ideal colors are missing from this collection such as green, white and yellow, but we can't win them all.

 

The M∙A∙C Mineralize Eye Shadows are housed in black plastic flip-top pots with a clear domed window at the top. This type of packaging is usual for M∙A∙C's larger sized eyeshadows (Pro Longwear, Mega Metal, Metal-X, etc.) and cream color bases. With this M∙A∙C packaging it is easy to see the colors through the clear window at the top of the pot which is convenient when searching for color in your collection.

Inside you will find the product itself which has a raised wave design on one half (reminiscent of the Sephora Prisma Chrome Eyeshadows and the M∙A∙C Extra Dimension Highlighters) and embossed MAC logos on the other. It is quite visually appealing and eye catchy to be honest...I like pretty things :) Of course the design will fade with use but it's nice to look at while it lasts. And there is also a clear plastic cover inside to protect the precious cargo.

 

 

The M∙A∙C Extra Dimension Eye Shadow is "liquid-powder Eye Shadow with prismatic reflections in ten shimmering tints. Impact ranges from sheer crystallized light to a highly polished metallic effect. Lasts up to 6 hours".

TEXTURE

The texture of the M∙A∙C Extra Dimension Eye Shadows is described as liquid-powder which is quite an intriguing claim. I didn't quite get that feeling when I touched the product. In fact, it just feels like a silky powder product. I was expecting smooth buttery deliciousness but I was not blown away by the texture at all. Now that is not to say that the texture is bad at all....quite contrary....it has a lovely smooth silky feel to it. But alas not the creamy near fluid feel I was hoping for.

Now even though it feels like a powder there is no powder-iness to it...maybe that's the near-fluid effect? IDK. But the product does feel very smooth when applied to the skin and glides on without much effort. It's also very lightweight and doesn't feel heavy on the skin. The powder is ultra ultra refined and smooth without any chunky particles.Wonderful texture actually but just not what I was expecting from the description :) 

FINISH

The M∙A∙C Extra Dimension Eye Shadows have a high-shine finish that reminds me of a refined frost texture but not quite as metallic as claimed. They do not have a chunky frost shimmer and there are no glitter particles to be found. Some of the shades have a closer to reflective metallic finish than others. Havana and Dark Dare have a more subtle sheen similar to a satin finish than the high shine of a metallic finish. The eyeshadows can also be used wet/damp for a more intense shine.

PIGMENTATION

The shades that I picked up all have good color payoff with the darker shades of course being more pigmented than the lighter colors. The colors are opaque in a single swipe with or without a primer but can be easily sheered out for a wash of color. When used wet/damp the colors are definitely more intense in pigmentation.

COLORS

The colors in this collection are wearable neutral shades with a few subtle colors mixed in. There are quite a few lighter highlight colors and a couple of deeper shades. None of the colors pop out as unique and super impressive. There are definitely more unique colors out there.

APPLICATION

The M∙A∙C Extra Dimension Eye Shadows apply smoothly to the skin and work best with a synthetic dense brush than a fluffier brush. The eyeshadows are creamy and blend evenly without much effort at all even when used wet/damp. They also work very well with other eyeshadows of varying textures especially mattes.

WEAR

The M∙A∙C Extra Dimension Eye Shadows wear decently for about 5+ hours before there is any fading in intensity. When used with a face primer/base, the product has something to grab onto so the wear is certainly prolonged a couple of hours. However, these eyeshadows do not wear very long without a bit of effort. When used with a good primer/base and used wet they can go for a full 8-10 hours of wear. But on bare skin they start fading very quickly after 4 hours. There is also minimal creasing on oily lids when used without a primer.

 

 

The M∙A∙C Extra Dimension Eyeshadows are nice eyeshadows but didn't blow me away in texture or unique colors. Since the price is verging on the higher-end scale I would expect a more stellar product for the price. The Extra Dimension in these eyeshadows seem to be the extra price. I think the MAC Mega Metal Eyeshadows have a much better texture and color payoff than these eyeshadows. While the texture here is nice it's not as outstanding as I would expect. You are sure to find similar colors from other brands at a similar or even lower price.

What are your thoughts? Interested in trying these?

 

 

 Read more...

 

DRY/WET (no primer)

 Modern Pewter - Dirty olive gold (Metallic)

 Icy olive gold.

 

MAC Modern Pewter Extra Dimension  Eyeshadow vs MAC Dalliance Mega Metal Eyeshadow

 

DRY/WET (no primer)

  Young Venus - Pale white pink (Metallic)

Icy pale pink. I love that the pink shines through the pale icy-ness of the eyeshadow which is hard to find.

MAC Young Venus Extra Dimension  Eyeshadow vs MAC Prance Mega Metal Eyeshadow vs MAC Mineral Mode Mineralize Eyeshadow

 

DRY/WET (no primer)

 Warm Thunder - Dirty silver grey (Metallic)

 Beautiful cool silver with a hint of blue. Not sure where the warm thunder came from but this is my favorite color of the bunch.

 

DRY/WET (no primer)

 Havana - Dirty copper brown (Metallic)
 Deep chocolate brown with a sheen.

 

MAC Havana Extra Dimension  Eyeshadow vs MAC Make Your Mark Pro Longwear Eyeshadow vs MAC Center Stage Mega Metal Eyeshadow  

DRY/WET (no primer)

 Lunar - Royal blue (Metallic)
Medium deep blue with a slight purple undertone.

 

MAC Lunar Extra Dimension  Eyeshadow vs MAC Dandizette Mega Metal Eyeshadow vs MAC Blue Sheen Mineralize Eyeshadow

DRY/WET (no primer) 

Dark Dare - Charcoal black (Glow)

 Charcoal black with very slight sheen. Not the deepest darkest black.

 

MAC Dark Dare Extra Dimension  Eyeshadow vs MAC Legendary Black Mega Metal Eyeshadow  vs Rock & Republic Fatalistic Eyeshadow