Saturday, September 15, 2012

MAC Moth Brown eyeshadow review + swatches




         MAC Moth Brown is legendary limited edition eyeshadow. It's one of those taupes that a beauty aficionado is supposed to have. I can't tell you how long it's been on my 'want-but-can't-have' list. This coveted eyeshadow has quite a history. It was first released in the  MAC Madame B. collection in 2005, then re-released in Barbie Loves MAC in 2007. (I would have gone nuts over a MAC Barbie collection, given the chance). Recently, fans voted for MAC Moth Brown to be brought back a third time in the MAC By Request collection in August 2012. I couldn't believe my luck!


          To celebrate the return of MAC Moth Brown, I asked my mom to dig up some of my childhood Barbie dolls for this post. (You might remember seeing one in a previous post). Apparently, I was more of a Barbie girl than I remember. There were at least ten of them clothed in various princess or 80's/90's gear. With her blue eyes, painted brows, and voluminous cornsilk hair, Barbie was on of my first impressions of beauty. Sometimes I wonder if my perception of beauty would have been different had I grown up with the more ethnically diverse dolls that are available today. Despite an overall disconnect in appearance, Barbie and I do share two things in common: impossibly frizzy hair that's a pain in the butt to comb and an appreciation for makeup. MAC Moth Brown definitely looks like a purple that Barbie would wear. (As you can see above, it matches her blurple irises quite nicely). Despite having quite a different complexion, MAC Moth Brown is a color that I can wear too. The universally flattering nature of MAC Moth Brown is what makes it so special.



         I've pulled out some of my taupe eyeshadows to compare to MAC Moth Brown. MAC Moth Brown looks positively purple in the pan and looks quite purple in swatches as well. I find that it looks more purple in low light, while it looks more taupe in sunlight. You can appreciate how purple Moth Brown is when you compare it to MAC Satin Taupe (another crowd favorite). MAC Satin Taupe is more of a brown-taupe, while Moth Brown is a dark cool purple with hints of taupe. MAC Pearled Earth from the 2012 Reel Sexy collection is very similar in the pan and in the swatch. Pearled Earthis has a slightly more silvery lavender sheen, while Moth Brown is more brown. NARS Lhasa (reviewed here) has some purple in it, but is a lighter earthier taupe than Moth Brown. NARS 413 BLKR is a much lighter cool lavender. It's worth noting that MAC Moth Brown has a 'frost' finish, so it has a sheen, and a texture that isn't as smooth as MAC's 'veluxe pearl' eyeshadows.


          MAC Moth Brown is more purple than I had been expecting, but I'm happy to have it in my collection for both sentimental and functional reasons. Those who waited too long know that Moth Brown has since sold out for the third, and possibly final time. But wait, there's more! (There's only one more as a matter of fact). I picked up an extra pan of Moth Brown for a thank-you giveaway to Cute and Mundane readers. I'm really excited about this and will be putting together the giveaway soon!

          Thanks for reading! Did you pick up MAC Moth Brown or any of the other MAC By Request colors? What is your favorite taupe? Were you a Barbie girl too?

Love, Dovey.

59 comments:

  1. oh, it is beautiful! i think i like this even better than nars Lhasa.
    i still don't have "the perfect" purplish taupe in my collection, but i love my chanel vega (also discontinued) which is a basic shimmery taupe.
    i am very excited about your upcoming giveaway! :)

    (i heard on twitter that your heel got hurt. i hope you have a speedy recovery. have a great weekend!)

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    1. Hi Lena, finding a color better than Lhasa is a tall order. Vega is gorgeous though!! I'm trying to get the giveaway up ASAP. Thank you so much for the well wishes; I will try to be less clumsy next time :)

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  2. Moth Brown is one of the colors that I'm worried I can't wear (some cool-toned neutrals work on me, but a lot give me facepalm moments). Since I never got to see if in person and swatch it, I really can't say if it'll be loved!

    Just read Lena's comment that you got hurt (it happened when I was in bed). I hope it'll get better soon!!!

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    1. Hi Sunny, Thank you for the well wishes too! Moth brown does run a bit cool; I didn't really feel like reaching for it in the summer--- but now it's fall and I think I can get away with cooler tones :)

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  3. Ok, for a second the Barbie really scared the heck out of me. Her eyes...seem a little creepy now. But I used to be SUCH a Barbie girl. I had so many literally scattered around my bed back then. Then I went through a tomboy phase and I don't know what happened to them!

    I never realized how brown Satin Taupe was! Moth Brown looks like such an interesting color, though. Really unlike anything I've ever seen. I've always really liked more purple-y taupes. I can imagine how lovely it looks on your eyes!

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    1. Hi Maggie, when I first opened my box of Barbies, I was quite startled by their eyes too. They're so bright blue! I thought Satin Taupe and Moth Brown would be similar but they're so different! I think my skin tends to pull purple out of colors, though, so it may depend on the person.

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  4. I was a Barbie girl - my mom even made clothes for my Barbies! Once I started sewing I questioned my mother's sanity for ever attempting to make miniature clothes! I don't remember the eyes being so creepy though like Maggie mentioned! It's funny how memories can change over the years.
    I didn't realize Moth Brown was so purple - always thought it was more brown (based on the name :P & previous swatches I'd seen). I'm sure this will be a gorgeous color on you!

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    1. Hi Kristi, my mom made me clothes too! I do not have sewing skills, but in retrospect I kind of wish I did. I agree also about memories changing over the years. I also imagined Moth brown to be... well, brown. Maybe the formulation has changed ever so slightly? I guess I'll never know.

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  5. I wasn't into Barbie but loved her friend Whitney. :D

    Moth Brown is so pretty and I'm excited about your giveaway! MAC needs to make this shade permanent and stop teasing us!

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    1. Hi Liz, Haha! I did not even realize there was a Whitney, but now I know :) I think I just wanted pure Barbie; my non Barbie dolls got a little neglected. And yes on the tease point!

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  6. I was a Barbie girl - or well, I had a couple of dolls, but I think some of them did have brown or black hair and fair skin. My favorite part was her wardrobe, anyway :)

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    1. Hi Larie, it sounds like you were more progressive than me :) No brown or black hair to be seen in my collection! The wardrobe was definitely fun too!

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  7. Hi Dovey, Love your Barbie photos :) I had a few Barbies back in the day and wish I would have held onto one or two!

    I've read about Moth Brown's famous reputation, but was not such a MAC fanatic at the time it was released in '05 and '07. This time I didn't want to miss out and ordered it right away! I was also surprised at how purple-toned it is, but I do like it :)

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    1. Hi Makeup Magpie, Thank you so much! It was a treat seeing my old dolls again for sure. I bet this purple (I mean taupe) looks gorgeous with your eyes :)

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  8. I was definitely a Barbie girl! Moth Brown is the sort of colour I look for and can never find...

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    1. Hi Vita, hopefully a similar one will turn up!

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  9. Dovey, probably one of my favorite pictures of yours yet!! You are amazing :)

    Great review, great post, great pictures. Let's do some sort of collab sometime soon.

    xo

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  10. I had a lot of Barbies, but my mom was weird and didn't let me have Ken dolls lol. I love moth brown, its so gorgeous. I was able to pick one up but I haven't had the chance to wear it yet. I love the comparison swatches and am pretty much lemming for all of the shadows now!

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    1. Hi Julia, I think I had just one Ken doll. I hope you get the chance to use this soon!

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  11. The Barbie collection came out just before I got into MAC and Moth Brown was one of the eyeshadows I was gutted to miss out on. It's become the stuff of makeup legends!! It's very interesting to see it compared to other taupes. This post was a timely reminder to look out for the release of By Request over here :D

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  12. i was so into barbies! that brings back memories! the eyeshadow looks gorgeous! thanks for the review!

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  13. Ah, I accidentally put my twitter username into the GFC entry. My GFC name is actually just Maggie! Good luck to all the other ladies!

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  14. Whitney was my favourite Barbie friend, for sure! I adore the look of this shade, I wish MAC wasn't so expensive in Australia it drives me mad.

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  15. I didn't like Barbies very much as a kid, but my sister LOVED them! I missed out on Moth Brown a few months ago and I'm so bitter about it!

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  16. I was not into Barbie much, my sister was and had the Barbie Air Plane. I do like this color. It is idea for a smoky eye. Thank you!

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  17. I was obsessed with barbies when I was little! It was a really sad day in my house when my mom made me give away my dolls to my younger cousin :(

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  18. I would love to win a moth brown shadow!! I am in love with anything slightly related to taupes so this would be a perfect addition to my collection!

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  19. Hey Dovey, so I stumbled across your blog while looking up information about the NARS multiple and couldn't stop reading (I love that you link to petfinder!). I was definitely a Barbie girl growing up, but then my mom sold all of my collection at a garage sale in high school (dang). I really like moth brown and am of the mind that you can never have too much taupe, so of course I could never pick a favorite!

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  20. I looove this! Ugh! I wish I picked it up! Maybe I'll be your lucky winner :P

    Great review! I looove your blog!

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  21. After I read this review, I wanted to find MAC Moth Brown and buy it... but of course, its no longer available on MAC website XD

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  22. this is my other comment (other than the above ;p) for my entry.
    thanks so much for this cool giveaway! i'm very excited. :)

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  23. This color is gorgeous! Wish I win it :D

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  24. I used to love barbie when I was younger, this colour is gorgeous! c.childs@live.co.uk X

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  25. I want this colour soo much, so pretty!!

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  26. Wouldnt it be cool if there was a Barbie with this shadow on? Anyone remember the horrible 80's blue eye look lol

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  27. I would like to chew off your arm, please :) All those pretty shades! And your mum is a champ for digging out those old barbies. My mum secretly hates all my toys

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  28. Moth Brown is so pretty! I didn't get a chance to buy it when it was available.

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  29. Moth Brown is so pretty! I didn't get a chance to buy it when it was available.

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  30. That eyeshadow is GORGEOUS!

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  31. Its look great to create smokey look , love the colour

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  32. This is very different from Lhasa - and I thought I had found the ultimate Fall/Winter shade!

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  33. i need this in my life *sigh* great write up, thanks for the teaser LOL

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  34. i love barbie and MAC moth brown eyeshadow too

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  35. that's a wonderful color!

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  36. thanks for the giveaway..

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  37. moth brown is gorgeous! thanks for the giveaway!

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  38. Love it - love all those taupes

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  39. Such a shame that MAC is so expensive in Australia :( but this colour looks simply gorgeous!

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  40. Moth Brown is so pretty!

    I didn't get a chance to buy it when it was available. Well i love this color

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  41. This colour is absolutely dreamy. Really does take me back to barbie days! I love the purple tone to this shadow but never managed to get my mitts on one. Love that barbie modelled for your post too. :)

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  42. pretty color. great review. Thanks for the giveaway

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  43. I was big into Barbie too when i was little - I don't have moth brown and I would love to own it, it's such a beautiful shade that I really think would work on any skintone.
    Thanks for a great giveaway xx

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  44. Looks like the perfect match...Barbie and Mac Moth Brown!! Lovely!!

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  45. Wow! The color is gorgeous! Also, I was a Barbie girl as well!

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  46. Moth Brown is a perfect deeper, cool taupe for me, so naturally, I missed out on getting it! Thank you, Dovey, for the chance to win it; maybe it will be mine yet! As far as Barbie goes, I loved her when I was young, but now, I find her a bit creepy. What's even creepier are all these weird women who have surgery to try and look like a Barbie doll---ugh! Just really CREEPY.

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