Top 10: MAC Neutral Eyeshadows
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SO many MAC eyeshadows, so little moola…. If you’re just as overwhelmed as I once was in picking which colors are worth making it to your stash, hopefully my top 10 will help you out
So here we go in no particular order…. (drum roll please….)
Nylon
This is a very shimmery and pigmented light white/gold eyeshadow. It gives a perfect glow that almost looks ‘wet’. It’s perfect as an under the brow highlight, inner corner of the eye highlight and some even use it as a cheek highlight.
MAC’s Description: Pale gold with icy shimmer
Samoa Silk
This is a really light peachy nude matte eyeshadow that works great for blending in the crease. It has good pigmentation and amazing texture-very smooth. I love how this warms up any cool toned color I put on the lid (like purples or blues)
MAC’s Description: Light matte peach
All That Glitters
This shimmery shadow is a great one for day or nightI love the shimmer in it and it lasts all day and does not crease, also you can pair it with warmer eyeshadows for a more sultry look. It pulls a gorgeous light neutral pinky peach with a golden sheen. It’s a veluxe pearl so the pigmentation is great and the application is smooth and easy to blend.
MAC’s Description: Beige with gold pearl
Kid
This matte eyeshadow is perfect for blending edges of other darker, more pigmented colors. This light brown color works as a great transition color in the crease- its not too dark or too light. This is my go to color for blending out a dark smoky eye.
MAC’s Description: Beige cashmere
Price: $14.50 (MAC)
Expensive Pink
This color is a beautiful mix of pink/gold/coral with a slightly shimmery finish. Expensive pink is a unique color that I love to put on the lid for day or night. I pair it up with Cork for the day, and Carbon or Ground Brown for night. It is very wearable and not too bright which is great for people who want a pop of color but nothing to bright. This is my all time favorite color
MAC’s Description: Warm pink with duochrome
Woodwinked
Woodwinked is a gorgeous antiqued bronzey gold colour, it is shimmery but not overly so – more metallic. This color is very versatile. On an everyday basis it looks great on the lid and blended into the crease on its own or it can be used to create a sultry smokey bronzed eye for the night with darker colors. It also works great with colors like greens, purples and deep blues.
MAC’s Description: Warm antique gold
Cork
Cork is very pigmented and this product can be used for multiple purposes. It’s often used as an eyebrow powder as well as a typical crease color for neutral looks. It works well with any lid color. You can also put another deeper brown in the crease to make it look more defined and dramtic, though still have this soft light brown along with it.
MAC’s Description: Muted golden brown
Twinks
This color has a brown base with red, plum and gold tones running wild through it. A great day or night eyeshadow and looks good on every eye color and skin tone. It looks neutral but also noticeable, also compliments most other colours. The intensity is very nice and the texture is smooth.
MAC’s Description: Deep plum with pearl
Ground Brown
Every girl (or guy) needs a dark brown matte eyeshadow- it’s great for smudging along the lashline to make your lashes look thicker, it turns any daytime look into a night look, and it adds dimension to any color. I like this Ground Brown color as it is dark yet warm-like a chocolate brown color.
MAC’s Description: Matte dark brown
Satin Taupe
Satin Taupe has been a favorite by many for years! Its a really gorgeous bronze color with a greyish undertone- it is a classic and versatile smokey taupe. The trick to this shadow is layering the amount you put on your lid as it’s is extremely buildable. A light layer can give you a subtle daytime look, but pack on the color and you get a sultry smoky eye . You can come up with lots of great natural or dramatic combos with this color!
MAC’s Description: Taupe with silver shimmer
Top 10: MAC Neutral Eyeshadows,













Yayyy love them!
Great shades love them all!!!
I have every one of these colors and I can say that they are all great. I think Twinks is not given nearly enough credit. I think its overlooked a lot . I use it for a really pretty smokey eye with cranberry. They pair very nicely together. Brown Down also pairs nicely with most colors to give an extra oomph to your every day look. Good Job Marlena. As always we think a like
Are all of these current colors? Are all of them regular retail or are some pro?
Great review Marlena !!!!!! You are looking pretty as ever
Love most of the colour’s in the review except for their price in Australia
Please do a look using Inglot as well, so that most of your Oz fan’s can buy Inglot since its good and cheap when compared to MAC.
Hugs !!!!
I agree the prices in Australia are terribly expensive!!!!!
Buy online from the USA using a parcel forwarder from nordstrom or even the mac website – even with the extra fees and shipping it works out about 30% cheaper
Kitty, could you explain how the parcel forwarding works please.
I love this review,
question, would all these colors work on all skin tones? I don’t have any MAC eye shadows and this video is making it easy to go buy some, but i’m just worry that they wont compliment my Latin brown skin, help :_)
This is such a helpful post!!! Mulch is my favourite MAC shadow.. But now I’ve got my eyes on expensive pink and woodwinked!
Thanks hun! =)
Could you please do a look using Samoa Silk?
Marlena, I love this review and your look too … as always!
i’m glad you recommended twinks!
Love those colors…I think Patina fits right in withthe neutrals. That is my all time fave.(*^.^)
Hi Marlena:)
I love you! I am a girl form norway who really love your site:) you have such great make up tips and this was actually percekt for me!:) I dont have much eyeshadows from MAC. but Im saving to a pallette now, and this was really nice colours. I love the natural look, but still I want my eyes to get a pop. I have star violet and the embark eyeshadwos and I cant wait to get some more!:)
thank you so mutch:)
Omg this is such a big help!!! Thanks so much. Only a few more months until beauty school I’m so excited. Honestly you inspired me to choose that career.
Love all of the colors. I think I want to build a collection with just your recommendations- i value your opinion that much!
Marlene, love this list. I’m looking to complete my custom palette x15 and will definitely chose from among your picks. Question: is Ground Brown a limited edition or discontinued color? I can’t find it on their website.
*Marlena! So sorry. I should know to reread for spelling errors before hitting post.
I wasn’t able to find Ground Brown either. I wonder if she meant Down Brown.
Great picks! This will definitely help me =) …on a different note, MAC just increased their eyeshadow prices to $15 =/
Love this top 10 review…..thanks so much…so helpful!
Would you be able to do a similar review for NYX?
My budget is a bit snug at this time.
Hi Ermi, here are a few articles that may interest you that Marlena has done:
1.Top 10: Best NYX Single Eyeshadows (http://www.makeupgeek.com/articles-reviews/top-10-nyx-single-eyeshadows)
2.10 Best NYX Eyeshadows to Start Your Collection (http://www.makeupgeek.com/articles-reviews/10-nyx-eyeshadows-to-start-your-collection)
3.NYX Swatches: All Single Eyeshadows (http://www.makeupgeek.com/swatches/nyx-swatches-all-single-eyeshadows)
Hope this helps!
=)
I forgot a couple, here are two more:
4.NYX Single Eyeshadow Swatches (http://www.makeupgeek.com/swatches/nyx-single-eyeshadow-swatches)
5.The Best of NYX Cosmetics (http://www.makeupgeek.com/articles-reviews/the-best-of-nyx)
=)
Have you tried any shadows form Stars Makeup Haven Marlena? A few of their shadows are really good dupes of these MAC shadows.
Are the kid and cork close to the colors naked and buck in the Naked Palette?
Thanks so much for this! I only own one MAC shadow so far (Brun) and I wish I would’ve gone with Ground Brown or Espresso instead, but now I have a few more to put on my wish list!
I have a cool skin tone. I am never attracted to brown except for furniture stain. I can see having Kidd as a blending color. I didn’t know about it before, so thank you. If I am generally blending the edges of blue-violet, teal, turquoise or grey, what do you suggest?
How did you do your green eyeshadow? It’s very pretty!
Hi. Great review. Can you list some dupes for these colors?
yes pleasee!!! some of us are hit by the recession here :/
Hi Marlena – GREAT top 10 list! I love love love neutrals and I’m extremely bad at putting on color – could you maybe make a top 10 list of your favorite MAC eyeshadows that are more bold? Or maybe like 5 for brown eyes, 5 for blue, green etc.. Just an idea

Thank you so much for being a great help to those of us who love make-up but need a bit of help
Much love from Denmark
I like the idea of top 10 bold colors!!
Good Idea Emilie ;]
hmm- they’re all pretty but they’re also mostly very warm. I definitely prefer cooler colors- they complement my skin and eyes more but still a good article
Awesome! I love all the colors and I truly appreciate that you have matte colors as well. Like always your beautiful and thank you so much!!
nikichennell.blogspot.com
HAUX is my favorite eyeshadow by MAC. Soft muted rosey brown
ME TOO! I love HAUX!!!
Me three! LOVE that color! Looks great in the crease/lower-upper lashline, or anywhere!! (Except browbone LOL)!!
Thanks! This is a great list!! I love the fact you gave us the color names but also some lil notes on were or how to use & wat colors go with them!!
you are the GREATEST!!!
Thanks for all your help <3
Please Marlena,
What color is your lipstick in this video? Is amazing…
LOVE LOVE LOVE MAC Makeup!! Thanks – I am putting the ones I don’t have on my “to buy” list!!
Another great video. I always get really over whelmed with the choice in mac so this video is really handy.
I’m going on holiday in a week and I cant take a lot with me. If you could only take 1 quad eye shadow palette with you, which colors would be your must haves to create a whole weeks worth of looks? And also do you have any must have items or tips for holidays in hot countries. Thanks marlena I’m such a fan and really appreciate you shaving all you advice with us.
WEDGE!!!
Thanks Marlena
so glad you are doing vids for ppl just starting in makeup! Could you also do your top 10 color MAC eye shadows????? That would be great keep up the awsome vides!!!!
Thanks for the help! It does get really overwhelming when I’m trying to figure out exactly what color(s) I want to get. LOL
PS I finally got some blacktrack and it really does stay!!
Great review Marlena. I have several already but my favorite was not in the top ten, lol…oh well. Wedge! Perfect crease color for me, It gives me just enough depth for a great polished everyday look.
Hi marlena, when are you getting Pocket Marlena’s that can do our makeup in stock in the makeupgeek store? I’m dying to have one.
again thank you so much for your post on this. i am clueless about MAC eyeshadows (well, all of their makeup to be honest) so i really appreciate this!
Love it! I have a couple of these colors and will be making a trip to add a couple of the colors you suggested. Can you recommend colors for blonde, redhead, and brunette’s
Mac came out with a line a couple of years ago and the colors were perfect and sold out.
I would also love to see recommendations for bold eyeshadows that everyone can wear.
Love the list. Keep them coming. Then you can do eyes using the colors.
Awesome colours choice!
Love them all!
I love these shadows!
Could you do a post like this but with the NYX ones??? They are much cheaper!
I have 2 MAC shadows — Ricepaper and Print.
I have a dupe for Brown Down.
I was thinking of purchasing: Wedge (for my crease) and Soft Brown (to help with blending).
Do you think these will be good for my NC20/25 Asian colouring?
damn. i want Mac to make a “Naked” / Neutral palette using the ten shadows you just mentioned here!!! what a great collection! they should hire you for consulting…
Hi i was wondering if you could do a tutorial for great eyeshadow that works AMAZING on dark skinned people!!!!
THANKS!!! XOXOXOXOXO
Don’t forget Haux, Yogurt, Naked Lunch, and Rice Paper!
You should try “Wedge,” its a very natural looking, matte crease color that works wonders for pale skin
Hi Marlena,
I’m 48 and I was wondering if I am too old for the shimmer mac eyeshadow that you mention in the top 10. You would think that I would have more experience with make up, but I feel like I’m just learning. Your tips and tutorials are wonderful.
Thank you
Terri
I have vanilla Era and handwritten. Is Era almost like Kid? Handwritten is a cool toned brown colour, isn’t it?
Taking my iPad straight to the MAC counter to get ‘em all!!!
Hi! I just wanted to let you know that I absolutely love your videos and you! You are so sweet and happy all the time!
And you, keep up the good work!
You got a faithful follower from Sweden now, which is me