Hello my beauties! Today I’m diving deep into a review of one of MAC’s latest eyeshadow formulas that has been generating major buzz in the beauty community – the Dazzleshadow Liquid. When MAC launches a new product, you know it’s going to be good. But is the hype real for this one? Does it live up to MAC’s reputation for high-performance, trend-setting makeup? I tested it thoroughly to find out!
First Impressions
The MAC Dazzleshadow Liquid comes in a sleek tube with a doefoot applicator – pretty standard for a liquid shadow. But don’t be fooled by the simple packaging. When you unscrew the cap and pull out the wand, you immediately see the magic waiting inside. The colors are STUNNING with a high-impact metallic finish that truly dazzles, just like the name promises.
I was lucky enough to get my hands on several shades to test out:
- Not Afraid to Sparkle – an icy platinum silver
- Blinking Brilliant – a rich, coppery gold
- Pantherized – a deep bronzey neutral
- Every Day is Sunshine – a shimmery peachy pink
- Stars in My Eyes – a sparkling lilac
The shade range covers a nice variety of wearable neutrals and pops of color to take you from day to night. While swatching, I was absolutely blown away by the pigmentation. These pack a serious punch of rich, opaque color and the most incredible reflective shine. One dip into the tube picks up plenty of product to cover your entire eyelid.
Application & Wear Test
Of course, swatches are one thing but the real test is how a product performs on the eyes. I was curious to see how easily these blended out and if they would last through a long day. To put the Dazzleshadow Liquids to the test, I used them to create a full eye look.
I started by applying a thin layer of my trusty MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Painterly all over my lids as a base. Then, I used the doefoot applicator to swipe on “Blinking Brilliant” across my entire mobile lid. The consistency is incredibly smooth and glides effortlessly across the skin without tugging or pulling. It feels almost cooling and soothing as you apply it.
Using my finger, I gently tapped and blended out the edges for a seamless finish. The formula is very blendable but I did work one eye at a time as it sets fairly quickly. Once it dries down, it doesn’t budge, so you’ll want to work efficiently. I used a clean, dense blending brush to soften everything and ensure there were no harsh lines.
To add some depth, I reached for “Pantherized” and applied a small amount to the outer corner and into the crease, blending it with a windshield wiper motion. The intense metallic finish made it easy to create an impactful look without having to pile on a ton of product. I finished with several coats of black mascara and a sharp cat eye using a black liquid liner.
The result was a high-voltage, ultra-shiny eye that absolutely stunned. It definitely had the “wow factor” and looked like I had spent ages carefully applying and blending multiple products. In reality, it took me less than 10 minutes to achieve. Major bonus points for the easy application and intense color payoff.
I wore this eye look out to dinner with friends and got so many compliments! Despite eating, drinking, laughing (and sweating thanks to the spicy food!), my shadow did not crease or fade one bit. I’m talking 8+ hours of perfect, pristine wear without touch-ups. Color me impressed! While glitter can sometimes have lots of messy fallout, I experienced no flaking or glitter migration throughout the night. It really locks into place without feeling dry or uncomfortable on the eyes.
Shade-by-Shade Breakdown
I played around with all the shades I had to see how they compared. Here are my thoughts on each:
Not Afraid to Sparkle: This icy champagne is perfect for an all-over wash of shimmer on the lids. It would also be gorgeous in the inner corners as a bright, eye-opening highlight. Compared to some of the other shades, it’s a little more sheer but can easily be built up.
Blinking Brilliant: The ultimate coppery gold that lights up your eyes with rich, warm tones. This would flatter so many eye colors and is perfect for summer. Medium opacity that layers well to full coverage.
Pantherized: My favorite shade of the bunch. An intensely pigmented bronzey neutral that can smoke out any look. I loved this in the outer corner and blended into the crease for extra dimension. It would also make a stunning one-and-done shade swept all over the lid.
Every Day is Sunshine: A soft peachy pink with a metallic sheen. This is a very wearable shade that brightens up the eyes for a touch of understated glam. It has a slightly sheerer base compared to some of the more dramatic colors but delivers a really pretty shimmery finish.
Stars in My Eyes: This shade definitely lives up to its name. An impactful cool lilac packed with flecks of blue, purple and silver sparkle. So fun for a pop of color! I liked layering this over deeper matte purples to make them extra dimensional. It also looked gorgeous applied with a damp makeup brush for an even more intense look.
So are there any duds in the lineup? I’m happy to report that I was thrilled with the performance across the board. There are some shades that are a touch sheer (like Every Day is Sunshine), but they can easily be built up to full opacity. Even the sheerer shades have a mirror-like metallic finish that reflects the light so beautifully.
Of course, all that dazzling shine might not be for everyone or for every occasion. This is definitely a bold, look-at-me kind of product. But I personally found them easy to diffuse and sheer out for a more wearable effect when desired. It’s all about how much you build them up! I do think these are special shadows best reserved for evening, events or anytime you want an impactful eye look. I probably wouldn’t reach for them for my everyday office makeup.
Comparisons to Other Shadows
With so many liquid and cream shadow formulas on the market these days, you might be wondering how these compare. I’ve tried quite a few including the Stila Magnificent Metals Liquid Eyeshadows, Hourglass Scattered Light Glitter Eyeshadows, and Huda Beauty Matte & Metal Melted Shadows.
The MAC Dazzleshadows feel the smoothest and have the most metallic sheen compared to any of the others I’ve tried. While the Stila and Huda options have more chunky glitter particles, the MAC ones deliver an intense foiled look without visible glitter. This makes them easier to blend and a bit more forgiving.
I also much prefer the brush applicator to Huda’s squeeze tube and find them easier to control and apply. Compared to powder metallics like the cult-favorite Hourglass Scattered Lights, the MAC formula has more depth of pigmentation and stays vibrant (no buffing away the shine as you blend!). They’re the closest I’ve found to the look of applying loose pigments but with so much less mess and fallout.
At $24, these are in line with other high-end cream and liquid shadows and I think they’re worth every penny. You’re getting a truly unique formula that performs like nothing else I’ve tried. And a little goes a LONG way, so I expect these to last for ages.
The Bottom Line
MAC hit it out of the park with these dazzling, ultra-metallic liquid eyeshadows. The rich color payoff, smooth application, and incredible wear time make them a winner in my book. Despite the bold finish, I was impressed by how user-friendly they were. The shade range offers something for everyone with wearable neutrals and fabulous pops of color.
These are a must for anyone who wants a high-impact, ultra-shiny look in seconds. While the intensity might not be for the faint of heart, diehard metallic and shimmer lovers will fall hard for these. I know I have! They’re the perfect option anytime you want to add major dimension and turn heads with your eye makeup.
If you’re new to liquid shadows, these are a fantastic place to start. The blendable formula and range of shades make them so easy to work with. Even on my hooded, slightly crepey eyelids they applied smoothly and wore comfortably without enhancing texture. And once they set, they don’t move an inch making them ideal for long days or big events.
My only word of caution is that they do set quickly, so work one eye at a time if you’re looking to blend them out. But the slight learning curve is so worth it for the incredible end result. I also found that using a tackier base like the MAC Paint Pots really locked these into place and enhanced the wear even more.
I’m so thrilled with my Dazzleshadows and they’ve earned a permanent spot in my makeup collection. If you’re looking to amp up your shadow game or lean hard into the metallic trend, these get my highest recommendation! Leave it to MAC to create yet another innovative, obsession-worthy formula.
Have you tried the MAC Dazzleshadow Liquids? What was your experience? I’d love to hear how you like to wear them and what shades have caught your eye! Let me know in the comments below. And as always, thank you so much for reading! Remember to let your inner light shine bright!
By Sarah Anderson, Professional Makeup Artist & Beauty Blogger
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