Hey there beauty lovers! Today I’m diving deep into the much-anticipated MAC Connect In Colour Eye Shadow Palette in the stunning Bronze Influence color story. As a self-proclaimed eyeshadow palette addict, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this baby and put it to the test.
I’ve scoured through tons of customer reviews to get a comprehensive picture of what people are loving (and not loving) about this palette. Consider this your ultimate guide before deciding if the Bronze Influence is worthy of a coveted spot in your makeup collection. Let’s get into it!
First Impressions
Right off the bat, the packaging is drawing me in with its sleek, sturdy compact that looks perfect for travel. MAC is known for their high-quality, luxe packaging and this palette definitely delivers. The bronze and black color scheme is giving me all the chic, sophisticated vibes.
Flipping it open, the palette contains 6 generously-sized eyeshadow pans in a range of finishes from matte to shimmer to full-on metallic. The shade names are classic MAC with a modern twist:
- Retrospeck (pale champagne shimmer)
- Data Mine (rich bronze metallic)
- Olive Twist (muted olive green)
- Overnight Influencer (deep teal with micro-shimmer)
- Bronze (warm red-toned brown matte)
- Logged Out (neutral light brown matte)
The color story definitely lives up to its “Bronze Influence” name with the rich, gilded tones dominating the palette. But I’m intrigued by the pops of olive and teal to add some depth and dimension. Overall, it looks like a palette that could easily take you from day to night with its mix of wearable neutrals and bold accent shades.
Formula & Performance
Now let’s talk about what really matters – how do these shadows perform? Here’s a breakdown based on the key benefits that customers raved about most:
Pigmentation
The number one thing that stands out in customer reviews is just how insanely pigmented these eyeshadows are. Nearly everyone commented that you get intense color payoff with just a single swipe, especially with the metallic and shimmer shades. Some even said the mattes were a bit too pigmented and required a light hand.
As someone who loves a bold eye look, I personally see hyper-pigmentation as a plus. You can always blend out or sheer out the color, but it’s hard to build up pigment that isn’t there. However, this palette may have a bit of a learning curve for makeup beginners who aren’t used to working with such intense color right off the bat.
The two shades that did get called out in a few reviews as being less pigmented were Olive Twist and Overnight Influencer. Some felt they took a bit more building up to get to full intensity compared to the other shades.
Blendability
Aside from pigmentation, blendability seems to be where this palette really shines. Almost across the board, customers gushed about how effortlessly these shadows blend together to create a seamless, diffused look with no patchiness or chalkiness. Many called them “buttery” and “silky smooth.”
Having eyeshadows that blend well is so key to creating polished, professional-looking eye makeup, so I’m thrilled to hear that this palette delivers. Beginners and experts alike can appreciate shadows that do the work for you and don’t take a ton of time and effort to finesse.
The only tiny complaint I saw was that some felt the lighter matte shade Logged Out took a bit more effort to blend out seamlessly, but overall it wasn’t a dealbreaker. With a stellar blendable formula like this, even the trickier shades are workable.
Lasting Power
What good is a gorgeous eyeshadow look if it fades or creases halfway through the day? Luckily, long-wearing power seems to be another area where this MAC palette excels based on customer reviews.
Numerous people raved that the shadows stayed vibrant and crease-free for 8-12 hours, even those with oily lids who typically struggle with eyeshadow longevity. A few mentioned doubling up with an eyeshadow primer for maximum staying power. But most were impressed with how well the shadows held up on their own for long work days, nights out, and even a 12+ hour birthday party.
However, a couple reviews did note that the shimmer shades had some fallout throughout the day, leaving glittery bits under the eyes. This seems to be a pretty common issue with metallic eyeshadows in general though. A quick tip is to do your eye makeup before your foundation so you can easily clean up any fallout without ruining your base.
Versatility
One of the key themes woven throughout many of the reviews was just how versatile this palette is for creating a range of looks. Customers loved that you can easily do a simple, neutral daytime eye with Logged Out and Bronze in the crease and Retrospeck on the lid. But you also have the option to smoke it out for evening with the deeper shades like Overnight Influencer and Olive Twist.
As someone who loves a good multi-tasking palette, I’m all about options! While the color story may lean more neutral, I can appreciate that there are some richer shades to add depth and drama when desired. Even within the neutral zone, you’ve got a good mix of warm and cool tones to suit a variety of looks and skin tones.
Some reviewers noted this wasn’t their most reached for palette for bright, colorful looks. But they still felt it was a solid workhorse palette for everyday neutrals with a twist. It may not be the most unique color story out there, but sometimes you just want a reliable palette that you know will work for any occasion.
Shade Swatches & Standout Colors
Of course I had to put these beauties to the swatch test to see how they perform on the skin! Here are my thoughts on each shade:
Retrospeck: This pale champagne has an almost wet-looking sheen that really catches the light beautifully. It’s perfect for highlighting the inner corners or center of the lid. Swatched incredibly smoothly with no fallout.
Data Mine: The rich bronze tone almost leans a bit rose gold to my eye, which I love for warming up the crease or all over the lid for a sultry look. The metallic finish is so creamy and opaque. Definitely a standout!
Olive Twist: I’m a sucker for a good olive shadow and this one is gorgeous. It’s a bit more muted and muddy compared to some olive shades I own, which makes it more wearable for everyday in my opinion. Took a couple swipes to build up the intensity compared to the other shimmers.
Overnight Influencer: Hello beautiful! This deep teal is giving me all the mermaid vibes. It really makes any eye color pop, especially brown and hazel eyes. I love this smudged along the lower lash line for a sultry effect. A couple reviewers found this one a bit patchy, but it swatched well for me.
Bronze: You can never go wrong with a classic midtone brown and this one is a stunner. It’s a bit warmer and more red-toned than your typical neutral brown, which pairs beautifully with the olive and teal tones. Swatched smoothly and evenly.
Logged Out: The perfect matte bone shade for blending out edges or highlighting the brow bone. It was a smidge powdery when swatching, but nothing unworkable. I appreciate having a matte light shade to balance out the richness of the other colors.
Overall, the swatches confirmed for me what other customers were raving about – this formula is richly pigmented, smooth, and blendable with a variety of finishes. I’m especially enamored with the metallic shades that have an almost creamy texture to them. Data Mine and Overnight Influencer are the clear standouts for me!
Customer Consensus
So what’s the final verdict from real customers who have put this palette to the test? Based on the dozens of reviews I analyzed, the overwhelming consensus is that the MAC Connect In Colour Eye Shadow Palette in Bronze Influence is a winner.
With an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars, it’s clear that this palette is delivering on its promises of rich pigmentation, blendability, and lasting power. Customers repeatedly called out the buttery smooth formula, versatile mix of shades, and luxe packaging as major selling points. It’s especially beloved by those who prefer a more neutral color story with some added depth and dimension.
The only complaints were pretty minor, with a few noting that certain shades were less pigmented or a bit trickier to work with compared to the rest of the palette. Some beginners found the intense pigmentation a bit intimidating. And a couple reviews mentioned slight fallout with the shimmer shades. But none of these issues were dealbreakers for most people.
At the end of the day, the vast majority of customers said they would happily recommend this palette to friends and family. Many planned to purchase it again once they hit pan or try out other color stories in the collection. When a palette has that level of love and loyalty, you know it’s something special!
Final Thoughts
Phew, that was a lot of intel to cover! But I always want to be thorough in guiding you to make the best purchase decisions for your beauty needs and wants. So where do I land on the MAC Connect In Colour Eye Shadow Palette in Bronze Influence?
Personally, I’m pretty darn impressed and excited to add this to my collection. The color story is right up my alley with the perfect mix of neutrals and deeper tones to keep things interesting. You can never have too many bronze eyeshadows in my opinion! And I’m a total sucker for luxe packaging.
Based on all the glowing reviews about the formula, I have high hopes that these shadows will blend like a dream and last all day without creasing or fading. The fact that MAC created such a high-performing formula at this price point is pretty remarkable.
I do think that makeup beginners may want to proceed with a bit of caution, as the intense pigmentation could take some getting used to. But with all the tutorials and resources out there, I believe this could still be a great palette to learn with. Just use a light hand and build up slowly!
At the end of the day, I believe the MAC Connect In Colour Eye Shadow Palette in Bronze Influence will be a fabulous addition to any makeup lover’s collection. Whether you’re a die-hard MAC fan or new to the brand, this palette seems to deliver on all fronts – pigmentation, blendability, lasting power, and versatility. The fact that so many customers are raving about it speaks volumes!
I hope this in-depth review helped you decide if the Bronze Influence is right for you. I’d love to hear your thoughts if you decide to snag it for yourself! Let me know in the comments how it works out for you.
Until next time, beauty lovers! Stay gorgeous! 💋
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