Hey lovelies! Today I’m excited to dive deep into one of the most buzzed about eyeshadow palettes of the year – the MAC Connect In Colour Eye Shadow Palette in Unfiltered Nudes. If you know me, you know I’m a sucker for a good neutral palette. Give me all the buttery mattes and shimmery champagnes! So when MAC launched this new nude palette as part of their Connect In Colour collection, you know I had to get my hands on it ASAP. After playing with it for a few weeks, I’m ready to share my detailed thoughts. Is this the ultimate neutral palette to end all neutral palettes? Let’s find out!
First Impressions
Let’s start with the packaging. MAC kept it sleek and simple with this sturdy black compact. It has a large mirror inside which is always appreciated. The palette contains 12 neutral shades in a mix of matte, satin, and frost finishes.
Shade-wise, you get a great range here from light cream to deep chocolate brown. The upper row is more on the warmer peachy/orange spectrum while the bottom row pulls more rosy taupes and mauves. I love that they included both cool and warm tones to suit many preferences and skin tones.
At first glance, the shade selection looks promising – you have your basic transitional mattes, pretty lid shimmers, and deep shades to add dimension. It seems like a palette you could easily take from a soft daytime look to a sultry smokey eye.
Formula & Performance
Now let’s talk about the most important part – how do these shadows perform? One word: dreamy. The mattes are smooth, blendable, and incredibly pigmented. A little goes a long way, so tap off that excess! They layer and build beautifully without getting muddy or patchy. The satins have a subtle sheen that adds dimension, and the frosts deliver a sophisticated shimmer without being over the top glittery.
I’ve used this palette for both simple everyday makeup and glam night out looks, and it delivered each time. The shadows adhere well to the lid and don’t fade or crease throughout the day (I always use an eyeshadow primer though).
A few standout shades for me:
- Sandstone: The perfect warm transitional matte. I use this to effortlessly blend out any look.
- Copper Aura: A stunning coppery shimmer that makes blue and green eyes pop!
- Rosy Mocha: This mauvey satin shade is so underrated. It adds a beautiful flush to the lid.
- Molten Chocolate: The rich matte brown every palette needs for added depth and dimension.
The only slight downside some reviewers noted was that the shadows, especially the mattes, can “hard pan” and develop a film on top if you’re not careful. To avoid this, make sure to use a light hand, tap off excess product, and avoid using oils or creams near the palette. Honestly, hard panning is common in many eyeshadow formulas, so it doesn’t bother me too much. Nothing a little tape can’t fix!
Versatility
What I love most about Unfiltered Nudes is how versatile it is. It truly has everything you need to create a multitude of looks for any occasion or skill level.
If you’re a makeup beginner, you can easily use just 2-3 shades to achieve a put-together, polished eye. Start with a light base shade like Bare Linen all over the lid. Then pop one of the medium shimmers like Sunlit Sand or Copper Aura on the center of the lid. Blend a mid-tone matte like Sandstone or Rosy Mocha through the crease and you’re done!
If you’re a makeup pro, you’ll appreciate the range of colors and finishes to create more intricate looks. The deep mattes are perfect for adding dimension to the outer corner. You can layer and combine the shimmers for a multi-dimensional effect. I also love using the mattes to sculpt and define the eye, almost like contouring. The options are truly endless!
Because of the color story, Unfiltered Nudes works beautifully with all eye colors. The warm peachy and coppery tones make blue and green eyes shine. The rosy taupes are stunning on brown eyes. And the overall neutral color scheme flatters pretty much everyone. It’s a palette that will work for you year-round, day to night, no matter the occasion.
Many of us beauty lovers already have a bunch of neutral palettes in our collections. But I have to say, Unfiltered Nudes still feels fresh and exciting. The specific color selection and variety of finishes sets it apart from other neutral offerings on the market. If you’re looking for one palette to streamline and simplify your collection, this is an excellent choice.
Comparisons
Let’s talk about how Unfiltered Nudes compares to some other popular neutral palettes out there:
Urban Decay Naked: The OG neutral palette! While Naked is a classic, I find Unfiltered Nudes to be a bit more current and curated. The formulas are comparable in quality, but I prefer the mix of mattes and shimmers in Unfiltered Nudes. The shade range also feels more diverse.
Too Faced Born This Way Natural Nudes: Another recent nude palette launch! In comparison, Unfiltered Nudes pulls slightly deeper and warmer overall. I also find the shimmers in Unfiltered Nudes to be a bit more refined and less chunky glittery. Both are beautiful everyday palettes though!
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Instant Eye Palette: This is another one of my favorite neutral-ish palettes, but it definitely leans more rosy/pink overall, while Unfiltered Nudes has those true beige and brown tones as well. The formulas are both incredible quality. I’d say get Pillow Talk if you want those mauvy romance vibes, and Unfiltered Nudes if you want something more traditional neutral.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I have to say I’m thoroughly impressed with the MAC Unfiltered Nudes palette. The color story, formulation, and versatility are all top notch in my opinion. It’s quickly become one of my most reached for palettes for everyday use. I find myself using it as a standalone palette and also combining it with other shadows in my collection.
In terms of cons, the main one would be the hard panning issue that some people experienced. It hasn’t been a major problem for me, but it’s something to be aware of. I do wish the palette included a matte black for more smokey looks, but that’s just a personal preference! The $38 price tag is reasonable in my opinion, especially for the quality you get, but of course everyone’s budget is different.
If you’re a fan of neutral eyeshadows and like MAC’s formula, I think Unfiltered Nudes is 100% worth checking out. It’s an excellent staple palette that covers all the basic neutral needs and delivers great versatility and performance. While not the most groundbreaking color story ever, I think MAC curated the shades and finishes beautifully to create a cohesive, flattering palette.
That’s my take on the MAC Connect In Colour Eye Shadow Palette in Unfiltered Nudes! I hope this detailed review was helpful to anyone considering picking it up. Let me know in the comments if you’ve tried this palette and what your thoughts are. Do you think it’s worth the hype? What’s your favorite shade?
As always, thank you so much for reading and being a part of my beauty loving community! If you enjoyed this review, please give it a thumbs up and share with a friend. Remember to subscribe and hit the notification bell so you never miss a new post. I appreciate your support so much.
Until next time, have fun exploring all the pretty Unfiltered Nude shades and creating some beautiful eye looks! Stay gorgeous, inside and out.
Xoxo, Your Resident Beauty Guru 😘
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