Review of MAC's Makeup Art Cosmetics Quad - "In the Gallery"

Being a habitual shopper at allcosmeticswholesale.com, I was super psyched to see they had three MAC quads from past collections at less than the original retail price. I immediately ordered all three and fell in love with all three. This is the second of a three-part review of discontinued MAC quads, featuring the In the Gallery quad from the August 2009 Makeup Art Cosmetics collection.

COLOR(S)

This quad is completely purple! I am quite possibly the hugest fan of purple eyeshadow of all-time, so when I first saw this, I knew I would have to buy it one day. You start on the upper left corner with Lightfall. Lightfall is a light lavender-lilac pink. This is a gorgeous highlight color and a stunning lid color, perfect for a subtle spring look. Next, you a have Look at the Eyes. This is light blue-purple that really reminds me of Beautiful Iris. This is a really gorgeous color, but I find it a little irritating to work with like Parfait Amour. In the bottom left corner, you have In the Gallery, a medium toned red-based pink with no shimmer. This is not the best crease color, but the best lid color. It is a soft, subtle color, but can also be played up by adding the last color, Private Viewing. Private Viewing is a dark, muddy purple with no shimmer, making it the best crease color.

FORMULA(S)

I have never been a fan of matte and satin finishes, but this quad has made me see the light: how beautiful an expertly blended matte crease can be. The first color, Lightfall, is a satin. Look at the Eyes is a frost. In the Gallery and Private Viewing are both matte. When you have the matte finish, you do lose out on some of the pigmentation, but these are also not sheer. They give a great wash of color when given the proper time and attention, and create a more natural look than a shimmer-fest shadow. Not the most pigmented quad, but these are soft and very easy to blend.

FUNCTIONALITY

Since these are all very soft purples, I find this quad is extremely subtle and almost conventional. It has a complete look, but any of these could be mixed or maybe even worn on their own. Since this is a quad, it is great for in-the-purse or on-the-go. This look can also go from day to night by adding some of Private Viewing as liner, crease, outer corner, etc. I think this is a very functional quad for subtle colors and purple lovers.

PACKAGING

This, once again, is in the classic MAC quad packaging with the clear lid. The only thing I have noticed is the clasp on this one doesn't close so well. Granted, it has been used A LOT, but it is pretty unsecure now. The body of the quad is fine; great even, but the closure, not so much.

PRICE

This quad is currently not available on allcosmeticswholesale.com, but you can always check frequently as their stuff changes constantly. These quads retail for $36 at maccosmetics.com, MAC stores, or MAC counters.

FINAL OPINIONS

If you can get your hands on this, I recommend it. However, if you are expecting amazing pigmentation, you will be disappointed. It is great for subtlety, and can be played up or toned down, but if you are a neutral person, I also do not recommend this. But, if you love purple, definitely try to get your hands on this.