As my MAC addiction slowly started to grow, I decided that investing in a pro palette would probably be wise. Buying eyeshadows for the palette is slightly cheaper and the palette just looks cool. It just does. The palette itself is a two part purchase - the 15 shadow holder part and then the actual case. When I bought the palette, I already had a few individual MAC eye shadows, which I had to depot (there are loads of videos on YouTube on how to do this - its simple).

First Row (Left to Right)

Forgery - This is an eyeshadow I bought solely due to the fact that it was pretty. I wasn't on the hunt for a frosty eyeshadow but I couldn't resist. Its so pretty! To be completely honest I don't wear this often but I always like to experiment with it whenever I can. I tend to wear it in my tear duct to brighten up my eyes and make them look bigger or as a way to brighten up more vibrant colours.

Rice Paper - This is one of the very first MAC eye shadows I ever bought and it is all thanks to Sammi from BeautyCrush ranting about it... and with good reason. Ricepaper is the perfect  eyebrow highlight and tear duct highlight colour - it has such an amazing pigmentation! In the palette it looks like a very warm colour but it swatches as a beautifully, icy, pearl colour. And as you may be able to tell by its worn appearance - its probably my most used colour.

Soba - This is one of the only non metallic eye shadows I own. It is a wonderful crease blending colour and I also like to line it under my eyes at times. 

Patina - As you can tell from the first glance of the palette overview... I have a thing for my mousey, metallic bronze colours. I just love them all! Patina has an almost golden shine to it... so pretty. This is another wonderful colour for the crease.

Woodwinked - If someone demanded me to pick one eyeshadow to wear for the rest of my life I would have to pick Woodwinked. It is the perfect colour for brown eyed people (it would also be a lovely shadow for blue eyes - the bronze tones would really make the eyes pop). What I tend to do is cover my entire lid in it, blend it out to soften it up and then line it under my eye as well and there you have it. Brush on a couple coats of mascara and you're good to go - thats my lazy day eye makeup trick. 

Second Row (Left to Right)

My advice to all you brown eyed beauties - invest in a purple eye shadow! Like I have mentioned previously and as indicated by my purple eyeshadow fan-girling, purple eyeshadows are such a fun investment. Not only do they make your eyes pop, but the purple also brings out the pretty colours in your eyes.

Satin Taupe - This is on of my favourites for smokey eyes - it isn't dark to the extent where it over powers other colours - it blends beautifully! If I am in the mood for it, I sometimes use Satin Taupe in the same way as Woodwinked - all over the lid and blend. 

Sable - Sable is yet another one of those stunning yet simple bronze colours that I adore so very much. With Sable I can either wear it simple on my entire lid and leave it at that or I can build it into a lovely bronze smokey eye (my favourite pairing with Sable is either Star Violey or Satin Taupe... or both!).

Star Violet - Star Violet is the more subtle of the purple toned shadows in the palette and has an almost copper like shine to it (very very slight). I like to wear this colour with colours like Sable and Satin Taupe. Along with the other eyeshadows in the picture above, Star Violet really makes brown eyes pop. 

Cranberry - Cranberry is one of the eye shadows that I only use to add a slight accent of colour to a smokey eye, as a way of jazzing it up a little bit. Maybe its because of the name, but I feel like it is a very Christmasy colour! 

Plum Dressing - This is probably the most vibrant colour I own in terms of eyeshadows - I love using it whenever I can. It is a perfect colour to build up a smokey eye with. Looking at all these lovely, purple toned eyeshadows makes me really want to do a purple smokey eye... 

Third Row (Left to Right)

Satellite Dreams - This is an eye shadow that belongs to the pre-palette group - it was a pain in the ass to depot. I bought it on my way back from my Grad Trip in 2012, which seems like forever and a half ago now. It was thanks to a classmate who was pushing me to branch out with my makeup that I bought it and I am so glad I did. I have a gold paint pot that I love to use along with this eyeshadow - it is a really pretty contrast/combo, and perfect to snazz up a simple outfit. 

Amber Lights - Gold is another colour that really suits brown eyes and Amber Lights is simply gorgeous! It is a warm, gold colour with a stunning pigmentation. It works well with so many different shades - Antiqued and Star Violet are two examples that I have paired it with before.

Sumptuous Olive - This is a muted, faded army green colour (in my opinion at least) which I tend to use on my lid and then blend darker colours into my crease. It also works nicely on its own or as an accent colour - it brings out my eye colour.

Humid - I know what you might be thinking "a green eyeshadow? you actually paid money for that?" I honestly had a somewhat similar reaction when the girl at MAC first recommended it to me.. then I tried it on and fell in love. I would never wear it on its own but it blends wonderfully with bronze and especially with Sumptuous Olive (I bought them as a pair for that reason).. They create a really nice and subtle green smokey eye. 

While writing this post I became inspired to do a post on how I combine these various shadows together to do different smokey eye looks! Keep a look out for it. In the mean time, I hope you enjoyed this little breakdown of my MAC eyeshadow pro-palette - perhaps it inspired you to try out some new eyeshadow shades! Let me know what you're favourite MAC shadows are, I could always add to my collection. 

Love, Caroline x