The matte shades were lightly creamy to slightly stiffer to work with, and with the stiffer ones, I preferred using a brush to get the initial product out of the jar and then use a fingertip to furiously diffuse the product. The matte finish is most consistent in performance and tended to perform better than the shades with some level of shimmer. This is perfect for those who: aren’t sure how to apply eye shadow, need a base that they can also wear alone, only want to apply a base shade and add a colour in the crease, want to invest in a good primer that they’ll get good use from, like Maybelline’s Colour Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze.The formula is supposed to be “highly pigmented, long-wearing, blendable” and can be used as either an “eye primer” or as a “cream shadow.” The brand says it’s supposed to wear for “24 hours” without flaking or creasing. You only need a little, due to the pigmentation and when used alone, it’s a gorgeous light brown shade that almost appears taupe - in good lighting you can pick up on the shimmer (which isn’t overpowering). The colour is pretty much perfect as a base for everyone since it’s such a neutral shade - Sublime Nature is more pink-toned, and Bamboom is the darkest shade in the selection.

The consistency reminds me of Smashbox’s 24 Photo Finish Shadow Primer (which I’ve sampled, and it’s amazing). Putting both creams and powders over this Paint has been a breeze it does a great job in enhancing the shimmer of any shadow you put over it, and there’s no creasing. In my Fall Essentials post, I had used Bamboom as the primer for Mulch and Expensive Pink. Though they don’t feel as creamy as a Paint Pot would, and they glide on more smoothly (I apply mine with my ring finger) eventually drying down to a powder. Paints work in the same way that Paint Pots do - eye primers that can also be worn alone.

Have you ever visited MAC, and while looking at the eye shadows and Paint Pots, you noticed some tubes? Tubes called ‘Paints’ - you never really paid attention to them before? This is possibly because whenever you hear, “using my MAC Paint Pot”, it’s followed by, “in Soft Ochre” or “in Painterly”.

Mac paint pot painterly worn alone