Mac Apres Chic Collection Mineralize Eyeshadows Review and Swatches

It's taken me ages to finally get my hands on the new Mac mineralize eyeshadows. The collection actually launched 2 weeks ago on the Mac website and counters, but I was waiting for Debenhams or House of Fraser to put the collection up, so I can collect some loyalty points. Eventually I managed to order from Debenhams, only to receive an e-mail the following day that some of the items couldn't be fulfilled because they were out of stock, even though 2 of them WERE still in stock up until a couple of days ago and Stereo Rose MSF was definitely in stock at the time of order and in fact some Specktra friends who ordered after I did got theirs. On top of it all my order only arrived on Tuesday, 6 days after I placed it, and of course I missed the postman, so had to pick it up yesterday. I managed to buy the two missing items in Selfridges last week and I have now ordered Stereo Rose from House of Fraser, just need to go and pick it up. I'm seriously not happy with Debenhams, but I will stop ranting about them now, because there are more interesting things to talk about, like the new Mac mineralize eyeshadows!

There are 5 new limited edition shades in the Apres Chic collection: Ice, Fireside, Frost At Midnight, Winter Pursuit and Silver Birch. They are all a mix of 2 shades, Ice is described by Mac as "light peach base with white veining", Fireside is "deep plum with grey veining", Frost At Midnight is "deep blue/grey base with purple veining", Winter Pursuit is "copper base with grey veining" and Silver Birch is "grey base with peach veining". My Fireside is almost a duo rather than a mix, it has a plum half and a brown with green duochrome. The eyeshadows are all shimmery, with Fireside being the least, and Ice being the most shimmery, in fact that one is properly glittery. The glitter is very fine though and I didn't experience fallout from it, so it's not necessarily a bad thing. I found Frost At Midnight to be the hardest, least pigmented of the bunch, I don't know if mine's a dud or they're all like that, but it doesn't have a very good colour payoff and it feels rather hard, not as buttery as some of the other shades. I haven't tried them wet yet, only swatched and used them dry, but of course mineralize eyeshadows can be used wet for a more intense, smooth colour.

Mac mineralize eyeshadows cost £16.50 and you get 2.2 g product for your money. Although these shades are limited edition, they are still all available.

See more pictures including swatches after the jump!

Top row: Ice, Fireside
Bottom row: Frost At Midnight, Winter Pursuit, Silver Birch

Top row: Ice, Fireside
Bottom row: Frost At Midnight, Winter Pursuit, Silver Birch

Ice, Fireside, Frost At Midnight, Winter Pursuit, Silver Birch
Taken without flash in natural daylight

Ice, Fireside, Frost At Midnight, Winter Pursuit, Silver Birch
Taken without flash in direct sunlight

One photo for the sparkles:

Ice, Fireside, Frost At Midnight, Winter Pursuit, Silver Birch
Taken without flash in natural daylight

Finally here's a simple look I did with Winter Pursuit and Ice. Amber Glow blush on the cheeks and Haute Altitude lipstick on the lips (will review both soon).