I can see why some makeup mavens, especially die-hard MAC fans, might find the five powder Eye Shadows ($16 each) in the Hey, Sailor! collection a bit on the boring side. After all, only two of the shades are brights (Feeling Fresh and Nautical Navy). The other three are neutrals (Barefoot, Jaunty and Crystal Avalanche).
Many MAC addicts crave the brand’s bold, crazy colors, but Hey, Sailor! targets a different type of fan, guys and gals who love their MAC neutrals served with a sprinkling of brights on the side.
When I see all five of these colors together — the gold, tan and white with the brighter green and blue — I don’t see a batch of boring eyeshadows at all.
Mind you, I wouldn’t call them flashy, but I think they do look beautiful together, and I like how they aren’t just the same teals and corals we usually see on cats and counters each summer…
Is Jaunty special at all? It looks pretty standard issue in the pan…
ZOMG! If you freak for neutrals (like I am wont to do), get ready to fly your freak flag because you will love, LOVE this color.
Picture a sandy golden version of MAC Ricepaper — like sunlight reflected off of white sand. Lately, it’s all I’ve been wanting to wear.
For a fresh, super easy summer eye, I’ll pat it all over my lids, blend out the edges, and apply Feeling Fresh or Nautical Navy on my upper lash lines.
I think of Jaunty as a nice departure (or jaunt, as it were) from the existing neutrals in MAC’s permanent line.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A+
Do I need Feeling Fresh if I already have MAC Pro Longwear Eyeshadow in Fresh Flare?
Good question. Well…I’d say they’re more like kissing cousins than dead on dupes.
Fresh Flare has pearly golden undertones that Feeling Fresh lacks, but Feeling Fresh isn’t feeling sorry for itself. No way. It’s ready to par-tay! — complete with sparkly flecks of tiny glitter.
Now, if Fresh Flare is already in your makeup bag, you’re already feeling pretty fresh, so good job. 🙂 You could probably skip Feeling Fresh without skipping a beat, but if you’ve got a thing for greens (I can’t resist ’em!), you might appreciate the subtle differences between these two shades, not to mention their differences in intensity and texture.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A-
Crystal Avalanche scares the [BLEEP] outta me! How can I wear a white frost without it looking harsh on my skin?
I was actually really surprised to like this shade as much as I do. High contrast? Absolutely, but I don’t think it looks as stark as I expected it to on my NC42 skin.
I like the way it brightens my lids…kinda like the effect I get from Vex.
I’ve been buffing it on top of primed lids with a fluffy MAC 217 (the domed shape helps to sheer it out) or using a pencil brush like the 219 to apply it in the inner corners around my tear ducts.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+
Barefoot versus Gorgeous Gold: what’s the difference?
I think they do look a lot alike in their pans, but Barefoot applies sheerer on me with a little less green and more yellow.
Barefoot borrows a page from Crystal Avalanche, though, by also brightening up my eyes, and for that I like to apply it on the inner half of my lids.
Oh, I also think Barefoot looks fab with Feeling Fresh. The two of them make a great couple.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+
Clockwise from the white pan on the lower left: Crystal Avalanche, Nautical Navy, Barefoot, Jaunty and Feeling Fresh
Swatches from left to right: Jaunty, Barefoot, Crystal Avalanche, Nautical Navy and Feeling Fresh
Wearing Jaunty all over my lids, Crystal Avalanche in the inner corners, Barefoot on my inner lash lines (sides closer to my nose), Feeling Fresh in the center and Nautical Navy on the outer sides of both my upper and lower lash lines
Nautical Navy: just how navy is it?
It’s pretty darn navy! And pigmented, too. But I don’t know if I’d go so far as to call it a true navy. On my skin, when I buff it out, I see a blackened base.
I think it’s pretty, but I’ve seen this color before in other MAC collections. That said, it might be a good addition to your collection if you don’t already have many blues or another like it. To its credit, I think it’s very soft and easy to blend.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Guess what? You did it! You got Monday out of the way. 🙂 Give yourself a big pat on the back.
I’m digging the navy one! I think if I get anything it will be that one. Love the eye look you did!
Barefoot is such a pretty color! Love the look you’ve come up with 😀
Oh gosh, that look is gorgeous! Loving the gold/green/blue gradient!
I love blues…nautical navy is my fav of the lot..especially if it has a blackened base..I might just pick it up 😀
I’ll be honest here, I thought they were a tad boring too, but that was until I saw our Mac senior mau doing a look on some people, I was really blown away! It looked so sexy, even a tad vampy and I never saw this colours combined before that good! Did you use the blue mascara at the end? I really love it, it really adds even more to the look! Aaaand I love how Tabs is looking at those es in the photo, lol!
hahaha loving the eyeshadows displayed ever so neatly on Tabs. You’re right, the colors do go very well together, and I don’t know that I would be as attracted to them if I saw them individually. Love the look you did, and that pop of blue mascara! My favorite. Your necklace is very cute and warm-weather appropriate too, where’s that from?
Haha look at Tabs! He is like: what IS this? Get it off my back now!!!
I know these are kind of standard for summer, but when I swatched them most performed very well, and I do think they work together very well for the theme!
I love the look you have there, Karen!
I am really digging Nautical Blue… but I have never tried wearing (darker) blue shadows, since I feel like I’m going to end up looking like I have a black eye or something… any tips on avoiding that? I’m not really good with coming up with eyeshadow looks!
Dibs on that Navy shadow!
These eyeshadows are so hard to resist. 😀
I just like the name Jaunty. I think it’s great. What else do I think is great, you ask? Tabs gnawing on the Nautical Navy container is right up there. HAHA! I like your blue mascara, too. It’s taking me back. 🙂
I love Barefoot, but I’m afraid it’s too much like a more golden Soba for me to splurge on it. Oh, the joys of being broke. 🙁
Hi Chris,
I have Soba and the shades are completely different. Barefoot’s much more golden and has a high shimmer.
I’m loving how Jaunty looks on you! I love how it looks so pretty regardless of what skin tone you are. It looks more golden on my NC30/35 skin tone and I’m thinking about getting a backup!
Hi Karen do u think u can pretty pls do side by side comparisons of jaunty compared to nylon & ricepaper, barefoot to goldmine, feeling fresh to fresh flare. This would help me out to very much! Thank u 🙂
Hi Bianca,
I can’t seem to find my pan of Nylon, but here’s everything else:
From the left: Ricepaper, Jaunty, Barefoot, Goldmine, Gorgeous Gold, Fresh Flare and Feeling Fresh
Karen thank u so very much!!!!!! This helped me 🙂 u are so awesome!
You’re welcome, Bianca. 🙂 Are any of the colors still on your wish list?
Yes! Jaunty & barefoot! I just bought fresh flare last week… I’m going to skip feeling fresh. I ordered fleet fast blush. I want one of the prolong wear bronzers. I’m a NC25-NC30 which one would u suggest???
I used to love bright colors, but lately I’ve been getting more into neutrals. Jaunty looks really pretty!
Hi Jen,
Neutrals! You can never have enough of them. What shades are you loving these days?
I’m loving your bright eye look with all the shades–so vibrant and fun and perfect for summer!
Hi Becca,
Thank you so much. I am usually a neutrals girl, but sometimes it’s fun to switch it up.
So what’s on your Hey, Sailor wish list as of today?