Like a life raft to rescue us from the ocean of apartment wall beige eyeshadows and school uniform browns that have flooded makeup counters and store shelves since urban Decay released the Naked palette, the new MAC Archie’s Girls Eye Shadow X4 Palette in Caramel Sundae, or what I like to call, “The Betty Palette,” reminds me of bounding through a beauty department and noticing the looks the makeup artists are wearing, how they emphasize some features while toning down others (like chromatic cherry lips paired with a wash of cocoa powder brown on the lids).
I think that’s the idea behind MAC’s new $44 Caramel Sundae, the counterpoint to Veronica’s Spoiled Rich palette, from the new Archie’s Girls collection (coming Jan. 30 to cyberspace, and to stores and counters Feb. 7).
While the purples in Veronica’s palette powerfully take the stage! — strutting into the room with stilettos clacking, Betty’s Caramel Sundae glides…her Chuck Taylors padding softly on the hardwood floor.
You might even overlook her at first, until you realize, smiling and laughing, that she weaved your favorite quotes from Step Brothers into a conversation about Shake Weights.
Wait — what?
My point is this: Betty’s Caramel Sundae channels sweetness and light, and that warmth you feel in your heart on your very best days.
Caramel Sundae Eye Shadow
MAC started by stocking Caramel Sundae with brown shades — the kind my MAC 239 could hang out with every single day of the week — like the lighter of the two browns, the appropriately named Caramel Sundae.
GURL, I 
this satiny shadow so much that if I were a cat burglar (but I’m not; I’m just a crazy cat lady), I’d break into a MAC store after hours, and pop the pan out of every one of the Betty palettes.
MAC describes it as a mid-toned warm tan…but no way! I think it’s much more interesting than that.
Picture this: Soba’s sister from another mother, but less golden, and with peachier undertones.
Say it’s a warm early evening in spring, and you’re sitting on a bench sipping an iced latte and watching the sun set. Caramel Sundae is what you’d see in your cup.
Two layers on my lids with black liner, and I’m SO good to go.
Showstopper Eye Shadow
As for the dark chocolate-bar brown Showstopper, with its fleeting eggplant purple whispers, it does great things for lash lines and turns up the smoke machine on the other shades in the quad. Highly pigmented, it brings the bite and shows that Betty’s sweet, but she’s no pushover.
Cheryl Chic Eye Shadow
And then there’s sheer-ish Cheryl Chic, the frosty, pinkish coral on the palette’s far left. Like a frothy strawberry milkshake in a frosted glass, it quietly glimmers with semi-opaque color on my lids. A light wash works like nine hours of sleep and brightens without chalkiness.
Dreammaker Eye Shadow
The intensely pigmented golden Dreammaker, on the other hand, borrows some of Veronica’s flash and dash. Shimmery, like a foiled gold star sticker at the top of an A+ paper, it’ll have your best makeup gal (or guy) pal begging for the 411 on what you’re wearing. A bunny tail touch with my 217 highlights both my brow bone and inner corners, but because of its mirror-like shine, I have to be careful not to over-apply, as it has a crush on my fine lines.
A Sweet Treat
With Caramel Sundae, I think that’s exactly what you get: a sweet treat. Heaping scoops of latte and dark chocolate brown drizzled with candy pink and gold sprinkles that work with sheer and opaque coverage and high/low shine.
It’s not flashy, but I think it’s a neat take on a neutral eye palette, especially great for makeup beginners looking to add a little color — but not too much — to their eye game.
I’m betting it’ll be one of the sleeper hits of the launch.
PRICE: $44
AVAILABILITY: Coming Jan. 30 to cyberspace, to stores and counters Feb. 7, and internationally this March
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I can’t wait to order this palette! Your photos and witty writing are as enticing as the collection itself. Thanks Karen!! xoLiz
You’re welcome, Liz. 🙂 I’m glad you’re excited about this palette! I think you’ll get lots of use from it.
BTW — are you a bright liner girl? Because if you want to jazz it up, you could always do a bit of purple or blue along the upper or lower lash lines.
Oh yes, I’ve got the purple liner on my list!! xoLiz
I sense The Hubby will be calling our local MAC store and saying, “don’t let her in!!!”
I want it ALL!
I was not excited about this palette until I saw it! It is such a good one and very versatile. There is no one that can’t use it!
Karen, I vowed to stay away from this release. But your posts have me drooling! If there was one thing I’d get from this collection, Caramel Sundae would be it. Thanks for the review!
Can you tell us what foundation and lippy you have on in these picks? You look great!!!!
I love the packaging of this collection. I have my eye on their blushers and face powders. =)
Oh I’m so excited about this palette! I have a weak spot for pink shades!
I am DYING over that tan shade, right now. To be honest, the other shades I could do without but that lovely tan…I might have to buy the whole palette just for that one shade! 😛
You are glowing in these pictures, girlie! Perfect complexion! What foundation are you wearing? That lip color is pretty as well-I.D. please :).
Ahhh this thing is already on my list, ♥.♥ Looks very beautiful for everyday makeup
Thanks Karen <3
Looks like a yummy modern classic palette! And your post sounds so…sunny! You are an inspiration.
Alice
I’ve been waiting for this post. Palette looks awesome!
Sarah
Glad you like it!
Very pretty and wearable. Speaking of wearing, what’s that on your lips? I know it won’t look the same on me and I don’t need another lip product, but I really like the color. 🙂
AWESOMELY wearable and natural! LOVE them!
YES!
SO pretty! And I’d love to hear what colour lippy you’re wearing too so I can live vicariously through you 🙂 Gorgeous!
Hi Angela,
I’m wearing one of the Betty Lipsticks, Oh Oh Oh, a sheer plum brown.
Cool! Thank you, Karen, for the lippy id. :).
Sure thing! 🙂 Is it on your wish list?
I wasn’t even considering this palette but your review has change my mind!
I want this because it has my name on it! Cheryl Chic! 😉
This palette is soooo pretty, and it’s so “me”. I think I’d get a lot of use out of these shades. Thank you for the review, it totally convinced me to order!