I’ll be paying a visit to the MAC Pro Store this week as part of a super-secret spy girl mission tomorrow (stay tuned!), which means that poor El Hub will be left to play outside on his phone while I clear out the store’s inventory of MAC Costa Riche.
How many times have I talked about this Eye Kohl…? Five? Six? Two dozen?
It is well past time for me to give it the Unsung Heroes treatment. 🙂
A warm golden brown Eye Kohl in the MAC permanent line, Costa Riche has been my brown eyeliner bae since late 2013.
Seeing as how I fall in love with new products every other week (sorry, it’s true), you might think that my obsession with it would have waned, but nooo. I still reach for Costa Riche at least three or four times a week because 1) it goes well with so many different eyeshadows, and 2) it feels good on my lash and water lines (when my eyes are irritated and/or watering due to allergies or something else, Costa Riche is one of the few things I can still wear that won’t make things worse).
And it does so much for different eye colors. Brown eyes look more chocolatey, and blue, green, hazel and gray eyes rock it, too. I think it brings out more beauty in all of them and makes your natural eye color stand out.
I’ve never met a person who hates how they look in Costa Riche. It’s the people’s liner!
Other things I’m wearing in this look…
Eyes — MAC Antiqued Eye Shadow, Chanel Le Volume Mascara, Estee Lauder Little Black Primer
Brows — MAC Brun Eyeshadow, Bobbi Brown Natural Brow Shaper
Cheeks — BECCA Damselfly Blush, BECCA Opal Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed, Guerlain 4 Seasons Terracotta 03 Natural Brunettes
Lips — BECCA Beach Tint Lip Shimmer Souffle in Raspberry/Opal
Face — Dior Diorskin Nude Air in 040, YSL Touche Eclat in 4.5, Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in 25, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Tan
Shirt — LOFT
And it’s even easy to use. Soft, smooth and pigmented, it blends and layers without skipping, tugging or rubbing, so there’s none of that nonsense. As par for the MAC Eye Kohl course, it also doesn’t set immediately, so you have time to manipulate it (I’d say about five minutes). It’s smudgy, smokey diffused liner heaven.
When I use Costa Riche, I like to line my water lines first, then do my upper and lower lash lines, which I smudge using the edge of a flat eyeshadow brush or a pencil brush. Then I’ll usually continue with other parts of my makeup before returning to my eyes for another layer of Costa Riche along my water lines for more intensity.
If you find that Costa Riche vanishes from your water lines quickly, try gently rubbing them (your water lines) with a cotton swab first (but please don’t poke out your eye). Then apply the liner. Give it five minutes to dry, and then go back in for a second layer. That should lock it down.
This brown bombshell goes with just about everything. I’ve worn it with neutral browns and beiges, purples, warm golden taupes, greens, blues and golds, and that’s just for starers. I could probably write a dissertation on the MAC eyeshadows that look incredible with this color (Sable, Antiqued, Trax, Saddle, Texture and Twinks, to name a few). It’s the definition of flexible, and it’s a worthy workhorse to add to your makeup bag.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
The MAC Unsung Heroes series (a subset of my regular Unsung Makeup Heroes series) features some of my all-time favorite products from MAC’s permanent collection
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Texture Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Saddle Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Cork Eye Shadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Fleur Power Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Swiss Chocolate Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Costa Riche Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Mineralize Skinfinish Natural
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Havana
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Chicory Lip Pencil
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Smoked Almond Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Half ‘n Half Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Chili Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Coffee Eye Pencil
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Mineralize Skinfinish in Global Glow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Havana
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour in Burnt Spice
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Mineralize Foundation/Loose
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Giddy Lustre Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Amorous Alloy Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Texture Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Prep + Prime 24-Hour Extend Eye Base
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Swiss Chocolate Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Saddle Eyeshadow
- Unsung Heroes: MAC In Extra Dimension Waterproof Mascara
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Minted Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Take the Plunge Technakohl Liner
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Cork Eye Shadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: 221 Mini Tapered Blending Brush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Matchmaster Shade Intelligence Compact
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Oh My Mocha Eye Shadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Pro Longwear Waterproof Colour Stick in Lilacked
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Satin Taupe Eye Shadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: High Tea Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Blooz Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Fleur Power Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Layin’ Low Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Constructivist Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Prep + Prime Fix+
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Mineralize Skinfinish Natural
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Persistence Matte Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow in Brownluxe
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Costa Riche Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: The Studio Chromagraphic Pencils
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Brun Eye Shadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Staunchly Stylish Pro Longwear Lip Pencil
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Warm Soul Mineralize Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Reflects Antique Gold Glitter
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Style Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Shaping Powder in Lightsweep
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Painterly
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Era Eye Shadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Bronze Eye Shadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Honey Lust Eye Shadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sun Rush Lustre Drops
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Nice Buzz Plushglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: 33 Lash
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Shale Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Harmony Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Careblends Pressed Powder
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Fulfilled Plushglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Bamboom Paint
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sublime Nature Paint
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Face and Body Foundation
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Prunella Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: The 239 Eye Shader Brush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Greensmoke Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Ample Pink Plushglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Indianwood Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Bare Study Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Rubenesque Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Tarnish Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Big Baby Plushglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Kohl Power Pencil Liner in Feline
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Format Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Ambering Rose Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Iridescent Powder/Loose in Silver Dusk
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Iridescent Powder/Loose in Golden Bronze
- MAC Unsung Heroes: C-Thru Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Fresh Flare Pro Longwear Eye Shadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Viva Glam V Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Loud & Lovely Cremesheen Glass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Viva Glam VI Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Breezy Sheertone Shimmer Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Care Blends Essential Oils, Grapefruit + Chamomile
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Prep + Prime Vibrancy Eye Primer
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Right Image Cremesheen Glass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Modesty Cremesheen Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Double Dare Cremesheen Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Bamboo Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Speak Louder Cremesheen Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sandy B Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Club Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Uniform Technakohl Liner
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sweet Satisfaction Pro Longwear Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Red Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Lady Danger Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Tempting Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Ruby Woo Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Retrospeck Eyeshadow
I really need to invest in this-I’ve been using black eyeliner for a while but since it’s summer and I like to do a softer, bronzier look to go with the season, I’m on the hunt for warmer brown eyeliners to use instead and this one has definitely caught my interest!
I love shades like this that look almost neutral on my brown eyes but still add some oomph! This one looks great on you!
I really like the natural eye look you created with this. I have MAC Teddy eyeliner and one from Guerlain that looks kinda similar . Since you gave Costa Riche such high ratings I’m going to pick this one up.
I picked this up just a couple of weeks ago and have been using it on my lower lash lines ever since! This is the only brown that will look ‘like a brown’ on me. It does go with everything! Karen, you look smashing here, I must try using it on my upper lash lines soon!
I’d have to say Coffee is my favorite eye kohl shade. That is my all time favorite MAC product. The perfect shade of black brown and it’s matte.
Costa Riche is the perfect eye kohl for brown eyes, it makes my eyes pop! As always you look beautiful 🙂
What a great brown. It looks very similar to Urban Decay’s Whiskey. I usually go for UD Roach, but Costa Riche is gorgeous.
Oooooh why didn’t I know about this beauty?!
Looks stunning, and I would love to test how it would make my eyes more chocolatey 😉
Thanks for the tip on how to make a khol stay in place! I have definitely had them disappear on my waterlines
I’ve had this in the “Save for Later” part of my Nordstrom shopping bag for at least 3 months. I think I need to break down and finally get this one.
true fact: I saw this pop up on my Facebook newsfeed, and I totally thought it was you pointing out super old blog posts or something… Because I could’ve SWORN you’d written about Costa Riche as an Unsung Hero already, lol!! I really need to check it out someday! The people’s liner 🙂 I love it!
I thought I did too! I know that I talk about it every five seconds, lol. It was long overdue. 🙂
Oooh, that looks like it’s right up my alley. You know I’m a sucker for brown liner and Costa Riche seems a bit warmer than my go-to UD Whiskey. I may have to give it a whirl! Though the 5 minute dry time might be more like 5 minute unwanted smudging time on my eyes. 🙂
That one looks pretty on you. Have to try it, I guess it will work with green eyes, too.
It looks amazing with green eyes! Try it. 🙂
I think I keep coming back to your blog today because of the picture of the pretty UD eyeshadows at the top. <3
Still no MAC for me though.
I love that pic too! I want to dive right in, whee!
Thanks for the tip about using a q-tip on the waterline before applying. I’ve been trying to figure out how to get it to stay on my waterline.
You’re very welcome! If it still doesn’t set, try a third layer. And if that doesn’t work, then you can always pat a shadow on top to lock it down. 🙂
I love brown eyeliners.My fave is UD Whiskey, but this sounds like a great alternative too.
I like that one too! I find Costa Riche doesn’t dry out my waterlines as much as Whiskey does though.
It appears to be very similar to Teddy–is it? Teddy is the only liner I seem to restock, but sometimes it’s not quite right, for a reason I can’t really identify. Perhaps Costa Riche could be my “always right”?
Hi Stephanie,
Here’s a swatch of the two. As you can see Teddy is metallic while Costa Riche has no shine. I think it’s also warmer and less bronzy:
[caption id="attachment_153344" align="alignnone" width="610"]
Swatches of Costa Riche and Teddy on my NC42 skin[/caption]
HTH! Let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks so much! I do see the difference, and plan to give Costa Riche a try!
I love that photo of you, Karen! It’s truly beautiful. I have never tried any of the MAC eyeliners. But I love that shade. Like Gio, it reminds me of UD Whiskey that I love. Have fun tomorrow! Eager to hear all about it
Thank you, Allison! I have UD Whiskey too and quite like it. I find that Costa Riche is warmer though, which is why I <3 it!
Oooh this looks good! I’ll have to check it out, still need a color like this in my collection.
Added to MAC wish list. : Done.
Arghhhh! Cannot buy it In Denmark!!! I still have half left. And it is not dupable!!!. I wonder if i can order from Mac US…. Love your site