“If you’re going to San Francisco,” the song goes, “be sure to wear some flowers in your hair.” Flowers like the ones that bloom 365 days a year inside the gigantic 19th century greenhouse that is the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. It’s the oldest municipal wooden conservatory remaining in the United States and one of my favorite places in the city to visit with a camera.
From the steamy, lush jungles of the Lowland Tropics Room to the giant Victoria amazonica water lilies of the Aquatic Room, the structure must contain every conceivable shade of green (they practically drip from the walls!). Not only is it a very peaceful, beautiful place filled with exotic plants, but by virtue of it basically being a gargantuan greenhouse, it also reminds me of one of my favorite MAC shadows, the appropriately named Humid ($14.50).
A MAC artist introduced me to Humid a few years ago. I told her I was looking for one green to rule them all! “This is the only green you’ll ever need,” she said, as she handed me the pan.
Homegirl was NOT kidding. You know the whole “desert island” scenario? Where you can only bring one thing? Well, assuming of course the island had air conditioning, running water, a Trader Joe’s (gotta get my Mango & Cream Bars, yo!) and Channing Tatum, I’d bring Humid Eyeshadow. 🙂
A greenish khaki with golden shimmer, Humid blends just like butter with other shades; it’s one of the smoothest MAC shadows I’ve ever used. And just like hope springs eternal, a pan should last forever (well, at least a long time) on account of how richly pigmented it is. It seems to appeal to a broad spectrum of makeup lovers — from die-hard color enthusiasts to gals who prefer neutrals and understated looks.
Humid might not scream “workhorse shade!” — like MAC’s Naked Lunch or Soft Brown — but I think it’s very flexible and can be used in several ways…
1. As an eyeliner
If you’re new to green shadows, consider easing your way in by applying Humid as an eyeliner. It’s one of the easiest and least intimidating ways to explore green. Try it with an angled brush like the MAC 266 for a crisp, sharp line, or, for a softer effect, use a short shader brush like the MAC 214.
When I just want a hint of color, I’ll usually wet my brush first with water or MAC Fix+ and apply Humid along my lower lash line.
2. In the crease
If your hankerin’s for show-stopping eyes, try swiping Humid in the crease and the outer-V paired with a bronze, gold or shimmery neutral shadow on the lid. Consider MAC Amber Lights, Woodwinked, Naked Lunch, Ricepaper or Arena.
3. Mixed with blue shades
I love the way Humid mixes with shimmery blues and other greens. Sometimes I use it with MAC’s Deep Truth, a shimmery dark blue, for an iridescent peacock feather effect that flashes from blue to green.
4. For a smokey green eye
For an easy, sultry smokey eye, apply a creamy pencil on your lids like MAC Eye Kohl in Smolder, and layer Humid on top.
5. On the lid
Now, for my favorite way to wear Humid — by just packing it on my lids! That way, when I blink, quick flashes of green show through. It’s a fabulously flirty, coy way to wear green that doesn’t look too over-the-top.
To round out the look, I’ll usually sweep a warm brown matte in the crease, something like MAC Soft Brown, for depth and contrast, and then pat a neutral shimmer on the brow bone and at the inner corners of my eyes (makes them appear BIGGER). 🙂
The MAC Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorite products from MAC’s permanent collection
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Naked Lunch Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Russian Red Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Syrup Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Blushbaby Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Vex Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Strobe Cream
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Blot Powder/Pressed
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Subculture Lip Pencil
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Soft Brown Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Woodwinked Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Powersurge Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: All That Glitters Eyeshadow Is Not Just Another Gold
- MAC Unsung Heroes: The Technakohl Liners
- MAC Unsung Hero: Groundwork Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Hero: Nymphette Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Viva Glam V
- MAC Unsung Hero: Blacktrack Fluidline
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Lychee Luxe Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Hero: Gorgeous Gold Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Patina Eyeshadow
In the throes of accessories lust!
Ugh, I almost wish I hadn’t seen this new Kate Spade Lacey Wallet with its alluring giraffe print ($155).
I love giraffes (they’re just so weird and cool!), and now I’m craving this wallet along with its matching pouch ($65).
Cute, yeah? Trying. Hard. To. Resist.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
This color looks so amazing on you Karen! It makes your eyes look like limpid pools of freshly brewed espresso. Yeah, I was feelin’ poetic. And that print is OMG cute! If she made one with hippos on it I would definitely want it. I have a fascination with hippos.
Holy cow that is an awesome green! I like how it looks on more than how it looks in the pan. Hot diggity!! I’m going to be such a traitor going to the MAC counter to get this color (I work at Sephora).
What foundation, Powder, Bronzer and concealor are you wearing? Your skin looks phenomenal!!!
Humid looks AMAZING in the pan! I keep meaning to get it, but somehow I always get sidetracked. Your Unsung Heros series is so good for reminding me of what I need!
I love humid, I love to wear it with coppering. I might just have to dig out that pair to wear tomorrow instead of the neutrals I usually wear to work.
You seem to be hitting all of my faves or the meant to buy with this series.
This, along with Gorgeous Gold, was one of the first MAC shadow pans that I bought!
Wowsers… Very pretty. #ThatIsAll Lol
It’s my HG green color. I love to wear it on my lids & in crease.
Humid is awesome, I may have to go out and get it! And that giraffe bag is to die for!
That’s a gorgeous green! Love the wallet and pouch too.
Oooh Humid, one of my first and best loves. I wear it with Juxt and Gorgeous Gold, because I love warm golden green. And deep truth in a corner. And sometimes a bit of teal. I am in a bit of a purple moment now, but you made me want to go back to my greens. Mac does very, very nice greens.
On a related note, I didn’t know about SF’s Conservatory, and I’m sorry I didn’t, because here in London Kew Gardens is one of my absolute favourite places. And good for photography, too! And if you like white cast iron greenhouses, there are none in the world like Kew’s Victorian palaces.
I miss SF, I haven’t been there since a horrible breakup with a guy from there. Considering how many times I’ve been in great pain in SF, it must be a special place indeed for me to love and miss it so much still.
Love love love your unsung hero posts. Defo agree with strobe cream and now naked lunch and humid are on my wish list! Have you tried smut eyeshadow? I only got it this week and it’s fab. I paired it with swish and when they overlapped smut turned from brown to smokey purple!
It’s a tricky color for me to wear, but I’ve seen it on others and it looks amazing!
What are your other MAC faves?
Oh well I am a complete mac junkie but my fav products would have to be shale and parfait amour eyeshadows, lickable lipstick ( love this and it’s easier to wear than girl about town) , face and body and studio sculpt foundation, macroviolet fluidline, shell cream colour base, any of the Pearlglide liners and all the brushes!
Oh and I nearly forgot fashion scoop creamsheen gloss and I love mineralize shadows so I can’t wait for the semi precious collection!
What a pretty color! I’m a neutrals gal, but this green is definitely one i would like to try. That is a really cute wallet.
You could easily incorporate this into your neutrals. Do you have a good brown matte? Pop that in the crease and do Humid on the lid… so easy!
Humid was my first green MAC eyeshadow and i love it today as much as the day i got it.
its lovely, stands on its own and awesome paired with a gray eyeshadow (my fave!) — love love it! 🙂
Ooh, gurl — I haven’t tried it with gray yet! I need to get on that. 🙂 Maybe a little in the crease?
ive done it w/ print, but im thinking silver ring will also be pretty. 🙂
So pretty! It kind of remind’s me of UD’s mildew, which I also lurve. Oh, and that giraffe wallet is toooooo cute!
Speaking of Mildew… Humid looks FANTASTIC with it!
LOVE Humid, it was my first MAC shadow! I got it last year with the To The Beach collection and I use it all the time!
Hi Caity,
I loooved To The Beach!
What do you like to wear Humid with?
Great post 🙂 very inspiring. I would never have thought of wearing it with deep truth! I have both colours so I will try that.
It looks so pretty on the lid. 🙂 Let me know how it turns out!
I LOVE the giraffes! I also saw that Kate Spade has a new I-Phone 4 cover, also with the giraffe print. I currently have the same phone cover as you do, but I might have to get the giraffe one as well. Great post — I’ve never tried green eye shadow before, but this just went on my wish list!
You look so beautiful in green! I really love the mac unsung hero posts! Mac is such a huge line and its hard to discover all of its treasures.
p.s. you have yet to tell us why you went up to Canada! 🙂 I know I’m nosy but I gotta know!
Ahhh! I love Humid and have had it forever, but I have a lot of trouble making it look good during the day. I have green eyes and it makes them look a little blue it is SO green.
When I put it on my lids alone, it looks almost black and I don’t get that awesome green shimmer (I’m NC25 in the summer). I always have to make sure it goes on top of another color and that seems to take out a lot of the green. Any advice?
This eyeshadow is great! I have to go to a military ball tomorrow, and I have a dress similar to that color that I’m going to wear. Wish I had an eyeshadow like this one to match!
Ahh, gorgeous! I need it, I need it 😀
That look is amazing on you. Seriously, one of the most beautiful eyes I’ve seen you do. No wonder that sucker makes it on your Desert Island list! 🙂
Oh, my heart is thumping for the giraffe wallet!! Why, oh, why must I be so tempted!?! Did I tell you about the website for the Petite Lap Giraffe (from the DirecTV commercials)? Cutest thing ever. Whoever came up with that giraffe is a marketing genius!
Beautiful look! Looks great for summer or a tropical vacation 🙂 btw, I’m dying to know what gloss you have on your lips, please let me know!
Love the Unsung Hero posts, because I am new to MAC eye shadows (but I think I have a pretty good collection so far!). I just came back from Vegas, where there is a MAC store, and I bought Humid, so I am thrilled for this post!
I am very much a nuetrals-type girl, but I can make this work…I wear Patina on the lid (I bought Patina in Vegas, too, thanks to your past post about it), a wash of Juxt on my crease, and I pop Humid on the outter corner. I love it, and I don’t feel too made up.
I love Golden Gate Park, too…I live on the Peninusula…
I have Humid in the MAC To The Beach packaging from last summer! Love that shade a lot! As you said, can be paired with different greens and blues, of course, golds too. I love wearing it with Shimmermoss and Korres 24S Gold.
this is one of my favorite eyeshadows; one of the few i’ve had to repurchase!
This was my very first MAC shadow, and it seriously got me hooked. I love it with golds, browns, pretty much everything 🙂