MAC Unsung Heroes: Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow in Brownluxe

One of the downsides of deep-cleaning one’s office (yes, Operation Get My Sh*t Together is still ongoing) is finding a huge mound of stale cat treats behind a box of eye palettes and realizing, “Holy freaking crap! I’m the woman who had a pile of stale cat treats in her office and has no idea how long they were there!”

It could have been days, weeks or even years, and frankly I’m surprised that Tabs didn’t find them, because I’m sure he would have “removed” them for me.

Before you click away thinking, “This woman is crazy,” I do have a point, and it is this: one of the upsides of deep-cleaning one’s office is rediscovering long-loved and lost gems like MAC Brownluxe Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow.

If you like wearing eyeshadow but feel like your blending skills are lacking, and/or you’re often in a hurry to get out the door, and/or you can’t bear the thought of buffing out three layers of Soft Brown with your 217, YOU NEED THIS IN YOUR LIFE.

“Five complementary shades that glide on and blend beautifully for infinite day-to-night looks: egg shell, frosty orange gold, light yellow chocolate, deep bronze, blackened plum with pearl. Matte to highly pearlized finish.”

— maccosmetics.com

MAC Brownluxe belongs to the Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow family, a group of powder shadow palettes in the MAC permanent line. It’s one of eight Veluxe Pearlfusion palettes available now for $40 each.

The MAC Veluxe Pearlfusions have a different formula than the regular MAC powder shadows that come in the round pans. Softer and silkier, they feel almost creamy to the touch.

Each Veluxe Pearlfusion palette (Plumluxe, Copperluxe, Peachluxe, etc.) has its own distinct color theme, and within each palette, you get five Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadows hand-selected to work together in that particular theme.

Browluxe, one of my favorites in the Veluxe Pearlfusion fam, has a soft, shimmery eggshell beige; a satiny, medium golden tan; a glittery, orangey gold; a shimmery chocolate; and a shimmery, deep plummy brown — all colors that I could happily wear daily for the rest of my life based on how I’ve been feeling lately, ’cause I’ve been all about #datneutrallife.

But it’s not just the Brownluxe colors that I like. The Veluxe Pearlfusion formula is also just plain fab. It’s really, really easy to blend. Even if you’re completely new to eyeshadow, I think you could do a look incorporating two or three (or maybe even all five!) of these colors, and have it turn out looking like you know exactly what you’re doing.

I don’t know what kind of cosmetic witchery is at work, but it’s probably related to the creamy formula. Erasing edges between the colors and creating diffused gradients that seamlessly transition from light to dark, which are telltale signs of someone who’s been blending for a while, is easy with these shadows.

Brownluxe is the best if you’re always running late (story of my life). I wore it yesterday to a meeting in the city with some beauty folks, and I only had 20 minutes to do a full face of makeup from start to finish. Brownluxe helped me quickly do a neutral cat eye, which I paired with a bright hot pink lip (MAC Pink Pigeon), and I think it turned out looking like I spent 45 minutes instead of 20.

I really do believe that Brownluxe would be great for anyone new to blending shadows. Newbies, I’m talking to you! You’d have a good time with it, and later, after you’ve explored and experimented more with color, you’d be able to work these same neutrals into your brighter looks. 🙂

There are a couple of other things I should also mention…like the shape of the Veluxe Pearlfusion pans. They’re long and thin, so don’t even bother trying to use a big eye brush. It would just pick up color from neighboring pans. When I work with these, I always use brushes with smaller brush heads like the MAC 239 and MAC 217, and occasionally I’ll get a pencil brush up in the mix, like if I’m smudging out my lash lines.

Also, be sure to tap your brush first to remove any excess and reduce fallout. I say again: tap your brush first. TAP YOUR BRUSH FIRST.

You really ought to tap your brush first. 🙂 Because some of these shadows do exhibit a little fallout. But it’s not a huge amount.

And then there are the flattering finishes. Girl, as I grow up (haha), things like the way a shimmery product reads on my skin really, really matter, and I love the way these shimmer. They look silky smooth on lids, even lids with fine lines (ahem, like mine). It’s almost like you’re wearing softly glowing crushed pearls… It’s very elegant, and akin to what you might find over at Chanel.

The wear time is also wicked. I had a long day yesterday, and even after 12 hours, I could still see the Brownluxe shadows shimmering softly on my lids (for reference, I have combination oily/dry skin).

I feel like I should spread the Brownluxe love. I’ll talk about it with anybody who’ll listen, and if you’ve made it this far down this post, I hope you give it a try. 🙂 I think you’ll find something wonderful.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

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