The long-running Unsung Heroes series here on Makeup and Beauty Blog features some of my all-time favorite permanent collection products.
When was the last time you heard somebody flip their lid and rave about MAC Layin’ Low?
Ever…? Have you ever heard it? Because I can’t remember ever hearing somebody rave about MAC Layin’ Low. It really does lay low and keep a low profile. Among the MAC Paint Pots, it just doesn’t get the same kind of love that Soft Ochre and Painterly get and, yes, while they’re also cream eyeshadows, I think Layin’ Low deserves some love of its own, because it’s one of THE BEST base colors for warm browns.
There, I said it! WARM BROWNS. I know I go on and on about how much I like to wear cool browns on my lids (the gray tones create fabulous faux shadows that give the illusion of a deeper crease, which is something I’m always striving for since my crease is pretty shallow), but there’s something about warm orangey browns and reddish browns in the fall and winter. They just feel right, and they go oh, so well with plum, wine, brown and red lips.
Warm and creamy matte beige Layin’ Low is like Soft Brown’s creamy shadow cousin, and if you like warm browns like MAC Saddle, Texture, Swiss Chocolate (and others), it’s an absolute must.
If you’re warm toned like I am with a skin tone around NC20 or up, it’s like friggin’ David Copperfield (i.e. magic). If you’re lighter than NC20, just in case, give it a swatch first before committing, because it can look a little more orange than warm beige on some gals.
I’m a MAC NC42, and Layin’ Low is in my category of everyday staples. For fast looks, I’ll wear it as a standalone shadow, just popping it right on my lids, diffusing it into the crease and smudging Costa Riche on my lash and water lines before adding mascara and a bold plum, wine or berry lip. It lasts all day and doesn’t even need primer!
It’s also a superstar eyeshadow base for warm orangey brown or reddish brown smoky eyes. I’ll buff it on my lids from lash line to brow bone with a MAC 217, then sweep Soft Brown into the crease, then Saddle or Texture slightly lower into the crease, Swiss Chocolate on my lids and a black liner (usually Smolder) on my lash and water lines.
If you’re one of those gals or guys for whom the MAC Paint Pots look thick and heavy on your lids, try applying a very thin layer of Layin’ Low with a domed eyeshadow brush like the MAC 217. I’ll just do quick, little sweeping motions and make tight circles to buff the layers down as thin as humanly possible, which is something I learned from a MAC makeup artist, and it changed my worldview on the MAC Paint Pots, LOL! Before that I’d always press them into my skin with my fingers, and they’d look heavy and dry on my lids.
I hope you give Layin’ Low a chance one of these days, because I think it’s a totally underrated everyday workhorse. You can find it now for $22 in the MAC permanent line, hoping to change lives one sweep at a time. 🙂
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
This is my favorite MAC paint pot to use! I’m so glad I’m not the only one!
Hi Kaprice,
Yay! It’s such a great workhorse product, right? What eyeshadows do you usually like to wear with it?
Hey Karen,
Lately, I’ve been loving it with Rule in the crease, with Hepcat on the lid, and maybe some Sketch in the crease. It’s so pretty!
I’ve stayed away from MAC Paint Pots because of the dry/heavy look problem, but of course I was applying with my fingers. Thanks for the tip, I’ll look into them again trying that application method!
You’re welcome, Lulle! Let me know has it goes. 🙂
I don’t have any MAC paint pots, but I have used and still have some of Bobbi Brown’s cream shadows which I use as a base for when I do use Metallic eyeshadow (which is not too often). I also wear them alone when I don’t want to spend alot of time on my eyes. my two favorites are Shore which is a Pale nude and Mocha which has a bit more pink . I have always used my fingers, but I like the idea of buffing them out more. They are great basics to have in my collection.
Hi Jane,
I’ve worn Bobbi’s cream shadows too and hers are great! I have a couple; need to bust them out soon. 🙂 Let me know how it goes with the buffing brush action.
Happy (almost) Friday! I’m so ready for the weekend. Are you doing anything fun?
Ive always wanted to pick up a paint pot and this is the color I gravitate toward and on of my favorite youtubers xxsarahnicolexx raves about it too!
The application method you described is exactly the one I use with my beloved Maybelline Color Tattoo in Creamy Beige (which looks very much like MAC Groundwork) and I agree it’s the best way to apply it!
Yeah the buffing makes a difference!
Too orange on my skin, as I am NC 15, but you are right, I never ever heard someone rave about it.
Try Painterly or Soft Ochre instead!
Yep, there’s no denying it, the MAC Paint Pots still deserve major praise! They make such good bases! They don’t budge at all.
So good!
I fell this one is too peachy/orange for my taste on my NC20. But last week I had a makeup lesson at MAC and they use Perky paint pot on me applied in the same way as you describe. The put Swiss Chocolate on top and it was a GORGEOUS combination. It’s on my wishlist since then. I will give another try to layin’ low with this technique to see If I was wrong.
I love Perky too, Astrild! I’ll try it with Swiss Chocolate. Did she put Swiss Chocolate on the lid or in the crease?
She put it in the outer V and the crease with sweet lust eyeshadow in the lid.
I am NW20 so I am not sure it would work for me but this look is gorgeous. So simple, yet so beautiful! And that lip color is TO DIE FOR! And your eyeliner looks so good and perfect!
Something like Painterly would probably work better for you. Give that a swatch!
That’s quite a list!! I’ve literally never heard anyone mention Layin Low as a base. It’s always Painterly or Soft Ochre.
Monica.
I found this month’s ago at a CCO! I’m horrible at applying paint pots, so thanks for the tips! You look fab as always. I swear you could wear lime green lipstick and still look freaking stunning!!
I love your Unsung Heroes and New To Me posts. They always send me out searching for a great product I might have missed. I like the paint pot in Painterly, even though I sometimes feel like it’s too dark and too pink.
I guess it’s a matter of perspective lol. I’m a medium dark girl and Layin Low and Grounwork paint pots are my usual go to base shadows for neutral looks. Layin Low was LE before Mac came to its senses & made it a permanent shade. Glad it’s working for you Karen!