Oh, the buckets of glittery tears I’d shed if MAC ever discontinued Soft Brown Matte Eyeshadow ($14.50).
Don’t be fooled by how uninspiring it looks in the pan. Soft Brown’s like the sun and the rain, and it makes my life a foolish game. Okay, well, that may be going a little too far, but I do think I could probably wear it every day for the rest of my life (no joke).
Because it’s a color I reach for so often, I think of Soft Brown as an “anchor” shade — like the glue that holds many of my eye looks together.
Worn in the crease, Soft Brown’s warm orangey brown gives depth and dimension to smokey looks. In a matte finish, I think it also ups the contrast of any shimmery shades I wear with it in blue, green, peach, pink — you name it.
A few shots of Soft Brown in action…
With a shimmery green shadow in the Bobbi Brown Ivy League Look
With a teal eyeshadow in the Freida Pinto SAG look
With browns and beiges in this office-inspired makeup look using colors from the MAC Originals collection
But what I love about it most is how well it works on such a wide range of skin tones from light to dark.
Soft Brown Fun Fact: Fan of the show, Mad Men (I am!)? Soft Brown is one of the key shades MAC makeup artists use on characters Joan Holloway (the stunning redhead) and Betty Draper (a beautiful blonde).
Joan Holloway, played by actress Christina Hendricks
Elizabeth “Betty” Draper, played by actress January Jones
I’m sure I could live without this MAC Unsung Hero, but would I want to?? 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. The MAC Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorite products from MAC’s permanent collection…
- 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 Hero: Blacktrack Fluidline
- MAC Unsung Hero: Gorgeous Gold Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Patina Eyeshadow
It is a great go-to shade. I use it with a 224 brush in the crease to blend out everything!
It’s a minor miracle in the crease, isn’t it? LOVE Soft Brown!
I use this shade with just about everything. I love it’s blendability. Thanks for the great review, as always!
.-= Lindsay’s last blog post… Wet N Wild Lust FOTD =-.
Me too. It just melts into the skin!
I wholeheartedly agree. Soft Brown is a great anchor shade, for both bold and neutral looks.
.-= Arianne’s last blog post… Getting My Glow On Thanks to Genuine Health! =-.
Yay for Soft Brown!
Yes, I remember it being featured on Joan in Mad Men. I do have Kid and Cork eyeshadow, how different is Soft Brown from those two?
.-= Karen B’s last blog post… Shopaholic =-.
Soft Brown is warmer and has more peach/orange in it.
Hmm, don’t know if it’ll play nicely with my colouring. Will try on my next visit to the store 😉
.-= Karen B’s last blog post… Shopaholic =-.
Hmm, maybe check out Wedge and Soba. Those might look better on you!
I need a shade like this! I love me some neutral eyeshadows!
I can’t believe you don’t have Soft Brown. You need it in your life, ASAP.
I feel so overwhelmed looking through their huge rack o’ eyeshadows. and then I usually pick a few shades, look at the names and realize all the colors I’m drawn to I already own, and then I give up. LOL!
Oh, I totally get that. I have to go in with a LIST, otherwise I get too overstimulated.
What neutrals do you have? These are a few of my go-tos:
Shroom
Soba
Saddle
Soft Brown
Cork
Brule
Ricepaper
Arena
All That Glitters
Brownscript
I’m sure there are a few more but I can’t think of ’em right now, oy!
Hey hey, I’m looking for a brown eyeshadow hero of my own. What do you think would be a cool-toned but still matte counterpart to this?
Hi Liza,
Check out Wedge, Omega or Charcoal Brown.
I love ur pic in Black…ur skin looks so glowy….very pretty
Thanks Chibu! 🙂 How’s your day going? We’re almost to Friday, wee!
I bought this last year because of you! I love it to death as well.
.-= Michelle (LipstickRules)’s last blog post… To Review or Not to Review – that is the Question =-.
Yay! I’m so glad you like it and love it.
Thanks for posting this Karen, I’ve been looking for a soft brown color for everyday (work day) look. I’ll have to check it out!
Karen,
This is my fav Unsung Hero post thus far. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this color!!! My eyes are dark brown and this just oomph’s them up a bit. I like it on top of Painterly Paint Pot and it’s great if you’ve gone overboard with eyeshadow. My new fav way to wear it is with the blue eyeshadow from the Dame Edna eyeshadow palette. Great post!! Happy Thursday!!!
-Tania
Sounds like a fabulous combo — soft Brown looks so great with blues!
Happy Thursday to you, too. 🙂
mmm, looks fab 🙂
tempted to grab some of this next time I’m in town, but I’m kinda pale (NW15) and wondering if it might look a bit too orange?
help! x
Hi Lydia,
Maybe look into more golden or beige-y browns like Soba, Cork, Era or Omega.
I’m exceedingly pale and a MAC makeup artist advised me to use it on my wedding day, in conjunction with cork satin and a pinkish shade I can’t remember the name of, and it looked amazing!!! Now it’s one of my everyday staples! 🙂
Oh, your look sounds beautiful.
Cork is another one of my faves, actually! Have you tried Soba? If you like Cork, you might like Soba, too.
I believe I need this eyeshadow in my life. Immediately! 😀
Yes you do! You can wear it with all the MAC neutral greats: All That Glitters, Arena, Naked Lunch, Woodwinked, Sable, Shroom, Ricepaper…
Ugh!, I went to a sneak peek of Mac’s to the beach collection on the 18th and the only thing I really wanted was sand & sun E/S and after your review knew the color payoff wasn’t worth it but still wanted to see it for myself. The MUA did a quick eye demo with rubenesque paint pot as my base and over all lid with sand & sun and soft brown in my crease. The look was so pretty. I got the paint pot and sand & sun but left soft brown coz I thought is was an easy dupeable color, now I’m not so sure. =(
Hmmm. I’m always down for a drugstore alternative, but I have to say I still haven’t found anything quite like Soft Brown.
Do you do smokey eyes often? It looks really great blended out in the crease.
I really don’t do smokey eyes often but that’s only coz I can never get the look right. No matter how many brushes (mac, sephora, ulta, drug store), makeup and tutorials I watch and read it just never looks good.
Okay, I have two pretty easy smokey eye tutorials for you to try. The first one’s a little dramatic because I did it for Halloween a couple years ago, but you can always tone it down with more subtle colors:
MAC Smokey Eye Tutorial
This one’s waaay easy, and suitable for day:
Smokey Eyes 101
Karen, I have a whole list of MAC neutrals I want now because of you. =P
.-= Catherine’s last blog post… MAC To The Beach Marine Life High-Light Powder pt. 1 =-.
Trust me, you’ll be so happy when you finally get them in your stash. You’ll be able to get a lot of use out ’em.
How are you feeling? I hope you aren’t sick anymore!
wow…soft brown looks nice…I love, love love the third look, with the orange/reddish lip…
P.s: totally off-topic BUT your eyebrows look killer, I wish mine were in such great shape 🙂
LOL, you should’ve seen them before I started plucking and filling them in when I was in college. They were a hot mess!
I’ve been wanting Soft Brown for the longest time…and Naked Lunch too! I really need to go out and by them now. Seriously.
.-= Maggie’s last blog post… Let’s Rejoice! It’s a Mini CVS Haul =-.
I just picked up Naked Lunch recently… it looks faboo with Soft Brown.
I havent tried this one yet. I can feel a haul of mac permanent shades coming up!!
.-= scarlettholly’s last blog post… Urban Decay Stardust Shadows: A Glittery Feast! =-.
Yeaaaah!! I feel one coming on too… I need more purples in my life to wear with Soft Brown.
best. eyeshadow. EVER.
.-= rachel’s last blog post… Project 10 Pan – PRODUCT THE FIRST =-.
No kidding! It always comes with me on vacation.
This shade looks really good.
.-= Beauty Is Diverse’s last blog post… Fashion Business: Victor Dzenk S/S 2011 =-.
It’s really great! Try it sometime.
Karen, You are so persuasive. I am totally sold on that shade. I LOVE how you look in that green/ brown smokey eye: so beautifull and classy. My unsung hero is more taupe: I really like Taupe Satin by MAC. Ewa@LoveSmokeyEyes
That’s a beautiful shade! I know many ladies that can’t live without it.
Soft Brown has some red in it, no?
My neutrals are usually from the champagne shade family. wonder if this brown would make my eyes look like I’ve rubbing my eyes…..as my eyes are quite puffy.
.-= Vonvon’s last blog post… Photos: MAC To The Beach – Look, Outfit & Tote! =-.
Hi Vonvon,
Hmm… I’d say it’s more orange than red.
dear karen,
you totally made my day (which has been an too-much-work&no-sunshine-only-rain monday so far). i have been forever looking for a neutral shade every day eye shadow & i wanted it to a mac one 😉 i’m more of a blush & lipgloss kinda girl, but this shade looks simply perfect.
thanks again, have a sparkling week & greetings from a summer-rainy germany,
anne
Hi Anne,
So glad to hear that you ind this helpful! If you’re a makeup minimalist, you might also want to check out MAC Soba and MAC Woodwinked eyeshadows, too. 🙂
I’m definitely wanting some new shades for my collection, (not to say that I don’t have enough, I have three quads, and one 15 palette and they’re all almost full :S) I just want some new things, and some shades turned out to be duds or are too colorful and I can’t wear them everyday. I’m thinking of soft brown, espresso, grain, rice paper and brule? To spice things up 🙂
Is there any dupes for soft brown? It’s not sold at mac in Ireland and was wondering wud harmony blush be similar
hi Karen…
I love natural colour..!!
my skin is NC40…can u suggest which colour of eyeshadow for my skin tone?