MAC RiRi ♥ MAC Holiday: Phresh Out Veluxe Pearlfusion Eyeshadow Palette

Today, MAC released a new collection in-stores in collaboration with Rihanna called RiRi ♥ MAC Holiday (it was released online last week). It is the third collection that was created by Rihanna for MAC, and is one of three colour collaboration collections (one collection was launched online in the summer, and one was launched in-stores for fall). RiRi ♥ MAC Holiday consists of 11 products, and sees the release of two new and limited edition Veluxe Pearlfusion eyeshadow palettes. MAC describes Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow as "a versatile powder that brings out the pigment's pure and true colour. The result is a glamourous, creamy, and lightweight hybrid offering two distinctive effects: applied wet for a super saturation of colour that glistens with metallic brilliance, or dry for sheer coverage with a soft, sparkling finish." Each palette consists of five shades of Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow, and is housed in special edition white packaging and rose gold trim featuring Rihanna's signature and logo with matching secondary cardstock packaging. Each eyeshadow palette contains 4 grams of product, and retails for $52.50.
Phresh Out
Phresh Out

Phresh Out #1 is a pale golden beige in a frosted finish. It has a silky, soft, almost creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. When used wet, the colour becomes more intense and the finish looks more metallic. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is similar to Dazzlelight, and brighter than Smokeluxe #1.

Phresh Out #2 is a light-medium golden copper with copper sparkle in a metallic finish. It has a slightly gritty texture, and goes on a bit patchy and unevenly as a result. It has medium pigmentation and semi-sheer to semi-opaque buildable colour pay-off. When used wet, the colour becomes more intense and the finish looks more metallic. Due to the grittiness of the texture, it can be difficult to layer and blend out, and also causes a bit of fall-out. It is more orange-toned than Honey Lust, and lighter and less sparkly than Day Gleam Pressed Pigment.

Phresh Out #3 is a light peachy beige with soft pink sparkle in a metallic finish. It has a very gritty texture, and goes on patchy and unevenly as a result. It has low-medium pigmentation and sheer to semi-sheer buildable colour pay-off. When used wet, the colour becomes more intense. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is slightly lighter and more sheer than Light Touch Pressed Pigment, and more sheer than Pastelluxe #2.

Phresh Out #4 is a medium-dark warm taupe with purple undertones in a frosted finish. It has a silky, soft, almost creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. When used wet, the colour becomes more intense and the finish looks more frosted. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is more purple than Satin Taupe, and darker and more grey than Smokeluxe #3.

Phresh Out #5 is a dark cool-toned brown with plum undertones in a satin finish. It has a silky, soft, almost creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. When used wet, the colour becomes more intense and the finish looks more frosted. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is more plum than Mystery, and more brown than Shadowy Lady.

Like the 2x Dare palette, Phresh Out is filled with neutrals that can create a soft sparkly look or a more dramatic smoky eye. While Phresh Out #2 was on the slightly gritty side, the shade that I really had issues with in application is Phresh Out #3, which goes on very sheer and patchy. However, keep in mind that the Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow formula was meant to create different effects, so not all shades will come out smooth and super-pigmented. I do recommend using an eyeshadow base in any case, so the shadows adhere better to the lid. While I found that the formula of the shadows were better across the board in the 2x Dare palette, the inclusion of the two darker less sparkly shades in this one creates more dimension on the eye when mixed with the lighter metallic shades, so I actually find Phresh Out to be more versatile.

The only major downfall that I can see in this formula is that they are rather fragile — the powder is very soft so you can damage the actual pan if you press too hard — and the particularly sparkly shades create some fall out (I do recommend doing your foundation afterwards when using these). As the name implies, none of the shadows come in matte finishes, but these are great options for those who like their shadows with shimmer and sheen. What I have found with Rhianna's collections is that all the shades are suitable for all skintones and undertones, so despite your personal thoughts on her or her work, all the eyeshadow palettes that have been released under her name are incredibly versatile and foolproof.