MAC Cine-matics: Eyeshadow Duos

MAC released a collection called Cine-matics on July 7, available exclusively at The Bay in Canada, which includes lip sets, brush sets, and smoky eye kits. Cine-matics also sees the release of eight new and limited edition eyeshadow duos, called Double Features, which will be widely released in a collection called Colourizations in August. I got four of the eight so far, but it's unlikely that I will pick up the other four, so this is all you will see of the Double Features here. The duos do not have individual names, and are only numbered. Each eyeshadow duo is housed in regular black packaging, and contains approximately 2.6 to 2.8 grams of product. Each duo retails for $30.

Double Feature 2

Double Feature 2

Double Feature 2 includes a bright chartreuse lime green in a Veluxe Pearl finish and a deep grey with silver shimmer in a Frost finish. The green shade had great pigmentation and colour pay-off, as Veluxe Pearls usually do. The closest shade I can think of is Bitter, which has been discontinued. It's like a lighter, more neon version of Lucky Green. The grey shade was a little more finicky, and goes on rather patchy and sheer, though it is buildable. It's like a shimmery version of Print.

Double Feature 3

Double Feature 3

Double Feature 3 includes a mid-tone bright teal in a Matte finish and a deep chocolate brown in a Satin finish. The teal shade applied beautifully, very pigmented with great colour pay-off. It wasn't powdery or patchy at all, which some Matte shades are prone to being. It is very similar to Surf USA from the Surf, Baby! collection, but with no shimmer or sheen. The brown shade was harder to work with, being more sheer, but it is buildable. It is similar to Charcoal Brown.

Double Feature 4

Double Feature 4

Double Feature 4 includes a medium-dark green-teal in a Veluxe Pearl finish and a medium ochre brown in a Matte finish. This duo is the best of the bunch, with both shades going on smoothly and evenly, very pigmented and with great colour pay-off. The teal shade is like a darker version of Steamy, and the brown shade is like a darker, matte version of Cork. There's honestly nothing I don't like about this duo.

Double Feature 7

Double Feature 7

Double Feature 7 includes a bright fuchsia pink in a Frost finish and a muted cool black in a Satin finish. The pink shade is pigmented and has good colour pay-off, but I felt it was a little powdery. It is like a brighter, pinker, and more intense version of Stars 'n Rockets. It is similar to Romping, which was discontinued. The black shade was much harder to use. Like the grey shade in Double Feature 2, this goes on patchy and sheer. You're much better off using Carbon, which is a truer, more intense black.

Overall, the only eyeshadow duo that's worth $30 is Double Feature 4. The other duos have nice colours, but because one shade is always significantly worse (in terms of texture and blendability), it ends up not being worth the money. Either way, a lot of people will not find the duos very wearable on their own. I can see a lot of people using one shade of the duo at a time, rather than both of them in a single look, unless they blend in a few other shades. The Double Features are worth taking a look at, but unless you really love both shades that are in the duos, you may be better off buying a customizable MAC palette.