MAC Tropical Taboo: Mineralize Eyeshadows

Today, MAC released a new and limited edition collection in-stores called Tropical Taboo, which is MAC's annual Mineralize launch this year. Tropical Taboo is comprised of two parts, Colour and Face, with a total of 33 products —15 of which are new and limited edition, six of which are re-promotes, ten of which are permanent, one of which is new and permanent, and one of which is a re-promote and now permanent. Tropical Taboo sees the release of six shades of Mineralize Eyeshadow, all of which are new and limited edition. MAC's Mineralize Eyeshadow "provides exceptionally sheer and lightweight application" so that "colour builds lightly, layer after layer, without heavy coverage." They can be used both wet and dry. Each Mineralize Eyeshadow comes in regular black packaging with a clear lid, contains 2 grams of product, and retails for $25.
Clockwise from left: Bossa Blue, Caribbean, and Cha-Cha-Cha
Swatches (dry): Bossa Blue, Caribbean, and Cha-Cha-Cha
Swatches (wet): Bossa Blue, Caribbean, and Cha-Cha-Cha

Bossa Blue is a mélange of medium-dark cerulean blue and medium-dark taupe-brown. When swirled together, it creates a medium-dark taupe-grey with dark silver shimmer-sheen in a frosted finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a silky, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. Due to the nature of the product, it is a bit powdery and there will be some fall-out as a result. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. When used wet, both the colour and the metallic finish become more intense. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is more grey than Satin Taupe, and less brown and more metallic than Copperplate. 

Caribbean is a mélange of light rose pink and medium-dark reddened copper. When swirled together, it creates a medium warm rose pink with copper sparkle in a metallic finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a drier, grittier texture, and goes on fairly patchy and unevenly. Due to the nature of the product, it is a bit powdery and there will be some fall-out as a result. It has medium pigmentation and semi-sheer to semi-opaque buildable colour pay-off. When used wet, both the colour and the metallic finish become more intense. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is more pink than Mythology, and more reddened than Expensive Pink. 

Cha-Cha-Cha is a mélange of medium brightened chartreuse green and dark teal-blue. When swirled together, it creates a medium-dark gunmetal blue with green and blue shimmer-sheen in a metallic finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a silky, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. Due to the nature of the product, it is a bit powdery and there will be some fall-out as a result. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. When used wet, both the colour and the metallic finish become more intense. It can be layered and blended out easily. There is nothing really similar to this in MAC's permanent range; it is lighter and more teal than Knight Divine.

Clockwise from left: Dare to Bare, Time to Tango, and Tropica
Swatches (dry): Dare to Bare, Time to Tango, and Tropica
Swatches (wet): Dare to Bare, Time to Tango, and Tropica

Dare to Bare is a mélange of pale silvered lavender and light golden beige. When swirled together, it creates a light pinked beige with silver shimmer-sheen in a frosted finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a silky, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. Due to the nature of the product, it is a bit powdery and there will be some fall-out as a result. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. When used wet, both the colour and the metallic finish become more intense. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is warmer than Seedy Pearl, and more muted than Phloof!.

Time to Tango is a mélange of medium cool-toned purple and medium warm-toned grey. When swirled together, it creates a medium cool-toned silvered lavender with silver sparkle in a metallic finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a slightly grittier texture, and goes on a bit patchy. Due to the nature of the product, it is a bit powdery and there will be some fall-out as a result. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. When used wet, both the colour and the metallic finish become more intense. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is more silver than Idol Eyes, and darker than Crystal.

Tropica is a mélange of light lilac and light teal-toned silver. When swirled together, it creates a light cool-toned silvered lavender with silver shimmer-sheen in a frosted finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a silky, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. Due to the nature of the product, it is a bit powdery and there will be some fall-out as a result. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. When used wet, both the colour and the metallic finish become more intense. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is more metallic than Crystal, and more silver than Digit.

For those who are looking for intense, pigmented eyeshadows that go on and blend out without any effort, Mineralize Eyeshadows are not for you. Oh, and if you prefer matte eyeshadows, these aren't for you, either. Mineralize Eyeshadows are meant to be buildable and layerable to achieve different opacities, and they all have metallic or shimmery finishes. Because they are baked eyeshadows, they do have a very dry, lightweight feel (as opposed to buttery or dense). Caribbean was the most disappointing shade of the six with an annoyingly gritty texture with a great deal of fall out and a patchy finish. I don't think any of them are necessarily must-haves, but Cha-Cha-Cha is the most unique with a very pretty multi-faceted shimmery finish. I must also note that Mineralize Eyeshadows perform significantly better with a good eye primer and/or an emollient base (e.g. MAC Paint Pot). Those who are fans of Mineralize Eyeshadow should take a look at these to see if there are some new, interesting shades to pick up that they don't already have. Those who don't like Mineralize Eyeshadows can keep walking — these won't change your mind.