MAC Studio Sculpt Shade & Line Indigo Blend

I can't remember the last time I was interested enough in a new MAC release to actually buy it (I do keep several staples around at all times, such as classic eye shadow colors and Paint Pots) . But something about the new MAC Studio Sculpt Shade and Line looked very delicious in Karen's photos. Also: blue.

MAC Studio Sculpt Shade & Line includes three colors that you can apply dry or with a damp brush for intensity. The one I chose, Indigo Blend, has two colors that don't necessarily require wet application (the ones in baby blue and eggplanty brown), and one that absolutely demands it: the black liner in the middle. As you can see from the swatch, even a damp brush doesn't make this very black or very sharp. To be honest, the black is unimpressive. The two other colors mostly make up for it. They're soft, blendable, and interesting enough. They're also nicely saturated-- the swatch above was done with a MAC 239, one swipe only of each (except the black-- that took more work, another strike against it).

I find that the eye shadows need a primer (I've been using the one by MAKE, review coming soon) to look best and stay put all day, otherwise they disintegrate with 6 hours, but that's true for almost everything, so quality is as good as expected. It appears that Indigo Blend has a different finish than some of the other Shade & Line trios, as the colors are matte- neither sparkly nor metallic.

Bottom Line: nice but not a must-have. They should rethink the black.

MAC Studio Sculpt Shade & Line ($21) in Indigo Blend and seven other options is a limited edition collection. Available at the counters, MAC stores and maccosmetics.com.