Mac Conversion: I love Mac Paint Pots in Painterly!

Yes ladies, I fear it is true. After my boast about my non-addiction to Mac Cosmetics, I now have to eat my words because I am now addicted to not one, but TWO Mac products! *hides face in shame* I have succumbed to Mac's Paint Pots (RM75) and their Select Cover Up Concealer in NC35 (RM65). In my defense though neither product were chosen for their Mac-ness or even for pure aesthetics, but for performance and (believe it or not) affordability.

This review is for the Paint Pot in Painterly, and not as an eyeshadow but as an eye primer. Sadly living in humid Malaysia I find that my eyeliner runs everywhere (yes even THIS liner ran amok on very hot day!) and my eyeshadow fades. Unacceptable! So I discussed with Syen on eye primers, and decided that a Paint Pot in a nude shade offered the best value price-wise and performance (based on MUA reviews).

Painterly is THE perfect nude shade on me. It just disappears into my eye area, brightening it up ever-so-slightly. Some prefer Bare Canvas because it is shimmery, and who knows I may get it someday. However for a first shade, I felt that Painterly would be the best all-round investment as it creates a perfect canvas without altering the shadows used over it.

Performance
As a primer, this product certainly doesn't disappoint! My shadows apply more vibrantly over, and they last much much longer - even my loose mineral shadows. My eyeliner also stays put all day, it may fade slightly, but there is no smudging or running (thank goodness!). At the end of long, hot, sweaty days my eye makeup looks stunningly fresh.

I'll admit I've never used any other eye primer in my life, so I feel rather underqualified to judge this one's quality, happy though I am with it. When Syen gets a go at this, we'll append her more knowledgeable views. ; )

Application

When choosing between a Paint Pot and a Paint tube, the pot won hands down despite its higher price and reviews stating that Paints actually performed better as primers. It all comes down to application, I just couldn't FACE a squeezy tube that would run amok when I'm rushing for work in the mornings.

Applying from the pot though is killingly simple. You can use your finger, but I prefer to use the small Mac Concealer brush that came with a Christmas set I purchased many moons ago. A dab and a few quick swipes and the lid is done. The brush also allows me to apply a fine line of the product on my lower lids to help keep my rebellious liner in place. Very little product is needed and a pot is going to last me ages.

To aid blending I always swipe a light shimmery base powder shade over everything before proceeding with my mid tone and crease shades.

So thus begins my downfall as I slide ever deeper into the world of Mac fandom. How much longer will it be before I begin to collect their blushes and eyeshadows fanatically? I shudder at the thought whilst clutching my beloved Paint Pot.