Rubenesque Rundown

I remember first being introduced to MAC Paint Pot in Rubenesque in one of Nic from Pixiwoo's videos. It made her eyelids glisten with such an eye-catching, subtle but multifaceted orangey-gold sheen that I was compelled to made a note of the name of the product so I could check it out and hopefully purchase it later. I'd always been drawn to the MAC Paint Pots because of the ease and versatility of cream eyeshadows, but with the Maybelline Color Tattoos a much more affordable alternative, I couldn't bring myself to spend $35 on one. Painterly had always been the shade I was most tempted by, but I rationalised that such a colour would barely show up on my lids and only act an an eyelid primer more than anything. Rubenesque was yet another US purchase I made (that trip really was about fulfilling 95% of my makeup wishlist), setting me back $18.50 rather than almost double that had I bought it in Australia.

l-r: Wet n Wild Comfort Zone Eyelid shade, MAC Rubenesque, NARS Enchanted, Prestige Champagne, Urban Decay Chopper

MAC Rubenesque is described as a "mid-tone frosted golden peach with gold and pink pearl". There's only a hint of pink, and it's not as frosty as some other eyeshadows that I have in that the predominant shimmer isn't white or silver. To my eyes, it's more of a sheer peach with a gold overlay. This is one of those colours that looks beautiful when swatched, but falls flat when I apply it. It just doesn't work with my eye shape and skin tone. It took about three layers for the pigmentation to be built up to a light wash of slightly orangey gold. The formula of the Paint Pot itself was smooth, blendable and creamy, but it appeared a little drying on the lid and not as emollient as other cream shadows I have, notably the Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow/Liner.

Compared to similar shades I have, there's nothing that's an exact dupe. Interestingly, the left "Eyelid" colour of the Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Collection in Comfort Zone is nearly identical to Urban Decay Chopper from the Naked2 palette (Chopper is slightly more intense in pigmentation and metallic in finish). Both colours are more copper compared to the lighter goldish peach of Rubenesque. Prestige Champagne is sheerer and more of a browny peach with less of a pinky-orange undertone and missing the gold sheen that runs through Rubenesque. NARS Enchanted, actually a cream blush, is surprisingly the most dissimilar. It's a lot more vibrantly pinky peach with the addition of crazy glitter shards.

I wanted to love Rubenesque, but since I bought it, I've barely touched it. I think this would look better on those with fairer skin and a visible crease/socket for an everyday, brightening look. The only way I'd imagine getting some use out of it is as a base for gold, copper or bronze eyeshadows, or maybe even as a highlighter.