MAC Shadeshift Chrome Eyeshadow (Venom Review and Swatch)

MAC Shadeshift Chrome Eyeshadow Venom Review Swatch Medium Dark Skin
MAC Shadeshift Chrome Eyeshadow Venom

The MAC Shadeshift Chrome Eyeshadow is a soft, slick feeling, dimethicone-based formula. You can see a dent in the formula after you swatch it because it is so soft. I am not sure if this means the formula is fragile, since I bought mine in-store at Ulta. I can’t say for certain it would make it through the mail.

MAC Shadeshift Chrome Eyeshadow Venom Review and Swatches
MAC Shadeshift Chrome Eyeshadow Venom Duochrome Shift

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**MAC Shadeshift Chrome Eyeshadow Venom, $28

MAC Shadeshift Chrome Eyeshadow Venom Review and Swatch Medium Dark Skin
MAC Shadeshift Chrome Eyeshadow Venom
MAC Shadeshift Chrome Eyeshadow Venom Duochrome Shift Swatches
MAC Shadeshift Chrome Eyeshadow Venom Duochrome Shift

MAC describes Venom as a red pearl that flips orange-bronze. You can see in the images that there is some green as well. I don’t typically like duochromes because if I’m choosing a color to wear, I want it to be that color. Even though this MAC eyeshadow does have shifts, it never looks patchy or unblended. In the pictures below, I am wearing this eyeshadow by itself, so you can see how much dimension it gives depending on where it is placed on the lid. I applied it all over my eyelid and blended the edges out. That’s it.

Wearing MAC Shadeshift Chrome Eyeshadow Venom Review and Swatches
Wearing MAC Shadeshift Chrome Eyeshadow Venom
Wearing MAC Shadeshift Chrome Eyeshadow Venom Swatches and Review
MAC Shadeshift Chrome Eyeshadow Venom

The brand promises this formula is high-impact and lightweight, and I agree. I was able to get good color payoff applying it with a brush, but it’s a little bit shinier and smoother over texture when applied with my fingers. I applied it over MAC Eyeshadow Primer, and there was no fading or creasing throughout wear. I do want to mention that the formula is harder to remove than other Mac eyeshadows. This is not a dealbreaker for me; it’s just something that I happened to notice. On the upside, I’m sure that helps with how long-wearing it is. I haven’t seen any fallout during application or throughout the day.


Comparison Swatches MAC Venom vs Natasha Denona Phenomena (from I Need A Warm Palette)

I’m not sure if it is my olive undertone or just the depth of my skintone (NARS Tahoe/Estee Lauder 4W4), but some of the orange tone gets lost on me. When the light hits me just right, it does look a little orange. But mostly the red pearl comes through on me, and when I’m up close in the mirror, I can see a green shift. When I took comparison pictures next to the Natasha Denona shade, you can see the green shift in the palette mirror. I expected these shades to be more similar to each other, but I’m glad they turned out so different, so they’re both still useful to me.

MAC Shadeshift Chrome Eyeshadow Venom vs Natasha Denona Phenomena (I Need A Warm Palette) Swatches
MAC Shadeshift Chrome Eyeshadow Venom Swatch vs Natasha Denona Phenomena (I Need A Warm Palette)

Formula comparisons (MAC Limited Edition Metamorphosis Face & Eye Palette)

**MAC Website
$
Sale
Price
$ 47.00
Regular
Price
MAC – Metamorphosis Face & Eye Palette
MAC Metamorphosis Face and Eye Palette shades Same formula as Shadeshift Chrome Eyeshadow
MAC Metamorphosis Face and Eye Palette

The first formula in MAC’s new limited edition Metamorphosis Palette (shades Daft Pink, Hot Honey, Lavender Lemonade, Calypso Coral) is the Shadeshift Chrome formula. Formulas can vary from shade to shade, but hopefully, my experience with the shade Venom can give you an idea of how that formula might work. The second formula in the palette (shades Cherry Sangria and Daffodillionaire) is not exact, but the ingredients list is similar to the formula in the Tom Ford Olive Smoke Quad. I did not get along with the Tom Ford Olive Smoke formula. No matter what I did, it creased on me. With any luck, the slight differences in the formula compared to Tom Ford’s will help those MAC shades perform better.


Final Thoughts

If the other two shades available (**Ethereal, Kaleidoscope) in the MAC Shadeshift Chrome Eyeshadow formula are the same, this is a solid formula from the brand. I do wish they had more shades. The shades have been in and out of stock on the MAC website, though, so they may be popular enough for the brand to add shades. The one downside is that things keep getting more and more expensive from MAC. The slimmer compact isn’t just to make it thinner; there is also less product. The Shadeshift Chrome formula is $28 for 1g. MAC eyeshadows used to be 1.5g. I’m not sure if this change is only for this formula or if all of the newly reformulated dazzelshadows are also smaller. I’m not a fan of paying more for less product, although a little bit does go a long way with how pigmented this eyeshadow is. However, based purely on performance, I’m a big fan of this formula!

**Ulta website
$ 28.00
Sale
Price
$ 28.00
Regular
Price
MAC Small Shadeshift Chrome Eyeshadow – Venom
**MAC Website
$
Sale
Price
$ 28.00
Regular
Price
MAC – Eye Shadow Shadeshift Chrome
**Bloomingdale’s Website
$
Sale
Price
$ 28.00
Regular
Price
MAC Shade Shifting Chrome Eye Shadow

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4 thoughts on “MAC Shadeshift Chrome Eyeshadow (Venom Review and Swatch)

  1. Ah, I checked if the Metamorphosis Palette was comparable to the standard eyeshadow and the holiday one. It didn’t even occur to me to check the Chrome one. Fascinating! Also, very interesting about the Tom Ford comparison. The only shade (at least in my palette) that is as squishy and easily moveable as how you described the Chrome eyeshadow is Lavender Lemonade. So, I’ve been wondering if MAC made a mistake listing it with the others or if it truly somehow has the same ingredients/formula. I feel like there should be a third list on the box for Lavender Lemonade on its own instead of just two.

    Also, Venom looks great on you!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I found a listing on eBay from someone who had the actual box to double check the ingredients. Things can vary by shade, but that is odd that there is only one with that texture. Thank you 😊.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Yes, very strange. They all have that dimethicone slip, but I have to put a lot more pressure to move them unlike the Lavender shade that’s very easy. Maybe I have a weird one. lol.

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