DUPE ALERT: Maybelline Color Tattoos in Just Beige and Nude Pink vs. MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pots in Soft Orche and Painterly

So I finally got my hands on two of the three new matte Color Tattoos from Maybelline in their Gilded in Gold Holiday 2013 Collection: Just Beige and Nude Pink. I have to be honest, as a total MAC junkie and not a huge fan of the shimmery formula of the previous Color Tattoos, I am SUPER impressed with these new matte versions which ended up being very close dupes to the Paint Pots. Because I go through my Paint Pots so often and buy them every couple of months (I use them as my under eyeshadow primers everyday), I know I’m going to have to stock up on these Color Tattoos now because unfortunately they are limited edition and who knows whether or not Maybelline will re-release them again down the road. I don’t want to take the chance and wait! They are THAT good!

Maybelline Color Tattoos in Just Beige and Nude Pink vs. MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pots in Soft Ochre and Painterly

First item of business: Color payoff. These two Color Tattoos have it! In fact, dare I say they are actually more opaque and less streaky when applied compared to my Paint Pots? True, Nude Pink is a tad darker and cooler than Painterly, however I feel that once applied to your eyelid, the difference is not noticeable at all. And Just Beige is soooooo close to Soft Ochre, maybe just a little on the warmer side whereas Soft Ochre is cooler.

Talk about creamy! They glide on so smooth which is another reason I am loving these at the moment. I’ve had issues with previous shimmery Color Tattoos coming off clumpy or streaky on my lids. Even though you can’t beat their lasting power, I still hate when the application is too messy and there are chunks of product that won’t blend in as easily. Rest assured you will not have this problem with the matte formula. And one swipe seems to cover all of my lids too- something that requires a few swipes of my Paint Pots to achieve.

Here are side-by-side comparisons of MAC’s Paint Pots and the new Maybelline Color Tattoos:

MAC’s Painterly compared to Maybelline’s Nude Pink

MAC’s Soft Ochre compared to Maybelline’s Just Beige

And so you can see how they compare when swatched on my skin in direct sunlight:

MAC’s Painterly (left) vs. Maybelline’s Nude Pink (right)

MAC’s Soft Ochre (left) vs. Maybelline’s Just Beige (right)

 

Now let’s talk lasting power. I have been using the new Color Tattoos all week and I have not noticed any creasing with my eyeshadows throughout the day and I have oily skin and eyelids so that’s always a concern of mine. Every once in a while I will get creasing with my Paint Pots but it’s an issue easily corrected by applying an eyelid primer under the Paint Pot. Yes, I know… basically I am using TWO primers but hey, it works when I need it to. I like to think of my Paint Pots as not just primers though. They have worked as correctors for me to even out my skin tone on my eyelids and hid any redness or veins that I have there. But now I’ve actually found that the new Color Tattoos are even better at covering and priming my eyelids than the Paint Pots. MAC’s Paint Pots seem to have a tad drier of a formula compared to Maybelline’s Color Tattoos so maybe that’s why I can swipe once and coat my entire lid without streaks or a second coat.

Finally, price: For $4.99, Maybelline’s Color Tattoos give you .14oz (4g) of product compared to MAC’s Paint Pots with .17oz (5g) at $20.00. If you love Painterly or Soft Ochre, it’s a no-brainer to try Nude Pink or Just Beige, especially when the drugstores have coupons or offer Buy 1, Get 1 50% Off which happens every other week! So stock up while you can and let’s hope Maybelline continues to add more matte Color Tattoos to their permanent line!

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