One of my all-time favorite Beauty Bloggers, Lianne Farbes from TheMakeupGirl, is the beauty and brains behind Hocus Pocus eyeshadow from the MAC Bloggers' Obsession Collection that launched June 21, 2011.
Why, might you ask, would I want to effusively gush over Hocus Pocus nearly 6 months after it launched? The answer, quite simply, is that this is one of the greatest and most complex shadows that I have ever had the pleasure of using. Not only did I hit the pan, but I literally used EVERY SINGLE BIT of this gloriously radiant little gem. This may not seem like much to you, but I am eyeshadow fickle and seldom ever hit the pan on any of my shadows (and trust me, I have quite a few in my stash).
Aptly named Hocus Pocus, this magical eyeshadow is multidimensional, complex, sexy, otherworldly, and chameleon-like in its ability to miraculously modulate from one hue to another depending on the light that captures its continued metamorphosis. Hocus Pocus is both lively and vibrant, playful and serious, and for all intents and purposes defies any sort of concrete description. It is filled with contradictory opposites that reconcile beautifully in this single lovely shadow. It is more ethereal than earthly, and really needs to be seen in person to truly experience and appreciate it for its true beauty and complexity.
This beautiful shade has a Satin finish and is described as a "Dark sooty grey with silver pearl" but it is so soft and silky that it feels like a Veluxe Pearl. Lianne says that she, "...wanted a shadow that anyone could wear and that would be easy to use (you can use your fingertips- no brush necessary but feel free to use them if you want!)." She custom blended the shade herself (with the help of a MAC chemist) with the intention of creating "an ultra flattering shade for ANYONE expert or novice...subtle or dramatic." Lianne named this beauty Hocus Pocus because it is like MAGIC, and I couldn't agree more.
Hocus Pocus plays well with others, but is just as happy all alone. This shadow makes for a fool-proof smokey eye which is only part of the genius behind this shade. It is a shadow that can be worn from dawn to dusk, and is completely office appropriate. I love to wear Hocus Pocus as a wash of color alone with a nice strong winged eyeliner and mascara, but the number of ways to wear this treasure is only limited by your imagination. This shade has replaced MAC's discontinued and mythologized Smoke & Diamonds (Starflash LE) as my most beloved shade, and for me that's saying a lot. This shade is so buildable and has absolutely no fall-out whatsoever no matter how much is packed onto the lid.
I included three soft-focus swatches on my finger to illustrate how the color shifts as the light captures its ethereal glow and complexity. This color comfortably moves from a dark sooty grey to an olive tinged brown with a golden bronze accent, and then it morphs into the most gorgeous shade of taupe for all to behold. This shadow is not one thing, instead it embodies many. While it's a bit demure in the pan, it really springs to life once applied to the skin. If you do not own this shadow you really are missing out on something very very special and magical- as the name suggests. This is a universally flattering shade that will be stunning on the palest to the darkest of beauties- a feat seldom accomplished by a single eyeshadow. I give this shadow a resounding A+!
MAC, if you are listening, you should really make Hocus Pocus part of your permanent range. This is a classic shade that will never go out of style- it is absolutely on-trend for today, but it will happily be a go-to shade years from now. Better yet, you should commission Lianne to create a whole collection with Hocus Pocus as the crowned jewel.
If you didn't pick up Hocus Pocus from MAC's Bloggers' Obsession Collection before, or you need a backup or two- then you still have some time left before it really is gone for good. I'm definitely going to grab a few back-ups or my stash! $15.00 USD.
http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/shaded/790/363/Eye-Shadow/index.tmpl
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http://themakeupgirl.net
A very special thanks to Lianne who furnished me with my most recent Hocus Pocus eyeshadow, and who graciously allowed me to use images from her blog.
OMG this is SUCH a wonderful review. Thank you SO much and I LOVE that you love the shadow so much! That makes it all worthwhile ;-0
ReplyDeleteI'm so touched that you liked my review, Lianne! It was sort of my love letter to Hocus Pocus, and my show of gratitude to you for creating it. I have never been so in love with an eyeshadow in my life!! It is also nearly unheard of to be able to tell the person who created your favorite makeup just how much you love what they made!! So again, I thank you! You are also such an inspiration to me as a beauty blogger- so again thank you so much for everything that you do that inspires me!
ReplyDeleteI love Hocus Pocus...it is perfection. It reminds me of the discontinued Fiction e/s that was one of my first mac purchases.
ReplyDeleteI love it too!! You said it perfectly-- it is perfection! Wow, Fiction- I haven't thought of it in a long time. I hope that they repromote it!! However, I really wish that Hocus Pocus was made part of the permanent collection!! Thanks for stopping by! Have a lovely weekend!
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