Mac Metal-X Cream Shadow for December 2011: Pictures & Swatches

Do you recall Mac's first foray into Metal-X back in 2007? Creamy and highly pigmented, they were limited edition (oh but of course) and designed to give a high-shine metallic finish.  Problem  - they weren't particularly brilliantly formulated so this release of them has addressed that and texture and pigmentation are apparently vastly improved.

We got a sneak-peek at one shade, Venetian Tarnish last week when we took a look at Selena Gomez's MTV EMA makeup - this was the shade used all over her lids. Landing on counter on December 1st (oh not long now - yikes!) there'll be nine shades of Metal-X at €20.50 a pop - these are the bigger pan size so you get a lot of product in each.

Texture is smooth and creamy - these aren't strictly powders and feel slightly damp and cool to the touch, but nowhere near as wet as a mousse or traditional cream shadow. While they don't visually resemble the Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Shadows or L'Oreal Paris Colour Infallible shadows, in use that's actually what they're most like - a sort of cream/powder hybrid, though not identical as these do need to be kept closed and secure because they're prone to drying out.

Shades are:

This pic doesn't do textures justice - all have a metallic-y, high-sheen finish

• Virgin Silver, white with silver pearl
• Fusion Gold, light pinky beige with gold pearl
• Palladium, metallic ash
• Rusty, dirty peach gold
• Red Hot Copper, warm copper
• Venetian Tarnish, golden tarnished bronze
• Vintage Coin, metallic olive green
• Gold Carbon, metallic taupe
• Cyber, metallic silver with silver pearl

I have Red Hot Copper to play about with ahead of the on counter date, so here are some pictures and swatches.

Red Hot Copper in the pan.

And swatched - you can lay 'em on thick or really sheer them out for just a wash of colour. This shade is too warm for my skintone but I'm definitely interested in getting a look at Vintage Coin and Gold Carbon when this hits counters in December.

So, like the look of anything in the collection for Christmas parties and dramatic eyes? Tell us in a comment!