MAC • Nocturnelle Eyeshadow • Eye Shadow

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CatrionaShadowleaf on 4/6/2013 4:18:00 PM more reviews by CatrionaShadowleaf

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Green    

Trying to figure out how to make my green eyes pop when I just happened to be wearing a dark green wig, I picked up Nocturnelle and thickly lined my top lid with it. I then got compliments on how amazing my eyes looked all day. Not to say that you need a green wig to wear this colour, but it does do crazy things for green eyes.

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SepiaRose on 4/6/2013 11:04:00 AM more reviews by SepiaRose

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Medium Brown, Warm   Hair: Black, Relaxed, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

Gorgeous warm purple color that would suit a wide variety of skin tones. It has slight pinkish undertones but is still a subtle and wearable purple and not over-the-top at all. Paired it with Embark in the crease and it made for a great plummy smokey eye. As always with MAC it is very creamy and lasts all day too. Definitely one to have in the arsenal.

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Emma93 on 2/26/2013 9:00:00 AM more reviews by Emma93

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

I am NC25 and have Hazel eyes. I usually don't wear purple eyeshadow, although I know that it can make my eyes pop, but I just always felt like it didn't suit me anyway.
But then I tought I'd give it a try and got Nocturnelle.
I think it's a pretty color and it doesn't look too bad on me, but it doesn't have the "WOW-factor" either. Also it's pretty poorly pigmented, I can barely get any color on my lids without really rubbing my brush into the pan to the point where I fear my poor MAC 239 might break or lose its shape or something.
But once it's on it's ok, I usually use this with Sketch, which I bought along with Nocturnelle. (Sketch is a hit, btw, despite it being a purple, too).
I wouldn't say it's a terrible eyeshadow, I could cope with the poor pigmentation, I usually don't mind it that much as long as it's buildable, but in this case since the color isn't really worth the effort, I don't find myself reaching for this very often.
(Another factor might be that I'm more the neutral kind of girl, who never knows what clothes to wear with colorful e/s)

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shanpearce on 2/26/2013 8:48:00 AM more reviews by shanpearce

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Grey    

First things first, I recently did a review for MAC's cremesheen lipstick in the shade of 'Hang Up', and I said that I would do a review for a matching eyeshadow... so here it is!
I went into my local MAC store just after Christmas, looking for a fresh new face of makeup products to create a kind of vampy/gothic look, and once I had told the MUA what I had in mind, she showed me this eyeshadow and I was in love!
Nocturnelle is such a beautiful colour to wear, with a slightly aubergine tinge to it, it can be applied lightly for a soft purple look or applied heavily for a pretty gothic twist! I often use this eyeshadow along with the MAC Ricepaper eyeshadow (which I will review soon!) and it just gives my eyes a wonderful blast of gothical colour! I am currently MAC foundation shade NC20 and so this product does look very 'in your face' on me, but that is exactly what I want!
This eyeshadow in particular stays on well during the day and can be toned down or up depending on what other colour you use with it. And for only £12 in the UK stores, this eyeshadow should be a must-have for everyone who is wanting to have a change of face so to speak!
If like me you want a change-up of make-up looks, I definitely suggest going for a vampy/gothic look by buying MAC Nocturnelle eyeshadow and MAC cremesheen lipstick in shade Hang Up!

I hope this review has helped you and if you want to see my MAC Hang Up review, click onto my profile! - Shannon x

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*TOP REVIEWER* almond_leaves on 2/6/2013 2:51:00 PM more reviews by almond_leaves

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Fine   Eyes: Black    

Nocturnelle is a warm purple shade, which am not too sure what yo say about...hmmm..

The pigmentation is quite poor and it really looks just blah on me. I don't find myself going for this shade a lot. I look at it and am at loss...I try to experiment with it and I go further at loss..hehehe...

Doesn't blend so well too, and goes on kindda...streaky? Or perhaps patchy is the word for it.

This is just blah and I'd give it two lippies...giving it three though in case I'm the one not knowing how to use it. I'll keep trying with it and we'll see how things go...

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SickSexFix on 1/14/2013 4:39:00 PM more reviews by SickSexFix

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Olive   Hair: Brunette, Curly, Coarse   Eyes: Black    

I hated this eyeshadow. I don't know why I bought it. I think the MAC SA used this as a liner or crease color on one of the looks she did on me. Now, purple is my favorite color, so I thought I'd love this. But no matter what I tried to do with it it was just too.. dark and not the shade of purple for me. Blending it was also a task, I'm guessing because it's a matte.
It's true it's a warm purple, but it's too dark for me. No matter what I did with it, my eyes just looked bruised or like I hadn't slept. All around bad color for me - and I'm not sure what my undertone is. I guess it's olive, warm and in some places on my face, it's neutral.
If my review helped you, click yes below!

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sarahmarie86 on 1/14/2013 4:25:00 PM more reviews by sarahmarie86

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair, Warm   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Green    

This is my favorite purple from MAC. I really like the color, which is a deep, slightly warm purple... but i must admit, it's a bit difficult to blend when compared to other MAC shadows. I never use this for a lid color because it can show up a little patchy, but it works great in the outer V and crease. I am a NC25 for reference and I think it looks great with my skintone... it also makes me green eyes really stand out. I've done a couple different looks with this on my blog, so for pics check it out:


http://eyeshadowaa.blogspot.com/2013/01/eotd-bright-purple-eye-look.html

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SaraMaquillaje on 1/7/2013 4:11:00 PM more reviews by SaraMaquillaje

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

This did not work for me. It lacks pigment and, on top of it, it has some warm undertones that make me look sick when I wear it.

I have NC15 skin (fair with neutral/cool undertones) and dark brown eyes and hair. Purple is a color that normally flatters me in both clothes and eyeshadows, but I hadn't realized that of course there are blue purples and red purples.

NC coloring like mine should go for blue purples (like satellite dreams for example) and NW should go for the red purples such as nocturnelle. Unknowingly, I had always been attracted to the blue purples and this one was my first mistake in that sense.

If you have cool undertones, DON'T BUY THIS!
If you have warm undertones, the texture is still horrible, but if you are an application godess you might make it work. so think about it very well...
If you don't know what your undertone is, YOU NEED TO FIND OUT NOW. The best advice I got was to just go to your wardrobe and check if you have more white or cream/earth tones. If you look better in white, you have cool undertones. If you look better in cream, you have warm ones. Only get clothes and makeup that matches your undertones. This is so important! (I would have never bought Nocturnelle)...

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rabumentos on 6/23/2012 1:19:00 AM more reviews by rabumentos

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Tan, Neutral   Hair: Black, Straight   Eyes: Brown    

I'm an absolute sucker for purple because it's my favorite color, but Nocturnelle went above and beyond the call of duty. It is, to date, my favorite purple MAC eyeshadow. Now, as much as I love this gorgeous red-based purple, it can be a little difficult to work with, as other reviewers have mentioned. It took me some practice to get the best color payoff, so I took off a lippie because getting that payoff was more challenging than it should have been. Getting good color payoff shouldn't require a learning curve.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

juillet4paris on 5/30/2012 4:49:00 PM more reviews by juillet4paris

Age: 36-43   Skin: Oily, Dark, Warm   Hair: Black, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Black    

I bought this upon a make over that I had that used this, expensive pink & wood winked at the time the look looked soft and when used together I like it. However on it's own its very difficult to use without looking like a clown. This could be because I'm more understated when it comes to eye colors but I just had more hopes for this.

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lizziesmith21 on 2/5/2012 3:24:00 AM more reviews by lizziesmith21

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

Beautiful colour, had high expectations for it however pigment is useless, doesnt show up on my fair skin at all, even sent back and asked for another as I was sure I had a dodgy one! Looks a gorgeous dark purple in tha pan does not transfer at all, unless I really pack it on and even still its not good. Save ya money ladies....

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*TOP REVIEWER* desertwaya on 10/20/2011 10:52:00 PM more reviews by desertwaya

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair, Warm   Hair: Red, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

Not happy with this shadow :( Its a lovely color & looks great with my brown eyes but i have to pack it on to get the color i want & by the end of the day half of its gone & its creased (yes this is with primer). Maybe i can use it for the outter V's or maybe ill swap it, not sure yet but i do know i won't buy this shade again.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Tygerlilee84 on 9/7/2011 1:58:00 AM more reviews by Tygerlilee84

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Cool   Hair: Red, Straight   Eyes: Brown    

I have been on the search for the perfect purple eyeshadow for a long time. This isn't it, just so you know. For me, the perfect purple eyeshadow is a reddish purple (not pink/fuschia) and for some reason eyeshadows always turn either very cool purple or very fuschia (not flattering on me at all) or very sheer. So, I finally had to acknowledge that I will have to create my own perfect purple. I discovered that if I use this first on the lid and layer Star Violet (which is very sheer on me-I hate it on it's own even though it looks so gorgeous in a swatch) THEN I have the perfect purple. So if anyone layers these two and knows of a single color that looks like that matte or shimmer LET ME KNOW!! Anway, LOVE LOVE LOVE that eyeshadow combination and am extremely happy with it. It's harder to do in the crease, but on the lid it's a great, work appropriate purple look. I just use a skin colored shadow to soften the top edge.
As for using this shadow on it's own, on me it's a cool, but not blue, shimmery purple. I do enjoy this shadow when I'm looking for that shade of purple. It's not very dark at all. I had Fig1 which can almost look black at times and online these two look like a matte and shimmery version of the same shade, but they're not. Nocturnelle is cooler and lighter/mid toned and a little shimmery, Fig 1 is neutral and darker and totally matte. I do see what some people say about Nocturnelle being sheer-it does take a bit of layering and blending to get it just right but I didn't find it too difficult to get right. It's not quite as dark as I like for a crease color. It's definitely more of a lid color for me.
Anyway, if you're looking for a fairly versitle midtoned purple and don't mind a little shimmer, it's a good one to have.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* nmhidi on 8/25/2011 11:16:00 PM more reviews by nmhidi

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Love this color. I had been lemming this for quite some time, I am very happy I finally picked it up. I feel like this unique purple really compliments my brown eyes and brown hair. I use this most often with Beautiful Iris on the lid and Nocturnelle in the crease. Has great color payoff and blends nicely.

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*TOP REVIEWER* stls on 8/17/2011 1:30:00 PM more reviews by stls

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Green    

Just lovely. Beautiful color, warm purple with pink sheen, extremely flattering for green eyes!
I mostly use it as a crease along with shale on the lid and beautiful iris under the brow for a simple yet feminine look or with woodwinked on the lid and seedy pearl as a highlighter- very glamorous!
Will repurchase

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*TOP REVIEWER* wildflower85 on 8/17/2011 12:34:00 PM more reviews by wildflower85

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Green    

Nocturnelle is a fabulous red-based purple that works great with green eyes. I tend to use this one as a crease or brow highlighter over my two go-to eyeshadow colors: Expensive Pink and Motif. It gives depth and really makes my eyes stand out without giving off that "bruised" look. Though, if you're into that, Nocturnelle would be a good color for it.
I have this in pro-pan form because it's in my daily repetoire, and I will likely purchase it again.

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lucylucyhh on 6/15/2011 10:58:00 AM more reviews by lucylucyhh

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

I am a big fan of MAC, don't get me wrong, but this eyeshadow is a big disappointment for me.

Nocturnelle is a pink based purple in a frost finish. It doesn't look pink in the pan but when applied it definitely is pink tinged; which is a little annoying as I hoped it'd be as plummy and smokey as in the pan. I think i'm going to try plum dressing instead.

My main dislike for this product is the pigmentation. It is awful; worse than cheapy drugstore makeup. The first time I swatched it barely anything showed up on my skin. I have to use this colour wet and even then it's not pigmented enough for me. It's not what I expected from MAC and it's simply not good enough; all of their other eyeshadows i've ever tried are pigmented, but with this shadow I have to use so much of it just to get decent payoff that it seems a waste of my money

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Jilliterate on 4/5/2011 5:02:00 PM more reviews by Jilliterate

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

Nocturnelle is a lovely plummy colour with a sheen to it that faintly suggests blue. I'm fairly pale, with neutral-to-warm toned skin (Close to NC15, by my guesstimate), and this colour looks great on me. As many people have noted, this colour really rocks a purple smokey eye.


The pigmentation for this colour is disappointing, particularly since I paid $13 ($CAD) for it. With some work, I can build it up to a respectable colour, but it just doesn't compare to the amazing one-swipe pigmentation of some of the other MAC shades.


The quality of the shadow in the pan was extremely poor. It's dry, hard-packed, and has some odd bumps in it. I'm not sure if this is a constant problem for Nocturnelle, or something odd happened to mine, but it's definitely a turn-off. I waffled on whether to give this a 2 or a 3 -- there's a lot of problems with this shadow that I paid a lot for, but in the end, I do have a fairly nice colour. I think giving this shadow a 3 is being generous.

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simplyxjosey on 10/7/2010 12:18:00 PM more reviews by simplyxjosey

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I had high hopes for this color. It's so beautiful swatched and it seemed like the plummy purple I had always been looking for! the pigmentation is gorgeous, the texture was smooth, and it wasn't too frosty. However, it looked SO bad on me no matter how i tried to work it. It made me eyes look badly bruised. I tried it with different bases to bring out the plum/purple tones. I blended it with blacks, browns, golds. It looked horrible on me. Horrible enough that I returned it. Such a shame. Not for my skin tone. Reference: I'm NC25-NC30. Yellowish-olive south asian skin tone (I'm pale for a south asian). Dark brown hair, brown eyes.

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Daantje3 on 8/22/2010 7:49:00 AM more reviews by Daantje3

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Blond, Wavy   Eyes: Green    

This is, in my opinion, the best bright/dark purple by Mac. Only reason i wouldn't repurchase is because i don't wear purples often enough and in that case i find MAC a bit too expensive but this colours is great with neutrals, pinks, softer purples like crystal. Works wonders for my green eyes

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