MAC • Soba (Satin) • Eye Shadow

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*TOP REVIEWER* bonita29 on 4/18/2013 9:07:00 PM more reviews by bonita29

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I bought this eye shadow in the refill format for my MAC palette. I am not sure what I was thinking when I bought it as it is dull to look at in the pan.
However, this is a super versatile color to use.
This has replaced my soft brown as a transition or crease color.
While I would still use soft brown when I want a warm light brown shade, this one works awesome for eye looks with a neutral base.
I have been using this as a crease color with rice paper on my lid as an every day neutral like almost every daay.
This also works great to fill in my eyebrows.
While this color is classified as a satin finish, it does not have any shimmer on my brows.
I have been rocking light blond hair so this works well to lighten up my medium brown brows to match my hair better.
I have also tried this as a contour shade for small areas ie my nose and that works great as well.
So yes I definitely would recommend and would repurchase.

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yoshiii on 3/22/2013 1:16:00 AM more reviews by yoshiii

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I love Soba and personally think it is quite versatile for day + night looks, but admit it is not for everyone. You should definitely try at the counter prior to buying. Soba is for those looking for a shimmery brown shadow with no red undertones at all.


I use Soba with Phloof + Shadowy Lady + a tiny bit of black or dark grey shadow for an easy and less dramatic smokey eye look. However, Soba just with a light brown shadow would match well for a natural daytime look.


This shadow is quite pigmented and easy to apply. I have only slightly hit pan after 1.5 years of regular use and plan to purchase another one when it completely runs out.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Asti1234 on 3/13/2013 6:41:00 AM more reviews by Asti1234

Age: 25-29   Skin: Normal, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I like Soba. However I find myself reaching for Wedge instead of Soba, I feel they are very similar in colouring and in my opinion Wedge blends a lot easier than Soba. It's the perfect transition colour for medium coloured skinned people (I'm NC30.) if I didn't have Wedge then maybe I'd be happier with this but in comparison the two colours are just too similar. X

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*TOP REVIEWER* aznmnkygrl808 on 1/11/2013 3:44:00 AM more reviews by aznmnkygrl808

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I Frickin love this color. It's a shimmery, warm light beige/gold color that looks so blah in the pan but we you apply it, it's absolutely gorgeous. I love the satin finish because it applies so smooth and feels buttery. I love wearing this all over the lid with "embark" or any purple/taupe shade in my crease and outer v. Def would repurchase this shade!

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*TOP REVIEWER* bubblegumpoo on 12/10/2012 3:57:00 AM more reviews by bubblegumpoo

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

My favorite MAC e/s! I'm NC 20, Asian, and love this to slightly deepen the outer part of my eye. Combining this with a matte nude tone and a brown eyeliner, I get the most sultry yet natural looking eye. It's not the most pigmented or kapow type of eyeshadow but it's definitely a great shadow for beginners or people who like light, natural looking makeup. Love!

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TexasTracy on 12/6/2012 1:13:00 PM more reviews by TexasTracy

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

I thought this color would be a no-brainer, all over lid color...Nothing special but hopefully a staple...Surprisingly, this color makes me look ill and really makes my dark circles stand out. C3/NC20/NC25

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misssweetmarie on 11/23/2012 7:26:00 PM more reviews by misssweetmarie

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

Soba was introduced to me in Macys - NYC as a brow color and I've loved it for this ever since. Maybe I should try it on the lids next time - from what I am reading at MUA it seems to make a natural and lovely crease color.
Edited 4/2013 Soba deserves more love in the MAC world. Still wearing SOBA - good multipurpose neutral for brow and lid.

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*TOP REVIEWER* UDMAC on 8/31/2012 12:44:00 AM more reviews by UDMAC

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Tan   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Other    

NC 35-NC42. this is my go to my lids but better es. I have gone through 3 pots of this, I have been using this everyday since my first pot. Its a yellow brown with subtle shimmer, satin finish, great pigmentation and texture.I use this on my lids, crease, and lower lid. If you like cork this is similar but lighter and satin

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*TOP REVIEWER* badkitty82 on 7/2/2012 2:19:00 PM more reviews by badkitty82

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

This is the reason why you should never buy make-up based on good reviews only; this color does absolutely not work with my complexion or colors! I bought this color based truly on background of the good reviews and even though I love neutrals Soba is just strange. The color is a golden brown and it is quite shimmery. I have medium light skin, greyblue eyes and dark brown hair, and this color just makes me look sick.
I just tossed it in the bin as this color does absolutely nothing for me!

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*TOP REVIEWER* Halloqueen on 6/3/2012 2:20:00 AM more reviews by Halloqueen

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

I've worn Soba off and on since it was introduced. I recently was shopping my stash, and realized I hadn't worn it in some time. I remembered that I liked it (I had actually hit pan on it) but after using it again, it blew me away all over again. Soba is a strange color...it's a neutral brownish tan with a hit of yellow...exactly like Japanese soba noodles. It makes green eyes pop like nothing else. I usually wear coolor colors, but something in this color works for me. Texture and color payoff are great, but then again, I have an old but perfectly good pot. I love Soba as a light wash on lids and up past the crease, and below the lower lash line. I can get away with no liner, and just compliment it with lots of mascara. It defines the eyes and makes them look intense and slighty mysterious, without a defined "eyeshadow" look. If you want to go whole hog, I would suggest rice paper on lids, Soba in crease, Mulch on outer corners and Nylon on brow bone and inner corners. This was my go to look for years, Just add more Mulch for a more dramatic look. I have never noticed shimmer while using Soba although it's not matte either. This is one to try if you shy away from warm browns.

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Seficat on 5/9/2012 1:51:00 AM more reviews by Seficat

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

Soba is a classic light brown without red/pink undertones. The golden shimmer is quite apparent in the pan, but barely noticeable on my lids. Very work-friendly. Soba is a quiet achiever and while I often go for a couple of months without using it, I'm always glad that I have it in the stash.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Tygerlilee84 on 3/5/2012 3:23:00 PM more reviews by Tygerlilee84

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

If you are a natural redhead, get this eyeshadow now! I've been looking for a mid to light toned brown for the lid with a little "umph". I tried Era because I loved the idea of a cooler brown and I loved the shimmer. One word: blah. I swapped it pretty quickly-the texture was amazing but just didn't do it. Then I got warming trend. It was ok...but I think soba will replace warming trend for me. I really love soba; it looks amazing with my red hair and brown/green eyes. I put it on the lid with saddle on the outer half of the lid, smudged in some black liner. Gorgeous. If anyone is curious, I used tenderling blush and NYX tangerine lipgloss for the rest of the look. It's super polished and classy looking. And I think classy is this best way to describe this eyeshadow-a great professional color. I'll put in more color combos when I come up with them, but this is an awesome eyeshadow for a "one shadow" look too.

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LipstickLove1 on 2/28/2012 2:12:00 PM more reviews by LipstickLove1

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

Soba eyeshadow is my 'all-time' favourite everyday eyeshadow colour - I usually team it with Teddy eyeliner - this combination frames my warm green eyes perfectly and allows for me to wear both lighter and deeper toned lip shades. Soba on me is a medium warm beige shade - this shade will forever be in my makeup kit!

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*TOP REVIEWER* lygophilia on 2/16/2012 1:07:00 AM more reviews by lygophilia

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Red   Eyes: Green    

Gorgeous and versatile colour as I can wear this either on the lid or in the crease and it works well with many other shadows. The golden undertone in this light-medium brown shadow really works for my green eyes and fair complexion. Soba is a satin finish with fine golden shimmer that isn't glittery, but more on the illuminating/soft shimmer spectrum. On days when I need a super quick look I apply Soba all over the lid and blend it into the crease followed by either Blanc Type, Vanilla, Brule, Shroom, or Gesso on the brow bone, Crystal Avalanche or Nylon as an inner corner highlight and a few quick coats of mascara. Soba is a keeper and shadow I would definitely repurchase.

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missind33 on 2/6/2012 9:29:00 PM more reviews by missind33

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I was surprised I saw all of these good ratings, I bought the color and 0 payoff. Yes it looks beautiful in the pan, yes the color picked up on the finger looks lovely, however it does not show up and I'm an NW25. I have no hate towards the product, I'm just disappointed.

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*TOP REVIEWER* lollsazz on 12/22/2011 5:38:00 PM more reviews by lollsazz

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

EDIT: just wanted to say: I love this shadow so much! I like it so much that I have to force myself to use the other shadows I have ;D
.
I bought this because I really wanted to find a light-medium brown shade that had zero pink init - that way there's no way it was going to make me look tired.
I like this shadow so much: it's a medium warm toned brown with golden shimmer, or an "antique gold". I think this looks good with my yellow/olive undertones, and would probably suit people with neutral undertones too. I wouldn't suggest this to cool-toned ladies, but maybe you too can make it work.
The texture is satin - my favourite texture! The shimmer is subtle, but if you look close, you will see it. The shimmer makes the shadow very "un-boring". I think this is one of the shades that are appropriate anywhere.
It's easy to pick up product, and I think this shadow is well pigmented.

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indoorkitty on 12/14/2011 11:27:00 AM more reviews by indoorkitty

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Soba is the perfect tan-brown with a hint of gold, that doesn't pull orange on me (NC40, cooler yellow undertones in winter). It's like a toned down Patina. I love wearing the two together. I also love making a gold/charcoal gradation with it (with Hocus Pocus for example). Love love love.

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*TOP REVIEWER* basmah on 10/21/2011 2:33:00 PM more reviews by basmah

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

I have no idea why, but me and Soba just don't get along. I'm sorry to bring down the ratings, but I really dislike this eyeshadow. I loved it in the pan, I loved it on my fingertips, but for some reason there is hardly any colour pay off once I apply it to my eyelid. It just doesn't show up on me at all. For reference, I'm an N1 in MAC Face and Body, NW15 in MAC Studio Sculpt and Siberia in Nars Sheer Glow. Would not repurchase.

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MadHattress on 9/19/2011 12:28:00 PM more reviews by MadHattress

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

My HG nude crease color ! helps just define the eye with a beautiful barely there makeup effect, polished and classy. It's my go-to crease eyeshadow when I want to fake a no-makeup look :) and when I'm tired of dramatic heavy smokey eyes.
This is the one I use also on days I want bold red lips.
Soba is everything I wanted Era to be. This one is so much better to me.
Plus, the name Soba sounds yummy and I love it :)

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*TOP REVIEWER* sparklythings on 9/17/2011 10:05:00 PM more reviews by sparklythings

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

my new favourite go-to eyeshadow. i think this is HG status for me. it's just so easy and it looks natural and polished, and gives my eye definition when worn in my crease.

i've been wearing these almost every day, which is very uncommon for me. it's also a great blending color for me, and isn't too warm or cool toned.

love this

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