MAC • Paint Pot in Blackground • Eye Shadow

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*TOP REVIEWER* kimwhittkeli on 3/7/2011 7:38:00 PM more reviews by kimwhittkeli

Age: 36-43   Skin: Other   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

i love this pp its a must have for smoky eyes

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*TOP REVIEWER* Kristenhonto on 2/25/2011 5:12:00 PM more reviews by Kristenhonto

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Olive, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

This is the one and only PP I own as this is the only one IMO that isn't really dry. If you want the easiest smoky eye ever, get this. I apply with a 217 all over the lid and blend up into the crease. I also use this a lot to line my upper lashline. To me (someone that is liquid liner-challenged) this is so easy to work with in order to achieve an even perfect line. <3

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dundada on 1/28/2011 6:52:00 PM more reviews by dundada

Age: Unknown   Skin: Acne-prone, Dark, Warm   Hair: Black, Relaxed, Coarse   Eyes: Black    

This is great base-wise but even for a smoky eye especially for the daytime I prefer Constructivist or Painterly for some reason! LOL

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*TOP REVIEWER* olympialetantoli on 1/20/2011 9:52:00 PM more reviews by olympialetantoli

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

I purchased this paint pot and many others in 2008. I loved the texture the way it went on easy with a proper brush. The colour was decent. I layered this with Black Tied and Carbon to get a deep dark dramatic smokey eyes. BUT there aren't enough chances to use this. And now three years later the PRODUCT shrunk in the jar. It's litterally just a hard mass. It was so disappointing and depressing. I couldn't believe how it dried up and cracked. I put some water on a brush and tried to get the colour to transfer but it just didn't do anything.

So if you buy paint pots use them fast before they shrivel up and dry. I have to throw away 3 of the paint pots I have. Thankfully my paint pot Painterly is alright.... maybe because I use it more.

Very disappointing.

5 out of 7 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* rachelbobco on 1/20/2011 9:36:00 PM more reviews by rachelbobco

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Green    

A great base for a smokey eye! I just got it and wanted to try it out right away, so I used this and mac carbon to create a very dark and dramatic eye. I had agreed to a rather absurd event to raise money for a friend's nonprofit; a girl-on-girl lube-wrestling event. I got my butt whooped, faceplanted in a tub full of lube, and was then hosed down. My eyeshadow smudged a wee bit beneath my eyes but stayed on through all of that! Amazing! I assumed I'd emerge looking like a raccoon, but nope. I emerged drenched and defeated, but looking good! Another Mac miracle. :)

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

*TOP REVIEWER* izzybella on 1/8/2011 1:59:00 AM more reviews by izzybella

Age: Unknown   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

Love this! It makes smokey eyes so easy. After my eye cream is absorbed by my skin, I apply a thin layer of Blackground using my 239 brush, pat on some eyeshadow, blend with my 217 brush, line with Blacktrack fluidline, apply mascara, and viola! Smokey eyes. I can't give it a 5 as it still creases by the end of the day, but it definitely makes smoking out your eye makeup a lot easier.

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*TOP REVIEWER* seramadis on 12/25/2010 11:09:00 PM more reviews by seramadis

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal, Medium, Neutral   Hair: Black, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

I absolutely love love love this Paintpot and I hope MAC never ever ever discontinues it! I used to use it as an eyeshadow base or an eyeshadow, but I ran out of my favourite Blitz and Glitz gel eyeliner and didn't have money to buy a new one, and I had this Paintpot. So I tried it as a liner and now I love it as such! I thought it would be bland and matte, Blitz and Glitz is such a rich and shimmery colour with silver shimmer and I thought Blackground would be boring and matte but it isn't! It actually has silver shimmer that glimmers in the light. I also like to use this underneath this other Paintpot, I don't remember the name but it's a lovely burgundy coloured one, probably LE (as usual!) because I can't find it on MAC's website, that's a bit paler than Raven eyeliner. When I use Blackground underneath the burgundy Paintpot I get the same shade as Raven eyeliner, as an eyeshadow, which I love.

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VOGUE1222 on 12/9/2010 7:54:00 PM more reviews by VOGUE1222

Age: 25-29   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

This is my very first Paint Pot and I'm already in lust! I cannot WAIT to wear it. I swatched it on my wrist and it's super versatile. I'm excited to wear this as a sheer smokey eye, and even more pumped to wear it as a bold smokey eye. The color in the pot matches description on MAC.com precisely, and the texture is creamy, dreamy, lovely, smooth, fabulousness! I wish I ordered another Paint Pot! Maybe after the Holidays when I have my normal budget back :)

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MakeupJunkie214 on 11/21/2010 11:43:00 PM more reviews by MakeupJunkie214

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

Great for sexy, sultry, smokey eyes...Also fantastic liner for the inside lower rim (water line)...kind of a steel-black....LOVE IT.

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*TOP REVIEWER* ns4487 on 10/17/2010 6:01:00 AM more reviews by ns4487

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

LOVE this. I have 5 of these paint pots, and love all of them. This one looks scary in the pot, but you can layer it as a sheer or very dark base, depending on the effect desired. I use this instead of painterly if I want my eyeshadow colours to have more of a dark tinge to them when layered on top. Love these paint pots, they are HG for me, and I dont know how I lived without them before! Highly recommended. Plus, the pot is a generous size, so will last forever

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TheAphroditeBeauty on 10/14/2010 12:08:00 AM more reviews by TheAphroditeBeauty

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

I LOVE this base. It says eyeshadow in the listing, but it's NOT a shadow. It is a base, much like a primer but different. The cool thing about paint pots, if you're not familiar with them is they provide a super solid, long lasting "finish" that is the foundation to your shadow look.
So I got Blackground. I tend to wear super dark colors and bright pigments and I wanted to try it out for something unique and different. I wanted to experiment with it a bit and I'm so glad I do.
The super awesome thing with this paint pot in particular is you can put your neutrals and colored pigments and shadows over this black base it is gives you a look so gorgeous and all your own. I don't recommend it for those who aren't daring with their makeup or like to stand out. With this base you WILL standout, the look is sultry and super sexy. The formula blends super easy and it's very long lasting. You will need makeup remover to get this off your lids gently, otherwise you are going to be scrubbing your skin raw to get it off. My favorite make up remover is Urban Decays, it smells amazing and is virtually oil free.

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

*TOP REVIEWER* kjmsmm on 8/8/2010 3:41:00 PM more reviews by kjmsmm

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

While I LOVE paint pots - I don't love this one. It is too harsh to use as an eyeshadow base and the blend-ability isn't like other paint pots I've used. I will not be re-purchasing this one.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

misodisko on 8/8/2010 3:35:00 PM more reviews by misodisko

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

LOVE paint pots. I have Bare Study, Rubenesque, Constuctivist, Blackground, and Delft. I use Bare Study, Rubenesque and Constructivist everyday, just by themselves. Blackground and Delft make really awesome smokey looks. I would definitely repurchase all the colors I own, and others as well. I feel that these wear by themselves and under shadows best of all the cream shadows I've tried (Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow, Lancome Color Dose, Clarins Soft Touch Eye Color).

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*TOP REVIEWER* syeung2 on 7/8/2010 5:34:00 PM more reviews by syeung2

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

Product - "Black-grey with multi-colour pearl" is dead on. Blackground is not quite black, but a rich dark charcoal/graphite grey. Great base for a smoky eye. Great as a dark eyeliner too when black would just be a little too harsh. The color softens and lightens up a little when smudged out. Soft, smooth, creamy texture. Definitely budgeproof, even on my oily lids. (NOTE: Some of the pics that have been posted for this review seem too silvery or light compared to the actual product in real life. The MAC swatch is spot on.)


Comparisons - Swatched next to BB Graphite Shimmer Ink, Graphite at first goes on with a more pronounced metallic finish - but after I smudge each they both have an iridescent multicolor shimmer finish and are completely indistinguishable; Graphite has a slightly thicker texture. Probably don't need both this and BB Graphite Shimmer Ink; between the two I'd keep Blackground, since I like to do a smoky eye often and Paint Pots are generally a little easier to work with as a base.


Packaging - Round glass jar with domed black lid, like Fluidlines jars but wider.


Overall - Great line of cream shadow - versatile as liner and eyeshadow base. Love this shade when I want something dark but black might be too harsh.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* botitas1977 on 6/1/2010 10:16:00 PM more reviews by botitas1977

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Olive, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

I purchased this because a reviewer said it was really great to darken eyeshadows. I am a fan of smokey eyes and dark shadows. However, the first time I tried this I was not able to get to the whole putting e/s over it and decided that it looks pretty enough alone. Its a shimmer dark dark grey. Im sure its called blackground because its a good base for dark shadows. Will buy again.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Hothead on 5/16/2010 7:02:00 PM more reviews by Hothead

Age: 44-55   Skin: Normal, Fair, Warm   Hair: Red, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

A must have for smokey eyes or deep contours -- this is one of MAC's best paint pots for darkening any color also.. say if you want a deep blue and only have a mid tone, use this black as a base and you will darken it.

use it under a mid brown, and you get a dark deep brown.

love it and will continue to repurchase.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

heyimcortney on 5/16/2010 5:59:00 PM more reviews by heyimcortney

Age: 19-24   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

Don't be intimidated by this color! When applied lightly, it comes out grayish. Apply more, and you get more of a black color. Definitel would only use this for nighttime or some kind of photoshoot with dramatic eyes. I love smoky dark eyes a la Eva Green in casino royale and this is perfect. Also doesn't crease and lasts for hours!

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*TOP REVIEWER* riyeu on 4/9/2010 10:26:00 AM more reviews by riyeu

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

I absolutely love paint pots. They are the best cream eyeshadows I've come across so far. They work very well with synthetic brushes and can apply precisely and pigmentedly.


The consistency is not slippery like Benefit's creaseless creams. They are somewhat on' the dry side but I like it that way because it's more pigmented.


Blackground is an amazing color to use for smokey eyes. It can go from black to grey using a synthetic brush. It is a black with subtle shimmer.

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mspimp2uboy on 3/26/2010 4:12:00 PM more reviews by mspimp2uboy

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

this product is very good overall, the color consistency is good. You can build this into a black though it starts off as a dark gray when blended into your eyelid.I really like using this product when i do smokey eyes but its better when instead of using a dark black/brown smokey eye you use it with a plum color or a royal purple :0). At first i thought that the paint pots were a load of crap because i didn't believe that it would hold my shadow through out the day but it really does work ! I would repurchase this again, i didn't give it 5 because i hate dipping my finger into it .. but that's about it :)

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*TOP REVIEWER* simera2371 on 3/24/2010 1:28:00 PM more reviews by simera2371

Age: 25-29   Skin: Very Dry, Medium   Hair: Black, Straight, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

This paint pot is just ok. I mean i prefer my NYX jumbo pencil in black bean. This paint pot is not that black. It is more off black or dark gray. I would not purchase again.

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