I’ve always thought that MAC has some beautiful eyeshadows to offer, but haven’t purchased anything from them since their cruelty-free status changed. As I started expanding my eyeshadow collection, I realized slowly that refusing to buy MAC really isn’t that much of a compromise. There really are a million different amazing shades in amazing formulas available from other brands. In the higher-end rage, NARS and Urban Decay make great, highly-pigmented shadows that are super close matches to some classic MAC shades. NYX shadows are good drugstores choices, and Wet’n’Wild can be worked with just as well over a good primer. If you’re looking for cruelty-free dupes, I assembled this list of 25 of the most popular neutral and everyday MAC eyeshadows for you! Most are 85% or higher dupes.
If you’ve never heard of Silk Naturals, they offer a whole bunch of MAP dupes, ranging from eyeshadows to lipsticks, that are super close dupes! Their shadows come in a loose form but they can be pressed fairly easily. Another nice little cruelty-free palette to have is Wet’n’Wild’s Walking on Eggshells; it has close matches to the popular Shroom, Cork, and Naked Lunch shadows. Finally, if you were a fan of MAC’s shadows before the company started testing on animals and are looking for something of similar or better quality, I highly recommend Urban Decay’s Naked palettes, especially Naked 2. Urban Decay’s shadows are buttery-smooth, and way more affordable than MAC’s if you’re looking at the price of the individual shadows.
VANILLA: Silk Naturals – Sonic
SATIN TAUPE: Silk Naturals – Mink & Wet’n’Wild – Nutty
NYLON: theBalm – #38
CORK: Wet’n’Wild – Walking on Eggshells (crease)
NAKED LUNCH: Silk Naturals – Nekkid & Wet’n’Wild Walking on Eggshells (eyelid)
SHROOM: Silk Naturals – Boom & Wet’n’Wild – Walking on Eggshells (browbone)
KNIGHT DIVINE: NARS – Tzarine
RICEPAPER: Silk Naturals – Papyrus
ALL THAT GLITTERS: Urban Decay – Sidecar
WOODWINKED: NYX – Peach Bronze & Wet’n’Wild Comfort Zone (crease)
BRULE: Wet’n’Wild – Brulee
CARBON: Hourglass – Prism
KID: Urban Decay – Naked
VEX: Silk Naturals – Nymph
MOTH BROWN: Silk Naturals – Lurid
SABLE: Urban Decay – Toasted
LORELEI: NARS – Nepal
TEMPTING: Urban Decay – Smog
SMUDGED VIOLET: NARS – Barbuda
SMUT: NARS – Mekong
PATINA: Edward Bess – Intimate
ESPRESSO: NARS – Bali
WEDGE: Jane – Rock Star
MULCH: Too Faced – Chestnut
SOFT BROWN: Bare Minerals – Frisson
I’ve never heard about Silk Naturals before, definitely will give them a try when buying eye shadows next time. Have you tried Makeup Geek? It’s also cruelty free company which offers a lot of MAC dupes.
Highly recommend Silk Naturals! They have Naked palette dupes as well (full palettes). Their shadows are loose but I might do a tutorial on how to press them! I’ll check out Makeup Geek! I was never sure about the quality but I keep hearing good things. 🙂
I LOVE Makeup Geek!
Between Makeup Geek, Karity, ColourPop, Anastasia Beverly Hills,and Morphe, I don’t miss MAC eyeshadows At. All.
I do wish it were easier to find single-pan empty compacts, though.
So nice to see so many products with the cruelty-free status! That’s great! I thought having a hard time buying good, cruelty-free make-up is the norm. Not anymore! Thanks!
Thanks, good to know!