For a while now, I’ve been encountering “paint pots” referred to in beauty blogs and videos, and I’ve always wondered what they were. On MAC’s website website, Paint Pots are described as:
A highly pigmented eye colour that goes on creamy but dries to an intense, vibrant finish. Long-wearing, colourfast. Creates seamless coverage without weight or caking. Blends smoothly over the lids. Cream-based, can be mixed with M·A·C shadows and liners.
I’d been jonesin’ for one of these pots of magic for quite a bit of time, but running into a color called Rubenesque sealed the deal. “Rubenesque” is a term that pertains to Baroque artist, Peter Paul Rubens, though it doesn’t directly refer to him. This is what he looks like:
Rather, the term was applied to the ladies he was known to paint: very plump and curvy. These women were considered to be the epitome of beauty at the time.
The Three Graces by Peter Paul Rubens
Venus at a Mirror
If you notice, there is a pinkish tinge to these Rubenesque women’s fair skin, which reminds me a lot of the color of MAC’s interpretation of the term. It’s a peach golden bronze with a pearly frost finish.
To tell you the truth, I am quite in love with this color. As you move and the light hits it from a different angle, it appears as a whole spectrum that shifts from gold to peach, which sometimes turns into a rosy color. Even with the frosty finish, it remains quite a warm color that is pretty enough to wear on its own or neutral enough to wear with anything else.
Diana and Callisto
Another quality of Rubens’ paintings, especially his landscapes and wide scenes, is that they are bathed in a beautiful glow, almost like a sunset. See how wonderfully warm and golden-peach these ladies look.
You can wear this by itself on your lids, swipe on some eyeliner and lipstick, and leave the house. You will look bright-eyed and warm.
It works well with powder shadows from other brands. This one’s a quick one of Rubenesque with two colors from an e.l.f. quad called Luxe.
It also works well with loose mineral shadows, like bareMinerals’ Satin Caramel from A Vision in Velvet.
I got this two days ago, and I keep on finding new things to use it, by myself or through other blogs and websites. The greatest thing about this—aside from the color, the lovely pigmentation, great payoff, smooth consistency, etc, etc—is that you don’t need all that much product. A little 0.17 fl oz pot will take you a long, long way.
VERDICT: Beautiful, iridescent color that adds warmth to my eyes and is very flattering for my skin tone.
Would purchase this again? Hell freaking yes.
How much? Php 1,100 or $18.50 for 0.17 fl oz.
Where to buy this in Manila? All MAC counters should have this!
