Finish: Velvet / Muted black with red shimmer
Smut is a beautiful dark gray shade that creates an effortless smokey eye, but I personally find it more difficult to work with than other dark shades. This is often described as being Satin Taupe’s smokey sister and Carbon’s lighter, easier-to-work-with cousin. When I did the swatch for this, I did see the red sheen in MAC’s description, but I had to really look for it and rotate my hand around to see it. This dark matte gray shade can be paired with anything imaginable in MAC’s collection; I’m not particularly fond of it, but I don’t really prefer Velvet finishes either.
Joanna
i really like look 1 and 3!!! 🙂
Joanna
oh, and i agree with you on the velvet finishes. i find them almost harder to work with than some mattes (ahem, carbon) and satins. although contrast is a velvet and i love it and i’m lusting after texture, also a velvet i think LOL
Zabrena
LOL! (Grrr to Carbon!)
Texture is one of the few Velvets I just LOVE! Maybe I got a dud with Smut. 🙁
Joanna
i don’t always find it super easy to work with. then again, i don’t use it often at all as i never know what to pair it with. i almost always use a fluffy brush to apply and blanc type is my HG blender. maybe that’ll do the trick?
Zabrena
Texture? This post might help:
http://macshadowcombos.com/2011/09/25/spotlight-on-mac-texture/
On the lid with Blanc Type as a blender is a superb look! I generally find that applying a color I find hard to work with on the lid somehow makes it easier to work with because I can blend it out with something else. 🙂
Joanna
ever since i saw your post i put texture on my list 🙂 i just haven’t gotten it yet because i prioritize my purchases haha! last week i ordered plumage, seedy pearl, folie, and bows and curtseys. on the next big mac spree i’ll be getting texture lol. blanc type seems to make everything easier to work with
Mariella
Joanne, Bows and Curtseys is SO lovely. I got it from Fashion Flower (the one in the palette from Tartan Tales is AWFUL) and it’s so blendable and gorgeous. It’s a unique colour and makes a fabulous smokey eye and it’s great in the crease with a neutral on the lid and it is also stunning used just to smudge or line under the lower lashes. It’s one that seems to have been ignored (hardly any reviews on Makeup Alley) and it’s a hidden treasure if you ask me!
Sharon
I especially like look #4. I was wondering how you get Naked Lunch to show up that well on your lid? Look # 3 is also very pretty.
Zabrena
Hi Sharon!
I use Too Faced Eyeshadow Insurance as a primer and apply about two layers of Naked Lunch (sometimes three!) 😀
Sharon
I will try that– Thanks!
Sharon
Hi Zabrena — Could you use carbonized instead of smut in look #3? I don’t have Smut.
Zabrena
Hmmm, you could try it just to see what kind of effect you get! It would definitely add some great definition there. You could also use any other dark gray shade you might have (or even a purple like Blackberry) if you find you don’t like that; preferably in a matte finish so it doesn’t compete with Electra. 🙂
LRW
From now on, I’m just going to *copy&paste* all my comments..I mean how many ways can I say you are amazing?!
Zabrena
LOL! Aww, shucks! 🙂 Thanks, Lynn!
Nicola
Hi Zabrena – Could you use Typographic in look 2 instead of smut or would it be too dark? I love this look with smut but i have typographic to go with texture and i just wondered if it would go with cranberry. I love so many of your combos!
Zabrena
Sure you could! That would make for a darker, more smokey look, but Typographic isn’t so overwhelming like say Carbon. I say go for it! 🙂
Mariella
#1, 3, 4 and 5 are my total favourites but all these looks are spectacular – you are so creative and skilled. I’ve put off buying Smut because of Mac’s description of the red undertones (something I try to avoid) but now I’m leery because you say it’s not the easiest to work with. Maybe I’ll just pass on this and buy another Pro Longwear shadow! Have you tried any of those, Zabrena? I just LOVE them – the colours, the application and, to my amazement, I really was able to wear them without primer underneath and they didn’t crease (though I still prefer to use primer for my own peace of mind!).
Zabrena
Thanks, Mariella! Yes, I definitely don’t favor Smut by any means – horrible formula! LOVE the Pro longewear eyeshadows! They’re so creamy and smooth – I would definitely go for one of those over Smut. I’m the same as you – the primer somehow gives me confidence. LOL Since I started using it a while back (and have worn eyeshadows for 14+ hours without creasing – unbelievable for my oily lids!) I just can’t bring myself not to use it!
Heather Cooke
Look #1 is my favorite, Shale and Copperplate go together beautifully. I like Cranberry and Smut together in Look #2, the red in Cranberry brings out the red undertones in Smut. And Look #3 is beautiful with the silver and purple.
Karena Toy
Thought I’d give Smut a boost, here. I am silently laughing – most of the comments posted here seem to be negative about Smut… but, honestly, Smut is one of my all-time favourites! (I’ve used Smut for years and years!!) I apply Brule evenly and generously all over the lid and then use a fluffy brush to apply Smut in the crease and outer third, and line the lower lash. BEAUTIFUL!! Simple, sophisticated and gorgeous! Goes beautifully with ash-blonde hair and dark blue eyes.
Monalisa Ahmed
Just became a member today I love look #1 going to try it ASAP 🙂
My Eyeshadow Consultant
Awesome! Thank you for becoming a member and welcome to the site! 🙂
beautywithin
I completely forgot I had Smut, looking forward to try look 8!
Pearl
I like how honest you are and even though you don’t particularly care for a color (for whatever reason), you will still update the looks for it for all of us out here. Makes me glad I am a member. 🙂
Zabrena
Aw! Thank you for saying that, Pearl! 🙂
No room for biases here! 😀
Robyn
Hi Zabrena! I don’t have Smut but I have some of the other eye shadows in Looks 1, 4, and 7. Any suggestions as to what I could use instead? And could I use Jest or Naked Lunch or even All That Glitters instead of Phloof on look sine I don’t have that one? Love those looks! Thanks for all your hard work! 🙂
Robyn
Look 4 not sine lol
Zabrena
Hi Robyn! You could use any really dark gray, almost black shade in its place! Ones like Typographic, Print or possibly even Knight Divine if you want to go more gray. And yes, Jest would be the closest to Phloof! in terms of color, because it has that same pinky base. Enjoy!! 🙂
Robyn
Hi Z! I ended up buying Smut and Phloof and a few purple shades to add to my collection. I had two gift cards from Christmas. I was like a kid in a candy store. Now all I need is the MAC 286 brush. The store didn’t have one when I went to buy it. Also, I’ve heard Brown Script has been discontinued. Any suggestions as to what I could use instead? Thanks! 🙂
Mariella
I finally bought this about 2 weeks ago. I was always put off by that “red shimmer” descriptor that MAC uses but, in all honesty, I just don’t see any red shimmer in this (good thing…red is not a great look on my eyes). With MAC very wisely lowering the prices on their Pro Pan shadows, I’ve been adding a lot of those “back burner” shades to my collection and really enjoying being able to try them at this lower price point.