MAC Cham-Pale Dupes & Comparisons Swatches

• Chez Chez Lame is darker and more beige in comparison to NARS Albatross, less pink compared to Sunsparked Pearl, and lighter and less brown compared to Soft & Gentle.
• Rose Ole is slightly darker and less frosty than By Candlelight, while Stereo Rose is significantly darker and Porcelain Pink is a little lighter and pinker. Play It Proper doesn’t resemble it at all.
• Chilled On Ice is much more golden than Bare Study, while Cuddle is a bit yellower and more of a true white gold, which is the same reason why Benefit’s Tattle Tale is not quite a dupe either. Benefit Sippin’ ‘n Dippin’ is nothing like it.
• Dangerous Cuvee is most similar to Benefit Strut is a darker, more pigmented version–it has the same bluish cast; on the other hand, Benefit Skinny Jeans seems close at first glance, but it’s much more of a pewter shade with a taupe rather than a blue cast.
• Vintage Selection is slightly cooler than Benefit RSVP.
• I Get No Kick is virtually the same as Make Up For Ever #23 and Urban Decay Midnight Cowboy.
• Calm Mode is nearly identical to Feelin’ Good.
• Gel is less pink, more bronze compared to Beigeland, while Quiet, Please looks more bronze than pink when compared to Beigeland.
• Luxure looks the same as Resort Life when worn (on my lips), but the latter is beiger in its color base–which is still rather sheer on lips; and the same goes for Sin-tillation.

Unfortunately, I do not own Rubenesque to compare to Let Me Pop nor Shimpagne to compare against Chez Chez Lame. My deepest apologies!

See swatches!

NARS Albatross, Chez Chez Lame, Sunsparked Pearl, Soft & Gentle

Play It Proper, Rose Ole, By Candlelight, Stereo Rose, Porcelain Pink

Bare Study, Cuddle, Chilled on Ice, Benefit Tattle Tale, Benefit Sippin’ n’ Dippin’

Benefit Strut, Dangerous Cuvee, Benefit Skinny Jeans

Vintage Selection, Benefit RSVP

Calm Mode vs. Feelin’ Good

Gel, Beigeland, Quiet Please

Luxure, Resort Life, Sin-tillation

MUFE #23, I Get No Kick, Urban Decay Midnight Cowboy

MAC Cham-Pale:  Overall Review & Recommendations

OVERALL, Cham-Pale stays true to its name–pale, light, and shimmering.  If you prefer matte, satin, or more pearly finishes to your makeup, I don’t think Cham-Pale will be the right collection for you.  On the other hand, if you love shimmer, shine, and glitter, it may be just perfect.  From the glittery, glimmering, high-shine Lipgelees to the sheered out, frosted paint pots, this collection is all about finishes that catch light.This also appears to be a collection that is better worn with products you own and not exclusively products from within the launch itself–you may find it is shimmer overload if you don’t mix and match!

In general, the product quality is good, though a few products were disappointing.  The paint pots are on the sheerer side and weren’t easy to layer for greater intensity, while Very Important Platinum was a gloppy, thick polish that was difficult to work with.  Caviar Dreams Eyeshadow Quad has two permanent shades and a repromote, but also two lustre shades, both of which suffer from fall out issues.

Product Photos, Swatches, Reviews

• Video Overview
  
• Caviar Dreams Eyeshadow Quad
  
• Chez Chez Lame Special Reserve Highlighting Powder
  
• Feline Kohl Power
  
• I Get No Kick Eye Kohl
  
• Lip Conditioners
  
• Lipgelees
  
• Lipsticks
  
• Paint Pots
  
• Rose Ole Special Reserve Highlighting Powder
  
• Skincare
  
• Soiree Nail Lacquer
  
• Very Important Platinum Nail Lacquer

Check out my recommendations, what to skip, and recommendations by skin tone…

Temptalia’s Recommendations

Must-haves: I Get No Kick Eye Kohl, Feline Kohl Power, Soiree Nail Lacquer
Nice-to-haves: Straight to the Head Lipgelee, Vintage Selection Paint Pot
Skip: Caviar Dreams Eyeshadow Quad, Very Important Platinum Nail Lacquer

Skip if you have…

• Skip LUXURE if you have RESORT LIFE; they are incredibly similar when worn.
• Skip CALM MODE if you have FEELIN’ GOOD; Feelin’ Good is just slightly less pink.
• Skip GEL if you have BEIGELAND; Beigeland is a little more pigmented.
• Skip ROSE OLE if you have BY CANDLELIGHT; By Candlelight is smoother.
• Skip CHEZ CHEZ LAME if you have NARS ALBATROSS; fairly similar.
• Skip I GET NO KICK if you have MAKE UP FOR EVER #23L; they are quite close.

Don’t forget to check your stash for…

Feline (repromote), NC15/NW15 (permanent at PRO), NW25/NC30 (permanent at PRO), TANARAMA (permanent) GEL (permanent), QUIET, PLEASE (repromote), BRULE (permanent), RETROSPECK (permanent), and ET TU, BOUQUET (repromote).

Recommendations by Skin Tone

Please note that this section is merely suggesting shades that would complement a particular skin tone better than other shades, but these lists are meant to be rather exhaustive of the entire collection; it’s not reflective of must-haves for your skin tone. When it comes to cooler/warmer skin tones, these are products that lean noticeably cool/warm and therefore complement the corresponding skin tone better (but it does not mean you can’t wear a warmer product if you’re cooler!).

• Best Picks for Light Skin Tones: Chez Chez Lame/Rose Ole Special Reserve Highlighter, Gel/Quietly Please Lipstick, Luxure/Sin-tillation Lipgelee, Caviar Dreams Eyeshadow Quad,
• Best Picks for Medium Skin Tones: Rose Ole Special Reserve Highlighter, Flustered/Gel Lipstick, Bubble Lounge/Straight to the Head Lipgelee, Caviar Dreams Eyeshadow Quad,
• Best Picks for Dark Skin Tones: Flustered Lipstick, Bubble Lounge/Straight to the Head Lipgelee, Soiree Nail Lacquer
• Best Picks for Cool Skin Tones: Chez Chez Lame/Rose Ole Special Reserve Highlighter, Quietly Please Lipstick, Luxure/Sin-tillation Lipgelee, Caviar Dreams Eyeshadow Quad, Very Important Platinum Nail Lacquer
• Best Picks for Warm Skin Tones: Chez Chez Lame/Rose Ole Special Reserve Highlighter, Flustered/Gel Lipstick, Bubble Lounge/Straight to the Head Lipgelee, Caviar Dreams Eyeshadow Quad, Soiree Nail Lacquer
• Universally Flattering Shades: Calm Mode Tinted Lip Conditioner, Paint Pots (all!), Feline Kohl Power, I Get No Kick Eye Kohl

MAC Cham-Pale Collection: Video Overview

Here is my first impressions/video overview of Cham-Pale. This was filmed after I finished taking photos, so I had not even swatched the products until this point. I will be sure to do an overall and recommendations post for the collection later today or tomorrow.

MAC Cham-Pale: Lip Conditioners

MAC Lip Conditioners SPF15 + Lavender ($14.50 for 0.5 oz.) are potted lip balms and new and limited edition with Cham-Pale.  There is one that is tinted, Calm Mode, which MAC describes as a “light neutral beige,” while the other is colorless.  I actually found it more of a soft neutral pink than a beige–very much my-lips-but-better kind of a shade.   Well, maybe not for me, as it’s a little light, so it can look obvious and milky on my lips in particular, but it’s that type of a pink; subtle, rosy, easy to wear.  It is incredibly similar to last year’s Feelin’ Good.

The lip conditioners had a very light scent to them – vanilla and something, but I couldn’t detect any lavender to it (my nose is by no means a superior sniffer, though).  The scent of these is nothing like Fix+ Lavender (good news for me!).  Even though the formula is nice enough–smooth, moisturizing, comfortable–potted balms aren’t as sanitary as I’d like.  For me, lip balm is something I carry around in my purse or pocket, that I probably reapply a couple of times a day as needed.  With a potted lip balm, you need to be sure to use only clean fingers or else a lip brush.  I also wish these lasted longer, as I feel like they disappear within an hour or two.

I will also caution you about the tube versions of MAC’s Lip Conditioner (not promoted in this launch), as the caps easily come off in my bag.  I was constantly finding mine un-capped, rolling around in who-knows-what at the bottom of my bag, and it was just gross.  I’ll keep this at my desk or on my night stand, but it’s not travel-friendly enough for me to use regularly.  (Plus, Jack Black’s lip balms work better for my lips!)

MAC Cham-Pale Collection is a limited edition launch (official information and photos here) that is set to launch in-stores on December 26th in North American, January 2011 for international MAC locations. The approximate launch date for online is December 24th. It features color products as well as a few skincare items.

If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ!

• Product: 26/30
• Value: 8/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 3/5

RECOMMENDATION: I like the color of Calm Mode, and if you find your lips need a lil’ extra pink to make them look alive, you might consider grabbing a pot of it.

AVAILABILITY: MAC Cosmetics on December 26th (U.S. stores), January 2011 (International)

See more photos & swatches!

MAC Calm Mode Tinted Lip Conditioner

MAC Calm Mode Tinted Lip Conditioner

MAC Calm Mode Tinted Lip Conditioner

MAC Calm Mode Tinted Lip Conditioner

MAC Calm Mode Tinted Lip Conditioner

MAC Lip Conditioner

MAC Lip Conditioner

MAC Cham-Pale: Skincare

There were two skincare products launched with Cham-Pale: MAC Complete Comfort Cream ($32.00 for 1.7 fl. oz.), which is permanent (except Asian locations), and MAC Fix+ Lavender ($18.00 for 3.4 fl. oz.), which is limited edition.  This post is more of a photo post than a review, as I haven’t had the opportunity to trial either of these products as I would normal skincare products.  I am not currently planning to review either in-depth, as my skincare review calendar has several other products already in line.  (I also do not want to lead you on thinking you may see one in the near future!)

The Complete Comfort Cream is a thicker cream that absorbs quickly (about three to five minutes on the face), and it has MAC’s signature skincare fragrance, which seems to be a blend of subtle citrus and some kind of herbal hint–it’s pleasant and not overwhelming nor “perfume-y.”  It is the same Comfort Cream originally part of Prescriptives’ line (and still technically available online at Prescriptives).  Given the thickness of the cream, I imagine this is most suited for those with dry to normal-to-dry skin.

Fix+ Lavender is a colorless spray that has a strong scent of sweetened vanilla and lavender when sprayed, but the scent dissipates quickly (we’re talking seconds).  I found the scent too strong; too much when spraying on my face, but when I sprayed it in my boyfriend’s face, he thought it was “nice.”

MAC Cham-Pale Collection is a limited edition launch (official information and photos here) that is set to launch in-stores on December 26th in North American, January 2011 for international MAC locations. The approximate launch date for online is December 24th. It features color products as well as a few skincare items.

See more photos!

MAC Complete Comfort Cream

MAC Complete Comfort Cream

MAC Complete Comfort Cream

MAC Complete Comfort Cream

MAC Fix+ Lavender

MAC Fix+ Lavender

MAC Fix+ Lavender

MAC Cham-Pale: Lipsticks

MAC Lipsticks ($14.50 for 0.10 oz.) for Cham-Pale include two limited edition shades (one is a repromote): Flustered (frosted pale bronze) and Quietly Please (frosted pink champagne); and two permanent shades: Gel (sheer metallic beige) and Tanarama (pale beige with golden shimmer).

• Flustered is a semi-opaque copper brown with gilded champagne sheen and light shimmer.  This has a frost finish and limited edition.  This was the most pigmented of the four shades.
• Gel is a semi-sheer, metallic beige-gold.  This has a frost finish and is part of the permanent range.  (It is also similar to Beigeland, which was a limited edition shade from Spring Colour Forecast.)
• Quietly, Please is a sheer metallic rose pink.  This has a lustre finish. It is a repromote from Red She Said in 2008.  I found this incredibly sheer, though; it really didn’t seem to add color to my lips at all.
• Tanarama is a semi-sheer frosted white gold with a metallic sheen.  This has a frost finish and is part of the permanent range.

I’m curious to see how others plan to wear these shades, as I did not find any of them flattering on my skin tone on their own.  I felt like they washed me out a bit, but perhaps with the right gloss, I will be able to find a way to make them work for me.  All four are highly reflective and have slightly metallic finishes, though three are officially frosts and one is a lustre.

MAC Cham-Pale Collection is a limited edition launch (official information and photos here) that is set to launch in-stores on December 26th in North American, January 2011 for international MAC locations. The approximate launch date for online is December 24th. It features color products as well as a few skincare items.

If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ!

• Product: 28/30
• Value: 8/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

RECOMMENDATION: I’m not sure who’s going to rock these colors.  Normally, I get a strong push for cool/warm, but these, while having a tendency to be warm, don’t give me a good feeling either way.  Flustered and Quietly Please are the most wearable, with Tanarama being the least (because it is so light).

AVAILABILITY: MAC Cosmetics on December 26th (U.S. stores), January 2011 (International)

See more photos & swatches!

MAC Lipsticks: Flustered, Gel, Quietly Please, Tanarama

MAC Lipsticks: Flustered, Gel, Quietly Please, Tanarama

MAC Lipsticks: Flustered, Gel, Quietly Please, Tanarama

MAC Lipsticks: Flustered, Gel, Quietly Please, Tanarama

MAC Flustered Lipstick

MAC Flustered Lipstick

MAC Flustered Lipstick

MAC Gel Lipstick

MAC Gel Lipstick

MAC Gel Lipstick

MAC Quietly Please Lipstick

MAC Quietly Please Lipstick

MAC Quietly Please Lipstick

MAC Tanarama Lipstick

MAC Tanarama Lipstick

MAC Tanarama Lipstick

MAC Lipsticks: Flustered, Gel

MAC Lipsticks: Quietly Please, Tanarama