MAC Makeup Art Cosmetics Collection: Review & Round-up

OVERALL, the collection has a good mix of the bright & bold and the subtle & muted. I feel like there is definitely something for everyone within this launch (particularly since there are over thirty products to choose from), which is always a good thing. My favorite items were the new shades of technakohl liner–bright and beautiful, that’s SO me. The technakohl formula is soft and creamy without being wet, easy to apply, and long-wearing, so I was pleased to *finally* see some new shades get released. The lipsticks gave me nothing to write home about, and I will admit I’m surprised none of them were super dark or opaque.

On Display is an absolutely stunning shade of lipglass, and I fervently hope you’ll consider it next time you’re at the counter! New Spirit was also on my radar, though not quite as impressive as On Display, which is just the right blend of dark and bold without venturing too much into vampy. I didn’t love any of the three eyeshadow quads, though I liked Photo Realism and Notoriety. I can’t say skip enough when it comes to the Private Viewing quad!

The eyeshadows, while bright, do offer a lot of repromotes, as only two are new (Off the Page and Maira’s Magic). I found Off the Page to be very reminiscent of Fab & Flashy, which I love, so that alone makes it noteworthy. Haunting will just never live up to my expectations, I think, unless it somehow gets a clue and intensifies itself. I’ve always had a soft spot for Purple Shower, though it does need to be layered on occasion. I want to like Crest the Wave, but I’m not sure if that shade of yellow will work so well with my skin tone.

The glitters are gorgeous in all of their glittering glory, but for most of us, they’re too much of a pain in the butt to justify purchasing. You can’t (and shouldn’t) use glitters on your eyes when they aren’t recommended for the area. Sometimes glitter particles are too large/sharp and can actually scratch or injure your cornea. While I can understand the occasional avant garde application of glitter (and using extremely adhesive bases!), it’s just not something I’d risk, myself, on a regular basis. As such, glitters are best used on the lips (easiest), though you can mix them into nail polishes, moisturizers, or hair gel/spray. They’re usable, but you gotta get creative. I liked all four of the pigments released, though two are repromotes (Cocomotion and Heritage Rouge). They’re all pigmented and go on fairly smooth, with Push the Edge being the more velvety one.

Don’t miss our product-by-product reviews!

• Eyeshadows
• Photo Realism Eyeshadow Quad
• Notoriety Eyeshadow Quad
• In the Gallery Eyeshadow Quad
• Technakohls
• Pigments
• Glitters/Reflects Glitters
• Lipglasses
• Lipsticks
• Blushes

Temptalia’s Recommendations

Must-Haves: On Display & New Spirit lipglasses, Off the Page & Purple shower eyeshadows, Brash & Bold & Cocomotion pigments, Artistic License & Colour Matters technakohl liners

Nice-to-Haves: Front Lit lipstick, Personal Taste lipglass, Photo Realism eyeshadow quad, Crest the Wave & Maira’s Magic eyeshadows, Heritage Rouge & Push the Edge pigment, Full of Fuchsia & Obviously Orange technakohl liners

Skip: Lovin’ It lipstick, In the Gallery eyeshadow quad, Violet Trance eyeshadow, Gold & Fuchsia glitters

What did you end up getting? What did you love/hate? Share your thoughts!

MAC Makeup Art Cosmetics Collection: Lipstick & Lipglass Lip Swatches

As I promised, here are lip swatches for all of the lipsticks and lipglasses released with MAC’s latest collection. I have to say that I don’t like any of the lipsticks on me! I don’t think they’re suitable to my coloring, or else the shades are just too blah. Front Lit is like Bubbles lipstick – lots of shimmer, and it’s one of those shades you use more for layering than to wear alone or to add color (instead, it adds shimmer). The lipglasses were definitely better, but my favorites remain as On Display and New Spirit lipglasses.

See lip swatches…

Personal Taste Lipglass

New Spirit Lipglass

Young Thing Lipglass

Front Lit Lipstick

High Strung Lipstick

Hold the Pose Lipstick

Lovin’ It Lipstick

Full Body Lipstick

MAC Makeup Art Cosmetics Collection: Technakohls

With five shades of technakohls to choose from, the MAC Makeup Art Cosmetics Collection has you covered.

Technakohl ($14.50)

• Full of Fuchsia is a fuchsia-purple with icy fuchsia sheen. It reminded me of a very intense Pink Pearl pigment. It’s not quite as bright as Brash & Bold pigment, but they are a bit similar.
• Artistic License is a just-less-than electric blue with an aqua-green tone.
• Obviously Orange is a pop of medium-bright orange. It’s not neon orange, and it’s not rusty or coppery either. Compared to Colour Matters, this one has a much more noticeable shimmer/frost to it–kind of a golden shimmer.
• Colour Matters is a satiny chartreuse shade. It looks nearly the same as True Chartreuse pigment does, just in technakohl liner. Since I’m lazy at heart, I am pleased to see it in technakohl form (even though, if you’re on a budget, you could use the pigment form to create your own liner).

• Product: 8/10
• Value: 8/10
• Ease of Use: 7/10
• Packaging: 8/10

Recommendation: I think the technakohls were my favorite part of the launch — just great to see new, not-yet-done shades of the technakohl family be released. I recommend all of the shades, though I’m partial to Colour Matters and Artistic License.

Availability: MACCosmetics.com

See up-close photos and swatches…

Obviously Orange, Colour Matters Technakohl

Artistic License, Full of Fuchsia

Obviously Orange, Colour Matters Technakohl

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MAC Makeup Art Cosmetics Collection: Eyeshadow

Six vibrant eyeshadows debuted with the MAC Makeup Art Cosmetics Collection: Off the Page, Maira’s Magic, Crest the Wave, Purple Shower, Haunting, and Violet Trance.

Eyeshadow ($14.50)

• Off the Page is a vibrant, bright orange with golden orange shimmer and sheen. This reminds me of the ever-fabulous Fab & Flashy eyeshadow that came out with C-Shock two years ago. It has a frost finish.
• Maira’s Magic is a subdued medium pink with a satin finish, so it just has a subtle bit of sheen. It’s like a more matte and muted version of Da Bling.
• Crest the Wave is a frosty yellow with gold sheen. It has a frost finish. This originally came out with the Naughty Nauticals quad.
• Purple Shower is a soft, satiny fuchsia-purple with subtle sheen. I’ve always liked this color, and I’m glad to see it cropping up again for a spell.
• Haunting is a sheer wash of blue with just a hint of aqua. I’ve never been found of this shade, just because the pay off isn’t tops. It really does need a good base to work.
• Violet Trance is a matte dark blue-based violet purple. This originally released two or three years ago, so avid collectors may already have this in their stash. As lovely as it appears in the pot, it’s not the easiest matte to work with. I’d have to vote Make Up For Ever #92 if you’re looking for a deep, intense purple, just because this one doesn’t have a dream texture. It’s so-so, a bit chalky and thus drags a bit, and pigmentation is decent but not intense.

• Product: 8/10
• Value: 8/10
• Ease of Use: 7/10
• Packaging: 8/10

Recommendation: This just may be the closest we come to a C-Shock redux (though not as good as C-Shock). If you like bright pops of color, you should play with these. I really liked Off the Page and Purple Shower the most. Crest the Wave is pretty, but I’m not sold on it (at least not for my skin tone).

Availability: MACCosmetics.com

See up-close photos and swatches…

Maira’s Magic Eyeshadow

Crest the Wave Eyeshadow

Purple Shower Eyeshadow

Haunting Eyeshadow

Violet Trance Eyeshadow

Off the Page, Maira’s Magic, Crest the Wave, Purple Shower Eyeshadow

Haunting Eyeshadow (Middle)

Violet Trance Eyeshadow (Left)

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MAC Makeup Art Cosmetics Collection: Blushes

Two very contrasting shades of blush are available with the MAC Makeup Art Cosmetics Collection:The Perfect Cheek and Notable.

Blush ($18.00)

• The Perfect Cheek is a powder blush with a matte finish that goes on a dusty, pale pink. While it was visible on my skin tone, I found it hard to detect, and the inside of my forearm is probably around NC20 range, which leads me to worry about visibility on deeper skin tones. On some deeper skin tones, this may appear ashy as well.
• Notable is a powder blush with a matte finish that looks like a muted brick-rose. It’s quite pigmented, and it has a very soft, smooth texture. It isn’t the least bit chalky, despite having a matte finish. This is the shade much more suitable to deeper skin tones.

• Product: 8/10
• Value: 8/10
• Ease of Use: 7/10
• Packaging: 8/10

Recommendation: I’m not head-over-heels in love with either shade myself, but I have heard others rave about both–depending on their skin tone. I do feel that The Perfect Cheek may be too pale for some complexions that it won’t show up or it’ll show up ashy. I think Notable will work well for all skin tones.

Availability: MACCosmetics.com

See up-close photos and swatches…

The Perfect Cheek Blush

MAC Notable Blush

The Perfect Cheek Blush

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MAC Makeup Art Cosmetics Collection:  Lipsticks

Five different lipstick shades are available with the MAC Makeup Art Cosmetics Collection: Front Lit, High Strung, Hold the Pose, Lovin’ It, and Full Body. None of the new lipsticks really called out to me–they were a bit too blah, I suppose. I actually found Front Lit the one that intrigued me most, just because it has a very pretty shimmer to it, but it’s certainly not a must-have. Lip swatches will be posted tomorrow

Lipstick ($14.00)

• Front Lit is a sheer, frosty gold shimmer shade. It doesn’t add much color, but it does add a lot of shimmer.
• High Strung is a sheer brassy rose with golden shimmer with a frosty finish. This is a permanent shade.
• Hold the Pose is a sheer brown-plummy shade with soft golden shimmer and a bit of glossiness. It has a lustre finish, which is why I was expecting it to be sheer. It gives my lips a bit of a rosy plum look, but otherwise, it doesn’t add much to my lips.
• Lovin’ It is a neutral brownish-coral with a light frosty sheen. It’s a lustre finish, so it applies sheerly.
• Full Body is a semi-sheer, dark plummy shade with red tones. Also a lustre, this particular shade does pack a bit more color than the average lustre finish.

• Product: 8/10
• Value: 8/10
• Ease of Use: 7/10
• Packaging: 8/10

Recommendation: Muted, fall tones reign supreme in this collection–if you love the lustre finish, then definitely check these out!

Availability: MACCosmetics.com

See up-close photos and swatches…

Front Lit, High Strung, Hold the Pose Lipsticks

Hold the Pose, Lovin’ It, Full Body Lipsticks

MAC Front Lit Lipstick

MAC High Strung Lipstick

MAC Hold the Pose Lipstick

MAC Lovin’ It Lipstick

MAC Full Body Lipstick

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