MAC Mickey Contractor: Overall Review & Recommendations

OVERALL, Mickey Contractor offers a good selection of neutrals along with a few pops of color, but it doesn’t do so with as much excellence as I expected. I found the quality to be lacking on the single eyeshadows, and there were a few too many repromotes of permanent shades or otherwise easily duped (by permanent products).  The collection is more neutral in tone, rather than too warm or cool, so these are colors that can be worn with a fair amount of ease.

Both lipglasses were more opaque, which is always refreshing, but because of the creamier finishes and the thickness of lipglasses (which are also sticky), the colors both had a tendency to settle into lip lines and apply a bit unevenly. The lipsticks were easily my favorites, because they were lovely in texture and the colors themselves are infinitely flattering on a variety of skin tones. However, they were also very easy to dupe, so from a quality standpoint, they may be excellent, but you should definitely check your stash for possible dupes before buying.

I also liked the fluidlines, but I was disappointed when Ivy applied semi-opaque and needed a second layer to become opaque. Siahi was a lot better and went on beautifully, though. I found three of the four single eyeshadows to be on the sheer side, while Saffron was beautiful, nicely pigmented, and easy to work with. The Athma Eyeshadow Quad has a nice color scheme, but there is some fall out (but not terrible) with the two lustre shades, and it also includes two permanent shades (Carbon and Folie).

Both of the blushes were nice and had a smooth, soft texture without being powdery. Sur should flatter a good amount of skin tones (might not work on the darkest ones, though), while Gana will work if used more as a highlighter than a blusher. I like them together–Sur as a blusher, Gana as a highlighter.

Photos, Reviews, Swatches

• Athma Eyeshadow Quad
  
• Gana Blush
  
• Sur Blush
  
• Eyeshadows
  
• Ivy Fluidline
  
• Siahi Fluidline
  
• Lipglasses
  
• Lipsticks
  
• Dupes & Comparisons (Cheeks/Lips)
  
• Dupes & Comparisons (Eyes)
  
• Video Review/Swatches

Check out my recommendations, what to check your stash for, what to skip, and recommendations by skin tone!

Temptalia’s Recommendations

Must-Haves: Saffron Eyeshadow, Siahi Fluidline

Nice-to-Haves: Ivy Fluidline

Skip: Flesh (streaky), Lust (streaky), Oomph (sheer)

Check your stash for…

LUST LIPGLASS (permanent), MOCHA LIPSTICK (permanent), CARBON EYESHADOW (permanent), and FOLIE EYESHADOW (permanent).

Skip if you have…

• Skip SIAHI if you have MAKE UP FOR EVER #12L; #12L is slightly darker and a pencil liner, but they are quite close. STILA PEACOCK is also quite close (again, pencil eyeliner) but bluer.
• Skip MARVEL if you have GRAPE PIGMENT or PUSH THE EDGE PIGMENT (limited edition); Grape is less iridescent; Push the Edge is a little more vibrant.
• Skip OOMPH if you have GREENSMOKE; Oomph is slightly blacker, but Greensmoke has better pigmentation.
• Skip RANI if you have PASSIONATE; surprisingly, Rani is only a touch pinker but otherwise quite close.
• Skip SAFFRON if you have MAKE UP FOR EVER #50; #50 is a little more orange, not quite as rusty, but they are similar.
• Skip JAAN if you have BAMBOO; Bamboo is a little lighter and lacks the shimmer of Jaan but doesn’t have the fall out of Jaan either.
• Skip GANA if you have CHEZ CHEZ LAME (limited edition); Gana is more neutral beige, but on the skin, the difference will be minute.
• Skip SUR if you have DARKLY MY DEAR (limited edition); Darkly my Dear is redder but the two are similar enough to only warrant one, unless it’s a shade you wear all the time.
• Skip FLESH if you have SISS LIPSTICK; Siss is almost exactly the same color-wise, it is just a lipstick rather than a gloss.
• Skip GULABI if you have GIRL ABOUT TOWN or FULL FUCHSIA; Girl About Town is slightly bluer in its base, while Full Fuchsia is a touch lighter. I didn’t notice any differences on lips between Gulabi and Girl About Town, though.
• Skip YASH if you have BRAVE NEW BRONZE (limited edition); Brave New Bronze is only a touch lighter.

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!).

• Light skin tones: Eyeshadows in Marvel, Saffron; Lipsticks in Gulabi, Mehr, Yash
• Medium skin tones: Eyeshadows in Marvel, Rani, Saffron; Lipsticks in Gulabi, Mehr, Mocha
• Dark skin tones: Eyeshadows in Marvel, Rani; Lipstick in Gulabi
• Cool undertones: Eyeshadows in Marvel, Rani; Lipstick in Gulabi, Mehr, Yash
• Warm undertones: Eyeshadows in Oomph, Saffron; Lipstick in Mehr, Mocha
• Universally Flattering Shades: Lust lipglass; Athma Eyeshadow Quad; Ivy and Siahi Fluidlines; Mehr Lipstick

MAC Mickey Contractor: Comparisons & Dupes for Eyes

• IVY is slightly greener than Minted, while Urban Decay Graffiti has a stronger yellow base and appears much lighter. Jade Way is too dark to be a dupe. Make Up For Ever #22 Aqua Cream is significantly more of a yellow-based green, while Urban Decay Grass Cream Eyeshadow is less yellow but still doesn’t have the slight teal tinge that Ivy has. Urban Decay Loaded Ink for Eyes is, again, too yellow in its base.
• SIAHI is darker and almost teal in comparison to Make Up For Ever #20; greener, less blue tham Stila Peacock; darker than Make Up For Ever #12L; darker and tealer than Smoothblue; tealer than Waveline; and tealer than Inky.
• MARVEL is slightly less vibrant than Push the Edge, while Grapecomes close, but it’s a darker, less iridescent purple.
• OOMPH is slightly blacker and less brown than Fiction, while it is just a little blacker than Greensmoke. Humid is significantly greener and Sumptuous Olive is totally different.
• RANI is only slightly pinker than Passionate (a lot closer than I thought), while MUFE #75 is off the charts bright but fuchsia and blue-based. MUFE #52 doesn’t come anywhere close.
• SAFFRON is less intense and a touch lighter than Red Brick, while it is darker, less intense (appearing rustier) than Orange. Rule is more orange, as is MUFE #50.
• JAAN is browner and really not comparable to Gleam, while it is slightly lighter than Soft Brown. It is a touch darker and less warm than Bamboo (without the shimmer, of course), while Arenahas more shimmer and appears peachier.
• VIVAH is darker and warmer than Cork; less red than Sable; less red than Twinks, while Tempting is not at all like it.

See swatches!

Jade Way, Minted, Urban Decay Graffiti, Ivy

Ivy, Make Up For Ever #22, Urban Decay Grass, Urban Decay Loaded

Make Up For Ever #20, Siahi, Stila Peacock, Make Up For Ever #12L, MAC Smoothblue, Waveline, Inky

Make Up For Ever #20, Siahi, Stila Peacock, Make Up For Ever #12L, MAC Smoothblue

Grape, Marvel, Push the Edge

Fiction, Greensmoke, Oomph, Humid, Sumptuous Olive

Passionate, Rani, MUFE #75, MUFE #52

Red Brick, Orange, Rule, Saffron, MUFE #50

Gleam, Jaan, Soft Brown, Bamboo, Arena

Cork, Sable, Vivah, Twinks, Tempting

MAC Mickey Contractor: Comparisons & Dupes for Lips/Cheeks

• GANA is neutral, rather than slightly warm, as Chez Chez Lame, while Honour is noticeably darker (more of a soft brown than a champagne). Trace Gold is also darker, still a bit like a champagne shade, but gilded and slightly bronzy. NARS Albatross is significantly lighter, paler, and more of a white gold.
• FLESH is most comparable to Siss, which is a lipstick, but the colors are very alike. Dolce & Gabbana Caramel Lipgloss has less peach in it.
• GULABI is a slightly redder fuchsia than Girl About Town (though on lips, I couldn’t see that subtle difference), while NARS Schiap is lighter and bluer-based. Full Fuchsia isn’t quite as dark of a pink, but it is similar.
• SUR is lightly rosier than Darkly My Dear; darker and more plum than Prim & Proper; plummier and darker than Prism; darker and plummier (totally different) than Gingerly; completely different from Pinch Me; Desert Rose and NARS Dolce Vita may be near dupes for each other, but are completely different from Sur; and finally, Notable is slightly redder.
• MEHR is rosier than Cosmo, and unfortunately, I do not have some of the other possible dupes for this shade, like Brave and Fast Play. Brave New Bronze is completely different (peachy).
• YASH is slightly browner than but otherwise close Brave New Bronze; darker than Peachstock; darker and more matte than Freckletone; lighter and less rosy than Velvet Teddy.

See swatches!

Honour, Gana, Chez Chez Lame, Trace Gold, NARS Albatross

Prim & Proper, Sur, Darkly My Dear, Prism, Gingerly, Sur, Pinch Me

Prim & Proper, Sur, Darkly My Dear, Prism

Prism, Gingerly, Sur, Pinch Me

Desert Rose, NARS Dolce Vita, Sur, Notable

Dolce & Gabbana Caramel Lip Gloss, MAC Flesh Lipglass, MAC Siss Lipstick

NARS Schiap, Gulabi, Girl About Town, Full Fuchsia

Brave New Bronze, Mehr, Cosmo

Brave New Bronze, Yash, Peachstock, Freckletone, Velvet Teddy, Mehr

Brave New Bronze, Yash, Peachstock, Freckletone

MAC Mickey Contractor: Video Review & Swatches

I filmed a first impressions video when I went through and swatched the Mickey Contractor collection.  I’ll be working on getting dupes and the like together, along with an overall/recommendations post per usual. Thanks for your patience!

MAC Mickey Contractor: Lipsticks

MAC Lipstick ($14.50 for 0.10 oz.) has three new and one permanent shade launching with MAC’s Mickey Contractor. These include: Gulabi (bright fuchsia), Mehr (dirty blue pink), Mocha (peachy yellow brown), and Yash (deep neutral).  These lipsticks are vanilla-scented.  All four of these happen to be opaque and creamy without being drying at all, despite some of the matte finishes seen here.

• Gulabi is a medium-dark fuchsia pink with subtle blue undertones. It has an amplified finish and goes on opaque. It’s incredibly similar to Girl About Town — I can’t really make any differences out; possibly this is lighter.
• Mehr is a neutral pink and applies opaquely. It has a matte finish, but it is incredibly creamy and not at all drying (it’s nothing like Ruby Woo, one of the driest lipsticks of all time). It feels much more like a satin or amplified finish, actually. It seems similar to Cosmo, which I think I have, and will include in the comparison post (possibly this is pinker). I’ll have to check to see if I have them in my stash, but Brave and Twig may also be comparable to this. For me, it’s very much my-lips-but-better (if you want my lip color, this sure gets you close, ha).
• Mocha is a medium-dark peachy brown. It has a satin finish, so it has a creamy consistency with opaque color coverage. This is a permanent shade.
• Yash is a paled, neutral peachy beige. It has a matte finish. Like Mehr, this is not a drying matte finish at all; it’s creamy and opaque. It’s a touch peachier than Peachstock.

P.S. — On eyes, I am wearing Jaan eyeshadow on the lid, Vivah eyeshadow on the outer lid/crease, Folie in the crease, Burberry Trench to highlight, Ivy fluidline on upper lash line, Urban Decay Perversion on lower water line, Jaan eyeshadow on lower lash line. On cheeks, I am wearing Sur Blush.

MAC Mickey Contractor will be available on January 6th at select North American stores and January 2011 for select international stores. It will be available online on approximately January 4th but may not be available until the 6th.

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

• Product: 29/30
• Value: 8/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

FINAL THOUGHTS: I love the consistency, texture, and color pay off of all four shades–they really are lovely. They are, however, very dupeable, so depending on what your MAC stash looks like, you may not find yourself with anything new to look at here.

WHERE TO BUY: maccosmetics.com

See more photos & swatches!

MAC Lipsticks: Gulabi, Mehr, Mocha, Yash

MAC Lipsticks: Gulabi, Mehr, Mocha, Yash

MAC Lipsticks: Gulabi, Mehr, Mocha, Yash

MAC Lipsticks: Gulabi, Mehr, Mocha, Yash

MAC Lipsticks: Gulabi, Mehr

MAC Lipsticks: Mocha, Yash

MAC Gulabi Lipstick

MAC Gulabi Lipstick

MAC Gulabi Lipstick

MAC Mehr Lipstick

MAC Mehr Lipstick

MAC Mehr Lipstick

MAC Mehr Lipstick

MAC Mocha Lipstick

MAC Mocha Lipstick

MAC Mocha Lipstick

MAC Yash Lipstick

MAC Yash Lipstick

MAC Yash Lipstick

MAC Yash Lipstick

MAC Mickey Contractor: Flesh & Lust

MAC Lipglass ($14.50 for 0.17 oz.) sees two shades as part of the MAC Mickey Contractor Collection. Flesh (dirty nude brown) is limited edition, while Lust (soft muted pink) is permanent.  Lipglass is a thicker, stickier gloss with a range of finishes and opacities.  They are vanilla scented.

• Flesh is a orange-tinged medium beige with a creamy look and subtle micro-shimmer. It seems to lean green on me, which is not exactly flattering for me! It has a creamy consistency, so it does settle into lip lines, but on the plus side, it is more pigmented and is semi-opaque. I can’t think of a dupe, though I’m not convinced there isn’t one.
• Lust is a muted rosy beige with a creamy consistency and finish. It does settle into lip lines, and it’s nearly opaque as far as glosses go. Since it is a thicker, more opaque shade, even though it does settle, it is less noticeable from afar. I see this shade being a lot more wearable than Flesh for many skin tones.  This is a permanent shade.

P.S. — On eyes, I am wearing Jaan eyeshadow on the lid, Vivah eyeshadow on the outer lid/crease, Folie in the crease, Burberry Trench to highlight, Ivy fluidline on upper lash line, Urban Decay Perversion on lower water line, Jaan eyeshadow on lower lash line. On cheeks, I am wearing Sur Blush.

MAC Mickey Contractor will be available on January 6th at select North American stores and January 2011 for select international stores. It will be available online on approximately January 4th but may not be available until the 6th.

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

• Product: 27/30
• Value: 8/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

FINAL THOUGHTS: Flesh might work better on those with darker skin tones as well as those with more olive complexions.  It might be one of those try before you buy shades… too bad distribution is so limited.

WHERE TO BUY: maccosmetics.com

See more photos & swatches!

MAC Lipglass: Flesh, Lust

MAC Lipglass: Flesh, Lust

MAC Lipglass: Flesh, Lust

MAC Lipglass: Lust, Flesh

MAC Flesh Lipglass

MAC Flesh Lipglass

MAC Lust Lipglass

MAC Lust Lipglass