What is MAC PRO?

MAC PRO is a separate range of colors and products designed with the professional makeup artist in mind. MAC describes the products as “more pigmented and [with] more versatility in their use.” Additionally, “PRO products are perfect for everything from body art to beauty shots, to work in film, television, fashion or theatre – M·A·C PRO is the industry professional’s makeup of choice.” There are PRO products, which are product types not available at regular MAC stores or counters, but there are also PRO colors, which are shades of existing product lines (like lipsticks) that you will only find at PRO stores.

PRO Only Product Lines: Airbrushing, Chromacake, Chromagraphic Pencil, Chromaline, Creme Liner, Gloss, Lipmix, Lip Erase, Mixing Medium, Paint Stick

You don’t have to be a makeup artist, and you don’t need to have a PRO card to buy MAC PRO products. It’s better to think of the two as separate — the PRO card allows industry professionals to get a discount on the products they would use in their line of work. You can read more about the requirements here. Similarly, you can always peruse the PRO website–you won’t be able to see prices, but you can see the product range.

How can I buy PRO products?

Unfortunately, only PRO members can order online, but anyone can order by calling the PRO phone number, visiting their nearest PRO store, or calling their nearest PRO store and doing a phone order.

To order by phone…

U.S.: 1-800-387-6707
Canada: 1-800-387-6707 ext 8555

My Must-Have PRO Products

• Eyeshadows: Bio-Green, Blue Calm, Bottle Green, Bright Sunshine, Indian Ink, Kelly, Naval, Sky Blue, Sour Lemon, Vellum
• Lipsticks: Show Orchid, Violetta
• Mixing Medium (Water Base)
• Pigments: Blonde’s Gold, Chartreuse, Emerald Green, Pink Pearl, True Chartreuse

List of MAC PRO Locations…

List of MAC PRO stores in the U.S.

• 1833 Union Street, San Francisco, CA — 415-771-6113
• 133 North Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA — 310-271-9137
• South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, CA — 714-751-2142
• Forum Shops, Las Vegas, NV — 702-369-8770
• North Park Mall, Dallas, TX — 214-360-0990
• Mall at Green Hills, Nashville, TN — 615-297-0668
• Mall at Millenia, Orlando, FL — 407-363-5124
• Armitage, Chicago, IL — 773-327-4902
• South Beach, Miami Beach, FL — 305-604-9040
• 7 West 22nd Street, New York, NY — 212-229-4830

Canada

• 908 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC — 604-682-6588
• 4157 Rue St. Denis, Montreal, QC — 514-844-1757
• 363 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON — 416-979-2171

International

• Australia @ 539 Chapel Street, South Yarra +61 3 9825 0100
• Australia @ 276 Oxford Street, Sydney +61 2 9360 8581
• France @ 89, rue du President E. Herriot, Lyon +33 4 72 41 71 56
• France @ 76 bis, rue des Saints-Peres, Paris +33 1 45 48 60 24
• Germany @ Rosenthalerstrasse 36, Berlin +49 30 24 04 87 30
• Germany @ Ehrenstrasse 44, Cologne +49 221 258 57 24
• Greece @ 44 Ermou & Evangelistrias Street, Athens +30 210 3258260
• Italy @ Via Fiori Chiari, 12, Milan +39 028 699 5506
• Italy @ Via del Babuino, 124, Rome +39 066 792 165
• Japan @ Omtesando Hills West Wing 1st Fl. 4-12-10 Jingumae, Tokyo +81 3 5410 1122
• Mexico @ Rafael Sanzio 108-204 Col Vallarta Tamichines, Guadalajara +52 33 36 73 17 13
• Mexico @ Periferico Sur 4690, Col. Jardines Del Pedregal, Local #361, Mexico City +52 55 53 35 38 75
• New Zealand @ 12 Courthouse Lane, Auckland +64 9 358 4200
• Spain @ C/ Fuencarral, 18, Madrid +34 915 237 385
• UK @ 28 Fouberts Place, London +44 20 7534 9222

MAC Nude Collection: New Pigments

MAC’s Nude Collection is a PRO-only release (much like the Chromagraphic Pencils) and there really isn’t much to it. I will review Barelash Pro Longlash separately (probably next week), and I already covered the nude Chromagraphic Pencils here. This leaves us with two new PRO pigments — Naked Dark (medium beige with pearlized pigments) and Naked Deep Dark (dark beige with pearlized pigments).

• Naked is a light, flesh-toned beige-pink. it’s almost like a nude champagne pink with a slight golden shimmer-sheen.
• Naked Dark is a medium tan with a beige-nude tone with subtle gold sheen.
• Naked Deep Dark is a darkened brown with an almost taupe edge when used wet. It also has a slight golden sheen.

There’s not much to say about these, to be honest!  They’re three variations of flesh-toned (or nude, ha ha) colors in pigment form.  Naked has always been around, but it’s always been a great highlighter and natural highlighter for those with lighter skin tones.  These could also be mixed into moisturizer for a little shimmer and sheen on decolletage, too.  All three shades were well pigmented when used wet, and they have very soft, finely milled texture–no chunky pigments here, no glitter, no frostiness.

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

• Product: 28/30
• Value: 9/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

Recommendation: If you’ve been looking for neutral pigments, the new PRO pigments are perfect for that. For those with medium or darker skin tones who have wanted a pigment highlighter, these might work, too.

Availability: MAC PRO

See more photos & swatches!

MAC Naked Pigment

MAC Naked Dark Pigment

MAC Naked Deep Dark Pigment

Naked (dry/wet), Naked Dark (dry/wet), Naked Deep Dark (dry/wet)

Naked (dry/wet)

Naked Dark (dry/wet)

Naked Deep Dark (dry/wet)

MAC Nudes Collection (PRO) & Chromagraphic Pencils for Summer 2010

U.S. Launch Date: May 13th, 2010 @ PRO Stores Only

Lip Erase ($18.00 U.S. / $21.50 CDN)

• Pale Flesh tone NC 27 Shade (Matte) (PRO)
• Dim Flesh tone NC37 Shade (Matte) (PRO)

Chromagraphic Pencil ($14.50 U.S. / $17.50 CDN)

• NC15/NW20 Flesh tone NC15/NW20 shade (Matte) (PRO)
• NW25/NC30 Flesh tone NW25/NC30 shade (Matte) (PRO)
• NC42/NW35 Flesh tone NC42/NW35 shade (Matte) (PRO)

Pro Longlash ($13.00 U.S. / $15.50 CDN)

• Barelash Flesh tone shade for brow and lash (PRO)

Pigment ($19.50 U.S. / $23.50 CDN)

• Naked Fleshy beige with pearlized pigments (PRO)
• Naked Dark Medium beige with pearlized pigments (PRO)
• Naked Deep Dark Dark beige with pearlized pigments (PRO)

Chromagraphic Pencils ($14.50 U.S. / $17.50 CDN)

• Basic Red Primary Red (Matte) (PRO)
• Genuine Orange Bright orange (Matte) (PRO)
• Primary Yellow Bright clean yellow (Matte) (PRO)
• Landscape Green Lush bright green (Matte) (PRO)
• Marine Ultra Bright naval blue (Matte) (PRO)
• Rich Purple Dense purple (Matte) (PRO)
• Black Black Deepest black (Matte) (PRO)
• Pure White Whitest white (Matte) (PRO)
• Hi-Def Cyan Cyan blue (Matte) (PRO)
• Process Magenta Matte magenta (Matte) (PRO)

Thanks to the lovely Emily for details!

M•A•C Cosmetics brand opens its fifth store in Argentina, the first one with M•A•C PRO products. M•A•C PRO makeup line, created by make up artists and designed to fit all races, ages and sexes worldwide, will be available in Argentina starting on October 29th in a new store at Galerías Pacífico, in Buenos Aires city.

In addition to MAC PRO products, the new store will also sell the same products found in MAC stores and retail counters, and it will be open to general public, not only makeup artists and professionals.
“Running to a test for a show…working on new staff workshops…keeping my brushes clean! Every day is different, presenting new challenges: “We get to experience makeup in so many different ways at M•A•C, from body painting to working with celebrities, from the fashion world to training trainers and staff.” says Chantel Miller, M•A•C Senior Artist, who visited Argentina specially for the opening and presentation of the M•A•C PRO products.

The store has 86m2 and can be accessed directly from the street and also from inside Galerías Pacífico. The store is specially designed to enhance the product line, with a delicate equilibrium between textures, colors and lightning.

I know we have some international readers who have been dying for a PRO store… in Argentina!  So happy day for all of you!

The Neon2 pigments are exactly that–NEON! They are day-glo, super bright, borderline-obnoxious (okay, maybe they ARE obnoxious) in terms of just how much color potency they have. Yes, some of you may feel that these colors actually burn your retnas. I bought all six more or less so that I could review and bring y’all swatches and photos, though I will certainly try a few looks for you. Probably not today, if only because I am not in a “neon” mood, LOL. The texture is matte, but they all remind me of True Chartreuse’s texture–which is a glorious matte. Goes on like a true dream, smooth, buttery, and delightful to work with. I tend to use pigments as bases, and these would work well under ANY shadows that you want to brighten up.

I have some safety information, plus individual color reviews/descriptions (and lots of photos!).

Safety: According to the insert found in these pigments, the following shades are not to be used in the eye area: Full Force Violet, Magenta Madness, Neo-Orange, Red Electric, Green Space, and Rock-It Yellow. Green Space is the only color not recommended for lip OR eye area.

Please note that I nor Temptalia endorse using these pigments on areas that are not recommended! There are numerous reasons why a pigment may or may not be eye-safe, and on the most extreme end of the scale is because there are sharp particles found within it that can scratch the delicate areas of your corneas. On the lower end of the scale is that the dyes used in the pigments may be found to be irritating in a large number of the popuation (e.g. red dyes). I’m not trying to scare you, but I think anyone who uses pigments that are not eye safe should be fully aware of potential dangers.

• Yes, I use pigments that are not eye-safe, but I use them in moderation; and by moderation, I probably only use it once or twice a year, if that.  I also use all pigments with mixing medium, which is a water-based adhesive, to better secure the pigments to my eyes and reduce potential fall out.

Furthermore, the ingredients listed are…

• Neo-Orange, Red Electric, Magenta Madness, Full Force Violet: Polyester-3 [+/- Orange 5 (CI 45370), RED 28 (CL 45410), Yellow 7 (CL 45350), Yellow 10 (CI 47005), Violet 2 (CI 60725)]
• Green Space: Yellow 10 Lake (CI 47005), Chromium Hydroxide Green (CI 77289)
• Rock-It Yellow: Yelow 10 Lake (CI 47005)

• Magenta Madness is an intensely vibrant rich magenta.
• Red Electric is more like a red-pink than a pure red, so it’s nothing like Basic Red pigment. It’s incredibly bright.
• Neo-Orange is a deep neon orange, not quite construction orange (like Neo Sci Fi), but darker.
• Rock-It Yellow is bright, but surprisingly not as neon yellow as it could be. I just didn’t feel like I needed to avert my eyes like I did with Red Electric.
• Full Force Violet is an intense, richly pigmented cobalt-blue. I can see violet, but I also see a lot of blue in it, which I suppose is why color is in the eye of the beholder. This actually reminds me a bit of Cool Heat’s Climate Blue!
• Green Space is the most wearable of the six, because it’s actually not as neon or flourescent as the others. It reminds me a lot of Kelly Green, actually.

Swatches courtesy of Jamie!  These make the Neon2 pigments look MUCH more wearable, don’t you think?  I ordered a set yesterday, so I’ll be sure to swatch them for you whenever they arrive (my bet is on Wednesday, unfortunately!).