MAC Emanuel Ungaro Collection Review, Pictures, and Swatches
OVERALL, Ungaro is almost like a relief from the darker, more intense fall and winter launches we have been seeing lately. I suppose if I had to describe it in a word, I would say natural. I picked up both of the CCBs as well as Mineral eyeshadow (which I didn’t think would appeal to me).
What did you haul?
Individual product reviews and swatches…
Lipstick
- Pure Rose is a cool, pale pink. It’s not too frosty, and it feels really creamy. I imagine it would be a bit sheer on the lips, but not overly so.
- Freckletone is a creamy peachy-beige color–it would make a nice nude for warm skin tones for sure.
Lipglass
- Pastel Emotion is a pretty creamy, milky pink with shimmer. It’s not something that stands out, but if you don’t have a nice, sheer pink, it’s not a bad choice.
See Thru Lip Colour
- Not So Shy! is a wine-berry color that lightly stains lips. The color might look dark and intimidating in the tube, but it’s really not so bold once you apply it. I have this from a previous launch, and I never could get it to stain evenly for me. I asked the MA about application, and he advised using your finger to smooth it into lips.
Eyeshadow
- Phloof! is a frosty white highlighter color — it’s not 100% white, it has a little beige in it, but mostly white. I find it is it generally too frosty on my skin tone, though I know others adore it for a highlighter. This is a permanent color, but in limited edition packaging.
- Soft Flower didn’t really show up on me at all. Seriously, I really tried to get it to show up on my skin, but all you could see was the faintest pink tint. The color in the pot is a soft, pink — not too pastel, but not bright — and matte. Pretty, but even when I swatched it over Fresh Morning CCB as a base, it was tough to get it to show up.I was the first to swatch, too!
- Lilac Touch was a subdued lavender with low shimmer (it’s a satin, afterall). It reminds me a bit of the lilacy color from Suite Array. The pay off is slightly better, and the color itself is nice. Reminds me a bit of Creme de Violet.
- Mineral is a cool-toned brown with no real shimmer (satin, again) that you can distinguish. It reminds me a little of Mothbrown, actually, but not as pigmented/intense. (Not that Mothbrown was WHOA! in your face or anything!) I picked this one up, actually.
Cream Color Base
- Fresh Morning is a white-pink color that isn’t eye-safe. I mention this because you might actually use it as an eye base, because of its lightness. Nevertheless, I could see this working as a nice natural skin highlighter for lighter tones and hopefully deeper ones, too. Got this one, too.
- Crushed Bougainvillea is a pretty pink-wine color, almost a soft raspberry. It’s not as dark as it looks, but it still has good pigmentation. I think this would make a really lovely blush or lip stain. This completed my three-piece haul.
Beauty Powder
- Flower Mist Dew is a very fine, soft powder that comes off a milky pink with very subtle shimmer. I personally found it a little chalky, and I didn’t feel like it would do anything for my skin tone. Perhaps on top of one of the CCBs? I wasn’t curious enough to buy to find out, though!
Other Items
- Auto-de-blu Technakohl is a pretty, navy blue liner. I love the technakohl formula!
- Mink Brown Brow Set for your brow filling needs if you’re this particular shade in eyebrow color! I have a colored brow set as well as clear, and I prefer clear and filling in with a shadow instead. Great for keeping brows in place!
Wow, the pigmentation is definitely nothing to write home about on any of these..I usually get SO excited about MAC launches but lately… wow. Didn’t get anything from suite array, cremesheen, cult of cherry (yeah, I know!), and only got 1 pig from overrich! So disappointed.. Dear MAC, No chunky glitter, bad, sheer payoff, predictable, dupe-able colours please!
OMG, the eyeshadows were just so lackluster!!
But Crushed Bougainvillea is nice.
thanks christine – I’ll check that one out tomorrow!
I agree. The recent launches have been pretty sucky lately. I didn’t get anything from the previous collections mentioned. Maybe the Manish Aurora one will be better?
Manish is probably going to be so limited, I imagine a lot of people won’t get it 🙁
I haven’t gotten anything from that last like five launches and it looks like this one will be a skip as well. I am waiting for the Little Darlings piggies! 🙂
Oh, wow! Good thing you’ve been able to save up for holiday 😀
I can’t even see Soft Flower! Oh dear… that’s taking “sheer and natural” a bit too far for me. My haul will happen tomorrow.
A few others have said it’s been the same for them 🙁 Let us know what you haul!
I’m skipping this one. Perhaps Manish Aurora…we’ll see.
I hope you can get your hands on it, Milan!
Thanks for the review, I’ve been waiting for this all morning! seems like the new e/s aren’t very pigmented… booo. I’ve been wanting mineral since it was announced. I’m hoping it has decent color payoff.
I was considering the b/p, but ONLY if the shimmer was noticeable. My MA told me to use it as an all over face brightener since I’m NC15 — something I’m definately NOT in the market for. I want a shimmer powder for use as a cheekbone highlighter dangit! (guess I’ll wait till the sheer minerals launch for that.)
No problem, L A S 🙂 I’m happy to help! Mineral has decent pay off for sure. 🙂
The shimmer is really, really subtle. Not very noticeable!
i am a NC 15 too! you dont meet many of those! whenever i go into MAC they say that i am really pale and they never ever sell NC 15 cause it is soo light! lol!
NC15 represent! 😀
NC15’s of the world unite! Celebrate our paleness!
SEE! I knew you weren’t rare! I don’t know what MAC is talking about!
OMG! I am always hearing people say they are really pale/light/NC15! It’s not that uncommon, I swear!
I am a NC15 too! And I don’t think I am THAT fair/pale.
Can anyone tell me, if Pure Rose is similar to N3 lipstick from N Collection.
I think it’s a bit more shimmery… I think it’s lighter, too.
Hi Christine, Since I’ve been really paring down purchases lately, I’m trying to decide between Pure Rose and Not So Shy. Could you possibly post a photo showing Not So Shy on the lips? Also, do you know if Pure Rose is a dupe for 2N? Thanks!
I’ll try, but I never use it because it makes my lips look like they’re blotchy and bleeding, LOL. Like it’s not a photo that would sell the product!
I don’t think it’s a dupe – it’s really light, more shimmery than the N lipsticks.
Fresh morning looks like something i need to look into.
It’s pretty 🙂
It is a nice highlighter!
Boy am I glad that I passed on this collection!
Haha 😉
Crushed Bougainvillea looks gorgeous, like it would definitely give you that, “I just took a nice jog” kind of blush – or “I just made out with the hottest guy ever” lips, haha!
Obviously, I want it.
Haha! I love it. Best product of the bunch.
I got the two lipsticks, the lipglass and beauty powder. I’m hoping it will be here tomorrow!
Nice! Freckletone is pretty, but I know that’s perm at PRO so I’ll wait!
yup so passing this collection…good thing cause i need to save my monies worth for the MSF and dazzleglasses that are coming up=]
Haha, so true!
Put on hold everything except eyeliner (already have), brow color, and mascara.
Was originally VERY excited about this launch. Still am, considereing that Christine’s skin is way darker than mine and that it will definitely show up much better on my pigmentation. That’s the problem with swatches: one never knows until trying it on your own skin/lips.
Tomorrow after work, I am going to go swatch 1st and then buy my own haul!
I hope they will show up better on you. The pink one didn’t show up at all, and it didn’t show up even over the light CCB 🙁 Let me know how it works out!
zzzzzzz @ colors.. I have had freckletone for years now! It must be the non declared recession.
LOL, they had this planned at least a year in advance! How’d they know?!
What’s funny is that I actually like this launch! I know it’s sort of lackluster, but I really like the non-eye products.
I’m thinking about getting the lip stain and the CCB. Should I get just the CCB and use it as a lipstain as well as a cheek stain? Or do you think that I should get both?
As always, thanks so much for the swatches!
I’d probably just get the CCB. But it probably doesn’t hold as well as the stain would in terms of longevity. I find that liquid-based stains don’t settle evenly on my lips. They look blotchy – like I’ve bitten my lips and they’re bleeding, LOL — NOT a good look. On the other hand, I like the CCB formula better on cheeks than using the liquid stain!
I had to get the beauty powder- it was is my first. I wish MAC would release more of these. I want to start collecting them. Anyways, I also got mineral and lilac touch. They are really pretty. Still debating on pastel emotion b/c it is so sparkly. Maybe I could pass, but it almost LOOKS like a DAZZLEGLASS with its sparkle. :-0
Awesome! I’m glad you found the beauty powder to your liking 🙂
I picked up Mink Brown Brow Set. I had been using powder before and I actually think Mink Brown is easier to use-you dont need to use a shadow brush and it keeps your brows in place 🙂
Nice! 🙂 I don’t find it gives me enough color or at least not definition? I’m not sure, I like the neatness of powder, ha!
YAWN!! not impressed!
LOL, Jill!
I can’t believe the eyeshadows are so sheer – I was really excited for Soft Flower :(. I’m going to check it out tomorrow.
Please let us know if you find it better than I did!
Wow, I’m NC/NW 15 and these look too light even for my skin! The CCB’s look nice , though. I thought about the purple eyeshadow but I have a lot of them and this doesn’t stand out so much too me. Think I’ll pass.
I like Crushed Bougainvillea, it’s the best from the launch, IMO of course 🙂
How funny. I just saw this collection at Bloomies and was disappointed in the e/s.
I actually thought about checking your review and swatches first before deciding whether or not to get anything.
Freckletone is a nice nude and would be a change from getting the usual Lipglass. The SA said that Pure Rose and Freckletone would look good together. I tried it on my hand but wasn’t too amused. I guess esp because of my skin tone ( Classic Beige)
I saw Not So Shy and thought that it was dark but it’s nice to see it’s a stain. It’s considerable. 😛
As for Crushed Bougainvillea, I didn’t even notice that one. But now that you pointed that out, I might have to check it out. How do you apply it, with fingers vs. brush?
Aw! 🙂
Freckletone is definitely a good color — luckily always available at PRO stores if you absolutely need it.
For lips, I use a lip brush to get the product onto my lips, then my fingers to smduge it out. For face, I use the 187, 188, or 190.
Whoa, the CCBs… I thought they were pretty much just for the eyes… Why make a non-eye safe one???
NEWP! A lot of CCBs aren’t eye safe, actually — used more for cheeks and lips. Sometimes body depending if you use it more for artistry.
I like Freckletone, but I think this collection is pretty ugly.Thx for the swatches!
LOL! Sure, why don’t you just come out and say it! 😛
I got fresh morning hoping I will use it as base (SA knew this) and I realised I won’t be able to :(. I am nc 25 – any tips what to use it and how to use it as higlighter (application techniques) will be greatly apresiated!
Aww 🙁 I’m not at all sure why Fresh Morning can’t be used as a base, to be honest!
Thanks for the reviews everyone! My Mac pro store has really been pissing me off lately… I called them up the week before 9.25 to see if they got this collection in early and they tell me no…come in next week… So I arrive on 9.25 and they tell me…ohh well it’s coming out today but only for the launch party that is tonight…ughh…not very happy….I live a good train ride away….So I check in this week and still it hasn’t been launched because supposedly it all sold out at the launch party….so now I’ve said the hell with them lol… Here is the kicker, I asked about them getting Manish Arora early yesterday and I’m told, no it’s all sold out….try next week… Has anyone else had experiences like this?
That really sucks, Danielle! How unfortunate 🙁 Did you tell them that you lived far away? Sometimes they can be nice and let you purchase anyway 🙂
I know the NYC PRO store (my friend checked) sold through their Manish stuff from a professional party. I was like, wow!
Actually the NYC PRO store is the one that I’m talking about lol…. I don’t think I said that I live kinda far away…
I usually have no troubles or issues when I go there, it’s just been these past few weeks. I actually always enjoy my visits there but lately it seems that the artists have attitudes….
I’m not a person that expects the best client services whether you are going to a retail store or a restaurant, I just ask that you be nice and friendly. I don’t mind if the kitchen messed up my meal and didn’t cook my burger well enough, I just ask that it be fixed and that you have a smile on your face… Same thing with MAC….If something is sold out, no problem, just be nice about it and don’t have an attitude because I’m asking you about a product that you have been asked about a lot lately…
Well, long train ride 🙂
Okie dokes….finally got to check out Ungaro while passing Saks today… I found the CCB to be disappointing, to me atleast…but I can see how others may love them. They just aren’t colors that I go for…no biggie…I’m actually grateful that I didn’t find anything that I must have lol…Here’s hoping that Manish is everything we want it to be 🙂
Nice! 😀 I hope you enjoy Manish.
The colours look pretty but too light for everyday use. I mean, the model looks really nice and natural, but that’s cos of all the lighting and effects going on. Honestly in real life, these colours arent going to show up that well, nothing to do with the quality or colour payoff.
I am waiting for the Creme Sheen collection to come here (in sg) and also the Manish Aura (sp?) collection too.
Yeah, the colors are quite sheer!
the colors where so pretty in the pots i picked 1 of each up but i’ll be honest trying to get tht color on my eyes was a challenge. I mnaged to get the pink shadow to show up by really digging my brush in the pot and going over and over it on my lid. Finally some color a very pritty one i might add. i want to send in some picks of what i came up with how do i send them in for a guest pick??
thanks
LOVE U TEMPLTALIA keep up the amazing work i look to you before i buy anything cosmetic. =)
Wow, I’m impressed you were able to get the color to show! Just send your look to temptalia[at]gmail.com!
I get all the colors to show but then I’m like a NC10-15! I’ve got Lilac touch, the lip stain (which performs beautifully – I haven’t tried the previous one), Crushed Bougainvillea (don’t you just love that name?) and the Pure Rose lipstick this far. I find that any lipstick just stays put if I use Not so Shy as a base! Especially the amplified ones!
I wasn’t too keen on the BPB. Looks… dull on me. It looks so pretty in the packaging but I’m not getting that one! Might get Mineral though!
I saw your look using Ungaro, you looked gorgeous 🙂