MAC Prep for Colour Collection Review, Photos, Swatches
Just Add Colour Lipglass (note, sample packaging)
MAC Prep for Colour Collection
The Prep for Colour Collection is a short and sweet collection. I’m not even sure why they bothered with any color cosmetics, and I could have gone for repromotes of great permanent neutrals, too — just because MAC does have a great neutral range. The collection includes one lipglass ($14), three eyeshadows ($14.50), Prep + Prime Skin Brightening Serum ($40), Prep + Prime Face Protect SPF 50 ($30), and Prep + Prime Fortified Skin Enhancer SPF 35/PA+++ ($30). I don’t have photos of Prepped for Glamour Eyeshadow yet, which I will purchase when it launches in-store on Thursday (so check back then!).
- Hey Eyeshadow is is a gilded beige-champagne with a touch of peach. It was a very shimmery, frosty finish. For reference, it is a veluxe pearl finish, though! This is a repromote from Fafi, but I know a lot of you love this shade.
- Sorcery Eyeshadow is a burgundy-brown with a satin finish–it’s not entirely matte, but it’s not overly shimmery, either. It has more of a satin sheen. It reminded me of a a lighter version of Sketch.
- Prepped for Glamour Eyeshadow is a darkened chocolate brown with a taupe edge to it. It’s sheerer and lighter than Satin Taupe, but it also has less of a frosty sheen. Pretty, but if you already have Satin Taupe, you could probably skip this.
- Just Add Colour Lipglass is a reddened, dark fuchsia pink with fuchsia-pink shimmer. It’s a frost finish lipglass, and though my sample comes in a square tube, online shows it in a regular lipglass tube, so don’t buy because it’s square 🙂 It’s a very pigmented, color-rich gloss–so if you’ve always wanted a darker pink than Pink Poodle but still very intense, this might be it.
- Prep + Prime Brightening Serum is a clear, slightly watery liquid that pumps out. It’s hard to describe — it’s cool and thin, and it absorbs into skin quite quickly. I haven’t used it long enough to really be able to tell you about results, but I can at least tell you about the consistency! Hopefully will have more for you later on in April…
There are no must-haves in this collection from me. While all the color products in this launch are high quality and well-pigmented, they’re not necessarily must-haves. Hey is the closest to a must-have, but I think you could easily substitute All That Glitters, Gleam, or Retrospeck in its place. Sorcery is too similar to Sketch and Beautymarked, while Prepped for Glamour is quite similar to Satin Taupe. Just Add Colour Lipglass is pretty, but again, just doesn’t strike me as a must-have. You can’t go wrong with any of the four, so this is more of a “there’s nothing super-duper original or so awesomely pigmented you have to get it” kind of a review.
Skip if you have…
- Skip Hey if you have All That Glitters, Gleam, or Retrospeck (unless you use these 24/7, then you’ll probably love Hey!).
- Skip Sorcery if you have Sketch or Beautymarked, particularly if you don’t use those very often.
- Skip Prepped for Glamour if you have Satin Taupe, unless you’ve always secretly wanted Satin Taupe but didn’t like how frosty it was.
So, are you stopping by MAC (or shopping online!) for Prep for Colour or are you waiting until Pret-a-Papier?
Prep + Prime Skin Brightening Serum
Prep + Prime Skin Brightening Serum, Ingredient List for Skincare Fanatics!
Just Add Colour Lipglass
Just Add Colour Lipglass
Hey Eyeshadow
Hey Eyeshadow
Sorcery Eyeshadow
Sorcery Eyeshadow
Hey & Sorcery Eyeshadow, Just Add Colour Lipglass
Just Add Colour Lipglass
Just Add Colour Lipglass
Prepped for Glamour Eyeshadow
Prepped for Glamour Eyeshadow
Prepped for Glamour (left) / Satin Taupe (right)
I think you got the name mixed up at the top of the page. Under the lipglass photo, it says Prep + Prime Brightening Serum.
Fixed! I changed the first image at the last minute, but forgot the label!
Do you know what the 3rd eyeshadow looks like? I was really interested in that one!
It’s similar to Satin Taupe, from what I can tell!
Aw, thats too bad i was so excited for that color to be a unique neutral, but I think i will just stick with my Satin Taupe. Thanks Christine!! Cant wait for pret papier!
Is that lipglass packaging exclusive to this collection, or are they changing all the lipglass packaging? Just wondering because of the change in pigment packaging, they may be trying to switch it up a bit. Sorry for two comments in a row!
Oh my goodness, just read the part about the sample being square. I need to stop commenting before I read the whole thing! Sorry Christine. 🙁
No problem! 🙂 I wasn’t sure myself, but online just shows a pic of it in typical lipglass packaging (thankfully… I don’t love the squares, haha, they hold fingerprints!).
Hi Maisie,
I think I mentioned it in the review, but this is a sample, so I think mine is in different packaging – online, they are showing the regular lipglass tube.
I love that you’re including the face shots lately. Seeing the context of the lip color helps me understand the color better. Love your site! 🙂
where’s the taupe e.s? :O
Hi Laura,
I think I may have mentioned it in the beginning of the post, but I do not have Prepped for Glamour and won’t be able to review, swatch, and photograph it until I buy it in-store on Thursday.
UGH whenever i ask questions already answered just dont bother even re-answering. i get too excited and i post super quickly!! 🙁 LOL
No worries 🙂 I don’t expect you to read other people’s comments/questions! And hey, if I answered it once, it’s way easier to answer the second time around!
you are the sweetest person ever taking the time to respond to so many questions! i have so much respect for you 🙂
Aw, thanks so much 🙂
That lipglass is absolutely gorgeous!
I may have to pick up the brightening serum but nothing else is calling my name……..
I’ll wait for Pret-a-Papier
Hey is such a great colour, I loved it in the quad.. maybe a backup since it’s in pot form now.
Also, would you say that the consistency of the serum is at all similar to the Fast Response Eye Cream?
Aw I quite liked the square packaging! I’m definitely going to get my hands on that Sorcery e/s, gorgeous!
I really thought Sorcery was a different brown…I was wrong. I need nothing from this collection, sadly.
Hi Christine,
The lipglass is actually called Just Add Colour. 😉
It’s lovely, I wore it just today, so pigmented, works just fine alone.
Thanks, Anita! 😉
I have already been planning to pick up Hey e/s! Love my VPs!
I loveeeee they Hey Eyeshadow!
I can’t wait for the rest of the summer collections!
Especially To the Beach and Pret-a-Papier (:
i can’t believe this is it. i’ll wait for pretapapier.
Is there three eye shadows to this collection? When is this available?
Yes, there are three. It’s available online now, but it’ll be in-store on Thursday.
This may be the first MAC lipgloss I have ever bought! It looks gorgeous, I might not be able to resist. Christine, for someone who has almost nothing from MAC, would you say this is a must-have?
It’s not a bad way to go for your first MAC gloss!
The lipgloss appears quite sheer on you. When I swatched it instore last week it was really bright and had a lot of pigment in it. That’s the reason why I’m going back to buy it. Your sample seems different.
I’d call it semi-opaque, but no, I don’t think I’d call it sheer myself!
I meant to vote love it!
My favorite e/s finish is veluxe pearl, so I am loving Hey. The lipglass is very beautiful too, great color for spring/summer.
I will check it out when I go get must haves from Pret-a-Papier. Not making a special trip to MAC for this. If I happen to be near the MAC before Pret-a-Papier then I might stop by.
Why does MAC do this to my wallet??? I was just in yesterday and got Stylesetter lip marker. Do you think Just Add Colour lipglass would look good on top of Stylesetter on African American skin?
It would be pretty for sure!
I’m bummed because I thought Pret a Papier was releasing this week. Instead we get this dinky little collection. I’m definitely waiting for Pret.
I will be skipping this collection and waiting for Pret.
oooh! Love that lipglass!
Thanks for taking a picture of the ingredients for the brightening serum!
Saw it at the Berkeley store and really not going to run out and purchase it right away. beautiful pink color though but waiting for the collections that come out starting at the end of April.
hey Christine, how does Hey compare to All That Glitters? They look sort of similar, so I was just wondering. Thanks!
It’s a bit lighter and doesn’t have the glittery finish of AtG!
oh my gosh, i know this is a small collection but i actually like the colors they put together!! looking forward to buying all of them if they are as pretty as pictued! 🙂
Christine, can I ask – How close is this to the hot pink-ish gloss that came out with Riviting?
Darker, not as pigmented, has shimmer!
Sorry to butt in, I think Just Add Colour is way nicer than the Riveting pink gloss, I swatched it today and it’s too neon pink for my liking. Just Add Colour is really pretty. 🙂
Thanks guys!
I LOVED the gloss that came out with Riveting (“Electric Fuchsia” – I had to look! LOL).
I’ll look at “Just Add Color” but if it’s not as neon as the Riveting gloss, I think I’ll end up just buying a few more of those (I’ve found it to be one of the most versatile lipglasses MAC makes, it’s right up there with “Nyphette” on my list)!
Wait… Electric Fuchsia came out with Spring Forcast didn’t it? Haha! There are TOO many “hot pinks” lately! (I never thought there could even BE such a thing!)
LOL! SOO comparing against Electric Fuchsia, this would be darker still, probably about on par in brightness, though. True Babe was the Riveting lipglass (very bright, creamy pink).
Hah thanks! I’ve waisted so much time now talking about it… I might as well just buy the damn thing! LOL!
I’m loving this, but trying to stop myself from buying.. I have Electric Fuschia, True Babe, Totally It, and Plus Luxe (plushglass).
Do I need this ladies? It’s in my shopping bag, along with Petals and Peacocks (another one I don’t need LOL).
LOL, “need,” ehhh, you don’t NEED it, but it’s nice if you do wear brighter pinks more often 🙂
LOL! I’m going to MAC tomorrow. I’m going to take some that I already own, and do some side by side swatches.
I have a ton of bright pinks, but petals & peacocks is extra specially gorgeous. it manages to be soft and bright at the same time. i DO get a lot of compliments when i’m wearing true babe, though.
okay. its official. i need that lipglass. can skip everything else.
Hi Christine, once you recommended a colored primer to help conceal my blotchy freckles and make them look less muddy when I apply foundation do you think any of the new ones would help if so Wichita one could you also tell me what the different colors are for? Thanks
I don’t think any of these would help 🙁
http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P217906&categoryId=C13402
I love that lipglass and must get me some!
I love this Lipglass! 🙂
I really don’t care that this collection is so small. I just want Hey, because I recently saw someone use it that had it from Fafi and immediately wanted it :] So I was very excited when I saw this.
May check out the gloss, cause it’s pretty :3
all the colors are pretty. i missed Hey the first time around in the fafi collection, but it is so pretty! I agree with you though, the shadows are both colors most women already have in their collection (especially if they are MAC fans).
omg I loooooooove Just Add Color! funny thing is, the swatch looks like a stretched out heart…and I heart it!
OMG I am SO SO SO happy they brought back Hey!!! It’s my ultimate favourite e/s and I’m gonna buy like 10 backups. I was THIS close to dropping $50 on evil bay for another Fafi palette just so I can have another Hey.
Just to let the UK readers know that I was at a MAC stand alone store today and this collection is available now
I don’t even remember about hearing this collection! The Hey Eyeshadow is gorguous though!
Hey Christine,
Was wondering if Hey is any similar to grand entrance?
Grand Entrance is frostier and is a champagne-pink color — Hey is not really pink at all. I wouldn’t say they were similar myself!
Is Grand Entrance apart of the starflash collection from last year?
Yep!
Meh. Nothing in this one that I feel like I need to have. I’ll check the remaining e/s when it comes out.
I just ordered the three eye shadows from prep for colour & the one pearl glide I didn’t get almost noir. thanks Christine your photos are always true to color.
Gosh, I am SUCH a sucker for champagne-ish shadows! No doubt I have something similar but I still want Hey! Dang it! What I’m really searching for is a pressed shadow that is a dupe for Jardin Aires Pigment. LOVE that color on me but the fallout is so bad… Any suggestions? If you tell me Hey is it, I will love you forever and buy like 14 of them! Lol! ;0)
Have you considered Gleam? I think Gleam may be closer to Jardin Aires, though Hey is similar – but a little more on the champagne side, I’d say…
Have not seen Gleam but it’s on my list now! Very interesting though, I always describe (in my head of course) Jardin Aires as being “like light on my eyelids!” so Gleam would be fitting at least by it’s name huh?! Lol. It’s that golden apricot glow that I’m looking for! Thanks for the recommendation!!
Thank you so much for posting the ingrdients! You’re the best 🙂
this collection is actually the most exciting of mac’s recent collections in a while just because of the shadows, i’m planning to get hey and prepped for glamour (IF its not the exact same as satin taupe)
is sorcery the same from the shade in the warm holiday palette from 2008?
I think so!
Do you know if the Brightening Serum is going to be permanent?
I don’t even bother with l/e skin care stuff; when I try something for my skin, I do it for the possibility of finding a new staple.
I think it is!
Hi, Christine!
What can you say about Prepped for Glamour eyeshadow? Are they similar for Satin Taupe?
I haven’t seen it, sorry!
How similar is Hey to All That Glitters? They look similar but I can’t tell =/ Please & Thank You!
I’d say not as gritty/glittery and lighter by a bit!
Loving the gloss, and Hey E/S. Is Hey similar to All that Glitters???
I’d say it’s like a mix between Gleam and Retrospeck.
what do you think is a good dupe in the permanent line for Hey?
Gleam or Retrospeck.
Hey eyeshadow reminds me of Kitten by Stila
Just Add Colour looks like a fun summer color, worth checking out! Can’t justify any more browns, got a drawer full.
Thank you for posting the ingredient list!!
I think I will pick up the serum and give it a try!
I just got the cremesheen loud and lovely. Do you think it is worth getting just add colour or are they too similar? Both seem so pretty.
I’d say the shimmer and opacity are pretty different, IMO!
I’m definitely gonna be passing on this collection. Now I can save for all the other wonderful collections coming up.
What’s the Prep & Prime Fortified Skin Enhancer like? I’m interested in that one.
I haven’t tried it, sorry!
Is Hey similar to Ricepaper at all? 🙁
I’m eyeing this & Prepped for Glamour
The gloss looks amazing on you in the pictures!!
Thanks a lot 🙂
Peachier, more pigmentation, frostier finish!
Hey Christine,
I was wounder if you think that hey is a must have all over lid colour. And any dupes for it?
You could try Gleam or Retrospeck.
Waiting for Prep-a-Papier…but i will have to nab that Hey Eyeshadow…looks beautiful! 🙂
Is hey eyeshadow similar to grand entrance for the starflash collection??? in your opinion.
No, I don’t think so at all. Grand Entrance is cooler and very pinky, whereas Hey has a lot of peach/warmth to it.
How would you say Just add colour compares to Magnetique lipglass and Steal my heart lipglass (from Rose romance 2009)? Could you do a swatch comparison of the three?
Just Add Colour is a lot pinker than Magnetique, a bit darker than Steal My Heart (and more opaque).
I see Hey e/s as a dupe of All That Glitters. Serum sounds very interesting!!
Thanks for the swatches! I really hope this lipglass is a dupe for NARS Hot Wired lip lacquer, lol. Either way, I’m on my way to being broke. =)
love the lipglass, I already have a dupe for the Hey eyeshadow though (Natio Tempt)
Hey looks like an exact dupe for All That Glitters!
Hey eyeshadow looks like a perfect dupe for Stila’s Kitten eyeshadow!
Whoa, Just Add Color is…whoa. xD
Hi Christine- could you tell me if Just Add Colour is similar to Hush Hush Rose from Spring Color Forecast 1 in your opinion? Thanks!
It’s brighter/darker pink! They’re similar, but they’re not the same.
I haven’t really seen any whole collection lately that totally wows me, which is nice for my wallet, but I think it would be much better if they would focus on quality rather than quantity and take a bit more time to focus on creating and developing better collections, as opposed to coming out with half-a** collections every couple of weeks… even though I get that it works and their collections tend to sell out even if they’re not great quality or original.
This collection is definitely quality, though, even if it’s not striking — not a sheer, fussy product in the bunch! For me, I’m not always looking for the most unique thing ever, because it is color, and MAC has a tremendous range, both past and present, so quality is really what’s important to me personally! 🙂
Thanks for the skip part of the review. I have satin taupe already & I rather get the sketch and all that glitters in the pro pan for cheaper if I decide I want similar colors.
omg ST and P4G are almost identical. of course i already bought it online (even though i secretly had an idea they were super similar)
First post 🙂
Is “Hey” similar to “Flip” from the Spring Color 4 Quad?
Not quite as orange/peach!
I ordered my stash this morning only because I need to fill up a palette and I plan on depotting the eyeshadows to get something back from MAC:-).
Definitely waiting for Pret-a-Papier!
Me too!!
me three
Thank you so much for the “skip if you have” box because I have all those colors so now I know I really don’t need anything from this collection. You saved me money!!
Hmm, I have All That Glitters, Beauty Marked and Satin Taupe so I might be able to save some cash by skipping this! Thanks for the round-up 🙂
Think I’ll pass on this one and wait for all the other fun stuff coming out for this summer! 🙂
that’s interesting how the prepped for glamour shade swatched on you, christine. i’m nw35, and when i swatched them earler this evening in the store, although they looked similar enough to make me ask myself whether i need p4g, satin taupe showed up much much darker on my hand than p4g (not to mention the texture difference you mentioned in your review). i didn’t buy p4g, but i may end up going back for it…who ever has enough neutral eyeshadows? 😉
No such thing as too many neutrals 🙂 I agree that Satin Taupe seemed a bit darker, too!
Is Hey comparable to UD’s Sellout?
Kind of – not as shimmery/glittery.
Is the Brightening Skin Serum limited edition or permanent?
I believe it is permanent.
What about the Prep + Prime Fortified Skin Enhancer SPF 35/PA+++ ?? I have not heard people talk about this I dont even see it on the mac website?? I thought this product was available in three different shades???
Skin Enhancer is Asia only as far as I know.
I don’t know if I’ll buy, because there are other collections I’m also looking into, but I like the eye shadows. They’ll look nice on my eyes. I found Satin Taupe a hair too muddy and frosty, so I think I’ll like Prepped for Glamour. Sorcery isn’t too dark, and it would pair very well with Hey.
I said I wasn’t going to get these shadows because I didn’t need any more neutrals. I had to make a return at Nordstrom’s this morning, so out of sheer habit I went to the MAC counter to get them. But I am happy with all three, so it’s all good!
Meh…a lot of what MAC is coming out with as of late has been disappointingly underwhelming to me. I don’t need anymore browns!
Just Add Colour is lovely! *-*
I like the lipglass!
hey christine how do u compare the new mac Brightening Serum on smashbox photo finish???
I haven’t tried the Serum (on my face), and isn’t Photo Finish a primer?
hey christine just wanted to add that im really glad you include the full face shots with lip swatches now, it really helps to be able to see the color better and how it actually looks on. thanks!
the prep for colour collection looks okay… but there are no must haves for me, definitly waiting for pret-a-papier.
“…unless you’ve always secretly wanted Satin Taupe but didn’t like how frosty it was.”
Are you in my head?!?! you are A-mazing!!!
LOL! I know everyone’s always looking for dupes, and they’re very, very similar, but at the same time, even something as subtle as a change in the way the finish looks makes it worth having (or in this case, buying this instead of Satin Taupe), too.
To prep my skin I have been using the monistat chafing gel. It works pretty well, but as the weather gets warmer, I’ve seen that my skin gets greasy throughout the day.
hey christine, do you think theres a dupe for hey! i’m trying to restrict myself from diving into new collections! the swatch looks a bit like naked lunch?
You could try All That Glitters, Gleam, or Retrospeck. Naked Lunch is a little too peach.
What a perfect name for the Lipglass. It look’s lovely on you Christine.
How would you say that Prepped for Glamour compares to Urban Decay’s Mushroom e/s?
Hmm, probably not as cool-toned, a little browner. Similar, but not 100% the same.
Perfect, thanks! The cool edge of mushroom always put me off a bit. I think I’ll check out Hey e/s too before I buy it since it looks similar to UD’s Blunt (I can never have too many shimmery neutrals though!)
Gosh, I need that Lipglass!! 😀 Lovely on You Christine!I so hope it could be a dupe for Totally It lipgloss…what do You think?
It’s kind of similar 🙂
Well, guess I’ll see it for myself soon enough 😀 thanks Christine 🙂
Christine, can u plz do a review on “prep+prime skin brightening serum”? 🙂
I don’t think I will be able to, sorry!