MAC has several new collections on their counters right now, and I have seen them all. Let's talk about them one at a time, shall we?
Style Black is a two-part collection - one deemed "color" and the other "face". Silly, 'cause the Cream Color Bases, part of the latter sub-collection, are certainly "color products".
Here's what MAC says about the collection:
From "Back to Black" beehive and eyeliner to Steven "80s" Sprouse-in-the-House kohl and fringe to Gareth Pugh London New Goth, Black is simply beyond. Lips, nails, eyes - there's no more dramatic way to declare your desire, separate your sensibility, celebrate your magnetism. They WILL surrender to a Blackfire Glimmerglass, Rapidblack Penultimate Eyeliner, a slash of Greasepaint Stick, and the hot scratch of Baby Goth Girl Nail Lacquer. Style Black is a way of life, a shadowy and mysterious figure of fantasy, even for just one dark and dangerous night.
Something's smoldering. Mad, bad, and delirious. Danger boy. Androgynous girl. Explicitly erotic, whip-smart exotic, and in-your-face expressive. Wicked ideas, archly executed with the dark attitude of a slightly curled upper lip. The eruption will rock you, with Volcanic Ash Exfoliator, Volcanic Ash Mask, and Cream Colour Base...changes the mood to permanent midnight, around the clock. The Dark Knight power of Style Black. Where there's smoke, there's ire...Twilight will bright it out in you.
Color collection:
Lipstick
Black Knight - Creamy true black (cremesheen)
Thoughts: Silky, comfortable, and completely not appropriate for my lifestyle. :(-------------------------
Mattene
Midnight Media - Dense matte black
Night Violet - Deep purple grape
Thoughts: Midnight Media is more brown-black than "dense black". It would be stunning on folks with warmer complexions, but looks a bit deathly on my fair, cool skin. Night Violet is already in my kit, and it's a sexy, deep dark burgundy-purple. Gorgeous, both, and I'm a huge fan of the Mattenes, since they give that matte look without making your lips all peelie and dry.-------------------------Glimmerglass
Bling Black - Sheer black with gold pearl
Blackfire - Sheer black with pink purple pearl
Blackware - Creamy true black
Thoughts: OK - these are certainly pretty, but BOY are they sheer! Bling Black was already sold out the day after the launch (!) but I'll be completely honest with you: I'm not loving it. The "gold pearl" is more of a green-gold, and not terribly cute in my humble opinion. Blackfire is super hot only if layered over another color - would look nice over either Mattene, or Black Knight for that matter. I briefly considered buying this one, but decided it just wasn't going to be that used and I can just mix some glitter up in a semi-sheer black gloss I already own if I really need that efect. Blackware is a typical semi-sheer black gloss, which is nice layered over a red or berry to give it depth.-------------------------
Mineralize Eye Shadow
Cinderfella - Black with silver pearl
Young Punk - Black with pink purple pearl
Gilt by Association - Black with gold bronze pearl
Blue Flame - Black with blue pearlThoughts: Now these are the standouts in the collection, in my opinion. A lot is said about the Mineralize Shadows, and not all of it is positive. I am in the "Pro" camp, though, and think those in the "Con" family may benefit from a few tips... (see tomorrow's post for help!). I picked up Cinderfella, and am 100% thrilled with it. I will go back and get Young Punk, which is also gorgeous. Not sure why I didn't grab it when I was there! I personally don't need a black-blue glitter shadow, and the Guilt by Association doesn't rock my world - again, as with the Glimmerglass Bling Black, I feel like the "gold" is more green-gold and not really complimentary to my complexion, though warmer skintones will look great in it!
Sneak peek at tomorrow's tip and look with Cinderfella:
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Grease Paintstick
Intense Black - Black base with purple shimmer.
Thoughts: I liked this a lot, actually - more than I thought I would. It's like a perfected Shadestick! This one, though called "Intense Black" is actually black w/ purple, which is odd. Anyway, it's very pretty - the shimmer isn't too strong unless you build the color and rough it up a bit on the skin. I can imagine this being crease-y on oily lids, so try putting your base under it. I want one of these, but wanted to see the D-Squared2 collection and look at all of the Grease Paintsticks together and see which one I "need". I'm looking forward to trying these in a look, though.-------------------------
Penultimate Liner
Rapidblack - True black
Thoughts: I haven't tried it, but it's definitely an intense black, and I like the tip.-------------------------
Eye Kohl
Smolder - Intense Black
Thoughts: This is part of the permanent collection, and I think it ought to be in every person's stash/kit. It's a great black - not too, too dark - and stays put pretty well on the lashline.-------------------------
Nail Lacquer
Nocturnelle - True black
Seriously Hip - Black with gold particle pearl
Baby Goth Girl - Black with pink and purple pearl
Thoughts: I already own Nocturnelle, which is perm. It's a great black creme, but I find MAC polishes "chippy". I don't know if they've changed the formula - if so, it might be worth picking this up. Otherwise, substitute the black creme from any good polish line and you'll be happier. Seriously Hip - again, this looked green-gold to me, and thus too warm for my personal preferences. I also didn't feel like it was terribly unique in the world of polishes. Baby Goth Girl ---- I had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately, the pink and purple shimmer looks stellar in the bottle and while wet, but I thought the dried-down version was less amazing. I'm going to go with clean nails to the counter the next time and swatch it again - if I get better results, I'll pick it up. Keep ya posted.-------------------------
Tools
#214 Short Shader Brush - Short, rounded, double-chiselled brush with soft, natural bristles. Can be used with shadow to line and smudge around the lash line and very effective for densely shading lids.
Thoughts: I can't believe I don't have this brush. Why?_____________________________________________________________
Face:
Skincare
Volcanic Ash Exfoliator
For all skin types. Volcanic ash (in the form of mineral-rich clay), sugar crystals and natural enzymes combine to exfoliate and remove excess oils from the skin. The VAE is in new packaging. It's in a tube like shave and cremewash. It did go down to 3.4oz (the older style tub was 4.5oz).*Volcanic Ash Thermal Mask
VATM contains natural volcanic ash to cleanse and treat the skin. The mineral-rich ash works with oat kernel flour to help absorb excess oil from the skin's surface. A combo of natural oils (lavendar, sunflower, safflower seed and evening primrose) help lubricate the skin, leaving it feeling soft and moisturized. It helps to even out the skin's texture and leaves the skin feeling smooth and perfected for makeup application. The unique formula glides effortlessly onto the skin, allowing ample playtime. The mask heats up on the skin when used with water and removes impurities from the surface, leaving skin looking radiant and fresh. Use 1-3 times a week. Derm-tested, non-acnegenic and for all skins. 3.4oz**descriptions courtesy of Specktra.net
Thoughts: I have heard great things about the Exfoliator - it was a big hit when it was first released. I personally don't get along with sulfur, which is a major ingredient in both of these products, so alas: no review from me! :(----------------
Cream Colour Base
Black - Creamy true black
Bat Black - Burgundy black with pink pearl
Thoughts: I don't really love the CCBs, but I'm thinking about getting Bat Black, because the color is so damn hot! (I have a problem, I know!) There aren't a ton of ways to wear these except on the eyes, unless you want to toss it onto the lips or cheeks for a very OTT look! But I think they could do a good job with that "glossy eye" look a lot of folks are trying to rock this Fall.
Did you partake in Style Black? What did you get!?
INTRODUCING M·A·C STYLE BLACK
FROM TOWERING INK-JET BEEHIVE AND EYELINER TO STEVEN “80S” SPROUSE-IN-THE-HOUSE KOHL AND FRINGE, TO STREET-SMART LONDON NEW GOTH, BLACK IS SIMPLY BEYOND!
The ever-overlapping worlds of Fashion and Art may choose to revel in a Technicolour dream or a day-glo fantasy from time to time, but deep down, as Amy Winehouse likes to say in her wicked, wobbly way, it’s always “Back to Black.”We first saw it in Milan for Jil Sander, in the spectacular living sculptures Raf Simmons chiseled from supple, constructed ebony curves and seams, each with an occasional fiery ruffle and flourish. We loved it at Calvin Klein, in boxy structures that echoed artist Richard Serra's epic shapes in their steely, outright boldness, eyelashes like the black widow spiders of sculptor Louise Bourgeois' sexy, sinister giant tarantulas....She mates, and she kills! And we were bouncing like black espresso beans at the New Goth youthquake we saw stomping down the runway at Gareth Pugh in London – the black market equivalent of a boot-leg Clash LP, all slick black vinyl and cool indignation. Quite simply the most intriguing new take on what "Goth" can be in the New Century, the Modern Black-o-Sphere.
Enter the NEW GOTH, a hybrid of Fashion and Art, and a fixture on the glamorous, modern gallery scene. No longer a ghoul, but a sophisticated, international creature with makeup that changes the mood to permanent midnight around the clock. M·A·C calls it STYLE BLACK.
Lips, nails, eyes, there’s no more dramatic way to declare your desire, separate your sensibility, celebrate your sexual magnetism. Something's smoldering. Mad, bad and delirious. Danger boy. Androgynous girl. Explicitly erotic, whip-smart exotic, and in-your-face expressive. Wicked ideas, archly executed with a slash of Greasepaint Stick and a slightly-curled upper lip.
How to begin? With skin perfected and purified, whitened and brightened, virgin-pure, clean and chaste. Use M·A·C Volcanic Ash Exfoliator and the Volcanic Ash Thermal Mask to smooth skin into obsidian perfection. The eruption will rock you – these are essential earth elements, modern alchemy – to prep and prime the canvas for the Dark Knight Power of Style Black.
How Goth will you go? Your choice. You can ‘Paint it BLACK’ a la L'Wren Scott, the uber-stylist turned designer who may just have created the best little black dress collection in the world. Her own personal ‘Morticia’ lash and ebony eyeliner an essential accoutrement... where there's smoke, there's ire! Twilight will bring it out in you! Or, if you choose, opt for something subtle, allude to the dark side without crossing over; flirt with a little danger, or simply satisfy a secret craving for a tiny taste of darkling drama.... there's a Style Black technique for every attitude, and you can take it where you want to.
The Style Black trend in makeup picked up steam as the fashion machine gathered momentum around the globe. M·A·C artist innovation made it happen backstage, as the Pro Team ventured into the deep end of the dark view with new M·A·C signature shades. From Charlotte Tilbury's night-charm way with Glimmerglass in Bling Black at Donna Karan; to Pep Gay's Cinderfella androgynous Eye Shadow, bewitching with a touch of Blue Flame for Vivienne Westwood; to Polly Osmond's dramatic use of the season's indispensable Greasepaint Stick on the runway in the exotic milieu of designer Yigal Azrouel. CNC Costume Nationale was the inked with pen-ultimate Style Black. Even fast and furious Diesel got into the neo-Goth night crawler, distressed just the right way, with the smoldering look of M·A·C Black Knight Lipstick paired with the dare of a Blackware Glimmerglass.