MAC Cosmetics - Recent Collections

Haven't been doing much shopping lately, especially not the cosmetics kind, but there were a few collections being released by MAC that I definitely wanted to check out.  I know this post is late but I strongly feel these products and opinions are worth sharing.

Taste Temptations

This collection featured a lot of dark colors, specifically dark blues and purples.  I liked the color scheme to this collection and was really looking forward to trying out some products.  I have been in the mood lately to try out more deep blues and purples but sometimes find I have to ease myself into new colors so I only purchased two products from this collection, both quite tame.  I was interested in the blushes and gel liners but didn't have time to go to a MAC store to view the products in person first so I ended up ordering online after many google image searches, and only ordering the two products I knew I would love.  I purchased Nocturnal Instincts mattene lipstick and Good Times lipglass.  Both purchases I am very much enjoying.

Good Time Lipglass and Nocturnal Instincts Mattene Lipstick

The lipstick is just purple enough where I am stepping out of my norm but still has a nude quality to it that keeps it from being too bright.  The formula is beautiful and I find that it lasts really well and does not dry out my lips.  This item is no longer available on the MAC website.

Good Times lipglass is probably the most "boring" item out of this collection but when I read the color description it immediately reminded me of another lipglass, Glamour for all, I had purchased from MAC awhile ago that was also limited edition.  I love these sort of nude muavy colors right now but have a hard time finding them.  Many of the nudes I encounter are just plain nude and the muavy colors don't tend to run nude at all.  Glamour for all was a perfect color but I have just the one I purchased and don't want to use it all up.  So I decided to order Good Times and see how it measured up.  They aren't dupes at all but I find they run in the same color family.  I remember thinking Glamour for all may be too gray muavy when I purchased it but Good Times is even more so.  Years ago I may not have liked it but as my taste changes I find this color works really well on me.  This item is still in stock on the MAC website.

Strength

I am in love with this collection!  I wanted to get so many more items from it but what I did get I absolutely love!  The MAC website states that this collection is "fearless, elegant, and strong" and I would have to agree.  I really wanted the All Woman eyeshadow quad and this was the main reason I made a trip to the MAC store for these last two collections I am mentioning, as they launched on the same day.  I am in love with this quad and am now curious to try the other one, "Inner Strength".  These quads are still available on the MAC Cosmetics website.

The All Woman quad has three colors in it that I have been looking for!  I love khaki taupy green colors if that makes sense and this quad really brought these colors together.  The quad includes the colors Flawless Figure (veluxe pearl), Brains & Brawn (Matte), All Woman (Satin), and Black Magique (Velvet).  I love the variety of finishes they included as well.  Flawless Figure is the palest color and I was the most uninterested in this one as pale colors don't always suit my skin tone unless they lean towards a yellow or pink undertone. Stark whites usually don't enhance anything for me.  But I still enjoy this color for the inner corners of my eyes as it really brightens and looks great especially during the winter season.  Brains &Brawn I love!  I have been looking for a matte taupe that isn't too cool or too warm.  This one does it.  All Woman is also a color I have been looking for!  A green gray color which again perfects that khaki color scheme.  And finally a deep black with warm undertones.  I usually don't go for dark colors with warm undertones because again colors tend to turn more red on me, but I knew this warm black would tie in the other more cool and neutral colors well.  And warm blacks are hard to come by and now I see, quite fun to use.

All Woman eyeshadow quad and Absolute Power lipstick

The lipstick I had planned on taking a look at.  Absolute Power sounded like the perfect red.  To my surprise this lipstick runs a more pink red on me.  Most reds turn into an orangey coral on me and I have problems finding a red color that will stay true on my lips.  This color did not turn out to run a true red on me but I still fell for the elegant pinky red it turned to.  This item is unfortunately no longer in stock on the MAC website.

Apres Chic

This collection I waited patiently for as I knew it included the well known and hard-to-get Stereo Rose mineralize skinfinish.  I already own one and use it quite frequently but I wanted to purchase another.  I wasn't sure if I wanted to keep it for myself or sell it but I knew I wanted to get my hands on another one, and that I did, surprisingly.  I expected them to be sold out by the time I rolled into the MAC store mid afternoon but they actually had a few left.

Clockwise from bottom left: Stereo Rose newly purchased and unopened,  Rich Experience  pro longwear eyeliner, Black Ice pro longwear eyeliner, Gentle mineralize blush, and Stereo Rose open and used from a previous collection.

I honestly didn't expect to love the eyeliners as no eyeliner stays on me but it was worth a shot.  I also rarely ever find a brown liner that doesn't turn a reddish color on me but this one is a very deep dark brown and swatches beautifully.  I actually really like these eyeliners.  I wouldn't stay they are 100% smudge proof on my eyes, but nothing is.  However these do a really good job and I don't have to touch up as much as I would with other eyeliners.  MAC's pencil liners are known to be very good for smudging so I was very impressed with these as they actually set well.  These eyeliners are still available on the MAC website.

Gentle mineralize blush is beautiful and it gives me a beautiful rosy winter glow.  It's a rosy color that leans almost purple and I love that!  I am really trying to go beyond my typical pinks and have been experimenting with a lot of purple this year.  It looks beautiful on lighter skin tones and darker as I had a coworker test it out as well.  This item states it is out of stock but is available for purchase with a delay in the shipping.

And of course, Stereo Rose, I am never disappointed in this.  It's a beautiful coral color with gold veining.  The veining does look a bit different in the new one I purchased but that is the case with all of the mineralize products.  This item is now out of stock on their website but porcelain pink is still available.

Stereo Rose Mineralize Skinfinish - previously purchased 

None of these collections disappointed me and I would have loved to purchase more items from each collection but I am not necessarily in a position of needing anymore makeup right now. :)  I love all of the items I purchased though and have been using many of these products every single day since I bought them.  I am overall very satisfied and that is very rare when I purchase multiple products.  The MAC collections have not been disappointing, to me, for awhile now.  I hope this review was found to be helpful and that many others are also enjoying these products as well! ;)