Thursday, March 3, 2016

MAC x Charlotte Olympia Collection: Review and Swatches

Disclaimer: The products featured were provided for review.
Coming this March, MAC has a special limited-edition collection created in collaboration with the whimsical shoe and accessory designer Charlotte Olympia. Inspired by old Hollywood glamor, this collection is all about the shiny gold packaging and the beautiful retro-glam reds. To see some swatches and read my reviews of a few products, click......
MAC x Charlotte Olympia
MAC x Charlotte Olympia Lipstick in "Leading Lady Red"
MAC Charlotte Olympia Lipstick in "Leading Lady Red" ($21.50 CAD):
Housed in a simple, clear plastic rectangular casing with a gold inner tube, the lipstick from the collection feels slightly flimsy. The outside has some cute embossings (including one of a spider web) but I really do wish the lipstick had a nicer weight to it.
"Leading Lady Red" is a deep neutral red and the formulation is absolutely superb! Pigmented, creamy, and smooth, the lipstick has a nice matte finish. The wear is great as well (five or so hours with some eating and drinking) and the formulation doesn't feel drying.
MAC x Charlotte Olympia Lipstick in "Leading Lady Red"
MAC x Charlotte Olympia Lipstick in "Leading Lady Red"
MAC Charlotte Olympia Lipmix in "Crimson" ($21.50):
I've never tried Lipmixes from MAC before so I was very curious about the formulation. The product dispenses from a small squeezable tube with a tiny nozzle opening, much like the OCC Lip Tars. I used a lip brush to apply the color, which is a very gorgeous warm dark red. The Lipmix is liquid at first (try to shake it well before use) but it sets very quickly to a mostly matte finish. I was very surprised at how the liquid pretty much disappeared within seconds, leaving behind a thin yet even layer of pigments. The color is not drying but it's not smudge-proof.
MAC x Charlotte Olympia Lipmix in "Crimson"
MAC x Charlotte Olympia Lipmix in "Crimson"
MAC x Charlotte Olympia Lipmix in "Crimson"
MAC x Charlotte Olympia Pigment in "Overdressed"
MAC Charlotte Olympia Pigment in "Overdressed" ($27.50 CAD):
This is a loose shadow housed in the most adorable little hexagonal clear jar with a shiny gold cap. The side of the jar also has a cute embossing of a spider web. "Undressed" is a simple and wearable shimmery peachy beige. The powder applies smoothly and evenly, just like a pressed powder. It's also not too "powdery" or chalky, adhering to bare skin with no problem at all.
MAC x Charlotte Olympia Pigment in "Overdressed"
MAC x Charlotte Olympia Pigment in "Overdressed"
MAC Charlotte Olympia Mirror Compact ($16 CAD):
Last but not least is a collector's item from the range. This plastic compact mirror is painted shiny gold and embossed with the MAC x Charlotte Olympia logo and a delicate spider web. The fan-shaped compact is very sleek and lightweight, it slides open to reveal mirrors on both sides of the flap.
MAC x Charlotte Olympia Pigment Mirror Compact
Overall:
This is such an adorable yet classy collection! I like the color scheme of the packaging but I do think the execution could have been better as a lot of the components feel slightly flimsy. With that said, the two lip colors are absolutely divine, both in terms of formulation and pigmentation!

Availability:
The MAC x Charlotte Olympia collection is available online and in stores at MAC boutiques starting March 24th.
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