Beauty and Fashion For the Fringe

I had the opportunity to attend a launch party at MAC for the Venemous Villains collection. This is the collection inspired by Disney Villains and grouped in four mini-collections for each character.  The Villains they chose are Cruella De Vil, Dr. Facilier, The Evil Queen and Maleficent. I love the idea of this collection because it’s fun, it’s a little different and I think it’s well suited to anyone who loves a good dose of drama and darkness!

Now, I have a confession to make. I am actually pretty  new to all things MAC. I used to think they were too expensive but I’ve done a lot of experimenting with makeup and I have come to believe that you get what you pay for and I’d rather go for quality over quantity in building my makeup collection. Plus, they aren’t nearly as expensive as many other popular makeup companies. Their lipsticks average only $5 more than Drugstore lipsticks! Would you rather pay $9 for a lipstick that you can’t even open to look at, that may have a funky scent/taste  or that doesn’t last long on your lips or pay $14.50 for guaranteed quality, something you can swatch and try on in-store and that you know will be worth it?    /endrant.

I spent some time looking over swatches of this collection on Temptalia and Spektra and had pretty much made up my mind on my most-wanted items which turned out to be a good thing because the night of the event the place was mobbed and I wasn’t able to get my paws on the actual pieces. The MAC at Lakeside mall is a very small place- probably the size of our living room! Even though it was invite-only it was too crowded. They had a small area just outside the door roped off with people posing for pictures in front of giant cutouts of the characters and trying on costume pieces after having their makeup done. Inside they were circulating cupcakes, finger foods and champagne. My boyfriend ( who was dragged along last-minute b/c my friend had to work)  informed me the cupcakes were extremely yummy. They handed you a list at the door with the collection on it and you could mark down which items you wanted and hand it to the sales gals. I ended up doing that quite shortly after getting there, paying for my stuff and heading out as small, crowded spots are not something I enjoy!  I picked up Hot House lipglass ( which I’ve wanted for awhile!) French Quarter greasepaint stick and Vainglorious Eyeshadow. Thanks to the online swatches I knew what I was getting but unfortunately I ended up with one little disppointment anyhow. Vainglorious e/s looks amazing in the pot but loses it’s color and finish when swatched.

This is the swatch to show you Vainglorious. They are left to right- Hot House, French Quarter Greasepaint stick and Vainglorious Eye Shadow, all outside in sunlight just to show the color best but not the finish. Vainglorious came out looking terrible in these swatches and more brown than burgundy however it doesn’t look as nice when swatched as it does in the pan. It’s looks quite different to me and not nearly as pretty as I thought it would be

LtoR- Hot House Lipglass, French Quarter Greasepaint Stick &Vainglorious Eyeshadow.Now, this shows how gorgeous Hot House and French Quarter really look! Aren’t they amazing?  I have never used either product in any color before so I was curious and now impressed. The lipglass is sparkly, it’s a nice color that offers the coverage of a lipstick  but can be put on lightly for a flattering, Shimmery Raspberry color. It really sticks to lips so I think it would stay on for awhile. The Greasepaint stick would work as a liner, a smoky eye, a cut crease or a base for other shadows. Vainglorious will be good for a smoky eye too, I think. I plan to try it over primer and hope that helps. Even though it’s a little disappointing it’s still unlike any shadow I own so I will find a use for it.

The collection will be available at MAC starting Thursday, Sept. 30th.  I recommend checking it out. If you do, please  tell me what you got or what caught your eye!