Polka Dots, Robots and MAC Beth Ditto Powder to the People

If science fiction movies have taught me anything, it’s that aliens and robots live among us, and 99.9% of the time, they’re not here to party.

As we await the development of a foolproof means of rogue robot/alien detection from the scientific community, most of us still depend on tried-and-true, old-fashioned techniques…

…like dogs. They’re pretty reliable robot detectors (see: the Terminator movies), but since my employment contract with Tabs includes a clause prohibiting close canine contact, I need something else.

Perhaps something like the new Powder to the People from the MAC Beth Ditto collection ($38).

Powder to the People

In my experience, the robots I’ve encountered — I can’t speak for the aliens — have often struggled to understand certain aspects of the human condition, like emotion, music and other forms of creative expression.

Powder to the People, a limited edition polka-dotted powder for eyes and cheeks, definitely pushes one to think creatively with their makeup, by asking things like, “What should I do with this offbeat collection of sheer, semi-matte pink, peach, brown, blue and yellow?”

That’s the kind of creative thinking liable to expose masquerading robots and aliens.

Where a human might see Powder to the People’s multicolored dots (which aren’t over-sprays) and get the creative urge to whip up a watercolor eye look instead of the bright, shiny eye makeup they usually wear, a robot would get confused.

“Danger! Danger! Multiple makeup choices…does not compute.”

But as a human, you’re designed to handle creative decisions. You might decide to highlight your eyes and cheekbones with the powder and a MAC 224 Tapered Blending Brush (although I’d probably steer clear of the blue on days other than Halloween), or use a smaller face brush like the MAC 109 to carefully swirl the pink, brown, yellow and peach shades together (again, avoiding the blue) to create a blush.

Humanity has its privileges. 🙂

Next time I find myself at a MAC counter beside someone I suspect of being a robot or alien, I’m gonna slip Powder to the People in front of them and ask, “How would you wear it?”, all the while, watching their eyes…

The eyes are the key…

Powder to the People shades swatched individually on the left and swirled together on the right


Wearing Powder to the People’s peach, brown and blue shades on my eyes, and the pink shade on my cheeks; MAC Casual Colour in Out for Fun topped with MAC Lipglass in Evolution Revolution on my lips; MAC Extended Play Lash Mascara on my lashes

If it’s a robot, you’ll see a flicker of confusion, a short circuit, in their eyes.

Granted, this method isn’t 100% accurate, but until the scientists who work for Tabs in his secret underground lair (affectionately known around here as the “Cat Cave”) figure out something better, it’s all we’ve got.

MAC Beth Ditto Powder to the People

• Sheer pigment and a semi-matte finish
• The peach shade resembles MAC Arena, and the brown shade looks a lot like MAC Soft Brown
• Finely milled powders feel velvety soft
• Could be a perfect fit for lighter skin tones

PRICE: $38
AVAILABILITY: Available now online at maccosmetics.com; coming to MAC counters and stores June 7 in North America and internationally later this month
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Yes, I was in a weird mood this afternoon. I’ve got alien/robot fever. 🙂