nce upon a time, there was a princess who loved shoes (in particular glass slippers).
Trapped in her condo castle in the faraway land of Novato, where she was being held captive by an evil plus-size tabby overlord, she dreamed of glass slippers and makeup with glistening, glittery, glossy finishes…
One cold February afternoon, the MAC Cinderella collection galloped into town dressed in pale blue and gold finery.
The princess gasped as she glossed her lips with the collection’s sparkling nude and pink Lipsticks and Lipglasses.
Overcome with joy as she swept colors from the cool-toned Stroke of Midnight eyeshadow palette on her lids, she clutched the waistband of her black stretchy pants, then squealed with delight when she caught a glimpse of the Iridescent Pressed Powder and Beauty Powder shimmering on her cheeks.
But it was only when she saw MAC Studio Eye Gloss in Lightly Tauped gleaming on her lids that she realized she had found true love.
Closing her eyes, she held the jar close to her heart and said, “There’s nothing like Lightly Tauped,” and then again, “There’s nothing like Lightly Tauped.”
Poof! Just like that, when the princess opened her eyes, she was standing outside.
Far, far away in a tower at the top of the condo castle, the evil plus-size tabby watched from a window, plotting his revenge…
The 17-piece MAC Cinderella collection is the stuff of fairytales! — fairy dust, glass slippers and sparkling tiaras sprinkled with starlight.
Light, airy formulas combine with glossy finishes to create bibbidi-bobbidi-boo.
At first glance, because of the muted tones and cool colors, I thought this release was going to be strictly for pale princesses, but I realized, as I experimented with it, that many of these pieces are sleeping beauties that really only come to life when the light hits them on your skin.
It’s all about shine, sheen, shimmer, glitter and gloss.
Shimmery nude pinks sparkle on lips, glittery powders gleam on cheeks, cool-toned eyeshadows accented with pearly plum and rich olive loose pigments dance on lids, and sparkling eyes cast glossy winks from across crowded rooms.
Speaking of gloss…I’m all about the MAC Studio Eye Gloss in Lightly Tauped. It’s like a thick, hella shiny, sparkly pot of Vaseline…but for your eyes.
I know! — that sounds cray, and it kind of is, especially if you layer it on top of the eyeshadows from the quad (which I did here, for that messy, greasy, “I don’t care, ’cause I’m a rock star” effect).
Even though it’s not going to be something most people will be able to wear to the Monday morning meeting at work (unless you work for a glossy magazine or walk runways), that mirror-like shine is so chic. You get all the drama of smokey eyes without having to actually blend sh*t.
I like to highlight the inner corners of my eyes with a shimmery gold, curl my lashes, and then coat them with mascara until they can’t take it anymore. Then I pat Lightly Taupe all over the lids for a different spin on nude eyes.
The Eyeshadow X 6 in Stroke of Midnight has quickly become my cool-toned JAM, because it has so many of MAC’s classic colors that I use and love all in one place, like frosty off-white Phloof and pearly, peachy pink Vapour (I love either of these dusted in the inner corners); matte, muted plummy brown Quarry and matte beige-taupe Omega (I use these to softly define the crease); and shimmery, silvery Satin Taupe (my old-school love).
There’s also a new shade — deep, pearly, plummy black Stroke of Midnight — to accent the other colors. If you’re new to MAC, this is a great way to get a bunch of staple shades in one fell swoop.
As for the rest of the collection, like the Lipsticks, Lipglasses, Fluidlines, Pigments, Glitter and Mascara, I like them all…although I’m a little iffy on the Irridescent Pressed Powder and Beauty Powder. I think they could both stand to be a little softer and less gritty.
You’ll be able to click your way to a happily ever after with the 17-piece MAC Cinderella collection starting February 26, when it arrives online at maccosmetics.com, or wait to see it in person March 5 through April 16 in stores and on counters.
The 17-piece MAC Cinderella collection includes..
- Lustre Lipstick in Free as a Butterfly, a semi-sheer golden nude ($17.50 US, $21 CDN)
- Lustre Lipstick in Royal Ball, a fleshy pink ($17.50 US, $21 CDN)
- Lipglass in Happily Ever After, a cool milky pink with bluish pearl ($16.50 US, $20 CDN)
- Lipglass in Glass Slipper, a light milky pink with pinkish pearl ($16.50 US, $20 CDN)
- Eyeshadow X 6 in Stroke of Midnight ($44 US, $53 CDN)
- Phloof, a frosty off white
- Quarry, a matte plummy brown
- Omega, a matte muted beige-taupe
- Vapour, a velvety peachy pink with violet pearl
- Stroke of Midnight, a volvety black plum with pearl
- Satin Taupe, a frosty taupe with silver shimmer
- MAC Studio Eye Gloss in Lightly Tauped, a light beige gloss with pearl ($23 US, $28.50 CDN)
- MAC Studio Eye Gloss in Pearl Varnish, a white gloss with pearl ($23 US, $28.50 CDN)
- MAC Fluidline in Little Black Bow, a gray with silver pearl ($17.50 US, $21 CDN)
- MAC Fluidline in Macroviolet, a deep smokey violet with red pearl ($17.50 US, $21 CDN)
- MAC Iridescent Pressed Powder in Coupe D’Chic, a light golden peachy with golden shimmer ($28 US, $33 CDN)
- MAC Beauty Powder in Mystery Princess, a matte pinkish beige with silver shimmer ($28 US, $33 CDN)
- MAC Glitter in Reflects Pearl, a fine white glitter with pearly sheen ($23 US, $28 CDN)
- MAC Pigment in Evil Stepmother, a blackened plum with plum pearl ($24 US, $29 CDN)
- MAC Pigment in Pretty It Up, an olive with pearlized pigments ($24 US, $29 CDN)
- MAC Studio Fix Lash in Boldblack ($19 US, $22 CDN)
- 217 Blending Brush ($24 US, $28.50)
- 168 Large Angled Contour Brush ($35 US, $42 CDN)
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I just got new eye shadows, but that palette looks perfect.
I think this princessy collection is going to pass me by, but I must say that it looks great on you, Karen. But then you are so creative! I love your fun, nighttime sparkly princess look <3
Yeah, I’m gonna give this one a pass, I think – I’m already going to grab the Sin lipstick and gloss from the Toledo collection on Friday (I missed Sin in the RHPS collection, and I’m not gonna let that happen again – and YES, I know it’s a permanent colour, SHH).
Translation: Oh, I’m gonna buy everything in this collection. And the other collections. Drat. 😛
I’m so excited for this collection! And your story about the princess in a condo is so cute!
I *love* that you said that about the eye gloss. It’s the only thing that caught my eye from this collection and I will definitely be checking it out in stores. I’m a no-eyeshadow girl on an everyday basis, so I really like this idea of a pumped-up nude eye.
Ah, MACs special packaging gets me every time.
Although nothing really catches my eye, here I am pondering what to get…
Do you remember when Mac put out the All-Over gloss? It was pretty goopy. Do you know if this has the same consistency or, fingers crossed, less goopy?
I’ve read other bloggers complain about the gloss having a sticky texture, although they weren’t layering it over shadow iirc. It’s a shame because it looks so fantastic in swatches, but I’m hesitant to try a product that is said to be both sticky and short-lived.
Hi Auntymaim,
It’ll be sticky whether you layer it on top of an eyeshadow or wear it by itself. I don’t mind it because I think it looks cool, plus it’s so much shinier than other eye glosses I’ve tried. It’s a gloss so I don’t really expect it to last all day either… If you want something with a glossy finish (but not as high shine) that isn’t sticky and will last longer, then try one of the Tom Ford Cream Colour Eyeshadows. They have a shiny finish and feel light on the lids and last all day. 🙂 HTH!
Hi Polarbelle,
Hmm, I can’t remember that product. This one is kinda thick — it feels very similar to Lipglass.
I love the look you created with the eye gloss! Almost makes me want it but I know I’ll never use it lol. I was considering picking up the iridescent powder but I think I may wait until the store release to swatch it in person
Thank, Fancie! Have a good day.
Loved reading your story Karen! The collection looks great.. I am liking the eyeshadows much.
Thanks, Lancy! I like the eyeshadows too. 🙂
Too much shimmer and not enough color, this just isn’t the collection for me. And my wallet thanks MAC for that 😉
Aww, really? I thought you’d dig the eye gloss!
I’ll definitely pass on this collection. But all that really means is I’ll use makeup money to buy more makeup elsewhere. So much for that “save my pennies” mantra 🙂
Ha! I’m sure there will be more makeup out there looking for a nice lady to give it a good home!
Happy (almost) Friday. What are you up to today? I have a bunch of things to cross off my list so that I can go get my hair done tomorrow morning.
Hi dear! Had an appt to keep today that occupied most of my day. My evening? Doing my hurr (read: hair). It’s SUCH A PROJECT! Sadly, didn’t do any makeup shopping. However, I’m gonna get my makeup-fein on & read my fave beauty blogs (MBB being numero uno) while I figure out how to tame this mane.
LOVE your hair in the pic above. So fun and fresh!
Hi Tara,
I usually have it all over the place (it’s like my security blanket, lol), so this was something different for me. Thank you for your kind words!
I hope that you’re having a nice day so far.
Karen, you just confirmed my infatuation with this collection. I’m DEFINITELY getting the eye gloss in lightly tauped, maybe even the white pearl one.
That eyeshadow palette is BEGGING to come home with me. I’m just so pumped!!!!!
Hi Estefania,
I’m so glad that you GET it. I had a feeling you would. 🙂 This collection is much more nuanced and high fashion than I thought it would be! It’s kind of like someone translated a glass slipper through makeup.
P.S. IS IT FRIDAY YET?!
Karen, I totally get what you mean. I feel like people were expecting brighter, more in-your-face themes for this collection, but once I thought about the early promo images for the movie (the exaggerated close-up of the glass slipper and the gilded butterfly), it all made sense.
I love the idea of playing with the reflections of light (part of the reason why dazzleglasses are my favorite gloss EVAH), and glossy just seems so much more poised than glittery. Did any of that make any sense? Haha!
You totally did! I feel like we are on the same wavelength on this collection. I was really afraid that it would be too princessy/cutesey for a lot of people to pull off, but I think what they came up with is understated and sophisticated. I can TOTALLY see this on models in a Vogue spread.
I AM SO RELIEVED THAT YOU FEEL ME ON THIS! lol
#TEAMGLOSSYLIDS
hmm I can’t say these really have caught my eye except maybe the lippies and the EYESHADOW PALETTE :d
KAREN, can you please do some looks with just the eyeshadow palette?? 😀
Hi Yelena,
‘K, I’ll try to work one out. 🙂
Eeek! you’re the best!
Very cool. Downright frosty. See what I did there? 🙂
Naturally you look fairy tale-arific! You have to stop making me bust out laughing, though. I may have snorted after “clutched the waistband of her black, stretchy pants”. HAHA!
Alas, this paler-than-pale princess will skip this collection. I’m more of a Candy Yum-Yum/Pink Pigeon/Anarchy/Ruby Woo/Underage Red/Dragon Girl/F Bomb lipstick with Perversion cat eye eyeliner and Midnight Cowboy eyeshadow kind of girl. These hues would wash me away into nothingness!
On YOU however, they look fantastic and glory . . .
I mean GLOWY! LOL!
I think the colors here are really beautiful but I’m not in love with the packaging. I just bought the Too Faced semi-sweet chocolate palette and Caliboosh got me the Cat Eyes palette for my birthday and I think the eyeshadow colors here look a lot like a few shades from those two palettes. What are your thoughts on that?
If I pick up anything from this collection it will most likely be the shadow palette – I can’t seem to quit my addiction. LOL
The eye gloss sounds lovely but I wouldn’t know where to wear it to! Unfortunately, the collection is something I’ll have to pass. As much as I love the gorgeous Cinderella Packaging, the colors (or lack of) aren’t really doing it for me.
On a brighter note, I love your story! I have only started blogging 6 months ago and I love reading your well-written content and amazing photos!
EricaRosa
I really liked the x6 shadows. I was about to cave but I went for the new Tarte palette instead!
The face powders look so pretty !! I don’t own a single MAC product in my collection … I wonder what product you recommend … I am a lover of face powders and highlighters. A good natural pink toned lipstick perhaps…
Okkie people i need a bitta help…m new to this make up world and wud really appreciate if u can help me…!! This myt sound silly to many of u..bt cud u plls temme if MAC PRODUCTS HAVE THE SAME PRICE IN MAC STORES (US)AS MENTIONED IN THEIR OFFICIAL ONLINE PAGE????plls du reply….
will this be an mac online exclusive or will it be available at other online stores like belk, nordstroms or macy’s?
Hi Lipstickismyvice,
It’s online starting February 26 at maccosmetics.com, and in stores and on counters March 5 through April 16. Happy Shopping!
So I ordered the Free as a Butterfly lipstick this morning, which was misnamed Secret Lover at the time. They eventually changed it to the right name after the lipstick sold out but I did a Google search and saw that you did a review of Secret Lover in 2011…and they look similar. I know MAC is known for re-releasing colors with different names. Do you remember or still have it to compare? I’m so curious. I can’t help but think that that should have been kept a “secret” on their part, LOL!
Drat! most of this collection is already sold out online 🙁
I love the colors, nice, pretty neutrals. I think it looks lovely, I can’t wait to get my order, it is supposed to arrive today.
Thanks for the review!
Im from sweden and it launched quite on the wrong date but was able to get my long wanted coupe d chic and by accidently placed my first order wrong (l was at Ikea and my phone shaked bad due to stress) so got two mystery prinsess and two coupe the chic and evil Stephmother pigment. All l wanted at least. Then it was sold out!!!! I was lucky l was able to get it. Im all about glittery non necessary powders haha. Great rewiev! Cant wait until it gets here. Incredible slowmotion delivery time from germany, l wanna be a Princess to!