“Like, totally rad to the max! I want to be a Valli girl!”
I don’t even know where to start with the MAC Giambattista Valli collection.
Gah! Between the practical packaging (the color of each tube reflects the color of its corresponding lipstick, making it easy to find the shade you’re looking for) and the corals, pinks and reds?
YAAAAS! I’m a little beside myself…
Bold lip lovers who live for classic colors (this includes at least one crazy cat lady/lipstick-loving blogger), this six-piece collection is for you.
First, who the heck is Giambattista Valli?
I’m glad you asked. 🙂 He’s an Italian fashion designer known for his dramatic dresses, feminine designs and his use of floral embellishments.
Very girly-girl stuff — and I’d wear his clothes in a HEARTBEAT if ever given the chance (assuming I had a reason to wear a full-length, floral-print strapless dress with a thigh-high slit).
The MAC Giambattista Valli collection evokes the designer’s affinity for femininity, florals and color, and each of the six lip products in it are inspired by his dresses.
Five full-coverage Matte Lipsticks ($17.50 each) and one potted lip gloss ($23) comprise the collection, which arrives online and at MAC stores and counters July 9 through August 6.
The MAC Giambattista Valli collection includes…
- MAC Matte Lipstick in Bianca B — a pale white pink
- MAC Matte Lipstick in Tats — a bright hot pink
- MAC Matte Lipstick in Margherita — a yellowish bright peach
- MAC Matte Lipstick in Charlotte — a rich yellowish red
- MAC Matte Lipstick in Eugenie — a dark cherry with blue undertones
- MAC Crystal Glaze Gloss in Lena — a clear gloss with multicolored flecks of pearl
I will happily wear all of these lipsticks…with the possible exception of Bianca B, which looks like a pale pastel purple on me, and something about it doesn’t sit well with my warm skin tone.
Honestly, I feel all kinds of cray when I wear it, and I don’t think it looks or feels as smooth as the other colors on my lips.
But the other colors? Ooh-la-la! I think the rest are lurvely (incidentally, they all have MAC’s trademark vanilla flavor and scent).
I also wish the gloss came in an actual tube, because really, who’s wants to have to scoop gloss out of a pot?
Not me.
I think the color’s pretty though. The moderately sticky formula feels like a Plushglass, and the idea is to layer the gloss on top of your lipstick when you’re in “turn down for what” mode. While I could do without the pot (lame), I appreciate having the option to go disco.
You know how it is. A girl needs her options. 🙂
If you’re a black-winged liner + bold lips kinda girl (or guy), I think you’ll love this collection, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it sprouted pegasus wings and flew off the shelves quicker than you can say “double rainbow all the way across the sky!” when it launches in July.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I love your facial expression for Bianca B!
me too! I literally busted out laughing 😀
I really love the tube of these lipsticks. It’s incredibly simple, just a change of color, but it gives them a whole other dimension. I agree with you on the shades, I think I could wear them all, except for the pale pink. It’s great in theory (you know, like a delicate flower petal) but I think it’s a color that’s very hard to pull off for most skintones.
I love Tats and Charlotte!
I’m getting all of them because of the packaging although I only like Margherita and Charlotte! 🙂 Karen, love how glowing your skin is. What foundation and moisturizer are you wearing? Or is this what NOLA gives you? Beautiful!
Everything looks great esp Charlotte and Eugenie!
DRATWATS! <3
I love how the packaging matches the lipstick shade. Bianca B. looks terrible, though. It’s way too white-based and looks like it really settles into liplines.
Oh man, that red!
They all look good on you! I love Margherita but there’s no way it’s going to pull that pinky coral on me. I didn’t even know there was a balm/gloss thing with this launch. I’m not a fan of potted balms either though.
darn I thought that first one would be a LOT better..
major bummer.
Ah! You look so gorgeous in these! Margherita really sings on you! The pic of you sporting Bianca B. is HILAIRS. And this: “the idea is to layer the gloss on top of your lipstick when you’re in “turn down for what” mode.” I heart you, Karen! 😀 These are going to be sold out in 14 seconds. I hold out no hopes of obtaining one unless I want to pay triple for it via eBay. This ain’t my first rodeo, lol! But Eugenie kinda makes me want to stay up all night like an angry crack addict. We’ll see. 🙂
Yeah that bianca b is a definite NO
Margherita looks lovely on you! Also, your makeup is all kinds of fabulous in these pictures!
Loved Eugine, Charlotte and Margharita on you Karen <3
Lena looks perfect on you, Karen! And I also really like the look of Margherita! It looks like a really wearable orange, woot.
Margherita looks fab on you! Love the packaging, too.
That Bianca B looks like it’s going to be too pale on most people… It’s dreadful! But other than that, can’t wait to get my hands on this collection!!!
I love Tats! I’ve never bought anything from a MAC collection before (I know) but I’m a BIG Giambattista fan so maybe this will be the one 😀 And for real, lip gloss in a pot? No.
I might need to get Lena. 😀
It’s surprising that it gives a reddish color on you – or is that because you had some leftover lipstick on your lips prior to applying Lena?
omg MAC is going to make me go bankrupt. lol.
all these beautiful lippies!
PS. Margherita is absolutely perfect on you!
I like tats but is it just me or does it look patchy/chalky?
Of course I love Tats because it’s my favorite shade of lipsticks lately (although I think it looks similar to Viva Glam Miley Cirus lipstick). Margherita is gorgeous too and it looks so pretty on you! Lovely pictures as always!
I really wanted to like these, but I wish they were another finish besides matte. I guess I don’t really dig matte lips for summer, but I think Amplified would have been perfect!
Karen you look gorgeous! I still think these colors are dupable but they look so good on you that I don’t even care lol. I need Margherita, Tats and Eugenie!
Great pics, Fancie!
Oh boy, and I just put myself on a lipstick spending ban.
Ruh-roh!
That dress is amazing! I could get married in a dress like that. Back to lipstick,I love how the tubes match the lipstick inside. Now if only they would do this with all of their lipstick it would sure make digging through my lipstick bag much easier. I love all of these colors with the exception of Bianca B. I love the expression on your face in the photo of you wearing Bianca B. This is one of the reasons why your blog is one of my favorites. You keep things light and fun with your sense of humor. I will probably buy the Lena Crystal Glaze Gloss but I do agree that it would be much easier to use if it were in a tube.
Hi Alexis,
If El Hub and I ever do a vow renewal ceremony that dress is on my list. I love everything about it. 🙂
So, funny that you should mention the tubes, because somebody on twitter said the same exact thing yesterday. If all MAC lipsticks were like that it would save me a lot of digging, too!
And thank you for the nice words about the blog. I’m glad you enjoy it.
Love all the colours except for Bianca B, way too pale. You should do a colour mash up with something a bit more vibrant to turn it into something else. Ooh, maybe layer Bianca B over Mac’s Beet or even Ruby Woo (lip pencil version), and see what happens?!
I love them all on u!! Even Bianca, U could pull off anything!!!
I ordered three this morning, tats, Margherita and eugenie! Margherita looked so good on you it inspired me to get it! I have those and naked smoky coming my way! What a great beauty week! Makes me miss being a makeup artist and playing with makeup everyday.
Hi Karen!
Love the look of Margherita!
What sort of blusher and eyeshadow are you using?
I see your images a lot on google when i look up Mac swatches. Today i was trying to see what the crystal glaze looked like and them first thing i noticed was how glowing your complexion is.. what ever you’re using..it’s beautiful! Thanks for all the reviews 🙂
Hi Nichole,
You’re so sweet. Thank you for the compliment! 🙂 Are you a MAC fan, too? I’ve been wearing and loving the line since 1996 (OMG!).