Spring. Fifth grade. The mid ’80s. You couldn’t miss me as I navigated the hallowed halls of Alvarado Middle School, not because of my terrible hair (I had the same ‘do as all of my Filipino uncles… Ugh, so tragic!), but because I was a walking floral nightmare. Not a floral fantasy, like MAC’s new 34-piece A Fantasy of Flowers collection.
My floral jacket. It. Was. Hideous. It was the jacket I wore with every single outfit, even though it didn’t go with anything, and it just made me look crazy. It had this obnoxious floral print with all sorts of flowers just mushed on top of each other. It was ugly, but I thought I was the sh*t.
This collection isn’t like that jacket at all. It’s colorful, but in a balanced way that makes sense. It’s like wandering through a carefully thought out cottage garden…
There are lots of floral hues, pinks, corals peaches, purples and roses grounded with earthier browns and lush greens. It’s like a garden early on a dewy morning, and everything is fresh, and there’s a sense of newness, and that’s because there are lots of shimmery finishes here that catch the light, just like drops of dew catch sunlight on flower petals.
Most of the shimmer comes from the Mineralize products — Eye Shadows, Blushes and Skinfinishes.
This isn’t the kind of collection where the cheeks and eyes look real and natural, and for me that’s the fantastical part of this floral fantasy. The shimmers are turned up! — and wearing them makes me feel like a more glamorous version of my everyday self. Then, you add the really bright Fluidlines and Pigments in the release, which are like the statement pieces for me, and you get even more fantastical.
There’s a lot going on with cheeks and eyes here, and perhaps because of that MAC kept the lips relatively tame. The colors — pink, coral, peach, berry and rose — remind me of misted flower petals and fancy bouquets… All six of the Lipsticks are in MAC’s creamy Lustre finish, and the six glosses are Cremesheen Glasses, so the lippies are pretty much sheer-to-medium coverage. Nothing too heavy or super opaque, and even the darkest and brightest lip shades are sheer enough to allow some of your natural lip color to peek through.
I had some fun with these pics, but I have a lot more planned for this release — looks and more in-depth reviews. The release arrives on counters tomorrow and is available now on maccosmetics.com.
Take a stroll through MAC’s latest garden, and let me know what you think. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Thanks so much for these spectacular images! I’ve been dreaming of spring I’m the midst of this cold and snowy winter, and this was such a beautiful visual to accompany my daydreams 🙂
Can I ask you Karen though is Stereo Rose as copper in this launch as the original? In the pan it looks amazing, but that watch has it coming up as a lovely peachy color, which is beautiful, but not what I was hoping it would be…thanks so much!
Sorry for jumping in here Karen!
Hey Sarah, Stereo Rose in this collection is lighter than its previous versions – less copper and more of a pale peach. I wish they’d chosen a different name for it since its not the same shade!
Bummer 🙁 thanks so much for the reply though!
I’m so disappointed by the differences in Stereo Rose and Perfect Topping from previous launches. These are nice products, but they’d be better with new names. Perfect Topping used to be a very cool pink, mine from this week is quite warm and peachy.
Thanks for the great question, Sarah, and thanks for the thoughtful and thorough comments, guys! Y’all are so great. 🙂
Oh, and Sarah, my experience is very similar to everyone else’s. I have a Stereo Rose from 2010’s In the Groove and it’s definitely lighter and more peachy on my NC42 skin.
I hope these pics warmed you up a little. Spring’s coming…allegedly. LOL
Thanks Karen ❤ I really appreciate the extra mile you go to interact with us after having spent all day working hard on those images and posts! It makes reading and visiting your blog even that much more fun and special!
And those pictures definitely warmed me up! But I may have given up on spring coming anytime soon (I’m from western Canada, and we’ve had a week now of -20 weather…
Love all the flowers and colors! I’m getting pretty sick of winter!
Your hair looks amazing here! Definitely not your Filipino uncle’s do.
Those fluidlines! The colors are amazing, they are probably my favorite part of the collection just based off pictures.
The colors are really pretty! My order should be arriving tomorrow if the weather permits. I’m really looking forward to trying everything out! I ordered Sassy Moss, Phlox Garden, Snapdragon and Heavenly Hybrid. There’s been so many mixed reviews about the lipsticks I’m really anxious to try them for myself
I love all of these photos of you.
I’m looking at the Nectarsweet lipglass and the Mineralize skin finish in Stereo Rose…can’t wait to try them at my local Mac counter 🙂
So many pretty pieces in this collection! The fluidlines really caught my eye, lovely spring colors!
I picked up Perfect Topping, sooooo happy I did. I had been kicking myself ever since the last time it was out and I didn’t get it. It’s absolutely gorgeous!
Your pictures are beautiful. I haven’t picked up anything from this collection but now I’m having second thoughts. The blushes and the Snapdragon lipstick look stunning.
Clicks are just amazing and I love all the colors so muchhh!
Damn Girl! I usually go to temptalia but lately I have not liked her reviews and pictures look the same… Your review and pictures are refreshing and show compares and contrast the products. I am happy to have found you :)really great quality
I picked up Azalea in the Afternoon, Rose Lily, and Sassy Moss. I know some people have been saying that Rose Lily is streaky, but I thought it would look so pretty paired with Sex Fantasy from the recent Nars Final Cut collection. Plus, it reminds me of old school As the World Turns!
Hmm, if i remember right we’ve had this collection in the Philippines some time last year. In fact i already have Golden Hours eyeshadow quad.
Great idea with the flowers. The first one with you is so sweet and girly 🙂
I’m so excited for this collection! Karen, your photos came out great! Best pictures I’ve seen for this MAC collection.
Oh, I’ve been looking at colorful makeup looks for too long because I think these are really pretty and fairly natural looking on you! I mean, there’s quite a bit of shimmer in the shadows, but it’s not over the top. What have you done to me?? HAHA! I’m looking forward to seeing how you use the Chartreuse Bouquet, Sassy Moss and Phlox Garden. 🙂
I’ll take the chartreuse pigment, the purple liner, and all of the pretty pink lip products!
*Syl’s wishlist mode…activate!*
Your photos look so pretty! It’s so refreshing to see photos like these in Winter!
Oh, and this MAC collection looks very pretty, too. 🙂
Oooh soo pretty! Love the color of Saasy Moss. Stunning color!
RAN to MAC today after your post! Couldn’t wait to get Heavenly Hybrid!!!