M∙A∙C’s most recent collection is an Asian-inspired one designed by Beijing born fashion photographer, Chen Man (陳曼). The well-edited line is chock-full of pink and blue hues — a reflection of Chen Man’s infatuation with love and water. The packaging features outer sleeves exclusively made for the collection, with a design of the Chinese character for love on a salmon and sky blue watercolor background. Here, a look at some of my favorite pieces:
Mineralize Eye Shadow Duo in Pink Union ($20) (Limited Edition):
This mauve and purple shadow duo looks like yin yang, which fits into the Far East theme. The marbleized mauve shade is laced with taupe and plum lines, while the solid purple side has blue undertones. Both provide medium coverage and have shimmery finishes, with the mauve hue flecked with silver sparkles, too.
Beauty Powder in Play It Proper ($23) (Limited Edition):
This pastel baby pink powder makes a perfect highlighter for fair skin with cool undertones. It can look a bit pasty on darker
complexions, especially with its frosty finish. Otherwise, it gives skin an almost icy glow that’s ideal for winter when worn on cheekbones. Be sure to try it on brow bones and the inner corners of eyes for an everyday pink-tinged pick me up.
Lipglass in Force of Love ($14.50) (Limited Edition):
This vivid, yellow-tinged pink lip gloss includes white sparkles and provides medium color payoff. It’s a delicious shade for summer that looks divine on warm skin. It has a sticky texture that’s typical of M∙A∙C lipglasses — though this feeling may not be for everyone, it ensures a few extra hours of wear time.
Lipstick in Budding Love ($14.50) (Limited Edition):
This pink-lilac lipstick offers semi-sheer but buildable coverage and a lustrous finish. Though pastels typically tend to look chalky on darker skin, this one’s buildable color makes it universally flattering (not to mention refreshingly unique). It can be sheer with one swipe, or opaque in three; I dub this my top pick of the collection.
Reflects Glitter in Reflects Blue ($20) (Permanent at PRO):
This white, loose glitter looks light blue in the light. It adds a healthy dose of refined sparkle to lids, and boosts any blue shade when lightly dusted on top. The glitter is so finely milled that it hardly feels grainy at all.
Pigment in Naval Blue ($20) (Permanent at PRO):
This navy, loose pigment has opaque color payoff and a frosty finish. It’d be a gorgeous deep blue alternative to the typical black smoky eye, and looks particularly smashing on brunettes; Its buttery smooth texture is dreamy to work with.
Gloss ($19) (Permanent):
This clear gloss adds a highly reflective shine to lips, eyes, or any other part of the body. It’s more lightweight and less sticky than the lipglass, but still offers some traction. The glassy finish draws attention to features without any color or shimmer.
Nail Lacquer in Breezy Blue ($16) (Limited Edition):
This dark, cobalt blue polish has a crème finish and is opaque in just two coats. The deep color is ideal for the colder months, but it has a cool vibrancy that makes it an unexpected option for summer — looking best on short nails.
Nail Lacquer in Pinkly Fresh ($16) (Limited Edition):
This blue-based pastel pink polish has a crème finish and reaches full opacity in three coats. It’s the nail polish equivalent of the Budding Love Lipstick, and is pretty for spring. The formula does tend to be a bit streaky and requires some patience, but the shade is distinct enough to make it somewhat worth it.
Overall, this new collection offers something for everyone, with enough warm and cool colors to fit any complexion. The outer sleeve art is whimsical and exotic without tarnishing the classicM∙A∙C packaging (full disclosure: I have a personal problem with branded limited edition packaging since it sorely sticks out from the rest of my uniformly black M∙A∙C collection!). My top three standout pieces include Lipstick in Budding Love, Pigment in Naval Blue, and Nail Lacquer in Breezy Blue.
Which products are you most interested in trying from M∙A∙C’s Chenman Collection?
– Christiana Molina
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