I’m having a blast exploring different ways to wear MAC’s new Style Black collection.

Earlier today I tried a bronzy black smokey eye using Mineralize Eyeshadow in Gilt By Association ($20).

It turned out better than I thought it would! At first I was afraid (I was petrified) the slippery Cream Colour Base would look too messy, but I found that as long as I didn’t overuse it, it stayed put reasonably well.

This is a look I’ll definitely wear again, maybe with a white, brown or bronze top and some gold jewelry.

Tutorial: What you’ll need

1. An eyeshadow primer like Too Faced Shadow Insurance ($17)
2. A creamy black eyeshadow base like MAC Cream Colour Base in Black ($17)
3. A shimmery blackish bronze shadow like MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow in Gilt By Association ($20)
4. A shimmery, peachy golden eyeshadow like MAC Eyeshadow in Woodwinked ($15)
5. A shimmery, bronze pencil liner like MAC Eye Kohl in Powersurge ($15)
6. A black liquid pen liner like LORAC Front of the Line Pro ($22)
7. A black mascara like MAC Zoom Fast Black Lash Mascara ($13)
8. A black gel liner like MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack ($15)

Swatches from left to right: Too Faced Shadow Insurance, MAC Cream Colour Base in Black, MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow in Gilt By Association, MAC Eyeshadow in Woodwinked

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Rise and shine, ladies. TGIF!

This shimmery purple eye comes courtesy of two products from the new MAC Style Black collection, the Greasepaint Stick in Black and Mineralize Eyeshadow in Young Punk. That’s Young Punk layered on top of the stick on my lids.

Also in the mix: the Eye Kohl in Smolder along the waterlines (upper and lower), Young Punk along the lower lash line and two coats of the new Zoom Fast Black Lash Mascara on my lashes.

I was shooting for something wearable enough for a business meeting…

Oh — remember the Origins GinZing Eye Cream-concealer trick for dark circles we talked about the other day? I used it for this look, mixing GinZing with Laura Mercier Secret Concealer and applying under my eyes.

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Yikes! Only time will tell if we MAC it through all of these concurrent releases today, ladies. It’s as if MAC’s trying to give us makeup conniptions!

Say howdy to the new Dazzleglass Creme glosses ($18) and Zoom Fast Black Lash Mascara ($13). They join Style Black on counters today.

Remember those sheer, non-sticky Cremesheen Glass glosses from earlier this year? Well, these Dazzleglass Cremes kinda look like shimmery versions.

I see some nice colors here, but I really haven’t been able to concentrate on ‘em yet because of that blasted Zoom Fast Black Lash. It just looks so awesome! The newest member of MAC’s mascara family, MAC says it delivers incredibly dark, midnight black lashes. With hella high hopes, I grabbed a tube to test. I’ll let you know how it turns out!

From left to right: Perfectly Unordinary, My Favourite Pink, Do It Up and Creme Allure

Soft Dazzle, Luscious Spark and Amorous

Sublime Shine and Totally Fab

Perfectly Unordinary, My Favourite Pink, Do It Up and Creme Allure

Soft Dazzle, Luscious Spark and Amorous

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The scene is hawt! We’re backstage at Fashion Week, a post-runway mixer with models, makeup artists and designers, sipping sparkling wine and talking MAC.

“Action!”

The camera cuts to MAC’s latest launch as it arrives on counters today, the drama-for-your-mama Style Black.

The edgy 18-piece collection for lips, nails and eyes features dark, shimmery purple, gold and, of course, black. For my Joy Division-lovin’ goth chicks — homies, this is YOUR release!

More into neutrals instead? No worries. MAC even remembered to include a few items appropriate for everyday wear.

More wearable than I expected

Style Black knocked me back at first, intimidating me a little, but upon closer inspection I found some pretty wearable goodies as well.

Rocking a full Style Black makeup ensemble at once might make for a fun night out (Halloween, perhaps?), but I can see myself more often sticking to just one or two of the edgier elements at a time.

Tabs does Style Black

For instance, I might try a bold eye with the Greasepaint Stick in Black (lovin’ the blue and purple shimmer!) layered beneath one of the Mineralize Eyeshadows on the lid but toned down with a nude lip.

Or, maybe a dark lip with Night Violet Mattene lipstick and a softly lined eye (smudged along the lash lines) using something like the Smolder Eye Kohl.

What stands out?

I like several things from Style Black but love the Greasepaint Stick in Black, the Mineralize Eyeshadows in Gilt by Association and Young Punk, the Cream Colour Base in Black (*can’t wait* to layer it beneath a shadow for smokey eyes) and Night Violet Mattene. Of everything, these four also struck me as the most user-friendly.

Oh! And skin care junkies, consider the Volanic Ash Exfoliator, a gently moisturizing exfoliator I first fell in love with last year (glad to see it here, too!).

What do you think so far? What moves (or doesn’t move) you?

From left to right: Cream Colour Base in Black and Bat Black

Mineralize Eyeshadows in Blue Flame, Cinder Fella, Gilt by Association and Young Punk

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It’s raining MAC, hallelujah! Are you ready to get your MAC attack on? — because the collections are falling faster than you can say, “Put it on my charge card, please.”

There’s Style Black, which launches on Thursday, along with four more releases either out now or available soon after that.

• Trend F/W ‘09 — A collection for lips and eyes (there’s a scent, too!), featuring colors inspired by an urban landscape.
• DSquared — With products for cheeks, lips and eyes, DSquared is all about sooty eyes, sculpted skin and soft, kissable lips.
• Dazzleglass Cremes — Shimmery versions of MAC’s incredible Dazzleglass glosses.
• Zoom Fast Black Lash — The latest member of the MAC mascara family should deliver hella dark, dramatic lashes.

Are you ready for another installment of What Would You Get?

Your makeup mission (aka your virtual haul), should you choose to accept it: If you could get any one of the following three options in its entirety (and entirely free!), which one would it be? Peruse the pics and deets, and share your answer in the poll at the bottom.

I’m going with DSquared… LOVE those Greasepaint Sticks, and that brush belongs in my grubby little paws!

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