Did you get a chance to check out the new MAC Colour Craft collection today, tenderonis? After seeing the bright promo pics I was expecting a cray-zaaay explosion of color, so I steeled myself for yet another arty, not-too-wearable release (*ahem*, Style Warriors!).
But Colour Craft took me by surprise. The bulk of this humungo 33-piece collection actually consists of — gasp! — wearable shades.
MAC gave us a good mix of shimmery neutrals, golds and bronzes along with fun pops of purple, pink, blue and orange thrown in for eyes. Pink and plum dominate the lip colors, while cheeks get a hefty dose of shimmer in sunset shades of pink, gold, bronze and coral.
Here are some things that really stand out to me…
Mineralize Eyeshadow Quad in Assemblage: I almost overlooked this quad, but after seeing it on my friend Elena I knew it was special.
It comes with four shimmery shades of silvery white, yellowish gold, gray and black eyeshadows that complement each other perfectly.
I’m lovin’ on the gray shade. Some can be too cool for my skintone, but this gray has a hint of warm golden taupe that seems to make it more wearable. Hmm…
I’m also lovin’ the versatility. MAC shows us several ways to wear it, featuring it in three of the eight Colour Craft face charts (Crazy Haute, Madly Creative and Nice Mix Up).
I can’t wait to turn out some looks with this bad boy!
Assemblage on NW 20 skin with flash
Assemblage on NC 35 skin with flash
Madly Creative Lipstick: Madly Creative looks like the lipstick version of MAC Cremestick Liner in Gingerroot, aka one of the best nude lip liners, evah!
It applies as a frosty, peachy pink with silver pearl; I think it could end up one of those great universal colors flattering to both warm- and cool-toned babes.
SIDENOTE: If you’re a Gingerroot fan, consider stocking up. MAC’s discontinuing the color (boo!), and soon it’ll be going, going, gone… 🙁
Cheeky Bronze, Madly Creative on NW 20 skin with flash
Cheeky Bronze, Madly Creative on NC 35 skin with flash
Cheeky Bronze Mineralize Skinfinish: This shimmery blush adds a golden coral flush to my skin.
Can you imagine it on tanned cheeks? Love!
I plan to wear it on low-maintenance makeup days… Tinted moisturizer, mascara and lipgloss + Cheeky Bronze on the cheeks = one easy, effortless summertime look!
Cheeky Bronze, Madly Creative Assemblage on NW 20 skin with flash
Cheeky Bronze, Madly Creative Assemblage on NC 35 skin with flash
Mineralize Eyeshadow Quads, $19.50
Assemblage
Eccentricity
Fashion Patch
Girlish Romp
Natural Flare
Odd Bits
Lipsticks, $14
Colour Crafted, Trimming Talk
Made With Love, Madly Creative
Most Popular, Ever Embellish
Marbleized Lipglass, $18
Crazy Haute, Electic Edge, Funky Fusion
Miss Marble, Nice Mix Up, Pretty Pattern
Mineralize Skinfinish, $27
Cheeky Bronze
Porcelain Pink
Sunny by Nature
Mineralize Skinfinish Trio, $27
Smooth Merge
Triple Fusion
Warm Blend
Mineralize Blush, $21
Hand-Finish
Fad-Dabulous
Daft Pink
Improvise
Cheek and Cheerful
Style Demon
Brushes
Also included in this launch are the following brushes: 109 Small Contour Brush ($32), 131 Duo Fibre/Blush Brush ($40) and the 226 Small Tapered Blending Brush ($24.50).
Swatches
Lipsticks in Colour Crafted, Ever Embellish, Made With Love, Madly Creative, Most Popular and Trimming Talk without flash
Top row: Lipsticks in Colour Crafted, Ever Embellish, Made With Love, Madly Creative, Most Popular and Trimming Talk with flash. Bottom row: Marblelized Lipglass in Crazy Haute, Electic Edge, Funky Fusion, Miss Marble, Nice Mix Up and Pretty Pattern with flash.
Mineralize Eyeshadow Quads in Assemblage, Eccentricity, Fashion Patch, Girlish Romp with flash
Mineralize Eyeshadow Quads in Assemblage, Eccentricity, Fashion Patch without flash
Mineralize Eyeshadow Quads in Natural Flare, Odd Bits with flash
Mineralize Eyeshadow Quad in Odd Bits with flash
Lipsticks, glosses and eyeshadows with flash
Mineralize Blushes in Hand-Finish, Fad-Dabulous, Daft Pink, Improvise, Cheek and Cheerful and Style Demon with flash
Mineralize Skinfinish in Sunny by Nature, Triple Fusion and Warm Blend with flash
Mineralize Skinfinish in Cheeky Bronze, Porcelain Pink and Smooth Merge with flash
What do you think of Colour Craft? More wearable than Style Warriors, or not bright enough for prime time?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
ines says
July 9th, 2009 at 7:44 pmi’m so down with the two lipsticks – trimming talk and made with love!
gorgeous.
.-= ines’s last blog post… Dance Photo Roundup – Winter 2008/Spring & Summer 2009 =-.
Karen says
July 9th, 2009 at 9:19 pmHi Ines,
Oh, I like those too. I’ve been moved by MAC lipsticks lately, go figure.
ines says
July 9th, 2009 at 7:46 pmalso love porcelain pink and sunny by nature!
.-= ines’s last blog post… Dance Photo Roundup – Winter 2008/Spring & Summer 2009 =-.
Ellie says
July 9th, 2009 at 8:10 pmI’m with you, Ines! I love the Made with Love! So pretty!
Karen says
July 9th, 2009 at 9:19 pmHi Ellie,
Aye! You and Ines are making me want to go back for that one…
Lorena says
July 9th, 2009 at 8:13 pmHi Karen!!
You mentioned that you’ll wear the Cheeky Bronze Mineralize Skinfinish on days when you’re wearing tinted moisturizer. I was wondering what brand of TM do you use? Any suggestions?
Karen says
July 9th, 2009 at 9:21 pmHi Lorena,
I use a few — Laura Mercier’s Oil Free (love it, has the most coverage and easily buildable), Becca Tinted Moisturizer (thinner coverage, but great pigmentation) and Chanel’s (minimal coverage and pigmentation). Laura’s is my fave, though.
What kind of skin do you have and what type of coverage are ya looking for?
Sherry says
July 9th, 2009 at 8:37 pmI love coming by your blog 🙂 tell me how often you use the cosmetics :). I not use them everyday, worry they expired too. Any advice if its longer than 3 years can still use them?
.-= Sherry’s last blog post… Your vote counts! =-.
Karen says
July 9th, 2009 at 9:22 pmHi Sherry,
Every day. I don’t really follow the expiration rules (oops). I do try to keep my makeup in the coolest part of the house, away from light and humidity. I think that helps it last longer.
Kate & Zena says
July 9th, 2009 at 9:05 pmOh boy, if I saw those MAC quads I may get kicked out of the store. NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING, bugs me more than uneven lines!!!! It drives me crazy. I will straighten out the jewelry boxes on display at the store so they’re all perfectly even if they aren’t. I’m going mad looking at the pictures. Must. Avoid. Looking. At. Quad. Pictures!!!
MAC, is it too much to ask for ruler straight division lines? I don’t think so, especially since you’re a “high-end” make-up brand.
Karen says
July 9th, 2009 at 9:22 pmHi Kate & Zena,
I don’t mind ’em so much. I think they add character. 🙂
Glosslizard says
July 9th, 2009 at 9:11 pmI think the collection is pretty, but the mineralize shadows don’t really move me. The only thing that’s tempting my from this collection is Eclectic Edge marbleized lipgloss. Besides, I’m just kinda sitting on my hands waiting for the Nordstrom anniversary sale on the 17th!
Karen says
July 9th, 2009 at 9:24 pmHi Glosslizard,
Oh yah, that’s right around the corner. I visited with your Chanel quad today, LOL! It’s quite enticing.
You know what I love from the MAC stuff? The Look in a Box! If it was 10 years ago I’d probably buy all of ’em.
Kate & Zena says
July 9th, 2009 at 9:31 pmHa ha, I guess it’s a case of what really irks you. Uneven lines when they look like they’re supposed to be straight is the big one for me in terms of purchasing a product.
Karen says
July 9th, 2009 at 9:34 pmHi Kate & Zena,
Hmm, I guess what irks me is packaging. If I can’t open it then it’s NOT coming home with me. 🙂
Sejal says
July 9th, 2009 at 9:52 pmI saw the collection today and I only picked up the 226 since I missed out last time. The only color products I liked were Warm Blend and Smooth Merge MSFs, but I was good and did not get them yet. I will sleep on it and see how I feel later on.
Kate & Zena says
July 9th, 2009 at 10:30 pmHa ha, that irks me too! It’s a tie between the two. I’m too stubborn for uncooperative packaging. I do get annoyed with the amount of shrink wrap some companies use but no where near as much as uneven lines. I will use an Exacto knife, tweezers, anything before I concede defeat to packaging. My mom hands me her migraine medicine right away now (it has one of those hard-to-open childproof pop caps) as I can pop them open in 30 seconds. She stares at me in disbelief as she used to struggle with the cap for ten minutes.
lexi says
July 9th, 2009 at 10:49 pmi really liked ‘fashion patch’ in the pictures but looking it swatched on your hand it may be too cool for me. Okay it’s decided – I do like Assemblage. But I may save up my money for the Nordstrom Fall sale – yes, ‘Modern Love’ palette here I come!!!
Karen says
July 10th, 2009 at 9:56 amHi Lexi,
Awesome. That Nars palette frickin’ RULES!
While you are at the counter try Girlish Romp. I didn’t end up getting it, but it’s really pretty.
Kewal says
July 9th, 2009 at 10:51 pmCC was launched in Singapore on the 3rd and I got Natural Flare e/s, Smooth Merge MSF (which is selling fast!) and New Mix Up gloss. Alas, the lipsticks and blushes did not set my bells a-ringing…errr…which is actually good for my wallet LOL. Karen, i am going to try Gingeroot with New Mix Up – yummy!
Karen says
July 10th, 2009 at 9:55 amHi Kewal,
Ohhh! Gingerroot has been rocking my world lately. When I go back to the counter I’ll give it a try with New Mix Up. 🙂
gio says
July 10th, 2009 at 1:55 amI think the collection is nice but nothing is really tempting me. I was interested in the eyeshadows but after seeing the swatches I think the colors are easily duped. The lipsticks look pretty too but I already have too many!
.-= gio’s last blog post… QOTW: Do you carry a makeup bag in your purse? =-.
Karen says
July 10th, 2009 at 9:51 amHi Gio,
Aww, you can never have enough lipsticks! I hope you at least try Madly Creative. It’s lovely. 🙂
Tali says
July 10th, 2009 at 3:04 amI just oredered online yesterday so tomorrow i get my haul..and now looking at your swatches i see like 3 more thing i wasnt. Why? Why god makeup addiction of all things? Why not shoes??
Karen says
July 10th, 2009 at 9:50 amHi Tali,
Yah, that always happens to me. It’s a little dangerous to have the MAC counter only ten minutes away…
What did you end up getting?
Karen B says
July 10th, 2009 at 3:11 amOh boy. I’ll be spending! Illamasqua and Colour Craft? Bye bye money!
Karen says
July 10th, 2009 at 9:49 amHi Karen B.,
LOL! What do you think you might pick up from the Colour Craft release?
Karen4 says
July 10th, 2009 at 4:31 amHi Karen! Thanks so much for the photos on NW20 skin–that’s my shade! I think I like the “Odd Bits” shadow quad. Would look great with Teddy eyeliner. I might have to check out the Madly Creative lipstick also!
Karen says
July 10th, 2009 at 9:48 amHi Karen4,
You’re welcome! I *finally* picked up Teddy. It’s a great pencil (so smudgy!). What do you like to wear it with?
Meream says
July 10th, 2009 at 8:32 amI love how the eye shadows were arranged like overlapping scrapbook paper. Or is it just me? 😀
Karen says
July 10th, 2009 at 9:45 amHi Meream,
It does look like that. Aww, pretty! Takes me back to elementary school art class. 🙂
Sarah says
July 10th, 2009 at 9:27 amI’m digging colour craft… I brought home odd bits and girlish romp eyeshadow quads and nice mix up lipglass yesterday… this release is a decent one, but i didn’t feel like i needed everything.
Karen says
July 10th, 2009 at 9:43 amHi Sarah,
Yah, I feel the same way. There were select things in there that I really liked but it wasn’t one of those that I *had* to get everything.
Have you used your Girlish Romp yet? I was tempted by that pan.
Nicole15 says
July 10th, 2009 at 10:04 amI was pleasantly surprised with this collection although I had proper restraints when i went to MAC yesterday. My only thought was that i would get the 226 brush but when i arrived, i couldn’t help but swatch all the lipsticks. Now i am not a fan of mineral e/s & never liked the MSF’s (the only ones i love are the MSF Natural & use it daily) so that really only left me with the lip items to try out. I was really into the lipsticks. The glosses were nice too, but I practiced some willpower & didn’t get any cause i just have soo many. I did, however, get Madly Creative & Trimming Talk lipsticks. I thought Madly Creative was unique in the collection & reminded me a little of What A Do from BBR which I LOVE. And Trimming Talk was such a pretty bright summer pink that I could not pass up. It was so nice to be suprised by a few items & get to walk away with some new things I didn’t plan on.
Karen says
July 10th, 2009 at 1:33 pmHi Nicole15,
Have you had the chance to try out your 226 yet? I bought it a few months ago and LOVE it. It’s so much easier to use than the 224.
I ended up liking the lipsticks much more than I thought I would! I might have to go back for Trimming Talk…
JO says
July 10th, 2009 at 10:23 amWhat finish is Made with Love? Is it a lustre / frost etc?
Karen says
July 10th, 2009 at 1:30 pmHi Jo,
Made with Love is a lustre.
Elle says
July 10th, 2009 at 10:26 amGah. I need lots of time to mess around with this collection. I’m a bit broke so I have to budget and get stuff I *really* love! Thanks for the info Karen!
Karen says
July 10th, 2009 at 1:29 pmHi Elle,
You’re welcome! What do you think you might get?
Tanya says
July 10th, 2009 at 12:18 pm*curses MAC* Why can’t they release that GORGEOUS taupe from Assemblage on it’s own!!!!!
.-= Tanya’s last blog post… Mario Badescu Sample-Fest!!! =-.
Karen says
July 10th, 2009 at 1:24 pmHi Tanya,
HA! I thought of you when I swatched that color. I knew it would be something you’d love. 🙂
A.C. says
July 10th, 2009 at 12:27 pmI don’t have a comment on the products above, but a general comment regarding M.A.C.’s Mineralized eye shadows. I have Heat Element which by the way is great for blue eyes and I really like the texture. You don’t have the fall out that you get with a lot of other mineral eyeshadows and when you blend you don’t lose half of the color like other mineral eyeshadows. You can wet these and when applied and dried they do not flake. Another thing that is good about them is for me for some reason when I wear mineral eyeshadow my eyelids tend to get dry patches in the corners and flake and that hasn’t happened with M.A.C.’s Mineralized eyeshadows.
Karen says
July 10th, 2009 at 1:23 pmHi A.C.,
Have you tried Fresh Green Mix? It’s one of my favorites.
marmar says
July 10th, 2009 at 1:07 pmOh my oh my. “Nice Mix Up” is right up my alley. I think I might have to make a detour by the make up section today.
“Hand finish” is really nice.. super summery too.
.-= marmar’s last blog post… 25 Songs I would Rather Die W/O. =-.
Karen says
July 10th, 2009 at 2:50 pmHi Marmar,
I hope you stop by the MAC counter! I didn’t try any of the glosses on but I overheard the MUA’s talking about how non-sticky they were. I might have to try them just for kicks.
Happy Friday!
Tiffany says
July 10th, 2009 at 2:29 pmOoooh, my wallet is gonna hurt. I want three of the mineralize skinfinishes… and at least one of the blushes… and maybe the 131 brush… yikes
Karen says
July 10th, 2009 at 2:47 pmHi Tiffany,
I brought the 131 home with me and used it this morning. It’s lovely! I’m a cheek brush fiend, though…
Which MSF are you gonna get?
Tiffany says
July 10th, 2009 at 2:51 pmHey Karen! I want to get cheeky bronze, smooth merge, and triple fusion! I am not loving the price tag, but that brush looks great! I think I’m a weirdo because blushes and highlighters are my fave makeup products (most people seem to be more into eyeshadow or lip products). My love of cheek products makes this collection really appeal to me!
Karen says
July 10th, 2009 at 2:57 pmHi Tiffany,
Girl, you aren’t the only one who LOVES the cheek stuff. The MSFs make me melt! Cheeky Bronze is AWESOME (wearing it today). I think I want to go back for Triple Fusion. 🙂
Do you already have the 187? If you have it and love you probably don’t need the 131, but I gotta say it does apply color well. It has a smaller head so it’s more precise AND it doesn’t overdo it.
Tiffany says
July 10th, 2009 at 3:01 pmI do have the 187…. and I have wanted the 188 for a while, but haven’t broken down and gotten yet. And then I was thinking that the 131 looks better than the 188. 187 is too big for me for blush, ya know? Any thoughts on the 131 vs. the 188?
Karen says
July 10th, 2009 at 3:08 pmHi Tiffany,
I think the tapered shape of the 131 makes a huge diff… while I like the small size of the 188 I think the 131 is way better because it allows more control of color placement and blending.
Oh, and it’s super soft! I have mine on my desk right now I can’t stop rubbing my face with it. Tabs is looking at me like I’m some kind of pervert, ha!
Tiffany says
July 10th, 2009 at 3:11 pmAwesome, I will get the 131! Thanks for the help! I bet Tabs is just jealous ’cause he wants to rub up on the softness, lol!
Karen says
July 10th, 2009 at 3:17 pmHi Tiffany,
You’re welcome! It really is a great brush.
I’ve heard it also works great for applying face products — even liquid foundations. I haven’t tried that yet, but we’ll see.
Lorena says
July 10th, 2009 at 4:59 pmHi Karen!
I have combination skin — I have an oily t-zone. I was something light weight for the summer since I’m a summer camp counselor and preferably something with spf! Sometimes I just feel my powder foundation (medium coverage) feels a bit too heavy!
Karen says
July 10th, 2009 at 5:07 pmHi Lorena,
The Laura Mercier Oil Free might be a good match for you if you can find your color (selection is somewhat limited). It has SPF 20 and feels light on the skin. The only thing is, though, you might still want to wear an additional SPF underneath it to cover your bases.
Elle says
July 10th, 2009 at 7:16 pmKaren, I’m loving the same things you love, but I don’t know if I’ll cave on the eyeshadows (I also love Natural Flare). I bought so many of last year’s mineralized eye shadows, but even though I love them, I just don’t use them very often. Cheeky Bronze looks great, and I want Style Demon also (even though it sort of scares me). The lipsticks look awesome! I like Trimming Talk and Made with Love. Ugh, MAC, stop emptying out my wallet!!
Karen says
July 10th, 2009 at 10:31 pmHi Elle,
Oh, I love scary blushes. Do you have a good fan brush? That usually makes ’em totally wearable. 🙂
Awww, everybody loves Trimming Talk! I will have to try it when I go back to the counter.
Marmar says
July 10th, 2009 at 7:20 pmI figured I’d start with a couple small items.. I winded up grabbing the ‘nice mix up’ gloss and the ‘fad-dabulous’ blush.
Haven’t tried the lush yet, but I absolutely adore the gloss- I tried it before I even left the parking lot! Applies nicely and is gorgeous but I don’t really feel a difference between this one and their last tri-colour gloss in terms of formula/stickiness. Certainly not sticky enough to be cumbersome but not as smooth as let’s say, Chanel’s glosses.
Sunday I might have to grab an eyeshadow! 😀
.-= Marmar’s last blog post… 25 Songs I would Rather Die W/O. =-.
Karen says
July 10th, 2009 at 10:29 pmHi Marmar,
Hmm, interesting. How is the pigmentation? I remember trying the tri-colored glosses and not being too crazy ’bout the payoff.
Karen B says
July 11th, 2009 at 11:54 amDefinitely one of the quads. I’ll decide when I see them in person.
Marmar says
July 11th, 2009 at 3:43 pmThey got the tri-colour style down with this one. The last collection.. I was so psyched about! Looking at the tubes the colours were gorgeous.. but once applied, disappointing. In part, I think it was due to the way the colours were stacked.. when pulling the applicator out, they didn’t mix properly unless you literally made a mess of the tube. I’d always end up with a totally clear, shimmery type gloss on my lips which was ok.. but not what I was expecting. With this one, the finished product is close to what’s inside the package. (I have highly pigmented lips so it takes a lot to stand out.) I love it so much I’m def gonna have to pick up the rest.
.-= Marmar’s last blog post… 25 Songs I would Rather Die W/O. =-.
Valerie Ann says
July 12th, 2009 at 1:45 pmI was doing a search and just happened to find your blog. I LOVE your photos and swatches!! I just subscribed. Thanks!
Karen says
July 12th, 2009 at 2:21 pmHi Valerine Ann,
It’s great to meet you! I’m happy to hear that you enjoy the site.
Did you end up getting anything from Colour Craft?
Marisol says
July 12th, 2009 at 7:44 pmAwesome post Karen! Thank you for posting all the swatches. I have some items to B2M so I may be checking out the collection at the Pro store this week.
.-= Marisol’s last blog post… Kindle me this… =-.