Planning any trips soon? If you are, and they happen to involve a short airport layover, you might be able to MAC 🙂 good use of your wait time with the new MAC Packed to Go travel Exclusives for spring 2011.
Travel exclusives are limited edition sets, and sometimes individual products, special to travel hubs like airports and duty free stores (you won’t find them at regular stores or counters).
A lot of the bigger beauty brands like MAC, Dior, Estee Lauder, Chanel and Guerlain (to name just a few), have them, and they’re a boon to beauty obsessed travelers like us.
MAC Packed to Go is being released in two “phases” for spring.
The first, available now, features three MAC Look In A Box kits, each one designed with a different themed look in mind using products for eyes, cheeks and lips.
The second phase, which launches in March, will encompass 11 MAC Packed to Go sets organized by category, like lipstick, Lipglass, mascara and brush.
I always try to keep an eye out for travel exclusives because some of them contain hard-to-find limited edition pieces from long lost (but not forgotten!) collections, making them great opportunities to snag something you might not have had the chance to get the first time around.
In my case, it was the MAC Trip Cool Eyes Palette Travel Exclusive that finally put me in touch with the Springtime Skipper Eyeshadow from the 2007 Barbie Loves MAC Collection.
And the MAC Packed To Go sets also appear to have some familiar faces, and they’re taking me waaay back to 2008-2009 (LOL!).
Iridescent Powder in Belightful hails from 2008’s Fafi Collection; the Eyeshadows in Grand Entrance, Smoke & Diamonds and Glamour Check also appeared in 2009’s Love That Look; and the Cremesheen Glass in Looks Like Sin starred in 2009’s Creme Team.
There’s just something about travel exclusives that appeals to my primitive makeup hunter-gatherer instincts… 🙂
Skim through the product listings below, and let me know if anything strikes your fancy. Pricing and availability varies from airport to airport with these, but approximate US prices are shown.
Phase One: The 3 MAC Look In A Box Sets
- Girl Next Door — (about $40) Comes with the Eye Shadow in Grand Entrance, Eye Shadow in Smoke & Diamonds, Iridescent Powder in Belightful, Cremesheen Glass in Deelight and Zoom Lash Mascara in Zoom Black
- A Very Stylish Girl — (about $40) Comes with the Eye Shadow in Dreammaker, Eye Shadow in Glamour Check, Bronzing Powder in Golden, Cremesheen Glass in Looks Like Sin and Zoom Lash Mascara in Zoomblack
- Rocker Chick — (about $48) Comes with the Eye Shadow in Electra, Eye Shadow in Black Tied, Lipstick in Huge, Lipglass in Oyster Girl, Eye Kohl in Smolder and Dazzle Lash Mascara in Black Dazzle
Look In A Box in Girl Next Door
Look In A Box in Stylish Girl
Look In A Box in Rocker Chick
Loading ...Phase Two: The Rest of MAC Packed to Go
Note: Prices TBD (they’ll vary)
- MAC Packed to Go: Lipstick (Pretty Please, Plumful and Hug Me)
- MAC Packed to Go: Lipglass (C-Thru, Lust and Cultured)
- MAC Packed to Go: Cremesheens (Boy Bait, Over Indulgence and Double Dare)
- MAC Packed to Go: Assorted Black Mascaras (Plush Lash, Zoom Lash and Dazzle Lash)
- MAC Packed to Go: Assorted Black Eyeliners (Power Point Eye Pencil in Engraved, Kohl Power Eye Pencil in Feline and Penultimate Eye Liner in Rapidblack)
- MAC Packed to Go: 6 Warm Smoky Eyeshadows (Shroom, Naked Lunch, Greensmoke, Tempting, Showstopper and Stormy Love)
- MAC Packed to Go: 6 Cool Smoky Eyeshadows (Satin Taupe, Beauty Marked, Carbon, Seedy Pearl, Tendersmoke and A Brown Suit)
- MAC Packed to Go: 4 Lips & Pressed Powder (contains Lipglosses in Poetic License, Rosehips, Riviera Ready and Quick Change along with Iridescent Powder in Belightful)
- MAC Packed to Go: 5 Define & Blend Brushes (129SE Powder/Blush Brush, 190SE Foundation Brush, 224 SE Tapered Blending Brush, 242SE Shader Brush and the 266 SE Small Angle Brush)
- MAC Packed to Go: 5 Shape & Perfect Brush Bag (168SE Large Angled Contour Brush, 187SE Duo Fibre Brush, 212SE Flat Definer Brush and 275SE Medium Angled Shading Brush)
MAC Packed to Go from the top to the bottom: Lipsticks, Cremesheens and Lipglasses
Assorted Black Mascaras on the top; Assorted Black Eyeliners on the bottom
Clockwise from the bottom: 4 Lips & Pressed Powder, 6 Warm Smoky Eyeshadows and 6 Cool Smoky Eyeshadows
5 Define & Blend Brushes on the top and 5 Shape & Perfect Brush Bag on the bottom
Did you see anything you’d go out of your way to get, and are you asking yourself, “Hmm, what’s the nearest airport?” 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Sheila Z says
January 24th, 2011 at 1:47 pmKaren – I’ll be getting my make up done this saturday at MAC, for my brother-in-law’s engagement party. Part of the process requires that I buy at least 5 items. What at the top 5 you recommend?
Karen says
January 24th, 2011 at 3:05 pmHey Sheila,
This is a great question. Is there any part of your stash that you feel could be built up? Are you completely new to MAC? If you give me some sort of direction that would help me with some recommendations for you!
Sheila Z says
January 24th, 2011 at 3:10 pmThanks for the reply!
I’m pretty much new to MAC, except for a pretty pink blush I bought a couple of years ago. Having read your blog for a long time, I’m definitely interested in trying their concealer (yup – I’ve got Persian skin that won’t be covered up by Benefit’s erase paste) and may also check out the setting spray. I’m set on mascara. I’m trying to shed my tom-boy ways and embrace a simple-ish make up routine. Does that help?
Karen says
January 24th, 2011 at 4:09 pmIt does. I’m gonna actually turn this into a post (because I’m betting there are a lot of MAC newbies out there who have wondered the same thing), so I’ll have a more detailed answer for you in the next day or so, but for now a few MAC greats to think about are the 217 brush, liner in Powersurge, MAC Blot powder and MAC Prep + Prime Powder! 🙂
Sheila Z says
January 25th, 2011 at 6:15 amThanks so much, Karen! I’ll let you know how it goes. And I realize I didn’t say it before – – so thanks for running a great blog!
karo says
January 25th, 2011 at 8:52 amdear karen!!!
you are AMAZING!
I`m from germany and I love your blog!!!
an I love MAC too…
am totally loving the brush and “girl next door†it`s really great!
Appu says
January 24th, 2011 at 1:51 pmAm totally loving the brush sets especially for the designs on the brush bags and “girl next door”! Wish they were available in stores 🙁
Appu recently posted … NOTD – ZOYA Marilyn
Karen says
January 24th, 2011 at 4:16 pmI’m crushing on Girl Next Door, too. 🙂
Tzu says
January 24th, 2011 at 1:55 pmI want all three kits and it so happens I will be traveling next week. I hope my layover airports will have it *crosses fingers.* Karen, would you happen to know if the travel size brush kits are the same quality as the current kits? I know the ones that they have out now are not the best of quality. Thanks!
Tzu recently posted … Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary Pop Up Shop
Karen says
January 24th, 2011 at 4:15 pmHi Tzu,
Unfortch I’ve never had good luck with the travel-size brushes. I’ve always found them to be scratchier and less dense than the full-size ones. 🙁
Tzu says
January 24th, 2011 at 5:13 pmoh booo…i’m in need of a travel size brush set. can you suggest any good ones? thanks!
Tzu recently posted … Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary Pop Up Shop
Stacey K says
February 20th, 2011 at 8:32 pmUnfortunately with the MAC brushes, and I learned this from a couple of the MAC girls when I worked at Nordstrom, is that while the individual brushes are each individually hand-crafted, the brushes that come in sets are not. Those ones are machine-crafted in mass quantities. The sad part is that because of this more often than not the travel brush sets aren’t as good as the individual ones. For instance I have two 266 MAC brushes (slanted eyeliner brushes) one was hand-crafted and the other was machine made. The difference is so obvious because the 266 that I got in the set looks like a brush you’d use on your eye brows! It’s so coarse that I don’t even attempt to use it for eye liner. Thankfully, MAC has started making brushes with shorter handles. They’re the same price as the long-handled brushes, but they fit much more easily into travel bags.
Jae says
January 24th, 2011 at 2:09 pmThis actually makes me look forward to flying this spring/summer! Thank you!!
Karen says
January 24th, 2011 at 4:14 pmYou’re welcome. 🙂 Where are you headed to, Jae?
dani@callitbeauty says
January 24th, 2011 at 2:20 pmi looove kits like this! i’ll be keeping an eye out for the rocker chick & girl next door boxes as well as the eyeshadow palettes 🙂
dani@callitbeauty recently posted … Josie Marans 100 Organic Argan Oil Is Like Magic In A Bottle
Karen says
January 24th, 2011 at 4:14 pmBoth of those kits look super pretty!
Tiffany says
January 24th, 2011 at 2:35 pmWow, I already have so many of these shades! Lol, it makes me realize how long I’ve been buying MAC.
Karen says
January 24th, 2011 at 4:13 pmOh, I know. I remember Fafi like it was yesterday… it’s funny how you can mark the seasons of your life with MAC collections, isn’t it?
Johanna says
January 24th, 2011 at 2:46 pmThose brush sets look great! I’d love to pick one up the next time a travel. 🙂
Tracy says
January 24th, 2011 at 2:47 pmKind of cool! I really like the idea of having both of those eye palettes to take with me. They are all staple colours for me.
Tracy recently posted … Dior 5 Couleurs Soft Pink Design All In One Artistry Palette
Karen says
January 24th, 2011 at 4:13 pmThese make me want to take a trip! 🙂
Advah says
January 24th, 2011 at 3:24 pmInteresting, I’m usually more of a cool eyeshadows girl but that warm set is sending me “buy me” vibes. 🙂 It’s mainly that green/teal colour, I’m not sure I could rock it but it’s gorgeous!
Oh MAC. That reminds me I spotted one of their liquid liner in a gold-ish colour, I might treat myself the next time I’m stuck in an airport!
Karen says
January 24th, 2011 at 4:12 pmYou could totally do that color. Maybe put it on the outer half of the lid and do a cool green on the inner and some black liner… PRETTY! 😀
Advah says
January 25th, 2011 at 2:33 amOoooh I like the sound of that, thank you! Nars also does a teal pencil I think, I might go have a look at those today and get ready for when that collection hit the shelves!
Vanessa says
January 24th, 2011 at 3:33 pmI think my wallet just whimpered.
Why are there so many cool collections coming out right when I have to pay for school? I’ll have to get at least one thing from this collection :-).
Vanessa recently posted … Zoya Haul and Swatches
Karen says
January 24th, 2011 at 4:10 pmI know that feeling well. 😉
How are your classes coming along? Are you enjoying them?
Alka says
January 24th, 2011 at 3:36 pmWhat excellent timing! I fly to the West Coast on Thursday and I don’t have any of the products in the already released sets. 🙂 Hopefully I will come across them en route. I am leaning towards Rocker Chick.
Karen says
January 24th, 2011 at 4:10 pmNice! Where are you headed? If you are going to the Bay Area you’re going to be here in time for some really nice weather. It’s been unusually warm!
Alka says
January 25th, 2011 at 6:18 amHeaded to the OC/SD area for el hubs big family get together. I am super excited since I have not been back to visit in 8 yrs! I had heard it was warm so I was packing all my cute spring/summer stuff.
Bee says
January 24th, 2011 at 3:57 pmOMG… I wish I was traveling or knew someone that is traveling 🙁 I would love the girl next door and a very stylish girl look in the box. I would so send you money Karen, if you are traveling and planning to go to the MAC duty free shop, to pick me up the look in the boxes. LOL. 😉
Rae says
January 24th, 2011 at 4:32 pmOoh! I wonder if MAC will put these into the online shop sometime – the Packed To Go lip sets look mighty tempting!
Rae recently posted … Clarins Rouge Hydra Nude lipsticks are a gift from above
Shanda says
January 24th, 2011 at 4:45 pmThese are great if you are a newbie Mac collector like me and missed out. I so want smoke and diamonds. I might just have to take a trip for my bday! LOL Nah, I’ll just have someone check out the airport stores for me.
Shanda recently posted … GO BEARS!!!!!!!!!
Nina says
January 24th, 2011 at 5:07 pmthat bag looks like a Fendi! 🙂
i always like the MAC travel series … good value! 🙂
Pumps and Gloss says
January 24th, 2011 at 5:12 pmI like the lip products and the palette w/ the green shadows.
Pumps and Gloss recently posted … Wet in Kuala Lumpur
Makeup Morsels says
January 24th, 2011 at 6:02 pmGirl Next Door looks nice! Actually, I’m just eyeing it for Smoke & Diamonds, since I already have Grand Entrance from those red holiday palettes they released awhile back
Makeup Morsels recently posted … Miscellaneous Monday Morsels 1-24-11
Melisa says
January 24th, 2011 at 6:06 pmHey Karen, do you know if the box sets will be available online, because last year some of the travel exclusives were online and was not able to find them in the airport. And im not traveling this year and dont know anyone who is. I would love to get the girl next door set, thats why im asking
Anna says
January 24th, 2011 at 6:06 pmIm traveling around june time …
questions:
– will they still be available by then?
– are these available anywhere else but in airports ?
Thanks! 🙂
Megan W says
January 24th, 2011 at 6:28 pmI love the brush collections! These are really great collections… can they only be found in airports?
Megan W recently posted … Make-up Collection This is not hoarding – Part 1
amanda says
January 24th, 2011 at 6:57 pmwill all airports have these???
Rita says
January 25th, 2011 at 1:05 amOMG! My colleaque in going to Copenhagen Airport soon, I need to start to work on him!
Shauna says
January 25th, 2011 at 4:39 amHey Karen,
I read tn one of your reply’s about what to buy or your personal best products to buy from MAC. I will definatly be looking out for that post.
I am not a new customer to MAC thats for sure, but I am interested to find out what your opinions are and hopefully through that get some amazing new MAC products.
::I have/use most daily their brushes, studio fix powder foundation, studio fix, prep and prime face, fluid liner blacktract, some shadows/quads and a few of their paintpots…
Wondering about this blot powder you speak of, or pressed powder? And anything you can recommend 😀 :: ( I d have combination/oily Tzone)
As usual, thanks for your blog(it’s amazing :D) and the feedback.
Louise-Lesley says
January 25th, 2011 at 5:34 amEven though I totally would wear the Girl Next Door look everyday more, I’m totally gagging for the Rocker Chick!!
Fieran says
January 25th, 2011 at 5:39 amArgh, I so want the Rocker chick box set and the Warm Smokey palette. *droool* Now I just need to hunt for this on my next trip 🙂
@PTTScarlet says
January 25th, 2011 at 9:20 amPlumful lipstick looks amazing – would look great on dark skin tones.
Eleanor says
January 25th, 2011 at 9:33 amHi,
I’m still kind of new to MAC, so I am confused about where to buy these E/S palettes. Would these be at all airports? Is there another way to purchase these. I bet they won’t be at the Kansas City airport.
Olga says
January 25th, 2011 at 12:31 pmthe sets look great!!
xx Olga
Olga recently posted … Cant wait for warmer days to come
Sara says
January 25th, 2011 at 1:12 pmKaren- would it be crazy to make a trip to SFO to see if they have these (I’m not flying anywhere soon)?! I can’t recall if MAC is sold there, but was thinking about calling the beauty vendor #s to see if they do… Or, if you know and would like to share, that would be awesome!
Karen says
January 25th, 2011 at 1:17 pmHi Sara,
I’ve checked a few of the duty free stores in SFO (both the international and domestic terminals) the last two times I’ve flown out of there (to LA in the summer and Milan in the fall) and unfortunately I didn’t see any MAC on either trip. 🙁
Has anybody else in the Bay Area traveled lately? These just came out so it would have to have been recent trip.
Brittany says
January 26th, 2011 at 4:42 pmI want these so bad! How do I find out if my airport has them, or do all airports have them?
Hopefully they put them online like they did some last year…. Please?!?!
Chantal says
January 30th, 2011 at 1:21 pmThis is the first MAC collection in a while I like – I want nearly everythin’ from this collection. And off course it is limited to airports and duty free stores online – that’s what I call bad luck.
Love your Blog
greetings from the Netherlands
Neh says
January 30th, 2011 at 6:55 pmI want these!!! When I travel this spring my eyes will be peeled trying to find these!
vanessa says
February 20th, 2011 at 6:15 pmi’d love for these to be available online
Alice says
March 19th, 2011 at 4:43 pmOhh these look amazing! Too bad they’re only available in duty free stores – I hope they’re still there when I travel in July 🙂
Niki says
April 19th, 2011 at 6:20 pmMac put these sets online. You can purchase them on their website.
Kristina says
April 20th, 2011 at 8:57 amthe prices in Canda on these are ridiculous 🙁