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MAC Cosmetics Dame Edna Collection Swatches and First Impressions

by 57 Comments

I watched Dame Edna work the runway and fire up the crowd for a charity auction at Macy’s Passport earlier this year… Yup, if you’d told me then that she’d be coming out with her own MAC collection, I would have thought you were kidding, but here we are, LOL!

Here’s a sneak peak and a few swatches from the upcoming collection, which is due on counters December 26.

Like Le Grande Dame herself, the collection is a little odd. It’s heavy on blue-based shades and frosty finishes with splashes of coral. I haven’t figured out how it’s all supposed to mesh together, but I think I’ll have a better idea once MAC posts the face charts online.

What do you think of the colors?

Royal Tour Eye Shadow Trio

  • 1. Royal Tour: Shimmery cool purple
  • 2. Dame’s Desire: Frosty pale purple
  • 3. Climate Blue: Shimmery purple-blue

Wisteria Eye Shadow Trio

  • 4. Wisteria: Frosty pale Tiffany blue
  • 5. Fireshine: Frosty silver
  • 6. Divine Night: Frosty charcoal

Powders

  • 7. Spectacle!: Matte pale pink
  • 8. What a Dame!: Matte pale peach

Lipsticks

  • 9. Kanga Rouge: Creamy blue-red
  • 10. Gladiola: Matte blue-pink
  • 11. Coral Polyp: Creamy bright orange-coral

Lipglasses

  • 12. Hot Frost: Shimmery blue-pink
  • 13. Possum Nose: Bright red-coral
  • 14. Splendid: Pale pink-coral

First Impressions

The Eye Shadow Trios
Wisteria’s frosty finishes have fab bold club looks written all over ’em. I might pass, though, because these are shades I wouldn’t have many opportunities to wear.

The Royal Tour trio has me intrigued, but the shades look very familiar. Remember Climate Blue from the Cool Heat release? — and Royal Tour bears a striking resemblance to Modern Heir eyeshadow from last year’s Royal Assets: 6 Cool Eyes Palette.

Powders
The pans of both Splendid! and What a Dame! are embossed with a shimmery design. Both feel silky and soft to the touch. While these colors are too pale for my tan skin, they should look great on someone with lighter skin.

I thought it was interesting that when each pan was new and undisturbed, they delivered a mixed matte/shimmer payoff, but as soon as the designs had been brushed away, the finish looked more like a traditional matte.

Lipsticks and Lipglasses — Coral is Queen
I’m really looking forward to the coral lipstick and Lipglass shades. All three — Coral Polyp, Possum Nose and Splendid — look highly wearable and perfect for next spring and summer.

As for the remaining lip shades, well, I may pass. Kanga Rouge looks a lot like Red She Said, and Gladiola makes me think of Girl About Town. That said, Hot Frost definitely has lust-worthy pink lipgloss appeal comin’ out the wazzoo. 🙂

I’m off to dance class! Be back in a few…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. What do you think about the MAC Metal Urge eyeshadows and pigments in Gilded Ash, Cocomotion and Spiritualize?

Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. I was kinda excited about this collection until I saw the swatches 🙁 Now the only thing that appeals to me are the lipglasses, but I will probably be holding out for the Hello Kitty collection 🙂

    Reply

  8. Other than maybe the lippies, I don’t think any of these would suit my complexion at all… or be very wearable on the regular.

    Reply

  10. I’m looking forward to this collection! Still bummed about HK… anyway, I bought “Gilded Ash” Brushed Metal-X & even though most everyone HATES it… I can make it work for me. I just have to use a non-creamy base underneath. It’s BEAUTIFUL! amazing shimmery smokey brown black and everything inbetween.

    Reply

  12. Well, Karen, I’m new to MAC altogether and think this collection would be just perfect on brown girls like me. Love, love, love all the lipsticks and the shadows. Can’t wait to try the coral.

    As always, you’re right on the cusp. Thanks for the goods.

    Reply

  13. Hi Karen! Thanks for posting swatches. I’m not really feeling anything… I think I would have liked the peach powder if it had some shimmer… I want MAC to release more shimmery beauty powders, like the ones from the barbie collection!

    Reply

  14. Ok, sorry to post again… but I just looked up pictures of the actual products and I saw what you meant about the powders. They look so pretty and shimmery when brand new, I would have bought them both. And then I would have been pissed when I discovered the shimmer was only on top! So I’m glad you posted that – thanks for saving me $$$!

    Reply

  15. OOo… I was only planning to get the Possum Nose l/g, but after seeing your swatches…. I like all 3 lipglasses and I really am loving the Wisteria trio. My Christmas present from my BF is a whole bunch of stuff from the Chill collection and Dame Edna. I was mostly getting stuff from Chill, but I may have to change my mind!

    Reply

  16. Hmm, I think I have the same feelings towards this as you. I’m interested in the various coral lippies, mainly because I’m obsessed with all things coral on my lips, but the eye shadows are definitely not my cup of tea.

    Reply

  19. Oh dear. I like several of the swatches, but I HATE some of the names. Coral Polyp? Blech. That and the packaging gives me the jibblies up my spine. Sorry MAC, but Dame Edna-esque makeup is the ultimate standard of what I never want to look like. Hot Frost would be nice, but I don’t think I can push past the horrible memory flashes to use it. 🙁

    PS 78% on the essay!

    Reply

  20. Hey Karen!

    Thanks for providing these swatches. I’d been wondering what this collection would look like. It’s funny because I love Dame Edna, and I love MAC, but the two of them together, for some reason? I’m just not feeling the love. The only thing that appeals to me is Splendid.

    Oh, I think I never had a chance to finish our Twilight back and forth from your earlier post. In answer to your question, I liked the movie a lot. I just finished reading the fourth book in the series before seeing it, and I thought they got the spirit of the movie very well. What did you think?

    I’ve never gone for younger guys before, but I quite liked Robert Pattison. Between that and my Ed Westwick love I’m starting to feel like Mrs. Robinson at the age of 29 :).

    Reply

  21. as much as i am a CEML (crazy eye makeup lady) i dont think i could even rock these colors

    how was dance?? i worked with my trainer i am really sore

    Reply

  23. As much as I love Dame Edna, I couldn’t find anything to like about the MAC collection. Is it just me, or has every cosmetic company gone crazy with frost and metallics? Sure, they may be beautiful on the under 30 set, but once those pesky fine lines start developing, the frost and metallic sheen just emphasizes the problem! AAGH! I’m in my late 40’s and still love make-up (and your blog, Karen, it’s great!) I can get away with a frost on my brow area, but need to keep the rest in the pearl to matte finishes. It’s been a tough make-up season, although I’m loving MAC’s warm holiday eye palette. It’s purrrfect.

    Reply

  24. I’m lovin’ the Kanga-Rouge lipstick, definitely want that one, and the Hot Frost and Gladiola lipcolours look nice as well.

    Reply

  25. Hi Marisol,

    Thanks! I burned off a few baked Cheetoes…

    I keep hearing mixed things about Hello Kitty. I guess it’ll all come down to seeing it in person.

    Nothing will ever touch Barbie, though!

    Reply

  26. Hi Paris B.,

    It’s pretty foxy. I don’t think I’d get a ton of use out of it, though.

    I tried really hard to get a pic with Dame Edna when I saw her a few months ago but it just didn’t work out.

    Hope you’re having a nice week!

    Reply

  27. Hi Tami,

    Yeah, I think a lot of people are executing the same strategy! 🙂

    Still, the coral lip products are worth a look, unless you already have a ton of corals in your collection.

    Reply

  29. Hi Dao,

    I don’t have Flashtrack, but I already have similar shades in my stash, too.

    I do like how the frequency of the collections keeps things fresh! But yah, there are so many amazing things in the permanent line, too.

    Reply

  30. Hi Indian Girl,

    Yeah, a few of my friends have the same issues with the Lipglasses as well. At first I didn’t like how sticky they were, but the formula eventually grew on me.

    If you like light glosses you’ve gotta try the Laura Mercier Lip Glaces. 🙂

    Hope you’re having a good day…

    Reply

  32. Hi Shiny,

    Yeah… I dunno, I guess if the face charts show the looks with some more toned down colors like browns I think I can get on board. We’ll see. 🙂

    Reply

  34. Hi Megan,

    Girl, I just picked that one up in a mini-haul! I actually really love it too — on me it even has hints of khaki!

    Did you get Cocomotion? You can use ’em both for a really pretty smokey eye!

    Reply

  37. Hi Tiffany,

    ME TOO! I love the Barbie Beauty Powders. They are two of my favorite MAC products, ever.

    Did you pick up any of the loose Beauty Powders last year?

    Reply

  38. Hi Erin,

    How sweet of him! I’m at the point where El Hub and most of my family refuses to buy me any makeup as presents, boo hoo.

    What do you think you’ll end up getting from Chill?

    Reply

  43. i was excited and only interested in the powders..i was hoping they were shimmery..since they’re matte..i’ll pass and save money for hello kitty and the chill collecion coming up. thank you for the swatches! really helps. =)

    Reply

  44. Hi Faye,

    Okay, the first time I watched Twilight I didn’t get all drooly over Robert Pattison (I think I might’ve been stunned into submission with his hair). But the second time, woah, mama! Homeboy was looking pretty foxy. 🙂

    I liked the movie, but I had some trubs with the director’s heavy handed style. I just always envisioned it being much cooler on screen, and less campy. Did you hear that they are making a sequel with a new director? I wonder if they’ll keep the camp…

    Some of the visuals, though, were very stunning. I loved the blue filters and all of the scenes in the trees!

    Now that you’ve finished the Twilight series, you’ve got to read Stephanie Meyer’s book, The Host!

    Reply

  45. Hi Yadiq,

    Girl, you could work Wisteria. I know you got the CEML power!

    Dance was fun… I just wish I could get the lyrics of that “booty, booty, booty” song out of my head. There was some grinding but no breakdancing THANK GOD!

    What did you do with your trainer last night?

    Reply

  46. Hi Karen4,

    Aww, thanks girl!

    I didn’t pick that MAC palette up, but it did catch my eye when it came out! What combos have you tried?

    Oh I love frosts for pictures, but I can’t do a completely frosty eye for day looks, either.

    Reply

  48. that song is awesome lol it was playing at the gym last night lol

    breakdancing is hard!!! some people say it was born of capoeira – all muscle control lol

    we did lots of upper body work yesterday along with concentrated abs needless to say girrrrl i am sore we did lots of weights weights weights – i managed to drop 5 lbs of my vacation weight lol my goal to keep working out and get more of a beyonce-esque figure – i think its feasable but i need to totally cut sweets and cut my carbs which makes me angry and moody

    i need today to end already its 4:33 here on the east coast still have an hour and half till i can leave yo!

    i dunno abt wisteria kinda too easter for me

    Reply

  49. Hey Karen! I totally agree! I have them both and love them. I’m afraid to use them too often because I don’t wanna run out, lol.

    I actually didn’t buy the loose ones – I was so excited about them but when I saw them in person they looked too glittery (instead of shimmery) so I passed on them…

    Reply

  50. It looks to me like MAC is officially now catering to the Drag Queen niche market… love Dame Edna, but never really wanted to emulate her “style!” LOL

    Reply

  53. I would have bought Royal Tour, but I already have Climate Blue & Wisteria looks like one of the Heatherette palettes.

    As for Metal Urge – I love Gilded Ash & Verdigris! I have Cocomotion from a previous collection & Spiritualized is an unusual colour for a pigment. I think I preffered Gilded Green from Colourforms, but both are nice for layering & blending.

    Reply

  54. I think I’m going to be looking at the lipsticks from Dame Edna, but the eyeshadows could be duped with what I have (maybe Aquadisac/Parrot and Satin Taupe for the Wisteria set??).

    Thanks for the swatches..love me some reds and purples! 🙂

    Reply

  55. Thank you Karen for these awesome swatches!!

    One more time I am excited for this new collection – two l/s, two l/s, one Eye Trio and one Powder for me!

    Have a great day!!

    Reply

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