MAC Alluring Aquatics - Swatches, Reviews

In this first post I will be sharing with you some pictures (otherwise known as packaging porn!) and swatches of the new MAC Cosmetics Alluring Aquatics collection.
This collection was out online on May 15 ( I think) and I managed to get three of the lipsticks and one of the bronzers.

First off: the packaging.
This collection is housed in a GORGEOUS metallic blue (aqua?) packaging textured to look like it is sprinkled with water droplets. I haven't been this in love with a lipstick case since Liberty of London x MAC collaboration. Remember those?

No actual water was used for the taking of these photographs.

I'll start with the lipsticks. I got three of the five shades offered in this collection: Pet Me, Please, Goddess Of The Sea, and Siren Song. (pictured below in that order) For reference, I have a light/medium skintone (in MAC speak, I'm about an NW20-25 )

The first one I'm going to show you is Pet Me, Please. I honestly don't know where the name comes from, and I think it's kinda weird but whatever. I like this color. It is described on the website as a "light, shimmering Mauve" in a frost finish.

She photographs great, too.

The texture feels creamy, a bit on the dry side, but it definitely has good color payoff. I really like how this one looks, and I can't wait to use it in an actual makeup look that sort of ties it all together.

Pet Me, Please 

 

 

Next up is Goddess Of The Sea. The website states this is a "Dark, vibrant violet" and it is a Cremesheen formula.

I honestly don't think I paid attention to the Cremesheen part, otherwise I probably wouldn't have bought this. It's a pretty color in the tube, and it's a pretty color on the lips. I would not describe it as vibrant, it's more of a muted violet if anything. It applied a bit streaky and quickly migrated into the fine lines around my lips, so this one definitely needs a bit of work (lipliner, concealer, the works). I do, however, think it is a great shade for those who want to wear a dark lip ( everyone wants to look like Lorde, admit it.) but are afraid of going full goth chick. Also, maybe, a "daytime-appropriate" (whatever that means) purple lip.

check out those lines, yo' 

Last of the lipsticks is Siren Song. It is a "sheer, pale beige" lustre...

Fancy, isn't it?

... and it might as well be a glorified lip balm. I first saw this one on Jeffree Star's Instagram and thought: " need!!!" but when I swatched it it was quickly turned to " how am I going to make this work?". Here's the thing: my lips are quite pale, so this does not show up on me AT. ALL. I'm guessing with a darker lip liner it would make a nice ombré type lip, or maybe to top a matte lip color and make it, well, not matte without making it too glossy I could definitely wear it, but on its own it does absolutely nothing for me. (someone with pigmented lips would rock this, though. Big time.)

See? :(

Last, but certainly not least, the bronzer. I got the shade Delphic, which the website describes as "soft brick tan with a touch of fine shimmer".

I'd say you can definitely see the shimmer if you're looking at it in the pan, but it does not translate to the skin, which might be a good thing. I don't really like my bronzers to be shimmery, I prefer them to be matte because then you can multitask with them (bronze, blush, contour, etc). That being said, this is definitely not a flat finish, and I think it's quite pretty. The powder feels really smooth to the touch, I almost felt like I didn't catch any product when I swatched it, it's so light! MAC says it wears for ten hours, but I have yet to test that out so I can't talk about wear and staying power. I think this is a nice bronzer for light/medium skintones, as it isn't too orange or in-your-face.

Blended out, applied heavily

In hindsight, I wish I would've had the chance to see swatches/reviews of these shades before purchasing them, but with MAC's limited edition collections it's kind of impossible. I really wish they'd fix that in the future, but I don't think they really care about their customers making informed decisions. I like everything I got, and I definitely will wear all of it, but other than the GORGEOUS PERFECT packaging I'm not blown away.

What do you think of the MAC Alluring Aquatics collection? Did you manage to get anything? Do share!

Until next time,
-Tat