MAC seems to have more and more available every Christmas! Currently they've got a colour collection - Magic, Mirth and Mischief! - out and they have a tonne of gifty-type kits and sets as well as their annual Kids Helping Kids holiday cards and gift tags available.
To help you decide whether your local MAC counter or store is worth a stop on your shopping list, I've gone ahead and offered my take on what you should definitely get and what you should skip. Whether you're shopping for gifts or for yourself, here's what you should know!
Lip Kits ($27 CDN/$22.50 US)
L to R. Barely Visible, Floating Lightly, Heavenly Dish
L to R. Sweet Smile, Laugh A Lot, Tickled
Possessed By Pink Lip Kit - Two lovely neutral pink lipsticks - Tickled and Laugh A Lot and a wear with anything lipgloss - Sweet Smile. Laugh A Lot is a gorgeous shade that would work on most complexions, as is Tickled, though it is deeper and would look better on medium skin tones. All are very wearable and would work on most complexions. Buy it for Laugh A Lot. SKIP
Eye Kits ($44.50 CDN/$36 US)
Top L to R. Oh My Darling, Dare Ya!, Sorcery
Bottom L to R. Gold Tease, Prankster, Devilishly Dark
6 Devil May Dare Warm Eye Shadows - This is a collection of warm-toned, fashion-forward colours with the rich pigmentation and shimmer. Six shades that would work together very very well, or each on their own or with other colours including the gorgeously rich Sorcery, Prankster and Gold Tease. PICK
Top L to R. Cool Incantation, Blue Enchantment, Deep Secret
Bottom L to R. Shhh, Don't Tell, Rose Potion, Violet Vow
6 Mystic Cool Eye Shadows - A collection of cool-toned shadows ranging from a brilliant shimmery turquoise to a violet-toned coll brown. I didn't think I'd like this palette as much as I do. Obviously, the two bluey shades leap right out at you and scream for your attention but the four other shades are neutral enough to make this palette a collection of wearable colours - together or alone. PICK
Top L to R. Fire In Her Eyes, Wide-Eyed Wonder, Black Magique
Bottom L to R. Spell No. 9, Deception, Smoke & Mirrors
6 Smoke and Mirrors Eye Shadows - A collection of warm browns ranging from the covetable Smoke & Mirrors (chocolate brown) and Wide-Eyed Wonder (smokey taupe) to the wear anytime, anywhere, with anything warm neutrals Spell No. 9 and Deception. This is one of the strongest eye palettes available from MAC this season. PICK
Top L to R. White Rabbit, Hold My Gaze, Edge of Dark
Bottom L to R. Magnetized, Hypnotizing, Altered State
6 Sorceress Eye Shadows - Six eyeshadows ranging from a blue-purple to a cool-olive tone. Buy it if you like deeper tones in slightly dramatic colours. These are good, safe colours in greens, greys and purples. Buy it for Edge of Dark and Altered State. SKIP
Face Kits ($44.50 CDN/$38 US)
L to R. Pretty Baby, Sunsparked, Peachykeen
Hocus Pocus Colourful Face Kit - A set of three cooler-toned pink powders for the face. Peachykeen is a peach-pink blush Pretty Baby is a soft pink powder that can be used all over your face, as a blush or a highlighter and it's found in the slide-out trays below the shimmery warm apricot-beige highlighter Sunsparked Pearl Beauty Powder and the coral-apricot Peachykeen Sheertone Shimmer Blush. This is the best of the two face kits if you've got fair skin, although both are soft and sheer enough most skin tones can wear both. PICK
L to R. Golden Bronze, Buffed & Polished, Sunbasque
Fab-racadabra Bronze Face Kit - The Fab-racadabra kit contains warmer tonesto give anyone's skin tone an easy glow. In the bottom tray is Golden Bronzing Powder, a soft gold shimmery highlighter and above it are the gorgeous shimmery bronze-gold of the Buffed & Polished Iridescent Powder and the very pretty coral-gold Sunbasque Sheertone Shimmer Blush. PICK
No swatches from us unfortunately, but there are (as always) some excellent ones from two of our favourite beauty bloggers Temptalia and Karla Sugar.
Happy Shopping!
C.