I went into my local MAC yesterday, to check out the collection. In the back room they had the Color Collection (individual items) which releases tomorrow, Thursday 17 and the Stroke of Midnight Collection (the deco pouches with various kits) which releases 24 Oct. They did not have the Nocturnals (sets of pigments, glosses, and tastitints) - the MUA said they'd be released in stores on Nov. 3 - she's a sweetie and she had just been to the training the day before and i trust her. I don't want the glosses or tastitints, but i do want a set of pigments and i will have to test so i can narrow it down - the package is a good deal, but i really can't afford to buy them all.
I went in certain i wouldn't buy much, based on what i've read and seen here, i figured i could exert self-control, since i bought little or nothing from a number of summer releases. This time they were making pre-sales! which she said they're now only doing for holiday collections - they stopped doing them a few years ago. I'm such a weakling for beautiful colors! And i bought way too much.
I completely skipped the Stroke of Midnight kits. I think this is the classiest MAC Holiday packaging i have seen in years and years. These are for sophisticated adults, with the beautiful and versatile deco/mod design. And the choice of items in each kit is well thought out. But i'm just not a fan of kits.
I tested everything from the Color Collection on my inner arm and a few things on my face. I thought i'd get 1 or 2 lipsticks, 1 gloss, 1 blush, 1 MSF, 2 eyeshadows, and Military nail polish. Well, i didn't.
LIPSTICKS
I planned to skip Private Party (i have enough lipsticks in this color) and Prepare For Pleasure (since i don't wear bright red). I knew i'd get Exclusive Event because i've had a thing for brown lipsticks since i was in jr. hi. in the very early 1960s, and i had two brown creme/satin lipsticks from Biba in the late 60s/early 70s. But after testing I caved and got Flair For Finery, a lovely nude pink MLBB color, and You've Got It, which, as frosty as it is, will play nicely with other lipsticks - and i'm an old lady who remembers when frosts were new in the mid to late 60s, so i may wear it alone for nostalgia's sake - and i live in California, original home of frosty lips.
CREMESHEEN GLASSES
I though i'd get only You've Got It, but some how Private Party won me over too. The glosses and lipsticks with the same names go together, but they are not exactly alike. PP gloss was a slightly greyed mauve-pink with shimmer that will work with my purple lipsticks. Mmm-mmm-mmm.
MINERALIZE EYE SHADOWS
I chose from among only 4, since i knew i wouldn't buy Gilded Night (gold & black) or Tonight's Temptation (black & blue). I ended up getting Captivating (white gold with deep gold) and Until Dawn (soft gold - a lavender-pink gold - with purple taupe). All were difficult to get much color onto my inner arm, but i have faith they will work on my eyes.
MSF
I knew i'd get Centre of Attention, and thought it would be my only one. But i caved in to the beauty of Scene to be Seen. What can i say, i'm Team Purple.
MINERALIZE BLUSH
I got both the sheer and easy to wear Talk of the Town and the richly pigmented Lavish Living, which i tested on my face to see if i could make it work - and i did.
OTHERS
Stares & Speculation Fluidline is such a beauty with its gold sheen and looks great on my hazel eyes' I have the others so i could skip them. And i could skip the Kohl Power Pencils, since i have all except Feline & i don't wear black eye liner. I also got Military Nail Lacquer, which will go so well with my Grey Friday and Firm Form lipsticks.
It was all way way more than i normally spend, but i'm a pushover for MSFs and the new Mineralize Blushes and beautiful colors.
Now, back to reading 40 pages of posts!