MAC x Brooke Candy

Apart from some absolutely awesome collections, another thing I love about MAC is that I get to learn about so many interesting personages that I hadn’t heard of before. Case in point, Brooke Candy for whom this latest collection is named for (for those of you who’ve been living in a cave like I have, Brooke Candy is an American rapper & singer with a strong digital presence and a fiercely independent personality to match). Recently launched, this relatively small (at least, by MAC standards) MAC x Brooke Candy Collection comes in reflective chrome packaging that’s not easy to keep fingerprint-free, but I love how sleek and futuristic it looks (plus the black splatter is pretty cool).

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MAC x Brooke Candy

Night Crawler & Whirl Lip Pencils (CAN $21.50) | An ultra-smooth lip pencil formula that glides effortlessly along the lips without any tugging or pulling. Long lasting, each shade can also be used to not only line but fill in the entire lip.

Night Crawler – deep plum (BONUS: can even double as an eye liner, in a pinch)
Whirl (permanent) – dirty rose

MAC x Brooke Candy | Night Crawler & Whirl Lip Pencils

MAC x Brooke Candy | Witching Hour & Whirl Lipsticks

MAC x Brooke Candy | lipstick and lip pencil swatches

Whirl Matte Lipstick, permanent (CAN $22.50) | A brown based dirty rose hue in a matte finish that still manages to have a bit of sheen, helping to keep the colour from appearing too flat and/or one-dimensional. The texture is buttery soft and glides easily along the lips without any tugging, delivering excellent opacity from the very first swipe. With a good mix of both cool and warm undertones in the base, this shade will suit a broad range of skin tones and can even be switched up by layering a lip gloss on top.

MAC x Brooke Candy | Whirl Matte Lipstick & Whirl Lip Pencil

MAC x Brooke Candy | Whirl Matte Lipstick with Whirl Lip Pencil swatch

Witching Hour Matte Lipstick (CAN $22.50) | A rich purple hue with blue undertones in the base, in a matte formula that nevertheless bears a light sheen for extra dimension. With a shade this intense, you definitely need some prep work i.e.: lips need to be exfoliated to eliminate any flakes (which this lipstick will certainly enhance) and a matching lip liner is an absolute must to get that sharply defined edge. The texture is surprisingly soft and easy to apply, with a staying power that lasts easily 9+ hours, although you’ll do get some fading along the inner rim of lips.

MAC x Brooke Candy | Witching Hour Matte Lipstick with Night Crawler Lip Pencil

MAC x Brooke Candy | Witching Hour Matte Lipstick with Night Crawler Lip Pencil swatch

MAC x Brooke Candy | Witching Hour Matte Lipstick with Night Crawler Lip Pencil (direct sunlight)

White-Yin Studio Eye Gloss (CAN $27.50) | A clear base with prismatic shimmer, this is an eye product that can be worn alone, or applied over eye shadow to enhance pigment. The texture is quite thick & dense and the feel is definitely sticky (which does not dry down, by the way), with the shimmer packing a major WOW factor. There’s a learning curve in knowing how to use an eye gloss; over an existing eyeshadow or base shade, it’s best to use either fingers or a flat synthetic haired brush and then apply with a light patting motion to prevent the product underneath from lifting. My preferred way is on bare lids (which have been primed) for a uniquely editorial glossy eye, although even with primer I do experience some creasing –that can still be easily blended back in; due to the light colour of White-Yin, the crease factor is thankfully not as visible as it would have been with a darker shade. BONUS: you can even dab on a light touch along the upper cheekbones for a unique new twist on strobing.

MAC x Brooke Candy | White-Yin Studio Eye Gloss

MAC x Brooke Candy | White-Yin Studio Eye Gloss swatches

To sum up this collection in one word, that would be: COOL. As in über-hip. Obviously, the Whirl shades (both the lipstick and the lip pencil, the latter which I already own in the regular packaging) are the easiest for most people to pull off, and while both Witching Hour and Night Crawler are way outside my comfort zone, I confess to really loving the mysterious and almost-hypnotic effect on my lips once applied. I then went even further and wore the dark lip combo with the White-Yin Eye Gloss plus loads of mascara and you know what? I really love the look – which just proves that you don’t need a ton of products to get your edge on. Just the courage to try something new, in my case.

The MAC x Brooke Candy Collection is available now at MAC Boutiques and via www.maccosmetics.ca