MAC unveils its Christmas line

As the doors to the MAC outlet at Westmall flew open last Tuesday, crowds eager to get their hands on the brand’s new Christmas collection rushed in. The sight of buff young men serving canapés and drinks didn’t hurt either. The tartan-clad model at the door exemplified the deeper, bolder shades that the collection called A Tartan Tale, is becoming known for.

With names like Dashing Lassie eye shadows, Dazzle the Lads lip bag and the Violet My Love Lash & Line Kit, the collection covers all the in-winter colours this season. New York-based senior MAC makeup artist Fatima Thomas noted that for winter, deeper muted colours and jewel tones are all the rage. The darker and richer, the better.

“And those darker colours are great for smoky eyes. Instead of the traditional charcoal and greys, try doing the smoky eye in plum or a deep teal. You can even do a smoky eye in a dark brown or a deep burgundy.”
Thomas has worked on the faces of stars like Fergie, Alicia Keys, Jill Scott and Mary J, and mentioned that makeup trends are changing a little when it comes to pairing a dramatic eye look with lip colour.

“What we’re starting to see backstage is a bold eye done with a somewhat colourful lip. But if the eye is the focus, you don’t want the lip to overpower the eye, but the lip doesn’t have to be nude or naked, just somewhat softer. For this season, there also is a lot of emphasis on a bold lip with a softer, more neutral eye. We’re seeing a lot more reds, soft red, fuchsias and even darker colours for the lips. There are also a lot of curled lashes.”

Each of the kits and bags in MAC’s A Tartan Tale come in six-colour palettes that were inspired by the highlands of Scotland and the beauty of tartan fabrics, Thomas said, but can easily be cross matched with other palettes and textures. Think russets and coppers, emerald greens and dark jeweled blues and profound pinks.

“We’ve taken the guesswork out of building a wardrobe and done that for you.” The cute tartan patterned bags and tins also make great gift sets, she added. Makeup makes no sense without the perfect outfit to set it off, and Thomas suggested that more structured, tailored clothing is what’s in for this holiday season.

As for finding the right palette for your skin tone, Thomas said: “It’s just about adjusting the intensity of the colour. So women of a deeper skin tone, even if you want to wear pastels, you need to find a richness and intensity to it so that it looks good on your skin without looking ashy. Just like someone with a darker skin tone, if women of a medium skin tone wanted to find a pink lipstick, you have to find one that flatters your skin. With medium dark skin, it’ll probably end up being a medium to dark pink.”