When I saw the MAC Christmas Collection press release images back when they released the preview press shots (August? September?), my heart skipped a beat at both the packaging which left me drooling, as well as some of the products themselves. Last Thursday as I was driving into work I was pondering to myself about when the launch was actually going to come out (as you do), and my subconcious must have known because it was infact that day.
I ended up missing the online sale in the morning and everything I wanted was sold out by the time I’d realised it had launched, when lunchtime rolled round I picked up my car keys, practically ran to my car and said a little prayer en-route that the masses of teenagers on half term break hadn’t ransacked the store already AND that the store actually had the items in yet and it wasn’t an early online release. Luckily, both prayers were answered, not only did they have the stock, but most of the items in the store hadn’t even been swatched yet no one had got to them (whilst I hate swathing my own products for the first time, I do enjoy swathing other peoples!)
Unlike last years Christmas Collection which was pretty bright and punchy colours across the board in their Nutcracker theme. This year’s Snowball collection is pretty muted in comparison and is all about that glow with a few pops of red, for the most part it’s all about sparkle and shine. The packaging is in gorgeous rich golds and bronzes which has a gorgeous frost effect over it, the makeup collector in me had to have it.
MAC Snowball Shimmer and Spice Lipstick (£16.50)
I will say that the shade selection of lipsticks was in my opinion pretty boring, a lot of the colours were pretty samey and most were in the frost finish. I ended up picking Shimmer and Spice because it was both out of my comfort zone of what I normally wear – if I’m going to go frost, I’ll go full frost – and as well as it being completely unique in my collection. Even looking at Temptalia’s comparisons there’s nothing that’s super close to being a dupe so I feel like this was a good choice. It’s a hard colour to describe, but it’s a red-bronze duo chrome shimmer with hints of rich coppers and golds. The coverage seems semi sheer but buildable, but I think Ill end up getting most use out of this when layered over a liquid lipstick. I actually can’t wait to play with this a bit more as I don’t own anything similar in the slightest.
MAC Snowball Face Bag Peach / Contains Highlight, Fan brush & Makeup Bag (£35)
Of course the highlight I wanted had to only come in a bloody set! The collection features 4 highlighters, two of which are available individually, the other two are available in this kit, again available individually – I think personally it’s a bit of a swizz because if you want both set you end up with the same bag and brush twice, however the value of the set actually isn’t that bad IMO.
The other highlighters in this collection are £26 and are less of a special finish, these have the glittery duo-chromey hue that alludes to more expense. Add to that that the brush by itself is normally £35.50 – so if I’m looking at is as if I’ve paid another £9 for a brush (which seems lovely quality) and then a free bag I think the price is actually pretty decent.
The quality of the bag is nice enough for a freebie, but it’s not the nicest quality bag, the fur bobble feels very cheap, the sequins are easily going to pull off because they’re not properly sewn down and overall it’s very thin feeling, it is quite pretty, albeit a little tacky.
MAC Oil Control Lotion Mini & MAC Fix + Mini (£10 Each)
I’d mentioned that I was running low of my new BFF Oil Control Lotion in my favourites post and I knew within the next week or so I was bound to run out, to save myself having to come back to town (and potentially risk buying something else from the Snowball Collection), I decided it was wise to pick it up now. This stuff is magic for my oily face, especially minimising oil production on my T-Zone.
Lastly was a product I’ve not had in a while, Fix +, I know some people absolutely swear by this as a setting spray and I never got along with it, I tried, but it didn’t work for me. I do however like it for wetting a brush for eye-shadows and I thought the smaller size would both be better for travel, and due to be really only needing a tiny amount at a time would last me a lot longer if I kept it exclusively for eyes. I’d rather have a smaller bottle taking up less space!
Let me know if you picked anything up from MAC recently, or the Snowball Collection in the comments!
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The outer packaging of the lipstick and highlighter look glitzy and super Christmassy! I love the MAC minis too! Shimmer and Spice does look nice, have you worn it properly yet? x
I haven’t swatched it yet (other than in store!), nor the highlighter I’m not happy with the pictures I took yet for when I review the light wasn’t on my side at the weekend! It is such a fun collection for Christmas!
Can’t use it until it’s photographed haha #bloggerlife
I know I sorted out a pile of stuff I need to photograph this weekend last night! there’s so much I want to use but can’t!
This collection is so appealing to the eye! Love it.
It really is, I can’t bring myself to swatch anything yet!
Such a pretty collection. I really need to try that oil control lotion though xxx
Oil Control is my new hero! The collection is lovely! x
I really really want the Mac Christmas collection! It s my bday soon so I ve dropped hints on several occasions to my boyfriend so fingers crossed โบ๏ธxx
haha my husband would have never gotten that hint, had to take matters into my own hands! fingers crossed for you! x
The packaging ๐๐
I know ๐๐๐
All the packaging is so gorgeous! Such a pretty collection! I love that snowflake too!
I can’t bring myself to ruin the snowflake!
Such pretty packaging! The highlighter is so gorgeous, love the snowflake pattern! It must be really hard trying not to ruin it haha
I can’t bring myself to swatch it and the more I look at it the more I don’t want to haha!
Thanks for sharing – great review!
Thank you! x
Can’t define how classy it looks!!
I know right, such a pretty collection!
Love your blog! ๐Check out mine for everything beauty & makeup related! โบ๏ธ xx
Thanks Alice, I’ll take a look when I get home tonight xx
The packaging is so beautiful, especially the highlighter! x
Agreed! Not sure I can bring myself to use it!
Lovely items, esp that lipstick is so pretty!
I can’t wait to use the lipstick, I’m already planning Christmas makeup looks around it!
This collection is so pretty. That highlighter; I wouldn’t be able to use it lol.
The more I look at the highlighter the more I don’t want to use it!
So much goodies coming from mac right now x
I know, I go through phases with MAC where I find their new collections boring, but this one is certainly very pretty and has some different products!
I agree. I kind of bore of Mac after a while and I have to admit I have recently started to frequent benefit which I’m loving but the Christmas collection from mac has restored my faith in the brand! It’s just so nice.
That highlighter looks so gorgeous, I wouldn’t even want to use it! But the MAC Fix+ is one of my favorite setting sprays… I need to pick up another bottle of it. Thanks for sharing your haul! x
Valerie
I haven’t been able to bring myself to swatch anything yet! I want to make sure I’ve gotten perfect pictures of it documented before I do!
The packaging in this year’s holiday collection is to die for, I’m just not too sure that I’d get any use out of the products. They all look beautiful, though!
I can’t bring myself to swatch anything yet, there’s some really pretty single shadows in the collection but I decided not to get them because I already had things very similar.
Wow โคโคโคโค
Beautiful isn’t it!
Love the mini bottle of Fix Plus–I’ve never tried it before because I’m a die hard fan of UD All Nighter as far as setting sprays go. However, I have wanted to try Fix Plus for eyeshadows, so this would be a good option.
After my first bottle of fix plus I moved onto UD for face setting and trialled it with eyeshadows but just wasnโt as impressed so a mini bottle should keep me going for a while
The packaging is super gorgeous! I can’t wait to see swatches and thoughts on the lipstick and highlighter x
I don’t know if I can bring myself to use the highlighter that’s the only problem!
๐ It is very pretty. Should just be a decoration x
maybe I should hang it on my tree ๐๐
๐ xx
Gosh, the packaging is simply gorgeous!
I know! Still havenโt convinced myself to swatch what I bought! Itโs too pretty!
Haha I donโt blame you! ๐
I really like the theme this year although it reminds me a bit of the MAC Mariah Carey collection. That highlighter is gorgeous! Not bad to have a matching brush – I find the holiday brushes as as good as their regular lines usually. I haven’t been too caught up in MAC LE collections lately – perhaps I’m over them now?
This is the first one that I caved for this year, the last thing I got LE was the Mariah Lipstick – I agree though MAC release too much to keep up with and it’s all so samey each year.
What a lovely haul! That highlighter is sooo nice its unreal! I skipped on it this year but I did get a few other things from the collection.
http://www.xxojess.com
Oooh what did you get! I’m tempted to go back for more, I almost don’t want to use what I got, it’s too pretty!
The Christmas collection is absolutely beautiful ๐ x
Totally agree ๐ป๐ป
This collection is so beautiful ๐ might have to make a quick trip to mac in the morning ๐ love it.
that highlighter really is stunning!! .co
This collection is gorgeous! I really want the highlighters!! (And the lipsticks, actually… I just want everything!!!) โค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธ Great post <3