MAC x Taraji P. Henson Collection Haul & Swatches
Heeeeey, girl! It feels like it’s been forever since I updated you on my latest haul or favorite new product ’cause I’ve been so busy. Like incredibly busy. I spent most of last week preparing for Ipsy’s Generation Beauty Conference in New York which was rough. Trying to shop for clothes, shoes and makeup in between work, shooting and blogging was a lot. Needless to say, I’m pretty backed up on hauls, swatches and reviews but now that I’m back it’s time to get back to business!
Before Ipsy Gen Beauty NY, I’ve been shopping my butt off at Ulta and ordering things left and right so I have a ton of new goodies I want to share with you. First up, is the MAC x Taraji P. Henson Collection that had me dancing in my seat since MAC let the cat out of the bag on Instagram. Taraji P. Henson is testament of #blackgirlmagic with her sassy, witty personality, killer style and down to earth demeanor. She’s such a beautiful woman inside and out that I couldn’t help but to support her with her limited edition MAC collection.
Before I dig into the good, I have to talk a little about the bad. I hate that MAC didn’t give Taraji a full collection because:
A) She deserved to have a variety of sassy lipsticks, glosses and more to match her versatile style and flair
B) MAC is known to create a million collections a year geared towards fair to medium skin so it would have been nice to give us brown skin babes a good collection that runs smoothly
Don’t get me wrong. I was hella happy to see MAC collab with Taraji and I still scream, “Yaaaaaaas!” every time I open one of her limited edition Mineralize Skinfinishes. However, MAC totally short changed her, and for that, I have to give them my signature side eye. It would have been nice to have more options for us guys and gals on the deeper end of the spectrum. It would have been even more nice for MAC to not screw up her release either. The Mineralize Skinfinishes ended up being incorrectly labeled so some folks got the wrong compact. Not cool, MAC. Not cool.
But once you get pass those kinda sorta minor hiccups you’ll see that the MAC Taraji P. Henson Collection was pretty damn good. I ended up buying all of her pieces including the Highlight the Truth Mineralize Skinfinish. It’s incorrectly labeled Taraji Glow but that doesn’t take away from its beauty in the least bit. Highlight the Truth has a sheer peachy gold base and fine golden shimmer that gives a soft, buildable golden glow that looks amazing on brown skin (and lighter skin too). I love that I can sweep a little on and get a natural glow or layer it on and glow for the gods. I doubt that I’ll ever finish Highlight the Truth because it’s so massive but part of me is still kinda disappointed that it sold out and I couldn’t get a backup. You know, for just in case purposes.
I’m also crazy about the Taraji Glow Mineralize Skinfinish because it’s so insanely stunning. Usually MAC’s Mineralize Skinfinish comes in skin tone shades to be used as foundation or setting powders. Or highlighting shades to brighten and illuminate our favorite features and glow up. Some Mineralize Skinfinish shades can be used as blushes depending on your skin tone. In most cases, Mineralize Skinfinishes are best used as a face powder or highlighter for deeper skin tones but this time around MAC gave us a gorgeous shade with enough color to be used as a blush. Or warm bronzer/contour. And I live!
Taraji Glow is a coppery burnt orange with a satin finish that looks absolutely amazing on brown skin. I haven’t stopped wearing it since I got my hands on it because it works so well as a natural blush for me. I could be a little biased because I’m obsessed with orange blush but I think Taraji Glow is one of the best products MAC has put out this year. Taraji Glow gives me the perfect natural flush that adds a touch of warmth and pulls everything together. Taraji Glow is rather pigmented yet still soft and the neutral color helps it to pair well with any lip color you’re feeling at the moment.
I’m still in a bit of nude kick these days so I’m more than happy with Taraji’s Strip Me Down Lipstick. It’s a creamy peachy nude with a hint of brown and a matte finish. Strip Me Down works like a charm on dark skin divas because it’s not too pale like most nudes and it’s not too deep so it works on lighter skin too. The color is so effortless to apply and looks amazing when paired with a deeper lip liner to really make it pop. I still wish MAC gave Taraji another lipstick and maybe a couple of glosses too but I have to give them their props for nailing the color so well. It’s hard to find an effortless, easy to wear nude when you have a deeper complexion so it’s nice to have Strip Me Down around to save the day. Plus, I love the fact that it pairs so well with Highlight the Truth and Taraji Glow. They complement each other so well!
Did you order anything from the MAC x Taraji P. Henson Collection?
Highlight the Truth Mineralize Skinfinish, Taraji Glow Mineralize Skinfinish and Strip Me Down Lipstick