The MAC Selena makeup line launched yesterday (Oct. 6) in MAC Cosmetics stores, and the freak-out has begun! I was one of the many people who attended the pre-launch in Corpus Christi, and it was nothing short of amazing.
There was an estimated 12,000 people waiting in line the morning the event opened. There were two entrances, one to the Makeup Experience and the other to the Celebration portion in the American Bank Center Arena.
The Makeup Experience had wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling photos of Selena and the makeup line. There were at least 100 MAC employees in the room dancing and having fun while assisting customers with swatches of the products.
On the arena side, there was an all-female set of DJs and singers (with the exception of headliner Prince Royce), and large screens flashing attendees’ social media posts. It really was a great production put on by MAC. According to Suzette Quintanilla (Selena’s sister), it was the largest MAC launch in the history of the company. Everything ran pretty smoothly, and never did I feel that MAC dropped the ball.
What I did really want to touch on was the vibe – the all-around energy. I felt like I knew everyone there. There were times where strangers would just walk up to each other to share makeup stories or to ask if they had seen Manny MUA walking around (Side note: you should totally check out Manny MUA. He is one of my favorite YouTube influencers, and he was there, and he was perfect.).
I’ve been to at least one other large makeup event (Beautycon Dallas), and it didn’t have the magic this event had. These weren’t just lovers of makeup, they were also lovers of a vibrant Latina woman. Selena songs were playing throughout the day and evening, and it was just inspirational to feel the genuine joy from everyone. We danced, we cried, we bought makeup, and I ate a whole bag of Hot Cheetos. It was a perfect night.
So, how about a look at what I purchased? Keep in mind, I didn’t go HAM!
Item 1: Powder Blush (Techno Cumbia) ($29)
Ok. So, I bought this later in the evening after I was high off the energy of the event (and 3 drinks in), and I love it so much. I’ve been using the dark shade as a contour and the pink shade as the blush. Honestly, when I first swatched the product, I was not impressed. I felt like the pigment was not there. After I brought it home and actually used the darker shade with a brush…WOW. A little goes a very long way. I’m not super fond of the pink shade, but it does give a nice light wash of color. I feel like it would look beautiful on someone with a deeper skin tone than mine.
Item 2: Matte Lipstick (Dreaming of You) ($18)
This shade is life to me. My favorite lip products are usually matte and dark, and this fit the bill. “Dreaming of You” looks brown in the tube, but after it’s applied, it comes out a deep red wine color. I usually lean towards liquid lips, but this lipstick is easy to maneuver and has a gorgeous payoff. I’ve received a lot of compliments so far, and it’s perfect for fall. I also enjoyed that it wasn’t a drying matte. My lips stayed hydrated, but the lipstick didn’t move.
Unfortunately, the Selena line is sold out online, but it is now being sold in-store. You can take a look at the entire line here.
Thank you for reading! Let me know what you purchased from this line. Please leave a comment below or email me at thebeautybeatdown@gmail.com.
