MAC Beth Ditto: Powder to the People

Tomorrow, MAC will be launching a new and limited edition collection in collaboration with Beth Ditto. It features a total of 24 products —13 of which are new and limited edition, five of which are re-promotes, and six of which are permanent. Beth Ditto sees the release of a new and limited edition product called Powder to the People, which can be used to "create highlighting effects on your eyes." It consists of five shades, with one base shade and four polka dots. Powder to the People comes in regular black packaging. Each compact comes with 11 grams of product, and retails for $45.

Powder to the People

Powder to the People (swatches)

The base colour is a light-medium bubble gum pink that leans slightly cool. It seems to have a Satin finish. It has a dry and slightly powdery texture, so it applies rather patchy. It has light-medium pigmentation and semi-sheer colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is cooler than Da Bling, and slightly warmer and much less frosted than Swish.

One of the polka dots is a light-medium dirty peach-orange. It seems to have a Matte finish. The texture is slightly dry, but it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is darker than Samoa Silk, and lighter and more orange than Arena.

One of the polka dots is a medium-dark terracotta brown. It seems to have a Satin finish. It has a soft, silky texture and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is darker than Soft Brown, and more reddened than Texture.

One of the polka dots is a light lemon yellow. It seems to have a Matte finish. It has a dry and slightly powdery texture, so it applies rather patchy. It has light-medium pigmentation and semi-sheer colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is lighter and much softer than Chrome Yellow (PRO only), and lighter and much less frosted than Goldmine.

One of the polka dots is a medium-dark electric blue. It seems to have a Satin finish. The texture is slightly dry, but it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is lighter and less bright than Electric Eel, and lighter and more teal than Freshwater.

Powder to the People will appeal more so to avid MAC collectors, and perhaps Beth Ditto fans who like the whimsy of such a product. Some people might buy it just because it looks interesting and unique. Many will be confused as how to use this product, since it's not really listed as an eyeshadow palette — I think most people will think this is a face powder and be tempted to swirl it together to use on their cheeks (the resulting colour will be akin to a light bruise, so be forewarned). That having been said, you can absolutely use this palette in other ways than just an eyeshadow palette; for example, you could use the darker brown shade for contouring, and the peach and pink shades as blush colours. In terms of texture and pigmentation, the best shade was by far the dark brown polka dot; the other four are really lacking in these departments, though they will work significantly better over an eye primer. It is a really cute-looking product, but for its actual use as eyeshadows, there are definitely dupes within MAC's permanent range that will perform much better.