Okay, so this collection was launched online last Tuesday at noon, and the surge of traffic on MAC's website was so intense that it took a full minute for the order page to actually show up and then over three hours for my order to process. I don't have a particular interest in Rihanna herself, but when I saw the initial photos and swatches of the products, I ended up loving the colours quite a lot so I thought I would attempt to get my hands on them (when her lipstick, RiRi Woo, was initially launched in May — also as an online-exclusive — it sold out in a couple hours so my expectations of actually getting these products were quite low). I actually didn't think my order would go through at all until, three hours later, the page finally showed my shopping cart with the items ready for check-out. Sadly, as this post goes up, the majority of the collection is sold out (as of today, however, RiRi Woo is still available for purchase). I thought I would post it, anyway, just for those who were curious as to what the shades look like.
Barbados Girl is a medium warm copper-bronze with a hint of rose and a shimmery pearl finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. The consistency is thin, like a very watery lotion, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has low pigmentation and sheer colour pay-off. It dries fairly quickly; fast enough that you can layer it easily, but not so fast that you can't blend it out well. There is nothing similar to this in MAC's permanent range; it is darker and more copper than Sun Rush, and darker and more bronze than Pink Rebel.
Lustre Drops is an often underrated, over-looked product from MAC. It is technically a liquid illuminating bronzer, or as MAC likes to call it, "liquid sun." Because of its incredibly fluid texture, it's especially ideal for mixing into foundation or moisturizer to add an illuminating effect while adding a subtle warmth. However, used on its own, Barbados Girl does add a beautiful, subtle bronze lustre to whatever it's on top of, whether it's bare skin, foundation, or blush. It wears incredibly well, over eight hours on its own, so it's also ideal to use on the body. I like that this is a more subtle liquid illuminator, as well — I find that Strobe Cream (or Liquid) is often too pearlized and too light for many skintones, and Cream Colour Base is too metallic. Barbados Girl is a darker option in the Lustre Drops family, and it does add a more tanned effect than both Sun Rush and Pink Rebel (which are permanent), so the shade itself is ideal for summer.
I used to want Lustre Drops badly years ago when I had no idea what they were used for, lol. It was shiny and pretty, so naturally you want it in a collection. I like that they come in realistically finishable sizes, too.
ReplyDeleteLOL @ "It was shiny and pretty, so naturally you want it in a collection." OBVIOUSLY.
DeleteHaha, yeah, MAC doesn't write explanations on their products as to what it does because they rely on their make-up artists to show and teach consumers. :P
But, yeah, Lustre Drops are definitely an underrated product from MAC. They're such a nice, subtle option for illumination and glow. I prefer them to Strobe Cream/Lotion, for sure. But, of course, I prefer powders over liquids at all times, lol.