Ok Liba.... after MUCH torment I THINK I have somewhat of a list compiled...
Lipsticks:
Private Party
Exclusive Event
CSG:
You've Got It
Private Party
MB: Lavish Living
MSF: Perfectly Poised
Stroke of Midnight Violet lip bag
SO.... Pretty Please tell me if you think I've gotten this right... or if there's anything that should go or be added?
I'm NC 30/35. C4 in F&B.
I REALLY don't want to over-buy. And I can't really try in person, since I have to buy online to get my PRO discount. I never return anything. And will feel crappy if I overspend on things I don't love. So I'm using the "skip if I'm not 100% sure" approach Mac-Guy has endorsed several times (that I always seem to ignore despite my better judgement)! I really want to show some restraint with this collection... Just to prove I can! LOL And also because there's so much to look forward to with PC and the new ED Collections!
Thanks for ALL your help! You're the bee's knees!! HeeHee
Did you miss Riri Nude? Or are you wearing it so much, you're sad you don't have a BU? Exclusive Event is a 98% dupe of Nude (100% with Stone) If you said YES to either question, EE is a buy. Otherwise, it'd just be a hoarding thing. For me, Nude is a teeny weeny bit better than EE, because there's a really subtle pink undertone that just barely shows up. EE is missing that, but it's almost dumb to care about it, unless every time you wear Nude you are wishing it could only be a scientific fraction warmer.
Private Party ls and csg are both musts. If you don't already have You've Got It csg, it's great to own - it's the least orangey nude csg MAC's done in years and not too light.
Do you love Just a Bite? Do you wear a lot of red lipsticks? Prepare For Pleasure is the surprise color of the collection for me. Some more neutral reds look dull on me, not bright and vibrant, but this one is just the right balance to look super rich and glowing and it's got that same amazing texture of JAB. I'd get this one instead of EE if you already have plenty of Riri Nude and wear red lips. I didn't think the csg that goes with was as special and am skipping it.
Lavish Living FOR SURE for you!!! I thought all 3 MBs were crazy awesome but if you have to have just one, LL is the one for you. It's unique.
Perfectly Poised is one I didn't go into here, but on me, the main color behaves like a deeper CoA main color (very sheer), it's not orangey on me but it is warm. The highlight is similar but gentler in color as STBS - again, from one angle you don't even see it and from another angle Woah Metallic Pink! I still think this is the safest of the 3 MSFs and least unique. If you really want to save money, you should try all 3 MSFs on in person then afterwards order online - I don't think these MSFs are going to sell out so fast that you won't be able to do this because I bet Temptalia is going to rag on them and they're all going to be hard to photograph. I do think all 3 will work really well on you, even CoA!
Finally, if you like fluidlines that are more mid-tone than dark, I didn't get a chance to say how gorgeous Stares & Speculations is. It is totally NOT the glittery type like Deliciously Rich - it is just amazing metallic sheen. On me it's a perfect, slightly olive, golden pewter. Just the sort of color I usually can't wear. It's dark enough you can do winged liner and have the wing show up softly, but it's light enough and smooth enough that it makes a great base for the MES, which combine very well with it. If Local Wares was too dark and too olive for your taste, you're going to love S&S - to me, it was a must buy, but it's going to look different on a lot of people. It might look close on you, though, if you're not darker around the eyes than the rest of your skin.
I know for me, based on the swatches I saw, I am much more into this collection's shadows than the Magnetic Nude ones - a lot of those are going to be too light for me and too frosty compared to the unusually velvety MES here. I'm going to skip all of the EDES and am going to be picky about the new EDSFs. I think these MSFs are going to wind up being more unique. So my money's going to this collection and Punk Couture but Magnetic Nude will be my restraint collection. You know me - I don't like to be an auto-enabler, but I think this collection is pretty special in a way that's more understated than the usual Mineralize collection and is great for olive and NC/mixed red + sallow skin better than a lot of MAC collections.
So, I hope I haven't been too confusing or make you feel like you have to get wild 'n crazy, but I want you to get the most unique things, if they work for you. Wait till it's in-store, check it all out, then order online - you won't miss out!