Customer Service Email

[Twinkle_Twinkle]

I would have posted this in the Parrot Re-Release thread, but it was too off-topic, so I thought better of it.

I have been thinking about this recently, and I the more I reflect on it, the more annoyed I get. It is just so frustrating that so many of the MSF are completely unflattering on deeper skin tones.

There are some people with light/medium skintones who can wear all of the MSF's, some with fairer skintones who might stray away from some of the darker colors, but there are a lot of us who simply can't wear some of the shades at all because they are unflattering, and there are many shades that can only be used as a highlighter because they'd be to light anywhere else on the face. The issue has popped up once or twice in other threads, so I decided to write a email to Customer Service and I thought I would share what I wrote:

Hello - I am an avid user of MAC color products, and while I am aware that it takes more than a few requests and inquires to influence new collection colors or re-releases of past collections, I felt that I did want to share my concern that so many of the Mineralize Skinfinishes do not compliment darker skin tones. I am NW45 and really like the texture MSF's but the lightness many of the colors means that I can only use some as highlighters and there are many (such as Gold Spill, Lightscapade, Porcelain Pink, Petticoat, Pleasureflush, Naked You, and New Vegas) that I can not use at all because they are unflattering and leave an ashen cast. It would be nice to see MAC re-release or make MSF’s that compliment deeper skin tones, shades such as So Ceylon, Metal Rock, and Gold Deposit. I understand that no one product is great for everyone, but there are many examples of multi-use products that are more universally flattering (like the Pearlizers, Loose & Pressed Iridescent Powders, the discontinued Sheer Shimmer Powders, and the limited edition Bronzing Sticks) so I don't understand why so many of the Mineralize Skinfinishes have proven to be unflattering on deeper skin tones.
MAC is for "All races, All sexes, All Ages" and I know that many women of color prefer the brand because of the extensive range of foundation shades and for this is reason it is disheartening to see that some of the color products that flatter deeper skin tones, such as Reed and Lovecrush powder blushes are discontinued, or to see many of the MSF's that are being released and re-released flatter fair skin tones more often than their deeper counterparts.
I love MAC, and will continue to purchase products, but I did want to voice this concern. Thank you.

 

[ms.marymac]

I agree with you! The only MSF I remember working for darker skin tones is Metal Rock. I actually think they need to work on their selection of blushes for darker skin tones as well, but that's just me.

 

[_trimm_trabb]

I agree and though I have relatively fair skin I understand how frustrating that must get. I was annoyed that Gold Spill didn't show up on me AT ALL - and I'm NC20/25! So I can't imagine how frustrating it must get that tons of the product that's available barely even shows up on/flatters deeper skin tones.

 

[FacesbyNiki]

I so agree with you. I'm an NC 45 and at times they look 'ashy' on me.

 

[thenovice]

Though I am lighter skined (NC20), it still took a ton off Gold Spill to even show up at all- and all it did was make me look like gold lamae. And i am italian for goodness sakes! And even i didn't want to look like the dego version of a disco ball. I can't imagine the work it takes to show up on darker skin tones. They should release a collection of MSFs- purely MSFs, with a wide variety of colors. They could make a gazillion dollars more off of MSFs that people actually liked. Haha!

 

[GreekChick]

I agree with you. You have no idea how one email can change everything!!!
MAC takes into consideration every single suggestion. Dejarose was actually inspired by a MAC counter artist's suggestion, in which she explained how nice it would be to see a mini collection inspired by pink and red roses. There have been so many collections, and products (if I remember correctly, Tilt e/s is one of them), that have come out due to one single person's suggestion. Alot of counters/stores actually have suggestion forms, available for artists to fill out whenever ideas pop into their head. Alot of times, we mention products clients have asked about.
All of this to say that you did a good job writing to the head office. I too feel MAC lacks blushes and MSF's aimed for darker skintones, more specifically where counters and stores are concerned. Have you been to the PRO stores in your area to check out the Cirque Du Soleil blush colors? They're flashworthy, extremely pigmented colors, and even though they're not as shimmery as the MSF's, they're essential in one's kit, especially when dealing with darker skintones.

 

[Twinkle_Twinkle]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreekChick Have you been to the PRO stores in your area to check out the Cirque Du Soleil blush colors? They're flashworthy, extremely pigmented colors, and even though they're not as shimmery as the MSF's, they're essential in one's kit, especially when dealing with darker skintones.

I actually haven't been to see the new Pro blushes; I live in Atlanta and the nearest store to me is in Orlando, so I keep hoping that more swatches will pop up on Specktra before I order any blindly. I tried to get suggestions through a Live Chat but apprarently they aren't allowed/directed to give advice on Pro items, but I think I am going to bite the bullet and order most of them this fall, when the LE collections slow down a bit. Do you have suggestions for a NW45?

 

[GreekChick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twinkle_Twinkle I actually haven't been to see the new Pro blushes; I live in Atlanta and the nearest store to me is in Orlando, so I keep hoping that more swatches will pop up on Specktra before I order any blindly. I tried to get suggestions through a Live Chat but apprarently they aren't allowed/directed to give advice on Pro items, but I think I am going to bite the bullet and order most of them this fall, when the LE collections slow down a bit. Do you have suggestions for a NW45?

They are all rich colors (the fuschias are beyond fuschia; I use to think Dollymix was pretty intense but not anymore, now that I have something to compare it to). Because of this, any color will show up on you.
I'll break it down for you:
If you like plum and burgundy colors:
Dirty Plum (deep plum(matte))
House Wine (deep warm burgundy (matte))

If you're more of a pink blush fan (wear these lightly cause they're bright):

Rhubarb (bright magenta (satin)
Azalea (bright iridescent blue pink (frost))
Full Fuchsia (very bright iridescent fuchsia (frost))

If you're more into warm colors, such as bricks, reds, and corals (these are the ones that I think look the most natural on an NW45 skintone):

Burnt Pepper (warm rich terra cotta (matte))
Clove (warm brown) (matte)
Cantaloupe (rich warm cantaloupe (satin))
Devil (bright iridescent coral orange (satin))----->this one would looks amazing on dark skintones, I can't stress it enough. Think brighter than Ambering Rose and way more intense.
Flame red (bright rich warm red) ------>another winner
Apple Red (fire engine red (satin))
Salsarose (lightly iridecent coral pink red (satin))

The good news is they're going to be permanent. Cirque du Soleil wanted a line that wasn't going to be discontinued. Like I said, they're circus colors, so they're all going to show up (you might even want to wipe your brush a bit to get some off). I love Devil, Salsarose, Flame Red and House Wine. The fuchsias are gorgeous, but if one isn't careful, because of their blueness, they can look like pretty cold colors.