Mac - Maleficent (May 15, 2014)

[lilinah]

Quote: Originally Posted by alyxo
I hated the Marlyn collection and packaging. It was so boring. MAC could of done WAAY better with that collection, imo.


I rather liked the Marilyn packaging. I thought it was relatively classy.


Most of the Marilyn colors were classic colors - perhaps classic is boring, but the colors in the collection made perfect sense, given the inspiration.

I'm not much of a red lipstick person - i look like Bozo the Clown in more of them - but as far as reds go, "Deeply Adored" is pretty much my HG red. I use "Preferred Blonde" eyeshadow with great frequency (it lives in my makeup travel bag), "The Perfect Cheek" is the sort of blush i can wear without too much trouble, and "Forever Marilyn" is the only face powder i've backed up.

I think MAC did an excellent job with the collection. Since i had missed out on many items in the mad rush during the first release, i was happy to find a local Macy's with the re-release.

 

[lilinah]

Quote: Originally Posted by lipstickjunkie
Wasn't Violetta in the collection though, and now its permanent....So im interested in how they are gunna do it. But from what im told MANY things in the collection will be re-promotes but the only thing im certain of are the lip products.


I suspected repromotes from the beginning. They might even have the old Venomous Villains packaging that had Maleficent on it - I rather liked it.

IIRC, the original Maleficent collection in VV had 10 items. I've listed them below with their 2010 prices, so we can compare with the new ones, whatever they will be - and they will certainly be more.

Lipstick ($15.50 )

• Violetta - Bright clean violet purple (Amplified) (perm)
• Dark Deed - Burgundy plum (Amplified)

Lipglass ($15.50)

• Revenge is Sweet Light yellow purple
• Wrong Spell Deep plum with pink purple

Beauty Powder ($25.00)

• Briar Rose - Soft violet pink with pearl

Mineralize Eyeshadow Duo ($21.00)

• My Dark Magic - Deep pink with pink pearl / Deep plum with purple pearl
• She Who Dares - Deep navy with blue pearl / Deep forest green with lime green pearl

Nail Lacquer ($13.00)

• Bad Fairy - Red with red multi-changing pearl

• Formidable! - Teal green with pink multi-changing pearl (which is what Dr. Facilier, also in the original VV collection, said, but i think MAC listed all the NP with Maleficent) (now perm)
• Mean & Green - Purple with teal multi-changing pearl (now perm)

Since the new collection supposedly has 11 items, i suspect they may replace the 2 permanent nail polishes with 2 black eye products - probably a liner & mascara. (i'm just guessing)

I missed out on Bad Fairy - i was just getting back into nail polish after 35 years and i got the other two. If it's re-released it's definitely on my Must Have list, along with Briar Rose.

 

[lilinah]

Some sephora girls are extremely rude! [SNIP] That and they NEVER match me right. I match myself. [SNIP]

Some months ago the sephora near me finally got that electronic foundation color skin tone matching device, so i thought i'd give it a try.

Previously it had taken me TWO YEARS of taking home and testing dozens of samples before i finally found a foundation that felt good on my somewhat dry skin and that was close to my NEUTRAL skin tone. Finding a neutral tone was the hardest thing: many lines have a light warm and a light cool, a medium warm and a medium cool, etc. Well, the warms are too yellow and the cools are too pink for me.

In my local sephora, the SA had recently been trained to use the device. They're supposed to hold it to 3 different places on your face. Then it finds a selection of colors that work. Well, the first time, all the selected colors were way too pink. So i asked her to do it again, which she was reluctant to do. The second time, not only were nearly all the colors way too yellow, but one was about 3 shades too dark. I went around with the list and one of the SAs who remembered me took one look at the list and could tell immediately one was way too dark.

I know i am better off on my own. I can better tell what colors work on my skin. I can just imagine that a number of women have gone home with foundation that was all wrong, chosen by the computer.

 

[Kristin Bacon]

I have always had the best luck having Mac match me. I always get the right color there. although i did go to sephora once and get matched by a friend of a friend who worked there he was fabulous at it. As far as those machines go you cannot have anything on your face for it to work. at my tanning salon theres a bed with that it works the same way, so it picks the right tan for u. but if u even have lotion on it gives issues.

 

[lilinah]

Quote: Originally Posted by Uptownbackinit
Mhhhm Mhhhm! we probably won't hear much on this til next month or April. Unless someone comes along and spills the beans. But with how long the FOF color story took to come out. You never know with Mac:/


Based on my experience in my local MAC related to the Fantasy of Flowers collection, i'd say it's a new MAC policy to NOT let any info out. So i am not expecting to hear much about any new collection until shortly before its release.

Most of the SAs at my local MAC know me. They usually set up the new collection in a room behind the counter where i guess they do private makeup. I usually go in about a week before the official release date and they let me test stuff. I have not been allowed to pre-order for a few years, but at least i know what i really want.

For FoF, however, i went in the day before the release date, the collection wasn't set up in the back, and the manager told me they weren't allowed to let anyone test before the official release.

Not everyone can sit outside the store for 1/2 hour before it opens to be first or second in line. So I think a policy like that will net MAC far more returns, because people will just be blindly buying stuff on-line without a chance to test ahead of time.

 

[lilinah]

I have the i know you, i walked with you once upon a dream..... song stuck in my head. its in my top five fave disney movies ever!!! i would say sleeping beauty and the little mermaid are my top two fave tho!! then alladin, alice in wonderland, snow white!!

And much of the music in the Disney cartoon was based on Tchaikovsky's "Sleeping Beauty" ballet. The piece you're referring to is a waltz in the ballet. I bet you can find the symphonic version on the internet.

 

[Kristin Bacon]

And much of the music in the Disney cartoon was based on Tchaikovsky's "Sleeping Beauty" ballet. The piece you're referring to is a waltz in the ballet. I bet you can find the symphonic version on the internet.

I will check it out. i love soundtracks by symphony!! good to listen to while relaxing!

 

[Kristin Bacon]

Based on my experience in my local MAC related to the Fantasy of Flowers collection, i'd say it's a new MAC policy to NOT let any info out. So i am not expecting to hear much about any new collection until shortly before its release.

Most of the SAs at my local MAC know me. They usually set up the new collection in a room behind the counter where i guess they do private makeup. I usually go in about a week before the official release date and they let me test stuff. I have not been allowed to pre-order for a few years, but at least i know what i really want.

For FoF, however, i went in the day before the release date, the collection wasn't set up in the back, and the manager told me they weren't allowed to let anyone test before the official release.

Not everyone can sit outside the store for 1/2 hour before it opens to be first or second in line. So I think a policy like that will net MAC far more returns, because people will just be blindly buying stuff on-line without a chance to test ahead of time.

Yeah i agree. imagine the drama of returns and exchanges they could have avoided by giving PR samples for swatches of Perfect Topping and Stereo Rose!! think about all the damaged out products there will be. Dosnt make any sense to me at all!!

 

[liba]

Based on my experience in my local MAC related to the Fantasy of Flowers collection, i'd say it's a new MAC policy to NOT let any info out. So i am not expecting to hear much about any new collection until shortly before its release.

Most of the SAs at my local MAC know me. They usually set up the new collection in a room behind the counter where i guess they do private makeup. I usually go in about a week before the official release date and they let me test stuff. I have not been allowed to pre-order for a few years, but at least i know what i really want.

For FoF, however, i went in the day before the release date, the collection wasn't set up in the back, and the manager told me they weren't allowed to let anyone test before the official release.

Not everyone can sit outside the store for 1/2 hour before it opens to be first or second in line. So I think a policy like that will net MAC far more returns, because people will just be blindly buying stuff on-line without a chance to test ahead of time.

Just as a counter-arguement, if there's much less advance info, it seems to me there would be fewer people lining up to wildly snap things up in-store and items would stick around a little better through the first weekend. As for what happens online; that's taken on a life of its own with all the ebay resellers, etc. so I'm not sure there's much controlling that can be done there.

I still highly doubt that returns are up to the same degree that sales are also up, so it's still extra money for MAC even with some slight increases in returns. In fact, if it forces more people into the locals stores and counters, there will probably be higher sales overall and fewer returns, since people will be able to check everything out in person and may also get upsold on products they weren't originally expecting to buy.

I do think MAC has been enforcing certain policies a little more strongly than in the past. At my local store, they've been told by corporate to crack down on people even taking photos of products and displays that are already for sale out on the floor, to fight the counterfeiters - there are entire fake MAC stores now that try to copy every single detail down to the displays.

 

[Uptownbackinit]

Some months ago the sephora near me finally got that electronic foundation color skin tone matching device, so i thought i'd give it a try. Previously it had taken me TWO YEARS of taking home and testing dozens of samples before i finally found a foundation that felt good on my somewhat dry skin and that was close to my NEUTRAL skin tone. Finding a neutral tone was the hardest thing: many lines have a light warm and a light cool, a medium warm and a medium cool, etc. Well, the warms are too yellow and the cools are too pink for me. In my local sephora, the SA had recently been trained to use the device. They're supposed to hold it to 3 different places on your face. Then it finds a selection of colors that work. Well, the first time, all the selected colors were way too pink. So i asked her to do it again, which she was reluctant to do. The second time, not only were nearly all the colors way too yellow, but one was about 3 shades too dark. I went around with the list and one of the SAs who remembered me took one look at the list and could tell immediately one was way too dark. I know i am better off on my own. I can better tell what colors work on my skin. I can just imagine that a number of women have gone home with foundation that was all wrong, chosen by the computer.

I've been matched off of the device too. It was some what close but still off. I have neutral tones In my skin. Yellow being the most dominate, So every foundation that machine picked was too pink of too yellow. There's a never ending war between finding a good match foundation.

 

[alyxo]

Quote:Originally Posted by lilinah

 
I rather liked the Marilyn packaging. I thought it was relatively classy.
 
Most of the Marilyn colors were classic colors - perhaps classic is boring, but the colors in the collection made perfect sense, given the inspiration.
 
I'm not much of a red lipstick person - i look like Bozo the Clown in more of them - but as far as reds go, "Deeply Adored" is pretty much my HG red. I use "Preferred Blonde" eyeshadow with great frequency (it lives in my makeup travel bag), "The Perfect Cheek" is the sort of blush i can wear without too much trouble, and "Forever Marilyn" is the only face powder i've backed up.
 
I think MAC did an excellent job with the collection. Since i had missed out on many items in the mad rush during the first release, i was happy to find a local Macy's with the re-release.



I love classic items too! I just got the impression that the collection was rushed and I thought that MAC wasn't as creative with it, as I expect them to be. I love red lipsticks, I don't think nothing can make a woman feel sexier then a good red lipstick and winged liner.

 

[lipstickjunkie]

My husband just did that!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA! Maleficent is my favorite Disney character, and of course I love MAC, and he knew I'd been searching for some VVs for a long time. He's so sweet that a few weeks ago, he went to the MAC counter asking about Disney Villains stuff. They laughed at him, but he still tried & came back & told me. Poor, sweet thing. D'awwwwwww.

that is toooooo sweeeeettt!!! i dont no whether to say aaaaawww orr die laughing LMAO!! the gesture is what counts.

 

[lipstickjunkie]

Just as a counter-arguement, if there's much less advance info, it seems to me there would be fewer people lining up to wildly snap things up in-store and items would stick around a little better through the first weekend. As for what happens online; that's taken on a life of its own with all the ebay resellers, etc. so I'm not sure there's much controlling that can be done there.

I still highly doubt that returns are up to the same degree that sales are also up, so it's still extra money for MAC even with some slight increases in returns. In fact, if it forces more people into the locals stores and counters, there will probably be higher sales overall and fewer returns, since people will be able to check everything out in person and may also get upsold on products they weren't originally expecting to buy.

I do think MAC has been enforcing certain policies a little more strongly than in the past. At my local store, they've been told by corporate to crack down on people even taking photos of products and displays that are already for sale out on the floor, to fight the counterfeiters - there are entire fake MAC stores now that try to copy every single detail down to the displays.

I am soooooo disgusted by those Ebay/Amazon resellers !! They are sooo money hungry its terrible. Talk that Talk lipstick was up for $100+ the day it came out. You have to be really desperate to be buying that stuff from those people your waaayy better off waking up 5AM waiting for it online regular price than paying that.

Speaking of a strict 'top secret' policy.... I was told a story of this girl that showed customers her work book with all the upcoming collections, right at the store, out in the open... RETARD. Of course she was fired on the spot

 

[Audrey C]

Based on my experience in my local MAC related to the Fantasy of Flowers collection, i'd say it's a new MAC policy to NOT let any info out. So i am not expecting to hear much about any new collection until shortly before its release.

Most of the SAs at my local MAC know me. They usually set up the new collection in a room behind the counter where i guess they do private makeup. I usually go in about a week before the official release date and they let me test stuff. I have not been allowed to pre-order for a few years, but at least i know what i really want.

For FoF, however, i went in the day before the release date, the collection wasn't set up in the back, and the manager told me they weren't allowed to let anyone test before the official release.

Not everyone can sit outside the store for 1/2 hour before it opens to be first or second in line. So I think a policy like that will net MAC far more returns, because people will just be blindly buying stuff on-line without a chance to test ahead of time.

This is how I have to buy here. Holds aren't possible and there's no previewing. It makes it difficult to not make purchase errors, because much of the time if you wait to see it on the store (even on launch day) then the items are sold out. It's not too bad on launch days when I'm at my downtown office because the store opens at 7:30 when I'm getting into the office. Unless it's a collection like Marilyn where people were lined up outside, I'm going to be able to try everything before deciding. I tend to work from my home office on Thursdays though, and that means I can't take time to get to the counter near me until around noon. By then it's way too late.

Because of this, I'm way past feeling guilty about returning items. If I have to order blind and it doesn't work, it's going back. Period. Products costs are higher in Canada and shipping to the US starts at $5-6 dollars. No one is going to buy a single swatched lippie from me (at least, no one ever has and I've tried). I'm done with BTM a full lippie because I held on to it.

 

[User38]

Just as a counter-arguement, if there's much less advance info, it seems to me there would be fewer people lining up to wildly snap things up in-store and items would stick around a little better through the first weekend. As for what happens online; that's taken on a life of its own with all the ebay resellers, etc. so I'm not sure there's much controlling that can be done there.

I still highly doubt that returns are up to the same degree that sales are also up, so it's still extra money for MAC even with some slight increases in returns. In fact, if it forces more people into the locals stores and counters, there will probably be higher sales overall and fewer returns, since people will be able to check everything out in person and may also get upsold on products they weren't originally expecting to buy.

I do think MAC has been enforcing certain policies a little more strongly than in the past. At my local store, they've been told by corporate to crack down on people even taking photos of products and displays that are already for sale out on the floor, to fight the counterfeiters - there are entire fake MAC stores now that try to copy every single detail down to the displays.

the reasons why we are not getting swatches or previews even for the bigger bloggers is the counterfeiting. When you realize the true cost of an item, and a reproduction made in say, Shanghai in a factory which has no health requirements, or even complies personal safety, water or power requirements, the cost becomes reduced by another 60%.. so the cost is frankly silly. These sweat shop type operations can imitate any detail, except the true colour or pigmentation -- but on the outside, it looks like MAC, and it shows up like MAC to those who are not familiar with the brand. The counterfeiters are putting BIG holes in the industry's profits so that's why they have all become jealous and protective of what they show and when they show it. Timing a release is critical too.

as for returns, there will come a moment in time, when if you bought it, you got it for life -- like a house purchase. No trying on at home or I changed my mind cause my hubby had a fit stories.. the old buyer's remorse will be history.

 

[kerry-jane88]

the reasons why we are not getting swatches or previews even for the bigger bloggers is the counterfeiting.  When you realize the true cost of an item, and a reproduction made in say, Shanghai in a factory which has no health requirements, or even complies personal safety, water or power requirements, the cost becomes reduced by another 60%.. so the cost is frankly silly.  These sweat shop type operations can imitate any detail, except the true colour or pigmentation -- but on the outside, it looks like MAC, and it shows up like MAC to those who are not familiar with the brand.  The counterfeiters are putting BIG holes in the industry's profits so that's why they have all become jealous and protective of what they show and when they show it.  Timing a release is critical too. as for returns, there will come a moment in time, when if you bought it, you got it for life -- like a house purchase.  No trying on at home or I changed my mind cause my hubby had a fit stories.. the old buyer's remorse will be history.  

Gosh I have friends that use fake stuff, they just see it as it looking the same so what's the point in paying for the real thing. Obviously not thinking of how far back the trail goes. In the UK you can't return makeup bought in store. You might be able to get away with it if its sealed, but youd really have to cross your fingers. Obviously stuff bought online has different rules, but it has to be 100% unused for return. Some companies online like Bobbi brown have guarantees for foundation shades, which I think is great and should be the norm for counters over here. But I get a funny feeling knowing that someone can buy a colour cosmetic, use it and take it back in America, why is there such an open policy for what is essentially a non returnable item as it then has to be destroyed. Maybe it's a British fair game view I have but im surprised none the less at what american gals have in returns policies. I worked at the victorias secret in Manchester, and none of us girls could get over the three month no quibble returns! Proper mad stuff!

 

[Beautybuyer]

I'm with y'all on the Pocahontas love. That was probably my most loved disney girly movie. I remember I had this blue pajama thing from disney that I lives in when I was young lol. I also liked Ariel but it wasn't the same kind of love lol Honestly my most loved was the lion king. My mom has photos of me running around the house in a simba costume (not Halloween) lol And disney had nothing on my beloved Barney hahah

 

[CrimsonQuill157]

the reasons why we are not getting swatches or previews even for the bigger bloggers is the counterfeiting. When you realize the true cost of an item, and a reproduction made in say, Shanghai in a factory which has no health requirements, or even complies personal safety, water or power requirements, the cost becomes reduced by another 60%.. so the cost is frankly silly. These sweat shop type operations can imitate any detail, except the true colour or pigmentation -- but on the outside, it looks like MAC, and it shows up like MAC to those who are not familiar with the brand. The counterfeiters are putting BIG holes in the industry's profits so that's why they have all become jealous and protective of what they show and when they show it. Timing a release is critical too.

as for returns, there will come a moment in time, when if you bought it, you got it for life -- like a house purchase. No trying on at home or I changed my mind cause my hubby had a fit stories.. the old buyer's remorse will be history.

I guess I understand but it seems like it's affecting the customers a lot more than it is the counterfeiters. They will get their fake products out there regardless of whether we get swatches before a collection launches or not.

 

[SavannahLovely]

Yes!! Alice In Wonderland, Wizard of Oz or an Ursula collection!!! Please MAC gods!!

Oh my gosh, Alice in Wonderland and Wizard of Oz collections would be everything!

 

[Debbs]

I am perfectly comfortable and content with new rules, regulations, secrecy and such. What bothers me the most is compromised quality at much higher prices. Technology has improved and new advanced formulas exists but no company should ever bank on their history. As the market changes so does consumers' needs and requirements. The most loyal customer can easily be turned off by sub-par products that continuously fail to meet their expectations. Most people that are frustrated are not publicizing their change in preferences they are just doing it because they have had enough. The negative result will not be obvious immediately but over time it all adds up. Personally, I would be in favor of 3-4 well thought out collections per year versus 8-10 poorly executed ones. The joy and enthusiasm I used to have not so long ago has been deflated. I am content with not seeing stuff early, being partially ignorant to specific launch dates and intentionally missing out which is concerning. Summer may possibly end up being my first in-store purchase at an actual Mac counter. I foresee myself getting any 'must-haves' at the CCO and clearance bin if at all for the next few months. I am unable to be dishonest, lie to myself and force myself to make duds work that clearly are not worthy to be kept. I work too hard to just throw my money away frivolously. I am trying to have faith and be optimistic but I don't know how many epic fails there has to be for Mac to really wake up and acknowledge their customers true 'By Request'. Mac is making it too easy to low-buy which may not be such a bad thing after all. :2cents: