MAC has been one of my favourite makeup brands for years and there was a time when I would eagerly wait for each and every one of their collections. There was a maddening urge to grab atleast one Limited Edition piece simply because it was from MAC. But then they started releasing collections faster than I could cope up with and with every new launch, my interest and excitement levels also started going down. The shades looked the same, there was nothing new that was coming out and with much grief, I was forced to take a break from my makeup love. The break lasted for about a year. And then the MACxPADMA Collection came out. One look and I fell hook, line and sinker for that gold packaging.

MACxPADMA Collection

I was in Sheffield when the collection launched in Nykaa and unfortunately because of the time difference, almost all the products were sold out before I could check the app. Hence, I settled for two pieces – Sumac lipstick (Rs 1500), a dark plum and Powerpoint Eye Pencil in Bordeauxline/Molé Brown (Rs 1320), a dark purple/ plum and cool brown.

Apart from the luxurious and eye-catching gold packaging which I read came right from her kitchen (the design is a copy of her Turkish plates), the best thing I feel about the collection is that it is very brown girl friendly. But do the products actually perform? Read on to find out my views on the stuff that I have. 

MACxPADMA Lipstick Sumac

Sumac is perfect for medium to dark complexions and is a gorgeous, rich colour. It has cool undertones and a satin finish. The issue with the lipstick is that it applies unevenly as you can make out from my picture below. See how it is lighter inside and darker on the outer edges of the lips? The color does not adhere evenly so it is difficult to get an opaque finish. The texture is lightweight and it stays for nearly five hours but the application and finish is quite poor.

If you are looking for a dupe of Sumac, ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick Notion is very similar.

MACxPADMA Powerpoint Eye Pencil in Bordeauxline/Molé Brown

Bordeauxline is a medium-dark, purple/plum color with a matte finish. It has medium, buildable coverage. The shade lasts on me pretty much the entire day without smudging or fading. 

Mole Brown is a dark brown with cooler undertones and a matte finish. It has semi-opaque pigmentation in one layer, which was buildable to mostly opaque coverage in two layers. Again, staying power is pretty good and on the lashline, the color lasts all day without smudging but can’t say the same on the waterline. The brown hardly shows up and it fades slightly after couple of hours. 

Overall Thoughts

I had high expectations from the collection but I am kinda underwhelmed. I love the shades of both the lipstick and the eye pencil but in terms of performance, not impressed. The lipstick applies unevenly and the eye pencils, though lasts for hours could have had better pigmentation. Maybe I just picked the wrong products 🙁

Did you get anything from the MACxPADMA Collection? What has been your experience? Do share in the comments below.