Hey lovelies!

From gracing the cover of Vanity Fair (and subsequently Sports Illustrated) to becoming the first to reach one million followers in four hours on Twitter to fronting a cosmetics campaign for a rather prestigious brand to scoring her own reality TV show, Caitlyn Jenner seems to be receiving a lot more recognition than when she was still known as Bruce Jenner, an established Olympic decathlete. After all, she has defied all odds in this still largely transphobic and homophobic society (unfortunately) and transitioned into the woman she felt she had always been in the public eye at the ripe age of 66. If there is anything I can learn from her, it’s that there are no limits to achieving your dreams, no matter how old you are and what others may say. You are ultimately responsible for your own happiness.

Therefore, if you ask me, I’m actually glad that M.A.C decided to partner with Caitlyn Jenner again on a second makeup line, following the great reception of its predecessor last year.

Granted, she may not be the best role model for everyone. But she’s famous (and I’d say even more popular than Laverne Cox, as evident from their net worth) and she’s using her fame for good cause. I thought it was a wise move to engage Caitlyn again as their spokesperson as it would help raise awareness of transgender people especially in the more conservative Asian countries like Singapore where her second collection would also be launched. If M.A.C had chosen Laverne Cox as their new face, I dare say it wouldn’t have triggered a response as intense as this.

(ADV) Apart from lipsticks, what else can you get your sister on her birthday? Check out some gift ideas on ThatSweetGift! You’re welcome.

I agree, though, that it would be a lot more meaningful if some of the profits from this collection were donated to help the transgender community. But then again, there is already a lipstick sold for that purpose, which has raked in proceeds estimated at US$1.3 million for the M.A.C AIDS Fund Transgender Initiative. Besides, this collection is about Caitlyn Jenner, not the transgender community, so I don’t quite get the hoo-ha.. 🤔

This eight-piece collection features lipsticks in three gorgeous shades, three Cremesheen Glass (Kindness / Beautifully Bare / Tolerance), two Lip Pencils (Whirl / Soar), three single eyeshadows (Glowing Gold / Malibu Bronze / Worthy), one Eye Kohl (Teddy), individual lashes (#30), a Powder Blush Duo (Buddy) and a Mineralized Skinfinish Natural (Compassion), all decked out in luxurious soft-touch black (made with rubber material which will eventually turn sticky just like the NARS packaging 😐) and shiny metallic gold. Beautiful colour combination, I must say!

Interested to find out how the lipsticks fared? Read on!

#1 Authentic Red

Celebrating her newfound femininity, Caitlyn Jenner chose a lipstick hue that’s often seen as a statement of confidence and rebellion, and there is no other shade of lipstick that accentuates femininity like the good ol’ red does. Perhaps that was why she included Authentic Red – a deep red with Cremesheen finish – in her second M.A.C collection.

This warm red tugs slightly at the lips when applied but lends an opaque and great consistency of colour at first swipe. It leaves a glossy and tacky texture which feels thick and heavy for a Cremesheen and probably because of that, it is lasts longer on the lips than Rockit! and Understanding. It fades to a stain after a few hours. This lipstick, unfortunately, is slightly drying on me even though the subtle sheen does not make it seem so.

#2 Rockit!

Much as red lipstick is a classic, not everyone feels comfortable sporting blood red lipsticks à la Taylor Swift that scream, “Look at me!” In that case, why not go for the barely-there appeal? Described as a midtone beige with Cremesheen finish, Rockit! provides a flush of My-Lips-But-Better rosy brown for those who are not ready for a strong red lip just yet.

Like Authentic Red, it drags and weighs down slightly on the lips. It is drying and I don’t know if it’s me but somehow there is this little tingling sensation when I wear it 🤔 The colour payoff is sheer at the beginning but builds to a seamless and decently opaque coverage after a couple (3-4) of applications (I can see the apparent difference even though this shade is very close to my natural lip colour), topped with a healthy, dewy shine that goes perfectly well with both light and heavy eye makeup. Still in awe over Alicia Key’s natural look on The X Factor? Well, envy no more! You can now spruce up the no-makeup look (but still with a teeny weeny bit of makeup, lah) with this flattering nude lipstick 😉

#3 Understanding

With names deriving from personality traits such as Understanding, Kindness, Compassion, Tolerance and Worthy given to the products in this collection, it’s hard not to think that Caitlyn Jenner is taking this opportune time to impart some sort of message to the transvestite community and their detractors. I thought the names are very well-thought-out and more impactful than say, launching a full-scale LGBT acceptance campaign because we ladies remember nothin’ but our makeup 😁

Of course, I’m all for supporting inclusivity but the limit to my funds (surprise, surprise, this ain’t sponsored) meant that I could only get Understanding, an online-exclusive hot red with Cremesheen finish. This lipstick glides on smooth and has a nice slip. It is sheer at first but builds to an opaque warm coral. Although it tends to accentuate the dry parts, it feels very comfortable on my lips. It enhances the pout further with a hint of sheen and moisture. Sadly, this does not stay past three hours. Very lovely colour, nonetheless!

In general, the lipsticks are very wearable despite the less-than-hydrating formula. As Caitlyn Jenner settles into her new life as a woman, it is probably too early for her to make a bold statement, and since this collection revolves around all-inclusive beauty, the hues picked out have to be pretty much universal. Hence, you can see that the hues border on the safe side with nothing too funky. In just a few strokes, they bring out the feminine charm within the user and I think that’s what Caitlyn herself wanted to achieve with both collections.

What do you think? Share your thoughts with me in the comments below!

Thanks for reading! 🙂

M.A.C X Caitlyn Jenner is now available on MACCosmetics.com. This collection was also launched in Singapore at M.A.C ION Orchard.

---

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for bite-sized beauty updates!