MAC A Tartan Tale Collection Preview Event + what I got (PART 1)

Tuesday 26th I was lucky enough to attend a bloggers' preview event for MAC's A Tartan Tale Collection (Holiday 2010) in Milan. The event was held at MAC's store in Via Torino, in the heart of the city.  


First of all, I want to say a big big thank you to the people at MAC for inviting me, it was a truly great experience! I also want to say a big "CIAO!" to Mary from Italian blog Ibisco Lilla, whom I met for the second time the other night and is a really sweet and intelligent lady!

Of course, I got there late so I missed the beginning of the event which kicked off with presentations and a video of the history of Tartan and the concept behind the collection. I must admit I'm quite fond of the pattern as I grew up wearing tartan kilts and spent my adolescence listening to rock and grunge music, whose main performers notoriously had a bit of a thing for plaid!

Anyway, I digress...Italy's National Trainer for MAC Michele Magnani, who by the way is a really sweet and funny guy, then created a sophisticated smoky eye look with a "rounded" 20s shape on blogger Veronica (another great lady who had a big part in making the event possible, so a big thank you goes to her too!) using products from the collection. 

As you can see, not only was I late, but I also had very little time before heading back to put my son to bed, so I only took pictures of the main colour collection display...  

...the rest of the time was happily spent getting matched with Pro Longwear Foundation and Concealer (our gifts for the occasion alongside a funky tartan brooch and a little tartan bag with a surprise present which I'll show you in my next post!)...

...and choosing what I wanted to buy from the collection!

Two items are missing from the photo as one is currently at pre-school with my boy (can you guess what it is??) and the other one will feature in my next post. Shown here are, left to right: Glamora Castle Eyeshadow, Radiant Jewels Dazzleglass Cremes and Petrol Blue Pearlglide Intense Liner.

Glamora Castle Eyeshadow (Limited Edition) is described as a dark grey with teal tartan striping. I'd say it's a cool anthracite with something of a bluish/greenish undertone (see below for swatch). It is quite sheer but still a little buildable and goes on smoothly. The plaid pattern is really nice, but of course it will wear off after a few uses...I'll probably end up using just one half of the pan so as to keep the pattern on the other half intact!! (I actually got two of these, one for me and one for my Mum).

Of all the others eyeshadows, I quite liked Follow your Fantasy (peach) and Semi-Precious (aubergine), but if you're a pigment lover I'd definitely urge you to get all three pigments, as they are truly gorgeous! Unfortunately, I have little use for pigments, if you're a regular follower of my blog you'll know that my social life isn't really exciting...still, I just might make an exception and get Later (black with transforming purple pearl) to use wet.

Of the five Dazzleglass Cremes, I was instantly attracted to Radiant Jewels (Limited Edition), a deep magenta sparkled with hot pink, which is actually a bit brighter in real life. You do have to apply quite a bit to coat lips evenly, which means the tube will get used up fairly quickly. Although not unique, I think it's such a cheerful and festive shade that I will definitely enjoy wearing it. I was also quite taken with Passing Fancy (bright orange coral with soft pearl) and also liked Soft Dazzle (mid-tone peach pink with gold pearl).

And of course I had to get a Pearlglide Liner, they are one of my favourite liners ever, I wear them almost every day, even on my waterline. I got Petrol Blue (Limited Edition, but it is also a repromote), described as deep navy with pearl. I'd describe it as a dark carbon-paper blue with light blue and medium blue micro-shimmer: stunning! Not that I needed it, mind you, but I'm a sucker for blue liners...plus, Pearlglides are so intense in colour, so long-lasting and smooth that I just couldn't say no when encouraged (ever so gently!) by the helpful MUA, Vale!

All Pearglide Intense Liners are highly recommended, by the way! They are great to be used both as regular eyeliners and as eyeshadows/bases, when smoothed out with a brush (MAC 219, for example).

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Are you excited about this collection? Are you going to get anything from it?

If you want see what else I got and read my final considerations on the collection, I promise I'll post PART 2 in the next few days... I know I've been struggling with regular posting on my blog (as well as answering all your lovely comments)...please be patient with me :)!!

Anna xx