Dammit, Janet, I love the MAC Rocky Horror Collection!
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MAC Rocky Horror Picture Show Swatches and Review
Who doesn’t love the 1975 cult movie classic, Rocky Horror Picture Show? Apparently, one of our favorite beauty brands understands our love with the release of the MAC Rocky Horror Picture Show collection.
The movie is not a classic because it’s an amazing piece of cinema, but because it’s so off the wall. Based on a 1973 musical and inspired by sci-fi and B movies from the ’30s through the ’70s, Rocky Horror is like nothing you’ve ever seen. A few lost transsexuals from Transylvania (or perhaps another world), a couple lost out in the rain, a creepy butler, a wild haired maid and a hot guy made to order by a mad scientist.
A slew of well-known actors including Tim Curry (as Frank N. Furter himself), Susan Sarandon, and singer Meatloaf make this a must-see movie. The plot is pretty much irrelevant – just go along with it and enjoy! After watching it, you won’t be able to get those crazy songs out of your head.
Many people don’t know that Pierre La Roche, who had previously been a makeup artist for Mick Jagger, created the makeup looks for each character in the movie. Now MAC has come out with a 40th anniversary collection in ode to this “Science Fiction Double Feature” including the famous disembodied red lips that sing the opening song, overdubbed with a male voice.
I particularly love the black and white graphics, inside the packaging, highlighting the characters.
We received a few key pieces to review and the entire Rocky Horror MAC collection contains: 4 Lipsticks, 1 Lip Pencil, 1 Eyeshadow Palette, 2 Loose Glitter Brilliants, 1 Loose Pigment, 2 Chromagraphic Pencils, 2 Greasepaint Sticks, 1 Superslick Liquid Eye Liner, 1 Zoom Fast Black Lash, 1 Powder Blush, 1 Sculpt and Shape Powder, 1 Set Powder, 2 Nail Lacquers and a set of 7 Lashes.
The Riff-Raff palette ($44), named after the creepy butler/alien, is packaged in black with a magnetic closure. I love the clear cover highlighted with those famous red lips!
The palette contains six cool-toned eyeshadows, perfect for all sorts of mysterious, smoky eyes this fall.
Oh, Rocky!!! – cool light nude (frost)
Crystal – light grey lavender (frost)
Blackberry – plummy medium brown (matte)
Graphic Style – gunmetal grey (veluxe pearl)
Heavy, Black and Pendulous – dark denim blue (frost)
Carbon Black – hooray, it’s a good showing for this sometimes problematic black! (matte)
Riff-Raff Palette: Oh Rocky!!!, Crystal, Blackberry, Graphic Style, Heavy, Black and Pendulous, Carbon Black, and Greasepaint Stick in B
The Greasepaint Stick in B ($21) is described as a “bright yellow blue” but think of it as a cool dark denim blue.
You can use it as a smoky eyeliner stick or blend it out as a shadow. It’s not very long-lasting, so be sure to use a primer, and perhaps layer it with the eyeshadows for a look that lasts all night.
There are two Rocky Horror Glitters ($23 each) and 3D Black is made of loose black glitter with flecks of silver, red and green. Maybe not an everyday makeup choice, but try it for Halloween.
Application Tip: Use a wet brush for maximum intensity. Just remember not to use it too close to your eyes – no loose glitter in your peepers!
You’ll find two shades of Rocky Horror Studio Nail Lacquers ($13.50 each). I tried out Bad Fairy, a duochrome that shifts from red magenta to shimmery burnt orange.
I always find the glitter nail polishes from MAC don’t last very long. Be sure to use a top coat. It’s definitely Halloween-friendly, but also a great fall shade that is easily wearable throughout the season. I think it would make a fabulous layering polish as well!
Finally, let talk about lipstick! There are four vivid red Rocky Horror Lipsticks ($17.50 each). And these were my favorite pieces. I mean just look at the packaging – the “Rocky Horror lips” look so great stamped onto the slim, shiny, black tube!
Sin – blood red plum (matte)
Strange Journey – tomato red orange (matte)
I tested Sin, a deep vampy plum/blue-based red. Definitely a keeper. As was Strange Journey, because Stef kept that for herself. She called it “just different enough that I can justify adding it to my huge red lipstick collection!”
Sadly, the MAC Rocky Horror Picture Show collection is mostly sold out online (but amazingly, the Riff-Raff palette is still available), but you can find it in MAC stores until October 30th. Just in time for Halloween. So grab these gothic shades while you can and go see a midnight screening of Rocky Horror. You’ll be doing the Time Warp song and dance in no time!
we heartsters – Are you a Rocky Horror Picture Show fan? How many times have you watched this cult classic?
photos: we heart this, swatches shown on NC25/30 skin tone
MAC Rocky Horror Picture Show collection
Lipstick
Strange Journey – yellowish brick red (matte)
Oblivion – vivid bluish-red (amplified)
Sin – deep dark blue red (matte)
Frank-N-Furter – deep raspberry wine (matte)
$17.50 US/$21 CDN
Lip Pencil
Vino – intense violet purple
SRP $17.50 US/$21.00 CDN
Riff-Raff
Graphic Style – deep silver (veluxe pearl)
Oh, Rocky!!! – soft muted white with pearl (frost)
Carbon Black – intense black (matte)
Heavy, Black and Pendulous – grayish blue with pearl (frost)
Blackberry – muted burgundy-plum brown (matte)
Crystal – violet duo-chrome with pearl (frost)
$44 US/$53 CDN
Glitter
Gold – sparkling chunky gold
3D Black – black with silver holographic effect
$23 US/$28 CDN
Pigment
It’s Not Easy Having a Good Time – sparkling burgundy
$23 US/$28 CDN
Chromagraphic Pencil
Black Black – black
Basic Red – primary red
$17.50 US/$21 CDN
Greasepaint Stick
B – bright yellow blue
Black – Intense black
$21 US/$25 CDN
Superslick Liquid Eye Liner
On The Hunt – true black
$20 US/$24 CDN
Zoom Fast Black Lash
Deepest black
$17 US/$20 CDN
Power Blush
Crazed Imagination- muted plum with a hint of pink pearl
$24 US/$28.50 CDN
Sculpt And Shape Powder
Bone Beige/Emphasize – palest cream/tan
$27.50 US/$33 CDN
Set Powder
Invisible
$35 US/$40 CDN
Nail Lacquer
Bad Fairy – red with red multi-changing pearl
Formidable – teal green with pink multi-changing pearl
$13.50 US/$16 CDN
Lashes
7 Lash
18.50 US/$22 CDN
It’s true, I couldn’t let go of Strange Journey! It’s a perfect red orange, and MAC’s matte formula is my favorite; really long wearing and not super dry. And that packaging, I just couldn’t resist. The lipsticks were def. my favorite part of the launch, totally worth a trip to the store to see if they’re still there.
That red orange is definitely enticing.
I’m a little embarrassed to say I’ve never seen Rocky Horror…
Another brilliant cultural collabo on MAC’s part! I love Rocky Horror, and I have to say I know more than a few people who would really appreciate them taking the makeup guesswork out of getting ready for a showing ;) I think the “Sin” shade has my name on it.
xoxo
Audrey
Nail polishes are the only things I don’t love from MAC, but I would definitely make an exception for Bad Fairy – what a great shade!
The Riff-Raff palette really appeals to me– I’m surprised it’s still available! Heading to MAC now… The lipsticks are both gorgeous, too!
Those lipsticks are beautiful, I wish I would have snatched some up online… I will have to venture out to the MAC counter and see if any are left.
Strange Journey looks like THE perfect shade of lipstick for me! Swoon! I bet you look awesome in it, Stef!