MAC Vera – review, photos & swatches

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase.

Quick, before these beauties fly away…

photos: we heart this

MAC’s back with another inspired limited edition launch – Vera. This collection is based on the work of fabric and textile designer Vera Neumann. The American artist (who died at 86 in 1993) was known for brightly colored linens and scarves which were all signed “Vera” and featured her signature ladybug. Marilyn Monroe was said to be a fan; I think I would have been too.

But I’m going to keep the pontificating to a minimum and let the pics speak for themselves, as you only have a couple of weeks to buy this collection (seriously, it’s only on sale through March 1st).

So, let the swatching begin!

There’s that signature ladybug, debossed in a Pearlmatte Face Powders. That’s Sunday Afternoon, three shades of cool pinks (and a thin silver overspray accent) that when applied are a silvery pink. Adorable design, sweet color.

Sunday Afternoon Pearlmatte Face Powder

The stunner above is Butterfly Party, one of three Crushed Metallic Pigment Sets. And this 4 piece set has my head spinning with love. I mean, look at these colors!

Moss Garden is silvery slate green, with a chunky, glittery consistency.

Rain Drop is a bright teal with a hint of a golden sheen.

Desert Cloud is a beautiful metallic violet that has an electric sort of shimmer in the same shade. Really, it looks like it’s lit up! It’s on the glittery side too.

The namesake, Butterfly Party, is a red based purple with a lavender shimmer.

Moss Garden, Rain Drop, Desert Cloud, Butterfly Party

Moss Garden, Rain Drop

Desert Cloud, Butterfly Party

Now, I’d be lying if I said the Crushed Pigments were a breeze to apply. But I do think they’re worth the work. They have a chunky texture (like crushed gemstones) and a slightly wet feeling to them, which makes them less messy than loose pigments.

But they need to be either pressed into the skin or broken up first to apply. A simple swipe with a brush isn’t going to cut it. I actually like to break them up on the back of my hand with a brush and apply them from there. And you know, fingers also work pretty good with these.

The other pigment set we got a look at is Aloha, a coppery bunch that the warm-toned gang are going to love. This set has a noticeably finer consistency, as opposed to Butterfly Party.

Shifting Sands is a metallic nude pink.

Aloha is brown with a peachy hue to it. My notes say “buttery brown, yum!” Guess I liked it (or I was hungry).

Campfire is a copper with really beautiful dense pigment.

Lantern Light is all kinds of fabulous. In the pot it looks dark coppery orange, but when you put it on it’s this gorgeous golden peach. I was mesmerized by it!

Shifting Sands, Aloha, Campfire, Lantern Light

Shifting Sands, Aloha

Campfire, Lantern Light

We got to take a look at one of the two Nail Lacquers; Play Day. It’s a creamy apricot shade (MAC calls it milky coral, but this didn’t read as coral to me). It took three coats for me to get rid of most of the streaks, and they were still even there a bit.

Play Day

Fashion Fanatic, On a Holiday

I’ve always been a Plushglass fan. I love their tingle. I dig the odd scent they have that I can’t quite place (they don’t smell like lipglass). So I’m always up for a new one. That’s On a Holiday on the left. Check out that iridescent violet micro glitter! It’s a bright-ish medium pink that applies sheer, but that glitter catches the light in really fun ways.

We also got a look at Fashion Fanatic, a light milky pink with silvery white shimmer.

Fashion Fanatic, On a Holiday

from top: Lord It Up, Undercurrent, Black Swan

And boy, do I love me some Pearlglide Intense Liners! Buttery soft, they glide on like a dream and stay on until you take them off. It’s no coincidence that I already own two in this launch (Black Line and Undercurrent). They’ve got great pigment and are loaded with a pearl finish.

Lord It Up, Undercurrent, Black Swan

Lord It Up is a medium brown with gold pearl. It’s really similar to Teddy (which I go through like candy). Teddy has more of a bronze sheen though, and this is gold. Undercurrent is an intense teal with gold pearl. Black Swan is a deep charcoal with silvery charcoal pearl.

So, will you be pulling out the butterfly net to catch any of Vera? Let us know your favorites in the comments!

Crushed Metallic Pigment x4
$34 U.S. / $40 CDN

Aloha
Latern – Light Metallic gold/bronze (Frost)
Campfire – Rich copper (Frost)
Shifting Sands – Metallic champagne
Aloha – Dirty Cocoa Brown

Strawberry Patch
Star – Crystal Pink champagne
Rose – Light Metallic yellow pink
Strawberry Patch – Light blue pink
Moon Rose – Bright dark pink

Butterfly Party
Butterfly Party – Bright lilac
Desert Cloud – Deep blue purple
Rain Drop – Metallic teal
Moss Garden – Metallic silver green

Pearlglide Intense Eye Liner
Lord It Up – Bronze with pearl
Industrial – Periwinkle grey
Designer Purple – Iridescent violet
Undercurrent – Teal with pearl
Petrol Blue – Deep navy with pearl
Black Swan – Black with pearl
Black Line – Black with gold pearl
$15 U.S. / $18 CDN

Nail Lacquer
Midsummer’s Dream – Pale pink lilac (Creme)
Play Day – Pale milky coral (Creme)
$16 U.S. / $19 CDN

Pearlmatte Face Powder
Sunday Afternoon – Clean bright pink/bright clean fuchsia/soft pale pink with white pearl
Flower Fantasy – Pale coral with slight gold pearl/slightly blue pale pink/soft pale salmon
$28 U.S. / $33.50 CDN

Plushglass
Fashion Fanatic – Creamy pale pink
Pretty Plush – Extra soft pink with white pearl
Confetti – Bright orange coral with soft pearl
On a Holiday – Bright pink with blue pearl
Butterfly Dream – Mid-tone violet with blue pearl
$19.50 U.S. / $22.50 CDN

Disclosure: This review includes products that were provided by the manufacturer/PR firm for our consideration. For more info, or any questions, please see our disclosure policy.