Just in time for Halloween—and just in time to save some face after that disastrous Juarez-inspired fiasco—MAC cosmetics has released its latest collaboration: Venomous Villains, courtesy of Disney’s very best (or is that worst?).
The products feature four of Disney’s most notorious evildoers: the Evil Queen from Snow White, Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty, Dr. Facilier from Princess and the Frog (not quite as classically villainous, but he looked good, right?), and, of course, Cruella De Vil and her phenomenal cheekbones from 101 Dalmatians.
Each villain has his or her own mini-collection of goodies, featuring tons of jewel-toned, shimmery teals, purples and reds. Tubes of Lipglass ($15.50) feature Cruella caressing some angry-looking Dalmatian pups; eyeshadow cases showcase the bust of the Evil Queen and co.
The Maleficent line is especially fun for the experimental and daring—MAC’s main fan base. The Mineralize Eyeshadow Duos ($21) are especially promising. “My Dark Magic” features a deep pearlized pink and pearlized plum, while “She Who Dares” is a pearlized navy paired with a forest green featuring a lime-green pearl. The colors are deep, mysterious and resemble a more celestial entity than your standard fare.
And really, beyond that, the packaging is the star of this collection. The powder blushes ($19.50) and face powder ($25) are also fun, with their compacts featuring your villain of choice on the cover.
The real standout must-buy is the Evil Queen lipstick in “Toxic” ($15.50). The deeply pigmented color—classic, rich red—is fabulous, and the lipstick series’ tubes are even better, with the Evil Queen emblazoned on each one, her outstretched arms holding that creepy-ass box she ordered Snow White’s heart to be delivered in.
The only subcollection I find a bit snoozy is Dr. Facilier’s—though a lot of that might have to do with the character lacking any immediate recognition. Was MAC just looking to include a male Disney villain? Why not Jafar, with his red-and-black turban and golden-cobra imagery and Gilbert Gottfried-voiced parrot sidekick Iago? Facilier’s collection mostly consists of Pigment, MAC’s best-selling, multipurpose, loose color powder. Pigment is, well, incredibly pigmented and can be used most commonly as eyeshadow and lip color, but there are even ways to apply it to your nails, hair—pretty much anywhere on your body.
And while MAC cosmetics have always a bit too wild for mainstream, everyday use, cheers to the company for introducing the Venomous Villains collection in an industry where looking like a princess is all-too-disturbingly encouraged for women of all ages.
The only complaint? Ursula totally deserves her own blue eyeshadow.
MAC Venomous Villains available at all MAC retail locations, Nordstrom and select Macy’s stores. Visit maccosmetics.com to find a store near you.
This column appeared in print as “Color You Bad.”
