One of the latest collections from MAC to hit the counters is the Reel Sexy Collection for Spring 2012.  The bold set includes eyeshadows, lipsticks, eyeliners and more, and I’ve got a few of them to share! The collection features the regular MAC packaging, with no special sleeves or designs, and combines some limited edition shades of permanent products along with a revisit to the Pro Pan Eyeshadow X2 duos.

MAC Reel Sexy Collection for Spring 2012

The Lipsticks

I never met a MAC Lipstick ($14.50 USD / $17.50 CAD) I didn’t want to try out, no matter what the color or how bold, that’s how much I love the tried-and-true formulas! MAC lipsticks have a slight hint of vanilla that is totally addictive, I love the way they smell.  I also find them to be some of the most consistently great quality lipsticks on the market.  I have two shades to share from this collection, but you can also check out my review from the Shop MAC Cook MAC Collection to see more on Watch Me Simmer, which was also included in the collection.

Pink Popcorn

With a little bit of a misleading name, this purplish lavender looks a bit terrifying in the tube, but have no fear, its Lustre texture goes on sheer so you can build the intensity you desire. I’m totally loving cool, lavender lips right now- so this one is a definitely winner in my books. Lustre lipsticks may not be the longest-lasting out of all the formulations, but they are certainly one of the most comfortable and fool-proof to apply.

RATING: A

MAC Lipstick in Pink Popcorn (Lustre)

MAC Lipstick in Pink Popcorn (Lustre)

MAC Lipstick in Pink Popcorn (Lustre)

MAC Lipstick in Pink Popcorn (Lustre)

MAC Lipstick in Pink Popcorn (Lustre)

MAC Lipstick in Pink Popcorn (Lustre)

Reel Sexy

Sharing the name with the collection itself, this bright coral lipstick is not for the timid.  The amplified formula is super intense, with a thick, creamy finish and high pigmentation. You can go a bit easier just tabbing it on, but I think it’s fabulous as a bold statement lip, especially for the upcoming summer season.  I definitely recommend pairing it with a matching lip pencil, because it’s a little more difficult to apply straight from the tube.

RATING: A-

MAC Lipstick in Reel Sexy (Amplified)

MAC Lipstick in Reel Sexy (Amplified)

MAC Lipstick in Reel Sexy (Amplified)

MAC Lipstick in Reel Sexy (Amplified)

MAC Lipstick in Reel Sexy (Amplified)

MAC Lipstick in Reel Sexy (Amplified)

The Eyeshadow Duos

I was both scared and hopeful for these MAC Pro Palette Eyeshadow X2 ($27.50 USD / $33 CAD) duos- having launched before with less-than-impressive reviews, I was hoping that MAC had stepped up their game with these new ones. I love how the palettes match the Pro Pan X2 that you can buy empty at MAC stores (but that could just be the OCD in me talking).  Each duo contains two different eyeshadows with varying textures in coordinating shades. Overall, I found them to be quite bold and interesting combinations, having one more slightly neutral shade paired with a bold color.  They are the same size as regular MAC eyeshadows, so if you’re head over heels for a duo, then you’ll be saving a bit of money by picking it up in this collection.

All of the shades are new, limited edition ones and one critique that remained the same as last time is that the shades themselves don’t actually have names. The duos as a whole have a name, however if you’re referring to a shade, or if you prefer to depot your palettes to fit along with your other MAC pro pans, you’ll be referring to them as “that matte teal blue from the Dynamic Duo 3” which I’m sure many of which (including myself) would prefer to just have a name for it. Hopefully if MAC does these duos again, they will catch on that names are actually quite important.

Dynamic Duo 1

This duo contains a Veluxe Pearl coral pink eyeshadow paired with a Matte purple grape shade.  The combination is one of the more realistic combinations that I would have come up with, however the quality of the shades were pretty inconsistent. While the coral shade looked gorgeous, the matte purple really lacked in pigment which was quite disappointing. It also went on quite patchy, which I haven’t experienced much before with MAC eyeshadows- so I’m sad to say I’m not a fan of this otherwise gorgeous combination because of the matte shade.

RATING: B-

MAC Pro Pan Eyeshadow X2 in Dynamic Duo 1

MAC Pro Pan Eyeshadow X2 in Dynamic Duo 1

MAC Pro Pan Eyeshadow X2 in Dynamic Duo 1

MAC Pro Pan Eyeshadow X2 in Dynamic Duo 1

MAC Pro Pan Eyeshadow X2 in Dynamic Duo 1

MAC Pro Pan Eyeshadow X2 in Dynamic Duo 1 (Veluxe Pearl Shade)

MAC Pro Pan Eyeshadow X2 in Dynamic Duo 1 (Matte Shade)

MAC Pro Pan Eyeshadow X2 in Dynamic Duo 1

Dynamic Duo 2

This duo contains a silver-y violet Veluxe Pearl paired with a Matte cobalt blue.  I love the combination of these two, mainly because the cobalt is such an interesting shade this season that we’re seeing a lot in the fashion world. The violet pearl shade was much better with its payoff, and same with the blue (although not entirely up to my expectations). I’ll give it a bit of a break because it does look really nice on the eye.  I particularly like using the blue shadow as a lower lash line pop of color, with the frosty shade as a wash on the lid. I

RATING: B+

MAC Pro Pan Eyeshadow X2 in Dynamic Duo 2

MAC Pro Pan Eyeshadow X2 in Dynamic Duo 2

MAC Pro Pan Eyeshadow X2 in Dynamic Duo 2

MAC Pro Pan Eyeshadow X2 in Dynamic Duo 2

MAC Pro Pan Eyeshadow X2 in Dynamic Duo 2

MAC Pro Pan Eyeshadow X2 in Dynamic Duo 2 (Veluxe Pearl Shade)

MAC Pro Pan Eyeshadow X2 in Dynamic Duo 2 (Matte Shade)

MAC Pro Pan Eyeshadow X2 in Dynamic Duo 2

Dynamic Duo 3

This duo was definitely the most impressive overall in terms of quality. With a dirty mauve Veluxe Pearl paired with a Matte muted teal, the combination is bold but really looks awesome together.  It’s a unique look, but each of the eyeshadows really held its own in terms of color payoff and smooth texture. Definitely the overall winner for me!

RATING: A-

MAC Pro Pan Eyeshadow X2 in Dynamic Duo 3

MAC Pro Pan Eyeshadow X2 in Dynamic Duo 3

MAC Pro Pan Eyeshadow X2 in Dynamic Duo 3

MAC Pro Pan Eyeshadow X2 in Dynamic Duo 3

MAC Pro Pan Eyeshadow X2 in Dynamic Duo 3

MAC Pro Pan Eyeshadow X2 in Dynamic Duo 3 (Veluxe Pearl Shade)

MAC Pro Pan Eyeshadow X2 in Dynamic Duo 3 (Matte Shade)

MAC Pro Pan Eyeshadow X2 in Dynamic Duo 3

The Eye Kohls

The collection also contained several MAC Eye Kohl ($15 USD / $18 CAD) pencils, with which I’ve had a bittersweet relationship with over the past few years. I always liked the sultry, smoky look I could achieve with Smoulder (also included in the collection and a long-standing permanent line piece), however I never found they had much lasting power on their own.  They do smudge really nicely, so if you’re someone that adores the smoky look, then you might find favor in this formula (but I still recommend to set with a powder eyeshadow to hold it on longer).

Again with these shades, they go on like eye pencils I remember using several years ago, dry and tugging (I recommend warming them up on the back of your hand by drawing back and forth to make it go on softer) and smudging quite a bit by the end of the day. With other eyeliners out there that are much creamier, more pigmented and have incredibly lasting power, I just having been reaching for MAC Eye Kohl pencils for a long time.   The good thing is that you do get a lot of product in these pencils.

Heirloom

This metallic lavender grey shade confused me a bit at first, because its so light and shimmery, the only real use I’d have for it would be in the inner corner and waterline (and even with that, it doesn’t have much staying power).  It’s a pretty shade, but I probably wouldn’t reach for it as an eyeliner much.

RATING: B-

MAC Eye Kohl in Heirloom

MAC Eye Kohl in Heirloom

MAC Eye Kohl in Heirloom

MAC Eye Kohl in Heirloom

Hyacinth

A much more appropriate and pigmented eyeliner color, this royal blue is something I would reach for a lot more.  I’m a huge fan of blue eyeliner, so I’d give this one more of a chance.  It still didn’t deliver lasting power that I would prefer (and have come to expect in an eyeliner thanks to brands like Urban Decay and Make Up For Ever). I’d still probably reach for this one because it’s shade is quite unique- somewhere between mid-tone and deep navy.

RATING: B

MAC Eye Kohl in Hyacinth

MAC Eye Kohl in Hyacinth

MAC Eye Kohl in Hyacinth

MAC Eye Kohl in Hyacinth

See More

• Look Book: Reel Sexy

Summary

• Price: Lipsticks are $14.50 USD / $17.50 CAD for 0.1oz / 3g; Eyeshadow Duos are $27.50 USD / $33 CAD for 0.09oz / 2.8g; Eyeliners are $15 USD / $18 CAD for 0.048oz / 1.36g
• Availability: MAC
• Overall: Probably not the strongest collection that I’ve seen from MAC, but it definitely does have a few winners in it.  Overall the collection is quite inconsistent with quality, ranging from pretty bad to really good.  The lipsticks were the best, only one of the eyeshadow duos that I tried was good, and the eye kohl pencils just aren’t a favorite formula in my books anymore.
• Rating: B for the collection as a whole (products rated individually above)