Bad or Rad | MAC x Aladdin Collection Review

Say what you will, but as an avid Disney lover, I have been stalking the MAC x Aladdin Collection since I first saw sneak peeks on Instagram. But is this collection really worth the splurge? Please keep reading to find out.

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MAC Cosmetics Brand Ethos

MAC has long been considered an industry leader known for creating high-quality products for professionals and for makeup artistry leadership. In addition, MAC’s inclusive shade ranges and age, race, and gender diverse advertising and product offerings are well-loved. For decades MAC set the trends in the market.

In recent years, MAC lost much of its relevance and cult status. Meanwhile, hotter, indie brands like Anastasia Beverly Hills have blown up.

Moreover, the brand brought on a lot of consumer ire when it lost its Cruelty-Free status after entering the Chinese market. Although MAC does not personally test its cosmetics on animals, the brand complies with the animal testing standards set by the PRC.

From a sustainability standpoint, MAC’s recycling programs is one of the most well-known. Through the recycling program, consumers can return six MAC products in exchange for a free lipstick. Read more about this program here.

Princess Jasmine Palette x9

The Princess Jasmine Palette is described as limited-edition Eyeshadow Palette with nine smoky, metallic and desert shades, from lustrous gold to blackened plum to duo-chrome blue-green with red shimmer. Transformed in specially designed, opulent packaging inspired by the rich patterns and vibrant hues of Agrabah.

Price & Packaging

The Prince Jasmine x9 Eyeshadow Palette is a limited edition mini 9-pan eyeshadow palette that retailed for $35.00. The palette is packaged in gold-colored plastic. The cover design includes intricate details stylized to represent Aladdin.

This palette is currently sold out everywhere.

Eyeshadow Swatches

The 9-pan palette contains a mix of matte, metallic, and shimmer shadows inspired by the desert. I was pleasantly surprised with how effortlessly these shadows swatched on my arm. Beauty lovers often describe MAC’s eyeshadow formula as dry.

As always, swatches are not a perfect indicator of quality. However, they can provide clues regarding a shadow’s pigmentation and ability to blend.

From top to Bottom: No Ordinary Lamp (light rose matte), Creative Copper (peachy gold lustre with gold shimmer), Agrabah (cool rose frost), Riffraff (mauve matte), Rags To Riches (pale gold frost), Live The Genie Life (red frost with green pearl), Princess Jasmine (duo-chrome blue-green frost), Abu! (plum VLXP with red pearl and Shadowy Lady (blackened plum matte)

Please refer to the below explanations of each unique finish:

• Lustre shadows are typically less pigmented, shimmery, glittery MAC shadows
• Frosts are typically iridescent metallic MAC shadows
• VLXPs (Veluxe Pearls) are similar to Frosts but are typically more metallic

Shadowy Lady swatched poorly. Compared to the other mattes in this palette, this shade felt very dry. It struggled to blend.

Application & Wear-Time

I can’t lie, I saw Jackie Aina struggle with this eyeshadow palette in her review. I contemplated returning this palette. However, as a hardcore Aladdin fan, I really wanted to test this palette.

All-in-all, I experienced few issues applying the shadows in this palette. Only Shadowy Lady caused issues. The frost, lustre, and VLXP shadows glided across the eye whether applied with a wet or dry, flat brush. In comparison, stamping and packing was the only way to apply Shadowy Lady. This shadow blended patchily, otherwise.

I didn’t notice any fading or creasing when wearing these shadows. The matte shadows produced some kickback, but they produced considerably less than other popular formulas (such as Anastasia Beverly Hills).

Is the Princess Jasmine Palette Bad or Rad?

I genuinely loved the Princess Jasmine Palette. I feel joyful looking at this palette. Also, this palette is now an everyday eyeshadow palette for me. The color story is a curated, basic palette with a twist.

However, this palette lacks depth. As such, it may not work for individuals with medium-to-deep skin tones. There aren’t enough mid-tone matte shades. Also, the two gold shades look similar on the eyelids.

Amplified Lipstick in Friend Like Me

Friend Like Me is described as a limited-edition Amplified cool, beige lipstick. Amplified lipsticks are considered to be a creamy, pigmented finish. MAC’s iconic bullet tube is specially designed opulent packaging inspired by the rich patterns and vibrant hues of Agrabah.

Price & Packaging

Friend Like Me retailed for $20.00. Again, this packaging makes me feel so happy whenever I look at it. The intricate design pattern perfectly represents Aladdin.

Bronzer & Lipstick Swatches

The online photos of Friend Like Me looked terrifyingly light. However, the below swatch shows that the color is deeper than it appears online. MAC’s amplified formula glides across the skin with full pigmentation.

Application & Wear-Time

I enjoy wearing this lipstick with a slightly deeper lip liner to add greater dimension to the lips. However, Friend Like Me wears well with or without a lip liner. Also, it works on its own or paired with a gloss.

This lipstick quickly is my everyday lipstick. It is comfortable to wear, highly pigmented, and plays well with other products. However, I will caveat, Friend Like Me is not long-wearing.

Is the Amplified Lipstick Bad or Rad?

MAC knows how to make a killer lipstick. I highly recommend Friend Like Me to anyone that loves creamy, beige-nude lipsticks.

Powder Blush in Your Wish is My Command (Bronzer)

For whatever bizarre reason, MAC describes the “bronzer” and “highlighter” in this collection as blush. However, I will be referring to Your Wish Is My Command as a bronzer. 

MAC refers to Your Wish Is My Command as a limited-edition oversized blush in deep golden matte brown. Transformed in specially designed opulent packaging inspired by the rich patterns and vibrant hues of Agrabah, with the genie’s lamp embossed into the powder.

Price & Packaging

Your Wish Is My Command retailed for $35.00. Like the rest of this collection, the packaging is beautifully designed with intricate details that represent the magic of Aladdin. Additionally, this bronzer compact comes with a large mirror. Inside, the genie lamp is imprinted on powder.

Bronzer & Lipstick Swatches

Your Wish Is My Command is an ultra-creamy bronzer that swatched with total ease. As evidenced by the photo below, the bronzer is very warm.

Application & Wear-Time

The bronzer is difficult to apply. As someone with fair skin, this bronzer is a little too deep for me. I use the tiniest amount of product to warm up my face. When too much is applied, I struggle to blend in a way that looks natural.

The above being said, the bronzer doesn’t fade or budge throughout the day. Also, I LOVE the large mirror.

Is the Bronzer Bad or Rad?

Unfortunately, I do not recommend picking up this bronzer. It will not work for anyone with very light or very dark skin. Moreover, bronzer is expensive for how it performs.

Is the MAC x Aladdin Collection Still Available?

Unfortunately, this collection is no longer for sale. However, the colors are so basic that it is easy to dupe this limited edition line.

Final Thoughts on the MAC x Disney’s Aladdin Collection 

First, I have to commend MAC for the packaging of this collection. Every piece in this collection is stunning. My heart actually swoons when I look at the intricate designs. Of the pieces that I picked up, Amplified Lipstick and the Princess Jasmine x9 Eyeshadow Palette impressed me the most.

The above being said MAC didn’t do enough to create a color story that really connects with the movie. Moreover, the products released do not work for a wide variety of skin tones (outside of the lipsticks and glosses). Given that this collection is based off a movie set in the Middle East, I expected MAC to include a greater range of colors tod work on medium to deep skin tones.

From a quality perspective, I enjoyed most of what I picked up. If this were still available, I would recommend grabbing something from this line. Avid Aladdin fans or anyone looking for a basic, everyday eyeshadow palette, lipstick, or bronzer would have enjoyed this collection.

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Are you Disney obsessed like me? Check out my review of the ColourPop x Disney Villains Collection

Thinking of ordering from ColourPop for the first time? Please consider using my referral link for $5.00 off your first order. If you make a purchase, I’ll also receive $5.00 off my next purchase. Please note, I’ve purchased all of the aforementioned items.

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What do you think about the MAC x Disney’s Aladdin Collection? Are you a fan of all these Disney collaborations? Please let me know in the comments below.