nce upon a time, there was a princess who loved shoes (in particular glass slippers).

Trapped in her condo castle in the faraway land of Novato, where she was being held captive by an evil plus-size tabby overlord, she dreamed of glass slippers and makeup with glistening, glittery, glossy finishes…

One cold February afternoon, the MAC Cinderella collection galloped into town dressed in pale blue and gold finery.

The princess gasped as she glossed her lips with the collection’s sparkling nude and pink Lipsticks and Lipglasses.

Overcome with joy as she swept colors from the cool-toned Stroke of Midnight eyeshadow palette on her lids, she clutched the waistband of her black stretchy pants, then squealed with delight when she caught a glimpse of the Iridescent Pressed Powder and Beauty Powder shimmering on her cheeks.

But it was only when she saw MAC Studio Eye Gloss in Lightly Tauped gleaming on her lids that she realized she had found true love.

Closing her eyes, she held the jar close to her heart and said, “There’s nothing like Lightly Tauped,” and then again, “There’s nothing like Lightly Tauped.”

Poof! Just like that, when the princess opened her eyes, she was standing outside.

Far, far away in a tower at the top of the condo castle, the evil plus-size tabby watched from a window, plotting his revenge…

The 17-piece MAC Cinderella collection is the stuff of fairytales! — fairy dust, glass slippers and sparkling tiaras sprinkled with starlight.

Light, airy formulas combine with glossy finishes to create bibbidi-bobbidi-boo.

At first glance, because of the muted tones and cool colors, I thought this release was going to be strictly for pale princesses, but I realized, as I experimented with it, that many of these pieces are sleeping beauties that really only come to life when the light hits them on your skin.

It’s all about shine, sheen, shimmer, glitter and gloss.

Shimmery nude pinks sparkle on lips, glittery powders gleam on cheeks, cool-toned eyeshadows accented with pearly plum and rich olive loose pigments dance on lids, and sparkling eyes cast glossy winks from across crowded rooms.

Speaking of gloss…I’m all about the MAC Studio Eye Gloss in Lightly Tauped. It’s like a thick, hella shiny, sparkly pot of Vaseline…but for your eyes.

I know! — that sounds cray, and it kind of is, especially if you layer it on top of the eyeshadows from the quad (which I did here, for that messy, greasy, “I don’t care, ’cause I’m a rock star” effect).

Even though it’s not going to be something most people will be able to wear to the Monday morning meeting at work (unless you work for a glossy magazine or walk runways), that mirror-like shine is so chic. You get all the drama of smokey eyes without having to actually blend sh*t.

I like to highlight the inner corners of my eyes with a shimmery gold, curl my lashes, and then coat them with mascara until they can’t take it anymore. Then I pat Lightly Taupe all over the lids for a different spin on nude eyes.







The Eyeshadow X 6 in Stroke of Midnight has quickly become my cool-toned JAM, because it has so many of MAC’s classic colors that I use and love all in one place, like frosty off-white Phloof and pearly, peachy pink Vapour (I love either of these dusted in the inner corners); matte, muted plummy brown Quarry and matte beige-taupe Omega (I use these to softly define the crease); and shimmery, silvery Satin Taupe (my old-school love).

There’s also a new shade — deep, pearly, plummy black Stroke of Midnight — to accent the other colors. If you’re new to MAC, this is a great way to get a bunch of staple shades in one fell swoop.

As for the rest of the collection, like the Lipsticks, Lipglasses, Fluidlines, Pigments, Glitter and Mascara, I like them all…although I’m a little iffy on the Irridescent Pressed Powder and Beauty Powder. I think they could both stand to be a little softer and less gritty.

You’ll be able to click your way to a happily ever after with the 17-piece MAC Cinderella collection starting February 26, when it arrives online at maccosmetics.com, or wait to see it in person March 5 through April 16 in stores and on counters.

The 17-piece MAC Cinderella collection includes.. Lustre Lipstick in Free as a Butterfly , a semi-sheer golden nude ($17.50 US, $21 CDN)

, a semi-sheer golden nude ($17.50 US, $21 CDN) Lustre Lipstick in Royal Ball , a fleshy pink ($17.50 US, $21 CDN)

, a fleshy pink ($17.50 US, $21 CDN) Lipglass in Happily Ever After , a cool milky pink with bluish pearl ($16.50 US, $20 CDN)

, a cool milky pink with bluish pearl ($16.50 US, $20 CDN) Lipglass in Glass Slipper , a light milky pink with pinkish pearl ($16.50 US, $20 CDN)

, a light milky pink with pinkish pearl ($16.50 US, $20 CDN) Eyeshadow X 6 in Stroke of Midnight ($44 US, $53 CDN)

($44 US, $53 CDN) Phloof, a frosty off white



Quarry, a matte plummy brown



Omega, a matte muted beige-taupe



Vapour, a velvety peachy pink with violet pearl



Stroke of Midnight, a volvety black plum with pearl



Satin Taupe, a frosty taupe with silver shimmer

MAC Studio Eye Gloss in Lightly Tauped , a light beige gloss with pearl ($23 US, $28.50 CDN)

, a light beige gloss with pearl ($23 US, $28.50 CDN) MAC Studio Eye Gloss in Pearl Varnish , a white gloss with pearl ($23 US, $28.50 CDN)

, a white gloss with pearl ($23 US, $28.50 CDN) MAC Fluidline in Little Black Bow , a gray with silver pearl ($17.50 US, $21 CDN)

, a gray with silver pearl ($17.50 US, $21 CDN) MAC Fluidline in Macroviolet , a deep smokey violet with red pearl ($17.50 US, $21 CDN)

, a deep smokey violet with red pearl ($17.50 US, $21 CDN) MAC Iridescent Pressed Powder in Coupe D’Chic , a light golden peachy with golden shimmer ($28 US, $33 CDN)

, a light golden peachy with golden shimmer ($28 US, $33 CDN) MAC Beauty Powder in Mystery Princess , a matte pinkish beige with silver shimmer ($28 US, $33 CDN)

, a matte pinkish beige with silver shimmer ($28 US, $33 CDN) MAC Glitter in Reflects Pearl , a fine white glitter with pearly sheen ($23 US, $28 CDN)

, a fine white glitter with pearly sheen ($23 US, $28 CDN) MAC Pigment in Evil Stepmother , a blackened plum with plum pearl ($24 US, $29 CDN)

, a blackened plum with plum pearl ($24 US, $29 CDN) MAC Pigment in Pretty It Up , an olive with pearlized pigments ($24 US, $29 CDN)

, an olive with pearlized pigments ($24 US, $29 CDN) MAC Studio Fix Lash in Boldblack ($19 US, $22 CDN)

($19 US, $22 CDN) 217 Blending Brush ($24 US, $28.50)

($24 US, $28.50) 168 Large Angled Contour Brush ($35 US, $42 CDN)

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen