Curious about MAC’s new Aaliyah tribute collection? In the past few days, several previews have hit the YouTube-verse, giving us the real on what to expect from this highly anticipated launch. Created in collaboration with the late singer’s older brother, Rashad Haughton, Aaliyah for MAC will be available online June 20 and hit MAC stores June 21.
We particularly like the video above, from burgeoning YouTube beauty blogger Christine Amor, who won her advance shipment of the full kit in a contest. In addition to being a huge Aaliyah fan, Amor is a makeup artist who has worked with MAC products for the past several years, which means that her product knowledge of the brand is pretty exceptional.
The pyramid-shaped collection kit that Amor received includes the Age Ain’t Nothin’ nine-color eye shadow palette, a bronzer, two lipliners, three tubes of Lipglass and three lipsticks—and, of course, a framable portrait card featuring the Princess of R&B herself, plus a bandanna inspired by many of her iconic looks.
Shimmery neutrals and purplish hues feature heavily in the collection, which definitely gives us late-’90s vibes (appropriate, since that was the height of Aaliyah’s fame, and the colors were taken from her own archived makeup bags). Standouts include the palette, which includes matte and metallic shadows and looks like a solid starter kit for pretty much anyone, and the Brooklyn Girl Lipglass, which is a frosty golden hue that’s a great addition as a topper to other shades.
While we didn’t vibe with all of Amor’s faves, her swatching was immensely helpful in assessing the strength and accessibility of the collection. One big hiccup: The “bronzer” barely looks like it would have bronzed Aaliyah herself, which is disappointing for darker-skinned fans who will want to partake.
On the whole, we kind of found the offerings underwhelming, but as a tribute to a much-beloved icon, the positives seem to far outweigh the negatives. Aaliyah was one in a million; this celebration of her beauty feels a fitting one.