MAC Cosmetics It’s a Strike! (Review, Swatches & Look)

MAC - It's a Strike!

Coming soon to a MAC counter near you: MAC‘s It’s a Strike! limited edition collection!

Head straight to the fast lane and have a ball with M∙A∙C It’s a Strike! A range of Lipstick and Cremesheen Glass is racked in red. Rich eye shadow and Fluidline Pen shades will have everyone begging to join your league, while easy hues of Casual Colour are right up anyone’s alley. Practice a clean follow-through with three creamy colors of M∙A∙C Studio Nail Lacquer. Finally, knock them all down with the luminous allure of new Pearlmatte Face Powder.

My main excitement in this collection was stemmed not only by the new pearlmatte face powder (sadly, not pictured in this post), but also the GORGEOUS new eyeshadow shades!

MAC It's a Strike! eyeshadows - Carbon, Bowl Out, Bowlarama & 300 Game
MAC It’s a Strike! eyeshadows – Carbon, Bowl Out, Bowlarama & 300 Game

While you’ve got your usual Carbon in there, there’s also a glorious mid-tone brown-grey in Bowl Out (matte), an incredibly fun yellow-green in Bowlarama (satin) and a to-die-for blackened cherry in 300 Game.

MAC It's a Strike! eyeshadows - Bowlarama, Bowl Out, 300 Game & Carbon - swatched
MAC It’s a Strike! eyeshadows – Bowlarama, Bowl Out, 300 Game & Carbon – swatched

Aside from Carbon (who has long needed help in the pigmentation department), these eyeshadows swatched and wore like a dream. I love that there’s that sort of weird chartreuse colour that’s not quite green enough to be a true chartreuse. It played out so, SO nicely on my lids. Bowl Out – the grey brown – is the kind of shade I wanted Copperplate to be, but never was. And 300 Game is just way too awesome of a dark red to ignore! I’m also really, REALLY happy that this collection has only satin and matte eyeshadows – it’s just a nice change of pace, you know?

MAC It's a Strike! eye look
MAC It’s a Strike! eye look
MAC It's a Strike! eye look
MAC It’s a Strike! eye look
MAC It's a Strike! lipsticks - Babes and Balls & Liquid Lurex
MAC It’s a Strike! lipsticks – Babes and Balls & Liquid Lurex

The lipsticks are also equally enticing – particularly the dazzle lipstick which I’ve never played with before!

MAC It's a Strike! lipsticks - Babes and Balls & Liquid Lurex
MAC It’s a Strike! lipsticks – Babes and Balls & Liquid Lurex

Babes and Balls is a matte deep burgundy, whereas Liquid Lurex is described as a tarnished gold in a dazzle formula.

MAC It's a Strike! lipsticks - Liquid Lurex & Babes and Balls - swatched
MAC It’s a Strike! lipsticks – Liquid Lurex & Babes and Balls – swatched
Wearing Liquid Lurex
Wearing Liquid Lurex
Liquid Lurex up close
Liquid Lurex up close

Although Liquid Lurex got pegged as “tarnished gold”, I personally see a very thin green-gold base with flecks of gold, silver and pink glitter dispersed throughout the formula. I thought it was a lot of fun to wear, even though it really is just a glitter lipstick. Despite the glitter, it’s not uncomfortable to wear. Removal is a bit of a pain however, as the glitter pieces will try their darnedest to stay stuck on your lips!

Wearing Babes and Balls
Wearing Babes and Balls
Babes and Balls up close
Babes and Balls up close

Babes and Balls is… well… just freaking stunning. Perhaps more suited towards the coming fall months (which I cannot WAIT for btw), Babes and Balls is a gorgeous matte lipstick that I know I’m going to get a ton of use out of. Not only is it a gorgeous shade, but my personal preference for lipsticks is always going to be a matte because they just stay PUT. And this one is no exception!

MAC Fluidline Pens in Vintage Brown, Indelibly Blue & Retro Black
MAC Fluidline Pens in Vintage Brown, Indelibly Blue & Retro Black

I’d never tried MAC‘s new(ish) Fluidline Pens, but I was eager to since I do love me a good winged liner on almost all of my makeup looks.

MAC Fluidline Pens in Vintage Brown, Indelibly Blue & Retro Black - swatched
MAC Fluidline Pens in Vintage Brown, Indelibly Blue & Retro Black – swatched

Sadly, I was not a fan of these pens. I found the felt tip pen made it very difficult to deposit the colour onto my lids. It’s like it just wasn’t flowing to the very end of the felt tip, which made it really frustrating to use. 🙁 These were a total pass for me. (I can’t recommend the fluidline gel pots enough though – those are excellent and I’ve been through several of them!)

MAC Casual Color in Blind Score
MAC Casual Color in Blind Score

MAC‘s Casual Color formula is another completely new to me product as I had never previously been drawn in by them. Consider me a convert though, because this was incredible.

MAC Casual Color in Blind Score - swatched
MAC Casual Color in Blind Score – swatched

It smells like their vanilla lipsticks (and can be used on the lips as well) and blended onto my cheeks easily. When I first stippled the colour on my cheeks I was slightly taken aback by just how much colour it deposited. But with a little blending action, this dark colour faded out to a soft  yet vibrant cheek colour.

Blind Score on my cheeks (there's also highlighter on there!)
Blind Score on my cheeks (there’s also highlighter on there!)

MAC It’s a Strike! Look

MAC It's a Strike! look
MAC It’s a Strike! look
MAC It's a Strike! look
MAC It’s a Strike! look

If you’re interested in this It’s a Strike! makeup look, it’ll be coming to my YouTube channel tomorrow! Here it is:

For the full MAC It’s a Strike! colour story, please check out Swatch & Review.

Let me know if you’re interested in this collection. I’ll admit I was on the fence at first since it seemed like a weird place to draw makeup inspiration, but having tried out the products, I’m particularly enamored by the lipsticks and eyeshadows! This collection will be available online on August 18th and in stores August 25th.

The products featured in this post were sent to me by PR for review.

19 thoughts on “MAC Cosmetics It’s a Strike! (Review, Swatches & Look)

  1. Love the Mac It’s a Strike Look as it really makes your eyes pop. I also love the Babes and Balls and it will be great for fall. Overall great look on you.

    1. Aside from Carbon (which I had a bit of trouble with) all the other shades were totally solid. I was really, REALLY happy about that!

    1. lol I know right? Like what does bowling have to do with makeup? But, it’s a lot of fun to grab some random concept/sport/whatever and derive a makeup collection from it cuz you end up coming up with completely out of the box things!

  2. I love how you are always able to come up with a stunning make-up look with shades I would never even be able to wrap my head around how to put together. You’re awesome!

    Also, looks like I need to head to MAC for Liquid Lurex.. omg, swoon.

    1. Awww thanks Amy! I don’t know how it comes to me… it tends to feel quite organic. And the reverse is true for me… when people say they don’t know how to put colours together I can’t wrap my head around THAT concept! haha

    1. Blind Score shocked me with just how gorgeous it is. Both that and the Babes and Balls lipsticks are so freaking gorgeous for the upcoming fall season!

  3. First time on your blog. Great review. You really rocked the eyeshadows. I wasn’t planning on buying ANY of the eyeshadows but now I’m at least getting 2. Additionally, I really want to pass on blind score cc but now I don’t think I can. oh the struggles of a hoarder, I meant junkie, um, no COLLECTOR- I’m an avid makeup collector.

    Babes & balls is fantastic & you certainly look like a babe. I’m excited for this. I’m trying hard not to buy back ups, but this looks like it could be BU worthy. I know a lot of people will love this as we enter the fall months (there’s a light at the end of the sweltering summer tunnel 😅). But I can see this heavy in my rotation ASAP. I’ve never thought of makeup or anything else as things that should be pigeon holed to certain seasons, except for suede…I love it but it’s really hard for me to wear it in the warm & hot weather.

    Can you remember what highlighter you are wearing?

    Bookmarking you now.

    Thanks for the swatches & review.

    1. Hi there! Thanks so much for commenting. 🙂
      I was surprised by this collection myself – I wasn’t expecting bowling to be a fantastic inspiration for makeup, but I’ve found myself really drawn to a lot of the colours in this collection!
      Totally with you on not restricting makeup to certain months. I can’t think of anything I refuse to wear in the summer or winter… although I definitely gravitate towards different shades depending on the season! But if I want to rock dark lips in the summer, I’m sure as hell going to do it!
      As for my highlighter, I’m wearing the faithful MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle. I’ve found myself falling back in love with it lately.

  4. Your eye makeup looks gorgeous (I wish I could apply like that…I’m practicing 🙂 Also, Babes and Balls really brightens up your face. Thanks for the post, I just purchased Babes and Balls online, such a stunning color! I like the dewey look of the Casual Color as well; I’ll have to get that soon!

    1. It just takes practice! I’m definitely not a pro, but I’ve been applying eyeshadow since I was 12 I think so that’s a lottttt of years of practice!
      I hope you love your lipstick! Babes and Balls is a great shade! 🙂

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