Marc Jacobs finally launches a beauty line, and it’s exclusive to Sephora.
Whatever Marc Jacobs does, he doesn’t do “small”. So when he decided to launch a beauty line, the result’s predictably bionic: a whopping 120-piece collection of sure-to-be covetable foundations, colour makeup, nail polishes and luxuriously crafted cosmetic brushes.
Exclusively produced in collaboration with and sold at cosmetics giant Sephora, Marc Jacobs Beauty isn’t just a bunch of makeup products with the designer’s name tacked on. Calling the line very “personal”, everything – from the sleek, rounded packaging to the eye-popping colours and textures of the makeup – is meticulously created under his exacting eyes and inspired by what he loves: Hollywood, tattoos, music and pop culture. There’s the sparkly silver nail polish and apple-red lipstick named after characters from the musical The Wizard of Oz (“Glinda” and “Surrender Dorothy” respectively), girlie and bright lip gloss shades inspired by Nicki Minaj, Gwen Stefani and Britney Spears, and a whole lot of references to his favourite grunge band Nirvana across the collection.
It’s not just a visual feast. The entire collection boasts super-lightweight textures without sacrificing colour pay-off, thanks to gel technology, which allows for intense pigment saturation with just a light touch. Their lightness also allows for easy layering, so you can create extra intense looks without worrying about caking, clumping or colour transferring. The star products include the Genius Gel Super-charged Foundation, Remedy Concealer Pen, Lash Lifter Gel Volume Mascara and Lust For Lacquer Lip Vinyl. Of the latter, Jacobs says: “Lust… has champagne grape extract – what could be more intoxicating?”
The inaugural collection is split into four looks, based on Jacobs’ favourites. There is the dark and intense Vamp, the dramatic and ’60s-influenced Mod, the feminine and sultry Little Pretty, and the glamorous and sexy Starlet. There’s also a three-piece unisex category called Boy Tested, Girl Approved, which includes the designer’s must-have: the non-tacky, soft-hold Brow Tamer Grooming Gel. Well, if that’s what he uses to keep his famously bristly eyebrows in place, sign us up.
The silky, slippery texture of the hydrating Genius Gel Super-charged Foundation means it won’t settle into fine lines, and can be layered to achieve full coverage without feeling heavy and looking cakey. $70, in 16 shades
The Lash Lifter Gel Volume Mascara’s triangular brush design gives lashes defined separation and lift, while the lightweight gel formula holds the curl without weighing it down and clumping. Flake- and smudge-proof, yet washes off easily with warm water. $40
The Highliner Gel Crayon combines the rich pigment and long-wearing qualities of a gel eyeliner with the application ease of a pencil. $36, in six shades
Lust For Lacquer Lip Vinyl glosses come in full opaque hues or sheer shades and give pouts a hyper-shiny finish. $39, in 12 shades
Eyeshadow sizes in the Style Eye-con No. 3 palette correspond to use-up rate – with the main colour being the largest size and liner shade the smallest – so you don’t end up running out of the base shadow before the other accent shades. $60, in six versions
This article was first published in Female April 2014.
