M.A.C Debuts ‘Anti-Princess’ Makeup Line

Cruella De Vil and the Evil Queen are two of the Venomous Villains M.A.C celebrates with its new makeup collection.

We’ve always found the bad guys (and girls) in art and literature to be more intriguing than their Goody-Two-Shoes counterparts. Villains tend to be more psychologically complex than heroes and thus have a certain glamour and appeal about them. (Think: Victoria vs. Bella in the Twilight series.)

Or at least that’s the thinking behind the surprising new collaboration between M.A.C Cosmetics and entertainment giant Disney. Seven years in the making, the Venomous Villains makeup collection takes its inspiration from four of Disney’s nefarious icons: Snow White’s Evil Queen; Sleeping Beauty’s green-faced nemesis Maleficent; One Hundred and One Dalmations‘ Cruella De Vil; and The Princess and the Frog’s Dr. Facilier.

Of course, there’s no green face paint in the palette: The Disney villains and their signature colors served as guiding spirits and each appears on his or her special packaging. “This is very sophisticated makeup; this is not makeup for going out on Halloween,” says M.A.C creative director James Gager. Prices range from a low of $12 for Dr. Facilier’s “I’m So Vain Mirror” compact to a high of $29.50 for the Magically Cool Liquid Powder, also from the mythical voodoo doctor. The collection includes rich, dramatic, pearlescent lip, eye and nail shades as well.

Gager describes the line, which goes on sale Sept. 30, as “empowering.” Adds Jennifer Balbier, M.A.C vice president of product development, “These characters are definitely naughty; they’re not sweet princess types. Even a nice girl may have a naughty side and she might want to step out and try a new look.”

Gager suggests choosing your line by which villain you identify with most closely. We see our soulmate in the Evil Queen. Which one do you prefer?