Nicola Formichetti’s Nicopandas Come Out to Play With MAC

When I first started playing with makeup — not just swiping my mom’s lipsticks, but actually receiving play makeup to mess around with — I tended to go really wild when I dressed up. Smearing creamy blue and white shadows on my lids, applying layer after layer of thick pink gloss, and using my stash of stick-on earrings as jewels to dot all over to accent my look was all part of the prepwork before donning what I pretended was a gown before presiding over my subjects. And while I don’t play princess as often as I used to, that playful attitude has stuck around.

It’s also what drew designer Nicola Formichetti, who many might know as the former Mugler creative director who had Lady Gaga rock his first runway, to finally link up with MAC Cosmetics. The head of Nicopanda has a long histroy with the beauty, having previously paired up for a number of campaigns over the, including Gaga’s Viva Glam campaigns. “They have always been very supportive of me and my creativity,” he explained to Teen Vogue. “It was a natural progression to create product together with Nicopanda. They are like family, and we really trust each other.”

But this time, Formichetti wanted to bring his brand, which he says is all about “trying new things, sharing and creating new ideas,” to the beauty counter by letting his creative spirit run wild to craft a collection that is meant for everyone who loves who likes to play with pigments. “Diversity and inclusivity are part of everything I do and Nicopanda does,” Formichetti said of the collection that is slated to hit MAC’s website on April 5th and MAC stores and Macy’s on April 11th. “Working on this project, I was inspired because everyone had their own take on how they wanted to play with the color palettes — a total freedom of expression.”

That sense of spirit transformed into a collection chock with pretty pastels and other unconventional color combos in the form of three Full Face Kits called Stay Cute, Preppy Panda and Primapanda as well as six matte lipsticks that the glossy notes range from seafoam green (Galactic Mint) to deep plum (Toung ’N’ Chic). Not to mention, there’s a plethora of Formichetti’s signature pandas dotted all over the packagaing and even topping some of the makeup brushes in the collection. “I spent a lot of time really perfecting the packaging. I wanted to bring together the beauty of MAC design with the Nicopanda motif, and I am really happy with the results. It’s pretty incredible because packaging for this collection is unlike anything previously done by MAC.”

But the most unique (and most likely to sell out the fastest) is the face stickers that come in the shape of flowers, hearts, bows, as well as punctuation marks and Nicopanda heads — all decked out in glitter. Stick-on face accessories have been a staple in the industry, but in recent years, they’ve been remixed to appear more delicate and darling, like Milk’s series of tattoo stamps and Flirt Cosmetics Chicers, than these daring ones from MAC. That’s not to say you can’t lean into the look with a face full of them. In fact, Formichetti fully encourages makeup mavens to come up with with their own cool combinations, something he admits he’s spent hours doing. After all, what’s the point of playing with makeup if you’re not having fun? “Beauty can be the most simple and natural look or something totally over-the-top and crazy because it’s an opportunity to both empower and express,” he said. “It’s our differences that make us unique and beautiful.”

If you want to get up close and personal with some of the products int heupcoming collection, I suggest you head over to Teen Vogue to get a gander at some of them before marking your calendars for April 5th if you’re planning to shop online or April 11th when it hits stores. Either way, let me know what you’re planning to pick up in the commenst below!