Selena Quintanilla was one of the most iconic musicians of her time. She single-handedly broke into the Tejano music scene, which was, at the time, a male-dominated industry. Selena made a gateway into the entertainment field for many women and was an inspiration to not only many artists during her time, but to her millions of fans as well. At the time of her death at age 23, Selena was known as “The Queen of Tejano,” but she was also known as a songwriter, actress, spokesperson and fashion designer. According to her sister, Suzette Quintanilla, who was the drummer for Selena’s band, Selena Y Los Dinos, one of Selena’s biggest dreams was to have her own makeup line. 21 years after her tragic murder, Selena’s dream finally became a reality when her sister Suzette teamed up with MAC to create the first-ever Selena makeup line.

First Thoughts:

When I first heard that MAC was releasing a Selena makeup line, my brain instantly directed to Selena Gomez, so I quickly scoffed and said they should make a Selena Quintanilla makeup line instead. But then, the grey clouds moved, the sun began to shine and the tears started to roll when I was corrected and informed of the MAC and Selena Quintanilla collaboration. Just like many other young girls, Selena was my idol growing up. Even though she died years before I was born, she continued to be a vital model for who I wanted to be like when I got older. She was who I admired and continue to admire. From her style, to her talent, to her beauty, Selena was everything. So, it was a given that my expectations for MAC were extremely high.

Before the Sale:

I had to basically prepare myself for the battle I was going to face when dealing with the first-ever Selena makeup collab. The MAC saleswoman in Park Plaza warned me to get there hours early if I even wanted a spot in line, and that they would most likely sell out within the first two hours, if it even lasted that long. Each buyer had the ability to purchase every item in the collection, but were limited to only one of each item due to product shortage. It was basically a fight to the death I was willing to face.

Waiting in Line:

I never realized the range of inspiration Selena held with many different types of people, which was not limited to the Hispanic community. Everyone turned up for Queen Selena.

Finally:

Even after hours of waiting, I could not have been happier to see those doors open. It was time. The area filled with Selena’s iconic top hits, from “Bidi-Bidi-Boom-Boom” to “Dreaming of You.” It was perfect. Although I did not buy every item in the collection, the few I did purchase gave me a good sense of the perfection and hard work it took to create it. So, without further adieu…

The Products:

NO ME QUEDA MAS (Eyeshadow): Described as a warm dusty brown Matte

Rating: A++

This color is a beautiful and perfect transition color if you want to add darker colors and go bolder with your look, but it can also be worn for a simple smoky look that is not too bold. It has a natural feel.

MISSING MY BABY (Eyeshadow): Described as a matte light pinky nude beige
Rating: A++
Missing My Baby is a perfect light color to set on the base of your eyeshadow if you don’t want to go too bold, yet still have that Selena glow.

AMOR PROHIBIDO (Lipstick): Described as a glazed pinky midtone brown
Rating: A-
Although I do love the color and the soft, moisturized look it gives my lips, personally it was too close to my lip color. The lipstick gave me a slightly pinker color to my lips, but not much of a change from my natural lip color.

COMO LA FLOR (Lipstick): Described as a cherry red
Rating: A+
Another win for MAC. The cherry-red color that was used in Como La Flor has me on the floor. It is stunning and long-lasting. The bright red completely incorporates Selena’s look.

DREAMING OF YOU (Lipstick): Described as a matted deep wine
Rating: A++++++++++++
I wonder if there is a limit on the amount of pluses an A can be, because that is exactly what Dreaming of You deserves. It was super-moisturizing, long-lasting, and I’m absolutely in love with the deep, red color, plus, I’m a sucker for mattes. Putting it on took me back to when I was younger and I would admire every aspect about Selena’s makeup and her iconic red lips.

POWDER BLUSH DUO / TECHNO CUMBIA:

Rating: A-

The iconic duo is absolutely amazing. The bronzer gives the perfect subtle touch of sculpting, while the blush adds the perfect pop of pink for a Selena-inspired look. The icing on the cake is the “Selena” logo carved into the bronzer.

The Packaging:

Purple is the color of royalty, so it’s only fitting that the Queen’s makeup line be purple, right? Apart from the obvious royalty factor, Selena’s favorite color was purple, so the beautiful purple packaging was not just because it was pretty; it was one of the many details that went into creating the perfect finished product to honor Selena.

The Naming:
Every lipstick and eyeshadow is named after one of Selena’s top songs, and after finding out the names within the collection, I could not have been happier with finding the name of something since I was a kid and found out Rumplestiltskin’s name. The names were perfect and showed an iconic, classic feel.

Overall:

Being a young Latina who has looked up to Selena my entire life, my expectations were relatively high, and MAC blew me away. The makeup line was everything and more. The collection really embraced the two parts of Selena’s life: her normal, everyday look, as well as her performer side, which embodies Selena’s bold, iconic and signature looks. It’s amazing to see how Selena’s legacy continues to grow and expand, even years after her death. There is no doubt she would have been proud.