Mary Kay is one of those brands that I think most people have heard of, but few have actually encountered. This is likely due to the fact that it’s a consultant-led brand (think Avon before you could buy it online) so unless you’re familiar with the brand or know a consultant, you’re unlikely to have crossed paths at any stage.
However, they’ve actually been around for 50 years and have a massive selection of products available, most of which is reasonably priced; apologies for the Avon comparison again but I think the best way to perceive Mary Kay would be if Avon went luxe. On that basis, they’re perceived as a brand for the more affluent and/or mature consumer, which is why they’ve released a capsule collection aimed at a younger audience called Mary Kay at Play.
There are four products in Mary Kay at Play and each product line has four shades. The products are Lip Crayons which cost £7.50 each, Jelly Lip Gloss which cost £7 each, Eye Crayon for £7.50 each and Baked Eye Trio for £8 each. Even though this in a line developed for the appeal of an age-group much younger than tired old self, I can definitely see the appeal and think both the Eye Crayons and the Baked Eye Trios are beautifully put together. My least favourite is the Jelly Lip Gloss, purely because it’s a little tacky to look at, although the colour payoff and finish is quite nice. The Lip Crayons are Lip Crayons. We certainly don’t have a shortage of them available today.
Baked Eye Trios
I was really impressed with the colour combinations available for these eyeshadows, as it would’ve been so easy to just go for the generic, ‘winner’ shades, yet the combos they’ve gone for are fun and flattering without being tired and boring; perfect for their target market. The combinations available are On the Horizon – a burgundy-leaning trio; Earth Bound – greens; Ocean View – blues and Tuxedo – greys and a black. The colour payoff is really good, the above swatches are literally just a finger drag through each trio.
Eye Crayons
Another lovely quad of pretty shades with good, solid colour payoff and just enough shimmer to keep it flattering as opposed to scarily sparkly. The shades are In the Navy, Purple Smoke, Green Tea and Gold Mine, the latter of which can double as a highlighter pen.
Lip Crayons
Quite sweet shades available, but I struggle to get excited about Lip Crayons nowadays unless they’re really bringing something new to the table, which these aren’t. Nice enough and will certainly please the younger market, but for me they’re a bit ‘meh’. The four shades are the neutral Toasted, Perfect Pink, Violet Love and Candied Apple. I quite the shade names in fairness!
Jelly Lip Gloss
Call me fuddy-duddy, but it’s the packaging of these that I really don’t like! They remind me of a set of lipbalms I bought for the 10 year old sister of a friend; they just look cheap and young, which is a shame as the product inside is actually rather lovely. It’s a good thick gloss that isn’t too tacky and provides decent payoff. The four shades available are Berry Me, Crushed Plum, Teddy Bare and Hot Tamale.
There we have a quick look at the new Mary Kay at Play collection. I recommend checking out the baked trios and the eye crayons, both of which are really lovely and well-priced. I believe this has already launched, and for more information you’ll need to find yourself a Mary Kay Consultant here, where you can also browse the full make-up line.
*PR Samples
