M·A·C Viva Glam 2012

It's no secret by now that Nicki Minaj and Ricky Martin are the faces of Viva Glam 2012 (I posted about it here) but now it's time to get up close and personal with the products! The Viva Glam products are special not because of their celebrity collaborations and endorsements but because 100% of the proceeds go to the M·A·C AIDS Fund. Not ten or twenty-five but every. single. cent. It's the mission of the M·A·C AIDS Fund to support men, women and children affected by with HIV and AIDS. Last year alone, they raised $38 million!

Sidenote: be safe. Know your status. Get tested

The Products

Ricky Martin's product is the colorless (and gender friendly!) Lip Conditioner ($15) in tube format and has Ricky's signature across the front. While it isn't anything new or groundbreaking, everyone needs an everyday lip balm so why not get one that goes the extra mile? Ricky is known for is humanitarian efforts and there's no better partner for M·A·C - a brand who truly celebrates all ages, races, and sexes. The lip conditioner is smooth and non tacky. It hydrates without leaving my lips feeling greasy.

Nicki Minaj's product is - shocker - pink! Although she's already collaborated with the brand for her Pink Friday lipstick (which sold out immediately), she's back for more. Viva Glam Nicki ($14.50) is described as a bright yellow pink shade and has a satin finish. It's different from Pink Friday as that was more of a blue-based pink. Viva Glam Nicki has hints of coral, though not overt. It glides on effortlessly and opaque (be careful as more than two applications and it gets thick!).

I've seen some chatter around the blogosphere as a few women of color have been disappointed by the shade. True, it seems kind of "pale" for women with dark skin but I firmly believe it's all about application. It can look milky/ashy if you don't exfoliate properly and/or apply too much. Nicki Minaj is known for wearing these types of pinks (this is the woman who declared her love for Pink Nouveau). That said, I wear this lipstick with a slightly warmer color underneath (a raspberry gloss or pencil). Can I apply this without a mirror on a crowded train? Probably not. Was I hoping this lipstick would be more of a fuchsia? Yes. Will that stop me from wearing it? Hell no. Heck I wore in this outfit post and you guys loved it!

Ricky & Nicki for M·A·C Viva Glam is available now through February 2013.

P.S.: M·A·C held a launch party for Viva Glam at the tail end of fashion week and while I may have missed Nicki and Ricky, I did get to meet (and fangirl over) Alexander Wang. YOU GUYS! I DIED (and live tweeted the whole thing). Clearly I was excited.

I'm wearing Viva Glam Nicki layered over Revlon's "Raspberry Ice" lip butter. Thanks Sarah for capturing the moment!

Disclosure: Sample provided for editorial consideration. Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.