I’ve been wanting to blog about this for so long now, but we couldn’t. Until today. So because I feel like I’m about to explode with excitement, let me just up and say it.
In April I went to Toronto, to the MAC Cosmetics headquarters. After a truly amazing tour of their facilities, I worked with a chemist to create my very own MAC lipglass.
Yes. This happened.
It’s like…if Charlie won a golden ticket to go to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, and then at the end got to work with Willy Wonka to make his dream candy for all his friends around the world to enjoy.
It’s the realization of a dream so big, it’s hard to even put it into words.
Let’s go back to the beginning.
It all started with an e mail sent to 80 or so bloggers, from executives from MAC. We were asked to submit our ideas for either a lipglass, or an eyeshadow using photographs, coming up with a product name…all of it. From the minute this e mail came, I had an instant idea of what I wanted to do in my head.
Ever since I was a little girl, my favorite color has been purple. I never went through a pink, red, or blue phase. It was always definitively purple. When Prince’s Purple Rain came out I LOVED it (even though I was too young to get what Prince was talking about in his lyrics). I loved that Prince made my favorite color SO COOL. From that point on it was a love affair with anything purple and that love affair has lasted my whole life. When the time came for me to buy my first car, my husband had to convince me not to get a purple one.
Purple is my power color. Purple is my neutral. If I were a color, I’d be purple.
When it came time to choose the name for my color, there was no doubt. The first line of Erotic City by Prince came immediately to mind. All Of My Purple Life. And I wanted it to be the perfect purple for ALL shades of beautiful.
That was the inspiration for my creation. I sent it off with a hopeful heart and didn’t think much more about it.
Until I got the follow up e mail that my color was chosen, and I’d be needed in Toronto.
Of ALL of the ideas that MAC’s executives got, they chose 9 of them. And so we went to Toronto to make our dream colors.
Why us? Why were we the lucky ones who were chosen? When I asked, I was told that they honestly loved and were excited about our ideas.
Honored is NOT the word.
The trip to Toronto was a delightful whirlwind. We stayed at the exquisite Thompson Hotel, and had a super fun dinner with all of the bloggers and the amazing people of MAC. I got to spend time with my beauty besties Amber of Beauty Blogging Junkie and Lianne Farbes The Makeup Girl, got to see cool chick Wendy of Nitrolicious again, and got to meet beauty blogger friends I’ve only heretofore known from Twitter – like the very sweet Christine of Temptalia, and my fellow cat lady the adorable Karen of Makeup and Beauty Blog. I got to meet new friends Lily of Beauty Maverick and Aileen of The Shades of U. Everyone was so lovely!
And the next morning it was on and poppin. We headed out to Markham, Toronto, to the MAC Cosmetics’ Production Facility and The Estée Lauder Companies Canadian Innovation Center. Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, for makeup fiends.
The air is redolent with that familiar vanilla scent of MAC’s lippies. Everywhere you look, there’s a product you love being manufactured and inspected. We had to don hard hats, lab coats, and safety glasses for this part of the adventure. As Glambr said: “the whole joint was all VERY Laverne and Shirley meets Bunson Honeydew inside the production facility. ” (Sidenote, this is why I love her. We had a blast on this trip!)
The morning was all about watching and learning about the production of makeup that falls under The Estée Lauder Companies umbrella — it was kind of amazing to realize MAC cosmetics are made in the same space as a selection Estée Lauder, Bobbi Brown, and Origins items — although all products are uniquely and specially formulated for each brand!
Across the street from The Estée Lauder Companies Canadian Innovation Center, is the MAC Cosmetics’ Production Facility, and there we met with the chemists and product development team.
Side note: from the minute I walked in, I spotted that one of the chemists was a Caribbean woman. There’s something about our demeanor that transcends time and place. I knew I was in the presence of fellow islanders, but couldn’t put a finger on place. Not until we’d had a chance to talk to each other!
When I finally had a chance to talk to the MAC chemist in question, it turned out that one very sweet lady was from Jamaica, and the chemist who was assigned to me was from Guyana! Needless to say we had a LOT to talk about right away.
Our chemists had already whipped up test samples of our color based on the description and inspirations we submitted, so it was a matter of discussing how close those samples came to our vision. In my case, my vision was very similar to sample #2, but I wanted more of the sparkle of sample #1.
I got to work with the chemist to perfect the formula so it exactly matched what I dreamed up.
I set out to create the perfect purple lipglass for women all shades of beautiful, and I think I achieved my goal. It’s true purple grape – not too red, not too blue. It has a subtle sparkle. The intent was to make a color that is wearable for a wide range of skintones. I tried to make a color that can be worn solo or over a fuschia lipstick for summertime POW, and can be worn over a deep lip pencil (like say, Chestnut or Plum or Vino) for sexy noir seductress effect. Punchy, vibrant, distinctive, badass. That’s what I was going for.
I wanted All Of My Purple Life to be truly unique, and when I asked the chemists – can you think of a dupe for this shade? They all said no. So makeup bloggers and artists, I know you know your stuff. I know you’re always looking for the new, best, and next. I look forward to your feedback on it. Were the chemists right?
All Of My Purple Life will be part of the Bloggers’ Obsession collection. It will be on sale online only in the USA and Canada, for just six magical weeks beginning June 21. Here’s what everyone else came up with!
I hope all of you like it, and if you buy it and send me a photo of yourself wearing it, I will feature you on Afrobella.com. I hope it’s as beautiful on your lips as I intended it to be. I hope you love it as much as I do, and I hope this collection is recieved with love and happiness. A lot of love and happiness went into making it, I know that much!
What do you think, bellas? I can’t wait to hear!
Wow congrats lady!!! So proud of you and your accomplishments 🙂
Congrats Patrice!!! I am so excited for you. I will definitely be buying this shade and supporting your vision!
Congrats doll! That’s seriously AMAZING!I, too, am a big fan of purple. Yours is definitely the most unique of the bunch. Will you have swatches before the release date??
Your Lipglass is so gorgeous! I love it. 🙂
This…is…EPIC!!! But you already knew that! Congratulations on your very own shade of lipglass! Oh, and one more thing:
BIG-UP ALL CARIBBEAN MASSIVE!! From the U.S. Virgin Islands with love. :o)
I absolu love it! Congrats, you rock, sis!
That is so awesome, how blessed are you! I will DEFINITELY be picking this up to support you, your fellow bloggers and MAC, which is a love of mine. Congrats!
OMG Patrice congratulations! I say again girl, this your harvest for all the seeds you have planted. Bask in it and enjoy!
Wow, congrats! I’ll be sure to be on the look out for your shade!
This is beyond exciting! I can’t wait to try it!!
ROCK ON BELLA ROCK ON!!!!! You are a TRUE Beauty Super Star and I am soooooo extremely happy and proud!! Go Bella! Go Bella! Go Bella! *Does cabbage patch* 😉 #Stilletos
p.s. I made a typo in my URL; it should’ve been http://holyhotnessbypvi.blogspot.com .
Congratulations, that is awesome!! I’ll definitely purchase it and send you a picture of me wearing it!!
So exciting… dreams really do come true! I’m a purple girl too and I can’t wait to try your lipglass.
What a COOL experience!! Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed reading this and it gives me motivation. Purple is my favorite color, too; I can’t wait to purchase this HOTNESS. Much Love! I was introduced to this company a few months ago and have been hooked….WOW! You got a golden ticket indeed. Blessings!
This is so awesome! Congratz to you! It’s so cool that you got to do that. Your purple color is gorgeous and you can bet I will purchase it!!!!
What an amazing experience!! Congrats!
I don’t even like lipglass (too sticky), but I’m buying yours! LOL
Congrats!! I can’t wait to try them 🙂
OMG!!! Congratulations on such an awesome experience!!! Your own MAC lipglass?! That is so freaking cool! I can’t wait to purchase this!!!!
P.S. I love me some Prince and I love me some purple, so your choice was bound to be a winner =)
Loving the purple color, as I have been looking for a purple lipgloss for my collection. I will be buying this, and I love the name Patrice’s All of My Purple Life because I am an avid Prince fan.
You are amazing and I am so excited for you!!!!
AMAZING. First, what a fantastic article this is. I love the way you write — I feel saw it all first-hand!
And I am so incredibly excited for you! I can’t wait to see photos of lovely ladies wearing All Of My Purple Life in the coming weeks!
OMG this is so awesome!!! Congrats!!! I am definitely buying your shade when it comes out!
Totally dope! I will cop it 🙂 It’s also cool because maybe more black girls will become interested in science/chemistry as a result of your collaboration with MAC!
Congratulations!!! This is so exciting. I can’t wait to try this.
WOW! This is great news! Congratulations!! I am a huge Prince fan, so the nme alone ROCKS it! I cannot wait to check it out!
this is soooo dope!! congrats!
You took us there with you. Love that about you. I am excited about “All of My Purple Life” lipglass. It is beautiful but what more should one expect look who thought it up. Can’t wait to try it out.
Congrats sis I am so excited for you!
Ok, this is seriously cool! Congratulations Patrice! I can’t wait to try it out!
Jealousy Wakes is looking good to me, too….hmm.
MUST HAVE. THANK YOU FOR THIS! I love it!!!!
This is so amazing! Congratulations!!! Countdown to June 21st!! I will be getting your lipglass, it’s hard finding lip color in purple, can’t wait to rock it!
Congratulations again, your hard work is paying off, and the good karma from you being so generous is coming back full circle to you.
This is soooooo amazing! What a dream come true!!! I love the story behind your product choice and from the passion that went into making it, I know it’ll be great. I can’t wait to try it!!!
are you kidding me!? that is soooo amazing! congrats superstar!
Congrats!!! I love the color! What an awesome experience for you.
What an awesome accomplishment. I’m so happy for you!
WOW, WOW, WOW. Congrats, I can’t wait to rock the new shade!
That is AMAZING! Congrats on the opportunity; that’s like a once in a lifetime deal! And the color is absolutely gorgeous. I like some of the others too, but I think I can actually pull the purple off. Can’t wait to try it!
I’ve never bought a piece of MAC a day in my life…but your lip gloss will be the first MAC item I purchase. Congrats, Bella!
Now if we can get Missy to rock your lipglass, while she’s promoting this new album I HEARD she’s working on…;-)
Wow!!! Congratulations :o) That is wonderful and the color is beautiful.
“That was the INSPIRATION for my CREATION. I sent it off with a HOPEFUL HEART and didn’t think much more about it.”
I was inspired by your post to do a lil creating of my own:-)
Inspiration + Creation + Hopeful Heart + Action = Dreams Do Come True
Thank you afrobella for the courage to do what’s in your heart. Looking forward to wearing All of my Purple Life this summer 🙂
I am so excited, I’m bouncing in my chair! I <3 purple too and I will definitely be rocking your color Afrobella.
This is the coolest thing ever!!! And I love your purple lipglass!!
I am sooo happy, excited and proud of you!
I will be buying your lipgloss!!!
So cool, nice color too.
OMGee!! I’m SO EXCITED for you! The color is FABULOUS!!! CANNOT wait to purchase!!!
This is amazing! Congratulations! I will definitely buy your lip glass (my first ever MAC purchase btw) and send a pic to you! 🙂
this is so very awesome! and purple is my fave color too. I love it all, down to the name. congrats to you. I have to get this.
SUPER DUPER WOW!
I will be 1st line.
In front of the MAC store.
THE DAY it comes out!
Congrats!
xo
kim
congrats!!!! and, what a fab trip filled with experiences of like minds and hearts. is MAC giving you a Chicago debut? hope so!
CONGRATS TO YOU PATRICE!! SO HAPPY FOR YOU AND I CAN’T WAIT TO BUY ME SOME. LOOKS DOPE!! :))
“Who would have thought that blogging would get you this far?” in my Lil Kim voice.
Congrats to you! This is so HOT and me being a MAC junkie I will definitely support and buy your color.
I need swatches, Patrice! I’m dying to see your shade on! 🙂
Way to go! Your color looks like it will be the bees knees! I will definitely be copping two tubes! Congrats and keep bringing it!
Congrats on the opportunity! I love the shade! I’ve been trying to find the right shade purple to color my lips. Looks like I found a winner!
That is really dope! Purple is my favorite color too. I’ll definitely look out for it during my next MAC re-up!
That is so freakin’ awesome…. congrats and I can’t wait to try your color and the others as well. But like you purple is my fave color so I’m really excited about that one!!!
I don’t know if I can think of anything more exciting than being a MAC chemist LOL! This is so awesome! Congrats! I will surely be grabbing this. I’m so into purple right now =)
Yay!! Looking forward to trying it. Congrats!!
oh wow congrats. mmm I so need to get me an American or Canadian link for times like these. Who knows they may make their way to the UK by way of a miracle and a prayer
WOW, what an AMAZING experience! Congratulations dear! I am not much of a makeup or lipgloss girl, but All of My Purple Life sounds heavenly, so I will be scooping it up when it becomes available. 😉
What a great experience! I look forward to getting my Prince loving hands on this fab purple!
Amazing! I def will be trying a shade or two.
LOVE the nod to Prince With the name! “All of my Purple Life” (Ive been looking for a dame..)
Ah what a great song to have stuck in my head today!
btw the color is beautiful!
Love it! Gonna Buy it! Love it!!! 🙂
This is awesome! Purple is my favorite color as well…I think your lipglass looks VERY unique, yet flattering. I can’t wait to purchase!
Ahhh!sooo flippin’ excited for this lipglass i love me some purple!
This probably wont look good on me, BUT I know what I’ll be buying all the ladies in my family!!!! Congrats Yayyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG! So proud of my childhood friend from Trini! You inspire me so much!
Ohhhhhhh, I am super excited. Purple is my favorite this is so awesome.
i am beyond excited!!!
all morning i’ve been singing, “all my purple life, i’ve been looking for a dame…”
HA!!! your lipgloss is ALREADY infectious. ALREADY.
this is just the beginning lovebunny, JUST THE BEGINNING!!!
I’m so so so excited for you Patrice! Can’t wait to see what’s coming next!
Totally awesome. I’ll have to mark June 21 on the calendar! Congratulations!
TOO COOL! congrats!!!
I sent Congrats to you today on twitter, facebook, and I come here to your blog and read what happened. And I am in tears of joy for you. What an awesome experience and wonderful adventure Bella!!
So very happy and proud of you.
Congrats Bella!!!! I’m so happy for you!!! I’ll definitely be getting this woohooo So happy to watch your blessings unfold!!!
I AM SO EXCITED FOR YOU!! I got goosebumps!!! Congrats to you! And being that my favorite MAC color is Cyber, I can’t WAIT to get my hands on your color. xo
Absolutely FAB read! LOVE IT! I will definitely be making a purchase and will be using “All of my purple life” on my clients 😉 Congrats!
Congrats, Bella! This is so amazing and beyond words. Purple is my favorite color, too! I am super excited for you and can’t wait to try this shade out. Score another one for bloggers!
So excited for you, Patrice! You set the tone, girl. Happy happy!
Wahooooo Patrice!!! I’m SO happy and elated that we got to share this experience TOGETHER. Love you!! xo L
Congrats on your hard work! I love all the colors! I voted yours, and glad i found a new blog!
BELLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!
What an opportunity! I’m so proud of you! =D
So So proud of you! You know my history in the the cosmetics world, and you have just made it fun , inspiring, and exciting again for me after a long drought. Love the color, thought process, and inspiration. You are amazing!
AWESOME!! Congrats! Thanks for paving the way for your fellow bloggers!
Congratulations!!!! I’m totally gutted though as I live in the UK and ADORE PURPLE. I demand us UK Purple Heads get a chance to own your amazing creation xxxxxxxx
Congratulations! This is soo exciting I love it. You are so deserving. Every blessing
I think this is awesome! Dreams do come true. Congrats!
That is amazing. I love it when people’s dreams come true. I will definitely be buying gotta support people in the Chi!
CONGRATULATIONS- SO AMAZING!!! I got chills reading this post!!! I will definitely be purchasing this lipglass!
That is absolutely amazing. Congrats!!! I can’t wait to purchase it. w00t!!!
Awesome. I LOVE the color and look forward to purchasing the lipgloss!
Congrats! Would love for you to post swatches!
that’s fantastic. congrats.
Congrats Afrobella!
WOW! What a dream come true. I will definitely be there checking it out on 6/21! Congratulations.
I can’t wait to buy this! I’m so proud of you!
i have been a lurker for years but i had to come out of the shadows to say
waaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!!! MAC, MAC!!!?? jesumbread mehson dat is a BIG ting
so very proud of you. back to the shadows until you make the ny times bestsellers list :).
This is soo amazing and I can think of no one more deserving of this experience than you! I can’t wait to purchase my very own Afrobella lipglass!!
Congratulations to you, you Royal Purple lover you! I was so excited to see the shade you created and THE NAME you chose!!!! I got it instantly! I too am a Prince lover & went to see “Purple Rain” when it came out…my mom pushed my sister & my head down so as not to see whatever was going on! 😉 I hope you’ll get a nod from his royal Prince-ness! And I will DEFINITELY be checking out “All of My Purple Life”!
OMG so exciting. I am so happy for you. That you were part of such an amazing experience is so cool. Love MAC Lipglass and purple so can’t wait to try it.
CONGRATULATIONS!!! I’m so happy for you, what an incredible dream come true!! You’ve worked so hard; you deserve it!
I WILL be buying your lipglass!
OMG! Congratulations! This is so exciting. Everyone’s creations look amazing.
SUCH a cool concept and you’re SO lucky to have been a part of it…..so cool!
Congrats! I can’t wait to try it! I love the name. 🙂
The Royal Purple! So cool!!! Does part of the sales go towards charity? I can’t wait to try it and send you a picture of me in it!
Now the perfume line and the Iphone app 🙂
happy for you.
21 June – Summer Solstice – magic is in the air….
I have always loved purple ever since Purple Rain too. In fact, my son knows this is my favorite color, hence all of his gifts to me including every shade of purple. This is so awesome. I will definitely be buying this 🙂
As if I needed to come up with MORE reasons why you are dope. Man, this is epic. Congrats!!! Much deserved! 🙂
This is so AWESOME!!!! I love purple…it’s the color of ROYALTY!!! I am so excited and can’t wait to BUY!!! June 21 can’t come fast enough!!!
So happy for you!!
So exciting!!! Congrats and I can’t wait to try it on!
Can’t wait to get my hands on that lipglass! It looks so unique and gorgeous…absolutely perfect for summer! Remind me when I can get my hands on it so I don’t forget it in this whirlwind of a summer! lol
Congratulations!!!
This is amazing news. Thank you for all your support of my company. You have been truly blessed by your talents and your willingness to share your experiences. I will be first in line on June 21st!!! The colors are gorgeous. Congrats!!
I am so very proud of you!! You’ve made my dream come true & I didn’t even know it was my dream! Purple? MAC Lipglass? Purple? MAC HQ? Purple? Created by Afrobella! Purple!
I’ll get to wear the best color in the universe, on my pretty lips, in the best formulation, made by a Black woman, who’s natural?? (Breathe…)
With all the recent media attacks on Black women lately, you are to be commended and honored. THANK YOU!
From a fellow natural, MAC lipglass loving, purple consumed sister. Thank you.
i am so excited about this collection! i’m getting 2 of your lipgloss and i also really like the green eyeshadow. congrats bella!!!
*scream and jump around* Sooooo awesome, Patrice!!! OMG I am beside myself with happiness for you. Congratulations!! I hope it becomes available in Malaysia soon, otherwise I’ll have to get my bestie to send me a lickle care package…
Good job!!
HELL YES I’m purchasing. It will be my first MAC purchase. No lie. Can’t wait. SOOOO proud of you.
You go girl! Saving my coins for one from all my favorite bloggers.
YASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! I’m so happy for you, bella! I’ll surely be purchasing this. Woooooo!
Congrats, Patrice! You created a beautiful purple gloss! It must have been so fun!
I was very upset that it’s only for sale in US until I did the math and realised it’ll still be on sale when I’m in Miami at the end of July. Yeaaah!
I am so excited about this and that you thought about your fellow WOC when you dreamt up this color…It is the type of product that will look nice on a wide spectrum of WOC shades. Congrats!
Congrats!!! So proud to know that a Trini was involved in the creation of a product by MAC, not to mention being able to collaborate with other Caribbean women.
That is totally exciting and I am loving all of the shades! Congrats again.
First of all I am doing the silent scream at my computer- mouth open and nothing is coming out because I am so happy for you and for us. What a dream come true for you to actually design a lip gloss for MAC and what a joy for us to be able to purchase it-looks like no other.The purple got me interested in lip glosses once again. My daughter and I can not wait to purchase. Will definitely tell all my friends too.
Fabulous colour! Everlastingly beautiful – like you MY Bella! Mom
Congrats on making your dream lipglass!
Just out of curiousity, if you can’t find a dupe for your own shade, do you think you’ll buy a bunch for keeps once they’re available?
OMG!!!!! I am uber excited about this!!! What a dream come true story if I ever heard one!!!! This is JUST the beginning!!! Next you’ll be launching a whole line!!! God bless you AFROBELLA and ALL you do to reinforce positive ideals for women of color! Afro’ed or not!!! I can’t WAIT to purchase a tube…or 2…or 3!!! AFRO GIRLS OF THE WORLD ROCK!!! …and the “WORLD” is taking notice!!!! :)p.s. be still my heart it’s named after a PRINCE LYRIC!!!!!! 😉
All my Purple Life I’ve been looking for a lippy 🙂 I can’t wait to get this.
Soooo June 21st is my bday and I’ll definitely be buying this as a present to myself! I am sooo proud of you, Bella. Couldn’t have happened to a better person. *cheers*
How fantastic!!!!!! I am going to be all over your lipglass, too, because purple is my favorite lip color! I cannot wait.
this is SO COOL! omg, i’m so excited for you!
just so bummed i wnt be back in time to get one. you should have a promotion so your trini-babies can win a tube.
Hi Afrobella,
I cannot believe that you came to Canada and didn’t even reach out to Naturalistas right here in Toronto… I am so sad that I missed you being here… please come again and let us know.
Anya
Aaaaaaahhh! This is epic! Congratulations Patrice! I’m so excited to try it!
Congrats I cant wait to try it!
Oooh! Wish I was in North America. Purple’s my favourite colour too! Congrats Afrobella!
I don’t get star struck easily. I met Common and I’m IN LOVE with that dude been on him since way before he became popular with the ladies, but I was talking to him like some dude I went to college with. I ran into Usher in one of the Atlanta shopping districts…I gave him a head nod. I saw Vanessa Williams in a bathroom in Aruba and she asked me to watch her son for her while she used the restroom…I said “sure” and we chatted about her hair. I don’t get star struck easily.
All that to say…I’m starstruck now. I have had this MAC obsession for so long and it’s funny coming from a town where there wasn’t even a MAC in existence for a number of years. I was introduced to MAC through the pages of Essence and a few other beauty/fashion magazines. I’ve always wanted to work there either as a make-up artist, in their finance dept…hell I’ll sweep the floor, lol…and now you’ve had the chance to not only work in the their facilities, but to create something they’re going to sell!! HOW FREAKIN AWESOME IS THAT!!??
Umm…can I have your autograph? LOL
Congratulations sis! As soon as it’s available…I’m laying down the dough! What a treasure!
Blessings!
CONGRATS Patrice!!! I’m so happy for you. You are truly an inspiration and have opened the door for so many of us. The color looks absolutely amazing! I can’t wait to try it out.
God Bless!!!
That is super dope….I wanna go!
i am so very very verklempt for you. that thrill and deep satisfaction of seeing something like this come to be is uuuh maze ing! vunderbar! i don’t wear lip makeup but you’ve got me ready to rock this out.
Congratulations!! I can’t wait to try your new color!!!!
Congrats hun!!! I love purple myself!! I’ll definitely have to try that out!!!
Next time Afrobella is in Toronto, PLEASE let us know! I would have LOVED to meet you: lots to do & see here, so next time, can a meet-up/Tweetup be arranged?
Congratulations on the MAC Lipglass! I will be supporting, and picking that up online for sure!
I like it; however, I really like the Erotic City and think that should have been the name of your lipglass! Rock on girlie!
Congrats. As a die hard Prince Stan, I love the name of your lip gloss. Keep doing your thing Afrobella!!!!!!
Congrats ‘Bella! I love the color. I wish I wore MAC (too sticky for me) because I would certainly support you. great job!
Congrats, so happy for you! I cant wait to buy the color. I am a purple addict as well. My fav color since I can remember! =)
I must have that lipglass! I love purple anything and everything and this lip glass is going to be right up my alley! Congratulations girl!
When I saw the purple lipglass, it was total love. Amazing job! Out of all the lipglass colours in this collection, the purple is hands down my favourite! 🙂
YAY!
So proud of you! So happy! Can’t wait to try it on out:)
I am also addicted to all things purple and can’t wait for yours to be unveiled. HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to you!!! Also, I plan to write a post about your adventure for my blog (CommunicationsGoddess.net) from the marketer’s viewpoint. For MAC to develop a line, even temporarily, only for bloggers is genius. I’ll be sure to share the link!
That is so freakin awesome! I shed a tear of joy for you. I’ll be sure to go to MAC to check it out!
Wow! This is awesome! I am so excited for you and to try this color! Congrats!
I felt like I was there with you!!! How unbelievable and exciting! Dreams do come true!
so much love on this thread, I don’t know where to begin! My intention is to reply to everyone…but I already know. Blogger fail 🙁
I just want to say thank you ALL for the support and the love. When I first got the phone call from MAC, I honestly just laid on the ground and cried. Then I called my husband and my parents.
I honestly could never have dreamed of such a wonderful thing to have happen. It’s been amazing. I hope you support it when it goes on sale!
OK—now I got all teary eyed reading that. CONGRATS! I’m getting soooo many of these. I hope they made enough for the volume of girls you’ve inspired over the years who I know will be stalking MAC’s site on 6/21 🙂
Afrobella,
Girl—u go!!!!!!!!!
When my daughter text to tell me about your new color–I could not wait!!
I actually have a great photo of you and I at the ATL Hair Show this year!!
Now, I can say I stood next to a FAMOUS MAC GIRL!!!!!!!!!! Got my order in today!!!!
Charitta Shannon
Ye
Yes
i read you everyday, ms. afrobella, but i never comment. i HAD to say how cool this is, and your color definitely stands out! gotta put the 21st into my calendar, b/c i’d bet money it sells out quick. congratulations!
This is way cool! And to top it off you named it after a line from my all time fav musician Prince’s song, Erotic City. I can’t wait to purchase it and dance around with my “All of my purple life” lips” to Erotic City! 🙂 Much continued success! (I love your blog!!!)
I’m a purple girl too. I always have an eye for purple stuff, I often feature purple looks on my own blog so I came here because you made something purple. Too bad I live in Italy and we can’t order from the collection (I want also Christine’s eyeshadow, love it… and I love how green matchs with purple) ._.
WOW! That’s amazing! That purple is deifinitely uber cool!
xx
S.
That is great! Congratulations!
I can’t wait to purchase this!
CONGRATULATIONS to you on LIVING YOUR DREAM!!! What an amazing and fantastic story!!! I’m a huge MAC, PRINCE & PURPLE fan and I can’t wait to BUY YOUR SPECIALLY DESIGNED COLOR!!!! You ROCK!!!
All the best!!!
Krystina
I am so proud of you! Live your life like it’s…purple! You are such THE inspiration. Of course, I’ll be snapping that glass up. Congrats!
I actually have the release date in my phone *hangs head in shame* I plan to buy your lipglass! It’s just spoke to me when I saw it on another bloggers site. You did a wonderful job and I can’t wait to rock this all summer and beyond! Congrats!
what an awesometastic experience!!! thanks for sharing in words and pics. i so happy for you and will be at mac with bells and whistles to get mine when it comes out. yeah afrobella!!!!
I am sooooo happy & excited for you!!!!!!!! Purple is my fave color as well & I can’t wait to try it!!! God Bless!!
Congrats!!!! I know that had to be an amazing experience. I would have been so excited. BTW, I love your blog you are such an inspiration. I’m just starting into blogging and so far am so fascinated by the possibilities. Keep up the good work!
OMG…I do believe a CONGRATULATIONS in order and now a WOW topped off with a WHAT AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY!! Talk about a chance of a lifetime and you know what….it was in HIS plan. Thank you for posting and sharing this with us. Your color looks really hawt and since I’m a sucker for purples, this one is MAGNIFICENT!! I can’t wait!!
(?????)Kokofemme
Squeee!! Wow…Willy Wonka is right! Congratulations!
Sadly I don’t have access to MAC where I live, but I’ll be in Chicago near the end of July…I hope I’ll be able to see it and try it out then!
Wow what an inspiring story, congrats on such a huge success!
WOW!!!! I am so inspired by you making your dreams come to life!!
All of my purple life…..you rock, ma chere!! Congrats to this!!
I`d so, so, so buy this lipglass, but alas, I am living on the other side of the world….can you pleaseeee make M.A.C. sell this gem internationally? This purple is so what I want in my collection…
BTW, you look awesome in the lab coat and with the glasses :-)!
Congratulations! I am VERY proud of you and your positive representation for Women of Color. I will definitely be purchasing your lipglass and will do a review on Youtube!
How cool is that? You got to name it and everything. So happy for you.
Starts singing Purple Rain :)) Congrats to you!!!
wow what an amazing opportunity. Congrats. I am a purple addict also and I can’t wait to try this colour. From one Caribbean blogger to the next.
Ooooh! I love love love purple too! Congratulations on that win! I’d love to have that purple!
This is an incredible achievement@ I’m very happy for you and can’t wait to purcahse All Of My Purple Life!
Congrats!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!! I am so happy for you and I luv your color. I’ve been looking for a hot, sexy purple for a long time. I will definitely be rockin’ the purple.
Congrats!! This is so amazing. I can’t wait for products to hit the stores 🙂
Congrats! I will definitely be purchasing this.
OMG!!!! This is amazing!! This is every woman’s dream. I dont know you but I am so proud : ) Shine on sister!!!!
You better GO GURL!
Hey, wandered over from Temptalia.com. I saw the collection posted and your purple lipglass and near-exploded from excitement.
I’ve wanted a bright purple for my lips for a very long time and was disappointed on having to miss out buying the Violetta lipstick from the VV collection last year (I admit it, I almost cried!)
I’m definitely buying your lipglass, but what I truly want to know is the lipglass’ level of opacity. Purple in the tube and sheer when applied like Revenge is Sweet, or closer to a Kissable Lipcolour a la Peacocky Collection? (yes I’m still fairly grumpy about losing out on the Peacocky Lipcolour-bright, turquoisey blue- and the eye shadows.
If this lipglass is good and opaque, and allows the application of another lip cosmetic over it (a clear lipglass or a dazzleglass…even an Inglot holographic gloss etc.) this lipglass might be The Win of the year along w/ Christine’s Jealousy Wakes emerald green shadow.
Sorry, I’m so damn long-winded when I write emails or comments. I really should start blogging since I can’t shut up anyway…
Anyway, long and short…how opaque is In My Purple Life? Thank you for creating it, it’s beautiful to look at!
I am so excited for you, and for me because I get to buy it. I love lipless, but I love purple even more. If it is anything like the picture, I am getting enough to last for a few years. And yes I will be posting a pic of me rocking it with my ‘Purple Reign’ earrings. Cant wait!
I LOVE MAC! There makeup is amazing and to actually have the opportunity to attend their facility would definitely leave me walking on cloud nine! Congrats on your new lipglass and I can’t wait to try it. 🙂
Saw you in Nylon!! Wish they shared more pics of you crafting the Color Purple. Congrats. I’m so tempted to try it. 🙂
I’m on it and more than happy to support you!
I’ve been looking forever for a lipgloss in this shade of purple. Leave it to Afrobella. You rock, baby girl!!!
Amazing, I loved purple growing up and I still get drawn to it. It is such a cool colour but purple on my lips…..can’t wait to try it though. Well done Patrice.
I am so excited for you! And we are obviously kindred spirits because I live for purple. It’s my absolute favorite makeup color. It makes almost any outfit perfect and I will DEFINITELY be getting the lip glass. I’ll get more than one bottle because I hate when they discontinue colors I love. Congrats. What an amazing honor!
This is so neat!
When I first read purple I was like eww. Then I saw the color and was mesmerized. I can’t wait until the colors come out. I will definitely be buying yours and two of the others and will definitely be sending you a picture!!! Toally awesome experience and I’m glad you got to be a part of it!!! Love you <3
So i saw an article in the papers about a trini-born blogger creating a new MAC lipglass and i was sooo excited for you. Like a family member having a baby excited. So i figured i had to come and check out your blog. Congratulations. How exciting for u! N i love the colour btw. You’ve done us proud.
This is truely beyond awesome. Keep standing firm on what you believe in. You have been the voice that so many of us have searched for but could not find. Congrats!
OMG!!! You go girl!!! Now…where can i purchase this since its only available for 6 weeks.
Afrobella,
I am so proud to say I actually took a picture with you at the ATL Hair Show!!
Now, I can say I have a photo with a FAMOUS MAC GIRL!!!
Yes, I ordered the I LOVE MY PURPLE and cannot wait to receive it!!
BLESS YOU FOR MAKING MY LIPS LOOK FABULOUS!!!!!!
Charitta Shannon
Columbus, GA
Bella!
I’m so late to this and the lip glass has already sold out; but I wanted to leave a comment to add to the melody and wonderful mayhem! I am so proud of you and thank you so much for sharing your experience with us! Ironically, I was IN MINNEAPOLIS at Netroots Nation when your lip glass launched, so I delight in the zeitgeist I was in! I will also send you the picture I took of First Avenue (the club in Purple Rain!!! *squeal!!!*) and please know that I stood on that corner and did body rolls as I sang out, “All of My Purple Life / I been lookin’ for a BABE!” Take care and see you soon! Big hugs! xoxo
Just letting you know that “All my Purple Life” is available on the Canadian site, if you’re willing to pay the shipping to the US.
Sian
This is one of the coolest things I’ve heard a company do to celebrate it’s fans. I love it! I also love the color purple 😉 It’s the shade that looks best on me and I’ve designed my whole professional brand around it. I’m totally going to write this up for my design blog as an example of cool campaigns that brands have run.
I purchased this and I freaking LOVE it! I was extremely plesantly surprised when I tried this on!! The color is absolute perfection, and I’m so proud this product was created by a woman of color….kudos to you!!
Awwww man. How could they not make enough for us all, they totally underestimated the potential of Afrobella 🙁
So, so cool. Your joy leaps off the page. Congratulations on living your dream!
Just freakin’ beautiful… That’s all that’s need saying… Congratualions Afrobella. You knocked it out of park. 😉
What an amazing opportunity! Felt like I was actually there, thanks for sharing… I will definitely be checking the Mac site to see if I can purchase the lip glass.
I just wanted to correct something I noticed.
“We headed out to Markham, Toronto, to the MAC Cosmetics’…”
It seems like you were stating that Markham is in Toronto when in fact one is a city and one is a town with different municipalities.
So it’s actually Toronto, Ontario and Markham, Ontario that you visited.
Honest mistake I’m sure, as a Canadian reader I had to point it out.
6 weeks, not good. I know you can recommend an alternative since we can’t get your creation anymore. I am just as passionate about pink but purple runs a close second. I love that you wanted to buy a purple car…lol! I live in Chicago now but being from Minneapolis just made me love the title even more. Great job!
I absolutely love purple, any shade on anything, clothes, fabrics and lipstick. Unfortunately, it’s hard to find a real purple in lipstick products. Thank you so much for the heads up. I’ll spread the word.
Wait, is this now available worldwide?! I live in Israel and there are Mac stores here and even though the price is usually over my budget I do indulge myself occassionally. And especially since I share your love of purple I absolutely, unequivocally need to to have this, especially if it’s a lipgloss….so hope I can find it when I go to MAC in Tel Aviv….yippeee!
Hello Afrobella!
I’d like to start off by saying that you are one of the most beautiful women I’ve seen! I just came across this article today. I was actually doing a search about hennaing my natural kinky/coily hair and came across your site. I watched the video of you discussing the Nicki Minaj Pink Friday lipstick, which led to this article on your blog. I’m so impressed and excited for you! Congratulations! I can’t wait to see your new lipstick! Purple happens to be my favourite colour. I hope it something more in the purple dept.!
As a Guyanese woman that has lived in Toronto all of her life, loves cosmetics, hair and personal care items, I was thrilled reading your article. I am also working on starting my own soap, candle and personal care business. I will be following you now regularly.
Thank you for sharing so much and to your continued success, now and always Bella! All the best to you xoxoxo
Sincerely,
Ashley P.
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Great opportunity. Keep up the good work.
Hi! I know this is kinda off topic however I’d figured I’d ask.
Would you be interested in trading links or maybe
guest writing a blog article or vice-versa? My blog covers a lot
of the same topics as yours and I feel we could greatly benefit from
each other. If you might be interested feel free to send
me an e-mail. I look forward to hearing from you!
Awesome blog by the way!