Take one look at Charlotte Tilbury mystery bag videos on TikTok and you'll see the appeal. The decadence! The suspense! For loyal disciples of any brand, a mystery bag is a no brainer. Not only are they big on savings (just wait until you hear about MAC's), but also, a steadfast way to discover new - and affirm old - favourites.
The excitement with these bags lies in the very fact that you don't know what you'll get. You're leaving your fate (and, erm, money) in the hands of the beauty gods, in the hope that they were indeed listening to your Pillow Talk prayers. They're also a way to confront your prejudices. The fuchsia blush you'd never pick up on the shelf? It's yours now - play with it!
See the appeal of unboxing a surprise package? It's real. So much so, that MAC have followed suit. Today, they're launching their very own Mystery Bags. Here's everything you need to know...
MAC have been kind to us this January. The Mystery Bag, £35, includes 7 products, including a full sized eyeshadow palette. It's worth £75 (that's a 50% saving) - meaning you're likely to get some other full sized products in there, too. And to top it all off, it's all packaged up in a MAC make-up bag.
You can shop MAC's Mystery Bag below. We've also included some of our MAC favourites, so you can keep everything crossed they'll crop up in your bag.
SHOP NOW: MAC Mystery Bag and MAC Favourites
1 of 6MAC Mystery Makeup Bag, £35
Here's MAC's mystery bag in all its glory. There's 7 products in total, including the classic Eyeshadow x9 palette. The x9 palettes are edited so all the shades work cohesively, making for a perfectly tonal smoky eye.
2 of 6MAC Strobe Cream, £26
If you appreciate a glowy base, you need to meet Strobe Cream (if you haven't already). For those with normal / oily / combination skin, this may well deliver enough hydration for you to skip your moisturiser all together. It's the finish on the skin that's worth shouting about though: it imparts a subtle, luminous gleam, that is one of the most skin-like we've encountered.
3 of 6MAC Powder Kiss Lipstick, £19.50
While everyone raves about Velvet Teddy (and it is a gorgeous shade), more attention needs to be paid to the Powder Kiss range. The name of the lipstick is most apt: the matte texture feels powdery soft, and makes application a dream.
4 of 6MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation, £29
For other full coverage foundations on the market, it's hard to compete with Studio Fix. The coverage is full, truly lasts all day, and is a semi-matte finish. There are 63 shades to choose from, for a true-to-you colour and finish.
5 of 6MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pots, £17.50
MAC's Paint Pots are genius. Use them all over the lid as a base for a eyeshadow, or use shades like Born to Beam (pictured), all over the eyelid as eyeshadow alone. The cream texture is delightfully easy to work with (blend with your finger or a brush).
6 of 6MAC Glow Play Blusher, £24
One of MAC's newer blush formulas, Glow Play lends a touch of healthy, natural colour to cheeks. The texture of the blusher is unlike any other: it is solid, bouncy and best applied with fingers.
READ MORE: January 2022 Beauty Edit: The Best New Beauty Launches Out This Month