I WOKE up on Saturday to a post by MAC Cosmetics on Instagram announcing that Chinese artist Lay Zhang, who also belongs to the Korean boy group EXO, is the brand’s new global ambassador.
Zhang is no stranger to MAC Cosmetics. In 2018, he became the brand’s first spokesman in China. In 2019, he was named brand ambassador for the Asia-Pacific region. When his images appeared in the Art of Studio Fix campaign, sales skyrocketed.
As a supporter of EXO and a former diehard fan of the group’s Chinese sub-unit EXO-M, that was a thrilling moment for me.
It was one of the times that my fan and beauty writing life had intertwined and involving one of my favorite brands of all time, no less.
I remember when Lay, whose other name is Zhang Yixing, starred in a MAC Prep + Prime Lip campaign and I wouldn’t stop talking about how we were using the same product. I just did it at home, so no worries. No one was hurt as I bragged.
Lay will release the second part of his album Lit tomorrow. The singer and dancer’s last track “Boom” reached No. 51 on worldwide iTunes charts, and it topped all charts in China on the day of its release.
He is one of the most popular artists in China and has been an ambassador for a number of brands including Valentino, Milka, Perrier and Biotherm. He was also named Converse’s first ambassador in Asia and Pacific Ocean.
He has wax figures at three locations of Madame Tussauds. He is the “first post-1990s artiste to have his likeness displayed at three locations,” said Madame Tussauds in a press release.
Lay wears many hats, so to speak. The former child star not only sings and dances; he is also a producer, rapper, mentor, philanthropist and songwriter. He has collaborated with many artists, including Jason Derulo, Far East Movement and Steve Aoki.
Anyway, since there’s not much news about Lay’s ambassadorship for MAC Cosmetics yet except for the actual announcement, here are some of my favorite products from the brand:
1. Strobe Cream. I just get a sales commission for every person who buys this cream because I convinced them to. Strobe Cream doesn’t just work for a glow-from-within look; it can also serve as a base for a full-on face strobing. I actually like this as a skin-care product and anyone who really knows me knows that I am never without a tube or two of this.
2. Powder Kiss Lipstick. It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of MAC Cosmetics’ lipsticks, my favorites being Chili, Marrakesh, Twig, Taupe and Russian Red. I’ve been wearing this brand and these colors on my lips since the 1990s. Powder Kiss is my new favorite lipstick range from the brand. I love the color Devoted to Chili from the line so much that I have three of them. I have Mull It Over, too, which I use to layer over other lipsticks. They recently released the liquid version of Powder Kiss.
3. Extra Dimension Skinfinish in Beaming Blush. I have so many highlighters but this warm-toned pink with a gold and pink shimmer is definitely one of my favorites. I love how natural it looks even if I apply two layers. It’s not blinding and you definitely won’t see it from afar but up close, it’s subtly pretty.
4. Mineralize Skinfinish Natural. This slow-baked powder is definitely one of MAC Cosmetics’ best products. It’s pearlized so I usually go a shade darker when I buy this. It’s so natural-looking and has slight blurring properties. For some reason, it makes skin look youthful, meaning it does not emphasize fine lines.
5. Lip Conditioner. This is a product I’ve purchased over and over. It’s one of the best lip balms I have tried because it’s not overly shiny. The finish works well with lipsticks, unlike other balms that cause the lip color to change in texture.
Image credits: @MACCOSMETICS ON INSTAGRAM