M·A·C Cosmetics, also known as Make-up Art Cosmetics, is a Canadian makeup company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, that Lady Gaga collaborated with in Spring 2009 for their M·A·C VIVA GLAM Campaign to raise funds for AIDS research. Gaga, along with Cyndi Lauper and M·A·C, created lipsticks and lipglosses known as VIVA GLAM Gaga and VIVA GLAM Cyndi respectively. In 2010, Gaga teamed up with the company again and created another lipstick and lipglass. The advertisement was styled by Nick Knight.
Products
Face
- Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder
- Strobe Cream
- Studio Fix in Unknown
- Studio Fix Fluid S.P.F. 15 in NC15
- Mineralize S.P.F. 15 Foundation/Loose in Extra Light
- Powder Blush in Well Dressed.
Eyes
- Opulash Mascara in Unknown.
- 21 Lash
- Eyeshadow in Crystal Avalanche, Mylar 198, and Sweet Lust
- Liquid Eye Liner
- Opulash Mascara in Bad, Bad, Black.
Lips
- Lipstick in pink
- Viva Glam Lipstick in Viva Glam Gaga 1.
- Viva Glam Lipstick in Viva Glam Gaga 2.
M·A·C AIDS Fund (M·A·F)
Established in 1994 by M·A·C Cosmetics, the M·A·C AIDS Fund supports men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS globally. Introducing its first VIVA GLAM lipstick that same year, M·A·C decided that every cent of the selling price of the VIVA GLAM lipsticks would go to the M·A·C AIDS Fund.
VIVA GLAM
VIVA GLAM were products by M·A·C Cosmetics with which 100% of the sales benefit the M·A·C AIDS Fund. Established in 1994 to support men, women and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS globally, VIVA GLAM lipsticks and lipglosses launched as continuous shades and had achieved tremendous success over the years.
A partnership between Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper with M·A·C Cosmetics was first hinted at in Rolling Stone magazine issue 1080, released June 11, 2009. Little else was known about the project until February 22, 2010, when Lady Gaga spoke about becoming the new face of the fund during her interview with Marie Claire. M·A·C Cosmetics debuted the From Our Lips collection on February 11th, 2010, featuring lipsticks designed by Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper. The company later stated that the Gaga-Lauper campaign was the most successful up to that point for the M·A·C AIDS Fund, which had raised more than $190 million for the cause since its founding in 1994. In early 2011, M·A·C Cosmetics revealed that Lady Gaga alone had been signed on for a second year as the spokeswoman for its VIVA GLAM campaign, which was released on February 17, 2011.
VIVA GLAM: From Our Lips
Two new VIVA GLAM shades were set to be introduced March 18, 2010, however the collection was released early on February 11, 2010, as a limited time offer for 12 months, designed by Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper. The collection was called From Our Lips and the theme revolved around safe sex and prevention. A quote featured on much of the promotional material read "You know you've got a sexy voice... Use it! Let's talk about how to keep your love life safe, seductive and satisfying. Just between us girls." This theme was mentioned when the two singers appeared together on both Good Morning America and The Today Show. Less than a week into its launch, the lipsticks created by Gaga and Lauper had outsold any launch in VIVA GLAM's 16-year history, said Estée Lauder Group President John Demsey, thanks to a groundswell of social-media impressions. The launch day of VIVA GLAM: From Our Lips ad campaign alone generated nearly 20 million unique views in traditional media, including print, billboards, web promotions, television appearances by Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper, as well as an additional wellspring of social-media hits per Gaga's tweets to her fans. The promotional poster was shot by Ellen von Unwerth. A second shot featuring huge lipsticks and futuristic clothing was shot but never released.
Products
The collection featured two lipsticks, one described by M·A·C Cosmetics as "Light blue pink" called VIVA GLAM Gaga and the other "Light coral red" called VIVA GLAM Cyndi, were represented by Gaga and Lauper respectively. The lipsticks featured the singer's signatures on the twist tube as well as on the boxing, a unique new marketing strategy to differentiate these products from past VIVA GLAM items.
On August 9, 2010, M·A·C Cosmetics released a matching lipglass for Gaga and Lauper's respective lipsticks, this time featuring bright metallic red signatures on the tube and boxing. During this time, sticker cards were given out as promotional gifts to people who purchased the VIVA GLAM items featured in From Our Lips. Included were pictures of each product, collection logos, Gaga's and Lauper's faces, as well as their signatures and lip prints, the backing features a list of items helpful for those who suffer from HIV/AIDS.
On September 2, 2010, M·A·C VIVA GLAM Make Up Bags fashioned in the shape of lips featuring Gaga and Lauper's signatures became available for purchase. The bag with Gaga's a shade of pink and Lauper's signature was a hue of red to relate to their corresponding lipstick shades. The lipsticks, lipglass, and bags were discontinued in March 2011, though VIVA GLAM Gaga lipstick reappeared due to popular demand in fall 2011 for a short time. 100% of the selling price benefited the M·A·C AIDS Fund.
Interview with M·A·C
Gaga also answered a questionnaire provided by the company:
Name three things you find beautiful.
- Love, Art, Vanity.
What quality do you like in men?
- Creativity.
What quality do you like in women?
- Creativity.
Do blondes have more fun?
- Sometimes. Depends on the activity.
What do you eat for breakfast?
- Coffee.
What is your favorite color and flower?
- Black. I love white roses.
What is your favorite dessert?
- Panna Cotta. It's Italian.
What's your favorite candy?
- Gummies.
What time do you like to wake up?
- When I'm supposed to.
What do you sleep in?
- Lace underwear, naked, or in the clothes I wore all day.
Do you wear thongs or panties?
- Both.
Who is your favorite cartoon character?
- Bugs Bunny. He's a classic.
What was your favorite childhood toy?
- My piano.
Name your favorite writers
- Rainer Maria Rilke, Edgar Allan Poe, David Bowie.
Name your three favorite characteristics of your astrological sign
- Fire. Sex. Ambition.
What is your greatest flaw?
- I trust everyone.
What is your most beautiful virtue?
- I'm always happy on the outside.
What is your biggest regret?
- Don't have any.
How do you describe your style?
- New York, avant-garde, futuristic, GAGA.
What's your motto?
- Life's a performance.
Who would you come back as in your next life?
- A gay man.
If you had a dinner party, who would you invite?
- John Lennon, Prince, Grace Jones and David Bowie.
Dogs or cats?
- Dogs.
Winter or Summer?
- Winter in New York.
What is the rudest question you've ever been asked?
- Who are you when the cameras are off?
Launch
On November 2, 2009, Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper appeared together at the launch of their VIVA GLAM campaign.
Good Morning America
Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper went on Good Morning America on February 10, 2010, to promote their participation in M·A·C 's VIVA GLAM Spring 2010 campaign.
The Today Show
Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper went on The Today Show on February 10, 2010, to promote their participation in M·A·C 's VIVA GLAM Spring 2010 campaign.
In a wide-ranging conversation about music, sex and life, one topic that came up, via a question from a viewer, is whether the two would ever consider doing a duet together. Lady Gaga seemed game for it, saying she would "in the spirit of fighting AIDS awareness." Lauper signaled her assent as well. Gaga noted that they're also kind of performing together tonight. {C}
amfAR New York Gala
Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper appeared at the AmfAR New York Gala on February 10, 2010 in support of the VIVA GLAM campaign. At the event, Lady Gaga performed "Future Love" on the Rubberman piano. {C}
GAGAKOH
Lady Gaga and Terence Koh performed an event called GAGAKOH in Tokyo, Japan. The theme of the performance was a traditional Japanese wedding. The set list was "Speechless", "Bad Romance", and "Alejandro". The Rubberman piano was used again during this performance, however this time it had a paper mache Rabbit head which was meant to represent Koh's spirit animal.
VIVA GLAM: Gaga 2
In 2010, M·A·C announced that Lady Gaga would continue as the solo face of the VIVA GLAM effort in 2011. This campaign had raised over $190 million dollars up to that time for worldwide support of AIDS prevention and treatment. The collection introduced two new shades of VIVA GLAM lip products as limited edition for 12 months only. This was the last collection designed with Lady Gaga for M·A·C Cosmetics. The promotional poster was shot by Nick Knight.
Products
The collection debuted on February 17th, 2011 with one lipstick and one matching lipglass titled VIVA GLAM Gaga 2. The shades were described by M·A·C Cosmetics as "Light warm beige". The unisex color was selected to compliment any skin tone, whether on a male or a female. Like the previous VIVA GLAM Gaga shade, the packaging on both the lipstick and lipglass featured Lady Gaga's signature. On October 27, 2011, M·A·C Cosmetics released a limited edition set featuring the shades designed by Lady Gaga titled VIVA GLAM Melt Your Heart Lip Bag. The set included the lipsticks VIVA GLAM Gaga and VIVA GLAM Gaga 2, as well as a round red see-through clutch bag. A special note was also included which read "Did you know condoms & VIVA GLAM Gaga are some of the best gifts you can give this holiday season? Love, safe sex & VIVA GLAM!" along with Lady Gaga's signature. All Lady Gaga licensed products were discontinued in March 2012. 100% of the selling price of these products benefited the M·A·C Aids Fund.
Good Morning America
Lady Gaga went on Good Morning America on February 17, 2011, to promote their participation in M·A·C's VIVA GLAM: Gaga 2.
VIVA GLAM Video
In 2010, Gaga worked with M·A·C Cosmetics to create a video in support of VIVA GLAM. In the video, she is completely silent and can be seen putting on the lipstick from the campaign. The video was directed by Nick Knight.
The Masterpiece Project
On March 13, 2011, Gaga created a video that was uploaded to M·A·C Cosmetics' official YouTube page announcing the Masterpiece Project. It requested that fans send in self portraits and drawings to the VIVA GLAM website to be a collaborative project between the fans, Gaga, and M·A·C Cosmetics. Over the following several months, Nicola Formichetti released videos describing the project as well as giving updated information about it. The faces sent in were being used to create an outfit to be worn by Lady Gaga in a digital short. The digital short was recorded on September 13, 2011, and released two months later on October 13, 2011.