Disney’s movie slate for 2019 is incredible. Consider the heavy hitters the production company is putting out: Captain Marvel, Avengers: Endgame, Aladdin, Toy Story 4, Spiderman: Far From Home and Frozen 2 are all coming out the same calendar year. Not to mention that this Summer, the house of Mouse will premiere the highly anticipated live-action version of The Lion King (in theaters July 19th) with a star-studded cast, including Beyoncé, who will take on the role of Nala. (It’s too soon to tell, but there’s no chance Nala will not be at the top of the baby names list for this year, right?)
Disney is no stranger to beauty collaborations — we report on them regularly here at POPSUGAR Beauty — but trust us when we say The Lion King collection will be the most coveted of the year. Disney’s The Lion King Limited Edition Collection by Sir John x Luminess collection is full of thoughtful pieces that are wearable for every day, have playful elements, and sold in truly stunning packaging. They will be collectors’ items at the very least.
Sir John, of course, is the perfect fit for this — he is Beyoncé’s go-to makeup artist and has been working with her for years, but he’s also one of the most in demand makeup artists in the world. We can only hope he outfits her in the collection for the movie’s premiere.
The eight-piece collection includes five lip products: the Be Brave Matte Lipstick ($24) and the Be Prepared Liquid Lipstick ($24), the Legacy Tinted Lip Balm ($24), the Circle of Life Highlighter ($40), the Can’t Wait to Be Queen Eye Shadow Palette ($40) and the Kingdom Sculpting Palette ($40). A vault of all the products will also be available for purchase for $250. The stunning packaging was created by using an etched enamel technique. “The packaging is a combination of a metalized coating to give the rose gold finish, followed by different color pigments that are 3D printed in layers, with etched relief in other areas revealing the metalized rose gold,” a representative for the brand told us. “The result is a package design that is layered with hundreds of shapes, in nearly a dozen color shades to create one design that is tactile.”
Sir John was inspired by the women he grew up with, his clients, and his experience in Africa. “I have the amazing gift to work with very diverse women,” he said. “This collection takes all shades and colors into account — there is something for everyone. I was also very inspired by the landscape in Africa. The rich colors I saw when on safari were what I wanted to bring to life.”
The eye shadow palette includes what Sir John calls “supernatural neutrals” and some pops of color for those who “want to be a little more extra.” The palette was the one product he really wanted to include because he was so inspired by the movie. “The blue (shadow) was inspired by Nala’s eyes; the matte neutrals capture the super natural landscape. These colors played out well on the big screen, and I was excited to draw inspiration from them,” he said.
All products were created so that everyone — no matter how skilled you are (or not) — could use them with ease. The contour palette, for instance, takes the guesswork out of creating a sculpted face. “When I say sculpting, sculpting is a softer version of contour,” said Sir John. “You can be a pedestrian, you don’t have to be a driver on the road to understand how to sculpt.”
The lip story in the collection is a lot of fun. The orange-based red matte lip is a “’50s red” that makes “everybody’s tan come to life,” according to Sir John. When I mentioned it had a retro look, he said it gave him a Bianca Jagger feel. “We’re bringing a little disco to the daytime.”
A shade of the Be Prepared Liquid Lipstick pays homage to the original movie. In the film’s opening, during “The Circle of Life,” Rafiki opens the baobab fruit and swipes the deep red liquid onto young Simba’s forehead, anointing him as heir to the throne. The color of the liquid lipstick is a similar shade, which is meant to mimic baobab fruit that was applied on young Simba.
These personal touches, along with the luxe and detailed packaging, make this launch once in a lifetime. And Sir John wants everyone to know this collection isn’t just for the younger fans. “My generation were the children going to see the original film in theaters,” said Sir John. “This collection is a time capsule and my love letter to all the moms that now get to take their children to see the new film and experience the magic all over again.”
We joined Sir John and Luminess on set in Los Angeles to get a first look at the collection. Keep reading to see all the products before they launch. Disney’s The Lion King Limited Edition Collection by Sir John x Luminess collection will launch June 15 on LuminessBeauty.com/Disney, Ulta.com and Disney.com on June 16, and select Ulta stores on June 1.
