When M.A.C Came To India: A partner visit better than your wildest dreams

The flights were booked, the briefing meetings were done, and all we could do was wait. We knew M.A.C was a good partner, but bringing them to India? That was a whole new level. India, a place that could melt your makeup off in minutes, where crossing the road was a mental challenge, and where cows roamed the streets instead of dogs.

It was going to be a culture shock. What if they didn’t like it? What if something went wrong?

The team landed in the afternoon, and from that moment, we realized their team and influencers were different. Their minds were open, their smiles were bright, and they held a deep sense of purpose in their part in helping our planet.

We instantly hit it off with Caitlin and Robert, who had been managing the M.A.C trip. They made the chaos of India seem like an afterthought. They spoke with purpose about their roles and how VIVA Glam changed lives. In an industry that can be cutthroat, Robert and Caitlin were refreshingly genuine. 

As we started to meet the M.A.C artists, influencers, and representatives, we realized we had lucked out. Everyone was committed and excited to be there. They talked avidly in the car about how much they loved their jobs and what this experience meant to them. They were driven and passionate about helping and being a part of the project.

We took them to scrap shops where they met female entrepreneurs. We met Ranjini, a female businesswoman who had used the support from M.A.C to transform her life. When we arrived, she was so grateful that she had brought us coconuts and flowers. She showed the team the shed M.A.C had helped build for her. She was brimming with pride.

Hannah, a senior M.A.C artist, was so touched by the experience that she reached into her bag and gave a VIVA Glam lipstick to Ranjini. I didn’t think her smile could get much bigger, but her face was lit up completely. A few tears were shed, and the small group hugged. I began to witness even my own perspective changing. I knew M.A.C was a good brand, but this experience was something else. I started to feel a sense of gratitude and awe with much influence, M.A.C was using it to change people's lives and help the planet. Moments like these give me hope.

The team continued their plastic journey across Mangalore, India. Some of them became waste collectors for the day and rode electric bikes to collect trash, then sold it for a whopping $4 at a local scrap shop. The others did beach cleanups at sunrise. They helped out in the recycling centers, listened to stories of women entrepreneurs that M.A.C had helped, and learned the ins and outs of plastic recycling. We had deep life discussions, ate way too much food, and all the while felt a sense of connection between us, the earth, and a greater mission.

When it comes to such an audacious mission of reducing plastic and poverty, you have to see it to believe it. Which couldn’t be more true of the M.A.C visit. They knew they were helping, but they didn’t realize just how much. Their contributions had changed lives; they met the people who had been directly impacted. They saw plastic getting a new life and, in turn, people getting a new life too.

So thank you, M.A.C. I leave you with one word to describe your company - intentional. In the way you create products and the way you change the world. Your impact is felt in deep and meaningful ways, through the stories of our waste workers and the plastic that is diverted from the oceans. For everyone who came on the trip, you are always welcome here, and your presence will be remembered for years to come.

Thanks, M.A.C. Keep being intentional. It’s obviously working.