| Hello Kitty by MAC | Barbie by Cake | |
| Product highlights | Kitty Power and Glitterpuss glitter eyeliner ($20), Cute-ster sheer pearlescent peachy lipstick ($16.50), Too Dolly eyeshadow in turquoise violet magenta and pale pink ($46 for palette of four), On the Prowl grey nail lacquer ($13), Kitty Kouture Dazzlepuss Dazzleglass ($33.50). | Gotta Hand it to Her hand cream ($20), Smooth Body Clean Reputation shower froth and body mousse ($40), Starlit boudoir candle ($20), Sugar Coated brown sugar scrub ($36), First Class Jet Setter travel size five-pack ($40). |
| Positioned as | "Somewhere between a coy girl and sexy siren, MAC Hello Kitty represents the desire in all of us to be both innocent and mischievous." | "From one perfect doll to another." |
| Packaging | Eighties chic. Alternating diagonal rows reading MAC and Hello Kitty interspersed with a white-and-pink image of her iconic visage. In the style of respected French art director Fabien Baron. | Cheeky vintage. Blond Ponytail Barbie No. 1 plus various accessories appears on the pastel-hued boxes, in the legendary black-and-white swimsuit for the shower froth and body mousse and in a strapless black dress for the candle. |
| Why it's not for kids | Eight-year-olds should not be wearing sparkly blue eye glitter. This is an excuse for grownups to get all dolled, er, kittened up with quality makeup that offers a cutesy twist. | Eight-year-olds don't know the meaning of "boudoir candle" and perhaps it's best to leave them in the dark for another few years. |
| Party on | The Kitty collection kicked off with a charity auction to benefit New York's Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Thirty designers, including Catherine Malandrino, Elie Saab and Charlotte Ronson, created pieces that answered the question "What would Hello Kitty wear if she were a fashionista?" Um, fur? | Sephora stores across the country will have a Barbie by Cake bash March 21. "Insiders" will be invited in at 8 a.m. to eat cake for breakfast. |
| Things that make you go hmmm (or mmmm) | Kitty doesn't have a mouth, so how can she wear the lip gloss? Eyelids also seem to be an issue, although Hello Kitty Lash half-lash falsies are among the product range. | These products are perfect for any real-life Barbie who can't possibly eat cake without losing her unrealistically tiny waistline. Smelling like dessert is as close as you're going to get to the real thing. |
Catfight: Barbie vs. Kitty
From Saturday's Globe and Mail
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