Lancome’s long-awaited collaboration with Alber Elbaz finally debuted in Manila last June.

This is the first-ever makeup collaboration of Elbaz, the creative director of Lanvin, and he chose to “clothe” the makeup instead of creating a new palette, as is often done in other such projects.

“He said his strength is in dressing up women, and that’s what he did with the Lancome makeup,” said Sheena Dy, senior brand manager of Lancome, as she walked guests and customers through the collection.

Dy also presented a quirky pop-up storybook illustrated by Elbaz, titled “Lancome Show by Alber Elbaz.” It presents the designer’s sketches of a fashion show in which he unveils his three designs for the Lancome Hypnose Show collection. Each of the three designs of hearts, dots and stars appear in Lancome’s Hypnose mascaras and eye palettes.

The Lancome boutique in Greenbelt 5, Makati, where the unveiling was held, also had self-portraits of Elbaz, one of which shows him winking as he takes a peek from backstage of the “Lancome Show.”

“As you can see, there’s an emphasis on the eyes and the eyelashes,” Dy noted. “That’s because Mr. Elbaz said that’s his most attractive feature.”

Lancome x Alber Elbaz makeup collection will only be available for a month or until supplies last at all Lancome outlets.