by Renee Ultado, contributor

Makeup brands have been doing collaborations with celebrities and fashion icons since forever, but there's something extra special about doing one with movies, TV shows and other hallmarks of pop culture. They become part of the narrative, and allow us to somehow be take part in the story, too!

Part of the thrill, of course, is the overall ephemeral feel of everything, the knowing that this collection won't be available forever. Here are five pop culture and beauty collaborations that we love best!

MAC Venomous Villains

While MAC is known for their high-profile (Mariah Carey, Caitlyn Jenner, Dita von Teese) and frequent (there's a new one at least once a month) collaborations, I can immediately pinpoint my favorite. I remember seeing this collaboration with Disney and just losing it. And I wasn't the only one; Venomous Villains created a social media frenzy and set the bar high up for future MAC x Disney collaborations.

The collection featured rich and interesting color choices inspired by iconic Disney villains who were sinister but also captivating in their own way. I've personally always been interested in the (untold) stories of Cruella De Vil and the Evil Queen/Snow White's stepmother but regardless of how you feel about these characters, the makeup here will make your heart stop. The eyeshadow picks for Maleficent are particularly gorgeous!

A’PIEU x Doraemon

We all know that one of the main selling points for Korean cosmetic products is the cute packaging but this collab opted to put a nostalgic spin on it! Korean cosmetic brand A’Pieu brought us a Doraemon inspired makeup collection that is as adorable as it is functional. This ultra-wearable collection was originally comprised of six lip tints, two eyeshadow palettes, two cushion blushes, a bronzer, a primer, and a BB cream - you'd need his magic backpack to store all that!

With foolproof colors and high-performing formulas, the products easily found its way to many a Kbeauty lover's daily makeup routine. The collaboration garnered such a warm reception that the brand made Doraemon a recurring character in other capsule collections, from eyeshadow duos to a special Christmas scented candle!

CreerBeaute x Sailor Moon

Japanese cosmetic brand CreerBeaute is known for their anime aesthetic, and they went viral when photos of their Sailor Moon eyeliner collection first made rounds on social media. It seemed only fitting the iconic wands/weapons used by the characters could now be part of a makeup junkie's arsenal!

Though they look somewhat like toys, these liners are legit. Available in both pencil and brushpen form, the formulas are smudgeproof and waterproof! The decorative top is actually detachable and fits some caps of other products so you can continue to "right wrongs and triumph over evil" long after your liner is used up.

Urban Decay x Through the Looking Glass

The much awaited Alice in the Wonderland sequel Through the Looking Glass was finally released this summer, and if you marveled at the colorful visuals, you'll love this collaboration between Disney and Urban Decay! Drawing inspiration from their original Alice in the Wonderland palette back in 2010, this capsule collection is comprised of an eyeshadow palette encased in a beautiful pop-up art box and an array of vividly colored lipsticks inspired by the characters in the film.

All 20 colors from the eyeshadow palette are new and created specifically for this collection. It has a great mix of wearable neutrals and vibrant colors for more creative looks, so we've got a mad lemming for this one!

Cover Girl x Star Wars

When you hear Cover Girl, you probably think of flawless bases, believable blushes, and lots of eyelashes, with the Lash Blast line being one of products the American brand has been known for. The vibe is very girl-next-door with a touch of glam. So it was a pleasant surprise when in 2015, amidst all the social media frenzy over the Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Cover Girl announced a collection inspired by this film. They commissioned the celebrated makeup artist Pat McGrath, a big Star Wars fan, to do the makeup for the campaign using products from the line and the result was a deviation from the fresh-faced beauty featured in Cover Girl's campaign.

The collection is comprised of lipsticks, mascaras and nail varnishes bearing an iconic Star Wars quote on its packaging. What I loved about this collaboration, despite never having seen a single Star Wars film (go ahead, crucify me), is that the concept was wonderfully rendered and that the looks were neither campy nor costume-y. Besides, how can you say no to those stunning lipstick shades?

What do you think about pop culture and beauty collaborations? Are they worth the hype for you? Which ones are your faves?

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