MAC works hard to keep us on our toes. Doesn’t it seem like they always have something new up their sleeves? I just love that!
Next Thursday another new collection arrives. Colour Ready, a small release containing just nine products, includes three new additions to the MAC Prep+Prime makeup primer line along with a smattering of colorful lip and eye goodies.
My friends at MAC sent over a few of the new Prep+Prime products to preview. I’m still in the midst of testing (oh, please, oh, please don’t break me out!), but I thought you gals might want a quick look.
Leave it to MAC to take regular old makeup primer a step forward. Prep+Prime Skin Refined Zone ($19.50) specifically targets the t-zone area (forehead, nose and chin), where many women have trubs with excess oil and large pores.
According to MAC, Refined Zone’s the ultimate multi-tasker. It controls oil, minimizes pores and primes the t-zone for foundation. In addition to all these things, Refined Zone also treats skin, exfoliating clogged pores with salicylic acid.
MAC designed the clear, colorless gel to be worn beneath or on top of makeup. I patted some on my t-zone this morning. It dried lightning fast, and my skin felt instantly smoother. I really hope it doesn’t break me out, *crosses fingers.*
If you have a sensitive nose like I do, take heed — my tube has a weird smell that reminds me of barbeque coals. Hmm…
The second item, Transparent Finishing Powder ($21), also looks interesting.
It’s a loose powder that sets makeup, eliminates shine and adds a glow to the skin without looking heavy or caked on.
It contains corn starch, which MAC says creates a smooth texture, silica to absorb oil without dehydrating the skin, and mica to add a lil’ bit of glow. It’s designed to work on top of either foundation or moisturizer.
A quick swipe of Prep+Prime Transparent Finishing Powder
It disappears right into the skin after I buff it in with a brush!
I dusted some powder on my face this morning and noticed how smooth my skin felt, and it didn’t leave a chalky cast on my skin (yay!). The other MAC powders in my stash — Blot Pressed, Select Sheer Loose, Invisible Set, Mineralize Skinfinish Natural and Sheer Mystery — don’t irritate my combo and acne-prone skin, so I hoping Prep+Prime doesn’t, either.
I’m ready for color!
All this Colour Ready talk is making me hungry for brights, so today I’m busting out Cargo’s Tahiti palette. Got any ideas for looks I could try? 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Wow that promo pic looks amazing 🙂 That green shadow!
Hi Karen B.,
Yah, that’s MAC Bitter. Nars makes something similar in the Rated R eyeshadow duo!
These new additions to the prep+prime line have me excited! Thanks for testing and sharing!
Michelle´s last blog post..Just incase you hadn’t seen it already.
Hi Michelle,
Sure thing! 🙂 I can’t wait to see the rest of the collection. I think it’ll be cool, too.
Do you currently use any Prep+Prime products?
I never use mac primers, foundations or concealers after i had a break-out that went into acne after trying their foundation ONCE!
Wow i like the cargo eyeshaddows.. so bright cant wait to see what you come up with!
The add that comes up with your web-site is Piz buin self tanner. I bought it today and i am now a lovely golden bronze!!
Hi Tali,
Oh no! Yeah, I used to use MAC Studio Fix and it totally made me break out, too. So many people love it though, you know?
Hi Karen –
I have a great look for you! I actually just did a look with the Cargo Tahiti palette this past weekend. Love that palette. It just screams summer!
I took the lighter green on the top left & applied it to the inner third of my lid. Then i took the greenish color on the top right and applied that to the middle of my lid. Then I went with the dark teal on the bottom right and applied it to the outer third of my lid & worked it into the crease. I then took a little more of the that light yellow green and swiped it above the crease to blend all the colors & get rid of any harsh lines. I highlighted the brow bone w/ MAC Femme Fi & went back in to blend anywhere still necessary.
To really add some pizzazz I went and lined my upper lash line with UD 24/7 Honey liner. Then i lined my lower lash line w/ UD 24/7 Covet liner and dusted the light yellow green shadow over it. Finished off the eyes w/ some CG Lash Blast!!
Put on a little Benefit Coralista, MAC Blow Dry lipstick w/ Pink Grapefruit Lipglass & TA DA. . .you’ll be a stylin’ tropical beauty. I actually got a lot of compliments when I wore this look, even from a car salesman (who was prob just trying to sell the car we were eyeing but i’ll pretend it really was my eyes)!! LOL 🙂
Hope you like it! Have fun & thanks for helping to feed my addiction. 🙂
Hi Nicole,
Your look sounds soooo pretty! I dunno if I have the blending skills to pull off the teal in the crease but I’m gonna try! 🙂 Thank you for sharing this.
Now I’m off to find dupes for Honey and Covet in my shash. 🙂
Ooo. That primer looks promising. I only had a sample of MAC’s studio tech foundation and it made me breakout 🙁 My Smashbox Photo finish just isnt working it. Karen, did you hear about Smashbox’s new eye primer?
Hi Stephie,
You aren’t the only one. My skin freaked out after using Studio Tech, too. My BFF loves it though, so, you never know until you try it.
That’s to bad about your Photo Finish. Have you ever tried Laura Mercier’s? It’s pretty good.
I’ve heard about the Smashbox eye primer. I dunno… I am not overly motivated to get it right now. I am on a MAC Painterly Paint Pot kick! 🙂
I know!! I cant figure out how it doesnt make them break out!!
Hi Tali,
I don’t get it, either. Apparently lots of people really love it because it covers everything! It’s too bad — I remember really liking the finish and coverage.
Something about this collection, i thinks its the picture add makes me wanna buy the entire thing so i can look ultra glamorous like the pic! anybody else get that vibe? Oh and karen i got the tahiti palette too, i was thinking about using the blue and a bronze or warm brown with it, what you thinkin?
Hi BJ,
LOL, I would totally rock this look if my style was a bit more edgy. 🙂
We are palette twins, yay! I did a look yesterday with it and a golden brown, MAC Soba. I bet a bronze or a warm brown would look *fab* too!
Happy Friday!
I don’t think I’ll break out but do you think the primer is good for people with overall dry skin, even if the nose is a little oily?
I’d be tempted to give it a shot, I feel like my foundation just isn’t looking so great these days… I look glowy in photos but when I catch a glance at myself in the mirrors at school I can see every imperfection 🙁
Hi Shiny,
I’ve read that silica is great for absorbing oil without causing dryness, so I’m thinking it might work for you. I have dry patches, so I’m going to be checking out it see if it aggravates the dryness.
Hmm, I have times when I feel like my skin products don’t look so hot in real life, too. Have you been exfoliating? I notice a huge diff in texture when I do it consistently. A lighter coverage foundation might make a big difference. For pics I will often use something with total coverage, and for day-to-day wear I’ll go with something lighter like a tinted moisturizer because I feel it looks more natural.
ohhh I want to try the primer and powder, but I’m a little wary of the liquids from MAC. I had perfect skin before I tried using their foundation…now I stick to studio fix compact. I’ll ask the MUA at my MAC counter to give me some to try 🙂
Sad note: I bought Samy’s dry shampoo and had high hopes…only to be let down. I used it this morning and the powder left residue in my hair, took me a 1/2 hour to brush out and now my hair feels like i have day old strong hold hairspray in it. It’s been bugging me all day long at the office! Any suggestions for other dry shampoos?
Hi Vanessa H,
Oh, I hate that! I’ve had that happen to me with a drugstore dry shampoo and it was awful!
My favorite dry shampoo is Rene Furterer’s Naturia. It costs an arm and a leg, but it doesn’t overwhelm my hair with stinkiness. It works great, too. When I use it I can get two, maybe three extra days out of my blow out.
I’ve been looking for a good finishing powder for ages, I’ll be sure to give this one a try!
Hi Glosslizard,
I did a test run yesterday and all signs point to go. It adds a really pretty glowiness!
Can you compare MAC Invisible Set Powder to the Prep N Prime setting powder?
Seymone´s last blog post..Requested Look: Interview Look
Hi Seymone,
Sure! It’s been a minute since I’ve busted out my Invisible Set, so this will be a nice excuse to take her out for a spin.
Oh man, I cannot wait for Colour Ready! I am not sure if I will have much use for the prep+prime products, but I’m looking forward to the colours!
Vanessa H, I recently spent about a half hour at Sephora trying out dry shampoos! There were so many to choose from. I live in Canada and wanted to try the Samy’s dry shampoo after seeing it in a magazine, but i couldn’t find it. I went to Sephora and after smelling a few of them and trying them on my hair I opted for an aerosol version (not too environmentally friendly, I know – but I feared the powder versions) called T3 (T3+Orlando Pita) Refresh Volumizing Dry Shampoo. It comes in three different versions for light, auburn, and dark hair. I tried the auburn and I really liked the scent (it’s a nice lemony smell) compared to the others. The one that was considered a Sephora best-seller smelled too strongly of soap, and the other one i was looking at contained NUTS? I am allergic to nuts so I avoided that one too!! It cost about 25 dollars Canadian but I haven’t had any complaints about it the few times I have used it so far! Good luck in your search 🙂
Hi Rachael,
The colors look really fun and pretty!
Thank you for all these Dry Shampoo recs. 🙂
I am SO excited. Unfortunately, Ive never had luck with prep prime, maybe this will be different.
Hi Courtney,
I’m keeping my fingers crossed, too!
i love the MAC prep+prime spf 50. im prone to acne and breakouts (especially with sunscreen), but this stuff is brilliant. i can’t wait to check out this new line!
Hi H.,
I haven’t tried that product. Does it leave a white cast on the skin?
Oh man.. I just bought the regular prep+prime a month ago!! I can’t justify buying a new primer already!!!!
This isn’t limited edition, right?
Gloria´s last blog post..Non-Lavender Lipstick: Fergie Ferg for MAC Viva Glam
Hi Gloria,
I’m pretty sure they are permanent additions to the line. I’ll ask the MUA’s when I go there next.
the new prep+prime is LOVE <3
i hope it isn’t going to kill my wallet when that arrives in the Philippines..GOOD LORD, please. T_T
lol
thanks for the preview and pls keep us updated if it broke you out..hopefully not so! 😀
noi´s last blog post..Beauty Lust: The Face Shop Brightening Rice Water Eye and Lip Makeup Remover
Hi Noi,
Sure! What part of the Phil. are you from? I’m Filipino, too. 🙂
Wow that palette is gorgeous! It reminds me of Mac’s Clarity and Freshwater eyeshadows (two bottom colours). I love that promo pic! I wish I could do that eye! It’s amazing!
Hi Nadrah,
I wish I could do that eye, too! Isn’t it amazing. I dunno where I’d wear it… probably just around the house, LOL!
Is Bitter LE or perm?
Hi Karen B.,
It’s perm at both MAC and MAC Pro.
Thank you Karen and Rachel!
My hair is freshly washed and fabulous today lol
Sweet! I don’t like powders with too much tint or that are too matte! Add in the fact that the price is reasonable and I’m there! 🙂
Word is that all the new P+P products for this collection are going to be permanent which makes sense. Who wants to try a new skincare item & possibly fall in love if its only going to be LE, ya know?
If any of you have tried MUFE HD powder then the new MAC P+P Translucent Finish Powder is the same. Can’t say it’s a miracle in a jar or anything. I feel like it works the same as any other translucent finishing powder. Therefore, not something to knock you off your feet or raise the roof over.