Knit, purl, knit, purl, knit, purl…
Once upon a time, I was a mediocre knitter. Then I knitted and knitted and knitted until I’d created a scarf! — and after all that knitting, and all that yarn…I was still a mediocre knitter. 🙂
I haven’t quite figured out what the knitted pattern on the new Mineralize Eye Shadows and Skinfinishes in the MAC Lightness of Being collection has to do with the overall theme of the release, but I dig it.
The names of some of the pieces have a dance motif, like Beautiful Moves, and Leap and Modern Movement, but then there’s that knitted pattern on the pans… And all the pastels? I haven’t figured out what they’re doing here either.
Perhaps the collection was designed for a troupe of dancing knitters, or maybe it was inspired by the pastel pink leg warmers I so desperately wanted back in second grade.
Or maybe I’m just reading entirely too much into it, which is probably the case.
The new MAC Lightness of Being collection metaphysically materializes on the MAC website Dec. 23, and then arrives on MAC counters a few days later on Dec. 26, the day after Christmas.
With shimmery lemon, peach, blue, gray, lavender, mint and brown colors, it’s a fresh break from more serious and weighty winter mattes.
If you’re into MAC Mineralize products and/or pearly pastels, you should totally check it out.
For my makeup here, a look with gray eyes, pink cheeks and nude lips, I started with the light gray Mineralize Eye Shadow in Uninhibited, which reminds me…
Do you see how the pan is actually split in two?
It’s not easy to notice. It’s very subtle, but all six of the Mineralize Eye Shadows in the collection are like that, with a frost on one side and a pearl on the other.
Neat.
I like that idea because you can play with the different finishes to create dimension. For this look, first, I applied the pearly gray side, which is not quite as shiny as the frost, all over my lids. Then I patted the frosty shade on the center of my lids with a finger for dimension.
I chose a satin finish eyeshadow from the MAC permanent line, golden brown MAC Cork, to use as a transition color in my crease, instead of going for a straight matte.
Now, I usually prefer mattes in the crease, but I opted for a slightly shimmery satin this time because I thought it might transition a little more smoothly into a frost. A matte would have worked, too, but it probably would have taken a little more effort.
After that, to give my brow bone a lift, I lightly dusted the pearl side from Natural Vigor, a champagne peach (also from MAC Lightness of Being), along the brow bone.
Natural Vigor, by the way, is one of my favorite pieces in the collection. Buffed on lids with a 217, it just glows. Super pretty.
To finish the eyes, I lined my water lines and lash lines with Slate, the collection’s dark gray eye pencil.
Understated but totally beautiful, Slate should do a lot of great things for brown, hazel and green eye colors.
So, now let’s talk about the cheek situation…
Not gonna lie, I almost panicked for a second the first time I tried on Please Yourself, the highly pigmented, super glittery pinkish plum blush and its borderline crazy-pants shimmer.
Picture a rollicking twenty-first birthday party that coincides with New Year’s Eve.
Yeah, shimmer.
It took a few tries with it, but I eventually found a way to make it look passably natural. I think.
I barely loaded my blush brush with the tiniest amount, then lightly tapped it ever so gently on the apples of my cheeks, which resulted in a pinkish plum tint with the faintest essence of glitter.
Of course, you could go all mega glittery with it if you want to. Ain’t no shame in that game. Just buff the living crap out of it, because that seems to really boost the shimmer.
I could have skipped the highlighting at this point, but I couldn’t resist golden peachy pink Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade’s pearlescent glow.
Opalescent powders get me every time, and this highlighter looks like pure opal powder on the skin. I love it on my upper cheekbones and down the bridge of my nose. If you’re a ho for highlighting (like yours truly!), don’t miss Lightscapade.
My lips look pretty boring here compared to the rich reds and plums I normally wear in winter, but I wanted to stay true to the whole “light and fresh” theme, so I’m wearing tannish brown Mineralize Lipstick in Touch the Earth (super moisturizing!), with pearly champagne pink Mineralize Glass in Poetic on top.
The MAC Lightness of Being collection includes…
MINERALIZE RICH LIPSTICK
- Be Fabulous, a washed-out pastel pink
- Luxe Natural, a light beige cream
- Dreaminess, a soft cool pink cream
- Style Surge, a neutral coral cream
- Touch the Earth, a light wood brown
- $22 US, $26 CAD each
MINERALIZE GLASS
- Poetic, a pale champagne pink with pearl
- Loose & Lively, a peachy orange
- One Cue, a golden pearl
- Boundless Energy, a violet pink
- Beautiful Moves, a pale mint with pearl
- $22 US, $26 CAD each
MINERALIZE EYE SHADOW
- Spiritual Life, a shimmery pale lemon with a half pearl, half frost finish
- Natural Vigor, a shimmery champagne peach with a half pearl, half frost finish
- Just Breathe, a shimmery light blue with a half pearl, half frost finish
- Uninhibited, a shimmery light gray with a half pearl, half frost finish
- Leap, a shimmery lavender with a half pearl, half frost finish
- Force of Nature, a shimmery brown with a half pearl, half frost finish
- $22 US, $26 CAD each
EYE PENCIL
- Taupe, a dark brown
- Slate, a dark gray
- $16 US, $19 CAD each
MINERALIZE SKINFINISH
- Lightscapade, a shimmery off-white with light pink, blue and yellow marbling
- Perfect Topping, a shimmery pale peach with lavender marbling
- $32 US, $37 CAD each
MINERALIZE BLUSH
- Uplifting, a peach with bright orange marbling
- Please Yourself, a light pink with plum marbling
- $27 US, $32 CAD each
MAC Studio Nail Lacquer
- Lightness of Being, a pale beige
- Modern Movement, a pale lavender
- $12 US, $14 CAD each
Brush
- 287 Duo Fibre Eye Shadow, $32 US, $38.50 CAD
- 159 Duo Fibre Blush, $35 US, $42 CAD
- 187 Duo Fibre Face, $42 US, $50.50 CAD
Available online December 23, 2014, and in stores December 26, 2014, through February 6, 2015.
What do you think of the collection? It’s interesting for winter, but I’m liking it so far.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I was expecting a little bit more from this collection. I think the only product I’d consider getting is the Perfect Topping MS. I love the pattern on the products though.
I have been eying only lightscapade since I saw these on MAC fashion show used by Victor. But the collection has some more mazing things. . I really liked those blushes.. Wish they get launched in India soon..!!
Btw loved ur look .. Looking gorgeous. :-*.. Happy Friday
Hi Karen,
I love, love, love the light feeling of this collection. I so tempted by MAC Uninhibited here, though I’m trying to figure out whether it’s because of the color or how good it looks on you! I’m really tempted by Lightscapade as well, the blue lavender marbling is such a nice touch.
I keep saying I’ll buy a MAC blush but after thinking my budget I’m going to buy first one of the blush palette of Sleek.
Maybe it’s saying people want to keep warm during the cold months and so movement and thick knit sweaters are options? Reminders of those? I don’t know, haha.
As usual, beautiful look you’ve done!
As an obsessive knitter, I definitely got excited when I saw some of your photos and noticed the pattern on this collection. There might not be an explanation, but I’m happy either way!
I’m not too sure how I feel about the collection yet. I like the look of the highlighting Skinfinishes, but other that that… Hmm. I think I want to see the lipsticks in action first, I could use a few more nudes in my (already extensive) collection.
Uninhibited is my favorite from this collection!
Do you have the descriptions of Lightscapade and Perfect Topping the wrong way round? Lightscapade is definitely the lighter one.
Good eye, Dawn! Thank you for letting me know; I just fixed it. 🙂 Happy holidays!
I am seriously eyeing that lipstick! I really like how comfortable the mineralize lipstick formula is on my lips and that colour looks like an effortless nude
I am a sucker for all things soft and pretty and I love these colors. Hands up if you a ho for highlighting!
I have to get Lightscapade this time.
It is its third reprobation and it always escaped me!
I like the blushes and glosses, and the slate pencil. The shadows are pretty, but not terribly unique. The rest is just kind of “blah” to me.
I’m a knitter, and I do really love the knit designs.
Gorgeous.
I got the Be Fabulous Lipstick (which I love) and the Leap eyeshadow. The eyeshadow was a bit of a disappointment to be honest. The colors look a bit bland and lavendar apparently isn’t my color…
Isn’t the Mineralize Lipstick formula lovely? I really like it a lot. Do you wear Be Fabulous on its own or do you pair it with a liner/gloss?
I wore it yesterday and today. I outline my lips first with lip liner and then I apply Be Fabulous, on its own. I feel that it’s hydrating enough for that.
The highlighting Skinfinishes are beautiful, but the other shades aren’t doing anything for me. Love the knitted pattern though.
Happy Friday (and my last day of work until 1/5/15!). Yay!
I think this looks great on you. I have dinner tonight with friends and you’ve just inspired me to step it up a bit. 🙂
I had bright pink and white thin, horizontally striped leg warmers in grade school that I absolutely adored. I’d forgotten all about that! HAHA!
Lucky you! Have fun on your winter break. 🙂
Where are you and your friends going out tonight? I think you should bust out the false lashes…
So, circa 2nd grade I would’ve been crazy jealous of those leg warmers!
I really love the embossing on this collection! It’s perfect for the season!
I am with you on not understanding the embossing patterns for the name of the collection. But I do love the soft shades for the look you created. Have you ever tried crochet? I haven’t given knitting a whirl, but I am super happy with one hook instead 🙂
Hi Alison,
I have tried crochet and I am a mediocre at it as well. I can do a single chain but that’s about it!
Have you done any neat crochet projects lately?
I made a Superman-themed blanket for my teenage niece. She is on a world-champion robotics team and they use the S logo for their team 🙂 http://instagram.com/p/v8pL7ZOE2d/?modal=true I don’t get to do crochet projects often, but it’s nice to mix things up once in awhile and work on something.
I usually do like pastel metallics for January and February when things are white and icy outside. But I feel like this collection could use a little more oomph.
Hey Allison,
It’s super subtle, but I think that’s what they were going for. Not too much contrast in terms of color but lots of shimmer and shine.
Anywho, happy Friday to you! It’s pouring buckets again here.
I like the look of the highlighters and the patterns on the pans are pretty, but nothing stands out to me from this collection unfortunately.
I love how you put these pieces together! I think Perfect Topping and Touch the Earth will be coming home with me. I really like the way the orange blush looks but it’s too glittery for me. Which is shocking because I love glitter lol. But I prefer to get that kind of glow from a highlight though
Gorgeous soft look!
I’m thinking Ski Bunny (knit sweaters, light reflecting off snow, firelight reflecting off face).
This collection looks to be for either paler skin or darker skin with the mid-tones a bit left out. Still, I might try the Mineralize lipstick in Touch the Earth!
I have such a hard time with these limited edition products that look so lovely in the pan. I rarely buy them, because I can’t bear to use them and wreck the design. 🙁
This is honestly the first collection that has inspired me since probably Alluring Aquatic. The whole feel of light, airy, pastel shades has me like :D.
I’m grabbing Perfect Topping, Touch The Earth, Leap, Just Breathe, Force of Nature, Natural Vigor, Slate pencil, and Uplifting blush.
I don’t think I’ve ever bought so much at once from a collection! I just find this whole theme so beautiful and right up my alley.
There is so much frost in this collection. I guess it’ll be a past for me, even if the colour style and texture are very much my style. I just can’t do frosty eyes!
I like the ethereal shades of this collection but I wish everything was a little less frosty. That’s my biggest problem with MAC Mineralize products in general.
Karen I feel like we have similar skin tones which is why I love reading your blog. You always know how to make the best of every collection and they look so beautiful on you! I thought this collection would only look good on fair skin/blonde hair types but this post has definitely inspired me to try a few peices. Thank you!
Karen, you look so downright gorgeous, it’s unbelievable. I had zero intention of buying an eyeshadow from this collection until I saw this post. Uninhibited is on it’s way to my house as we speak! 🙂