Collections

Kick Back and Relax, Because It’s Time for MAC Casual Colour

June 4th, 2012 by Karen 30 Comments

mac casual colour weekend getaway
MAC Casual Colour in Keep in Casual

Casual Fridays? Pish-tosh! I vote we do Casual Mondays and Tuesdays instead. 🙂

Excuse me while I put my feet up before we chat, and feel free to let down your hair. This is an informal makeup event — a very casual affair hosted by the eight new limited edition MAC Casual Colours ($20 each).

Like stretchy pants, and conversations with friends you’ve known for years, these multi-purpose lip and cheek creams are verrry comfy.

Perhaps it’s no surprise that some of them are also a little lazy when it comes to color. The differences between a few of them — Have a Lovely Day, Keep It Loose, Lazy Sunday and Relaxation — are somewhat lost on my pigmented lips and NC42 skin. With those few, lighter lasses should have better luck discerning the subtle differences between the colors.

MAC Casual Colour clockwise from the purple pot on the lower left: Evening Stroll, Have a Lovely Day!, Keep It Casual, Keep It Loose, Lazy Sunday, Out for fun, Relaxation and Weekend Getaway

MAC Casual Colour swatches from the left: Evening Stroll, Have a Lovely Day!, Keep It Casual, Keep It Loose, Lazy Sunday, Out for fun, Relaxation and Weekend Getaway

mac casual colour evening stroll
Evening Stroll
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This Week, the MAC Spotlight Shifts to Beth Ditto and Casual Color, Two New Collections from MAC

May 31st, 2012 by Karen 38 Comments

MAC Beth Ditto and Casual Colour collections
Wearing MAC Beth Ditto Shade & Smoke Shadow/Liner in Beth Mask on my eyes, Powder to the People on my cheeks and Pro Longwear Lipcreme in Dear Diary on my lips

Turn it up, y’all! That sailor wants to party. Isn’t that right?

Hey, Sailor! You want to party, right? Well there’s a party over here! 🙂

Come on, girls and guys, let’s turn up the music, kick off our heels, and let down our hair. It’s time for two new collections to take center stage at MAC.

The 24-piece Beth Ditto and 17-piece Casual Colour collections are already busting moves online, but the counter party doesn’t start till next week, June 7 here in North America, and internationally later the same month.

For the Beth Ditto collection, MAC collaborated with the singer-songwriter herself, and I pumped up her jams (thanks, YouTube!) while I swatched and took pictures today.

Look at those marvelously bright Pro Longwear Lipcreams down there in Dear Diary (two words: neon pink) and BOOYAH!! (a bright orange).

From a marketing standpoint, you just can’t go wrong with a name like “BOOYAH!!” I mean, if a reviewer didn’t like the color, what are they gonna say? “I hate BOOYAH!!”

BOOYAH!! With a name like that, it’s just hard to paint it in a negative light.

Not that I would, because I think it’s great.

Listening to Beth, with my arms, eyes and lips all covered in makeup, I had the urge to roller skate around my neighborhood with my boombox today. Good thing I can’t find my old roller skates…but I did air snap, neck roll and vogue in my room more than once this afternoon. 🙂

I feel like MAC captured Beth’s ferocity (fierceness?) very clearly in the collection’s lipsticks. They’re bold, and they make a statement, like she does in some of her videos with adventurous makeup.

The only thing is, I’m not so sure that same ferocity also comes across in the eye products…

The Shade & Smoke Shadow/Liners and Zoom Lash Mascaras are quieter than I expected.

Shh… Like the cooks in the MAC kitchen were having a party, and then all of the sudden someone starting banging on the walls and threatening to call the cops unless they turned the music down, so they did.

I will say that I really like their flexibility. You can wear them separately or layered together. I’m not sure yet if they’re approved for use on the water line, but I’ll find out and let you know.

The watercolor quality of the colors in Powder to the People also surprised me. From the look of the bright polka dots in the pan, I expected more POW! — vibrant pops of color. But on my skin, the shades actually apply rather muted and sheer.

I need to spend more time with the collection before deciding whether it makes me want to dance or gives me the blues. For now, though, big snaps for the the Pro Longwear Lipcremes. That much is for sure.

As for the the second collection, the laid-back, brunch-ready Casual Colour, I tried three of the eight potted lip and cheek creams in Lazy Sunday (a baby pink), Weekend Getaway (a cool rose crÃ¨me) and Out for Fun (a cool coral crÃ¨me).

So far, so good. 🙂

They’re like Ryan Gosling’s character in Drive, slick and smooth. The finish has just the faintest suggestion of a sheen, and they’re super easy to apply.

Still have to test them for wear time, but I definitely like what I see.

mac beth ditto casual colour

mac beth ditto powder to the people
Powder to the People

mac beth ditto booyal heart hangover dear diary
From the left: BOOYAH!!, Heart Hangover and Dear Diary
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MAC Beth Ditto and Casual Colour Collections: A Quick Look!

May 31st, 2012 by Karen 16 Comments

mac beth ditto casual colour

Just a couple pics of some makeup from the MAC Beth Ditto and Casual Colour Collections, now online at maccosmetics.com.

Both collections dot MAC counters and stores in North America next Thursday, June 7.

mac casual colour beth ditto

International gals, look for MAC Beth Ditto at MAC counters and stores in June; Casual Colour also arrives in June, but at select MAC locations only.

NYX The Crimson Amulet Collection Harbors a Bewitching Bevy of Nudes and Brights for Lips, Cheeks and Eyes

May 31st, 2012 by Karen 13 Comments

nyx crimson amulet dark shadows

If you’re not already a fan of multi-product palettes, the NYX The Crimson Amulet Collection ($25) may confirm your worst fears about pre-stocked makeup kits.

Creams placed next to powders, gah! A dizzying array of 24 eyeshadows in a mix of matte and shimmery finishes lurk within this tomb, along with a teeny liquid liner indubitably designed for elfin hands.

Recently launched to coincide with the opening of the movie, Dark Shadows (four-word summary: Johnny Depp disco vampire), the limited edition palette of products for cheeks, lips and eyes harbors a supernatural society of bewitching nudes and brights!

nyx crimson amulet dark shadows front

I like the balance of serious colors and playful party shades, as well as the overall quality of the pieces and the number of products you get for the price.

If you maintain a pro-palette position, I think that’s enough right there to sway you.

But experienced NYX adherents might have a different take, one that flits between excitement over the eerily enticing Gothic packaging (isn’t there something very Flowers in the Attic about it?), and hardcore frustration.

I know I’ve definitely seen most of these colors before, like in the Nude on Nude palette, Butt “Naked” Eyes, Bohemian Rhapsody Casting Call and Haute Model.

Wisely for NYX, the palette has a built-in fail-safe: value.

For $25, you get 36 pieces! — all of high quality.

I think the HD Studio Eye Shadow Base, cheek products and lip products rock, but I would have liked to see more pigment added to some of the eyeshadows.

Unfortunately, the tiny liner seems like a bit of a throwaway product (dude, I can barely hold it properly, and I have small hands!), but I guess that’s what greatness like LORAC Front of the Line Pro is for. 🙂

nyx crimson amulet dark shadows open

nyx crimson amulet dark shadows tutorials
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A Safari of Shimmer Awaits Cheeks, Lips and Eyes Wearing the LORAC Wild for TANtalizer Collection

May 29th, 2012 by Karen 39 Comments

lorac wild for tantalizer collection

Good news, you gorgeous golden jungle cat. You won’t have to prowl much further for a meow-worthy makeup collection (or a purse, for that matter) to go with that post-Memorial Day tan.

Part-time shimmery seductress, full-time toasty temptress, LORAC’s Wild for TANtalizer Collection ($39) roars on to cheeks, lips and eyes with shimmery eyeshadows, bronzer and lipstick in warm shades of bronze, beige, brown, gold and peach.

And after a successful hunt, the pieces in this pride of LORAC lionesses retreat to the safety of their very own canvas-like carrying case. The purse comes with the collection and holds everything a big cat needs — makeup, iPhone, perfume, hand/paw lotion. Ya know, the usual. 🙂

lorac wild for tantalizer

lorac wild for tantalizer
In case you’re wondering, the striped pattern on the pan of Wild for TANtalizer Bronzing Powder is an overspray…

lorac wild for tantalizer
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Dueling Naked Strangers, Exposed! The Illamasqua Naked Strangers Collection Is Thunderdome Approved

May 24th, 2012 by Karen 40 Comments

illamasqua naked strangers collection

Preparing for the Thunderdome is a pain in the @ss.

There, I said it.

So many things to consider! First, there’s the whole post-apocalyptic desert thing, with the lack of potable water and modern dentistry, and the roving mutant gangs. Then, as if the mutants weren’t bad enough, I spend half my time collecting enough pig poop to fuel my ride!

Ridiculous…

Oh, and on top of everything else, I have to stay fit and makeup ready at all times, because I never know when I’m going to be called up to fight in the Thunderdome.

Seriously, who wants to go toe-to-toe with a giant mutant wearing black studded-leather chaps without at least looking the part?

Right?

Needless to say, I’m pretty stoked about the new seven-piece Illamasqua Naked Strangers collection for cheeks, lips and nails…

Illamasqua Naked Strangers Collection

The futuristic warrior princess modeling makeup for the Naked Strangers campaign looks all kinds of fierce! — like she’d be all, “Thunderdome? Sure, sign me up.” Her makeup mixes nude, pink, gold and beige shades for cheeks, lips and nails with a pair of seriously smoldering smokey eyes.

Illamasqua Naked Strangers Collection

I’ve been giving a lot of thought to this whole Thunderdome thing…and I’ve mapped out a plan that utilizes tactics that usually worked for the girls who got into fights back in middle school.

Remove any dangling jewelry, like hoop earrings and necklaces, to maximize combat efficiency
Grease up with Vaseline, so that my opponent’s claws can’t get any purchase on my arms/cheeks
Trash talk, trash talk, trash talk
Apply Illamasqua Sheer Lipgloss in Intimacy (a nude pinkish brown) and Cream Blusher in Zygomatic (also a nude pinkish brown) from the Naked Strangers collection before, during and after the fight

Generally, one never wants to look too overdone for a Thunderdome duel (it’s just not professional), and both of these two neutrals should be perfect for that.

illamasqua zygomatic intimacy
Sheer Lipgloss in Intimacy and Cream Blusher in Zygomatic

Cream Blusher in Zygomatic

See those dots of gold on the top? Purely for decoration. I dug into the pan to see if there were more pieces hiding beneath the surface, and as far as I could tell, there weren’t.

As much I like seeing them on the blusher itself, I ended up flicking them off… I just couldn’t get used to seeing myself with one random piece of gold on my left cheek.

I really like this pinkish brown because, unlike death matches, it’s pleasantly easy. The slick, thin texture melts into my skin, lasts between 6-7 hours, and I think it looks natural on both a bare face or atop foundation.

The finish also has a hint of shine to it that gives it some extra dimension, which I
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A

Sheer Lipgloss in Intimacy

Tame by Illamasqua standards (remember Human Fundamentalism’s teal and purple lips?), this sheer pinkish brown gloss, which has a sprinkling of shimmer and comes with a brush applicator, has everyday color written all over it.

Thick and sticky, the consistency reminds me a lot of MAC Lipglasses; I clock the wear time at between 4-5 hours.

I’m not crazy about the fruit punch flavor and scent…but both are faint and fade within about a minute. They definitely don’t ruin the color for me, and I fully expect to finish this tube.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+

illamasqua zygomatic
Cream Blusher in Zygomatic
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BOOM! These Neon Nails Hit Me Like a Ton of Bricks, or a Bright Orange Bazooka: The Essie Poppy Razzi Nail Polish Collection for Summer 2012

May 18th, 2012 by Karen 40 Comments

essie poppy razzi

Lights, Camera, Action…Bazooka?

LOL! Which one of these things is doin’ its own thing? Maybe someday I’ll figure out what Bazooka, one of four bright shades in Essie’s Poppy Razzi release for summer 2012, is doing in this collection, but until then I’ll just try to enjoy the neon-ness of it all.

Why a bazooka?

Lights (an electric pink), Camera (a brilliant coral), Action (a vibrant orange) and Bazooka (a bright orange) — again, Bazooka? What am I missing?? — are darn near picture-perfect summer shades. All four apply smoothly from my cuticles to nail tips, despite having a formula on the thicker side, which is pretty typical, from my experience, of Essie polishes.

All I need is one coat of Camera (my fave!) or two of Bazooka and Lights. Action, however, likes being babied. It goes on a little streaky, so I usually apply a third coat.

With a good base and top coat, I can get a solid seven days (at least) from these before any signs of chipping.

essie lights
Lights

essie camera
Camera

essie action
Action
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Ahoy, Sailor! MAC Hey, Sailor! Collection Swatches and Pics

May 15th, 2012 by Karen 68 Comments

mac hey sailor

Hey, Sailor! Come here often!?

Exclamations abound in MAC’s latest limited edition summer release, a fairly sizable collection of 38 pieces for lips, eyes, faces, cheeks and bodies that sails into port (and onto North American MAC counters) May 24.

The crew, a rabble of ragtag repromoted products and first-time sailors, also features two maritime makeup bags — the $35 Gone Sailing Makeup Bag Set and $45 Gone Sailing Tote, both of which also drop anchor on May 24.

The crew’s fancy limited edition uniforms must cost more than MAC’s standard threads, because the products are priced slightly higher than normal.

The blue and white striped pieces are easy to spot from shore, and all of the packaging feels very crisp and clean to me. I like. 🙂

You can really see the striped pattern in the High-Light Powder pan; the pattern reminds me of a sailboat’s sails.

If the name of the collection sounds familiar (“Hey, Sailor!”), it was also the name of a Lustreglass from 2008’s Naughty Nauticals, another maritime MAC summer collection, and that’s not the only thing recycled here.

The pigment in Naval Blue also set sail in spring’s Chenman collection, and the Refined Golden Bronzer also went MAC To The Beach in 2010 (In Hey, Sailor!, I think the Refined Golden Bronzer appears more matte and less sparkly than it did when it went MAC To The Beach). Then, it was a Surf Baby the following year.

Orange Tempera Lipglass also sailed with 2011’s Fall Colour Collection, and the Beach Body Oil (To The Beach) served alongside the Refined Golden Bronzer in 2010 when MAC went To The Beach.

That’s a lot of sailing! And a lot of exclamation marks, too. The ship is rife with ’em, yargh! Hey, Sailor! Salute! (a neutral peach lipstick) when a superior officer enters the bridge. While you’re at it, Throw Me a Line! (a bright red lip pencil), and Launch Away! (a peach blush). Give me full power and every exclamation mark ye got!!!!!

The first time I heard about this collection, because of the name, I thought it might be related to the cool-toned Naughty Nauticals release, but now I don’t think that’s the case at all.

From the 23 pieces I’ve seen, Hey Sailor! features far fewer cool-toned blues, purples and pinks. The collection seems warmer to me, more like a traditional summer release, with its golds, corals, peach and tan. Of course, MAC had to add a twist with the kelly green and navy blue, which seem to give the release a preppier vibe. This sailor guy/girl probably wears J. Crew and Ralph Lauren more often than Roxy and O’Neil.

Here’s ~~the shipping manifest~~ some product pictures and swatches, as well as some action shots of the crew. 🙂

mac hey sailor