MAC Makeup

MAC In the Groove: A Face of the Day with Stereo Rose Mineralize Skinfinish

July 9th, 2010 by Karen 31 Comments

I was chomping at the bit to try MAC Stereo Rose Mineralize Skinfinish today but told myself I had to finish all of my chores first (gah! laundry). Now that I’ve gotten some quality face time with it, all I can say is WOOT! I can see why MAC mavens have been lusting after this shimmery coral blush.

For this look I paired Stereo Rose with icy blue/peachy pink eyes and a peachy pink pout. I got the idea for the eyes from this face chart (the one for On the Scene), one of six MAC made for In the Groove.

Looking kinda senior portait-y, ha ha!
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Swatch Out! And Get MAC In The Groove

July 8th, 2010 by Karen 28 Comments

MAC IN THE GROOVE
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Stereo Rose

Today zillions of MACaholics (including yours truly) ~~descended like locusts!~~ were drawn to makeup counters like moths to a flame.

Question: Why did we do it?

Answer: To get MAC In The Groove. The 35-piece beauty bonanza — with makeup morsels for eyes, lips, cheeks and face — relies heavily on MAC Mineralize products.

With goodies ranging from $14-42, it’s like this year’s version of last summer’s Colour Craft, which I kinda adored.

Along with oodles of new makeup and a couple of highly anticipated re-promotes (Stereo Rose, anyone?), we also got a reformulated line of smoove Mineralize Eye Shadow Trios, YAY!

Did you swing by a MAC counter today? I’m curious to hear if you tried to snag shimmery golden coral Stereo Rose. Seems like it was one of the fast movers. I figured it might sell out at my local counter, so I called ahead to reserve one just in case.

If you weren’t able to visit a counter today, here are some swatches (for reference, I’m an NC35). 🙂

MAC in the groove mineralize eye shadow trio love to love
Mineralize Eye Shadow Trio in Love to Love
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What’s the Most Unusual Lipgloss You Own?

July 7th, 2010 by Karen 56 Comments

“I myself am strange and unusual.” — Lydia Deitz, Beetlejuice

Okay, I’ve been seeing a lot of weird lipgloss colors lately (and I like it!).

Take MAC, for instance. Their two most recent collections, Alice + Olivia and In The Groove (both launch on Thursday), have a couple of totally outside-the-box shades.

I.Want.Candy., a bright yellow Dazzleglass Creme gloss ($18) from Alice + Olivia looks like an ’80s neon dream! I’ve heard it looks great on top of matte reds (turns them into shimmery corals), but I haven’t tried it yet. Certainly is unusual, though, isn’t it?

And then there’s You’ve Got It, from MAC In The Groove. It’s a silvery grayish Cremesheen Glass ($18).

Um, gray? For lips?

Both colors are kinda strange, but I think the most unusual ones I have are Tokidoki Prisma Lipgloss in SANDy (a sheer apple green) and JK Jemma Kidd Plumping Gloss in Angelina.

Aren’t they weird??

What’s the most unusual lipgloss you own, and what does it look like?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy hump day! 🙂

Does a New Formula Show These MAC Mineralize Eye Shadow Trios How To Groove?

July 6th, 2010 by Karen 39 Comments

mac in the groove mineralize eyeshadow review swatches photos

Sometime today, between shaving my toe hairs and vacuuming the stairs (Tabs is shedding like cray cray!), I had an affair…

It started innocently enough with a crush (as they often do). I’d played with three of the nine new MAC Mineralize Eye Shadow Trios ($19.50 each) from the upcoming In The Groove collection. One thing led to another, yadda yadda yadda and BAM! — I couldn’t stop myself.

We’re supposed to meet again this Thursday when the collection arrives on counters.

Shh! Don’t tell El Hub. 🙂

If you’ve ever tried any of the older MAC Mineralize Eye Shadows, these are different. MAC reformulated them, and while I still love the old school formula, this new one takes the cake. MAC stepped up their game, creating a product that’s basically everything I ever wanted in a powder shadow. Silky soft, they apply like butter on toast, depositing ample color and blending like a dream. Shoot, the colors almost blend themselves! — and so far today they’ve lasted from my first cup of Irish breakfast tea all the way through dinner.

If you had fallout trubs with the older Mineralize Eye Shadows ending up on your cheeks or beneath your eyes (sometimes I did too), I think these adhere WAY better to skin.

mac in the groove mineralize eyeshadow review swatches photos
In The Groove
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MAC Haute & Naughty Lash Ups the Ante (AND the Price)

July 6th, 2010 by Karen 21 Comments

MAC Haute and Naughty Lash review

Edward or Jacob? Eric or Bill? Nutella or — NO! Forget it. There are some choices I’m simply not prepared to make. 🙂

At least now when it comes to mascara, fickle girls like me don’t have to wrestle with difficult choices. We can have our cake AND eat it too, thanks to MAC Haute & Naughty Lash ($18; available in a single shade, Haute & Naughty Black).

The disco turtleneck on the tube (see the pic below) is what MAC calls their “two-in-one dual wiper system,” and it’s one of the keys to Haute & Naughty’s success.

Unscrewing the wand from the glittery purple end loads the brush with product — LOTS of product — enough for dramatic lash volume from root to tip with just one coat.

MAC Haute and Naughty Lash review

But even if you’re more interested in lash length and separation than lash volume, you’re still in luck!

See, this thing’s a little like a Transformer… By disconnecting the wand from the hot pink extension end, the brush loads with less product, resulting in slightly thinner, yet better defined lashes.

Neat, huh?

MAC Haute and Naughty Lash review
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Light Your Way with MAC By Candlelight Mineralize Skinfinish

July 6th, 2010 by Karen 34 Comments

mac by candlelight review

If there’s a cure for my addiction to MAC Mineralize Skinfinish powders, I don’t want it! Whenever MAC releases these limited edition shimmery powders for face and cheeks (so fab for highlighting!), I always fall for at least one of the new pans. 🙂

My latest MSF obsession? By Candlelight, from the upcoming MAC In The Groove collection (arrives Thursday, July 8).

It may not look like much in the pan (just another blah brown, right?), but don’t be fooled. Introduce it to cheeks, and By Candlelight comes to life!

One of four limited edition Mineralize Skinfinishes released with In The Groove ($28 each), this shimmery cheek and face powder adds a gentle flush of rosy pink and warm golden glow — fresh, breezy and casual.

On laid-back, minimal makeup days of the kind I’d like to have quite often this summer :), where I limit my looks to tinted moisturizer, concealer, mascara, brow powder and lip balm, By Candlelight works wonders, and those are the times I like to use it as a shimmery blush.

The look is relaxed, yet still kinda sexy, like familiar jeans, or that old grey tank that fits you *just* right.
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What Are You Wearing on Your Nails?

July 3rd, 2010 by Karen 33 Comments

mac alice olivia nail lacquer
MAC Alice + Olivia Nail Lacquers from left: Morning After, Military and So Rich So Pretty ($12 each)

Right now I’m sporting bare fingers and toes, but my digits are plotting to paint themselves if I don’t give them a hand. They have their hearts set on some of the new shades in the MAC Alice + Olivia collection (available July 8). My fingers are considering Military (the glittery blackish gray), and the toes are pulling for So Rich So Pretty (the shimmery bright purple)…

mac alice olivia nail lacquer

I’m still up in Napa but coming home soon. Tabs just sent me a text that reads, “Gravy?”

What are you wearing on your fingers/toes?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Comment to Win MAC Studio Fix Lash Mascara

June 24th, 2010 by Karen 184 Comments

Longing for lashes that look so full they could almost pass for fake (me too!)?

Today’s giveaway features MAC Studio Fix mascara, one of my favorite mascaras in the MAC mascara family.

THE PRIZE

(Winner randomly selected)

One (1) tube of MAC Studio Fix Lash mascara. This overachiever excels at grabbing, extending, separating and lifting even the stubbiest of lashes. Plus, it doesn’t smudge or flake. All that, and it’s still easy to remove! 🙂 Prize valued at $13 (one winner).

After just one layer…

TO ENTER

Just answer the following question in the comments (no worries; there are no right or wrong answers):

“When was the last time you batted your lashes at someone?”

My answer: Hmm… I think it was earlier this week at Trader Joe’s. I was starved while shopping for groceries (never a good combo) and wanted the dude working at one of the free sample tables to hook me up with seconds!

RULES

The giveaway is open to US and international readers. Please, one entry per person, and don’t forget to leave a valid email address in the comment form so I can reach you if you’ve won.

I’ll choose the winner at random from the entries received by 11:59 p.m. PST on Friday, June 25, 2010.

Semoga sukses!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen