MAC Makeup

MAC DSquared: Lovin’ the Feline Eye Kohl and Greasepaint Sticks

September 28th, 2009 by Karen 67 Comments

mac dsquared

Hey there, Tenderonis. How was Monday? I bailed on my responsibilities this afternoon and hit my nearby MAC counter to play with the new DSquared collection for lips, face and eyes.

I swatched everything the counter had in stock, which was nine of the 11 items. Of course, the two that were missing just happened to be the two I was MOST looking forward to (Lip Erase ($16) and DSquared Tinted Lip Conditioner in Fuchsia Fix ($15)), but c’est la vie, le sigh!

I’ll track down the two stragglers later this week. In the meantime, let me know what you think about these.

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DSquared Shape and Sculpt Powder in Bone Beige and Emphasize

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DSquared Shape and Sculpt Powder in Bone Beige and Accentuate and Sculpt

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From left to right: DSquared Lipstick in Nude Rose and Blood Red
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The MAC Style Black Mineralize Eyeshadows: A Few Days Later

September 27th, 2009 by Karen 39 Comments

mac-gilt-by-association

Morning, ladies. 🙂 How was your night?

I spent mine chillaxing around the apartment, which I think I needed. I did a little reading (Sookie Stackhouse; I’m on Book 4) and fooling around with makeup (BIG surprise!).

This morning I’d like to answer two of the questions a few of you asked about MAC Style Black. The first question comes from Faye.

MAC Style Black Mineralize Eyeshadows: How’s the fallout?

QUESTION: How was application quality for the shadows? I hesitated to get these because I’ve had issues with the Mineralize shadows in the past â€” they always seem gritty and hard to blend, with fallout. How are these? – Faye

Heya Faye,

I actually find them pretty easy to blend, but fallout is a common concern when it comes to MAC’s Mineralize Eyeshadows.

The two Style Black ones I’ve tried so far, Young Punk (the shimmery purplish black) and Gilt By Association (the shimmery blackish bronze), apply smooth, and I haven’t experienced much fallout with either one.

By applying all of my eye makeup first — before concealer, foundation and everything else — I think it minimizes the impact of minor fallout with these.

Here are a few more things you might try to improve your results with these and other Mineralize shadows:

Use a flat, firm shadow brush with a small brush head. I like the MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush ($25). I think it works better for me than fluffy brushes like the MAC 217 Blending Brush ($27). Fluffy brushes will distribute shadow over a wider area, while firmer brushes will deposit denser color in a smaller area and will generally provide better control.
Press to apply. With my firm eyeshadow brush, I’ll use a gentle pressing motion (as opposed to a windshield wiper motion or small circles) to really pack the shadow onto my eyelid.
Start with a creamy base. A wet, creamy product like MAC Cream Colour Base will give Mineralize shadows something to adhere to, and I get better results from them here than with non-creamy primers.

MAC addicts, do you use any tricks or tips when you apply MAC Mineralize Eyeshadows?
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MAC Style Black: A Tutorial with Gilt By Association Eyeshadow and Black Cream Colour Base

September 25th, 2009 by Karen 35 Comments

mac style black collection tutorial

I’m having a blast exploring different ways to wear MAC’s new Style Black collection.

Earlier today I tried a bronzy black smokey eye using Mineralize Eyeshadow in Gilt By Association ($20).

It turned out better than I thought it would! At first I was afraid (I was petrified) the slippery Cream Colour Base would look too messy, but I found that as long as I didn’t overuse it, it stayed put reasonably well.

This is a look I’ll definitely wear again, maybe with a white, brown or bronze top and some gold jewelry.

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Tutorial: What you’ll need

An eyeshadow primer like Too Faced Shadow Insurance ($17)
A creamy black eyeshadow base like MAC Cream Colour Base in Black ($17)
A shimmery blackish bronze shadow like MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow in Gilt By Association ($20)
A shimmery, peachy golden eyeshadow like MAC Eyeshadow in Woodwinked ($15)
A shimmery, bronze pencil liner like MAC Eye Kohl in Powersurge ($15)
A black liquid pen liner like LORAC Front of the Line Pro ($22)
A black mascara like MAC Zoom Fast Black Lash Mascara ($13)
A black gel liner like MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack ($15)

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Swatches from left to right: Too Faced Shadow Insurance, MAC Cream Colour Base in Black, MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow in Gilt By Association, MAC Eyeshadow in Woodwinked
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MAC Style Black FOTD: Greasepaint Stick in Black with Young Punk Eyeshadow

September 25th, 2009 by Karen 61 Comments

mac style black fotd

Rise and shine, ladies. 🙂 TGIF!

This shimmery purple eye comes courtesy of two products from the new MAC Style Black collection, the Greasepaint Stick in Black and Mineralize Eyeshadow in Young Punk. That’s Young Punk layered on top of the stick on my lids.

Also in the mix: the Eye Kohl in Smolder along the waterlines (upper and lower), Young Punk along the lower lash line and two coats of the new Zoom Fast Black Lash Mascara on my lashes.

I was shooting for something wearable enough for a business meeting…

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Oh — remember the Origins GinZing Eye Cream-concealer trick for dark circles we talked about the other day? I used it for this look, mixing GinZing with Laura Mercier Secret Concealer and applying under my eyes.
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MAC Dazzleglass Creme, Zoom Black Zoom Fast Lash: A Quick Look

September 24th, 2009 by Karen 40 Comments

mac dazzleglass creme 1

Yikes! Only time will tell if we MAC it through all of these concurrent releases today, ladies. It’s as if MAC’s trying to give us makeup conniptions! 🙂

Say howdy to the new Dazzleglass Creme glosses ($18) and Zoom Fast Black Lash Mascara ($13). They join Style Black on counters today.

Remember those sheer, non-sticky Cremesheen Glass glosses from earlier this year? Well, these Dazzleglass Cremes kinda look like shimmery versions.

I see some nice colors here, but I really haven’t been able to concentrate on ’em yet because of that blasted Zoom Fast Black Lash. It just looks so awesome! The newest member of MAC’s mascara family, MAC says it delivers incredibly dark, midnight black lashes. With hella high hopes, I grabbed a tube to test. I’ll let you know how it turns out!

mac cosmetics dazzleglass creme perfectly unordinary my favourite pink do it up creme allure 2
From left to right: Perfectly Unordinary, My Favourite Pink, Do It Up and Creme Allure

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Soft Dazzle, Luscious Spark and Amorous

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Sublime Shine and Totally Fab

mac cosmetics dazzleglass creme swatches perfectly unordinary my favourite pink do it up creme allure 5
Perfectly Unordinary, My Favourite Pink, Do It Up and Creme Allure

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Soft Dazzle, Luscious Spark and Amorous
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MAC Style Black: Everyday Edgy

September 24th, 2009 by Karen 40 Comments

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The scene is hawt! We’re backstage at Fashion Week, a post-runway mixer with models, makeup artists and designers, sipping sparkling wine and talking MAC.

“Action!”

The camera cuts to MAC’s latest launch as it arrives on counters today, the drama-for-your-mama Style Black.

The edgy 18-piece collection for lips, nails and eyes features dark, shimmery purple, gold and, of course, black. For my Joy Division-lovin’ goth chicks — homies, this is YOUR release!

More into neutrals instead? No worries. MAC even remembered to include a few items appropriate for everyday wear.

More wearable than I expected

Style Black knocked me back at first, intimidating me a little, but upon closer inspection I found some pretty wearable goodies as well.

Rocking a full Style Black makeup ensemble at once might make for a fun night out (Halloween, perhaps?), but I can see myself more often sticking to just one or two of the edgier elements at a time.

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Tabs does Style Black

For instance, I might try a bold eye with the Greasepaint Stick in Black (lovin’ the blue and purple shimmer!) layered beneath one of the Mineralize Eyeshadows on the lid but toned down with a nude lip.

Or, maybe a dark lip with Night Violet Mattene lipstick and a softly lined eye (smudged along the lash lines) using something like the Smolder Eye Kohl. 🙂

What stands out?

I like several things from Style Black but love the Greasepaint Stick in Black, the Mineralize Eyeshadows in Gilt by Association and Young Punk, the Cream Colour Base in Black (*can’t wait* to layer it beneath a shadow for smokey eyes) and Night Violet Mattene. Of everything, these four also struck me as the most user-friendly.

Oh! And skin care junkies, consider the Volanic Ash Exfoliator, a gently moisturizing exfoliator I first fell in love with last year (glad to see it here, too!).

What do you think so far? What moves (or doesn’t move) you?

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From left to right: Cream Colour Base in Black and Bat Black

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Mineralize Eyeshadows in Blue Flame, Cinder Fella, Gilt by Association and Young Punk
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MAC Dazzleglass Creme, DSquared, Trend FW ’09: What Would You Get?

September 23rd, 2009 by Karen 32 Comments

mac-what-would-you-get

It’s raining MAC, hallelujah! Are you ready to get your MAC attack on? — because the collections are falling faster than you can say, “Put it on my charge card, please.”

There’s Style Black, which launches on Thursday, along with four more releases either out now or available soon after that.

Trend F/W ’09 — A collection for lips and eyes (there’s a scent, too!), featuring colors inspired by an urban landscape.
DSquared — With products for cheeks, lips and eyes, DSquared is all about sooty eyes, sculpted skin and soft, kissable lips.
Dazzleglass Cremes — Shimmery versions of MAC’s incredible Dazzleglass glosses.
Zoom Fast Black Lash — The latest member of the MAC mascara family should deliver hella dark, dramatic lashes.

Are you ready for another installment of What Would You Get?

Your makeup mission (aka your virtual haul), should you choose to accept it: If you could get any one of the following three options in its entirety (and entirely free!), which one would it be? Peruse the pics and deets, and share your answer in the poll at the bottom. 🙂

I’m going with DSquared… LOVE those Greasepaint Sticks, and that brush belongs in my grubby little paws!
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Makeup Tutorial: Red Hot Lips and Shimmery Teal Eyes

September 22nd, 2009 by Karen 38 Comments

Red lips and teal eyes makeup tutorial

Do you remember the look I tried last week that featured red lips and teal/brown eyes?

I felt like doing it again today, but this time I snapped a few extra pictures for a quickie tutorial.

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After the post last week, reader Jenna left a great tip in the comments that I also wanted to try… She suggested adding some black eyeliner to ramp up the drama, and here’s how it turned out:

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Better, right? Thanks for the tip, Jenna! 🙂

If you’d like to give the look a try…

What you’ll need

An eyeshadow primer like Too Faced Shadow Insurance ($17)
A creamy pearl eyeshadow like MAC Cream Colour Base in Pearl ($17)
A dark brown pencil eyeliner like MAC Eye Pencil in Coffee ($13)
A dark brown eyeshadow like MAC Brun ($15)
A warm matte brown eyeshadow like MAC Eyeshadow in Brown Script ($15) or Soft Brown ($15)
A matte peach eyeshadow like MAC Eyeshadow in Arena ($15) or Bamboo ($15)
A shimmery teal eyeshadow like MAC Eyeshadow in Aquadisiac ($15) or Steamy ($15)
A matte black liquid eyeliner like LORAC Front of the Line Pro ($22)
A shimmery golden brown eyeshadow like MAC Soba ($15)
A black mascara like MAC Mascara X in Black ($13)
A matte red lipstick like MAC Lipstick in Chili ($14) or Russian Red ($14)

NOTE: I ended up using MAC Eyeshadow in Waternymph instead of the teal eyeshadows and MAC Mattene in Classic Dame instead of matte red lipsticks listed above. Both are limited edition and tricky to track down, but they’re similar to the colors mentioned.

mac cosmetics tutorial fashion week look swatches 1
Swatches from left to right: Too Faced Shadow Insurance, MAC Cream Colour Base in Pearl, MAC Eye Pencil in Coffee, MAC Eyeshadow in Brun, MAC Eyeshadow in Brownscript

mac cosmetics tutorial fashion week look swatches 2
From left to right: MAC Eyeshadow in Arena, MAC Eyeshadow in Waternymph, LORAC Front of the Line Pro Liner, MAC Eyeshadow in Soba
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