MAC Makeup

Metallic Mauve in the Machine! MAC Viva Glam Rihanna II Lipstick and Lipglass Through the Ocular Sensors of Robot Karen (BEEP!)

September 4th, 2014 by Karen 31 Comments

BEEP! BOOP! Identity: Robot Karen. BEEP! Program start. Execute command of beauty blog. BEEP! Temporarily commandeer MBB for afternoon. BOOP!

All rogue programs will be deleted from memory. BEEP! Escape is prohibited.

According to my programming — BEEP-BOOP-BOOP-BEE-BOOP! — there is a revival of ’90s makeup underway.

Should you require assistance in finding a new frosty, pigmented lipstick and/or lip gloss — BOOP! — focus your ocular sensors on the nearest MAC counter to your proximity. BEEP!

The new MAC Viva Glam Rihanna II Lipstick ($16 U.S./$19 CDN) and Lipglass ($15 U.S./$18 CDN) are approved for use by robots and humans seeking bold metallic looks. BEEP!

My lipstick-o-meter detects a strong ’90s vibe from warm mauve Viva Glam Rihanna II Lipstick and its silvery frost. BEEP! BOOP!

MAC Viva Glam Rihanna II Lipstick closeup — Lipstick closeup

And my internal lipgloss spectrometer spikes when it analyzes the high glitter content in the cooler mauve Viva Glam Rihanna II Lipglass, with its reddish frost. BEEP!

MAC Viva Glam Rihanna II Lipglass closeup — Viva Glam Rihanna II Lipglass

MAC Viva Glam Rihanna II Lipglass — Another view of MAC Viva Glam Rihanna II

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With MAC Matchmaster Concealer, Concealing Is Personal

August 22nd, 2014 by Karen 17 Comments

Babe, if we could harness the technological power behind MAC’s new Matchmaster Concealers and direct it toward conquering the planet, we’d probably lock that ish down in half a day. Earth would be ours.

MAC Matchmaster Concealers from the left: 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0 and 7.0 — A look at eight of the 12 Matchmaster Concealers, from the left in 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0 and 7.0

Right when I swatched these shades, I didn’t think any of them would work well for me, because all of them seemed pretty peachy. I thought they’d look too jarring on my olive skin.

But then I started working shade 5.0 on to my forehead, cheeks, nose and chin, and shade 4.0 under my eyes. As I did so, they seemed to self-adjust to my skin…

Wearing MAC Master Concealer: Before and After — Before (left) and after (right). That’s shade 5.0 on my forehead, cheeks, nose and chin, and shade 4.0 under my eyes

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The New MAC Studio Sculpt Superblack Lash Mascara, As Seen Through the Eyes of the Mascara Monster

August 22nd, 2014 by Karen 8 Comments

The new MAC Studio Sculpt Mascara in Superblack Lash ($17), coming September 4 to MAC counters and maccosmetics.com

“More!” the mascara monster roared. “I WANT MORE!”

She growled, baring her fangs, and her lips curled back. It was the deep, low growl that signaled danger was near. I steeled myself for her usual hissy fit.

“I know you want more,” I said, “but decent length, a good amount of separation and a jet-black carbon color are what you’ll get with MAC’s new Studio Sculpt Mascara in Superblack Lash.”

The mascara monster stomped her feet like a T. rex in four-inch Louboutins. “More!”

“Look,” I said, “it’s basically the same as the Sculpted Black Studio Sculpt Lash Mascara MAC released earlier this year, but richer and darker. Remember when I fed you Sculpted Black back in March? It was that one with the wand that looked like teeth…”

MAC Studio Sculpt Superblack Lash — With a MAC Lipglass for scale

The mascara monster paused to consider this for a moment and then grunted, which I took for a “yes.” She appeared to relax somewhat, and then nodded, as if to say that she was ready to proceed.

“You liked that one just fine,” I said, “especially the brush’s teeth. You thought they made it super easy to separate your lashes, and you appreciated the lack of flaking and smudging, but, eventually, you grew dissatisfied, as you always do, and proceeded to grumble about craving more volume and better curl hold.

“This new Superblack Lash creates the same exact lash look. The separation and length are there, but it doesn’t add a ton of volume. Oh, and would you look at that? It’s more expensive. MAC raised the price a dollar from $16 to $17.”

MAC Studio Sculpt Superblack Lash mascara — Before and after yo!

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The MAC Studio Sculpt Defining Powders Have a Super Natural-Looking Power

August 21st, 2014 by Karen 18 Comments

Well, well, well…

I think I just found my new BFF off-duty/weekend face makeup product. MAC’s new Studio Sculpt Defining Powder ($32) has a finish like an ocelot…in that it’s elusive — the finish, I mean (cats on the brain). It has that elusive real skin-like finish that isn’t easy to find in a face powder. No matter how much I pack it on, it doesn’t look fake, caked-on or powdery.

With an ultra-fine, super sheer formula and a delicate sheen, I think it looks very natural on the skin.

Even when I threw caution to the wind and applied several layers of Medium Deep using a kabuki brush (in the interest of makeup science, of course), I still couldn’t see any tell-tale traces of powder. It was as if I wasn’t wearing anything on at all.

But yet my pores looked smaller, my skin tone looked nice and even, and I couldn’t see my freckles at all. It’s the old “no-makeup” makeup effect, and I love it.

Available in eight shades, the MAC Studio Sculpt Defining Powders are part of the new Studio Sculpt Collection, a 10-piece release heading permanently to all North American MAC locations and maccosmetics.com September 4 (through October 30). Internationally, it’s slated to arrive some time in September.

MAC Studio Sculpt Defining Powder in Light — Light

MAC Studio Sculpt Defining Powder in Light Plus — Light Plus

MAC Studio Sculpt Defining Powder in Medium Plus — Medium Plus

MAC Studio Sculpt Defining Powder in Medium Dark — Medium Dark

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In the MAC Artificially Wild Collection, MAC Takes Nudes Underground With Dirty Mauves, Sooty Greys and Golden Beige Browns

August 21st, 2014 by Karen 24 Comments

Did you ever read Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? It’s the Phillip K. Dick story that inspired Bladerunner, and in it there are these ultra realistic android animals, like robotic dogs and cats, that some people have as pets because many of the real animals are driven extinct during a world war. Only the mega rich can afford to have living, breathing pets. Everyone else’s animals are artificially wild…

Which brings me to this: MAC Artificially Wild.

Based on MAC’s promo pics for the 22-piece release, truth be told, I was kinda freaked out. The camo, the dark shadows under the model’s eyes — it seemed potentially drab and depressing, and I couldn’t see myself feeling good in a look like that.

But I liked the overall idea. Nudes, with a subversive, fight-the-power angle. Instead of regular warm, buttery browns and beiges, there were dirty mauves, sooty greys, golden beige browns and a light sprinkling of khaki.

In the end, the call of the wild was too strong to resist. After playing with the products, I started to come around…

It was kind of like when you see a dress that you’d never pick out for yourself on a hanger, but just for kicks, you try it on, and then you think, “OK. Yeah. I can work this.”

Cheek products for contouring

There are some cool things here…like the cheek products, in particular. A couple of ’em contour and carve out cheekbones better than Michelangelo. I really like the Powder Blush in Taupe, which transforms my chubby cherub cheeks into chiseled choppers capable of cutting concrete.

I think Cream Colour Base in Breaking Ground deserves mentioning. A purplish gray mauve, you can use it below your cheekbones to create well-placed shadows on your face. Chanel did something like it a while back with a powder blush called Notorious… Breaking Ground is basically a cream version.

MAC Eye Shadow in Artificial Earth — Artificial Earth

MAC Eye Shadow in Marsh — Eye Shadow in Marsh

MAC Eye Shadow in Natural Wilderness — Eye Shadow in Natural Wilderness

MAC Powder Blush in Next to Skin — Powder Blush in Next to Skin

MAC Powder Blush in Pink Cult — Pink Cult

MAC Cream Colour Base in Breaking Ground — Breaking Ground

MAC Cream Colour Base in Au Nature — Cream Colour Base in Au Nature

Icon

MAC Lipstick in Shitake — Lipstick in Shitake

MAC Lipglass in Obviously Bare — Obviously Bare

MAC Lipglass in De Nude — Lipglass in De Nude

MAC Eye Shadows in Artificial Earth, Stony, Marsh and Natural Wilderness — From the left, Eye Shadows in Artificial Earth, Stony, Marsh and Natural Wilderness

MAC Powder Blushes in Taupe, Next to Skin and Pink Cult — Powder Blushes in Taupe, Next to Skin and Pink Cult

MAC Cream Colour Bases in Breaking Ground and Au Nature — Cream Colour Bases in Breaking Ground and Au Nature

Lipsticks in Icon and Shitake

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MAC The Simpsons Collection: Coming Soon to the Springfield and Shelbyville Malls

August 21st, 2014 by Karen 45 Comments

MAC Simpsons Collection — Wearing the new MAC The Simpsons Collection while on vacation in Springfield

“Excellent…” she said maniacally, her fingers steepled in front of her, Mr. Burns-style.

The Simpsons! 🙂

Twenty-five years and still “doh!”-ing strong (LOL! Ooh, bad pun.)

You knew it was bound to happen sooner or later — that MAC would eventually collaborate with Team Springfield. It was just a matter of time before MAC would accumulate the requisite amount of bright pigments for the products and packaging. I mean, seriously — that red, yellow and blue, and the lacquered black edges? It’s so very MAC!

I should say here before we really get into this that I’m a kid at heart and a lifelong cartoon and comics fan, so I’m a sucker for silly things and makeup that doesn’t take itself too seriously (or really anything that doesn’t take itself too seriously).

To quote the great Bart Simpson, “Don’t have a cow, man, it’s makeup!”

OK, well, I added that last part…

I can see how this particular collaborative pairing may have worried fervent MAC fiends, considering the preponderance of primary colors like bright yellow and blue in The Simpsons. I wondered if the makeup colors were going to look too cartoony or costume. Who knew, right? I swore I’d seen packaging like this at Party City next to the sexy clown costume.

Well, fear not, fabulous reader, because this collection does not channel The Simpsons literally. It’s whimsical, yes, but it’s also bold and pretty. While trying everything on, I had many more “Ooh!” moments than “Eww…”

MAC That Trillion Dollar Look Quad

Take That Trillion Dollar Look, the green quad, and one of two quads in the collection (my favorite one!), for instance.

Hello, how am I supposed to say no to a bright lime green eyeshadow? Answer me that. How?

Talk about fun, especially if you dig that classic MAC girl look.

You know the one I’m talking about — the bold eyes with a dash of drag queen fabulousness.

The shadows in That Trillion Dollar Look are all rich, intense and shimmery. In other words, catwalk ready.

MAC Simpsons That Trillion Dollar Look Quad on my lids, Powder Blush in Sideshow You on my cheeks and Lipglass in Grand Pumpkin on my lips — Wearing that Trillion Dollar Look Quad on my lids, 7 Lash on my upper lashes, Powder Blush in Sideshow You on my cheeks and Lipglass in Grand Pumpkin on my lips

Pop a pair of spiky 7 Lashes (a re-promote from the permanent line decked out in special Springfield packaging) on your eyes and don MAC black from head to toe, and you’ll fit right in with the makeup artists at your favorite MAC counter.

MAC Powder Blush in Sideshow You

That Trillion Dollar Look Quad, by the way, looks awfully epic with Sideshow You, the satin light peachy coral Powder Blush.

I think the greens in the quad go really well with the peachy coral. Plus, there’s something about this blush that simulates a youthful flush. I swear, when I wear this, I look like a wee lass of 29. I wore it out to dinner with a girlfriend this week, and the waitress actually carded me. 🙂

So pigmented, this blush, so use a delicate hand.

If Sideshow You catches your eye, remember this date: September 4. That’s when the collection launches in stores and online, and Sideshow You is an online exclusive.

MAC Lipglass in Grand Pumpkin

While we’re at it, I think Sideshow You looks as tasty as a Homer-style doughnut when paired with Grand Pumpkin, a bright creamy orange Lipglass.

It’s kind of a holdover, I guess, from summer’s orange lip trend, so if you aren’t ready to bid farewell to orange lip colors, now’s your chance to grab one more before it’s “Full steam ahead to fall!”

MAC 7 Lash false lashes

Why have I not tried these before?? They’re re-promotes from the permanent line, but they’ve got that special edition packaging.

They’re so nice, long, lightweight and great. I love these.

The lashes are in spiky bundles (spiky like Marge’s lashes or Lisa’s hair), and they bring bad-@ss drama without heavyweight lash noise. Just be careful if you intend to clean and reuse them because they’re very delicate (but fab!).

MAC Simpsons That Trillion Dollar Look Quad — That Trillion Dollar Look Quad; Eye Shadows from the left in Lisa’s Spikes, Apple Squishee, 2 Dozen and One Greyhounds, and Chalkboard Dreams ($44 U.S./$53 CAD)

MAC Simpsons Marge's Extra Ingredients Quad — Marge’s Extra Ingredients Quad, Eye Shadows from the left in Harpooned Heart, Sexy PB & J, Beehive Blue, and Vivacious Vacuum Cleaner ($44 U.S./$53 CAD)

MAC Simpsons Powder Blush in Sideshow You (online exclusive; $24 U.S.;$28.50 CAD) — Powder Blush in Sideshow You (online exclusive; $24 U.S./$28.50 CAD)

MAC Simpsons Powder Blush in Pink Sprinkles ($24 U.S.;$28.50 CAD) — Powder Blush in Pink Sprinkles ($24 U.S./$28.50 CAD)

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The MAC A Novel Romance Quad Is Like Many Real Life Relationships, Both Hot and Cold

August 14th, 2014 by Karen 16 Comments

Fabio, dahling, take me now! — to the computer, so that I may satisfy this hunger burning deep within my soul.

Yup, the new MAC A Novel Romance collection launched online today, and it’s huge.

HUGE!

Huge both in terms of the fact that it’s the brand’s big release for fall, and huge just in terms of the number of products, especially the eyeshadows.

Overwhelmed much? I am. If you’re looking for a place to start, steer your lusty makeup-lovin’ loins toward one of my favorite quads in the collection, the aptly named A Novel Romance ($40).

MAC A Novel Romance Quad Swatches — From the left: My Fantasy, Fall in Lust, Dance in the Dark and Rising Passions

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Pencil In a Date With the New MAC Fluidline Eye Pencils on Your Lash Lines

August 8th, 2014 by Karen 13 Comments

Wearing the new MAC Fluidline Eye Pencil in Black Brilliance ($16) on my lash and water lines

You know, I don’t think I’ve ever actually finished an entire pot of MAC Fluidline. I’ve gotten pretty close several times with Blacktrack, but I usually get distracted by something else (it happens), and then misplace or forget about the particular pot I’m working on, so I open a new one.

This inevitably leads to someone saying, “What sane person needs five half-used pots of gel liner?” when they visit my house and notice the five half-used Blacktrack Fluidlines on the counter, to which I can’t make a smart-a$$ remark because, c’mon, only crazy makeup hoarders keep five pots of half-used Blacktrack.

MAC Fluidline Eye Pencils (left to right) in Atomic Ore, Earth Sign, Deep Blue Sea, Metropolis, Water Willow, Evil Twin and Black Brilliance — Fluidline Eye Pencils (left to right) in Atomic Ore, Earth Sign, Deep Blue Sea, Metropolis, Water Willow, Evil Twin and Black Brilliance

Now, though, I’m betting I’ll actually be able to finish one of the new MAC Fluidline Eye Pencils ($16 each US, $19 CAD), richly pigmented twist-up gel pencils coming soon to MAC counters with the A Novel Romance collection.

I’ve been wearing Black Brilliance, the black shade, a lot lately, and I seem to be going through it quickly. The soft formula glides so smoothly across my lids and lash lines that I sometimes get carried away with it.

There are also many other colors available, like Earth Sign (a deep, shimmery brown, which is a lot like Teddy, but not as reddish bronze) and Water Willow (a deep khaki green), which have also become close, personal faves. I love ’em on lash lines, where they stay put for 12-14 hours.

MAC Fluidline Eye Pencils in Atomic Ore, Earth Sign, Deep Blue, Metropolis, Water Willow, Evil Twin and Black Brilliance — Fluidline Eye Pencils in Atomic Ore, Earth Sign, Deep Blue, Metropolis, Water Willow, Evil Twin and Black Brilliance

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