MAC Makeup

MAC Pro Store Must-Have Makeup Recommendations

November 28th, 2013 by Karen 18 Comments

You do not have to be a professional makeup artist or card-carrying beauty fanatic to visit a MAC Pro Store.

In fact, unlike da cloob, they won’t card you at the door. The stores are open to the public, and you should totally visit. They’re called Pro stores because they carry a range of MAC products made to meet the needs of makeup professionals (but non-pros can also buy them).

Next time you make it out to San Francisco, try to stop by the MAC Pro Store at 1833 Union Street, but be warned — plan ahead if you bring your significant other (and they aren’t big on makeup). Charge their smartphone ahead of time (or have them bring a good book), because you’ll probably want to stay in the store for hours — HOURS!

I kid you not.

A view of the inside of the MAC Pro Store on Union Street in San Francisco — A peek inside the MAC Pro Store on Union Street in San Francisco…

The big draw — well, at least for me — is the sheer quantity of products! According to MAC Senior Artist Victor Cembellin, they carry more than 300 in the store. On top of that, the SF store is the only MAC Pro Store serving the entire Pacific Northwest.

MAC Pro Lip and Concealer Palettes — MAC Pro Lipstick and concealer palettes

Sure, you can order MAC Pro products now online, but it’s such a different experience in the store. The makeup artists who work there are a goldmine of tips and tricks.

While I was at the SF store this week to learn how to use the new Masterclass Brushes, Victor also shared a couple of his must-have MAC Pro products and why you need them in your makeup bag. (Note to self: pick up a jar of Platinum Metal Pigment, ASAP!)

MAC Pro Lipmix and Platinum Metal Pigment — MAC Lipmixes

[Continue reading…]

How To Use the MAC Masterclass Brushes: Tips From MAC Senior Artist Victor Cembellin

November 26th, 2013 by Karen 45 Comments

There’s been a lot of mystery surrounding the new MAC Masterclass Brushes. Heck, even Tabs didn’t know what to make of them the first time he laid eyes on the funky black handles (which kind of look like toothbrushes).

I was curious, too, so yesterday I went to the source — the MAC Pro Store in San Francisco — and got some great tips from MAC Senior Artist Victor Cembellin.

Karen with Senior MAC Artist Victor Cembellin — With Senior MAC Artist Victor Cembellin (I’m wearing three-inch heels here, and I still look short, LOL!)

If you like makeup and you’re not already following Victor online, get on that! He’s really nice, and he posts lots of fun and interesting behind-the-scenes MAC tweets and pics on his Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Anywho, Victor walked me through the different ways you can use the new Oval No. 6, Oval No. 3 and Linear 1 MAC Masterclass Brushes.

So far there are just three brushes in the new line, but as you can probably tell by the numbered names…it’s a safe bet we’ll see more. Hopefully, because I think they’re great.

The video has a lot more detail, but in a nutshell…

One big difference — I mean, other than their unusual appearance — between these new brushes and traditional makeup brushes is how they’re used. They’re designed for less tapping and stippling, and more gliding, skimming, pushing and pulling across the skin. Think of your brush as a figure skater gliding along your skin.
Each of the brushes can be used in different ways, and you can even use them to go from cream products to powders.
The largest brush in the three-piece collection, Oval 6 ($42), can be used to apply foundation, tinted moisturizer, face powder, blush, highlighter and contour colors (probably among other things).
Oval 3 ($32), the medium-sized one, works great for applying concealer to the under-eye area, eye cream all over the eyes and eyeshadows in the contour.
The smallest brush, Liner 1 ($25), can be used for blending out eyeliner pencils (for a smudgy look) and applying eyeshadow, especially along the lash lines. In a pinch, you could even use it to fill in your brows.
But what if you’re new to makeup? Can beginners use these brushes? Absolutely! Victor thinks so, too, and he talks about that in the video.

There’s way more tips and product recommendations from Victor in the vid, and here all links to all of the products mentioned.

MAC Masterclass Brush video products — The MAC products used in the video

[Continue reading…]

A Black Lipstick for Black Friday: MAC Hautecore Friday Lipstick Goes on Sale for One Day Only, November 29

November 22nd, 2013 by Karen 18 Comments

Take heed, shopaholics! If you plan to dive headlong into the Black Friday fray next week (November 29), steer clear of anyone roaming retail halls with a ravenous twinkle in their eye…

Case in point:

I know this because it’s a lesson I learned the hard way (of course). Years ago, on a dark and stormy November night…

OK, not really, it was daytime, and the weather was fine. 🙂 But it was during a particularly vicious Bebe sample sale in South San Francisco. A woman with this exact same look on her face walked up to me and pulled a skirt I was holding from my hands.

Shocked, I stood there with my mouth agape for about five silent seconds before my cavewoman instincts kicked in. I was about to run her down and stab her with one of my knitting needles (I’d been standing in front of the store for hours to get into the sale, during which time I finished knitting not one, but two, scarves). Thank goodness I came to my senses and refrained.

So yeah. Watch out for those hard-core shoppers, man! They don’t mess around…

Hopefully, online shopping won’t be that traumatic this year. If you plan to do any cyber-shopping on November 29, swing by the MAC website, because that’s when and where the new MAC Hautecore Friday Lipstick goes live.

MAC Hautecore Lipstick — Hautecore all up in yer grill

The brand-spankin’ new matte black lipstick will be available exclusively online that one day only.

MAC Hautecore Friday Lipstick Swatch — A swatch of Hautecore Friday on my NC42 skin

[Continue reading…]

A Face of the Day With a Few Tried-and-True Shades From MAC’s Permanent Line: A Smokey Brown Cat Eye, Pink Cheeks and Lips

November 14th, 2013 by Karen 24 Comments

MAC Mulch Cork Bamboo FOTD — Wearing a few all-star brown eyeshadows from MAC’s permanent collection

I can’t even begin to describe to you the chaos swirling around me right now. Almost every single one of the houses in my neighborhood is under some kind of construction — I am so not exaggerating — and behind the cacophony of hammering and sawing is poor Tabs pacing the house while adding his own mewling and grumbling (“Mrrroooow!”) to the symphony of sound.

I am *this close* to completely loosing my sh*t…

Safe place! Safe place!

The only thing preserving my sanity has been this song: Sail, by Awolnation, which I’ve been trying to play loud enough to drown out the noise outside.

That whole entire album (Megalithic Symphony) is my power jam right now. I listen to it and pretend that all of the banging going on outside is part of the song, haha.

SAIL!

The ruckus started right after dawn and hasn’t let up. By 11 I felt like I needed the makeup equivalent of a large vanilla shake and a basket of fries, also known as comfort food, so I fell back on a look I do all the time with some of my favorite things from MAC’s permanent line.

More classy than flashy (hopefully), it’s a softly smoky golden brown eye with black cat liner, pink, barely-there matte cheeks and glossy pinkish gold lips. I used to wear this look a lot when I worked in the city and still do whenever I want to look pulled together but not over the top.

[Continue reading…]

Pics and Swatches of the MAC Nocturnals Mini Gloss and Mini Tinted Flavoured Lip Conditioner Kits

November 1st, 2013 by Karen 16 Comments

MAC Stroke of Midnight Collection — A smattering of delightful delectables from the MAC Stroke of Midnight and Nocturnal holiday collections, available now online, and coming to MAC counters and stores November 7

In case you weren’t sure which of the four Mini Lip Kits from the new MAC Nocturnals collection to get (or which ones not to get), here are some pics and swatches to hopefully help.

For reference, I’m a MAC NC42.

The collections include three Mini Gloss Kits (in Coral, Nude and Pink) and one Mini Tinted Flavoured Lip Conditioner Kit, all of them arriving to MAC stores and counters November 7 (although they’re available now online). 🙂

Let me know if you’re planning to get any of these or if you already have.

I’m all about the Coral…

MAC Nocturnals Mini Gloss Kit in Coral ($32.50 US and $38.50 CAN)

MAC Cremesheen Glass in Night is Young, a bright red cream — Cremesheen Glass in Night Is Young, a bright red cream

MAC Cremesheen Glass in Star Quality, a bright orange coral — Cremesheen Glass in Star Quality, a bright orange coral

MAC Cremesheen Glass in On the Scene, a pink with pink and white pearl — Cremesheen Glass in On the Scene, a pink with pink and white pearl

MAC Dazzleglass in Moth to Flame, a sheer neutral beige with violet pearl — Dazzleglass in Moth to Flame, a sheer neutral beige with violet pearl

[Continue reading…]

A Glittery Gold MAC Stroke of Midnight Party-Appropriate Face of the Day

October 31st, 2013 by Karen 32 Comments

MAC Stroke of Midnight Face of the Day — It’s a glitter jamboree! — thanks to the new MAC Stroke of Midnight Eye Shadow X 5 Compact in Smoky

Glitter like this deserves more than a night on the couch in the living room ~~eating Mini Snickers~~ waiting for trick-or-treaters and watching old episodes of Long Island Medium on Tivo, but eh — what ya gonna do?

I’ll just pretend I’m at a party. 🙂 Why yes, thank you for asking. I would like to dance. And certainly, I will have one — or three — of those mini Snickers.

I’m wearing a few things here from the new MAC Stroke of Midnight and Nocturnal holiday collections, as well as a couple products from NARS and Urban Decay.

The MAC Stroke of Midnight and Nocturnal holiday products I’m wearing…

MAC Stroke of Midnight Eye Shadow X 5 Compact Smoky — MAC Stroke of Midnight Eye Shadow X 5 Compact in Smoky ($39.50 US and $47.50 CAN)

MAC Stroke of Midnight Eye Bag in Gold — Stroke of Midnight Eye Bag in Gold ($39.50 US and $47.50 CAN)

[Continue reading…]

A Memo From Management, and a Bronzey, Smokey Cat Eye of the Day With the MAC Stroke of Midnight and Nocturnal Holiday Collections

October 30th, 2013 by Karen 32 Comments

MAC Stroke of Midnight Eyes Warm — Wearing products from the MAC Stroke of Midnight and Nocturnal holiday collections on my eyes and lips

To all current and future employees of Tabs the Cat Industries, LLC:

It has recently come to the attention of management that several employees celebrated National Cat Day yesterday, October 29.

While the formal acknowledgement of the fabulousness of felines is always encouraged, we would like to take this time to remind you that, here at Tabs the Cat Industries, every day is Cat Day.

Purr the management, please advise your teams that kitty-themed clothing and makeup are mandatory components of the company dress code.

Please direct all inquiries regarding this memo, or eye makeup looks, like this bronze and brown smokey cat eye using products from the new MAC Stroke of Midnight and Noctural holiday collections, to Karen in the executive offices, care of Tabs the Cat. Karen would be happy to purr-vide you with further details.

The MAC Stroke of Midnight and Nocturnal holiday collection products I’m wearing in this look

MAC Stroke of Midnight Eyes — The Stroke of Midnight Eye Shadow X 5 compacts

[Continue reading…]

5 Ways To Go From the Office to Your After-Work Party With the RiRi Hearts MAC Holiday Collection

October 28th, 2013 by Karen 47 Comments

MAC RiRi Hearts MAC Holiday Collection — Go straight from work to your after-work party with the new RiRi Hearts MAC holiday collection

It’s almost that time…

Yup, it’s almost — GASP! — the holidays! YIKES!

If your calendar includes after-work fetes, congrats. But how ya gonna get to all those shindigs on time?

Between the TPS reports piling up on your desk (you and me both, babe) and your overflowing email inbox (with tasks like “organize feather toys for feline employer” marked as, “URGENT”), who has time to transform herself from cubicle cutie to party hottie?

Not to worry, fellow MAC mavens and makeup lovahs. The new RiRi Hearts MAC holiday collection has you covered.

The New RiRi Hearts MAC Holiday Collectiono, coming December 2013 to all MAC locations in North America and internationally except China — Ten of the 11 pieces from the new RiRi Hearts MAC Holiday Collection, coming December 2013

The new 11-piece limited edition collection is loaded with products perfect for going from the office to your after-work parties.

You can even employ these quick and easy party prep tricks from your desk. Just make sure your office crush isn’t lurking…because it’s kind of weird when someone you like hangs around to watch you line your water lines.

Trust me on this.

1. Swap that daytime nude lipstick for a bright, bold shade.

MAC RiRi Hearts MAC Holiday Collection: RiRi Woo, Pleasure Bomb and Badgal RiRi Lipsticks — Lipsticks from the left: Pleasure Bomb (a matte fuchsia with a Matte finish), RiRi Woo (a matte cool red with a Retro Matte finish), and Badgal RiRi (a taupe-y nude with a Matte finish); $16.50 US and $20 CAN each

Nude lipsticks like taupe-y nude Bad Gal RiRi keep you looking polished and professional throughout the day, even when you’re this close to beating the crap out of that prehistoric copy machine (why is that thing always broken!?).

MAC RiRi Hearts MAC Holiday Bad Gal RiRi Lipstick — Rockin’ the cubicle with Bad Gal RiRi Lipstick on my lips…

But when quittin’ time rolls around, swap that nude lippie for a brighter shade, like cool red RiRi Woo or fuchshia Pleasure Bomb.

BOOM! Just like that, you’re one big step closer to a party-ready look.

MAC RiRi Hearts MAC Holiday Pleasure Bomb Lipstick — Getting ready for the party with Pleasure Bomb Lipstick; Nail Lacquer in RiRi Woo ($17.40) on my fingertips

A bright lip pumps up the jam but takes very little effort. Plus, this one’s long-wearing matte finish photographs very well, and it’ll last through dinner and drinks, so you won’t even have to touch-up throughout the evening.