MAC Makeup

Golden Bronze on Board! MAC Nude On Board Pro Longwear Bronzer Sets Sail to the Land of Lazy Bronzing

May 23rd, 2013 by Karen 19 Comments

While I’m willing to give up some things in the interest of streamlining — spare toothbrushes (do you really need more than one of them?), clothes that no longer fit me and that fourth half-empty jar of Tiger Balm — I refuse to relinquish any all-important necessities like shoes, handbags, earrings, jeans, lipsticks and, in the summer months, bronzer because, I mean, you just never know, right?

You just never know…

You just never know when a freak cold front will blow through town in the middle of August (well…), and you’ll want to warm up with MAC’s Nude on Board Pro Longwear Bronzing Powder.

It’s perfect for times when I need a little extra warmth and contouring — but less than full-on “tiara and feather boa” levels.

A golden tan powder, Nude on Board leaves my skin lightly toasted, and like MAC’s Refined Golden Bronzer (from the same Temperature Rising collection), its micro-fine flecks of golden glitter, much finer than grains of sand, give skin that extra something-something.

It’s a subtle effect, but I think that’s the beauty of it.

To apply, first find a fainting couch… Then, leisurely lower yourself down onto it, and languidly apply the satiny smooth powder just below your cheekbones.

It won’t take much muscle at all, as the application is darned-near effortless.

Yeah, it brings out yo’ lazy like that! 🙂

MAC Nude on Board Pro Longwear Bronzer swatch — Nude on Board Pro Longwear Bronzer on NC42 skin

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Hi, Refined Golden! Can I Get a Lift From the Flecks of Golden Glitter in Your Gorgeous Golden Bronzer? Yes, Yes I Can

May 21st, 2013 by Karen 20 Comments

Here I’m wearing MAC Refined Golden Bronzing Powder just below my cheekbones…

Like Tabs the Cat, star of screen, stage and glossy magazines, MAC’s $25 Refined Golden Bronzing Powder does it all, deepening tans, thereby allowing me to live out my bronzed beach surfer babe dreams (irrespective of the fact that I spend most of my time with my butt in front of a computer), and sculpting cheekbones like Michelangelo sculpted marble and clay. We’re talkin’ real-deal contouring here.

To my eye, it’s the darkest and most intense of the Temperature Rising collection’s four powder bronzers, making it ideal for skin tones NC42-ish and darker.

Flecks of golden glitter spice up this pan of deep golden tan, which I probably would have liked even without the glitter for the color itself, which never looks muddy, ruddy or dirty on my skin, perhaps due to the golden undertones.

Did you say, “hrmpf!” when I said, “glitter?” Not to worry. MAC didn’t go overboard with this glitter (not that there’s anything inherently wrong with going overboard on glitter). This isn’t Bollywood-caliber shimmer, which I also like.

MAC Refined Golden Swatch — MAC Refined Golden on NC42 Skin

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MAC Sun Dipped Bronzer Bakes Warm Tones Into Skin Like 20 Minutes on Waikiki Beach

May 17th, 2013 by Karen 8 Comments

Sure, I’ll take a dip! A MAC Sun Dipped Pro Longwear Bronzer ($30, from the new Temperature Rising collection).

The following is an excerpt from an actual email conversion between blogger and makeup/cat enthusiast Karen and her longtime friend and surf buddy Cindy that took place on the morning of Friday, May 17, 2013.

Immediately following this exchange, Karen swept MAC’s new Sun Dipped Pro Longwear Bronzer on her face…

KAREN: When was the last time we went surfing together?
CINDY: I don’t know. Hawaii in 2006?
KAREN: That can’t be right.
CINDY: Yeah, I think so. It was right before your wedding.
KAREN: Seriously? Why are we so lame? We have to fix that.
CINDY: You could always go with me to Ocean Beach. 🙂

[NOTE: Ocean Beach is cold. It runs along the Great Highway on the west/Pacific side of San Francisco, and it’s so cold that just thinking about it is making my fingers and toes numb.]

KAREN: That’s not happening unless we’re being chased by zombies and the only way we can escape is by surfboard.

You know that moment when the water drips down the back of your wetsuit? Yeah, I hate that.

Okay, now I’m freezing cold. BRB! Need to put on some bronzer.

These are days of my life…

Don’t you feel warmer after putting on bronzer? Or is that just me…?

A light dusting of MAC’s new $33 Sun Dipped won’t turn Ocean Beach into Waikiki, but I think it does make me look tanned and toasty and gives me a sunnier outlook, too.

It can’t only be the power of suggestion, either. Sun Dipped has a sunny secret weapon: red tones!

Of the four powder bronzers in the MAC Temperature Rising collection, it’s by far the reddest one, and the one that most naturally simulates 30 minutes of fun in the sun.

MAC Sun Dipped Bronzer swatch — A swatch on my NC 42 skin

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9 Things a Fashion-Forward, Makeup-Loving and Somewhat Judgemental Feline Is Thinking When You Wear the New MAC Powerchrome Eye Pencils

May 14th, 2013 by Karen 12 Comments

9 Things a Fashion-Forward, Makeup-Loving and Somewhat Judgemental Feline Is Thinking When You Wear the New MAC Powerchrome Eye Pencils

Will you PLEASE stop gushing about how these creamy, flexible shadow pencils don’t need a primer, and start gushing about how awesome I am instead??

Are you getting so lazy that you don’t even bother to use eye brushes anymore? I mean, I totally appreciate that you’re doing quick eye looks with these (frees up your time to do more of my bidding), but I really hope that this rampant laziness of yours doesn’t spill over into your pet assisting duties.
Maybe you should take those fingers you’ve been using for blending and utilize them to scratch behind my ears a little more…
I see that your lids are looking shimmery and sparkly. Kudos for that, but it’s distracting people who would otherwise be admiring my shiny coat.
Okay, okay, so I don’t totally hate your makeup. That shimmery brown and black smokey eye you’re wearing does look moderately fierce… Nowhere near as fierce as my naturally smokey eyes, of course, but fierce nevertheless.
It only took you five minutes to do that eye look. That’s fast, but NOT FAST ENOUGH! Now go to the kitchen immediately and fix me some gravy.
I give you permission to wear these gold, copper, charcoal and bronzed brown pencils all summer long…since all of them go well with my fur.
Good thing these pencils stand up to warm weather and perspiration, because when we’re on my private South Pacific island, I’ll need you to look good at all times, in the event that the paparazzi find us.
Ugh! Yes, you may take your vacation in June, pending completion of the necessary paperwork, obviously. And just so you know, even though it’s a terrible inconvenience on my part, I’m still happy to help you with your travel makeup list. In fact, I suggest starting now by packing the MAC Powerchromes. You’re welcome. 🙂

MAC Powerchrome Eye Pencils — From the left: Copper Strip, Life’s Luxury, Polished Jet and Rich Glance

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7 Places I’d Like to Wear MAC’s New RiRi Woo Lipstick

May 6th, 2013 by Karen 39 Comments

MAC RiRI Woo — The limited edition MAC RiRi Woo Lipstick ($15), an online exclusive, is comin’ your way this June

7 places I’d like to wear MAC’s new RiRi Woo Lipstick, a $15 limited edition, online exclusive collaboration with Rihanna

To a fancy fashion party with Gwen Stefani in attendance. I’d walk up to her, point at her signature matte red lips, and then mine, and say, “Twinsies, Gwen! Twinsies!”
To Trader Joe’s, but only if I’m also wearing it with Blacktrack, a pair of 33 Lashes, Blushbaby Blush and a sassy, pin-up girl outfit, because A) all those things would look killer with RiRi Woo’s cool, matte red color and B) I strive to live in a world where one dresses up solely to buy frozen broccoli.
On a plane heading to the Cannes Film Festival (oh, someday!), because power reds go so well with crossing big dreams off of life lists. Of course, I’d also want to have a tube of hydrating lip balm with me, since RiRi Woo’s matte finish, combined with a climate-controlled airplane cabin, would dry my lips like WHOA!
To a Tina Turner concert because, I dunno, I just think Tina’s a total @ss-kicker. I listened to Better Be Good to Me on the treadmill last Saturday and had one of the best runs of my life, seriously. If I were ever in the front row at one of her concerts, maybe she’d catch a glimpse of RiRi Woo on my lips as I screamed, “I LOVE YOU, TINA!!” at the top of my lungs.
To a Mad Men-themed cocktail party dressed up like Betty Draper when she totally lost her her sh*t and started shooting birds in the yard, complete with nightie, prop cigarette and prop shotgun. If possible, I’d also incorporate toy pigeons into the outfit as well.
To a vampire techo club, a la Blade (the first one), because who has time to touch up their lips when they’re dancing to New Order one minute and running for their life the next? It’s those unexpected fight-or-flight moments when long-wearing mattes like RiRi Woo (hello, 6-hour wear time!) really come in handy.
To basically anywhere I’d also wear the regular Ruby Woo shade, since the two appear to be, more or less, the same color, with the big difference being, as far as I can tell, the hearts and RiRi’s signature etched into the side of the bullet.

RiRi Woo, y’all! Apparently, gals went ca-ray-zaaay when it went on sale on MAC’s website May 2. It sold out quicker than you can sing, “Umbrella-ella-ella-eh-eh-eh!”

Okay, not exactly… It took about three hours, from what I hear.

MAC RiRi Woo Swatch — RiRi Woo on the left and Ruby Woo on the right

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Smokey Eyes and a Smokin’ Hot Quad: MAC’s Temperature Rising Eye Shadow X 4 Quad

May 6th, 2013 by Karen 30 Comments

I’m burnin’ up! My temperature’s rising, yo. Must be the $44 MAC Temperature Rising Eye Shadow X 4 quad colors I’m wearing on my eyes…

I cannot not wear smokey eyes in summer.

Wait — what did I just type? Cannot not?

Good grief. I meant to say that I really like wearing smokey eyes in summer (and spring, winter and fall, but I digress).

Even if it’s a billion degrees outside — or if it’s 2 o’clock in the morning and I’m getting ready for a 5 a.m. flight to the Maldives with Ry-Gos (I wish!) — won’t stop me. I will still get my smokey on, believe you me.

Why? Because life’s too short for second guesses when it comes to smokey eyes, even in the summer, and I’m going for it all this year — while still staying seasonally appropriate (you’ll see what I mean in a minute) — with the new $44 Temperature Rising Eye Shadow X 4 quad from MAC.

MAC Temperature Rising Eye Shadow X 4 shadows clockwise from the violet pan in the lower left: Performance Art (a frosted gold mauve with a Veluxe Pearl finish), Temperature Rising (a light warm tanned peach with a Lustre finish), Beauty Marked (a charcoal black with red pearl and a Velvet finish) and Swelter (a mid-tone gray violet with a Frost finish) — Eye Shadows clockwise from the violet pan in the lower left: Performance Art (a frosted gold mauve with a Veluxe Pearl finish), Temperature Rising (a light warm tanned peach with a Lustre finish), Beauty Marked (a charcoal black with red pearl and a Velvet finish) and Swelter (a mid-tone gray violet with a Frost finish)

Smokey eyes play starring roles in the Temperature Rising collection, to which this quad belongs, and this baby’s built for gals/guys who’d wear purple smokey lids to a July 4 picnic without batting an eye. 🙂

It’s a rebel with a cause! — and with its mauve, gray, charcoal and violet shades, appears to stand out among more typical, traditional summertime palettes. Spend some time with it, though, and it’s summery references become more apparent. MAC sneaked hints of frosted gold into mauve Performance Art and the light, tanned peach Temperature Rising.

Very, very clever!

The quad is also smartly flexible. With these shades, it’s easy to dial up or down the smokey effect.

It comes with three medium shades and one dark, which you can combine in a purple smokey look, like I’m wearing here, or you could just as easily go for a mellower daytime eye look by sweeping one of the lighter shades on your lids, and lining your lash lines with the darker color.

MAC Temperature Rising Eye Shadow X 4 swatches from the left: Performance Art, Temperature Rising, Swelter and Beauty Marked — Swatches from the left on NC42 skin: Performance Art, Temperature Rising, Swelter and Beauty Marked

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Super Charged Pigments and a Naughty, Frosty Finish Set MAC’s Hot Nights Powder Blush Ablaze

May 3rd, 2013 by Karen 16 Comments

The new MAC Hot Nights Blush from the Temperature Rising summer collection, $23

MAC Hot Nights Powder Blush is for those times when you want your cheeks to look like they’re “glistening” (let’s not call it sweating; it’s not nearly as cute), like after some hot hubba-hubba action or a seriously vigorous elliptical session at the gym.

Got time? I hope so, because I wouldn’t even bother with this berry pink unless I had a few extra minutes for blending. That’s how pigmented it is. But I think it’s worth every second, especially if the theme of your evening is, “huntress on the prowl…”

Where Ripe For Love, the other blush from the Temperature Rising collection, can pull off naughty or nice, Hot Nights can’t.

Because it’s straight up naughty (which is nice). 🙂

MAC Hot Nights Blush swatch — Howdy, pigment!

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15 People or Things You’ll Resemble When You Wear MAC Strobe Liquid Lotion in Golden Elixir

May 3rd, 2013 by Karen 51 Comments

Here I’m wearing the new MAC Strobe Liquid Lotion Golden Elixir ($31) from the limited edition MAC Temperature Rising summer collection

When you wear MAC’s Strobe Liquid Lotion in Golden Elixir ($31) you’ll look radiant and golden like…

A Grecian goddess soaking up the last rays on a summer day
J. Lo after running a 5K in Christian Louboutin pumps and a gold lame catsuit
A sequined Oscar gown on the Best Dressed list
A Beyonce-themed Christmas tree
Jeremy Renner’s glistening arms after saving a family of stray kittens from drowning
A mega millions lottery winner the moment right after she tells her bosses to suck it and walks out of the room in a dramatic exit
An extra in a Britney video circa the golden years, aka BF (Before Federline)
A proud kitty stage mom who just found out her baby cat won the award for best actor in a gravy commercial and is dabbing tears from her eyes with a lace hanky
A reflection in a mirror after easily slipping into those goal-weight skinny jeans that you’ve been holding onto for months
A room full of Skarsgards
A room filled with 1000 birthday cakes, each cake miraculously calorie-free (so you can eat as much as you want!) and topped with 1000 candles
MC Hammer after he tried on his first pair of gold Hammer pants
Someone who just discovered Nutella
A girl on vacation laying on a beach towel in Kauai reading The Great Gatsby
A lightning bolt tattoo streaking across Channing Tatum’s tanned stomach

Babe, you know I love me some MAC Strobe Cream, so I feel like I’ve been waiting all my life for Golden Elixir. It’s a lightweight, golden liquid highlighting lotion that you can wear on bare skin and/or layered underneath or on top of makeup (foundation, blush, face powder, bronzer), and it’s bomb for getting that dewy, golden Cat on a Hot Tin Roof type of glow without looking too metallic.
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