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 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.
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!?).
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.
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.
2. Forget the force, Luke. Embrace the shimmer!
As for your eyes, you won’t need hours (or years of experience) to get them party-perfect. A simple wash of shimmery eyeshadow all over your lids, followed by one or two coats of mascara, does the job in less than five minutes.
If you like yourself in cooler color temps and tones, try the cooler shades from RiRi’s Veluxe Pearlfushion Shadow in 2X Dare. Gals (and guys, of course) with warmer skin tones, try the warmer-toned Phresh Out instead.
Both palettes of shimmery, high-shine eyeshadow have creamy textures that blend like the proverbial butter.
3. All that glitters is good!
No time for eyeshadow? No problem. Grab a glittery liner like the Superslick Eye Liners in shimmery white Pisces Persuasion and shimmery rose gold Cockiness, and quickly run a thin line along your upper lash lines.
With both of these liners, thanks to their fine flecks of glitter, you get a glimmer of sparkle without looking like you’re headed to da club. Of course, if you want to look like you’re headed to da club, all you have to do is make your lines thicker and more dramatic.
And because the Superslicks wear well and last long, you can do the robot till dawn without them disappearing.
4. Who’s down for a two-step…smokey eye?
If you feel like going smokey with your eyes, try this quick two-step…
Smudge your favorite creamy black or brown liner on your lids, feather out the edges with a brush (or finger), pat a shimmery eyeshadow on top, and blend out the edges with your favorite blending brush.
And if you want more drama and depth, bravo! Also line your water lines.
Here, I’m wearing MAC Feline Eye Kohl topped with the dark taupe and plummy brown from the RiRi’s Phresh Out palette, which all told took right around five minutes.
5. Forget sexy! Bring the bronzer back.
Save time by making your bronzer multitask!
Sure, you can use it to add warmth all over and contour your cheeks, but you can also use it to define your eyes.
For instance, after I finished with the two-step smokey eye above, I loaded a MAC 217 with RiRi’s Bronzing Powder in Love Rihanna and swept it into my crease to soften the edges of the smokey shadows and give extra dimension to my eyes.
And there we go! 🙂 Five easy, breezy ways to go from the office to a holiday work party with the RiRi Hearts MAC holiday collection, which arrives this December to all MAC locations in North America and maccosmetics.com (also in December to international locales, with the exception of China).
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Love the packaging it looks glamorous! all the colors are amazing!!!♥
and the liners!!♥♥♥♥♥♥
http://www.misvaleriaheart.blogspot.com
-Valeria Mary
So pretty!
U look fab Karen.. ur party look is amazing!!
The collection is so preettyy .. Eye shadows and those lovely lip colors.. wanna grab them all.. 😉
Thanks!
I like how you make everything sound easy! 🙂
The lipsticks are the most appealing part of the collection for me. The rest is a tad too shimmery.
Couldn’t agree more about the shimmery part. Lipsticks are the stars!
BGRR is the only thing I am after 🙂
Great choice, Nat! 🙂
Thanks, Lulle. 🙂
Ya know, I don’t mind the shimmer so much as long as it’s in a controlled dose. I feel like I can’t get away with a completely shimmery eye, but if it’s just on the lid, cool.
I was hoping for more of a rose gold from the eyeliners. They really look watery too.
Hi Julie,
They flatten out and dry to a shiny finish. I think the swatches just ended up looking a little watery.:)
Not MAC-related, but if you love rose gold, BECCA has a new rose gold highlighter that’s amazing!
Stunning *-* I love how you DO things with new collections and don’t just show them!
Hi Irene,
Thank you for this comment! It means a lot. 🙂
What are your favorite bits from this collection? I really love Pleasure Bomb Lipstick and the Phresh Out palette.
Happy almost-Tuesday!
Love the fuchsia lipstick and you can never have too many red nail polishes! It’s amazing how they can all look the same in the bottle but apply so differently!
Hi Rachel,
The fuchsia lippie is my fave thing about this launch, too. 🙂
I hope you had a nice Monday! Did you wear any bright makeup today?
I’m loving all those lips colors.
Great!
You are rocking Riri woo all the way! 🙂 Love Pleasure bomb as well! Karen, what r ur favorite bronzers? I have NC 42 skin too, so wanted your opinion!
Hi Chaitra,
Thanks! I have a few. I wear MAC Give Me Sun MSF, Benefit Hoola, NARS Laguna and Guerlain Terra Nerolia a lot. How about you?
Karen 🙂 I am new to bronzers! but i have tried MAC refined golden, laguna & MAC mineralize skin finish in dark! Do you think the ones you mentioned would work for contouring as well? I feel laguna doesnt work much for me with contouring, cuz its too close to my complexion!
The reason why I like Laguna for contouring (it’s similar to my coloring too) is that it gives me a lot of control. But if I’m in hurry, which is most of the time, I love MAC Give Me Sun. It blends well and isn’t too orangey. 🙂
What bronzing brush are you currently using?
Currently, just use my eco tools blush brush! Do you think its important to use an angled brush for contour? I should try give me sun MSF! Is it darker than refined golden?
(Sort of eavesdropping on this discussion because I’m the same skintone and curious about bronzer)
I only have Guerlain Terracota travel palette. It’s really subtle but it’s nice because it’s hard to overdo. I’m going to try MAC Give Me Sun next :). Thanks for the tip, Karen!
This collection is everythiiiiiiing. I have tried to avoid every single Rihanna launch, and I just haven’t been able to. The colors are such a great mix of nudes, brights, skin enhancing products, and delicate light-reflecting accents that I just can’t seem to keep away from it! Totally looking forward to getting a chance to play around with this stuff in about a month.
Hi Monika,
I know what you mean. I love the balance of makeup in these collections, and how everything’s just so dang pretty.
What are your favorite pieces from the launch(es)?
OMG!!! And here I am thinking I’m done with the whole Rihanna collection… Pleasure Bomb is da bomb! But I wonder how similar Pleasure Bomb with the other retro matte release think I might have enough fuschias by this point (if there’s such thing). Your look always made me tempted to get everything 😀
Hi Astrid,
Pleasure Bomb is similar to All Fired Up, but a twinge darker. 🙂
I love your pictures and the idea for this post! The eyeshadows look pretty and I really like that nude lipstick and besides, the packaging itself is so pretty!
Hi Agata,
Thank you! That means a lot. 🙂
Do you think you might pick up anything from this collection? Happy Tuesday, btw.
I will def try to get that nude lipstick and maybe one of the eyeshadow palettes. But with the previous launch it was such a pain waiting online for hours to be able to shop…So we will see!
Happy Tuesday, how are things going on your end?
I’m guessing the nude could be flexible on you. You could dab it on for lighter lips, or do a couple layers for a more dramatic look (very awesomely 90s!).
Things are good on this end, thanks for asking. 🙂 I’m just finished a run, and that always makes me feel good. I have been kind of slacking on exercise lately and I’m trying to get back on track. How’s it going on your end? Have you been keeping up with your workouts?
Yup, working out always makes me feel better too. I was slacking a little bit last week but this week I’m on it again. I have 2 lbs to lose to be at a total of 45. I’d love to be at 50 before Christmas, hopefully I can make it come true!
Wow girl, that’s AMAZING. I know it’s really hard work to lose weight; I’m so proud of you! I bet all of your clothes are fitting different, huh?
It won’t let me post a comment under your last one so I have to type it here. It is hard work but I am feeling so much better and I can wear my clothes from 3 or 4 years ago 🙂 I went down 4 jeans sizes 🙂 I am planning on buying some really pretty dress to wear for Christmas and hopefully I won’t hate the way I look (I hardly ever wear dresses but I am hoping now a dress will look better on me :))
That’s so wonderful! And I bet you’re feeling more energized, and that everyday physical things are easier to do. I notice that when I’m in better shape, it’s easier to do things, like run up stairs, or move boxes and what not. Which reminds me, I really need to start lifting weights again…
Have fun dress shopping when you go! There’s a lot of cute things out this time of year, it’s so hard to resist! What colors are you thinking about?
Karen, you look so beautiful in these photographs!! The collection looks pretty good too 🙂
Thanks Natalie! It’s the hair working it’s magic. 😉
How’s your Tuesday going so far?
Tuesday was pretty okay, I went out and got halloween candy for Thursday and of course ate a bunch of it already, ha! Hows yours been?
Look at you, rocking that whole kit! I tend to have shimmer and glitter aversion (on me, because of the fine line attraction) but I just can’t resist during the holidays. And sometimes in the summer. 🙂 I think I’d only own a total of 5 makeup items if it weren’t for your FOTDs, btw. HAHA!
Karen, your makeup looks fantastic here!
Thank you, Danielle! XO
I was waiting for your swatches! The lipsticks look gorgeous on you. And I just LOVE the Smokey eye you created. Beautiful Karen!
Thanks, Fancie. 🙂 Do you plan on picking up anything from the launch?
The bronzer looks great!
The lipsticks look great on you Karen. You are so pretty and such an enabler. LOL! I just picked up the Feline Kohl pencil, so thanks for the smokey eye tip! I want all the lipsticks!
Gosh, I NEED those lipsticks. I hope I can get my hands on them before they sell out!!
hi there 🙂
do you also have the double-ended brush from the collection? i have wanted a 217 for so long and with this design and the 239 on the other side, i’m really thinking about buying it.
i don’t know though, how the quality of collection brushes compare to the permanent ones..?
i would really appreciate a response 🙂
viktoria 🙂
How does the rihanna bronzer compare to macs give me sun Thanks