Here in Marin County — how should I put this? — tie-die is the new black. 🙂 I joke, but this area is a mecca for different ways of thinking, and while my younger self probably would have giggled at some of the self-improvement techniques I’ve been trying lately, my older self has more of an open mind.
One of my new favorite things is to sit on my deck at sunset and mentally list all of the good things that happened that day. Some days the list is shorter than others, but I can usually come up with at least one or two things.
Plus, there’s a great side effect of catching a good sunset: makeup inspiration.
Yesterday, right as the sun dipped below the horizon, the sky turned a golden cantaloupe that looked just like today’s Unsung Hero, MAC Melon Pigment ($20 for a 0.15-oz. jar).
Sometimes the mess factor keeps me from playing with loose pigments. Maybe I’m just a klutz, but I always find a way to get loose shadow in the sink, on my clothes, on the cat and in my hair. Even so, I regularly make exceptions for Melon.
Like a slice of sweet, ripe cantaloupe sprinkled with golden glitter, it looks peachy gold from some angles and pure gold from others.
Delish!
It loves lids, too, making them look all shiny and perky, like one of those hella annoying people who gets eight hours of sleep every night (you know who you are!).
For a fast, fresh look, I like to wear it with Blacktrack and a couple coats of mascara. Then I’ll add a peachy golden blush like MAC Margin or Sunbasque and a layer of Nympehtte or Evolution Revolution Lipglass. 🙂
Improv pasta!
Until I make it to the grocery store this week, the pickin’s around here are pretty slim, but I did have enough pasta left in the cupboard to make this little dish with crimini mushrooms, spinach, garlic and parmesan cheese. It wasn’t bad, but I could have eased up on the EVOO.
What was on your plate this evening (both food and otherwise)?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
The MAC Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorite products from MAC’s permanent collection
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Oh Baby Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Mulch Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: The Cremestick Liners
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sable Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Soft Ochre Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Ricepaper Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: This Cremesheen Glass Is a Veritable Deelight
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Lipglass in Spite
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Impassioned Lipstick (and Watermelon)
- MAC Unsung Heroes: This Lip Pencil Is In Synch
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Soba Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Bombshell Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sunbasque Sheertone Shimmer Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Clear Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Humid Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Naked Lunch Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Russian Red Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Syrup Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Blushbaby Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Melon Pigment
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sumptuous Olive Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Vex Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Costa Chic Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Fast Response Eye Cream
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Strobe Cream
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Blot Powder/Pressed
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Subculture Lip Pencil
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Soft Brown Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Woodwinked Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Powersurge Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: All That Glitters Eyeshadow Is Not Just Another Gold
- MAC Unsung Heroes: The Technakohl Liners
- MAC Unsung Hero: Groundwork Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Hero: Nymphette Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Viva Glam V
- MAC Unsung Hero: Blacktrack Fluidline
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Lychee Luxe Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Hero: Gorgeous Gold Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Patina Eyeshadow
I’m not the biggest fan of MAC products but I count the MAC Pigments and Melon among my faves. Thanks for reminding me of this one, Karen. I’m definitely digging it out tomorrow! 😀
I’m recently digging golden peachy shadows ! Been pairin my new Urban Decay loose pigment in “X” with some bronzes, pinks, o browns, and also the cream shadow in “Whipped” as a highlighter.
“on the cat” hahaha. Does Tabs get nosy like my Daphne does when you’re doing your makeup? Once she’s done her breakfast she’s up in my makeup mirror all “whatcha doooooin’ can I have more foooood?” teehee 🙂
Melon is gorgeous! I’ve never got around to buying any MAC pigments just because I know I’ll never use a full jar. I think I’ll ask for a sample next time I hit my MAC counter.
And your pasta looks fab. Makes me want to buy some spinach!
I can’t decide what looks better – Melon, or that delicious bowl of pasta! 😛
I had a sample of Melon once upon an time, but never ended up with the fullsize. You’re seriously making me reconsider my decision, though; it really does perk up your lids!
What a beautiful, glowy look that pigment gives you. I’ve learned my lesson one too many times about my ability to get the loose pigments from their container to the eyelid without “incident”, unfortunately.
Your pasta looks yummy. Today I cooked up some tempeh with leeks, frozen mixed veggies (broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower), and various unappreciated spices from the spice rack.
Ya know, I want to love tempeh and feel like I should, but I have yet to have any that really moves my soul. Is there a particular brand you like? And do you do any tricks to yours, like marinating it, etc.?
Tempeh is so good for you and an easier to digest version of soy protein. It can be bitter and dry, though, so I get the Trader Joe’s brand, crumble it into a pan where I’ve sauteed some onions and garlic, then I add enough vegetable broth to cover and boil it for about 15 minutes. This softens the texture and takes out the bitterness. Then you’re left with something that resembles ground meat. I love to add some tomato are marinara sauce to it and then use this as a “meaty” pasta sauce.
Okay, I’ll try that. I tried cooking the TJ’s one straight out of the package and it tasted like feet and cardboard. BLECH!
I’ve been looking for a meat sub for this Stuffed Shells recipe… Hopefully the tempeh will work!
http://www.skinnytaste.com/2009/01/spinach-stuffed-shells-with-meat-sauce.html
I was debating if I should get this pigment for the last few weeks… and you’ve finally convinced me to! It’s just too pretty to pass up! Thanks, Karen!
You’re welcome, Blue. 🙂 I hope you love it!
that is a very pretty shade almost gold
Yes, it’s gorgeous!
I keep debating about whether or not I should finally purchase this product. I think it’s SO lovely, but I just don’t know if I’ll ever use enough of it to justify a purchase (loose powder products and I don’t mix :p).
Hmm, do you have a buddy or two that would be willing to go halves with you?
ah, MAC pigments – so pigmented! LOL i also don’t link working with loose eyeshadow most of the time but i find that they are more pigmented than pressed ones, imo. however, it’s the fallout i really don’t like *sigh*
Hi MereMakeupManiac,
I know what you mean. Have you tried applying them with a flat brush? For me that seems to really help curb the fallout.
I have a couple of pigments but rarely use them. I can see now that I really should! Thank you gorgeous for the reminder.
Hi Mariam,
You’re welcome. What pigments do you have in your stash?
Heritage rouge, Tan, Smoke signal, Mutiny and Spiritualize. All of them are really beautiful. Specially Mutiny which is a gorgeous light blue one. Do you have any of these? Would love some tips on how to put the colors together.
I’ve never used the pigments–do you put them on over a cream base or primer? How does it stay on without me looking like a walking glitterbomb all day?
You could take a bit with your clean brush and press it into the lid of the jar. That’s what I do to compact it a bit and then I dust the brush first. Next, I press that brush onto my eyelid (I usually prime with UDPP and a creamy base like MAC Paint Pots). If you’re worried about fallout, you can dust your under eye area with transparent powder, then when you’re done with your eye look, run a fluffy brush on the transparent powder and it will pick up the fallout.
Brilliant, thank you!
This is exactly how I apply mine. I did a post in 2008 w/visuals; here it is in case you’re interested:
https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/mac-makeup/mac-pigments-made-easy/
I like using a firm, flat brush as opposed to a fluffy brush.
HTH!
Hmm I’ve yet to have a proper look at pigments. I’m such a klutz when it comes to blending that I feel I should sort that out before moving on to loose things; also, I should really pick up some primer!
PS: rather proud of my dinner – red onion gratin and a rustic pear and almond tart! 😛
You gotta try the NARS Primer, Advah! It will change your life.
And, hello, what a fancy and delicious-sounding dinner. Got any left overs? LOL
Noted – heading to Space NK at the weekend to try it out! 😛 Especially since I’m having serious fallout with my NARS Calanque palette (that gorgeous first shade gets glitter all over my face) and I remember you saying the primer really helped.
Haha the gratin was a Jamie Oliver recipe, and I’m planning on posting the dessert recipe on my food blog – will let you know when it’s online! 😉
What brush are you using with Calanque? Have you tried using a flat eyeshadow brush? Those tend to press the product into the skin more and help w/fallout.
Can’t wait to read about the desert. I love warm fruit tarts, especially with ice cream.
Oh gosh, now I’m drooling and my tummy’s rumbling. 🙂
Hmm I’ve got a fluffy eyeshadow brush (Sephora I believe) that I use for the first two colours, and a flat one to apply the darker colour. Sounds like I got the wrong way around, I’ll give the other option a try tomorrow!
Oh dear, warm fruit tarts. And ice cream! I’ve decided to get a skillet just so I can bake a skillet-sized cookie and serve it straight from the pan with ice cream on it!
Or maybe even try using fingers to apply, and then blend out the edges with a fluffy brush. I do that trick all the time w/shadows that fall out.
Cookies are my weakness, btw. I find that I can’t eat just one of them! Have you ever visited San Francisco? If/when you go you have to get a Specialty’s cookie. They are LIFE CHANGING.
I love Melon Pigment!
This colour is so pretty 🙂
xoxo
It’s great! What do you like to pair it with?
I have NYX Oro pigment, which is said to be a dupe for Melon. I have to buy a sample of Melon to do a swatch comparison.
That pasta looks yummy! Now I crave mushrooms…
It turned out pretty well, considering I had no clue what I was doing, LOL! What did you end up having for dinner last night?
Hi to the kitties. 🙂
Baked herbed tilapia, mashed taters and carrots!
Ooh, what herbs did you use? I have some tilapia filets waiting for me in the fridge.
really nice, I’m normally to scared to wear such a light shimmery colour on my lids.
You should try it. Do you live near a MAC counter? You can ask for a sample!
Melon is the only MAC pigment I own. I love it in summertime with just mascara and a swipe of lipgloss.
Isn’t it the best? What glosses do you pair it with?
I have never used any MAC pigments, but I might give them a try sometime. Melon is very pretty and anything that makes me look more awake is a good thing!
I’ve got pasta on the menu for dinner tonight with roasted cherry tomatoes from my garden. 🙂
Oh that sounds so yummy, Ruchita! I tried to grow tomatoes a few years ago and was totally unsuccessful. I used a Topsy Turvy; have you heard of it? It’s this contraption that you hang from the ceiling that allows the plant to grow upside down so you don’t need to bother with propping it up:
http://www.topsygardening.com/
It worked just fine, but the bugs at my old place ended up going to town on my plants.
Yep, I’ve seen that before! My “garden” is basically plants put into the mulch bed around hour house – definitely nothing fancy. 🙂 I can kill any sort of plant, but tomatoes are quite forvgiving. As long as they get plenty of water and good soil they do great!
They sell some types of plants that are small enough to put into a planter if you don’t have room to plant in the ground. And there’s this stuff called Sevin Dust that helps keep the bugs away.
Ours isn’t anything fancy, either. It’s a lot of overgrown stuff in the front and the “Tabs'” garden on the deck (it’s a miracle my zinnias are still alive… It’s like kitty crack to him).
I will have to check out Sevin Dust. When we had the tomatoes I tried using this organic spray made out of peppers, which ended up giving the tomatoes a very spicy flavor. El Hub looooved it but I didn’t (I don’t do spicy).
Yay, gardening! It’s such a fun hobby.
Melon pigment is gorgeous! i love it as a soft wash of color all over my lid w/ something like soft brown in the crease. so wearable!
Hey Nina!
That’s a great combo. 🙂 Sometimes I’ll do a little bit of green liner… so pretty.
So didja finish your book yet?
i finished it last night. stayed up til 11 pm and now im kinda bleary eyed and very sleepy!
im going to not read til next week … just to recover and rest my eyes!
green liner and melon sounds gorgeous!
AHH! Was the ending good?
cliffhanger! i cant wait for the next books!
I LOVE and HATE cliffhangers! Are the next books already out, or do you have to wait?
I don’t own melon but I totally should. You’ve inspired me to play with the pigments I have! I wish I had read this earlier. I had a $30 dillard’s card and no idea what to spend it on. But alas I already purchased some basic eyeshadows that I already depoted so I suppose I’m stuck with those. That’s okay I’ll just put this on my wishlist.
It’s always fun to add to the wish list. 🙂 Mine is like three pages long, LOL!
What eyeshadows did you end up getting?
You look so glowy! 🙂 Melon is a very pretty color but I know better than to even open a loose pigment. For me, it would be a total mess waiting to happen.
Your pasta looks super-yummy and I’m very impressed with your portion control (says the gal who had 2 heaping bowls of mac and cheese for dinner). The deli gave me a lb of pastrami by mistake so I’d been making lemonade – in this case a pastrami reubens, subbing coleslaw for the sauerkraut – for days. We finally moved on last night. 🙂
I know you <3 glitter and was about to ask if you had any of MAC's Loose Glitters in your stash. I'm guessing no? 🙂
I'm hungry right now (lunch is 2 hours away... wah!) and two bowls of mac and cheese sounds so good right now. Do you make yours from scratch, or do you have a pre-made version that you and the boys like?
Oh, gosh – no. I wouldn’t trust myself with loose glitter. I think I’d end up looking like a bad macaroni self-portrait, done by a 1st grader! 🙂
I love my homemade mac & chz but the boys prefer the pre-fab. One will only eat Kraft and the other likes Stouffers. I’m hoping they’ll change their minds as they get older. Until then, I’m usually ingesting the orange cheese. 🙂
Btw, I read your comment earlier about the TJ’s tempeh tasting like feet and cardboard and I was totally laughing. Don’t you hate that? You try something new and healthy and after the first bite you’re thinking “oh, heavens, people do eat this; clearly I’ve done something wrong”. HAHA!
Mmm! That pasta dish looks so yummy! :P~~~
It was pretty good, and it didn’t take long to make.
What did you have for dinner last night?
love it. it totally warms up your face.
Thanks! Are you a fan of the MAC Pigments, Jiyoonie?
I love this one, one of my favourites! It look fab on you, really gives you glow 🙂
Thanks, Renate. What are your favorite MAC pigments?
This looks amazing on you! I wish I could pull these kinds of colors off but they always end up looking orange on me. Both all that glitters and bronze looked hideous on me also. Guess warm colors just don’t like me. Curse my skintone!
You’re lucky that you can pull off cool colors, girl! There are so many amazing ones there that I love that I can’t wear because they make me look weird. Jealous!
I have the same size jar of Melon pigment from one of the MAC Holiday gift sets. And I think I have only used it once.
Time to bring it out again! 🙂
I’ve heard all good things about Melon Pigment but considering how far I have to drive to find MAC, I may stick to the new Aveda shadow called Crushed Citrine. It doesn’t hurt that it’s in a pan either, making it more goof-proof on my vanity than Melon–but the sunset idea remains! Thanks, Karen, you always know how to brighten our days!
AHHH! I love this series. Melon is one of my fave loose shadows. Thanks for the post, Karen!
Sorry if this has already been asked, but can anyone tell me how this matches up with Nyx’s Oro? 🙂
Hey Shannon,
I don’t have Oro, but I’ve heard it’s a pretty good dupe.
I have this pigment but it’s just sitting in the back of my makeup drawer.. maybe I should give it another go! 🙂
Melon looks great on you! …And unfortunately, *terrible* on me! I picked up a sample of it once and felt like I had to turn in my makeup-nerd membership card after. It was that bad! But hey, if it looks good on 99% of people, it’s got to look bad on 1%, lol.
Love this color, but am more of a fan of Blonde’s Gold. It’s not quite as pink as Melon is and it is a bit more versatile.
For dinner I went Pinoy and had some tilapia, morcon with longaniza & some salad. 🙂
I actually just got Oro in the mail this morning! I’ve never tried Melon (mostly because I can never find it…), but I think Oro is a really nice golden-orange-bronze-y color. Now the only issue is not getting it all over myself and everything within a ten-foot radius!: 🙂