mac makeup

NEWNESS: The MAC In Monochrome Color Collections (Velvet Teddy, Ruby Woo and See Sheer)

January 24th, 2019 by Karen 18 Comments

Do yourself a solid, you sensational señorita, and tap a little MAC Velvet Teddy lipstick on the apples of your cheeks as an impromptu cream blush.

Don’t mind me; I’ll wait [waiting]…

It’s one those tried-and-true multitasking tricks many MAC addicts (myself included) like doing.

Also up there? Using lippies like Heroine and Ruby Woo as eyeshadows or even eyeliner!

Which brings me to this: The new MAC in Monochrome collection, which is available now. It takes what MAC fiends have already been doing for ages — re-purposing products — and makes it…official.

Going beyond lipstick

Six cult-classic MAC Lipsticks (Velvet Teddy, See Sheer, Ruby Woo, Heroine, Diva and Candy Yum Yum) get the props they so richly deserve in the form of their own sets of matching lipgloss, eyeshadow, blush and glitter inspired by their respective color. (Side note: Why’d MAC stop there? They should have gone all out with perfume and liner. After all, Velvet Teddy, Ruby Woo and Candy Yum Yum have already been released as fragrances. HMMM!)

mac in monochrome velvet teddy — Velvet Teddy

Playing with finish and texture

Like cat eyes and red lips, monochromatic makeup is a classic theme that transcends trends. I remember having a convo with a makeup artist once who said that monochromatic looks (where you wear matching eyeshadow, blush and lipstick) are one of the easiest ways to do elegant makeup, and I agree 100%. I don’t do it nearly enough, though.

That will be easy to rectify with the help of these sub-collections.

Subtle variations in the colors, along with different textures and finishes, keeps each of these sets from hitting a monotone note. Like, if I’m going to wear a matte beige lipstick like Velvet Teddy, I need to have at least a little shimmer on my eyes to contrast with my lips, and that’s the case with this collection. Each of the items riffs on its namesake lipstick color without being identical.

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MAC Golden Bronze Iridescent Powder/Loose Is Back! — and It Wants to Bathe You in Buttery, Lovely, Long-Lasting Sunset Lighting

August 30th, 2018 by Karen 16 Comments

Every MAC artist I’ve ever chatted with about Golden Bronze raves about it and basically showers it with love. (Side note: If you caught the Surface reference, you and I were probably at the same eighth-grade dance.)

Shower me with your looooooooove

MAC Iridescent Powder/Loose in Golden Bronze ($29)

This peachy golden loose highlighting powder briefly peace’d-the-eff out for a while, and I didn’t hear about it or see it around (I gave it the Unsung Heroes treatment in 2012), but it’s back with a new version, and it’s just as epic as before.

Kits everywhere are sighing with relief, I’m sure. 🙂

It’s easy to see why this multipurpose miracle-worker is a staple at photo shoots and on runways. You only need the littlest bit to gleam with a gorgeous glow, and it requires, like…zero skill to blend.

Seriously, if you breathe — if you literally JUST EXIST — you can blend this powder.

It’s fantastic as a basic powder highlighter, or mixed into a face/body lotion or oil, or even sprinkled into tinted moisturizer, BB or CC cream, or foundation.

Tip: Load up a tapered eye brush like the MAC 224 with it to precisely place Golden Bronze down the bridge of your nose, on your upper cheekbones, in the inner corners, and on your Cupid’s bow.

You may be thinking, “OK, but can’t other loose highlighters do the same thing?”

Naw, babe, they don’t.

mac golden bronze swatch final — NC42 in MAC

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MAC Plenty of Pout Plumping Lipstick Swatches and a First Look

July 12th, 2018 by Karen 8 Comments

Think about the phrase “bee-stung lips” for a second. LIKE, REALLY THINK ABOUT IT. Literally sounds like the worst thing to ever happen to anyone. I was stung by a bee on my bicep when I was eight, and I still remember, with much clarity, the feeling of a million hot needles pinching my skin. To this day whenever a bee enters my peripheral vision I walk a little faster and mutter under my breath, “Bees can smell fear. No fear. No Fear. NO FEAR!”

Well. MAC’s new line of plumping lipsticks (and a plumping gloss) will not inflict any deep mental scars. At least I hope that’s the case?! I’m sitting here wearing the shade Smooth Going and my mouth is pretty tingly. Not a four-alarm status sting but I definitely feel like I’m alive.

Plenty of Pout Plumping Lipstick creates full, bee-stung lips while laying down sheer, creamy colour. An invigorating ginger root complex volumizes lips immediately, while avocadin and other potent oils moisturize and smooth. Plenty of Pout Plumping Lip Gloss packs the same power with a side of clear, balmy shine. Layer it over Plenty of Pout Plumping Lipstick to erase lip lines for a fresh, pumped-up pout!
–MAC PR

mac plenty of pout plumping lip gloss — Plumping Lip Gloss

Plenty of Pout Plumping Lipsticks ($21 each) and Plumping Lip Gloss ($18.50)

Available now online and at select MAC counters for a limited time

Pout and About: bright tangerine

Extra Kissable: creamy salmon pink

Ample Chic: creamy strawberry pink

Extra-Luscious: mid-tone creamy berry pink

Crazy Lush: bright cherry red

Lovemaker: berry wine

Kiss & Cuddle: soft yellow nude

So Swell: mid-tone cool brown

Smooth Going: bright peachy pink

Nicer Than Nice: soft, warm pink

Plenty of Pout Plumping Lip Gloss: sheer light pink

mac plenty of pout plumping lipstick ingredients — Plumping Lipstick ingredients

mac plenty of pout plumping lip gloss ingredients — Plumping Lip Gloss Ingredients

See anything ya like so far?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen