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MAC Unsung Heroes: Prep + Prime Vibrancy Eye Primer

April 16th, 2012 by Karen 21 Comments

mac vibrancy eye primer

MAC Prep + Prime Vibrancy Eye Primer For real though! I could spend hours at the MAC counter if left unchecked. Allegedly, when I went to the mall the other day, it was “just to browse” (yeah, right!), but next thing ya know, I’m chatting with the MAC artists about concealers, and WHOOPS! Would ya look at that? It’s 30 minutes later. 🙂

We talked about our faves, and we each had different ones, but one thing all us agreed on (and gushed about) was the awesomeness of today’s unsung makeup hero, MAC Prep + Prime Vibrancy Eye Primer ($30).

An under-eye makeup primer of heroic proportions, this puff-reducing powerhouse deserves a key to the city. It brightens dark areas with a hint of glowing pink shimmer, and preps the skin for concealer by creating a smooth, perfect surface upon which it can be applied.

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Vibrancy unblended (left) and blended (right)
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MAC Unsung Heroes: Right Image Cremesheen Glass

April 9th, 2012 by Karen 19 Comments

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A sheer pink gloss to layer atop neutral pink lipsticks? — that shouldn’t be hard to find.

Right…?

Famous last words.

You’d think it would be easy peasy! — but quite a few sheer pink glosses have a milky quality to ’em and pigments that gather in the fine lines of my lips; the end result can look patchy and uneven.

Or how about sheer pink glosses that are just too sheer? Or too pigmented? Gah! In the first case, they don’t add much, if anything, to the lipsticks they’re supposed to enhance; in the second, they overwhelm the lipsticks they’re supposed to help.

With MAC Right Image Cremesheen Glass ($19.50), I can happily tick the box next to “None of the above.” 🙂

This sheer, pale mid-tone bluish pink packs just the right amount of pigment. It’s enough that when I wear it by itself, I can see the pink on my lips, but it’s not so bold or opaque that it overshadows lipsticks when it’s worn on top (oh! — I love how it looks on top of Modesty Cremesheen).

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mac right image (1)

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The MAC Extra Dimension Mineralize Skinfinishes: MAC Found an Extra Dimension Where Hybrid Cream/Liquid/Powder Highlighters Live

April 6th, 2012 by Karen 32 Comments

mac extra dimension skinfinish in superb
Wearing MAC Extra Dimension Mineralize Skinfinish in Superb

The new MAC Extra Dimension Mineralize Skinfinishes ($28 each) start with an almost blinding shine! — almost like looking directly at the sun (which I know you’re not supposed to do but…).

These three shimmery highlighters have more in common with the new Extra Dimension eyeshadows than mere quantum mechanics. They also have that same easy-to-blend cream, liquid and powder hybrid formula, and offer a glazed, shiny finish similar to the finish I get when I apply MAC’s regular powder Mineralize Skinfinishes with a wet brush.

With the Extra Dimension Skinfishes, I can get that same super intense, glazed shine in fewer steps. Instead of trying to find my brush, spraying the brush with MAC Fix+, swiping it across the pan, and then blending on my skin, all I have to do is open a pan of Extra Dimension, pat a small amount on my upper cheekbones, my temples and down the bridge of my nose, and … that’s it. All done. Blending out the edges is a snap, and because they’re so pigmented, a little goes a long way.

Of the three Extra Dimensional shades in the launch, Superb, the soft peachy nude, is my pick for Best in Show. I think it’ll look great on most skin tones.

The lightest shade, white gold Whisper of Gilt, may look a little chalky on darker damsels, while lighter lasses may feel like the darkest shade, coppery gold Glorify, appears a little too bold/dark.

Oh! Random lipgloss moment… I think all three of these look fantastic with bronzy Oh Baby Lipglass.

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Extra Dimension Skinfinish in Superb ($28 US; $33.50 CDN)

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Extra Dimension Skinfinish in Glorify ($28 US; $33.50 CDN)
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It’s a 6-Hour Trip Into a Dimension of Shine With the MAC Extra Dimension Eye Shadows

April 5th, 2012 by Karen 29 Comments

mac extra dimension eye shadows in lunar and blue orbit

Truth: when I take out the new MAC Extra Dimension Eye Shadows ($20; available now in 10 shades), I hum the Twilight Zone theme song to myself, because these new cream/powder/liquid hybrids take me on a journey through space and time. A journey to another dimension. One filled with blinding shine. And pigment for days! And blending that even lazy people can handle, LOL!

MAC says they used a new technology on this new line of shadows that combines the best of three worlds — cream, liquid and powder. The shadows are designed to deliver the smoothness of a cream, the blend-ability of a liquid and the wear and ease of a powder.

I like ’em. They’re really pigmented and super shimmery, and best of all, so easy to blend.

If you’ve been wanting to try more complicated eye looks with multiple shades but get tripped up by blending, the Extra Dimensions can make creating those transitions in colors a whole lot easier. There’s almost a wetness to the colors, and for me, they seem much quicker and easier to blend than traditional eyeshadows.

The other day I wore Modern Pewter all over my lids, Young Venus in the inner corners and Dark Dare along my upper lash lines, and I hardly had to exert any effort at all! — just a few swipes to blend the colors together seamlessly. Plus, because the shadows latch on to lids (well, initially at least, but more on that in a few), I didn’t observe any fallout.

If I were starring on some weird reality TV show with a challenge in which I had to wake up at 3 in the morning and execute a perfectly blended, vibrant eye with six eyeshadows in less than 10 minutes, I’d grab the Extra Dimension Eye Shadows (my only hope of escaping elimination!). If after that they asked me to operate heavy machinery, THEN I’d be screwed. Because who doesn’t belong behind the wheel at the witching hour?

This girl. 🙂

mac extra dimension eye shadows in Modern Pewter, Young Venus and Dark Dare
Wearing Young Venus, Modern Pewter and Dark Dare

mac extra dimension eye shadows in Modern Pewter, Young Venus and Dark Dare

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Extra Dimension Eye Shadows
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For Cheeks That Turn Heads: MAC TrÃ¨s Cheek

April 4th, 2012 by Karen 38 Comments

Wearing MAC Modern Mandarin Blush on my cheeks

Hello, mellow. 🙂 Compared to a couple of the MAC collections launching tomorrow, the six-piece TrÃ¨s Cheek seems really mellow to me. Reel Sexy has all those bold colors bursting with pigment, and Extra Dimension has that hard-to-miss mirror shine.

TrÃ¨s Cheek may not look like much in comparison, but don’t let that stop you from looking a little closer at these blushing beauties. I think there are some fan-frickin’-tastic blushes in this limited edition launch.

Here’s a look at three of the collection’s six shades. Altogether, they remind me of something MAC does so well…

Blush!

Modern Mandarin: When I apply this satiny reddish orange with my Shu Uemura Fan Brush — WOW! — I barely have to move an inch. The color practically leaps from the brush to my cheeks, bringing with it the slightest hint of shine. Mandarin is generous with pigment and might be a little too bold for some, but it should rock the beach on darker skin tones. I can’t wait to bust this baby out after I’ve gotten a little sun. Oh, and I thought this was neat: when I applied a swatch on the back of my hand today, Mandarin actually withstood a hand washing — with soap!
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A-

Lovecloud: This beautiful bright pink has a sheen that says, “You should totally cheek me out.” It’s like a combination blush and highlighter rolled into one, and on my NC42 skin, I think I also see a hint of peach. I absolutely love, love, love Lovecloud. It has the makings of a perfectly pretty spring color just waiting to be worn with peach, pink and coral lips.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A+

Peony Petal: The faint sheen illuminating this bright bluish pink flower petal subdued compared to Modern Mandarin and Lovecloud; it’s almost (but not quite) a matte. One layer produces a soft semi-matte flush, so delicate and sweet, like the flush you get running barefoot through a field of wildflowers (or chasing after your rugrat/dog/cat). Of the three blushes here, I think it’s the one that looks the most natural. A little tinted moisturizer, one or two layers of mascara, and MAC Modesty or Right Image on your lips, and you’ll be all kinds of fierce.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A+

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Peony Petal

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Lovecloud
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The MAC Reel Sexy Cremesheen Glasses Whisper AND Shout

April 4th, 2012 by Karen 23 Comments

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Wearing MAC Cremesheen Glass in Cinestyle

There must be something in the air, because Tabs has been acting strange all day long.

Well…stranger than usual. He’s been grumbling to himself, staring at me for bizarrely long amounts of time, clawing at the carpeting on the stairs (BAD TABBY!) and suddenly taking off like a firecracker in random directions.

And he hasn’t been mugging for camera like he usually does. I got him all set for a few shots with the four new Cremesheen Glasses from the MAC Reel Sexy collection ($19.50 each), but he was like, “Not in the mood for it. Come back later.”

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Cremesheen Glasses from the bottom to the top: Private Screening, Cinestyle, Star Quality and Color Saturation ($19.50 US; $22.50 CDN each)

I don’t know… Maybe it’s spring fever. I know he hates being cooped up in the house. I’m sure he would have preferred to shoot on location today, maybe in the city because it’s sunny. Last week he even asked if we could do a photo spread this month (and have lunch) down at Fisherman’s Wharf. Maybe also swing by the Embarcadero.

I didn’t think much of it at the time because it was raining, but I like the idea of a kitty modeling session somewhere on location. Maybe I could bring along one (or maybe all four) of the limited edition Cremesheen Glasses. My lips have been feeling a little dry lately, and MAC’s moisturizing Cremesheens usually hit the spot.

As luck would have it, Reel Sexy includes some good ones. Colorful lips play a big part in Reel Sexy, and some of that color carries over into the Cremesheen Glasses from the release.

But there are also a couple of sheerer shades in the mix, which I like because it offsets the saturated colors. Without them, the lineup would have been like listening to a song in which the singer SHOUTS THE ENTIRE TIME!

Sometimes, it’s the quiet moments that make me appreciate the louder ones even more.

Here are some thoughts on each of the four colors…

Star Quality: And it has it, too. This one’s my favorite of the bunch. When I wear this intensely pigmented bright orange coral, I want to bust out the blender, make frozen pineapple drinks and salsa dance on the lanai. It’s bright, fun and easy to wear, and I think it looks great on its own or layered on top of Watch Me Simmer. LOVE!
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A+

Colour Saturation: I was really surprised by this dark and creamy cool-toned wine (in a good way). I feared it would feel too fall-ish before I tried it on and was ready to pooh-pooh it, but it’s fresher than I expected it to be. Color traditionalists might still find it too dark for their tastes, but I hope they (and you) give it a try. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A-

Private Screening: This almost transparent milky mid-toned peach does for lips what Essie Ballet Slippers did for nails. Take care not to over-apply. When I did, it settled into the fine lines on my lips, and the coverage didn’t look uniform. I like the color for quick hits of shine, but I would have liked to see a little more pigment — not much, just a tad. As it stands, it’s great for adding shimmer to lippies like Watch Me Simmer and Reel Sexy Lipstick.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B

Cinestyle: MAC describes it as mid-toned blueish gray-violet, but I don’t really see any of the gray on me, and truth be told, I’m relieved; the thought of gray lips was freaking me out! This shade, like Private Screening, applies sheer and milky, and because my lips are rather pigmented, both shades look quite alike. On its own, I think it’s just okay, but I bet it would great atop Pink Popcorn Lipstick (to enhance the shine and bring out the purple tones).
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B

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Star Quality

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Colour Saturation
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The MAC Reel Sexy Lipsticks: Bright, Saturated and Undeniably MAC

April 3rd, 2012 by Karen 34 Comments

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Wearing MAC Lipstick in Reel Sexy

MAC lovers must be finding Reel Sexy real hard to resist. The four lipsticks from the upcoming release don’t arrive on counters until Thursday, April 5, but they had been available for purchase online. Not now, though, at least not directly from MAC. All four are currently sold out, and it’s probably safe to assume they’ll be hot commodities when they arrive in stores this week (at the time of this writing, they were still available on nordstrom.com).

I can’t say I’m surprised that MAC lovers have been snatching ’em up with a quickness. They’re bright, saturated, and undeniably MAC.

mac reel sexy lipsticks
Lipsticks from the left: Pink Popcorn (Lustre), Reel Sexy (Amplified), Watch Me Simmer (Amplified) and Heroine (matte), $14.50 US; $17.50 CDN each

One of these days, I’d love to round up a bunch of us and go to the movies. Maybe — and I’m just throwing out a suggestion here — the movie could be The Hunger Games 🙂 (yes, I’m actually thinking about watching it AGAIN), and we could all wear the Reel Sexy lipsticks, because I like the idea of looking around the theater and seeing all of our faces in the dark, with the light from the screen reflecting off our lips, all lit up and magical…

These colors would be great for something like that.

Here are a few notes on the individual shades…

Watch Me Simmer: Love this shade! So smooth, so bold, so bright… It’s easy to dress up or down, and I only need one layer for complete coverage. The Amplified finish also lasts all day long on my lips.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A+

Reel Sexy: Another win! To me, this one’s all floppy hats, colorful beach coverups and white sandy beaches. I think it can take a little bit of babying to look good, like, I have to pat the lipstick down with a finger to even out the pigment, but a second layer makes it perfect.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A-

Pink Popcorn: A lavender with a Lustre finish, Pink Popcorn is the quiet one. I used a couple of layers to build it up for these pics, but when its worn as a single layer, I think it actually looks very natural, like a purpler version of Syrup. It may not have the staying power of Watch Me Simmer or Reel Sexy, but I really like color and its flexibility.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+

Heroine: She might be a little too much for me, but I bet this intense violet could look really beautiful on darker damsels. If you love All My Purple Life Lipglass, don’t miss this Heroine.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+

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Watch Me Simmer