MAC Daddy

I've greatly reduced the amount of MAC makeup that I own, but there are a few things that I've kept. This eye look is a modified version of an old shadow look that I used to wear in college. (Ahh, the college days...)

I am wearing:

FACE

MAC Face & Body Foundation in C3

This was the first MAC foundation I ever purchased, except the first time I purchased this (about 8 years ago), the sales associate had directed me to C2, which is too pale for me. Since then, I've purchased it in C3. Even though it looks dark when you squeeze it out, it would match NC25-NC35 skin tones.

Face & Body is very reasonably priced, at $32 for a big 4 ounce plastic squeeze bottle, and is available in 11 colors. It is sold exclusively at MAC Pro stores and on the website. It is supposed to be waterproof and transfer-resistant, and can be used on the face or body (hence its name.)

It is water-based, and the consistency actually feels very watery. The coverage is sheer to medium, like maybe a step up from a tinted moisturizer. You don't need to use powder to set it, but just note that the finish is very dewy -- there is no shimmer (unlike Hyper Real), but it does look very realistic-skin... maybe too much so for someone like me who has a super-oily t-zone.

I don't love this foundation, but it's pretty good for daily use and when you don't need a lot of coverage, and you can quickly apply it with your fingers. I've tried using on my legs before, but it does rub off onto clothes, unfortunately.

MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer in NC20

This retails for $16.50 for a 0.19 ounce glass pot. The container is kind of cumbersome, and the twist-off lid can be annoying if you're used to the convenience of a flip-top lid.

As for the actual concealer, the consistency is very creamy, but not as cakey as the Studio Finish. The coverage is heavy, and can be used on dark undereye circles or on blemishes. It is supposed to be water-resistant and long-wearing, but I do find it can slip around a bit, especially the undereye, if you don't set with powder. Also, for best results, apply with a brush.

MAC Frost Blush in Margin

This blush now retails for $18.50, but I got it at the company outlet for $12.75, which is a more appropriate price, I think.

Margin is a warm-toned peach with golden shimmer. On me, it's a more golden-tawny version of NARS Orgasm. MAC's frost blushes are all kind of too frosty, and this one is no exception. Also, unlike the NARS blushes, or Chanel, they are not as blendable or finely milled.

It's a decent blush, and if you can find it for a good price, I would recommend getting it, especially if you do like peaches. This would be flattering on anyone with a golden undertone, though for darker skintones, it may show up more goldish.

EYES

MAC Matte Eyeshadow in Omega (Used on brows. I have reviewed this already.)

MAC Paint in Bare Canvas

I love using this as a primer. It is a matte, creamy beige color that is slightly lighter than my skintone. The container is annoying (like a tube of oil paint) and messy, but the product inside is great. It really evens out the skin and creates a good surface for shadow.

MAC Satin Eyeshadow in Shale

Retails for $14.50. This is a mauve-plum with just a bit of shimmer. I am wearing it all over the lid. This shadow is pretty versatile, because you can use it on the lid for a soft, smokey effect, or in the crease when paired with a lighter shade. Also, this is really pretty on girls with hazel or green eyes. Like other MAC Satin shadows, it is fairly blendable, and decently pigmented.

MAC Satin Eyeshadow in Shroom

Retails for $14.50. I've purchased this many, many times because it is just so versatile. It is a soft creamy beige with some slight shimmer. In this pic, I am using it on the browbone, but I've used it before in the inner corners, all over the lid as a wash, or even as a highlighter for the cheekbones. As mentioned in the Omega review, it also looks pretty paired with Omega.

MAC Velvet Eyeshadow in Black Tied

Retails for $14.50. I got this in one of the smokey eye holiday palettes a few years ago. It's a black with silver sparkle/glitter. Unfortunately, the glitter doesn't really show up much, and the black of this is not as pigmented as MAC Carbon eyeshadow (which I prefer, but no longer own.) Also, I have to note that if you have sensitive eyes or wear contacts, you will get some glitter fall-out if you use too much of this. In this pic, I am wearing in outer corners and blended along the lashlines.

MAC Frost Eyeshadow in Vex

Retails for $14.50. One of my favorite MAC shadows, because it is so unique. In the pan, it looks like a silvery-beige, but it has a duochrome effect of pink and green pearl. In this pic, I am wearing just a touch in the inner corners to brighten the eyes, but I also love it on the browbone or all over the lid. Two of my favorite looks are: (1) Vex from lashline to browbone and Club - another very original frost shadow - in the crease; (2) Club on the lid, Satin Taupe - another MAC mainstay frost shadow in the crease, and Vex on the browbone and inner corners. Vex works well with greens, plums, and browns.

MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack

Retails for $15.00. One of the first "gel" eyeliners, Blacktrack applies very smoothly, and is a deep, rich black. The finish is somewhat shiny, akin to a liquid eyeliner. I apply with the MAC #266 angled brush, which works pretty well. My only complaint with this is that it is a little *too* slippery, so you need to have good control when applying. Also, I do find that it does smudge a bit on the lower lashlines. As far as gel liners go, I prefer Bobbi Brown's.

Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes Mascara (reviewed yesterday) Not MAC, but I didn't have a MAC mascara.

LIPS

MAC Lip Pencil in Subculture (reviewed before - one of my fave nude liners)

MAC Lipglass in Prrr

Retails for $14. This lipgloss gained infamy by purportedly being the favorite of Paris Hilton, but I've been using it off and on for almost 10 years, so she's got nothing on me. It is a light peachy-pink with an icy shimmer. I like pairing it with heavier eye makeup, but it has enough pink in it not to look too washed out with lighter/neutral eyes. As with all other MAC lipglasses, this has a doe-foot wand applicator, and is very sticky/tacky. It *will* give you that dreaded white ring around the mouth effect after a few hours, but overall, it is fairly long-lasting.

If you like light pinks and peaches, definitely give this a try.

Hump Day!

Once again, I didn't do any exciting looks, but here is what I am wearing in the picture:

FACE

Cle de Peau Concealer (reviewed before)

MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation in C2.

I have a love-hate relationship with this one. Even though it is reasonably priced at $26USD, I don't really think it's the perfect product for me. It comes with a sponge, and applies quite thick and powdery, so you kind of have to wait for it to "settle" into your face and mesh with your skin. Additionally, I've never been able to find a perfect match in MAC, despite the numerous colors they offer. The C2 is a tad too light for me, but the C3 is too dark and yellow. I've also tried the NC20, NC25, NC30, and NC35 (depending on how tan I was), and for some reason, with the NC line, I had issues with it turning a bit orange on the skin as the day went on. Even when I tried it with the MAC Prep & Prime primer, I had this issue.

That being said, this is a decent powder foundation. It offers ample coverage, you can apply it quickly in the morning, and you can also use it to touch up during the day if necessary. It does not control oilies, so I still have to blot mid-day, but I didn't have issues with breakouts with this, which was good. Overall, I do prefer some of my higher-end powder foundations, but this is an acceptable alternative.

YSL Jaipur Highlighting Powder

This one is way old... I think it came out in like 2006 (can't remember exactly.) It was one of the limited edition highlighting/bronzing powders that was released. The base color is a peachy shimmery bronze, and then there is a paisley pattern of gold and pink interlaced. The overall color blended is a soft golden-peach. In this picture, it is hardly noticeable, but in person, it just gives the skin a subtle lift. It's not a must-have, and for a more dramatic effect, I do prefer the MAC Mineralize Skin Finishes, but the packaging and design of this compact is quite appealing.

EYES

Stila Browset (reviewed before)

DiorShow Blackout Mascara (reviewed before)

Bourjois Effet Duochrome Eyeliner Pencil - I forget the color, but it is a dark blue.

I got this eyeliner from my dear friend Aurelie, as it seems that we are no longer able to purchase Bourjois stateside, since Sephora US stopped carrying the brand. This is a really pretty eyeliner -- again, it's hard to see in the picture, but it's a dark blue with a violet-y duochrome to it. It's dark enough to define the eye, but colorful enough to give it some pop. I don't use it in the waterline or inner eye, because I'm not sure if it would irritate my eye, but along my lashline, this does last all day with minimal smudging, and it applies very smoothly. Overall, I really like this a lot and can't wait to use the plum one that Aurelie has given me also.

LIPS

MAC Lustreglass in Love Nectar

The MAC Lustreglasses are some of my favorite glosses. I like these better than the lipglasses because the consistency is thinner, and it has a brush applicator (vs. a doe foot) for more precise application. Love Nectar is a light, peachy-apricot color with some gold shimmer and glitter. It's quite sheer, so it lets your natural lip color shine through, and in my case, it warms the natural pink tone in my lip and blends to a nice peachy-pink color. I find the shine and shimmer also make my lips look sort of juicy and plump. It's great to wear on its own or over top a lipliner. For about $14USD, this is not a bad deal.

Tuesday, Plain and Simple

I worked out yesterday for the first time in a week, so I was sooooo tired this morning! I didn't bother to wear much makeup today, so this is what I look like at least 2 work days a week!

Also, for some reason, I have a really bad lens glare from the sun in this pic, which is annoying!

I am wearing...

FACE

Cle de Peau concealer (which I've reviewed previously)

Shiseido Powdery Foundation in I20 Natural Light Ivory.

The name makes it seem like it would be very "powdery," but it actually applies quite naturally and doesn't make your face look like it's dipped in flour. It comes in 10 colors, none of which are super-dark, unfortunately, but for the most part, the colors are decent and not too pink or orange. It also has SPF 15, which is great for that extra protection. The finish is sort of a soft, radiant matte. It doesn't offer a huge amount of coverage, but it's definitely enough for the day, and you could always layer it on top of a liquid foundation. I think you can use this wet or dry, but I prefer to use it dry. I do get oily breakthrough by lunchtime, so it isn't super-effective for controlling oil, but I think it does make it quite versatile for skintypes ranging from dry to normal to combination.

The compact is refillable, which is quite environmentally friendly. When you buy the powder refills, it also comes with a new sponge, which is helpful. The compact has a mirror and a separate compartment for the sponge, and it retails for $8USD. The powder is $29.50, which is quite reasonable, all things considered.

Overall, this is quite a nice foundation, and I would repurchase again. To those who are sensitive to scents, there is initially a floral scent, but it fades away shortly after application.

CARGO Blush in Topeka

These blushes have since been discontinued by CARGO, which is quite a shame, because I think they had a good selection of blushes. Like other CARGO blushes, this goes on quite smoothly, though I feel it is a little less pigmented. In the pan, Topeka is a neutral plum-mauve color, sort of like a cooler-toned bronzer, and has some light shimmer to it. It's not my favorite color, but it is quite neutral and goes well with smokey eyes or just when you don't want to emphasize your cheeks. These used to retail for $24, which is rather pricey for a blush, but the containers are pretty large and last a long time.

EYES

Stila Browset (which I reviewed yesterday.)

Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil in Zero (reviewed yesterday.)

L'Oreal Volume Collagene Mascara (I will review this later this week.)

LIPS

MAC Lipglass in Virgin Kiss (Which I have reviewed previously.)

So there you go... my 5-minute face!

Like a "Virgin Kiss"ed for the Very First Time...

I can't get Madonna's "Like a Virgin" out of my head! I think the cute name is what initially attracted me to MAC's Virgin Kiss lipglass, since I actually don't favor MAC glosses too much. This one is from the most recent Rose Romance collection which came out a couple of weeks ago. Honestly, from everything in the collection, this was the only thing that captured my attention.

Virgin Kiss is a light, peachy-pink color with silver microglitter. It goes on quite sheer, and really just enhances the lip color. For me, since I have rather pink pigmented lips, this works quite well, because it doesn't brighten my lips too much. My only complaint is that the glitter/shimmer can look really silvery-icy in fluorescent light, which is not always too attractive. Also, like other MAC lipglasses, this has a tendency to be a bit sticky and tacky, unfortunately.

If you do like glosses without too much color, then do try this. If you're looking for something that you could wear over another lipstick to accentuate it, then you should also try this. It would look great over any light pink/nude-ish lippies, I think. This retails for $14.00USD. For a cheaper alternative, I have been told that Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush lipgloss in Mango Madness is a close dupe. I haven't tried it personally, though!