A few new MAC lip products

Happy November! Here's a few new lip products that I recently purchased from MAC:


MAC recently released their ridiculously huge holiday collection. As far as the color collection goes (Glitter and Ice), nothing sparked my interest other than a few dazzleglasses and a lipstick or two.

Double Spin (Cremesheen) and

Dressed to Dazzle Dazzleglass.

Double Spin

Dressed to Dazzle

Top: Double Spin, Dressed to Dazzle

 Double Spin is a very pale, milky pink. It's so pale that it makes it a little difficult to pull off, especially because it's quick to show every imperfection on your lips (so make sure you exfoliate). I like to dab it into my lips with my finger. It looks more wearable on me that way. Naturally, I had to buy Dressed to Dazzle to compliment the lipstick. It's the perfect layering gloss to go hand in hand with Double Spin. This is a lip combo that I've been frequenting lately. I get three to maybe four hours of a wear before needing to reapply.

Glitter and Ice

Because I loved Dressed to Dazzle so much, I wound up buying Glitter & Ice too. If you're looking for a shimmery, glittery, nude gloss to layer of your nude lipsticks, this is what you need. I just got it today and wore it over Honeylove. Gorgeous. I imagine this will layer very nicely over Myth as well.

And I bought one more...

C-Thru

For good measure, I also purchased C-Thru lipglass. This is a permanent shade. I haven't gotten the chance to mess around with it yet but it's a gorgeous nude with subtle micro shimmer -- another nice layering gloss.

Chanel Tweed Pink Blush

Or also known by its proper name, Tweed Pink Tissages de Chanel. Let me first say this, I'm a blush fiend.  I can't help myself. I love all kinds of blushes: pink, coral, peach, nude, matte, shimmery, frosty, whatever. I'll take it. Tweed Pink is one of the most beautiful blushes I have in my collection. Looking at it makes me happy.

This is also one of the most flattering pink blushes on my skin tone. It's pink without being too pink. Does that make sense? It's soft, blends well, and the color payoff is excellent. Though, for $45 USD a pop, that's what you ought to get.

So, based off the swatch it might look too shimmery for some people's tastes, but it doesn't give you disco ball cheeks or anything. I promise. Sometimes, a swatch can be deceiving. Tricky, tricky!

I tried to find some dupes in my collection and these were the closest (but not quite):

L-R: NARS Angelika, Chanel Tweed Pink, TheBalm Down Boy

NARS Angelika is a deeper, more intense blue based pink that imparts more glitter/shimmer. TheBalm Down Boy is completely matte and the formula is quite powdery. Like I said, they're a little similar but not quite...

Photo Finish: A Quickie Review

I'm going to make this snappy because there's a million (and one) reviews on this cult classic product. I personally love this primer. Yes, yes I do. I think those with DRY skin will favor this because it gives the a skin a smooth velvety feel. It did not break me out. On the flip side, those with OILY skin may say this makes their face feel more greasy than velvety. For me, it keeps my makeup in place. I've put Photo Finish to the test in 115 degree weather and it upheld its end of the bargain. It also held up during my daughter's birthday party yesterday. I had a full face of makeup on for about 12-14 hours with minimal touch ups. I would definitely repurchase.

By the way, HauteLook is having an Ugg event today. Chances are, it's going to sell out fast. 

It's that time of year again!

Happy Friday! I received my order from MAC yesterday. I only ordered one thing from the new Semi Precious collection. Last year, I was all over In the Groove (okay, mainly Stereo Rose but I was loving all of the MSF's and lipsticks... and blushes). This year, eh... I could pass on most of it. I picked up one MSF for now, Semi Precious Pearl. Out of all the product photos I had seen on Temptalia, this one looked the most appealing.

I was instantly attracted to the raspberry, gold, copper, and white veining. Like most MSF's, this one is very shimmery so I think it works best as a highlighter. Although, lighter skin tones can probably pull this off as a blush (if you use a light hand). I tried it that way today and loved it. But like I said, I think most will appreciate this more as a highlight. 

L-R: outside color, center, swirled together

The Junk Drawer: PP50

I haven't done one of these posts in a while. This one is dedicated to a primer. Specifically, MAC Prep + Prime SPF 50. To my surprise, it wasn't that cheap. $30 for 1 oz. However, I typically don't mind paying the money for a product that works for me.

The first thing that bothered me about this product was the packaging. It comes in a hard plastic squeeze tube. For those who use it regularly, you might have a problem squeezing out that last bit unless you cut the sucker open. This ended up not being a big deal to me, though, mainly because I won't be finishing it any time soon.

The product itself does its job. Overall, I think it's an ideal primer. My makeup lasted all day -- even in the 90-something degree humid weather. I also liked that it had a lot of SPF in it. If your skin can tolerate it, you'd probably like it. The formula is like a lotion (because of the SPF, the regular P+P has more slip) and it has a slight, bearable lotion scent. 

Unfortunately, this primer broke me out like nobody's business. I'm pretty sure I have never experienced a breakout like this with a makeup product before. I had small pimples all over my cheeks. No bueno, folks. Just to be sure, I discontinued use of the primer and sure enough, my skin cleared right up. To be EXTRA sure, I tried using it once more. And sure enough (again), I broke out like crazy.

So now it lies in my junk drawer. That is, until I dump give it to my bestie. Like I said before, I think it could be a great primer if your skin tolerates it well. I haven't had any breakout issues with their regular Prep + Prime formula (which I think is great, by the way). 

Tarte for True Blood Palette Swatches

Jeeeeeeeez, there's so much going on with this palette that I'm going to have to break it up into a three part ordeal. The next post will be for the primer, liner, mascara, eye shadow dupes, and roundup. This is going to be very picture heavy...

By the way, if you haven't seen my first post with sneak peek pictures of the shadows and packaging, click here to check it out.

Row 1, 2

The Light, Fairy

Dusk, Dawn

Werewolf, Waitress

Nocturnal

Row 3, 4, 5

Charmer, Glamour Me, Stake

Bayou, Telepath, The True Death

Immortal, Moss, Legend, "V"

Ever hear the phrase "don't judge a book by its cover"? To be honest, I was put off by some of these shadows when I swatched them on my arm. The mattes, were by far, the easiest to swatch (and had the nicest formula). Others, not so much (a few kicked up a lot of dust -- mainly, some the shimmery shades). However, when used with a primer, I noticed a HUGE difference. For the sake of example, I swatched two of the shadows using the primer that came with the palette:

"V", Immortal, without primer

"V", Immortal, with primer

Yowza! Huge difference, indeed! As you can see, a primer is absolutely necessary or else you'll be very disappointed. Overall, I'm impressed. The only one I consider to be a dud is "Nocturnal". Out of all the shadows, it's the least pigmented.

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer

I have been sitting on this review for a long time because I've struggled with my thoughts on it. I don't think I have ever been so on the fence with a product before. You either like it or you don't and that's not the case here, said product being Laura Mercier's famous tinted moisturizer in Porcelain. So, although I had planned to write this review about a month ago, I decided to give it more time to make a better decision.

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Porcelain, 1.5 oz., $42 USD

I bought this because I've been on the hunt for either a light coverage foundation or a decent tinted moisturizer. This is new territory for me because I have always worn medium-full coverage foundations. Nothing less -- even in the summer. However, I can't stand the heaviness of it anymore. Plus, it takes more work to apply a full coverage foundation and as a mom (soon to be mom of two), my time is precious. And, in the last few months, my skin has really been good to me. I figure it's time to put down my MUFE Mat Velvet + for a while.

Initial thoughts:

Being perfectly honest, I did not like this product at first. I can't say it was the product that was at fault, it was me not being accustomed to using something so light and sheer. The other thing I had a problem with was the packaging. If you're not careful, this stuff comes squirting out. It kills me to pay so much $$$ for a product that shoots out wasted excess.

I did, however, take notice to how moisturizing it actually is. I've used various tinted moisturizers in the past, but none of them did a thing for my dry skin. I'll be damned, a product that actually does what it's suppose to.

Application:

Being that I'm so accustomed to using a fuller coverage foundation, I'm a brush fiend. Aside from getting used to the sheer coverage of this tinted moisturizer, I also had to become familiar with using my fingers to apply. That's right, my fingers. I've tried brushes and sponges but in my opinion, fingers work best. I also noticed that I use less product when applying it this way.

It blends well into the skin while offering some coverage. It will cover mild discolorations and redness. It will not cover more prominent discolorations, scarring, and blemishes. I use concealer with this to cover acne scarring and redness around my nose. I also use MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural (Medium) as a finishing powder. Since this powder is a little heavier, it covers what the tinted moisturizer doesn't. I love it dearly.

Overall thoughts and recommendations:

This is one of the better tinted moisturizers on the market. It succeeds where others have failed. It offers some decent, but sheer coverage while also making my skin feel silky soft. I also love that it contains SPF (20). I used a primer with this and I have definitely taken notice to how it lasts through the day with little to no maintenance. This is a product I'd recommend to those looking for sheer coverage, SPF, and I would most definitely recommend to those with dry skin. Those who need to address special skin concerns like acne or prominent skin discolorations may not like this because the coverage will be lacking.

My only gripe (the whole reason I was sitting on the fence with this) is the cost. $42 is a lot of money for a tinted moisturizer. I'm just not sure if this is something that I'm willing to splurge on again and again. I like it, but do I like it THAT much? I'm not sure...

Smith's Rosebud Salve and a personal update!

I picked this up when I was at Sephora in late April. If you have ever been, you notice that there's tons of product minis that surround you as you wait in line... suckering tempting you to buy something else. This salve was among them and I figured I'd try it for $6 USD.

Under normal circumstances, I get dry, cracked lips year round. Part of the problem was that I didn't drink enough water. Well, for the sake of my pregnancy, I stopped drinking juice entirely and vowed to only drink water. Okay well, that's kind of a lie because I do have a glass of orange juice here and there. Still, that's a huge step for me.

The other problem is that I had no lip care routine. At all.

Smith's Rosebud Salve

Since I purchased this salve, I was sure to use it everyday, and I still do. There is a subtle rose scent, nothing harsh or offensive. Every time I feel it's no longer on my lips, I reapply. And let me tell ya, it works. I noticed a difference on my first day of use. My lips were by no means cured within the first 24 hours or anything, but they felt noticeably softer. A few days (and a good exfoliating) later, I had healthy lips again. Hooray!

Sorry, I touched it!!

The thing is, I need to reapply several times throughout the day or else my lips begin to feel a little dry again. Nothing horrendous, though. I apply extra at night, before bed. I also noticed that it helps with other dry areas of my body as well. For example, my knuckles. My poor knuckles take a beating from constantly washing dishes. This stuff takes care of the dryness. I almost forgot to mention that in the description on Sephora's website, Smith's claims that it can be used for diaper rashes. I have an almost two year old who still gets them. I feel like maybe I should try it?? We'll see...

All in all, I think this is a fabulous product. $6 is a little hard to swallow for .8 oz. (in other words, a somewhat little tin) of product. I've made a pretty big dent in it already but then again, I use it frequently. But because it works so well for me, I would most definitely buy this again. In fact, I'd buy two just to have a back up. I'm going to try the strawberry balm next.


A little update on me:

I know I'm not a big poster these days, but life happens, you know? I can't believe I'm having my son in September! This pregnancy has gone by so fast. I'll be 26 weeks on Sunday. That means, I'll be officially starting my third trimester the following Sunday. YIKES!

That's my belly at 25.4 weeks and there's my daughter!

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush and Lip Care Stuff

On Mothers Day, I was able to goto Sephora but I was on a time limit. Luckily, I knew exactly what I wanted. A few posts back, I added Tarte's new Amazonian clay blush in Dollface to my wish list. Well, I got it! All of the colors are beautiful. I figured at $25 USD a pop, I would just buy one and if I liked it enough, I'd probably try out another one next time.

Contains 5.6 grams / 0.20 oz. of product for $25 USD

Dollface is the perfect light baby pink. It has a matte finish and for me, it lasts through the day. I can see this working on a variety of skin tones. It's nicely pigmented (though, I read that some of the other colors are even more pigmented) and blends easily into the skin. And, for those who love natural beauty brands, Tarte is right up your alley. Being completely truthful, organic / natural beauty brands don't affect my decision making. Meaning, I'm not overly concerned about product ingredients (or I'm not as concerned as I ought to be?). Anyway, would I buy this again? Yes, despite it being rather expensive, in my opinion. It's an over all great product with a small but eye-catching range of colors. There's something in this line for everyone. I'd like to try Blissful, Amused, and Flush next. What do you think? Have you tried it?

So, the lip care thing...

I'm going to start a new segment on lip care because I have chronic dry lips. Ten bucks says I'm not the only one. Flaky, icky, cracked, bleeding lips all year round. Kinda makes applying lipstick a bummer, huh? Although, that's pretty much my fault because I don't give them much TLC but I've decided to turn over a new leaf. I'm going to test various products ranging from drugstores to MAC to Sephora and whatever else I can get my hands on. I'm going to test each product on its own for a span of 3-4 weeks, then I'll report my findings to you. Sound good? I'm on a mission! Right now, I'm testing Smith's Rosebud Salve. I'll let you know the verdict in about two weeks. 

I got it! I got it!

I had such a fantastic weekend and an amazing Mothers Day. I can't wait until next year when I can celebrate with my two babies. Wow... two babies! I need to get used to saying that, haha. Anyway, I happened to be at Nordstrom on Sunday so I could find a dress for a wedding. I stopped by the MAC counter and whaddya know! They happened to have just ONE more tube of Ever Hip lipstick in stock. If you read my last post, I was grumbling because it sold out online and at my local counter. It was meant to be, I guess! So, here it is:

MAC Ever Hip (LE) (Cremesheen)

I'm so bad at descriptions but here goes...

Ever Hip is coral, but it has some definite pinkyness to it (which is why I found it to be easily wearable despite me being cool-toned). The finish is very creamy (hence, cremesheen) and opaque after some layering. Also, I found that it lasted several hours on my lips. Score!

I can't won't wear orange lipstick of any kind regardless of how 'trendy' it is (because I know I could never get away with it) BUT I am loving coral for summer. This lipstick goes hand in hand with Alpha Girl beauty powder, by the way.

Ever Hip lip swatch, I'm also wearing Alpha Girl beauty powder

Let's discuss Fashionflower... and other stuff

I completely cheated myself out of Ever Hip lipstick. I'm kicking myself hard. Actually, I had every opportunity to get it when I was shopping online but I forgot. And then it sold out.... my counter sold out too. Boo!

I've really just been picking and choosing things here and there from MAC collections. I haven't seen anything particularly eye-catching lately (except for Ever Hip... don't remind me). I did, however, pick up Alpha Girl beauty powder (from Heatherette '08). I love beauty powders... and blush... and anything cheek related.

The packaging is your basic black MAC compact but the product itself imprinted with a very pretty floral pattern. I would describe it as being a subtle coral that leans more pink. I love these kinds of shades for Spring / Summer. Alpha Girl isn't heavily pigmented. I get some decent color payoff on my skin but I'm an NW20. If your skin tone is very deep or dark, you may have a bit of a hard time with this one. Overall, I'm very pleased with it. Edit: I forgot to mention that it's not frosty or shimmery. I add a little By Candlelight MSF to my cheekbones because I like to get my glow on!

Some random MAC stuff!

The cute little buttons came with my online order! Aren't they adorable?!!

So I picked up a few things from MAC (in-store and online)...

First things first, Blacktrack Fluidline. My old one was more than half way used, but it dried out like an old raisin so it was clearly time to replace it. The old jar now sits in my B2M collection of empties. I've been using fluidlines since I was 17 or so. I'm a loyal and devoted fan. This is by far, my most favorite eye liner of all time. Ol' reliable!

Angel (left), Snob

Snob (top), Angel (bottom)

I'm so in love with these two!!! Both, in my opinion, are perfect pinks. Snob is the kind of pink that does all the talking. I wear nothing more than a little Stila Kitten on my lids with some Falsies mascara, Summer Rose beauty powder on the cheeks (it matches this lipstick nicely), and that's it! I love it.

Angel has a frost finish but it doesn't look very frosty at all (I like that). It's a lovely shade of pink for Spring, extremely wearable, and versatile. I imagine this will be the color that I use up the quickest.

Finally, the Naked lipliner (LE) from Quite Cute. The collection as a whole did nothing for me. I know a lot of people were psyched about it, but I wasn't into it. I did, however, notice the Naked liner. I haven't gotten around to trying it yet but something tells me I'll like it.

Vanilla Truffle and Baby News!

Seriously. I can't get enough of the stuff. The nude of all nudes, I think. This is my first lipstick ever from Estee Lauder. Actually, the last time I ever bought anything from the brand was in high school. It was a bronzer... a loose bronzer and I remember loving it. Since then, I haven't shopped from them.

Vanilla Truffle is limited edition in the US and it carries a quasi-hefty price tag of $24. The color itself is gorgeous. I would say that it leans on the peachy side but I still found it to be flattering on my cool skin. The formula is very creamy, opaque, and long wearing.

The problem? Well, for starters, I'm not into the packaging. It looks more tacky than luxurious, in my opinion. Not a huge deal, though. It sure and heck didn't prevent me from buying it. The thing I really didn't like about it was the smell/taste. It has that cheap floral-play dough smell that you'd usually find on a drugstore brand lipstick. In all fairness, I usually don't get too offended by stinky cosmetics. It's not something that would keep me from using the product if I really like it so I'm thinking that my increased sense of smell (since being pregnant) has something to do with it. I'm not completely sure. Still, when paying $24 for a lipstick, I expect the smell to be something glorious.

With all that said, the good and the bad, I would buy this again just for the fact that they nailed the color AND the formula. Maybe they could just work out the smelly smell.


I also wanted to tell you guys that I'm having a BOY!!! A little boy!! We're so excited. Now we have a complete family. Isn't he cute?! ;)