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FOTD: A Clean and (Almost) Effortless Makeup Look Using Mostly MAC Classics

August 18th, 2020 by Karen 30 Comments

mac classics fotd summer 2020 k side

I PUT ON EARRINGS TODAY!

*And* a full-face of makeup.

Take that, pandemic blues! ?

I was going for clean and effortless with simple matte browns to define the lids and an elegant dark brown winged liner. And, yes, girlfriend, you read that correctly: Dark. Brown. Winged. Liner.

Back in the day (uh, two years ago?), winged liner was hallowed ground reserved solely for either black or jewel tones. I liked — and still like — the intense drama of the contrast of a solid black or a brightly colored line against my lids, but I’ve reached the point where I’ll try anything to get myself out of the makeup funk I’ve been experiencing over the last couple months, which currently involves playing with makeup in ways that aren’t overwhelming. Like, there’s no way homegirl is about to knock out a look with five colors in the crease right now, but I’m certainly down to try a dark chocolaty wing.

And, ya know, I really like it! It’s like the kinder, gentler version of winged liner without the stark black edges. I mean, you still see the crisp lines, but I think there’s something less severe about the brown.

For the liner, I used a mix of MAC Coffee and MAC Brushbrown (liquid liner), and the rest of the makeup is pretty heavy in MAC classics, because when I’m not feeling super great, those go-tos always hit the spot. MAC was my first love ❤️, and I could go on about old-school colors like Saddle eyeshadow and Melba blush for days.

Basically, if you like listening to me ramble about MAC permanent collection classics, let me know. ?? I’ll take any excuse to talk about those O.G. shades.

Speaking of O.G.s, I can’t find my MAC Spice liner, and I’m borderline panicking about it! I wanted to wear it in this look but ended up using Boldly Bare instead.

mac classics fotd summer 2020 k down

mac classics fotd summer 2020 k swatches

mac classics fotd summer 2020 k front

Makeup worn in this look

EYES

  • NARS Tinted Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base in Light (several shades lighter than my skin tone, but I used it to brighten up matte browns)
  • MAC Groundwork Paint Pot
  • MAC Saddle eyeshadow
  • MAC Coffee pencil liner
  • MAC Brushbrown liquid liner
  • Urban Decay Browblade in Dark Drapes
  • MAC Clear Brow Set
  • Urban Decay Cannonball Mascara

CHEEKS

  • MAC Melba Blush
  • MAC Coppertone Blush
  • BECCA Rose Gold highlighter

LIPS

  • MAC Boldly Bare lip liner
  • MAC C-Thru Lipglass

BASE

  • MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation in NC42 mixed with Pinklite Strobe cream (applied a thin layer buffed all over the face)
  • Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter in 5 Tan mixed with Kevyn Aucoin Supernatural Concealer in Medium EC06 (applied on under eyes, cheeks, nose and around mouth)
  • MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Golden

Seriously, you can’t go wrong building up your makeup collection with some staples from MAC.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. HAPPY TUESDAY! We’ve made it past Monday, which is an accomplishment. It should get easier from here.

FOTD: A Clean and (Almost) Effortless Makeup Look Using Mostly MAC Classics / Originally published August 18th, 2020

There are 30 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Face of the Day (FOTD), MAC Makeup, Makeup

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Comments

  1. Jade says

    August 18th, 2020 at 9:22 am

    Your skin looks so glowy and pretty!!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      August 18th, 2020 at 12:47 pm

      Thank you, Jade! I hope you’re having a nice day so far.

      Reply
  2. Kim says

    August 18th, 2020 at 9:45 am

    YAY! Well done with the full face of makeup. I’m sure you feel better every time you glimpse yourself in the mirror. 🙂 It’s been years since I’ve been able to rock anything but soft, forgiving, brown liner so I hear you. I must say that your poreless skin and lush lashes are the star of the show, though. HAHA! Did we ever get the scoop on that pore vacuum? I’ve read scary reviews about hickeys and broken capillaries so I’d be very nervous to try it. But then there’s the part of me that hates the pores and blackheads.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      August 18th, 2020 at 12:47 pm

      I’m curious about the pore vacuum but I am not nearly brave enough to give it a go!

      You know what I really want? This gadget that I keep seeing pop up on Facebook called “Bug Bite Thing.” It’s like a portable suction that allegedly removes bug bite venom! I have no idea if it works but we’re entering the prime time for mosquitoes here so I’ll try anything.

      Reply
      • Kim says

        August 19th, 2020 at 10:33 am

        Oh, I hear you. A few weeks ago I got out of the car at the grocery store and was fooling with my purse/ mask/ sunglasses and felt something biting my ankle. I barely had time to think “that kind of hurts” before it was REALLY painful. A yellow jacket had gotten stuck between my ankle and my sneaker and stung the heck out of me before I could dig it out. It was BAD. Bruised and swollen for days and it hurt like a son of a gun. A venom-sucker-outer would have been quite handy!

        Reply
        • Karen says

          August 19th, 2020 at 2:13 pm

          See, this is why you need to buy some new high tops. ANKLE PROTECTION AT ITS FINEST! ? Did I show you these yet? They’re the Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage by Nike. A friend of mine got a pair with a pale pink swoosh and they are SO CUTE.

          Reply
          • Kim says

            August 20th, 2020 at 12:18 pm

            GAH! These are awesome. You know I was in the Converse high top era so I’m totally on board. Plus, years of basketball (though, stunningly, I wore New Balance…. not stunningly, they were white on white – HAHA!). These days, I’m sure I’d be choosing black on black. And always Nike. 🙂

          • Karen says

            August 20th, 2020 at 1:27 pm

            I went through a New Balance phase… It’s like a right of passage that everyone goes through, like wanting a pony! LOL. I’m gonna keep an eye out on these shoes and if I can find them on sale I’ll let you know!

  3. kellly says

    August 18th, 2020 at 11:26 am

    I got a smile from your comment about putting on earrings today! I don’t remember the last time I did that! I only put on make up now on days when I know I’m going out of the house, like this afternoon when I’ve got a dentist appointment. (Any excuse). Not going to put on earrings, tho! I don’t need to be too glam for getting my teeth drilled! 😀
    That is a very pretty look – polished but not too “done”. Those colors are really good on you.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      August 18th, 2020 at 12:45 pm

      Good luck at the dentist today. I hope everything goes smoothly! You should treat yourself to something once it’s all done. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Denise S says

    August 18th, 2020 at 11:38 am

    Your skin looks smooth and healthy. I always wanted to try MAC’s Melba blush. Your lashes look good too. Pretty look!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      August 18th, 2020 at 12:44 pm

      Hi Denise,

      Melba is one of the classics! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Jennifer Baird says

    August 18th, 2020 at 11:47 am

    Gorgeous!!! I need a class on winged liner, that is something I have not mastered.
    I love how you do yours totally wearable but with a tiny touch of drama.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      August 18th, 2020 at 12:44 pm

      Thanks, Jennifer! You know what helps? Mapping out the wings first with surgical tape! I usually can do mine freehand but I’m so out of practice that having the “guide” helps. It also helps to play with the angle of your wings.

      Reply
  6. Lisa says

    August 18th, 2020 at 12:13 pm

    Ooo, you like so good! I almost always use a brown for my liner. It’s kinder and gentler on my 50 something eyes. I love a good brush liner and Em cosmetics makes a great brown one.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      August 18th, 2020 at 12:43 pm

      Oh, good to know, Lisa! I’ll have to check out their liner someday. What’s the finish like, by the way? Matte or shiny?

      Reply
  7. Chelsea says

    August 18th, 2020 at 1:07 pm

    This is such a nice look. I love that lip!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      August 18th, 2020 at 1:50 pm

      Thanks, friend! Happy Tuesday to you. How are all the fur kids doing?

      Reply
  8. Tatiana says

    August 18th, 2020 at 1:10 pm

    You look gorgeous in these photos! Your skin is glowing and I’m loving the eye look. And that lip you created is perfect. Can you tell this is my kind of makeup.
    I’m glad you still show looks with MAC makeup. Everyone else seems to have forgotten them. I still love the brand! When I did my shadow clear out I only threw out one MAC item and that was Groundwork. Everything else I kept. I found some empty palettes too that I need to refresh with pro pan colors.
    Off to do a zoom ballet lesson. Have a wonderful day!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      August 18th, 2020 at 1:53 pm

      This is my kind of makeup, too! This clean/elegant look is my favorite to wear.

      How was the ballet lesson? Oh, and speaking of ballet, Connor and I have been watching a lot of contemporary ballet performance on Youtube lately. You have to see this one:

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UT7ilqcoTWI

      SO COOL!

      Reply
  9. Jennifer Osborn says

    August 18th, 2020 at 1:56 pm

    Looking hot mamacita! Thanks for the makeup encouragement.
    I’ve had probably one of the worst pandemic blues weeks since this whole thing started in March.
    My son’s senior year is starting completely remotely, which basically means, not a lot of learning if last spring is any indication.
    I went to Sephora for the first time since March for that welcome back inside our stores promotion they were doing and that was so depressing I almost started crying in the store. It was really, really, really bad.
    I’m trying to focus on all my blessings because all of these things I’m upset about are very much first world problems but it’s so hard, you know?

    Reply
    • Karen says

      August 18th, 2020 at 2:28 pm

      I know. I’ve been spontaneously bursting into tears lately as well. Adulting is hard! It keeps me up at night. Thank goodness for concealer, right?

      Reply
  10. Virginia says

    August 18th, 2020 at 3:30 pm

    The quarantine has surprisingly gotten me out of my makeup rut since there’s less fear with people thinking it’ll look crazy (since I barely see other humans).

    Touching on what you said about brown – brown is my Go to eyeliner color. Black is nice sometimes – but there’s nothing like some brown eyeliner with some eyeshadow softly smoking it out. It’s my jam.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      August 18th, 2020 at 6:53 pm

      Hi Virginia,

      YES. I only recently realized the power of brown liner. What are your favorite brown eyeliners?

      Reply
  11. Savannah says

    August 18th, 2020 at 3:50 pm

    You look fab! I love your permanent MAC posts. I’ve been wearing groundwork paintpot every time I put makeup on! So underrated. I have saddle and I should pop it on my lids soon! I used to love wearing spice lipliner so I know what you mean. On the makeup front I managed to snag three limited edition packaging blushes from CHANEL over the weekend! Malice is a repurchase, but I also picked up Rose Petillant (very pink and brightening) and because fall is approaching Rouge Profond. I just have to master that light application or else risk looking like a clown. Which is better than looking like a zombie imo. I just love blush, ha ha!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      August 18th, 2020 at 6:52 pm

      Hi Savannah,

      Saddle also looks good with Sable, if you have it!

      Reply
  12. Michelle Hall says

    August 18th, 2020 at 5:18 pm

    Absolutely love this so much, and you look amazing here!! I still use lots of Mac favorites almost every day as well, coffee pencil, kid or haux eyeshadow and groundwork paint pot all the way!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      August 18th, 2020 at 6:50 pm

      Thanks, Michelle! I haven’t worn Haux in a minute. Gotta bust it out soon! 🙂

      Reply
  13. Anne says

    August 19th, 2020 at 2:41 am

    MAC was my first love as well, and I still use so many of their old classics.

    Reply
  14. Jasmine Baker says

    August 20th, 2020 at 6:56 am

    Your greys are stunning!

    Reply

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