MAC Cosmetics

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.

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

mac glorify
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

mac extra dimension eye shadows
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+

mac pink peony
Peony Petal

mac lovecloud
Lovecloud
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The MAC Reel Sexy Cremesheen Glasses Whisper AND Shout

April 4th, 2012 by Karen 23 Comments

mac cinestyle
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.”

mac reel sexy cremesheen glass
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

mac star quality
Star Quality

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

April 3rd, 2012 by Karen 34 Comments

mac reel sexy
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+

mac watch me simmer lip closeup
Watch Me Simmer

mac heroine lip swatch
Heroine
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On April 5th, MAC Gets Reel Sexy In an Extra Dimension With TrÃ¨s Cheeks, and It Should Be a Real Prime Future, Fo’ Sho’

April 2nd, 2012 by Karen 47 Comments

mac tres cheek

This Thursday, April 5th, four new MAC collections alight on MAC counters, in stores and online. It should be Reel Sexy, yo. 🙂

LOL! Okay, no more puns.

Here are pics and swatches of Reel Sexy, In Extra Dimension, TrÃ¨s Cheek and Prime Future.

Wow, four new MAC collections on the same day? Hello, super Thursday!

MAC In Extra Dimension

mac lunar
Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Lunar ($24 US; $24 CDN)

mac dark dare
Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Dark Dare ($24 US; $24 CDN)

mac blue orbit
Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Blue Orbit ($24 US; $24 CDN)
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MAC Unsung Heroes: Modesty Cremesheen Lipstick

April 2nd, 2012 by Karen 38 Comments

mac modesty cremesheen

I know that for some folks, especially ones who aren’t as ~~fanatical about~~ interested in makeup as you and I, it’s surprising to find wearable lip colors in MAC’s permanent line.

At lunch with my BFF Cindy a couple months ago, when I pulled out nude pink Modesty Cremesheen Lipstick ($14.50) to touch up after the meal, Cindy was shocked when I told her the lippie was from MAC.

Cindy, a makeup minimalist (to the extreme!), had an impression of MAC that many people share. She doesn’t wear makeup very often (the last time I saw her wearing eyeliner was at my wedding six years ago), but she has cruised by MAC counters many times before, and seeing the glammed-up artists there, always just assumed MAC only carried crazy colors.

No matter how many times I’ve tried to set her straight, gah! I swear, if I had a nickle for every time I’ve told that girl that MAC isn’t only about brights… But she doesn’t listen, probably because we’ve known each other for more than 20 years (she’s like the sister I never had), so she tunes me out when I go into makeup mode…or talk about Tabs. 🙂

mac modesty cremehseen lipstick

She did show an interest in MAC Modesty, though, which is great! — because I think it’s one of those eminently agreeable lip colors that every gal should try.

mac modesty cremesheen
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MAC Unsung Heroes: Double Dare Cremesheen Lipglass

March 26th, 2012 by Karen 43 Comments

mac double dare

I usually have a pretty good memory. Like, I can normally recall the things you’ve told me about yourself — how many cats you assist or the name of your favorite perfume — even if you mentioned them months or years ago, but for some reason, today I can’t remember the last time I played Truth or Dare.

And it’s bugging me! — because I wanted to tie it into this post about MAC Cremesheen Glass in Double Dare ($19.50), today’s MAC Unsung Hero.

I’ve been sitting here racking my brain, but the best I’ve come up with is one hazy memory of my roommates back in sophomore year daring me to knock on the door of the guy who lived in the apartment across from ours to tell him that we thought he was hot (“Hi, uh… My name is Karen and I live across the way and my roommates and I just wanted you to know that we think you’re cute okay bye!”), but I don’t think that was the last time.

Maybe the last time was so traumatizing that I blanked it out. Or perhaps I’m just running out of free space in my mental storage area, so my brain is deleting some of the useless stuff to make room for more important things, like makeup. 🙂

Oh, well… I’m sure I get more value out of remembering to bring this creamy reddish coral lipgloss with me than I’m likely to get from any of the stupid stuff I did back in the day, LOL!

Now, coral glosses? I happily rock ’em all year round, but during spring and summer, when bright lips rule the school, I could wear them 24/7. Double Dare happens to be one of the glosses that rarely leaves my purse, and it’s the shade I usually recommend to friends who say they like the idea of wearing a bright coral gloss like MAC Lychee Luxe or Viva Glam Cyndi, but don’t want to deal with a sticky Lipglass.

It’s just so darn easy! I can wear it without a lip liner, and even apply it without a mirror, like when I’m walking through a parking lot, which I actually did last night when I stopped by Target.

mac double dare

mac double dare swatch

mac double dare
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