MAC Cosmetics

The MAC Boom Boom Bloom Collection Offers a Bouquet of Proper Petal Pinks

March 7th, 2019 by Karen 9 Comments

mac boom boom bloom collection top — Boom Boom Bloom!

Quick take: This limited edition spring launch has lots of lovely wearable pinks for your eyes, cheeks and lips. Definitely grab ye a bottle of the Cherry Blossom Fix+ if you’re already in the Fix+ fam. And if you like wearable makeup like I do, check out the eye palette, the pink cheek powder, Tsk Tsk Lipstick and Heartmelter Lipglass.

[PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT] The first time you spritz the new $28 Cherry Blossom MAC Fix+ on yourself, you are strongly advised to sequester yourself somewhere where you can be obnoxious in private, because you are very likely to become so enamored with the scent (it really does smell like cherry blossoms!) that you’ll want to spray it everywhere — on your face, in your hair, all over your body, under your ‘pits (true story)… Perhaps even on the closest available toddler.

I may or may not have enveloped my entire person in a nimbus cloud of the stuff when I got out of the shower last night. *shrugs* Needless to say, I’m going through this gorgeous bottle very fast, and I am tempted to hoard a backup or two (but I’m not going to, I swear).

mac boom boom bloom swatches — I’m a MAC NC42.

Cherry Blossom Fix+ is just one of the springy surprises in the flower-fueled MAC Boom Boom Bloom collection available now. The most striking thing about it — beyond all of the pink, ERMAHGOSH! — is the elegant, upscale LE white packaging, complete with pink petal cherry blossoms. (Extra points for the light pink metal on the inside of the lipstick tubes!) I think it looks almost like something Shu Uemura would do.

mac boom boom bloom k2 — Eyes: Eye Shadow X9: Kabuki Doll, MAC Coffee liner, Wander Beauty Mile High Club Mascara. Cheeks: Fleur Real High-Light Powder with a light dusting of Mineralize Skin Finish Natural in Give Me Sun. Lips: Wagasa Twirl. Skin: Studio Fix Fluid in NC42 mixed with Strobe Cream in Pinklite set with MSF in Golden Tan, with a light spray of Cherry Blossom Fix+.

“Pink” is the theme, but don’t expect Easter egg pastels.

Well…there is a little of that happening in a few of the lipsticks and the glosses, but in the nine-pan eyeshadow palette and the cheek powders (which are technically highlighters but can double as blushes), the pink is more of whisper or suggestion.

mac boom boom bloom eyeshadow — Eyeshadow X9: Kabuki Doll ($33)

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The New MAC Art Library: Nude Model Eye Palette

March 1st, 2019 by Karen 11 Comments

mac art library nude model open — The new MAC Art Library: Nude Model Palette ($48)

There’s a long list of lovely neutral eyeshadow palettes out there in the makeup multiverse, but when it comes to the best of the best, maaaaaaan, MAC? *snaps* When they get it right, they get it right. They write the freaking book.

Cases in point: Brooke Shields. (I still drool a little every time I think about it.); the Nordstrom Naturals palette; and the Warm Neutral and Cool Neutral Palettes.

BOMB.

And now, the new MAC Art Library: Nude Model palette.

It’s $48 and one of three eye palettes available now in the new MAC Art Library collection. I think it’s the most wearable of the bunch with its 12 neutral shades, but that’s just one of many reasons I’m lovin’ on it.

With it, you get a mix of old faves (hi, Shroom and Espresso!) and new ones, but the real beauty is that there are so, SO. MANY. MATTES.

Seven of them! When does that ever happen?! Um, never?

The rest are shimmers, none of which are too obnoxious, with various levels of shine and glitter.

mac art library nude model swatches — I’m an NC42, by the way.

All the Art Library palettes were pieced together by MAC artists, and you can totally tell the these gals/guys had wearability and flexibility in mind.

Making matters even more profoundly wonderful is how easy all 12 are to blend. Plus, there aren’t any orange-y or reddish brown transition colors, which is quite unusual. Most of the MAC neutral palettes I mentioned at the top have at least one warm, mid-toned orange brown transition shade like Saddle or Soft Brown, and don’t get me wrong — I love those shades, but they can be a tad repetitive, particularly in neutral palettes.

Bucking that trend, Nude Model’s mid-toned matte transitions are yellowish browns and cool-toned beige grays, which you don’t see often, and it changes the palette’s overall vibe. It can’t be characterized as a simple warm-toned palette or a cool one. It’s smack dab in the middle. A neutral’s neutral, so to speak.

mac art library nude model k — Oh, hey! Eyes: MAC Art Library Nude Model Eyeshadows in Sandstone, Shroom, Tete-A-Tint, Espresso and Drop the Robe. Lips: MAC Art Library Lipstick in Down to An Art. Cheeks: MAC Melba Blush

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Eight New Shades of MAC Powder Kiss Moisture Matte Lipstick Join the MAC Permanent Line

February 21st, 2019 by Karen 10 Comments

Ain’t no party like a lip flake party ’cause a lip flake party don’t stop!

Whoa, Nelly! So I tried the new MAC Powder Kiss Lipstick colors today. They join the 16 shades that are already in the permanent line, and despite the crossing of many fingers and toes that my lip flakes wouldn’t crash this swatch soiree, alas…they did.

Lip flakes —> Party crashers!

It’s entirely my fault, to be fair, because I haven’t been drinking enough water, and whenever that happens, I can pretty much kiss (ha ha) any chance of smooth lip swatches g’bye.

The MAC Powder Kisses, which are a relatively new formula in the MAC fam, feel lighter than air. The Powder Kisses themselves were added to the permanent line in the fall of 2018, and if your lips are in perfect shape (as in no flakes), they’re kind of amaze-balls. They’re super comfy and ever-so-slightly moisturizing, and it’s easy to forget I’m wearing them.

And the velvet matte finish? Gorgeous! — a la hottie 1940’s pin-up girl.

From this new batch of colors, I’d steer clear of the pinks (Reverence and Sexy But Sweet), because they’re patchy right out of the gate, and I end up having to do a lot of patting and layering and babying to get them to look smooth…

Instead, go for one of brighter or deeper colors, which are less likely to settle into fine lines or draw attention to any flakes. I like Sultry Move (the bright rosy brown); Werk, Werk, Werk (the cool toned red); and Velvet Punch (a bright, cool fuchsia) the best as they’re the most pigmented of the bunch.

One layer, and I’m good.

mac powder kiss new shades february 2019 — Which one do you like best?

mac sexy but sweet — Yellow-toned pink MAC Sexy, But Sweet

mac ripened — MAC Ripened, a grayish lavender

mac p for potent — MAC P for Potent, a mid-toned purple

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The New MAC Hyper Real Glow Palettes in Get Lit and Shimmy Peach

January 31st, 2019 by Karen 17 Comments

mac hyper real glow shimmy peach get lit — It’s glow time with the new MAC Hyper Real Glow Palettes. I’m wearing the Get Lit Palette on my cheekbones and Shimmy Peach on my lids as an eyeshadow.

Conversations with my overstuffed makeup bag (Part 1)

ME:
“Hey, do you think I need another highlighter?”

MY OVERSTUFFED MAKEUP BAG:

I mean let’s get real here. Chances are you already have a go-to highlighter (or highlighters, because MOAR SHIMMER), and you’re probably attached to it, but if you, by chance, “need” a new one, or if it’s your life’s mission to become the antithesis of all that is Konmari, then…MAC ATTACK! MAC is adding two new highlighting palettes to their Hyper Real Glow line.

Like the bronze and rose gold palettes in the permanent line now, these new ones look and feel like the BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Powders on the skin. They’re super silky, with ultra-fine grains of powder and an opalescent finish you can turn up or tone down, depending on your mood, your tool and your technique.

In fact, I think the MAC Hyper Real Glows actually feel softer than the BECCA powders do, so if you’re a clumsy-pants who drops everything, be careful…because the cardboard packaging feels dainty and delicate.

Both of them would work for a wide range of skin tones, but one of the new palettes is lighter and cooler-toned than the other, with pink, lavender and pale champagne shades, while the other, darker one has a peach and two coppers.

mac shimmy peach swatches — MAC Hyper Real Palette in Get Peach

mac get lit swatches — MAC Hyper Real Glow Palette in Get Lit (for reference, I’m an NC42)

This time of year, my medium tan skin (I wear an NC42 in MAC foundation) is a little lighter than it is in August, and I like using the cooler pinks and purples in Get Lit as traditional highlighters on my upper cheekbones, down the bridge of my nose and in the inner corners of my eyes, along with using the peach palette on my eyes as shadow by buffing the shimmer on my lids and brow bones for an otherworldly glow.

A few more deets…

Coming February 4, 2019 to the MAC website, and February 7 to MAC stores and select MAC counters (call your counter to check ahead of time).
The palettes are $39.50 each and come with three 0.15-oz. pans (decent size).
The Shimmy Peach palette is shinier and frostier than the Get Lip Palette.
With these, a little goes a long way.
I get a solid six hours from these powders without seeing any fading.
You’ll like these if you’re a fan of BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector, or if you like flexible highlighters that can go from subtle to ***BLING***.
These may not be the best fit for you if you prefer candlelit glows a la the Hourglass Ambients.

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Today’s (7-Minute) Makeup: Monochromatic Lids, Cheeks and Lips

January 30th, 2019 by Karen 18 Comments

I’ve recently come to the following conclusion:

Five-minute makeup is bullsh*t.

Rather, it is if you (correction, I) want to do more than tinted moisturizer, brows, mascara and a nude lip.

I mean, I do five-minute makeup looks all the time. I like ’em. They’re easy, convenient… Well, those are their main selling points, but they aren’t really that much fun, because it’s just not enough time to do more than the basics.

And sometimes I want to have fun! — and I have more swag when I’m feeling my makeup, and when I have more swag, Beyoncé better watch out.

Therefore, in the pursuit of swag…seven-minute makeup is where it’s at.

It’s the sweet spot for me. It’s just enough time to go a little extra (with liner, blush, what have you), but it’s still lazy girl doable.

So, here was my seven-minute makeup look today. I did it using some new products from the MAC in Monochrome collection, but there’s also some Hourglass up in the mix. Everything is listed below in the order applied. If you have any questions, you know where to find me. ?

mac velvet teddy monochrome — Baby, how YOU feeling?

mac in monochrome velvet teddy makeup of the day final — Seven minutes, I can do.

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A Girl About Town on the Best Saturday Morning

January 28th, 2019 by Karen 22 Comments

mac girl about town lipstick — One happy girl about town.

Last Saturday I had the best morning, and the funny thing is, I didn’t do anything particularly revolutionary or amazing. I just spent a few hours doing things that make me feel good. One after another, back to back. It’s been a loooong time since I had a morning like that.

It was really just random happenstance because El Hub decided to take Connor to her very first movie, so they left the house at 10 a.m. to watch the new Mary Poppins together.

Me being me left to my own devices, my first thought was, “I should probably clean the bathroom, and then organize the pantry and pay some bills.” Thankfully, I came to my senses before it was too late and revised my plan to “EFF IT.” Instead, everything I did for the next three hours was something that makes me happy.

So I ran a few miles on the treadmill, did a pilates video, and took a shower.

SAY WHAT? Yup, I normally have to wait a few hours (as the sweat dries on my skin and I feel progressively crustier) after a workout before I can shower because there’s usually something pressing to attend to, like work or answering an email or making lunch or cleaning something.

This time, I played some Lizzo, jumped in the shower, sang, did a hair mask (GASP) and shaved. Then I put on jeans, a tee WITH NO HOLES IN IT (sigh, this is my life now) and hoop earrings.

I also blew out my bangs, plucked my brows and waxed my upper lip hair. And I actually did my nails — both fingers AND toes! (Essie Gel-Couture in Pre-Show Jitters)

Next, instead of putting on sunscreen and running out the door to run a quick errand, I lazily filled in my brows, curled my lashes, and, instead of putting on the usual nude lip, put on MAC’s Girl About Town.

I also spritzed a spray of perfume (Byredo Gypsy Water, my old friend) for the first time in ages.

Seriously, I can’t even begin to explain how great it felt.

Man, when people say that everything changes after you have children, they are not playing. It’s hard being needed by someone else all the time. I mean, I wouldn’t trade this phase of life for anything, and I know it’s fleeting, but it was so, so nice to feel like the me from my pre-baby life.

Sometimes I’ll catch a glimpse of myself in the rear view mirror in the car and think, “Who the heck is this person?” I don’t recognize her, except for every once in a while, like last Saturday, I’ll see myself and think, “There I am! I know her!”

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

NEWNESS: The MAC In Monochrome Color Collections (Velvet Teddy, Ruby Woo and See Sheer)

January 24th, 2019 by Karen 18 Comments

Do yourself a solid, you sensational señorita, and tap a little MAC Velvet Teddy lipstick on the apples of your cheeks as an impromptu cream blush.

Don’t mind me; I’ll wait [waiting]…

It’s one those tried-and-true multitasking tricks many MAC addicts (myself included) like doing.

Also up there? Using lippies like Heroine and Ruby Woo as eyeshadows or even eyeliner!

Which brings me to this: The new MAC in Monochrome collection, which is available now. It takes what MAC fiends have already been doing for ages — re-purposing products — and makes it…official.

Going beyond lipstick

Six cult-classic MAC Lipsticks (Velvet Teddy, See Sheer, Ruby Woo, Heroine, Diva and Candy Yum Yum) get the props they so richly deserve in the form of their own sets of matching lipgloss, eyeshadow, blush and glitter inspired by their respective color. (Side note: Why’d MAC stop there? They should have gone all out with perfume and liner. After all, Velvet Teddy, Ruby Woo and Candy Yum Yum have already been released as fragrances. HMMM!)

mac in monochrome velvet teddy — Velvet Teddy

Playing with finish and texture

Like cat eyes and red lips, monochromatic makeup is a classic theme that transcends trends. I remember having a convo with a makeup artist once who said that monochromatic looks (where you wear matching eyeshadow, blush and lipstick) are one of the easiest ways to do elegant makeup, and I agree 100%. I don’t do it nearly enough, though.

That will be easy to rectify with the help of these sub-collections.

Subtle variations in the colors, along with different textures and finishes, keeps each of these sets from hitting a monotone note. Like, if I’m going to wear a matte beige lipstick like Velvet Teddy, I need to have at least a little shimmer on my eyes to contrast with my lips, and that’s the case with this collection. Each of the items riffs on its namesake lipstick color without being identical.

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Crazy About Creams! Say Hi to MAC Pro Face Palette Blush

January 23rd, 2019 by Karen 19 Comments

mac pro face palette bright blush — Oh, ya know, just some Casual Colour with the $40 MAC Pro Face Palette: Bright Blush.

This month I am CRAZY ABOUT CREAMS. Stay tuned for some of my favorite cream makeup products all throughout January.

I know I’ve mentioned the MAC Casual Colours before. They’re brilliant. They’re creamy. They’ve popped up in limited collections before (Beth Ditto, Mia Moretti and Diane Kendall, to name a few). You can wear them on your cheeks and lips, and now MAC has them in three options — Bright Blush, Deep Blush and Light Blush.

To this, all I have to say is YES.

mac pro face palette deep blush — MAC Pro Face Palette: Deep Blush ($40)

Well, obvs, that’s not all I have to say, ha! 🙂 Hello, my name is Karen, and my ability to get straight to the point is questionable.

I will also say this: If you’re a makeup lover who likes fresh, shiny cheeks and plump, juicy lips, you’ll probably appreciate Casual Color’s semi-glossy finish and creamy texture.

These palettes are a go-to when I’m wearing a sheer base (bare skin, BB or CC cream, or a tinted moisturizer), because the semi-glossy finish goes well with minimal coverage.

The trick is to gently tap-tap-tap the tiniest amount (either with your fingers or a stippling brush) you can get away with because these creams are very concentrated. You only need the most minimal of minimal amounts.

Once you figure out how little you can get away with, you’ll be rewarded with surprisingly good wear time. I get about five hours on my cheeks and three on my lips.

mac pro face palette swatches — Arm status: NC42

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