MAC Cosmetics

The MAC Hint of Colour Lip Oils

March 20th, 2018 by Karen 6 Comments

Ya know, I revel in being the quirky neighbor who smiles like a maniac while taking pictures of the MAC Hint of Colour Lip Oils by some freesia on the side of the road.

freesia in the rain spring 2018 — Spring is (at least officially) here!

I don’t even care if people look at me weird. I just smile ? and wave ? like I’m supposed to be there… And, I mean, I’m not not supposed to be there. After all, who wouldn’t want to stop and admire lovely freesia? They’re beautiful, and when the freesia appear, winter is saying “Peace out!” Warmer days are comin’.

Like freesia, the MAC Hint of Colour Lip Oils, which are LE and available now for $17, are also cool. They look like they should be intensely pigmented, right? Like liquid nirvana? But they aren’t. They’re shockingly sheer, just like the name goes. They leave a hint of color, and I think that’s a good thing for lip moisturizers, because when my lips need moisture, I don’t want to deal with a mirror. I just want something easy, and an extra hint of color is also nice.

mac hint of colour lip oil swatches — Pale Princess, Dole to Diva, La La Love You, Candy Drop

These are basically super sheer, lightly tinted vanilla-scented glossy lip balms that feel exactly like the MAC Cremesheen Glasses to me. They aren’t sticky, and they only last an hour or two at the most, but they’re lip oils (more accurately, a mélange of five moisturizing oils with a gel formula), so I can’t spite them for that.

They aren’t complicated to use either. It’s not rocket ? science. Just slick ’em on when your lips are thirsty, then let them do their shiny, moisturizing thing. They’ll fade away to a matte tint, and the intensity of the tint slightly varies among the colors.

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The MAC Girls Risk Taker Palette

March 16th, 2018 by Karen 5 Comments

mac risk taker palette open — Should you take a chance?

Hocus-pocus ?‍♀️ Powersurge! Presto change-o ?? Honeylust! Alakazam Satin Taupe and Woodwinked, too!

By the Power of Grayskull, I HAVE THE POWER. ?

If you know this incantation (and I do!), you’re probably a MAC gal or guy, and if you are, then it’s OK to freak out a little (go ahead, I’ll wait), because MAC just dropped three new MAC Girls Palettes into the permanent line. They also brought back the six they launched last year.

So yeah, now you can get them whenever you want. They’re $39.50 each and available online and at “select” MAC stores, which is MAC code for “better call your local counter to check first.”

This one is Risk Taker, and it riffs on some MAC permanent colors I’ve loved for years. Like, Bossing It looks a little like Woodwinked, Outfitted looks kinda like Honeylust, and Risky Business is like the more sparkly version of Satin Taupe. The whole thing spoke to my soul when I opened it for the first time, so of course I automatically assumed I’d have a good time with it.

And I did… Mostly.

https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/mac-risk-taker-palette-open-closeup.jpg — AHHH!

mac risk taker palette on lids — MAC Risk Taker on my lids, Urban Decay Fuel Lipgloss on my lips, and NARS Kingpin and Buzzed blush on my cheeks.

mac risk taker palette swatches — Yup, still a MAC NC42.

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MAC Padma Lakshmi Collection: 5 Things to Know About the Lipsticks and Cremesheen Glass

March 12th, 2018 by Karen 23 Comments

mac padma lakshmi collection lipsticks — MAC Padma Lakshmi collection Lipsticks from the left: Susnet Rose, Apricot Gold, Nude Fudge, Mittain Pink, Blue Blood and Sumac, $17.50 each

“Tabs…YOU ARE TOP CHEF!”

LOL! Wouldn’t that be a hoot? — Padma Lakshmi congratulating Tabs on his award-winning final meal on Top Chef.

I mean, even considering that he’s a cat, chances are Tabs would win Top Chef before I did because I don’t have that special something. Sure, I can follow a recipe, but I’m no wonder in the kitchen.

I do, however, have strong opinions on ? lipstick. ? If that counts for anything.

Regardless…

1. There’s a lotta lipstick in the MAC Padma Lakshmi collection!

The 17-piece release, which is coming to MAC counters Thursday, March 15th, has been released early online. It includes six lipsticks ($17.50 each) and a Cremesheen Glass ($21, which is an online exclusive). Four of the lippies are MAC Mattes, one is an Amplified, and one is a Cremesheen. Oh, and the Cremesheen Glass is glossy, of course.

2. The nude lipsticks are a go, ESPECIALLY for tan temptresses and darker divas.

If you have a toasty tan, you know how some nude lipsticks can be, right? Particularly pale pink and pale beige lipsticks? How some will wash you out? Well, I think you’ll have better luck with Padma’s lipsticks. The nudes in this launch are rooted in peach and brown, and they’re deeper than usual for pastel nude lipsticks. They’re generally very pigmented and overall brown-girl friendly.

mac sunset rose lipstick — Cremesheen Lipstick in Sunset Rose, a creamy brown with pearl

mac apricot gold lipstick — Amplified Lipstick in Apricot Gold, a mid-tone peachy nude

mac nude fudge lipstick — Matte Lipstick in Nude Fudge, a mid-tone neutral

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering why pale pink or beige nude lipsticks look wonky or weird on you, check out Padma’s collection if you can, because the nudes should work well with most darker skin tones.

My favorites of the six lipsticks are Sunset Rose and Nude Fudge. Mid-toned peachy brown Sunset Rose has a ’90s feel to it, but if you don’t like the brown matte look, you can always slick a little gloss on top.

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MAC Padma Lakshmi Collection: 3 Things to Know About the Powder Blush Duos

March 9th, 2018 by Karen 10 Comments

mac melon pink — MAC Padma Lakshmi collection Powder Blush Duo in Melon Pink ($33)

Tonight on Top Makeup Chef, Dillon and Skyler face off in the Quick Fire 10-Minute Makeup Challenge! Before the day is over [FLASH TO HOST PADMA LAKSHMI], one of them will see their dreams on Top Makeup Chef come to an end. “Please pack your blush and go.”

You’ve gotta know Padmna Lakshmi. She’s the host of Top Chef, one of my favorite TV guilty pleasures, and how do I get a catchphrase, BTW? On Top Chef, Padma’s is “Please pack your knives and go.” Mine could be “So many cats, so little time,” or “The world is a vampire!” ??

LOL.

Padma’s new MAC collaboration comes out next week, and here are three things you should know about it.

1. Unfortunately, neither of the two Blush Duos is called “Please Pack Your Knives and Go.”

I would have loved them even more if they were, haha! One of them has a satiny peachy pink and a frosty orange — that one is the one that’s more like a traditional blush and highlighter duo — and one that has a neutral matte brown and a frosty beige. That one works more like a bronzer and highlighter.

mac moon shine — Moon & Shine on my cheeks

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MAC Padma Lakshmi Collection: 3 Things to Know About the Lakshmi Eye Shadow X 4 Quad in Desert Dusk

March 8th, 2018 by Karen 24 Comments

mac desert dusk — The MAC Padma Lakshmi Eye Shadow X 4 in Desert Dusk ($33)

There are two quads in the upcoming MAC Padma collection (coming March 15), and this one is the one with the unmistakable pop of blue.

I never would’ve guessed that Padma would be into pastel powder shadows, but I’m usually staring at the food, rather than Padma’s makeup, when I’m watching Top Chef.

I do remember that she likes a bright inner corner highlight, and I guess that makes sense with the light green in the purple quad and the baby blue in this one.

1. A good beginner’s quad

I think Desert Dusk is the better beginner’s quad of the two quads in the collection, just because you get three lighter lid colors (a shimmery gold, a matte peach and that beautiful shimmery baby blue), and you also get a deep, delicious dark chocolate matte brown, which looks a little like MAC Brun, by the way, one of my favorite MAC browns of all time. If you blend any one of the three lighter colors on your lids, or a combination of them, then line your lash lines with the dark brown? You’re set. Easy-peasy!

mac desert dusk swatches — Indian Moon, Shell Peach, Hopper Blue and Natural Brown

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MAC Padma Lakshmi Collection: 3 Things to Know About the Powerpoint Eye Pencils

March 6th, 2018 by Karen 10 Comments

mac padma powerpoint eye pencil — From the MAC Padma Lakshmi collection: Powerpoint Eye Pencils (dual-ended) in Iced Heather/Kerala Sun, Indian Ink/Mossy Green, Bordeauxline/Mole Brown ($18.50 each)

OK, so, I’ve been blinking like Morse code blinks for the last, oh, I dunno…two or three minutes, trying to get this freshly applied eyeliner from the MAC Padma Lakshmi collection to transfer up into my crease, and it’s just not happening. This stuff is the real deal for longevity! The MAC Powerpoint Eye Pencils are usually waterproof and budge-proof, and so are these dual-ended versions, which are $18.50 each (coming March 15th to select MAC counters and the MAC website).

1. They’re a lot like the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils.

Like the UD Glide-On Pencils, the MAC Powerpoints are light on their feet as they slide across your skin. They don’t glide quite as smoothly as a gel eyeliner, but still they are smooth, and they set VERY quickly (30 seconds or less).

These dual-enders from MAC Padma might look a little sheer in swatches, and I’ve noticed that the UD ones are like that, too, but once you build them up, the color looks rich, dark and deep. It doesn’t take a dozen layers, either. Just two or three at the most.

mad padma powerpoint eye pencil swatches — Iced Heather/Kerala Sun, IndianInk/Mossy Green, Bordeauxline/Mole Brown

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MAC Padma Lakshmi Collection: Eye Shadow X 4 in 70’s Sunset

March 2nd, 2018 by Karen 17 Comments

Who is the genetically blessed being that is Padma Lakshmi? Well, I know her from watching one too many seasons of Top Chef. Remember the pea puree incident? No? WELL I DO, AND IT WAS SCANDALOUS!

You might know her from her modeling work or her cookbooks. She’s gorgeous. Absolutely beautiful. And she has a new MAC collection coming out soon (it’ll be available online and at select stores from March 15th through April).

It’s a full collection — eyeshadows, blushes, a few liners, some brushes, lots of lipsticks, a gloss — and it looks luxe, with sturdy gold packaging (that may or may not be metal) and intricate details. Items that would look right at home on a table in a high-end boutique that sells boho woven rugs, crystals, hammered artisan jewelry and couture peasant tops.

mac padma lakshmi collection — Feels kinda boho chic, yeah?

mac padma lakshmi collection packaging — Everything feels weighty and expensive.

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Try This Fab Nude Lip Combo: MAC Velvet Teddy Lipstick and Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb

February 27th, 2018 by Karen 18 Comments

mac velvet teddy fenty gloss bomb — I love this combo!

I don’t like to say “you need,” as in “You need to try this,” but YOU NEED TO TRY THIS NUDE LIP COMBO IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY. 🙂 I think it’s that fab. It’s MAC Velvet Teddy Lipstick and Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb.

So. Good.

I was playing with some nudes the other day (um…I swear, that didn’t sound dirty when I said it in my head) when I randomly stumbled upon it, and now I’m in lurve.

It’s kinda beige-y and peachy, with the faintest essence of a golden tint, and it looks clutch-your-pearls amazing with warm orange browns and reddish brown eyeshadows.

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