MAC Cosmetics

MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Fleur Power Blush

February 1st, 2022 by Karen 1 Comment

The long-running Unsung Heroes series here on Makeup and Beauty Blog features some of my all-time favorite permanent collection products.

This is one of my favorite MAC blushes, and I’ve been wearing it for years. I first featured it back in 2015.

‘Tis the season for smoky eyes, fa-la-la-la-laa-la-la-la-laaaa!

But there isn’t just one season for smoky eyes, fa-la-la-la-laa-la-la-la-laaaa!

Every season is a good season for smoky eyes, fa-la-la-la-laa-la-la-la-laaaa!

OK now I’m gonna stop singing this dumb song, fa-la-la-la-laa-la-la-la-laaaa!

Seriously, though, fall and winter are the BEST seasons for wearing smoky eyes. That’s when they feel extra super duper *right* to me, along with wearing boots and sweaters and chunky knit scarves.

Even just generally, because of the cooler weather and no risk of sweating everything off, this is my favorite time to wear a little more makeup.

Good times, peeps. Good times. 🙂

And you know what can take your smoky eyes to the next level? — or, at least help you look more awake?

Blush. You gotta get some blush up in there, too.

Today, it’s all about MAC Fleur Power Blush ($22), homie. Wear it with smoky eyes — any smoky eyes — and you’ll be set. It’s a mid-temp pink with a kiss of coral, so it goes great with warm- or cool-toned smoky eye looks.

If you love a natural-looking pink cheek flush, like where you look like you just came in from the cold and your cheeks look all cherub-y, Fleur Power kicks butt.

It’s an excellent everyday blush with all-day staying power, and I’d even go so far as to call it universally flattering.

And since it’s part of the MAC permanent line, you can always get your paws on it. No need to worry about it disappearing into limited edition makeup oblivion.

Technically a MAC Satin Blush, Fleur Power looks more like a matte on my cheeks. I hardly see anything satin or shimmery about it, but that also makes it treat my pores and fine lines well.

I usually wear Fleur Power with either brown or gray smoky eyes, by the way, because I like how the pink injects some color into the look without taking over. Then I couple that with either a pale or bright pink lip.

You could also rock it with a brighter eye look, like a purple or blue smoky eye, but in that case, I’d probably go with a nude lip instead of pink, lest you end up with a whole lotta color on your face… Unless that’s what you want, and if you do, hey, that’s cool too.

mac fleur power swatch — MAC Fleur Power Blush swatched on my NC42 skin

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A Friday Face of the Day | Two-Tone Eyeliner

January 28th, 2022 by Karen 4 Comments

mac teddy woodwinked saddle — Happy Friday, friend!

Even though I didn’t have any video meetings for work today, I painted my face anyway! I’ve been trying to do more things just for me that make me feel good, and this warm, glowing look with a few MAC classics (Woodwinked, Saddle and Honey Lust Eyeshadows, along with Teddy liner, of course), did just that.

It made staring at the same spreadsheet for six hours a little more bearable. Really!

By the way, I’ve started doing this thing lately where I wear a darker liner on my water lines (in this case, MAC Teddy) with a coordinating liner in a lighter tone on my lash lines (Urban Decay Scorch). I like how it creates a subtle gradient! Try it sometime with a couple of your favorite liners.

I hope you’re having a wonderful Friday so far!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

Glowing Taupe-Bronze Lids With MAC Classics | 10-Minute Everyday Makeup

January 27th, 2022 by Karen 8 Comments

mac teddy satin taupe — Glowing lids today!

Hi, friend! Whew, it’s been kind of a crazy week here; I have sooooooo many deadlines looming in the near future for work. You know what always makes it easier, though? Consistently taking breaks (I’m a huge fan of the Pomodoro technique), coffee (still obsessed with my Nespresso) and wearing makeup, of course.

Today I did a quick 10-minute look with two MAC eye classics: Teddy liner and Satin Taupe eyeshadow.

I’m wearing Teddy on my lash lines and water lines (both upper and lower), and on my lids as an eyeshadow base. Satin Taupe’s blended on top. Oh, I’m also wearing MAC Glow Play Blush in Cheer Up and Laura Mercier Nu Prefere Lipstick.

I really like this color palette, so note to self, wear this again!

How are things going on your end? Oh, and are you wearing quickie makeup like I am today, or did you go all out?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

MAC Unsung Heroes: Swiss Chocolate Eyeshadow

January 12th, 2022 by Karen 7 Comments

I was at the gym last week when we started talking about desserts (These are the things you do when you hang out with a bunch of people who do HIIT together. You talk about desserts!), and the teacher, Nicol, said that if you put anything chocolaty in front of her, she’s basically toast.

I’m the same way with chocolate desserts AND eyeshadow, and especially MAC Swiss Chocolate Eyeshadow.

mac swiss chocolate swatch — Chocolatey delicious

What’s an unsung makeup hero? For me, it’s an oftentimes underrated makeup morsel, a permanent collection product that scoots under the radar screen of many makeup lovers but regularly rocks my world. The long-running Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorites.

Oh, my goodness, I’ve been wearing this shades for eons! — and I start busting it out more often in the fall because I love the way it looks with vampy fall berry, burgundy, purple and wine lip shades. A little MAC Swiss Chocolate added to your eyeshadow mix ties everything together in a DEEEEE-luscious chocolate bow.

mac swiss chocolate heroine 1 — I’m wearing Swiss Chocolate in my crease and MAC Heroine Lipstick

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Braids, a Bright Lip and Blush Blended With Bronzer

January 4th, 2022 by Karen 15 Comments

I’ve been hesitant to post any FOTD’s lately because I don’t feel like the makeup I wear on a daily basis is fancy enough. Most of the looks I’ve been wearing are in the “five minute makeup range” these days, but ya know what? I figure I can’t be the only person out there who loves fast, fresh real-life looks. Like, I just got off a video call 15 minutes ago and this was the makeup I was wearing! Hello, real life. So here we go!

I want to call out a couple things. The lipstick is a workhorse liquid lipstick I love, Honest Beauty Liquid Lipstick in Goddess. If you’re into bright corals that light up your face in an instant, you need it in your life ASAP. It’s non-drying and totally comfy.

Another makeup item of note: for a quick hit of color on your cheeks, load up your blush brush with bronzer and blush. I just take my blush brush and dip it into both pans and then swirl the mix onto my apples. It’s the fastest way for me to get a good amount of color on my face without having to deal with layering and blending. Here I mixed Laura Mercier Blush in Rose with MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Give Me Sun.

I’m about to jump on my second video meeting of the day! How’s your Tuesday going?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

MAC Unsung Heroes: Costa Riche Eye Kohl

December 29th, 2021 by Karen 3 Comments

mac costa riche — Wearing $16 MAC Costa Riche Eye Kohl on my lower lash lines

I’ll be paying a visit to the MAC Pro Store this week as part of a super-secret spy girl mission tomorrow (stay tuned!), which means that poor El Hub will be left to play outside on his phone while I clear out the store’s inventory of MAC Costa Riche.

How many times have I talked about this Eye Kohl…? Five? Six? Two dozen?

It is well past time for me to give it the Unsung Heroes treatment. 🙂

A warm golden brown Eye Kohl in the MAC permanent line, Costa Riche has been my brown eyeliner bae since late 2013.

Seeing as how I fall in love with new products every other week (sorry, it’s true), you might think that my obsession with it would have waned, but nooo. I still reach for Costa Riche at least three or four times a week because 1) it goes well with so many different eyeshadows, and 2) it feels good on my lash and water lines (when my eyes are irritated and/or watering due to allergies or something else, Costa Riche is one of the few things I can still wear that won’t make things worse).

And it does so much for different eye colors. Brown eyes look more chocolatey, and blue, green, hazel and gray eyes rock it, too. I think it brings out more beauty in all of them and makes your natural eye color stand out.

I’ve never met a person who hates how they look in Costa Riche. It’s the people’s liner!
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Checking In: Lemons, MOAR Chanel and a Standout Red Lipstick by MAC

December 17th, 2021 by Karen 9 Comments

Never in my life have I been this excited about citrus, ever! My Meyer lemon tree is poppin’ off!

She’s got so much ripe fruit on her right now. Later on today I’m going to pick some lemons so I can make lemon pasta tonight.

Maybe lemon bars are in the future, too, although truth be told I wouldn’t mind finding a new lemon desert to love. If you have a lemon dessert recipe that will change my life, please let me know.

OK, so do you see the color of this blue pot from my lemon tree? It totally reminds me of that blue Chanel nail polish I’ve been drooling over. I think that’s a sign telling me I need it in my life.

Yesterday, I put it in my cart and have been dancing around the check out button furiously, so to speak.

I also figured that while I was at it, I might as well put some other things in my cart!

Next thing you know, there’s a jar of New Moon in there (it’s on backorder, boo) and a tube of Dimensions de Chanel Mascara. I was also going to throw in couple Stylo Yeux eyeliners (you know, the twist ups), but I’ve been really happy with the dark brown Ilia liner I’ve been using lately, and I’m toying with the idea of actually finishing it. GASP, I KNOW!

chanel 50 nero metallo mascara — My favorite Chanel mascara

I was just about to add a stick of the $40 Boy de Chanel brow pencil (from the line marketed to men) that I love when I noticed there is also a “ladies” version available. After some quick sleuthing I realized, 1) they both have a similar ingredient list, 2) both pencils hold the same amount of product and 3) the women’s version costs less — it’s $33! So, yeah. I love ya, Boy de Chanel, but if this haul happens, I’m gonna go with the slightly more affordable version.

If (when?) I actually pull the trigger — and I might because my will power is really starting to break down — then I should add a lipstick or two into the mix, right? Maybe a new red? Chanel does some incredible reds.

Oh, speaking of red lipstick, I put a warm red on my baby for the first time ever! I used MAC Quite the Standout on Coywolf for her dance recital last weekend.

I did this lip freehand without any lip pencil or a lip brush, and I have to say, I think I did OK! The girls in her group danced to “Candy Cane Lane” by Sia, which is why they were all dressed up like sweet little candy canes.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF! What’s going on for the weekend? Are you doing any last-minute shopping? I SURE AM!

For the Love of Ginger! MAC Sheertone Blush in Gingerly

November 23rd, 2021 by Karen 7 Comments

Gingerly is one of my all-time MAC favorite blushes. I just put a refill pan in my cart because MAC currently has an online sale of 30% off everything! The refill pan is $18, but with the 30% discount it’s $12.60.

Ginger!

I am surrounded by ginger…

I’ve been drinking a lot of ginger ale this week because my tummy’s been obnoxiously gurgly, and I’ve also been, at times, simultaneously wearing MAC Gingerly Blush ($25).

Maybe this is more than a coincidence…or maybe it isn’t, and I just have a need to find deep connections between totally unrelated things (story of my life).

My fridge has an entire shelf dedicated to ginger ale. THANKS TUMMY TROUBLES. — My fridge has an entire shelf dedicated to ginger ale…

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