MAC Cosmetics

The New MAC Objects of Affection Lip Gloss Sets in Nude and Red, Pink and Plum, and Nude and Coral

October 22nd, 2014 by Karen 17 Comments

It’s Christmas morning.

You tear open an oddly shaped present with shiny reindeer wrapping paper and find a plastic banana holder.

You consider this for a moment…

Do you jump up and down with enthusiasm, so happy to finally have a place to store a banana?

No, you do not, and I can say this with certainty because I actually did receive a plastic banana holder last year as a gift, and I did not jump up and down with enthusiasm.

Now, had I opened the same present and found one of the three new MAC Objects of Affection Lip Gloss Sets instead ($35 each, $42 CAD), things would have been different. I would have leaped and kicked and danced in my flannel pajamas because unlike MAC’s regular holiday eyeshadow palettes and brush sets, which can be hit or miss, their gloss sets tend to consistently delight me.

In my experience, the glosses in their holiday sets are right up their with the glosses in MAC’s permanent line in terms of quality, making them good bets for gift giving.

I’ve gifted past MAC holiday gloss sets to beauty gals of all ages over the years, from my teenage cousins to my 80-something-year-old glam granny, and they’ve always been hits. Even my BFF Cindy, who’s aggressively anti-makeup, hasn’t groaned when I’ve given her one of them. That has to tell you something.

This year, there are three lip gloss sets in the MAC holiday collection — Nude and Red, Pink and Plum, and Nude and Coral. Each one comes with three mini Cremesheen Glasses and a mini Dazzleglass.

I love these two formulas, especially during the cooler months. Unlike the Lipglasses, they aren’t sticky, so my hair doesn’t get stuck to my lips when it’s windy. They’re also moisturizing and shiny, to boot.

I don’t mind having to reapply them every two to three hours because of how good they feel on my lips, like Zella hoodies in gloss form.

The three MAC Objects of Affection Lip Gloss Sets: Overview

If you’re looking for variety, grab the Nude and Coral set. It has a good mix of sheer and fully pigmented shades.
If you want glosses for layering, go for Pink and Plum. Its three sheerest shades really come into their own when layered on top of lipsticks. There’s also a more intensely pigmented bright blue pink in the set for a fun pop of color.
If you go gaga for classic makeup looks, don’t miss Nude and Red. Its three neutral nudes and bright raspberry red go well with makeup standards like cat eyeliner and smokey eyes.

The Nude and Coral Lip Gloss Set

MAC Cremesheen Glass in Stately Shimmer — Cremesheen Glass in Stately Shimmer

MAC Fashion Whim Cremesheen Glass — Cremesheen Glass in Fashion Whim

MAC Cremesheen Glass in Rising Sun — Cremesheen Glass in Rising Sun

MAC Cremesheen Glass in Courtley Coral — Dazzleglass in Courtley Coral

MAC Objects of Affection Nude and Coral Lip Gloss Swatches from the left: Stately Shimmer, Fashion Whim, Rising Sun and Courtly Coral — Nude and Coral Lip Gloss Swatches from the left: Stately Shimmer, Fashion Whim, Rising Sun and Courtly Coral

The Pink and Plum Lip Gloss Set

MAC Cremesheen Glass in Fashion Scoop — Cremesheen Glass in Fashion Scoop

MAC Cremesheen Glass in Pagoda — Cremesheen Glass in Pagoda

[Continue reading…]

Here’s a Tip for Working With the New MAC Objects of Affection Pigments and Glitter Sets

October 16th, 2014 by Karen 13 Comments

MAC Objects of Affection Pigments and Glitter Set in Gold and Beige — Butterfingers tested and approved!

The mini jars of MAC Pigment and Glitter in the new MAC Objects of Affection holiday sets are so small (0.09 ounces) that I can barely fit a brush into them. They’re tiny! Butterfingers that I am, I feel like the Abominable Snowman trying to hug Bugs Bunny when I hold these jars, so when I use them, to keep accidental drops and messes to a minimum, I have a little workflow I follow…

First, I place a paper towel down on my work surface. Then, I pour a small amount of whichever product I’m using on the towel, and pick up the product directly from there with my brushes.

Much less mess, and it’s easier to load just the right amount of product on the brushes. 🙂

[Continue reading…]

For Your Viewing Pleasure, the New MAC Keepsakes Nude Lip Bag and Kristin Perry Jewel Saturation Necklace

October 14th, 2014 by Karen 18 Comments

First, for your viewing pleasure, Tabs in a rhinestone necklace…

“Day. Officially. Made.” says the woman who lives for chunky kitties in statement jewelry. 🙂

The bling, by the way, is the $68 Jewel Saturation Necklace by Kristin Perry, which Tabs likes because the Art Deco-ness of it makes him feel like he’s in The Great Gatsby.

Next, also for your viewing pleasure, there’s the new limited edition Keepsakes Nude Lip Bag from the MAC Keepsakes holiday collection ($39.50 US, $47.50 CAD).

[Continue reading…]

Nothing Says “I Love Shimmer!” Like the New MAC Objects of Affection Pink and Rose Pigments and Glitter Set

October 14th, 2014 by Karen 8 Comments

MAC Objects of Affection Pink + Rose Pigments + Glitter — The $35 MAC Objects of Affection Pink and Rose Pigments and Glitter Set

Should I dab a little on my lids or in the inner corners? How about above or below my brow bone? On top of my upper cheekbones? My Cupid’s bow? Maybe I should mix a little in with my body lotion to sparkle-fy my shoulders and legs. Or, should I just pour the entire jar over myself like I’m a bad girl in a Billy Idol video? (Note to self: Do not stick out your tongue if you do this, because that would be a bad idea.)

Ah…just think of all the shimmery, sparkly things you could do with the new MAC Objects of Affection Pink and Rose Pigments and Glitter Set. Great for girls who like choices. 🙂

The $35 set ($42 CAD), one of four MAC Pigments and Glitter sets coming October 27 to maccosmetics.com and November 6 to stores, includes five little bottles (0.09 ounces each), four of them loose MAC Pigments and the other a MAC Glitter.

Two of the Pigments — pinkish brown Tan (which looks great on lids with Saddle and Soft Brown in the crease) and plummy brown Heritage Rouge — are favorites of mine, but I like the entire selection. Good choices for colors to wear with fall’s rich burgundies, purples and coppers.
[Continue reading…]

MAC Viva Glam? Yes Ma’am! A Hump Day Face of the Day Using the Too Faced Sugar & Spice Palette, the NARS Virtual Domination Cheek Palette and MAC Viva Glam

October 8th, 2014 by Karen 13 Comments

OK, so I’m enjoying an Amy’s Mexican Casserole Bowl and watching Gilmore Girls last night when I kindasorta FREAKED THE EFF OUT. One of the main characters in the show, Lorelei Gilmore (the mom half of the Gilmore duo), was getting her best friend Sookie ready for a date, doing her hair, putting on her makeup — all of that good stuff a beauty BFF does for her gal pals. Anywho, when she’s ready to apply Sookie’s lipstick, she calls out to her daughter Rory (the other half of the Gilmore Girls) downstairs to bring up “Viva Glam.” Yes! THE Viva Glam. She doesn’t say the word “MAC,” but when she holds the lipstick up to Sookie’s lips, you can clearly see the tube, and it’s definitely MAC.

Witty banter? Endless cups of coffee? MAC makeup references? This just might be the best show ever. 🙂

I still had Viva Glam on my mind this morning when I was getting ready, so I took out my favorite version, Viva Glam V Lipglass, and paired it with a cool-toned smokey brown and peach eye using the new Too Faced Sugar & Spice Palette ($39, available now), and the new NARS Virtual Domination Cheek Palette.

Also, just for fun, and to see how the eyes would look with a more dramatic lip, I swapped out Viva Glam V with the new Viva Glam Rihanna 2 Lipstick and Lipglass…

Wow! I actually really like the bolder lip combo.

Incidentally, the first time I wore the Rihanna 2 lippies separately, I felt they looked a little too stark on me. Then I tried them together and came around. Now I’m lovin’ that deep, sparkling pinkish mauve.

As for my cheeks, I’m wearing the new NARS Virtual Domination Cheek Palette ($65, from the new holiday collection). It comes with three blushes (Sex Fantasy, Deep Throat and Final Cut), a highlighter (Miss liberty) and a bronzer (good ol’ Laguna), available exclusively at Sephora starting November 1.

NARS Virtual Domination Cheek Palette Swatches from the left: Miss Liberty, Deep Throat, Sex Fantasy, Final Cut and Laguna

[Continue reading…]

The MAC Keepsakes Holiday Collection Brush Kits: In Extra Dimension, Studio and Mineralize

October 7th, 2014 by Karen 10 Comments

For the most part, the MAC limited edition brushes I’ve tried feel scratchier, for lack of a better word, than their counterparts in the permanent line, and just don’t last as long. I’ve had brushes literally fall apart on me in less than a year — like, where the ferrule comes unglued from the handle when I’m in the middle of putting on my makeup.

So, as cute as they are (and they’re usually so. damn. cute.), I approach them with a dash of skepticism.

I’m still surprised sometimes, though. I had great experiences with a couple of the limited edition brushes from the Alluring Aquatic collection, so you never can tell. Reason enough to have high hopes for the new brushes in the Keepsakes Brush Kits, each of which comes with a cute bag and four or five brushes.

The MAC Keepsakes In Extra Dimension Brush Kit

This one contains…

127SE Split Fibre Face Brush
128SE Split Fibre Cheek Brush
234SE Split Fibre Eye Blending Brush
235SE Split Fibre All Over Eye Brush

I’ve been using these brushes a lot over the past few days — these and the ones in the other Keepsakes collection kits — and I have to say, the brushes in two of the bags, the Mineralize one and In Extra Dimension — seem a little better built than usual for MAC’s holiday fare. The bristles feel pretty soft.

The MAC Keepsakes Mineralize Brush Kit

MAC Keepsakes Mineralize Brush Kit, $52.50 US/$63 CAD

And this one…

187SE Duo Fibre Face Brush
130SE Short Duo Fibre Brush
286SE Duo Fibre Tapered Blending Brush
287SE Duo Fibre Eye Shadow Brush

The Mineralize Brushes, in particular, feel just as good as some of my favorites in MAC’s permanent line. All four of them apply powder and cream products like pros, and if I were to recommend one of these brush kits over all the others, this would definitely be the one.
[Continue reading…]

Today’s Makeup: MAC Ruby Woo, I’m Into You! The MAC Keepsakes Red Lip Bag and MAC Keepsakes Smoky Eye Bag

October 7th, 2014 by Karen 21 Comments

MAC Keepsakes Smoky Eye and Red Lip — Wearing makeup from the new MAC Keepsakes holiday collection

I got Ruby Woo’d today, man! I had an early morning meeting, so no glitter or falsies. Just a reliable, classic combo of cat eyes and red lips using the contents of the new MAC Keepsakes Smoky Eye Bag ($39.50/$47.50 CAD) and Keepsakes Red Lip Bag ($39.50 US/$47.50 CAD).

Red lips and cat eyes — it’s hard to go wrong with that combo. There are endless ways to tweak and work it.

I usually use a gel or liquid liner for my feline eyes, but I was running late today. (No way! That never happens, haha.) I couldn’t risk getting into a Greco-Roman wrestling match with my eyeliner, so I went with a softer, smokier version by lining my upper lash lines with a black eye pencil, and then smoking out the edges with a shimmery, blackish gray eyeshadow to create the cat eye shape.

Sometimes I prefer the softer, less formal look I can get with the eye pencil-eyeshadow combo…and sometimes it’s just quicker and easier than trying to control a gel or liquid liner.

It being the season and all, I paired the eyes with a red lip, reaching into the MAC Keepsakes Red Lip Bag for MAC Ruby Woo Lip Liner, Ruby Woo Matte Lipstick and Ruby Woo Lipglass.

Oh! If you haven’t danced with bluish red Ruby Woo yet, you MUST. It’s one of those MAC reds you have to try at least once, ideally when you’re going someplace fun (no, not a work meeting…although that would also work).

The MAC Keepsakes Red Lip Bag and Smoky Eye Bag arrive online with the rest of the Keepsakes collection October 19, before showing up at North American MAC stores and counters October 23 through December 18 (and at all international MAC locations this November).

MAC Keepsakes Red Lip Bag Swatches — Keepsakes Red Lip Bag Swatches

MAC Keepsakes Smoky Eye Bag — Keepsakes Smoky Eye Bag

MAC Keepsakes Smoky Eye Bag swatches — Keepsakes Smoky Eye Bag swatches

[Continue reading…]

Carbon Makes a Cameo in the MAC Keepsakes Holiday Collection Smoky Face Palette

October 6th, 2014 by Karen 9 Comments

MAC Keepsakes Face Palette in Smoky Face Palette

The new MAC Face Palette in Smoky ($49.50 US/$59.50 CAD), one of two new Face Palettes in the MAC Keepsakes holiday collection, gives good smoke. Each of the palettes contains a mix of seven eye, face and lip products for a different themed look.

Rrraow! Some good-looking colors and finishes here, and I love that LE pearl packaging with the cameo design.

I see a lot of smokey (or smoky) eyes in my immediate future. 🙂

Both Smoky and Natural, the second Face Palette in the Keepsakes collection, will be available on the MAC website starting October 19, at North American MAC stores and counters October 23 through December 18, and at all international MAC locations some time this November.

The Smoky Face Palette includes…

LUSTRE EYE SHADOW IN FILAMENT, a platinum silver
FROST EYE SHADOW IN ARISTOCRATIC AURA, a dirty blue gray with silver pearl
MATTE EYE SHADOW IN CARBON, an intense black
IRIDESCENT PRESSED POWDER IN BORN TO DAZZLE, a white gold champagne with pearl
CREAM COLOUR BASE IN PEARL, a pale gold with icy shimmer
AMPLIFIED LIPSTICK IN PETULANCE, a mauvey mid-tone nude
AMPLIFIED LIPSTICK IN EVENING POSH, a clean bright red