MAC Cosmetics

The MAC Studio Sculpt Defining Powders Have a Super Natural-Looking Power

August 21st, 2014 by Karen 18 Comments

Well, well, well…

I think I just found my new BFF off-duty/weekend face makeup product. MAC’s new Studio Sculpt Defining Powder ($32) has a finish like an ocelot…in that it’s elusive — the finish, I mean (cats on the brain). It has that elusive real skin-like finish that isn’t easy to find in a face powder. No matter how much I pack it on, it doesn’t look fake, caked-on or powdery.

With an ultra-fine, super sheer formula and a delicate sheen, I think it looks very natural on the skin.

Even when I threw caution to the wind and applied several layers of Medium Deep using a kabuki brush (in the interest of makeup science, of course), I still couldn’t see any tell-tale traces of powder. It was as if I wasn’t wearing anything on at all.

But yet my pores looked smaller, my skin tone looked nice and even, and I couldn’t see my freckles at all. It’s the old “no-makeup” makeup effect, and I love it.

Available in eight shades, the MAC Studio Sculpt Defining Powders are part of the new Studio Sculpt Collection, a 10-piece release heading permanently to all North American MAC locations and maccosmetics.com September 4 (through October 30). Internationally, it’s slated to arrive some time in September.

MAC Studio Sculpt Defining Powder in Light — Light

MAC Studio Sculpt Defining Powder in Light Plus — Light Plus

MAC Studio Sculpt Defining Powder in Medium Plus — Medium Plus

MAC Studio Sculpt Defining Powder in Medium Dark — Medium Dark

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In the MAC Artificially Wild Collection, MAC Takes Nudes Underground With Dirty Mauves, Sooty Greys and Golden Beige Browns

August 21st, 2014 by Karen 24 Comments

Did you ever read Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? It’s the Phillip K. Dick story that inspired Bladerunner, and in it there are these ultra realistic android animals, like robotic dogs and cats, that some people have as pets because many of the real animals are driven extinct during a world war. Only the mega rich can afford to have living, breathing pets. Everyone else’s animals are artificially wild…

Which brings me to this: MAC Artificially Wild.

Based on MAC’s promo pics for the 22-piece release, truth be told, I was kinda freaked out. The camo, the dark shadows under the model’s eyes — it seemed potentially drab and depressing, and I couldn’t see myself feeling good in a look like that.

But I liked the overall idea. Nudes, with a subversive, fight-the-power angle. Instead of regular warm, buttery browns and beiges, there were dirty mauves, sooty greys, golden beige browns and a light sprinkling of khaki.

In the end, the call of the wild was too strong to resist. After playing with the products, I started to come around…

It was kind of like when you see a dress that you’d never pick out for yourself on a hanger, but just for kicks, you try it on, and then you think, “OK. Yeah. I can work this.”

Cheek products for contouring

There are some cool things here…like the cheek products, in particular. A couple of ’em contour and carve out cheekbones better than Michelangelo. I really like the Powder Blush in Taupe, which transforms my chubby cherub cheeks into chiseled choppers capable of cutting concrete.

I think Cream Colour Base in Breaking Ground deserves mentioning. A purplish gray mauve, you can use it below your cheekbones to create well-placed shadows on your face. Chanel did something like it a while back with a powder blush called Notorious… Breaking Ground is basically a cream version.

MAC Eye Shadow in Artificial Earth — Artificial Earth

MAC Eye Shadow in Marsh — Eye Shadow in Marsh

MAC Eye Shadow in Natural Wilderness — Eye Shadow in Natural Wilderness

MAC Powder Blush in Next to Skin — Powder Blush in Next to Skin

MAC Powder Blush in Pink Cult — Pink Cult

MAC Cream Colour Base in Breaking Ground — Breaking Ground

MAC Cream Colour Base in Au Nature — Cream Colour Base in Au Nature

Icon

MAC Lipstick in Shitake — Lipstick in Shitake

MAC Lipglass in Obviously Bare — Obviously Bare

MAC Lipglass in De Nude — Lipglass in De Nude

MAC Eye Shadows in Artificial Earth, Stony, Marsh and Natural Wilderness — From the left, Eye Shadows in Artificial Earth, Stony, Marsh and Natural Wilderness

MAC Powder Blushes in Taupe, Next to Skin and Pink Cult — Powder Blushes in Taupe, Next to Skin and Pink Cult

MAC Cream Colour Bases in Breaking Ground and Au Nature — Cream Colour Bases in Breaking Ground and Au Nature

Lipsticks in Icon and Shitake

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MAC The Simpsons Collection: Coming Soon to the Springfield and Shelbyville Malls

August 21st, 2014 by Karen 45 Comments

MAC Simpsons Collection — Wearing the new MAC The Simpsons Collection while on vacation in Springfield

“Excellent…” she said maniacally, her fingers steepled in front of her, Mr. Burns-style.

The Simpsons! 🙂

Twenty-five years and still “doh!”-ing strong (LOL! Ooh, bad pun.)

You knew it was bound to happen sooner or later — that MAC would eventually collaborate with Team Springfield. It was just a matter of time before MAC would accumulate the requisite amount of bright pigments for the products and packaging. I mean, seriously — that red, yellow and blue, and the lacquered black edges? It’s so very MAC!

I should say here before we really get into this that I’m a kid at heart and a lifelong cartoon and comics fan, so I’m a sucker for silly things and makeup that doesn’t take itself too seriously (or really anything that doesn’t take itself too seriously).

To quote the great Bart Simpson, “Don’t have a cow, man, it’s makeup!”

OK, well, I added that last part…

I can see how this particular collaborative pairing may have worried fervent MAC fiends, considering the preponderance of primary colors like bright yellow and blue in The Simpsons. I wondered if the makeup colors were going to look too cartoony or costume. Who knew, right? I swore I’d seen packaging like this at Party City next to the sexy clown costume.

Well, fear not, fabulous reader, because this collection does not channel The Simpsons literally. It’s whimsical, yes, but it’s also bold and pretty. While trying everything on, I had many more “Ooh!” moments than “Eww…”

MAC That Trillion Dollar Look Quad

Take That Trillion Dollar Look, the green quad, and one of two quads in the collection (my favorite one!), for instance.

Hello, how am I supposed to say no to a bright lime green eyeshadow? Answer me that. How?

Talk about fun, especially if you dig that classic MAC girl look.

You know the one I’m talking about — the bold eyes with a dash of drag queen fabulousness.

The shadows in That Trillion Dollar Look are all rich, intense and shimmery. In other words, catwalk ready.

MAC Simpsons That Trillion Dollar Look Quad on my lids, Powder Blush in Sideshow You on my cheeks and Lipglass in Grand Pumpkin on my lips — Wearing that Trillion Dollar Look Quad on my lids, 7 Lash on my upper lashes, Powder Blush in Sideshow You on my cheeks and Lipglass in Grand Pumpkin on my lips

Pop a pair of spiky 7 Lashes (a re-promote from the permanent line decked out in special Springfield packaging) on your eyes and don MAC black from head to toe, and you’ll fit right in with the makeup artists at your favorite MAC counter.

MAC Powder Blush in Sideshow You

That Trillion Dollar Look Quad, by the way, looks awfully epic with Sideshow You, the satin light peachy coral Powder Blush.

I think the greens in the quad go really well with the peachy coral. Plus, there’s something about this blush that simulates a youthful flush. I swear, when I wear this, I look like a wee lass of 29. I wore it out to dinner with a girlfriend this week, and the waitress actually carded me. 🙂

So pigmented, this blush, so use a delicate hand.

If Sideshow You catches your eye, remember this date: September 4. That’s when the collection launches in stores and online, and Sideshow You is an online exclusive.

MAC Lipglass in Grand Pumpkin

While we’re at it, I think Sideshow You looks as tasty as a Homer-style doughnut when paired with Grand Pumpkin, a bright creamy orange Lipglass.

It’s kind of a holdover, I guess, from summer’s orange lip trend, so if you aren’t ready to bid farewell to orange lip colors, now’s your chance to grab one more before it’s “Full steam ahead to fall!”

MAC 7 Lash false lashes

Why have I not tried these before?? They’re re-promotes from the permanent line, but they’ve got that special edition packaging.

They’re so nice, long, lightweight and great. I love these.

The lashes are in spiky bundles (spiky like Marge’s lashes or Lisa’s hair), and they bring bad-@ss drama without heavyweight lash noise. Just be careful if you intend to clean and reuse them because they’re very delicate (but fab!).

MAC Simpsons That Trillion Dollar Look Quad — That Trillion Dollar Look Quad; Eye Shadows from the left in Lisa’s Spikes, Apple Squishee, 2 Dozen and One Greyhounds, and Chalkboard Dreams ($44 U.S./$53 CAD)

MAC Simpsons Marge's Extra Ingredients Quad — Marge’s Extra Ingredients Quad, Eye Shadows from the left in Harpooned Heart, Sexy PB & J, Beehive Blue, and Vivacious Vacuum Cleaner ($44 U.S./$53 CAD)

MAC Simpsons Powder Blush in Sideshow You (online exclusive; $24 U.S.;$28.50 CAD) — Powder Blush in Sideshow You (online exclusive; $24 U.S./$28.50 CAD)

MAC Simpsons Powder Blush in Pink Sprinkles ($24 U.S.;$28.50 CAD) — Powder Blush in Pink Sprinkles ($24 U.S./$28.50 CAD)

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The MAC A Novel Romance Quad Is Like Many Real Life Relationships, Both Hot and Cold

August 14th, 2014 by Karen 16 Comments

Fabio, dahling, take me now! — to the computer, so that I may satisfy this hunger burning deep within my soul.

Yup, the new MAC A Novel Romance collection launched online today, and it’s huge.

HUGE!

Huge both in terms of the fact that it’s the brand’s big release for fall, and huge just in terms of the number of products, especially the eyeshadows.

Overwhelmed much? I am. If you’re looking for a place to start, steer your lusty makeup-lovin’ loins toward one of my favorite quads in the collection, the aptly named A Novel Romance ($40).

MAC A Novel Romance Quad Swatches — From the left: My Fantasy, Fall in Lust, Dance in the Dark and Rising Passions

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Pencil In a Date With the New MAC Fluidline Eye Pencils on Your Lash Lines

August 8th, 2014 by Karen 13 Comments

Wearing the new MAC Fluidline Eye Pencil in Black Brilliance ($16) on my lash and water lines

You know, I don’t think I’ve ever actually finished an entire pot of MAC Fluidline. I’ve gotten pretty close several times with Blacktrack, but I usually get distracted by something else (it happens), and then misplace or forget about the particular pot I’m working on, so I open a new one.

This inevitably leads to someone saying, “What sane person needs five half-used pots of gel liner?” when they visit my house and notice the five half-used Blacktrack Fluidlines on the counter, to which I can’t make a smart-a$$ remark because, c’mon, only crazy makeup hoarders keep five pots of half-used Blacktrack.

MAC Fluidline Eye Pencils (left to right) in Atomic Ore, Earth Sign, Deep Blue Sea, Metropolis, Water Willow, Evil Twin and Black Brilliance — Fluidline Eye Pencils (left to right) in Atomic Ore, Earth Sign, Deep Blue Sea, Metropolis, Water Willow, Evil Twin and Black Brilliance

Now, though, I’m betting I’ll actually be able to finish one of the new MAC Fluidline Eye Pencils ($16 each US, $19 CAD), richly pigmented twist-up gel pencils coming soon to MAC counters with the A Novel Romance collection.

I’ve been wearing Black Brilliance, the black shade, a lot lately, and I seem to be going through it quickly. The soft formula glides so smoothly across my lids and lash lines that I sometimes get carried away with it.

There are also many other colors available, like Earth Sign (a deep, shimmery brown, which is a lot like Teddy, but not as reddish bronze) and Water Willow (a deep khaki green), which have also become close, personal faves. I love ’em on lash lines, where they stay put for 12-14 hours.

MAC Fluidline Eye Pencils in Atomic Ore, Earth Sign, Deep Blue, Metropolis, Water Willow, Evil Twin and Black Brilliance — Fluidline Eye Pencils in Atomic Ore, Earth Sign, Deep Blue, Metropolis, Water Willow, Evil Twin and Black Brilliance

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MAC Animal Instincts Blush: A Primal Plum for Fierce Cheeks

August 7th, 2014 by Karen 17 Comments

If you were reading 50 Shades of Grey on a plane and had to stop and fan yourself for a moment because, whew! — it’s getting hot in hurr — you’d look like you were wearing MAC Powder Blush in Animal Instincts ($22)

Now, to answer what is possibly your first question, yes, MAC Powder Blush in Animal Instincts is pretty dark.

Next, to answer what is possibly your second question, yes, you will still be able to wear it. 🙂

And you’ll look smokin’ hot, especially if you keep the eyes simple (picture bare lids, a shimmering chocolate smudged liner and lots of mascara) and wear it with a rich plummy lip, because the two go together like herds of unicorns and double rainbows.

With this pliant plummy powder blush, which should flatter the heck out of light, medium and darker skin tones, it pays to pick your brush carefully and spend a little time blending out the edges.

I think it’s the most clear-cut nod to classic fall colors in MAC’s new A Novel Romance collection, and it fits right in with the launch’s shmexy theme.

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New MAC Mineralize Multi-Effect Lash Mascara: I Got 99 Problems But Shiny Lashes Aren’t One

August 6th, 2014 by Karen 7 Comments

Glossy like a glazed doughnut.

Mmm…doughnut. 🙂

This stuff will leave your lashes so shiny it’ll look like a stranger walked up and licked them. Shiny like the dew glistening on Ryan Gosling’s biceps when you ask him, “Where’s the gun show?” Shiny like Beyonce and Jay-Z’s massive stash of gold bars, which I’m sure they keep under the bed (next to Beyonce’s diary). Shiny like the glint on my bared fangs when El Hub told me first thing this morning, “We’re out of coffee,” and I was PMS’ing.

Mineralize Multi-Effect Lash in Charged Black, MAC’s latest mascara, and the first one to use their 77-Mineral Complex, is designed to create glossy-like-a-glazed-doughnut lashes that are both soft and flexible.

MAC Mineralize Multi-Effect Lash with a MAC Lipstick for scale — Mineralize Multi-Effect Lash with a MAC Lipstick for scale

The thing I can’t help thinking about it: Why 77 minerals? Why not 76 or 78?

But I digress…

I love how dark and glossy it looks on my lashes. I also like that there’s no flaking or smudging, but it doesn’t hold a curl very well, and it doesn’t add a lot of length (maybe a couple millimeters, like a mouse nibble’s worth).

It adds a tad more volume than my previous number one MAC mascara love, MAC Extended Play Gigablack Lash, but I think I’ll stick to Gigablack for now because of the extra length.

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The MAC Electric Cool Eye Shadows Sparkle Like a Tesla Coil

August 5th, 2014 by Karen 14 Comments

Wearing MAC Electric Cool Eye Shadows in Coil, Gilded Thrill and Pure Flash — Wearing the MAC Electric Cool Eye Shadows from the MAC A Novel Romance fall 2014 collection, coming soon

Look ma, no…brushes!

Yes, girl. Put down that 217 and 224 ’cause you’re not going to need ’em with the MAC Electric Cool Eyeshadows ($21 US, $25 CAD).

Aptly named, these cream eyeshadows are, in fact, super cool — in a figurative sense. I don’t detect a cooling sensation on my lids when I wear them, but their marshmallowy formula is easy to apply and blend.

And that’s pretty cool. (*Does lazy girl makeup dance that bares a striking resemblance to the snake.*)

The Electric Cools are kinda like Chanel’s $36 Illusion D’Ombres at a lower price point ($21). Eight limited edition shades are on their way with the MAC A Novel Romance collection.

Not so much about precision, these shadows live for lived-in, (perhaps even) slightly messy eye looks, and they’re great if you want to create a quick, high-impact eye with a single product.

I think of these eight as two sides of the same family. On one side, there are what I like to call the glitter top coats — champagne Pure Flash, soft rose Love Power, light taupe Superwatt, gold Gilded Thrill, coppery bronze Coil and black Blacklit.

MAC Electric Cool Eye Shadow in Pure Flash — Electric Cool Eye Shadow in Pure Flash

MAC Electric Cool Eye Shadow in Love Power — Electric Cool Eye Shadow in Love Power

MAC Electric Cool Eye Shadow in Superwatt — Electric Cool Eye Shadow in Superwatt

MAC Electric Cool Eye Shadow in Coil — Electric Cool Eye Shadow in Coil

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