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The MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Extension Collection: The Power of a Powder Without Looking or Feeling Too Dry

April 7th, 2016 by Anna Oh 12 Comments

mac mineralize skinfinish natural 2016 — MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Extension Collection (L-R) in Nuanced, Faintly Fabulous, Perfectly Lit, Sunny Side, Enhanced

anna oh ao illustration beauty mac mineralize skinfinish — Illustration by Anna Oh

One of my favorite ways to dupe great-looking skin is to layer dewy, light foundations over pigmented concealers.

My least favorite thing about these dewy foundations? Applying powder afterward…for sure! I can’t count the number of days I’ve gone from hero to zero because of a cakey setting powder. When I saw that MAC was bringing a limited-edition extension to the Mineralize Skinfinish range, commonly referred to as the MSFs, I was more than excited to run my fingers across those velvety domes.

Available in a range of textures, the new Mineralize Skinfinish Naturals ($32) separate their pigments into quadrants so you can mix your own intensity. These powders have the ability to be a powder without looking or feeling too dry. I appreciate having a powder option that wants to works with, and not against, the luminescence of skin.

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MAC Future MAC Collection for Spring 2016: Reinventing the Rules of Color and Shine

April 5th, 2016 by Anna Oh 23 Comments

Hi everyone!

Guess what? I learned a new Photoshop trick! Just in case you didn’t notice, but I have gained the power of artificial lens flares. Beware, photography! Yep, it’s totally cheesy/fabulous, but this new MAC collection practically asked for it.

This is the MAC Future MAC collection, and it’s available online right now and coming to stores April 7th.

The collection is all about the next generation of hyper-luminous Mineralize products and new horizons of colour, and true to their description, the lip and skin products have amazingly unique textures and sparkle.

Keep reading to sneak a peek at the future of beauty…for April at least!

Future MAC: The Pout of the Future

future mac mineralize glass — Mineralize Glass (L-R) The Zone, Antireality, Telegenius, Interspatial

swatches future mac mineralize glass — Swatches (L-R) of MAC Mineralize Glass in Antireality, Interspatial, Telegenius, The Zone

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The Paul & Joe Spring 2016 Collection: Sometimes Versatility Comes in Small, Lovely Packaging

March 24th, 2016 by Marcella Yakalis 11 Comments

My makeup looks tend to be simple. As I don’t often wear a full face of makeup, I opt for what I know, and what I find suits my lifestyle, as I’m sure most of us do.

What I’m talking about, I guess, is convenience, and convenience is just one of the many things that makes these few products from the Paul & Joe Spring 2016 Collection special.

Launched as a cosmetics line in 2002, and named after owner Sophie Mechaly’s two sons, feline-fabulous brand Paul & Joe has been a French staple since 1995, when it began as a menswear company before expanding into womenswear and children’s fashion.

Now available in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia, the line has expanded significantly since its start.

Their philosophy says it all:

“Thoroughly enjoying life, valuing every moment- that is the philosophy of Parisians and Sophie Melachy herself. PAUL & JOE BEAUTE projects a lifestyle that brims over with a sense of happiness and well-being.”

Happiness is a present element when it comes to the packaging of these gorgeous spring products. This week I got my hands on the beautiful #11 compact, as well the #101 face and eye color combo, the #2 cream blush, and the #7 powder blush.

The compact itself is sold separately, and the products, such as the blushes, are designed to be interchangeable with the compact. This packaging is incredibly convenient for touchups throughout the day.

The Face and Eye Color Palette, the largest of the four products shown here, is also my favorite.

It’s stunning! And although I’m really not a fan of perfumed cosmetics, I can’t help myself. I like it here (it’s faintly citrusy with a hint of lily).

Paul & Joe Spring 2016 Face and Eye Color Palette — One of the few French words I can actually remember is the word for butterfly (*papillon*)

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The Benefit Dandelion Collection for Spring 2016: Pretty in Pink

March 24th, 2016 by Anna Oh 27 Comments

Hi, everyone!

As one of the prettiest (in my opinion) collections of spring 2016, the Benefit Dandelion Collection is an expansion of Benefit’s bestselling Dandelion Brightening Finishing Powder ($29), with the new Dandelion Shy Beam Liquid Highlighter ($26) and Dandelion Dew Liquid Blush ($28).

This is a small and concise collection with every product layering on top of each other to create a beautiful and brightening flush.

benefit dandelion collection shy beam dandelion dew — Benefit Spring 2016 Dandelion Collection

benefit dandelion collection dandelion box powder — Benefit Dandelion Powder

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MAC Charlotte Olympia Collection: Golden-Age Glam

March 18th, 2016 by Anna Oh 32 Comments

Hi, everyone! MAC is back with one of the most exciting releases of the year, the MAC x Charlotte Olympia Spring 2016 Collection, and this is one of the bigger MAC collections, too, with an emphasis on lips and accessories.

For those not familiar with the designer, Olympia is a luxury shoe and accessories designer obsessed with the bygone era of old Hollywood glamour and unafraid of a little humour.

The MAC x Charlotte Olympia collection has strong retro-glam vibes packaged in adorable printed boxes. They’re a collector’s dream come true.

MAC Charlotte Olympia — Charlotte Olympia for MAC Spring 2016

mac charlotte olympia spring 2016 — Wearing Retro Rouge Matte Lipstick!

There are no fewer than three different types of lip products (lipsticks, lip pigments, and pro lip liners), and all of them are in various shades of red.

You know how every now and then you’ll bump into a friend looking for their “perfect red lipstick”? Well, you should direct their attention to THIS collection, because each red is GORGEOUS, but just a little different.

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Caught in the Rain With Laura Mercier: The Laura Mercier Spring 2016 Collection, “Paris After the Rain”

March 4th, 2016 by Anna Oh 34 Comments

beauty illustration of the laura mercier lip parfait by anna oh spring 2016 — Illustration of the new SP16 shades of Laura Mercier Lip Parfait

Here’s a look at the new Laura Mercier Spring 2016 Collection, starting with the “Paris After The Rain Eye Colour Collection (a $55 palette). While most spring collections would rather distract us from the winter blues, “Paris After the Rain” imagines a world “inspired by the reflection of lights on cobblestone streets and the dance of colours on zinc rooftops in Paris after the rain.”

Sounds like something out of a Nicholas Sparks novel, right?

laura mercier paris in the rain palette spring 2016 — The palette is housed in thick matte plastic (4″ x 3.75″ — smaller than my hand!)

Now, I should mention that I think Laura Mercier can do just about no wrong, and while every product isn’t always for me, I can usually imagine who would like and use them and how.

The Eye Colour palette was a surprise favorite of mine. With four super creamy matte shades (0.05 oz. each) and four soft glittery toppers (0.035 oz. each), it’s a versatile palette with lots of options for day and night.

laura mercier paris in the rain palette swatches spring 2016 — Matte eyeshadows in Champs Elysee, Saint Germain, Tour Eiffel, Le Marais + Multi Chrome Pearl Topper Formula (L-R) La Madeleine, Arc de Triomphe, Rue de Vivoli, Montmarte

lauramercier-paris-in-the-rain-swatches2 — A better look at the Multi Chrome Pearl Topper formula

Laura Mercier calls the baked lid colors “Multi Chrome Pearl Toppers” and suggests patting them on the lid after smudging the matte shades along the lash line. In the swatches above, it took two or three passes to build up the intensity. I think this would give a beautiful soft focus effect, but when swatched over a cream base, they really come to life!

laura mercier paris in the rain palette swatches — Swatches on top of a cream base

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The New Benefit Hoola Spring 2016 Collection

February 29th, 2016 by Jen Clark 47 Comments

It’s official! You can now literally smother Benefit Hoola all over your bod without going through an entire pan of bronzer.

You haven’t done that? Oh, just me?

They’ve expanded on the crazy popular Hoola bronzer by adding a liquid bronzer called “Dew The Hoola”. Aw, super cute! They’ve also come out with an all-over body bronzer called “Zero Tan Lines”. Last, but most definitely not least, the cutest bronzing brush with blue hairs on a handle made of golden bamboo. The collection officially releases on February 26th.

This release was an answer to my prayers because this has to be my palest winter yet. I have to (get to) look at my Hawaiian husband and son’s golden tans year round, and I start to feel pretty bad for myself come February, so I slathered myself in all things Hoola in a desperate attempt to pretend that I just came back from Hawaii.

Let me tell you what I thought.

Dew The Hoola is meant to be a liquid version of the famous Hoola powder bronzer, which is a beautiful cool brown shade that looks like an actual tan on your face. I think that’s why it’s been so popular, because it looks so natural compared to so many of its orange competitors.

I have to admit that I was pretty disappointed the first time I pumped out the bright orange liquid, because it wasn’t at all what I expected. But still, I pressed onward and applied it to the hollows of my cheeks, around the perimeter of my face, and on my nose and chin. Then I blended it in with a damp Beauty Blender. I also tried it with a fluffy face brush, but it didn’t blend out nearly as well.

As soon as it was all blended in, it ended up looking…not too bad. I really like the consistency and workability of the liquid, but I think the color is off for me.

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Day in Beauty, Vol. 12: The MAC Zac Posen Collection, ChocStars, and a Belated Blog Birthday

February 22nd, 2016 by Karen 45 Comments

Hey, baby, you’re a ChocStar!

Yes, you read that correctly — a ChocStar, which is somewhat different than a rock star.

How funny are these chocolate bars, though? (Please note the tabbies.) I found them at a fun candy store called SweetE Organic in my old stomping grounds in Mill Valley. It’s just a little shop, but they have every square inch filled with interesting speciality candies — like organic chocolates, gluten-free gummies, vegan candy, sugar-free candies, dairy-free candies, SO MANY CANDIES!

Add it to your list of dessert-related things to do in Southern Marin before or after hiking Mt. Tam, sightseeing in Sausalito or shopping in Corte Madera or Mill Valley. You could have lunch at Pizza Antica (OOH! Try one of their chopped salads with a piadini.), and then swing by SweetE Organic for dessert.

It’s right next to a wonderful store called The Spanish Table, where I could literally spend hours looking at olives, wine, recipe books, maps and bars of Spanish chocolate.

I walked in yesterday while El Hub and I were out and about. With Baby Girl coming very, very soon, we’ve been trying to stay close to home and be ready to hop on the freeway to the hospital in San Francisco, buuut I was starting to go a little stir crazy, so I had to get out of the house.

Can’t help it. I’m antsy!

MAC Zac Posen

And the shopping yesterday was exactly what I needed. It was also a perfect excuse to wear makeup. 🙂 I busted out the new MAC Zac Posen collection (available now online and coming to stores and counters Feb. 25 through March 24) and did a look similar to what I’m wearing today — matte black winged liner; soft purple, plum and taupe lids; warm bronzed cheeks; and hot pink matte lips.

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