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The MAC Liquidlast Liners Are Back (Remember These?)

March 22nd, 2018 by Karen 11 Comments

Pretty sure I mentioned this the other day, but yeah, my lids are getting progressively more hooded every day. I think it’s just a getting older thing, but now I appreciate long-lasting liners like the MAC Liquidlasts THAT MUCH MORE, because if you’ve got a hooded lid situation, finding a liner that doesn’t transfer up into your crease can be harder than finding a chupacabra unicorn.

Enter the MAC Liquidlast Liners. They’re long-lasting and water-resistant.

mac liquidlast swatches — MAC Naked Bond, Late Night, Coco Bar, Keep It Currant, Rich & Robust, Blue Me Over, Wet Road, and Misty Me

A bunch of them that just landed on MAC counters and the MAC website ($21 each), but you might remember them from back in the day. The Liquidlast Liners used to be part of the permanent collection. Then they went away, but now they’re back in nine shades, most of which are permanent.

The only LE colors are matte purple Rich & Robust, which I friggin’ love (GAH!) and shiny teal Blue Me Over.

mac rich robust liquidlast liner lash lines — Rich & Robust

To someone just passing by a MAC counter, they look a little like lip glosses, at least until you open them up and see the skinny, fine-tipped brush.

That brush, though? T-r-i-c-k-y to use.

mac rich robust liquidlast liner brush — It helps to unload almost all of the liner from the brush first.

The first time I used these years and years ago, I wan’t crazy about ’em because of the brush, but now I think I just didn’t know how to use it. I think I might know how now.

What I wasn’t doing then was unloading the brush enough before bringing it to my lids. Now I run the brush against the inside of the lip of the tube a bunch of times to get rid of the excess.

mac rich robust liquidlast liner — Rich & Robust on my upper lash lines. I’m also wearing MAC Kid and Uninterrupted Eye Shadows on my lids, and Powersurge liner on my lower lash line. The blush is Melon Pink from the MAC Padma collection, and my lipstick is Mittai Pink (worn as a stain), also from MAC Padma.

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The MAC Throwback Eye Shadows in Kid, Uninterrupted, Tete-A-Tint and Goldbit Are Available Meow

March 21st, 2018 by Karen 8 Comments

There are four pans of MAC Kid Eye Shadow sitting in my shopping cart, and I would normally consider this to be an excessive number of backups, buuuuut…lemme tell you why I think it’s a good idea in this case.

This shade… It’s one of the four shadows in the MAC Throwback collection. See, MAC released a collection of formerly discontinued eyeshadows and lipsticks that they brought out of retirement, and it’s available on counters now.

Kid is GREAT.

Actually, all four of these shadows are so good that it leads me to wonder why the heck MAC ever nixed them?

My friend Fern told me about this one a while ago. She was pretty crabby when it got discontinued, and I can see why. It’s a light matte golden tan, and it’s and one of those browns that you can carve out the crease with and not be left with something that looks heavy or gray or weird. It’s the perfect transition shade. You can just sloosh it on your lids with a MAC 224 and end up with the perfect amount of definition.

mac kid eyeshadow — I’m wearing Kid and Tete-A-Tint in my crease, and Goldbit on my lids. The lipstick is a mix of Skew and Shrimpton (two of the lippies from the #Throwback collection; review coming soon). And the blush is Melon Pink from the MAC Padma collection.

Unfortunately, the Throwback shadows (Kid, Uninterrupted, Tete-A-Tint and Goldbit) are all LE, so this is like their big comeback tour. It’s also why there are currently four pans of Kid in my cart…

The three matte shades — Kid (technically, it’s a Veluxe Pearl, but it looks matte on my skin), Tete-a-Tint and Uninterrupted — blend like it’s what they were put on this earth to do. They’re pigmented, smooth, soft, and don’t even know the meaning of the word “skipping.” Any of them could easily become your go-to transition crease color.

Goldbit, the solitary shimmer shade, is also a beaut. She’s a golden beam of light on your lids. All you have to do is lightly press your finger into the pan to pick up so much gorgeous shine that you’ll practically glow in the dark (but not really). It’s like pure pigment pressed into a pan, but it isn’t messy or obnoxiously glittery.

mac goldbit tete a tint kid uniterrupted eyeshadow swatches — Goldbit, Tete-a-Tint, Kid and Uninterrupted

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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 Qween Supreme Palette

March 19th, 2018 by Karen 11 Comments

mac qween supreme palette — I’m wearing the new MAC Girls Qween Supreme Palette on my lids. It’s $39.50, and in the permanent collection.

You know what? I like my job. The last thing I want to do is disappoint my boss (you may have heard of him — Tabs the cat, world-renowned kitty supermodel), but he’s going to be woefully disappointed when he finds out that, if I were given the chance to be a queen supreme, as in the name of the new MAC Girls Palette, Qween Supreme (yes, it’s spelled that way), but the job required me to wear a crown, I would not be able to rock that thing 24/7.

Sorry, Tabs!

I mean, I’d wear it to take pics for the ‘gram, especially if I had a collection of bejeweled sparkly crowns at my disposal, but I wouldn’t wear it if I were just chillin’ in the palace and wanted to Netflix and chill at home.

Sorry, buddy! I know that you like to think of your assistant as more fabulous than that, but, sadly, I’m not. 🙁

tabs qween supreme — Tabs is not having it.

Qween Supreme is still quite new, and if you ask about it at nearby MAC counter, they might not even have it in yet (for sure, it’s online).

mac qween supreme palette open — Mega metallics

It’s one of nine eye palettes in the MAC Girls collection. Some are more adventurous than others (some are mostly neutrals). Qween Supreme just happens to be the metallic palette, and it’s also one of the newest ones!

mac qween supreme palette swatches — Living that NC42 life, purr usual

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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: 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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More From the Chanel Spring-Summer 2018 Collection: 824 Verderame, 66 L’Indomabile, 794 Poppea, 792 Aphrodite and 50 Nero Metallo

March 2nd, 2018 by Karen 20 Comments

chanel spring summer 2018 k — More from the Chanel Spring-Summer 2018 collection

Viva l’Italia! Anybody wanna go to Naples? This afternoon…? We can tell our families that Lucia Pica and Chanel made us do it. I can pack a bag and be ready to go in an hour…

YEAH, RIGHT! Who am I kidding? You know it would take me at least a half a day to pack my makeup.

OK, maybe a full day. ?

Lucia is shaking things up at Chanel with all kinds of color, and her latest collection, Spring-Summer 2018, is a shout-out to her hometown of Naples, Italy.

If Naples looks anything like the blues, greens, reds and yellows in this launch, I could easily fall in love with it. So let’s go, yeah? If you know a good travel agent, call her and get the hookup! Girls trip, April 2018! ?✈️?

chanel l indomabile — Red and green! That’s Rouge Allure Velvet in 66 L’Indomabile on my lips and Ombre Premiere Longwear Cream Eyeshadow in 824 Verderame on my lids.

OK, back to reality…

Spring-Summer 2018 is a pretty big launch, and so far I know I like the eyeshadow palette and the green liner.

Here are some quick thoughts on the other pieces I’ve tried (some which I like more than others).

chanel spring summer 2018 swatches — 824 Verderame, 66 L’Indomabile, 794 Poppea, 792 Aphrodite, 50 Nero Metallo

Ombre Premiere Longwear Cream Eyeshadow in 824 Verderame ($36, limited edition)

824 Verderame reminds me of a metallic cream version of MAC Club eyeshadow, but without the brown, and I love it with a matte brown in the crease, and either a charcoal or dark green liner on the water lines. It’s pigmented and GORGEOUS. It also dries in less than 30 seconds, so don’t dilly-dally! — or you’ll end up with harsh edges (a lesson I learned the hard way). Keep the small white brush that comes with the pot, too, because it’s surprisingly great and easy to use. The bristles deposit lots of color.

chanel 824 verderame — Ombre Premiere Longwear Cream Eyeshadow in 824 Verderame

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The MAC Jeremy Scott Eyeshadow X 29 Lo-Fi Palette: 3 Jazzy Ways to Work It

February 15th, 2018 by Karen 17 Comments

mac jeremy scott low fi eye shadow — The new MAC Jeremy Scott Eyeshadow X 29 Palette in Lo-Fi ($75)

The beatbox-lookin’ MAC Jeremy Scott collection centerpiece Eye Shadow X 29: Lo-Fi palette contains 29 (!) powder eyeshadows, and LOTS of them are colorful.

It’s like someone poured a bag of Skittles into it.

First things first, swatched on my arms…this palette looks like a HOT mess. Several of the shadows swatch unevenly, which is kind of disconcerting (it’s $75 after all). One might logically assume that the rough arm swatches imply patchy application problems on lids, too, but that hasn’t been the case for me.

mac jeremy scott low fi eye shadow swatches — Patchy on arms, not so much on lids

So far I’ve done three different looks with this palette, and the shadows applied fairly evenly in all three. Blending hasn’t been bad either, and most of the shadows I’ve used look more pigmented on my lids than they do in arm swatches (weird!). I’ve also noticed very, very little fallout. Like almost none.

It would be easy to dismiss this palette based on arm swatches alone, but you really gotta get in there and work it to see what it can do. You gotta drive the car first, so to speak.

(FYI, when I wear some of the brighter shades, like the matte pink, red, purple and green, my eyes have been watering a little, which happens to me sometimes when I wear bright colors, so I’m not surprised by it.)

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