Makeup

The Five MAC Magnetic Nude Lipglasses Are Quarter Quell Approved

December 24th, 2013 by Karen 22 Comments

MAC Steel Kiss Lipglass from the Magnetic Nude collection — Steel Kiss Lipglass, a dirty mauve with green pearl

I really hate to sound so dramatic (insert El Hub disagreeing with that statement [HERE]), but if I were forced to enter a Hunger Games Quarter Quell with nothing save the contents of my purse, you better believe that among the survival gear, sharp cutlery and cans of cat food (never know when you’ll meet a feline friend in the arena), you’d also find a MAC Lipglass or two. Or 12. Because there is NO WAY I’m going into a nationally televised fight not wearing any makeup.

No. Way.

MAC Magnetic Nude Lipglasses $15 each US and $18 CAN — The five Magnetic Nude Lipglasses, $15 each US and $18 CAN

Any (or all) of the five new Lipglasses from the new MAC Magnetic Nude collection would do. I could use brick red Hell Bound for serious @ss-kicking, and wear any of the other nudes in the launch for lurking, plotting, or during the tender moments and on-camera contemplation…

Remember the real enemy!!

MAC Overspiced Lipglass from the Magnetic Nude collection — Overspiced Lipglass, a dirty muted coral

MAC A Quiet Roar Lipglass from the Magnetic Nude collection — A Quiet Roar Lipglass, a creamy off-white

MAC Hell Bound Lipglass from the Magnetic Nude collection — Hell Bound Lipglass, a brick red with golden pearl

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Keep Lips Covered Up While Nude With the Potently Pigmented MAC Magnetic Nude Lipsticks

December 24th, 2013 by Karen 14 Comments

MAC Carnal Instinct Lipstick from the Magnetic Nude Collection — Carnal Instinct, a deep brick red with golden pearl and a Frost finish

Despite it officially being winter (Merry Christmas Eve, BTW), I’ve been spending a lot of time with nudists lately…

Don’t laugh. 🙂 They’re actually really fun to hang out with!

The ones I met don’t even insist that we take off our clothes in public, which is great because — hello! It’s winter, and it’s cold here (well, California cold).

I’m talking about the four new lipsticks in the MAC Magnetic Nude collection, of course, and they’ve quickly become my jam (overtaking the Hawaiian Sun Lilikoi in the fridge). They go with practically everything.

The four MAC Magnetic Nude Lipsticks, $15 each US and $18 CAN — The four Magnetic Nude Lipsticks, $15 each US and $18 CAN

The deepest shade, brick red Carnal Instinct — the one at the top — looks dramatic on medium and lighter skin tones and more neutral on darker damsels.

I bet it’ll look gorgeous paired with warm brown or copper eye looks.

MAC Sensual Sparks Lipstick from the Magnetic Nude Collection — Sensual Sparks, a dirty cool caramel with an Amplified finish

Sensual Sparks, the creamy caramel nude, is a dead ringer for Tom Ford’s $49 Sable Smoke, and it’s so beyond pigmented that it’s almost insane (gotta love the full coverage of MAC’s Amplified finish)! If your lips are naturally very rosy or red, and you have a hard time finding nudes that can actually cover up your natural lip color, this is the tube you’ll want to swatch first.

Same thing goes for Close Contact, the creamy peach, which shares the Amplified finish. I don’t think it’s as warm as Sensual Sparks, which might make it a better fit for you if your skin tone is cooler.

MAC Close Contact Lipstick from the Magnetic Nude Collection — Close Contact, a creamy peach with an Amplified finish

Speaking o’ cool…Morning Rose, the last of these shades, is a soft cool rose with a Cremesheen finish — also pigmented, but not as pigmented as the other lipsticks in the launch. A very delicate, pretty pink, I think it’s lovely on its own or layered with pink glosses that have cool blue tones.

MAC Carnal Instinct Lipstick, a deep brick red with golden pearl and a frost finish — Carnal Instinct Lipstick, a deep brick red with golden pearl and a Frost finish

MAC Sensual Sparks Lipstick, a dirty cool caramel with an Amplified finish — Sensual Sparks Lipstick, a dirty cool caramel with an Amplified finish

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What a Magnetic Glow! The New MAC Magnetic Nude Extra Dimension Skinfinishes in Magnetic Appeal, Superb and Fairly Precious

December 23rd, 2013 by Karen 14 Comments

Wearing the new MAC Magnetic Appeal Extra Dimension Skinfinish (a medium tan with a fine golden sheen) on my upper cheekbones and down the bridge of my nose

My glow in these pics is not due to a recent and sudden increase in cardiovascular activity, the sprinkling of fairy dust or a new skin cream made with firefly particles.

Shopping Is My Cardio Sweater by Wildfox — Workin’ on my fitness

It’s actually due to the new MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinishes from the Magnetic Nude collection.

The three MAC Magnetic Nude Extra Dimension Skinfinishes, $30 each US and $35 CAN — The three Magnetic Nude Extra Dimension Skinfinishes, $30 each US and $35 CAN

In short, I think these highlighters are fabulous. Just really beautiful, flattering rose gold and peachy gold shades that don’t look stark or harsh on the skin (which can happen sometimes with metallic highlighters).

MAC Superb Extra Dimension Skinfinish, from the new Magnetic Nude collection — Wearing Superb (a soft peachy nude with multidimensional shimmer) on my upper cheekbones

Like the Extra Dimension Eye Shadows and Blushes, these easy-to-blend Skinfinishes have a hybrid cream, powder and liquid formula. They last all day long (10+ hours on me), and should work well for just about everyone, from makeup beginners to pros, and gals/guys of all ages.

MAC Fairly Precious Extra Dimension Skinfinish, from the new Magnetic Nude collection — Wearing Fairly Precious (a peach with dimensional pearly sheen) on my upper cheekbones

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If My Cheeks Could Talk, They Would Tell the MAC Magnetic Nude Extra Dimension Blushes in At Dusk, Autoerotique and Pleasure Model To Stop Futzing Around and Go Permanent

December 20th, 2013 by Karen 18 Comments

Wearing MAC Pleasure Model Extra Dimension Blush on my cheeks

I can see myself clutching these three blushes against my bosom, falling to my knees and screaming “Why? WHY!?” at the top of my lungs.

In this fugue state/daydream, I’m alone at the top of a hill in the pouring rain under an angry sky as thunder booms all around me.

Suddenly, RyGos appears out of nowhere, and when he pulls his shirt up to reveal his chiseled, almost porcelain abs, the clouds above our heads part, the rain immediately stops, and finches following sunbeams down through the opening in the clouds start singing.

Ah… I refuse to believe that this scenario is not entirely possible. 🙂

Anyway, it’s absolute and total crap that At Dusk, Autoerotique and Pleasure Model from the new Magnetic Nude collection aren’t permanent blushes in the MAC line.

The four new MAC Magnetic Nude Extra Dimension Blushes, $25 each US and $29.50 CAN — The three new Magnetic Nude Extra Dimension Blushes, $25 each US and $29.50 CAN

MAC Pleasure Model Extra Dimension Blush, a soft terracotta with pearl and a Satin finish — Pleasure Model Extra Dimension Blush, a soft terracotta with pearl and a Satin finish

MAC At Dusk Extra Dimension Skinfinish Blush, a dirty cool pink with a Satin finish — At Dusk Extra Dimension Skinfinish Blush, a dirty cool pink with a Satin finish

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Our Destination: An Extra Dimension of Easy, Shimmery Eye Makeup With the MAC Magnetic Nude Collection Extra Dimension Eye Shadows

December 20th, 2013 by Karen 14 Comments

That’s the new MAC Magnetic Nude Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Amorous Alloy on my lids, a Natural Flirt on my brow bones and Sweet Heat in the inner corners

It’s cool, I’ll drive. I want you and your blending brush to relax. 🙂

Where are we going, you ask?

Well, it’s quite a journey. We’re going to a different dimension — an Extra Dimension, if you will — where easy shimmer and smokey eyes rule.

No, it’s in our timezone, and we’re not even leaving Earth’s orbit (or going into cryo sleep). We can actually get there in my Mazda. All we have to do is meet at a MAC counter on December 26, because the inter-dimensional highway opens when the five Extra Dimension Eye Shadows from the new MAC Magnetic Nudes collection debut that day.

MAC Magnetic Nude Extra Dimension Eye Shadow — The five new Magnetic Nude Extra Dimension Eye Shadows, $19.50 each US and $22.50 CAN

Sorry in advance if my car is dirty… I don’t have plans to clean it. Also, please ignore the turntables in the backseat (it’s a long story).

MAC Magnetic Nude Swatches, Extra Dimension Eye Shadows from the left: A Natural Flirt, Sweet Heat, Platinum Love, Amorous Alloy and Silver Dawn — Extra Dimension Eye Shadows from the left: A Natural Flirt, Sweet Heat, Platinum Love, Amorous Alloy and Silver Dawn

You might remember first seeing the Extra Dimension Eye Shadows for spring 2012. The relatively new formula combines a cream, liquid and powder shadow in a single pan.

MAC Magnetic Nude Extra Dimension Eye Shadow Review — Additional eye makeup in this look: MAC Bamboo Eye Shadow (lids), MAC Swiss Chocolate Eye Shadow (crease), MAC Teddy Eye Kohl (water lines and lower lash lines), Chanel Inimitable Mascara (lashes) and Covergirl Bombshell Intensity Liner (upper lash lines)

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I Can’t Deny My Attraction to the New MAC Magnetic Nude Collection Fluidlines in It’s Physical, Our Secret and Chilled

December 18th, 2013 by Karen 19 Comments

MAC Fluidline in It's Physical on my lids, Our Secret along the lower lash lines and Chilled in the inner corners — Wearing MAC Fluidline in It’s Physical on my lids, Our Secret along my lower lash lines and Chilled in the inner corners

I honestly did not intend for this post to turn into a novel about the three Magnetic Nude Fluidlines, but the more time I spend with them, the more I think they’re just about the most exciting Fluidlines I’ve seen in a really long time.

The three new MAC Magnetic Nude Fluidlines, $16 each US and $19 CAN — The three Magnetic Nude Fluidlines, $16 each US and $19 CAN

My friend Courtney (hey, Court!) summed it up well in a text she sent me today. “I’m drooling over that Magnetic Nudes Collection! And I’m not a nudes kind of girl!”

There’s just something special about these three Fluidlines that drew me to them right away. The attraction was straight. Up. Magnetic.

Let’s start with It’s Physical.

I swear, pics do not do this shade justice.

MAC It's Physical Fluidline, a brown with purple pearl and a Pearl finish — It’s Physical Fluidline, a brown with purple pearl and a Pearl finish

Officially, MAC describes It’s Physical as a brown with purple pearl, but on me it’s more of a purplish brown duochrome with hot pink and gold glitter — elements that can border on cray but work in the BEST possible way in this case.

I tried to capture the fine glitter flecks as well as I could, but in real life, this color is much livelier, more sparkly and more dynamic. I don’t know why the camera missed most of the pink glitter, but you can see a little flash of it in the left eye up in the pic up top, right in the middle of my lid. But when you see this color in person, it’s much more obvious.

The Fluidlines are usually used as gel liners, like for cat eyes, but they can also double as cream shadows and eyeshadow bases. It’s Physical works in all those ways, but I like it best worn as a cream shadow.

Here’s what I like to do: pat it on my lids with a 239, and then, right away, buff out the edges, drawing the shadow up toward my brow bone. Buffing brings out the brown tones and adds some smoke to the look. I think it also coaxes out more of the pink glitter.

It’s important to work quickly with this color and all of the Fluidlines if you plan to wear them as eyeshadows, because they dry really fast.

After buffing, I pat 2-3 additional layers along my lower lash line and in the outer corner to create a gradient. Whack a little Smolder along my water lines and bam! — a glittery, smokey purplish brown eye that takes very little effort. LOVE IT!

It’s Physical is the star of this show, for sure, but I think the two other colors are just as beautiful and totally worthy of your makeup bag. Like It’s Physical, they work great as liners, eyeshadow bases and standalone cream shadows.

Metallic reddish brown Our Secret, the only Fluidline in this launch without flecks of glitter, is my second fave shade.

MAC Our Secret Fluidline, a metallic brown with reddish pearl and a Pearl finish — Our Secret Fluidline, a metallic brown with reddish pearl and a Pearl finish

It’s basically like a gel liner version of MAC’s must-have Teddy Eye Kohl…

I know, right?! Beautiful on its own patted and buffed on the lids, maybe with some Teddy on the water lines.

Oh, and if you like reddish brown eyeshadows like Swiss Chocolate, and coppery colors like Amorous Alloy Extra Dimension Eye Shadow, also from the Magnetic Nude collection, you could get tons of use out of it.

MAC Chilled Fluidline, a frosted white gold with a Pearl finish — Chilled Fluidline, a frosted white gold with a Pearl finish

Chilled, the third shade, is a frosty white gold with golden glitter — also super pretty, particularly as an inner corner highlight or patted and buffed on the lids. I bet you could also wear it on the brow bone, or maybe even the upper cheekbones.

Fluidlines from the left: Chilled, It's Physical and Our Secret — Fluidlines from the left: Chilled, It’s Physical and Our Secret

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The New Hydrating MAC Huggable Lipcolour Collection Gives Dry Lips a Big Hug

December 18th, 2013 by Karen 16 Comments

Well, I love hugging smug thugs who snuggle pugs that play on rugs, BOOM!

And you wonder why my rap career never took off…

Hardy-har-har. 🙂

Ah, the things that pop into your head when you’re trying to think of clever ways to work the word “hug” into your blog posts…

You know, hug? As in the brand-spankin new MAC Huggable Lipcolour collection?

Interestingly, MAC didn’t call these lipsticks, which makes sense to me, as they don’t seem much like lipsticks at all. Rather, they remind me of intensely pigmented, hella moisturizing lip balms.

Dry lips say what now…?

Yup, the 12 Huggable Lipcolours have a completely new gel-based formula, and they make their big debut January 2nd at all North American MAC locations and internationally the same month (in all countries outside Asia).

MAC claims the formula makes them mega moisturizing and capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound!

Wait — no, that’s not right. It’s supposed to help the shiny finish last up to six hours.

Lots of colors here to choose from. I see some wearable nudes, pinks, corals and a sprinkling of richer wines, plums and deep reds.

These are, like, the ultimate purse lip balms. The moisturizing formula totally kicks dry lip flakes to the curb, and applying them couldn’t be easier. We’re talking so soft and buttery that they practically melt when you run them across your lips.

In fact, I’d say they border on being a little too soft, so don’t go dropping one on a hard surface, you cute clumsy-pants, lest you be S.O.L. like yours truly (notice that a few of them have chips on their sides, le sigh…).

As for the hugging, yeah, they really do hug the surface of my lips. No weird patchiness or propensities to settle into my fine lip lines. Just a smooth block of semi-transparent coverage with megawatts of shine.

MAC Touche Huggable Lipcolour, a light beige with a cream finish — Touche Huggable Lipcolour, a light beige with a cream finish

MAC Fresh & Frisky Huggable Lipcolour, a soft neutral peach with a cream finish — Fresh & Frisky Huggable Lipcolour, a soft neutral peach with a cream finish

MAC Cherry Glaze Huggable Lipcolour, an orangey red with a cream finish — Cherry Glaze Huggable Lipcolour, an orangey red with a cream finish

MAC Out for Passion Huggable Lipcolour, a soft warm rose with a cream finish — Out for Passion Huggable Lipcolour, a soft warm rose with a cream finish

MAC Fashion Force Huggable Lipcolour, a cool coral with a cream finish — Fashion Force Huggable Lipcolour, a cool coral with a cream finish

MAC Love Beam Huggable Lipcolour, a mid-tone warm pink with a cream finish — Love Beam Huggable Lipcolour, a mid-tone warm pink with a cream finish

MAC What a Feeling Huggable Lipcolour, a mid-tone cool pink with a cream finish — What a Feeling Huggable Lipcolour, a mid-tone cool pink with a cream finish

MAC Feeling Amorous Huggable Lipcolour, a mid-tone fuchsia with a cream finish — Feeling Amorous Huggable Lipcolour, a mid-tone fuchsia with a cream finish

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Mesmerizing Molten Metallics Bare All in the New MAC Magnetic Nude Collection, Coming to Counters December 26

December 17th, 2013 by Karen 50 Comments

I NEED MORE EYES!

And cheeks and lips.

LOL! Maybe then I wouldn’t look so cray-cray.

Because I couldn’t wait to try on the gorgeous new MAC Magnetic Nude collection (coming out December 26), I’m wearing two different eye looks at the moment, my cheeks don’t match, and my lip color is split down the middle.

I look like the Joker’s evil sister. 🙂

And that’s why I didn’t make an appearance in this video.

Here’s a tabletop look at the new Magnetic Nude collection (and a super quick look at the new Huggable Lipcolours and two new MAC False Lashes).

Also, if you happen to be YouTube averse, or if they block it at the office, here are some pics…

10,000-Foot Overview of the MAC Magnetic Nude Collection

26 pieces, limited edition
Available at MAC counters, stores and online December 26 through February 6, 2014; launches internationally some time in January
Lots of metallics and nudes, also a strong rose gold vibe
In the release, skin is radiant, eyes are metallic and smokey, and cheeks and lips are subtle and sexy
Here are 23 of the 26 pieces; the items not shown are Opulash Mascara in Bad Bad Black, the 128 Split Fibre Cheek brush and the 235 Split Fibre All Over Eye brush

Here are pics and swatches. I’ll be posting looks and reviews over the next few days…

MAC Magnetic Nude collection product pics

MAC A Natural Flirt Extra Dimension Eye Shadow, an iridescent light pink with a Metallic finish — A Natural Flirt Extra Dimension Eye Shadow, an iridescent light pink with a Metallic finish

MAC Sweet Heat Extra Dimension Eye Shadow, a soft peachy pink with a Metallic finish — Sweet Heat Extra Dimension Eye Shadow, a soft peachy pink with a Metallic finish

MAC Silver Dawn Extra Dimension Eye Shadow, a dirty grey mauve with a metallic finish — Silver Dawn Extra Dimension Eye Shadow, a dirty grey mauve with a metallic finish

MAC Amorous Alloy Extra Dimension Eye Shadow, a deep terracotta copper with a Metallic finish — Amorous Alloy Extra Dimension Eye Shadow, a deep terracotta copper with a Metallic finish

MAC Platinum Love Extra Dimension Eye Shadow, a bright clean silver with a Metallic finish — Platinum Love Extra Dimension Eye Shadow, a bright clean silver with a Metallic finish

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