MAC Makeup

Sneak Peek: MAC N Collection at NY Fashion Week 2008

January 9th, 2008 by Karen 41 Comments

Correction: When I wrote the post below I thought the face charts were for NY Fashion week in February. Turns out that these are looks that were used for shows in September, so oops. Note to self: don’t drink NyQuil first thing in the morning and then start writing. In the future I’ll leave writing under the influence to the greats like Hemmingway and Bukowski.

Because of my recent MAC Parrot revelation I’ve been all about colorful makeup as of late, but the fantasmic orgy of beiges and browns in the MAC N Collection really moves me.

Even though this neutral color collection is a tad Bobbi Brown-esque (*yawn*), I’m looking forward to it because it seems very wearable and beginner friendly. I am all over these paint pots and lipsticks like cheese on macaroni!

Already available online through the MAC Web site, the collection officially debuts tomorrow at MAC counters everywhere.

LIPSTICK ($14)
1N – Light frosted gold with pink pearl
2N – Creamy light pink
3N – Milky pastel pink
4N – Mid-tone creamy brown
5N – Plummy sheer brown

LIPGLASS ($14)
1N – Creamy white tan
2N – Creamy neutral yellow pink
3N – Neutral brown with gold and pink pearl
4N – Light chocolate brown with red pearl

SMALL EYESHADOW ($14)
Nanogold – Sheer Yellow beige with pink pearl
Modest Tone – Neutral dirty tan
Neutral Pink – Dirty mid-tone blue pink
Rich Flesh- Neutral warm brown
Remotely Grey – Dirty grey brown
Dark Edge – Dirty chocolate brown

PAINT POT ($16.50)
Soft Ochre – Yellow beige
Quite Natural – Dirty chocolate brown
Groundwork – Mid-tone Neutral taupe

CREMESTICK LINER ($14)
Creamola – Low-down tan
Sublime Culture – Pink caramel fusion

TECHNAKOHL ($14.50)
Graphblack – Richest graphic-black
Brownborder – Deep chocolate brown

PLUSHLASH ($11)
Plushblack – Black

NAIL LACQUER ($10)
N Colour – Creamy beige
Demi-Blanc – Gold beige with green pearl
Naturally Rich – Milk chocolate

There’s also a face collection with two very purty limited edition Mineralize Skinfinishes. Peep ’em on the MAC site.

Are ya feeling these colors, or are they not poppin’ enough for you?

Sneak Peek: MAC at NY Fashion Week 2008

New York Fashion Week’s just around the corner, and the upcoming February shows will showcase spring and summer looks from designers like Tuleh and Rodarte.This scoop is that we’ll be seeing brown lips and eyes at a lot of the shows. This year, MAC will be doing the makeup backstage, so assume browns from the N Collection will be all over the place, holla!

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the looks we’re sure to see on the runway:

Bill Blass

Skin:
Mineralize Satinfinish Foundation
Select Moisturecover Concealer

Eyes:
Paintpot
Inner eye – Kitty
Outer eye – Pink Venus
Lashline – Teddy Kohl

Cheeks:
Beauty Powder

Lips:
3N Lipstick

Preen

Skin:
Natural/Coverage in the center

Eyes:
Lid – Cash Flow Paint Pot and Quite Natural Paint Pot
Highlight – Pearl

Cheeks:
Ladyblush
Medium dark mineralized in contour

Lips:
4N Lipstick

J. Mendel

Skin:
Full Coverage
Blot Powder

Eyes:
Lid – Richground Fluidline
Socket – Constructivist Paintpot
Liner – Brown Border

Cheeks:
Bronze Bronzing Powder

Lips:
4N Lipstick and Concealer

Rodarte

Skin:
Raw and a bit paler. T-zone specific, no blush.

Eyes:
Lid – White Paintstick, set with Invisible Set Powder
Graphic drawn on with Blacktrack Fluidline
Center of Lid – A diffused blue focus using Clear Sky Blue Chromackae and Electric Eel Eyeshadow.
Lashes – black mascara
Brows – Lightened with flesh tones

Lips:
3N Lipstick

Nicholai

Skin:
Natural skin

Eyes:
Lashes – Pro Lash
Silverstroke Fluidline Liner with Reflects Pearl and Mixing Gel mixed over it
Natural Brow

Lips:
3N and 4N Lipstick

Tuleh

Skin:
Face & Body Foundation with Full Coverage to spot conceal
Invisible Set powder to set T-zone

Cheek:
Fancy Ray & Cheery Cremeblush
Hey Eyeshadow (Fafi collection) to highlight cheekbone

Eyes:
Bottom Waterline – Fascinating Eye Kohl
Crease – Taupe blush
Inner corner and browbone – Hey eyeshadow
Lashes – Plushlash mascara

Lips:
2N Lipglass
Subculture Lip Pencil

Jayson Brunsdon

Skin:
Studio Touchup Stick
Mineralized Skinfinish Natural

Eyes:
Crease – Mineralized Skinfinish Natural in Medium
Lids – Sable Eyeshadow
Brows – Brow Finisher

Lips:
Top lip – Strawbaby
Bottom lip – N3 Lipstick

Luca Luca

Skin:
Face and Body Foundation set with Loose Blot Powder

Eyes:
On lid blended out to crease – Parrot
In crease, blended into the browbone and under the eyes as bottom liner – Charred
Lashes – Prolash Black

Lips:
3N Lipstick

Girrrl, I’m so over the rain and cold. Are you ready for spring? ‘Cause I am!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

MAC Originals Face of the Day, C-Thru

January 4th, 2008 by Karen 30 Comments

Ride the pigment train!

Figuring out how to use MAC pigments opened up a new world of makeup for me. I used to be at a loss when it came to these sparkly jars of color, but learning what brushes to use made a big difference in preparing this face of the day. Below is the Originals C-Thru face chart for inspiration.

Do you ever go through makeup phases? Right now, I’m all about green eye makeup, and MAC Golden Olive pigment really makes the eyes in this look pop!

Here’s what I used to get the look:

Eyes
Brows – MAC A Little Folie eyeshadow
Browbone – MAC Frisco eyeshadow
Lid – MAC Sweet Sage Fluidline, followed by MAC Golden Olive pigment
Crease – MAC A Little Folie eyeshadow
Upper lashline – MAC Blacktrack Fluidline
Lower lashline – MAC A Little Folie eyeshadow
Lashes (upper and lower) – Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! mascara

Cheeks
Cheeks – Neutrogena Softcolor blush in Sunny Spice
Cheekbones – MAC Antique Gold Reflects

Lips
Lipliner – MAC Subculture
Lipstick – MAC Sandy B
Lipgloss – MAC C-Thru lipglass

You want this!

Do you wanna know what your new favorite browbone shadow is? Despite its terrible, terrible name, you’ve got to pick up Frisco eyeshadow because it’s totally boss. This beautiful pale pink is sheer and subtle, and it’s not as loud as browbone shadows like Ricepaper or Shroom. It’s a great choice for natural looks (for work, pair it with Woodwinked or Soba).

Sidenote: Please don’t call San Francisco “Frisco” when you visit! It is my number #3 pet peeve in the entire universe (#1 is when people leave an empty toilet roll and don’t bother to put in a fresh one, and #2 is knee-high boots that don’t hug your calves). It’s “The City,” or “SF,” and in some very rare cases (i.e., Christian Bale can get away with it) “San Fran.”

Also, Sandy B lipstick is a can’t miss color. Peachy with a slight frost, it’s a pretty neutral for no-fuss days. That said, I’m not crazy about it with C-Thru Lipglass in the look above because the C-Thru has that overly frosty, 60s go-go dancer thing going. I think it’s much more wearable and prettier topped with a clear gloss instead.

A few days ago I was all about the glitters in this collection, but now I’m having second thoughts. Next time I do this look, I’m skipping the Reflects Blackened Red. It made my cheeks look really muddy and didn’t mesh well with my skin tone at all. I’d think twice about this purchase!

We got hit by a hurricane early this morning in the Bay Area. Trees and street signs were down outside, but we made it through. I heard that 6-foot waves were supposed to hit inside the Bay and 28 footers just outside the Golden Gate. Too bad we can’t surf this!

Right now I’ve got a killer sore throat. I guess I’m fighting a cold, so I’m off to do some serious resting on the couch. Stay dry, and if you’re out on the road drive safely, please!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

MAC Pigments Made Easy

January 4th, 2008 by Karen 33 Comments

I can’t be the only one out there intimidated by MAC Pigments. For years I overlooked their brightly colored, loose shadows. They look so professional and no-nonsense in their sexy little jars. I assumed there was no way a klutz like me could use them.

Seasoned MAC junkies seem to love ’em though, so in the name of Makeup and Beauty Blog science I decided to give them a chance. I figured the worst that could happen would be I’d drop a jar on the bathroom floor and end up with purple-stained towels, a purple toilet, sink and floor. But other than that, what could go wrong?

But surprise surprise! — even I couldn’t muck this up! Using the steps below, I managed to avoid both 1) a big mess in the bathroom and 2) looking like a rabid clown.

MAC Pigments the easy way

Start by grabbing a stiff eye brush, like the MAC 252 or the MAC 239. Stiff brushes are easier to use with pigments than fluffy brushes because stiff brushes provide more control over color application. Using a fluffy brush results in a lot more color going all over the place. Trust me, you don’t want this to happen.

All the pigments come with a plastic “stopper.” You’ll see this when you open the lid of the jar.

Sidenote: please excuse the broke-ass manicure. I did swatches of Essie’s new spring collection and over the Christmas break had five different colors on the nails of my left hand.

I then placed this plastic stopper onto the lid with the powdery side up.

Dipping the brush directly into the jar loaded it with too much product, so instead I grabbed just the right amount of the product from where it collected on the plastic stopper.

Tap off excess color against the rim of the jar or swipe the brush head across a Kleenex.

Voila! Now you can use the pigment as a shadow or highlighter!

Take note

Not all pigments are suitable for eye use, so if you plan to use a pigment around your eyes make sure it’s rated safe for use there. The packaging or the insert included with the pigment should let you know!

The MAC artist who taught me this application trick discouraged me from using concealer as a base and recommended I use MAC Paints and the MAC Paint Pots. I’ve tried all three as bases and prefer the Paint Pots as a base because they emphasize the richness of the pigment’s color and have excellent staying power.

MAC’s pigment jars are totally huge, and one jar will take you into your next few lifetimes. If you are on a budget then grab a friend and head to the MAC counter together to share a jar. There’s plenty enough for both of you, and you’ll save yourself a pretty penny.

Are you ready to start collecting pigments with me? Let’s do this!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

MAC Originals Face of the Day, Full on Lust

January 3rd, 2008 by Karen 72 Comments

I’m feeling the sass today because I get tomorrow off from work, so today is my “Friday,” and also because of my wacky hair:

El Hub’s been reading a lot of manga books (Japanese comics), and I swiped a few the other day. They inspired me to rock my hair like this.

Hair of this sassified caliber deserves superhero makeup, too, so today I gave the MAC Full on Lust face chart a go.

This is a brighter daytime look than I’m used to wearing, but I like it because it makes me feel really cute and spunky. If the blue is too cartoony for your liking you can always use a lighter touch to lessen the color intensity.

Here’s what I used to get the look:

Eyes
Brows – MAC Concrete eyeshadow
Browbone – MAC Frisco eyeshadow
Lid – MAC Jadeye Fluidline
Center and outer lid – MAC Parrot eyeshadow
Crease – MAC Charred eyeshadow and MAC Carbon Eyeshadow
Upper lashline – MAC Blacktrack Fluidline
Lower lashline – MAC Carbon eyeshadow
Lashes (lower and upper) – Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! mascara

Cheeks
Cheeks – MAC Blushbaby blush

Lips
Lipliner – MAC Subculture
Lipstick – MAC Twig-Twig
Lipgloss – MAC Full on Lust

A few eye tips

When using dark colors in the crease, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Build color slowly. First, if you’re clumsy like I am, I find that it helps to take the time to build a color slowly, layer upon layer. First, I dipped my crease brush in the eyeshadow pot, swiped it gently on some tissue to remove the excess shadow, and then applied Charred (a shade of grey) in a light layer using a sweeping motion in my crease. I applied about five light layers before I got the color where I wanted it to be. Yes, it’s time consuming, but it’s easier for me to slowly build up layers instead of overloading my brush. Remember, it’s easier to add color than to take it away.

Don’t over blend. Have you ever tried a smokey eye, used several colors, but ended up with absolutely no definition between the colors you applied to your lid, your crease or your outer V? Here’s the deal: when you’re doing a smokey-inspired eye, you can’t go crazy with the blending; otherwise, you end up with a solid layer of dark shadow (aka ONE HOT MESS) on your eyelid. Trust me, I’ve effed up my share of smokey eyes by overblending to oblivion.

Now when I’m doing a smokey eye I use a MAC 224 brush to lightly diffuse any harsh lines and take special care not to go crazy with the blending. I use the very tip of the brush and lightly tap the edges of the shadow to blend the color. Or, I’ll use the tip, and with a light hand sweep it back and forth to diffuse the color.

Carbon 101. If I’m using a dark color like Carbon in the crease, it’s all about the brush. To get that dark black pop in the outer crease I’ll use a MAC 219 brush, which has a pointed head shaped like a pencil tip. Using the very tip of the brush, I’ll lightly swipe Carbon back and forth in the crease with extra emphasis on the outer half. To keep the Carbon from blending into the Charred, I’ll use the 224 brush to tap out any overly harsh lines.

Twig-Twig Lipstick and Full on Lust Lipglass: You want this combo!

Often I attempt a lighter lip with smokey eyes and end up looking like a corpse with pale beige lips, but the Twig-Twig lipstick/Full on Lust lipglass combo has just enough warmth to not look undead. It’s light, natural-looking and keeps the emphasis on the eyes, hawt!

This look isn’t one that I’d do everyday because I don’t always have the time to devote to layering color ever-so-carefully, but I’ll definitely do the eye makeup again when I’m feeling the spunky sass spirit.

MAC’s Are You an Original? Contest

MAC asks, “Are you an original?” Your answer better be Hell-to-the-Yeah!

If you exude OG spirit, then be sure to enter this spiffy contest ’cause there’s some serious MAC prize loot.

Enter by visiting MAC Cosmetics online and uploading a picture and a 200-word testament on how you are a MAC Original. Online voters will then determine the winner, who’ll snag a $1,000 gift card (holla!) from MAC and the entire Originals collection.

or…

If you live in the New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Las Vegas, San Francisco or Houston areas, you can visit your designated MAC location to get your makeup done for free and have your photograph taken by a professional. Each city will have one winner who’ll receive a $250 MAC gift card, the entire Originals collection and be featured in local publications. The winners will also be entered into the online contest mentioned above.

Technical difficulties

If you were visiting the site in the wee hours last night you may have noticed that it was out of commission. Go Daddy, my web host, was having server issues, but all is well now. 🙂

Anyway, my sassy self has to run a few errands before it starts raining. Happy Thursday, ya’ll!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Looks Back on 2007

December 31st, 2007 by Karen 29 Comments

Ahhh, the last day of 2007. I always get a little sad when I know something is coming to an end; I guess it’s the thought of a part of my life ending and knowing I’ll never be able to go back (unless I drop $10 million for those time travel plans on eBay).

When I started this blog, I never imagined how much fun it would be. This year has been, to quote my eighth grade East Bay self circa 1989, “hella cool.”

Dita Von Teese – Interviewing MAC Viva Glam spokesperson Dita Von Teese at the Macy’s Passport fashion show was a trip. She was so stunningly beautiful and I was so nervous. The other day, I listened to the audio recording of the interview and laughed because I even SOUNDED sweaty.

Paris Hilton – The Dita experience really helped, though, when the time came to interview Paris Hilton for the release of Can Can, her new perfume. It was a level of celebrity that I’d never experienced before — body guards, press folks, rabid fans foaming at the mouth. It was the first time I’d interviewed a really high profile celebrity AND the first time I had to do it in a room filled with people watching me. What a learning experience.

SF Fashion Week – But my favorite event of the year was hanging out with MAC backstage at SF Fashion Week. I fell in love with a few products, learned a lot and met other beauty bloggers, like Erika and Christine.

Laura Mercier – There was plenty of Laura Mercier love last spring.

Tokidoki bag – The Tokidoki bag fit all my stuff AND rocked my world.

Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash – Unfortunately, I experienced getting pimples on my butt for the first time. Fortunately, Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash saved my ass (pardon the pun).

43 makeup things – Thanksgiving was an excuse to eat turkey, wear stretchy pants and think about the 43 makeup things I’m thankful for.

43 non-makeup things – Thanksgiving also provided an opportunity to give thanks for everything else.

Chanel Glossimers – I became a fiend for Chanel Glossimers.

Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple – And Purity Made Simple simply rocked my world.

Chanel Garden Party Quad – Chanel’s National Artist John Fussell helped me fall in love with the Chanel Garden Party Quad, and now there’s no turning back!

Smashbox’s Lori Taylor – Smashbox’s Lori Taylor gave some backstage tips from L.A. Fashion Week.

Billy B. – I met and interviewed one of the nicest guys in the beauty biz.

MAC’s awesome Louise Zizzo – Louise Zizzo saved me from myself when the MAC Mattene collection came out.

Celebrity makeup artist Bruce Grayson – Bruce Grayson’s makeup tips from the Emmy’s red carpet.

Dear Makeup and Beauty Blog – I heard from Shy in Chi-town.

Guide to Smart Clubbing – You asked for tough love, and in the Guide to Smart Clubbing I gave it to ya (hey, I’ve had a lot of practice).

Curiositease – And my number one makeup love, MAC, didn’t let me down.

Pigments and Glitters – Remember when I was grouchy about Pigments and Glitters?

MAC Loose Beauty Powder – I fell in love.

Smoke Signals – It rocked my world.

MAC Mad Libs – We had a lil’ fun together.

MAC Mattene lipsticks – Where’s my plaid shirt and my Pearl Jam CD? MAC Mattene lipsticks took me back to the 90s.

A quick smokey eye with MAC shadow – Oh, this is old school.

But the best thing that happened to me this year was meeting all of you. It’s been fun getting to know you and learning about your lives. You’d think that it would be hard to make a connection behind a computer screen, but sometimes I feel like we’re all just having a cup of coffee together and gabbing about makeup.

I hope you make the most of this fantastic last day of the year!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

MAC Cosmetics Originals Lipstick Swatches

December 30th, 2007 by Karen 15 Comments

The 10 lipsticks ($14 each) in the MAC Originals collection sure are pretty!

From left to right:
Rozz Revival, Chintz on Chintz, Utter Pervette, Back to Del Rio, and Nouveau-Frou

From left to right:
Retrofluid, Supersequin, Twig-Twig, Sandy B, and Russian Red

Don’t miss Twig-Twig, Sandy B, Supersequin, and Rozz Revival! If you don’t have Russian Red Lipglass, then snag the lipstick version, fo’ sho. I know it looks a little scary in the swatch, but I’ve seen it on lots of women and it always looks good.

Did ya snag any of these lippies?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Your weekend isn’t over yet! Here are the best of 2007 from the ladies at Splendicity![Continue reading…]

MAC Cosmetics Originals Glitter Swatches

December 27th, 2007 by Karen 19 Comments

Ahhh, glitter. I couldn’t get enough of you circa 1998, when all I ever needed in my makeup life was a heavy spackling of you in various obnoxious colors around my eyes.

Back then we’d spend every Saturday night together. Underneath the shimmer of a disco ball and colored lights, I’d be drenched in your sparkle as I danced ’til the wee hours in the club in my knee-high go-go boots.

But times change; sometimes I feel too old to wear you. I’m not the same care-free club girl I was then, and even though in many ways I’m glad I’m not her anymore (she was a lot of fun, but often unfocused) I miss having a lil’ glitter in my life.

Glitter, I thought I was ready to let go of you, but MAC’s Glitter, from the Originals collection ($16.50 a jar), rekindled my love.

mac-cosmetics-makeup-reflects-blackened-red-very-pin-transparent-teal-antique-gold-swatches

mac-cosmetics-makeup-reflects-transparent-teal

I’ve been feeling the glittery spirit lately, so I’ve been using Reflects Antique Gold on top of a matte peach blush to highlight my cheeks. Note: I’m not looking to resemble a Vegas showgirl on roller skates, so there is a method to the madness.
[Continue reading…]

MAC Cosmetics Originals Pigment Swatches

December 27th, 2007 by Karen 16 Comments

The skinny

Snag it – Kitschmas, Melon, Golden Olive and Violet Pigments from the MAC Cosmetics Originals Collection.
Yes – Vibrant, wearable brights that even hapless color clumsies (ahem, like yours truly) can use with ease.
Texture – Finely milled color with soft shimmer.
Bang for your buck – You barely need to use any for excellent color payoff, and, at $19.50 each, one huge jar will last a long time.

Skip it – Steel Blue.
No – I was very turned off by the grainy texture; it doesn’t apply as smoothly as the other pigments.
Texture – Thick, with big granules and too-obvious shimmer.
Bang for your buck – Nada. I don’t wear a lot of blues, so I probably won’t reach for this often.

Swatches for your viewing pleasure

mac-cosmetics-makeup-pigment-originals-kitschmas-violet-melon-golden-olive-steel-blue

mac-cosmetics-makeup-pigment-kitschmas
mac-cosmetics-makeup-pigment-violet
mac-cosmetics-makeup-pigment-melon
mac-cosmetics-makeup-pigment-golden-olive
mac-cosmetics-makeup-pigment-steel-blue