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Vetting MAC Art Supplies Pro Longwear Lipstain Markers

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How was your Monday, sunshine? Mine was a little cra-zaay, as I’ve been running around like a nut!

The highlight: my trip to the vet…

For Tabs, of course. 🙂 Everything’s fine; he just needed a checkup, but the visit kind of threw a wrench into my afternoon. Vet visits turn that little wonderful cat into a freaking beast from the depths of kitteh hell.

He spent 45 very angry minutes dodging my attempts to load him into his cat carrier. Then, once we finally came to an agreement and got on the road, I couldn’t find the clinic and ended up lost beneath a highway next to some abandoned train tracks. Lovely, and that’s about the time Tabs started mewling, which, of course, made getting un-lost 10 times harder.

Long story short, it took a lot out of both of us. Tabs has been recovering in the closet since we got home, and I’ve been trying to unwind with the Pro Longwear Lipstain Markers ($16) from the upcoming MAC Art Supplies collection (arrives April 1).

Here are seven of the nine colors (not shown are Full of Flare and Tomorrow’s Coral). I’m curious to hear what you think. I like how rich the reds and browns are, but I think a lot of ’em look alike on my lips, maybe due to my pigmented pucker. 🙂


Stylesetter


A Classic
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Let MAC Art Supply the Makeup for Your Next Trip

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Ladies, it’s time to spring into action and show winter the door (so long, farewell, auf wiedersehen goodbye!). Next up, spring and summer. 🙂

I’ve already started planning some trips to take advantage of the season. Nothing big — maybe a day trip around the Bay Area and a weekend jaunt up to Lake Tahoe — and one thing I pride myself on when it comes to road trips is being the girl you can count on to bring the snacks, the upbeat music, the GPS (did I mention I have no sense of direction?) and the makeup. If we were road tripping together, most def’ I’d bring along something from the new MAC Art Supplies collection, as it’s one of the most road trip-friendly MAC releases I’ve seen in a long time.


For reference, I’m an NC 35. From left: Greasepaint Sticks in Greengrease, Zinc Zone, Slick Black, Dirty

Arriving April 1, the 24-piece bonanza bursts with great-looking on-the-go goodies in pencil and pen form. MAC had self-portraiture in mind when they envisioned the collection, a theme I can really get behind. Aren’t our faces, after all, the canvases upon which we express our own makeup art? Duuuude, that’s kinda poetic, methinks. 🙂


Greasepaint Sticks in Brown Now, Below Ground, Uniformly Blue

The fact that each item in the collection fits in a pocket is like icing on a cake. The Greasepaint Sticks ($17.50), Pearlglide Intense Eyeliners ($14.50) and Pro Longwear Lipstain Markers ($16) make it uber-easy to get ready in a rush.
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A Sunset-Inspired Face of the Day with MAC, Urban Decay and Benefit

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Can you remember the last time you watched a sunset?

I couldn’t, so I watched and waited on the back deck last Saturday afternoon with my camera to refresh my memory. Luckily it was a clear day (one of very few lately), and I caught the sun, in a burst of buttery gold, peach and pink, slip back behind the mountains.

Such beauty… It moved me to do my makeup! 🙂 Well, kinda. We were going out to dinner anyway, but what better inspiration than a beautiful sunset, right? I picked shimmery, peachy golden eyes and a pink lip with some random MAC, Urban Decay and Benefit.

Since we were going out, I blinged it up with Urban Decay’s Heavy Metal Glitter Liner along the lower lash line (what a nice glimmer of subtle, golden sparkle!) and added Benefit Hoola Bronzer into the crease.


Lips: MAC Liberty of London Lipstick in Petals & Peacocks, MAC Lip Pencil in Trimmed in Pink

Hello, kinda awesome! I think it brings a warm depth to the eyes, especially where it contrasts with something shimmery. If you’re already a Hoola fan, I recommend giving it a try in the crease with your favorite shimmery gold eyeshadow on the lid.
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MBBTV: Episode 3 — A Few Ways to Use MAC Beauty Powder in Shell Pearl

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Heya, ladies. Have you picked up any goodies from MAC Liberty of London? If you haven’t considered the Beauty Powder in Shell Pearl ($25), here are a few ways I like to use it (click here to see the video).

Enjoy the rest of your Friday night, and I’ll catch up with you soon. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Episode 3 Links:

MAC Unsung Heroes: The Technakohl Liners

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Question por tu: Do girls with thicker, fuller lashes have more fun?

A flirty fringe comes in handy when you’re batting eyelashes with a stranger across the room, or in my case with the old dude working behind the counter at the See’s (hook me up with another chocolate sample, holmes!). 🙂

My wimp-tacular eyelashes and I rely on MAC’s Technakohl Liners ($14.50, available in 11 colors), magical, twist-up mechanical makeup pencils that tightline like WHOA!


Graphblack, Brownborder

Yo, what’s tightlining?

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A Summery Sunday Face of the Day With MAC Too Fabulous

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Finding cute, CHEAP accessories always puts me in a good mood. Like these leopard print shell earrings from H&M (a mere four buckaroos!) — finding them made me feel kinda like this…

The colors and print reminded me of summertime, which lead (is it lead or led?) to this peach, bronze and orange look with a mix of MAC products from Too Fabulous, Spring Colour Forecast and MAC’s permanent collection.


Lip Pencil in Mouth Off, Lipstick in Fresh Salmon, Mineralize Blush in Sun & Moon
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Four Quick Looks at New Face Products from MAC, Stila and Tarte

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Can I get a HOLLA from my on-the-go girls? Why does it seem like there’s never enough time for, well, anything? If “summarize it” is your mantra, I got yo’ back, holmes. Here are four lickity split looks at new face products from MAC, Stila and Tarte.

MAC Mineralize SPF 15 Foundation ($32; available in 23 shades)


Shade: NC 35

I really wanted to love MAC Mineralize SPF 15, the company’s latest foundation. It blew me away with its creamy, weightless formula, soft focus finish and medium coverage. My combination dry/oily skin couldn’t wait to give it a try.

But, alas, it breaks me out like a mo’ fo’…

Some ladies love it, though, so I’d say it’s worth a try if your skin plays well with other MAC foundations. Performance-wise, it’s great stuff, offering buildable coverage that doesn’t settle into fine lines. Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B+

Tarte Smooth Operator Natural Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 20 ($36; 11 shades)


Shade: Agent 14

When Tarte re-packaged their oil-free Smooth Operator line, they were cool enough to spruce it up with five new shades.

I’ve been wearing sheer Agent 14 on the weekends (I love the names; they also have Agents 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 00). It’s a lightweight tinted moisturizer with just a hint of color, but it still manages to eliminate any redness I might have while evening out my skin tone.
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