MAC Magically Cool Liquid Powder!

MAC released their Magically Cool Liquid Powder as part of their permanent line in tandem with their Surf Baby collection (mentioned in my Surf Baby post). The powder is a favourite of many makeup junkies as it's both pretty and very peculiar. Prescription had their own version of this sort of powder and were actually the first I believe to have such a product. Since then they have stopped manufacturing their powder and many makeup junkies turn to MAC who only had this powder in their limited edition collections. Now it's here to stay!

Description:
A silky, feather-light powder, formulated with 70% water, dusts on to the skin as a cooling mist to set and enhance the look of any foundation. Beyond sheer: light-reflecting and translucent. A virtually invisible way to add luminosity and a soft radiant glow to the skin.

My Take:
I purchased this powder over a month ago and never got the time to post it and give a review.
I ended up picking up the colour Honey Rose, a pretty light pink with silver shimmer. It's actually quite scary and shimmery if you dip your finger in and swipe it on your hand. This powder is one you must apply very lightly and buff in in order for you to avoid looking like a disco ball. I personally would not use this as an all over face colour or to set my makeup as I don't like my whole face to shimmer/glow. Don't get me wrong, buffing/blending it in really does not have you looking like a shimmery mess. It actually gives a pretty glow! I use it as a highlight on the top of my cheek and my cupid's bow.
It feels lovely! My mother didn't believe me when I was describing the feeling to her (I've been searching for this powder for 3 years now as it was used on my face for a shoot). I had to get the MAC mua to put some on her and she is in love. It literally feels as if someone is spritzing cold water on your skin. A truly "cool" feel.
The packaging is nice as the container has a little sifter so you don't have to dip your brush in a whole mound of powder. I have avoided putting it in my bag or anywhere but my counter because I just KNOW it will all end up on the top. It' very easy to sift it back into the bottom but I'd rather not go through the hassle.

blended it it's not as shimmery as this

xoxo

MAC Semi-Precious Goodies :)

As beautiful as this collection was I had my eye on 4 things (Feeling Flush Blush, Musky Amethyst Lipstick, Golsdstone MSF, Gems of Roses Lipstick) and eventually picked 2 and I love them!
I picked up the MSF in Semi-Precious Goldstone and the Lipstick in Gems of Roses.

The MSF is gorgeous! You can use the middle as a highlight, the outer edge as a bronzer or for contouring as the bronze colour is not very sparkly. Goldstone is not glittery nor is it overly sparkly MSF as it gives more of a glow. The middle part is actually more sparkly than the outer edge which is a smooth bronze glow. You can also swirl your brush in both the inner and outer colour and achieve a lighter form of the bronze to give your cheeks or face an all over glow.

center-outer

center-outer-mixed

I had my eye on Musky Amethyst Lipstick but by the time I got there it was sold out :( I did however get Gems of Roses and my gosh it's the perfect colour for my lips. It's not too pink, not too red, not too dark...it more so enhances the colour of my lips and is an overall gorgeous colour. I didn't think I would like it this much but I already made a dent in it from using it so much!!! It smooth and semi-opaque...just perfect!

I am very very happy with the two items I got. I didn't get everything I wanted but I am totally pleased with what I have and I don't regret not buying the others.

xoxo

What mother nature would say....

I came across this and it made me laugh but also told the truth....

xoxo

Rules of Blush!

So many of us girls (and guys) resort to just swiping blush onto our cheeks but don't realise or know how much it can help the face, shape the face or ruin the face! This is part one of a blush series I will be doing.

To follow will be blush trends on the runway and how to achieve it & how to reshape your face with blush <3

 

 

Now for the rules:

1. Keep it real:
   MUA Laura Mercier states that the whole idea of putting colour on your cheeks is to mimic a healthy glow. Stay away from super bright un-natural colours that would make you look like a clown rather than have a pretty flush. Rose coloured blushes are best for pale skin, apricot toned blushes for medium, and muted brick reds for darker skin tones.
    
2. Find the right formula:
   Cream blush is easier to blend and sheer out than other formulations and usually look a bit more natural. It's great for women with normal to dry skin as it's like a added layer of moisture. Try MAC, NYX, Nars, Clinique and YSL. Cream blush is NOT for oily skin as it will fade and/or migrate.
   Gel blushes are good for oily skin but with dry skin, gel blush will enhance your dry spots....you don't want that.
   Powder blush works for normal to oily skin and it's the most widely used formulation of blush and most conventional. I personally prefer powder blush.
    
3. Where did it go?
   Begin applying the blush at the top of the apples of the cheek for the most natural look as the idea is to deposit most f the pigment where rosiness would first appear naturally. If you can't tell where that is just smile to push the apples up (one of the first things I learned about blush application).
   Blend outward towards your hairline and down from the apples of your cheek so there are no harsh lines.
    
4. Tools:
   Fan brushes are great for very bright powder blushes because it distributes colour evenly and creates a soft effect (ohhhhh so that's what that brush is used for! :p ).
   A nice SOFT fluffy brush is great for all other powder brushes as it desposits the not so bright colours very well on the cheeks. Cream and gel blushes are best applied with the fingers and you can use a duo fibre brush.
    
5. Make it grab!
   A layer of translucent powder used as a primer for your powder blush will help the pigment go on uniformly and last longer.
    
6. Last longer?
   If you're one to complain that your blush disappears by midday you can prolong the wear by first applying a little cream blush and then dust a bit of translucent powder over the area and finish with a powder blush. ALL of this applied with a light hand.
    
7. Sparkly or matte?
   Think of the lighting you would be in. Skip anything too sparkly for the office because your cheeks will look shiny because of the fluorescent lights. HOWEVER blushes with a slight shimmer bring sallow skin back to life. Usually persons should go for shimmer for night looks and matte/satin blushes for day time :)
    
8. Avoid Clowning around
   If you have rosacea or your skin is blotchy/uneven first even out your skin with an opaque foundation then apply the blush. If it is more purple toned, peachy or soft brone blush will counteract the redness but if your skin is more rosy look for a muted peachy rose.

xoxo

MAC Colourizations (Fall 2011)

Tame your cravings for vibrant shades and ultra-refined textures with the MAC Colourizations collection for Fall 2011. Never underestimate the visual power of a radiant eye makeup. In order to stand out from the crowd it is important to work with an unlimited color palette. MAC is one of the most impressive makeup brands that provides makeup junkies with a series of glam collections to satisfy their beauty fix.

This collection will blow you away with wonderful, colourful and show stopping eye shadows...paired exquisitely with each other in convenient little pallettes. Not only are there bright colours but slightly more muted as well so everyone is sure to find a pair they love!!

DESCRIPTION:

“Couples can be seemingly mismatched…but when it works, it’s wonderful! These Duos for Eyes are doubly dramatic, with two shades combined in sophisticated unexpected ways…so much so that we call them M·A·C DOUBLE FEATURES.
In eight daring pairings, they’re being introduced just as Summer fades away, COLOURIZATIONS Double Feature Shadow Compacts are the quickest, most convenient way to incite the imagination.”


DOUBLE FEATURES:

Double Feature 1: bright yellow gold (veluxe pearl) / pinked-up chrome purple (frost)

Double Feature 2: bright lime (veluxe pearl) / frosty deep grey (satin)

Double Feature 3: mid-tone teal (matte) / deep chocolate (satin)

Double Feature 4: deep forest green (veluxe pearl) / mid-tone ochre brown (matte)

Double Feature 5: pale frosty peach (frost) / dark brown with green pearl (frost)

Double Feature 6: light grey taupe (matte) / mid-tone bronze (veluxe pearl)

Double Feature 7: bright fuchsia (frost) / cool black (satin)

Double Feature 8: mid-tone orange (frost) / deep navy (satin)

This picture does not do the colours justice. The Teal, purple, yellow and green shades are richhhh and bright!!

*****************************************

The maxi collection contains also a voguish selection of Technakohl Liners, A Zoom Lash mascara along with two makeup brushes.

TECHNAKOHL LINERS

Graphblack: rich graphic black

Photogravure: soft black with brown undertone

Purple Dash: intense aubergine

Auto-de-blu: amethyst

Uniform: deep khaki green with gold pearl

Jade Way: pure emerald green with frost

ZOOM LASH

Zoomblack: rich black

BRUSHES

222: tapered blending brush

275: medium angled shading brush

The collection will be available from July 29th, 2011 (Nordstrom), August 2011 (All MAC Locations)

MAC Glamglass (Fall 2011) [quick post!]

The secret to flash your sensuality is to nail down the hottest lipstick shades. The MAC Glamglass lip collection for Fall 2011 will provide you with a high street selection of oh-so-soft and non-sticky lip glosses and pencils. An ultra-flattering and glossy pout can always attract immediate attention. Whether you're a fan of statement makeup designs or you wish to plump your lips just for the sake of complementing your overall look, using high class cosmetic formulas is the secret to ultimate success.

MAC invites you into the realm of glamorous beauty compositions that offer all beauty kittens the chance to master the art of highlighting feminine sensuality. The MAC Glamglass collection for Fall 2011 is the perfect repertoire of shiny glosses and super-fine pencils everyone can use without any difficulties.

Glamglass Lip Glosses
“Newly formulated, this super-silky gloss delivers the perfect amount of Knockout colour with its innovative new brush applicator. Encounter a Lasting Sensation of hypnotically intense, pure colour with a vividly alluring shine that leaves lips looking lush for hours. Mesmerizingly minimal, non-sticky texture feels comfortable… featherlight.”

Casual Air Frosted (pale pink)

It’s a Wow (blue-pink “rose pink”)

Check This Out (Coral with yellow-pink pearl)

Rich & Witty (Neutral dirty pinked beige)

Comfort & Joy (frosted dirty mauve)

Famously Fab! (Purple-lavender, pearled)

Tour de Fabulous (Clean yellow pink with pearl)

Knockout (Red with pearl)

Style-Packed (vivid fuchsia)

Rich Bounty (red-brown with pearl)

Real Posh (berry, slightly pearled)

Glamglass Lip Pencils

The Lip Pencil collection is equally mesmerizing allowing us to refine and shape our lips into beautiful masterpieces.
“Eight tantalizing Lip Pencil shade extensions round out a collection that positively whispers Embrace Me.”

What Comes Naturally (peachy beige)

Hip ‘n’ Happy (blue pink)

Have to Have It (soft warm beige)

Just Wonderful (dirty mauve)

Entertain Me (clearly orange)

Lasting Sensation (vibrant coral)

Embrace Me (radiant pinkish fuchsia)

Just My Type (deep warm brown)

xoxo

Every girl needs smooth skin & tiny pores! Right??

I guess you're wondering what I'm talking about right?
Firstly let me tell you the story...short...boring...but I'm still going to tell you.
I was having my face made up for an advertisment shoot and before the MUA put anything on my face she took out a beautiful blue bottle with a gorgeous gold pump and smoothed onto my face a pump of the contents. The first thing that hit me was the wonderful citrus smell that hit me like a ton of bricks (but in a nice way!!! if that's possible given the phrase). I LOVE LOVE LOVE citrus. It's not a sweetened version of citrus. It swings more toward lemon than an orange though :s
It was so light weight and the scent just made me so happy! I wasn't sure what it was though...a moisturizer? a base?
I felt my face afterwards and it was sooooooo soft and smooth!!!! It felt silky and perfect!
I asked her what it was since I wasn't bold enough to grab the bottle off the table to read it.

ESTEE LAUDER IDEALIST PORE MINIMIZING SKIN REFINISHER!!!!

What the product looks like.

This is a sample size of the product that you can pick up at your nearest EL counter. You get quite a lot of product and it will last you long enough to fully experience the product!!

The name explains it all.


The product is described as:
This fast-acting serum delivers our most dramatic skin resurfacing benefits-more efficiently than ever before.With Idealist, your skin looks and feels like your ideal skin:

Virtually poreless.

• Pores appear 1/3 smaller-instantly.
• See a 69% reduction in the look of pores in just 4 weeks.

Unbelievably soft and smooth.

• Repairs the look of uneven skin texture,
flakiness and roughness.
• Smooth it on and instantly enjoy that soft, seamless, silky feeling you love.

Incredibly clear and even-toned.

• See more clarity and luminosity.
• Gives skin an overall more even tone.

My take:
My skin honestly feels like my ideal skin. The kind of texture anyone would want. Smooth, soft and just flawless. Like the kind of sensation you get feeling the outside of NARS products but smoother!!!
The pores near my nose and on my nose did appear smaller but I wouldn't say instantly. After a few days (like 3 days) those babies shrunk or at least look significantly smaller! My pores aren't really that big though so I can't tell you whether they're getting smaller and smaller every week since they're basically invisible now.
I have combination skin but where my skin is dry....it's DRY and sometimes flaky (the tip of my nose because I rub it a lot, sides of my mouth and sometimes my cheeks). The bridge of my nose is usually oily and so is the middle of my forehead. These days I haven't gotten very oily in my T zone as much as before and my forehead has dry spots because I can't stop picking at the buttons that may pop up. Before I put on my moisturizer for the day I take a very tiny amount (a little goes a VERY long way) and just smooth it over my face but most times just my nose area, under my eyes, sides of my mouth and my forehead. There's no more flakiness when I put it on and my makeup glides on like a charm and since it eliminates any flakiness you don't have any makeup caking up by the dry spots etc. Honestly the BEST makeup application ever because it creates such a smooth canvas.
After just a few days of using it, where I applied it, my skin tone is more even, the buttons I was getting on my forehead since exams from all the stress (and the buttons weren't going away after exams) are going away and no more new ones have popped up. My skin just looks better!!
You will not stop touching your skin after you apply this. I would definitely advise you to try to get a sample at your local counter for EL or try the tester on your skin to experience it. Honestly every single girl or MUA should own it. Your skin will feel wonderful, look great (don't expect to see drastic results in a few days...everyone's skin will take different lengths of time for you to see the results fully) and I believe most girls will love the smell and the way their makeup goes on afterwards. You will never go back.

The only downside to the product is that it's quite pricey!
$600ttd for a 50ml and over $1000ttd for 100ml.
$73usd for 50ml (1.7oz) and $120usd for 100ml (3.4oz).
£52 for 50ml and £104 to £126 for 100ml.

xoxo