The final look that was created by MAC for the Fall 2008 season is called Seventease, based the makeup trends of the 1970s. The looks are as varied as the decade, ranging from overdone disco makeup that would be appropriate at Studio 54 to the hippie look embodied by Stevie Nicks. This season has seen a huge return to the 70s in fashion so it is very fitting that makeup looks are going back in time right along with them.
I fell in love with the Gold Mined look created for the Luca Luca fall runway show. This is one the few looks that I have seen so far this fall that I have looked at and fell instantly in love with because it is perfect for me. There are no harsh lines and the gold tones are exactly what complement my blue eyes. This look is a total winner and all the products used are now heading toward the top of my must have list.
The products used are…
- Pigment
- Golden Lemon - Bright lemon gold with shimmer
- Eye Shadow
- Brun - Muted blackish-brown
- Carbon - Intense black
- 7 Lash False Eye Lashes
Barring the false eyelashes, which I have already touched on in previous entries, this is the look that I feel could have been made just for me and my skin tone. I have never used the Pigments before so I know that I will need to visit a MAC counter in order to get help creating this look and I will need to practice it a couple of times before I can wear it out of my house. I am hoping that the Pigments are all that they are rumored to be. I think this will be the first look that I go for from MAC (even though its not my favorite of the bunch) because this one is just the best on for me.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Saturday, August 23, 2008
MAC Honed
The fourth look from MAC is called Honed. All the looks in this collection consist of a natural look with minimal makeup and fuss. These low maintenance looks are perfect for lazy fall days and laid back weekends.
My favorite of the looks is called English Rose and there were only three products used to create this eye makeup look. Yes, only three. In fact, I really feel that anyone can create this look and there really is no excuse for not wearing makeup a look like this is out there. This look was created for Matthew Williamson, to match his fall collection of breezy outdoorsy clothing.
The products are…
- Brow Set Brow Gel
- Clear - Colour free
- Paint Pot
- Groundwork - Mid tone neutral taupe
- Pro Lash Mascara
- Coal Black - Honest-to-goodness black
MAC Paintpots are cream eye shadows that are supposed to be applied with a fingertip and be easily blended. I have never really done well with cream eye shadows because of the smudging issues and they have always ending up creasing in several hours. This was before I started using Urban Decay Primer Potion and I actually haven’t tried any of them since. I have heard that this primer helps cream shadows to stay put. I have decided to give them another chance and I will try the Paintpots from MAC first.
I can’t say that I am madly in love with any other looks in the Honed collection. They are really low maintenance and I think they are way too low maintenance even for me. I understand that every female should have products to create a low maintenance look but I am still not feeling these overall. Maybe it’s the lack of major mascara that is throwing me off this look.
My favorite of the looks is called English Rose and there were only three products used to create this eye makeup look. Yes, only three. In fact, I really feel that anyone can create this look and there really is no excuse for not wearing makeup a look like this is out there. This look was created for Matthew Williamson, to match his fall collection of breezy outdoorsy clothing.
The products are…
- Brow Set Brow Gel
- Clear - Colour free
- Paint Pot
- Groundwork - Mid tone neutral taupe
- Pro Lash Mascara
- Coal Black - Honest-to-goodness black
MAC Paintpots are cream eye shadows that are supposed to be applied with a fingertip and be easily blended. I have never really done well with cream eye shadows because of the smudging issues and they have always ending up creasing in several hours. This was before I started using Urban Decay Primer Potion and I actually haven’t tried any of them since. I have heard that this primer helps cream shadows to stay put. I have decided to give them another chance and I will try the Paintpots from MAC first.
I can’t say that I am madly in love with any other looks in the Honed collection. They are really low maintenance and I think they are way too low maintenance even for me. I understand that every female should have products to create a low maintenance look but I am still not feeling these overall. Maybe it’s the lack of major mascara that is throwing me off this look.
Friday, August 22, 2008
MAC Glamodrama
The third look from MAC is one that I feel is the one that seems to truly embody the way I think of MAC (and the thought that kept me away from their counter for the longest time). This trend is named Glamodrama and all the looks under this category feature color, color, and more color. Furthermore, all of these looks appear to be higher maintenance and would take time and practice to get them to appear the way that they do on the website. The look that I love from this collection is called La La Bollywood.
La La Bollywood was created for Manish Arora’s collection of Paris couture. This is strong eye look with black eyeliner and false eyelashes, a look that I have never been able to conquer. False eyelashes are something that I have always wanted to try out but I have never had the nerve or the needed skill to get them on correctly and to pull them off without fear. So this look may not be for me at all but I still love and would eventually like to be able to pull it off without any problems.
What is needed for the look…
- Fluidline Eyeliner
- Blacktrack - Solid, flat black
- Eye Shadow
- Blanc Type - Creamy beige
- Soot - Deep slate gray
- Adhesive/Dark - adhesive for false eyelashes
- 2 Lash - Wispy fringe
I was looking at this look further and I think that it could be pulled off without the use of the false lashes. Of course, it then wouldn’t be near as dramatic but false lashes really don’t work for everyone and I have always been scared to put the adhesive that close to my eyeball. This can be still be dramatic look for the use of the Fluidline and would work best for nighttime. Overall, I think this is my favorite look of the entire MAC fall collection.
La La Bollywood was created for Manish Arora’s collection of Paris couture. This is strong eye look with black eyeliner and false eyelashes, a look that I have never been able to conquer. False eyelashes are something that I have always wanted to try out but I have never had the nerve or the needed skill to get them on correctly and to pull them off without fear. So this look may not be for me at all but I still love and would eventually like to be able to pull it off without any problems.
What is needed for the look…
- Fluidline Eyeliner
- Blacktrack - Solid, flat black
- Eye Shadow
- Blanc Type - Creamy beige
- Soot - Deep slate gray
- Adhesive/Dark - adhesive for false eyelashes
- 2 Lash - Wispy fringe
I was looking at this look further and I think that it could be pulled off without the use of the false lashes. Of course, it then wouldn’t be near as dramatic but false lashes really don’t work for everyone and I have always been scared to put the adhesive that close to my eyeball. This can be still be dramatic look for the use of the Fluidline and would work best for nighttime. Overall, I think this is my favorite look of the entire MAC fall collection.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
MAC De-Vine
The second fall trend from MAC is called De-Vine, which is all about makeup looks that are based on the colors of wine and burgundy. I really only like one look in this collection, the one entitled “New Chateaux”, a red wine lip color that was shown on the runway for the latest offerings from Donna Karan. This look is more for a red lipstick virgin or for someone who normally doesn’t wear a lot of makeup but needs a dressed up look for going out. The other looks have too much purple in them to be flattering with my skin tone.
This look features what are called gentle red lips. The lips are still the focus of the entire face but the red is more of a stain than a full on red mouth. The look should be rather simple to create in that there are only two colors involved on the lips and the eyes are very neutral and could be created with a wash of a nude, shimmery shadow.
The two lipstick colors used are as follows; the first one is called Lovelorn and it is a clean mid-tone blue pink, the other color is called Lady Danger and it is a vivid bright coral red. The website doesn’t say exactly how to use these two colors to create the look, however they do provide a picture of the finished look. It appears that Lovelorn is applied to clean bare lips and then Lady Danger is applied to the middle of the lips over it and the two are then blended together. I am not sure if this is the correct way to get this look but that is the way that it looks to me. This look is a simple way for any woman to break into fall makeup colors should have pretty universal appeal.
This look features what are called gentle red lips. The lips are still the focus of the entire face but the red is more of a stain than a full on red mouth. The look should be rather simple to create in that there are only two colors involved on the lips and the eyes are very neutral and could be created with a wash of a nude, shimmery shadow.
The two lipstick colors used are as follows; the first one is called Lovelorn and it is a clean mid-tone blue pink, the other color is called Lady Danger and it is a vivid bright coral red. The website doesn’t say exactly how to use these two colors to create the look, however they do provide a picture of the finished look. It appears that Lovelorn is applied to clean bare lips and then Lady Danger is applied to the middle of the lips over it and the two are then blended together. I am not sure if this is the correct way to get this look but that is the way that it looks to me. This look is a simple way for any woman to break into fall makeup colors should have pretty universal appeal.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
MAC Artsy
For Fall 2008, MAC has created five faces to represent the newest trends of the season. The first of these looks is called Artsy. The MAC site defines this trend as makeup that mimics the mediums of art. There are four major looks in this trend, each of which is designed for a certain designer’s collection.
My favorite of the four looks is called Dark Dimension. It combines dramatic eyes with neutral lips and cheeks. This look was created for Monique Lhuillier and was to in contrast to the sculptural simplicity of her designs. Three shades of eyeshadow are used to pull the eyes on full focus.
The shades are…
- Eyeshadows
- Beauty Marked - A deep blackened red with a sparkle/twilight effect
- Deep Truth - Very real truthful dark blue
- Trax - Burgundy-plum flecked with bronze shimmer
- Technakohl Liner
- Auto-de-blu - Intense jewel tone blue
- Pro Longlash Mascara
- Pitchblack - Vintage vinyl black
I would have to change one large part of this look to make it work for me, I really couldn’t pull off the blue eyeliner and eyeshadow. I would work with the burgundies and plums and then find a third color to replace the blue. Black or silver would be an easy choice but I would also like to try using a bronze shade and seeing what the result would look like. This is the first time in a while that I have really liked plum shades and I am really looking forward to making this look my own. I have both Silver Ring and Bronze shades from MAC to use a jumping off point to make this look my own.
My favorite of the four looks is called Dark Dimension. It combines dramatic eyes with neutral lips and cheeks. This look was created for Monique Lhuillier and was to in contrast to the sculptural simplicity of her designs. Three shades of eyeshadow are used to pull the eyes on full focus.
The shades are…
- Eyeshadows
- Beauty Marked - A deep blackened red with a sparkle/twilight effect
- Deep Truth - Very real truthful dark blue
- Trax - Burgundy-plum flecked with bronze shimmer
- Technakohl Liner
- Auto-de-blu - Intense jewel tone blue
- Pro Longlash Mascara
- Pitchblack - Vintage vinyl black
I would have to change one large part of this look to make it work for me, I really couldn’t pull off the blue eyeliner and eyeshadow. I would work with the burgundies and plums and then find a third color to replace the blue. Black or silver would be an easy choice but I would also like to try using a bronze shade and seeing what the result would look like. This is the first time in a while that I have really liked plum shades and I am really looking forward to making this look my own. I have both Silver Ring and Bronze shades from MAC to use a jumping off point to make this look my own.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Smoky Eyes Using Carmindy's Method
Several weeks ago, I wrote a review on Carmindy’s makeup book. I had stated then that I was going to see how well her advice worked in real life by trying to follow her advice to create a smoky eye look. First, I needed to go out and buy several shadows to help create the look (see my earlier post on my latest experience at MAC for a full explanation). I tried the look three times and have finally began to get it down pat. I used a series of three shadows, eyeliner, and four different brushes to create this look.
I started by using Smashbox Cream Eyeliner in Caviar with an angled brush from Urban Decay on my upper and lower lids, pushing the line as close into the lashes as possible. I then smudged the line with a Q-tip to soften the harsh effect that this product tends to have. Next, I used MAC Filament eyeshadow over my entire lid all the way up until I reached the brow bone. For this step, I used a large shadow brush from NARS.
Next, I used NARS Night Clubbing shadow all over lid up to the crease, using a smaller NARS shadow brush. The last color that I needed to use was MAC Silver Ring. This shade was applied right into the crease with a crease brush from MAC. I then applied Filament right in the corner of my eyes and began the blending process. Carmindy says to the blend the shades until there is a gradation in the colors. This is the most important past of the process and the most time consuming. However, I found that the longer that I spend on this step, the better results that I can yield. Once I was able to get the gradation and the blending down pat, the whole look was much less severe and much more attractive.
I think the only thing that I would change with this look is using a different eyeshadow color for my lid. I am using NARS Night Clubbing, a black color flecked with gold shimmer. I want to try this look with a pure black shadow, a black shade with a silver shimmer in it, and with a deep charcoal shade. I will have to see how the shade change affects the look.
This isn’t a look that I can do everyday. But I really think that Carmindy’s simple advice made what could have been a very hard look to work with and made it much simpler. I really liked the way that this worked out for me and it actually gave me a lot of confidence in my ability to work with dramatic eye makeup. The next step in this experiment is going to be for me to try this look with false lashes to up the ante on the drama.
I started by using Smashbox Cream Eyeliner in Caviar with an angled brush from Urban Decay on my upper and lower lids, pushing the line as close into the lashes as possible. I then smudged the line with a Q-tip to soften the harsh effect that this product tends to have. Next, I used MAC Filament eyeshadow over my entire lid all the way up until I reached the brow bone. For this step, I used a large shadow brush from NARS.
Next, I used NARS Night Clubbing shadow all over lid up to the crease, using a smaller NARS shadow brush. The last color that I needed to use was MAC Silver Ring. This shade was applied right into the crease with a crease brush from MAC. I then applied Filament right in the corner of my eyes and began the blending process. Carmindy says to the blend the shades until there is a gradation in the colors. This is the most important past of the process and the most time consuming. However, I found that the longer that I spend on this step, the better results that I can yield. Once I was able to get the gradation and the blending down pat, the whole look was much less severe and much more attractive.
I think the only thing that I would change with this look is using a different eyeshadow color for my lid. I am using NARS Night Clubbing, a black color flecked with gold shimmer. I want to try this look with a pure black shadow, a black shade with a silver shimmer in it, and with a deep charcoal shade. I will have to see how the shade change affects the look.
This isn’t a look that I can do everyday. But I really think that Carmindy’s simple advice made what could have been a very hard look to work with and made it much simpler. I really liked the way that this worked out for me and it actually gave me a lot of confidence in my ability to work with dramatic eye makeup. The next step in this experiment is going to be for me to try this look with false lashes to up the ante on the drama.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Chanel Fall 2008 Collection
For many ladies that I know, Chanel is the gold standard of makeup, skincare, and fragrance. I have many of their fragrances and have been branching slowly into their makeup line. My first ever piece of expensive makeup was actually from Chanel and I have never looked back since. That nail polish was one of my most prized possessions for the next few years. The Fall 2008 offerings from Chanel are classic and timeless and at least one of the colors in this collection will work for every woman.
The collection… (from the Chanel Website)
- Exceptionell de Chanel - an intense volume and curl mascara
- Le Vernis Nail Color
- Kaleidoscope - green-gold
- Fantastic - deep wine
- Joues Contraste Powder Blush
- Rose dust - a rosy plum
- Poudre Doue (pressed powder)
- Almond - a soft beige
- Ombre Essentielle Soft Touch Eyeshadow
- Le Bronze - a metallic brown
- Bois Bleu - a dark teal
- Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eyeshadow
- Reflects d’Ombre - coffee, ivory, gold, and dark green eyeshadows
- Le Crayon Yeux Precision Eye Definer
- Denim - a gray blue
- Teak - a rich brown
- Rouge Hydrabase Crème Lipstick
- Simply Pink - a coral pink
- Fantastic Plum - a deep purple
- Great Copper - a soft copper
- Rouge Allure Luminous Satin Lip Colour
- Crazed - a beige pink
- Enthusiast - a limited edition coral red
- Levers Scintillates Glossimer
- Amberlight - an incandescent bronze
- Delight - a pale lilac
- Gold Light - a brilliant gold
At the moment, I feel rather sacrilegious because I actually want nothing from this collection. I went crazy over their spring collection and can go crazy over anything Chanel just because of the double Cs on the packaging. But there is nothing in this collection that grabs me at all. I’m not a fan of warm lip colors or any kind of blue eye makeup. Overall, the shades in this collection really don’t seem at that unique to me. Maybe it would help if I have the ability to see these colors all put together on a model’s face but there is nothing so far to help me with that. Though I must say that of course, I want the mascara that they just came out with. I am beginning to think that furthering my obsession with mascara may just become my whole agenda for fall beauty.
The collection… (from the Chanel Website)
- Exceptionell de Chanel - an intense volume and curl mascara
- Le Vernis Nail Color
- Kaleidoscope - green-gold
- Fantastic - deep wine
- Joues Contraste Powder Blush
- Rose dust - a rosy plum
- Poudre Doue (pressed powder)
- Almond - a soft beige
- Ombre Essentielle Soft Touch Eyeshadow
- Le Bronze - a metallic brown
- Bois Bleu - a dark teal
- Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eyeshadow
- Reflects d’Ombre - coffee, ivory, gold, and dark green eyeshadows
- Le Crayon Yeux Precision Eye Definer
- Denim - a gray blue
- Teak - a rich brown
- Rouge Hydrabase Crème Lipstick
- Simply Pink - a coral pink
- Fantastic Plum - a deep purple
- Great Copper - a soft copper
- Rouge Allure Luminous Satin Lip Colour
- Crazed - a beige pink
- Enthusiast - a limited edition coral red
- Levers Scintillates Glossimer
- Amberlight - an incandescent bronze
- Delight - a pale lilac
- Gold Light - a brilliant gold
At the moment, I feel rather sacrilegious because I actually want nothing from this collection. I went crazy over their spring collection and can go crazy over anything Chanel just because of the double Cs on the packaging. But there is nothing in this collection that grabs me at all. I’m not a fan of warm lip colors or any kind of blue eye makeup. Overall, the shades in this collection really don’t seem at that unique to me. Maybe it would help if I have the ability to see these colors all put together on a model’s face but there is nothing so far to help me with that. Though I must say that of course, I want the mascara that they just came out with. I am beginning to think that furthering my obsession with mascara may just become my whole agenda for fall beauty.
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