MAC SS13 Runway Looks - Puri-tan

Puri-tan is the fourth and final look from the MAC makeup artists for this spring and summer.  I liked the last look from today more than any other but I can't say that I have really found any one that has made me want to go out and buy every product that the artists used to create the look on the runways.  Puri-tan is the last of the looks from MAC and this one has the potential to be a wonderful bronze neutral look or a tan look that will be a nightmare on my skin.  I used my first bronzer from MAC last summer and I loved the formula so I am hopeful on this collection and that it will give me a few more bronze shades to start looking at for the late spring and summer months.

"Step into SS13 with minimal, modern makeup. Focus on a fresh face, from luminously perfect and pure to gleaming bronze. Nuances of neons and singular brights glow against bare skin. It's all about ease, edge and effortless radiance."

"Gleaming bronze shades, from warm gold to pale wheat, work to delicately warm the skin this season. "It's almost as if you're seeing makeup through skincare," says Director of Makeup Artistry Terry Barber.  View the complete look for Puri-Tan here."  This looks as though it should be pretty easy to pull off but I might revamp my opinion when I see the products and how they are applied.

The last of the MAC makeup artists' looks for the upcoming season!

Eye Shadow - Mixed with Mixing Medium Shine and Groundwork and blended over eyelids to contour and accentuate the eye.
- Copperplate - muted midtone gray (Matte)

Paint Pot - Mixed with Mixing Medium Shine and Copperplate and blended over eyelids to contour and accentuate the eye.
- Groundwork - midtone neutral taupe (Satin)

Eye Brows - Used to sculpt and elongate brows.
- Stud - deep rich blackened brown
- Lingering - soft taupe brown

Brow Set - Combed through brows.
- Clear - colour-free

Mixing Medium Shine - Mixed with Copperplate and Groundwork and blended over eyelids to contour and accentuate the eye.

Lip Conditioner (Tube) - Hydrates the lips.

Powder Blush - Blended under cheekbones.
- Blushbaby - beige pink (Sheertone)

Fix+ - Spritzed over skin.

I really like the eye makeup look that was created here, I have used the Eye Shadows and Paint Pots before however Mixing Medium is completely new product to me.  Is this product Pro-only or has someone been able to try this before?  Please leave your comments on this post - I really want to know more about this product!

The Groundwork Paint Pot shade has lots of potential for me, I would use this product to create all kinds of eye makeup looks and I could use it against lots of lip looks too.  I will need to buy this product the next time that I go to the counter.  The Copperplate Eye Shadow holds the same amount of potential too and this is another MAC Eye Shadow that I want to own. 

This last look seems as though it will be pretty easy for anyone to pull off, bronze skin isn't needed to make these shades work and I could adapt this for a professional environment too.  I still think that today's previous entry is my favorite look but this one is my close second favorite!

photo courtesy of MAC

MAC SS13 Runway Trends - Sci-chedelic

Yesterday we looked at the first two trends from the MAC spring and summer runway looks and today we look over the last two.  I haven't found any looks that I am super excited about yet but I hope that what we look at today will change that.  Today we are looking at the second bright look and then the one that is more based on neutrals and bronzes.  I do hope this look actually contains some bright hues, yesterday's look at a "bright" look was very disappointing and I still do not understand what MAC was going after when they created Nu-ance.  Perhaps, Sci-chedelic will hold more promise!

"Step into SS13 with minimal, modern makeup. Focus on a fresh face, from luminously perfect and pure to gleaming bronze. Nuances of neons and singular brights glow against bare skin. It's all about ease, edge and effortless radiance."

Sci-chedelic looks as though it is bright lip against an otherwise almost bare face.  I think that I could very easily get onboard with a pink variation of this look!  "Colour with conviction. SS13 gets graphic, with bold, singular brights. "Poetic with a twist of something edgy, so gutsy and punk it's chic," affirms makeup artist Stephane Marias.  View the complete look for Sci-Chedelic. here."

Here is the bright lip look from the MAC makeup artists...

Lipmix -  Mix Fuschia and White to create a neon pink and applied through the outer corners, apply Orange on the lip towards the lower lip edge.
- Fuchsia - bright fuchsia
- Orange - bright orange
- White - whitest white

Pro Longwear Lip Pencil - Used to define the bow of lip and contour.
- More to Love - intense bluish pink

Blot Powder/Loose - Swept through the T-zone.
- Medium - suitable for most skintones

Select Cover-Up - Lightly blended over hydrated skin.
- Available in a range of shades to suit all skintones

This lip look is more what I had in mind but I will still need to alter it before I can wear it well.  I will not be mixing all three shades of Lipmix to create the orange and pink lip look, I will be more likely to wait until Candy Yum Yum comes back in stock and then use it against an overwise almost bare face.  I have never used Lipmix before and it looks like a high pigmented liquid lipstick but I don't really know anything about the product.  Does anyone have any more information on it?

I have used the Select Cover-Up before and it is a great spot concealer especially for the under eye area.  I am also interested in the Blot Powder/Loose and I do wonder if MAC has this product in a pressed version so that I can take it with me in my purse.

This is my favorite look so far but I will need to modify in order to make it work for my style.  One more look left!

photo courtesy of MAC

MAC SS13 Fashion Week Trends - Nu-ance

Earlier today we looked at the easiest and most natural of the looks that the MAC makeup artists created for the spring runways and now we are going to head into the looks that require more products and more pigment to pull off.  I have been all about the bright lip looks for the spring but I am a bit unsure about some of the bright eye makeup shades that I have seen on the runway, I feel that I would have a hard time pulling them off in many situations.  I might consider buying one or two shades of bright eye makeup or seeing what I already own in an eye shadow palette but I know that I will not be going headfirst into a trends like this.

"Step into SS13 with minimal, modern makeup. Focus on a fresh face, from luminously perfect and pure to gleaming bronze. Nuances of neons and singular brights glow against bare skin. It's all about ease, edge and effortless radiance."

Nu-ance is ""Nuances of neon, glowing against an otherwise bare face," says makeup artist Andrew Gallimore of this season's pastel-fluoros and freshly futuristic metallics. View the complete look for Nu-Ance here."  This look seems very interesting and if it contains some great lip hues then I might say that this is my early favorite of the SS13 Trends.

Nu-ance!

Eye Shadow - Patted into eyelids from lashes to brow.
- Yogurt - soft pale pink (Matte)
- Orb - soft peachy beige (Satin)

Lipstick - Patted over concealed lips.
- Creme d'Nude - pale muted peach beige (Cremesheen)

Powder Blush - Swept over cheekbones to contour.
- Cubic - soft muted pink (Satin)

Iridescent Powder/Loose - Applied over upper cheekbones.
- Silver Dusk - pinky beige with silver shimmer

Ok where are the brights?!  There is not one shade in this look that I would consider bright, maybe this look is best for setting up a bright lip or eye look but I'm not quite sure what MAC had in mind when they made this description.  This is a brighter look than the first one that we looked at today but I don't consider any of these shades to be "brights" at all.  I like all of the shades that were used to create this look, I wish that the Lipstick shade would work on me but I bet that it is too warm for me to pull off.  I do love the Blush and both Eye Shadows and they will work well as everyday shades for me.

I think the product that I am the most interested in is the Iridescent Powder/Loose.  I have never used this product for MAC and would love to try this shade.  It is rare that I can find a pink beige powder with cool-toned shimmer in it and this one will be perfect for me.  I rarely use products like this so I will need to visit the counter and get some instructions on how best to make it work but I am just so excited to try this product!

Two down and two to go.  Tomorrow we will pick up with the last two runway looks from MAC and see what else this company has in store for us this season.

photo courtesy of MAC

MAC SS13 Fashion Week Trends - Sig-Nature

MAC has just released a new collection of trends from the spring runways onto their website.  We saw these concepts last fall and I believe that the concept is exactly the same for this spring season, there are no new product or anything limited edition in these looks but they will consist of some of the best picks in the MAC permanent color line up.  At least these looks are made from products and shades that I will always be able to repurchase my favorite shades.  I see looks that contains all kinds of bright hues for the warm weather, one that is more of a natural face look, and then one that is more of a neutral look.  Let's get started!

"Step into SS13 with minimal, modern makeup. Focus on a fresh face, from luminously perfect and pure to gleaming bronze. Nuances of neons and singular brights glow against bare skin. It's all about ease, edge and effortless radiance."

"Luminously perfected and pure, "It's about skin being the primary feature of the face this season," says Director of Makeup Artistry, Gordon Espinet.    View the complete look for Sig-Nature here."  Sig-Nature looks like it will be the easiest of the looks to wear and will be appropriate in nearly every occasion, this is a great look to start with at the beginning of spring.  MAC provides the best shades to create this look and then tips on how to use them best.

Here is the Sig-Nature look!

Eye Kohl - Applied through the waterline. 
- Fascinating - intense matte white

Brow Set -  Brushed up through brows to groom and polish.
- Clear - colour-free

Prep + Prime Highlighter - Applied through the inner corner.
- Light Boost - soft yellow cream
- Bright Forecast - mid tone peach coral
- Radiant Rose - light shell pink

Tinted Lipglass - Pressed into lips with fingertips for a fresh, glossy finish.
- Florabundance - peachy blossom pink

Cream Colour Base - Dabbed over the upper cheekbones.
- Pearl - pale gold with icy shimmer

Prep + Prime Finishing Translucent Powder - Swept through the T-Zone.


This is a very easy look to pull off and I would wear this on weekends or to class at night.  My favorite piece from here is the Tinted Lipglass in Florabundance, this peach pink will look great with my skintone and I will be able to pull it off against all kinds of eye makeup looks.  I usually wear more eye makeup than this look calls for, even when I go for a more natural look, I at leasst use a primer and one shade of champagne shadow so I will need to add a bit more to this look before I would be comfortable with it.  The second product that I am excited about from this look is the Prep + Prime Highlighter, I would like to add this to my everyday makeup look, I am hoping that it will brighten the dark areas around my eyes and make me look more awake.

The natural look is only the first, now we are moving onto a more dramatic look with some brights for the spring season!

photo courtesy of MAC

Benefit Do The Bright Thing

Last week, we looked at one fo the many new palettes and sets that Benefit is coming out with this speing and today we are going to look at another one.  I have been buying a lot more from Benefit in the past year than I ever did before and I have really loved almost every item that I have gotten from them and I don't hesitate to buy anything new from this company now.  I am hoping that they come out with a set that contains small sizes of all of their skincare products, I am really surprised that I cannot find anything like this anywhere since this company always has all kinds of new sets and palettes out every season. 

Do The Bright Thing is the Benefit set that we are going to look at right now, the name of this product caught my eye instantly because I hate how ugly and gray my skin tends to look this time of the year and I will buy anything that promises a brighter complexion.  This set looks as though it contains multiple highlighters and hopefully I should find something to help my face in this set.  With using the Tarte Pure Marajuca Oil, I must say that my skin is better this year than it has been in previous years but I would still like to find a product of two that makes it looks as good as it will in spring!

"A best and brightest total-face makeup kit.  Brighten up your entire look with these brilliant beautifiers! These luminous bestsellers will give your face and cheeks a supermodel glow—and open your eyes with sexy definition."

The set contains the following items...

That Gal Brightening Face Primer - A silky pink primer that makes skin appear smoother and brighter.  Prime your skin to pretty—go from dull to darling with "That Gal"! Wear alone for clear complexion radiance or apply before makeup for a smooth, effortless application. Plus you can use it to re-brighten throughout the day.

High Beam Luminescent Complexion Enchancer - A luminescent complexion enhancer.  Benefit High Beam is an ethereal pink liquid highlighter that creates a radiantly dewy complexion. For an angelic sheen, this pink shimmering lotion adds a soft, natural afterglow.  It's a "supermodel in a bottle" and perfectly alluring on all skin tones.

Dandelion Brightening Face Powder - Fake awake with Dandelion—Benefit's ballerina-pink pressed highlighting powder. Just one stroke of Dandelion takes your complexion from dull to radiant in an instant. It's shimmery, satiny, radiant, perk-me-up finish is guaranteed to make them wonder ..."How do you look so pretty at eight in the morning?"

They're Real!  Beyond Mascara - A jet-black mascara that lengthens, curls, volumizes, lifts, and separates lashes for a spectacular "out-to-here" look.  This mascara features an exclusive brush specially designed to maximize the performance of the long-wearing, glossy formula revealing lashes you never knew you had! Staggered bristles grab close to the root, boosting length and volume beyond belief. The precision bristles on the custom-domed tip lift, define, and curl even your tiniest lashes. The end result is luxurious, silky lashes that won't smudge, clump, or dry out.

Bad Gal Liner Waterproof Eye Pencil - A black waterproof eyeliner.  Benefit BADgal Liner Waterproof Eye Liner contains a unique formula that glides on smooth and won't smudge or smear. It has a blending tip on one end so you can smudge your way to a perfect smoky eye.
- Extra Black - jet black

So far, this set looks to be the most promising out of all of them, I can see that Benefit has included most of their top sellers and fan favorites here.  I must try That Gal!, this pink highlighter could be the exact product that I need to help my skin and I will use it all through the spring if it really works.  The exact same will hold true for Dandelion, I want this face powder/blush and I could see myself using this all time, the pink shade will be great for me and I know a bunch of people who love this product.

I think that I will grab this set the next time that I am at Sephora as all of these products hold a lot of potential for making me look more human this winter!

photo courtesy of Sephora

MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush

I really need to give some of my favorite brushes some more love on this blog, a good brush can make any color product work to its maximum potential and not having a way to apply color products can make any product a near failure.  When you really stop and think about, I have had most of my brushes for much longer than I have had any color product and use them on a near daily basis.  It would be interesting for me to calculate the dollar per usage on some of the brushes that I use every single day and to see how little they actually ended up costing me.

Today we are going to look at another one of my favorite eye makeup brushes, this time one from MAC that I use almost daily for applying dense eye shadow color.  The 239 Eye Shader Brush is my choice for applying pigment right to the lid of the eye or along the lash line.  I bought this brush sometime in late 2010 from MAC and it still performs like it is brand new. 

"Soft and dense to shade or blend eye shadow or emollient-based products. This brush has a tapered, rounded edge with smooth, firm, fine fibres. It can be used to build intense colour on the eyelid. M·A·C professional brushes are hand-sculpted and assembled using the finest quality materials. They feature wood handles and nickel-plated brass ferrules."

I use this brush for powder eye shadow formulas only, I have never used it for cream or other types of more emollient formulas as I prefer to apply these with my fingers.  I mostly use this brush for applying dense pigment right onto my eyelid, it is small enough that it can place pigment in the exact area that I desire and I don't end up with eye shadow all over the place.  This is one of the best brushes that I have ever used for getting the eye shadow exactly where I want it, I will only use this brush when I am trying to create a rose gold eye and have to apply different shades very precisely in order to blend into the right gradation.  The other aspects that I love about this brush is that I can use it to apply dry eye shadow right onto the lash line and then turn it on its side to blend and soften the line.  This is a very good brush choice for applying color directly to the eyelid or the lashline.

The bristles are stiff but still soft enough that they don't hurt or irritate the eye area.  The quality and performance of this brush makes me very inclined to see what eyeliner brushes MAC has to offer since I am always looking for one to apply cream or gel eyeliner formulas.  This is one of the best examples of a eyelid brush since it gets the product right where I need and not where I don't!

photo courtesy of MAC

YSL Spring 2013 Collection

We have been looking heavy at skin and haircare products that past few days and now I want to get back to color collections for spring!  I haven't bought anything yet for spring, I am still checking out some of the new collections and beginning to get some ideas together as to what I already own and then what I want to buy for the season.  I already know that new lisptick shades are going to be topping my shopping list and I am still frustrated that Candy Yum Yum is out of stock on the MAC website, I have a few items that I would like to order but I am trying to wait until this shade comes back in.  I am simply so excited for some new pink lip looks for this spring and summer.

To distract me from stalking the MAC website, I have decided to check out what is on the Nordstrom site and if I can find Candy Yum Yum on here.  That lipstick is not available at the moment on this website either so I just need to distrct myself and look to see what other brands have released their spring of 2013 color collections.  One of the first ones that caught my eye is the newest collection from YSL, the model is wearing a beautiful magenta lip and this looks like a shade that I would really like to add to my collection.  Distraction achieved!

The Nordstrom website provides the following description of the overall collection, "nspired by the beauty of nature and vibrant color, movement and energy of semi-precious minerals, Yves Saint Laurent's spring look captures the harmony of gemstones, attracting and diffusing light to achieve a signature YSL radiance."  I see lots of pinks and purples in this collection so this looks like I could find a lot of great shades for this season!

The YSL spring 2013 collection!

Pure Chromatics Wet and Dry Eye Shadow Palette - Through the magic of water and a revolutionary new process, Yves Saint Laurent pushes the limits of color with Pure Chromatics, a new generation of eyeshadows. Real makeup-artist magic is made easy with six emblematic harmonies that captivate the eyes.  The power of water: Exclusively by Yves Saint Laurent, the new water-process technology is the latest discovery in color, allowing pigments to be more intense and metallic than ever before!  Use wet for a chromatic transformation. Expect the unexpected. Water does not dilute but enhances color pigments in Pure Chromatics. When used wet, the water rehydrates the eyeshadows and gives full intensity to their pigments. The effect is the satiny powder transforms into a luxurious cream while pearls shine with a metallic finish.
- No.5 - bright pink shimmer/pale pink shimmer/charcoal shimmer/medium black shimmer
- No. 19 - medium rose gold shimmer/champagne shimmer/cool bronze shimmer/medium brown
shimmer

Creme de Blush - Unique cream-to-powder blush offers a luminous, radiant and healthy look. The remarkably soft formulation feels like silk upon application, ensuring a seamless result. And because the non-waxy texture will not break through makeup, it is an excellent touchup tool for use throughout the day.
- No. 9 - true petal pink cream

Rouge Volupte Sheer Candy Glossy Lip Balm - Glossy balm. Crystal color. Lips are adorned with a sheer veil of brilliant color. Boosted with fruit extract rich in vitamins and antioxidants, lips become deliciously sensual. The ultra-light texture leaves lips feeling soft and hydrated for up to 8 hours and is ideal for year-round use: the juicy, sheer color is perfect for summer while the soothing, moisturizing texture feels sublime.
- 12 Framboise Craquante - sheer bright pink cream
- 13 Moka Griotte - sheer deep brown cream

Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain - A revolutionary new lip product that combines the texture and shine of a gloss with the long wear of a stain. Coat your lips with this lip color that offers a lightweight texture, which immediately melts onto lips. Glossy Stain delivers intense glossy color for an extremely long-lasting shine.
- 27 Peche Cerra-Cola - medium warm peach cream
- 28 Grenat Acrylique - medium brick red cream
- 29 Rose Fourreau - medium cool rose cream
- 30 Mauve Fusain - deep cool mauve cream

La Laque Couture Nail Lacquer - Yves Saint Laurent introduces the La Laque Couture collection. The vibrant assortment of ultra-shiny hues makes every woman feel couture to the fingertips.
- 35 Bronze Pyrite - medium cool olive green shimmer with bronze cast

I think that my favorite item is the new shade of the Creme de Blush, No. 9 has my name written all over it.  I love cream blushes and this bright petal pink will be a great shade for me whether my skin is pale or after using self tanner, think item has the potential to be one of my new favorite blushes.  I want to see if this is one of the products that is carried at the counters in Sephora, even if it isn't I will most likely be ordering this one pretty soon.  My second favorite piece is the eye shadow palette that the model is wearing, No. 5 contains some great cool pale hues that will shine against my blue eyes. 

The last item that I am realy excited for from this new collection will end up on my list of lipsticks to buy.  The Rouge Volupte in the bright pink shade is really pretty, it is sheer enough to wear now in the winter months and then all through the spring and summer.  This is a really great collection for me and I can't wait to do some shopping from it!

photo courtesy of Nordstrom