The Sunday Post, Vol. 20...

Excited!

My friend from Australia is coming to Montreal to visit her family and we have a date on Wednesday!

We've known each other since we were 14 yrs old and although we've lost track here and there we've managed to keep in touch. The last time we saw each other face to face? I can't really remember but I believe Catherine was 8 and she'll be 15 in less than a month so yes, it's been a while!

Finally we are back on track and have been enjoying beautiful springy weather! Most summer makeup collections are out but I've stayed away from the cosmetics departments! I stayed away because I need to reduce my beauty spending, not completely but I just can't go all crazy like I did last Christmas. I still need new shoes...

... and I have Catherine's upcoming birthday to think about!

This week's makeup love...

... Erm I should say this month's makeup love! Since for a while now I've been using pretty much the same items I thought it would be fun to do a round up and show you what I reach for in order of use, before putting on perfume and lipstick in the morning. Of course I don't use all of these at once in case you're wondering. If I were I guess I would probably look like a clown!

Base products...

Dior Hydra Life BB Crème (see below)
Hourglass Mineral Veil (under eye area)
Rimmel Match Perfection concealer
NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
Marcelle Pressed Powder (with a fan brush under eye area)
Guerlain Crazy Météorites

Eyes...

Guerlain Terracotta La Sélection de l'Été Eye and Face Palette from last year. The faun eye shadow on lower lid and been playing with the other two colors as well, a darkish olive green and purplish brown
Diorshow Mono in Velvet or TheBalm Shady Lady in Risqué Renee for definition
Bobbi Brown Ciment from the Navy & Nude palette on upper lids and to blend the edges
L'Oréal Infaillible Lacquer Liner in Slate sometimes "oomfed" with Dior Fusion Mono in Nocturne
Mascara, alternating between Diorshow and Diorshow Iconic

Contour, definition or glowy stuff, however you want to call these...

Bronzer, alternating between Terracotta 01 / La Sélection de l'Été and NARS Laguna. Diorskin Nude Tan Paradise Duo in Coral Glow has come out of hibernation but I've only used it 2x so far.

Oops! I forgot blushes! Well at the moment it's pretty much always M.A.C Whole Lotta Love

Finishing powder, Guerlain Crazy Météorite again or a combination from Hourglass Ambient Lighting, mainly Dim Light and Radiant Light.

Ok so I have included Bobbi Brown's Longwear Gel Eyeliner in Caviar Ink in there but in all honesty I rarely reach for it. I find it harder to work with than L'Oréal. For some reason, once the line is done, going back over it to either thicken it or make it more clean sometimes makes a pretty bad mess. Since it dries fast, it can get all smudgy and weird.

So you see, I don't need to go all crazy over the new collections since I've got most of my makeup needs covered. Right?

A little update...

It's official, Dior Hydra Life BB Crème will not do for summer! Great luminous coverage but it doesn't control the oil and on some afternoons this week I could actually feel it on my skin. With it I've had to use 2x the powder I normally do if not more. Not a total waste, I will simply keep it for late august, for when the weather starts to cool down to transition into fall.

What I have my eyes on...

I do still want a few new nail polishes but haven't decided yet if I'll go Dior or Chanel and there's a Guerlain Rouge Automatique that I'm considering but since I have to find a new daytime foundation/BB or whatever the name, it may have to wait.

For your viewing enjoyment...

This week's video is not from Dior!!! Aren't you surprised? From YSL showing one of their iconic products, I think I really need one! Imagine that, a full night's sleep rested look in a clickable pen! I just can't believe I haven't tried this before.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-3EhjF2ePE

Yup! I definitely need one.

Have a great week everyone! Hélène xoxo

Chanel Illusion d'Ombre, #837 Fatal...

If someone had told me last year that I would consider getting such a glittery color, let alone buy it, I would have probably flipped!

For a while now I'd been looking for a long wear purplish/reddish/plummish taupe and every time I found one that could maybe be the one, I ended up not buying. The latest smashing one I saw was from M.A.C but given their poor staying power on me I passed. Of course things might be different now that I'm using NARS Pro-Prime but I think the color I was considering a month or so ago is no longer available. M.A.C has so many collection launches and limited editions they're really hard to keep up with.

So back to my search! Last fall in it's Superstition Collection, Chanel had a rather pretty one called Hasard which was more on the lavender side. I swatched it but it didn't wow me much. I didn't think it would contrast enough with Mystère, the quad I purchased from my friend Stacey of Expat Make-Up Addict.

Then came #837...

Fatal

*Takes a deep breath*

Could a purplish reddish plum that's almost on the taupish side really exist? I mean really?

Could such a color also wear like iron?

Could I go for a reddish plum that has tons of glitter? Not gold but silver! Thank you very much!

This picture was taken at the Chanel counter. I just couldn't take the chance of having to wait a week to use it! The little retractable brush it comes with is excellent! Flat and slightly angled it takes a little practice getting use to and due to the fast drying formula you have to really be quick about application with it.

See how the color is different at home than at the Chanel counter where it looked more red? This picture here is much closer to reality. Notice the silver glitter?

Stunning!

The texture is fine and surprisingly soft. The brush it comes with is excellent for precise application but since this eye shadow is on the sheer side you have to be quick about it. It dries almost on contact which is the only downside for me.

Applying it with he brush will make it more intense. I've practice with both the little Chanel brush and my fingers and ended up preferring a regular eye shadow brush.

The glitter...

It definitely is there but, and this is a big but, it's truly not in your face in the sense that it doesn't look the same on your eyes as it does on a finger, you know the impression you get when you swatch in the store? Also I must admit at first I was truly intimidated by it, the glitter I mean, especially due to the fact that I apply my eye makeup using a magnifying mirror.

No one looks at me with through magnifying glass!

Thank God for that!!!

Ok so once it's on, with the regular side of the mirror it's stunning, positively stunning!!!

On it's own it's quite lovely and does bring out the green of my eyes but I needed a little more deepness and so brought out Diorshow 783 Velvel which I applied on the outer corners of my lids. With Fatal, a matte eyeshadow would not work in my opinion, not if you use it all over. Fatal could be used as a glittery accent with mattes but if it's your base you need to emphasize it with an equal which Velvet is. As it turned out, it was the perfect combination!

Love!!!

Both lasted the entire day, from 7:00 am to 9:00! They did not budge and stayed true till the time I removed them.

Impressed I am! 

Chanel Illusion d'Ombre, in either Fatal or any other shade, try you need to do!

Oye! Possessed by Yoda I seem to be!

Have you tried Chanel Illusion d'Ombre? Which was the last eye shadow you purchased that wowed you?

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Caviar Ink / Review...

It's good! It's really good!

It would seem everyone has been raving about Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner for years and now I know why but although it is that good, I still prefer another...

For the past year now I've been wearing L'Oréal Infaillible Lacquer Liner in Slate which on me is just perfect since I can't wear black, well maybe I could but I don't feel comfortable with it. Green eyes with a rather pale complexion, I feel if I wear black it's the only thing we see. Slate is a dark grey/brown that goes with everything and with it I can do a thick line without looking like I'm coming out of the 60s and the fabulous thing about it is that it's matte!

Although I love L'Oréal's for everyday I wanted another just a tiny bit darker but again, not black and it too had to be matte. I found one in the Bobbi Brown's line up of gel liners, Caviar Ink.

This M.A.C Blush is finally getting a Whole Lotta Love / Review...

I'm not much of an impulse buyer anymore and so before I decide to go for an item I usually think it through. This blush was an exception since I did buy it on a whim. Last spring I needed some pick me ups and did quite a bit of shopping to compensate...

My go to blush at that time was Bourjois Rose Ambré which is darker but with a light brush swipe looks quite natural on my skin. 

I wanted more than natural, I wanted a "pop" of color!

M.A.C Whole Lotta Love would have fit the bill if I hadn't seen... Diorskin Nude Tan Paradise Duo in Coral Glow! As soon as I was able get my hands on it, all others, including this one, were forgotten and remained untouched! My Dior compact is now taking a break for winter (sniff!) but will be back in April for sure. :)

M.A.C Whole Lotta Love Pro Longwear Blush, $29,50 CAD

For once the color is right! Yay!

This blush spent the entire summer on my makeup table and several times I asked myself, why on Earth did I buy it? Well, now it's mid October and I can honestly say, I'm really happy I have it!

M.A.C Whole Lotta Love Pro Longwear Blush...

This color came out last year as part of the M.A.C Fall 2012 Office Hours Collection when several new blushes joined the regular line up. It's the perfect pink! You can make it light for a natural flush of color or you can layer it for a little more definition. Since it's pretty matte, well not to the point of looking cakey, it's perfect to use under any illuminating powder. A cool medium pink, it can easily be warmed up with the use of a bronzer which is what I've been doing. 

If you want to take a break from wine/berry shades or are a little tired of neutrals/corals, Whole Lotta Love is the ideal color to own. For some reason it makes me smile when I brush it on! Weird I know!

Oh I almost forgot, it has good color payoff! Some reviewers have mentioned being disappointed about this but honestly mine is just fine.a light swirl of my blush brush and it gives me a nice dab of color. No fall out, it's tightly pressed so it may depend on the brush used. If it's too soft you may have this issue.

Although this color might be more suitable for medium to darker complexions it can be quite nice on fair skin if used lightly by blowing on the brush before application. 

So it took me a while but I finally was able to justify this impulse purchase, feww! 

Do you have makeup items that you've purchased but ended up not using or took your sweet time to get into?

M.A.C & Rick Baker For Some Halloween Fun!

Who is Rick Baker? A genius of makeup artistry!

You may not know his name but it's almost certain you've seen his work. He received seven Academy Awards including the inaugural statuette for Best Makeup and Hairstyling for his work in An American Werewolf in London. This honor was repeated with Harry and the Hendersons, Ed Wood, The Nutty Professor, Men in Black, How The Grinch Stole Christmas and The Wolfman. Remember the wolf creature in which Michael Jackson transforms in Thriller? He did that too! No wonder he's got his own star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame!

Rick Baker, see the video below for his tutorial.

So, here are three looks created by the master. Even if you don't have the talent of the artists from the TV show Face Off (my daughter and I looove that show), with the tutorials provided by M.A.C you should be able to replicate these amazing looks and maybe even modify them enough to make them your own...

On M.A.C's website when you click on the makeup drawing of your choice you will get all the information needed to recreate it. The great thing about these is that they are just makeup, no prosthetics. With a little practice the illusion can be quite spectacular...

Here's the tutorial where Rick Baker shows how to achieve the makeup shown above...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57BFduNBzew

Once you're done watching it, have a look at the before face by dragging the dot back to the beginning of the video. It's stunning!

Here, the collection created specifically to recreate these looks. 

You can view the entire collection on M.A.C website, here.

Sadly I don't have anything planned for Halloween but these palettes are both beautiful 

and could definitely be used on a daily basis, they are $52.00 CAD each.

On the left, The Monster's Bride and on the right, Spider Queen.

If you want to know more about Rick Baker do have a look at the video below where he talks about his work. I would have loved for it to be a little longer. Sorry if it's not centered, I wasn't able to format properly in HTML. If you're on a tablet, here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwrvSIaEe-0

The Original Viva Glam Girl is Back!

Yessss! RuPaul is back!

M.A.C. Beluga Eyeshadow / Review

ALL the eye shadows from the new M.A.C Indulge collection are STUNNING! Really! I totally understand why they are sold out online and so now my one regret, I only got one. The one I wanted!

Beluga...

For someone who's been steering way clear of sparkles I've really done it this time! Going from mattes to this is quite a step! For those of you who have seen the Mystère quad, from the new Chanel Superstition collection, Beluga is similar to the dark khaki but packs more punch!

... Or so I thought...

Considering that a beluga is a white whale, the name for this eye shadow is quite surprising and does not really relate to the Sea to me. For some "mystic" reason, it reminds me more of the New Age period so many went through in the 80s or was it the 90s? This looks like a mix of several semi-precious stones people used to collect for their mystical properties.

I know this is not the clearest of pictures but I still wanted to show it to you, can you detect the blue specs in there? There are also gold and grey in a majorly khaki base. Here it looks more grey but it's actually a khaki with a lot of dimension.

With sun light the colored glitter is even more noticeable! It really does appear as if many colored stones where pulverised and mixed in the khaki base.

Here is what it reminds me of, Alchemy! A mad attempt to transform elements into gold! One would think they almost succeeded for this color is simply stunning and up close, does make me wonder what the Philosopher's Stone would have looked like, had there been such a magical creation!

Now, for all it's beauty how does Beluga translate to the eyes? Poorly! *cries*

I do get a good color payoff, hardly any glitter fall off... there is almost none to fall!

The glitter doesn't transfer to my eyes! I get a beautiful dark grey-khaki but all the subtleties seen in the pan simply vanish when using a brush. Note that I wouldn't use a sponge applicator for it would make it way too dark on me.

So you see, in this case, seeing swatches doesn't really give an idea of what it will look like in real life. With Beluga, the only way to really see it's refinement would be as an all over color for a smokey eye for example but unfortunately that for me, just wouldn't work.

Several of the new Fall makeup collections include shades of green, particularly khakis and I'm quite pleased about this one. Beluga looks great on me and if you're not one to go for palettes, this is an excellent option to enjoy a bit of the trend. Just keep in mind that it's not as sparkly as it looks in the pan or as when you swatch it. This is a little sad since I truly wanted something different.

Beluga is a good color right in tune with most Fall collections, not as sparkly as I expected, it's still highly pigmented and had good longevity. If you don't plan on getting any of the new palettes but still want a little pick me up to go with all the new fashion, Beluga is a good choice as are all the eye shadows from the M.A.C Indulge collection.

So, it wasn't what I was expecting but I'm still happy about this purchase.


Can you tell my daughter and I had a Harry Potter marathon recently? :)

M.A.C Indulge Translates Into One Word...

Wow!

This collection includes beautiful neutrals and vampy colors for lips both in Cremesheen and Lipglass, two lovely Cremeblend blushes and gorgeous Nail Lacquers but the hit of this collection for me...

... The height Eye Shadows!!!

They are ALL, except for one, SOLD OUT at this time on M.A.C website!!!

Seeing them in person I may be disappointed but I will definitely make a detour to swatch them. Recently M.A.C has been kind of meh and underwhelming for me and as I've said repeatedly, they have so many launches that it's hard to keep up. This collection however has struck my curiosity enough for me to want at least one of it's offerings, the Beluga eye shadow.

You can see the entire collection on Temptalia, here, but if you want to see all of the items in person, I believe it would be best not to wait too long once it hits stores.

M.A.C Indulge launches in stores on August 22.

Will you be making a special stop to have a look at this new Indulging collection?

Now Online: M.A.C Lightful With Marine Biology Skin Care

As per M.A.C...

Lightful delivers the latest in brightening technology for flawless skin. Our exclusive Marine-Bright Formula features three potent seaweed extracts and Vitamin C derivative to nourish, hydrate and revitalize skin while blocking free radicals and UV effects. The result: brilliant, clear, even radiance that appears instantly and intensifies over time. For optimum effects, use Cleanser, Softening Lotion, Essence and Moisture Creme morning and night.

Four products...

Lightful Cleanser ($30.00): with Marine-Bright Complex and Super-Duo Charged water.

Lightful Softening Lotion ($38.00): infused with the active high power impact of Marine-Bright Complex.

Lightful Essence ($48.00): Marine-Bright complex and Super-Duo Charged water, a lightweight serum more powerful to moisten, condition and plump skin for a smoother, more radiant look and feel. Impact increases over time.

Lightful Moisture Creme ($48.00): Marine-Bright complex and Super-Duo Charged water, a lightweight gel-style moisturizing cream to boost skin's moisture and instantly, and over time, make the skin more luminous.


All I can say is that this is interesting. There are hardly any information on M.A.C's website, no ingredient list and no mention of UV protection. In other words, if you want to brighten your skin you will need to use a good sunscreen during the day. True that Vitamin C can brighten skin and help boost sun protection but it can't do it on it's own. I'm curious about the "Marine-Bright Complex" and the "Super-Duo Charged" water. These are attractive terms but what do they really mean?

M.A.C is owned by Estée Lauder who also owns Crème de la Mer. Are we seeing some sort of cross over? One thing is certain, the beauty giant remains mysterious as far as ingredients are concerned, relying on beautifully put together scientific sounding terms to intrigue costumers enough to purchase their skin care.

The prices of these new skin care items are relatively reasonable. It will be interesting to read reviews and the ingredient lists of each as they start to pop up. I think I'll wait until then to decide if I will try these or not.

These new skin care offerings from M.A.C will be available in stores on August 15.

M.A.C Illustrated Makeup Bags, M.A.C by Request 2013 & Turquatic...

Here we have yet another collaboration for M.A.C this time with two award winning illustrators. The result, four makeup bags which can be nice options if you are a collector.

Two colorful bags by New York graffiti artist Indie 184 and two black and white line drawings by Anja Kroencke.

As you can see these two artists couldn't be more different. While Indie 184 clearly shows a modern tagging street style, Kroencke takes us back to a popular style of the late 70s. They are $43.00 each and are available now through M.A.C website.


M.A.C by Request 2013...

Every year M.A.C brings back loved products from the 1990s and 2000s based on votes. From July 8th to 23rd you can cast your own through their facebook page. Who knows, maby one of your favorites will be available in Spring 2014? Based on popularity, three lipsticks and three eyeshadows will be released again for a limited time.

M.A.C Putty! I would LOVE for it to make the cut!

Turquatic...

Here's a bit of ignorance for you, I had no idea M.A.C had a fragrance(s)! They clearly don't promote it at their counters because I've never seen it but I must admit that sometimes it's kind of hard to find their latest collections as well so it may not be surprising. The largest M.A.C counter we have downtown is almost a maze. Now from what I've just read about Turquatic I am more than intrigued. Aquatic with a good dose of Amalfi lemon! My nose is itching at the moment just thinking about lemons!

Originally launched in 2011, M.A.C describes is as being a classic with notes of Anemone, Lotus, Oris and Corsican Blue Cedar. Considered as a unisex fragrance (now that scares me a little for I've never liked one qualified as such so far) I will still sample it since according to the reviews it leans more to the feminine side. Available in three sizes: 6 ml rollerball ($26.50), 25 ml ($36.00) and 50 ml ($59.50).


Do you like these makeup bags? Have you tried Turquatic?

My Current Favorites / Makeup

There's a lot of makeup on my table but these are the items I reach for the most and all have been reviewed, just click on their names if you want to know more about them.

As you can see, for me, less is more! I don't wear foundation but I do wear concealer and powder. Why do I have three concealers? I don't have dark circles but do have a little redness on my lids and I find that either one of these serves me well as an eye shadow base. Rimmel, Hard Candy and Laura Mercier are all favorites and I use either one of them depending on my mood but I do tend to reach for Rimmel most of the time.

Givenchy Le Prisme Visage Mat is my go to powder at the moment. So light and natural, it goes from my table to my purse when I go out. I often use the "dark" beige as an eye shadow when I want a "no makeup" makeup look.

Revlon Colorstay Quad in Sea Mist. This is such a surprise for me since I haven't used any of Revlon's products for years except for a lip butter purchased one year ago. I've been reaching for it every morning, especially the dark purple which is quite flattering on green eyes. I've used these eye shadows on hot days (we've had only few so far) and I must say, they have good staying power. For such an inexpensive item I couldn't be more pleased.

L'Oréal's Infaillible Lacker Liner 24h in Dark Slate, the best I've tried so far. I have deep set eyes and let's be real, my upper lids are starting to be influenced by gravity. *sigh* This eye liner has not let me down so far except on the day when I had to work in the yard for a bit and it was extremely hot (38C with humidity). After about 40 minutes or so, it was starting to disappear on me. Now let's be fair, I don't think any eye liner would have resisted that. The color, Dark Slate is perfect for me. Dark but not as harsh as black would be. Even if I'm a brunette I have a fair complexion and I don't always curl my lashes. A black eye liner would be the only thing one would see on my face.

Benefit's They're Real! Given my recent rave review it's no surprise that this is the mascara I reach for every morning. When I want to keep the curl all day, I heat my Shiseido lash curler with my blow dryer. With Benefit's mascara the process is not as long for they get and keep the curl pretty fast.

La Terracotta de Guerlain, my favorite basic bronzer. No shimmer, perfect for contouring I sometimes even use it as an eye shadow or liner on the outer ends of my lower lids.

Diorskin Nude Tan Paradise Duo... Love! This is the perfect summer glow in a compact! The bronzer side gives a light natural tanned look with just enough of a satiny finish. It's not shimmery and so I don't look like a disco ball. Mixed with the coral, perfect glow! I apply the coral lightly on my cheeks but also on my upper lids, very lightly. This gives the effect of having been in the Sun without the damage. I'm so glad I gave in to temptation. :)

M.A.C Whole Lotta Love Pro Longwear Blush. The only item I haven't reviewed yet and I'm starting to wonder why I purchased it. I've used it only once, the day after I bought it. It was lovely but for some reason I'm not attracted by it, especially since I got my Diorskin Duo. I rarely wear pinks and so far Bourjois Rose Ambré (not shown on the picture) was my go to. For Summer I wanted something with a little more brightness, reason why I got this M.A.C but now I don't know when I'll use it. I guess I included it in this line up in the hope I'll start using it soon. :)

I don't know why NARS Larger Than Life Gloss in Gold Digger is there either since I've only used it a few times. I guess in this case it's to remind me that I want to try it in another color... :)

Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in 05 Candy Shimmer and 06 Rosewood Shimmer. These I reach for every day. Moisturizing, they give a little dimension to my lips and are perfect for a natural look.

NARS Satin Lipstick in Tolède really turned out to be my Summer lipstick so far. This color is perfect and I get a good four hours of colors. Light, I haven't found it drying so far although I don't wear it every day, only when I go out. It goes with everything but I must admit I don't wear super bright colors This shade should definitely become part of NARS regular line up because again, for me, it's perfect!

Oh how long does it take me to put on "my face" in the morning? Rarely more than 10 minutes! Unless I'm experimenting with a new color or product, I've got my basic look pretty much covered.


How long does it take you to put on your makeup in the morning?

A Little Orange to Warm Things Up?

Why is it that every Monday I start the week with new beauty envies? The worst part is, this weekend, like the previous, I didn't get to go downtown and today I'm starting to feel like I'm in rehab!

What is this new craving of mine? Orange!

Orange is a warm and happy color. Warm, well, we kind of need it these days with the crazy weather. I know here I go again but believe me, it's just destabilizing. Mother Nature is becoming bi-polar (I totally stole this expression from my web friend Tamryn). One day it's screeching hot and the next you have to wear a coat! So yes, orange is a warm color that can help us forget about this craziness. Happy? Who doesn't agree with me? Orange is fun, it's the color kids reach for when they draw the sun and for good reason. Yellow can be so boring on white paper but orange pops!

For this Summer several cosmetic companies are having fun with orange. We've seen early Spring pops of coral, the mix of both pink and orange but now the two seem to want to part and go their separate ways. Bright pinks are coming out and gorgeous true oranges appear to want to make a serious statement.

Pinks, we are used to them but orange? It can be either flattering or a complete disaster. One has to be careful, a little too dark or a little too bright and we can end up looking like a clown especially when it comes to choosing a lipstick. So do keep that in mind if ever you are considering getting on the orange band-wagon.

M.A.C All About Orange

NARS Play With Fire

To learn more, just click on the pictures to visit respective websites.

So are you feeling it?

M.A.C picture from the Calgary Herald.

M.A.C Temperature Rising Summer 2013

As per M.A.C...

Summer's most sensual scene is captured in a seductive color collection sure to make your temperature rise.

The imagery is indeed sensual and provocative. The colors are interesting but sadly here we don't really know which the model is wearing snd so we can't really go for "that look" due to the lighting. Usually we can have a pretty good idea of which colors a model is wearing and if we like it we buy it. Here, no idea!

Click on the image to visit M.A.C website and see them up close. The quads with their $52.00 price, are getting pretty close to Dior quits at $60.00 and more expensive than an Estée Lauder quint which goes for $50.00. Something to think about.


Temperature Rising Bronzing, now this I find exciting!

From left to right: two Bronzing Powder, Refined Golden & Soft Sand, $30.00 each and 

two Pro Longwear Bronzing Powder, Nude On Board & Sun Dipped, $36.00 each.

Strobe Liquid Lotion for a soft radiant light on skin. $40.00 for 50 ml.

To The Beach Bronzing Body Oil for sheer sheen and sexy gleam. $27.00 for 50 ml. 

Also part of the collection...

Makeup Bag, $41.00 

167 SH Face Blender $42.00

Any thoughts about this new collection? Me, I know I'll be having a closer look at the body oil and the lipsticks.

M.A.C Ruby Woo Lipstick Remixed!

M.A.C is kind of going nuts with these star collaborations. I'm starting to think too much is too much but it does seem to be working for them. The latest, Riri, short for Rihanna.

If you click on the image you will see that it's already sold out! I just got this in my in-box!!!

If it weren't for the fact that M.A.C does indeed have an outstanding color selection I think at this point I would be giving up on them. Not because I'm not a fan of the signer but because they have way to many launches and these celebrity associations are feeding a kind of adulation I just don't agree with.

Another annoying fact, available online only!!!

Still I must admit, the color does look beautiful.

Update: if you want to see what the color looks like, Chic Profile has swatches of it.

Makeup Empties, What Has To Go!

Spring cleaning comes with the realisation that some stuff just has to go! I do believe I have the soul of a hoarder and that has to stop! I rarely throw away stuff, I still have some old Dior eyeshadow quads, lots of old Estée Lauder, some Lancôme and who knows what else. I guess I'll have to do some sort of "retro" entry eventually to show you.

For now let's see what I've discarded. These items where still in my every day makeup bag or should I say on the table where I do my makeup in the morning, mixed in with what I really use. All except two, have been reviewed already.

Clinique Blended Face Powder in Transparency 2

As you can see, this one is old! I've had it for years and can't even remember when I purchased it. A good everyday powder, these days it sells for $27.00. The reason I'm not replacing it is simply because of this blog. I need to try new ones in order to bring you reviews. For some reason I've reviewed Clinique's Stay-Matte Sheer Pressed Powder but not this loose version. Nothing fancy, it gives a nice light sheer finish that is quite natural and yes, I would recommend it.

Rimmel Natural Bronzer in 021 Sunlight

At under $10.00 this product is surprisingly excellent! I will probably repurchase to keep in an emergency bag for the office, once I have one to go to. :) 

LUSH Eyes Right Mascara

An excellent formula that I was quite impressed with, I simply got tired of the small wand. The presentation is cute but clearly must be revisited by LUSH.

Estée Lauder Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara

For the past 2 years or so, a favorite. I'm not saying I will not repurchase but again, I need to try new ones for this here blog. At $25.00, it's an excellent buy. Just keep in mind that the brush is a bit big, something not for everyone.

M.A.C. Select Cover Concealer

This I will not repurchase. Although the color was perfect, NW15 Light, it performed poorly. Too sheer, too thin, it was a disappointment.

Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Concealer

This concealer ended up looking cakey and dried up my under eye area. Not what I was going for. 

M.A.C. Fluidline Eyeliner Gel in Dipdown

Performed poorly on me and dried up in no time.

M.A.C. Eyeshadow in Putty

This I will keep with the hope that it will come back, one day... *Sniff*

Cargo 3 Triple Action Mascara

This I got in a kit at Winners for less than the price of the mascara which usually goes for $20.00. It did ok by keeping the curl for a little over 5 hours but was not what I would consider an outstanding product. I will not repurchase. 

Personnelle Magic Potion

This could have been a nice inexpensive option as a activator. It's made to transform any powder eyeshadow into a stay put eyeliner. The problems, the little tiny wand with the rough tiny sponge applicator at the end and the opening is too small to insert any type of brush. I was able to work with it by shaking the container to get a drop of it. I mixed it with my The Body Shop cake eyeliner and it did make the color darker than with plain water but it did not make it last much longer. Even if this product sells for less than $5.00, it was not worth it. For those who don't know Personnelle (yes the spelling is right), it's a drugstore brand of inexpensive products. The only other product I've purchased is a lip gloss (for less than $4.00) that wasn't all that so I don't think I will try any of their other offerings. 

I will likely have more... I'm not done with Spring cleaning!

M.A.C. Baking Beauties

Now available online, it launches in stores on April 18th.

I don't know what to think about this collection. I know that in the past few years the cupcake business has been booming, due, in part, to a very successful television show called DC Cupcakes starring Katherine and Sophie, sisters and co-founders of Georgetown Cupcakes. Going with the flow and since M.A.C. can't open a bakery and start selling cupcakes, they've done the next best thing to take advantage of the new fab.

Hmmm... Really?

Recently I was excited about the Archie's Girls Collection for the simple reason that I used to love reading those comics. Seeing the products at the M.A.C.'s counter I ended up being underwhelmed, especially by the eye shadow quads. The colors where nice but the quality of the packaging wasn't too impressive.

So here we go with cupcakes! I haven't seen any of the products but from the pictures, again, I am underwhelmed. Could it be because I don't have much of a sweet tooth? I don't think so, I guess seeing so much shimmer is a downer for me. The only offerings in this collection that I want to have a close look at are the Baking Beauties Pearlmate Face Powders.

Baking Beauties Pearlmate Face Powder in Pink Buttercream

Baking Beauties Pearlmate Face Powder in In for a Treat 

I'm curious to see the finish of these. Still, I'm not sure I would go for either. I find them a little gimmicky and might get bored with them fast. Good thing the price isn't too outrageous. They will sell for $35.00. I wonder if Katherine and Sophie would go for these?

If you want to see the entire collection, visit Chic Profile, Tavia has pictures with the names and prices of every item.

Ok I know I've said that I don't have much of a sweet tooth but I could totally go for one of Georgetown Cupcakes' Lemon Blossom cupcake! Here is a screen capture from their menu page of what it looks like.

This looks like a little piece of Heaven! :D

Make Up For Ever Eye Shadow no 34 Soft Ioden Green / Review

Now I swear I'm not obsessed... I think! 

Recently there was a bit of drama on Makeup Alley's makeup board. A member posted about her deception or should I say her desperation, over a M.A.C. lipstick that had been discontinued. This made me smile and brought back memories of when I used to work in cosmetics. How many times have I had to try to find a duplicate for a specific shade of lipstick for a customer? Often outdated and unflattering colors, whatever the suggestion, you could simply not convince them to go for something more current. Stuck in their ways they where. To give you an idea, some of them where still wearing that horrible creme bright blue eyeshadow right out of the 60's!

These days pretty much anything goes so it's not a big deal anymore and cosmetics companies like Makeup For Ever, M.A.C. and Inglot offer pretty much any color you can imagine.

Or do they?

My obsession with M.A.C. Putty isn't misplaced or at least that's what I want to believe. It's just that wearing in on the moving part of my lid helps tone down the redness and looks better on me than any other neutral does. It's a subtle shade, just the right hint of green which on my green eyes makes it quite flattering.

Green on green eyes? I know, I know, to make eyes pop you have to go towards opposite colors. For green, purple is more appropriate. I just can't do purple everyday, as an accent once in a while but everyday? No way!

This basic gives me the perfect "no makeup" makeup with a light, fresh twist. It's just perfect!

My quest to replace my beloved M.A.C. Putty eyeshadow may be over!

After the deception of the GOSH duo in 005 Green Zone, I continued my search for the perfect matte, light green eyeshadow. At Sephora, right after swatching all the beautiful NARS pink offerings, I turned around and stumbled upon the Make Up Forever single eyeshadows display. I don't know if all Sephoras are set up in the same fashion but here, both brands are next to one another.

Looking at the colors...  One caught my attention...  Could this be it?

Please don't let it be shiny!

Make Up For Ever no34, Soft Ioden Green is the closest to M.A.C. Putty I could find to this day! Not matte, it has a satin finish and it's also a little more bright, a little more minty than Putty. Still, it's pretty darn close. To tone it down, I reapply a little loose powder over my lids just before going for my eyeliner. The result, I get an almost perfect match!

MUFE no34, $24.00 at Sephora

How did it perform?

Honorably! This is my first Make Up For Ever eyeshadow and it fared much better than GOSH (not hard to do) but maybe not quite as well as M.A.C. Still, I get close to 6 hours of color on my lids and that's good enough for me considering the lack of choices out there for this type of shade. With it, no need to use a primer. I use the light Rimmel concealer and it's perfect as a base. I've also had good results with Laura Mercier's Secret Concealer which makes it a bit less bright.

*Happy Dance*

I will keep looking for the perfect match but for now I'm pretty happy with this one.

Here is what it looks like next to M.A.C. Putty.

Yes, as you can see, my Putty is OLD, you might even say VINTAGE! 

Le Sigh 

I do have to say for my defence that I've only been wearing it regularly for a little over a year. Before that it was tucked away in a drawer. For how long? I have no idea. Can you believe I'm a hoarder and keep my stuff? :D

GOSH Matte Duo Eyeshadow in 005 Green Zone / Review

If there weren't more important things in life than makeup, this would be a sad story! For years I've been wearing M.A.C. Putty eyeshadow as a basic shade. It was perfect for my "no makeup" makeup look, perfect for everyday. Sadly it's been discontinued. It was a light green with no shimmer on the minty side when you looked at it but it came out like light olive green on my lids.

Like I said, if there weren't more important things in life, it would be sad!

Here I go on another quest! 

MAC Archies Girl's Collection, Spring 2013

Update: Now available online through MAC website here.

With a $90.00 purchase you get an Archie's girl pin, no code necessary.

Free standard shipping with $65.00 purchase or more.

A blast from the past!!! This I am really truly excited about!

Glowing up I read so many of these...

Archie's Girls Betty & Veronica cover from 1951, My Comic Shop

Published January 1968 by Archie Publications.

... But the one thing I never understood was why they where both so fixed on Archie? Let's be honest, he's not that handsome, is he? I used to love Betty, the perfect blond but would always feel sorry for Veronica, the spoiled little rich girl. Could be because she was the dark haired one and I identified with her more.

Each girl has her own color collection composed of lipsticks, lip glosses, eye shadows, pigments, pencils mascaras, powders and nail lacquers.

I find the colors chosen for each character are quite representative or their respective personalities. While Betty has the girl next door style, Veronica's is more "vampish". Betty's lean towards soft and neutral shades. Veronica, well like her, they are more noticeable, more dramatic.

Betty Caramel Sunday Eyeshadow palette and Cream Soda Blush

Veronica Spoiled Eyeshadow palette and Prom Princess Blush

Betty Pigments in Lucky in Love & Cheers My Dear

Veronica Pigments in Blackened Teal & Blackened Pink 

Betty Pearl Glide Intense Eyeliner in Black Swan & Lord It Up

Veronica Pearl Glide Intense Eyeliner in Designer Purple & Petrol Blue

Pearlmatte Face Powder in Flatter Me for Betty and Veronica's Blush for Veronica

Betty's Lipsticks: Oh, Oh, Oh, Betty Bright & Girl Next Door

Veronica's Lipsticks: Boyfriend Stealer, Daddy's Little Girl & Ronnie Red

MAC Archie's Girls Lip Glass

Betty: Kiss & Don't Tell, Summer Sweetheart & Stay Sweet

Veronica: Feelin' So Good, Mall Madness & Strawberry Malt

They also each have their own nail lacquers as well as mascaras. To complete the collection they share accessories like a coin purse, tote, a mirror as well as a makeup bag. The item I find most exciting, the Brush Set! White with little red hearts, I love it!

This collection is fun and in my opinion, truly captures the essence of the comic books. Again I'll be looking at the Brush Set more closely as well as at a few items from Veronica's colors.

MAC Archie's Girls Collection will be available online on MAC's website starting January 31st. There is a February 7th launch date for stores and counters but I'm not sure this includes Canada. International availability will be in March.

Pictures, MAC Cosmetics via chicprofile.com, becomegorgeous.com & makeupandbeautyblog.com

M.A.C. Rebel Romance

Revel in the spirit of red this Valentine's Day with M.A.C.'s online-exclusive selection of shades. for every love-obsessed, passionate rebel.    M.A.C. website

Valentine's Day is coming soon! Need a few new shades to get in the mood? M.A.C. has thought of that. Here are their suggestions...

For lips...

MAC Red, Rebel and Diva

For nails...

Russian Red, Dark Angel and Vintage Vamp

I must say that I'm really liking the combination of MAC Red and Vintage Vamp. In this spotlight, M.A.C. is also promoting their Waterproof Powerpoint Eye Pencil as well as their Haute & Naughty Lash Two in One mascara. It lets you choose between natural or full of drama lashes.

So, kissable lips, temptress nails and beautifull long lashes! Perfect for your Valentine!

Lipsticks are $18.00, Nail Lacquers $19.00, Powerpoint Eye Pencil $18.00 and Naughty Lash mascara $23.50. Available online here.

Screen captures from M.A.C. website.