Glitter and Ice… It’s MAC’s Christmas Collection

Want to know what’s in MAC’s holiday collection 2011? See the pictures and full collection here

Read more on my new blog http://beautyandlechicblog.blogspot.com/

Something for the Weekend… Free Delivery from MAC

If you don’t have a MAC in your town or you just can’t be bothered trapsing to the shops on this dull, wet weekend, then this might interest you.

London Fashion Week kicks off this weekend don’t you know and to mark the occasion MAC (LFW’s official sponsor) is offering a Fashion Week Treat in the form of FREE delivery.

There’s no minimum spend and it’s available until  midnight on 21st September – whatsmore there’s no stupid code, just click on and start shopping.

In case you’re interested my next purchases from MAC will be a vital repurchase of the Creme d’nude Lipstick, which has nearly ran out and the face wipes, which are expensive but magically remove every trace of make up and leave my skin so, so soft.

Ever Hip – the Perfect Coral Lipstick

“Buy it now, or regret it later” if ever there was an example of that, not buying Ever Hip would be it! This limited edition shade formed part of Mac’s Flower Flower collection earlier in the year. I tested it, liked it but decided I didn’t need it (like we ever really NEED a lipstick). Deciding to mull it over I walked away to think about it. I knew I should have bought it, but I let me conscience get the better of me. By the time I went back to buy it, it had sold out, after all it is a limited edition and we all know Mac Limited Editions don’t hang around long.

I could have kicked myself because I’d been wanting a “perfect” coral shade for the summer and this was it, I just didn’t know it until I couldn’t have it, and of course once I couldn’t have it I wanted it so much more.

I’ll spare you the details, but let’s just say I searched high and low to track down one of these bad boys and finally I have it, and just in the nick of time. You see, I’m going on holiday this week and this was meant to be my holiday lipstick.

Ever Hip is a Cremesheen lipstick – meaning it’s soft, moisturising and creamy. It’s semi opaque to opaque with a sheen, not shine finish. I would say it as a nudey coral. For me it’s the perfect coral shade – not too orange, not too pink, not too bright, just right! And I know it will team perfectly with a tan.

I couldn’t compare it to any other shade, the closest comparison I could make would be Mac’s Costa Chic, although that’s much bolder and further up the orange scale.

It looks a little paler in the picture

As well as the tan, I’m also planning to team it with coral nails in the shape of Revlon’s Tropical Temptation. Ok, you might think it’s a bit tacky matching lips and nails, but hey, it’s holiday!

Sick Note!

Hello my regular blog visitors, you might have noticed I’ve been a little MIA these last few days, this is because I’m sick – some virus and throat infection thing – it’s “summer” people, this shouldn’t be happening! I barely managed to muster together a blog post yesterday – so in the interest of quality, not quantity, I’m giving myself a few days off.

I’m also cold turkey with the make up – 5 days clean, it’s killing me, but should be doing my skin the world of good, plus my trusted Eight Hour Cream is helping with the sore nose and lips.

I have my survival kit and hopefully I’ll be back up and running in a few days.

In the mean time to keep all you make up addicts going here’s a few of my favourite posts you might not have caught first time around…

Check out my Holiday Essentials, Probably the World’s best Bronzer and my all time favourite Blusher.

Now, it’s back to copious amounts of magazines, slushy movies and vintage O.C.

Packed To Go?

Leaving on a jet plane? Not before you’ve checked out MAC’s new limited edition travel collection – Packed To Go!

The collection contains everything you should need to fill your chic travel make up bag. Featuring gorgeous face kits, eye, cheek and lip trios and brush bags – perfect for those all important touch ups on the go.

It’s a while since I’ve been super excited by one of Mac’s collections, but this one’s ticking all the boxes. Look in a Box kits are pretty genius and as the name suggests contains everything you need to create a gorgeous themed look… in one box. The eyes, the lips, the cheeks – it’s all taken care of, everything except the foundation and at £36.50, they’re pretty good value.

• Girl Next Door – 2 Eye Shadows in Grand Entrance and Smoke & Diamonds, Iridescent Powder in Belightful, Cremesheen Glass in Deelight and Zoom Lash Mascara in Zoom Black
• A Very Stylish Girl – 2 Eye Shadow in Dreammaker and Glamour Check, Bronzing Powder in Golden, Cremesheen Glass in Looks Like Sin and Zoom Lash Mascara in Zoomblack
• Rocker Chick – 2 Eye Shadow in Electra and Black Tied, Lipstick in Hue, Lipglass in Oyster Girl, Eye Kohl in Smolder and Dazzle Lash Mascara in Black Dazzle

Packed to go Eye products

• Packed to Go: Assorted Black Eyeliners – Power Point Eye Pencil in Engraved, Kohl Power Eye Pencil in Feline and Penultimate Eye Liner in Rapidblack £27.50
• Packed to Go: 6 Warm Smoky Eyeshadows – Shroom, Naked Lunch, Greensmoke, Tempting, Showstopper and Stormy Love £29.50
• Packed to Go: 6 Cool Smoky Eyeshadows – Satin Taupe, Beauty Marked, Carbon, Seedy Pearl, Tendersmoke and A Brown Suit £29.50

Packed to go Lip products

• Packed to Go: Lipstick in Pretty Please, Plumful and Hug Me £28.5o
• MAC Packed to Go: Cremesheens in Boy Bait, Over Indulgence and Double Dare £32.50
• MAC Packed to Go: Lipglasses in C-Thru, Lust and Cultured £27.50

 

 

MAC Packed to Go: 4 Lips & Pressed Powder – contains Lipglosses in Poetic License, Rosehips, Riviera Ready and Quick Change along with Iridescent Powder in Belightful £29.50

Brushes

• Packed to Go: 5 Define & Blend Brushes – 129SE Powder/Blush Brush, 190SE Foundation Brush, 224 SE Tapered Blending Brush, 242SE Shader Brush and the 266 SE Small Angle Brush £39.50
• Packed to Go: 5 Shape & Perfect Brush Bag – 168SE Large Angled Contour Brush, 187SE Duo Fibre Brush, 212SE Flat Definer Brush and 275SE Medium Angled Shading Brush £39.50

And even if you’re not travelling, in fact, especially if you’re not travelling you deserve a little treat and some of these sets are really good value.  Available online.

Holiday Beauty Essentials

Whether you’re going abroad or just kicking back in your garden, we all love a bit of sun! But with the sun also comes frizz, burns and melting make up. Here are my top tips and beauty products to help you channel your inner beach babe.

Skincare

 Suncream (Obviously!)

Suncream is sooo important – if you want to tan you’ve got to do it carefully and gradually – the lobster look looks good on no one when you’re older, who wants to look like Donatella Versace?

If you’re going abroad go armed with a range of factors. I normally start on 30, then drop to 15 where I can (gone are the days of, oh I’ll just use a factor 6 oil). I use a separate, non-greasy high factor on my face.

Boots’ Soltan family collection is really good value offering 3 factors and an aftersun for £12.99. I love a high factor sun lotion that is non-greasy, absorbs quickly and doesn’t block pores like Piz Buin In Sun Lotion SPF 30, available from Cheapsmells

Lipbalm, preferably with SPF

So many people forget to protect their lips, but if you want to rock that colour popping lipstick at night you need to protect against chapped, burnt lips – SIMPLE!

Moisturiser

After a days sunbathing you need a great moisturiser to lock that tan in! I’ve never know if it’s better to use after sun or a regular body moisturiser, but I’ve tried both and got the same results. I’ve always been a big fan of Palmer’s Cocoa Butter and Soap & Glory’s Righteous Butter – unfortunately so are FLIES! In Egypt last year I stuck to Soltan aftersun with insect repellent, which was still very moisturising. AVOID aftersuns that market themselves as a tan prolonger. If it contains self tanning ingredient, I find it doesn’t mix well with the natural tan and leads to premature pealing.

And I’d never go on holiday without Elizabeth Arden’s Eight hour cream – for burns, dry skin and chapped lips. Keep it close during the flight – it’s the perfect antidote to the moisture zapping, dehydrating aeroplanes. 

Make Up

I love holiday make up. You can take all your current routines and rules and throw them out the window cos if you can’t experiment in a foreign country where no one knows you, when can you! Even if you’re not feeling so daring, the heat and humidity forces you to change it up anyway.

I do think holiday make up should be kept to a minimum, not least because those pesky airlines get stingier on luggage allowance every year, but who wants to waste their time applying the wall paint (only for it to slide off during that first cocktail) and with your bronzed holiday glow you shouldn’t need as much, right??? I wouldn’t bother with it during the day, but if you have to make sure it’s waterproof and opt for cream products over powder.

Cream Blush – my number one holiday hero!

A cream blush is great for adding a pop of colour on the cheeks without clogging the pores. In the heat they last longer and look fresher. I love Mac Blushcreme in LadyBlush (read review) and Stila’s Convertible colours – both can be used on the lips too.  Tip – keep them in the fridge so avoid theit textured becoming too liquefied.

A Multiple Stick

Multi taskers are really all you need for beach glamour.  I love Topshop’s Cheeks in Prism, an all-in-one shimmer stick, which is super-easy to apply and looks lush on any skin tone. It can be used on checks, lips and eyes or apply in a ‘C’ shape around the temples to lift the face and complement a tan.

HOT nail varnish and lipstick

Holidays are the perfect opportunity to sport that bright lipstick you’ve been wanting to try but were too scared to. Try a bright fushia or coral – perfect compliment for a tan. I love Mac’s Girl About Town and Cost Chic.

The same goes for the nails, step out your pale pink comfort zone and reach for something eye popping or sparkly! I might even unlease the Ciate Mohita (aka shrek green) that I received in my Glossybox.

Waterproof mascara

If you can go without, do! If not, whether there’s water involved or not, better make it waterproof. The heat and humidity can be just as damaging – panda eyes is never a good look, especially on a hot summers day… or night.

Hair

A salty/touselled/ texturising type spray

You’re on holiday, frizz and waves are inevitable so save time and effort blowdrying, straightening and trying to combat the kink and ride those beach waves. Some type of saltly/touselled/texturising spray will help you look all beachy and fabulous.

I like Umberto Giannini’s grunge glamour tousled salt spray or make your own DIY spray with actual sea water!

Tangle Teezer

I don’t know how I coped without this for so long, home or away. Great for teasing out those sea salty tangles without breaking hair.

And don’t forget your toothbrush!

Meet Margin – my new Blush Hero

I’m developing quite a love affair for blushers. For years I was safe in the comfort of my regulars (Soft, safe pinks) but after I bought Mac’sMighty Aprodite blush duo (from the Wonderwoman collection) I discovered a whole new world of shades I’d never tried, and really suited. Blushers are pretty amazing, they have the abily to completely transform your look, and when you find a shade that’s just right for you skin tone – well, it’s pretty damn rewarding… cue Mac’s Margin.

My new blush hero, and an unassuming one at that. Don’t be fooled by margin’s appearance, it’s nothing special in the pan, you probably wouldn’t give it a second glance, I know I didn’t, but once applied it’s GORGEOUS! It’s name probably doesn’t help much – it’s hardly alluring like Dolly Mix or Ladyblush!

In the pan I’d describe it as a dirty peach – again doesn’t sound good does it!

In daylight

 

with the flash

On the face it’s more of a bronzy peach with a hint of berriness and a touch of shimmer. It instantly brightens up my face. It’s very flattering and works really well on my skin tone (NC25-30 if that helps).

The finish is a Frost. Just in case you don’t know, Mac powder blushes come in 5 finishes – Matte, Sheertone , Satin , Sheertone Shimer, Frost.

• Sheertone are quite sheer, great for a hint of colour as they apply lightly
•  Sheertone Shimer, like Sheertone, but with added shimmer/sparkle
• Matte is flat and without any shine or sparkle.
• Frost finishes are high shine and highly reflective because of the shimmer particles in them, but not glittery
• Satin is somewhere in between matte frost but very creamy and applies like a dream.

The finish on Margin is incredible. Although a powder blush, it’s not at all POWDERY. The texture is creamy, all most butter like – I think it’s more of a forst/satin hybrid. It applies like a dream and imparts a fresh glow that lasts all day. I think I actually look like I’m wearing a creamy blusher, but unlike cream it’s simple to apply and allows you to be more directional.

Excuse the brush bristles - I promise I don't have black hairs growing out of my cheek

Margin – Fast becoming my favourite everyday blush.

RRP £18

Beauty waitlist… BB Cream

BB Cream is making serious waves in the beauty world right now…  if experts are to be believed, it’s set to be this year’s biggest beauty trend. BB (Blemish Balm) Cream is one of Asia’s hottest beauty products and it’s heading our way this summer.

Billed as the answer to all your skincare woes in one tube. The balm that claims to be a moisturiser, sun block, primer, skin soother and even a light weight foundation.

The formula was apparently concocted in Germany where dermatologists prescribe it to heal laser skin surgery because it has soothing and skin-regenerating properties. It’s said to soothe skin, even out skin tone and provide the perfect canvas.

Sounds too good to be true? Well that remains to be seen, but if Asia’s skincare market is anything to go by, these creams mean business.

Garnier is set to launch its version, Miracle Skin Perfector Daily All-In-One BB Cream in August, expected to retail around the £10 mark. Also watch out for Mac’s Prep + Prime BB Cream and Clinique’s Age Defence BB Cream, both launching soon.

REVIEW: MAC Studio Sculpt and MAC Foundation Explained

This was an essential repurchase. It’s a lovely foundation – very creamy, thick and luxurious. Great for dryer skins giving a fresh, dewy finish. I tend to go between this and Mac’s Mineralize Skinfish foundation (Read full reviews here). The Studio Sculpt is my secret weapon when I need more coverage, it’s very long wearing too. I wouldn’t normally have gravitated to a thick foundation, but as it’s gel based it’s very soft and applies like a dream – no danger of looking “caked” unless you pile it on of course. I tend to apply with a mixture of fingers and a regular foundation brush (I use No7’s).

Studio Sculpt Foundation £23 and contains an SPF 15.

I’ve also had to buy it in a different shade. When I was first fitted for Mac foundation, I was told I was an NW but have since been told that I am an NC.

Swatch of NC 30 worked in to the hand…

A lot of people find Mac foundation shades confusing, so I’ll try to explain….

NC or NW?

Mac foundations are available in an extensive range of shades. Rather than shades being numbered 1,2,3 or ivory, beige, sunny etc. Mac use a more complex system based on the artists colour wheel. First you need to know your letters, then your number. Some begin NW, others NC. NW stands are Neutral Warm and is suitable for people that have a warm, pinkish undertone in their complexsion. NC, Neutral Cool, is suitable for people that have a yellow undertone in their complexion. This tends to be people with olive or golden beige skin colour. Be warned, you can be a bit of both, which is why I’ve had a mix up. My general undertone is more yellow/olive coloured, but where I catch the sun – nose and hairline, it tends to be a little pinky. The best thing to do is pop in to your local Mac counter and ask the staff to test some on you or get a sample.  

Next, choose your number. This part is easier since is runs in order, normally starting at 15 then rising in 5s to 50, for example NW15, NW20 and so on. I started with NW25, but found I’m better suited to NCs, now I’m NC25, or 30 in summer. Another difficulty is the shades vary foundation by foundation, for example an NC25 in mineralize can be darker than an NC25 in Studio Sculpt – so always try before you buy!

 

Hope that helps!

REVIEW: MAC 130 Duo Fibre Brush

I popped into Mac last week to buy a new brush and check out the Surf Baby collection. I’m sad to report I was pretty disappointed with Mac’s latest offerings – the packaging looks cheap and the colours are quite dark for a summer collection, but I cushions the blow with a few essentials.

Starting with Mac 130 Duo Fibre Brush. This is my new BBF (Best Brush Forever)! I’m a big fan of duo fibre brushes and I’m very attached to the 187. It’s great for foundation and cream products and highlighters, BUT I find it a little too big for apply cream blusher to my cheeks. The surface area of the brush head is quite large, almost as big as the Mac blush pots, making it difficult to contour or brush on small circles onto the cheeks. It can also look a little heavy handed.

130 compared to 187

The 130 Duo Fibre brush has a flat head and a mixture of both natural and synthetic bristles. For me, the 130 and cream blush are a match made in heaven. The surface area is much smaller, enabling you to be much more directional – I can dab a little on the apple of the cheeks or use small circular movements along the cheek bone. It also fits into the compact much more comfortably.  The brush itself is very dense and doesn’t streak; I’d compare it to 109 contour brush, which is my favourite for powder blush. It would be great as a foundation brush, but will take longer to cover the full face.

130 compared to 109

£28

Pop back soon to read my review of Mac Studio Sculpt Foundation and Blushcreme in Lilicent.