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!

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.

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

Something for the Weekend… a £1 lipstick

Get on trend, celebrity approved lips (a la Jameela Jamil and Jenifer Hudson)  for just £1!

I’m all about the bargains. Yes, I do love my premium brands, but can’t resist a good buy and this is certainly a good one. Not only that, BOLD LIPS is one of the season’s hottest trends.

 In case you’re not familiar, Superdrug launched it’s MUA (Makeup Academy) range earlier this year, offering products at a credit crunch friendly £1! With everything from eyeshadows to blushers, their products are surprisingly good value and their colours are gorgeously bright.

I picked up one of their lipsticks in (the unimaginatively) named Shade 3. What it lacks in name, it makes up in the colour department. Hot lips were huge on the Spring/Summer 2011 catwalks. Hot pink, neon pink, fushia pink –  any pink as long as it’s bright! I’m happy to report that “Shade 3” fits perfectly into that trend. It’s bright, longlasting and gorgeous. If I was to compare the colour to a Mac lipstick, it would fall somewhere between “Girl about town” and “Lickable” – a bright hot pink, verging towards a fushia.

Pictured here with the flash…

and without

It’s easy to apply, comfortable to wear and long lasting. They texture is very nice and not at all drying. The finish I’d describe as satiney. For £1, there’s got to be a downside??? Well, yes, but just a small one…. It stains – but hey, you don’t need to reapply it very often and it does wash off.

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.

Orange Make up – Eek or Chic?

I make no secret of the fact that I’m a big fan of corals and peaches but ORANGE, is that a step too far? As we know it was a huge look at the Spring/Summer 2011 catwalks, but can it translate for real people living real lives?

With celebs including Fergie, Scarlett Johansson and  Chloe Sevingy embracing tangerine trend, it looks like it’s working its way down the food chain, so should we get ready?

The thought of wearing orange or neon make up in general conjures up not so fond memories of scrunchies and cycling shorts, but in my attempt to overcome the 80s trauma I’m ready to give it a go… are you?

Starting with nails

I’m rocking Nails Inc’s Candy Orange nail polish today (courtesy of InStyle magazine) which looked pretty funky at home when I was applying it, but today in the outside World, I’m worried I look like I’ve coloured them in with a highlighter pen.  Still, they’re bright, bold and oh so eye catching and for summer, I think they fit right in.

That’s a thumbs up for the nails (I think) but zesty eyes and lips may be a step too far; That I’ll leave to models, teenagers and Top of the Pops 2.

The good…

Fendi Spring Summer 11

The bad…

Not so Fergilicious

If you’re feeling brave, here’s my top punpkin picks.

Illamasqua Toxic Nature Collection Lipstick in Flare £15.50

MAC lipstick in Neon Orange £13.50

Life’s a Peach

I love PEACH, three words I never expected to say. For most of my life I’ve hated peach, dismissing it as dull, boring, safe, simply BLAH! I can trace this hatred back to my childhood when everything was peach coloured… clothes, curtains, bridesmaid dresses, loo roll!

However, this all changed recently with the launch of Mac’s Wonder Woman Collection. I bought, well nearly the whole collection, but my favourite product by a clear country mile was the Power Blush in Mighty Aphrodite – we have been inseparable for months now. It’s a warm peach coral blush with a slight gold pearl, but isn’t glittery. The shade really suits me and it’s a welcome break from pink. I find the colour adds a perfect glow and accentuates my colouring.

I’ve now gone crazy for peaches, corals and beige. Here’s my pick of the (peach) pops.

When I can bear to drag myself away from my mighty Aphrodite and fancy a cream blush, Mac’s new cremeblend in Something Special – a light coral shade, also does the job, but isn’t as kick ass as my Mighty Aphrodite blush. See my previous post for a full review. TOP  TIP – It’s much better layered over a highlighter or cream base.

For lips I heart Revlon’s Super Lustrous Lipgloss  in Peach Petal £6.99. My love affair with lipglosses goes way back, and these silky smooth glosses are up there with the best. It’s a perfect milky creamy gloss. The gorgeous texture, glides on and isn’t too sticky.

Mac Cremesheen lipstick in Shy Girl, a creamy, neutral, coral-beige.  As it’s a creamsheen it’s soft, moisturising and slightly sheer. It’s a lovely day time colour and layers perfectly under the Revlon gloss.

With summer just starting I think my love affair with peach has only just begun. Someone stop me if I start looking like a peach melba.