MAC Semi-Precious Haul & CCO Haul!

It's that time of the month when MAC releases a new collection & I instantly hate it. I can honestly say, however, that Semi-Precious was a pretty nice collection. I felt the colour schematics were more fall-like, especially the range of lip products. The mineralized eyeshadows are one of my favourite MAC products, so I was pretty happy to see a collection devoted to those. And I'm sure most are super happy to see some new skinfinishes as well.

So I stopped into my local MAC counter & picked out a few things. I wanted to limit myself to just $100, but with the skinfinishes being $28 (AAAAGH!!!!) I quickly surpassed that. Does anyone remember when skinfinishes were $22?! Jeeeez, that $6 really adds up.

Anyway, here's my haul. I didn't get a chance for swatches but want to do a comparative post.

 Semi-Precious Pearl Mineralized Skinfinish

 Semi-Precious Rose Quartz Mineralized Skinfinish

 Clarity Mineralized Eyeshadow

 Dark Indulgence Mineralized Eyeshadow

My Magnificence Cremesheen Glass

I really want to try Clarity over a black base, it's super sparkly & rainbow-glittery. Dark Indulgence I'm sure I'll love once I put it to work....I love my greens! So far, the skinfinishes looked bad on me, hahah. It just gave me the look that I rarely wash my face...tooooo shimmery! The creemsheen glass is a nice, cool-toned nude, perfect for smokey eyes! I really wanna grab a few more mineralized eyeshadows once payday rolls around ;)

I also went to the Chicago Premium Outlets last week, primarily to check out the CCO. They had a pretty terrible selection & the general attitude of the employees just pisses me off. Everyone is treated & looked at like a criminal & it makes me super uncomfortable. I did grab a few things, but this is definitely my smallest haul from them :/

I really wanted to browse more, but like I said, they watch you like a hawk there! I try to go every 6 months, but I'm searching for the series of MAC Trip palettes & reallllyy wanna get my hands on those!

Would anyone like to request any comparisons for the Semi-Precious collection? I'll be posting that next week sometime!

MAC Bloggers' Obsessions

On the 21st, MAC launched an online only collection created by some of the top beauty bloggers. This collection consisted of 9 products; 4 eyeshadows & 5 lipglass' all of which were concocted by the bloggers themselves.

I survived the total clusterf*ck MAC caused by launching the collection, then pulling it down in random spurts. I only ordered two items, Jealousy Wakes eyeshadow & Evolution Revolution lipglass. While I think the idea behind this collection was pretty awesome, the other items didn't really appeal to me (especially dark-coloured lipglass)

The awesome UPS man brought me my goodies today & I put them to work instantly!

Evolution Revolution lipglass is a pretty, sheer peachy-pink with loads of sparkle. For my personal preferences, it seemed a bit to orange for me, even though it is quite sheer.

 

I really, personally, LOVE Jealousy Wakes. I think she hit the nail right on the head with this shadow. I can honestly say that in my entire collection I own NOTHING like it. Most of you probably know how much I love to rock the greens & teals and this shadow was perfect. I'm normally not a huge fan of Veluxe Pearl finishes, but this applied very nicely, super vibrant. My only compliant, was that I received my shadow with small bits missing (though I could find no residue within the container -?!) I emailed MAC, but haven't heard a response. This shadow sold out incredibly fast and so far, is the only product to sell out. It is incredibly beautiful & has the right touch of shimmer without being a glitterbomb. I hope MAC re-promotes this one!

I also did a quick FOTD using these items. 

Excuse the dumb/tired look on my face...been taking care of bb kittehz non-stop for a month ;D

NYX White eyeshadow base

MAC Jealousy Wakes eyeshadow on lid

MAC Aquavert eyeshadow on crease

MAC Waternymph eyeshadow on crease

MAC Brill eyeshadow to highlight

Ben Nye White eyeshadow

Demi-Pixies lashes

MAC Innocence, Beware lipstick

MAC Evolution Revolution lipglass

MAC Sakura blush

MAC Surf, Baby!

It's that time of year again, when MAC regurgitates last years summer collection with new names & different packaging. I honestly don't remember much about To The Beach (last years collection) other than Marine Life causing a total uproar & crying because I missed out. I went into MAC the day it launched & it was already gone. I only got a lip liner & eye liner from that collection, but found a Marine Life later on, yay! This year, they have a new hot piece of blush that I'm sure everyone will go nuts for; My Paradise. But I'll get into that a little later.

I'm sure that most of you are aware of how cynical I am towards MAC. I used to love their company & the products they dished out. Lately...their collections are total flops for me & it's rare for me to leave with more than 2 items from them. Surf, Baby is no exception to that. I thought for a summer collection, it lacked vibrancy & colour range. The shadows were so boring & the eyeliners seem to look just the same as last years (Blue Moon looks identical to Float On By!) I also didn't really get how red & brown lipglass were a summer thing...I would expect those in a fall collection. I eyed Naturally Eccentric for a few seconds, but remembered how much I hated it from it's first release. I hardly glanced at the bronzing products, as I heard the bronzing sticks took a huge price increase & MAC bronzing powder just never looks right on me. The pigment stacks looked nice, but they also looked chunky which is a definite 'no' for me. WAH WAH WAH. Le sigh. I was really looking for a collection like Belle Azure (OMFG<3) or Hook, Bait, Lure. Something more versatile...Surf, Baby is a weak attempt at a 'summer' collection & as per usual, MAC fails this one. Bummer.

So, while the majority of this collection did not tickle my fancy, a few items were deemed buy-able. I think the obvious one is My Paradise Cheek Powder.

With flash.

From what I've read online, this is expected to sell out incredibly fast. This is definitely an orangey-coral, unlike Marine Life which was a pinky-coral mixed with pink + the overspray. What I like about My Paradise, is that the gold on it is a flake, so it will last more than 1-2 applications unlike Marine Life. I ended up getting two of these babies, as I wanted to feel justified in missing out on Marine Life when it launched :P

I also picked up Girl On Board lipglass, as I am an absolute sucker for anything nude/neutral, especially the creamy, light shades. I really, really am digging this gloss & will for sure be using it all summer!

There is one product that I absolutely LOVE from this collection & that's Ocean Dip nail lacquer. I am really not a fan of MAC's polishes at all...they've always been super runny & streaky for me. But when I saw the swatches on Temptalia, I knew I had to get this one!

This was an eeeeeensy bit streaky, but two coats was all I needed. Loveloveloveeeee this shade! I think it would look super awesome with the silver shatter. I'm going to try it out later :D

Overall, with the exception of a few nice items, Surf, Baby is not that great for a summer collection. At least not for me, as I would have hoped for brighter options.

MAC Fashion Flower & FOTD

Hi! Sorry it's been so long since my last post, I've been so busy! I took another vacation this week & have been doing some much needed relaxing & spring cleaning :D I also went to the Coheed & Cambria concert in Royal Oak, MI with someone special & had a total blast. Things are good, just focusing on keeping them that way!

So, I went in to MAC yesterday to check out the new collection. Even though I have been sorely disappointed by their collections as of late, I actually ended up liking Fashion Flower a lot. It's very spring-y, though I feel it should've been released a little earlier. I only ended up with the beauty powders & Mlle lipstick because I bought way too much band merch the night before ;D! The collection has some re-promotes, but I still feel it's pretty solid.

 Alpha Girl Beauty Powder (Re-promote from Heatherette)

 Light Sunshine Beauty Powder

 Mlle lipstick (Re-promote from Femme Noir)

I skipped on the shadows because I already own Lucky Green & Aqua. I also have a zillion high-light shadows & pinky-red colours just look gross on me, hahah. I will say that the floral imprint is ugly to me & I can't wait for it to wear off (Though I'm still waiting for the Barbie imprint to wear off my items from that collection!) I might go back for a lip gelee or two...I love their formula & how they feel. The lip gelee's released with this collection do have a lot of glitter, but when paired with a lip brush, it definitely tones that down.

I also really wanted to give Ever Hip a try, but it seems like that's the hot-and-instantly-sold-out product from this collection. Growing Trend was too much like Viva Glam Gaga 2, except it seemed to be a little more sheer; I *might* get that one if there's anything left next week :P

The FOTD I'm posting today isn't really based off this collection, but rather for spring. I did use Lucky Green eyeshadow (I've been in love with it since Belle Azure) for this look, but decided to just keep it all green :P I, also, for the first time in a LONG time, used all MAC eyeshadows for a look!

I used;

Urban Decay Greed Primer Potion

MAC Ivy fluidline on entire lid

MAC Emerald Green pigment packed on lid

MAC Ego Mega Metal eyeshadow on crease

MAC Lucky Green eyeshadow on crease

MAC Creme Royale eyeshadow to highlight

MAC Gesso eyeshadow under brows

MAC Blacktrack fluidline

I don't remember the rest of the look because I did this a few days ago :(

I've also been busy working on my Sugarpill review & swatch post! It will go hand in hand for the next giveaway :D! Amy from Sugarpill was super awesome and sent me some goodies for the photos I did for her site & I'm using them as prizes for the giveaway! I will definitely have that posted this week, so stay tuned :D!

I hope you are all having an awesome weekend! I know I'll be spending tomorrow (&my last day of vacation) outside in the grass!

MAC Quite Cute; Quite boring, really.

Stopped by my local MAC counter to check out the new Quite Cute collection & what a snooze! Nothing to me really stood out. It's definitely a collection of pastel, spring-y colours that, in my opinion, are better suited for pre-teens who are adventuring into makeup. I had slight interest in the quad, but lost it all once I saw it in person. The lipsticks didn't interest me in the slightest, though I'm surprised I walked away with Saint Germain...total impulse buy.

The blushes were pretty cute, though. But the colours in them just seemed odd. I picked up Sakura, which I actually like a lot. I eyed one of the other ones, but it was just too orange for my liking. I passed on the nail polishes, as I find MAC polishes to be way too runny. /sigh

So, here's my tiny little haul of Sakura mineralized blush & Saint Germain lipstick. I also picked up Pro Longwear foundation as I keep hearing it's really awesome for oily skin, can't wait to try it!

The first swatch is the blush outside the heart, then the heart & then both mixed. The last photo is in natural light.

The blush I am actually liking a lot. It's definitely cool toned & gives off a really nice colour when mixed. Considering it is a mineralized product, it really didn't come off as being too shiny like MAC mineralized products generally do :P Thank goodness...I already ignore my MSF's enough because they make me look like a glitterball. But this was quite nice. Was an eensy bit sheer (especially just the heart alone) but was build-able & soft. I would suggest a brush like the #187 for this, so you can mix the colours together nicely. I generally use the #168 for blush, but found I didn't achieve the true mixed colour when I used it.

Saint Germain is a repromote from Sugarsweet (I think it was a year or two ago?) I passed it up then & am wondering why I didn't do the same now :P It photographed purple-y on my lips, but it is definitely VERY pink. For my incredibly light skin tone, this lipstick is ALL wrong.

Overall, this collection is HIGHLY passable. Very, very boring. 

Oh well! More moniez for Inglot ;D

MAC Jeanius & Sheen Supreme + NOTW

MAC Jeanius. Not so genius. Total fail, really. So much fail, it didn't even deserve it's own post, hahah. Here's my exceptionally tiny MAC haul from today. 

Docile lipglass & Pink Cult blush. How thrilling, right? MAC....you stink! What happened to the innovative and awesome products you used to make? You had to settle for a line based on JEANS?! Those eyeshadows....uck. All the testers at MAC had the tiny button thing already worn off. I didn't even bother picking them up at all. Acid Wash lipstick looked interesting, but when would I ever wear that? The answer is never and if a client wanted a colour similar, I'd use concealer & Pink Opal pigment mixed with gloss :P YIKES, MAC, yikes...

I also picked up one of the new Sheen Supreme lipsticks, which unlike Jeanius, totally rule. They were out of two colours I wanted, so I only left with one :( BUT! These are permanent & are for sure worth checking out! I left with Supremely Confident & ohmannnn, it's PERFECT for me.

LOVE it! It's not the least bit orange at ALL. I wanted to like Myth lipstick soooo badly, but that orange cast it left on me was just disgusting. I am so stoked with this lipstick. I did a smokey eye today & paired it with this & I can not stop checking it out ;) The girlies at MAC told me they'd call when the other two I want come in, so I will post those once I get 'em!

I've had some major nail polish haulin' this week! I bought a TON of Zoya online, mostly on eBay for their cheap prices :P Yesterday I received that rad St. Patricks Day deal Zoya had (3 green polishes for $5 + shipping) and today I checked out some OPI & China Glaze. I walked into my Sally Beauty Supply at the right time to get the last 3 of CG's holographic collection. Right after I picked these up, someone came in after me looking for them. SCORE! I generally always miss out & was so happy to get these. So here's my nails for this week in celebration of St. Patty's Day :D

Zoya Envy with China Glaze Laser Lime! I recently had to cut my nails super short (I work with film processing chemicals all day) so I'm sorry that my nails are probably the worst looking ever :P

I think that's all I'll cram into this post! I'll be posting lotsa stuff within the next few hours!