Spring Haul!

I've been taking it pretty easy lately with buying new makeup, but with the weather finally warming up and stepping into Spring I thought I'd treat myself to a couple new goodies (and some essentials)!

DUPE: MAC Hey, Sailor! Blush in Fleet Fast

If you guys remember last May MAC released their 2012 summer collection called Hey, Sailor! I scrambled to get my hands on the blush called Fleet Fast because at the time I thought it was pretty unique. Clearly that was not the case since we're here in a dupe post!

My MAC Collection: Paint Pots

Hey guys, I know I've been on a little hiatus (I work in retail and Black Friday was SO not fun, took a lot out of me) but I'm getting back on track and continuing My MAC Collection series with my Paint Pots!

My MAC Collection: Blushes

Hey guys, I want to start doing these little "My Collection" posts as sort of a way I can do a makeup collection without actually doing it because that would be one massive post!

I thought I'd start off with my MAC blushes since

 1. MAC is a popular brand that people are curious about the quality of and 

2. it's no secret that I will hoard anything and everything related to blush!

October Favorites

So in October I've really been toning down my makeup, going down the more natural route. I've been sticking to matte or at least satin shadows on my eyes, light pink cheeks, and browny-pink lips. I was kinda digging it while this little natural kick lasted, but now I'm so incredibly ready to bust out the glittery eyes and red lips for the holidays!

MAC Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer: Review & Photos

A lightweight, creamy, discreetly opaque concealer. Provides a smooth, long-wearing invisible coverage for all skin blemishes. Water-resistant, fragrance-free and non-acnegenic. This emollient-based, lightweight concealer is so concentrated that a tiny amount can provide opaque coverage of the skin's imperfections and discolourations. It effectively covers dark circles, blemishes, moles, tattoos and birthmarks. Enriched with antioxidants (derivatives of Vitamin A and Vitamin E), it also contains silica to help absorb the skin's oils. Concealer has broad spectrum SPF 35 protection and is available in a wide range of colours. It can be applied with a medium to firm fiber brush (try the 242 Shader Brush), a latex sponge, or the fingertips.

New packaging is being phased in for this product. Your shipped product might look slightly different than the one shown on this site.

 7 g / 0.24 US oz US$18.00

Where to Buy: maccosmetics.com, $18.00 

The MAC Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer ($18.00 for 0.24 oz.) is one of those items in my collection that I've had a love/hate relationship with since I got it about a year and a half ago! It was recommended to me by the makeup artist at MAC when I was looking for something that would really help get rid of the hyperpigmentation I have on my face left over from acne.

I have the shade NW20 which has pink undertones which in turn help cancel out the blue/purple of the hyperpigmentation. Its really important that you get the right undertone in your concealer otherwise it won't do what you want it to! It MAC terms, NW basically means "not warm", warm being yellow toned. So if you're getting something marked NW you're getting something with a pink undertone (the confusing idea that MAC has is they label colors by what color you're not) which is generally good for covering up dark colors like blue or purple. NC is "not cool", so you're getting something with a yellow undertone because pink is cool toned, generally used to help cover up any redness.

It takes a while to get used to that way of thinking, but if you just go to a counter or store the makeup artist will give you the right color if you tell them what you want the concealer to cover!

But now onto the MAC Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer Review!

Guest Post: Wendy's Top 5 MAC Neutral Eyeshadows for Fall!

Today's Lovely Guest:

 Hi, I'm Wendy from Fashionable Heart! Emily asked me to do a guest blog and I jumped at the chance. This is my first time doing a guest blog, so I'm pretty excited about it and hope it is worthy. I thought I would share my favorite neutral eyeshadows from MAC that are perfect for fall! 

Top row: Tempting, Romp, and Woodwinked. Bottom row: Satin Taupe and Sable. Satin Taupe is probably my favorite MAC eyeshadow of all time and I feel like it can work on just about anyone. It's so beautiful as an all-over eye color! These are all so easy to use as just lid colors or crease colors. And if you have blue eyes like me, you need to own Woodwinked because it really makes them stand out! Hope you guys enjoyed my guest post! :)

July Favorites!

Is it weird that I'm glad summer is winding down and coming to an end? My birthday is in July, so of course its my favorite month, but I think I'm just ready for boots, scarves, and all the gorgeous jewel toned colors that come with fall! But until then (we still have a way to go before the seasons change), here are the things I've been enjoying in July:

R.I.P. Beloved MAC Blot Powder

The saddest of all events has occurred in my makeup bag, the smashing of a powder, and not just any powder mind you, my beloved MAC Blot Powder in Medium :(!

MAC Matte Cream: Review & Photos

A matte-ifying cream that acts like a powder, M·A·C Matte adds a sheer, no-shine matte texture in one smooth layer. May be used on bare or made-up skin. Use a latex sponge or a 252 Large Shader Brush to apply over the entire face or in the T-zone to reduce the appearance of shine. Apply M·A·C Matte after moisturizer, but before foundation to prime the skin for makeup. Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation applies smoothly and effortlessly over top of M·A·C Matte.

Where to Buy: Maccosmetics.com, $19.00

MAC Matte Cream ($19.00 for 0.75 0z)  is actually a gel formula primer that is supposed to act as a barrier between your face and make that will help minimize the breakthrough of oil throughout the day.

Little MAC Haul

I actually ended up returning a MAC Studio Fix Powder (didn't do anything for me, ended up looking cakey no matter how I applied it/doesn't have enough coverage) and a MAC Lipstick in Creme d' Nude (absolutely RUBBISH! Never ever again will I buy a high-end lipstick, not moisturizing at all and sinks into every line on my lips, Revlon makes SUCH better lipsticks for half the price).

So with my store credits I decided to branch out and try something other than MAC eye products (which seems to be all I go for lately) and grab a blush and a primer!

I was looking at the new Shop MAC Cremeblend Blush in Optimistic Orange, but its way darker in person (think burnt orange) and looks an awful lot like the NYX Rouge Cream Blush in Orange, so I think I'm going to save my money and go for that one since its only $5.50 on Cherry Culture (on a side note, does anyone know where you can get NYX in stores besides Ulta?! There isn't one in my area).

No other cream blushes caught my attention, so I went on looking at the powders. I knew I wanted something orange and close to my everyday Physicians Formula Blushing Peach, but without the shimmer. The lovely Makeup Artist recommended Peaches which is a sheertone, and it ended up coming home with me! I really love the color in the pan, but it takes a little bit of building to make it show up on me (I'm only a MAC NW 20) so I don't know, I'm going to play around with it a bit and if it doesn't get any better I'll exchange it for Melba.

Lately my skin has been going through some ups and downs, some days my foundation will look like I just put it on after 6 hours, and some days its a blotchy mess after 2 hours! This led me over to the primer section of MAC, and when I saw the words "MATTE" I knew it was for me! I've tried out the MATTE Cream a few times, and I have to say I'm a little disappointed. My face is still really oily after like an hour, but my skincare routine has been changing a little so maybe that's the real problem.

I'm going to do full reviews on these two things, so I'll let you guys know how they end up working out for me!