MAC Indulge Collection--Swatches of Eye, Lip, and Cheek

MAC's Indulge Collection is available in stores today.  I stopped at the MAC counter this morning just to swatch everything and check it out in person.  Pics are below.  So mad I forgot to take a pic of the fluidline swatches! I know I originally said they were glittery and what not and not cute at all, but seriously, in person, I wanted them!! They were much richer than I thought.  They are glittery, but when applied for me they still had color and weren't super sheer like I thought. 

Lipsticks left to right: Smash Hit, Feed the Senses, By Design, Sweet Succulence, and Just A Bite.

Lipglasses left to right: Ultimate Design, Fashion Punch, Liqueur, Lust for Life, and Utterly Tart.

Cremeblend Blush: Top to Bottom: Tease Your Tastes and Glamour Feast.

Eyeshadows left to right: Eat Love, Palace Pedigree, Three Ring Yellow, Beluga, Deep Cravings, Divine Decadence, Gilty Morsel, and S** and the Oyster.

August Ipsy Bag

Before I get into my review/product list for this month's glam bag, I have to say I wasn't pleased with two things.  I'm not pissed, but I am annoyed.  First, this month's bag took longer to arrive (and DHL tracking numbers did not work at all this month), and that may have to do with the second thing. Second, this month's bag arrived damaged.  You can check out the pics below for greater detail, but this month's bag had a slash in it, and when I inspected the packaging, someone on the delivery end must have cut through my package and taped it back up, not realizing (or not caring more likely) that they actually cut thru to my bag. BOOOOOOOOO.  

Moving on, this month I received 5 items in my Ipsy bag.  I received: a sample size of Urban Decay's Revolution Lipstick in Anarchy (gorgeous, gorgeous shade of pink!), a NYX Mosaic Powder in #12 Dare (full size), a Pacifica Alight Multi-Mineral BB Cream sample, a Pixi Lash Booster Mascara sample in #2 Blackest Black, and a 1 oz sample of Michael Todd true organics Jojoba Charcoal Facial Scrub.  

Remember, Ipsy is a monthly subscription for beauty products.  For $10 a month and free shipping you get a bag containing samples (and usually one full sized item) of beauty products across a board of brands.  Many of the brands may be up and coming brands, and some are staple favorites.  This is only my second month of receiving the bag, and outside of the technical difficulties, I think it's good.  

Not a lot of product in this sample. Maybe about the length of your fingertip.

MAC Indulge Collection...Full Info and Swatches from Temptalia

Temptalia, probably one of the go to beauty bloggers, has done a review on all of the items from MAC's Indulge Collection.  Remember I told you guys this was a big one!  It's available online now (some items sold out) and will be in stores this Thursday.  Temptalia did posts on each item, but you can go here for the 'round-up' and click which particular items you'd like to see.  Love her!

I enjoy reading reviews and swatches of products.  They're super helpful, especially if you are ordering online (I'm not ordering anything! *keep repeating to myself lol*).  For example, the fluidelines were absolutely gorgeous in the pictures, wanted to buy them both! Read the review and swatches, and bam they're not like the pics.  Instead, they're glitter with sheer coloring, not the rich coloring I imagined.  

Marc Jacobs Beauty--Swatched at Sephora

So during my Sephora trip I also swatched a few items from the new Marc Jacobs beauty line. I swatched a couple of the eyeshadow palettes (which were pretty impressive).  The palettes retail for $59, a bit steep.  Or a lot steep lol.  I swatched three of the glosses, which retail for $28.  They were okay, I wasn't overly impressed or anything, but lip gloss isn't my "thing" so maybe that's why.  They weren't magical or unlike anything I've ever had before. I think the standout item for me was Highliner Gel Crayon Eyeliner, which retails for $25.  There were six colors on display, Blackquer, Jazz(Berry), Ro(Cocoa), N(Ice), Intro(Vert), and Th(Ink).  These gel eye pencils are waterproof and color intense.  They really do not budge at all, and take some serious eye makeup remover and arm strength to completely remove.  I really really liked these.  Would I ever purchase them? Not sure, at least not right now.  I do love the Intro(Vert) color though! Check out the pics below.

MAC Pro Palettes Steeply Discounted

I don't know if any of you guys use MAC's palettes for easy storage, they're marked down to super discounted prices.  I'm not sure if MAC is getting rid of them or re-doing them, but if you've ever wanted them and thought they were too pricey, now is the time to stock up.  The single and duo palettes (that you need inserts for) as well as the 4-quad eyeshadow palette are all $8.00.  The inserts for the single and duo palettes are all $2.00.  To put this into perspective, I believe the duo palette prices were $25.00 and the inserts were $12-15.00.  That's a big difference.  The benefit in having a palette is that you can order the "refill pan" of eyeshadows and blushes, and they are cheaper than the regular price that come in the MAC packaging.  Regular price eyeshadows are $15.  Palette refill pans are $10.  That's $5 difference.  Only thing is you have to put them in a palette of some sort to hold them.  It's great and economical from that standpoint if you buy/have a ton of MAC eyeshadows.  (Can I make an argument about the environment too??)

MAC Indulge Collection: Available NOW at MAC Online

MAC released it's new Indulge Collection, which is available online now.  The collection will come to stores next week, August 22nd, so if you'd like to swatch before making any purchases, you'll have the opportunity.  I'm not jumping to purchase anything at this moment (I'm no NO SPEND), but I probably will check out the collection in person and post some swatches for you guys.  FYI, if you plan on buying from MAC's website, there is a free 2-day shipping offer using the code Indulge.

If you've seen the promo pics for this collection, they're gorgeous! Rich jewel tone shades and tons of options make this collection super interesting.  Of course, in true MAC fashion, the entire collection is limited edition, so if interested, act fast. This is a rather large collection, so check out the breakdown below. 

MAC Indulge Collection: Lip and Nail

From MAC's website: Revel in a magnificent banquet of colour for lips and nails. Lipstick in deep plum, frosted beige and sheer, golden sparkle get layered with Lipglass, ranging from blackened berry to shimmering taupe. Lacquered nails for that opulent touch, rich in jewel tones and molten metallics.

Lipglass (limited edition, $15)

• Ultimate Dish-light beige with pearl
• Fashion Punch-midtonal neutral pink
• Liqueur-shimmering taupe
• Lust for Life-dark berry
• Utterly Tart-deep red

Lipstick (limited edition, $15)

• Smash Hit (dazzle)-sheer golden sparkle
• By Design (frost)-soft shimmery beige
• Feed the Senses (lustre)-mid-tone mauvey nude
• Just a Bite (satin)-mid-tone blue red
• Sweet Succulence (lustre)-deep glossy plum

Nail Polish (limited edition, $16)

• Sinfully Sweet (frost)-sparkling champagne with gold pearl
• Magnificent Feast (frost)-sparkling true gold
• Discotheque (frost)-super glitter silver
• Impassioned (cream)-bright warm pink
• Screening Room (cream)- bright midtonal teal
• Rebel (cream)-midtonal cream plum

MAC Indulge Collection: Eye and Cheek

From MAC's website:  Fall Colour is a surreal feast for the senses, where no taste is too extravagant and no behaviour beyond limits. On the menu: Cremeblend Blush flushes skin with buildable glow as Eye Shadow defines eyes for the ultimate in temptation, intensified by Fluidline. Haute & Naughty Too Black Lash darkens and lengthens lashes.

Eyeshadow (limited edition, $15)

• Gilty Morsel (glittery light gold)
• S** & The Oyster (mid-tone greyed blue green)
• Three Ring Yellow (bright sulfur green yellow)
• Divine Decadence (soft bronze)
• Beluga (dark charcoal with multi-dimensional pearl)
• Eat, Love (deep emerald)
• Deep Cravings (dark, shimmery gray)
• Palace Pedigreed (dark plum)

Fluidline (limited edition, except blacktrack, $16)

• Gilt Gourmet (sparkling brushed gold)
• Deliciously Rich (shimmering dirty taupe)
• Blacktrack (flat black)

Cremeblend Blush (limited edition, $21)

• Tease Your Tastes (soft, neutral pink)
• Glamour Feast (deep rose)

Haute and Naughty Too Black Lash Mascara ($21):  Two in One mascara, intense carbon black color.

The collection also features two brushes: MAC's 266 Angle Brush ($20) and MAC's 213 Fluff Brush ($24).

Smashbox Fall 2013 Collection: Fade to Black

Smashbox's Fall 2013 Collection, Fade to Black, features gorgeous warm colors, perfect for fall.  The collection has two lipsticks, two waterproof shadow liners, and two eyeshadow palettes.   You can view the collection here at Smashbox online.  The collection is also available at Sephora.  The entire collection is limited edition, so if interested, check it out sooner rather than later.

The collection: 

• Fade to Black Be Legendary Lipstick, retailing at $20: two shades: Cognac (warm raisin) and Black Cherry (deep cranberry). From Smashbox's website: Create any lip look from uptown to underground with these limited-edition shades of our best-selling Be Legendary Lipstick. Shades: Cognac, Black Cherry.
• Fade to Black Photo Op Eye Shadow Palette, retailing at $42: two shades:Fade In (warm) and Fade Out (cool).  Both of  these palettes also come with a brush, which is awesome! From Smashbox's website: Super versatile, seriously cool. This palette of neutrals starts with the most wearable nudes and ends with the fiercest blacks-all in a range of finishes, from matte to shimmer. Shades: Fade In, Fade Out.
• Fade to Black Waterproof Shadow Liner, retailing at $20: two shades: Black Gold (gold with a black undertone) and Blackest Black (matte black).  Per Smashbox's website, these are: Limited editions of our favorite stay-put shadow/long-wearing liner in fierce shades of black.

I stopped in Sephora today and swatched the lipsticks and shadow liners.  They are all pretty, but I have to say I'm most impressed with the shadow liners.  These babies DO NOT BUDGE.  I've been scrubbing my hands and cannot get them off lol...it takes a good amount of makeup remover and voila, gone.  The black is a matte black, and the black gold is unique, it is a gold color but because of its black undertone, it's grity and multi-dimensional.  I like it a lot, and am considering getting this one (when I have makeup budget money available lol). The black is nice as well, but for me, it is not unlike many of the other black pencils on the market.  The liners are thick pencils, so they give a pretty thick swatch on first application.  As for the lipsticks, they were both pretty, but they were not unlike many other shades already available on the market.  Neither of them screamed, YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO BUY ME!  At least to me.

*Sidenote: the packaging for this collection is beautiful.  To go with the "Fade to Black" theme the package starts off a deep pink and darkens to black.  Super cute.* As far as the eyeshadow palettes, both were gorgeous.  I am impressed with the pigmentation of these, and was torn between which one I liked better.  At first it was Fade Out, because it has varying shades of purple, all of which were gorgeous.  The last color was a black color with cranberry glitter, that was so unique! But....after going back and forth between the palettes, Fade In is more 'wearable'.  The colors are all neutrals and again, super gorgeous and pigmented.  There is this one shade, that is absolutely stunning that makes the entire palette worth buying.  It's the fifth shade in the palette (there are seven overall).  It's a golden greenish color with a black undertone, similar to the Shadow Liner.  It's super pigmented and I can imagine a ton of looks with this one. 

From the website.

Picture not mine: from Google Images

Fade Out Palette

Fade In Palette

Left to Right: Cognac, Black Cherry, Black Gold and Blackest Black

Tarte Glamazon Pure Performance Lipstick in Inspired

This weekend was the BEST WEEKEND EVER!!!!!  Not only did I get a weekend away in Maryland to visit my beautiful godbaby, but my godbaby and her parents got me (for my bday) Tarte's Glamazon Pure Performance Lipstick in INSPIRED!!!! Now y'all know I have been eyeing this baby for ages! And now I have it in my possession.  All is right with the world.  It seriously brought tears to my eyes.  This was the best bday year ever!!  And now I have my beautiful dusty pink lipstick to match! Love it! Check out the pics below, while I sit here and admire it in person, lol! 

No Flash

Flash

DIY Lip Scrub

I know a few posts back I reviewed Fresh's Sugar Lip Polish, which is a great lip scrub, and super convenient.  It's convenient because you don't have to make it, it lasts forever, and it gets the job done.  Tonight I made my own lip scrub, so I decided to share it with you guys.  While I like Fresh's I do find that when I use my own lip scrub its wayyyyy more moisturizing.  Some pics are below, but the recipe is pretty simple.  I've always played with mine here and there, and you can def substitute ingredients or use less or more to your liking. 

Tonight I used: 

1 tbsp honey

2 tbsp white granulated sugar

1/2 tsp oil to start with--add more if needed (combined olive oil and jojoba oil)

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and store.  That's it. So simple! Once done, just rub some of the scrub into your lips for a minute or so, then remove with a warm damp towel (cloth or paper). Like I've said, there are so many different ways you could make this lip scrub your own! I usually love to use almond oil, its so super yummy and great smelling, but I couldn't find it so I used a combination of olive and jojoba.  The reason why I put 1-2 tsp oil is that you have to start off with 1-2 tsp and then add more as you go.  I always find that I prefer a dryer scrub, like no residual oil just hanging out in my jar.  I mixed all the ingredients in a bowl, then transferred to this super cool small 1 ounce jar.  The jars were in a package of 2, for $1.  I found them in WalMart's travel section...they make great storage containers for these scrubs or homemade lip balms. The recipe is enough to fill two containers, so give one to a friend! And what does this recipe cost to make? Could it even be more than $1? Lol! Awesome...and be sure to follow up with Vaseline when you're done.  Or some lip balm to moisturize after, and you're all set with gorgeous lips.

Check out the pics below1 

Sorry I've Been MIA!

This week has been super duper busy at work, and I'm going out of town for the weekend.  I promise I'll be back Tuesday (if not sooner) with some cool posts, new information on more fall makeup collection, and tutorials!! 

Ulta Haul

Picked up a couple of items from Ulta today. Check out the pics below!  Orly nail polish is on sale for $4.99 and there were a ton of adorable colors! I wonder if Orly has "revamped" their polish line because I know the older bottles all have the signature silver top with the white base around the handle.  These have the black handles and they have some sort of grip on them.  Really nice.  Ulta has NYX buy one get one 50% off.  I recommend that if you ever plan on buying a few NYX items (which you should because they're great), to hold off for the buy one get one 50% off sale.  They have it regularly at Ulta. The Stila lip gloss trios are on sale for $7.99 and were strategically placed by the register lol!! They eyeshadow base and milk pencil are for a friend, I have my own stash lol!

Nail Polish L to R: Gumdrop, Artificial Sweetener and Cotton Candy

Stila Lip Trio: Blue (Chic Cobalt Collection-orchard/hibiscus/kitten)/Green (Elegant Emerald Collection-pout/kaleidoscope/apricot)

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils in Milk and Cottage Cheese, Butter Gloss in Strawberry Parfait and Merengue, Gel Eyeliner in Teal.

Make-Up Removal

Makeup removal is super important for your skin, we all know that. Even more importantly, proper makeup removal is key to good (or better) skin. Using quality makeup removal tools and methods save time and stress to your skin.  If you wear makeup regularly then you might have a specific routine for makeup removal. For those who my wear makeup regularly you may not have a method, and maybe this article can help you.  The best thing to do to remove makeup is to take it off as soon as you're done for the day/night. Never sleep with makeup on if you can avoid it!!! If you feel yourself getting tired wash your face as soon as possible. I'm a firm believer in letting  your skin breathe.  Eye makeup is the hardest makeup to remove generally. Prior to washing your face you should remove all eye makeup. Then wash your face and follow up with your regular skin routine.  Otherwise you will wash your face and still look like you have raccoon eyes when you are done. My personal go to remover is Lancôme's Bi-Facil remover. Love it, got a deluxe sample and I still use it. I also use face wipes, they're just not my go to because they always make my skin feel weird or sticky  after, and I still have to wash thoroughly.  They're great for swatching or on the go removal. When I wear heavy or stay put mascara or eyeliner I may, sometimes, try and break up the makeup using Vaseline or oil. I find them great, affordable, moisturizing, and they work!! Far better than pulling and tugging and re-wiping your eyes to get the makeup off. You just apply, rub in, and wipe off.  A lot of your makeup is gone and you can just finish with your night skin care routine.  Either way, I recommend removing eye makeup then washing your face. It results in less pull and tug with your skin. 

To make your own eye remover you can use your preferred oil of choice and a carrier (water or a carrier oil).  Everyone has a preference of oil: jojoba, olive, almond, or grape seed. Mixing it with water helps it be less greasy. Just swipe it on a cotton pad and wipe. You may have to work it in if you've got waterproof eye makeup. Still, cheap and natural so that's a bonus!!

NARS Fall Collection 2013

NARS Fall Collection 2013 is available now.  It's a nice collection, featuring warm pretty colors, but I'm not sure if it's cohesive (in my mind).  There are some standout items, but I'm not sure if the entire collection, for me personally, blends.  Or works together completely.  Sometimes collections seem random, or seem that not all the colors in a collection work well with each other.  And I kind of get that impression from this one.  Again, just my opinion.  Check out the details below.

This collection features:

• Pure Matte Lipstick-$26
• La Paz (Deep, orchid purple)
• Peloponnese (Ginger pink)
• Velvet Lip Pencil-$25
• Mysterious Red (Deep, crimson red)
• Paimpol (Pink Chiffon)
• Nail Polish (Opaque)-$19
• Fury (Regal Purple)
• Galathee' (Dove Grey)
• Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner-$24
• Las Rambas (Yellow Gold)
• Via De' Martelli (Chocolate)
• Eyeshadow-$24
• Bavaria (Shimmer-Deep sea blue)
• Yamal (Matte-Maple sugar)
• Namibia (Matte-Grey moon)
• Kamchatka (Matte-Navy smoke)

This collection is available now at Nars Cosmetics (online), and Nordstrom. These are some pics of the products from the website. Nothing fancy, just off my iPhone, sorry.

NYX Butter Glosses in Creme Brulee and Maple Blondie

Part of my haul from Tuesday's post were these two NYX butter glosses (from Ulta).  These are quickly becoming my preferred lip gloss.  First, have I ever raved about how much I love NYX? If I haven't, let me take a moment to do so.  If I have, forgive me.  Anywho, I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE NYX.  I think it's a great brand, and many of its products can compete with higher end brands.  Additionally, it is made with the average girl and even the makeup artist in mind, so it blends affordability and quality in one.  Some of my go to makeup items are NYX products, like the eyeshadow base and jumbo eye pencils.  Adore them!!! 

The butter glosses are great worn alone or on top of lipstick.  They are creamy and have good color, without drying the lip or being sticky.  No one likes sticky lip gloss.  They retail for $4.99, and Ulta always has them buy one get one 50% off at least once every six weeks or so.  They're a great value and they're super awesome in my book.  Check out the pic of the Creme Brulee and Maple Blondie below!