Guest Blog Post on The Makeup Rebel

Hey guys! I recently reviewed all four of Clinique's Cheek Pop blushes over at http://themakeuprebel.com/2014/04/21/guest-reviewer-and-friend-in-son/.   Check out my girl Raychl aka The Makeup Rebel, she's got great info on her page, including lots of posts on skin care, which we all know is the first step to great makeup application.  

Ultra Haul: Bare Minerals

Hi guys! I've been meaning to post this for a few days now.  I went to Ulta Saturday and their "steal of the day" was Bare Minerals blush and all over face color.  These normally retail at $19, but for the "steal" were priced at $10.  I went in and swatched a few, as I've never owned or used any Bare Minerals blush or face color. Anywho, the only blush that stood out as something I did not own was secret.  It's a really pretty, soft baby pink.  And everyone needs a baby pink blush.  My former MAC baby pink blush is in crumbles somewhere, so this was a good time to replace it.  Next, I picked up Vintage Peach.  It's a really pretty soft peach with some shimmer.  I almost did not get it because it does seem super similar to some blushes I already own, since I'm more of a peachy blush kind of girl. After going back and forth, I decided to get it.  Arguably, it's not much more $$ than a drugstore blush, and I did like how "soft" it felt.  Lastly, I picked up True, an all over face color.  The all over face color can be used anywhere, eyes, cheek, nose, chin, etc.  Again, this was a color I debated about because it was soooooo shimmery/glittery, I could not fathom using it as a blush.  The only thing that kept me thinking about purchasing was the fact that it has this iridescent element to it, that the pictures don't quite pick up.  I think this could be used over your eyeshadow, no matter what color, for greater emphasis and pop.  I also think it will be great as a highlight.  So I caved and got this one too, lol.  My only complaint (not having actually used these items) is that it seems that these loose powder blushes are a bit wasteful.  For example, you have to open it, tap it, etc, to get the product out.  It is a bit more work than using a compact powder blush, and I would imagine application takes a bit more attention to detail as well, to get even and flawless color.  Anywho, I'm going to try these out this weekend!!

Urban Decay's Holiday Lineup (Fall 2013)

Urban Decay announced it's Holiday lineup today! The collection is available online now, but it looks like a couple of items are not yet available (the highlight powder and the anarchy palette).  The collection will be sold in stores in the next few weeks or so, but for now you can only purchase online.  I have not actually seen the collection yet, but once I do I will update with more details on each item as well as swatches. For now, my info was compiled from Urban Decay.  If you want a full scoop of all the details plus amazing swatches, check out Christine's amazing post at Temptalia.  Also, check out the pics below. 

The set includes two eyeliner pencil sets (Black Market and Ocho Loco 2), a Vice 2 eyeshadow palette, two face palettes (Anarchy and Shattered), Heavy Metal eyeliner glitters, and a Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder.

Photo Credit: Temptalia

Photo: Urban Decay

Photo: Urban Decay

Photo: Urban Decay

Photo: Urban Decay

Photo Credit: Temptalia

Photo Credit: Temptalia

Photo Credit: Temptalia

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.

MAC Nudes & Metallics Collection...Available Online NOW

MAC's latest collection is the Nudes & Metallics Collection, which is a limited edition, online (or pro store) only collection.  So if you're interested in any of these babies, you've got to go online and order them.  Unfortunately, this is a collection I wished they had in stores, because it contains a lot of items that I personally don't enjoy buying without swatching, because I'm not sure how I'll like the product.  Specifically, nude and metallic lipstick. For nudes, because of my skin tone, I prefer to swatch, because there aren't many that look good on me.  For metallics, I never really like the finish/feel of them, so I usually pass.  But I wouldn't pass if the color of one was absolutely to die for. The collection is broken down into two parts: nudes and metallics.  Both collections have four lipsticks, four eyeshadows, and one blush.  Everything is limited edition. 

Nudes:

• Angel's Kiss (amplified lipstick)
• Wholesome (amplified lipstick)
• Nearly Nude (amplified lipstick)
• Restrained (amplified lipstick)
• Bare Minimum (satin eyeshadow)
• Glimpse of Flesh (satin eyeshadow)
• Body Conscious (satin eyeshadow)
• Exposed (satin eyeshadow)
• Barefaced (satin blush)

Metallics:

• Dominate (frost metallic lipstick)-deep purple
• Pre-Raphaelite (frost metallic lipstick)-berry
• Subverted (frost metallic lipstick)-brown
• Show-All (frost metallic lipstick)-red
• Love's Lure (veluxe pearl eyeshadow)-deep red
• Brazenly (veluxe pearl eyeshadow)-deep purple
• Crimson Tryst (veluxe pearl eyeshadow)-berry red
• Deep Fixation (veluxe pearl eyeshadow)-deep brown
• Stylish Me (satin blush)-mauveish

Looking at the swatches, the eyeshadows look gorgeous and pigmented, which isn't exactly common for MAC eyeshadows (anymore).  I'm thinking of picking up some of the nude lipsticks and some of the metallic eyeshadows.  

MAC and ULTA Haul

Picked up a couple things this week, nothing much.  Got my MAC order in the mail yesterday and today I picked up a couple of things from Ulta.  Below is a list of what I picked out, and there are pics further down.   The MAC blush I picked up to use for contouring.  I'm not really great at contouring, especially with liquid.  I've read that Blunt is a favorite in the contouring world because its a matte brown, with no shimmer.  Perfect for a good contour.  Now since my skin is tan, it isn't going to be as "sharp" of a contour, but i'm only looking for something slight anyway, and I think Blunt will be perfect.  Also, I'm trying to get back into liquid eyeliner, and I haven't had a fluidline in ages! Fluidline is great because its formula is forgiving and a bit easier to apply than regular liquid eyeliner.  Blacktrack is very black, and as soon as I use it in a look I will post an updated picture.  I did not want to swatch it today.  

NYX and Almay was on sale at Ulta, so that's why I picked up a couple of things (none of which I really needed lol).  I also picked up another "Chic Red" lipstick for my cousin, and my daughter picked out a  NYX 507 lipstick (for her cat--which is a purse). LOL!  

MAC:
*Powder Blush in Blunt (a warm matte brown)
*Fluidline in Blacktrack (ultra smooth black gel eyeliner)

ULTA:
*Almay Liquid Lip Balm 800-Rosy Lipped
*Almay Liquid Lip Balm 400-Lilac Love
*NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Cobalt
*NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Purple Velvet
*NYX Studio Liquid Liner in Extreme Black
*NYX Studio Liquid Liner in Extreme Purple

**Disclaimer: Excuse my squiggly lines on the eyeliner pic.  I was swatching with my left hand and clearly I'm not good at being lefthanded lol.**

MAC All About Orange--SWATCHES (FINALLY)!!

Check out the pictures below...I know I bought these a week or two ago, but I never got around to swatching them for you guys (IE I haven't opened them up until this point lol).  This is a really beautiful collection with beautiful colors..check out my earlier post for the details on the All About Orange collection.  Unfortunately, most of the items are likely sold out by now, but here are swatches just for you to reference.  Keep in mind that these lipsticks, due to their finishes and light pigmentation, are likely to look different on people with different pigmented lips and different colors.  I'm a medium deep skin tone (deep tan) so these lippies probably don't show up the same as they would with someone who has light or light to medium skin.  Anywho, see below.  I promise that everyday this week I will try and wear one of these all day, so you can see a full face of makeup/lipstick instead of just the small swatch.  It might help provide a better insight into the color of these.  

The lipstick collection consisted of 7 lipsticks, 3 cremesheen glosses, 3 blush and 4 nail polish.  I never really purchase the nail polish, and out of this collection I bought 5 lipsticks, 1 cremesheen and 1 blush.  The two lipsticks I didn't buy were Neon Orange (it's part of the permanent pro collection, I can always get it later down the line when it's back in stock...and its super bright, brighter than Sounds of Noise from the Haley Williams collection) and Tangerine Dream (weird yellowy orange color, I did not like the way it looked on me, it was sort of grainy/sparkly and just not really appealing to me).  The only blush I got was Royal Sunset, a pretty blush with pinky undertones.  Immortal Sunset was a bit too light for me, and Honey Jasmine was pretty, but on me it looked "dirty" if that makes sense.  I picked up 1 of the cremesheen glosses, but I'm returning it lol so I didn't post it.  I forgot (when buying) that I'm not a fan of the cremesheen glosses...they're $20 and you get less product than the $15 lipglass, with a worse finish (in my opinion).  I like the lipsticks, but my faves are probably Sushi Kiss and Tart & Trendy (ironically, the ones that showed the most).

The 5 lipsticks I bought are (LEFT TO RIGHT):  Sweet & Sour (cremesheen), Razzle-Dazzler (lustre), Flamingo (lustre), Sushi Kiss (satin), Tart & Trendy (lustre).

Tomorrow's the Big Day! Don't Forget!!

Tomorrow, June 6th marks the date that the second installment of the RiRi <3's MAC collection will be available online.  If interested, you have to act quickly.  The last collection sold out in THREE HOURS!  I'm personally excited for the Heaux and RiRi Boy lippies!! Might pick up the blush, but I'm going to pass on the lustre drops.  There's just too much to buy with too little money, lol. Especially since I want a couple lippies from the All About Orange collection, which will be available in stores tomorrow as well.

Just a Friendly Reminder...

...MAC's All About Orange collection debuts in stores this week, Thursday, June 6th.  Also, Rihanna's 2nd collaboration with MAC will be available online ONLY the same day!!!  Check out my previous posts for deets on the colors and items.  I'm ordering my MAC All About Orange online right now from Nordstrom (all items are available!) and will post as soon as I receive them (hopefully later this week).

MAC All About Orange Collection Summer 2013

MAC is releasing a new collection (of course, right?) this summer called All About Orange.  It actually has a release date of June 6, 2013 (same as the RiRi <3 MAC collection), but will be available in stores as well.  The fact that it is available in stores is great because with the range of orange/peach/coral shades, I'd prefer to swatch them in the store than buy them all...because orange isn't the greatest color for me personally. 

Anywho, it looks like a fun collection...and a big one.  There are lipsticks, cremesheen glosses, nail polish and blushes...some of which are permanent and some limited edition.  For a more detailed write-up of the collection, head over to Temptalia! She's got some great pictures and listing of all the deets.

New MAC Goodies + Feel My Pulse v Heroine

I got my Ripe for Love blush and Feel My Pulse lipstick in the mail yesterday (from Nordstrom).  These are the final two items I picked out from the Temperature Rising collection. This blush was insanely popular and now I can totally see why.  It is absolutely gorgeous!!!! Gorgeous!   Pics will not do it justice. It's a gorgeous coral peach like color. So pretty and great for summer!  I can't wait to play with it on vacation. 

Also, peep those free samples Nordstrom set.  I've never seen anyone bag the samples separately but it's a great idea especially for super strong fragrances that can overcome the rest of your package.  Again, I'm super excited for these free samples!!! I rarely purchase perfume nowadays because I don't wear it too often, and I'm usually able to find a sample of a scent that I know I like.

This pic is with no flash.

Swatches of the blush and lipstick.

I also compared feel my pulse lipstick to heroine to compare. Honestly in my opinion nothing compares to heroine! It's a gorgeous deep matte purple, true purple. Feel my pulse is a cremesheen finish, so it's got a nice shine to it. It's a pretty color, sort of like a pinky purple. 

UPDATED: Makeup Of The Day (MOTD)

Makeup of the day today.  Pretty neutral, had meetings and definitely wanted to keep it office appropriate. (Although I don't wear makeup everyday, most days lip gloss is enough :) ).

Lips: The Balm's Mai Billsbepaid Cheeks: Nars Or***m

 

Eyes: Covergirl mascara, Naked 2 Palette, Rimmel Eyebrown Pencil in Dark Brown

Face: MAC studio fix concealer, Lancome foundation and powder

 

Those pics kind of suck so I updated with this one, so you guys can get a better look: