Thursday, September 27, 2012

Mac Prep + Prime Natural Radiance Primer Review






Every artist knows the secret to creating a flawless look is a smooth well-prepped canvas. Introducing Prep + Prime Natural Radiance, formulated for oily and combination skin. This silky gel emulsion hydrates and primes to improve the application of foundation or powder. Contains rosemary and barley extracts, as well as long-term oil controlling ingredients, laminaria extract and silica. Chestnut and white willow bark extract retexturize and smooth skin. Tangerine peel extract and vitamins E and C protect with antioxidants, as caffeine calms and reduces redness. Golden light illuminating pearl powders reflect for optic brightening.

10 Must Have Mac Makeup Brushes

MAC Cosmetics Brush Review 



MAC 130 Short Duo Fiber Brush 
This is probably one of my favorite brushes and a must have for all!!! The 130 mac duo brush will change the way your foundation looks and feels. This tiny little gem will allow you to blend and spread your product onto your skin working in a circular motion. The reason I really like this is because you can easily build in areas where you need more coverage by using a stamping motion. Its small enough that you can work around the eye and nose without leaving any streaky areas! MUST HAVE BRUSH! 

MAC 193 Angled Foundation / Concealer Brush


I personally love this brush for concealer. Its large enough that you can quickly press in your product and is the closet brush to using your finger. The benefit of using this instead of your finger is that its angled edge allows you to have a clean and quick application with maximum coverage. Its also a great brush for highlighting the cheekbone.. it really allows you to work with the natural shape of the bone adding just the right amount of product in a clean straight line. The Mac 193 Angled brush is for sure the number two must have. 

MAC 239 Eye Shading Brush 

I love love love this brush for packing bold pigments onto the eye. What alot of people do not think about is that when packing a color on to your lid you will have much more control if you are using a stiffer brush. Not only will you have less or no fall out but the colors will be significantly bolder when using the MAC 239 Brush. So save your fully brushes for your crease area ladies because this brush is a must have for LID area!! 

MAC 217 Blending Brush 


For any makeup beginner this is a must have!!!!! Although I strongly encourage everyone to have at least two brushes for your eyes when first starting out but technically you can complete a whole shadow look with just the one MAC 217 Blending Brush. I personally love the fact that this brush is stuff enough to deposit a decent amount of color but soft enough to blend out any harsh lines. I highly recommend everyone having several 217 brushes because you will instantly realize how useful this is not only for the crease and brow bone but also even lightly feather a color on the lid when in a rush or not wanting to fuss!! 

MAC 224 Tapered Blending Brush



As you begin to explore the darker side of shadow you will truly love this brush!!! This is a must have brush for that effortlessly soft smoky eye.. The large fluffy fibers allow you easily blend out any harsh lines that may make your shadow appear to bold.. blending out the colors and transitioning from light to dark is the most common issue I see in everyones makeup.. This brush will solve that problem no problem.. It applies minimal pigment and when swirled in a circular motion through the crease your shadow colors will mary together better than ever!

MAC 275 Medium Angled Shading Brush 

This is a great crease brush for beginners. The fact that the brush is slanted allows you to easily guide your product into the crease without overdoing it! I think that beginners often blend their crease colors up far to high so this will eliminate you from doing so. I also love using this brush under the brow to apply a soft brow highlight. The Mac 275 brush is surly to give every user a more uniform look! 

MAC 219 Pencil Brush 


This tiny little guy is the perfect brush for fine detailing it applies a heavy amount of pigment in the smallest of areas. I often use this brush to highlight the inner corners of an eye or to sweep some darker shadow under the lash line for a more dramatic, effortless smokey eye. The Mac 219 Brush is a must have for anyone looking for bold drama!

MAC 266 Small Angled Brush


This is your must have brush for gel liner!!! Anyone and everyone who has never used gel liner should instantly get out there and get some. I love using this with Mac Fluid line liner Blacktrack. Its also a great brush to have to define the brows with any powder or deposit any shadow you might want to use as a liner underneath the lower lash line!! The Mac 226 is Brush is ultra precise and will allow for a clean sharp definition of your eye!

MAC 168 Large Angled Contour Brush 

I live!!! for this brush and so will you. Don't you hate when you see someone walking down the street with two red apples right on their cheeks. Blush is meant to be sculpted back to across your cheek to improve your face shape and the Mac 168 Brush is just the brush to do it for you!! The super soft fibers allow for you to effortlessly blend out your blush and contour colors.  

Mac 116 Blush Brush 

The perfect brush for a quick and easy application of blush or bronzer. Personally I love to use this brush for bronzer because it gives you a natural and subdue deposite of color. This is also a great brush for any mineralize blush products.... The Mac 116 Blush brush will make all BLUSH with envy. 

MAC 129 Blush / Powder Brush



This is your go to powder brush... It is the perfect size to quickly sweep your powder across your face. I hate using a large brush for powder because you often find the that too much product is dispersed throughout your face. This will allow you to work around your brows and over your nose. The Mac 129 brush also comes in travel size for on the go touch ups! 










Wednesday, September 12, 2012

MAC Marilyn Monroe Collection


As a MAC Cosmetics lover, I don't think I've ever been excited about a collection. Until Now. Guys. I LOVE the 50s. And the 60s. And fashion inspired by it! And I love Marilyn Monroe's simple bombshell (oxy-moron) look. Yes, I own countless red lipsticks but who cares!!! I will be getting these!!! The irony is that red was a colour that I was always afraid to wear but now I'd rock it til the cows come home! lol The collection features thirty (30) Limited Edition pieces and will include eye-shadows, lip-sticks, nail polishes and eye-liners. 




MAC Marilyn Collection
Release Date October 2012


Lipstick
Deeply Adored - Deep scarlet (Matte)
Charmed I'm Sure - Dark true red (Matte)
Pure Zen - Warm nude (Cremesheen)
Love Goddess - Mid-tone pink red (Satin)
Scarlet Ibis - Bright orange red (Matte)

Dazzleglass
Phiff! - Sheer yellow peach
Little Rock - Soft sheer white with pearlized pigments

Lip Pencil
Beet - Vivid reddish-pink
Redd - Clearly red
Cherry - Vivid bright blue/red

Eyeshadow
How to Marry - Soft White (Veluxe Pearl)
Preferred Blonde - Pale champagne beige (Veluxe Pearl)
Silver Screen - True silver (Veluxe Pearl)
Showgirl - Dark blue grey (Veluxe Pearl)

Eye Kohl
Smolder - Intense black
Fascinating - Intense matte white

Penultimate Eye Liner
Rapidblack - Rich deep carbon black

Penultimate Brow Marker
Universal - Natural warm taupe-brown

Brow Finisher
Clear - Sheer

False Lashes
Extreme Black - Carbon black

Beauty Powder
Forever Marilyn - Sheer pale peach highlighter

Powder Blush
Legendary - Pale soft coral (Satin)
The Perfect Cheek - Neutral pink beige (Matte)

Nail Lacquer
Vintage Vamp - Rich deep retro wine (Cream)
Stage Red - Dark berry red (Cream)
Flaming Rose - True red (Cream)
Kid Orange - Coral (Cream)
Rich, Rich, Rich - Glittery gold (Pearl)

Lash
35 Lash - Dramatic lash with emphasis on the centre of the lash

New Chanel Rouge Allure Luminous Intense Lip Colour Shades


An alluring statement of elegance, the iconic lipstick ROUGE ALLURE dresses lips with unmistakable attitude. A true symbol of authentic luxury, its sleek signature black column opens with a click…now to reveal a dramatic new formulation for colour that’s radically intense.
New ROUGE ALLURE Luminous Intense Lip Colour represents the next generation of this classic lipstick. Its stunning colour is the result of a concentration of ultra-thin pigments, specially designed to magnify shade intensity. Lighter hues have a unique presence, revealing nuances and depth. Darker tones heighten the drama, with audacity and pure elegance for an ultra-feminine effect. Colour brilliance is only part of the story of new ROUGE ALLURE Luminous Intense Lip Colour. Special hydrating agents and antioxidants, rich in green tea and sappan wood, leave lips supple and protected for lasting comfort, while tea butter ensures colour endures for the ultimate wear.
A range of sixteen seductively intense shades, from a delicate beige to a black-red. $34.00.

Rouge Allure Luminous Intense Lip Colour ($32.50)

  • Seduisante Soft pink
  • Secrete Blue soft pink
  • Exaltee Intense fuchsia
  • Extatique Blue intense pink
  • Incandescente Fire red
  • Coromandel Orange-red
  • Pirate Blue-red
  • Palpitante Raspberry red
  • Passion Blue intense red
  • Inimitable Intense pearly red
  • Enjouee Pink coral
  • Excentrique Intense apricot
  • Gracile Pink-beige
  • Pimpante Soft peach
  • Determinee Violine brown
  • Rouge Noir Black Red

New Bare Escentuals Pressed Foundation


Mineral foundation’s superstardom in recent years is due to a variety reasons: it achieves buildable coverage without the weighted feeling of makeup on skin, ingredients are purer and kinder to pores making breakouts less common, and application is an easy brush-on breeze that doesn’t require shaking, blending or careful artistic work. 
While other mineral makeup brands have been in business before it, Bare Escentuals is the company most credit with turning the craze mainstream. And this September, the brand will once again debut a game-changer: pressed mineral makeup foundation, which will finally mitigate the mess and travel difficulty of what has always been loose powder formulations.
Made with mineral and antioxidant-rich algae and seaweed, rose hip seed oil and vitamins A, C and E to hydrate and restore skin, the powder feels velvety-cream to the touch, and applies with surprisingly good coverage that is easy to build up as needed. A hydrating complex of mineral-encapsulated glycerin and humic acid locks in moisture and is evident in the smooth application – yet it felt comfortable and light on my oily skin. 
The shade options, which offers light, medium, tan, dark and deep ranges, offers hues in cool, warm and neutral complected tones – impressive, especially in comparison to other mineral makeup lines. A buffing brush (which you’re supposed to swirl, tap and buff with) truly does make the application more fluid and professional-looking, though I suggest grabbing the Rectractable Precision Face Brush so that you can conveniently throw it on your purse for on-the-go touch-ups.
BareMinerals Ready SPF 20 Foundation ($29) will debut Bare Escentuals boutiques, bareMinerals.com, and at retailers like Sephora, Ulta, Macy’s, Nordstrom and Dillard’s beginning in September 2012.


Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Andy Warhol and Nars Cosmetics Collection Preview






Last week I personally received a sneak peak of this seasons most anticipated beauty launch. The Andy Warhol for NARS fall 2012 collection. I must say that this launch lived up to my wildest dreams. Being that I myself am an artist of many mediums the collaboration is the marring my many passions. In true Warhol fashion the shadow pallets feature poppy colors imprinted with the legions face!

NARS have also announced that this is going to be the first of many more collaborations and this for me is incredibly exciting news. Sorry I don't have a whole bunch of detailed information on the products, but no doubt you'll be hearing much more about it from me closer to release date!

NARS x Andy Warhol will be launching in America exclusively at Sephora in October of 2012. 
NARS x Andy Warhol Collection Preview


Sephora Exclusives

Launch Date: October 1st

* Debbie Harry Cheek & Eye Palette ($65)
* Kiss Mini Larger Than Life Lip Gloss Coffret ($55) – Silver Factory, Drella, Chelsea Girls, Blue Movie, and Myths
* Walk on the Wild Side Set ($39)
* Flowers 1 Eyeshadow Palette ($55)
* Flowers 2 Eyeshadow Palette ($55)
* Flowers 3 Eyeshadow Palette ($55)

Department and Specialty Store Exclusives

Launch Date: November 1st

* Silver Factory Set ($200) – Silver Factory multiple, new Eyeshadow Trios, Chelsea Girls Pure Matte Lipstick, Desire Blush, Via Veneto Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner, a large domed eyeshadow and blush brush.
* Edie Set ($75) – Film Star Pure Matte Lipstick, Edie Eyeshadow, Carpates Eyeliner Stylo and Deep Throat/Amour Blush Duo.
* Beautiful Darling Set ($49) – Candy Darling Nail Polish, Femme Fatale Duo Eyeshadow and Woman in Revolt Larger Than Life Lip Gloss.
* Photo Booth Set ($35) – Mini nail polish lineup with Back Room, Soup Can, Chelsea Girls and Silver Factory.
* Self Portrait 1 ($55)
* Self Portrait 2 ($55)
* Self Portrait 3 ($55)

In addition, there will be a 16-piece Holiday Color Collection sold at both Sephora and department/specialty locations which features five nail polishes ($18 each), Satellite of Love Highlighting Blush ($28), 47th Street Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner ($23), four Soft Touch Shadow Pencils ($24 each) and five new Larger Than Life Lip Glosses ($26 each).

I will post more once I get the press releases from NARS next week but for now, enjoy the following previews and let me know what you are lemming!

NARS x Andy Warhol Collection Preview
NARS x Andy Warhol Collection Preview
NARS x Andy Warhol Collection Preview
NARS x Andy Warhol Collection Preview
NARS x Andy Warhol Collection Preview
NARS x Andy Warhol Collection Preview NARS x Andy Warhol Collection Preview











Sunday, September 9, 2012

Carine Roitfeld's Collaboration With MAC



MAC has finally released images of the products included in its highly anticipated collaboration with Carine Roitfeld.

Roitfeld's beauty signature is a dramatic, smoky eye, and the MAC collection mirrors that look with dark eye shadow, bold brow colors, and nude lipstick. The editor didn't just decide on the color palette — she advised MAC on everything from the package design — which includes the same handwritten initials that appear on her new magazine CR Fashion Book — to product names.