I Hit Pan - MAC Studio Fix

Hey There!

I hit pan.

I'm scared.

I have to admit that my favorite face powder is my MAC Studio Fix pressed powder. I own several other brands of pressed powder and I like to mix it up. But, I know that my go to, ride or die pressed powder is my MAC.

So yes, I plan to repurchase it. I know that I have a month or so before I have to but I'm already getting my mind ready. Why? Because I know that I should just go to another pressed powder that I own and use it up. But I am not going to do that.

In case you didn't know, I don't wear foundation. It makes me feel like my face is smothering. I use pressed powder as my foundation. I wear a light dusting most days and a heavier one when I go clubbing (and by clubbing I mean the movies or dinner with friends - I don't club). Pressed powder works well for me.

And it's not really that expensive. When you break it down, my MAC pressed powder is about $2 per month. That's pretty good, especially when you have found the perfect color. And, it is the perfect color. I'm NC42 and it's an amazing color year 'round. I don't know how MAC does that but they do.

So, I'm gonna just man up and place an order (in a few weeks). I might add a lipstick or two to my order but I will purchase my pressed powder.

And if I do get a lipstick or two, I'll tell you all about it. So, yeah, that means a MAC haul.

You see how that happens?

Sighhhhh.

MAC Veluxe à Trois

Photo Credit: MAC website

Hey there!

I like MAC lipstick ok. The ones that I have are moisturizing and feel good. And, I wear them quite a bit. But, I haven't purchased any new MAC lippie colors because they haven’t made me look twice. All of the new collections that have come out lately haven't made me put on clothes and run to the store. I look at them cause you know, MAC will send you emails.

Photo Credit: MAC website



While many of the past collections haven't churned my butter, I have to admit that 2 of the new Veluxe à Trois colors caught my eye. Royally Riotous and Heaux ($17) look like they need to come to my house! Do you see them? Of course you do! Just look at that rich brown and gorgeous berry. I even think the You’ve Got It, cremesheen glass looks pretty.

Photo Credit: MAC website

Now, there are other products in the line. But the lip products got my motor running. Pillow Talk, How Tropical, Flowerscope and Quelle Surprise are pretty too. None of them jump out at me (well Quelle Surprise ($16) does) but if you want to buy them for me…

Photo Credit: MAC website

I also took a look at the other cremesheen glasses in Softly Lit, Loud & Lovely, Richly Revered and Dark Outsider. I’m not a fan of the cremesheen glasses. I have one and they seem like really overpriced lip glosses to me.

Now, I have put several lippies in my MAC cart and then I close the browser. Sighhh. I have about $50 worth of lipstick in my cart but pulling the trigger is hard! I'd rather find dupes for $5 each! Drugstore lipsticks are coming out with their fall lines and I really want to try some of them. If these lipsticks were in stores I could go try them on and make a decision that way.

But, for now, I'll keep drooling over them and never actually pull the trigger.

Sure. Let's see how long that works!

Dupe? - Clinique Pops Lipcolour + Primer in Grape Pop & Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Berry Haute

Hey there!

You may or may not know this but I am all about the dupes. Hon-tee, if I can find something at a better price than full price, I'm loving it. And, if I can find an inexpensive copy cat of a more expensive item, all is right in my world!

Monday I wore one of my favorite parings of the moment, Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Berry Haute, topped with NYX Glam Lip Gloss in Velvet Ropes. I always take out the previous days lipstick/gloss duo and exchange it for the current one. I did that Monday and pulled out my new Clinique Pops Lipcolour + Primer in Grape Pop. When I saw it, it made me wonder, are these dupes?

This is my first dupe post so I have taken the examination very seriously. I wanted to verify that you really can buy a $7 lipstick in place of an $18 lipstick. They both feel great on the lips and they both wear well.

There are some differences. While the Revlon is creamier, the Clinique lasts longer. Clinique is the tiniest bit brighter berry while Revlon leans just slightly mauvier.

While researching, I also came across the tidbit that Revlon's Berry Haute is a dupe for MACs Up The Amp. Now, I can't verify this because I don't own Up The Amp (and now I want to) but I have seen several blogs that stand by this claim.

Now, I like them both. I'm glad that I have both. Knowing what I know now, would I rush out and get the Clinique Pops Lipcolour + Primer in Grape Pop? Yeah, I probably would. Now knowing that MACs Up The Amp is comparable to both, will I rush out and get that one?

I probably would if I could. Lucky for me, this is no longer on sale (I checked overstock too). So, I'll have to keep wearing what I have.

And oh yes, I wear both of these babies like they pay me to do it!

A Month of MAC - MAC Studio Fix

Hey there!!

We have reached the end of our journey towards "A Month of MAC". Not as much MAC as you were hoping for? Me neither. But, there just weren't that many varied items in my collection and the patent polish lipstick that I ordered hasn't arrived (sighhhh). I'm a lippie girl so that what I had the most of.

But I will end the month of MAC on a high note. I am in love with my MAC Studio Fix face powder. I'm in shade NC42 and it is the PERFECT color for my completion. Right now I have a little bit of summer color so it doesn't add any more color. It just lets my natural glow shine through. In the winter it gives a hint of color and makes me look all the more fabulous!

I only need a little on my face -- no need to pile it on. And, after lunch, I touch up my face and it doesn't look cakey or anything. I still look fresh faced. They make a loose powder but I like that I can take this compact with me on the go and just use a face sponge to touch up.

It was $27 but I've used this particular one for almost 3 months now and look at how much is left! Not even a dent and I use it 6 days a week!

I asked my aunt over a year ago, "If I wanted to invest in MAC, what should I try?" She said lipstick and face powder. Man, she was right! If you start with these two things, you will be alright!

Don't worry. Just because our Month of MAC is over, doesn't mean I won't have other MAC goodies to show you! Unfortunately for my wallet, I like to shop at MAC. So, fortunately for you, there will be more pretties to see!

A Month of MAC - MAC Lipsticks, Cremesheen and Lustre

Hey there!!

Month of MAC

I received my new MAC lipstick from the A Novel Romance Collection the other day (may I saw awesome? Yes I may? Awesome!) and it reminded me that I'm supposed to talk about my MAC items this month. I don't have much but I'll share my thoughts on what I do have. 

 

Top = Plumfull
Bottom = Yield To Love

I now have 2 MAC lipsticks. Yeah, I know -- just 2. Like I explained earlier in the month, I just didn't "do" MAC. I didn't see what all the hype was. Then I began to purchase a few things, you know, to see if it was all that. Some things are, some things aren't.

I must admit, the lipsticks are pretty fan-tab-ulous. They are moist, last for several hours and have enough colors to suit anyone's needs. Oh, they smell great. It's that sweet vanilla smell that I like. The price point isn't so bad either. $16 - $22 bucks for a lippie isn't bad. Especially if it wears well.

The down side? Believe it or not, they have soooo many colors, it's hard to find ones that aren't something that you already own. And, they have so many limited edition items that it kinda sucks. You have to be willing to take a chance on a color rather than see what everyone else thinks and then purchase it. That may work for you cutting edge folks but for me and my other "let's think about this for a day or two (month) before we pull the trigger" people, it doesn't work.

For instance -- I purchased my Yield To Love cremesheen without really knowing what it looked like. It's an online exclusive so no in store demo (AND in stores, you have to wait a few weeks). I got lucky and the folks who tried this in advance were correct about it being very nice. The color was  a bit pinker than I thought it would be (I was thinking more pinky nude) but it's still quite a pretty color.

On the other hand, my Lustre in Plumful was one I got to test in the store. I knew when I swatched it on my hand that it would be pretty and then I tried it on and knew it was coming home with me.

So MAC has opened my eyes with their lipsticks. I really like them and see why everyone has 10 or 12 bullet containers in their makeup case. Do I plan on adding to the collection? Yes, but not so fast. I need to only purchase colors that really stand out.

How many bullet containers do you own? Did you try this newest collection? What did you think?

A Month of MAC - MAC Fix+

Hey there!!

I want to be in the "in" crowd (sometimes -- most times I don't give a flying fig). Being in the "in" crowd, at least in makeup, means loving MAC makeup. It means owning foundation, brushes, lip glasses, etc by MAC. It means having a MAC bag by my makeup table for my back to MAC products. It means wearing at least 1 MAC makeup item every day. 

Wellllllll, I kinda do. But, I'm not all MAC-y MAC like others. For instance, I don't get MAC Fix+. 

Now I feel like I must hide. Now I feel like 25 people are going to come find me and throw me in a dungeon and torture me with orange-red lipsticks and chalky eyeshadow. I'm sorry! It's not my fault. 

I had to find a free standing MAC store in order to find my travel size bottle 0f Fix+.   It costs $10.  It claims to be infused with vitamins, minerals, green tea, cucumber and chamomile. It's supposed to finish your makeup, adding radiance to your skin.

Now, I've tried a few drugstore finishing sprays and I haven't been moved. I even tried the $3 e.l.f. Mist and Set and wanted $2 back. But, I had seen YouTube videos and read blogs that sang the praises of beginning and ending your makeup process with Fix+. And, if you need a refresher during the day, Fix+ is your go to spray. That's a lot of pressure for MAC cause I'm picky when it comes to makeup and skincare products. 

Let me say, I'm not against face mists. I touted the joy of my Caudalíe spray. I am not 100% sure that it does anything for my skin but I love it. I love the smell, the feel, the effect of it. I will shell out $18 for a mini bottle of that in a heartbeat. 

MAC Fix+ is different. I tried it before my makeup and after my makeup.  All I felt was wet. I didn't see anything. I tried using a little. I tried using a lot.  Same result, just varying degrees of wet. I tried using as a fresher. I felt refreshed but I felt the same refresh when I misted water mixed with a mint/cucumber infusion (saw it on YouTube-- of course!).  The Fix+ didn't seem to do anything special. 

It did help when making dry shadows and eyeliner, wet. But I don't think I need to pay ten bucks for that. 

So, sorry MAC. This is not one of the items I will be purchasing from you. I tried, didn't love it, didn't hate it but didn't need it. 

Have you tried MAC Fix+ ? What did you think? Did you enjoy all of the "+" symbols I used in this post?

Oh! BTW, because I want to be in the "in" crowd (or because I love trying new makeup items), I'm going to spend August playing with MAC makeup and other items from the MAC counter. No, it won't be all MAC all the time but enough times that if you are playing the drinking game and the  "sip when you see a MAC post" version, you should be good and plastered by September. 

For my fellow lushes, you are welcome.