MAC Holiday 2013- DIVINE NIGHT

Hello and Happy Halloween everyone!
MAC swatches can be spooky, right?

no?

Ok, so here are the items I have from a part of the the new MAC 2013 Holiday Collection- Divine Night. As soon as I receive any other holiday collections, I'll of course share!
**check out al the rest of the MAC Holiday Collection in my new post HERE 

These are just the pieces I have. I don't have the complete collection, but you can see every product from Divine Night, and more on each product here (Nordstrom).

So this collection is made up primarily of MAC Mineralize products: 6 Mineralize Eye Shadows, 3 Mineralize Blushes, and 3 Mineralize Skinfinishes. If you've followed me for a while, you probably remember all of my rants about the MAC Mineralize Eye Shadows. I either like them or I hate them. I never really love them, but some are definitely better than others. But the ones I don't like? Totally horrible. Haha, so maybe I'm being dramatic, but that's just my thoughts.

The Mineralize Eye Shadows in this collection mostly fall into my "like" category. I like these that are two (or more) SOLID colors totally separated.  The ones I despise are the swirly ones. Ok, so let's just jump right into it!

So I have three of the six eye shadows...

Mineralize Eye Shadows, $23.

Tonight's Temptation

outside: black with pearl base, inside: royal blue (frost)

Captivating

outside: bright white gold base, inside: deep gold (frost)

Until Dawn

outside: soft gold base, inside: purple taupe (frost)

There are three more shadows-
Exquisite Ego (outside: Bronze base, inside: soft white champagne)
Past Midnight (oustide: Blackish purple with violet pearl base, inside: soft white pink frost)
Gilded Night (outside: Bright gold with silver pearl base, inside: black with pearl frost)

I reallllly want to check out the Gilded Night because I'm a sucker for black shadows, and the black and gold combo is just gorgeous. The purple one (Past Midnight) looks good too. I'll have to check those out in person before I actually purchase though.

Next up, the Mineralize Blush. I have one out of the three.
I actually have always been a fan of the mineralize blushes for the most part. However, I just realized my preference for these is the TOTAL opposite of the eye shadows! I actually prefer the swirly ones (ones that look like swirled paint), whereas I sometimes have trouble using the more solid ones (like these) as actual blush because they're so frosted. So for these, I like to wear them lightly over a bronzer for a light glow when I don't mind a bit of frost on my cheeks. Or maybe even over another blush for a bit of a glow. For me, personally, I definitely would not apply these like a typical blush. It would just be too much frost. But the colors are pretty!

Mineralize Blush, $27.50

Talk of the Town

warm brown base with yellow bronze (satin)

All of the blush shades are described as a "satin". Well, let me tell you, there is NOTHING satin about this shade...haha. It's probably the most frosted blush I've ever seen with actual sparkle in it as well.

There are two more that I don't have- one that is a bit more violet, and one that is a bit more coral.


Next, the Mineralize Skinfinishes. Again, I have one out of three.
The one I have is very smooth with a lot of sheen. Not chunky and shimmery like some.

Mineralize Skinfinish, $33.

Perfectly Poised
outside: bronzy coral with golden tones, inside: creamy beige with pinkish purple sheen

I mean... is it me or are these getting crazy expensive? Seriously I'm waiting for the day when they hit $50 a piece...haha

A few eye liners...

Fluidline, $17.50

Macroviolet
deep smoked violet with red pearl

Kohl Power Eye Pencil, $17.50

left, Orpheus
right, Raven

Now for the lip products...
(two of five lipsticks)

Lipstick, $16.50

left, Private Party -dirty plum mauve (satin)

right, Flair for Finery -cool pink nude (lustre)

Both of these lipsticks are gorgeous. I think Private Party would make the perfect dark, berry lip without looking too matte or intense. Of course, Flair for Finery is a shade I would probably wear a bit more because nudes are just easy to me. However, not all nudes are great. This one is actually really nice and wearable because it's not too matte or "paint-like". This one has a nice gloss to it and lets a bit of your natural lip color shine through so it doesn't give you that zombie effect. (Halloween reference ftw)

aaand their corresponding glosses...

Cremesheen Glass, $22.

top, Private Party

bottom, Flair for Finery

Finally, one of three nail lacquers...

Nail Lacquer, $ 17.50

Military - black matte with silver suede pearl (frost)

This looks like a super pretty one. I'll wear it soon and update this post! Not about to mess up my new manicure. :)

So as always, you can check out the entire collection HERE (Nordstrom).

So what do you all think about this collection? Anything you're particularly excited for??

products provided for consideration by MAC with no agreements or obligations to feature or review
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Balmain Eau d'Ivoire Eau de Toilette review

Balmain Eau d'Ivoire Eau de Toilette


From looking at the classically-structured Balmain glass bottle alone, you might not guess this is a sporty, fresh and almost girly fragrance. (In fact, I couldn't resist doing some “antique” photo effects with that beautifully-simple bottle.)



Here's the official visual.


Balmain Eau d'Ivoire posed with classic the Balmain print


Scent wise, it’s

Some Fall Weekend Fun... And OOTD

So I was looking through our photos we took over the weekend and I had to share...

On Saturday, I wore my new over the knee boots (that I'm absolutely obsessed with) and noticed my outfit was a really easy and classic Fall look. So Brad and I ran outside real quick and took some photos for an OOTD.
Meanwhile, Waylon was running around the backyard playing like crazy. We recently had the backyard at our new house fenced in so he could run around without us worrying about him taking off. So we probably spent half of the weekend in the backyard playing with him.  Of course, I took some precious photos of him.

So here's a few of them... Enjoy Waylon's cute-ness (and the bow-tie)

Weird action shot...haha Waylon was taking off toward the camera.

And here's the OOTD...

Weird time of day to take photos out there. But hey, I don't have all day to wait for the sun to go where I want it. We had a puppy to play with, people.

The ones inside actually came out better! haha

 Just a super simple look. Just realized I'm wearing all my favorite things... My favorite sweater, favorite scarf, favorite jeans, boots, and bag.  Crazy.

details:

Banana Republic sweater, Paula Bianco infinity scarf, 7 for All Mankind skinny jeans, Franco Sarto boots, Louis Vuitton Speedy 35, Ray Ban sunglasses

So did you all do anything fun this weekend?? Don't miss my new makeup tutorial I posted yesterday! Check that one out here.

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My Lash Routine: A Few Simple Tips to Maximize your Lashes!

If you want super long and well-curled lashes, you have 3 options.



Wear falsies
Go for lash extensions
Do your best to maximize what you have!





Eye before lashes are done. Makeup done with Wet n Wild Greed palette




Eyes after lashes are done with Maybelline Great Lash mascara


The first thing to remember is that it’s not just about what mascara you use. If you have very stubborn

Disappointing products #3

I've been storing up the products that just haven't been making the grade.  Here's five that are being banished from my cosmetic collection.

First up is a lipstick from YSL.  It was so bad I dedicated a whole blog post to it here back in September.  Sadly it was so drying it was literally peeling off my lips within a few hours, I couldn't get it to work at all on me.  The colour though is Uh-mazing so it makes me so sad to give it a bad review.  Reviews of the Rouge Pur Couture line in general are good though-this was a limited edition for Fall so I wonder if they tweaked the formula a bit?  Also, the packaging was beautiful to start with but after a couple of days in my make up bag look at the state of it! It was covered in tiny scratches.

The second item is a foundation brush from Sephora.  Just as the colour of the YSL is gorgeous, the buffing ability of this brush for applying liquid foundation is perfect.  The problem with this brush is that it sheds so much.  There were literally little black hairs everywhere on my face.  I've washed it a couple of times to see if that helps but sadly it doesn't.  I have a lot of the Sephora Pro brushes and as a whole they are absolutely excellent and I would highly recommend them but this one belongs in the bin.

Astalift is a brand that doesn't seem to be blogged about very much.  It's a Japanese anti ageing brand which you can purchase from Debenhams, Cult Beauty and Feel Unique.  The oil is slightly rose scented and orange in colour and does a decent job of breaking down make up.  The problem I have with it is that it broke me out after just two uses.  I have noticed my skin has become intolerant to oil cleansers-so I am not saying this is a bad product at all, it just didn't work for me.  It gets very good reviews on the Debenhams website.  I am actually using the Astalift make up remover gel now as my first cleanse in the evening and I like it so I definitely haven't been put off the brand.

Remember the much hyped 'Archie's Girls' collection from Mac?  I purchased this eyeliner in 'Black Swan' which is black with gold pearl sparkle through it.  The pearlglide eyeliners are softer than the normal kohl liners but this one is so soft I can't use it without making myself look like I have been punched in the eye.  I have never been very good with eyeliner so this is a miss for me.  I have the pearlglide eyeliner in Undercurrent which is a gorgeous green but for some reason Black Swan is much softer and crumbles and smudges when I try to use it.

Finally, my last disappointing product is the Murad Instant Radiance Eye Cream.  This is only a deluxe sample size, I think it was a 100 point perk from Sephora.  Again this has good points which are overridden by one really bad point.  When you apply this eye cream it feels really nice-the formula definitely has silicone in it because it feels velvety soft and when you apply it you can actually see it smooth out fine lines.  The problem for me is it literally burns the skin under my eye.  It's not a tingle or slight discomfort, it literally feels like the skin is burning.  The first time I used it the skin puckered under my eye like a burn mark and didn't look right for about 5 days.  I tried it again this week and although the skin didn't pucker again (I guess it reacted with some other skin product I was using the first time) but I felt that awful burning sensation again.   I would love to know what individual ingredient irritated me because actually you could see instant benefits from the formula.

I have a question-what do you think about blogsale-ing disappointing products?  From these I would probably blog sale the cleanser as it's only be used twice and is in a sealed bottle and maybe the lipstick because it's been used twice as well even though I would make any buyer aware the case is scratched.  I wouldn't blog sale the brush because I don't want anyone suffering the tiny black hair syndrome and definitely not the eye cream as it's in a pot and not hygienically sealed.  Not sure about the eyeliner.  Is it a case of one beauty bloggers trash is another beauty bloggers treasure or do you think the whole lot should just be binned?  I would love to hear your thoughts.

[Requested] Basic Nude Lip Smoky Eye Makeup Look: Diorshow Aventure and MAC Blankety

Classic nude lips and smoky eyes in a few easy steps!


One of the easiest and most flattering looks to pull off a nude lip. Here is an easy step-by-step, and some tips to making it more wearable, and quick options for a day-appropriate version!



Try:

Rich browns, charcoal and grey, or even deep jewel tone on the lids
A pink or peach blush that isn't too neutral or deep in color; a soft

Bold Blue Winged Liner Makeup Tutorial

Hello and Happy Monday, Loves!
To brighten things up on this dreary, rainy Monday, I thought it only appropriate to bust out my fun new cobalt blue liner.
I love wearing bold color in a way that is still super feminine, glamorous, and flattering. LOVE wearing fun-colored liners this way!
So I filmed all the steps so you guys can see how I do this makeup look from start to finish. It's definitely a go-to look for me.

Hope you guys enjoy it!

Products Used:
Sigma Eye Shadow Base in Persuade
MAC eye shadows:
Vapour
Sunday Best
Cork
Soft Brown
Contrast
Laura Mercier Cream Liner in Cobalt
Maybelline Great Lash in I See Blue
Chanel le Volume de Chanel
NARS blush in Madly
Benefit Hoola Bronzer
Bite Beauty Lipstick in Blush
NARS Lipgloss in International Velvet

(not shown)
Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet+ liquid foundation
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Undereye Eraser in Brightener
Sigma Brow Powder in Medium

Mac Divine Nights for Holiday 2013-my picks

What happens at night stays there. M•A•C captures the moment when flashing lights illuminate a flair for finery and limitless luxury that can only be described as divine. Gorgeous colours in rich finishes inspire an evening on the scene and to be seen. Enjoy yourself - past midnight, the darkness keeps the secrets.

MAC has released two collections for the Holiday Season-Divine Night and Stroke of Midnight.

Both are available in the US now (I purchased mine from Nordstrom) and will be released in the UK on November 1st.

Sadly for me, most of the things I have picked up I am not a fan of-this is the peril of online shopping I guess and not doing your research before going crazy with the 'click to buy' button or having the ability to see the items in store before buying.

I love the idea of MAC Mineralize Skinfinishes-they always look so pretty and I get suckered in on their looks alone.  I know they generally have a frost finish which isn't the most flattering but I thought the pink tones of Scene to be Seen would work well as a blush and that Centre of Attention would be a lovely highlight.  

Scene to be Seen contains an outer section named as 'mauve with pink sheen' and a smaller inner section named 'brick rose with gold reflects'.  They can be worn separately or swirled together.

Unfortunately, on me the metallic sheen is just too much and emphasises small pores on my cheeks.  The colour is easily buildable but even with the lightest touch the metallic finish was very prominent.   This MSF reminds me a lot of Estee Lauder Tease blush so if you lusted over and missed that limited edition this might be a good substitute.

Centre of Attention has an outer section named 'pastel peachy pink with fine pink shimmer' and the small inner section is named '24ct gold shimmer'.  I had initially thought the outer shade would be a cool champagne colour, maybe even similar to Lightscapade which is my favour MAC MSF of all time but it actually runs much peachier and pinker than that and for me, too glittery as a highlight.  The gold colour is very gritty in texture and together the colours are just unusable on my skintone.

The eyeshadows fair a little better with Until Dawn being the best of the bunch.

Mineralize eyeshadows tend to be quite powdery, lacking in pigment, glittery and have a bit of fall out-and yet again I still purchased two more!

Exquisite Ego contains an outer disk of a coppery bronze with a metallic finish and an inner core of a peachy champagne colour.

When applied, both shades have a bit of fallout which is difficult to remove but they both blend well.  I like the shimmer finish on my eyes but you do need a fair few layers of the lighter colour to get decent colour payoff.

Until Dawn is definitely the highlight for me in this collection but again it's by no means mindblowingly good.  The larger section of colour is a gold toned beige with silver shimmer running through it-again you need to pack the shadow on for the best effect.  The smaller section is a beautiful taupe-a complex colour with purple, grey and caramel tones under different lights.  Very easy to blend through the socket even though they are not the smoothest and pigmented forumla.  Much less fallout across this compact but with the same frost finish.

The final thing I picked up was the Flair for Finery lustre lipstick.  Again it's another 'miss' for me because the colour is far too milky for my skintone and will make me look like the living dead!!  I was hoping it was going to be pinker than it is having seen it described as a cool pink nude but it would wash me out if I were to use it.  The packaging is really nice though-a twist on the norm being gold and black instead of black and silver.  I always think it's nice for limited edition collections to have some kind of twist on them to make them stand out.

There are some great swatches of the entire collection here on Make Up And Beauty Blog if you would like to see the full range.

Sadly for me, this has been in lesson about impulse buying and it's perils-this collection overall is a miss for me, Until Dawn being the only item I don't regret buying.

Have you seen the Mac Holiday collection?  Will you be splurging on anything?