MAC x Philip Treacy – Royal Wink

royal wink swatch – natural light

MAC Techniques Night

I’m on the VIP list at my local MAC counter (nothing special, just if someone remembers they give me a call when new collections are out and put stuff aside for me). I got a call inviting me to a MAC Techniques Night, focusing on behind the scenes runway techniques covering contouring and false lashes. I really struggle with those two so I was in! I popped down to the counter to pay my $120 to secure my place (redeemable on product on the night) as there was “limited numbers”.

A few weeks later and I arrive at the store after hours, there’s a few girls milling around as we wait to be escorted in. Awesome I thought to myself, only about a dozen people, we’ll get plenty of individual attention over the next two and a half hours. Boy I was wrong, we walked into a training room of 30 people!

In the small, hot room there were a few large prints of makeup looks, the mineralised lipsticks on display (a few weeks before launch), two models perched on stools and two trainers. On each chair there was a small black ring binder with a pencil to take notes. Inside the binder, a bunch of face charts other info.

Each trainer did a different look using a lot of LE products. They handed around some of them. The trainers were good – chatty and explained what they were doing but with three rows of watchers I didn’t learn much.

after about an hour-hour and a half we headed back down to the counter and were split into groups of six with a trainer or MUA to pick out our $120 worth of product, ask any questions, try stuff on, etc. It was packed! It was hard to get a hold of stuff, lots of waiting around to get product, bah a bit of a mess really!

I got taupe shape blush, everyday diva lipstick and let’s skate paintpot (totalling $122! Yeah!)

Overall, I wouldn’t do it again. While I appreciated the sneak peek at new products before they had even arrived in the US, I think you’d get a lot more bang for buck with a $80 make-over/lesson which is one on one (and redeemable too).

MAC Strength – Taupe Shape Blush

A perfect contouring shaded for the cool toned.

I’ve been a little scared of contouring, but after watching the demo at the MAC techniques night I decided to give it a go. Taupe Shape is a lovely cool beigey-brown with a very subtle hint of shimmer (it is a satin after all). It seems to work well on my super pale skin as a subtle contour, so it’s a winner in my books.

Sadly it’s LE – boooo!

Swatch after the jump

Sneak Peek! MAC Mineralize Rich Lipstick – Everyday Diva

I attended a MAC techniques night (review to come) and lo and behold the new MAC Mineralize lipstick collection was available. I understand this has just been released in the US online, and well probably have to wait til mid march for it to be fully available here.

I picked Everyday Diva – a true cream red. It’s a lovely smooth, easy to wear formula; like a super pigmented lustre. It wears well and has a slight sheen.

They’re bigger than the standard bullet, and they oughta at $46!?!?

There’s a nice range of basic colours. Quite a few dupes from the permanent range.

Will I catch them all? Maybe, as old favourites run out I might replace them with one of these.

Swatches and stuff after the jump

Changes to Back 2 MAC (in Australia, at least….)

Yesterday, I found out that Back 2 MAC has changed 😦

I went to swap my 6 empties and now, instead of receiving any lipstick in regular packaging (including Limited Editions), I was limited to the top 20, listed below.  Thankfully, I wanted Rebel, but boo MAC!

Here’s the list,  with links to swatches…..

Vegas Volt
Ravishing
Morange
Lady Danger
Ruby Woo
Russian Red
Twig
Blankety
Hug Me
Shy Girl
Crème d’ nude
Myth
Pretty Please
Angel
Crème Cup
Syrup
Snob
St Germain
Girl About Town
Rebel

MAC By Request – Jeté and Moth Brown

Today Jeté and Moth Brown arrived. Hurrah! They are so damn pretty, I can’t wait to wear them tomorrow.

There’s swatches and comparisons with All That Glitters, Naked Lunch and Satin Taupe after the jump

MAC Eyeshadow Haul (and my palettes)

My eyeshadow collection exploded on this trip, from one 15 pan palette to 3 (ok 2.5 😛 ).  So lets take a look.

Colour

Stars and Rockets, Purple Haze, Tilt, Aquadisac, Feeling Fresh

Vibrant Grape, Shock-a-holic, Freshwater, empty, Humid

Nocturnelle, blank, Deep Truth, Plumage, Inglot Pearl 414

For the two empty slots, I’m after a blackened blue purple (like Mineralized Young Punks but palette sized) and a bright teal

Neutrals

Orb, Bamboo, Cork, Brown Script, Concrete

Dazzlelight, Naked Lunch, All that Glitters, Sable, Satin Taupe

Blank, Moleskin, Carbonized, Mythical, Blank

Diamond Dove out to the left, which I’ll in it’s pot cos a) its really similar to Concrete and b) it’ll make a good eyebrow powder, as its just a tad browner and warmer than Concrete

Yay for the CCO at Las Vegas for having most of the MAC Me Over eyeshadows.  It was the first collection I got really excited about and stalked,  but I wasn’t after eyeshadows at the time, so I regretted skipping these initially.

The two blanks here will be filled with Jete and Moth Brown when the MAC by request collection comes out in Australia.

Greys

Gesso, Scene, Howzat, Print, Carbon

Crystal Avalanche, Silver Gull, Electra, Knight Divine, Blank

Forgery, Blank, Blank, Blank, Blank

I was really lucky with the CCO at Las Vegas, they had most of the Iris Apfel eyeshadows too.

For the Blanks, I’m thinking maybe some gold/bronze colours, but I don’t tend to wear them much (they just dont appeal) or perhaps just overflow if there’s some amazing super brights – haha neon or something.

Love to hear any suggestions!

MAC Heavely Creature – Fire Sign and Venus Lipsticks

Two lovely lustres from MAC’s 2012 Mineralize collection, Heavenly Creature.

Fire Sign is a lovely cool red, it’s very easy to wear (and apply) and reminds me childhood summers eating raspberry icy poles

Venus is a medium pink, on me its a my lips but better (cos they’re a little shimmery) shade.

Skin swatch after the jump

MAC Hey Sailor – Feeling Fresh Eyeshadow

So I picked up MACs Feeling Fresh eyeshadow from the Hey Sailor! collection. A bright shimmery kelly green with a frost finish.  It’s a colour not found in MAC’s permanent regular eyeshadows, i think the closest would be Kelly, a matte kelly green that is/was only available at pro stores and Fresh Flare, a pro longwear eyeshadow that is too big for the standard palette.  More photos and a swatch after the jump!

MAC Reel Sexy – Watch Me Simmer Lipstick

Originally out with MAC Shop MAC Cook, Watch Me Simmer is back for Reel Sexy.  It’s such an awesome wearable coral and the amplified finish is lovely on the lips.  I blot this one down for work, and it becomes really neon with flamingo over the top.  More after the jump