MAC Mineralize Volcanic Ash Exfoliator

Believe the Hype!  This stuff is amazing.  It's so good that I had a hard time writing this post.  Like seriously, how many times can I say awesome without my readers getting annoyed?

I rarely fall in love with skincare products because it's just not something that I'm excited about.  This product however, deserves some attention.  I am absolutely in love with how this exfoliator feels on my skin.  It leave my skin feeling soft, smooth and refreshed.  I don't get that tight skin feeling at all and it does not irritate my hyper active crazy skin.  I've only used this on my face thus far but I really want to get another tube so that I can try it on my legs and arms.  I would definitely recommend this product and it will be repurchased when I run out.

MAC describes this product as follows:
 
"A highly effective, dual-purpose foaming, cleansing and exfoliating scrub blending natural Volcanic Ash with fine sugar crystals. Refines and unclogs the skin, adds instant moisture: leaves skin feeling soft and comfortably clean. Mineral-rich. May be used effectively on any part of face or body. Rinses off with warm water."

It retails for $28 USD and is definitely worth it in my opinion.

What is your favorite exfoliator?  Have you tried this one?  Let me know!

MAC Fashion Sets 2013 - Lipstick Edition

 Embrace Me, Heroine, Silly, Ablaze

MAC recently released their 2013 Fashion Sets Collection and MAC addicts everywhere where all about getting their hands on the lipsticks.  With this release we also saw a return of the much coveted Heroine Lipstick that launched last year.  I purchased all of the lipsticks so I thought that I would share them with you guys.  Also, even though the lipsticks quickly sold out on MAC.com and with other retailers, you may still be able to find them at a counter and they also should launch internationally in May!

MAC Fashion Sets Lipsticks
Shades Purchased:  Embrace Me, Heroine, Silly, Ablaze (all shades are Matte finish)
Price:  $15 USD
Available at MAC

Embrace Me

Heroine

Silly

Ablaze

I actually like all of the colors but Silly will take some work for me to get it to look cute on my darker complexion.  For reference, I am NW43/NW45 in MAC and 175 Cafe in Make Up For Ever HD Liquid Foundation. 

 I hope you guys were able to get your hands on your favorite lippies!

Thanks for stopping by!

MAC Archie's Girls Collection

 

I know I'm a MAC addict and all but MAC has been putting out some really amazing collections lately and I have been totally impressed.  This Archie's Girl collection is so cute.  I picked up two lipsticks and a lipglass from the Veronica portion of the collection and I love them.  They are very "dupeable" (like other lipsticks I have or have tried) but I still think they are worth the buy.

MAC Archie's Girls Collection
Shade(s) Purchased:  Veronica Collection - Mall Madness Lipglass, Daddy's Little Girl Lipstick (satin finish) and Ronnie Red Lipstick (matte finish)
Price: $16.50 USD each
Available at MAC

The packaging is adorable.  I absolutely love it.  

 

MAC Lipglass - MALL MADNESS

 Sparkle and Shimmer!  Gotta Love it.

MAC Lipstick - DADDY'S LITTLE GIRL

 Pink Perfection with a hint of purple.

MAC Lipstick - RONNIE RED

One of the most beautiful and comfortable red lipsticks I own.  Love it.

MAC Pressed Pigment - Amethyst

This is going to be my last pressed pigment purchase for a while!  I think that I finally have all of the colors that I want and I'm a little on pressed pigment overload.  I picked this one up because I love purple eyeshadow in general and I really wanted to see how this one would translate by itself and over some of my deeper purple shades.  

MAC Pressed Pigment
Shade(s) Purchased:  Amethyst
Price: $21 USD
Available at MAC

 

 

Another gorgeous color!  Although it is a little icier (paler) than I expected it to be.  

Thanks for stopping by!  I'm off to go swatch my Archie Girls lipsticks.  Have an awesome day.

 

MAC Pressed Pigment - Blue Willow

 

This icy blue color is giving me my 80's life right now!  I'm so obsessed with this shade and cannot wait to create some looks with it.  I think this would be absolutely gorgeous on really fair skin ladies as well as darker skin.  It is just one of those colors that I normally wouldn't gravitate towards but for some reason I had to have it and am absolutely enamored by it.

MAC Pressed Pigment
Shades Purchased:  Blue Willow
Price: $21 USD
Available at MAC

It's like a silvery/icy blue slice of greatness.  Also, this is one of the smoother Pressed Pigments that I've tried.  I absolutely love this shade and I wish I purchased it sooner. 

Thanks for stopping by!

MAC Pressed Pigment - Spot Lit

Yes, I purchased another one and isn't she gorgeous.  I absolutely love her.  Now Day Gleam is still my favorite but since I dropped it, and shattered it into a billion glittery pieces, this is slowly taking her place. 

MAC Pressed Pigment
Shade Purchased:  Spot Lit
Price: $21 USD
Available at MAC

 
I do think this one is a little smoother than Day Gleam is and it is close enough in color that it gives a similar effect when applied.  I use all of my pressed pigments over other colors so I could have skipped this shade.   However, being the makeup hoarder that I am, I needed both! 

I have a couple other colors to show you guys in the next few days!  Stay Tuned for Blue Willow and Amethyst!

Thanks for stopping by!

Concealer Love Affair featuring MAC Studio Finish Concealer

Makeup for me has always been a love and a passion but when I first started out, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing.  I had the pencil thin brows, the silver shadow on the lid and my lipgloss was always poppin!  I really wasn't into foundations and concealers all that much until about six or seven years ago when I started trying to do makeup on other people (scary stuff).  Then I was introduced to one of my all time favorite items, MAC's Studio Finish Concealer.  I originally only used it for brow work but then I started to see that  hyperpigmentation on my face so I used it on that and then it was over!  I was completely in love.  Fast forward to now and I cannot live without it.  I use it underneath, and sometimes on top of, my foundations.  I also use it with a little powder for those easy makeup days.  Concealer is one of those products that is addictive.  Once you see those dark circles go away, that dark spot on your cheek disappear, that lack of sleep vanish, it's over!  This is a staple product in my personal makeup bag and in my kit and I highly recommend it.  Now, it is a cream product and emollient so I do set it with a powder when used under the eyes.

MAC SPF 35 Studio Finish Concealer 
Price:  $18 USD

From the MAC site

"A lightweight, creamy, discreetly opaque concealer. Provides a smooth, long-wearing invisible coverage for all skin blemishes. Water-resistant, fragrance-free and non-acnegenic. This emollient-based, lightweight concealer is so concentrated that a tiny amount can provide opaque coverage of the skin's imperfections and discolourations. It effectively covers dark circles, blemishes, moles, tattoos and birthmarks. Enriched with antioxidants (derivatives of Vitamin A and Vitamin E), it also contains silica to help absorb the skin's oils. Concealer has broad spectrum SPF 35 protection and is available in a wide range of colours. It can be applied with a medium to firm fiber brush (try the 242 Shader Brush), a latex sponge, or the fingertips."

What is your favorite concealer?  

Thanks for stopping by!
 

MAC Pressed Pigment - Jet Couture

If you have been following me on twitter, instagram, facebook, youtube or this blog, you know that I am completely obsessed with Pressed Pigments from MAC.  I absolutely love these to add a little something extra to the looks that I do when I want to be a little lazy with the creativity!  I'm not a huge glitter person anymore, but this is glitter/shimmer done right.  I typically use these with a clean finger instead of a brush and press it onto the lid as I get less fallout that way but you can try it however you like it.

MAC PRESSED PIGMENT
Shade Purchased:  Jet Couture
Price:  $21 USD
www.maccosmetics.com

I'm absolutely all about this shade.  Love it! 

I had to rush this morning when I was doing my makeup and I threw this on over a black base.  Love.

MAC Pigments - Melon, Reflects Copper & Blue Brown

Yup another MAC order!  I am a total MAC addict.  I really need to stop...but I won't.  In my last MAC Haul Video, I told you guys about 3 pigments that I ordered (although I thought I ordered Reflects Bronze but it's really Copper) and I promised swatches.  Well the swatches are a bit late, but here they are.  I also tried to record another video but it was an epic fail so we'll just pretend it never happened.

MAC PIGMENTS
Shades Purchased: Melon, Reflects Copper & Blue Brown
Price: $21 USD
Available at MAC

Melon

Reflects Copper

Blue Brown

 

I am absolutely loving these shades.  They look so gorgeous in the pots, maybe it will actually encourage me to use them instead of sticking them somewhere to never be seen again!  I hate the mess that pigments can make but I love the colors.  The dilemma is real.

Thanks for stopping by!

MAC Lipstick - Hot Chocolate, Strong Woman & Firm Form

Lately I've been really busy and I forgot I received these lipsticks in the mail.  I have about 3 boxes currently floating around my house because I have to keep them out of kid reach but then I forget them!  So a few days ago I received my package from MAC's Strong Woman and Apres Chic collections.  I only ordered 3 lipsticks total from the collections as I have become a complete lipstick addict.  I purchased a dark nude color from the Apres Chic Collection and a purple/fuchsia and a black/brown color from the Strong Woman Collection.  

MAC LIPSTICK
Shades Purchased: Hot Chocolate, Strong Woman, Firm Form
Price: $15 USD
Available at MAC

 HOT CHOCOLATE

STRONG WOMAN

FIRM FORM

The only color that I am truly excited about is Strong Woman!  I love me a purple lip and honey this one is lovely!  Hot Chocolate is okay.  It's a good everyday color but it's a little to boring for me.  Firm Form's formula doesn't work on my lips and moves around too much for my liking, this can be prevented by using a lip pencil, a lip brush and some layering but I do not have time for that at all!

All three of these shades are currently sold out on MAC's website, but you may be able to track them down at a MAC store.  

Were you able to snag anything from these collections?  

MAC Pressed Pigments - Day Gleam & Deeply Dashing

I'm so excited!  I finally decided to go ahead and get the pressed pigments!  At first I was hesitant to get these because the beauty blog community really gave these a bad name.  However, I've seen some great makeup artists do amazing looks with these so I just had to have them!  

MAC Pressed Pigment
Shades Purchased:  Day Gleam & Deeply Dashing
Price: $21 USD
Available at MAC

Aren't they amazing!  Yes, they are glitterbombs but who cares, they look great and they are so smooth when swatched!

Gorgeous!  
Have you tried any of the pressed pigments?  What's your favorite shade?

Thanks for stopping by!

MAC Mattene Lipsticks - Nocturnal Instincts, Night Blooming, Seductive Intent, Fun Finds

Sorry that this post so late but my package seriously took forever to get here and then I was debating for about a week about whether or not I should post swatches.  I decided to go ahead and post them in case MAC re-releases a color or they still have some available at the counter.  Plus I've had a really trying day and I just wanted to play in lipstick!

MAC Mattene Lipstick
Shades Purchased:  Nocturnal Instincts, Night Blooming, Seductive Intent, Fun FindsPrice: $15 USD
Available at MAC

I love mattenes because they are comfortable to wear and in my experience they last for hours!  I do have a thing against the lighter colors though because they show every lip imperfection.  Oh and FYI Fun Finds is NOT WOC friendly.  This color is horrible on my complexion.  I'm not even going to try to "make it work"!  I think I must have ordered this color by accident because it is not something that I would normally gravitate too.  

 Nocturnal Instincts

Night Blooming

Seductive Intent

Fun Finds

Night Blooming and Seductive Intent are definitely my favorites!  Love those two colors.  Fun Finds was not for me!  Obviously.

Thanks for Stopping by!

MAC Pro Haul Video

Check out my Pro Haul video!  This is the haul that I posted about yesterday and I talk a little bit more about free-lancing!



Thanks for stopping by!

MAC Pro Haul 11.27.12

Hey guys!  So I've decided to pursue my passion and try to become a professional makeup artist.  I have dabbled in freelancing in the past but I've always had a main job that prevented me from really going for it full time and also my jobs paid the bills!  Well now that I'm in Germany and a stay-at-home mom, I have the opportunity to try it out.  The first thing on my agenda was to get a business license which I did.  The process was pretty simple, the only difficulty was the language barrier as I speak very little German and only some of the licensing office professionals speak English.  The next step I had to take was updating my kit.  Now this is possibly the most daunting task because although I've been pretty financially responsible, it is hard to invest money into something without the knowledge of how long it will take to make the money back and not knowing if your dream will succeed or fail. 

The first things I purchased were foundations which I will write about later.  The second thing I bought were some disposables and kit needs which I will also share later.  This is my latest haul and since it's the largest, I thought I would share this haul first.

Also, I know this may seem like a lot of product but I'm "investing" in my business and this is kind of the start-up costs.  I also have a MAC pro card so I received a discount on these items (like I mentioned prior, I free-lanced in the past which is how/why I have a pro card).  

I really wanted to use great setting powders so I decided to purchase my favorite ones which are MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Naturals. These powders can also be used with damp for more coverage and I often use it that way for a foundation like finish.

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural
Shades Purchased: Light, Light Plus, Medium, Medium Plus, Medium Dark, Dark, Medium Deep and DarkDeep
Price: $29 USD/each
Available at MAC

The next thing I purchased were correctors.  I haven't tried MAC Correctors before but I wanted to give them a try so I purchased four colors that I thought would work in my kit.

MAC Studio Finish Skin Corrector
Shades Purchased: Light Peach, Pure Orange, Ochre, Burnt Coral
Price: $12 USD/each
Available at MAC

 

The next items I purchased were concealers.  I love MAC's Pro Longwear Concealers but I think that the studio finish concealers are more versatile and easier to control.   I'm a little upset that I purchased these as I hear MAC is releasing concealer mini palettes but I needed my concealers now so I'll deal!

MAC Studio Finish Concealer
Shades Purchased: NC15, NW30, NW15, NW40, NC45, NC30
Price: $18 USD/each
Available at MAC

Up next are Pigments.  I have so many bareMinerals loose eyeshadows that I didn't think I needed any more loose eyeshadows but I thought that I would give pigments a chance and get a few of them in the most popular colors.

MAC Pigment
Shades Purchased:  Naked, Naked Deep Dark & Tan
Price: $21 USD/each
Available at MAC

...and there is more.  I purchased two of the lip palettes.  I usually like to use lipsticks in the tube and just scrape off the amount needed for a client but that takes up space and I'm trying to be efficient and consolidate so I purchased the palettes.  I want to get two more but they are currently sold out.

MAC Pro Lip Palette
Shades Purchased:  Editorial Reds (Lady Danger, On Hold, Russian Red, MAC Red, Ruby Woo, Dare You) & Preferred Pinks (Pretty Please, Please Me, Lovelorn, Creme De La Femme, Show Orchid, Violetta)
Price: $40 USD/each
Available at MAC

I needed a line filler so I got one...yeah.

MAC Prep & Prime Line Filler
Shades Purchased: n/a
Price: $20 USD
Available at MAC

 
I also needed some brow pencils because after doing a trial I realized that I needed to step my game up when it comes to brow colors. 



MAC Eye Brows
Shades Purchased:  Spiked, Lingering, Strut, Brunette, Stud & Fling
Price: $15 USD/each
Available at MAC

I also purchased a Chromographic Pencil.

MAC Chromographic Pencil
Shades Purchased: NW25/NC30
Price: $15 USD/each
Available at MAC

The last (hooray) thing I purchased were eyeshadows.  

MAC Eye Shadow Pans
Shades Purchased: Samoa Silk, Brule, Carbon, Rule, Jest, Folie, Chrome Yellow
Price: $12 USD/each
Available at MAC

I also purchased the eyeshadow palettes to put the correctors and eyeshadows in.   The four pan palette is $9.  The large palette is $18 and the 15 pan insert is $9.  Again, I did use my pro discount for these items so I did not pay full price.  This purchase is for my professional makeup kit so that is why there is so much stuff! 

Please let me know if you have any feedback or questions!  

Thanks for stopping by!