Surf’s Up! My Mini Haul from MAC Surf Baby Collection

Above: MAC Surf Baby collection

I know MAC’s Surf Baby Collection came out months ago, but better late than never right? Life has just been hectic with unexpected events and other things became more of a priority for me. Anyway, in May I was invited to a sneak peek party at my MAC PRO store for Surf Baby. It was a Cabana style party but sadly without the Cabana boy . The hor’dourves were delicious and the cocktails were decent. At the party, there was an artist screen printing T shirts with an option of an octopus or a hibiscus flower. I chose the octopus. Anyway, my small and modest haul included Swell Baby Eyeshadow; Ocean Dip nail lacquer; and Crush Metal Pigments in Surf the Ocean. I already did a review on Ocean Dip nail lacquer, stay tuned for the rest.

Above: MAC Crush Metal Pigments in Surf the Ocean

Above: MAC Ocean Dip nail lacquer

Above: MAC Eyeshadow in Swell Baby

The Body Shop Baked to Last Blush Duo in Coral

Above: The Body Shop Baked to Last Blush Duo in Coral

After a hectic semester at school, I finally had some time to redeem my $10 birthday discount from The Body Shop. I decided this is the perfect opportunity for me to try out some of their makeup, since I don’t have any Body Shop makeup. I browsed around and picked out their mineralized baked blush: Baked to Last Blush Duo in Coral.

The large side is a pink based coral and the small side is a apricot colour. Both colours have a satiny finish with micro shimmer. I liked that the shimmer is not too shiny and over the top, giving a very subtle sheen to the cheeks. When I swirl the two colours together it creates a nice peachy coral. You can create a more pink or apricot colour by add more of the choice colour. Both the pink and apricot side are equally pigmented but the apricot side  is more shimmery. Personally, I like the apricot colour side better. I also liked that both sides are big enough to be used separately with my MAC 129 brush. The texture is velvety and finely milled.

This blush is baked in Italy and contains marula oil, organic olive oil and jojoba. This costs $18.00 CAD.

Above: MAC Baked to Last Blush Duo in Coral

Above left to right: Pink Coral (large side); Apricot (small side); and Peach Coral (combined)

Be a Glamazon with MAC Wonderwoman Blush Duo in Amazon Princess

Above: MAC Blush Duo in Amazon Princess

In my opinion, the blushes are the best items from the MAC Wonderwoman collection. In the initial release I picked up Emancipation lipglass and Mighty Aphrodite but I went back on a later date to pick up Amazon Princess. Mighty Aphrodite is a warm salmon pink and very pretty. In contrast, Amazon Princess is a cool bubble gum blue pink with a satin finish on the large side and a plum colour with golden shimmer on the small side. However, when swatched the plum side looks like a raspberry pink on my skin.

Amazon Princess is a little bit more shimmery than Mighty Aphrodite because of the chunkier flecks of gold shimmer on the plum/berry side. Amazon Princess is very pigmented and goes on darker than Mighty Aphrodite. I would need to practice using a much lighter hand than usual. With this colour, I would skip my usual gel or creme blush base and use the powder blush alone. With a light hand, I do get a pretty shade of pink on my cheeks.

I love pinks and I don’t own many blushes that are a true pink. I like the girly princessy cheeks I can achieve with Amazon Princess; however, I think this may be a bit too cool toned for my taste. I like Mighty Aphrodite better because I like warmer tones on my skin better and I think it is a more universally flattering shade.

Above: MAC Blush Duo in Amazon Princess

Above left to right Amazon Princess: @ left blue pink (large side), @middle berry pink (small side), @ right pink mixed with plum

Belle du Jour MAC Wonderwoman Supersize Super Pretty Blush Duos in Might Aphrodite and Amazon Princess

A few weeks ago, I attended the MAC for Wonderwoman launch and purchased the Emancipation lipglass and the Mighty Aphrodite powder blush. I really like the colour and pigmentation of Might Aphrodite. The blushes are the only items in the collection that I feel are a “must” have for myself, so I went to the MAC store to get the Amazon Princess blush.  So far I really like both blushes. Mighty Aphrodite a warm salmon pink and Amazon Princess a cool blue pink. Just some pictures for now and I will be back as so as I can with the full review and swatches of Amazon Princess.

Above left to right: MAC Powder Blush Duos in Amazon Princess and Mighty Aphrodite

Above: MAC powder blush duo in Amazon Princess

Above: MAC powder blush duo in Amazon Princess

Above: MAC powder blush duo in Might Aphrodite

Above: MAC powder blush duo in Mighty Aphrodite

Be a Goddess with MAC Wonderwoman Super-sized Powder Blush Duo in Might Aprhodite

Above: MAC Powder Blush Duo in Mighty Aphrodite

While looking at the Wonderwoman collection a few weeks ago, the only items I feel I really want are the blushes. At the launch, I picked up the lipglass in Emancipated and the blush in Mighty Aphrodite. Mighty Aphrodite is the same size as the beauty powders and beauty powder blushes in a compact with a mirror. They are 10 to 11 grams and regular blushes are 6 grams. This duo is a frost/satin finish. It is warm but not too warm for the cool toned gals.

The large side is a peachy pink salmon with fine golden shimmer in a frost finish. The small side is a medium watermelon pink with a pink satiny sheen, satin finish. When the colours combine together, they create a peachy pink flush with a very subtle shimmery glow. I like that it warms up my complexion for the cold winter months here. On my skin, it looks like my cheeks are a little flushed from a walk in the brisk winter air. The texture is finely milled and a little bit on my MAC 129 blush brush goes a long way. I have worn Mighty Aphrodite with a creme blush underneath, such as Cremeblend in Florida or Joie de Vivre and alone without any base or face primers or foundation and both methods look very pretty and last me the whole day.

Above: MAC Powder Blush in Mighty Aphrodite

Above: MAC Powder Blush in Might Aphrodite

Above: MAC Powder Blush in Might Aphrodite

MAC Mickey Contractor Beauty Powder Blush in Sur, Product Pictures, Swatches and Review

Above: MAC Powder Blush in Sur

I picked this up a few weeks ago when Mickey Contractor was released a few weeks ago. I use  Sur quite often when I want a nice neutral coloured cheek but still have a pop of colour showing. To me Sur is a dirty plumy rose and it  has a satiny sheen to it, providing my cheeks with a lovely glowly appearance.  I like to use Sur with neutral plummy and pink colours. Sur reminds me of MAC Sheertone Blush in Blushbaby but Sur is more brown and pigmented, while Blushbaby is more pink and sheer. The texture is finely milled and applies very smoothly. It is very nicely pigmented and the perfect amount of colour shows up on my medium skin tone with just one swipe. I like to use my MAC 129 blush brush to apply and buff colour onto my skin for a glowly cheek look.

Above: MAC Powder Blush in Sur

Venomously Violet MAC Venomous Villains Pigment in Push the Edge

Above: MAC pigment in Push the Edge

MAC’s pigment Push the Edge was originally released during the Makeup Art Cosmetics collection in 2009 but MAC brought it back for the Venomous Villains collection. I have the one from the Makeup Art Cosmetics collection. Push the Edge is a deep cool violet with subtle blue iridescence. The shimmer is very subtle and the colour shows almost satin against my skin tone.  Push the Edge is deep and pigmented and has very little to zero fallout for me, but I do find the texture a bit chalky. I love purples and this colour is right down my alley. I have used this pigment several times for an all purple eye and smokey eye.

Above: MAC pigment in Push the Edge

Above: MAC pigment in Push the Edge

Malicious Maleficent MAC Beauty Powder in Briar Rose

Above: MAC Beauty Powder in Briar Rose

Alas, I get to work on some postings, as I have located my camera and have some free time away from school work. I have been wearing MAC’s Beauty Powder in Briar Rose on and off for the last few weeks and I find it very pretty and wearable for everyday use. I am surprised that it is quite pigmented for a beauty powder. Usually, I find MAC beauty powders to be very sheer and poorly pigmented.

Although Briar Rose is on the sheer side, I don’t have to put in a lot of effort to build up the pigmentation. I like to use MAC’s 129 powder blush. Briar Rose gives me a sheer wash of pinky lilac flush. The texture is also soft and finely milled. I think the colour is perfect for everyday use for a soft and feminine look. The lovely colour matches the lilac from Maleficent’s outfit perfectly. I know this posting is a little late, as Venomous Villains have have released in North America for awhile, but I can’t help but share something from the fabulous Maleficent’s mini collection. Enjoy the swatches and pictures.

Above: MAC Beauty Powder in Briar Rose

Beauty of the Day MAC Venomous Villains Briar Rose Beauty Powder

Above: MAC Beauty Powder in Briar Rose

After much debating, I finally decided to pick up the very pretty Briar Rose beauty powder from MAC’s Venomous Villains’ Maleficent collection. It is sold out at my local counters and when I saw it at the PRO store, I knew it was a sign to get it. Normally, I stay away from the beauty powders because I think the are not very pigmented but I caved into this one because of the beautiful pink lilac colour and it has Maleficent on the compact! Please stay tuned for the review and the swatches.

Above: MAC Beauty Powder Briar Rose

Above: MAC Beauty Powder Briar Rose

Above: MAC Beauty Powder Briar Rose

Wickedly Juicy MAC Venomous Villains Blush in Bite of an Apple

Above: MAC Blush in Bite of an Apple

MAC’s blush in Bite of an Apple is a gorgeous shade of pinkish coral. It is brightly pigmented and requires a light touch because one light swipe will give you pretty pink cheeks. It is very blendable, buildable and easy to work with. The blush is a matte finish but the texture is very soft.  I only need one layer of colour for a sheer wash of pink cheeks or two for a more pinker glow. One to two swipes is suffice for my medium skin tone of NC 35/37 for the day time. I have been using Bite of an Apple almost everyday since I bought it during the early launch last week. Although this is a bright blush, I really like using this during the day to add some colour on the apple of my cheeks. I like to wear this with a neutral eye, black or brown eye liner, neutral lips and lots of mascara. I have yet to use this for an evening look yet. The pinky coral is just perfect to create a sheer pink wash to a deeper sexier pink glow for the apple of your cheeks. The lovely Bite of an Apple is from the Evil Queen’s mini collection.

Above: MAC Blush in Bite of an Apple

Above: MAC Blush in Bite of an Apple from Evil Queen Mini Collection

Above: MAC Venomous Villains Launch Party