MAC Lightfully Bright Collection - INFORMATION

MAC Lightfully Bright Collection - INFORMATION

Lightful has gained a reputation for, a lustrous end-look. We've added new limited-life Lipglass along with Foaming Creme Cleanser, Active Softening Lotion, Charged Essence, and Deep Ultramoisture Creme.

Release Date: February 1, 2011 (Online Exclusive)

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Tinted Lipglass
Astro Cool - Light lavender with pink shimmer
Atmospheric - Baby pink with pink and blue shimmer
Ethereal - Pale blue with pink shimmer
Outer Space - Snowy white with subtle pink shimmer

4.8 g / .17 oz
US$14.50

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Lightful Deep Ultramoisture Creme
Lightweight, gel-like cream. Provides a moisture-locking barrier for long-lasting protection. Instantly hydrates the skin for a smoother skin surface, and helps it look more luminous over time.

50 ml / 1.7 US fl oz
US$38.00

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Lightful Active Softening Lotion
Hydrating, water-based lotion. Absorbed quickly into skin. Immediately infuses depleted skin with moisture. Leaves it feeling refreshed, soothed and soft with a more even-toned look.

150 ml / 5.0 US fl oz
US$30.00

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Lightful Foaming Creme Cleanser
Soothing whipped creamy mousse cleanses and rebalances skin. Rinses quickly. Leaving skin feeling clean and comfortable...never stripped or dehydrated.

100 ml / 3.4 US fl oz
US$24.00

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Lightful Charged Essence
Concentrated, lightweight, gel-like essence. Absorbed quickly into the skin. Helps it look and feel smoother, softer, brighter and more resilient.

30 ml / 1.0 US fl oz
US$40.00

Happy 1st YEAR Blog Anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy 1st YEAR Blog Anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!

We made it to one year!!! Yippee!!! Can you believe it???!!!

I started this blog January 25, 2010 with my first post on The Elusive Eyebrow. My follow up posts for the first month was a mix of swatches and looks and even a review. I never expected the blog to grow to where it is today...andI know many people say that...but seriously...this was really meant as a makeup diary of sorts.

I wanted to keep track of my looks and swatches for future reference and for anyone who wanted to see swatches of certain products. I used to share my looks on Makeupgeek and Specktra anyway so why not have them all in one place so I could always look back and see what I did and what products I used.

But now it has grown to my own little makeup community with great members and friends! WOW! We are now at 1050 subscribers and 440 posts to date! And quite frankly, without your support and love I would never have gotten to this point.

So I want to THANK YOU ALL for a FABULOUS FANCY YEAR! Cheers to lots more! YAY!!!!!!!!!!

Quick and Simple - Double Liner Look

Quick and Simple - Double Liner Look

On days that I barely wear makeup, such as today, I tend to go for a plain face...and sometimes I spice it up with a colorful liner.

This is a really simple look that would be perfect for those of us who want to try a little color without being over the top.

Eyes: 

PRIME:
I used Too Faced Shadow Insurance Eyeshadow Primer all over my lid up to the brow bone.

BROWS: My brows are filled in with MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Stud and NARS Coconut Grove Eyeshadow (matte blackened brown). Paula Dorf Eye Definer Flat Top Brush

DEFINE:
I lined my upper lashline with Bourjois Electric Blue Clubbing Eyeliner (vivid blue) and MAC Classic Cream Liquidlast liner (white gold).
I lined my lower waterline with L'Oreal HIP Cream Eyeliner in Black. Stila #28 Smudge Pot Brush
I used Too Faced Lash Injection Mascara for my lashes.

Lips:

For my lips I used MAC Lip Conditioner.

Face:
FINISH:
I primed my skin with MAC Oil Control Lotion. I used MAC Pro Longwear Foundation in NC45 - Sigma Flat Top Synthetic Kabuki Brush - for my face and set my t-zone with MAC Blot Powder in Dark. I used MUFE #12 and #14 Full Cover Concealer - Fingers : ) under my eyes set with Benefit Powderflage - Beauty Blender Sponge.

Lipstick Finishes...MAC and GENERAL

Lipstick Finishes...MAC and GENERAL

Have you ever wondered about those fancy lipstick finishes on the bottom of a lipstick? What exactly do they mean anyway?

The finish describes the texture and appearance of an the lipstick. The lipstick finish will affect the color payoff, ease of use and overall result of the final look. This can apply to all forms of lipstick be it tube form, liquid, or pot form.

The easiest way to tackle lipstick finishes is to start with one of the most popular makeup companies in the world - MAC. Let's use their descriptions as our guideline.

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MATTE - Pigment rich with intense color pay-off. No-shine, all matte finish.

Just like with eyeshadow, a matte lipstick will have the most intense color payoff. There is no shine or glossiness with this lipstick and some formulas can be drying. The key to wearing matte lipsticks is to have smooth, well exfoliated and primed lips to start with. The effect can be sophisticated and elegant to high fashion, artistic and editorial. Matte lipsticks can settle into and accentuate lip lines because of the dry texture. These tend to be long wearing because they cling to the lips and have little to no slip. Many companies carry matte lipsticks including MAC, Make Up For Ever, NARS, Chanel, etc....

 

SATIN - Color-rich, satiny semi-matte finish.

This is next in line to a matte when it comes to color payoff. It delivers full color but has a more silky feel than a matte with very slight sheen. This may be the best option for those with dry lips who still want intense color but with a bit of moisture. These are also long wearing but glide easier on the lips. The Satin finish is another popular finish for many makeup companies.

FROST - High color payoff with frosted shimmer.

The frost finish is just what it sounds like - frosty. It gives good color payoff with high frost usually from glitter or shimmer particles within the lipstick. The shimmer can vary from ultra fine to chunky depending on the brand and even by the color. Frost lipsticks can settle into and accentuate lip lines just like with mattes and can be slightly drying as well. Frosts are not for the tame since they will bring attention to the lips. they have decent color payoff but as they fade can leave behind the frost particles.

CREMESHEEN - Creamy, full color with soft shine.

The cremesheen finish is unique in its name to MAC but many companies have creme/cream lipstick finishes which is similar. These are creamy lipsticks that have decent color payoff and feel moist on the lips. Because of the slick feel of these lipsticks the wear time decreases. The overall appearance will be glossy without adding a lip gloss on top. This is a great option for those with dry lips. The cream/creme finish may be the most popular in the lipstick world since it's the most wearable and appealing of all the textures.

AMPLIFIED CRÈME - Ultra-creamy with soft shine.

This finish is unique to MAC and is basically an amped up version of the cremesheen. It is creamier with similar effects and greater color payoff but a slightly shorter wear time based on the glossiness of the lipstick.

GLAZE - Low-color impact with sheen-style finish.

The glaze finish has very subtle color and a glossy effect. It is actually similar to a lip gloss in stick form. The wear time on these is very short. This is best for those who want just a touch of color without being heavy or overwhelming.

LUSTRE - Demi-sheer with smooth wet-look finish.

The lustre finish is similar to the glaze but the overall look is more glossy to the point of appearing wet on the lips. There is very low color payoff and short wear time. The appearance is somewhat of a 'juicy' effect.

 Matte -- Matte -- Satin -- Satin -- Cremesheen -- Cremesheen

So Chaud -- Honeylove -- Snob -- Cherish -- Go For It -- Jazzed

Amplified -- Amplified -- Frost -- Frost -- Lustre -- Lustre

Blooming Lovely -- Up The Amp -- Victorian -- Bronzilla -- Red Full Stop -- Syrup

Rock & Republic Eye Colors - SWATCHES Part 2...

Rock & Republic Eye Colors - SWATCHES Part 2...

I already did an original review and post on Rock & Republic Eye Colors but I received some more and wanted to share some more swatches. Remember the Rock & Republic Eye Colors are on sale now for $14 each on the Rock & Republic website with an additional 50% OFF using the coupon code: ROCKCOSMETICS. That is a great deal for high quality products if you ask me.

Here is my ORIGINAL REVIEW - LINK.

And here are some more SWATCHES:

 SPY, CHAIN LINK, FUEL

 TRIBAL, NAILED, FATALISTIC

 SPY

Light nude with very subtle shimmer

CHAIN LINK

Light white silver

FUEL

Light yellow gold

TRIBAL

Deep matte neutral brown (great for eyebrows)

NAILED

Deep gunmetal silver

 FATALISTIC

Rich matte black (my poor baby was smashed during shipping)

 SPY, CHAIN LINK, FUEL

TRIBAL, NAILED, FATALISTIC

'Chocolate Bronze' Look

'Chocolate Bronze' Look

Ever since I picked up my eyeshadows from the MAC Peacocky Collection I have been dying to do a Kim Kardashian inspired chocolate smoky eye and I finally went for it. I needed more time to perfect it but it turned out okay for a fisrt try.

Eyes: 

PRIME:
I started off with Too Faced Shadow Insurance Eyeshadow Primer all over my lid up to the brow bone. I applied MAC Groundwork Paintpot (satin neutral taupe) on my brow bone and MAC Constructivist Paintpot (shimmery dark brown) on my lid blended with NYX Dark Brown Jumbo Eye Pencil (matte dark brown) on my upper lashline as my primary bases. Sonia Kashuk Dome Blending Brush

COLOR:
On the inner lid and tearduct area I applied MAC Prance Mega Metal Eyeshadow (frosted mauve pearl). MAC 242 Shader Brush
Next on the middle of the I applied MAC Spectacle Of Yourself Mega Metal Eyeshadow (frosted deep copper bronze). MAC 242 Shader Brush
On the outer lid and crease I applied MAC Center Stage Mega Metal Eyeshadow (frosted chocolate brown). Sonia Kashuk Dome Blending Brush
On the browbone area and for blending I used MAC Wild By Nature Eyeshadow (matte camel). MAC Large 252 Shader Brush
For my lower lashline I used MAC Center Stage Mega Metal Eyeshadow (frosted chocolate brown). Stila #28 Smudge Pot Brush

BROWS:
My brows are filled in with MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Stud and NARS Coconut Grove Eyeshadow (matte blackened brown). Paula Dorf Eye Definer Flat Top Brush

DEFINE:
I lined my upper lashline with NYX Dark Brown Jumbo Eye Pencil (matte dark brown). MAC 266 Small Angle Brush
I lined my lower waterline with L'Oreal HIP Cream Eyeliner in Black. Stila #28 Smudge Pot Brush
I used Too Faced Lash Injection Mascara for my lashes and added Beautee Senses Smashing False Eyelashes for effect.

Lips:

POLISH:
For my lips I used MAC Yash Lipstick (matte nude) topped with MAC Sheena Laquer (shimmery golden bronze).

Face:

FINISH:
I primed my skin with MAC Oil Control Lotion and Tarte Clean Slate Primer. I used NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Tahoe - Sigma Flat Top Synthetic Kabuki Brush - for my face and set my t-zone with MAC Blot Powder in Dark. I used MUFE #12 and #14 Full Cover Concealer - Fingers : ) under my eyes set with Benefit Powderflage - Beauty Blender Sponge.

I used MAC Peaches Blush (matte peach coral) for my cheeks - MAC 129 Powder/Blush Brush and MUFE #2 Sculpting Kit for contour - Sephora Professional #49 Blush Brush and MAC Sweet Harmony Beauty Powder (satin golden tan) for highlight - Sigma Angled Top Synthetic Kabuki Brush.

NUDE LIPS - MAC Brave New Bronze Lipstick vs. MAC Yash Lipstick

NUDE LIPS - MAC Brave New Bronze Lipstick vs. MAC Yash Lipstick

MAC Brave New Bronze Lipstick debuted with the MAC Style Warriors Collection in Summer 2009. It became my favorite nude lipstick for my medium dark skin (NC45 for reference). This lipstick is a great medium nude with pink undertones and a creamy semi-matte finish.

MAC Yash Lipstick is a recent release with the very limited and exclusive MAC & Mickey Contractor Collection in Spring 2011. It has been quite a wait for a another great nude lipstick from MAC for my skintone. This lipstick is a great medium nude with neutral undertones and a matte finish.


COMPARISON

MAC Brave New Bronze Lipstick has a satin finish which is creamier than a matte but still with great color payoff. This color also leans a bit more pinky nude than neutral. MAC Yash Lipstick is a matte but still has a silky finish with more neutral undertones. Both are great nude lipsticks for medium dark skin and look almost identical in pictures.

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Brave New Bronze (Satin) - Creamy mid-tone pink nude

Yash (Matte) - Deep neutral

Upper: Brave New Bronze

Lower: Yash

 

Left - Right: Brave New Bronze, Yash

 

Left - Right: Brave New Bronze, Yash

Upper: Brave New Bronze

Lower: Yash

Yash

Brave New Bronze 

Metallic Grass Cut-Crease Look - Tutorial

'Metallic Grass Cut-Crease' Look

'Metallic Grass Cut-Crease' Look

This look was inspired by the lovely and talented Nireyna on Live Journal. Here's the inspiration - HERE. It is a pretty intense cut-crease look and is not meant for everyday wear. I had so much fun doing this...wish I had more free time to do these intense looks.

Eyes: 

PRIME:
I started off with NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base all over my lid up to the brow bone. I applied MAC Layin' Low Paintpot (matte beige) all over my lid and on my brow bone as my primary base. Sonia Kashuk Dome Blending Brush

COLOR:
To outline the cut-crease I used Pure Luxe Sin Liner (matte black) mixed with MAC Water Based Mixing Medium. MAC 210 Precise Eye Liner Brush & MAC 231 Small Shader Brush
For the crease I started with Inglot #58 Eyeshadow (matte vibrant green). Sonia Kashuk Dome Blending Brush
On the browbone area I used Inglot #57 Eyeshadow (matte bright green) Sonia Kashuk Dome Blending Brush
I followed this with Sugarpill Absinthe Loose Eyeshadow (shimmery sour apple green). Sonia Kashuk Dome Blending Brush
For my highlight I used MAC Ricepaper Eyeshadow (shimmery champagne). MAC Large 252 Shader Brush
To deepen the crease I used Inglot #384 Eyeshadow (matte dark green w/ sparkles) and Magnolia Makeup #009 Just Black Pigment (matte black). MAC 242 Shader Brush

For my lower lashline I used Inglot #58 Eyeshadow, Inglot #57 Eyeshadow and Magnolia Makeup #009 Just Black Pigment. MAC 242 Shader Brush
On the outer lid I applied MAC Silver Pigment (metallic silver) mixed with MAC Water Based Mixing Medium. MAC 242 Shader Brush
On the inner lid and tearduct I used NYX Baby Blue Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil topped with Magnolia Makeup #125 Chlorine Pigment (matte light blue). Too Faced Small Eyeshadow Teddy Bear Brush

BROWS:
My brows are filled in with MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Stud and NARS Coconut Grove Eyeshadow (matte blackened brown). Paula Dorf Eye Definer Flat Top Brush

DEFINE:
I lined my upper lashline with Wet 'n' Wild Gel Eyeliner in Black. MAC 266 Small Angle Brush
I lined my lower waterline with L'Oreal HIP Cream Eyeliner in Black. Stila #28 Smudge Pot Brush
I used Too Faced Lash Injection Mascara for my lashes and added Beautee Senses Adevnturous False Eyelashes for effect.

Lips:

POLISH:
For my lips I used MUFE #40 Rouge Artist Intense Lipstick (creamy orange) and MUFE #39 Rouge Artist Intense Lipstick (creamy coral) topped with Too Faced Mirror Shine Lipgloss (clear).

Face:

FINISH:
I primed my skin with Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentrè Nourishing Moisturizer and Tarte ReCreate™ Silicone-Free Primer. I used MAC Pro Longwear Foundation in NC45 - Sigma Flat Top Synthetic Kabuki Brush - for my face and set my t-zone with MAC Blot Powder in Dark. I used MUFE #14 Full Cover Concealer - Fingers : ) under my eyes set with Benefit Powderflage - Beauty Blender Sponge. 

I used MUFE #22 Sculpting Blush (shimmery orange peach) for my cheeks - MAC 129 Powder/Blush Brush and MUFE #2 Sculpting Kit for contour - Sephora Professional #49 Blush Brush and MAC Deep Dark Natural/Shimmer MSF (shimmery gold) for highlight - MAC 130 Short Duo Fiber Brush