My 1st MAC purchase (what?!) - Huggable Lipcolor in Commotion and Mineralize Skinfinish in Other Earthly

That's right, I've never bought any MAC products up until now... crazy right? I mostly buy makeup from Sephora and department stores, and never ventured into MAC stores. Since The Bay now carries MAC, and recently had some items on 30% off, I thought this was a good time to check things out!

Had to go for a lipstick right :)  The Huggable Lipcolors had mixed reviews when I looked up other blogs, so I went with a raspberry-plum shade that I know likely will work on me. It's called "Commotion".

The texture is really interesting. If I try to swipe it on my lips like any other lipstick, the bullet is "sticky" and tugs on my lips quite uncomfortably. So I found the best way to apply this is by dabbing rather than swiping. The result is a sheer glossy (for a lipstick) finish that fills in lines and makes my lips look plump and healthy. It lasts until I eat but leaves a light stain. 

I swatched it amongst some of my other raspberry-plums. Temptalia calls this shade "highly dupable", which is true, however the finish is unique!

Left to right: Burberry Kisses Bright Plum (slightly more pigmented and creamy with less sheen)

MAC Huggable Commotion (the glossiest and most tacky in feel)

Marc Jacobs Boy Gorgeous (the most pigmented and matte of these)

Tom Ford Violet Fatale (the most comfortable and lightweight of all these)

Next I chose one of the Mineralize Skinfinish which I also hear a lot about. 

I was very disappointed by the shipping, as it had unfortunately been knocked around and there was chunky glitter everywhere (had even escaped to the box). I was concerned this was going to end up a chunky glittery-highlighter, and I was partially right. 

Presentation is gorgeous, and the sections are large enough I can use the shades separately, however I discovered that is not the best way to use this...

When swatched, I was not impressed...the silver and gold-bronze were super glittery and chunky, and the middle rosy shade was chalky. When I put them on my cheek separately, the 2 glittery ones looked terrible, they were hard to blend out and stuck as chunky glitter on my face. The middle shade just didn`t show on my cheeks. I was about to sigh and give up until I read from others that they like this best blended altogether. So I took a dense synthetic brush and swirled it all around. The result was...well... kind of out of this world! It`s hard to describe, altogether it looks like a rosy highlighter that is sparkly rather than glittery (sparkly in a nice way!). It isn`t subtle, but also doesn`t scream glitter like when the shades go on individually. I love it! 

Overall, this has been a good first foray into MAC and I`ll definitely be picking up some more from the 30% off sale!

Share with me your favorite products from MAC!

Review: Benefit Watt's Up Highlighter

 

This little guy came in a Sephora birthday thing a year or so ago, but I really only got around to testing it more recently. (Need to go shopping through my stash more rather than going back to the store...)

 

Bounced flash. Left: blended. Right: heavy swatch (5 swipes)

It's advertised as a luminous champagne highlighter with a cream-to-powder formula. I use it in a "C" shape from my cheekbones up to just above the arch of my eyebrows. I like this better than using it on the browbone under brow (the usual place where one might recommend you put it) because I find the "glow"-texture highlights my hooded lids and aging eye area. 

I found this product very easy to blend with my fingers, and it gave a very nice subtle glow without looking too shiny or too shimmery. As you can see from the swatch above, it took 5 swipes to get that intensity, which means it's not super heavily pigmented, which is exactly what you want in a subtle highlight product. Easy to use, would be quite difficult to over-apply, you'd really have to try! (Am I rhyming here...it's late...) Blending is always key though!

Overall, great product that's easy to use in stick form for even the most novice makeup consumers. The effect is subtle and beautiful, however is not unique by any means. I can achieve this look with numerous other products. The stick is much more convenient for travel purposes, and I will definitely be using it that way. At home, where I prefer to play with my brushes (just cuz I can...), I will stick with my powder highlighters. 

Have you tried this? Love it, hate it, or just meh? Let me know in the comments!

Review: Face Atelier Ultra Sheer in Peach

Face Atelier is a popular pro brand that is especially well known for their foundation (and it gets extra love from me for being Canadian!).  I decided to order a sample of their illuminator-type product called Ultra Sheer in the shade Peach with my recent haul (more reviews coming in later posts!).  Click the jump for swatches and thoughts!

Valentine's Day Treat/mini-haul: YvesSaintLaurent Touche Eclat Radiant Touch and Dessin Des Sourcils Eyebrow Pencil

I decided to treat myself to some cosmetics for this Valentine's day, and so picked up a couple of things from YSL. Read on for my thoughts :)