MAC Wash & Dry – Brush 125SE

Just want to do a quick post on this brush. This is my first brush in this shape for contour (Yes my friends, I have not bough a similar one before) and it is also my first MAC brush. It is a split fibre brush with one side having natural bristles and the other with synthetic bristles.

The synthetic side is good for buffing cream products while the natural side is good for powder products. I have heard a couple of bad things about MAC brushes – poor quality etc, but this is definitely not one of those with such problems. Both sides are equally soft and the size is just perfect for the hollows of my cheeks.

I leave you with close up pictures and a quick advice – GRAB IT WHEN YOU CAN. This retails in SG for S$68 and I heard some places received very few pieces and have sold out since. I got mine at Tangs Orchard and you could not believe my sigh of relief when the BA said “Yes, we have stock!”.

MAC x Toledo – Blush Ombre in Ripe Peach

Well, let me start out by saying that I have no idea who or what Toledo is. It is only after some searching on the internet that I understand it is a collaboration with Isabel and Ruben Toledo. Look how exciting the art is on the cover! I love that it breaks convention about packaging and brings attention to artists/designers around the world.

   

The only item I picked from this collection is the Ombre Blush in Ripe Peach. I swatched the other colours – Kindergarten Red and Azalea Blossom but was not too keen on them. How pretty is this blush? I came across an ombre blush from Lavshuca but did not get it as the colours were too light for me. I have heard people commenting that the texture is rather hard and it is difficult to pick up colour. I agree with that but I felt that it was because the powder was packed quite tightly in the pan. If you are looking for something that is immensely pigmented on first swatch, this is not it, but it builds up beautifully.

My swatches are done with heavy swipes – on the left is a mixture of all the colours and on the right, I did a feeble attempt at create some semblance of the ombre effect. It is a very unique blush to me as I do not have anything similar at all and I am a sucker for peach blushes! It is sold out most places in Singapore but the MAC counter at Tangs Vivo looked like it still had some stock.. if you are searching for it, you may want to call up and check.

MAC x Brooke Shields

I didn’t use to be a fan of MAC makeup until recently. They have been coming up with collection after collection that really captured my attention and gave me the desire to get something. Here I have with me, the palette in Mortal from MAC x Brooke Shields collection. This palette is in the Veluxe Pearlfusion formula and gives lovely shimmery shadows. I am not sure if it is still available at MAC though, but I am posting this review just to let you all see how the palette swatches. Would say this is not a must-have but just good to have. It retails for SGD75 if I am not mistaken.

The palette encompasses 5 colours with long pans of varying sizes. The middle pan is the largest amongst the 5 colours. Housed in a grey matte plastic casing, some may not like the plastic feel as it may come across as ‘cheap’ but I like that it makes the palette lighter and easier to carry around.

  

What I didn’t quite fancy about this palette is that the first and last pan of the palette is very small. You could get most eyeshadow brushes in but when I just want to have a quick wash of colour, the fluffier eyeshadow brushes do not fit in so nicely. Square pans please?

The first 3 colours of the palette are very soft shimmery colours. At the top pan, a light shimmery beige that is good for inner corners or highlighting. . The second pan gives you a skin tone colour that I like to use as a base for the other colours. The middle pan is a warm pink which has a very slight tendency to lean towards red when applied on the eyes. However, it does not give you the feared pink eye as the colour is very wearable. The fourth pan is a shimmery copper that leans towards being metallic. It is nice but nothing too outstanding about it. The last and darkest colour in the palette is a purple-taupe kind of shade. It is perfect for the fall-winter time as it allows you to create a slightly smoky look.

Overall, I do like this palette as the colours are very wearable. I’ve toned down on the MAC purchases and their Holiday sets didn’t really catch my attention. Did you pick anything up from the MAC x Brooke Shields Collection?

 

MAC Look In A Box Collection

This has generated quite a fair bit of interest so I am posting it here for international readers as well. This is freshly available in Singapore. It popped up in stores yesterday and there are still quite a number of sets around.

It has 3 types: Coral, Pink and Nude. Consists of a eyeshadow trio, lip stick, gloss and technakohl. Out of the 3, I liked the Coral set the best. The eyeshadows are the most pigmented and smooth. The lightest shade is very glittery though. The Pink set has very wearable eyeshadow shade and it slightly plum/purple-tones but I believe yellow toned ladies should be able to pull it off as well. I have Nars Schiap and Nars Priscilla gloss already so will give this a miss. The Nude set is a miss for me. The eyeshadows swatches the most dry and the lipstick is too light for my liking.

Shades (information from Chic Profile here)

MAC All About Pink Look in a Box:

– Lipstick : Embrace Me – bright fuchsia cream (Matte) (Repromote)

– Lipglass: Unlimited Style – bright warm pink (Frost) (New & Limited Edition)

– Technakohl : Photogavure – soft black with brown undertone (Repromote)

– Veluxe Pearlfusion: Fabulous Three (New & Limited Edition)

MAC All About Coral Look in a Box:

– Lipstick : Passion Charge – coral (Lustre) (New & Limited Edition)

– Lipglass: Stoke the Flame – soft rosey coral with pearlized pigments (Frost) (New & Limited Edition)

– Technakohl : Brownborder – deep chocolate brown (Repromote)

– Veluxe Pearlfusion: Collective Chic (New & Limited Edition)

MAC All About Nude Look in a Box:

– Lipstick : Soft Savour – mid-tone beigey pink (Lustre) (New & Limited Edition)

– Lipglass: Feeling Fine – soft beigey pink with pearlized pigments (Frost) (New & Limited Edition)

– Technakohl: Graphblack – rich graphic black (Repromote)

– Veluxe Pearlfusion: Cool Campions (New & Limited Edition)

 

The most important part: SWATCHES!

 

There are brush sets and 2 other sets released as well but these 3 sets really captured my attention the most. What you waiting for? Quickly get yourself down to the counters!

PS: Thanks to a very keen eyed reader – the swatches and boxes pictures are flipped! The pictures on the left side for the boxes are Nude, Pink and Coral respectively. The swatches are labelled correctly though. Did it in a rush on my iphone, please pardon the confusion! Do drop me a comment if I am still confusing you >.< 

MAC x Pedro Lourenco and Alluring Aquatic Haul

Even though I have given away my naked 3 palette to a lovely young lady who will cherish it much better than me, my heart aches for something nude to fill the gap. I jumped at the opportunity when Tangs Orchard did an early release of the Mac x Pedro Lourenco collection. The nude eyeshadow palette is to die for! The packaging is matte rubber, similar to that of Nars and mirrors Pedro Lourenco’s minimalistic style. Simple and functional.

From Cafe Makeup , I learnt that the shimmer shades are permanent while the matte shades are limited edition. The shade names are: Pink Sands, All that Glitters, Sable and Rose Cloud (lightest colour first, clockwise direction)

Swatches! Sable, All that Glitters, Rose Cloud and Pink Sands. The swatch at the right most corner is Lorelei which I will be showing you later. The palette is a great combination of nudes with hints of rose gold. If you have been afraid of pink eyes or looking swollen, this is the palette you should be getting! Pink cloud does give me a little pink eye situation but the brown tones in the other shades balances it off. Definitely foolproof and good for someone looking for a basic palette that you can take from office to night. The texture is soft and easily blendable, making it really easy to use.

At the same time, I also purchased the Extra Dimension eyeshadow single in Lorelei. Oh my, can you just gush at the packaging? Metallic teal packaging with faux water droplets! Altogether now, say WOW! I am really hardly swayed by MAC and it has been astounding how I caved into so many items at once!

 

Let me digress a little. I purchased Lorelei mainly for its name. I was in Germany, St Goar about 5 years ago. Strolling down the beautiful Rhine river with an ice cream in hand and then bf (now ex) in tow. One of the land tours brought us to the rocky area that was named Lorelei. It was folklore that a pretty maiden named Lore Lay was betrayed by her sweet heart and climbed up this dangerous rock where she fell to her death. It is said that she still bewitches the sailors to go closer to this dangerous rocky area where they met their death as well.

Folklore aside, it is a very gorgeous area where I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I still recall the white wine tasting sessions in cold cellar! Had my first taste of ice wine there, definitely nothing like what you get in Singapore supermarkets. (drinking ice wine before it was hip yo!). I would love to share the wonderful pictures but my hard disk crashed and I had no way of getting the photos back again. There was DVD as well but I cannot remember where it is or perhaps it is one of those that is already corrupted due to time. Ah.. memories, only residing deep in my thoughts.

Ok ok, let’s go back to makeup!

This is Lorelei and All the Glitters swatched side by side. Can’t tell the difference? It’s okay, neither can I! The one on the left is Lorelei, it is a little more brown in real life and the finish is a tad more metallic.I know Lorelei is very popular, so if you are not able to get your hands on it, All that Glitters is a very good dupe! What do I do with 2 similar shade? I don’t really know.. just enjoy them!

I picked up the blush in Sea Me Hear Me as well. It is a natural berry-red toned blush that is perfect for a soft flush.

 

Heavy swatch and blended out.

I would advise you to be a little light handed and build up as you go. It is a very lovely blush but it can result in you looking a bit bruised and muddy if not careful. I hunted a few places before I managed to get my hands on this blush. Regret? Perhaps. I love the colour but the extra time needed to blend it and ensure it is not muddy is a little irksome in the morning. Perhaps I’ll try a different brush and see how things go with it. I want to love it alot more, I really do but I am finding it difficult.

Anyway, I appreciate your attention to the end of post! Apologies for my absence, have been really sick with food poisoning and severe infection. I have almost fully recovered and am very thankful to stop throwing up all my food. You have no idea how torturing it is to be hungry, wanting to eat but yet knowing eating will result in you throwing up the very next minute. Hydrate plenty my lovelies!

 

 

MAC Mineralize skinfinish in Lightscapade

Chanced upon quite a few rave reviews about this highlighter somewhere towards the end of last year and got my hands on it when it was re-released. I remember that Tangs was having its 12% rebates for members on the day of release and I rushed down after work in the rain to Tangs at Vivocity.

The whole process probably went somewhat like this:
(at Tangs Vivocity MAC)
Me(seeing the display for lightscapade): do you still have stock for this one? (points excitedly)
SA: ehhh.. Wait ah… (rummages around the drawers)
.
.
.
SA: here you go, it’s the last two!
Me: i’ll take one!! (smiles triumphantly)

It’s a lovely beige-white highlighter when pink/blue veinings which sadly isn’t very obvious on me. It gives a nice glow to my (rather flat) cheekbones. Applied with a heavy hand, it does slightly emphasize pores. On days when I have the extra time to spare, I give the area below my eyes and the top of my cheekbones a nice dusting of this.

I almost feel like I’m glowing inside 🙂