The Lush Life

Now it's quite well known that I am a fan of MAC lipsticks considering my ever-growing collection. It's strange that I've never really looked into the Mineralize Rich Lipsticks, possibly due to the range of colours? But I asked my mum to pick me up one from the states, landing on Lush Life for my dip into the Mineralize Rich Lipsticks. 

The shape of the tube flares out at the base and the top too, it has a metallic closing rather than a click like the regular lipsticks. You also get 4.04g in comparison to the 3g of the regular. The bullet itself is also differently shaped, it's not quite so rounded at the tip and a bit more angular; I personally prefer the regular shape because I've gotten so used to it and I think the shape helps application but the new one is a bit tricky. The scent is the same usual vanilla scent.

left to right, without flash: heavy swatch, blended swatch

With Flash

I'm not sure whether this was limited to the one Mineralize lipstick I got, but dang, dare I say that this is the perfect formula? It's so creamy, but doesn't bleed, it's super pigmented but not too heavy or sticky either, and it's definitely not drying. Just perfect. The shade I got, Lush Life, is an amazing cool toned plummy-red colour, which would be good for the Christmas season. It gives a bit of a stain on the lips too, but I'm guessing it has something to do with how deep this shade is, rather than a characteristic of the Mineralize Rich lipsticks, but I haven't tried any of shades from this range. The only complaint I have is the shape of the bullet, but if you're careful, then it shouldn't be too hard to apply cleanly, a lipbrush would definitely help. 

I think this lipstick formulation could be holy grail for me. So perfect, pigmented, creamy and light on the lips. The bullet could be better formed, I mean, even the packaging itself could probably be better, considering the odd shape (it doesn't quite fit in my lipstick holder either). But it is quite worth the price, considering the amount of product you get as well as the quality. 

This product can be purchased from the MAC Australia website for AU$46, and in the US for US$22.

Back to Basics

Ah, I think I finally get the hype of Urban Decay products. Probably not the full extent, but I'm definitely beginning to form an affinity, the Naked Basics palette is fast becoming my favourite eyeshadow palette. Ever since my mum brought it back from her trips to the Americas, I've been using it every single day. I mean, I knew I liked using neutrals, but jeez, this brings it to a whole new level.

I love the packaging, always a fan of that rubberised casing that's reminiscent of NARS packaging and MAC, on occasion. The size of the palette is also really nifty for travelling, and the mirror is actually quite good; the hinge helps it to stay put too, so it's a palette with an actually useful mirror. The only thing that annoyed me was, for some silly reason, I had trouble opening this palette, as you can see, my nail punctured the lovely Venus shade. But I suppose that's an example of how soft and buttery these shadows are. Either way, I've managed to master the clasp, it is easier without thinking about ruining my fake nails.

left to right, without flash: venus, foxy, walk of shame, naked 2, faint, crave

With Flash

Sunlight

These shades seem pretty light, one might think that they're more for lighter skintones. But even for my medium/medium-light skin (NC25-30). Five matte shades and one shimmery highlight shade; I love ALL of these. My favourite combinations include walk of shame as an allover wash, and then naked 2 as more colour on the lid; or naked 2 as an allover, contouring with faint and then any of the lighter shadows as a brow highlight. Crave makes a fantastic liner too, it looks great on the lower lash line too, it's not too black, but more of a brown-black so it doesn't look too harsh. The two lighter matte shades foxy and walk of shame work well as neutralizing shades on the lid, with foxy being yellow toned and walk of shame more pink. The payoff for foxy is not as good as the other shades in the palette, though, and crave wouldn't work as well as a base shadow I don't think. But definitely naked 2 is my favourite shade out of the palette, looks fantastic on the eyes to add a bit of depth, it's a nice light taupe-y colour, perfect for the "nude" look.

Really, this was the best palette that I could have received, considering how much I've been using it now, I can easily see myself using this a lot more in the future, especially taking this with me when travelling time comes around. Feels very sleek and luxurious, so I'm quite lucky to have gotten my hands on this baby.

This was purchased for me (by my mother) from Sephora for US$27, available here.

MAC Prep + Prime Beauty Balm Compact SPF30 Review

Ah the craze of BB creams. To be honest, I was quite excited when the Korean (well, originally German) BB cream trend started making it's way to our shores of the west. The unfortunate thing, is that while there are a number of western BB creams available, most are more like tinted moisturisers, usually with a little extra something (really, a very little extra something), so they fail to hit the mark of what a "real" BB cream is meant to be like. MAC released their own BB cream under their Prep + Prime line, and I decided I might as well check it out, considering the combination of both BB creams (which I very much used to have a fondness for) and of course, the ever-lovable MAC, well, how could I not?

I went for the compact over the tube form, as I have professed my love for compact foundations previously, and, having had a BB cream in a compact form before, I did like the way that it sat on my skin more than the tube formulations. It doesn't have too much of a scent at all, and, while I appreciate the sponge being included, it's pretty much just an average sponge, with no barrier between the mirror and the sponge, and thus results in a smudgey mirror. The outside of the compact is quite cute, however. It's reflective of green and purple on the black base which looks like galaxy designs, which I thought was pretty nifty. According to the back of the secondary packaging, one would assume that the "BB" factor in this is mainly just the addition of sun protection, so perhaps less of a BB and more of a tinted sunscreen. 

left to right, without flash: heavy swatch, blended swatch

With Flash

Sunlight

It applies quite creamily on the skin, but it really isn't heavy and all and blends absolutely marvelously. On the downside, it is quite sheer, I would say it gives a light coverage, and, like most cream formulas, it isn't too buildable. I would probably layer this over a tinted moisturizer or maybe a light liquid foundation to help add a bit more to it, and, of course, for the benefit of the sun protection too. It doesn't last too long on the skin, even after I've powdered it, maybe about half a day before it completely disappears, so the lasting power is not too great at all. On the upside, the fact that it is a compact with included mirror and sponge will help with touchups during the day.

Frazzle me before

After

I got this in the shade "light plus" which is the more yellow-toned version of light. This does come off a tad bit too pale for my skin, but it does really blend very well. I think the medium shade would be too dark for me, however, perhaps bordering a tad bit orange, so if MAC came out with a "light medium" shade, as what I usually am when it comes to the named rather than numbered shades, then that would probably work well for me. 

I feel like this would be a good product for summer as it is so light, and has the SPF 30 in it, but it would have to be for those who don't mind touching up through the day. It's also good that it's breathable, though, and I don't really see this product caking up much just because it really does blend easily. Not the best product I've tried from MAC, unfortunately. It's nothing bad or anything, just not one of my favourites, considering how much stuff I love from MAC. But it'll be nice to use this up and send it in for a Back-to-MAC!

Wantable October Makeup box Tutorial

As promised, here is a tutorial using the products I got in the October makeup box by Wantable! The focus of this look is smokey green and brown eyes and quite a deep lip (but not too overpowering to overwhelm the face). I actually wore this look for Halloween (which was yesterday down here in Aus), and felt sassy as all hell, so this is definitely more of a nighttime look.

The look

Okay, so starting first with eyes, I used the Lise Watier Ombre Souffle Supreme in Tartan Magique all over the eyes as a base. Then contoured with Faint from the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette using the eye defining brush by e.l.f. With a MAC 219 brush, I then took Crave, again from the Naked palette, and smudged it into my lashline and winged it out very slightly. To finish off the shadows of the eyes, I took Venus from the same palette and, with a fluffy angled brush (I got mine from an art store, not sure of the name) and used it as a highlight and to help blend out any harsh lines from Faint. With the included sponge tip applicator, I then patted on Tartan Magique into the centre of my lids to add a bit of a pop of colour again. Add mascara and the eyes are finished!

Products used for eyes: Naked Basics, Ombre Souffle Supreme, MAC 219, Large fluffy angled brush, e.l.f. eye defining brush

Add Tartan Magique all over the eyes as a base

Faint from the Naked Basics palette with e.l.f. eye defining brush

Contour the outer V and the inner corner

Crave from Naked Basics palette with MAC 219

Smudge into both the upper and lower lashline

Tartan Magique with the sponge tip applicator

Pat onto the centre of the lids for a pop

Venus from Naked Basics Palette with a larger fluffy angled brush

Blend out harshlines and use as a highlight

Add mascara and done!

The cheeks are really simple, a bright coral pink blush compliments smokey eyes quite nicely. I used the Real Techniques Contour brush and applied Be a bombshell blush in blind date quite high up on the cheekbones in a flatter c-shape to compliment the shape of the eyeshadows.

Products used for cheeks: be a bombshell blush in blind date, real techniques contour brush

apply the blush high up on the cheekbones in a soft c shape

For the lips, just add a deep plummy stain for a dark look. Nothing too reflective, as it would overwhelm the face. I used the Cailyn Cosmetics Red Stain from the Wantable October makeup box.

cailyn cosmetics red stain

The finished look!

So, a pretty simple but effective look. I don't usually wear too many eyeshadows at once due to my eyeshape, but this way of applying can compliment pretty much all eye shapes.

Full product list:

Face: Stila One-Step Correct, theBalm tinted moisturizer, Bourjois healthy balance powder

Eyebrows: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Pen, Anastasia Beverly Hills Tinted Brow Gel in Granite

Eyes: Lise Watier Ombre Souffle Supreme in Tartan Magique (Wantable), Urban Decay Naked Basics palette, Clinique High Impact mascara

Cheeks: be a... bombshell blush in Blind Date

Lips: Cailyn Cosmetics red tint

For my full review on the Wantable October makeup box, which was sent to me complimentary for review purposes, see here.