MAC Hey, Sailor @ Nordstrom
Monday, May 21st, 2012
MAC Hey, Sailor @ Nordstrom
Nordstrom now has Hey, Sailor available for purchase–I know a lot of people were bummed about missing Red Racer and Sail la Vie, so here’s an early opportunity to snag it 
Video: MAC Hey, Sailor First Impressions and Swatches
Saturday, May 19th, 2012
Video: MAC Hey, Sailor First Impressions and Swatches
Some preliminary thoughts/impressions on MAC’s latest collection, Hey, Sailor! along with swatches. Video lighting continues to be the bane of my online existence! Just know that we’re working on it!
MAC Hey, Sailor! Review Round-up
Saturday, May 19th, 2012
MAC Hey, Sailor! Review Round-up
MAC Hey, Sailor! is a 40-piece collection for summer, which is available online now (and will be out next week at retailers like Dillard’s, Macy’s, Nordstrom, etc.) and is supposed to launch on-counter on May 24th.
Reviews, Photos, Swatches
- Eyes: Eyeshadows, Pigments, Powerpoint Eye Pencils
- Cheeks: Crew, Fleet Fast, Launch Away!, Pro Longwear Bronzing Powders, Refined Golden, Soft Sand
- Lips: Lipglasses, Lipsticks, Pro Longwear Lip Pencils, Suntints
- Nails: Touch of Red, Vestral White
- Body: Body Oils
- Tools: 167SH Brush, Makeup Bags and Tote Bag
MAC Refined Golden Bronzing Powder Review, Photos, Swatches
Friday, May 18th, 2012
MAC Refined Golden Bronzing Powder
MAC Hey, Sailor: Refined Golden Bronzing Powder
MAC Refined Golden Bronzing Powder ($24.00 for 0.35 oz.) is described as a “finely spun golden with soft pearl finish.” It’s a medium-dark tan brown with warm undertones–a little red, a little yellow–and gold sparkle. This is the darkest/deepest bronzer of the launch, so for more than just a warm tint on deeper complexions, this would be your best bet (though you might consider other shades within the permanent range). This is like a darker version of MAC Soft Sand. Urban Decay Toasted is more red-toned.
The texture is soft, but a little dry, but it applies smoothly and evenly on the skin. I didn’t have any trouble blending it out (not like Soft Sand), and it’s very buildable, so you can go for softer, lighter coverage or intensify it, depending on your preferences and needs. I didn’t test this specific version of Refined Golden, but I tested one I already had (as it gets repromoted often) a couple of weeks ago in anticipation of the launch, and it wore for about seven hours.
The Glossover
B
This shade is the most suitable for deeper complexions from the four available in this collection. It can still be used on lighter skin tones, because it is a buildable and blendable product.
See more photos & swatches! Continue reading →
MAC Hey, Sailor Pro Longwear Bronzing Powders Review, Photos, Swatches
Friday, May 18th, 2012
MAC Nude on Board Pro Longwear Bronzing Powder
MAC Hey, Sailor: Pro Longwear Bronzing Powders
MAC Hey, Sailor! Pro Longwear Bronzing Powder ($28.00 for 0.42 oz.) is a new (but limited edition) formula that features two shades: Nude on Board (bronzy, yellow tone) and Sun Dipped (dirty red tone). This new formula promises to yield “sheer-low transparent coverage” with “long wear” and a “natural finish.”
- Nude on Board is a soft light-medium golden tan with subtle gold shimmer-sheen. On my skin tone (about NC30 at the moment), it adds subtle warmth and golden glow. This would be the shade most suitable for light to medium complexions. MAC Soft Sand is darker, redder. MAC GIve Me Sun! is a little more orange.
- Sun Dipped is a light-medium brownish tan with a subtle beige-gold sheen. This shade is a little more buildable than Nude on Board, but it’s still more appropriate for light to medium-dark than medium to dark. I think it could still add a subtle warmth to all complexions, though. MAC Soft Sand is redder. MAC Golden is a little lighter. Chanel Sable Beige is a little yellower, more golden.
Side-by-side, Nude on Board seems lighter and warmer compared to Sun Dipped, which looks a bit dirty, brown, and gray. When swatched, however, the differences get minimized. Nude on Board is distinctly golden, yellow-toned in comparison, but Sun Dipped isn’t really darker, just a little less warm and it has more of a sheen than a shimmer. As I’m writing this review, I’m looking at them side-by-side on my forearm, and in my office lighting, it’s hard to tell them apart. The same is true when they’re applied to the cheeks! Moral of the story: you don’t really need both. I anticipate that cooler complexions may see more of a difference.
The texture of the Pro Longwear Bronzing Powders is very, very soft and smooth–these powders are incredibly finely-milled and feel like silk against the skin. They apply even better; they apply softly, evenly, and blend out effortlessly. It’s almost a creamy feel, because of how silky the powder is. When I tested out the wear, Nude on Board lasted for eight hours without fading or migrating. After ten hours, it was a little faded and patchy.
Where to Buy: MAC, $28.00
The Glossover
A
Both of these are some of the best products from the collection. It's a shame that the formula is limited edition--what's the point?--but you get so much in each compact, it should last you until MAC repromotes it next summer (assuming they do).
See more photos & swatches! Continue reading →
MAC Hey, Sailor Pro Longwear Lip Pencils Review, Photos, Swatches
Friday, May 18th, 2012
MAC Saunter Pro Longwear Lip Pencil
MAC Hey, Sailor: Pro Longwear Lip Pencils
MAC Hey, Sailor! Pro Longwear Lip Pencils ($19.00 for 0.04 oz.) include three shades: Saunter (pale nude beige), Shore Leave (light vibrant coral), and Throw Me a Line (bright true red).
- Saunter is pale peach nude with a matte finish. It goes on with a good amount of payoff. It’s lighter than MAC Peachstock. MAC Naked is a bit darker and not as warm.
- Shore Leave is a pink-coral with a matte finish. This was the most difficult one to apply–it just did not want to apply at all, and least of all, apply evenly! It just pulled and tugged on my lips. It is lighter and warmer compared to MAC In Anticipation. It’s a smidgen darker than MAC In Synch.
- Throw Me a Line is a red-orange with a matte finish. This applied the best–it didn’t pull or tug nearly as much as the other two did, so it ended up applying much more evenly as a result. MAC What a Blast is much more orange.
One of the “problems” with lip liner is that they rarely photograph well–they tend to cling onto lips like shrink-wrap, which makes lips look dry, rough, and all-around unattractive. I like, but I don’t love, MAC’s Pro Longwear formula. They’re best underneath a lipstick or gloss, because on their own, they’re clingy, drying, and it can be a task to get an even layer of color. I would not recommend pressing lips together in an effort to even them out, because the texture is lightly tacky for a bit, so the color ends looking worse when that is done. All that said, the swatches you’re seeing here are the second attempt at swatching these on the lips.
I only tested Throw Me a Line, because the other two were just too dry to endure. I wore it for eight hours, and it was mostly intact at that point, which did include some sipping of coffee. It clings to lips, so it doesn’t transfer as much onto things like your cup, but my lips were looking beat up after wearing it for eight hours. When these first released, MAC said they last up to 15 hours, though the website didn’t call out a specific wear time. They consistently wear long, easily eight hours, sometimes up to ten, but they do look faded and dried out at that point. I don’t think my lips could physically handle this product for that long!
Where to Buy: MAC, $19.00 each
The Glossover
B-
Even though I know that coral lip liners can be difficult to find, Shore Leave's texture left a lot to be desired. Throw Me a Line is your best bet, because it balances texture with long-wearing prowess.
