MAC Cosmetics: Guide For The Newly Addicted, Part 7
- Skin Care | MAC is not particularly known for their skin care, but they have been expanding it in the past few years to try and gain better market share in the skin care industry. Popular favorites have been the makeup removing wipes (raved for their scent), and Cremewash caused quite a bit of a stir when it originally debuted as a creamy, lathering cleanser. Cleanse Off Oil is known to get off even the most stubborn liquid liners. Moisturelush cream (face and eye) was recently released in late 2007, and it has been well received thus far as an extra hydrating moisturizer choice. There is a cult following for Fast Response Eye Cream (FREC) for its ability to de-puff and minimize lines around the eyes. Strobe Cream offers an easy way to give a glowy, dewy finish. If you enjoy water spritzes, MAC offers their Charged Water line, which infuses water with certain characteristics. Fix+ is known as a good way to finish makeup, and it seems to have quite a bit of a following amongst MAC users.
- Nails | MAC does offer solutions for nail fanatics, including lacquer (color coat), overlacquer (top coat), and underlacquer (base coat). There is a very small range of permanent colors to the nail lacquer line (it is rumored that they are revamping the formula), but some colors to look into would be Rocker, Spicemix, and Nocturnelle.
- Fragrance | There are five fragrances offered by MAC, from MV 1 (light feminine scent), MV2, MV3 to Hue: Turquatic and Hue: Pinkaura. There seems to be a split of those who enjoy the fragrances, and others who dislike them immensely.
- Accessories | Each year, MAC revamps, repromotes, or relaunches their line of bags, including MAC logo jacquard weave bags or classic black bags. They also have softsac bags which are really light and great for travel. In late 2007, MAC relaunched and added to their accessory line to include a range of travel containers emblazoned with the MAC logo, as well as sponges and puffs.
MAC Cosmetics: Guide For The Newly Addicted, Part 6
Brushes
- Face | These are the brushes I could not live without: 129 (for blush and powder), 168/169 (to contour), 182 (for buffing), and 187 (for stippling). Brushes that are good, but you could get away with not having are: 150 (good for powders), 188 (smaller stippling, more precision), 183 (flat buffer), and 194 (concealing).
- Eyes | These are the brushes I could not live without: 210 (for precision lining), 219 (for lining with shadow, precise crease definition), 239 (shadow application), 249 (cream product application), and 266 (for upper lash line lining and brows). Brushes that are incredibly popular: 217 (blending), 222 (blending), and 224 (blending).
- Lips | I like the 318 because it is a retractable version of the 316, which makes it convenient for on the go. The 311 is nice, but I find I can line well with cremestick liner already.
- Sets | Once or twice a year, MAC puts out brush sets with four to five brushes in them. Each set comes with a brush bag and then four or five miniaturized brushes. Typically, they have a basic set, which includes both face and eye brushes; an eye brush set; and a face set. I always encourage newcomers to check these out as a great way to get quality brushes for less. They also make excellent travel options.
- SH vs. SE | SH stands for “Short Handled,” which means the brush is specially made for a certain launch or collection. It may be pink handled or ornately decorated, but the brushhead is of the same quailty as the typical version. SE stands for “Special Edition,” which tend to be short handled brushes included in brush sets. These are man-made, mass-produced, and do tend to have less quality than a full-sized version. However, they are packaged in sets, which are much less expensive than individual, full-size brushes making them a good deal. To be sure, I personally find that the difference in quailty is not really that big. I mostly can feel it in a fluffy brush like the 129, which does feel a bit rougher compared to the full-size version.
I wanted to try a look using Bobbi Brown’s Nude Lip & Eye Palette! Review to come!
I used MAC Soft Ochre paint pot all over lid to brow, Naked eyeshadow on inner lid, Nude shimmer Wash eyeshadow on middle of lid, Buff Shimmer Wash eyeshadow on outer lid and crease, Bare eyeshadow above crease, Naked eyeshadow on brow, and MAC Graphblack technakhol on lower lash line. I wore MAC Margin blush on cheeks. I had Cocoa lip color on my lips with Naked glitter lip gloss on my lips.
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MAC Cosmetics: Guide For The Newly Addicted, Part 5
If I’m new, what are some good basics that I should get into first?
It is important to note that everybody is a little different, and their preferences for the type of makeup or kinds of products are not the same across the board. You should use this only as a guideline, but not as something that is universal to every person.
Face
- Foundation | MAC has several varieties in foundation, and it is a good idea to go to your local MAC store to get color-matched and determine the appropriate foundation for you. Certain formulas are better for those who want full coverage, while others are preferential for light coverage. Lightweight formulas include Studio Mist, Select Tint, Select CoverUp, and Studio Stick. Medium coverage includes: Face & Body, Mineralize Satinfinish, Studio Fix Fluid, and Studio Fix (Powder). Heavier coverage includes: Studio Tech and Full Coverage.
- Powders | MAC offers a good range of different types of powder, including pressed and loose. Blot powder (pressed or loose) is designed to help reduce oil build-up for those with oilier skin. The line also offers several bronzing powder options and iridescent pressed powders/highlighters. Beauty powders, which are loose powder highlighters, are also fun to play around with.
- Concealer | While MAC offers several options for concealers, many rave about Select Cover-Up and Studio Stick Concealer. Studio Lights are great for specific kinds of concealing, like brightening dark circles.
Cheeks
- Powder Blushes | Pressed powder blushes are easy to use, and there is a large variety in colors to choose from. There are bold colors like Frankly Scarlet (deep red) to dark pinks like Dollymix to warm peach like Springsheen. Some blush colors that are often highly reviewed: Ambering Rose, Blushbaby, Breezy, Dame, Dollymix, Honour, Margin, Peachykeen, Springsheen, Sunbasque, and Well Dressed.
- Blushcremes | These are cream blushes, which means they give a bit of a shiny and dewy finish to cheeks once applied. These are ideally applied using a stippling brush like the 188. Some favorites are Blossoming, Brit Wit, Lilicent, and Sweet William.
- Cream Colour Bases | Similar to cream blushes, these are a creamy formula (though not as creamy as blushcremes) that are used as a multipurpose product, but they can be used to highlight and blush cheeks. Virgin Isle is gorgeous on apples of cheeks as well as lips. Pearl and Shell make amazing highlighters on cheekbones as well as on the inner tearducts.
MAC Cosmetics: Guide For The Newly Addicted, Part 4
If I’m new, what are some good basics that I should get into first?
It is important to note that everybody is a little different, and their preferences for the type of makeup or kinds of products are not the same across the board. You should use this only as a guideline, but not as something that is universal to every person.
Lips
- Lip Conditioner | Both the regular lip conditioner and the tinted lip conditioner are great for keeping lips soft, and the tinted ones give a nice touch of color for everyday wear or quick lips.
- Lipstick | There are so many shades and textures, it would be impossible to recommend a set that would work for everyone. I want to give you something to work off of, though, and like eyeshadows, here are some color families and what people tend to rave about.
- Browns >> O, Shag, Touch
- Corals >> CB96, Jest, Vegas Volt
- Fuchsias >> Girl About Town, Full Fuchsia, Impassioned
- Nude Pinks >> Hue, Hug Me, Plink!
- Nudes >> Cherish, Myth, Velvet Teddy
- Peaches >> Honeyflower, Mocha, Ramblin’ Rose
- Pinks >> Angel, Snob, Sweetie
- Purples >> Dark Side, Odyssey, Rebel
- Raspberries >> New York Apple
- Reds >> Lady Bug, Russian Red, Ruby Woo
- Vamps >> Desire, Media, Underworld
- Slimshines | These are a more moisturizing, creamier, and sheerer version of the lipstick. Some favorite shades are Bare, Funshine, and Long Stem Rose.
- Lipgelees | Glossy, sheer color that’s more moisturizing than lipglass. Some favorites are: Dewy Jube, Lu-Be-Lu, Lust Is Lush, and Slicked Pink.
- Lipglass | This is a glossy, tacky formula with sheer colors as well as opaque ones. Those who dislike sticky glosses should stay clear of the lipglass formula! Some good colors to think about are: C-Thru, Cultured, Lychee Luxe, Nymphette, Pink Poodle, and Prrr.
- Lustreglass | This is a less sticky version of lipglass, which also tends to run sheerer in color. Some favorites are: Flashmode, Little Vi, Luminary, and Pinkarat.
- Plushglass | This gloss formula is high-shine without any tackiness. The colors tend to be sheerer, and the formula is intended to plump up lips. Popular color choices are: Big Kiss, Full For You, Nice Buzz, and Pretty Plush.
- Lip Liners | There are several types of lip liners to choose from, including the traditional lip pencil and the cremestick range. I prefer the cremestick range as it is non-drying and goes on easily. Some favorites from the cremestick family are: Beurre, Cranapple, Cream O’Spice, Pink Treat, Red Enriched, and Summerfruit.
Flash ‘N Dash lipstick
Debating about what lip products to get from Fafi? Here are a few swatches for you!
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