
MAC To the Beach Look: Humid, Shimmermoss, and “Sweet & Punchy”
If you’ve been collecting MAC for years, you and I both know that we own near-dupes of coming attractions, no matter how pretty the newest, shiniest thing may look. Since MAC To the Beach is out in the UK already, I thought I’d try a look using some of the products from the faux peek earlier this week. I used True Chartreuse as a base with Lucky Green eyeshadow layered over it to fake “Sweet & Punchy,” so if you have your To the Beach goodies, try using that on the lid instead
You will need the following…
- Eyes: MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot (neutral beige base), MAC True Chartreuse Pigment (matte chartreuse), MAC Water-Based Mixing Medium (glue-based adhesive), MAC Lucky Green Eyeshadow (yellowed, shimmery green), MAC Humid Eyeshadow (dark green), MAC Shimmermoss Eyeshadow (teal), MAC Nylon Eyeshadow (champagne gold highlighter), Make Up For Ever #7L Aqua Eyes Liner (electric blue), MAC Gorgeous Gold Eyeshadow (green-toned gold), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
- Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140), Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder (translucent)
- Cheeks: MAC Sun Rush Lustre Drops (peach-gold liquid highlighter), MAC Hipness Blush (coral pink)
- Lips: MAC Thrills Lipstick (copper rose), MAC Sugar Overload Superglass (nude with flaky glitter)
- Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
- Substitutes: Sun Rush = Strobe Cream (not a dupe, but similar); Hipness = Benefit Coralista; Thrills = Lane + Fetish; Sugar Overload = Bare Necessity
For eyes, start by applying Soft Ochre paint pot as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. With the 239 and water-based mixing medium (or water), apply True Chartreuse pigment all over the lid area. Using the 239, apply Lucky Greeneyeshadow on the lower lid. Next, apply Humid eyeshadow into the crease with the 226, lightly blending outwards and upwards to fade to the brow bone. With the 239, apply Shimmermoss eyeshadow into the crease directly and then blended towards the outer corner and lid. Blend Nylon eyeshadow with the crease shade and highlight the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying #7L eyeliner on the lower lash line and Gorgeous Gold eyeshadow lightly patted below the lower lash line with the 219 brush. Finish by sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.
For cheeks, apply Sun Rush lustre drops on the apples and upper cheekbones. Then, apply Hipness blush to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.
For lips, apply Thrills lipstick first, and then layer Sugar Overload superglass for a complementing lip.

Softly Smoky: Drama, but Not Too Much
Quickie look I did before I took my midterm to test out the wear of some new products I’m trying out!
I will say I refuse to use Urban Decay’s Maui Wowie eyeshadow again. I’m through with it! It is fallout city, and even when I use it with a sticky base, it refuses to cooperate. Such a pretty shade, so it’s a shame, but no thank you!
You will need the following…
- Eyes: Shiseido H12 Lemon Sugar Hydro-Powder Eyeshadow (pale yellow gold), Urban Decay Maui Wowie Eyeshadow (antique gold), MAC Concrete Eyeshadow (cool, dark brown), MAC Ricepaper Eyeshadow (highlighter), MAC NC15/NW20 Chromagraphic Pencil (nude), YSL Black Velvet Dessin du Regard Eyeliner (black), MAC Opulash Mascara (black)
- Face: Lancome Aqua Fusion Tinted Moisturizer (1), Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder
- Cheeks: MAC Springsheen Blush (peachy-pink)
- Lips: Cle de Peau T3 Extra Rich Lipstick (pinky nude), Make Up For Ever #10 Fascinating Lip Gloss (sheer champagne gold)
- Brushes: 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
- Substitutes: N/A
For eyes, start by applying Lemon Sugar eyeshadow as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply Maui Wowie eyeshadow all over the lid. Next, apply Concrete eyeshadow into the outer crease and lid with th 226. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Ricepaper eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Velvet Black eyeliner on the lower lash line and NC15/NW20 pencil lightly patted below the lower lash line and smudged with the 219 brush. Finish by sweeping lashes with Opulash mascara.
For cheeks, apply Springsheen blush to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.
For lips, apply T3 lipstick first, and then layer #10 lipgloss for a complementing lip.

Bright Makeup: Yellow, Pink, & Purple
I felt like playing around a bit last night, so I ended up with this at the end of playtime! Thought I’d share
I normally pair this kind of look with bright pink lips, but I thought I’d try something a little more orange, just for fun, so there are two lip combos in this look.
You will need the following…
- Eyes: MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot (neutral beige base), MAC Golden Lemon Pigment (yellow gold), MAC Goldenrod Eyeshadow (golden yellow), MAC Bright Sunshine Eyeshadow (yellow), MAC Passionate Eyeshadow (dark pink), MAC Beauty Marked Eyeshadow (blackened burgundy), MAC Stars ‘n Rockets Eyeshadow (fuchsia-purple), MAC Femme-fi Eyeshadow (neutral highlighter), MAC Blackline Pearlglide Eyeliner (black with gold), MAC Blacktrack Fluidline (black), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black), MAC Opulash Mascara (black)
- Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140)
- Cheeks: Benefit Sugarbomb Blush (peachy-pink)
- Lips: MAC Morange Lipstick (orange), Chanel Venus Glossimer (sheer pink), NARS Schiap Lipstick (bright pink), Benefit Back to the Fuchsia Ultra Shine Lip Shine (sheer fuchsia)
- Brushes: 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
- Substitutes: N/A
For eyes, start by applying Soft Ochre paint pot as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. With the 239 and water-based mixing medium (or water), apply Golden Lemon pigment all over the lid area. Using the 239, apply Goldenrod eyeshadow on the inner third of the eyelid. Next, apply Bright Sunshine eyeshadow on the middle third of the eyelid and lightly blend with the inner corner. Darken the outer third of the lid with Passionate eyeshadow with the 239, gently brushing it into the lower crease. With the 226, apply Beauty Marked eyeshadow into the outer crease, and then gently press Stars ‘n Rockets eyeshadow into the middle of the crease with the 239. Lightly tap and brush Bright Sunshine eyeshadow directly above the crease to soften. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Femme-fi eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Blacktrack fluidline on the upper lash line, Blackline eyeliner on the outer half of the lower lash line and Bright Sunshine eyeshadow lightly patted below the lower lash line with the 219 brush. Finish by sweeping lashes with Opulash and Plushlash mascara.
For cheeks, apply Sugarbomb blush to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.
For lips, apply Morange lipstick first, and then layer Venus glossimer for a complementing lip. or try Schiap lipstick layered with Back to the Fuchsia lip shine.

Work-Safe Makeup: Quick Neutrals
Here’s a super simple, quick, easy, work-safe, everyday… yada yada kind of look. It’s quick & dirty but always looks classic. You can change-up the lip to lighten or amplify the look, too
You will need the following…
For eyes, start by applying Sand Shimmer as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Darken the outer third of the lid with Prepped for Glamour eyeshadow with the 239, gently brushing it into the lower crease. Bring everything together by applying Black Moon eyeliner on the lower lash line and Unicorno eyeliner lightly below. Finish by sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.
For cheeks, apply Blonde Halee bronzer to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.
For lips, apply Ebene lipgloss for a complementing lip.

Bright Makeup: Just Playin’ Around
I wanted to test out some new products I purchased, so I figured perhaps I’d try to create a coherent look rather than have ten different new products in various places on my face with no rhyme or reason! I mostly wanted to test out Tarina Tarantino’s eyeshadows in practice, rather than just swatched, and I bought Sweetzer (green) and Peacock Pearl (blue).
Naturally, they called to be used in a tropical-ish kind of look. (I find these easier to do, too, since it’s my default bright look–SO it would be an easy test for the eyeshadows.) I’ll review the eyeshadows separately and in full from this look, but I did have trouble blending the TT eyeshadows into the whole look, unfortunately!
I wouldn’t have worn this look out, because the application wasn’t up to par — I had some blending issues, which I thought might occur, but I thought I’d show you what happens kind of behind-the-scenes, as it were, when it comes to testing out new products.
I do plan to review everything that was new and tested in this look, so be on the look out!
Products I was testing…
- Tarina Tarantino Eyeshadows
- Tokidoki Perfetto Eyeliner
- Tokidoki Glitter Eyeliner
- Guerlain Blonde Halee Bronzer
- Korres Lipstick
- Dior Ultra Gloss
You will need the following…
- Eyes: MAC Golden Lemon Pigment (yellowed gold), MAC Lucky Green Eyeshadow (golden green), Tarina Tarantino Sweetzer Eyeshadow (grassy green), Tarina Tarantino Peacock Pearl Eyeshadow (shimmery blue), MAC Gorgeous Gold Eyeshadow (green-gold), MAC Femme-fi Eyeshadow (neutral highlighter), Tokidoki Mostro Perfetto Eyeliner (yellow-green), Tokidoki Rondine Brillante Glitter Eyeliner (blue), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
- Face: Urban Decay Urban Defense Tinted Moisturizer (Bodyguard), Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder
- Cheeks: Guerlain Blonde Halee Terracotta Bronzer (bronze)
- Lips: Korres #45 Coral Lipstick (coral), Dior Apricot Cloche Ultra Gloss Pearl (apricot coral)
- Brushes: 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
- Substitutes: N/A
For eyes, start by applying Golden Lemon pigment as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 239 and water-based mixing medium. Using the 239, apply Lucky Green eyeshadow on the inner third of the eyelid. Next, apply Sweetzer eyeshadow on the middle third of the eyelid and lightly blend with the inner corner. Darken the outer third of the lid with Peacock Pearl eyeshadow with the 239, gently brushing it into the lower crease. Lightly tap and brush Gorgeous Gold eyeshadow directly above the crease to soften. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Femme-fi eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Rondine eyeliner on the lower lash line and Mostro eyeliner on the upper lash line. Finish by sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.
For cheeks, apply Blonde Halee bronzer to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.
For lips, apply #45 lipstick first, and then layer Apricot Cloche lipgloss for a complementing lip.

Spring to Summer with Dior Crush Glow
I promised I would do a look using Dior’s Crush Glow Eyeshadow Palette, and I used it on Friday for a quick and easy look. It’s funny — I loved this look in person, but I felt like a lot of the subtlies of the shades didn’t pick-up so much on camera. It’s a great warm-toned palette for soft and subtle looks, though. I can definitely see it working as a travel palette for many.
P.S. – Normally, I’d opt for a more neutral highlighter, particularly since I am warmer toned, an icy pink is not-so-neutral on me, but per my usual routine, I like to try and stay within a palette as much as possible. So just between you and me, you may want to go for a warmer highlighter (or one with less frost in its finish to tone it down, too).
You will need the following…
- Eyes: Urban Decay Eden Primer Potion (matte base), Dior Crush Glow Eyeshadow Palette (iced pink, peachy-gold, coral, plummy-mauve), Urban Decay Bourbon 24/7 Liner (brown), Dior Extase Mascara (black)
- Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140)
- Cheeks: Benefit Sugarbomb (peachy-pink), Guerlain Beige Tint Meteorites (soft shimmering beige highlighter)
- Lips: Dolce & Gabbana Emotion Shine Lipstick (pinked mauve), MAC Just Add Colour Lipglass (fuchsia)
- Brushes: 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
- Substitutes: N/A
For eyes, start by applying Eden Primer Potion as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply the icy pink eyeshadow on the inner third of the eyelid. Next, apply the gold eyeshadow on the middle third of the eyelid and lightly blend with the inner corner. Darken the outer third of the lid with the coral eyeshadow with the 239, gently brushing it into the lower crease. Lightly blend the plummy-mauve eyeshadow, with the 239, on the outer corner and lid. Lightly tap and brush the gold eyeshadow directly above the crease to soften. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep the icy pink eyeshadowas a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Bourbon eyeliner on the lower lash line and the gold eyeshadow lightly patted below the lower lash line with the 219 brush. Finish by sweeping lashes with Extase mascara.
For cheeks, apply Sugarbomb blush to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116. Highlight cheekbones with Beige Tint meteorites with the 165.
For lips, apply Emotion lipstick first, and then layer Prep for Colour lipglass for a complementing lip.