Distinguished, Identity, Monodramatic, Posh Life
OVERALL, Monogram offers a nice selection of lipglosses and lipsticks, but you can probably skip the rest! This year’s lipgloss formula is very similar to Dazzleglasses–both the chunkier shimmer (dazzle!) and the nonsticky formula really make them similar. They do not feel like the formulas they used in Couture or Stylistics (unfortunately for me). I picked up one gloss (Identity), but I wasn’t sold on it, which just made me sad, because I look forward to the luxe lipglosses every year. I did like the lipsticks more this year, even though the packaging felt cheap and plasticky (despite looking like “gold”). The pigmentation was good, none of the colors were overly frosty, and the shades are suitable for most people. I ended up getting All Mine and Flourish–I admit, I do not need another red, but I picked up because I seem to get every luxe red, so why not? I passed on the Sheer Mystery Powder, as I already have one from last year that never gets used. The Sheerspark powders were like past years–so utterly disappointing for me. I really wish MAC would replace the Sheersparks with something else–they just never seem to be a huge hit with most addicts I’ve talked to (including me!). I find them not pigmented enough to use as blushes/shadows and the glitter is too chunky to be a highlighter. I’m so pleased to see the Air of Style perfume housed in a much more practical bottle this year. I purchased last year’s version, which has cool packaging, but the perfume cannot stand up at all, which means it stays in its box and out of reach.
You can find collection details and photos in past posts.
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Marque, Status Symbol, All Mine, Flourish
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OVERALL, Metal Urge meets expectations–which were low. If you were one of the few who loved and enjoyed Metal-x last year, then you should enjoy this year’s rendition. But in the end, it is really just that: a regurgitation of last year’s collection. Of the Brushed Metal-x shades, Gilded Ash is tempting, just because it looks like a great color for a smoky eye. I know myself, and I know how my Metal-x shadows from last year are buried in my “I don’t use these” MAC box. The liquidlasts are always fun, but they’re readily available throughout the year, so it’s not a big deal to see them highlighted in this launch. The three pigments available are a nice trio of shades that all earn recommendations from me.
You can see last year’s Metal-x Review/Swatches for comparison. Individual reviews await you! Continue reading →
Row 1: Material, Gold Spice, Forged Rose, Gilded Ash, Verdigris
Row 2: Pink Platinum, Metalblu, Gold Mode, Cocomotion, Spirtualize
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OVERALL, Little Darlings is less about offering innovative and brand-spanking-new shades as it is about great gifts to give and receive for less. Each gloss set contains five mini-sized versions of popular past and current lipglasses/lustreglasses. The case is cute, and the cover can later be used to hold glosses or brushes, too! Plus, the pigment sets are great way to collect pigments without spending a fortune–whether you’re new or experienced when it comes to MAC.
You can get official collection information here, as well as product photos here. Swatches are here.
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OVERALL, some of the palettes offer long-time MAC fans colors they haven’t seen before. As always, the warm palette suckered me in, though I’ll use it once or twice and it’ll get forgotten–I just know it! The lip palettes were surprising, because I’ve never been too drawn to them before, but I found two shades I really wanted to have. I only succumbed to the Coral Lips palette (again, bad move on my part), but the Plum Lips is tempting. Ironically, the Plum Lips is probably more wearable for me than the Coral Lips palette!
Quick review of the brush sets: The brush sets are $35 at Nordstrom’s. Yes, $35, down from $49.50. I do not know why, but I only know that this was confirmed by the Nordstrom MA. So get your brush sets at Nordstrom’s if you can! The brush sets are just like previous years’ sets–the handles are just a different color. This year the handles are a shiny bright holiday red with darker, metallic ferrules.
You can get official descriptions here as well as product photos here.
Detailed reviews… Continue reading →
