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Friday, May 18th, 2012
What do you think of BB creams? Have you tried them?
I think the only one I’ve tried was MAC’s, which didn’t really work out for me since it made me look lighter/kind of ashy. I like the concept, though.
Thanks to Elisabet for today’s question!
Do you have a question idea? Submit yours here.
Friday, May 18th, 2012
MAC 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.
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.
Friday, May 18th, 2012
MAC Nude on Board Pro Longwear Bronzing Powder
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.”
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
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).
Friday, May 18th, 2012
MAC Saunter Pro Longwear Lip Pencil
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).
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
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.
Friday, May 18th, 2012
MAC Blessedly Rich Lipglass
MAC Hey, Sailor! Lipglasses ($15.50 for 0.10 oz.) include five shades: Blessedly Rich (rich pale coral), Cut Loose (white gold with pearl), Orange Tempera (pale peach), Riviera Life (bright tangerine), and Send Me Sailing (bright yellow red). Orange Tempera is a repromote.
MAC Lipglass is vanilla-scented with no discernible taste. It’s packaged in a clear tube with a navy blue glossy cap and white striping around the tube. It comes with a doe-foot applicator. The consistency of Lipglass is very thick and sticky. For a lot of readers, MAC is one of the stickier glosses they’ve come across. They can wear anywhere from two to five hours, depending on the color and its level of pigmentation. I tested out Cut Loose, Riviera Life, and Send Me Sailing for wear, and they wore for two and a half, four, and four and a half hours respectively.
Where to Buy: MAC, $15.50 each
Cut Loose and Orange Tempera are the less stellar shades here, so they bring down the overall rating. Riviera Life and Send Me Sailing were the best (think A-), while Blessedly Rich was good (think B+).
Friday, May 18th, 2012
MAC Red Racer Lipstick
MAC Hey, Sailor! Lipsticks ($15.50 for 0.10 oz.) include four shades: Red Racer (bright yellow red), Sail la Vie (bright mid-tone orange), Salute! (neutral peach), and To Catch a Sailor (highly frosted tan).
First, to those who wanted Red Racer and Sail la Vie, never fear–there are several retailers still yet to launch the collection online, and it’s still not out in-stores (except PRO stores). I wish I could have posted the lipsticks sooner, but I did not have all of them (and ironically, I was missing both the shades that sold out) until 7PM last night!
Truthfully, I was a little surprised that both sold out so quickly, because they seemed dupeable (from the descriptions), but they are certainly lovely shades and wear and apply well to boot. I really say this as a gentle reminder that makeup is supposed to be fun. Sometimes the adventure and efforts it takes to track down just that particular shade can be fun and exciting, but when it takes a turn for aggravating, frustrating, and upsetting? that’s when it’s too much. And never be afraid to mix and match–you might be surprised just how much you can dupe if you mix two or three products together!
The only shade that was problematic was Salute!, which applied awfully on my lips. I thought maybe it was just because it was the first lip product I swatched, so I tried it on again, but it looked just as bad (the second attempt is what is shown below). It just catches on imperfections that a lot of other lipsticks don’t (for instance, To Catch a Sailor was swatched second). All four shades were opaque, and they had good, creamy consistencies that enabled easier application. I tested the wear of To Catch a Sailor (three hours) and Red Racer (five hours with a light stain).
MAC lipsticks are vanilla-scented but have no discernible taste. They’re typically packaged in a semi-matte black tube, but these are in a glossy, navy blue tubes with white striping. The finishes of these lipsticks were not at all problematic, and even though To Catch a Sailor has a very metallic finish, it wasn’t drying (but not moisturizing).
Where to Buy: MAC, $15.50
All four shades were opaque, and they had good, creamy consistencies that enabled easier application. The only shade that was problematic was Salute!, which applied awfully on my lips. I also think that Salute! is going to be harder shade to wear, but it will be flattering on some skin tones, particularly deeper ones.
