beauty basics

Everything You Wanted to Know About MAC Cosmetics

Our Guide for the Newly Addicted has just about everything you wanted to know about all that is MAC. From the history of the brand to terminology and product basics, you’ll find it in this ten-part series.

Our MAC Must-Haves series features twenty-four posts of must-have goodness, and it is currently still a series-in-progress–which means we are still adding to it. Stay tuned!

Must-Haves:  MAC Brushes

• 8 Face Brushes
• 7 Eye Brushes
• Best Eye Brushes (Video)
• Best Face Brushes (Video)

Must-Haves: MAC Eyeshadows

• 7 Must-Have Gray/Black Eyeshadows
• 5 Must-Have Gold/Yellow Eyeshadows
• 6 Must-Have Orange Eyeshadows
• 9 Must-Have Purple Eyeshadows
• 6 Must-Have Green Eyeshadows
• 6 Must-Have Blue Eyeshadows
• 5 Must-Have Pink Eyeshadows
• 8 Must-Have Neutral Eyeshadows

Must-Haves: MAC Glosses

• 7 Must-Have Dazzleglasses
• 9 Must-Have Lipglasses
• 6 Must-Have Lustreglasses
• 6 Must-Have Plushglasses

Must-Haves: MAC Lipsticks

• 7 Must-Have Slimshines
• 7 Must-Have Brown Lipsticks
• 4 Must-Have Orange Lipsticks
• 6 Must-Have Red Lipsticks
• 6 Must-Have Purple Lipsticks
• 5 Must-Have Hot Pink Lipsticks
• 5 Must-Have Berry Lipsticks
• 8 Must-Have Pink Lipsticks
• 6 Must-Have Nude Lipsticks

Must-Haves: MAC Face Products

• 12 Must-Have Blushes

These are particular posts where we have attempted to gather swatches for a great number of shadows, not from specific collections, but more comprehensive in terms of products available or were available from the brand.

Swatches From 2009

• Blush Swatches (2009)
• Eyeshadow Swatches (Paper), Part 1 (2009)
• Eyeshadow Swatches (Paper), Part 2 (2009)
• Eyeshadow Swatches (Skin), Beiges/Tans (2009)
• Eyeshadow Swatches (Skin), Blues (2009)
• Eyeshadow Swatches (Skin), Browns (2009)
• Eyeshadow Swatches (Skin), Grays/Blacks/Silver (2009)
• Eyeshadow Swatches (Skin), Greens (2009)
• Eyeshadow Swatches (Skin), Greens, Part 2 (2009)
• Eyeshadow Swatches (Skin), Highlighters (2009)
• Eyeshadow Swatches (Skin), Pinks (2009)
• Eyeshadow Swatches (Skin), Purples (2009)
• Eyeshadow Swatches (Skin), Teals (2009)
• Eyeshadow Swatches (Skin), Yellows (2009)
• Lipglass/Lustreglass/Plushglass Swatches (2009)
• Lipstick Swatches (Skin) (2009)
• Lipstick Swatches (Paper), Part 1 (2009)
• Lipstick Swatches (Paper), Part 2 (2009)
• Paint Pot Swatches (2009)

Swatches From 2007 (Oldies, but goodies — promise!)

• Blush Swatches (2007)
• Eyeshadow Swatches (2007)
• Lipglass Swatches (2007)
• Lipstick Swatches (2007)

These are particular posts where we have attempted to gather photos for a great number of shadows, not from specific collections, but more comprehensive in terms of products available or were available from the brand.

Product Photos From 2009

• MAC Gallery (2009)
• Permanent Eyeshadows (Part 1) (2009)
• Permanent Eyeshadows (Part 2) (2009)

Product Photos From 2007

Again, oldies, but goodies — promise! I bet the majority of you never even knew these posts existed, because they were up when we only had a few readers! I really do urge you to check these posts out, because they contain hundreds of product photos of both limited edition and permanent products.

• Blush Product Photos (2007)
• Eyeshadow Product Photos – Reds, Pinks (2007)
• Eyeshadow Product Photos – Golds, Oranges, Yellows (2007)
• Eyeshadow Product Photos – Blues, Teals, Part 1 (2007)
• Eyeshadow Product Photos – Blues, Teals, Part 2 (2007)
• Eyeshadow Product Photos – Greens (2007)
• Eyeshadow Product Photos – Purples, Part 1 (2007)
• Eyeshadow Product Photos – Purples, Part 2 (2007)
• Eyeshadow Product Photos – Browns, Part 1 (2007)
• Eyeshadow Product Photos – Browns, Part 2 (2007)
• Eyeshadow Product Photos – Neutrals (2007)
• Eyeshadow Product Photos – Grays/Blacks (2007)
• Lipglass Product Photos (2007)
• Lipstick Product Photos (2007)
• Mineralize Skinfinishes (2007)
• Pigment Product Photos – Part 1 (2007)
• Pigment Product Photos – Part 2 (2007)

• Our Guide to Upcoming Collections will keep you on top of all of the latest MAC collections. You can find out what’s coming out next, what last came out, locate swatches for recent collections, and so on.
• Read Our Past MAC Reviews to get caught up on past and recent collections you may have missed.
• All MAC Information In One Place allows you to get the latest updates on what to expect from the brand.

8 Must-Have MAC (PRO) Pigments

About the Temptalia Must-Haves Series
A series of posts showcasing must-have products from MAC Cosmetics’ permanent line of products. Selections are based on quality, universality, uniqueness amongst the line, and the like. Limited edition shades are deliberately excluded to make buying easier. Readers’ comments act as a supplement to these lists of their favorites and must-haves. You can find the entire series here.

Pink Pearl pigment is a gorgeous duochrome pigment that is both fuchsia-pink and fuchsia-purple. Think Stars ‘n Rockets eyeshadow, but prettier, more pigmented, and brighter.

Kelly Green pigment is a bright pop of springy green. Perfect to add brightness to any look, and it works particularly well as a green base.

True Chatreuse pigment is a matte, yellow-y green. It’s like Bitter, but insanely better, because it’s a lot more pigmented and opaque.

Naval Blue pigment is a dark, navy blue with a bit of cobalt reflects in it. Very pretty and dark.

See four more must-have pigments! Continue reading →

8 Must-Have MAC (Consumer) Pigments

About the Temptalia Must-Haves Series
A series of posts showcasing must-have products from MAC Cosmetics’ permanent line of products. Selections are based on quality, universality, uniqueness amongst the line, and the like. Limited edition shades are deliberately excluded to make buying easier. Readers’ comments act as a supplement to these lists of their favorites and must-haves. You can find the entire series here.

Old Gold pigment is a stunning combination of yellowed green and green-gold mixed together. It’s an interesting mix of green and gold with a little bit of brown. This is a particularly good pigment for those with warmer tones in their skin.

Teal pigment is exactly as it is named — teal. It’s pigmented, smooth, and looks rich on eyes.

Golden Lemon pigment is a bright pop of yellow gold with lots of frost in its finish. It’s not necessarily a product for those who don’t love shimmer/frost in their eye products, but it is one of the best bases to use for gold, orange, and red eyeshadows.

Golden Olive pigment is a gorgeous soft, olive green. It’s smooth in texture, rich in color pay off, and feels soft. If you wear green eyeshdaow often, tihs is an absolute must.

See four more must-have pigments! Continue reading →

Clarity, Electric Eel; Freshwater, Deep Truth; Prussian, Contrast

MAC Cosmetics Eyeshadow Swatches, Part 2

Here’s part two I split them up to help make loading time not so heavy.

See the rest of the eyeshadows! Continue reading →

Row 1: Artifact, Fresco Rose, Indianwood, Painterly, Bare Study;
Row 2: Quite Natural, (BLUSH) Well Dressed, Pinch O Peach, Pink Swoon, Desert Rose

MAC Cosmetics Paint Pot Swatches & Blush Swatches

I swatched all of the permanent paint pots and blushes my local MAC had on their displayer, so I apologize in advance if any permanent colors are absent.

See the rest of the swatches! Continue reading →

Row 1: Most Wanted, Cocoamour, Ultra Elegant, Scant, Intimidate, Long Stem Rose, Grenadine, Missy, Bare, Prudeaux, Voile, Pink d’Lush,
Row 2: Urgent!, Lovey Dove, Rock Out!, Think Tan, C-Thru, C-Thru, Russian Red, Pink Poodle, Cultured, Nico;
Row 3: Oyster Girl, Pop Mode, Tranceplant, Desire, Nymphette, Prrr, Spite, Revealing, Lust, Mad Cap

MAC Cosmetics Lipglass Swatches, Lustreglass Swatches, & Plushglass Swatches

I swatched all of the permanent lipglasses, lustreglasses, and plushglasses my local MAC had on their displayer, so I apologize in advance if any permanent colors are absent.

See the rest of the swatches! Continue reading →