Temptalia

MAC Heavenly Creatures Mineralize Eyeshadows Review, Photos, Swatches

Christine — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 20:34:42 +0000

MAC Heavenly Creatures Mineralize Eyeshadows

MAC Heavenly Creatures Mineralize Eyeshadows

MAC Heavenly Creatures Mineralize Eyeshadows ($20.00 for 0.06 oz.) features nine shades: Aurora (peach, green, brown melange), Bright Moon (grey, silver, icy green melange), Earthly (beige, peach, cool brown melange), Invincible Light (icy white, lavender, warm gold melange), Magnetic Attraction (orange, pink, gold melange), Neo Nebula (cream, warm amethyst, warm pink melange), Sky (green-gold, turquoise, cobalt melange), Universal Appeal (gold, bronze, violet melange), and Water (yellow, lime green, blue melange).

Aurora is a warm, golden medium-dark brown with a soft champagne sheen. It has swirls of light yellow-toned pink, dirty olive brown, and red-brown. It’s on the sheer side when applied dry, but it’s more opaque when applied wet. Dior Aurora is slightly darker. Buxom Golden Retriever is a touch darker, more red-toned. MAC Heavenly Bliss is a bit lighter, less warm. MAC Love Connection is more frosted, so it looks a bit lighter and more metallic. Milani Fusion is slightly more metallic.
Bright Moon is a cool-toned silver-shimmered gray-blue. It has swirls of gray-blue, silver, and aqua-blue. When applied dry, it has good color payoff, and when it’s applied dry, it has better pigmentation and applies more smoothly. The metallic finish is more apparent when it is used wet. It looks just like MAC Frozen Blue, which might be a smidgen more silver, but they’re really close. Urban Decay Crystal is less blue.
Earthly is a gray-tinted medium-dark brown with a pearly metallic sheen. The swirls are gray-beige, copper, and dark brown. It has good color payoff both wet and dry. MAC Caviar Dreams is a bit darker. Bare Escentuals A-Ha is warmer, darker. MAC Magical Mist is similar but more subdued.
Invincible Light is a pale warm pink with a subtle golden shimmer. It’s pretty sheer when applied dry and better when applied wet, but it isn’t as smooth as I’d like–slightly gritty. It has swirls of ivory, copper, pink, and lavender. MAC Star Crystal is grayer. Bobbi Brown Black Ruby is pinker.
Magnetic Attraction is a coppery coral-red with subtle golden shimmer. It has decent to good pigmentation when used dry (it looks more orange), and great color payoff when used wet. It has swirls of raspberry pink, golden yellow, and coppery orange. MAC Spicy Smoke is more intense. Milani I Heart You is redder. MAC In the Sun is darker, browner. MAC Red Hot Copper is similar but darker. MAC Coppering is more intense.
Neo Nebula is a slightly mauve-y pink with a metallic finish. It has swirls of light pink, medium warm pink, and mauvy plum. When used dry, it’s very sheer, but when used wet, it’s smoother and more pigmented. MAC Rose Light is slightly pinker. Inglot #399 is pinker and darker. Giorgio Armani #7 is more muted. MAC Pink Union is slightly more purple and darker. MAC Circa Plum is darker, grayer.
Sky is a faded blue with a hint of green with a green-gold shimmer. It has swirls of light-medium green, electric blue, and cobalt blue. The color payoff is sheer when used dry, and it’s better when wet, but it’s still not fully opaque. Urban Decay Shattered is a bit more teal. Guerlain Les Ombres de Nuit doesn’t have the same gold shimmer.
Universal Appeal is a smoky eggplant purple with golden shimmer. It has swirls of yellowy green, dark brown, orange, and purple. When applied dry, it’s very brown and on the sheer side, while when wet, it takes on a purple hue. MAC Azuki Bean is a smidgen darker. theBalm Curvy Cami is purpler.
Water is a dark but muted blue-green. It has swirls of yellowy chartreuse, chartreuse, mint green, and navy blue. The color payoff is atrocious when used dry, and it’s decent when used wet. Illamasqua Android is much more opaque and intense. Urban Decay Hijack is more opaque and intense. Urban Decay Loaded is more intense, more blackened in base color.

Whenever I have Mineralize Eyeshadows to review, I think it’s important disclose that I generally do not have a lot of success with them. They always look absolutely phenomenal in the pan; they’re amazing products to photograph, but application tends to be disappointing. I know that there are readers who, on the other hand, enjoy these eyeshadows immensely and look forward to the mineralize-themed collections that MAC puts out. The reasons I don’t like these is: lack of color payoff, fall out, and poor wear (fading/creasing, mostly fading). Not all shades perform the same; some are better, some are way worse.

I did three looks, where I used three shades for each one. When I wore Bright Moon, Sky, and Earthly together, they held up so-so over time. There was noticeable fading, slight creasing with Bright Moon after six hours, while Sky was less faded and no real creasing to speak off. Earthly was fairly faded. I had about the same results whether I applied over bare lids or over a primer (NARS Smudgeproof). Sky stains the lid, even when used over a primer.

When I wore Magnetic Attraction, Aurora, and Water in a look, they, too, held up okay but not well. Magnetic Attraction was the best, with only minor fading but no creasing after eight hours. Aurora was looking faded after eight hours, while Water was barely visible–not to mention it was such a pain to apply and to get to show up at all from the very beginning. The texture and feel of Water just didn’t work well; it was a little gritty and dry. The wear didn’t seem to improve with or without a primer; both were in the same state after eight hours. Water also stains the skin, just as a heads up.

The last trio I used included Invicible Light, Neo Nebula, and Universal Appeal. Invincible Light is very prone to fall out, and it can accentuate any texture on the lids, because it doesn’t apply smoothly. I was able to get plenty of color out of it by using it wet, but it did have some of its own problems. Neo Nebula and Universal Appeal were easier to use on the lid. However, the whole look lasted about five hours and had nearly disappeared after eight hours–and the photos are of the shades over primer (and the eye without primer looked the same).

It’s a shame that there were wear issues with these. I thought a lot of these were more blendable this time around than in previous releases. Some shades had decent to good color payoff when dry, as well as wet. None of it lasted a full eight hours, though, and some were nearly gone entirely after eight hours. I don’t know if there are many products that I’m as desperate to fall in love with as MAC’s Mineralize Eyeshadows. They look gorgeous in their pots. They’re absolutely stunning to behold. I know people love them. I want to love them, but I just can’t.

The Glossover

	MAC Heavenly Creatures Mineralize Eyeshadows Review, Photos, Swatches C
	I don't know if there are many products that I'm as desperate to fall in love with as MAC's Mineralize Eyeshadows. They look gorgeous in their pots. They're absolutely stunning to behold. I know people love them. I want to love them, but I just can't.
	Product 7/10 Pigmentation 8/10 Texture 9/10 Longevity 6/10 Application 4/5

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MAC Aurora Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Bright Moon Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Earthly Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Invincible Light Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Magnetic Attraction Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Neo Nebula Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Sky Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Universal Appeal Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Water Mineralize Eyeshadow

Bright Moon, Sky, Earthly

Bright Moon, Sky, Earthly (after six hours)

Magnetic Attraction, Aurora, Water

Invincible Light, Neo Nebula, Universal Appeal

Invincible Light, Neo Nebula, Universal Appeal (after eight hours)

MAC Heavenly Creatures Cremesheen Glasses Review, Photos, Swatches

Christine — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 16:00:33 +0000

MAC Astral Cremesheen Glass

MAC Heavenly Creatures Cremesheen Glasses

MAC Heavenly Creatures Cremesheen Glasss ($19.50 for 0.09 fl. oz.) features five shades: Astral (bright yellow pink), Celestial Kiss (pale cool peach), Galaxy Rose (mid-tone violet pink), Meteoric (mid-tone vibrant coral), and Strictly Plutonic (mid-tone pink brown).

Astral is a bright strawberry pink with yellow and red undertones and a fine smattering of micro-shimmer. MAC Dare to Dare is a bit lighter. NARS Mexican Rose is pinker, darker. MAC Radiant Jewels is more fuchsia. Lancome Electric Pink is darker and more fuchsia.
Celestial Kiss is a pale peach with white micro-shimmer. Despite the lightness of the shade, it doesn’t settle too noticeably into lip lines (especially from a normal viewing distance) and applies evenly without bunching up in places or looking really milky on lips. MAC Rich & Witty is very similar but has more shimmer. MAC Passing Fancy is a little more peach. MAC Poetic License is paler.
Galaxy Rose is a deepened raspberry pink with the barest hint of plum. It has a creamy consistency and finish. MAC Just Add Color is similar in color but has fuchsia shimmer. MAC Radiant Jewels is bluer-based and has shimmer. NARS Mexican Rose is bluer-based.
Meteoric is a coral-pink with golden orange shimmer. It’s semi-opaque in color coverage and applies evenly and smoothly. MAC Star Qaulity is much more vibrant–almost neon in comparison–without any shimmer; warmer in tone. Revlon Strawberry is much, much darker and redder. Chanel Nakkar is slightly sheerer and lighter.
Strictly Plutonic is a rosy brown with no shimmer. It’s semi-sheer but definitely changes my lip color. Korres Natural Purple is more orange. YSL Pure Watermelon is warmer, lighter. MAC Viva Glam Cyndi is brighter and more opaque. MAC So Vain is slightly more coral, lighter. MAC Over Indulgence is browner, darker.

Cremesheen Glasses are vanilla-scented (but no discernible taste), not too thick or too thin (almost gel-like in consistency to me), and non-sticky. They come in large, clear plastic tubes with a doe-foot applicator. The tube is a bit misleading, because it seems rather hefty, but inside is a mere 0.09 fl. oz. (Lipglass has 0.17 fl. oz.)–and it’s always been a sore point with me.

I spent most of today testing out the wear of these five: Astral wore for three hours, Celestial Kiss for two hours, Galaxy Rose for three and a half hours, Meteoric for three hours, and Strictly Plutonic for two and a half hours. The wear time is a little off-putting, especially when coupled with the lesser amount in the tube, since frequent application is required. I usually get around four hours of wear with gloss, and I will say this batch of Cremesheen Glasses performed better (on the whole) than a lot of other shades I’ve tried.

I think they feel really nice on the lips, and though I wouldn’t say super moisturizing, my lips weren’t cracked by the end of the day. While many shades released in this formula have been pale and milky or else so sheer there is difficulty distinguishing one from the other, these sit and lie well on the lips–they have a really juicy, natural look. They enhance and play well with one’s natural lip color. There wasn’t a lot of settling into lip lines, except some minor settling with Celestial Kiss (which is also the lightest shade in the launch).

The Glossover

	MAC Heavenly Creatures Cremesheen Glasses Review, Photos, Swatches B+
	I will say this batch of Cremesheen Glasses performed better (on the whole) than a lot of other shades I've tried. These sit and lie well on the lips--they have a really juicy, natural look.
	Product 9/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 9/10 Longevity 7.5/10 Application 4/5

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MAC Astral Cremesheen Glass

MAC Astral Cremesheen Glass (Diffused Flash)

MAC Astral Cremesheen Glass (Studio Lighting)

MAC Astral Cremesheen Glass

MAC Celestial Kiss Cremesheen Glass

MAC Celestial Kiss Cremesheen Glass (Diffused Flash)

MAC Celestial Kiss Cremesheen Glass (Studio Lighting)

MAC Celestial Kiss Cremesheen Glass

MAC Galaxy Rose Cremesheen Glass

MAC Galaxy Rose Cremesheen Glass (Diffused Flash)

MAC Galaxy Rose Cremesheen Glass (Studio Lighting)

MAC Galaxy Rose Cremesheen Glass

MAC Meteoric Cremesheen Glass

MAC Meteoric Cremesheen Glass (Diffused Flash)

MAC Meteoric Cremesheen Glass (Studio Lighting)

MAC Meteoric Cremesheen Glass

MAC Strictly Plutonic Cremesheen Glass

MAC Strictly Plutonic Cremesheen Glass (Diffused Flash)

MAC Strictly Plutonic Cremesheen Glass (Studio Lighting)

MAC Strictly Plutonic Cremesheen Glass

Video: MAC Heavenly Creatures Preview & Swatches

Christine — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 13:00:55 +0000

Video: MAC Heavenly Creatures Preview & Swatches

Collection is available now online and will be available in-stores on July 5th. If you missed out on something, it will still launch online at retailers like Nordstrom, Macy’s, Dillard’s, and Bloomingdale’s.

MAC Supernova Mineralize Blush Review, Photos, Swatches

Christine — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 23:03:06 +0000

MAC Supernova Mineralize Blush

MAC Supernova Mineralize Blush

MAC Supernova Mineralize Blush ($23.50 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a “magenta and burnished gold melange.” It’s a brightened raspberry pink with subtle blue undertones and a subtle sheen. It contains swirls of golden peach-orange and neon magenta pink. MAC Weekend Getaway is similar in color when used softly. Tom Ford Wicked is cooler-toned, frostier, and lighter. Tarte Amused is much brighter and bluer-based. Illamasqua Seduce is similar, slightly more plum. MAC Feeling Flush is a bit lighter and cooler-toned. MAC Amazonian Princess is comparable, slightly redder. MAC Full Fuchsia is a bit more fuchsia.

This shade applied smoothly without emphasizing pores or any imperfections of my skin’s texture, but it wasn’t quite as blendable as I’d expect. It’s not stubborn, but I wouldn’t say it’s easily blended and diffused–just so-so there. It’s very pigmented, so a light hand is a must, and if you want something soft and sheer, I’d recommend using a stippling brush like MAC’s 188. Because it’s not super blue-based, it should work well across under tones, and the intense color payoff means it will be viable on the lightest and deepest complexions. Supernova wore seven and a half hours on me before starting to fade noticeably.

The Glossover

	Supernova B+
	Because it's not super blue-based, it should work well across under tones, and the intense color payoff means it will be viable on the lightest and deepest complexions.
	Product 9/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 9/10 Longevity 8/10 Application 4/5

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MAC Supernova Mineralize Blush

MAC Supernova Mineralize Blush (Diffused Flash)

MAC Supernova Mineralize Blush (Studio Lighting)

MAC Stratus Mineralize Blush Review, Photos, Swatches

Christine — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 22:46:30 +0000

MAC Stratus Mineralize Blush

MAC Stratus Mineralize Blush

MAC Stratus Mineralize Blush ($23.50 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a “amethyst and gold brown melange.” It’s a plummy brown with a satiny sheen. The compact contains two swirls of darkened peach-brown and plum. This is one of the lesser shimmered shades of the cheek products in this launch. On cheeks, it looked more plum than brown, so it ended up looking more different than alike once applied than Earthshine (which almost seemed like a dupe), which is darker and much browner. MAC Buddy Up is lighter. NARS G-Spot is redder. MAC Darkly My Dear is browner. Chanel Plum Attraction is more plum, more subdued. MAC Notable is lighter and more muted.

Stratus had a fairly smooth texture without being too dry or too powdery (could be a bit more blendable), and the finish was less metallic/frosted, so I didn’t feel like it turned my pores into beacons in the night. There was some slight emphasis but very subtle and probably not noticeable to anyone but myself up-close. The color can be very intense, so I recommend using a light hand when applying if you have light to medium coloring; you can be less careful on deeper complexions, but it will build up very nicely and be stunning on medium-dark to dark skin tones. When I tested the wear, Stratus wore for six and a half hours well, but it looked noticeably faded after seven hours.

The Glossover

	Stratus B+
	The color can be very intense, so I recommend using a light hand when applying if you have light to medium coloring; you can be less careful on deeper complexions, but it will build up very nicely and be stunning on medium-dark to dark skin tones.
	Product 9/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 9/10 Longevity 7/10 Application 4/5

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MAC Stratus Mineralize Blush

MAC Stratus Mineralize Blush (Diffused Flash)

MAC Stratus Mineralize Blush (Studio Lighting)

MAC Star Wonder Mineralize Skinfinish Review, Photos, Swatches

Christine — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 21:59:27 +0000

MAC Star Wonder Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Star Wonder Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Star Wonder Mineralize Skinfinish ($29.00 for 0.24 oz.) is described as a “plummy pink with multi-dimensional pearl.” It’s a pinky-plum with a pale golden shimmer. It has swirls of champagne beige, pink-tinted plum, and a peachy-pink with yellow undertones. Illamasqua Ambition is slightly less pink, more subdued. Bobbi Brown Plum is similar but darker and has no shimmer (so it looks even darker). MAC Plum Foolery is bit more plum, less pink. Chanel Rose Temptation is significantly more plum. NARS Oasis is a smidgen darker and more plum with gold sparkle rather than shimmer. theBalm Cabana Boy is also a bit more plum than pink. It seems like the balance of pink and plum in this is what makes it just a little bit different from shades that seem similar.

It has a fairly strong shimmer finish, so it did emphasize the pores on my cheeks somewhat. There was a very lovely glowy sheen that was flattering on, so the trade-off was almost worth the pore-emphasis! The color is very buildable, so you can get a more intense blusher out of it if you so desire; I think it’s suitable for light to medium-dark skin tones with darker skin tones finding it to be subtle and tinting but still visible. Star Wonder had a soft, fairly smooth texture, and blended well. Quality-wise, it was neck and neck with Light Year (this one wasn’t quite as smooth but it wasn’t powdery like Light Year). It wore for just over seven hours before starting to fade. There was slight separation after eight hours.

The Glossover

	Star Wonder A-
	There was a very lovely glowy sheen that was flattering on, so the trade-off was almost worth the pore-emphasis! The color is very buildable, so you can get a more intense blusher out of it if you so desire; I think it's suitable for light to medium-dark skin tones with darker skin tones finding it to be subtle and tinting but still visible.
	Product 9/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 9.5/10 Longevity 8/10 Application 4.5/5

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MAC Star Wonder Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Star Wonder Mineralize Skinfinish (Diffused Flash)

MAC Star Wonder Mineralize Skinfinish (Studio Lighting)

Temptalia

MAC Heavenly Creatures Mineralize Eyeshadows Review, Photos, Swatches

MAC Heavenly Creatures Mineralize Eyeshadows

The Glossover

MAC Heavenly Creatures Mineralize Eyeshadows Review, Photos, Swatches

Product

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Texture

Longevity

Application

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MAC Heavenly Creatures Cremesheen Glasses Review, Photos, Swatches

MAC Heavenly Creatures Cremesheen Glasses

The Glossover

MAC Heavenly Creatures Cremesheen Glasses Review, Photos, Swatches

Product

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Texture

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Video: MAC Heavenly Creatures Preview & Swatches

Video: MAC Heavenly Creatures Preview & Swatches

MAC Supernova Mineralize Blush Review, Photos, Swatches

MAC Supernova Mineralize Blush

The Glossover

Supernova

Product

Pigmentation

Texture

Longevity

Application

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MAC Stratus Mineralize Blush Review, Photos, Swatches

MAC Stratus Mineralize Blush

The Glossover

Stratus

Product

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Texture

Longevity

Application

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MAC Star Wonder Mineralize Skinfinish Review, Photos, Swatches

MAC Star Wonder Mineralize Skinfinish

The Glossover

Star Wonder

Product

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Texture

Longevity

Application

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