MAC Wonder Woman Look: Valiant

This is the look I wore when I was doing lip and blush swatches for Wonder Woman last week  I will post a look using the Lady Justice palette later this week!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (neutral eyeshadow base), MAC Manila Paper Eyeshadow (golden white beige), MAC Valiant Eyeshadow (pale yellow green), MAC Diana Undercover Eyeshadow (dark forest green), MAC Spinning Transformation Eyeshadow (olive brown), Burberry Trench Eyeshadow, Urban Decay Perversion 24/7 Liner (black), MAC Army of Amazons Opulash Mascara (green)
• Face: Kiehl’s Tinted Moisturizer (Medium), Burberry Pressed Powder (03)
• Cheeks: MAC Pink Power Mineralize Skinfinish (blush/bronzer)
• Lips: MAC Emancipation Lipglass (nude)
• Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 222 (fluffy crease brush), 263 (angled eyeliner brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Manila Paper = Nylon; Valiant = Juxt; Diana Undercover = Bottle Green; Spinning Transformation = Sumptuous Olive; Pink Power = Sunbasque; Emancipation = Bare Necessities

For eyes, start by applying Smudgeproof as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply Valiant eyeshadow on the inner half of the lower lid. Lightly blend Diana Undercover eyeshadow onto the outer third of the lid and crease with the 222. Apply Spinning Transformation eyeshadow on the outer crease with the 222.  Use Manila Paper eyeshadow on the inner tear duct with the 239 to highlight. Blend Trench eyeshadow with the crease shade and highlight the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Perversion on the lower lash line and blending Valiant eyeshadow underneath. Finish by sweeping lashes with Army of Amazons Opulash mascara.

For cheeks, apply Pink Power mineralize skinfinish on the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply Emancipation lipglass for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos!

MAC Wonder Woman: Eyeshadow Quad Comparisons & Dupes

Here are swatch comparisons for the three eyeshadow quads from the collection…  If it is not included in here, it is most likely because I do not own it.

Defiance Eyeshadow Quad

• DEFIANCE is a lot pinker in comparison to Vanilla, while it is more comparable to Pink Opal under natural light (but less so with flash; Pink Opal reflects more and looks whiter). Ego is pinker.
• PARADISE ISLAND is a little cooler-toned than Pink Papillon, while it is pinker than Pen ‘n’ Pink, and less frosty than Urban Decay Sphynx.
• STAR STUDDED is lighter and less violet than Vibrant Grape, while it is significantly lighter than Fig. 1.
• REAL DRAMA is less red than Deep Damson, and it is slightly less red compared to Sketch, but it is fairly similar to the latter.

Lady Justice Eyeshadow Quad

• LADY JUSTICE is just a less pigmented version of Forgery and Urban Decay Uzi. At the most, it is less bright.
• INSURMOUNTABLE is a shade I do not have a dupe of, and the closest I could find in my stash was Korres #42S, which is paler and frosty. I’m not saying there are no dupes (check the review–I listed some that I do not own), just that I couldn’t find anything I own that is.
• BOLD BABE is more muted than Houglass Prism and Love Lace, both appear bluer. Dandizette is a richer blue and not really a dupe.

Valiant Eyeshadow Quad

• MANILA PAPER is just a smidgen whiter in comparison to Nylon, but they are very, very similar. Creme de Miel is significantly yellower, while Rose Blanc and Soft Force are noticeably yellower though not as yellow as Creme de Miel.
• VALIANT is a paler, slightly yellower version of Juxt. Korres #44S is nearly identical–slightly greener. Metamorph is greener. NARS Sea, Sex, Sun is far too dark and green to compare.
• DIANA UNDERCOVER is less teal in comparison to Bottle Green, while it is greener than Femme Noir.
• SPINNING TRANSFORMATION is similar in the base color as Make Up For Ever #47, which is slightly greener and has no shimmer. Sumptuous Olive is browner, more metallic, but closest that I had. Hourglass Dune is much, much darker and not comparable.

See comparison swatches!

Defiance Comparison Swatches

Vanilla, Defiance, Pink Opal, Ego

Pink Papillon, Paradise Island, Pen ‘n’ Pink, Urban decay Sphynx

Vibrant Grape, Star Studded, Fig. 1

Deep damson, Real Drama, Sketch

Lady Justice Comparison Swatches

Lady Justice, Forgery, Urban Decay Uzi

Insurmountable, Korres #42S

Dandizette, Houglass Prism, Bold Babe, Love Lace

Valiant Comparison Swatches

Nylon, Manila Paper, Creme de Miel, Rose Blanc, Manila Paper, Soft Force

Nylon, Manila Paper, Creme de Miel

Rose Blanc, Manila Paper, Soft Force

NARS Sea Sex Sun, Valiant, Juxt, Korres #44S, Valiant, Metamorph

NARS Sea Sex Sun, Valiant, Juxt

Korres #44S, Valiant, Metamorph

Bottle Green, Diana Undercover, Femme Noir

Spinning Transformation, Make Up For Ever #47, Sumptuous Olive, Spinning Transformation, Hourglass Dune

MAC Wonder Woman: Valiant Eyeshadow Quad

MAC VALIANT EYESHADOW QUAD ($40.00 for 0.20 oz.) includes four shades of eyeshadow: Manila Paper (pale frost white gold), Valiant (light lime with yellow pearl), Diana Undercover (dark forest green), and Spinning Transformation (deep olive bronze with yellow pearl).

• Manila Paper is a warm, white gold with excellent color payoff. This is a veluxe pearl finish. It is a repromote from Spring Colour Forecast. It is similar to Nylon but warmer.
• Valiant is a yellowed, pale chartreuse green–extremely yellowed. It has so-so color pay off; it is a little sheer. This is a frost finish. It’s a yellower version of Juxt.
• Diana Undercover is a darkened green with a brownish base. This is a satin finish. It had decent pigmentation but took a layer or two for it to show. It did work better in a look than swatched on the skin. The green is similar to the base color of NARS Blade Runner (but lacks the shmmer).
• Spinning Transformation is a olive-tinged khaki brown with a soft bronze sheen. This is a frost finish. Pigmentation was decent but the texture was so thin–just not soft or silky smooth at all. It’s a less pigmented, less gold-shimmered NARS Star Sailor. It is a browner, less green-tinged Sumptuous Olive.

I feel like Valiant is just a little better than Lady Justice–decent but not as high quality as I’d like to see. Manila Paper is the standout shade in terms of color pay off and texture; creamy, smooth, and rich. Diana Undercover is a shade that MAC hasn’t done often, so I like it for its originality, but I wish it had a buttery texture. For a frost finish, Spinning Transformation wasn’t as soft and smooth as I’d expect.

If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ!

• Product: 26/30
• Value: 8/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

final thoughts: Though these shades lean warm, they do not lean so warm that they won’t also complement cooler skin tones. I think the pigmentation is decent across the board in this palette, but it’s not above and beyond excellent.

where to buy: MAC Cosmetics

See more photos & swatches!

MAC Valiant Eyeshadow Quad

MAC Eyeshadow Quad

MAC Eyeshadow Quad

MAC Eyeshadow Quad

MAC Valiant Eyeshadow Quad: Manila Paper, Valiant, Diana Undercover, Spinning Transformation

MAC Valiant Eyeshadow Quad: Manila Paper, Valiant

MAC Valiant Eyeshadow Quad: Diana Undercover, Spinning Transformation

MAC Valiant Eyeshadow Quad: Manila Paper, Valiant

MAC Valiant Eyeshadow Quad: Diana Undercover, Spinning Transformation

MAC Valiant Eyeshadow Quad: Manila Paper, Valiant, Diana Undercover, Spinning Transformation

MAC Valiant Eyeshadow Quad: Manila Paper, Valiant

MAC Valiant Eyeshadow Quad: Diana Undercover, Spinning Transformation

MAC Manila Paper Eyeshadow

MAC Valiant Eyeshadow

MAC Diana Undercover Eyeshadow

MAC Spinning Transformation Eyeshadow

Bronze Eyes: Colour 4 Eyeshadow Quad, Take 2!

Happy Monday!  Depending whether you’re on holiday or not, I suppose   I actually did this look on Saturday, but with all of the Riveting reviews, I decided to hold off on posting it until later on.

You will need the following…

• Eyes: MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot (neutral beige base), MAC Stacked 2! Pigments (gold), MAC Manila Paper Eyeshadow (white-gold), MAC Aztec Brick Eyeshadow (copper), MAC Creole Beauty Eyeshadow (bronze), MAC Star Violet Eyeshadow (reddened purple), MAC Flip Eyeshadow (peachy-orange), MAC Ricepaper Eyeshadow (highlighter), MAC Penultimate Liner (black), Urban Decay Honey 24/7 Liner (gold), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
• Face: Kiehl’s Tinted Moisturizer (#2)
• Cheeks: MAC Springshine Blush Ombre (bronze)
• Lips: MAC Colour Me Coral Lipstick (frosty light coral), MAC Purple Rage Lipglass (reddened purple)
• 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 Stacked 2! pigment (the gold) all over the lid area. Using the 239, apply Manila Paper eyeshadow on the inner third of the eyelid. Next, apply Aztec Brick eyeshadow on the middle third of the eyelid and lightly blend with the inner corner. Darken the outer third of the lid with Creole Beauty eyeshadow, with the 239, on the outer corner and lid. Add depth to the crease by lightly tapping Star Violet eyeshadow with the 226. Lightly tap and brush Flip eyeshadow directly above the crease to soften. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Ricepaper eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Honey eyeliner on the lower lash line, Penultimate on the upper lash line, and sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.

For cheeks, apply Springshine blush ombre to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply Colour Me Coral lipstick first, and then layer Purple Rage lipglass for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos!

Video Tutorial: Sunset Eyes with Spring Colour Forecast

For the next few days, I’m experimenting with a new format/way of doing video tutorials that still gives you some live-action footage but doesn’t add much time to my normal routine. (Sometimes I tell myself, “If I didn’t have school, that would free up like 48 hours of my week!”)

What I’m trying to do is record myself doing my makeup that I’d normally do and then just take still photos of and post on the blog–so these looks are not practiced or planned. It’s me going with the flow. I’d like to call these “Quick & Dirty” Tutorials, if you will, because that’s exactly what they are… quick, minimalist, and maybe even a little unpolished.

I’m hoping that there is still value in them–so I would love to hear your feedback.  As much as I would love to do more full-on, ultra detailed video tutorials, my schedule is such that I just can’t keep up, so I am really trying to find a way to meet all of your requests the best I can.

The original look and all of the photos can be found here.

You will need the following…

• Eyes: MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot (neutral beige base), MAC Manila Paper Eyeshadow (white-gold), MAC Straw Harvest Eyeshadow (peachy orange), MAC Hot Hot Hot Eyeshadow(coral-red), MAC Ricepaper Eyeshadow (highlighter), Urban Decay El Dorado 24/7 Liner (gold), Urban Decay Zero 24/7 Liner (black), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
• Face: Kiehl’s Tinted Moisturizer (Medium)
• Cheeks: MAC Ripe Peach Blush Ombre (peachy coral)
• Lips: MAC Bronzilla Lipstick (metallic bronze), MAC Kumquat Lipglass (sheer orange-coral)
• Brushes: 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Manila Paper = Nylon; Straw Harvest = Motif; Hot Hot Hot = Rule + Red Brick; Ripe Peach = Springsheen; Bronzilla = Bronze Shimmer; Kumquat = Lychee Luxe

For eyes, start by applying Soft Ochre paint pot as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply Manila Paper eyeshadow on the inner third of the eyelid. Next, apply Straw Harvest eyeshadow on the middle third of the eyelid and lightly blend with the inner corner. Darken the outer third of the lid with Hot Hot Hot eyeshadow with the 239, gently brushing it into the lower crease. Lightly blend Hot Hot Hot eyeshadow, with the 239, on the outer corner and lid. Lightly tap and brush Straw Harvest eyeshadow directly above the crease to soften. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Ricepaper eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying El Dorado eyeliner on the lower lash line and Zero eyeliner on the lower waterline. Finish by sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.

For cheeks, apply Ripe Peach blush ombre to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply Bronzilla lipstick first, and then layer Kumquat lipglass for a complementing lip.

Sunset Eyes: Spring Colour Forecast Style

Yet another look from Spring Colour Forecast… I imagine I’ll squeeze in a few more before we’re onto Riveting! Speaking of onto the next thing, I won’t be able to get the new Viva Glam lipsticks up until later today (because I have class most of the day), but I hope to get them up today at some point.  Sorry   I completely scheduled my classes around MAC launch days (Thursdays), but Viva Glam got moved up to today… a Wednesday.  Boo!

Anyway, just wanted to pop by with this look before I go back to studying my butt off for my statistics midterm tonight! 

You will need the following…

• Eyes: MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot (neutral beige base), MAC Manila Paper Eyeshadow (white-gold), MAC Straw Harvest Eyeshadow (peachy orange), MAC Hot Hot Hot Eyeshadow(coral-red), MAC Ricepaper Eyeshadow (highlighter), Urban Decay El Dorado 24/7 Liner (gold), Urban Decay Zero 24/7 Liner (black), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
• Face: Kiehl’s Tinted Moisturizer (Medium)
• Cheeks: MAC Ripe Peach Blush Ombre (peachy coral)
• Lips: MAC Bronzilla Lipstick (metallic bronze), MAC Kumquat Lipglass (sheer orange-coral)
• Brushes: 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Manila Paper = Nylon; Straw Harvest = Motif; Hot Hot Hot = Rule + Red Brick; Ripe Peach = Springsheen; Bronzilla = Bronze Shimmer; Kumquat = Lychee Luxe

For eyes, start by applying Soft Ochre paint pot as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply Manila Paper eyeshadow on the inner third of the eyelid. Next, apply Straw Harvest eyeshadow on the middle third of the eyelid and lightly blend with the inner corner. Darken the outer third of the lid with Hot Hot Hot eyeshadow with the 239, gently brushing it into the lower crease. Lightly blend Hot Hot Hot eyeshadow, with the 239, on the outer corner and lid. Lightly tap and brush Straw Harvest eyeshadow directly above the crease to soften. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Ricepaper eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying El Dorado eyeliner on the lower lash line and Zero eyeliner on the lower waterline. Finish by sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.

For cheeks, apply Ripe Peach blush ombre to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply Bronzilla lipstick first, and then layer Kumquat lipglass for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos!