MAC Wonder Woman: Penultimate Eyeliner

MAC RAPIDBLACK PENULTIMATE EYELINER ($18.50 for 0.08 oz.) is super-sized for Wonder Woman–the original (and permanently available) Rapidblack is $16.50/0.03 oz.–making this over twice as much for $2 more. This feels and looks a lot like a marker; even holding it feels like I’m getting to write a note rather than line my eyes. Personally, I think it may be too large to be of great use for most people, and if you have smaller eyes–forget it!

my thoughts on the formula: I really like the original Penultimate eyeliner for something quick and easy that doesn’t dry out and gives you a medium black eyeliner (though it photographs brown with flash–it is definitely black). The tip is thin enough and flexible enough to glide across the eye without skipping. It wears all day for me, and I like that you can do thin or thick eyeliner with it. You can see photos of the permanent Rapidblack here.

Also worth noting, but the outside packaging felt and seemed like a sticker to me. I couldn’t exactly get it to peel or slip off, but it was something that caught my eye.

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

• Product: 27/30
• Value: 9/10
• Ease of Use: 3/5
• Packaging: 1/5

final thoughts: Way too large. This is probably the least useful jumbo-sized product of the launch; it’s not just an increase in overall product quantity, but it really changes the effectiveness of the product itself. I’d recommend their Superslick eyeliners over Penultimate in general (better overall), and certainly over this shade. The formula itself is nice, but the packaging gets a major thumbs down for me–fine, be jumbo, but at least work as well as the original.

where to buy: MAC Cosmetics

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MAC Wonder Woman Penultimate Eyeliner

MAC Wonder Woman Penultimate Eyeliner

MAC Wonder Woman Penultimate Eyeliner

MAC Wonder Woman Penultimate Eyeliner

MAC Wonder Woman Penultimate Eyeliner

MAC Wonder Woman Penultimate Eyeliner

Valentine’s Day Makeup: It’s the New Pink

Last night, I asked the late night Twitter crowd if I should do a colorful or natural look — I was originally thinking about doing something soft and natural, but colorful was the voice of the majority, so I ran with it. I thought about it, and I decided I should do some pinks, and then I started feeling like something Barbie might wear, you know, if she was obsessed with makeup and wore color up to her brows…

Since it’s always fun try out different lips, I went with two extremes: hot fuchsia pink and cool-toned pink-purple. I think what you pair it with, lips-wise, is really something that’s about what you feel comfortable in and if it’s appropriate for the occasion. I’d totally wear the hot pink lips out at night — don’t care if it doesn’t follow makeup rules! To tone it down, go for something in-between — light enough so it doesn’t compete with the eyes, but not so light that it washes you out. My go-to for a look like this is Sweetie lipstick topped with Luminary lustreglass, but I wasn’t trying to be subtle with this look, so there ya go. Best part about makeup? It’s fun! Second best part? It washes off

I’m pretty sure I totally rocked this kind of look one Valentine’s Day, so let’s go with that.  I’m almost positive I did the ultra bright, ultra fuchsia, and totally unforgiving hot pink lip on a Valentine’s Day, at least.  You could totally put some awesome false lashes on for even more dramatic eye, too!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot (neutral beige base), (opalescent white-pink), MAC Pink Opal PigmentMAC Seedy Pearl Eyeshadow (pinky-white), MAC Stars ‘n Rockets Eyeshadow (fuchsia-purple), MAC Fig. 1 Eyeshadow (eggplant), MAC Passionate Eyeshadow (medium-deep pink), MAC Penultimate Eyeliner (black), Urban Decay Lust 24/7 Liner (purple), Chanel Exceptionnel Mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Benefit Sugarbomb Powder (peachy-pink) / Illamasqua Kate Blush (cool-toned pink)
• Lips: MAC Show Orchid Lipstick (PRO) (fuchsia-purple), MAC Luminary Lustreglass (opalescent) / MAC Saint Germain Lipstick (cool-toned pink-purple), MAC Luminary Lustreglass (opalescent)
• Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 214 (smudge brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 129 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Saint Germain = Snob

For eyes, start by applying Soft Ochre paint pot as your eyeshadow base all over the lid with the 249. Put one or two drops of water-based mixing medium (or water) on your 239, and then apply Pink Opal pigment on the lid, going just above the crease. Using the 239, apply Seedy Pearl eyeshadow on the lower lid. Next, apply Stars ‘n Rockets eyeshadow on the outer third of the eyelid and lightly blend with crease. Darken the outer third of the lid with Passionate eyeshadow with the 239, gently brushing it into the lower crease. Next, define the crease by applying Fig. 1 eyeshadow with the 226. Lightly tap and brush Seedy Pearl eyeshadow directly above the crease to soften. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Seedy Pearl eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Lust Liner on the lower lash line and Penultimate eyeliner on the upper lash line, and then sweeping lashes with Exceptionnel mascara.

For cheeks, apply Benefit Sugarbomb to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116 for a warmer cheek; try Illamasqua Kate for a cooler pink cheek.

For lips, apply Show Orchid lipstick first, and then layer Luminary lustreglass for a bolder lip look. For a paler lip look, try Saint Germain lipstick as a base, and then top with Luminary lustreglass.

Check out more photos!

PINK LIPS MAKE YA FEEL SEXYYYYY!

I mentioned last look that the next one would definitely have some color, and I’d say this one certainly does!

I thought I’d show a really cool, pale pink kind of lip with this look (I’m a bit warm-toned for it, IMO, but my boyfriend adores the color — go figure), but also how a brighter pink lip can also work (even though it is heavier).  That’s what’s so fun about makeup:  you can experiment and if you don’t like it, you can change it, remove it, or play around with it.

If I had planned to wear this look out, I likely would have gone for something in-between — maybe Sweetie lipstick and Crystal Rose lipglass. I just thought it’d be cool to show you how much lip color can play a role in the overall look–plus a fun cool-toned lip combo for my cool-toned ladies (and gents!).

You will need the following…

• Eyes: MAC Soft Ochre paint pot (neutral beige base), MAC Pink Pearl Pigment (fuchsia-pink duochrome), MAC Seedy Pearl Eyeshadow (soft pinky-purple), MAC Beautiful Iris Eyeshadow (cool-toned medium purple), MAC Stars ‘n Rockets Eyeshadow (fuchsia-pink duochrome), MAC Fig. 1 Eyeshadow (eggplant), MAC Passionate Eyeshadow (matte deep pink), MAC Femme-fi Eyeshadow (neutral highlighter), Urban Decay Ransom 24/7 Liner (purple), MAC Penultimate Eyeliner (black), MAC Studio Fix Mascara (black)
• Cheeks: MAC Petalpoint Blush (purple-pink), Dior Rose Diamond Skin Shimmer (pink)
• Lips: MAC Saint Germain Lipstick (pink-purple), MAC Icescape Lipglass (icy pink), MAC Style Minx Lipglass (deep hot pink)
• Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 214 (smudge brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 129 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Femme-fi = Shroom; Petalpoint = Well-Dressed + Plum Foolery; Saint Germain = Snob; Icescape = Luminary

Directions: Start by applying Soft Ochre paint pot as your eyeshadow base all over the lid and brow area with the 249. Put one drop of MAC Water-Based Mixing Medium onto a brush like the 239, and then apply Pink Pearl pigment on the lid itself as a colored base. Using the 239, apply Seedy Pearl eyeshadow on the inner third of the eyelid. Next, apply Beautiful Iris eyeshadow on the middle third of the eyelid and lightly blend with the inner corner. Darken the outer third of the lid with Stars n’ Rockets eyeshadow with the 239, gently brushing it into the lower crease. Next, define the crease by applying Fig. 1 eyeshadow with the 226. Add more depth to crease by gently tapping Passionate eyeshadow into the lower crease, just below Fig. 1. Lightly tap and brush Beautiful Iris eyeshadow directly above the crease to soften. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Femme-fi eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Urban Decay Ransom Liner on the lower lash line, blended with Beautiful Iris eyeshadow applied with the 219. Apply Penultimate eyeliner on the upper lash line, and then sweeping lashes with Studio Fix mascara.

For cheeks, apply Petalpoint blush to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116 and highlight cheekbones with Rose Diamond Skin Shimmer with the 165.

For lips, apply Saint Germain lipstick first, then layer over Icescape lipglass for a pale lip. For more color, try Style Minx lipglass on top.

Check out more photos!

With Style Minx layered on top