Is Your Avera

MAC Fabulousness / Warm Eye Palette ($39.50 for 0.14 oz.) contains five eyeshadows: Glamour Light (soft beige frost), Retrospeck (bleached blonde), Honesty (pewtered bronze), Cognac (frosty golden bronze), and Sketch (burgundy with red shimmer). Honesty, Retrospeck, and Sketch are all available as part of the permanent range.

Whew! There is not a lot of product in this palette! For reference, MAC eyeshadow quads ($38.00) typically contain 0.19 to 0.20 oz. (about 0.05 oz. per eyeshadow). Last year’s holiday eyeshadow palettes contained 0.21 oz. (and retailed for $38.00). The prior year’s holiday palettes contained 0.19 oz. (and retailed for $36.00). You used to get six shades, but with this year’s design, you’re getting five.

Glamour Light is a pale golden beige. This has a satin finish. It is a little sheer, but it is a very light shade overall–it tended to disappear against my skin tone in particular, unfortunately! Cinderella A Wish is similar. MAC Sahara Dust is less warm. MAC Baby, It’s Cold is very similar. MAC Dazzlelight is lighter.

Retrospeck is light-medium gold subdued by brown. This has a lustre finish, so it has a fair amount of sparkle and doesn’t apply really smoothly. It’s part of the permanent range. Chanel Apparence is darker. Buxom Poodle is yellower.

Honesty is a coppery orange-brown with lighter copper shimmer and sheen. It is pretty sheer, and it was very, very dry. This has a lustre finish, but it is so much drier and less pigmented in this palette than it is in permanent form. Urban Decay Penny Lane is a bit lighter. MAC Star Myth is darker, redder.

Cognac is a molten golden bronze. This has a frost finish. This was the best performing shade out of all three palettes–it was soft, smooth, richly pigmented, and easy to blend out. Inglot #404 is a bit lighter. Urban Decay Rush is darker, less warm. MAC Romp is darker, browner. Urban Decay Honey is less brown, more golden. MAC Old Gold is similar but has that green-ish sheen.

Sketch is a dark burgundy with a smattering of barely-there-sparkle that you really can’t see once it’s applied. This has a velvet finish. It had good color payoff, and it blended out without trouble when I used it. theBalm Moderato is more subdued. theBalm Sexy is browner.

This palette was the best out of the there eyeshadow palettes (and while I have to crunch the numbers, my big picture view is saying this is the best out of all the palettes).  Retrospeck and Honesty have fall out, being that they’re lustres, with Honesty being a bigger offender.  (I feel like I’m making excuses; it’s like “well, it’s not horrible, so at least that’s good, right?”)  Glamour Light works but could use a softer, denser texture to yield slightly more pigment–it would make it a more versatile shade.  Cognac was really lovely and easy to work with; if the whole palette was like that, we’d have A-quality.  Sketch is true-to-form and is nicely pigmented and dark.  It’s soft enough to be blendable (could be a little easier, though) but is not powdery.

The Glossover

	Fabulousness Warm B-
	One great eyeshadow (and another good eyeshadow--Sketch) isn't enough to make up for the rest of the palette's drawbacks (primarily, fall out, as well as some weaker pigmentation).
	Product 8/10 Pigmentation 8.5/10 Texture 8.5/10 Longevity 7.5/10 Application 4/5
	Where to Buy
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MAC Fabulousness / Warm Eye Palette

MAC Fabulousness / Warm Eye Palette

MAC Fabulousness / Warm Eye Palette

MAC Fabulousness / Warm Eye Palette

MAC Fabulousness / Warm Eye Palette

MAC Glamour Light Eyeshadow

MAC Retrospeck Eyeshadow

MAC Honesty Eyeshadow

MAC Cognac Eyeshadow

MAC Sketch Eyeshadow

Retrospeck (inner lid), Cognac (middle of lid), Sketch (outer lid), Glamour Light (brow bone),
shu uemura Blackish Satin Purple Painting Liner (lower lash line)

MAC Eyeshadow Swatches – Neutrals (Part 2)

More neutral MAC Eyeshadows! There will be one more set of neutrals, and then I only have the grays/blacks after that.

• Grain is a soft, warm beige with a satin finish. It’s like a lighter version of MAC Arena.
• Orb is a soft, pink-peach with a satin finish. It is pinker than Urban Decay Virgin. It is similar to Inglot #397, but it has a softer look and therefore looks darker/more pigmented.
• Naked Lunch is a warm, peach-beige with a frost finish. Chanel Emerveille is similar in color.
• Hush is a peach-pink with a subtle iridescence and frost finish.
• Jest is a light-medium peach with a frost finish. theBalm Luscious Lani is a touch lighter.
• Say Yeah is an apricot pink with a golden shimmer-sheen. It has a veluxe pearl finish, and it was a limited edition shade.
• Ricepaper is a soft, warm yellow champagne with a frost finish. Inglot #393 is the closest but it has a more reflective finish.
• Retrospeck is a paled gold with a lustre finish. It has a slightly gritty texture. Milani Beach Sand is slightly similar.
• Femme-fi is a warm, yellow-toned white with a veluxe pearl finish. theBalm Devilish Danielle is similar, slightly more reflective.

Hush has sheerer color than one would expct, while Retrospeck has glitter in it, so it has a grittier texture and is prone to fall out. The other shades were true-to-color with good color payoff and smooth textures overall.

The Glossover

	MAC Eyeshadow Swatches - Neutrals (Part 2) B+
	Like I mentioned last time, MAC has a solid range of neutrals--lots of variations on beige, nude, and peach--that are worth checking out.
	Product 8/10 Pigmentation 9/10 Texture 8.5/10 Longevity 9.5/10 Application 4/5
	Where to Buy
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MAC Grain Eyeshadow

MAC Orb Eyeshadow

MAC Naked Lunch Eyeshadow

MAC Hush Eyeshadow

MAC Jest Eyeshadow

MAC Say, Yeah Eyeshadow

MAC Ricepaper Eyeshadow

MAC Retrospeck Eyeshadow

MAC Femme-fi Eyeshadow

MAC Cham-Pale: Caviar Dreams Eyeshadow Quad

MAC Caviar Dreams Eyeashadow Quad ($36.00 for 0.20 oz.) is a new and limited edition quad that contains these shades: Brule (soft creamy beige), Caviar Dreams (dirty frosted pewter), Et tu, Bouquet? (frosted pale pink), and Retrospeck (beached blonde).

• Brule is a neutral light beige with a barely-there sheen.  It has a satin finish, and it is permanent.  It makes for a nice all-over color on the lid or as a highlighter.
• Caviar Dreams is a cool-toned medium-dark brown with flecks of bronze shimmer and sheen.  It has a lustre finish, and it is new and limited edition.  It originally reminded me of Club eyeshadow but without the duochrome.  The pigmentation was decent, but it could have been a little more intense, given how dark it looks in the pan.  It’s less pewter than described–more taupe than pewter, I’d say.  I did have some fall out when I used it in the crease.  It seemed similar to Charcoal Brown or Corduroy.
• Et tu, Bouquet? is a pale pink with a frosted, white sheen.  It has a frost finish, and it is limited edition but a repromote from A Rose Romance in 2009.  Pink Freeze, while a little pinker, would dupe it in a pinch.
• Retrospeck is a softened gold with gold shimmer-glitter.  It has a lustre finish, and it is permanent.  It seemed less gritty than I remember it being, but I still had fall out concerns when I wore it.

It’s a nice neutral quad with a good mix of colors, but one of my concerns about the quad, but also the collection in general, is how shimmery, glittery, or otherwise reflective the products are.  When I wore this on my eyes, paired with one of the Special Reserve Highlighters, and a lipgelee, it felt like overkill.   Both lustre finish shades had noticeable fall out, and the gritty look of lustres underneath the eye makes one look a little haggard.

MAC Cham-Pale Collection is a limited edition launch (official information and photos here) that is set to launch in-stores on December 26th in North American, January 2011 for international MAC locations. The approximate launch date for online is December 24th. It features color products as well as a few skincare items.

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• Product: 24/30
• Value: 10/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

RECOMMENDATION: It’s a nice quad color-wise, but it’s not the greatest neutral palette I’ve come across.   The fall out of two of the four shades makes this something I wouldn’t recommend, just because good eyeshadows shouldn’t have that problem.

AVAILABILITY: MAC Cosmetics on December 26th (U.S. stores), January 2011 (International)

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MAC Caviar Dreams Eyeshadow Quad

MAC Caviar Dreams Eyeshadow Quad

MAC Caviar Dreams Eyeshadow Quad

MAC Caviar Dreams Eyeshadow Quad

MAC Caviar Dreams Eyeshadow Quad

Brule, Retrospeck, Et tu Bouquet, Caviar Dreams

MAC Brule Eyeshadow

MAC Retrospeck Eyeshadow

MAC Et Tu, Bouquet? Eyeshadow

MAC Caviar Dreams Eyeshadow

Quick & Easy Look: Gold & Purple

Hmm, I was trying to do a combo I haven’t done before. It came out… interesting! I think it’s one of those looks-better-in-real-life kind of looks.

How’s your Tuesday going? I’m excited–my Nubar order arrived this afternoon, so I can’t wait to go play with those for a bit.  I’m trying to give myself some me-time, because I finished up my last final yesterday (well, for law school–business school finals start up in a couple of weeks!), but it’s so hard for me to do that!  At least I finally got my hair cut this afternoon.  It only took a year and a half.

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Benefit Stay Don’t Stray (neutral beige base), MAC Retrospeck Eyeshadow (dirty gold), MAC Stars ‘n Rockets Eyeshadow (fuchsia-purple), MAC Atlantic Blue Eyeshadow (PRO) (deep bright blue), MAC Digit Eyeshadow (icy purple), MAC Femme-fi Eyeshadow (highlighter), Urban Decay Deviant 24/7 Liner (dark blue), Fresh Supernova Mascara (black)
• Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140)
• Cheeks: Benefit Sugarbomb Blush (coral pink)
• Lips: MAC Sweetie Lipstick (soft pink), Illamasqua Fierce Lipgloss (purple), LORAC Cliche Multiplex Gloss (fuchsia)
• Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Femme-fi = Shroom

For eyes, start by applying Stay Don’t Stray as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply Retrospeck eyeshadow on the lower lid. Next, apply Atlantic Blue eyeshadow into the crease with the 226, lightly blending outwards and upwards to fade to the brow bone. With the 239, apply Stars ‘n Rockets eyeshadow into the crease directly and then blended towards the outer corner and lid. Use Digit eyeshadow to fade the crease color towards the brow bone with the 239. Blend Femme-fi eyeshadow with the crease shade and highlight the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Deviant eyeliner on the lower lash line and Stars ‘n Rockets eyeshadow lightly patted below the lower lash line with the 219 brush. Finish by sweeping lashes with Supernova mascara.

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

For lips, apply Sweetie lipstick first, and then dab on a little Fierce lipgloss to make it a soft lavender-pink. Layer Cliche lipgloss for a complementing lip.

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New hair!

I did this look last night before we went out for my (early) birthday dinner at my favorite restaurant! I knew I wanted to take Chanel’s Dragon out for a night on the town, so it was all about the lips for this look

I hope your Saturday has been wonderful so far! I’m feeling a bit under the weather, so I’ve been laying down for most of mine, but I figured I should at least get up and post this for you all!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Soft Ochre paint pot (neutral beige base), Retrospeck eyeshadow (dirty champagne), Wedge eyeshadow (cool-toned medium brown), Swiss Chocolate eyeshadow (reddish brown), Blanc Type eyeshadow (whitish neutral), Feline kohl power (black liner), Plushlash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Enough Said blush (bronzy)
• Lips: Chanel Dragon Rouge Allure Laque (red)
• 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: Feline = Smolder; Enough Said = bronzer

Directions: Define brows using a coordinating powder shadow applied with the 266 brush. Apply Soft Ochre paint pot all over the lid as the base with the 249. With the 239, apply Retrospeck eyeshadow on the lower lid. Darken crease with Wedge eyeshadow using the 226, then deepen with Swiss Chocolate eyeshadow with the 219. Sweep Blanc Type eyeshadow underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with Fline kohl power on lower lash line, and apply Plushlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Enough Said blush using the 129. Apply Chanel Rouge Allure laquie to lips for color and shine.

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After six hours of wear, including a delicious dinner and lots of water-drinking, the color HOLDS on like nobody’s business! The biggest difference is just the glossiness and some of the shimmer have gone away, but the color itself is still very vibrant, so wearable, and STILL no bleeding.