Golden, What Happened to You?

MAC All for Glamour Gorgeous Bronze Face Kit ($49.50) contains seven products: Golden (Bronzing Powder, muted golden tan-beige with shimmer), Hearts-a-flutter (eyeshadow, warm pink with silver pearl), Romance Me (eyeshadow, warm plum with gold pearl), Shadowy Lady (eyeshadow, blackened plum), Barely Lit (lipstick, neutral pink withgold pearls), Headturner (lipstick, mid-tone cool cream plum), and a dual-ended 275SE/316SE brush.

Each Eyeshadow is approximately 0.033 oz. (total weight is 0.10 oz.), while the Bronzing Powder is 0.10 oz., and each Lipstick is 0.03 oz. There is a dual-ended brush that has the 275SE on one end and the 316SE on the other end. The kit contains $30.00 worth of eyeshadow, $6.86 worth of Bronzing Powder, and $9.00 worth of lipstick, for a total value of $45.86. You do get the dual-ended brush, but it really feels like a typical applicator that gets thrown into a lot of high-end palettes; the quality felt less than the usual SE brushes. The kit itself is packaged in a peach satin, but it’s smaller than the Divine Desire kits ($70.00), and it isn’t reusable from what I can tell–it’s more like the packaging used for the eyeshadow palettes.

Golden is a golden peach-brown with a peach shimmer-sheen. The texture was of this was very, very dry. It was so stiff, I had to jab layers of product off of it with a metal spatula. It was hard as a rock–I almost thought it was fake (this happened once, I received a MAC product that had a *plastic* replica of the powder in the compact). I’m not sure what happened, but the last time I swatched and reviewed Golden Bronzing Powder, I did not have the payoff and texture problems that I had with this one. This shade is part of the permanent range, so if you like how it looks in the pan, you might want to check out the full-sized version. MAC Nude on Board is a bit darker.

Barely Lit is a rosy beige with a little gold micro-shimmer to give it that “lit” effect. It has semi-sheer to semi-opaque color coverage. It has a lustre finish. In the pan, it almost felt and looked more like a gloss–it was very squishy. It wore for two hours. Laura Mercier Sandcastle is more subdued. MAC Viva Glam V is pinker. MAC Martha is similar, less shimmery.

Headturner is a berry red with a purple-tinge. It is mostly opaque on lips, and it has a Cremesheen finish. It lasted for four hours on my lips. NARS Afghan Red is redder. MAC Rebel is richer, brighter. Guerlain Guet-Apens is redder. MAC Red Dwarf is a bit darker and more subdued. MAC Positively Dashing is similar, less shimmery.

Hearts-a-flutter is a pale pink-tinged white with a satin finish, so there is a noticeable sheen but nothing too frosted. It had so-so color payoff. It looks quite a bit like MAC Radial Pink from the eye kit! Chanel Harmonie du Soir is pinker. Tarina Tarantino Delightful is similar, slightly cooler-toned. Bare Escentuals Muse is less frosty. MAC Defiance is more iridescent.

Romance Me is a gray-tinged medium-dark brown with sallow brown undertones. It has a lustre finish, but it didn’t look or feel like one–seemed more like a frost, really. It didn’t have the loose sparkle that is a telltale sign of a lustre. It had decent color payoff, but the texture was a bit dry. MAC Earthly is lighter. Bare Escentuals Vow is darker. theBalm Celebrational is a smidgen grayer.

Shadowy Lady is a blackened purple with a matte finish. It’s dry, stubborn in texture, and the color is a bit uneven. When I applied it to the lid, it wasn’t as blendable as a really good matte eyeshadow is. This shade is part of the permanent range, and it’s an often-included shade in holiday palettes. MAC Spellcaster is more purple. MAC Indian Ink is more purple, richer.

It is interesting that the pink shade has such a strong resemblance to Radial Pink, which is in the duo alongside Shadowy Lady! I’m also surprised to see Shadowy Lady repromoted twice in two different products, since it’s already a permanent shade as well. Golden was a complete miss here, unfortunately. It’s one of the more wearable bronzers across complexions, though I think MAC would have made this palette more appealing by including a blush rather than bronzer (maybe something pinky-plum).

I know there is a split on Lustres and Cremesheens–some find them drying (this is where I am) and others love them. Barely Lit was somewhat drying, and Headturner was just a wee bit drying over time. I didn’t have any fall out with Romance Me, in spite of its lustre finish, which was great news. The eyeshadows did have to be applied over a primer, because they were not pigmented enough to be used alone.

P.S. — This is the last of the MAC reviews until Guilty Pleasures launches (which is next week), so for the non-MAC fans, there is a reprieve on the horizon.

The Glossover

	MAC All for Glamour Gorgeous Bronze Face Kit Review, Photos, Swatches C+
	The two lipsticks help to keep the pigmentation score from falling totally flat, but they were slightly drying on me, which tended to neutralize their effect on the total palette. The bronzer was a huge let-down, and Shadowy Lady wasn't easy to work with.
	Product 7.5/10 Pigmentation 7.5/10 Texture 8.5/10 Longevity 8/10 Application 3.5/5
	Where to Buy
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MAC All for Glamour Gorgeous Bronze Face Kit

MAC All for Glamour Gorgeous Bronze Face Kit

MAC All for Glamour Gorgeous Bronze Face Kit

MAC All for Glamour Gorgeous Bronze Face Kit

MAC All for Glamour Gorgeous Bronze Face Kit

MAC All for Glamour Gorgeous Bronze Face Kit

MAC All for Glamour Gorgeous Bronze Face Kit

MAC All for Glamour Gorgeous Bronze Face Kit

MAC All for Glamour Gorgeous Bronze Face Kit

MAC Golden Bronzing Powder

MAC Golden Bronzing Powder

MAC Golden Bronzing Powder

MAC Barely Lit Lipstick

MAC Headturner Lipstick

MAC Hearts-a-Flutter Eyeshadow

MAC Romance Me Eyeshadow

MAC Shadowy Lady Eyeshadow

A Bag of Holiday Tricks

MAC Decadently Pink Eye Look Bag ($46.50) contains an eyeshadow duo that features Radial Pink (powder pink with silver sheen pearl) and Shadowy Lady (blackened plum). Shadowy Lady is permanent. It also includes a 275SE brush, Opulash Mascara, and Bordeauxline (deep rich brown) eyeliner. The eyeshadow duo is 0.09 oz (full-sized), Powerpoint Eye Pencil is 0.04 oz. (full-sized), Opulash Mascara is .38 oz. (full-sized). The total value of the kit is $58.50 for the cosmetics in it; this doesn’t include the value of the brush and bag.

Radial Pink is pale white with a hint of pink and a frosted, metallic sheen. The finish is officially a frost. It has so-so pigmentation. Chanel Harmonie du Soir is pinker. Tarina Tarantino Delightful is similar, slightly cooler-toned. Bare Escentuals Muse is less frosty. MAC Defiance is more iridescent.

Shadowy Lady is a blackened purple with a matte finish. It’s dry, stubborn in texture, and the color is a bit uneven. When I applied it to the lid, it wasn’t as blendable as a really good matte eyeshadow is. This shade is part of the permanent range, and it’s an often-included shade in holiday palettes. MAC Spellcaster is more purple. MAC Indian Ink is more purple, richer.

Bordeauxline is eggplant purple with a matte finish. It has decent color payoff, but it doesn’t build well, so it always look a bit faded and uneven. Make Up For Ever #4L is similar but has a sheen. CoverGirl Violet Voltage is comparable.

To reiterate:  the bag that this comes with is small, and the mascara and eyeliner barely fit in it.  You have to make sure to push them to the bottom and wiggle them in at an angle. I was surprised to see the bag that they came with wasn’t an easy fit.  It’s a clear vinyl bag with leopard and lace printing on the exterior/interior with a minty green satin beneath it.

The best product in the set is actually the mascara, which wears well and lengthens nicely.  The three color products are okay but none of them are top notch, excellent products.  Shadowy Lady is difficult to work with and needs patience to use, while Radial Pink had a tendency to fade–it was noticeably patchy after six hours over a primer.  Bordeauxline looks uneven and faded, never looking as rich on as it does in the pencil itself.  The eyeliner lasted seven hours but was noticeably faded after eight.

The Glossover

	MAC Decadently Pink Eye Look Bag Review, Photos, Swatches C+
	The best product in the set is actually the mascara, which wears well and lengthens nicely. The three color products are okay but none of them are top notch, excellent products.
	Product 7.5/10 Pigmentation 7.5/10 Texture 8.5/10 Longevity 7.5/10 Application 3.5/5
	Where to Buy
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MAC Decadently Pink Eye Look Bag

MAC Decadently Pink Eye Look Bag

MAC Decadently Pink Eye Look Bag

MAC Decadently Pink Eye Look Bag

MAC Decadently Pink Eye Look Bag

MAC Radial Pink Eyeshadow

MAC Shadowy Lady Eyeshadow

MAC Bordeauxline Powerpoint Eye Pencil

MAC Bordeauxline Powerpoint Eye Pencil

MAC Decadently Pink Eye Look Bag

MAC Decadently Pink Eye Look Bag

MAC Decadently Pink Eye Look Bag

MAC Decadently Pink Eye Look Bag

Can’t Say I Fancy This Whim

MAC Whims & Fancies Eyeshadow Duo ($27.50 for 0.09 oz.) contains two shades: Performance Art (platinum silver) and Shadowy Lady (blackened plum).  The last of the four new and limited edition eyeshadow duos in MAC’s fall collection Styleseeker, it leaves me less inspired. I think the duos are cute, and they could be easy ways to combine colors for quick looks, but there always seem to be one shade that doesn’t perform that well. The duo price point is too steep to permit one shade to be a disappointment!

Performance Art is a mauve-tinged silver with a hint of gold and silver shimmer. It has a veluxe pearl finish. It didn’t seem too sheer initially, but it definitely is–I had to go back and pack it on three times to get it to show up on me. There was also some fall out during and post-application, even though the sparkle didn’t seem to be too large. For a veluxe pearl, it’s not as smooth as I’d expect, and the color didn’t bind together as well. It’s like a lighter, less pigmented version of Urban Decay Midnight Rodeo. MAC Heirloom is similar but has a stronger sheen. Cle de Peau #207 is similar but has more sparkle. Giorgio Armani #8 is more metallic.

Shadowy Lady is a blackened plum with brown-burgundy undertones. It has a matte finish. The texture is dry, a little stiff. I thought it would be easier to use on the lid, but I found it was harder to work with (both in depositing color and blending it out) than Indie Spirit (which swatched even more poorly!). This shade is part of the permanent range. Urban Decay Rockstar has a similar base color/tone but it is much more purple and has shimmer. MAC Indian Ink has less red tones, more purple ones.

Performance Art has this oddly sheer, fall out-prone texture that makes it harder to work with, while Shadowy Lady didn’t want to blend out as evenly or as easily as other MAC matte eyeshadows. I don’t remember Shadowy Lady being hard to work with (I remember it not always swatching well), but in this duo, it wasn’t great.  None of the duos were out of this world–I think you’re better off making your own duo or picking up two pans and putting them in a palette you already own.  For something similar, though not exact, I’d suggest Seedy Pearl and Fig. 1.

The Glossover

	Whims & Fancies B-
	None of the duos were out of this world--I think you're better off making your own duo or picking up two pans and putting them in a palette you already own. For something similar, though not exact, I'd suggest Seedy Pearl and Fig. 1.
	Product 8/10 Pigmentation 8.5/10 Texture 8/10 Longevity 8.5/10 Application 4/5
	Where to Buy
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MAC Whims & Fancies Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Whims & Fancies Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Whims & Fancies Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Whims & Fancies Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Whims & Fancies Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Whims & Fancies Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Performance Art Eyeshadow

MAC Shadowy Lady Eyeshadow

MAC Brule, MAC Indie Spirit, MAC Shadowy Lady Eyeshadows, MAC Local Wares Fluidline

MAC Retrospeck (V2), MAC Chessa, MAC Star Myth, Giorgio Armani #1 Eyes to Kill Waterproof Eyeliner

MAC Performance Art, MAC Raving Mad, MAC Shadowy Lady, MAC Brule, Giorgio Armani #1 Eyes to Kill Waterproof Eyeliner

MAC Ice Parade: Sultry Snowglobe Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Sultry Snowglobe Eyeshadow Palette ($38.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a limited edition holiday compact that features six eyeshadows: Lightfully (white with pink reflect), Trax (burgundy-plum with shimmer), Fun! (pink patina), Festive Delight (bordeaux wine), Black Tied (black with silver sparkle), and Shadowy Lady (blackened plum).  The MAC Ice Parade Collection launches October 27th, 2011 in-stores.

• Lightfully is a sheer, icy white with little color payoff and a stiff, dry consistency.  It’s supposed to be pink-toned, but it’s difficult to tell with the sheerness of the shade.  This has a lustre finish and is a repromote. It’s even sheerer than MAC Snowball. I recommend perusing these white eyeshadows for something better.
• Trax is a gold and copper shimmered burgundy-red. This has a velvet finish and is part of the permanent range. It has good color payoff, but the shimmer is prone to some fall out. It’s not quite as brown as MAC Star Violet. It did seem a little redder than what I remember Trax being.
• Fun! is a barely-there copper. This has a lustre finish. I don’t even know what to say about this one, because the amount of disappointment I felt when I swatched this cannot even be quantified. I pretty much gawked at my arm (and later, my eye).
• Festive Delight is a rich, berry wine with a shimmer-sheen. This has a lustre finish. It has some sparkle, but it doesn’t have much, so it isn’t as likely to fall out as many lustre-finished eyeshadows are. MAC Cranberry is a bit lighter. Inglot #452 is darker. Make Up For Ever #131 has a similar feel but ends up being darker.
• Black Tied is a dry, chalky black with silver sparkle. This has a velvet finish and is part of the permanent range. It was even dryer and sheerer than my pan version of Black Tied. It seemed less like a silver-speckled matte black as it did a shimmered black with a silver sheen. This version doesn’t compare to the permanent pan I have.
• Shadowy Lady is a blackened burgundy with purple edges and a matte finish. This has a matte finish and is part of the permanent range. It has redder undertones than MAC Graphology.

This palette had three poor performing shades and three better performing shades, but when it was disappointing, it was spectacularly disappointing. Lightfully and Fun! barely show up, and boy, I really tried–I later tried to test them on the eye (over primer), but it was a big mess. No color payoff plus noticeable fall out! Trax, Festive Delight, and Shadowy Lady were lovely here; good pigmentation and textures, but two of those are permanent.

The Glossover

	Sultry Snowglobe C-
	This palette had three poor performing shades and three better performing shades, but when it was disappointing, it was spectacularly disappointing. Lightfully and Fun! barely show up, and boy, I really tried--I later tried to test them on the eye (over primer), but it was a big mess. No color payoff plus noticeable fall out! Trax, Festive Delight, and Shadowy Lady were lovely here; good pigmentation and textures, but two of those are permanent.
	Product 6.5/10 Pigmentation 6/10 Texture 7/10 Longevity 8.5/10 Application 3.5/5
	Where to Buy
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MAC Sultry Snowglobe Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Sultry Snowglobe Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Sultry Snowglobe Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Sultry Snowglobe Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Sultry Snowglobe Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Sultry Snowglobe Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Lightfully Eyeshadow

MAC Trax Eyeshadow

MAC Fun! Eyeshadow

MAC Festive Delight Eyeshadow

MAC Black Tied Eyeshadow

MAC Shadowy Lady Eyeshadow

I’m feeling encouraged by yesterday’s look post (because I wasn’t sure if I wanted to post this since it was more experimental than anything else), so I wanted to share with you a look I attempted a week or so ago. I wanted to try a color combination I hadn’t done before (it’s not always easy to think of something that is different AND could work!), and this is what I came up with. I didn’t like it at first, but as I looked at it throughout the day, I decided I really liked the eyes and thought the application was better than my usual is. I just had no idea what kind of lip color made a good pairing! Nude looked odd, too purple looked odd, and too pink doesn’t seem like it complements. I was thinking maybe a really shamelessly bold, wine/burgundy/purple lip might have rocked it (think Rebel lipstick).

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Soft Ochre paint pot (neutral beige base), True Chartreuse pigment (chartreuse), Goldmine eyeshadow (gold), Overgrown eyeshadow (chatreuse), Fig. 1 (medium wine), Shadowy Lady eyeshadow (deep burgundy), Crystal Avalanche eyeshadow (white highlighter), Urban Decay Ransom 24/7 Liner (blue-violet), Plushlash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Dior Amber Diamond Skin Shimmer (bronzy highlighter)
• Lips: Fun Fun lipstick (light pinky-purple), Tartlette lipglass (coral)
• 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: Overgrown = Bitter; Fun Fun = Snob; Tartlette = Lychee Luxe

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 True Chartreuse pigment with water-based mixing medium on the lower lid. On the inner lid, pack Goldmine eyeshadow on using the 239. Apply Overgrown eyeshadow to the middle and outer portions of the lid. Darken crease with Fig. 1 eyeshadow using the 226, then deepen with Shadowy Lady eyeshadow with the 219. Sweep Crystal Avalanche eyeshadow underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with Urban Decay Ransom Liner on lower lash line. Apply Plushlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Dior Amber Diamond Skin Shimmer with the 188. Apply Fun Fun lipstick to lips, and then top with Tartlette lipglass for color and shine.

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To compensate for the site being down intermittently, here’s a Rose Romance look I did yesterday. I think it’s the first time I’ve worn eyeshadow in two weeks ore more! I just always run out of time and end up going with a minimal to no makeup face these days. I’m working on it, though!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Soft Ochre paint pot (neutral beige base), Et Tu, Bouquet? eyeshdaow (glittery peachy-pink), Of Summer eyeshadow (lilac), Creme de Violet eyeshadow (warm purple), Shadowy Lady eyeshadow (dark burgundy-purple), Shroom eyeshadow (highlighter), Benefit BADgal Liner (black), Plushlash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Summer Rose beauty powder (cool pink-purple), Dior Rose Diamond skin shimmer (light pink)
• Lips: A Rose Romance lipstick (pinky-purple), Magnetique lipglass (fuchsia-purple)
• Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 214 (smudge brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 129 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Et Tu, Bouquet = Gleam; Of Summer = Beautiful Iris; Summer Rose = Well Dressed; Way to Love = Hue; Magnetique = no dupe

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. On the inner lid, apply Et Tu, Bouquet? eyeshadow using the 239. Apply Of Summer eyeshadow to the middle of the lid. Darken the outer lid using Shadowy Lady eyeshadow using the 239. Darken crease with Shadowy Lady eyeshadow using the 226, then overlay with Creme de Violet eyeshadow. Sweep Shroom eyeshadow underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with Urban Decay Ransom Liner on lower lash line, and Plushlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Summer Rose beauty powder using the 129, then highlight with Dior Rose Diamond skin shimmer with the 188. Apply A Rose Romance lipstick to lips, and then top with Magnetique lipglass for color and shine.

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