Guerlain Gipsy Le Rouge G de Guerlain Lipstick ($45.00 for 0.12 oz.) is like a summer orange-based coral. It has just the slightest hint of pinkness to it to keep it from being overwhelmingly orange, but it still packs quite an orange punch. When I saw it in the tube, I wasn’t sure it would work, since it seems so orange-tastic, but on lips, it’s more subdued and wearable.
It’s like an orange-coral base color with orange-copper shimmer. It applies opaque in about one layer or so, and it wears well through the day (about four or five hours of wear-time). Like all Rouge Gs, the shimmer is fantastic — subtle, soft, but utterly dazzling. I think it’s ruby dust or something fancy like that, but it’s lovely. Personally, I’d love it if there was more pinkk to it, to make it more of a true coral, since orange and I don’t always get along well!
- Product: 28/30
- Value: 7/10
- Ease of Use: 4/5
- Packaging: 4/5
Recommendation: Not my first choice in the Rouge G shade line-up, but if you like orange-based lipsticks, this shade may be more up your alley than mine.
Availability: Nordstrom
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6 Devil May Dare Warm Eye Shadows
MAC Magic, Mirth, & Mischief Review: 6 Devil May Dare Warm Eye Shadows
MAC’s Warm eyeshadow palette usually gets me. I’m warm-toned, and I naturally gravitate towards warmer shades. Give me gold and I’m a happy lady! This year’s warm eyeshadow palette isn’t my favorite, but I like half of it a lot. The other half is just so-so, but I’ve been known to purchase a palette for just one color… so I suppose half isn’t bad! I think the reason I don’t love half of the palette is that it doesn’t feel very “warm” to me.
6 Devil May Dare Warm Eye Shadows ($36.00 U.S.)
- Oh My Darling is a soft, slightly warmed up beige with a frost finish. I like that this color is included, if only because it’s a very nice shade for a highlight. It’s not too frost or white, so it will work well on the brow bone.
- Dare Ya! is a medium pink with kind of a peachy tone to it. It went on a bit sheerly on me, though.
- Sorcery is a reddish-toned eggplant purple with a soft finish.
- Gold Tease is a gorgeous shade of gilded gold with a metallic sheen. It reminded me of the Rushmetal pigments a bit, actually.
- Prankster is an antique gold; kind of like a green-gold that’s played down. Again, gold, so of course I love it. I told you – three shades rocked my world!
- Devilishly Dark is a warmed-up light chocolate brown with gold shimmer.
I would have bought this palette just for the two gold shades, but I have an unhealthy obsession with gold eyeshadow. (Particularly if they’re antique golds!)
- Product: 27/30
- Value: 9/10
- Ease of Use: 4/5
- Packaging: 4/5
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6 Sorceress Eye Shadows
MAC Magic, Mirth, & Mischief Review: Sorceress Eye Shadows
I’ve always liked MAC eyeshadow palettes, because I do feel like they represent a chance to get multiple eyeshadows at a more affordable price point, and MAC has put out some great limited edition shades in holiday palettes in the past. This year’s palettes actually reminded me of a bit of the Ornamentalism palettes from a few years ago–which is a good thing. The packaging is better, though, this year, as it’s sleek, functional, and feels like it has more quality than the last few years’ palettes.
6 Sorceress Eye Shadows ($36.00 U.S.)
- White Rabbit is a frosty silver-tinged white. It’s not a particularly unique shade, and I’d say it’s a little too frosty to work well as a highlighter for most.
- Hold My Gaze is a gray-green base with golden-green shimmer. This is actually a very unique shade, and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen an eyeshadow of this color before (which is pretty surprising). It has decent pigmentation. It’s just a very unusual shade.
- Edge of Dark is a charcoal gray with silver gray shimmer, and I had some issues getting it to go on smoothly. It doesn’t have the best texture, but it is a lustre, so I’m not surprised.
- Magnetized is a frosty white-purple. It kind of reminded me of a lighter, whiter Beautiful Iris eyeshadow.
- Hypnotizing is a grayed down mauve. It’s dark yet light, because it’s not an intense shade.
- Altered State is a dark, almost jewel-toned purple with slight reddish brown tones. I liked this shade a lot.
I liked the combination of colors MAC put into the Sorceress combination, and I was pleasantly surprised by Hold My Gaze. I’d probably buy it just for that shade, simply because I haven’t seen one like that before. I can appreciate the originality of it! Overall, though, it is a cooler palette, so if you prefer warm shades, you might not like this one.
- Product: 27/30
- Value: 9/10
- Ease of Use: 4/5
- Packaging: 4/5
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Hocus Focus Colourful Face Kit
MAC Magic, Mirth, & Mischief Review: Face Kits
I like that MAC tried something new – a face palette. I haven’t seen them put out a face palette in quite some time, and the tiered system of this compact is convenient. These palettes actually do have some heft to them, so they’re not ultra lightweight or anything. (I was very surprised at how heavy my bag was when I purchased the palettes in general–sure felt like I was walking out with a lot!) I think at the price range, these feel a little steep. It’s hard to tell just exactly how much product you’re getting of each and if it’s really a better deal than if you bought them separately.
Hocus Focus Colourful Face Kit ($38.00 U.S.)
- Pretty Baby is a soft, powdery pink beauty powder. Beauty powders can be used as all-over powders, blushes, highlighters, etc. It’s really up to you on how you want to use it, and depending on your skin tone, what may be the best use for it. I remember when it launched with the Diana Ross collection and I’d use it everyday, but I couldn’t tell you what it did for my skin/face.
- Sunsparked Pearl is a pearly peach highlighter. It’s one of my favorite MAC highlighters, because it has subtle shimmer and a great “glow” factor. I’ve always felt it worked particularly well on warm skin, but it’s also nice on cooler skin.
- Peachykeen is a peachy-coral blush shade that is available all the time. It’s one of my favorite blushes (MAC has an excellent line of permanent blush shades).
Fab-racadabra Bronze Face Kit ($38.00 U.S.)
- Golden is a golden-brown bronzing shade with subtle gold pearl shimmer.
- Buffed & Polished is a glitzy gilded bronze with golden shimmer. It reads a little chunky shimmer to me, though, so it’s not my favorite to use on the face.
- Sunbasque is a deep bronzy peach. Again, it’s an excellent blush and part of the permanent shade range.
I liked the Hocus Focus Colourful Face Kit best. I think it’s wearable for both warm and cool skin tones, and I think it works well to give you a brighter, glowier look without a fuss. The Fab-racadabra Bronze Face Kit is exactly that–a bronzing kit. Since I’d rather just opt for a single bronzer than a whole kit full, it’s not my thing. I think it may lean too orange for some as well.
- Product: 27/30
- Value: 8/10
- Ease of Use: 4/5
- Packaging: 4/5
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Conjure Up Mineralize Blush
MAC Magic, Mirth, & Mischief Review: Mineralize Blushes
I think fans of MAC mineralize blushes will enjoy the two newest, limited edition additions released with the holiday color collection. I still prefer pressed powder blushes myself, but these two are exceptionally lovely.
- Conjure Up is a dirty plummy-berry with very subtle shimmer (hardly any at all!) and intense color. Initially, it reminded me of a deeper Stark Naked blush (which I love).
- Superdupernatural is a rusty coral with a subtle sheen. It’s also rich in color and easy to layer for increased intensity.
I’d put both on my must-have list, though Conjure Up would edge out Superdupernatural if I could only choose one. I think that both are flattering for different skin tones, but of course, Superdupernatural may be harder for cooler skintones to pull off. I don’t think cool-toned faces should stay away from it, though, because it doesn’t run very warm.
- Product: 27/30
- Value: 8/10
- Ease of Use: 4/5
- Packaging: 4/5
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Guerllain Georgia Le Rouge G de Guerlain Lipstick
Guerlain Georgia Le Rouge G de Guerlain Lipstick ($45.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a watermelon pink with a glossy, wet-look and tiny microspheres of shimmer that sparkle. This color clings to lips, and it looks natural, yet the color is still bright enough to make lips pop. I found this one was fairly opaque, too, which is something I have to have in any lipstick of this price. This one wore well for me throughout the day; I didn’t have to reapply for over four hours, but it will fade during eating/drinking, so it’s not immoveable. So far, this is one of my favorite shades of the Rouge G line up.
- Product: 28/30
- Value: 7/10
- Ease of Use: 4/5
- Packaging: 4/5
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