MAC Tag

MAC is a funny old brand. It has such a huge following. I suppose this is partly due to the price range, it’s expensive enough to feel special but not so expensive as to price people out. Ok so the new collections every 15 seconds can be overwhelming (not to mention cheeky) but they have some fab products. I was tagged my Amelia from Bloggin' It Off to do this so thanks Amelia!

How long have you been using Mac?

Honestly less than a year. I used high street or high end makeup before. MAC wasn’t really on my radar.

What was your first Mac product?

Azalea Blossom Blush Ombre. Why oh why did I not get Ripe Peach?

What's your all time favourite Mac product?

Viva Glam Cyndi lipstick. Must buy backups...

What's your least favourite Mac product?

MSF natural

Do you own a Pro Card?

Nope

Your Mac foundation shade:

Hahaha MAC don’t really do foundations for neutral skin tones so I’m kind of in between. NC is waaay too yellow. NW is ok (but needs setting with a yellow- neutral powder). I’m in between 15-20.

Your favourite Mac-Foundation:

The Pro Long Wear sample was the nicest I’ve tried so far.

Eyeshadow:

Smoke and Diamonds

Lipstick:

Again Viva Glam Cyndi

Lipgloss:

Viva Glam Cyndi

Liner:

Don’t have any!

Brush:

187 little duo fibre brush. Love it for cream blush or super pigmented powder blush.

Nail Lacquer:

I only have Rain. It’s nice though.

Pro Product:

Don’t have any!

Comment on the following Mac product; Have you used them? If so, give feedback.

Prep + Prime Skin:

It’s nice enough but it isn’t the kind of primer I’d usually buy. I have a sample which I’ll review soon.

Full Coverage Foundation:

Never tried it.

Studio Sculpt Foundation: 

Again never tried it.

Face + Body Foundation:

Never tried it and honestly doesn’t sound like my kind of foundation.

Mineralize Satin Finish:

See above.

Studio Fix Fluid:

Not tried it yet though I have a sample.

Hyper Real Foundation:

Never used.

Select SPF15 Foundation:

Never used.

Studio Tech Foundation:

Never used.

Studio Fix Powder:

The finish was fine but I was matched to the wrong colour. I looked awful....

Studio Stick:

Do they still make this? Never tried it anyway.

Hyper Real Pressed Foundation:

Never used

Beauty Powder:

I like these. The fact they generally are sheer doesn’t bother me as my skin is so pale anything shows up.
.

Sculpting Powder:

Never used

Shaping Powder:

Never used.

Loose Blot Powder:

Never used

Pressed Blot Powder:

Never used but it’s on my wish list.

Mineralize Skinfinish Natural:

Gives me sad face. Doesn’t nothing for my oily skin. Looks a lot less cakey than many other pressed powders can though.

Mineralize Skinfinsh:

Gorgeous in the pans but I don’t use mine enough. I’m not one for overt shimmer during the day.

Bronzing Powder:

I don’t use bronzer.

Powder Blush:

I like the couple that I have though Bite of an Apple is quite hard to blend. I’m looking forward to getting some of the peachier shades.

Blushcreme:

Not tried them.

Mineralize Blush:

Nice but potentially too shimmery depending on the shade. I actually wore Dainty at my wedding!

Gel Blush:

Never used

Cream Color Base:

I tried one at an event and like the texture. I may purchase in future.

Studio Sculpt Concealer:

Haven’t tried it.

Select Cover Up Concealer:

Again I haven’t tried it.

Select Moisture cover Concealer:

I hated this when I first got it but now I think that might have been because the skin under my eyes was a bit dry. I quite like it now. It isn’t amazing and I probably won’t repurchase (the coverage isn’t quite enough for me) but I’ll finish the tube.

Studio Finish Concealer:

Not tried.

Studio Stick:

Not tried.

Lip Erase:

Not tried but I’m curious about it as I do have very pigmented lips.

Tinted Lip Conditioner:

Not tried but it’s on my wishlist.

Lipstick:

I do like these. My favourites are the lustre finishes.

Lipglass:

I like these though they are a bit thick and sticky.

Dazzleglass:

I prefer glitter on my eyes, not my lips.

Cremesheen Glass:

Never tried it.

Lip Gelee: 

Again never tried it. I’m not really a fan of these kind of squeezy tube glosses though.

Solar Bits:

Never tried it.

Nail Lacquer:

Only have one. It’s ok but I prefer Barry M.

Shadestick:

Never tried it.

Paint:

Never tried it.

Paint Pots:

Never tried them but they are on my list!

Eye Shadow:

I do like their eyeshadows but I don’t think they are as amazing as people say they are. Good quality for the money but I prefer the texture of things like Urban Decay or NARS.

Pigment:

Blue Brown is just phenomenal! I only have the little Christmas vials but I do love ‘em.

Glitter:

I like them and I know they have some fairly unique colours but I wouldn’t use them enough to justify a full sized jar.

Eye Kohl:

Never used but I’m planning on picking up Feline and the metallic one when Champale comes out in Jan.

Chromaline:

Never tried.

Fluidline:

Used it once at a MAC event and honestly prefer my ELF one.

Liquid Last Liner:

Never used.

Lustre Drops:

Never used.

False Lashes:

Never used them. I’m rubbish at applying falsies so I stick to the cheap eBay ones.

ProLash Mascara,Zoom Lash Mascara,Plush Lash Mascara, Dazzle Lash Mascara:

Never tried them. To be honest I haven’t heard great things about them.

What has been your favourite Mac collection to date?

Since I’ve been buying from them probably In The Groove.

Which Mac collection, in your opinion, do you think was disappointing, if any?

Fabulous Felines. I wanted to love everything but it was only ok.

What products do you think Mac are missing?

I think MAC have a pretty comprehensive line really, especially when you take the pro line into account.

Wow when you look at my answers it seems like I’ve never stepped in a MAC store! I can promise you I have, on many occasions. I just don’t think that MAC is the be all and end all. I will be picking up two things from the Champale collection but I’m not crazy about any of the upcoming collections to be honest. That can only be a good thing for my purse!

Thank you Amelia for tagging me and I tag absolutely anyone who wants to do this. If you do do this tag then be sure to link to it in the comments xxx

A couple of MAC staples: Satin Taupe and Club

There are some MAC shadows that are constantly popping up in peoples favourites lists or ‘staple’ shades. These two certainly fall into that category. I know you’ve seen these a thousand times but I have them now and I’m swatching them so there :p

 

Satin Taupe is what it says on the tin. It leans quite brown though on the taupe spectrum (though I have heard some people say it pulls purplish on them, I personally don’t see that). It’s shimmery but not overly frosty, I like to use it in my crease with Bourois Brun Nylon on the lid. 

Club is a deep reddish brown which flashes blue/green. It’s a subdued version of Blue Brown pigment. I like them both but for different things. If you’re after a really strong duo chrome effect go for the pigment, if you want something a bit more subtle go for Club. 

Are they worth the hype? I think so. I get a lot of use out of both of them. Satin Taupe is a basic neutral and Club is an interesting twist on the theme. I’m done now, an original post will pop up soon I promise... x

*I bought these. Please someone stop me buying eyeshadows?*

Sample Sunday: MAC Pro Long Wear Foundation

My mission to work my way through my box of samples continues with the latest foundation release from MAC. I was given this sample after explaining to the MUA that last time I’d been matched at MAC for a foundation I’d been given the Studio Fix powder in NC20 which had made me look that I had a severe liver problem. She gave me a sample of this in NW20 (apparently they only go down to 20 in the Pro Long Wear range) along with a sample of the Studio Fix Fluid in NW15. I was really hoping this colour would match me as I’ve been curious about this foundation since it came out. The little jar provided 3 days worth of product so I’ve been giving it a good trial run over the last few days. 

MAC say this is “A long-wear foundation that gives up to 15 hours of wear in any environmental condition. Lightweight and creamy, applies smoothly to provide sheer to medium coverage.  Even in hot and humid conditions, controls oil to keep skin fresh, natural and flawless. Provides everyday SPF protection.”

I would call it medium coverage but it is buildable. I added an extra layer on my cheeks with no caking today. The finish is really nice. It looks really natural. It sets to a satin finish so it doesn’t make me look oily though I always powder liquid foundation especially on my oily t-zone. It lasts a good four to five hours on me before I need to blot (which is very good going on my skin)but bear in mind that this is in the current weather. In warmer weather it wouldn’t last as long. 

The only thing I’m not sure off is the colour. The NW shade does seem to be better on me which is weird given how adamant the MUA was that either would do because I’m so neutral. In summer NW would be perfect but it’s maybe a fraction too dark right now. The MAC site shows NC15 so I have no idea why they don’t do an NW 15 too! 

Will I buy a full sie bottle? I’m quite tempted actually. I will wait until spring as I’m only going to get paler over the winter so this will end up being too dark. The online picture looks like it has a built in pump which wins it major brownie points. Over all I like it, I just wish they did it in NW15! x

MAC A Tartan Tale Smoky Thrillseekers Pigment Set

Two quick things before I begin. Firstly speaking as a Scot the Tartan Tale collection was a disappointment. It was all a bit tourist shop tacky to me. Nonetheless the holiday pigment sets represent such good value for money I picked one up anyway. Secondly hats off to MAC’s customer service girls! I ordered this online and was quite upset when it arrived in the post with red glitter everywhere and shards of glass everywhere too. One of the pigments was destroyed during transit and pretty much destroyed everything else too. I rang customer services and they could not have been more helpful or apologetic. Within a week my replacement set was here. My point is that s**t happens and parcels will sometimes get ruined in the post. It’s how customer services deal with this that makes the difference between a disappointed customer and a really pleased customer. So thanks MAC!

Anyway in these sets you get four mini pigments and a mini reflects/ glitter. It costs £27.50 for 5 vials. They are smaller than normal pigments but I believe gram for gram you get a bit more for your money and It’s almost unheard of for someone to finish a full sized jar. In this set you have Jigs & Jive, Naked, Blue Brown, Dark Soul and Reflects Blackened Red Glitter. I know Blue Brown is permanent and I’m sure Naked is too. Jigs and Jives is definitely exclusive to the set though. Here they are swatched on bare skin. From top to bottom is Blue Brown, Naked, Reflects Blackened Red, Jigs and Jives and Dark Soul. 

Look at the gorgeousness of Blue Brown. It’s a warm red brown in some lights and a greenish teal in others. Like Club on performance enhancing drugs. Dark Soul is a lovely charcoal with silver flecks, Jigs and Jives is a lovely neutral taupe and naked is a pale cream highlight shade. I’ve been playing with them for a few days now and they go on smoothly and don’t fade or crease on me. Would I pay £15 for a full sized pigment? Maybe not. But if any of next year’s sets appeal to me colour wise I’ll definitely snap them up x

*I bought this myself*