Mac

My Small Mac Eyeshadow Collection

- Vicki 30 Comments

I’m not one of those people that needs to buy the latest Mac Collection & don’t often go to their counter, I tend to save my Mac purchases for the airport (not that often) and buy them duty free. The Few Mac eyeshadows I have I love & wear them all often. There is a common neutral theme, but I don’t wear bright shadows so it makes more sense for me to invest in colours I will reach for time and time again. I do like the quality of Mac shadows and with a Primer I find they last all day but they’re not the best quality I have ever tried. So I’m not in a huge rush to own every colour they have, although I do want Cranberry & Mulch.

Mac Eeyeshadows

Mac Makeup

I have 8 Mac Shadows, I did have Nylon but just didn’t use it enough so I passed it on to a friend. The colours I have are,

A Wish Come True 3g – (ltd edition)  This is from the Tartan Tale Colour Collection. This isn’t heavily pigmented but its a very pretty pink shade with a frost finish. I use it mostly in the inner corner of my eye, its brightening and is pretty when the light hits & picks up the subtle silver frost finish.

Amber Lights 1.5g – Oh how I love this shade Its a shade I always recommend to friends. It’s a lovely buttery shadow with great pigmentation. You can use it lightly all over the lid for a really nice light copper tone or build it up to give an intense deep orange / copper colour. This is another frost finish, it has a gorgeous metallic look to it. Its well loved in my collection.

Sweet Heat Extra Dimension Eyeshadow 2g – (ltd edition) This gives such an intense almost wet look on the eyelids, its a is a brown/bronze/taupe colour with a gorgeous metallic finish. This feels like silk and applies so easily with very little blending needed. Its one of the prettiest eyeshadows I own.

Woodwinked 1.5g – This is my most worn shadow & I simply adore it. Mac describe it as a ‘warm antique gold’ shade. I find this colour easy to wear. Its easy to blend & often I wear it on it own all over the lid. It’s my lazy day eye look, which still looks put together. If you don’t already have this shade you should invest as its just gorgeous.

Mac Beluga 1.5g – I was lucky enough to win this at Christmas in Laura Lou’s Xmas giveaway. So it is a little out of my comfort zone in terms of colour (as you can see by my neutral colour addiction). Mac describe Beluga as a ‘dark charcoal with multi-dimensional pearl’ (with a Veluxe finish), I think in some lights it look like they have a green undertone and a gold shimmer. Its very pretty & perfect for a smokey eye. I need to work with it a little more as my smokey eye can often look like I have been punched or just applied far too much makeup.

Satin Taupe 1.5g – This is a staple in my makeup bag as Its a great all over the lid shade or it can be worn with so many other shades. It’s such a versatile colour. It doesn’t look like much in the pot but on the lid the slight silver shimmer gives it a very pretty finish and its such a wearable neutral shade. I think this is a must have shade for any beauty lover. This is a frost finish

Bisque 1.5g- This is the shadow I wear when I’m wearing very little makeup as its a very light beige shade that evens out the colour on my eyelids without it looking like you’re wearing any eyeshadow at all. Its much loved in my collection even though it looks like quite a boring shade in the pan. Its the ultimate neutral and has a matte finish. Not one I’d urge you to run out and buy but I am glad i have it in my collection. Its good as a transition colour too. I think Mac have now discontinued this shade (sad face)

Naked Lunch 1.5g – This is such an easy to wear colour, it gives your eyes a brightness and looks so pretty. Its a light peachy pink with a frosted finish. It also makes a nice inner corner highlight shade as the champagne sheen isn’t too glitzy one thing to note it that It doesn’t wear long on me without a primer. That being said its a popular colour in my collection.

Mac Eyeshadows

Top – botton – Sweet Heat // Amber Lights // Woodwinked

Mac

L-R – Woodwinked // Amber Lights // Sweet Heat

Mac Eyeshadows are generally £12.50 

What are your favourite Mac shadows, are there any in your collection you’d recommend?

Five Favourites for January

- Vicki 25 Comments

Favourites

Urban Decay De Slick Makeup Setting Spray £19.50 – I spray this on top of my moisturiser before my foundation and then again on top of my foundation for that little extra layer of protection. This Urban Decay Setting Spray is one of the best products I have tried that actually keeps not only my makeup in place and looking fresh but it also helps control my excess oil & thats exactly what I need. Love this stuff.

Origins Make a Difference Treatment Lotion £20.00- I love this whole range it’s good for calming skin and keeping it hydrated. So perfect if you suffer with blemishes and angry breakouts. I pop a good amount on to a cotton pad and sweep it across my face, I do this in the morning as it leaves my skin so smooth and it feels ready for my moisturiser. It really freshens my skin in the morning & I love using it.

Kiehl’s Creme de Corps* – This body lotion is so hydrating and it feels lovely on my skin. As I only have a little pot I save this to use when I travel up to Scotland & I just think it is the perfect grown ups body lotion. It leaves your skin smooth & hydrated & not greasy at all.

Five Favourites

Mac Rubanesque Paint Pot £15 – I use this mostly as a base / primer when I wear a particular Inglot shadow – number 605 (a burnt orange shade). The paintpot makes the Inglot shadow really stand out & lasts all day. I do wear it on its own too and it is pretty, I would describe it as a peachy orange with a slight metallic finish. Compared to Maybelline Colour Tattoo’s these are quite expensive but I have had this for over a year and it hasn’t dried out at all. It is very good quality and the colour is quite unusual too. So well worth the splurge.

Mac Woodwinked Eyeshadow £12.50 – This is my most worn shadow & I simply adore it. Mac describe it as a ‘warm antique gold’ shade. I find this colour easy to wear, I have brown eyes and think it works well. Its easy to blend & often I wear it on it own all over the lid. Its my lazy day eye look, which still looks put together. If you don’t already have this shade you should invest as its just gorgeous.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

September 2013 Favourites

- Vicki 6 Comments

September 2013 Favourites

Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin

I adore this perfume, my husband buys it for me every Christmas and it is my signature scent. Its beautiful  and smells very citrus. It is my perfume I save for weekends and special occasions. Jo Malone products make the most special gifts as they always come beautifully wrapped.

Rimmel Lash Accelerator Mascara

This give my lashes length and separates them too. It makes them look amazing and like I have really healthy long lashes. I have black and find the colour to be intense and a true deep black. I like the formula and how amazing it makes my lashes look

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer

Took me a while to actually get around to using this as I thought it was going to be similar to the Collection one that is raved about – that one doesn’t seem to work on me as I have very dehydrated under eye and it just settles in every fine line. I was surprised to discover this Rimmel one is creamy and blends really well. The colour also matches me better and I get good coverage. It’s a fantastic drugstore concealer. I have the shade Soft Beige.

Diorshow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum

This was a purchase totally inspired by Estee from Essie Button. If you’re looking for a product that gives your lashes that false lash look this is totally it. It’s a white primer that you apply before your regular foundation. It lengthens, separates and makes my lashes look so thick and long. It’s a miracle worker. I get lots of compliments when I wear it.

Origins Brighter By Nature High Potency Brightening Peel

These are a great way of exfoliating the skin and removing all dead skin, keep skin looking bright and radiant. They also help minimise blemish dark spots. I use them once a week after I’ve used a face mask and had a pamper session. They keep my skin soft and fresh and also keep my blemishes at bay.

Mac Minerlize Satin Finish Foundation SPF 15

I always forget I have this foundation, its my perfect winter shade NC25. I love the finish its a little dewy but doesn’t leave me looking greasy or shiny. It gives a light coverage which I like so it leaves your skin looking like skin 7 your freckles will show through. I have re discovered it and been enjoying is all over again. I think they have stopped making this – which is sad.

Pixi Lash Line Ink

For  a precise eyeliner look this is the bee’s knees. You can apply it so close to the upper lashes that it looks almost like you’re not wearing eyeliner. It is a felt tip nip and at first I found it tricky to use but now I have the hang of it I can achieve a really clean look. You can use it for a really pretty cat flick look. It’s very intense black and although it’s not waterproof it has really good staying power.

September 2013 Faves

Mac Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Rubenesque

This is a pretty burnt orange colour, It’s creamy and pigmented. I want to say that it has a slight frosty look to it. I often wear this all over the lid i love how effortless cream shadows are. I’ve worn it under a pretty gold shade from Inglot and it makes a really good base. I only own 2 Mac paintpots and out of the two this is by far my favourite.

HD Brow Palette in FOXY

This came in a Glossybox last year – I use the warm brown shade for my brows and really like the natural look it gives. I go over the top with my N07 brow gel & together they’re a good team. This palette is going to last me forever.

Mac In Extra Dimension Eye shadow in Sweet Heat

This shadow is so unbelievably pretty. Its one that can be worn wet too & that makes the colour so intense. It is a beautiful shimmery brown. It’s another product from my stash that I have re discovered & it deserves to be worn. Too pretty to sit in a draw.

elf nail polish

elf Nail Polsih – from the Glam Bam Set

This is a really pretty deep plum colour with gold shimmer running through. I didn’t expect this polish to last long on my nails but It didn’t chip until the 4th day of wearing it. It has a lovely sheen to it. It does come in a set of 3 but the other colours are nice too. They are quite nice Xmas Party colours.

Wow, I didn’t realise I had so many favourites this month and 3 of those being Mac, not a brand I buy from that often. Let me know if we share any of the same favourites.

Favourite Products of December 2012

- Vicki 6 Comments

We’re already a week into January 2013 but I still wanted to let you know what I had been loving in December 2012. I had a low-key December and I think my products reflect that. So before I start rambling I will get right into it.

December 2012 Favourites

Benefit Boi-ing Concealer – I use this to cover really unsightly blemishes and ones that are super red. I find this quite heavy and so only use it when nothing else will work and this stuff doesn’t budge. Covergirl lashblast 24hr Waterproof Mascara – this is a great mascara for giving quite dramatic lashes especially if you’ve really curled your eyelashes. It’s so black i love my mascara to be uber black and again it doesn’t budge.

Vivo Colour Block Palette in Unprotected. This is a palette I reach for over and over again. The colours are all lovely and I am a neutral eyeshadow girl so this has  everything I need. It’s also the palette I take away on holiday without fail. I’ve done a more in depth post on this palette with swatches – here if you want to have a read. Chanel Eyeshadow in Safari 45 – this is the prettiest taupe with a hint of shimmer. It’s so soft and blends like a dream.

MUA Pink Shimmer Kisses Blusher – This has been in my makeup bag since I bought it a couple of months ago. I have worn it so much. You can make it a light wash of colour or go for a more intense colour. It’s so versatile. MUA have done it again. Top marks for this. I’ve done a blog post about this here. YSL Perfect Touch Radiance Foundation – I have used this foundation for about 3 years now and it is my old faithful. It give a really beautiful coverage which I would say was medium and it gets better throughout the day. It settles down to look flawless and gives your skin a really healthy glow. I will always have a tube of this. It makes my skin look younger and so healthy.

December Favourites 2012

Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser –  spf 20 in the shade nude. This is a really lovely lightweight tinted moisturiser. It feels so nice on the skin, it’s quite a sheer coverage but that’s perfect for days when you’re not wanting to apply a full face of makeup. It really has some staying power too. It applies smoothly on the face and gives you such a fresh-faced look and I love it. Garnier Caffeine Anti-dark Circles 2-in-1 Roll-on Medium – This is great to add a little flash of colour under the eye and look more awake. It’s not the best coverage and it’s a little watery but I tap it in and it gives you a more awake look. I’ve blogged about this here with swatches.

No7 Lash and Brow Perfector – This just works. It tames my unruly brows. What more could I want? The Body Shop Cranberry Joy Lip Balm – This smells so festive and has a shimmer to it. So it was perfect for December. It’s not very moisturising but it does give your lips a hint of colour and also shimmer. So very festive.

Murad Exfoliating blemish Treatment Gel – this has really calmed my breakouts and it helps reduce the redness and size of blemishes. I use it morning and night when I have a breakout. Mac Sheer Pressed Powder – I’ve been using this to set my foundation. I have been a little more greasy than normal and I have found a light dusting of this across my forehead and chin makes my foundation stay put.

So they were my December favourites. If you’ve blogged about your December favourites leave me a link in the comments.