M.A.C. | Beauty and Fashion Tech

Apr 15, 2013

Makeup Wars: Favorite Cream Eye Shadows

April 15, 2013 By Carleenp 10 Comments

This week, the Makeup Wars bloggers look at favorite cream and pencil shadows. My favorites in this area have long been MAC Paint Pots.

MAC Paint Pots go on creamy and smooth and dry to a silky finish that stays, and stays, and stays. There is no creasing and no fade. These things last! In fact, removal is a bit difficult, since a standard eye makeup remover often doesn't take them off. I use an oil cleanser such as DHC Deep Cleansing Oil to remove them.

MAC Paint Pots come is a multitude of shades, both regular and limited edition. Below are swatches of favorites from my collection.

Pictured in the sun are Indianwood, Runbenesque, Moss Scape, Nice Vice, Painterly, Constructivist, Delft, Artifact, Greenstroke, Fresco Rose, and Cash Flow.

Below are the same colors in the shade.

One of my favorite combinations is Painterly, which is a very neutral shade on fair skin and Constuctivist, which is a pretty brown/taupe shade. I like to pair these for a long wearing natural look. I have them on in the photo below.

See more favorite cream and pencil shadows at the links below!

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Filed Under: Eyeshadow, Makeup, Makeup Wars Tagged With: Eyeshadow, M.A.C., Makeup Wars

Apr 1, 2013

Makeup Wars: Unique New Spring Trends

April 1, 2013 By Carleenp 13 Comments

Press Samples

There are some really unique and fun spring trends this year and this week the Makeup Wars bloggers are featuring their favorites.

One of the more interesting trends to gain traction this season has been the retro Rockstar Barbie look, especially with women over age 40. The trend started when designer Allan Sherwood used the look to showcase his new 80’s inspired line during New York Fashion Week. From there, actresses Sandra Sisso and Ana Suarez jumped on the bandwagon, wearing the makeup look from the line to the Academy Awards. Given that women over 40 love these actresses and also remember the original looks well, it is no surprise that variations of it are being worn again by that age group.

Below is Sandra Sisso’s Oscar’s look.

Ana Suarez recently wore the look yet again when she posed for a particular magazine. I can’t show you the full picture on this one, so you can guess the magazine!

In case you don’t remember her, here is the original Rockstar Barbie. Given the rich culture, talented musicians, and inspiring fashion of the 80’s, I am not at all surprised to see these influences coming back as the latest trend.

To create an 80’s Rockstar Barbie look, all you need to do is grab pastels. A lot of pastels. MAC is usually pretty good for this (I think these were all press samples given to me for review).

I did a look up using various MAC items. Here it is. If you are going to do this look, don’t forget to add a fluffy scarf. It is a key element of the look. Also, although it is quite bright, women are wearing this as a daytime look, even wearing it to the office.

Another key to the look is to not blend your eye shadow and really play up the blush and lips (I am wearing MAC Matte Candy Yum Yum with a bit of sparkly lavender gloss over it) . Focus instead on strips of color. MAC paint pots work quite well for this.

Previously only younger women would go for looks like this, perhaps for parties or clubs. But now it is all the rage for women in the 40-60 age range. If you are a teen, show this to your mother. She will know all about it! If she doesn't, she will want to try it!

So, have you tried this look yet? If not, what are you waiting for! You can also see some great new trends for spring at the links below.

Update: April Fools!

Filed Under: Collections and Looks, Eyeshadow, Lip Products, Makeup, Makeup Wars Tagged With: Blush, Eyeshadow, Lip Products, Looks, M.A.C., Makeup, Makeup Wars

Feb 18, 2013

Makeup Wars, Travel Makeup

February 18, 2013 By Carleenp 18 Comments

This week’s Makeup Wars is pretty relevant to me since I am traveling to Texas as I write it. What do I pack for a weekend away? See below! Also, for information on air travel with makeup in your carry on bags, see my previous article: Flying With Makeup in Your Carryon.

Purely Pro Cosmetics, which I will be reviewing soon, sent me some samples in what turned out to be a great travel bag. So I am using that for this trip.

The bag folds out to reveal a number of pockets and holders, and it has a hook for hanging.

For makeup, I almost always travel with this Laura Mercier palette. It is no longer available, but Laura Mercier tends to have something similar out at any given time. I love this one because it has neutral shadows for day or evening looks, eye liner, cheek color, bronzer, and highlighter.

For the rest of my makeup, I have a Nars tinted moisturizer, Make Up For Ever Duo Mat Powder Foundation, a powder blush, and a variety of lip products. I usually grab one lip crayon one or two lipsticks and a gloss. Here I happen to have a Sonia Kashuk lipstick and gloss combo for that. I also always have a lip balm in there. Then, I add just a couple of brushes (here I have 2 Dara Z eye brushes and a MAC blush brush), a makeup sponge, and an eyelash curler. I have a sample size mascara here that I am trying to use up and a new Maybelline Lash Blast Length mascara that I am testing (and am not a big fan of so far, review coming soon) .

For makeup removal and skin care, I normally pack samples. On this trip, I remembered that MAC, way back, sent me some of their travel items. You can still get these as far as I know. They are nice basic items for travel, although the set includes Strobe Cream, which breaks me out something terrible, so I left that at home.

I had done a glitter bomb manicure the day before I left and I knew that it wouldn’t last the whole trip without chipping, so I also packed these Cutex nail polish remover pads. Having once had polish remover leak in my luggage, I love these for travel. That won’t ever happen to me again!