M.A.C. | Beauty and Fashion Tech

MAC Cosmetics and LAMB at New York Fashion Week (Milk Studios)

Fashion week has began! I love LAMB and always rush first to see what Gwen Stefani has new for us. For fall 2010 LAMB has some lovely pieces in various fall shades of gray, brown and black. Just in the first day’s material so far I have seen a trend among the shows toward mixing brown with gray and utilizing thigh high boots and stockings—a look that I really like.

I think the below combo of leather pants and interesting shirt is my favorite from the collection. I also love the dress and high boots.

Here is a group shot that gives a good look at much of the LAMB fall collection as a whole:

MAC Cosmetics did the makeup for the LAMB fashion show. The look featured heavy, smoky eyes with a bright fuchsia red lip. The look was very dramatic. I’m a fan! the face chart for the makeup look is below:

On a related note. Looking for makeup and fashion bargains? Check out the New York Fashion Week promotion from Open Sky for 25% beauty and fashion products. I am a shopkeeper there.

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MAC Warm and Cozy Collection

It seems like my inbox is already getting filled with spring collections, and yes, I know that the companies need to get that information out early, but it is still winter and, as much as I would like it to end (it is COLD in Chicago), it is just plain too early for me to be contemplating spring all that much. So, I particularly like MAC Cosmetics MAC Warm and Cozy Collection, which is perfect for post-holiday winter looks.

Here is what MAC says about it:

MAC WARM & COZY

A fireside fantasy far from the maddening crowd is undeniably appealing. Seek refuge in the warmth, the glow of skin rosy with Refined Golden Mineralize Skinfinish, Shadesticks in Cuddle, Nurture and Snuggle shades, cozy as a mug of cocoa on a bearskin rug. Care Blends Essential Oils in Sweet Orange + Lavender, or Grapefruit + Chamomile feels soothing and sultry when elements are harsh and extreme…add MAC signature innovation with Mineralize All-Over Moisture Lotion, a new permanent product, and see new radiance, revivified lustre, optimum health. Like going on retreat and communing with nature, it’s an earthly way to bring back what the city takes away, and a sensual solution to make life simple, but luxurious. Winter beauty begins here.

Available December 26, 2009 through February at all MAC locations.

The collection focuses on warm/neutral shades that can give a nice natural, slightly seductive, and well…warm, look.

Particularly nice are the new MAC Shadesticks (pictured right). These pretty eyeshadow sticks have a nice luminous glow to the shades. The collection also has a couple of pretty new nail polish shades

MAC Warm and Cozy is a limited edition collection. You can get it through February at MAC stores or online.

Note: This post is based in part on products given to me by the company. For more, please see my disclosures page.

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MAC Cosmetics Holiday Collection

MAC Cosmetics’ holiday collection this year is very pretty. While last year was bold , with bright red cases, this year focuses on soft shades and pretty silver cases. The MAC Magic, Mirth, & Mischief Collection is particularly nice, with some beautiful new shades of Dazzleglass. Below is the full collection at Nordstrom, including the Nordstrom exclusive MAC Lash Kit. Note that many of the palettes and individual items have multiple shades available. If you click the shopping boxes you will be able to see all of them. If you are reading this in the feed, the shopping links won’t show. Click the title to head to the site to see them there!

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MAC Holiday Nail Polish, Lucky Number from Magic Mirth & Michief

I fell in love with the MAC Holiday MAC Magic Mirth & Mischief Nail Lacquer in the shade Lucky Number as soon as I saw it in the store. Go figure that they were sold out of it though at both the MAC store and at Nordstrom! So I mail ordered it.

The light lavender shade is quite luminous, with silvery pigment running through it. A swatch is below.

The MAC holiday polish also wore particularly well for me. MAC nail polish always does, but I got longer than normal with this one. I suspect it is because I got good one coat coverage and didn’t use a top coat, so the lacquer wasn’t as thick on my nails.

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MAC Holiday Eye Kits and Swatches

I finally got myself out to the store to see the new MAC Cosmetics Holiday Collection! I really like the packaging this year. Everything is in pretty silver cases and the shades are particularly pretty. Included in the MAC Holiday line are four MAC Holiday Eye Palettes . Here they are with swatches. Unfortunately, the light was not the best for some of these, but hopefully they will give some sense of the shades.

The MAC Smoke and Mirrors Palette has neutral shades that allow for a smoky evening look or a natural day look,

The MAC Devil May Dare Eye Shadow Palette has nice fall shades, including a gorgeous green and burgundy. I almost bought this one, and still might order it.

The MAC Mystic Palette has vibrant and bright shades. The turquoise shade is particularly nice and very well pigmented.

The MAC Sorceress Eye Shadow Palette focuses on purple/gray shades and is quite lovely.

I also fell in love with the MAC Magic Mirth & Mischief Nail Lacquer in the shade Lucky Number, which is a neat silvery lavender shade. But it was sold out in both the MAC Store and at the Nordstrom store, so I ordered it online. I’ll have it up in a few days after it arrives!

Shop the MAC Holiday Collection at Holiday Makeup!

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MAC Volcanic Ash Thermal Mask and Exfoliator

MAC Volcanic Ash Thermal Mask is an interesting product. It is used on damp skin and heats up when it comes in contact with the water. So it feel warms as you rub it on. I have seen some complaints on various forums about the heating effect, but I rather liked it. The mask is quite hydrating, so I recommend it mostly for those with dry skin. One note of caution: It is very black! You probably want to use cheap cloths to wipe this one off. Or do what I did. Use it in the bath and rinse it off in there.

MAC Volcanic Ash Exfoliator has also made a return (read previous review), but this time in a tube instead of a tub–a welcome change for me! I absolutely love this scrub, and the tube makes it all the more easy to use. If you want a really good exfoliator, look no further than this one! It too is dark black—so use it in the shower! This item (the tub version) was on my Top 20 of 2008 list.

Note: This review was based on products sent to me by the compnay. For more information, please see my disclosure page.

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MAC Style Black Baby Goth Girl Nail Lacquer

I love, love, love, MAC Style Black Nail Polish in the shade Black Baby Goth. Interestingly though, it looks nothing like the swatch shown by MAC site. They show it as a light purple shade, but it really is a deep black purple that looks almost black in low light but shows frosted purple tones in bright light. It is a gorgeous shade.

Here is the website swatch. It isn’t very accurate:

Here is the MAC photo of the bottle, which is much closer:

And here it is swatched on my nails in indoor light, but using a flash:

MAC polish is also one of my favorite formulations (my other being Sally Hansen Salon polishes). It applies nicely and wears very well. I am terribly hard on nails, but usually I can keep MAC from chipping for several days.

Note: This review is based on a product provided to me by the company. For further information on my policies, including those concerning reviews of free products, please see my disclosures page.