Matte2 and Mattene: Mind Your Composure During Tete-A-Tetes

Here's a look using products from MAC's new collections, specifically, my favorites from these new arrivals - Mattene lipstick in Composure and Matte2 eyeshadow in Tete-A-Tint. I've already explained in the previous entry why I love these 2 products, so now I'll just let the pictures do the talking. I also featured my favorite NARS blush, Sin. I have several NARS blushes, but this one is my all-time favorite. It really perks up my complexion, IMO, and for me (and for many women as well), NARS powder blushes are the kings (or queens) of blush staying power. It lasts a whopping 10-12 hours on me without touch-ups, and God knows how oily my skin can be, expecially during summer.







Eyes:
MAC Beige-ing shadestick as base
MAC Painterly paint pot on lid
MAC Melon pigment foiled using MAC mixing medium on lid
MAC Matte2 eyeshadow in Tete-a-Tint on and above crease
MAC Cloudbound eyeshadow from the Pandamonium quad to highlight and on inner corners
MAC Matte2 eyeshadow in Handwritten on outer V
Graphic brown fluidline
black mascara
false lashes

Face:
Camellia Rose skin smoothing primer
Meow Flawless Feline foundation in Naughty Abyssinian and Pampered Puss foundation in Fierce Manx (mixed)
Mary Kay undereye concealer in Ivory topped with
Bare Escentuals Well Rested
Bare Escentuals mineral veil
MAC Emote blush to contour
NARS blush in Sin

Lips:
Rimmel lipliner in Epic
MAC Mattene lipstick in Composure

MAC Matte2 and Mattene Look, Reviews, Swatches

Pardon the quality of these two pictures; these were taken using a crappy camera phone

Matte2:

I did a look using Matte and Mattene products, but first I am posting some swatches of these in addition to the swatches I posted in the previous entry. I am glad Matte2 is permanent so I don't need to stock up should I run out of my favorite colors. I am loving Newly-Minted (I saw the MA today wear it packed on the lid with Chrome Yellow in the crease, and it looked totally amazing), Fig. 1, Flourishing, Post Haste, Tete-A-Tint, heck, everything, except maybe Pen N Pink because it's much too pale on me. Tete-A-Tint is the perfect transition color: those boring hues you use to blend with other colors to show the gradient or progression of the shades. Flourishing is a deep, dark olive that can be used for a neutral or smoky look, depending on the amount of product you use or what colors you use to blend with it. Fig. 1 is a beautiful, rich, grape-purple matte shadow that is totally goes well with plums, pinks, and everything in between. The deeper ones like Graphology and Typographic are just perfect for smoky looks; however, if you have similar colors, these are probably not must-haves. Post-haste is very similar to Passionate, and both of them are matte as well, although the matteness of Post-haste is much more buttery and easier to blend. Brown-script and Handwritten are beautiful neutral browns. They are not must-haves because these can be duplicated by most existing MAC brown shadows. The advantage of Brown-script and Handwritten however are the rich, uber-pigmented formula (that is perfect for taking pictures, by the way, because it doesn't clash with the flash), and the fact that there is very little fall-out when you use these. You know those annoying dustings of product that fall on your cheekbones or under your eyes? There is very minimal fall-out (or even none at all) with Matte2.



I got Inkspill Liquidlast liner, and it's totally up my alley, being the green girl that I am. I plan on getting Coco Bar too, it really makes the eyes pop and draws attention to your lashline. Just gorgeous.

Mattene:





Can you say love? I am amazed at the wonderful texture of these lipsticks even though they are supposed to be matte, or semi-matte for that matter. I abhor totally matte lipsticks that make my lips chap and turn them into a flaky mess. The old MAC matte lipstick formulas did that to my lips. With the advent of the new Mattene lippies, though, flakies are a thing of the past (well, sort of, unless they make Mattene permanent because I heard they're not). I sooo love the packaging; they are in these slim tubes of Slimshines but are coated lovingly, luxuriously in rubber, and thus look much more sophisticated than the Slimshines. The pigmentation is amazingly rich, and these look great alone or worn under lipglasses. The advantage of these over the regular lipsticks is of course the amazing staying power. When I swatched these on my arm, I had to scrub my skin really hard before they were completely erased. Trying them on my lips one after the other was not a good idea as well because the previous lipstick stained, making the new one take on the undertones of the former because of the residue color. I love the beautiful reds/plums like Rapturous and Rougette, they really brighten my entire face. I have to layer them though with a warmer lipgloss because they have cool undertones that don't flatter my skin when used alone. I used Flattering in my look below, and I just felt naked without my lipgloss that I had to use my new Soft and Slow lipglass over it. The shade that I would probably wear alone in all its glory is Composure. I am SO in love with this shade, I plan on getting at least two more. Beautiful shade that flatters my warm-toned skin, crazily pigmented, and very long-wearing. An A+ in my book.

MAC Lash:

I just saw the new lashes and I was totally floored by how beautiful they looked in person. Packaging was nifty, and I got dizzy with all the amazing styles I had to choose from. My SA was kind enough to help me pick the most natural-looking, yet lush lashes for more oomph. Here's what she chose for me:





And here's the EOTD/FOTD for today. Please pardon the wonky lashes:







Eyes:
MAC Beige-ing shadestick as base
MAC Moss Scape paint pot on lid
MAC Gorgeous Gold inner to mid lid
MAC Matte2 eyeshadow in Flourishing on lid and crease
MAC Cloudbound eyeshadow (love this!) from the Pandamonium quad to highlight and on inner corners
MAC Humid eyeshadow on outer V
Meow Feliner in Purr mixed with MAC mixing medium to line
black mascara

Face:
Camellia Rose skin smoothing primer
Meow Flawless Feline foundation in Naughty Abyssinian and Pampered Puss foundation in Fierce Manx (mixed)
Mary Kay undereye concealer in Ivory topped with
Bare Escentuals Well Rested
Bare Escentuals mineral veil
MAC Emote blush to contour
Lumiere veena mineral blush in Cinnamon
MAC Northern Lights MSF over blush

Lips:
MAC lipliner in Whirl
MAC Mattene lipstick in Flattering
MAC lipglass in Soft and Slow

MAC Matte2 and Mattene Product Images and Swatches

Reviews to follow, but let me say I am so in love with Matte2 (read as Matte-squared) and Mattene's texture! Gone are the hard-to-blend, dry as the desert matte formulas - the new formulas glide like butter on the skin, uber-pigmented, beautiful, rich colors, and the product really clings to the skin so staying power is really great. Just beautiful. MAC has another winner in Mattene and Matte2!

Mattene:





Matte2:





Here's Plush Lash as well:

In Focus: Aromaleigh Lipsticks and Glosses

Last week, I posted a look where I had used Aromaleigh lipstick in Sheen. One of my readers then requested for Aromaleigh lip products' swatches. I try to grant my readers' requests whenever I have the ability to do so, and tonight being a pretty laid-back evening for me, I decided to make some Aromaleigh lipstick and gloss swatches. It glides easily on the lips, finish is polished matte. The matte formula doesn't make my lips chap, either. I'd say it's not totally matte, sort of semi-matte, and the staying power is pretty good. The downside: I get a sort of tingling sensation on my lips when I wear these, especially when topped with glosses. I don't know, is there an ingredient in it that I am not aware of? I thought I was only imagining it, until I read reviews on Makeup Alley that say the same thing. I really do not like stinging lip products (like those lip venom smackers), but Aromaleigh's tingle is not too strong to warrant a vehement reaction from me. It doesn't make my lips tingle all the time, though; it just comes out in spurts.


ERRATUM: Upper left-most swatch should be Cameo, not Cognac.

The swatches reveal how nicely pigmented these lippies are. My favorites are - and take note - everything except Honey and Nougat. I don't like the yucky orange stain these leave on my lips. If you notice, these two are slightly red-orange in color, and orange looks horrendous on my skin tone, so I'll stay away from those next time. The rest of the lippies are just beautiful. I am almost done with Cameo and Brandy, and currently loving Marron, Sheen and Cognac. The latter is the perfect nude lipstick for me, it's perfect for my pigmented lips. Sheen is J.Lo-esque as stated on the website, and is perfect for those smoky eyes. Marron is beautiful if you want deep, dramatic lips, and I use this for touch-ups when I am at work. Cameo is a pretty pink-based lipstick, a bit on the cool side but I was surprised that this applied prettily on my warm-toned skin. All in all, Aromaleigh lipsticks are gorgeous and can rival any big cosmetics company lippies in terms of pigmentation, staying power and texture.



The lip glosses have the addicting chocolate-citrus scent of the lipsticks, and these have gorgeous, luscious, wet-shine colors. The downsides for me are the click-pen packaging and the staying power. The click-pens hold a small amount of product that gets wasted because the tip spurts out product in blobs. The staying power is so-so, but I am more forgiving because this is in liquid form, and I rarely see glosses with unbelievable staying power anyway. This would last long though if it is layered over Aromaleigh lipsticks. The combination of the two is just gorgeous.

My favorites are the three neutral glosses on the top row, and Dare (love the lilac color!). I like Yum the least for the same reason as Honey and Nougat lipsticks - Yum creates the dreaded orange lips effect.

I know the next question is: would I buy these again? The answer is yes. The awesome colors, great color pay-off and the wonderful scent are enough reasons for me to covet these babies. Aromaleigh also has a revolving sale (different clearances every week), so it's nice to wait for sales of these. You also get free samples of their other products with your order, and that's a neat extra as well.

MAC New Lashes and Plush Lash

Just as I had just mentioned in the previous entry that I think falsies are not an everyday thing, MAC refutes my statements with a slap - and with enticing images of their new line of lashes. MAC entreated the services of celebrity lash designer Christina Smith, and she created breathtaking Lash styles with original, new features and improved packaging. She even created absolutely natural-looking lashes, so much so that, hey, I can actually wear those everyday! Read on...

MAC COSMETICS LAUNCHES NEW LASHES

CREATED BY CELEBRITY MAKE-UP ARTIST AND LASH DESIGNER CHRISTINA SMITH

Lashes have reached a whole new level… No longer are lashes just for special nights out or glamorous events, they have become an everyday staple being worn by women of all ages.

This fall, MAC takes Lashes to the extreme – whether it’s a natural effect or a more dramatic look you want, it’s easily achieved with the re-launch of MAC Lashes. Acclaimed celebrity lash designer Christina Smith who has designed custom lashes for Hollywood leading ladies including Liza Minnelli, Kate Hudson, Hayden Panettiere and Gisele Bundchen, created 11 exclusive Lash styles with original, new features and streamlined packaging.


NEW LASH FEATURES AND BENEFITS:

Color – MAC Lashes have a unique blend of black and brown natural hairs, so they blend more naturally with your own lashes. Great for even the fairest of lashes.

Clear Band – MAC Lashes feature a ground-breaking thin, clear band for easy application and flexibility. Lashes can move, bend and blend.

Shorter Width – Say goodbye to trimming false lashes to fit. MAC’s newly designed Lashes have a shorter width, so they fit comfortably to the length of your natural lash line.

Intentional Imperfection – No two lashes are the same or perfectly symmetrical. MAC created intentional imperfections in each lash design to create a more natural effect.

NEW LASH PACKAGING:

The new MAC Lashes are packaged in a unique white tray that holds the lashes around a circular post. The post is used for ease of identification, with the left lash on the left side, and the right lash on the right. The white inner tray slides into a clear outer case and locks into place for secure portability. In addition to beautifully displaying the lashes, the new case also allows for easy storage and reuse.

LASH CARE:

MAC Lashes will last through approximately 3-6 wears, with proper care. When removing Lashes from packaging or the lash line, gently lift one end and peel off slowly and carefully to keep Lashes intact. Store lashes in a cool, dry area as humidity or warm temperatures (often found in the bathroom) may compromise the curl of the lash.

Lash Styles, Pricing and Availability:

MAC Lashes retail for $11.00 USD and will be available on counter OCTOBER 2007.

#30: Individual lashes. Three lengths available in one package for the ultimate customization.

#31: Natural style length with a wispy texture. Perfect for those who want fullness every day.

#32: Natural style length that includes a combination of lash bundles and individual hairs for a natural fullness.

#33: Natural style length. Separate lash bundles give a flirty fringe.

#34: Slightly more dramatic length. Wispy texture with winged corners.

#35: Slightly more dramatic in length. Separate lash bundles for fullness above the iris, which creates a wide-eyed look. (MAC Store Exclusive)

#36: A full lash favorite that creates a naturally dramatic look.

#37: Most dramatic length. Theses Lashes are the biggest, fullest and longest (MAC Store Exclusive)

#38: Natural style length with a wispy texture. This half lash adds subtle fullness to the outer corner of the eye (MAC Store Exclusive)

#39: For the lower lash line. Natural style length with a wispy texture. Perfect for those of us who want extra fullness for lower lashes (MAC Store Exclusive)

#40: For the lower lash line. Natural style length. Combines lash bundles and individual hairs. (MAC Store Exclusive)

M∙A∙C Lashes should be used with a safe lash adhesive. Try Duo Adhesive available on www.maccosmetics.com $8.00 USD.




































MAC also features a new redesigned mascara called Plush Lash:







THE POWER-COMBO OF UNIQUE FORMULA AND
WELL-DESIGNED WAND COME TOGETHER IN PLUSH LASH,
A NEW MASCARA DESTINED TO CHANGE THE WAY
YOU CREATE A DYNAMIC FRINGE FOR YOUR EYES.
START WITH THE WAND. SPECIALLY DESIGNED TO
INCORPORATE A V-SHAPED GROOVE THAT
PRUNES THE BRISTLES ON ONE SIDE
WHILE LEAVING THE OTHER SIDE FULL AND LUSH.
THE SHORT-BRISTLES COAX THE LASHES UPWARD TO
AN EXTRORDINARILY SOPHISTICATED YET FLIRTATIOUS CURL,
WHILE THE OTHER SIDE SEPARATES AND
COMBS THE LASHES ROOT-TO-TIP
CREATING A LONG, WELL-DEFINED GLAMOUR LASH.
ADD THE LUXURIOUSLY INTENSE, PLUMPING,
NON-CLUMPING, CONDITIONING FORMULA OF
THIS INNOVATIVE MASCARA.

Plush Lash Profile

Instantly plump up lashes for over-the-top voluptuous volume. Contains natural humectant sodium hyaluronate, pro vitamin B5 conditions the lash, while the vitamin E derivative acts as and antioxidant. The combination of waxes and film formers allow for super even and smooth application. Double “V” groove design and hollow, tightly interwoven filaments allow product to sit on top of the brush and in the feed grooves providing very good volumizing and quick building performance. Use flat side first to push lashes upward and curl. Separate and comb lashes with longer bristles. Ophthalmologist-tested and suitable for wear with contact lenses.

Plush Lash

Plushblack Deep black

Brunette Chocolate brown

Suggested Retail Price: $11.00 U.S./$13.00 CDN

Available

October 5, 2007at all M·A·C locations,

1.800.387.6707 and www.maccosmetics.com

Silver Greys With Falsies (and Dayna's Juiced)

This is my first time to try false lashes in 5 years, and it is SO not me. I do admit though that it adds some oomph to smoky eyes. I'll try to use other falsies so I can find which one suits my looks perfectly. It looks good for nights-out, but definitely not for every day. I used Silver Fog pigment for this look over Delft paint pot. Delft makes the silver pigment less flashy and more of bluish-silver instead of frosty, blinding silver. I blended Cumulus from the Blue Storm collection to the silver as well, to create a softer, more subtle hue.

I also used Dayna's blush in Juiced, and I love its pretty coral color. I've always been wary of coral-based mineral blushes because I thought it would look garish on my skin, but I was pleasantly surprised with this blush - it's not in-your-face but not shy to show its color either. It exudes pure fun!





Eyes:
MAC Beige-ing shadestick as base
MAC Delft paint pot on lid
MAC Silver Fog pigment foiled with MAC mixing medium on lid
MAC Knight Divine and Silver Ring eyeshadows on outer V and crease
MAC Nylon eyeshadow to highlight and on inner corners
MAC Lithograph fluidline
black mascara
false lashes

Face:
Camellia Rose skin smoothing primer
Meow Flawless Feline foundation in Naughty Abyssinian
Mary Kay undereye concealer in Ivory topped with
Bare Escentuals Well Rested
Bare Escentuals mineral veil
MAC Emote blush to contour
Dayna's mineral blush in Juiced

Lips:
MAC lipliner in Whirl
MAC lipstick in Rubia
MAC lipglass in Illicit

Meow Foundation, Lumiere Brushes, and MAC Pigments

The title sums up the main ingredients for this look. First of all, I used a new mix of Meow foundation for the first time today. I applied a combination of the Purrfect Puss foundation in Naughty Chartreux and Pampered Puss in Fierce Manx. I think this mix is a perfect match for my summer tan. The combination of the peach undertones in Chartreux and the strong yellow undertones in Manx complemented my strong yellow-olive undertones.

I also used my amazing Lumiere long-handled synthetic kabuki brush, and I love how evenly it applies mineral makeup, and how heavenly the synthetic hairs feel on my face; I'd like to think this is made of angel's hair. SO freakin' soft. Lumiere also has a fabulous pre-buy opportunity for you ladies out there who are looking for the perfect kabuki, flat-top, and all kinds of makeup brushes. Kim of Lumiere is selling these at a very steep discount for a limited time. The downside is that you have to wait a couple of months or more for these to arrive at your doorstep, but these are so worth the wait, and the dirt-cheap price can't be beat. Remember to read Lumiere's terms and conditions on the pre-buy brushes before placing an order. I just placed mine for two additional long-handled kabukis (I already have three of their short-handled ones; they're fab) and a large flat-top buffer brush. I wanted to get the set, but I just have WAY too many cheek and eye brushes by now.

Lastly, I used MAC pigments for this look, and I am loving MAC's pigments more and more everyday. I am always on the lookout for good online buys of MAC's limited edition pigments. They are so versatile and the amazing colors and beautiful texture allow me to squeeze my creative juices and think of a myriad of combinations of colors for my eye look. Again, I am sporting a subtle office look. That's the beauty of MAC pigments - you can go as conservative and as wild as you want in the color and application. Your imagination is your only limit.









Eyes:
MAC Beige-ing shadestick as base
MAC Revved-Up pigment foiled with MAC mixing medium on lid
MAC Apricot Pink pigment foiled with MAC mixing medium on lower lid
MAC Twinks eyeshadow on outer V
MAC Flirty Number eyeshadow on crease
MAC Ricepaper eyeshadow to highlight and on inner corners
MAC Graphic Brown fluidline
black mascara

Face:
Camellia Rose skin smoothing primer
Meow Purrfect Puss foundation in Naughty Chartreux mixed with Pampered Puss foundation in Fierce Manx
Mary Kay undereye concealer in Ivory topped with
Bare Escentuals Well Rested
Bare Escentuals mineral veil
MAC Emote blush to contour
NARS blush in Angelika

Lips:
MAC lipliner in Whirl
MAC lipstick in Sparks Can Fly
MAC lipglass in Lull

Dayna's Minerals Part II and Sonia Kashuk 224 Brush Dupe

Sorry for the delay, but here are some FOTDs featuring Dayna's Minerals. This time I used her PN shade, and though it looks a tad too light in the pics, it's my perfect shade when it is viewed in person. So I think I'd wear P3 when I take my pics and PN when I don't. Heh.

In my green look, I used Dayna's Tealy to line my upper and lower lashlines. It is one of the prettiest mineral teals I've seen, and wow was it pigmented! It looks great with and without foiling. I also used a green-brown mineral shadow that Dayna included in the package she sent me, but it doesn't have a name...I love it! I used it as a wash together with my MAC pigments and shadows.





Eyes:
MAC Beige-ing shadestick as base
MAC Moss Scape paint pot on lid
Dayna's green-brown mineral eyeshadow on lid
MAC Juxt eyeshadow inner to mid lid
MAC Night Light pigment on outer V
MAC Ricepaper eyeshadow to highlight and on inner corners
Dayna's Minerals in Tealy to line upper and lower lashline
black mascara

Face:
Camellia Rose Skin Smoothing primer
Dayna's mineral foundation in PN
Mary Kay undereye concealer in Ivory topped with
Bare Escentuals Well Rested
Bare Escentuals mineral veil
MAC Emote blush to contour
Dayna's glow in Rose Gold on cheeks

Lips:
MAC lipliner in Whirl
Aromaleigh lipstick in Sheen
MAC 3D glass in Optical

In this pink look, I used the same foundation shade. I used MAC Fresco Rose paint pot underneath the shadows and I just love the over-all effect of my eyeshadows when I use paint pots. Somehow they seem smoother, more polished. The shadows blend like a dream over them, as well. I used MAC's purples and pinks, but made them very subtle for office wear. I also used Meow's Feliner in De-clawed on the lower lashline and I get amazed everytime I use these liners. I believe these are Meow's best products, of course aside from their great foundations. Comparing Meow and Dayna's Minerals is like comparing apples to oranges. DM is a sheerer version of Monave, it has great coverage and finish is impeccable, whereas Meow has the lightest of feel to the skin and has relatively light to medium coverage. I love both and I would wear them depending on my needs.







Eyes:
MAC Beige-ing shadestick as base
MAC Fresco Rose paint pot on lid
MAC Swish and Stars N Rockets on lid
MAC Violet pigment on outer lid
MAC Entremauve pigment on outer V and crease
MAC Almond Icing eyeshadow to highlight and on inner corners
Meow Feliner in De-Clawed used with MAC mixing medium to line lower lashline
Almay Amazing I-liner (liquid liner)
black mascara

Face:
Camellia Rose Skin Smoothing primer
Dayna's mineral foundation in PN
Mary Kay undereye concealer in Ivory topped with
Bare Escentuals Well Rested
Bare Escentuals mineral veil
MAC Emote blush to contour
NARS Oasis blush

Lips:
MAC lipliner in Whirl
MAC lipstick in Sparks Can Fly
MAC lipglass in Atmospheric

Finally, here's my great buy for today - Kashuk Tools Blending Brush:



It's funnily shaped like a woman's body, and is twice more expensive than Sonia Kashuk's ordinary line of blending brushes. The hairs' texture is uncannily like MAC's 224 (yes, I compared them), their head circumference is more or less the same as well, and the application is just as great. I just find the odd-shaped handle a little hard to work with (the crook of my finger rests in between the "woman's" neck and breasts); but other than that, this is one great brush. The price is phenomenal, as well.

Sonia Kashuk brush image source: Target.com