MAC Fresh Green Mix Look

Here's a look featuring my favorite green mineral eyeshadow from MAC, Fresh Green Mix from the Electroflash collection. I loved each and every look I come up with using this.





I also used Henna, Greensmoke, and Humid for this look.


I used DreamWorld Mineral foundation for this look. I love this brand of mineral makeup. As I stated in my Comprehensive Review of Mineral Foundations I've Tried, it gives a radiant complexion because it is not entirely matte, but not shimmery either. It de-flats one's skintone and makes it look bright, and DreamWorld has awesome finishing powders (creme toppings and whipped cocoons) that will suit every skin type. As you can see in my looks, I use DreamWorld's finishing powders quite often.

Here's a step-by-step. All products MAC unless otherwise provided.


Apply Bare Canvas paint all over lid, brows, and lower lashline. Smooth product on the lid with finger. Using a fluffy shader brush, apply Greenstroke paint pot on lid. Using Loew Cornell Maxine's Mop 3/8" or the 239 brush (stiff shader brush), apply solid side of Fresh Green Mix foiled (using Charged Water) on lid.


Using another stiff shader brush (I used Sonia Kashuk's small eyeshadow brush), apply the melange side of Fresh Green Mix on the crease, going down to the outer lid.


Using the 224 brush, apply Henna on the lid.


Using the Sonia Kashuk blender brush, apply Greensmoke on outer V and crease. Blend with the 224.


Using the Sonia Kashuk blender brush, apply Humid on the crease, then blend again using the 224.




Using the 227 brush, apply Vanilla pigment on the crease, and use Coastal Scents mini detail brush to apply Vanilla pigment on inner corners.


Using the Sonia Kashuk mini-detail brush, apply the solid side of Fresh Green Mix on inner to mid lower lashline, and Humid on outer lower lashline. Use Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Zero to tightline and on waterline. Apply Almay liquid liner in Black. Apply mascara.












Face:
Monistat gel as primer
DreamWorld mineral foundation in 50-50 mix of Theia and Amenti (Luna formula)
Urban Decay 24/7 pencil concealer
Dayna's Rested mineral undereye concealer
DreamWorld Creme Topping(finishing powder) in Peach Creme (clay and silica formula)
MAC duo blush in Tigerlily/Bloomsberry

Lips:
MAC lipliner in Whirl
MAC lipstick in Brave
MAC lipglass in Trifle

Golds and Bronzes Using MAC Eyeshadows

Here's some golds and bronzes using my MAC stash. I love how bright the gold is, but the bronze and browns tone it down to look like almost neutral.






I used Gold Mine on the lid, Tempting on the crease, and Bronze on outer V and to contour crease.



A couple of weeks ago, I received this brand-new in box Graphic Brown fluidline that I bought from this girl in a MAC makeup community. Graphic Brown is limited edition, and this is my most favorite fluidline of all, aside from Blacktrack. It is the perfect, most gorgeous chocolate brown liner with subtle flecks. I had used up mine and this is my second jar, and so glad I was able to snag it for cheap. I used this for this look.


I used Brave New Bronze lipstick from the Style Warrior collection.



I also used my Buff'd mineral foundation in Almond. I love how smooth the finish is, and it also brightens up the face. Best of all, being pure minerals, it's all natural, without preservatives, parabens, bismuth, and anything that can irritate the skin or clog the pores.

All products MAC unless otherwise stated.


Apply Bare Canvas paint all over lid, brows, and lower lashline. Smooth product on the lid with finger. Using Loew Cornell Maxine's Mop 3/8" or the 239 brush (stiff shader brush), apply Gold Mine on lid in patting motions.


Using the 224 brush, apply Tempting on the crease.


Using Sonia Kashuk blender brush, apply Bronze on outer V and crease, blending into Tempting.


Apply more Tempting using the 224 if necessary, blending all the crease colors quick, one-direction sweeping motions.




Using the Sonia Kashuk bent eyeliner, apply Graphic Brown fluidline on upper lashline.


Using the 227 brush, apply Ricepaper on browbone, and using the Coastal Scents mini detail brush, apply Ricepaper on inner corners. Apply Fascinating eye kohl on lower lashline. Using the mini-detail brush, apply Gold Mine on the inner lower lashline, and Bronze on outer lower lashline. Apply mascara.







Face:
Monistat gel as primer
Buff'd mineral foundation (original formula) in Almond
Urban Decay 24/7 pencil concealer
Dayna's Rested mineral undereye concealer
DreamWorld Whipped Cocoon (silk finishing powder) in Whipped Strawberries
MAC blush in Other Worldly

Lips:
MAC lipliner in Whirl
MAC lipstick in Brave New Bronze
MAC dazzleglass in Smile

Shimmery Peach and Browns Using Mineral Eyeshadow and Pop Beauty Brown Eyes Palette

Some Valerie Beauty mineral shadows





Here is a shimmery peachy-brown look using my Pop Beauty Brown Eyes Palette, and a beautiful shimmery peachy eyeshadow called Miranda from one of my all-time favorite mineral makeup companies. Unfortunately, though, it is no longer around - I'm talking about Valerie Beauty Minerals. Val's eyeshadows have some of the most fantastic mineral shadow finishes I've tried. They are similar in finish to my MAC pigments - and there is not one dud in my collection. They are not just mica bombs that emit sparkle but no pigment. These babies are really pigmented and really some of the best mineral shadows I've tried. As a tribute to one of my favorite mineral makeup companies, I will be coming up with more looks using Val's products in the coming posts.

Above are some of the beautiful mineral shadows I have from Val. I don't have an actual picture of Miranda, but gauging from the photos, one could see how pretty and high-quality the products are.


I also used my Cory mineral blush sample in Racy for this look.

Here is a step by step illustration.


Apply Urban Decay primer potion on lid, browbone and under the lower lashline. Apply Valerie Beauty mineral shadow in Miranda wet using MAC Charged Water using the Loew Cornell Maxine's Mop 3/8" brush.


Apply the 7th shadow from the left of the Pop Beauty Brown Eyes palette on the crease using the Sonia Kashuk blender brush.


Using the MAC 226 brush, apply 4th shadow from the left of the Brown Eyes palette on the crease.




Blend the colors using the Sonia Kashuk blender brush.


Using Sonia Kashuk bent eyeliner brush, wetline Aromaleigh Drama Queen mineral liner in Red using MAC Charged Water.


Apply Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Zero on waterline and tightline. Apply Miranda on inner lower lashline. Apply mascara.







Face:
Monistat gel as primer
MAC Prep + Prime Refined Skin Zone on t-zone
Joppa mineral foundation in Medium-Light 2.5
Urban Decay 24/7 pencil concealer on undereye area
Bare Escentuals concealer in Well Rested on undereye area
DreamWorld Whipped Cocoon (silk finishing powder) in Whipped Strawberries
Cory mineral blush in Racy

Lips:
Softlips lip balm
Estee Lauder lipstick in Midnight Rose
MAC lipglass in Nico Now

MAC Colour Ready Collection: A Review

I've been really itching to try the Prep + Prime Refined Zone and the Transparent Finishing Powder. I wanted to try the former because I have a very oily t-zone, and usually, oily t-zones have enlarged pores like mine. I also wanted to try the Transparent Finishing Powder because I am like the FinPow (finishing powder) queen - I have tried different kinds of finishing powders from Bare Escentuals to Aromaleigh to Joppa Minerals to DreamWorld Minerals - and I really wanted to know how MAC's very own fares in comparison to all these.

Let's start with the Refined Zone. It's actually an oil mattifier and pore reducer in one, and I really like those kinds of two-in-one products. MAC claims that this is a lightweight, oil-free, soy-based emulsion that instantly helps minimize visible pores while helping to control excess surface oil and shine. MAC also claims that it employs High Tech Optics, an advanced technology powder and light diffusers to fill in lines. The result is supposed to be an invisible, natural-looking, long-lasting matte finish that also keeps the pores clean and unclogged, and it mattifies and hides imperfections while using a Mannose-Phosphate blend that gently exfoliates away dead skin cells. What a mouthful, huh? Anyways, I really wanted to claim that promise of MAC of matte, soft, exfoliated skin with reduced pore size.

My take: I love this product. I used it over my primer and usually the primer really makes my skin a tad oily, but not so with this product. It really does mattify my oily t-zone and prevents me from looking greasy by mid-day. I used a magnifying mirror to check out my pores after I applied this on, and I was pleased to see that it did indeed shrink my pores, especially on the nose. I was quite happy, and this product is a real keeper for me.

Prep + Prime Finishing Powder contains cornstarch, silica and micronized mica. Therefore, it seems like a hybrid of Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil (which has cornstarch), Make Up Forever's High Definition Finishing Powder (which is 100% silica), and Aromaleigh's tinted Ultra Resolution Finishing Powder (which has both mica and silica). For those who are sensitive to mica and cornstarch, this product might not be for you, but I am not bothered by these two ingredients. In fact, cornstarch makes my skin look airbrushed and it soaks up excess oil, that is why Bare Escentuals' mineral veil is still a good product for me. MAC's finishing powder includes some of the best ingredients from other finishing powders in the market. Cornstarch gives a silky finish and soaks up oil, silica blurs imperfections and fine lines giving a soft focus effect, and mica gives a radiant luminosity to the skin. Kudos to MAC for combining these ingredients for their very own high definition finishing powder.

The verdict? I am loving it as well. It didn't make my skin itch nor break me out, so that is a huge plus. I can see myself putting this in my purse for touch-ups which is more sanitary than carrying a powder compact that can easily breed bacteria. It might be a bit messy if you are used to a compact, but the benefits to your skin far outweighs the inconvenience. Just see the difference after you've touched up using this product!

In the look below, I used both the Prep + Prime Skin Refined Zone and the Transparent Finishing Powder.







Eyes:
MAC Butternutty shadestick
Urban Decay Ammo Shadow Box (Maui Wowie on lid and inner lower lashline/inner corners, Smog on outer V and crease and outer lower lashline), Oil Slick to contour the crease)
Coastal Scents 28 pc Neutral palette (used one of the matte highlighter shades on browbone)
Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Zero to rim eyes
MAC Penultimate liner in Rapidblack
Revlon false lashes in Intensifying
MAC Zoomlash mascara in Zoom Black

Face:
Monistat gel as primer
Earthen Glow Minerals foundation in Yuan Yuan
MAC Studio Sculpt concealer in NC20
Dayna's Rested mineral undereye concealer
DreamWorld cream topping (finishing powder) in Butterscotch
MAC Prep + Prime transparent finishing powder
Jouer mineral blush in Bougainvillea
MAC skinfinish in Perfect Topping

Lips:
MAC tinted lip conditioner in Pink Fish
ULTA lipliner in Flesh
MAC lipstick in Hug Me
Milani Lip Mixer lipgloss in Lip Fuse