MAC Blue Storm/Smoke Signals Look

I made a blue eye look for today and of course I just had to use my Blue Storm shadows. I did use other eyeshadows, though, like Electric Eel from MAC's regular line, and I can say that it meshed pretty well with the other blues. This look is different from the hues I previously used using Blue Storm shadows. All I can say is that I'm really beginning to like Blue Storm. I really prefer greens, though, but blues ain't bad at all. I am also falling in love with the Smoke Signals blushes. Emote is beautiful as a contour color and Ablaze is real pretty on the apples of the cheeks. In this look, however, I didn't use a lot of product on my cheeks so as not to compete with the strong eye look. It is kinda fierce for me, especially since I used it for work, so I had to tame it a little even though I wanted to go for a bolder look. I love the lipsticks! I used Barely Lit and Sparks Can Fly with Lightning lipglass, and I just love the effect - the combination did not make me look washed out. Lightning reminded me so much of my Pas-de-deux lipglass from the Danse collection, although they are not exact replicas of each other. I didn't want to use up my Pas-de-deux because it was a limited edition product, but now I can use it as much as I want to because I've found a sort of back-up for it.

I also used my friend Dayna's mineral foundation and I just love the ultra-smooth, velvety feel. I can't stop running my knuckles down the length of my jaw to feel the easy slip and softness - there is literally no drag at all. Dayna's mineral makeup is the most velvety mineral foundation I've ever tried - bar none (and I've tried at least a dozen brands). Her blushes and eyeshadows are beautiful, as well. I can't wait to get my hands on more of Dayna's Minerals!











Eyes:
MAC Beige-ing shadestick as base
MAC Delft paint pot on lid
MAC Electric Eel eyeshadow on lid
MAC Azreal Blue pigment inner to mid lid
MAC Blue Storm eyeshadow on outer V and crease
MAC Carbon eyeshadow on outer V
MAC Cumulus eyeshadow above crease to blend with highlighter
Gold eyeshadow in Milani Earthy Delights quad to highlight and on inner corners
MAC Feline kohl power pencil to line smudged with 219 brush
MAC Electric Eel to line lower lashline

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

Lips:
MAC lipliner in Whirl
MAC lipsticks in Barely Lit and Sparks Can Fly
MAC lipglass in Lightning

Eye Look Using MAC Blue Storm Shadows

I used the Blue Storm eyeshadows today and I was impressed. I thought it would be too dark for a morning look but it turned out pretty good. I added my favorite platinum liner, Meow Cosmetics' Sweaty Paws mineral liner, mixed with MAC mixing medium to make the eyes look a little on the lighter side of things and to open up my eyes a bit. I used Storm Watch on my lid and was a little baffled when I had a difficult time blending it over my Beige-ing shadestick, until I realized that its formula is matte. I then used Delft paint pot under it and it spread a lot better after that (I just love paint pots!). I went to Sephora today to pick up a couple of things, and the first thing the resident makeup artist did when she saw me was to compliment my eyes, although I had to admit I used MAC shadows when she asked me what brand I used. Turned out she uses MAC occasionally, as well.







I used (all MAC unless stated otherwise) Beige-ing shadestick as base, Delft paint pot on lid, Storm Watch over Delft, Cumulus above crease to blend with Storm Watch, Rice Paper to highlight, Blue Storm on crease/outer V, Meow mineral liner in Sweaty Paws mixed with MAC mixing medium to line upper lashline, black mascara (forgot to curl lashes).

MAC Blue Storm Collection: Product Images and Swatches

Product reviews to follow:

MAC Smoke Signals and Blue Storm Eye Products

Okay, I know this post is a tad too late, but it wasn't part of my plan, believe me. I should have posted some swatches last week, but due to unforeseen circumstances, I had to postpone it. Here are some of the gorgeous colors of the latest two collections from MAC. The most breathtaking however are not the eyeshadows, but the kohl power pencils. The minute I swatched them on my hand was a heart-stopping moment. I was totally floored by the smoothness of application and the gorgeous colors of these pencils. I love Mystery, it reminds me of Club eyeshadow and Teal pigment over a black base (either Blackground paint pot or Sharkskin shadestick). Raven is a blackish maroon that is very pretty, this one reminds me of Bare Escentuals Black Ruby shadow liner but a bit deeper and less vibrant. Orpheus is goldish black, and is nothing short of sexy. Really. Feline I heard is the blackest, darkest liner MAC has ever come up with, and it is thus perfect for smokey eyes.

The quads interested me because I am recently trying to dabble into smokey eye application, and since this is my first serious foray into smokey eyes, I need to have some convenient, no-brainer combination of shadows for smoking up the peepers. Also, I am flying to a different state to attend a relative's wedding, and so I need to have some ready-to-use shadows in quads which are perfect for travel. If I were to choose between the two quads, however, I prefer the cooler one, mostly because I have always wanted to have Carbon and the fact that it is packaged with three other complementary colors is a plus for me. The brown quad really isn't that unique; I already have Satin Taupe, but the brown lover in me couldn't pass up on it. I didn't care much about these collections' cheek and lip products, they really looked blah to me.

Apart from the quads and all kohl power pencils, I also got Cumulus from the Blue Storm collection, and Twinks from the regular product line (I saw an MA use Twinks with All That Glitters, and the combination was just so freaking hot).


Gentle Fume Eyes x 4
A monochromatic quad of four modern cool-toned Eye Shadows in the sultry spirit of Smoke Signals. Features three limited edition shades: Waft, Gentle Fume and Rondelle, matched-up with Carbon. Texturally: an intense mix of matte and velvet.
Rondelle: Light silver with white pearl
Carbon: Intense black
Gentle Fume: Mid tone grey with silver pearl
Waft: Deep blue grey


Smoking Eyes x 4
A smoking quad of four warmed-over neutrals that at its deepest starts with a rich, dark black. Features three limited edition shades: Next to Nothing, Smoking, and Showstopper, complemented by Satin Taupe.
Next to Nothing: Cream white with pink pearl
Smoking : Black with gold pearl
Showstopper: Muted grey
Satin Taupe: Taupe brown with silvery bronze shimmer





Kohl Power Eye Pencil
A kohl pencil that has all the intensity and colour power of ultra-soft carbon. Specially formulated to provide deep, fully opaque coverage, provides an intense, smoked finish with duo-chrome pearl. Versatile in application: blend or smudge.

Raven: Black with red pearl
Orpheus: Black with gold pearl
Feline: Black
Mystery: Black with green and teal pearl

Swatches:





And just for fun, here are some of my current faves/acquisitions:

MAC Smoke Signals and Blue Storm Product Pictures

Here are some promotional pictures from the upcoming MAC collections.

Smoke Signals:







































Blue Storm:

Teaser: MAC Fall Collections - Smoke Signals and Blue Storm

ON FALL’S HORIZON, A NEW FORMATION OF HUES:
STRATUS BLUES, DENSE BILLOWING
PINK-TINGED CUMULUS, SET AGAINST
DEEP, ROLLING, OVERCAST GREYS…
A THUNDERCLAP OF SHADES SO INTENSE,
DEEPLY PIGMENTED AND ATMOSPHERIC,
THEY TAKE YOUR EYE TO THE HEART OF THE STORM
WITH A LOOK THAT IS SOPHISTICATED,
WELL-RENDERED, AND PARADOXICALLY, CALM.
FOR THE LIPS: LIGHT-FILLED BOLTS OF
CLEAR SILVER, DUSKY PINKS AND
RED-SKY-AT-NIGHT PLUMS.
FORECAST TO LAST ALL FALL AND WINTER.
LIMITED EDITION.

Kohl Power Profile
An eye pencil clenched in black wood and specially formulated with
carbon black. The formula provides a full and intense opaque coverage
combined with duo-chrome pearl to give a dramatic look. It can be easily
blended or smudged to create a variety of powerful looks. This concentrated
eye pencil contains key ingredients of castor oil and vitamin C & E which
help nourish and protect the skin. Application on the waterline is extremely
easy, comfortable and safe. Ophthalmologist tested and safe for use with
contact lenses.

LIPGLASS
Lightning: White silver sparkle (frost)
Lull: Pink lilac (frost)
Atmospheric: Rich grape with red and gold pearl (frost)

Suggested Retail Price: $14.00 U.S./$16.50 CDN

EYESHADOW
Blue Storm: Cool royal blue with blue and silver pearl (frost)
Stormwatch: Deep teal (matte)
Thunder Rich: blue with purple pearl (frost)
Cumulus: Creamy grey with silver pearl (frost)
Cloudburst: Black with blue pearl (velvet)

Suggested Retail Price: $14.00 U.S./$16.50 CDN

KOHL POWER
Feline: Rich black (frost)
Mystery: Rich black with green and teal pearl (frost)

Suggested Retail Price: $13.50 U.S./$16.00 CDN