Green Eye Look and Tutorial Using MAC Sassy Green Eye Shadow

Top: Speak Louder, Zingy
Bottom: Sassy Grass

Here is a green eye look using MAC Sassy Green eyeshadow from the Dare To Wear collection. As I stated in the review, this collection features rich, mostly matte and absolutely pigmented eyeshadows. They are a dream to apply and if you want your eyes to really be the center of attraction, the shadows from this collection do it quite well.



I also used the greens from the MAC Photo Realism quad from the Makeup Art Cosmetics '09 Richard Phillips collection.



I also used my favorite MAC dark hunter green eyeshadow, Grand Entrance from the Holiday '08 palette.

Here is a step-by-step. All MAC products unless otherwise stated.


Apply Urban Decay primer potion in Sin all over lid and lower lashline. Using a fluffy shader brush, apply Rollickin' paint pot on the lid.


Using the 239 brush, apply Fresh Approach on the lid.

Simple Neutrals Using MAC Notoriety Eyeshadow Quad

Here is a very simple neutral look from the Notoriety quad from the Makeup Art Cosmetics: Richard Phillips collection. If you don't have shimmery neutrals yet, and you want a no-brainer eyeshadow palette to take with you on quick weekend getaways, this quad is for you. The colors are soft and perfect for day, but can be enhanced to become more dramatic at nighttime. It's not the most unique quad in my stash, and I like my Photo Realism quad better than Notoriety, but it's not bad at all and if you like shimmery neutrals, you'll find something you'll like in this palette.


I again used Aromaleigh's dupe of NARS Orgasm blush, Verve.


I used my lipstick called Madly Creative from the Colour Craft collection.

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


Apply Bare Canvas paint all over lid and lower lashline. Using a fluffy shader brush, apply Cash Flow paint pot on the lid. Using the 239 brush, apply Skintone 2 on lid in quick patting motions. Using the 224 brush, apply Rich and Earthy on the crease.


Apply a tiny bit of Notoriety with the Sonia Kashuk blender brush and blend with the 224.


Using the same Sonia Kashuk brush, intensify Notoriety on the outer V.

Red-Brown Look Using MAC and Aromaleigh

I used some of my pretty mineral shadows from Aromaleigh for this look, along with some products from MAC. I used a shadow from the discontinued, limited edition collection called L'orchidee. The shadow is named Chatter Box, described on the Aromaleigh website as a "rich, multi-dimensional brownish mauve smoke with frosted shimmer".


To lend reddish nuances to the look, I added a tiny bit of Velvet Dream from the gorgeous Gothic Lolita collection.





Finally, I was able to wear the famed Pure Rouge blush in Verve. It's Aromaleigh's version of NARS Orgasm blush, and I really love Verve. It is not splotchy at all on the cheek; it applies smoothly and gives this really subtle but buildable pretty coral flush. I applied it using the angled fiber optic from Lumiere and the outcome is subtle but definitely gorgeous. You can go as pigmented or as subtle as you like with this blush. I also like the tiny shimmery particles that are not in-your-face but more of like a subtle radiance.


I also used one of my favorite mineral liners, Drama Queen liner in Red, also from Aromaleigh.


I used the pretty MAC eyeshadow in Et Tu, Bouquet? from the A Rose Romance collection.


I used Hold the Pose lipstick from the Makeup Art Cosmetics Richard Phillips collection.


I applied one of my favorite MAC lipglasses, Nico.


One the lid, I applied a pretty mineral eyeshadow from Valerie Minerals, Miranda.

Here's a step-by-step. All products Aromaleigh unless otherwise stated.


Apply MAC Bare Canvas paint all over lid and lower lashline. Using Loew Cornell Maxine's Mop 3/8" brush (or the 239 brush), apply Valerie Beauty mineral shadow in Miranda foiled using MAC Charged Water on lid.


Using the same brush, apply Velvet Dream on outer V.


Using the same brush, apply Chatterbox on crease. Blend with the MAC 224 brush.

A Green Look Using MAC Photo Realism Eyeshadow Quad

I am so in love with this palette. This is definitely the best product that the MAC Makeup Art Cosmetics Fall '09 collection has come up with, at least for me. I love that the greens don't look too green at all. They're sort of olive-greyish-bluish-yellowish with a hint of green throughout.



I also used my wonderful Urban Decay liquid liner in Smog, which I believe complemented the color theme of this look.





I also used MAC beauty powder blush in Secret Beauty, then topped with beauty powder in Summer Rose. I really like the effect.

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


Apply Bare Canvas paint all over lid and lower lashline. Using a fluffy shader brush, apply Greenstroke paint pot on the lid.


Using the 239 brush, apply Fresh Approach on the lid.


Using the Sonia Kashuk blender brush, apply Image Maker on crease.


Using the same brush, apply Grey Range on crease and outer V. Blend the two colors with the 224 brush.

MAC Makeup Art Cosmetics Richard Phillips and Maira Kalman: Follow-Up Review and Swatches

This is a continuation of my initial reviews on the MAC Makeup Art Cosmetics Fall '09 Collection as seen by Richard Phillips and Maira Kalman. I will be making a separate entry on the fall collection by Marilyn Minter.

As you can see in the photo, I finally snagged the gorgeous Photo Realism quad from the Richard Phillips collection. This is such a beautiful, wearable quad of greens. It's not those bright, funky greens that can be really hard to pull off, but this quad I believe is as universal as it is gorgeous. It can be worn for a fun night out in town, or it can be lightly applied during the day to perk up the peepers.





Photo Realism is a beautiful gold shimmer with gold pearl. It's a wonderful highlighter or an inner lid color. The gold nuances are a treat for me because I am warm/yellow-toned, so I believe this would complement my skintone.

Fresh Approach is a cool mint green that to my eye doesn't look that green at all, but is like a very light shimmery yellow with green undertones. This would look amazing as a wash or lid color, and would contrast beautifully with the darker colors in this quad.

Image Maker is a dirty grey green that is great as a crease or an in-between blender color to blend gradient shades seamlessly. I also love the unusual shade.

Grey Range- deep blue green in the amazing Veluxe Pearl formula. This glides like a dream and is very smooth. Finally, I have a beautiful deep green other than Humid and Grand Entrance from the Passions of Red 6 Warm Eyes palette to use on the crease and outer lid. This has definite blue undertones so this would look great for blue and purple looks a well, but the predominant color is green.

Lipsticks:





Front Lit is a light white yellow frost that is too light for me, but gives a pretty sheen that would look great with smokey eyes. High Strung is a deep pink silver that is way too frosty for me. Hold the Pose is my favorite, a very wearable brown plum with gold pearl. It is lustre in formula so it is also buildable. Full Body is a deep red plum that would look amazing for fall. Lovin' It is a cool neutral with yellow undertone that is also a nice everyday shade.

Lipglasses:







I really like the lipglasses from this collection. Young Thing is a yellow neutral with gold pearl. It reminds me of C-thru, but it has more gold undertones while C-thru is kinda plain. I will be getting New Spirit, a light yellow coral which is soo pretty, reminds me of my favorite coral lipglass of all time, Orangedescence. Personal Taste is another winner, a dirty rose with pink and gold pearl that is similar to the Hello Kitty collection's She Loves Candy. On Display is a purple with yellow pearl that is too dark for my taste.

Maira Kalman Eyeshadows and Technakohl Liners



I'd thought that these would be too bright for my taste, but some of the shades are actually pretty wearable.

Crest the Wave is a rich yellow frost that I've been looking for since forever. It was a part of the Stowaways quad that was a Nordstrom exclusive from either Cool Heat or Naughty Nauticals from last year. It was such a rare quad so I wasn't able to get it, so I am really glad they have it now in this collection. It's also a bit more pigmented this time around, I believe.

(See the rest of the review and swatches after the jump)



Maira's Mood is a yellow pink in the satin formula that I like because it's understated and a very wearable pink. I used it in this look.



Haunting (top left in the photo above) is a light turquoise blue that I already got from the Alexander McQueen collection. A nice shade if you don't have a turquoise shadow yet.

Purple Shower is dirty blue pink that I really like because the color is beautiful, and I really am partial to purples.



Violet Trance is a matte deep blue purple that I have from my Pandamonium quad, and it's a basic pretty matte purple. If you like purple looks, this one's for you.





I thought these would be very bright and bordering on neon, but I only found Artistic License to be way too bright, although it would be fun and wearable when you pair it with a neutral eye. Colour Matters is a bright lime, Full of Fuchsia is a is a deep blue magenta which is beautiful, and Obviously Orange is a dirty coral. Of course, Graphblack is a rich graphic black that I also use on the waterline.

All in all, I really like the fall collections, especially that by Richard Phillips. I did not get the purple quad called In The Gallery because the colors were terribly boring and chalky when I saw it in person. Notoriety and Photo Realism however are definite keepers and will enjoy these tremendously. I can't wait to create looks using these quads.

MAC Fall '09 By Richard Phillips: Initial Review and Swatches

For official product images and information, CLICK HERE.







Here is a sneak preview of some of the products from the MAC Fall '09 By Richard Phillips. Of the three new MAC Fall '09 collections, I like this one the most. It has those gorgeous eyeshadow quads that have amazing colors and different textures. I will be getting all the quads from this collection. I love how rich the colors are, but they are subdued enough to be considered classic shades that are simply universal. I also love the classy fall shades of the lipsticks, lipglasses, and blushes. Here are my initial thoughts on the products pictured above.

(Swatches and review after the jump)





Notoriety eyeshadow quad is the neutral quad out of the three new releases from this collection. It has the following colors:

Skintone 1- A light, white pink (Lustre). I love how this can be used both as a highlight and a wash. This would also look lovely in the inner corners to perk up those peepers.

Skintone 2 is a dirty gold (Frost). This would look best on warmer or darker complexions as a highlighter or as lid color. This would definitely look amazing on medium to dark skin.

Notoriety is a dirty brown with gold pearl (Velvet). This is my favorite of the bunch because it is rich and not too shiny, and would make a great crease, outer V or liner color. I love the little golden flecks that give dimension to your eye look.

Rich & Earthy- a rich coral bronze (Veluxe Pearl). Another favorite because this would make a great lid color on my warm skintone.

All in all, I've never met shimmery neutrals that I didn't like, hence I recommend Notoriety quad, especially if you like neutrals, but want to give them a little oomph by adding some shimmer. The shades are definitely wearable and quite universal, and I love how versatile these are.



Another favorite from this collection are the lip products. I was surprised at Hold The Pose. I thought it would be too dark for me, but it turned out to be the most gorgeous brown plum with gold pearl. It is really a beautiful fall color, and I know I would be wearing this one often.

Full Body is a deep red plum that really heralds the coming of fall, but I like that it's lustre in formula, so it is definitely buildable and it can be as sheer or as deep and opaque as you want it to be.



The Perfect Cheek is a dirty pale pink that is matte, and I love how it's supposed to be matte but still gives this ethereal glow as you can see on the swatch. This is a tad too light for my summer skintone, which is a bummer, as I really like the texture. If it were a bit darker, it would have been perfect for me. As it is, it's too light but I am not giving up on this as I might be able to wear it when I turn a couple of shades lighter in the fall and winter.

All in all, this collection holds the most promise compared to the other two fall collections. I like it because the colors are subdued, muted, but are still sophisticated and classy. I can't wait to get the other quads and the other lip products. This is definitely this year's Cult of Cherry that I'd fallen in love with around this time last year.

Watch out for previews of Marilyn Minter and Maira Kalmar collections on this blog in the next entries.