Introducing MAC Lorde

M∙A∙C Lorde
Available online June 5, 2014, www.maccosmetics.com
Available in select stores June 5, 2014 through July 3, 2014 (M∙A∙C Times Square and M∙A∙C Fifth Avenue)
#MACLORDE

 MAC Lipstick in Pure Heroine

MAC Penultimate Eye Liner in Rapid Black


LORDE

Lips meet Lorde’s individual style in a limited-edition collaboration debuting online and in select stores this summer. Ignite your look with deep, plum Pure Heroine, the signature shade of pop’s coolest ingénue.

LIPSTICK
PURE HEROINE deep plum (amplified)
SRP $16.00 US/$19.00 CDN

PENULTIMATE EYE LINER
RAPIDBLACK true black
SRP $19.50 US/$23.00 CDN

Miss Piggy for MAC Swatches and Review

Here is a review and some swatches of the Miss Piggy for MAC mini-collection. There are only three items in this collection: Miss Piggy Pink eyeshadow, Penultimate eyeliner in Rapidblack and Lash 36s. This is a limited-edition, online-exclusive collection for the eyes in celebration of Miss Piggy's return to the silver screen in Disney’s The Muppets, in theatres November 23rd.

Miss Piggy for MAC

MAC Wonder Woman Product Photos: Eye Shadow Quads, Opulash Mascara, Pigments and Glitters

I got the MAC Wonder Woman collection last night, and I am here to share with you some product photos. If you want to read my opinion on and swatches of these products, check out my post MAC Wonder Woman Unveiling, Swatches and Review.

Check out Part II of the product photos here:

MAC Wonder Woman Product Photos: Powder Blush Duos, Mineralize Skinfinishes, Lipsticks and Lipglasses

Eyeshadows:

See product photos after the jump

MAC Style Black Review and Swatches

CLICK HERE for official product images, information and Q & A with MAC Senior Artist.

I am certainly not a goth girl by any standards, but I can appreciate some of the products in this collection. The key to wearing these is moderation. All in all, I really loved some of the items, especially the greasepaint (I really, really think this will be a hit), the mineralize eyeshadows, the 214 brush, and Goth Baby Girl nail lacquer. NOTE: All the swatch photos you see in this entry were taken under direct sunlight.

Let's start with the mineralize eyeshadows. I was very impressed with the texture when I swatched these. They were buttery, glided on the skin effortlessly, and unlike other mineralize shadows in the past, this new batch is very pigmented even when applied dry. The swatches above were applied dry, and yet you could see how easily the pigment shone through. When foiled, these are just amazingly metallic and pigmented, and the nuances of the black base mixing with the silver, gold, plum and blue specks are just out of this world. I've never liked mineralize shadows especially the earlier releases, but if you like black mixed with metallic colors of blue, silver, gold and purple, you will love these. My favorite would be Gilt By Association since I love golds- a mineralize black with gold bronze. Cinderfella is a black base with silver pearl, which would also look amazing especially for night looks. Blue Flame is a pretty black base with blue pearl, and Young Punk is a black base with purple pearl. MAC just basically mixed mineralize black with some of the colors normally worn with black, which is cool.



These lipsticks were probably not a favorite since I hardly wear dark lippies, but for the right skintone and look, these would look great. Black Night is a creamy true black that kinda applies sheer but it is buildable to make that opaque black lip look. Night Violet is a repromote from 2007's Mattene collection which I had but had to give it up because I never used it. I agree, it IS very pretty, though, and on darker skintones (and maybe lighter ones), this would look fab. Midnight Media is a dense matte black, a very opaque matte lipstick that looks scary to me. Definitely not for me.



I am liking the glimmerglasses more than the lipsticks, maybe because they are definitely not as opaque as the dark lippies. These are also best layered over another lipstick, which would look quite amazing, I must say. Blackware is a creamy true black that I don't care much for, because I want bling and not just cream. Blackfire is my best bet in this lot, a sheer black with pinkish purple pearl. I would love this layered over pink, magenta, or red lipsticks. Bling Black is a sheer black with gold pearl, which is also meant to be layered over other lip products as this is very sheer.



I believe that this might be the winner of this collection. This is an amazing product. A very deep, intense black eye base, eyeliner, or shadow that glides like a dream on the skin, effortlessly coating it with dense black grease-like paint, hence the name. I can't wait to use this under shadows. As you probably know, a black base is not just for black eyeshadows. The blackness of the eye base makes any kind of color more vivid and makes the particular shade pop on the lid. You can choose to use whichever color you want over the greasepaint stick, and it will make the color pop right out. This is much easier to glide on the lids than the shadestick, and a hundred times more pigmented. Love it.

Smolder is your basic intense black kohl liner that also glides easily and VERY pigmented.


Volcanic Ash Exfoliator in old packaging

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



Last year's Future Earth collection featured a highly coveted product called the Volcanic Ash Exfoliator. I would always see this product in In-Search-Of posts in MAC fan boards, and I know why. This sludgy product is an amazing exfoliator made of- surprise- volcanic ash. In my previous review, I'd said that I hated the packaging, which was in a huge tub that causes the product to spill out of the sides - annoyingly messy, and I believe that's the reason why they chose to house it in those new squeeze tubes. I also said that the smell kinda gets to me too. It IS a pleasant scent, but it is just a bit too strong for me. Other than that, it is a great product. I used it on my face and back, and it just made my skin supple and smooth. The sugar granules were a bit big compared to what I am used to (I use Mary Kay Microdermabrasion set), but it is definitely effective nonetheless. My face looked noticeably smoother with a lot less of those half-in-half-out whiteheads on my temples and forehead. I am thinking if I should get the mask, considering that I already have a couple of glacial mud masks myself, but I will update you once I do get it.

Nail Lacquers

I lost my swatches of the nail lacquers, but I bought Baby Girl Goth and it's a beautiful black with pinkish purple pearl. The MAC MA was spot on when she said it is MAC's nail lacquer version of Beauty Marked eyeshadow. It is exactly like that shadow, but picture it in nail lacquer form. I will post swatches of the lacquers once I get the opportunity. However, I do have an old pic of Nocturnelle, a basic black cream on my toes. It is a beautiful black and it's one of my prized MAC nail lacquers.



214 Brush



It's officially described as a small shader brush on the MAC site, but it is mainly a smudge brush, but it can have a variety of uses. It can be used to smudge lines to create a sultry smokey eye look, and the stiff but very dense hairs can likewise apply color effectively on the lashlines. It can also be used to pack color on the lid, or to create a defined crease. I had a hard time getting this when it was first released in the Brunette, Blonde, Redhead collection, it was sold out everywhere. I had to get this at the Pro store in LA. No regrets, though, because this is such a versatile little brush with lots of uses.

Penultimate Liner in Rapidblack





If you want precise black lines, liquid eyeliner is the way to go, and Penultimate liner is a liquid liner in pen form that is very easy to use. The felt tip is amazing in giving you precise control of your strokes, and the very fine tip also makes your lines as fine or thick as you like. This is still my favorite liquid liner up to this day. Fool-proof application and glides like a dream on the lids.

All in all, Style Black would be a hit for those who like dark, vampy looks. For those who think it's way too dark or gothic, you can always opt to layer them over other colors to tone down the look, especially for the glimmerglasses.

L'oreal Lineur Intense, Almay Liquid and MAC Penultimate Liners: A Comparison Review

I've had the chance to try the L'oreal Lineur Intense Brush Tip liquid liner, and I'd always wondered how it would fare compared to my other felt-tip liquid liners- Almay and MAC Penultimate. As I had mentioned in previous entries, I would always prefer my liquid liners over my gel ones like MAC's fluidlines or Indelible or Coastal Scents gel liners when I am in a hurry because I can always get a perfect line using the liquid liners in maybe 5 seconds flat. I also don't need to look around for an eyeliner brush when I use my liquid liners, which is a plus because that saves time especially when you're pressed for time. I've used my Almay since 2004, and am very much satisfied with it. I decided to branch out when I tried MAC's Penultimate, because I was curious as to how other brands' liquid liners operate. Here are my thoughts regarding these three products.







L'Oreal Lineur Intense Brush Tip Liquid Eyeliner
-For dramatically bold or sleek eye looks, L'Oreal presents Lineur Intense Brush Tip Liquid Eyeliner.
-Lineur Intense's tapered natural brush gives you the control to create the most precise lines for your desired eye looks.
-All day wear up to 8 hours.
-Water-resistant.
-Smudge-proof.
-Ophthalmologist tested.
-Suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.
-Fragrance-free.

My Take: I've been using liquid liners for five years now, so working the brush tip wasn't really a big deal for me. If you are new to liquid liners, though, this would take a little bit of practice. I recommend using felt tip liquid liners first before graduating to brush applicators. I just found out that Lineur Intense actually has a variant with a felt tip, which is great. I like how, as the name implies, intense the line you can create with this product. The line is so very black, and would really work great for dramatic looks. I also like how fine the brush tip is, so you can make lines as very close to the lashline as possible, so as to make a natural, unobtrusive line that gives an illusion of lush lashes. The downside is that the tip is flimsy and would create wonky lines if you are not used to this brush applicator. I suggest creating a crutch using your pinky finger (place your little finger on your cheekbone to steady your hand while you apply the liner). With practice, though, you can create gorgeous, flawless lines with this product.

ALMAY® Liquid Liner
Get beautiful definition with this easy-to-use liquid liner. Water-resistant formula lasts up to 16 hours without irritation. Unique "inkwell" design delivers fresh color every time. Flex-tip applicator provides mistake-proof control.
Hypoallergenic. Ophthalmologist tested.

My Take: I wouldn't be using this product for five years straight if I didn't love it. This product cured my phobia of liquid liners. The felt-tip is a godsend. It gives amazing color and precise, flawless lines in record time. The applicator, just as Almay claims, is flexible but it is not at all floppy or flimsy, so it gives great control to create your perfect line. You can also create the cat-eye flick at the end with ease and precision. I also have this in Brown, and it gives such a natural, beautiful line everytime. I believe Almay may have a blacker black than what I have right now, but mine yields a soft black hue that is perfect for everyday application. Love, love, love.

MAC PENULTIMATE EYE LINER A new, permanent classical liquid pen liner in a modern, plastic barrel with cap package that provides precise and bold line application. The carbon black pigment provides the richest and deepest black.

MAC Penultimate yields a very thin, heavily pigmented line, mainly because of the finer tip. I also love the fact that Penultimate is a lot darker than Almay, so just one application should be enough. I apply two lines of my Almay liner on the lashline to have the desired effect. All in all, I still like my Almay because it gives me the precise line that I like in less than five seconds, but the Penultimate is a winner as well because you can create precise, very fine lines with it because of its fine tip and very dark pigment. I also love the Penultimate to wiggle into the very lashline to create a darker, lusher lashline, without looking like I have liquid liner on. It seems very natural. Love this liner as well.

There you go, my review of my liquid liners!

Nail Polish and MAC Hauls

I went to ULTA this weekend and snagged a couple of their exclusive OPI polishes for Valentine's Day 2009. They are such beautiful, feminine pinks that I couldn't resist getting. The first is Gotta Get Pink. It's a very unique shade. When it comes to eyeshadows and lipsticks, I am partial to greyish pinks, and this nail polish shade is a beautiful, cream greyish light pink that looks so sophisticated and classy. I'd love to wear this at work and even for dinners and events. Don't Think...Just Pink! is a pretty pink with lavender undertones. It is not that unique but it is gorgeous.

This afternoon, I went to this obscure beauty supply store (not Sally) to get my regular dose of false lashes. They also have stock of some of the most hard-to-find and discontinued polishes. I was surprised when I saw two bottles of the coveted OPI in Los Angeles Latte in that store today! Had I known that, I would have just bought my Los Angeles Latte there than pay an arm and a leg for it on Ebay. I got smitten by two beautiful colors from OPI and China Glaze: Golden Rules! and Spontaneous so I snagged these two. Golden Rules! is a much warmer gold compared to the very yellow-goldish Nefertiti from Lippmann. I love both, though, but they are different enough to justify owning both. I'd love to try Golden Rules! on the toes. Spontaneous is just a beautiful mid-tone purple, soooo gorgeous!

I also got some China Glaze holo shades from a swap: Kaleidoscope Him Out and How About A Tumble. From the photo, you can see how beautiful they are, but they apply too sheer but glittery on my nails, so I really didn't know what to do with them.

I did some experimenting and applied How About A Tumble over two coats of Don't Think...Just Pink!, and I was floored by the result. It was such a pretty, feminine pink with sparkles! The picture doesn't do justice to the color in real life. Now I know how to use my holos: by layering them over cream shades.





I also got some MAC items. As late as it may be, I got Popster tinted lip conditioner from the Hello Kitty collection. I totally love Pink Fish TLC, and it's getting a bit lonely, so I got her sister Popster to keep company. Popster of course is a deeper, brighter pink compared to Pink Fish, and this would look amazing during spring and summer, or anytime just under lippies because it really makes the lips soft, smooth, and utterly prepped for lipsticks and glosses. I got Rapidblack as a backup just in case mine runs out of ink in the middle of lining one eye. I don't like the opaque tube as I have no idea when this would run out of ink, so it's nice to have a back-up handy.

Pinks and Corals Using Coastal Scents, NARS and MAC

I tried some of the new products I'd acquired, and let me say that I am really loving them, especially NARS Super Orgasm! It's really the perfect coral-pink shade that I was looking for. I had Orgasm, Deep Throat, and Torrid, hoping that I would get the perfect coral blush, but they turned out to be duds on my cheeks. NARS redeemed itself with Super Orgasm. I am in love!! It's now way up there with my faves Angelika, Sin and Oasis. I also used MAC's blush in Taupe to contour using the 169 brush.

I also applied the Sexy Pink gel liner and the 28 Neutral palette from Coastal Scents in this look. I liked the liner color but I had to apply it several times to achieve the vibrant pink color that I was going for in this look. Peach Bellini gel liner would have been better for this look, but I just ordered it 2 days ago, although I got the notice that it was shipped yesterday. Yay!! Just a note: I used MAC's Penultimate Liner in Rapidblack on the very upper lashline to make it a deeper black. I love the Penultimate Liner coz the tip is SO fine, you can easily wiggle it in your very lashline to create lusher lashes or just to make the lashline appear darker and fuller.

I likewise used MAC's Lollipop Lovin' lipstick (Heatherette collection) and Sugarrimmed dazzleglass on my lips. I love this combination. I am glad I can Back-2-MAC empties for dazzleglasses at MAC free-standing stores. Dazzleglasses are the only products I will be B2M-ing for. I am such a dazzleglass bimbo and I am proud of it. :D They are really amazing glosses with the high-watt shine and subtle-until-light-hits-it micro-glitter I've been looking for.

MAC Chill and Penultimate Liner Look

I am SO sorry for the fugly, crappy picture resolution! I couldn't believe I forgot my camera for a second time in a row! I had to use my crapola 2-megapixel camera phone, but I tried to make the resolution a tad sharper, though it didn't help very much. I am sorry and will try to post a crisper picture using the same products next time. The Penultimate liner is such a beauty. It gave me sleek, slick, crisp lines that last the whole day. Arctic Grey was breathtaking in my opinion. Super love the color! Lastly, my new all-time favorite MSF is now Blonde from the upcoming Brunette Blonde Redhead collection. I will make another look featuring this as it is just gorgeous.





Eyes:
MAC Beige-ing shadestick as primer on lid and to line lower lashline
MAC Bare Study paint pot on lid
MAC Arctic Grey shadow on lid and inner corners
MAC Swan Lake shadow on outer lid
MAC shadow in Mont Black on outer V and to contour crease
MAC Pincurl shadow to highlight
MAC Penultimate Liner in Rapid Black
UD 24/7 liner in Zero to tightline and on waterline
L'oreal and Maybelline mascaras


Face:
Monistat gel as primer
Cory mineral foundation in Beyond Cream
UD 24/7 pencil concealer on undereye area
Bare Escentuals Well Rested over UD 24/7
Dreamworld creme topping (finishing powder) in Butterscotch
MAC mineralize skinfinish (MSF) in Blonde as blush
MAC Taupe blush to contour

Lips:
MAC lipliner in Whirl
Prescriptives Colorscope lip color in Golden Quartz
MAC lustreglass in Beaux

MAC Chill and Dame Edna Product Photos and The Penultimate Eyeliner Experience

NOTE: Swatches of these products can be seen HERE.







Here are product photos of Chill and Dame Edna collections from MAC. If I were to choose between the two collections, I'd pick Chill over Dame Edna because, as I said, I already own many colors that are similar to those of Dame Edna. However, if you are just starting with makeup, these collections have a good balance of both neutral and fun colors that are staples in every makeup traincase.

Let's start off with Chill. I'd mentioned previously that I fell in love with Arctic Grey, and I still am up to this day. It reminds me of dirty snow - a dirty greyish silver, and its name probably conjured images of ice and snow in my head. Applied on, it is beautiful without being overly shiny or garish on the lids. I have many MAC shadows, but this particular one is unique. I have silvers and greys, but not this kind of in-between, dirty snow color. Love it. Mont Black is a beautiful black with a lot of sparkles (or multi-dimensional pearl) in it, but I believe the light captures them as goldish sparkles, which are gorgeous. This is similar to Black Tied, but the sparkles in the latter are somewhat one-dimensional silver shimmer. If you have either, though, you can do without the other. Mont Black would give depth to those sultry smokey eyes and you can also use this to contour the crease.



Okay, I think I'm pretty qualified to review the new liquid liner from MAC called the Penultimate Eye Liner in Rapidblack, as I wear liquid liner about four times a week. I really like my Almay Liquid Liner in both Black and Brown because I am always in a hurry in the mornings, and the liquid liner gives me a very smooth, slick, perfect line in three seconds flat. I love that I don't need to scrounge around looking for an eyeliner brush. I don't need to dip it in any gel liner pot. I just unscrew it, and the cap has a felt-tip applicator built into it, and I just effortlessly glide it on my lashline for a smooth line. Personally, I believe once you get the hang of it, liquid liners are less cumbersome and more convenient than gel liners. Really. So anyways, I tried the Penultimate liner in Rapidblack and compared it to my favorite Almay liquid liner. They both have the same felt tip that I love that gives the ease in applying the liquid liner. I swatched them on my hand and this is what I got:



Almay gave a thicker line since I had to reapply it around 3 times because the first coat was kinda sheer. MAC Penultimate yields a very thin, heavily pigmented line, mainly because of the finer tip. I also love the fact that Penultimate is a lot darker than Almay, so just one application should be enough. I apply two lines of my Almay liner on the lashline to have the desired effect. All in all, I still like my Almay because it gives me the precise line that I like in less than five seconds, but the Penultimate is a winner as well because you can create precise, very fine lines with it because of its fine tip and very dark pigment. I am really loving it as well. The raves were true: The Penultimate rocks! I just hope that it lasts a long while because looking at the pen, you really wouldn't know how much is left in the tube.

I used Penultimate today, intending to post a look using this, but I forgot my camera. Bummer! Will be doing looks using it soon.





Dame Edna is such a fun collection. I love the little cards stuffed into the boxes with little quotes from Dame Edna, kinda like cosmetic fortune cookies, haha! The names are a hoot as well. Splendid is a pretty coral that I liken to some of my favorite coral lipglasses like Orangedescence. Kanga-Rouge is a dark blue red that would look nice on my skintone because warm red colors make my skin look dirty and yucky.


I like the idea of mixing a robin's egg blue color with silvers and greys for a pop of color in an otherwise boring neutral/smokey palette. As I said, if you already have similar colors (like Silver Ring, Knight Divine), you can skip this trio, but the combination of colors is pretty cool. You can use Wisteria on the lid and Fineshine and Divine Night on the crease and outer V, or you can use the latter two on the lid and apply Wisteria on your lower lashline for a pop of blue.