MAC Watch Me Simmer Lipstick

I’ve been meaning to blog about this beauty for a while now...as you may remember me mentioning a fair few months back, I was super eager to get my hands on MAC’s Watch Me Simmer lipstick from the S.H.O.P MAC collection. Well after checking the site daily and wishing and hoping, it came back in stock!!

What better way to introduce myself to MAC’s lipsticks than with this gorgeous coral with pink undertones?! It’s actually much brighter than it seems upon application – I’d almost describe it as a fluoro-neon shade, so one slick achieves a strong coral-pink colour on my lips (I have quite naturally dark lips and I think the red in them brought out the pink in the lipstick moreso than the coral). Although different to what I expected, I’m so impressed with the quality. I love the slick, black packaging that MAC houses its lipsticks in, and the scent of the product is gorgeous! As a newbie to them, I’m not sure if all of their lipsticks share the same formula and therefore scent, but if they do I’m definitely investing in some more!

The smooth texture reminds me of a butter lip balm – with an added pop of colour – and the staying power out-does any of my previously bought drugstore lippies.

Every lip shade will take differently to each wearer so for some, it will come out as the perfect pink-coral (sans brightness!). Perhaps I will try basing my lips with a little foundation to combat the natural colour altering Watch Me Simmer’s loveliness.  

I can’t wait to try more. **Both birthday and Christmas are fast approaching** hmmmm.....

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle

After watching some of Louise from SprinkleofGlitter’s old videos a few weeks ago, and seeing how glowing her skin was from using MAC’s Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle, I thought ‘I must get me one of those!’. And so...I did!

And what a well spent £21.50. The domed-palette is so pretty, I almost didn’t want to use it! But as well as that being just...well silly, curiosity overcame me and I applied the golden coloured powder, flecked with glitter to my cheeks. Oh me-oh my how gorgeous it is!

The colour is subtle with a very fine pigmentation therefore it works perfectly as a highlighter. I apply it to my cheek bones over MAC’s Golden Frosted Bronzing Powder to create a warm glow. Despite the glistening ribbons that run through the product, the glitter is very delicate, not too obvious, giving a healthy, radiant, glossy effect – all positive qualities in my eyes!

It does wear off after about six hours but I find most cheek powders/blushers/bronzers do when used on oily-combination skin. You also only need a little amount of product to create the desired effect, therefore it lasts for ages!

It is beautifully light and smooth to apply too, gliding on with ease and complementary to any blush colour. I think it would look great with a tan too...I’ll test that theory next week when on holiday!

As each month goes by, I seem to be accumulating more and more MAC products – does anyone else have the same problem?! I just can’t resist! Next on my list is the Heavenly Creature Limited Edition Mineralize Blushers, but I think they’ve all sold out :(

Lipstick tints

£9 You may or may not have noticed that I've changed my introductory message (on the right). It now reads 'fashion journalism graduate'! Yes that's right, I am no longer a student!! I may not technically be a graduate yet, as my graduation isn't until November - late huh? - but all assignments are complete, my lease is finished on my little flat and I'm all moved in back home! Now to find a job and enter the real grown-up world of work, mortgages, and responsibility...

But whilst I figure all that out, I have more time to blog. Yay! To start with I wanted to share with you my new found love of lipstick tints. After Topshop launched their Sister's of the New Moon Collection and unveiled Crystal - a bubblegum pink liptint flecked with glitter - I had to get my hands on it. I love the idea of it being a lipstick, but opposed to having a strong pigment colour, it is more of a nourishing gloss that adds a glimmer of pink upon application. It also reacts to each wearer's lips, creating a unique colour for everyone. It is so pretty, fun and girly - plus practical! You don't need a mirror to apply it and can treat is as a lip balm or gloss.

£7.19 (Boots are doing buy one get one half price)
With this being a limited edition item, it took me a while to find, and in the mean-time I discovered a similar alternative in Maybelline's new Popsticks. These combine gorgeous glossy finishes, a hint of colour, good quality packaging with the most delicious fruity fragrances ever!! I now have three - Pink Lollipop, Crystal Pink and Citrus Slice - and they all glide on so smoothly with a beautiful sheer finish. If you prefer a strong, noticeable lip shade then these won't be for you. But as I have fairly naturally dark lips, a light gloss or pop of colour is perfect for me! I would recommend buying them just for the smell!

Ensure to swatch these - you'll be surprised at how they come out!

Also, if you haven't been able to get hold of the now sold out Topshop liptint, Maybelline's Crystal Pink is a very close dupe! Just with an added bonus of fruity fragrance!

I've also got my first MAC lipstick shade from the SHOP MAC limited edition collection, and a Rimmel shade from the Kate Moss Spring collection coming up!

MAC Brushes

Long time, no see!! I’ve been dying to share these beauties with you for a while now but I just haven’t got around to doing so...

Just after Christmas I decided to treat myself to some MAC make-up brushes to accompany my new, rather profesh products (if you’re gonna have high quality cosmetics, you’ve gotta have the brushes to compliment them, right?). I had my heart set on a foundation, contour, blush and eyeshadow brush which all-in-all, would have totalled over £100. I’m all for spending a little more for a better product but that was slightly excessive for four brushes I thought.

Then a lovely sales assistant told me about their limited edition Make it Perfect Mineralize Brush Kit (December 2011) which comes in two varieties of four mini brushes. This retailed at £39.50 (I think!) and included a 130, 187, 282 and a 286 as well as a cute little clear bag to keep them in. I did and still so want the full sized brushes but as a starter set, this couldn’t be better!

It was £40 well spent because these are bloomin amazing brushes! I get excited to use them of a morning/evening (does this make me sound mad?). They are so soft, durable and make for a beautifully smooth application. I have found that my most-used 130 foundation brush malts slightly but I guess that is an inevitable feature as it is a mix of natural and synthetic fibre bristles.

I’m still lusting after the 139 Tapered Face Brush and the 116 Blush Brush...as well as their brush cleaner – do I wanna say ‘brush’ anymore!! I’m also seriously in need of the new Shop Collection Watch Me Shimmer lipstick, it’s beautiful!

What do you think of the psychedelic packaging for the SS12 collection? Bright huh...?!

And so I was bamboozled

Yesterday evening I skipped (yes skipped because I was excited) on down to Debenhams in town in preparation for my free facial, make-over and gift with Benefit. Do you remember I'd been given a voucher with my Boi-ing purchase for this in November? It sounded like a fab freebie non? Perhaps too good to be true? Well you're right, it was pretty pants actually and was all for Benefit's benefit (!) opposed to mine...

I arrived ten minutes early and no-one was there. 'That's ok, I am early so I'll just wait'. At 5pm (time of my appointment) no one was there. Then just after 5, Chloe my therapist arrived and asked me to take a seat ~ I did wonder if Benefit actually offered facials as I'd never heard of them doing so, but when asked to sit in a chair rather than lay as you would on a couch, I knew that a 'facial' actually meant makeover ~

There I was, face full of make-up (new MAC products may I add!) which was gently removed - so much so that I'm sure just the transluscent powder came off! - with cleanser and toner which was deemed a 'facial'. I was asked what products I would like to try. 'Well I've already got pretty much what's on your counter so only really the new mascara', I thought.

So primer, foundation, powder, blusher, eyeshadow, and mascara were applied and they were all lovely products. But I went with the intention of being pampered, not as a guinea pig to be tried and tested on in order for me to part with money - naieve I know.

And so with a face full of two lots of make-up (the remnants of mine, and then newly applied Benefit bits), I left. Without a purchase. And without my bloody free gift!!

But my dilemma now is that i actually looove the Coralista blusher applied to me and the They're Real! mascara (so Benefit's evil plan worked) which are both really overpriced I think. I know they last a long time but the mascara is itsy-bitsy! Plus as a MAC-convert, do I really buy back into Benefit or stick with my new beloved brand?

What do you think? Coralista or Peachykeen? They're Real! or another mascara that I have yet to find?

Ps, points for where 'bamboozled' is from...

I'm back, armed with MAC

(Left: Mineralize SkinFinish Natural in medium dark, Right: Pressed Blot Powder)
Guess where I am? Yep, back sitting in my usual place (the desk chair!) in my flat where I have embarked on my last EVER semester at uni! Scary is an understatement! So to sidetrack my mind from a panicked, frenzy of jobs, internships and applications overdrive, I thought I’d distract myself with a simple pastime that I take great pleasure in – beauty products.

As you know, I’ve wanted to break into the MAC buying business for a while now, and guess what? I’ve only gone and done it! Yes the lovely Cambridge shop now have 100 pounds of my birthday money in exchange for six beautiful products (plus a pump!) that I don’t know how I lived without.

Studio Fix Fluid in NW15 | Pressed Blot Powder in medium | Mineralise Skin Finish Natural in medium dark | Cream Colour Base in Hush | Eyeshadow in All that Glitters and Brown Down

These were my purchases and I love love love love them! Skin products were what I wanted mainly and after explaining that I like a matte finish due to an oily t-zone, I was made-over (?) with these beauties. I’m really impressed with all of them but especially love the foundation and highlighter. The mineralise skin finish works well as a bronzer giving a light glow opposed to an orange tango-effect too but I feel I need the tapered 138 brush to really enhance it.



(Left: All that Glitters, Right: Brown Down)

I didn’t intend to get eye make-up but how could I say no to the pretty shimmery-ness of All that Glitters?! And of course, it needed a darker accompaniment. But now I literally want every eyeshadow pot they have on their swanky display!! *sigh* If only I could do it the justice it deserves with my application. I am getting better but if you know of any great MAC eye make-up tutorials, please link me to them – would be very much appreciated. The girls in the shop make it look so darn easy!

I’m also looking into getting a MAC blusher and a mascara. Do you have any recommendations?