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Sabrina

Natasha Denona Sephora

Natasha Denona My Dream Collection Swatches + Review

November 7, 2022

Natasha Denona My Dream Palette Collection

Natasha Denona continues to be one of the best makeup lines for beautiful innovative palettes and colors. I love that she brings us so many beautiful unique launches – so much thought and care goes into her creations. Her new My Dream Collection has beautiful tones and textures. Today I have some swatches and a review of the items. Today’s the last day of the Sephora Holiday Savings event. If you’re looking for makeup that’s new (rather than repeats) definitely check her collection out.

I have swatches and a review but didn’t have time to shoot makeup looks for this launch. I still wanted to get the swatches up for you. I put up a poll on my Instagram stories and even though this collection launched weeks ago most of you still wanted swatches.

Natasha Denona My Dream Palette Collection

My Dream Eyeshadow Palette

Natasha Denona My Dream Palette

The Natasha Denona My Dream Eyeshadow Palette ($69) is absolutely stunning. I think it’s one of the best most unique palettes of the year. I’ve played with this a few times and you can create a wide range of looks. Every single shade applies beautifully. I love that she always has a great mix of textures: mattes, shimmers, sparkles, duo chromes. Some of her palettes are a little too trendy for my personal style. This one is on trend but has a good mix of colors that even conservative makeup lovers can wear it.

The palette has 13 new shades and 2 repromotes:

  • Famila is a warm dark brown
  • Babies is a stunning metallic mauve sparkle
  • Carpe-Diem is a warm matte brown
  • Serenity is a smooth shimmery taupe
  • Aspiration is a matte ultra deep cool brown
  • Blackest Black is a matte black
  • Instinct is a magenta satin
  • Thrill is a sparkling champagne
  • Unity is a matte warm terracotta peach
  • Risk is a beautiful smooth metallic reddish plum
  • Invention is a sparkle topper with a orange bronze finish
  • Vision is a duochrome violet green pink nude
  • Edgy is a purple eggplant satin
  • Spontaneous is a shimmering champagne
  • Nurture is a matte cool brown

Natasha Denona My Dream Palette swatches

Colors layer beautifully. Combinations are endless. Color range is amazing with light shades, medium shades, deep shades, bold pops. Absolutely love.

My Dream Cheek Trio

Natasha Denona My Dream Cheek Trio

Natasha Denona’s My Dream Cheek Trio ($48) is a beautiful palette I think will suit a wide range of skin tones. It has a Cream Blush which is a dusty neutral-cool pink (has a velvety finish), Glow Cream Base (shimmery creamy nude that melts into the skin, has fine shimmer) and Dream Glow Highlighter (another shimmery champagne, gel to powder finish). I think all three are beautiful and very easy to wear. The highlighters have a very similar vibe to her other cheek products. I still think this is a beautiful one you can wear this holiday for a polished effortless look.

Natasha Denona My Dream Cheek Trio

Colors apply beautifully and have very good pigment. They’re easy to layer and blend. They don’t emphasize my pores or skin texture. Love that the highlighters can also be used on the eyes.

My Dream Lipstick, Lip Gloss, Lip Pencil

Natasha Denona My Dream Lipstick, Lip Gloss and Lip Pencil

The last three items I have swatched are for the lips. My Dream Lipstick ($27) is a neutral cool mauve pink that’s super creamy and opaque. My Dream Lip Gloss ($27) has a beautiful smooth texture in a neutral mauve pink with medium coverage and a tiny bit of shimmer. My Dream Lip Crayon ($24) is an ultra pigmented long-wear lip pencil in a nude mauve color.

Natasha Denona My Dream Collection Lip swatches

Texture and pigment-wise all three are beautiful and excellent in quality. Unfortunately the colors did not work on my medium olive complexion. They have a bit too much grey undertone to work for my pigmented lips and tan skin. I think these would be super flattering on cool skin tones or light-fair complexions.

Overall a beautiful collection with lots to love. Out of all her palettes my favorites are still her Glam and Biba Palettes. The new My Dream Collection Palette is truly unique though so if you’re one looking for something new and innovative, this is the palette to try.

I have a quick roundup of what I hauled from the Sephora sale below. You can click on each item to shop directly from Sephora if you’re interested! I also bought this Hourglass Brush Set (not featured in the collage).

Did you shop the Sephora sale? What are you the most excited about?

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Natasha Denona My Dream Collection provided for review.

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Nail Polish

10 Chocolate Nail Colors to Try This Season

November 4, 2022

Best Chocolate Nail Polish Colors

Sharing a roundup of some chocolate nail colors I’ve been loving this season! I’ve never received so many “what color is that?” questions about some of the shades I’ve been wearing recently. The ones that have been getting the most compliments are OPI Bonfire Serenade and Olive and June JJ.

I’ve been in a pale pink and neutral nude nail kick most of this year but love these different shades of brown for fall to winter. Here are 10 nail chocolate colors to try this fall.

Best Chocolate Nail Polish Colors

OPI Bonfire Serenade is a creamy cool-toned chocolate brown. Opaque with two coats.

OPI Bonfire Serenade Nail Polish

OPI You Don’t Know Jacques is a shade I always thought was brown, but I just bought a fresh bottle and it’s almost taupe blue on my skin tone. I added it to the mix for comparison.

OPI You Don't Know Jacques

OPI Espresso Your Inner Self is a true medium chocolate brown shade. Also creamy, opaque, two coats.

OPI Espresso Your Inner Self Nail Polish

Olive and June JJ is the prettiest warm chocolate milk shade, neutral-warm on me. This is with two coats.

Olive and June JJ

Essie All Checked Out is a darker cool toned brown. Has full coverage with one coat, but I applied it with two.

Essie All Checked Out

Chanel Le Vernis Inspiration and Impulsion are both nearly identical to me. A lot of you wanted a photographed swatch side by side next to Infinite. I would say Inspiration is a medium neutral warm chocolate brown, Impulsion is slightly deeper and cooler in undertone, Infinite is nearly black on my fingers with two coats.

Chanel Le Vernis Inspiration

Chanel Le Vernis 957 Impulsion

Chanel Le Vernis browns Infinite, Impulsion, Inspiration

Dior Nude Line is another great chocolate color. It’s a one coat wonder.

Dior Nude Line Nail Polish

Hermes Brun Bistre is an ultra dark chocolate color, almost black on my nails, even in sunlight. It’s a deep brown. Applied with two coats.

Hermes Brun Bistre

Best Chocolate Nail Polish Colors OPI, Essie, Olive and June, Chanel, Dior and Hermes

For those who wanted to know what I’ve been wearing lately I hope you found this roundup helpful! What nail colors are you wearing this season? I’ve also linked some of my favorite DIY hand and nail care products. A lot of them are also featured in this Hand and Nail Care Favorites roundup here.

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Would love to hear about your favorites!

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Beauty Favorites Haircare Sephora

Best Hair Care and Styling Picks from Sephora

November 3, 2022

ghd Platinum+ 1” Styler Smooth Sleek Hair

Many of you have asked for gift ideas for the best value beauty sets and I think hair care is one of the categories with the best options. I think hair care sets or tools are a no-fail option – every single person I know is always looking for a great hair mask or new tool to try. One of my favorite beauty gifts of all time was the Dyson Airwrap Styler (original version) which I use nearly every day.

With the Sephora sale in full swing I wanted to highlight my favorites in haircare. It’s a nice time to save on gift sets or something you wanted for yourself. I’ve split up my favorites by category. Use code SAVINGS at checkout to save:

  • Rouge Members save 20% off 10/28 to 11/7
  • VIB Members save 15% off 11/1 to 11/7
  • Insiders save 10% off purchases 11/3 to 11/7

Best Hair Care Styling Products

Hair Care loves Oribe, Olaplex and Christophe

Hair Tools

ghd Platinum+ 1” Styler Curled Hair

Here are my favorite hair styling tools:

  • ghd Platinum+ Styler – 1″ Flat Iron Gift Set with Paddle Brush & Heat Resistant Bag ($279)– This is my go-to hair styling tool for a sleek smooth hair look or easy curls. This holiday they have it in a value gift set with their Paddle Brush + Travel Case (love!!!). For those who want to see it in action you can see my natural hair state in this video. This really makes a huge difference!
  • ghd Paddle Brush ($35) – This is available in the gift set listed above and individually, I really love it. It’s the perfect size and and weight. Love that it’s sturdy and well made.
  • Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer ($429)– Love this for a good blow out. This is smaller than the Airwrap which makes it easier to travel with. I’ve had mine since 2017 and still love it to this day.
  • Dyson Airwrap Styler ($599) – I have the original of this and think it’s the best of the best. So many options with the attachments, easy to use, however if you don’t really curl your hair, opt for the Supersonic.
  • T3 AirLuxe Hair Dryer ($199.99) or Afar Lightweight Hair Dryer ($179.99) – While I think the Dyson is the best of the best, I understand it’s not in everyone’s budget. T3 also makes great tools (both of these are under $200). I’ve gifted these to friends and it definitely has a WOW factor.

ghd Platinum+ Styler in action:

 

Shampoo + Conditioner

Oribe Home & Away Gold Lust Repair & Restore Shampoo & Conditioner Set

I rotate frequently with hair care as there are so many great formulas out these days. My top 4 brands from Sephora include Oribe, Olaplex, Kerastase and Briogeo. There are different formulas for different hair types and needs. These are my most repurchased formulas:

Hair Masks

I have to admit I’ve been neglecting hair masks this year but I started using them again and noticed a world of difference in smoothness and shine. These are my favorites

Heat Protectant/Leave In/Primers

Kerastase Serum Chroma Thermique Hair Serum

Since I use heat tools on a regular basis a leave in conditioner, primer or heat protectant is essential. There are tons of options and I know it can get overwhelming on which one to use and when. Here are my favorites and when I use them (a lot of these are versatile):

For flat irons or curling tools:

For blow dryer heat:

Prep and Condition/Detangle:

Hair Styling

Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray and Gold Lust Dry Shampoo

Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray

Dry Shampoo and Texturizers and Volume

Hold/Hair Spray

Added Shine

Accessories

Best Hair Care Sephora Sale

I hope you found this roundup helpful! I know there’s a lot I covered but I hope that having it split by category helps you navigate which products to shop by need. If you need any other hair care recommendations let me know in the comments!

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Great Hair Tools

 

Great Gift Sets

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Anastasia Beverly Hills

Anastasia Beverly Hills Mini Glam to Go Eyeshadow Palette

November 2, 2022

Anastasia Beverly Hills Mini Glam to Go Eyeshadow Palette

I hauled a few things from the Sephora Sale and one of my favorites is the Anastasia Beverly Hills Mini Glam to Go Eyeshadow Palette ($29). I love the Mini Soft Glam II (reviewed here) so I knew I would love the new one. I also have a look at a couple lip items and blushes I hauled in today’s post.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Mini Glam to Go Eyeshadow Palette

The Mini Glam to Go Eyeshadow Palette has 8 shades in a small compact. I love the colors, texture and pigment. It has a mix of shimmers, mattes and a sparkle shade. The overall color theme is pink and plum with a good balance of neutrals mixed in. Shadows are soft and blend beautifully.

Shades include:

  • Pretty is a shimmery light mauve
  • Dawn is a matte soft tan
  • Sunburst is a shimmery peach
  • Softy is a medium rose peach
  • Sunset is a warmer tan
  • Fireworks is a gorgeous plum taupe gold shimmer
  • Rosey is a reddish matte brown
  • Dusk is a deeper brown

Anastasia Beverly Hills Mini Glam to Go Eyeshadow Palette swatches

Anastasia Beverly Hills Mini Glam to Go Eyeshadow Palette

Anastasia Beverly Hills Cream Blush Sticks

I’ve also accumulated a few of the Stick Cream Blushes ($32 each) which I think are lovely. The shades are really flattering and easy to wear. They blend out to a very natural finish but you can build pigment. They don’t have a powdery dry-down but I like that they’re not super dewy. Lasting power isn’t going to be all day since it’s a cream but they have decent lasting power. I like that there’s a brush on one end making it easy for touch ups on the go.

So far I have:

  • Latte is a light nude pink (almost my skin tone)
  • Peachy Keen is a pretty fresh peach
  • Pink Dahlia is a bright pink (but blends out more sheer)
  • Soft Rose is a brown rose pink
  • Bubblegum is hard to see in the swatch but it’s a really pretty pink gold shimmer

Anastasia Beverly Hills Cream Blush Sticks

Anastasia Beverly Hills Cream Blush Sticks

There’s lots to love in the ABH lip world. I did a post of my haul here a while back of the Lipsticks and Lip Liners. I recently picked up Lipstick in Rose Dream (really pretty rose) and Lip Gloss in Peachy (almost clear base loaded with peach, pink and gold shimmers).

Anastasia Beverly Hills Lipstick Rose Dream and Lip Gloss Peachy

Wearing:

Anastasia Beverly Hills Mini Glam to Go Eyeshadow Palette

Look with Peachy Lip Gloss + Latte Cream Blush

Anastasia Beverly Hills Mini Glam to Go Eyeshadow Palette + Lip Gloss in Peachy

Overall love. I think the Glam to Go Palette is a great one to wear for everyday. Especially love that it’s a pink toned palette that doesn’t pull too pink or warm.

If you’re more into neutrals and neutral-cool tones Makeup by Mario launched his new Ethereal Eyes Eyeshadow Palette (just ordered and will try to swatch/review before the Sephora sale ends). The Natasha Denona Glam Palette and Charlotte Tilbury Eyeshadow Quad in Exaggereyes are also in my top picks for true neutral eyeshadow palettes.

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Are you a fan of anything from Anastasia Beverly Hills? What are you favorites?

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Gift Guide Holiday Gift Guide Sephora

Best Makeup Sets & Stocking Stuffers From the Sephora Holiday Savings Event

October 28, 2022

Best Holiday Gift Sets Sephora

The Sephora Holiday Savings Event is here with first access for Rouge! Today I’m sharing a roundup of the best makeup gift sets to gift this season. Some are really cute for stocking stuffers and this event is a great time to get an early start to holiday shopping.

The Sephora Holiday Savings Event is open to all Beauty Insider Members. If you’re not a member yet you can sign up for free here. Here are the dates and tiers to shop the sale, if you’re shopping online use promo code SAVINGS:

  • Rouge Members save 20% off 10/28 to 11/7
  • VIB Members save 15% off 11/1 to 11/7
  • Insiders save 10% off purchases 11/3 to 11/7

In addition they have 30% off all Sephora Collection items. Promo code and savings are good for use multiple times throughout the sale. Some exclusions apply and promo codes cannot be combined. All Beauty Insider members will receive free standard shipping on all qualifying online purchases in the U.S. and Canada.

Here are my top picks for sets to put on your radar!

Hourglass Holiday Ambient Lighting Palettes 2022

The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Unlocked Face Palettes ($85 each) this year are stunning. I love the packaging design and the colors in each of the palettes. There are a lot of new shades this year and I think there is a good range of colors to suit different skin tones! My favorite is the Elephant Palette but they’re all stunning.

Top to bottom includes:

  • Butterfly Palette with Ethereal Light, Incandescent Light, Soft Flush (new), Diffused Light, Sunset Glow (new), Celestial Strobe Light (new)
  • Elephant Palette with Dim Light, Soft Light, Beaming Strobe Light (new), Lustrous Bronze Light (new), Iridescent Coral (new), and Radiant Rose (new)
  • Tiger Palette with Transcendent Light, Brilliant Glow Strobe Light (new), Burnish Glow (new), Divine Strobe Light (new), Copper Flash Strobe Light (new), Iridescent Rose

Wearing the Elephant Palette below

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette Holiday 2022 Elephant

I’ve fallen head over heels in love with Phlur and they have a beautiful gift set with my favorite scent! The Missing Person Gift Set ($98) has a full size perfume + mini spritzer for travel. If you’re new to the line definitely try the Phlur Discovery Sampler Set ($35, I also love Somebody Wood and Phloria).

Phlur Missing Person Gift Set Duo Sephora

Mini eyeshadow palettes make for the perfect stocking stuffer. I’ve been really impressed with the Tarte Mini Tartelette Jewel Palette ($21). Colors are great everyday kind of neutrals and I love the sparkle toppers. I also recommend checking out Anastasia Beverly Hills, Natasha Denona and Urban Decay for eye great palettes under $30.

Tarte Mini Tartelette Jewel Palette

There are tons of great lip sets and minis this year! The Rare Beauty Mini Kind Words Matte Lip Duo in Humble ($20) is super cute. The colors are super mini but there’s enough product to get a decent sampling of how the formula wears. Humble is a great everyday neutral.

Rare Beauty Mini Kind Words Matte Lip Duo in Humble

Rare Beauty Mini Kind Words Matte Lip Duo in Humble

Other lip sets to check out:

Best Lip Sets Sephora

Pat McGrath also has some great options. The Mini Lip Shine Trio in Nude Venus ($25) has three perfect nude pinks (I hope they bring these out in the full size). As a huge fan of the LUST: Gloss I think the Pat McGrath LUST: Gloss Duo in Nude Dimension ($30) is a great buy for the neutral lip lover.

Pat McGrath Holiday Sets Sephora

Pat McGrath Nude Venus Set

Look wearing: Westman Atelier Vital Foundation Stick Shade VII, Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawess Finish Setting Powder in Medium, Sephora Collection PRO Foundation Brush #70, Tartelette Jewel Palette, NARS Behave Set, Pat McGrath Nude Venus Lip Set.

Best Makeup Sephora Sale

For the face the NARS Behave Backstage Cheek Set ($39) is really cute. It comes with a Mini Powder Blush, Mini Multiple and Full-Size Liquid Blush in the shade Behave which is a soft peach.

NARS Behave Set

For a luxurious treat definitely check out the Westman Atelier Sets. The Westman Atelier Squeaky Clean Lip & Cheek Duo ($48) in Chouchette + Ma Puce is super cute.

Westman Atelier Squeaky Clean Lip & Cheek Duo ($48) in Chouchette + Ma Puce

Westman Atelier Squeaky Clean Lip & Cheek Duo ($48) in Chouchette + Ma Puce

I also really love the Westman Atelier Petal Set ($134) which has a new Lit Up Stick and Squeaky Clean Lip Balm in Petal to match the blush stick.

Westman Atelier Petal Edition Set

Westman Atelier Petal Edition Set swatches

Best Makeup Sephora Sale

That wraps up my gift set roundup! What’s on your radar for the Sephora Holiday Savings Event?

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Sponsored by Sephora.

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Sales Sephora

Best Makeup Picks to Shop at Sephora

October 27, 2022

Best Makeup Sephora Sale

The Sephora Holiday Savings Event is almost here with first access for Rouge Beauty Insiders on Friday! If you’re shopping online use promo code SAVINGS:

  • Rouge Members save 20% off 10/28 to 11/7
  • VIB Members save 15% off 11/1 to 11/7
  • Insiders save 10% off purchases 11/3 to 11/7

I have my Best in Beauty makeup roundup today sharing my top 5 in each category. I’ll also link reviews + swatches to previous reviews.

BASE MAKEUP FAVORITES

 

Patrick Ta Major Skin Creme Foundation and Finishing Powder Duo Light Medium 2

Primers

Foundation/Base

Natural Tints

SHOP MY FAVORITES

 

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer Ginger

Concealer

Powders/Setting Products

SHOP MY FAVORITES

CHEEK PRODUCTS

Gucci Beauty Luminous Matte Beauty Blush

Blush/Cheek Palettes

Bronzers/Contour

Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand Swatches | The Beauty Look Book

Highlighter

SHOP MY FAVORITES

 

EYE MAKEUP FAVORITES

Patrick Ta Major Dimension II Rose Eyeshadow Palette

Best Eyeshadow Palettes

Best Eyeshadow Singles

SHOP MY FAVORITES

 

LIP FAVORITES

 

Maracuja Juicy Lip Plump

Lipsticks

Huda Beauty Lip Contour 2.0 Automatic Lip Pencils

Lip Pencils

Tom Ford Gloss Luxe Moisturizing Lip Glosses

Lipgloss

Tinted Lip Balms

SHOP MY FAVORITES

 

I’m also hosting a giveaway! I’m giving away five $100 e-gift cards to Sephora (US site only). Open internationally to readers 18 years and older. To enter follow ALL the steps in the widget below. Giveaway will run through Monday October 31st 11:59 PM EST. I’ll select a winner on November 1st and email the winners. Selected winners must respond via email within 24 hours or another winner will be selected in their place. Not sponsored or affiliated.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Holiday Gift Guide MAC

MAC Velvet Teddy’s Party Crew Vault

October 25, 2022

MAC Velvet Teddy’s Party Crew Vault

MAC has some really cute sets out for the holiday season! I’ve ordered a few as gifts this year and and ordered the Velvet Teddy’s Party Crew Vault ($80, value of $145) for myself! I managed to buy it before it sold out at Ulta and Macy’s last week and today it just launched online at MAC Cosmetics. If you have your eye on this neutral lip set act fast! I suspect it will sell out very soon.

MAC Velvet Teddy’s Party Crew Vault

MAC Velvet Teddy’s Party Crew Vault

All the colors in this set fall under the same neutral color family with slight variations in undertone and finish. I really love the Velvet Teddy Matte Lipstick color so I knew I had to get this set. Love that each one is full-sized and I think the pink and gold case is really cute! So far Velvet Teddy and Teddy 2.0 are both available individually, the other shades are exclusive to this set.

MAC Velvet Teddy’s Party Crew Vault via The Beauty Lookbook

The difference in undertone is more noticeable and visible in real life. In the photos they all look very similar with subtle differences. Colors and formulas include:

  • Teddy 2.0 Powder Kiss Lipstick – this is a soft diffused matte with an almost airbrush finish, it has medium coverage
  • Velvet Teddy Matte Lipstick – full coverage matte long-wear lipstick
  • Very Teddy Love Me Lipstick – satin slightly glossy finish with a nourishing creamy feel
  • Love Teddy Love Me Liquid Lip Colour – a comfortable glossy liquid lipstick with a beautiful shine (this one pulls more neutral-cool on me)
  • Velveteen Teddy Retro Matte Liquid – liquid lipstick with a matte dry down, budge proof once it sets
  • Teddy Kiss Powder Kiss Liquid Lip Colour – a soft whipped matte liquid lip with an airbrushed smooth powdery look, this is the deepest and pulls more of a rose tone

Colors are swatched below with different lighting, the combination of flash + lights reflect on the glossy finish of some of the formulas. I think the stock swatch photo online at MAC does a great job at showing the differences in undertone. I also added a few MAC Lip Pencil swatches in Boldly Bare, Whirl, Spice and Soar for reference.

MAC Velvet Teddy’s Party Crew Vault swatches

MAC Velvet Teddy’s Party Crew Vault swatches

Below each lip color on me, also wearing:

MAC Teddy 2.0 Powder Kiss Lipstick

MAC Velvet Teddy Matte Lipstick

MAC Very Teddy Love Me Lipstick

MAC Love Teddy Love Me Liquid Lip Colour

MAC Velveteen Teddy Retro Matte Liquid

MAC Teddy Kiss Powder Kiss Liquid Lip Colour

MAC Velvet Teddy’s Party Crew Vault

Overall love. I have so many neutral nude lipsticks at this point I don’t need another one but I love MAC’s holiday twist on their classic Velvet Teddy lip color. Out of all the formulas I think they’re all really good. I have a soft spot for the Love Me Lipstick and Love Me Liquid Lip Colour since I’m a glossy lip lover at heart.

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Available this holiday at MAC Cosmetics.

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