MAC launches their Fruity Juicy Collection online today and it has some of the cutest packaging I’ve ever seen. The collection has summery vibes with a mix of bright shades with bronzers and I have a few pieces to review today. Items with descriptions:
Pearlmatte Face Powder in Oh My, Passion! is a pretty soft peachy powder when swirled that doubles as a highlighter and blush for me, if you get one thing from the collection I think this should be it – the sheen is just divine on the skin without being too frosty, colors are embossed in a gorgeous floral print (individual shades swatched below)
Bronzing Powder in Baiana Bronze is a neutral cool matte brown, I thought it would be too dark/cool for my skin but the texture and finish actually works really well, I love that it has a silky smooth finish and doesn’t darken or look muddy
Prep+Prime Fix+ in Coconut has the most fun fruity design on the bottle, it has a very subtle coconut scent to it and I love that it’s not overly sweet
Cremesheen Glass in Summer Succulence is a sheer light milky beige, it’s pretty much clear on me but adds a soft light colored sheen to the lips
Cremesheen Glass in Cha-Cha-Cha is a sheer melon pink, it’s sheer but really lovely
Amplified Creme Lipstick in Love At First Bite is a super bright hot pink, it’s super pigmented with a slight sheen, texture is ultra creamy and smooth
Swatched left to right is Summer Succulence, Cha-Cha-Cha and Love at First Bite:
Lip swatches on bare lips, beauty look has the Oh My Passion Pearlmatte Face Powder, Honeylust Eyeshadow, Love at First Bite applied and blotted down topped with Cha-Cha-Cha gloss.
Last but not least a look a the Prep+Prime Fix+ in Coconut, I’m in love with the packaging. It’s so fun and summery and the colors matched all the flowers we have in our backyard.
That rounds up the pieces I have from the collection. Everything is limited-edition. The items launch online today at MAC Cosmetics and Nordstrom. It should be available at other counters and MAC stores as well.
Most of the Fruity Juicy items featured provided as press samples. Oh My Passion purchased by me.
Earlier last month Tatcha launched new lip products in their Twilight Cherry Blossom Lip Contour Trio ($85) and it sold out almost immediately. If you missed out I have exciting news to share from Tatcha that the set and the individual items will be restocked today at 1:00 PM PST. The Cherry Blossom collection is exclusive online to Tatcha.com and per the team it’s going to be available only on their site. If you like natural fresh looking beauty I highly recommend you check the entire collection out. Tatcha calls this “a fresh take on nude lips” with a “universally flattering pink blush.” An FYI for this restock – the trio won’t have the purple makeup pouch as they wanted to bring the collection back as soon as they could.
A look at the collection which includes:
TWILIGHT: A Cherry Blossom Contouring Lip Liner is my favorite piece of the collection, it’s an ultra creamy, full pigment perfect pink beige that glides on the lips
TWILIGHT: A Cherry Blossom Silk Lipstick is a stunning soft petal pink, it has a glossy sheer to medium finish, it has a different formula that is lighter, sheerer and more glossy compared to their Plum Blossom and Kyoto Red
CHERRY BLOSSOM Camellia Lip Balm is a sheer soft tinted pink balm, on my lips it’s pretty much clear with a smooth hydrating feel
The Cherry Blossom Lip Balm is clear with a very soft sheen on my lips. The Lip Pencil pulls warmer and slightly beige on my skintone. The Lipstick is a neutral pink. Plum Blossom is a lot deeper, more pink and brighter.
All three lip items applied. I applied the balm first to prep the lips, then followed with the lipliner to line and fill and then topped with the lipstick. On the eyes and cheeks I’m wearing the Becca x Chrissy Teigan Glow Face Palette (which is pure love!). Dress is an older style from Rag and Bone, similar here, here and here. When I layer all three lip products in the Cherry Blossom Lip Trio I get a soft petal pink with a beige and slightly peachy sheen. Also I am in desperate need of a hair cut – in San Diego I used the same two stylists for nearly 10 years. I’m debating whether or not to wait until I go back to visit, although I suspect I’ll have to try someone new. If you have any Tampa hair salon recommendations let me know.
And because I know you girls love comparisons, I pulled a handful of neutrals to compare. I did find a couple shades that look similar but the gorgeous presentation, packaging and formulas from Tatcha just simply cannot be matched. First a look at Cherry Blossom vs Plum Blossom (previously reviewed here), I have an untouched backup because that shade was also limited-edition:
Last month I saw Cherry Blossoms for the first time in NYC and the packaging of this collection matches the petal color perfectly!
I love all three – how can one resist the pretty pink tints and packaging? For the liner and lipstick there is no detectable scent. There is a very subtle scent in the lip balm but it’s barely detectable. If I had to pick one favorite it would be the lip pencil, although the other two are also very special. I’m dying for the pink lipstick packaging. Tatcha Lipsticks are made with the most exquisite details and have a gorgeous heavyweight feel. I know many women who hate paying a lot for lipstick but still think their Tatcha splurges were well worth every penny spent (myself included).
The Cherry Blossom Lip Contour Trio retails for $85. Individual items are expected to be listed online exclusively at Tatcha this afternoon. The collection is scheduled to restock today 5/15 at 1:00 PM PST. Have you tried these yet? If you were able to get them the first round what did you think?
Many thanks to Tatcha for sending the Cherry Blossom set for review.
Charlotte Tilbury’s latest in beauty is a new Instant Look In A Palette called Beauty Glow ($75, made in Italy). This is the darkest option of the three that have been released to date. Natural Beauty (reviewed here) was one that looked so pretty swatched on my arm but was too sheer to show up on my face. I ended up gifting it away. Seductive Beauty was launched last year with deeper options (review here) but I have not reached for it very often as I’ve found I still prefer her individual products, palette-wise I’ve found myself using the By Terry Sun Designer Palette #2 or Tom Ford Winter Soleil Palettes instead. The latest one in Beauty Glow is the best one yet. At first glance I suspected it would be too warm with the warm browns and rose gold shades but it’s actually just perfect. Quality wise everything is excellent, however I have mixed feelings about the face products. The pigment isn’t bad – just by comparison her individual Filmstar Bronze and Glows and her Cheek to Chic Blushes are so much better in terms of pigment and texture leaving me wanting a bit more for the palette. In general I feel the face products in her palettes are on the sheer side with a slightly powdery feel.
A closer look at the palette and color descriptions. These palettes are truly for the person on-the-go. It’s designed for a quick and easy look or for touch ups. It’s goof proof, simple in concept and super easy to use. If you’re into a super natural look, want as few steps as possible, but still want to look like you have some makeup on these palettes are definitely worth a look.
There are 3 eyeshadows with labeled numbers so you know what order to apply. The colors can be applied as a wash or gradient as they go from light to dark. Cheek options include bronzer/contour, two blush shades and a highlighter.
1 Eyeshadow is to brighten, it’s a shimmery peachy champagne color, I love this one!
2 Eyeshadow is a stunning shimmering copper shade, I want this in a larger pan, it has the right amount of warmth to be coppery-rose but doesn’t give me a red pink-eye look
3 Eyeshadow is a matte warm brown, pigment is excellent
4 Face is a bronze shade, it has a slight hint of shimmer but applies more like a matte
5 Cheek is a brown terracotta like blush, it looks scary in the pan but applies with a semi sheer finish and is easy to blend out
6 Cheek is a sheer coral pink with a hint of shimmer
7 Highlight is a pale off-white shimmer on my skin
Swatches with a medium hand:
Swatches with a heavier hand:
Quick five-minute face (if you exclude foundation and base application because that usually takes me a while):
Foundation is Diorskin Forever Perfect Foundation in 30 Medium Beige (I’m experimenting with both 30 and 31 as I’m changing color by the day, even 5 minutes of sun here is pretty intense but if I stay out of the sun for a couple days then I lose color just as fast as I darken)
Top by Caslon (for sizing reference I went with a PXS)
A quick look at Seductive Beauty vs Beauty Glow. For some reason this round I couldn’t fit all the swatches on one arm. I’ve done it before so I don’t know why I had so much trouble this round. You can see Seductive Beauty review in this post here.
One last look:
Overall thoughts are this is a good palette. I think that it is the best one she has launched to date. I love the shadows in this palette and wish I could buy them all separately. I’m going to have to hunt for a good dupe on the Eye #2 color because it’s just perfect. The cheek colors are smooth and have sheer to medium color payoff. Again I don’t think they are bad, it’s just that her individual face products are far superior in quality and texture (at least in my opinion) so by comparison they’re just ok. I think the entire set is worth the $75 price point for a combination of factors: color selection, pigment, convenience, ease of use and quality. That being said if there are only a handful of shades you like then I’d say pass and buy something you think you’ll use more of.
You can find the Charlotte Tilbury Instant Look in a Palette in Beauty Glow online at Charlotte Tilbury. Have you tried this yet? What did you think? If you have any rose-gold shadow favorites let me know! So far I still have and love the Urban Decay Naked3 which has some amazing rose shades but doesn’t have warm options. Always on the hunt for wearable rose-gold copper ones – they are hard to come by for me!
Beauty Glow Palette and Legendary Brows featured were press samples.
Becca launched their new Sunlit Bronzers ($38 each for 7.1 g/0.25 oz, made in USA) at the end of April and these are hands down among the best bronzers I’ve ever tried. At this point in my beauty testing life I seriously thought that there was little room for improvement in the bronzer world. I’m a total bronzer addict and have tested all kinds – liquids, powders, creams, gels, shimmers etc. I often wear bronzer instead of blush to add depth or color my beauty look. The Becca Sunlit Bronzers have the softest sheen without any hint of frost on the skin. The texture is finely milled without a lot of fall out. They blend beautifully with the skin. I’ve historically been normal to oily but with the heat in Florida (and change in water) I would say I’ve become more normal to dry and some powders have started to emphasize lines or patches. Not the case with these bronzers. They have a rich pigment that is easy to smooth out and build. They look incredibly natural on the skin and lasted all day on me.
There are five colors and the Becca team sent all the shades for review. Those who have fair skin have often commented that they have trouble finding any bronzer that will work for their skintones. With this line I think you will finally be able to use one that won’t turn orange on your complexion. For my deeper skin tone readers there are a couple shades at the deeper end of the spectrum that have amazing pigment so you should be able to layer for a beautiful glow. The shades:
The shades have a noticeable shimmer in the pan, on the face it just glows. There’s no frost or flashback. From left to right:
Bali Sands is a soft golden sand
Capri Coast is slightly deeper but still a light bronze
Bronzed Bondi is a medium amber bronze
Ipanema Sun is a deeper brown bronze
Maui Nights is a reddish terracotta bronze
The pans comes with an embossed wave/sand like pattern. You can see the flecks of shimmer in the pan in the sunlight:
All five on me applied with a light hand. The color is layerable but I wanted to show how natural these can look. On my complexion you can’t really see Bali Sands and can barely see Capri Coast – which I think will help my fair-skin readers get a sense that these are truly lighter bronzer shades. On the face I’m wearing the Diorskin Forever Foundation in 31 and the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Ginger on spots. Face is also set with the La Mer Powder. On the lips is Tom Ford Lip Color in Spanish Pink topped with MAC Lipglass in Beaux (the new version). Stripe tee by Joie.
Prior to testing these my top picks for bronzers included Edward Bess Daydream, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzers, Tom Ford Bronzing Powder (original formula) and Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel. Other favorites rounded up here. The Becca Sunlit Bronzer joins my list for top picks – it’s definitely one of the most natural looking bronzers that gives the skin a sunkissed look. The color options give you a decent range to pick from depending how natural or deep you want your bronzer to be. Bottom line it’s pure love and I highly recommend them.
MAC partnered with 10 YouTubers and Instagram influencers around the world to create custom made lipsticks this spring. These special collaborations have been done in the US, UK, Canada, Brazil, France, Germany, Australia and the Middle East and you can only find the lipstick from each region specific to the area the influencers are from. For the US there were two launched for YouTube stars Laura Lee with #MACxLarLarLee (matte finish) and Gabriel Zamora for #MACxGabrielZamora (satin finish). Both were online exclusives and if you’re like me you blinked and then saw them sell out pretty fast. I’m hoping MAC will restock but won’t hold my breath as they were listed as limited-edition. As a MAC fan I would have loved to be able to buy all 10 as I think it’s so cool these influencers were able to make their own unique shade.
I know not being able to get these now is a bit heartbreaking (they were online exclusives to MAC’s website). I was traveling over the past few weeks and wasn’t able to get the review up early but thought it might be helpful to swatch these next to other lipstick colors. Many of you love the comparison swatches and if I can help you find a dupe or something similar (and even save you $$ in many cases) then my day is made. First a look at both shades.
Both of these are beautiful neutrals but as many of you know, nudes and neutrals can be tricky to pull off depending on your lip tone and skin tone. I personally love shades like MAC Blankety, Angel, Creme Cup and Creme de Nude on my hand, but on my lips alone they are a complete disaster. #MACxLarLarLee is described as a universally flattering neutral pink with a matte finish. On me it pulls a bit cool as there is a tiny bit of mauve undertone. I think it photographs decent but in real life it’s too cool and tad too light for my olive skintone especially since I have darkened a couple shades since moving to Florida. Right now I’m a solid NC35-NC37 in the Studio Fix Fluid (NC25, NC30, NC35 and NC37 swatched here). Topping it with a gloss or adding a bit of liner like MAC Whirl makes it wearable for me. The closest option I could find is Yash which is nearly identical, but Yash is the slightest bit deeper and warmer with more beige.
#MACxGabrielZamora is the warmer and deeper option of the two. It’s described as a brown nude shade and I love the way this looks on Gabriel. On me it pulls slightly terracotta-ish. Almost like a 90’s version of nude but a lot more wearable than the classic MAC Spice Lipliner. This is another one I think photographs well but will look completely different depending on your skintone. I suspect if you are lighter or fairer than me it will definitely pull more red. On deeper skin tones or lip tones this will look more nude.
Swatches:
Close up lip swatches:
I couldn’t really find dupes but pulled what I had to compare, Set 1 has all MAC shades. I suspect that the Gabriel Zamora shade might be close to Creme in Your Coffee but I don’t own that one so I couldn’t swatch it.
Thoughts on the shades from left to right (P.S. Nordstrom has MAC on 10% off today, not sure how long it’s going on but they are price matching):
MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Japanese Maple is a lot lighter and glossier almost white-looking by comparison
MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Modesty is a more wearable version of #MACxLarLarLee on my lips, it has a similar vibe but since it has more pigment it gives me the look I hoped #MACxLarLarLee would be on me
MAC Matte Lipstick in Yash is slightly deeper and more beige but really close
MAC Amplified Lipstick in Half n Half is a shade lighter and less warm compared to #MACxGabrielZamora
MAC Lustre Lipstick in Hug Me is in between both shades in color, a lot sheerer and glossy
MAC Liptensity in Doe is a lot more beige compared to either and Toast and Butter is more brown-based (both on the lips here)
MAC Matte Lipstick Velvet Teddy is deeper than #MACxLarLarLee and not as red/warm compared to #MACxGabrielZamora (Velvet Teddy on the lips here)
Set 2 has a mix of other brands from NARS, Tom Ford, Kat Von D, Tarte, Bite and Charlotte Tilbury.
Thoughts on colors from left to right:
NARS Audacious Lipstick in Barbara and Raquel both pull on the lighter/neutral side on me, so if you find the #MACxLarLarLee too light for your skin and lip tone, try either of the NARS ones, they are more wearable (both lip swatched in this post)
Tom Ford Lip Color in Sweet Mystery is something I thought would have a similar undertone to #MACxLarLarLee, I was really wrong! (on the lips here)
Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Pillow Talk is what I’d consider truly neutral, it has the same intensity as #MACxGabrielZamora without the brown but it’s deeper than #MACxLarLarLee (Pillow Talk on lips here)
I do think both the #MACxLarLarLee and #MACxGabrielZamora are unique and special in their own way. On me I can make them work but since I have pigmented lips and am really picky with neutrals find that these both need a tiny bit of tweaking to make them more wearable. #MACxLarLarLee is a bit too light for my complexion, the next best options for me are MAC Modesty or NARS Raquel. #MACxGabrielZamora is a gorgeous brown nude but pulls a bit warm on me so I prefer something with a bit more blue like Bite Beauty Chai or something more neutral like MAC Velvet Teddy.
At any rate I hope that this post helps you if you missed out on both. Fingers crossed that MAC restocks these or that they launch all the collaboration shades everywhere, but I don’t think that will happen.
Did you order any of the MAC Influencer Lipsticks? If so which shades and what did you think? P.S. today’s the last day to enter my Antica Giveaway!
MAC #MACxLarLarLee and #MACxGabrielZamora provided courtesy of MAC for review.
Clarins fans will be thrilled to discover that they’ve just released four new shades of the Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil ($26 each for 0.1 oz/7 mL). I’ve been a huge fan of the formula for the lush moisturizing feel it gives. Since these are tints there is very little color payoff to these but the hydration in these is indeed comforting as the name implies and formula is top notch. It’s amazing how fast time flies but I last reviewed the original three shades a year ago here. The new shades come with different scents and one of them has gold flecks and shimmer in it. Shown below:
Candy 04 is a soft sheer pink, it smells like something sweet
Tangerine 05 is a deep red orange, swatched it pulls more orange, it smells like candy
Honey Glam 07 is honey with gold flecks, it’s not gritty or chunky even though the sparkles are visible, it applies smooth with a tiny bit of shimmer, it has a very faint hint of honey scent
Mint 06 is a sheer green, it has a very soft mint smell to it, this one is supposed to have a plumping effect but I didn’t notice anything different from the others which is actually good, I usually find tingly lip plumpers make my lips go numb
Overall with the exception of Tangerine, the other shades have a more lightweight scent to them. From the original launch Honey was my favorite because the scent was the most natural and soothing. With the shade extensions, I’m obsessed with all four even though they look similar on my lips. Also with this launch, Candy and Tangerine are designed to react to the pH of your lips so they are supposed to transform depending on your chemistry. On me they give a slight stain and since the tint is a bit brighter you can see the difference when swatched side by side. I’m not really into green colored makeup but my favorite of this launch is the Mint one!
For those who missed my original review or are new to these, the Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil is a hydrating lip oil that comes with a cushiony sponge tip applicator. They are scented to match the color name. They are semi thick but not tacky and give the lips a veil of gloss/oil to moisturize them. They noticeably soften the lips. Even though they are oils they don’t slide off the lips like you might think they would.
Swatched on bare lips:
Close up of Honey Glam, it’s hard to tell in the lip swatch above but the sparkles are visible on the lips:
All the colors side by side:
Swatches of Honey, Raspberry, Red Berry, Candy, Tangerine, Mint and Honey Glam below:
I’m a huge fan of the Lip Oils but not always a fan of sweet berry scents. Sometimes they can be a bit much with the sweetness which is why I liked Honey so much from the first round. The newer shades have a noticeable scent but I find them more subtle which is better suited to my super sensitive nose. Since they’re all sheer I still don’t think it’s a must to have them all unless you’re a die hard fan of the formula and like to keep multiples for the purse, bathroom, desk etc. Now that I’ve tested all 7, if I had to pick my favorites, they would be Honey, Candy and Mint. If oils just aren’t your thing but you like the idea of a tinted balm, you might want to check out their Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors instead.
You can find the new shades of Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oils at a few retailers online. I suspect they will arrive at more places online in the upcoming weeks. Right now available online at Clarins, Clarins UK, Sephora, and Bloomingdale’s. Have you tried these yet? What’s your favorite tinted lip treatment right now?
Clarins Lip Oils provided as press samples for review.
MAC recently launched a new line of base products for a natural look with new formulas of foundation, powder and two brushes in their Next to Nothing collection. The items are designed for a natural skin-like effect to give a radiant look to the face. I’ve found that over the years MAC base and powder formulas have been hit or miss for me. I have super sensitive skin and tried their Studio Fix Powder Foundation when I was in high school and it caused severe allergic reactions on my skin. To this day I approach their powders and foundations with caution only doing a patch test first. I can safely use their primers, skincare and some foundations without any issues and was thrilled to find that the Next to Nothing line works well for my super sensitive skin.
Next to Nothing Face Colour comes in 9 shades from Light to Dark Deep, my shade is either Medium or Medium Plus. This is a super sheer tinted cream foundation that allows the skin to breathe. It’s sheer but has enough pigment to even out the skin slightly. This is what I wanted the Make Up For Ever Waterblend Foundation to be (which broke me out and felt too sticky for my skin, I suspect I had an allergic reaction to the fragrance). The effect of the MAC Next to Nothing is similar to that of the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer (which I’ve re-discovered and love) but the MAC is less dewy and not as moisturizing. If you need coverage this will probably not be the foundation for you, although you can definitely use this as a good base and then take a higher coverage foundation and layer on top for a more lightweight feel. There’s no detectable scent, it comes in a glass bottle with a pump, it’s easy to blend, it’s lightweight and lasts all day. Shades do run on the pinkish side but since the formula is sheer I was lucky that they worked on my yellow olive skin.
The #141 Synthetic Face Fan Brush is an odd shaped brush designed for the foundation. It performs well and gives the face a streak-free foundation application. It’s soft without being pokey but I’m still very much a sponge person when it comes to foundation application. That being said it’s a very good brush, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed if you try it.
Next to Nothing Powder/Pressed comes in 9 color options. I received 3 as press samples but none of them were a match so I ordered two more sight unseen in Medium Plus and Medium Dark since I’ve been getting darker since moving to Florida. My Mineralize Skinfinish Natural shade is Medium Plus and in the Next to Nothing Powder I can wear either Medium Plus or Medium Dark. Right now I’m in between shades. This is a finely milled powder that has a lightweight finish. It is very soft to the touch with an almost creamy feel. On the skin it has a more natural looking finish compared to the Mineralize Skinfinish Powder. Next to Nothing also feels just like the name implies next to nothing. There is a very tiny bit of fine pearl in the powder so it blurs the skin. For me I feel like the shades swatch a little bit on the lighter side, they look lighter in my swatches compared to what I see in the pan, but they will adjust slightly on the skin as it warms up. They do not oxidize in color on me though. I really love this powder.
Compared to some of my other favorites Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Powder #2, Armani Powder Foundation #4, and MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Plus. If you asked me to pick one favorite, I would not be able to. I would say the sheerest is MAC Next to Nothing, Armani Luminous Silk Powder Foundation is what I use to set with a brush, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural feels a bit thicker compared to other powders due to the mineral finish. The Charlotte Tilbury has the fullest coverage for me.
#140 Synthetic Full Fan Brush is THE best thing in this collection and probably the best powder brush I’ve ever tried. I’m a huge fan of flatter powder brushes because I find they are easier to dust my entire face compared to a round brush. Flat brushes can be tricky for me though – some are too dense or too floppy. This one has the perfect density, shape, size and feel. I’m going to need to order a couple more – I like to have multiples for powders on hand for blending and application.
Overall as a sensitive skin person I’m thrilled to find that both the powder and foundation worked for me and did not cause any allergic reactions. I’m typically a medium to full coverage kind of girl for base products but my skin has improved over the years so I can get away with less coverage these days. Also with the heat in Florida I feel the need to find lighter weight products that will allow my skin to breathe. It’s only the start of spring and I know it will get warmer in the upcoming months. This will be one I use frequently even if I will still need to layer.
Have you tried these yet? If you’re a natural or sheer base kind of beauty lover, what other brands/formulas do you love? You can find the MAC Next to Nothing Collection available now. Online at MAC, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s and soon at Ulta Beauty.
MAC products provided as press samples for review. Two MAC powders purchased by me.
