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MAC Magnetic Nude – The Beauty Look Book Picks

December 27, 2013
MAC’s Magnetic Nude Collection was just released a couple days ago (in stores today). Thanks to other bloggers with early access and amazing swatches, I was able to pick out a few items the day before Christmas and order online to avoid the crowds. I’ve been a huge fan of the Extra Dimension products (unique shimmery items that are not quite creams yet not quite powders). Superb Extra Dimension Skinfinish (from 2012) has been at the top of my list even though the frost is quite intense. Those who missed out before will be happy to learn it’s made another appearance in the Magnetic Nude collection this year. The items are selling out online fast, you may have to order from multiple sources if you opt for online ordering. I hope these swatches and reviews will help if you can’t get to a store or counter. My picks:
The Extra Dimension Skinfinishes in Magnetic Appeal and Fairly Precious are both stunning shimmery colors. I do think both are must-haves. They are more glowy versions of Tom Ford’s Illuminating Highlighter Sticks (limited release from May, now discontinued). What I like about these is that there is more pigment than frost (even though they are very shimmery). They give the skin a glow with color rather than just a pale frost. Magnetic Appeal is a soft tan gold while Fairly Precious is a lovely warm light pink. Superb has been re-released. It’s paler and significantly more frosted. Right now all are available online at Nordstrom and Maccosmetics.com.

The Extra Dimension Eye Shadows have quite a few repromoted shades. I didn’t double check my stash to see that I already had Sweet Heat (in the larger size from 2012) so I have a duplicate now. Sweet Heat is a frosted champagne. Silver Dawn is every taupe-lover’s dream. It’s a metallic taupe silver. Both shades are layerable and the pigment is easy to control. A light swipe will give a sheer wash. Use a denser brush or your fingers for more coverage. For these I actually prefer using my fingers to apply by smudging on the lids. Sweet Heat is online Nordstrom. Right now Silver Dawn is still at Maccosmetics.com.

For the lips, I narrowed down my pick to just one lipglass in Oh My Darling, a light shimmery pink pearl, and Morning Rose Cremesheen Lipstick, a soft cool pink. Both are fairly safe feminine neutrals. I like the cremesheens for their high pigment and full coverage with a non-matte finish. Oh My Darling Lipglass is semi-sheer. You can definitely see a light pink pearl on the lips but it doesn’t wash out the face. Morning Rose is available at Nordstrom. Oh My Darling is available at Maccosmetics.com.

All the items I picked out swatched on one arm:

I’m really happy with all my picks. Even happier I managed to pick out a few things before the entire collection sold out. If I had to limit myself to three items, I would pick the Skinfinish Highlighters in Magnetic Appeal and Fairly Precious along with the Morning Rose Lipstick. I haven’t had a chance to compare the other items, but they are pretty basic colors – knowing the volume MAC releases, there’s a good chance there are similar items (which is a good thing if you miss out on their fast-selling limited items).

Did you check out the Magnetic Nude collection? What did you think? Any highlights or loves?
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Chanel Les Beiges Comparisons

August 20, 2013

Here are a few comparisons of the new Chanel Les Beiges to some other powders including the Poudre Douce Soft Pressed Powder in Pêche Tendre 20 (discontinued), Double Perfection Lumèire in 20 Beige and MAC Golden Bronzer.

In general the Les Beiges powders are among the sheerest of the sheer when it comes to pressed powders. They aren’t quite as sheer as MAC Blot Powders though (which I always found chalky-looking). You can definitely layer the Les Beiges over tinted moisturizers or foundations. Buffing in a circular motion with a denser brush helps build color.

I would say the Les Beiges are most similar in concept to the discontinued Poudre Douce Soft Pressed Powders even though these only came in lighter shades. Pêche Tendre 20 (no longer available in the US) has a more glowy finish with visible shimmer. Les Beiges No. 20 has no visible shimmer and goes on the skin more pinkish.

Below you can see that the Double Perfection Lumiere in 20 Beige has significantly more coverage than the Les Beiges powders and that in general the darker Les Beiges powders are quite a bit warmer in undertone. They aren’t quite as brown as MAC Golden Bronzer (which also has more of a glow at a cheaper price) but Les Beiges have a similar natural finish.

Close up of the lighter shades:

Swatches:

Right now my favorite finishing powders are tied between NARS Light Reflecting Loose Powder (I haven’t tried the pressed) and Dolce & Gabbana’s Powder Foundation (I currently mix 100 and 140). Chanel Double Perfection used to be a favorite before they reformulated to the current Double Perfection Lumiere formula.

The more I use the Les Beiges the more I like them. My initial thoughts were slightly less than impressed due to the sheerness. I’ve found that buffing in a circular motion creates a nice glow – something definitely more natural and suited to my preference than mineral powder foundations (pressed or loose), but similar in result by blending out imperfections (only when layered over liquid foundations though for me).

You can find Les Beiges now at Nordstrom.

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Summer Glow

June 2, 2013
Finding the right bronzer or illuminator to achieve the perfect well-balanced summer glow can be a challenge sometimes. There are slight differences in the undertones, shimmer factor and pigment that can make some products make the skin look muddy, too shimmery or too dark. I’ve always been one to favor stronger contrasted bronzers but sometimes I want something just a bit more subtle. This season there are a number of new bronzers and illuminators that are well balanced in both color and shimmer. The result is a more naturally flattering summer glow. A few of my new favorites mixed in with some older ones in both powder bronzers and liquid highlighters.

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Giorgio Armani’s Bronze Palette (previously swatched here)
gives the perfect luminous light warm bronze highlight. It’s a goof
proof naturally flattering shade that has just the right amount of
shimmer. MAC’s Pro Longwear Bronzing Powder in Nude on Board is a
finely milled darker cooler-toned bronze that makes you look naturally
tanned. I like that it has a soft sheen and that it’s more on the neutral side for bronzers. The pigment is richer than most other MAC powder bronzers but doesn’t darken on the skin. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Radiant is a more sparkly option, it gives a warm glow (detailed review to come soon).

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Above left to right: Tom Ford Fire Lust $65 at select Neiman Marcus and Saks stores // MAC Strobe Liquid in Golden Elixir $31 // Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer No. 10 $59 // Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel in Sunkissed $48
I usually prefer to wear illuminators over foundation and powder as a
highlight. I find most liquid highlighters either too shimmery or pale to mix in with my
foundation. The result is often a clash with my olive skin making me look like a shimmery statue. There are several peachy/bronze ones now that I find perfect
to mix in to give that all over luminous glow without looking like a
bronze statue. Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel is a classic favorite, if you haven’t tried it yet I highly recommend it. Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer 10 (see it swatched here) is a lovely warm golden shimmer (this one is the most fluid and sheer). MAC Strobe Liquid in Golden Elixir is a definite must-have that I’ve already backed-up. It just might be my holy grail bronze liquid highlighter. Tom Ford Fire Lust (reviewed here)
is a pretty sheer natural peachy highlighter. Due to the price I usually
don’t mix in with foundation but just use on the cheeks and temples as a
soft highlight for a luminous glow. 

If I could only pick two items this season, it would be the Giorgio Armani Summer Bronze palette and MAC Strobe Liquid in Golden Elixir. What are your favorite items you use to get that summer glow? Do you usually mix in a highlighter with foundation? Share your skintone and favorite go-to items.
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Burberry Mulberry No. 24 Sheer Eyeshadow Comparisons

August 18, 2012
By request, a few comparisons of various burgundy-plum-brown shimmer eyeshadows. Included shades: Le Métier de Beauté Silk Road Kalidescope (2 shades), Le Métier de Beauté Alexandrite (from Persephone Kit that was discontinued), Le Métier de Beauté Bordeaux, Guerlain Les Bois de Rose, MAC Trax and Chanel Magic Night.

Swatches, same set/order, just two different views:

I found Burberry Mulberry to be the most similar to Chanel Magic Night in color. There is only a slight difference: Chanel Magic Night has the slightest bit more plum while Burberry Mulberry has more wine/red. I hope this helps with your purchasing decisions!
On a side note, thank you everyone for your continued support and understanding with my recent blog slow down. I really appreciate your patience, comments, emails, tweets and links! To give you a brief update without going into too much detail, I’ve just been busy with projects from my regular full-time job. I’ve tried to snap a few pictures here and there when I can for the blog. Thank you again for your support. I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer!
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Fall 2011 Highlighters: Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Estée Lauder & MAC

August 27, 2011

This year designers have brought us some of the most beautiful bronzers and highlighters I’ve ever seen. For the summer releases we saw gorgeous bronzer palettes from Chanel, Dior & Guerlain with intricate embossed patterns woven with different shades. The trend has continued into the fall season with the release of new highlighters that have unique formulas & textures. When it comes to highlighters, I’ve traditionally been very open to all intensities of shimmer and frost. These days, my preferences have changed and I now look for powders that have a finely milled shimmer without the intense frost and that are also easy to apply with a single swipe on the cheeks or temples. The highlighters I tried this season include Dolce & Gabbana Illuminator in Shimmer, Chanel Ombres Tissées in Beiges, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Semi Precious Crystal Pink, Chanel Pearl Glow Powder and Estée Lauder Pure Color in Modern Mercury.

My thoughts and close ups of each shimmer powder:

Dolce & Gabbana The Illuminator Powder in Shimmer ($47 at Saks, reviewed here and also on Makeup Magpie): I find this shade to be more of a contouring powder for my skin rather than an illuminator/highlighter. On the skin, the powder applies slightly darker than what you see in the compact. The texture is buttery smooth with a finely milled finish. It blends naturally with my skin and to give a gentle glow. It makes the perfect nude contour. This product doesn’t really fit the bill as a highlighter, but as a nude blush or soft contour it’s a winner.

Chanel Ombres Tissées in Beiges ($75 at Chanel.com, reviewed here): I personally adore this palette. The texture and blend of light pinks mix together beautifully to give a lovely glow. The texture is predominantly powdery but has a slight cream texture which I believe helps this adhere to the skin to last all day. In terms of uniqueness for the color payoff, I think you can achieve a similar effect with other pale highlighters. However, the design of the quilted texture is exquisite. (Note the sparkle is an overspray.)

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Semi Precious Crystal Pink ($28 still at Maccosmetics.com, reviewed and swatched on Temptalia and Karla Sugar): This is described as having a pink champagne base with an inner circle having a fusion of pink, dirty green and bronze. It’s almost impossible for me to pass up any Mineralize Skinfinish from MAC. The frost and shimmer is high, but they have the most beautiful multi-colored shimmers. At $28 the beautiful swirls of color are hard to resist. Semi Precious Crystal Pink goes on a nude pink frosty champagne (no glitter). Applying with a skunk brush in one sweep on the cheeks to temples over any blush or bronzer will give a beautiful glow. I tend to use a lighter hand as MSFs tend to have a high impact shimmer and are easy to overdo. It’s versatile and easy to use on the eyes as well.

Chanel Pearl Glow Powder ($60 at Nordstrom, reviewed here and also on Cafe Makeup and Orange to LA): This is currently exclusive in limited quantities to Nordstrom. It’s a subtle glowy highlighter that I find less pink and less frosty than Chanel Beiges. If you asked me to pick only 1 Chanel highlighter this year, it would be the Pearl Glow. The texture is sheer but I love the finish as it gives the most exquisite wash of shimmer that makes the skin simply glow. If you’re looking for something sophisticated, subtle and refined, this is the highlighter for you.

Estée Lauder Pure Color in Modern Mercury ($40 on EsteeLauder.com, see it reviewed on Cafe Makeup): This is a unique powder + liquid + gel in one highlighter with a highly reflective peachy gold shimmer. Modern Mercury gives a highly pigmented glow without any glitter although it makes the skin glimmer like a crystal in sunlight. I highly recommend you read Cafe Makeup’s review if you haven’t already. She has a lovely set of comparisons as well as a few looks that are highly inspirational. The texture is slightly creamy with a highly metallic finish when applied with a heavy hand. The product blends beautifully and adheres to the skin well to melt into the natural texture of your skin. It makes the skin glow with or without direct light.

All lined up plus swatches on the arm:

I know many of you will want to know which highlighter I think is best. This is an impossible question for me to answer. All these highlighters have their own unique quality that makes them different for  achieving different effects. The best highlighter will depend on what you’re preferences are for price range and shimmer intensity. My recommendations:
  • For the most subtle glow, I’d recommend Chanel Pearl Glow.
  • For a contour nude suitable for even the fairest skintones, try the Dolce & Gabbana.
  • For the most unique texture/finish, Estée Lauder Pure Color in Modern Mercury is a must have (this also lasts long on the cheeks).
  • For the best price, MAC is your best bet.

For inquiring minds, I did check out the beautiful Jacquard Face Palette from Armani but found the frost too strong even though the texture and design were to die for.

Did you fall in love with any highlighters this season? Or did you find them to be duplicates of previous releases? What caught your eye this year? If you see any you like I recommend you purchase soon – most are limited edition!

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Red Blushes: Dolce & Gabbana Sole, Chanel Rouge, MAC Merrily & MAC Dollymix

July 7, 2011
A few comparisons to show the uniqueness of Chanel Rouge Joues Contraste from the Byzance Collection, although my red and dark pink selection for blushes is somewhat limited.

Shown left to right: Dolce & Gabbana Sole, Chanel Rouge, MAC Merrily & MAC Dollymix. All swatched on bare skin, applied with the fingers. I’m a Chanel Vitalumiere in 30, perhaps just a tad darker from getting a bit of sun over the weekend.

One more close up shot:

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MAC Peachy Love: Ripe Peach, Marine Life & My Paradise

May 29, 2011
I have a soft spot for peachy blushes and highlighters, especially for the limited edition creations by MAC like Ripe Peach and Marine Life. I haven’t craved anything from MAC for quite some time, but this all changed as soon as sneak previews popped up for the new My Paradise Surf, Baby! Cheek Powder. The packaging and embossed chunky gold flower design on the surface is to die for. I could not resist.

Here are all three limited-edition peachy blush and highlighter powders next together (note, the marine life with the gold overspray is an untouched back-up).

Left to right: Ripe Peach Blush Ombre (spring 2010)
Marine Life High-Light Powder (summer 2010)
My Paradise Surf, Baby! Cheek Powder (summer 2011)


Close up of Ripe Peach – the softest finish out of the 3 peaches. Rich ripe peach with a satiny shimmer. Gradient from light peach to coral. Super soft shimmer throughout.

Close up of my backup of Marine Life. The gold is overspray on the surface and disappears. This one is the most pigmented and most shimmery out of the three. Application must be with a super light hand for me to avoid clown-cheeks. This one is the most coral with hints of red/pink.

Close up of My Paradise. The gold is embossed and raised from the peach powder. I suspect it’s only on the surface. The shimmer in the gold is very chunky but rich in pigment. The peach is very similar to Ripe Peach, but more slightly more reddish.

Left to right: Ripe Peach, Marine Life, My Paradise



Unfortunately, Ripe Peach and Marine life are no longer for sale as they were both limited edition. I suspect My Paradise will be sold out soon as well, but the good thing about MAC is that chances are with the frequent releases they will come up with something similar in the near future. Right now my holy-grail peach blushes are Chanel Espiègle (see it here), MAC Fleur Power (see it here) and MAC Style (see it here) – all of which are still easy to find right now.
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