MAC Alluring Aquatic! MAC Goddess of the Sea Lipstick & MAC Seduced at Sea Extra Dimension Blush

When I think if 'MAC Alluring Aquatic' the first thing that springs to mind is the packaging. Let's face it. This PACKAGING is beautifulllll!  MAC could have stuck the most hideous  colours in this packaging and it would have flown off the physical and virtual shelves. 

It's the big MAC Summer 2014 Collection (and no we do NOT have a 'Summer' in Trinidad) and so it consisted of around 32 pieces which can be seen here!

When I first saw this packaging on Specktra (makeup lovers, this site is a must join- wonderful online community) wayy back in March or so I knew that my inner collector HAD to have something from this collection.

At the time of the online launch of this collection I was preparing for my exams and as such chose to not get into that buying frenzy at that point in time. My upcoming examinations trumped makeup at the end of the day and needless to say I somehow managed to resist the MAC online launch as well as the various department stores. 

When my exams actually began I resigned myself to the fact that I would just have to skip the entire thing. After a two week exam period, my exams ended on a Thursday and on that said day I saw a local MAC girl post an 'Alluring Aquatic look' which suggested that the collection was launching or was about to launch in stores. However, I preferred to have the usual celebratory drinks etc and forget about heading down to Westmall to grab some stuff.

By the Friday I was in major regret mode and headed down to Westmall bright and early-ish on the Saturday morning. When I got there only two lipsticks were left, one blush, a few of the eyeshadows, the brushes and pencils. Needless to say, I immediately told the MAC guy i'd take the "Goddess of the Sea" lipstick and of course due to  my weakness for extra dimension formula products I asked for a blush too. I got the last GOS lipstick and  I was definitely not interested in the only other remaining lipstick, 'Siren's Song' which is a pale sheer beige in a lustre formula. Purchasing that one would have been money down the drain!

Now that my long winded story is over, let's get down to some packaging pictures! I 'try ah thing' with these pics and I'm actually loving how they came out!

Artsy right?!

Love how these came out!

The packaging is a metallic teal-blue colour with actual raised water droplets on it. It really is beautiful. Even the boxing comes with water droplet indents on in.  MAC really outdid themselves with this one and I can't help but think it's so creative and especially clever for a 'Summer Collection'. Love love love it! 

Water droplets everywhere!

See the water droplets <3!

Up first is MAC Goddess of the Sea Lipstick!

To be frank ,between the two lipsticks left this was the only one that would work for me and so I bought it blindly!

This lipstick is one of MAC's cremesheen formulas and is described as a "dark vibrant violet". On me, it seems to be a deep violet which leans a little toward the berry side of things. Personally it's a good addition to my stash as i didn't have much else in this colour range. The lipstick itself is creamy and applies evenly. One swipe or passing of the lipstick makes it a good daytime colour which can be built up and used for a more vampy look. Well at least on me it seems vampy!

MAC Goddess of the Sea. Diff lighting indoors and last pic with flash! NC42/43 skin tone

The swatch on top is built up to about 3-4 passes of the lipstick whilst to the bottom I've just swatched it with one swipe! As usual each pic is in different lighting indoors and the last pic is taken with flash!

Next up, MAC Seduced at Sea Extra Dimension Blush!

MAC Seduced at Sea EDB

As aforementioned,  this was the only face/cheek product left in the entire collection. MAC describes this blush as a 'mid-tone neutral plum' but on me it translates to a muted orangey almost coppery colour with a lovely gold shimmer.

MAC Seduced at Sea EDB

As you guys may recall from previous posts, I'm enraptured by the extra dimension formula. This blush is no exception. It has enough golden shimmer that it would warrant the description tacky of the shimmer was done incorrectly. Fortunately MAC got it right as the shimmer is fine and extremely beautiful! The blush applies smoothly, is easily blended and gives a lovely glow. 

I used my finger to apply the blush heavily in the pictures below. The swatch to the top is blended out whilst to the bottom the blush has been heavily swiped. I changed the lighting for the pictures but again, they were both taken indoors. This blush applies a lot better with a brush as compared to using my finger to swatch.

Using my finger to swatch: Top is the blush  blended out! NC42/43 skin tone!

Different lighting! NC42/43 Skintone!

The picture below is one of me wearing the blush. To the bottom of my cheek i've used a bit of MAC Refined Golden Bronzer (which was as seems to be the usual available as part of the Summer Collection. I got mine in a previous release) for a slight contour and to the top of my cheek I applied MAC Fairly Precious EDSF!

Used on the cheek!

Not the best photo but I'm really not comfortable with adding full face photos onto my blog! Sorry! 

Let me know your thoughts on this post, this collection and what if anything you guys got from it! xx

Mini MAC Haul: More A Fantasy of Flowers: Dreaming Dahlia Lippie & A Basic Essential

In confirming that my brian is indeed getting older, the following post was started pre exam season, that is, way back in March and sadly I thought I had posted it when I evidently did NOT. I figured I might as well complete the post and so the following is  what you should have seen way back then. OOPS!

"Exam season is fast approaching and I have been ridiculously swamped with work these past few weeks so please accept my apology for the shortage of new posts in the past few weeks. I did manage to sneak in a small 2-bit MAC haul this past weekend (gone are the days of my large hauls apparently) and got the following items:

•  MAC Dreaming Dhalia Lipstick and
•  MAC Brush Cleanser

I went to MAC with the intention of leaving with only the MAC Brush Cleanser.  Of course, being a lipstick junkie, I had to stay true to my nature and just HAD to purchase a lippie. Dreaming Dahlia from the MAC A Fantasy of Flowers collection was a lipstick that spoke to me when I had first seen it. It somehow become stuck in my mind and in the end I broke down and ended up buying it."


CONTINUATION of post:

Whilst I normally dislike Lustre finishes, I felt that DD was a great everyday-brighten you face type of colour with one swipe and which could be built up to go from sheer to almost full coverage to provide more of an 'oomph'. 

MAC describes this lipstick as a 'sheer red coral'  but it pulls almost a pinky orange shade on me. That might just be the worst colour description ever but it really looks beautiful! Since i've gotten it, it has become one of my go to lip colours!

I feel like this lipstick has a lot of shimmer as well which gives it a luminous shine. The lipstick itself applies evenly and smoothly and does not feel gritty at all. Overall, this lipstick really is a winner!

MAC Dreaming Dahlia on my nc 42/43 complexion! Swatches in different lighting with the final picture taken using flash!

I know this post is super late but hopefully it helps one of you guys out there with a decision with regards to this lipstick. Btw, the brush cleanser is gonna get its own post soon! xx

I'm BACK!

Hey Guys! hope some of you are still here! I had a senile moment and thought that I had posted a 'leave of absence' post where I explained my upcoming exams and the need to go into total hibernation mode. Unfortunately it didn't infact post..I do apologise for that! buuuuuuuuuuuut

My exams are finally over and i'm ready to re-enter the world guys! Over the past few months I've bought the following products:

Collective Haul!

• MAC Brush Cleanser (not pictured oops!)
• MAC Proenza Schouler Collection- Ocean City Blush, Sunset Beach Blush,Mangrove Lipstick
• MAC Alluring Aquatic Collection- Seduced at Sea EDBlush, Goddess of the Sea Lipstick
• MAC Dreaming Dahlia Lipstick 
• MAC Studio Fix Fluid
• MAC Studio Careblend Powder 
• MAC Studio Finish Concealer
• SACHA Matte Me Berry Lipstick

Now I'll review these products over time after i've tested them etc but for now i'll just provide pics and swatches in quick posts! Off to do that now but just wanted to quickly do an 'i'm back post'! I hope some of you readers are still out there xx

MAC Phlox Garden & Sassy Moss Fluidlines!

So today my little black box finally arrived! For those of you who may not know, MAC ships orders in black boxes so when you see your box you know exactly who it's from. As you may recall in my MAC A Fantasy of Flowers post , I purchased both the limited edition fluidlines, Phlox Garden and Sassy Moss!

Before I review i've added a fun pictorial of the unboxing!

My Black Box is here!

On Opening!

Removed the first layer of black tissue!

Lifted off the second layer to reveal both fludlines!

I'll share my first thoughts and opinions on them below.

 MAC PHLOX GARDEN FLUIDLINE

I've been lusting after this fluidline from the moment  I first saw pictures of it late last year. The fluidline is a purple fuschia colour with an almost plum undertone. It's definitely unique compared to anything in my collection. It has a matte finish and it goes on smoothly and opaquely.

MAC SASSY MOSS FLUIDLINE

Sassy Moss is a beautiful bright green almost teal looking colour with a shimmery finish. Despite this it goes on really well though not as smoothly as Phlox Garden! I can't believe I almost skipped this colour because I may actually love this one even more than Phlox Garden.

Pic with flash!

It's been about 6 hours since i've swatched these and they are holding up pretty well. I've washed my hand at least three times and they've only just faded slightly. The wear time seems to be pretty good. If you love your fluidlines then you'll def love these as well! I won't hesitate to recommend these to anyone!

Leave me any of your thoughts and comments below! xx

MAC A Fantasy of Flowers (Spring 2014 Collection)

Since late last year there were pictures of a beautiful pink/purple fluidline floating around called Phlox Garden which I knew HAD HAD HAD to be mine.

I really love MAC's fluidlines and for whatever reason every time a limited edition colour comes out I feel the serious need to purchase it. However, this year I'm trying to be smarter about my makeup purchases so I was able to skip some that came out with the Magnetic Nude collection.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand!

A Fantasy of Flowers

MAC Promo Image

MAC Promo Image

This collection is currently available online at MAC. It went up on Wednesday night and I was able to place my order of the two fluidlines which I will review for you as soon as they are shipped to me. This collection is scheduled to be released in MAC stores in the US on February 6th 2014 but although the International release date is carded for March 2014 i'm not sure if or when we'll be getting this here in Trinidad. 

This collection has a garden/floral theme appropriate for those of you in the US with a spring season. Here in Trinidad we don't have four seasons so I maintain that we can wear the colours we wish to whenever we want. 

The colours are all limited edition and many reviews and swatches can be found online. I encourage you to google the products and check out the reviews so you can familiarise yourself with the collection to be able to snag what you want when the collection is released locally or online at MAC and retailers such as Nordstrom.

This is MAC's big Spring collection and most of the products are limited edition as is usually the case.

Lipstick ($16US as of February 1st when MAC does their first annual price release)

All shades are the in the Lustre finish. From left:

• Fleur d’Coral (pale creamy peach)

• Naked Bud (neutral nude)

• Dreaming Dahlia (sheer red coral)

• Rose Lily (sheer pastel pink)

• Snapdragon (midtone blue-based pink)

• Heavenly Hybrid (midtone berry)

Cremesheen Glass ($21 with price change)

From left:

• Nectarsweet (soft pink peach)

• Flare of Fantasy (midtone pinky beige)

• Pagoda (frosted cool pink; repromo)

• Playful Petal (magenta)

• Star Quality (bright orange-coral; repromo)

• Galaxy Rose (midtone violety pink)

Mineralize Eyeshadow ($22)

These shadows were actually released in Asia only back in 2013 and are as follows from left:

• In the Meadow (shimmering white, pale yellow, dirty olive green, yellowed mint)

• Pink Sensibilities (pinky brown, icy blue-based pink, chocolate brown, yellow-based pink)

• Golden Hours (golden brown, pale yellow gold, copper bronze, soft golden peach)

• Great Beyond (deep blue-violet, icy white lilac, dirty plum, soft mauve)

Mineralize Skinfinish ($31) 

From left:

• Perfect Topping (pearly pale pink) (repromote although review suggest that they aren't the same as original releases)

• Stereo Rose (coppery bronze)(reprobate where again there seems to be changes from original release)

Mineralize Blush ($27) 

From left:

• Azalea in the Afternoon (medium cool pink) 

• Petal Power (coral pink with gold shimmer)

Pigment ($22)

 From left:

• Lily White (buttery yellow with shimmer)

• Chartreuse Bouquet (acid green with shimmer)

• Pink Pearl (lavender-pink with shimmer; permanent)

• Violet (purple; permanent)

Fluidline ($17)  LOVE LOVE LOVE

From left:

• Phlox Garden (shimmery violet) 
• Sassy Moss (shimmery bright green)

Nail Lacquer ($16)

From left:

• Girl Trouble (glittery pink) (permanent)

• Pep Pep Pep (pale peachy nude) (repromote)

• Saint Germain (light cool pink) (permanent)

• Soiree (sparkly bronze gold (repromote)

Other

From left:

• Haute & Naughty Lash Mascara ($22)

• 286 Duo Fibre Tapered Blending Brush ($33)

• 159 Duo Fibre Blush Brush ($36)

• 187 Duo Fibre Face Brush ($43)

Let me know what you guys got or are interested in! I'll be sure to update once I find out the release info for Trinidad!

MAC Magnetic Nude: Pleasure Model EDB

I promised to review this product a while back, after all it was a part of my Magnetic Nude mini haul, but, i've been swamped with school so unfortunately i'll just have to do a quickie review.

The first time these Extra Dimension Blushes were released people had problems with getting colour out of the pan. The reason was because they seemed to have come with a waxy film over them which had to be wiped off. Off the bat, I will say that the blushes in the Magnetic Nude release did not have this film over them. 

Pleasure Model EDB (normal light)

Pleasure Model EDB( taken with flash)

Pleasure Model is described as a soft terracotta with pearl and is a satin finish blush! The colour is a sort of coppery brown colour with orange undertones and is really beautiful on. It's not shimmery or sparkly but in fact imparts an almost luminous glow. The formula is long lasting and very smooth and blend able. Additionally the colour payoff is amazing! I really wish MAC would make this formula permanent. 

Below are my hundred and one pics! Just kidding! but I did include a couple pics just to give you an idea of how the blush looks in different lighting or at different angles.

This pic might be the most accurate representation of the colour!

Closer to the light! 

At an angle away from the light! 

Pic taken with flash! Def does not look like this at a normal glance!

Pleasure Model EDB with Fairly Precious EDSF as highlight to the top!

Hope you guys find this review helpful!