MAC Matters (December 2012): Build A Core Collection with $21 per month

Hey there. This is  new blog series that was originally started by Pammy Blogs Beauty. I decided to jump on this bandwagon and do this series with her. You can see her original post here and follow her series as well.

The idea of this series is to take the $21 a month one would spend on a beauty subscription service (Pammy chose to cancel her current subscription, I am choosing to opt into this as a "new subscription") and instead use it to buy Mac products in an effort to build a core collection of Mac items.

These are the rules (borrowed with thanks from Pammy):

Goal: Build my core MAC Collection using an average of $21.00 per month.

• Purchase at least one item a month: If the item is under $20, I can save the remainder for the next month. While there are many items priced under $20, there are plenty that are over the $20 range that I can save for. 
• Do a monthly blog post to share what I got! My goal is to continue this series for 12 months to see what kind of core collection I can build! 
• To coordinate with my "Build a Core MAC Collection" purchases, I will also be posting "MAC Matters: From the Stash" reviews! These "stash" items are MAC items that I love that are already in my makeup collection. Some months, I will be "saving" my $21 to go towards a bigger MAC purchase. This is when you will likely see the "stash" posts. Or, I might include a "stash" item mini review within my "Build a Core MAC Collection" posts because if you are reading this because you want to build your own MAC collection, you might enjoy reading about what I am already using and loving! 
• If this series is popular, I will repeat the series with another brand upon completion of 12 months with MAC.

You can see Pammy's first installment of the series here.

For my first purchase I chose the Glamour Daze Holiday Fluidline in Little Black Bow.

I chose the picture taken with flash because I thought it showed the shimmery silver color much better.

Picture at left taken with flash and the right is taken with natural lighting

This liner color is described as being Charcoal with dazzle pearl. I both love and hate this liner. It is a very pretty silvery color with some sparkles that I use as a more subtle eyeliner that is great for work and interviews, however it takes like 3 coats of the stuff to get it to look like it does in that picture. It lasts all day (as one would expect from Mac liners) and is an overall fantastic product, if only it were a bit more pigmented. This holiday fluidlines also come in Feminine Edge (sold out) which is describes as being a mauve pink with dazzle pearl and Catchy My Eye which is describes as a cool taupe grey with (you guessed it) dazzle pearl. 

This product retails for $16.50 (a bit more expensive then their non-limited edition holiday fluidliners), which leaves me with $25.50 to spend in January. 

Anyone have any cool suggestions on what to buy in January or other future months? Feel free to share in the comments.

Mac cosmetics can be bought in a Mac boutique, Mac in Macey's or on http://www.maccosmetics.com

Reviva Labs

 Don't you just love how I keep getting super creative with my picture placement? I'm not sure which I like best. What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments.

Reviva labs makes some amazing products. Pictured here I have the Makeup Primer, Eye Complex Firming Cream, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Vitamin C Ester, and DMAE Cream, Cream Hydratante, and the Microdermabrasion Pomegranate Scrub. All of the products are absolutely amazing, cruelty free, paraben free, made in the USA, and is quite affordable.

I'm going to start with the Alpha Lipoic Acid, Vitamin C Ester, and DMAE cream because my mother loves this stuff. I saved a packet to try myself, but gave the rest to my aunt and mother. My mother loved it so much she went out and purchased a container of it. She said it really lifted and firmed her skin like nothing she had ever used before. This product is described as being a cream meant to lift and firm skin (obviously from my mother's review it works) and it also contains ingredients to help fight free radicals and future skin aging. It is also designed

to calm and sooth stressed skin for a more youthful vibrant glow.

The Eye Complex Firming Cream is formulated with special herbs to help "firm, tone, and detoxify, fight bags, crows feet, and shadows." Can you say this cream does a lot? I can! This product is another amazing product from Reviva Labs. I have dark circles under my eyes and use eye serum nightly and (although I don't have wrinkles or crow's feet so I can't account for that) it really does reduce puffiness, bags, and shadows.

The makeup primer is probably one of the best makeup primers I have ever used. It goes on light and absorbs nicely into the skin. It really does make my skin feel "silky, smooth, and look almost flawless." The best part of this primer? It only contains 7 ingredients. How many of your primers can boast that? This product fills in any lines, conceals pores, and controls any excess oil. It makes my foundation last longer and apply beautifully.

Now for the two full sized samples I received. The Microdermabrasion Pomegranate Scrub can be seen on the left. As you can see, the scrubbers are so small that it looks just like a cream to the naked eye. Don't be fooled though, this stuff is a fantastic exfoliator. Not too rough on my sensitive skin, but tough enough that it got the job done. This product contains pure magnesium oxide, pomegranate, and "soothing, calming organic oils." This product "retextures skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles or rough skin." This product really got deep into the pores to make my skin feel incredibly clean, got rid of all the dead skin cells, and did this all while being extremely delicate.

 The last product, the Cream Hydratante, I can either take or leave. It is "a very unique night cream that focuses on surface "moisture dryness." If skin needs moisture nourishment, not oils, Cream Hydratante is the very special answer. Generally, it is for young dry skins or combination skins that had lost moisture but are not severely dehydrated." This product is also supposed to be mixed with water to thin it before use and soothes and calms rough and irritated skin. Did this product do what it said it would? Yes, absolutely. It is incredibly moisturizing and made my skin feel smooth, silky, and luscious. My only caveat with this product is that is kind of just sits on the surface, which I suppose makes sense since it is made for surface dryness. I just didn't like how it just would not absorb into my skin. If the description sounds like something you could use, I would still recommend it because it did what it says its supposed to do, and you may not mind the consistency.

These products can be purchased at Ulta or http://www.revivalabs.com

Up & Coming Beauty Bloggers Weekly Report

 

Lola from Lola's Secret Beauty Blog tells about her Top Pick Holiday Lip Sets!

Rachel from Rachel's Makeup and Skincare reviews her Winter Wantable Box.

Olivia from The Unknown Beauty Blog kicks off the holiday's with the Beauty Blog Advent Calendar 2012!

If you would like to be featured in a future Up & Coming Beauty Bloggers Weekly Report, please e-mail Lindsay at beautythinktank(at)gmail(dot)com.

Nars New Wave Pallet and Dogon Duo

YAY! This is my 50th Post! 

Now that everything with this pallet is straightened out, I wanted to show you the swatches. I promise everyone, this will be the last post about this pallet!

The picture above was taken with flash and the picture to the right was taken with natural light. The top 6 colors are from the new wave pallet and the bottom two (the taupe and the grey) are from the Dogon Duo. Although the light purple and the blue look completely different on the eye, they look similar in the photos, so just to clarify the light purple is above the green and the dark blue is below the green.

I have never used Nars eyeshadows before (I know crazy right) even though I have been coveting them for awhile. These guys are butter smooth and apply wonderfully, my only caveat is that the blue and the darker purple are really hard to blend. I don't have that problem with any of the other colors, so I found that to be weird. These last all day without fading or creasing (though I do wear urban decay's primer potion).

I didn't take any pictures of these wet, but I might swatch and edit this later with them wet. They are awesome. I tried wetting the blue and wearing it at an eyeliner and it looked amazing and it lasted all day without smudging or budging.

I can't believe it took me so long to finally purchase Nars eyeshadow, but I am absolutely sold!

They can be purchased in store at Barney's or Saks 5th Avenue or online at http://www.narscosmetics.com/

Illamasqua - Lipstick and Intense Lipgloss

I have been on a crazy hunt the past few months looking for the perfect purple lipstick. Tha hunt ultimately ended with Dior 'Rouge Dior' Lipstick in 786 Mysterious Mauve (review forthcoming), however, this hunt took me down some interesting twists and turns along the way. One of the purple items I had picked up was the Illamasqua lipstick in kontrol and intense lipgloss in fierce. 

The picture above is in sunlight and the picture to the right is from flash.  The uppermost swatch closest to my wrist is just the lipstick alone. Underneath that is the lipstick and lipgloss and the last is simply the lipgloss. You can see how highly pigmented this lipgloss is, it is not sheer in any capacity.

Illamasqua describes their lipsticks as a "color intense lip stick...that glide on smoothly for the perfect pout that stays all night." Kontrol is described as being a matte deep lavender. The intense lipgloss is described as "high-shine, color-rich intense lipgloss thats offered in a wide range of bold colors." Fierce is described as being a bright blue purple.

I originally loved this purple because it is a very true purple. I only decided it wasn't for me when I wore it one night and my friend asked me if I was cold (joking of course) because this purple is a bit too much a blue-purple. The lipstick itself felt good on my lips, quite creamy for a matte lip color. The lipgloss is very pigmented and not sticky in the slightest. I found I really liked this lipgloss and might get it in other colors. I happen to really love the Illamasqua brand.

All in all it wasn't meant to be my perfect purple, however I did find I loved this lipgloss, so it wasn't a complete loss.

These products can be purchased at Sephora, https://www.sephora.com or any other place that sells Illamasqua products.

Review of Winter Wantable Box

Now that I have had the time to both swatch and use all of these products I am happy to let you all know what I thought. If you hadn't already read my original post where I discuss wantable and show you more images of the box itself, you can check it out here.

These pictures are both taken with different lighting sources. The first image is natural light and the bottom image is with flash. As you can see, these are some awesome colors! 

The first brown swatch at the top of my arm is the eyeliner pencil in brown from Lavera. 

Our Eyeliners are created with organic jojoba oil and shea butter to provide intense, lashing color. A built-in sponge applicator ensures easy application and allows you to create a multitude of looks, from a precise, thin line to a soft smoky effect. Gentle natural ingredients mean the liners are suitable for sensitive skin and contact wearers. This product is vegan.

I have to say this eyeliner was probably my favorite item in the box. I have used it nearly every day since I first tried it. It is soft enough that I can get a nice line without murdering my eye, but hard enough that once I put it where I want to put it it sets and doesn't smudge the rest of the day. It's also a really nice, deep chocolate brown. 

The second swatch under the eyeliner is the natural baked eyeshadow in melange from Benecos.

You can't go wrong with out brilliantly-hued Natural Baked Eyeshadows. These mineral shadows are baked to provide you with long-lasting color. Organic plant oils create a creamy application, goes on smooth and even. Moisten for a more dramatic look.

I have to admit, until I just read that as I was typing it, I did not realize this could be moistened. So I might have to try that and edit this post later with another swatch to show what this eyeshadow looks like moistened. This color is absolutely stunning. The photographs don't even capture it. Its a lovely purplish grey color that changes depending on how the light hits it. I wore it with other purple eyeshadows yesterday and it picked up on the purples and became more of a light purple color. When worn with neutrals it becomes more of a grey. It is a stunning, long lasting eyeshadow. Love it.

The next swatch under the baked shadow was the highlighting powder champagne in bubble bath from swagger cosmetics. 

A sheer, iridescent highlighter with the perfect mix of warm and pink tones to suit all skin tones. Use on your cheekbones, under brow, all over or even lightly dab it on your cupids bow! Perfect for looking luminous for when you're having a cocktail in the bath or dressing room. This product is vegan.

This is another amazing color. Can you see in the photographs the lovely sparkly sheen from this? The only complaint I had about this product was that it doesn't really stick where you want it. If you are using it with a fluffy brush on your cheek bones as a highlighter, then it is a great product. I decided to take this a step further and wanted to incorporate it into an eye look, and it just would not stick where I wanted it. It is a loose powder, and is really just a lovely color.

The second to last swatch is the mineral pressed blush in natural from Mia Bellezza.

An amazing matte finish with a pearlized glow. Deflects light away from skin imperfections. Provides a beautiful soft radiant glow. Silky smooth feel, brushes on effortlessly. Infused with powerful antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E. 

This was a pretty, soft pink blush. As stated it went on smoothly with a silky feel and lasted all day. 

The last swatch was the Organic Lip Gloss in Rosy Promise #2 from Swagger Cosmetics.

Get your daily dose of vitamins and minerals from our 100% natural lip gloss. Made with pure crushed minerals for beautiful shimmer, plus anti-aging sun protection and super-hydrating oils of vitamin E and Jojoba. This lipgloss is a sheer baby pink color.

As stated, this is a very sheer color. I really had to glop it on in the swatch so that you could see some color. This lipgloss was very sticky, and hard to get off when swatched, so it did last for awhile longer than I would usually expect a lipgloss to last. I cannot say this was my favorite lip gloss, but it wasn't horrible either, especially since it is all natural. 

The last two products in the box is not swatched since they are perfume and nail polish: the Kai perfume.

Our intoxicating perfume oil fragrance made with essential oils, this is a light and intoxicating blend of gardenia wrapped in white exotics. This product is paraben, sulfate, phthalate and phosphate free and is cruelty free.

I have to say, I have heard a lot of buzz on this product from the blogger world. I am also pretty sure this product is on one of Oprah's lists. So I was super pumped to get this in my box. I don't get it. I really don't. I did not like the scent at all. It was a really strong flower scent, and I mean really strong. My mother who absolutely loves the scent of gardenia (I mean candles, perfumes, everything) didn't like it either. 

Back to Boho Polish in Rad Nomad by Color Club

This shade is so rad; you'll be mad if you didn't buy it! Made from our very own unique formula, this nail polish has been developed to contain chip-free properties, so not only is the color rad, the quality is sure to be the best you've ever had. This product is vegan, Formaldehyde, Toluence, DBP and paraben free.

I don't have much to say about this product (I never really have a lot to say about nail polish), but I do love it when a nail polish is free of all those nasties! The color is really lovely and it lasts for a good long while before chipping. I am a fan of color club nail polishes, they are one of my favorite nail polish brands. This was a deep purply color.

The winter wantable boxes are still for sale for $40 and can be purchased here: https://www.wantable.co/. If you are interested in purchasing, they are running a promotion till December 9th that if you buy one you get two free to gift!

Gabriel Organics

Gabriel Organics is a fabulous organic skincare line that feels wonderful on the skin. It is a very cleansing line that I know is both high quality and made with the best of products. Most of their products contain many products from the ocean such as sea fennel, sea minerals, and seaweed; all natural elements that regenerate and revitalize the body and skin. Gabriel Organics only uses 100% natural ingredients. I was sent to try the White Seaweed Cleanser, Seaweed Nourishing Moisturizer, Sea Clay Purifying Mud Mask, Seaweed Hydrating Mud Mask, Seaweed Revitalizing Bath and Shower Gel, and White Seaweed Hand and Body Lotion. All met and exceeded expectations.

Both the White Seaweed Calming Cleanser and the Seaweed Nourishing Moisturizer are from the normal to combination skin line. The cleanser is described as a "calming white seaweed combined with papaya to give this light emulsion the ability to gently cleanse and lightly exfoliate the skin while maintaining its natural moisture and pH balance." I would absolutely say that this is a wonderful balance between cleansing and moisture. This cleanser didn't suds up, which is general a good indicator that it will be a less stripping and more moisturizing cleanser. However, unlike most lotion-like cleansers, this cleansed my skin effectively where I didn't feel like I needed to use a toner and it left no trace of itself behind after washing it off. The moisturizer is described as "a protective all purpose moisturizer with the nourishing benefits of Shea butter, Vitamin E and antioxidant to help protect skin from premature signs of aging." This moisturizer smelled wonderful and moisturized effectively. This moisturizer and cleanser is a great combination. My skin was left feeling effectively cleansed whiteout feeling tight and dry.

The two masks I tried were the Sea Clay Purifying Mud Mask and the Seaweed Hydrating Mask. I preferred the hydrating one of the two, however the hydrating mask was different than any other mask I have ever tried before. This mask was described as "an active formula of blue and green algae, amino acids and plants extracts precisely blended to provide just the amount of hydration and resiliency needed for all skin types." I really wish I had taken a picture of this product. I opened up the packet and was greeted by a mask of jelly consistency. When I first applied it to my face it was warm and tingly and even burned a bit. Within 5 minutes, that feeling quickly changed to a cool and refreshing  feeling. I knew the mask was finished when the coolness ended. This mask didn't dry at all and thus washing it off was as equally intriguing as the product itself. However, once removed my skin was refreshed and hydrated. Wonderful! The mud mask is something I would only recommend to those with skin that is more on the oily side. It was incredibly drying, however it was also incredibly cleansing. This product was described as "a fresh blend of sea minerals and clays specifically formulated for its purifying, astringent and clarifying effect. This mineral-rich clay mask cleanses and purifies the skin by absorbing surface impurities and excess sebum." The mask was your typical mud mask where it dries down to a flaky consistency and washed off easily. I enjoyed the mask, I would just warn that it is a more drying mask.

The Seaweed Revitalizing Bath and Shower Gel and White Seaweed Hand and Body Lotion are from the bath and body line. They are similar to the face line in that they are also made of seaweed and smell wonderful. The bath gel is "nourishing seaweed extracts and precious botanical oils that are the basis for this purifying body cleanser." This cleanser foamed up nicely and was a great addition to my shower. My shower was only made better after I left it and tried the body lotion which is "an easily absorbed lotion enriched with multi-vitamins, plus ultra-hydrating white seaweed and active plant oils that eliminate dryness and dramatically improve the texture and elasticity of dry, lackluster, skin." It was very moisturizing and made my skin soft and supple.

This line was a great find. I really enjoyed playing with it and would encourage others to give it a try. As you can see I am a big fan of organic lines and I often shout for the hills when I find a new one that is fantastic and affordable!

This line can be bought from http://www.gabrielcosmeticsinc.com