The magic three ... :O)
Yes, these are my first ever MAC makeup products. I suppose this predicament was inevitable ... after seeing countless raves, swatches and looks with these supposed holy grails of makeup finery. The skin finish natural was always a favourite, 'ruby woo' the epitome of a 50's red lip and 'raizin' the blush, that every dark skin girl just had to have. Now I'm not complaining if it was not for such exposure I would have still signified MAC with computers (Apple anyone ...?) that's how clueless I was about this makeup brand. Watching countless videos I soon started to believe the hype that MAC was 'worth the price' because most people I saw used it.
Yet, that belief soon faded when I began to look for dupes of MAC and found the good buys on the highstreet/drugstore that the most adamant MAC wearer was raving about :). So where am I now in my journey/philosophy about makeup ... well, I believe that makeup products don't have to cost a lot to look good and be effective - simple - something I have always believed but hey we all can waver sometimes :) although searching for 'Mac Dupes' online exposed me to various brands that had good inexpensive products ... win-win I say :)
Why am I telling you this? Well, I don't want somebody out there to feel compelled to buy the most expensive makeup all the time because someone said its the only type of makeup worth buying. Seriously if you follow that mantra you'll be missing out on more than money but different colours, even more pigmented products and well the excitment of finding gold in the highstreet (drugstore) stores... oh and having more change in your pocket does help on those film nights (takeaway anyone?)
Let the pictures commence .. and reviews
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| ... covered up ... |
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| ... uncovered ... |
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MAC Skinfinish Natural in Dark £21 (10g/ 0.35 oz.)
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Not meaning to be rude but in my personal opinion ... Mac's Dark Skin Finish does not look dark to me. That's why my initial intention had been to by Deep Dark (a more reddish toned and darker natural skin finish) ... however I was advised otherwise (to my confusion). The sales assistant explained to me that I was 'quite yellow' (?) and if I bought Deep Dark, it would make me darker and would not look natural ... hmm I hesitated ... realising that I had bought foundations far too dark and unwearable for me to apply straight from the bottle (see my foundation post here - when I finish it - in progress people) in the past. I decided to listen to her advice ... the results ... I have a very sheer, wearable if not unnoticeable finishing powder which sets my makeup but, I still think of myself as red toned though (no one can stop me ... because I am ... muhaha *crazy laughter* :P).
Ok, ok ... I can use this as my foundation ... if I blend well near my jawline and forehead. I can apply it heavily by dampening my face slightly (with a spritz) then applying the powder on dry. Alternative you can use a wet instrument with the product and then let it dry BUT - I've found out that this method creates a 'film' over the product that may either dry out or will have to be removed by scraping (eek waste of product - which I did). So I personally don't recommend using a wet brush or sponge on your skin finish (just my thoughts). However, I have mostly used this powder dry to set foundation or as a dry base itself.
Like most powders, this face powder can come across quite dry looking when worn in person. However in pictures (with and without flash) it enhances or should I saw creates more of a golden tone to my skin. It covers my blemishes quite well (when applied thickly) and makes my skin look healthy and radiant (lol not that I'm not healthy ... does 2 push-ups) . Also, this powder does have very slight gold shimmer particles that can be seen when you look really close at the product and on your face which aid in creating a radiant glow in photos and in person.
All I can say is that I see why MAC Skin Finish in Natural is popular, I really like it.
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| Mac Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo £14 (3g/0.1 oz.) |
MAC Retro Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo
Oh how I have lusted after thee. Ever since I stumbled upon your vivid hue I knew you had to be mine. Oh how you maketh my caged heart beateth when I swipeth thee, you art a mighty beauty to behold. May you always be with me on my lipases ... Ok I hear yee enough of the lingo ...
I have read review after review and the same conclusion seems to be drawn ... this lipstick is divine. The smell (which I'm not used too - first time mac lipstick purchaser) is lovely, it smells like vanilla (not sickly jut a light powdered scent). The texture is somewhat dry but not scratchy. This lipstick can be blotted into the lips for a sultry stained pout or deeply swiped for dramatic and bold effect. I love her, I knew I would and I do ... not even the sales assistant suggestion for a darker red could keep me away (I may lean- but me nuh bend :P). Ruby woo is a blue toned red ... (I bet you knew that already) and blue toned red make your teeth look whiter (double yeah). She really is beautiful ... I plan to swatch her later for you in a collection posts (a post with other red lippies - should be fun eh). Oh I should add that before buying her I bought several supposed dupes that all seemed to disappoint (looked too orange red on me). Now I'm a dark skinned girl so this red is very bright on me especially on camera, I think it looks a bit subdued in person but it still is rather bright. I have not worn her out yet in full colour but one day I might ... one step at a time :O)
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Mac Blush in Raizin £17.50 (6g/0.21 oz) |
Mac Powder Blush in Raizin
After seeing countless dark skinned beautes labelling this blush as their favourite ... I searched online to find a dupe, a dupe that was accessible to me, alas I failed to find such a thing in my vicinity so ... I decided to make my first MAC purchase and that is how I gained this baby into my collection and then went onto buy the other two .. Ok I hear you (stop blabbering tell me about the product) ok (rudey) .
The blush is pigmented and will show up on dark skin. It will give your cheeks a natural flush when applied lightly or you can make it bolder by applying it intensely. The powder is very fine and smooth. I feel like this blush gives the same 'heat' as an orange blush (makes darker skinned women look healthy, radiant, livelier etc.) but its a browny red colour. I love blush and blushes that make me look healthy or more active ... because even though I am (*munches slothfully on crisps*) my skin doesn't always look it. So I love this blush although I don't use it often (I've heat pan on Sleek Sahara already :) ...). Its not the most pigmented of blushes that I own but, since I don't have another blush like this (a matte browny red/pink) I'm happy to own Raizin.
Ok that's all, for now ...
End Note (shopping my stash update)
Purchasing MAC products last year actually spurred me on to 'Shop My Stash' for 2013 because I began to see higher end makeup (especially MAC) as not really that expensive. Realising that I had misplaced myself from my natural roots of being a frugal shopper, I decided to nip my makeup spending in the bud by challenging myself to use my stash and cease my wasteful spending on makeup. Shopping my stash challenge has been going very well - I'm not saying that I don't get tempted to slip a tinted lip butter in my basket but there is life outside makeup. The best thing from this challenge has been actually using and enjoying my stash - looking for the products I already own to create different looks and playing around with it more. These days I am using my makeup more and have combated my fear of wearing a full face. I thoroughly enjoy playing around with my makeup and I've realised that my stash fulfills all my desires. So I'm a pretty happy bunny.
I hope you're all well and happy :O)
xxx
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