MAC Zoom Lash Mascara: Plum Reserve and Green Is Green, photos, swatches, and review.

MAC has colored mascaras, didn't you know? Zoom Lash Mascara comes in several colors: Plum Reserve, Green Is Green, Blue Charge, and High Esteem. Why does it tickle me that the tubes are the same color as the mascara? The formula is a thick one that coats the lashes well and has a good consistency. The wand separates and defines well as it should. It's thick without being clumpy.

MAC Zoom Lash Mascara: Plum Reserve and Green Is Green

I have Green Is Green and Plum Reserve. Of the two, I prefer Green Is Green. I have brown lashes, and the green shows up better I think.

Zoom Lash Mascara retails for $14.00 for 0.28 ounces.
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Lotus

Laura Mercier Tightline Cake Eye Liner and Activator

Laura Mercier's Cake Eyeliners are like a magic potion. Tightlining is an eyeliner technique that creates thicker looking lashes by applying product directly on the lashline, not the waterline or the eyelid. Laura Mercier's Tightline Cake Eyeliner and Activator are a waterproof solution, so it stays where you apply it. The combination of the two products takes a little time to get to know the proper ratio -- trial and error. It comes in a variety of colors. The packaging says to apply a bit of the activator on the back of your hand and then add the cake liner to your brush, working it into a paste. Use a flat eyeliner brush to dot or press between the individual lashes. "Wiggle" the brush into your lashline. It lasts all day, and appears to last forever because so little product is required.

The website says: "Laura Mercier Eye Liner is an easy-to-use, mistake-proof eye liner that delivers long-lasting, pure colour. Long-wearing, smudge resistant and colour-true, Eye Liner adds brightness and life to the eye with its light-reflective pigments."

Practice makes perfect for this technique. Take your time. After it's dry it becomes difficult to blend out. Once set, they don't fade or smudge. You can achieve a smoky effect if you blend it out and work quickly.

It comes in Black Ebony, Bleu Marine, Mahogany Brown, Plum Riche, Charcoal Grey, and Forest Green.

Tightline Cake Eye Liner retails for $22.00 for 0.05 ounce.
The Activator retails for $20 for 0.25 fluid ounces.

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Lotus

MAC Prep+Prime BB Beauty Balm SPF 35 review

I've been trying different beauty balms here and there and when I read that MAC was coming out with one I just had to try it. It was sold out for the longest time and I had to add my name to their waiting list to get it. It just arrived yesterday. Perhaps it's because I really got my hopes up for this miracle product that I'm a little disappointed. I love MAC and want to love every product, but that doesn't always end up being the case. This is not a traditional Asian Beauty Balm.

MAC's website says: "Prep + Prime Beauty Balm is lightly tinted in a nearly sheer beige tone to work on an array of complexions, it creamily re-texturizes the skin and then goes on to excel at being a face primer with high everyday UVA/UVB SPF 35 defense."

If you haven't heard of Beauty Balms before, you can read all about them here from Musings Of A Muse.

MAC's has a lightweight sheer coverage to wear either alone or as a primer with your regular foundation. Whereas traditional Beauty Balms have skin lighteners and anti-aging ingredients and even out your skintone, MAC's is more like a regular tinted moisturizer. It only comes in one shade, and it's for fair skintones only. For now, this only comes in pale beige color. As a dollop, it looks quite pink to me. It does give my skin a fresh look like other tinted moisturizers do.

It provides a light hydration and protection from sun exposure. I personally do not enjoy the smell of sunscreen and this does smell a bit like it. It's SPF 35 and because I do want to protect my skin I accept the smell.

The retail price is $30 for 1.00 fluid ounce.

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Lotus

Red Hot Leopard Etsy Treasury

Etsy Treasury: Red Hot Leopard

I'm loving this rockin' collection of red and animal print on Etsy! You know it's classy if Bernie Dexter's involved. Check out the adorable pill-box hat on her!

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Lotus

MOTD: Simple Everyday Makeup

It's hot as a mother out there. On sweltering summer days like these I keep my makeup fairly neutral and have my hair in a ponytail or bun, although I prefer to have it down. This look is from last Saturday night's party. After dark, having my hair down isn't a problem like it is in the oppressive July sunshine.

I got my black rose hair clip from Andy's Eye Candy on Etsy. This rockin' tattoo flash dress by Hell Bunny came from Crash Bang Boom in Philadelphia.

Eyes:
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
MAC Eyeshadow in Vanilla on browbone
MAC Eyeshadow in Hush on lid
MAC Eyeshadow in Clue in crease
MAC Eyeshadow in Scene in eyebrows
MAC Liquidlast Liner in Point Black
MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack
MAC Plush Lash in Plushblack

Cheeks:
MAC Cream Colour Base in Tickle Me Pink
MAC Cream Colour Base in Luna
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish: Semi Precious Rose Quartz
MAC Shaping Powder in Emphasize

Face:
MAC Matte
MAC Select Cover-Up NC20
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural

Lips:
Urban Decay Lip Pencil in Gash
Urban Decay Lipstick in Gash

Hell Bunny tattoo flash dress

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Lotus

Urban Decay: Gash Lipstick and Lipliner, photos, swatches, and review

Urban Decay's Gash Lipstick

I hold a certain nostalgia for Urban Decay's Gash color. While in high school I was obsessed with this nail polish after coming across a full page advertisement for it in some magazine. I've searched and searched online for that ad with no luck -- I wish I could share it here! Basically, the ad image was a smear of blood red nail polish across a white surface with a manicured hand flaunting Gash nails. Super goth, right? I used that color constantly.

Recently I purchased Urban Decay's lipstick and lipliner in this same color after frustratingly searching their website for the polish, but to no avail. Their website doesn't sell individual nail polish bottles, and for some reason the set collections of polish don't list the names!

In addition to the lipstick and liner you can also find Gash eyeshadow.

Urban Decay Gash 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil

Sometimes when I'm using a dark lipstick I like to use a lipliner to line my lips and bring the color in on each side to where only the central third of my lips are liner-free. Then I apply the lipstick in the center but not all the way to the corners of my mouth. Depending on the shade, it adds a highlight to the center.
 

In direct sunlight

Urban Decay lipsticks are described as having a "crème caramel scent and flavor." I've read reviews that say the smell is off-putting, but I can't say that I agree -- it's not exactly caramel though. It does have a slight artificial smell, but not really a taste. Different brands have different subtle scents added to their lipsticks. MAC smells like vanilla, Chanel has a floral rose smell, Guerlain smells like violets, and Aveda has a minty smell just to name a few.

Lipstick: $22 for 0.13 US oz
Glide-On Lip Pencil: $18 for 0.29 US fl oz

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Lotus

Urban Decay Cosmetics does not test on animals and has a wide variety of vegan options. Each of their vegan items has a small purple paw next to the item on their website. All of their lipsticks and lipliners are vegan. Their official website has that information clearly listed. Ulta's website has that info in the Specifications tab. It doesn't say it on Sephora's website.

MAC Launch: Me Over Collection, official product photos and promo info

I am utterly thrilled about the MAC Me Over Collection for fall. It's full of deep red lipsticks and smokey eyeshadows. My favorite time of year is autumn, and it's the best time for new fashion and new makeup collections. Basically, it's the most gothic time of year! I can start wearing tights again, I get to wear sweaters and scarves, and I go on the hunt for the perfect new lipstick. I look forward to it all year long.

Lipsticks: Runway Red, Rebel, Prince Noir, Smoked Purple

Evil Eyes Eyeshadow Quad

Nail Polish: Deep Sea and Purple Majesty

Fluidline: Avenue, Dark Diversion, Dark Envy, Midnight Blue

This collection has many more products available, but I'm just sharing the ones I'm excited about.

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Lotus

[CLOSED] Giveaway: MAC Semi Precious Collection

♥This contest has ended. No further entries will be accepted.♥

Here's your chance to win six items from MAC's recent Semi Precious Collection. I finally have over 100 subscribers now that I've been blogging more frequently! So, to thank each and every one of you, I'm giving away a few new products. You can see more photos of the collection in this post I made. This above photo includes all six products in the giveaway. They are:

Mineralize Blush:  Warmth of Coral

Mineralize Blush:  Pressed Amber

Semi Precious Colour Lipstick:  Musky Amethyst

Mineralize Eyeshadow:  Blue Sheen

Mineralize Eyeshadow:  Mineral Mode

Mineralize Eyeshadow:  Dark Indulgence

Total Value: $120.50

If you're interest in winning these items, please enter my giveaway by doing the following:

• Follow my blog publicly via Google Friend Connect (required to enter)
• Follow my Twitter +1 entry
• Tweet my giveaway +1 entry
• Like my Facebook page +1 entry
• Blog about this giveaway +1 entry
• Post giveaway image on your blog's sidebar +1 entry

Once you have completed any of the above, be sure to comment on this post. Copy and paste this list and fill it out in the comments section:

first name:

GFC name:

email address:

links to where you followed/promoted:

You have one month to enter. Contest ends on Wednesday, August 17th. One winner will be announced on Thursday, August 18th. Winner will be emailed directly. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours I will notify the next in line. Don't forget to leave me your email address! This giveaway is open both domestically and internationally. Multiple spam-comment entries will be disqualified.

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Lotus

Make your own eyeliner with MAC mixing medium, pigment, and glitter

Work with what you have on hand. It's not always necessary to buy the latest and greatest limited edition products. Make your own liquid eyeliners. I bought two Makeup Forever eyeliners and wanted to share an alternative to these. I occasionally make my own using MAC's Eyeliner Mixing Medium in combination with various pigments and glitters. Mixing mediums are PRO products from MAC and not available on the regular website. The eyeliner medium is $12. If you're a makeup hoarder, then chances are you have all of the following items on hand.

• MAC Eyeliner Mixing Medium
• MAC Pigment in Grape (choose any shade safe for eye use)
• MAC Glitter Refects in Transparent Pink (optional)
• MAC palette and metal spatula (optional)

I use a metal palette from MAC along with a clean metal spatula to remove product from these pigment containers. It's important to maintain sanitary practices, especially if you plan to use your  products on other people. You don't have to have a palette, the back of your hand will work just fine -- if it's clean! Use the back of an eyeliner brush to mix your products together. Mix to a consistency you like and add more or less of each product to get the desired shade you want. I wanted to create a color that was similar to MUFE's #8. I used MAC's 210 eyeliner brush to apply.

 

LEFT: MAC mixing medium and pigment RIGHT: MUFE #8

MUFE's aqua liners are waterproof and smudge-proof. This MAC substitute doesn't have the longevity that the aqua liners have, but it is a good substitute if you don't want to buy something you can create yourself. The #8 has a more blue-base than what I created because I added pink glitter. My concoction came off when I washed my hands with soap and water, but the MUFE stayed put. The only limit to the colors you can make is the number of pigments you have.  

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Lotus

MUFE Aqua Liners #6 and #8, photos, swatches, and review

Make Up For Ever Aqua Liners #6 Iridescent Navy Blue and #8 Iridescent Electric Purple

I love colored eyeliners. I don't use them very often, but it's like having a treat every once in a while. Something different. Sephora is the exclusive retailer for these amazing liquid liners. They were released in April. Each comes with a tapered foam applicator. They truly are a long-wear product. I'm a bit obsessive over different types of liquid eyeliners, so I had to try these. Twice when I went to Sephora recently they were out of the #4 Diamond Lagoon Green that I had be lemming. So instead I purchased #6 Iridescent Navy Blue and #8 Iridescent Electric Purple.

#6 Iridescent Navy Blue and #8 Iridescent Electric Purple

They're smudge-proof, water-proof, and tear proof. They were created for the Fashion Week Swim in Miami with the beach in mind, specifically for water ballet performers. You can take a swim wearing these and still come out looking like a sexpot. Esther Williams would have killed for these wondrous beauties in her heyday!

They sell for $23 each for.058 ounces.
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Lotus

NARS Color Collection, Fall 2011 Campaign, official product photos and promo info

NARS Fall 2011 Campaign

NARS Cosmetics Fall 2011 Campaign: Official Launch Date: July 15th, 2011

"The Fall 2011 collection is resolutely avant-garde. Daring shots of color are tempered with softer, subtler tones. Eyes range from bright true blue to silvery taupe, dazzling peach and matte dove gray. Lips run the gamut from statementmaking matte red to sophisticated plum and sparkling champagne pink. A stormy gray nail color adds a mysterious finishing touch. The effect is confident, edgy and intense."

Grand Palais Duo eyeshadow Silver taupe / Dusty rose $34.00
Outremer Bright true blue $24.00
Delphes Eyeshadow Trio Sparkling sheer peach / Matte dove grey / Frosted sage $45
Pago Pago Sheer Lipstick Shimmering pink $24.00
Oasis Lip Gloss Sparkling pink champagne $24.00
Train Bleu Velvet Matte Lip Pencil Deep Aubergine $24.00
Montego Bay Pure Matte Lipstick Rose pink $25.00
Mascate Pure Matte Lipstick Bold red $25.00
Galion Opaque Nail Polish Stormy grey $18

MAC Semi Precious Collection, photos, swatches, review

Here are all my goodies from the MAC Semi Precious Collection! I have lots of photos, so I think I might break them up into two posts... I did not buy everything, as you can see. The website immediately sold out of the Feeling Flush mineralize blush that I wanted, and the Gem of Roses lipstick. So, I went to my local MAC and to check them out. I didn't end up buying either.

Mineralize Skinfinish in Rose Quartz

This turned out to be my favorite item from this collection. It's described as a “rosy pink base with inner circle of silver, lime, white-pink, and copper.” It's so sparkly! In the pan, it does look very green, but it's dazzling when applied. It's not a bold blush, but rather a shimmering sheen. I love it! This was the most expensive item from the collection, which is why I only chose one of them to try. Quartz Fusion is my least favorite item from the collection. The glitter gets everywhere and the color fades quickly.

Mineralize Blush in Warmth of Coral

Mineralize Blush in Pressed Amber

Six Eyeshadows

Mineralize Eyeshadow in Golden Gaze

Mineralize Eyeshadow in Rare Find

Mineralize Eyeshadow in Quartz Fusion

Mineralize Eyeshadow in Mineral Mode

Mineralize Eyeshadow in Blue Sheen

Mineralize Eyeshadow in Dark Indulgence

*UPDATED: Blue Sheen, Dark Indulgence, Mineral Mode, Golden Gaze, Rare Find, Quartz Fusion

Cremesheen Glass Lipgloss in Geo Pink and Richly Revered

Lustre finish One Of A Kind and Frost finish Musky Amethyst

One Of A Kind and Musky Amethyst

*UPDATED: TOP: Musky Amethyst  BOTTOM: One Of A Kind

Do you  have a favorite from this collection?

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Lotus

NOTD: China Glaze Crackle over OPI A Grape Fit!

I'm loving these tone-on-tone crackle/shatter combinations lately. It's the laziest, easiest nail art. I used one coat of OPI's A Grape Fit, and one layer of China Glaze's Fault Line Crackle. I skipped the shiny top coat on these. I love plummy purples! Take a peek at the blue-on-blue look I did here.

What do you think? I love them. 
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Lotus