MAC Shop MAC Cook MAC Lipsticks Review, Photos & Swatches

The Packaging

Each lipstick comes in encased in a colourful patterned sleeve, which when pulled out resembles just a classic lipstick box and tube. The boxes clearly state the finish of the lipsticks as well, which is handy!

MAC Shop MAC Cook MAC Lipstick Packaging

MAC Shop MAC Cook MAC Lipstick Packaging

MAC Shop MAC Cook MAC Lipstick Packaging

MAC Shop MAC Cook MAC Lipstick Packaging

MAC Lipstick Tube

The Product
They all have the classic hint of vanilla scent that MAC lipsticks traditionally come with. Some lipsticks are more pigmented than others, or smoother than others, but it really varies depending on the finish/texture of the lipstick.

MAC Shop MAC Cook MAC Lipsticks (Left to right: Quick Sizzle, Naughty Sautée, Watch Me Simmer)

The Colors

NAUGHTY SAUTÉE
Naughty Sautée is a beautiful cool pink shade in the Cremesheen formulation. This lipstick can be “dabbed” on for a more sheer, hint of color or applied normal for a bold pop of bright baby pink.

MAC Lipstick in Naughty Sautée

MAC Lipstick in Naughty Sautée

MAC Lipstick in Naughty Sautée

WATCH ME SIMMER
Watch Me Simmer is a spicy coral pink shade in the Amplified formulation (a super pigmented finish). Make sure to have well-exfoliated and hydrated lips for this one, and don’t skip the liner!

MAC Lipstick in Watch Me Simmer

MAC Lipstick in Watch Me Simmer

MAC Lipstick in Watch Me Simmer

QUICK SIZZLE
Quick Sizzle is a bright fuchsia shade in the Matte formulation. While the bold shade is totally trendy, the matte finish is a huge switch up to someone who is used to gloss or at least the regular sheen from a lipstick. It definitely feels more drying, but it lasts the longest and really packs an intense punch. Prime lips or make sure to put a little bit of lip balm first for a little extra comfort.

MAC Lipstick in Quick Sizzle

MAC Lipstick in Quick Sizzle

MAC Lipstick in Quick Sizzle

Summary

Price: $14.50 USD / $17.50 CDN
Availability: MAC
Rating: A

Source: Beautezine

The Best Blushes Ever!

1. Illamasqua Powder Blusher – Naked Rose

Illamasqua blushes are super pigmented, creamy, and last a long time. “Naked Rose” color is a muted pink color that is easy to apply without looking too bright or clownish.

Price: $26.00

Where to Buy: Sephora . Amazon

2. NARS Powder Blush – Amour

NARS is known for having the best high end blushes. The color Amour is a beautiful matte finish warm pink that is flattering on every skin color.

Price: $28.00

Where to Buy: Sephora . Amazon . eBay . Nordstrom

3. Inglot Powder Blush – #20

Inglot is also known for having smooth, creamy, and pigmented blushes but without the high price tag that other makeup companies charge. This color #20 is the perfect matte pink that brightens your cheeks without being overpowering.

Price: $12.00

Where to Buy: Inglot

4. MAC Powder Blush – Melba

To warm up the skin, this color Melba is perfect as it’s a muted peach color. It doesn’t look too orange, and the matte finish doesn’t emphasize acne scars or pores like some shimmery ones do.

Price: $12.99 – $20.00

Where to Buy: Amazon . eBay . Nordstrom

5. Milani Mineral Blush – Luminous

This Milani blush is the perfect dupe for the popular NARS “Orgasm”- a slightly shimmery peachy pink color. It adds a beautiful glow to the skin without coming across glittery or too shiny. Plus the cheap pricetag will save you some money.

Price: $5.00

Where to Buy: Most Drugstores . Amazon

6. NYX Powder Blush – Peach

This matte pink blush is a great way to brighten your cheeks and add just the right amount of color. Price is great too.

Price: $6.99

Where to Buy: Makeup Geek Store

7. Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush – Tipsy

Many of Tarte’s blushes are matte finish, they come in lots of colors, and the formula is very pigmented and smooth. This color Tipsy looks amazing on medium to dark skin as the coral color adds lots of warmth to your cheeks.

Price: $25.00

Where to Buy: Sephora . Amazon . eBay

8. Illamasqua Cream Blusher – Rude

This Illamasqua one is very creamy, yet not oily looking. And this color “Rude” is the perfect true peach color that warms up my complexion beautifully!

Price: $26.00

Where to Buy: Sephora . Amazon

9. NYX Cream Blush – Rose Petal

NYX also makes some amazing cream blushes, but without the hefty price tags of other makeup lines. This color “Rose Petal” is a muted warm pink color. It looks great on every skin color- from fair to dark.

Price: $6.50

Where to Buy: Amazon . eBay

10. Stila Convertible Color – Petunia

This color “Petunia” is a brighter warm pink that looks great on medium to dark skin. It adds a youthful glow to the cheeks and doesn’t look oily or feel sticky. The best part: you can use this on your lips too for a lipgloss.

Price: $19

Where to Buy: Sephora . Amazon . eBay . Nordstrom

Source: MakeupGeek

NEW ARRIVAL: Maybelline Master Glaze Blush Sticks

$8.99 USD / $11.99 CAD

Source: Beautezine

Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner vs. Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Eyeliner

Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner

Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner

Bobbi Brown’s gel eyeliner is renowned for their smooth consistency and ability to glide on smoothly. They come in a wide variety of shades, 14 to be exact, and are waterproof which means they work wonderfully in the waterline. The only down side to the Bobbi Brown gel eyeliners is the price. These run $22.00 for 0.1 oz. / 3 g. at which to me is a lot to pay.

Pros: Waterproof, great color selection
Cons: Price
Where to Buy: Sephora | Amazon | eBay

Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Eyeliners

Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Eyeliners

Maybelline gel eyeliners are quickly gaining popularity and it’s easy to see why. These glide on remarkably smooth and are very highly pigmented which makes it easy to get the desired color you want without having to go back over it multiple times. These don’t flake or smudge and are waterproof as well so these stay in the waterline without sliding. The only downside is the color range which as of right now is 4 colors. The price on this is extraordinarily better at $6.00 – $9.00 for 0.11 oz. depending on where you shop.

Pros: Waterproof, price
Con: Limited color selection
Where to Buy: Drugstore | Amazon | eBay

Verdict

So I am going to have to give this SMACKDOWN to Maybelline! This is absolutely one of my new favorite products. The only downside is the color selection with 4 shades available. However, these work just as well as the Bobbi Brown gel eyeliners by being waterproof and staying in place and not sliding. For the price these are unbeatable. I love these so much that I am going to be switching over and using the Maybelline eyeliners and just use my Bobbi Brown when I need a green or blue shade to go to. At least until Maybelline comes out with a few more shades…hint, hint. I hope this smackdown helped you decide which one is best for you. As always stay happy and healthy!

Swatches:

Bobbi Brown:

Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner Swatches

Maybelline:

Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Eyeliner Swatches

Source: MakeupGeek

The Best Eye Primers Ever!

Stila Prime Pot

Stila Prime Pot

These come in two shades, a lighter and darker depending on your skintone. Since they are nude in color, they can double as a concealer and eyeshadow base.  These are super creamy and blend easily into the skin, and are great for hiding any imperfections on your lids.

Price: $20

Where to Buy: Amazon . eBay . Sephora

Urban Decay Primer Potion

Urban Decay Primer Potion

The holy grail of primer potions, this has definitley lived up to the hype. This remarkable formula comes in 4 different shades: Original, Eden (a matte tawny color), Sin (a shimmery champagne), and Greed (gold). These melt into the skin and leave a flawless finish that extends the wear of your eyeshadows for hours.

Price: $20
Where to Buy: Amazon. Ebay. Sephora

MAC Paint Pot

MAC Paint Pot

These little pots of magnificent colors come in 16 different shades. What makes these so great is they can be worn alone for a soft wash of color onto the lids as well as a primer underneath your eyeshadows. Used as a base these allow the shadow and pigments to adhere to the eye with little fallout. They blend smoothly into the skin and leave a flawless finish.

Price: $18.50
Where to Buy: Amazon. Ebay

Palladio Eye Primer

Palladio Eye Primer

This remarkable product has the same texture and quality as the Urban Decay Primer Potion and is rumored to made by the same company. This blends easily and goes on evenly and smoothly to prevent creasing. The best part of this primer is the price! It is definitely budget friendly without sacrificing quality.

Price: $7.89
Where to Buy: Makeup Geek Store

Too Faced Shadow Insurance

Too Faced Shadow Insurance

This primer prevents fading, creasing, fallout and fading. Since this is a silicone based primer, it creates a barrier between the oil in your skin and your makeup, making this ideal for oily eyelids. This allows the color to blend smoothly and evenly and gives your eyeshadow better color payoff.


Price: $18
Where to Buy: Amazon. Ebay. Sephora

Source: MakeupGeek

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette Review, Photos & Swatches

The Urban Decay ‘Naked‘ legacy continues with this latest addition to the family, the Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette ($27 USD / $32 CAD). A simplified neutral eyeshadow palette containing six (rather than twelve) matte eyeshadows in a small, sleek compact. This palette is an answer to all of the wishes of Naked palette lovers who have been craving an all-matte version!  It’s smaller, but I’m loving the simplified concept.

The palette is super slim and fits nicely in the palm of your hand- great for traveling! The compact has a rubbery feel to it, and physically locks shut (similar to Naked2; there’s no magnet here) and I must say I’m not a fan of the closure on this palette. It almost requires some prying open with a nail, and mine are so brittle I’m terrified to break them, so I grab the closest tool I can to pry it open.

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

Note the size

The interior lid features a nice, larger mirror (again, similar to Naked2), and you’ll notice the lack of a brush or eyeliner or mini primer- which I’m very happy for! The eyeshadows are the same size as those found in the original Naked palettes, however the palette is obviously much smaller because in contains half as many. I first thought I would have preferred a 12-pan palette (really that’s more just OCD talking), but then I realized that 6 neutral matte eyeshadows is all you really need.

THE SHADES INCLUDE…

• Venus: Soft, off-white cream
• Foxy: Pale yellow cream
• Walk Of Shame: Pale pink cream
• Naked 2: Mid-tone, neutral brown
• Faint: Deep, rich brown
• Crave: Deep, jet black

The only eyeshadows that you may have seen before include Foxy, which is included in the Naked2palette, and Walk Of Shame, which is available in single form. The range of shades and undertones is really perfect- I can see this palette being used as an everyday, quick look for school or the office, but also as a complimentary palette to all those other eyeshadow palettes we love, but are full of shimmery shades.

The pigmentation is great- consistent throughout each shade! They have a slight chalkiness to them, so just be careful not to pick up too much product on your brush or you may experience some fall out (especially with Crave); but overall they apply nicely and blend easily.

My favorite shades are Foxy, because it’s yellow base neutralizes tired, red eyelids for an instant brightening effect, Faint, for being the perfect crease color and of course Crave, for being the most intense, jet black eyeshadow ever. You know Urban Decay was thinking “those beauty bloggers are going to criticize this black eyeshadow so thoroughly… so we better make it awesome!”

And they did. Kudos, Urban Decay! This palette is a total winner and must have for all beauty lovers.

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

(L-R): Venus, Foxy, Walk of Shame, Naked 2, Faint & Crave

Swatches (L-R): Venus, Foxy, Walk of Shame, Naked 2, Faint & Crave

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette
PRICE: $27 USD / $32 CAD for 6 x 0.05oz / 1.3g
AVAILABILITY: Sephora
RATING: A

Source: Beautezine

Benefit High Beam Review, Photos & Swatches

Benefit High Beam

Benefit High Beam has been a must have of mine for a long time, and anyone else who has tried it probably feels the same way.  There aren’t a lot of people out there that I know of that dislike this product.

This illuminating highlighter does a great job of putting the glow “exactly where you want it”- which is my favorite thing to do.  I much prefer a matte face overall with a bit of glow around my orbital area.  It lifts the face and gives a youthful glow without coming off as “shiny” or “oily”.  This product has a slight pink tint, which is super flattering and brightening to the complexion and it leaves you with more of a “sheen” than a shimmer (no glitter here)!

Around $30 a bottle may seem like a lot, but I’ve had the same bottle for over a year now and it’s still going strong. Plus- if you don’t want to commit to the full size right away, you’ll see this cult classic must have popping up in lots of little value sets, mini collections & more.

Summary

• Price: $26 USD / $30 CDN
• Availability: Sephora, Benefit Cosmetics
• Overall: A lovely highlighter that blends easily, looks natural and gives a great looking glow. Look for it in minis if you don’t want to commit to the full size right away!
• Rating: A

Source: Beautezine

Urban Decay Naked 1, 2 & 3 Palettes

NAKED PALETTE

Naked Palette

DESCRIPTION

This long, lean, seductive case is packed with TWELVE gorgeous neutrals. Shades range from delicate champagnes to dark, gritty gunmetal, and feature FIVE NEW shades with names like Darkhorse, Virgin and Buck. 

We've also included a range of textures: everything from glitter to shimmer to matte. The chocolaty velvet case is emblazoned with the word "NAKED" in gold foil lettering.

The mirrored case also includes a professional quality, cruelty-free Good Karma Eyeshadow Brush, AND a travel-size Eyeshadow Primer Potion in original formula.

This is a shadow palette EVERYONE can use, and a truly spectacular gift. Experiment with office-appropriate neutrals, summertime bronzy looks, or sultry smokiness. With such a diversity of neutral shades at your fingertips, there's more to neutral than meets the eye!

NAKED 2

Naked 2

DESCRIPTION

The most anticipated sequel of the decade. Naked2 has 12 pigment-rich, taupe and greige neutral eyeshadows, including FIVE NEW shades. This palette proves once again, neutral is anything but boring, (and is downright sexy when worn Naked). Feast your eyes on our shades ranging from pale to deep, matte to sparkly. This collection lets you achieve lots of neutral looks, smoky dramatic eyes, and everything in between. Let's just say there's a whole new way to get Naked! The case has an art-school inspired look with hinged lid - taupe metal with embossed chocolate brown artwork. It's smooth, modern and cool to the touch - a real tactile experience. Plus, our palette also features a travel-size Lip Junkie Lipgloss in aked, AND a double-ended, cruelty-free Good Karma Shadow/Crease Brush (available only in this palette).

NAKED 3

Naked 3

DESCRIPTION

A mirrored compact packed with a dozen never-before-seen rose-hued neutrals, plus a double-ended brush and an Eyeshadow Primer Potion sampler.

Choose from every finish imaginable: ultra-smooth mattes, gorgeous pearls and glimmering metallics. From the palest, shimmery pink to deep, warm black, these neutrals will make you want to get Naked all over again. Every shade features our Pigment Infusion System, the proprietary blend of ingredients that gives each shade its velvety texture, rich color, serious staying power and blendability.

Naked3 includes a NEW double-ended shadow/blending brush AND an Eyeshadow Primer Potion sampler with resealable samples of all four formulas (original, Sin, Eden and Anti-Aging). Each sample holds about a week’s worth of Primer!

Check out Sona Gasparian's video below showing us the comparison between Naked 1, 2 and 3 Palettes and a tutorial for achieving a gorgeous look using naked3 palette.

Source: Beautylish