Savvy Thinker » MAC

FOTD Arbonne + MAC lip liner

Karin — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 08:08:46 +0000

I received my Arbonne order yesterday. I ordered (and received) 1 more eye shadow to complete my shadow box, as well as tinted moisturizer, so I wanted to try them out, even though I had thought to do AL mineral foundation spritzing the brush with water -- will do that tomorrow or lighten the tinted moisturizer in one step.

FYI is Arbonne's line for teens or young adults ("young individuals"), but the products are suitable for all ages. There are tinted moisturizers; glosses; cream shadows (not in a tube); and 4 different fragrances in shower gel, small spray, body cream, and sugar scrub. I tried the fragrances because, as you know, I love fragrance. More on those in another post. Shari told me how much she loves the tinted moisturizer, so I decided to try it. It looks good on her!

Eyes: Arbonne, except where noted, using new eye shape.
Base: Nude Frost (not Arbonne)(cream in a pot)
Lids: First used the soft gray (I think it might be matte). Then used lime green on top of the gray and alone under lower lash line. I wanted to know if the soft gray looked good by itself (it did) and whether it showed up enough (it did.) And I felt it would deepen the impact of the lime. (It did.) In a way it was like using a dark base instead of a skin tone one, but instead of it being cream, it was powder. In RL it looks more lime than it does in the picture.
Crease: Used lighter purple at top edges.
Mascara: Arbonne, 2 step
Brows: Merle Norman powder
Wet lined left lower: Sephora White; right lower: MAC white -- the MAC is much whiter and brighter; for a more natural look, choose the Sephora, for a more highlighted look, choose the MAC.
Lined top and lower: Tidal Wave, gel liner (not Arbonne) -- This is just a beautiful blue and blends nicely with the lime.
Lined again top and lower: Lancome Micro Palettes -- white (but really sheer) with silver -- I like this to drift down and around under my eyes some to extend the optical illusion of my eyes.
Concealer: Guerlain

Primer: Forgot
Foundation: Arbonne FYI Light tinted moisturizer -- this is a neat product that came recommended by Shari. It is a tad too dark on me. Comparing it to the Arbonne foundation that I use, the foundation is a tad lighter and pinker. I think this would be sufficient foundation and moisture for a lot of people. I used the RE9 moisturizer first.
Highlight all over face: Chanel liquid -- this made it a tad lighter -- could accomplish the same thing by mixing with regular moisturizer before applying or by mixing this with the tinted moisturizer and applying as one step.
Powder: My sparkly mix
Blush: Arbonne, light pink
Highlight: Guerlain Butterfly perles -- got it as a gwp -- really great color!
Bronzer: Arbonne -- Shari uses this on top of the tinted moisturizer (she uses light-medium tinted moisturizer, 1 shade darker than me.) I'm not sure if she uses powder or if the bronzer is her powder. Shari? The bronzer comes in a large solid compact, but applies softer than the SCA hyaluronic powder, which is very hard so it is difficult to get much product.

Update: Sherri says:

I always use powder to set my makeup and then I bronze.

Lips: Arbonne Prep and Plump Gleam + MAC lip liner, more at my LOTD post.

I'm happy with the look. It takes me longer to write it up than it does to apply it.

Do you use a tinted moisturizer?
Mary Kay makes a very nice one too. My MK consultant uses tinted moisturizer under her MK mineral foundation. It looks good on her.

If you use tinted moisturizer, do you use it with your regular moisturizer or by itself as the only moisturizer?

To buy Arbonne from Bookgirl, if you don't have a representative, just ask.

Karin

Originally posted 2009-07-22 12:02:52.

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FOTD AL + Lashes + MAC lips

Karin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:54:19 +0000

It's kinda fun to wear lashes again and to get out my stash.
Eyes
Base: Nude Frost + BE Queen Phyllis
Inner lid: AL pavane en pointe
Outer lid: AL odile en pointe
Upper lined inner corner: MAC blackgraph pencilto fit into lashes
Lower lined: Clarins Midnight Flashpencil
Lashes: Ardel Sophisticated
Glitter dry lined: Lancome Hologramme Micro-pallettes (white with multi glitter) to match into glitter line of lashes
More lashes

You can't really tell from the picture, but there are tiny bits of glitter through the lashes. Time will tell if it sticks or falls off.

Lips
MAC Love Alert Dazzleglass

Karin
www.savvythinker.com

Originally posted 2009-11-28 09:32:07.

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FOTD BE Rocker Star

Karin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:14:24 +0000

BE Rocker Star is one of my favorite sets. I had some trouble applying it this morning, working around everyone that was getting in and out of the bathroom, then I realized I forgot to start with the sparkly beige powder base I usually begin with. Hello! It looks more even than the photos show, and I accidentally deleted one photo, but these give you an idea.

Eyes:
BE Rocker Star -- great colors and a wonderful brush, the one end does narrow lining
Medium Shade in crease; Darker sparklier shade in outer corners; Dry Lined with darkest black on top.
Inner eyes: flash of bright color from NYX Purple Shadow
Lined bottom: MAC graphblack in waterline; earthline just below it
Lined top NYX Jet Black pen liner -- probably should have bought extreme black.
Mascara: NYX Glitter Wand in midnight Hard to get this to show up on my eye, but it is a gorgeous shade. I might use it as liner.
Brows: Clinique Blond pencil

Cheeks: NARS The Multiple in Riviera

Lips: NYX Chandelier This is really a gorgeous color and very nice formula. The pictures don't do it justice. A really great light-medium orchid pink with a lot of sparkle. Every bit as nice as Too Faced; maybe not quite as sparkly.

I love the way the Purple NYX shadow pops the smokey eye look (though they don't call it their Smokey Eye set.)

What do you think?

Karin

Originally posted 2009-03-07 10:23:27.

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FOTD NYX +MAC +Too Faced+

Karin — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:11:03 +0000

This is the 3rd NYX trio palette in my amazingly cheap NYX haul.

Eyes:
TS 30 Baby Pink, White Pearl, Baby Blue
These are more my colors than yesterday's!
Base: Lancome pink cream
Pink on my lids; Blue in the crease and lined under lower lashes; White on brow bone.
Brows: Prescriptive pencil -- has a super thin lead, easy to use
Lined top: Lancome Blueberry wand
Tightlined Lined lower: Tidal Wave gel liner
Lined top and lower: Prestige Denim pencil
Mascara: Lancome Hypnose on upper; Tarte Bottom up on lower

Primer: Smashbox purple
Foundation: L'oreal N1
Rouge: Chanel stick
Powder: my sparkly mix + BE Mineral Veil as bronzer
Over powder: Benefit Georgia Peach
Blush: MAC Moon River
Concealer: Dior Skinflash

Lips: I liked this really well!
Too Faced Pink Diamond Gloss from their super Vintage sale
Rimmed with: MAC Baby Sparks Dazzler gloss

I was happy with the way this turned out. The color was nice with my denim top. And much more to my taste than yesterday.

What do you think?
Karin

Originally posted 2009-04-23 20:48:30.

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FOTD Weds NYX eyes +

Karin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:00:16 +0000

As I said in my earlier post today, I wanted to try the NYX colors I had not tried before. Once in a while a color combo blows you out of the water. This color combo is gorgeous and one of my faves!

Eyes:
Base: Nude Frost on lids, not under brows; then BE Queen Phyllis
Lids: NYX Luxor, square individual shadow with a clear lid, an exact match to my T
Drylined: NYX Red, square loose shadow with micro shimmer
Lined: Chanel blue duo pencil, lightest color
Tightlined: NYX Jet Black Felt Tip liner
Inner corners: Arbonne Illume (white matte)
Mascara: Clinique
Concealer: Guerlain
Brows: La Prairie pencil

Primer: Avon Magix
Foundation: Revlon Age Defying cream
Rouge under my sparkly powder mix: Chanel stick
Blush: Arbonne Promise
Highlight: Arbonne Bashful

Lips: AL Balm + MAC pencil -- see my LOTD for more.

Karin
www.savvythinker.com
don't steal my posts -- you know who you are

Originally posted 2009-09-04 15:29:17.

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FOTD MAC makeover

Karin — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 21:28:40 +0000

I updated with the colors listed.

We were interrupted about 10 times, so it is a wonder it turned out as well as it did. The MUA was very pleasant. I'd like it to be less matte, the eye shadows.

I thought this turned out pretty and soft. But I would have liked a little more drama. Everything is MAC -- foundation (liquid mineral), powder, blush, eyes, lips and gloss.

She used a deep magenta shadow to dry line with.

Shadow: Twilight Mauve
Neutral (super fit)
Canvas eyebase
Violet pencil
Black liquid liner
Sun Blushed bronzer
05 medium powder
Kissyfit gloss
High definition black mascara

My nose:
You probably think this picture looks silly, but this is twice that I've had MAC concealer put on my nose.

The first time it was the large diameter stick; this time it was a liquid wand. Both times it gave a flawless finish and did not go into my pores. I nearly always leave everything off my nose as I look like I have polka dots in a short time.

The trick is evidently to buff in the concealer using a brush. the first MUA used the smaller fiber optic brush (the one I use to apply blush with when I use the MAC that has highlight and blush in the same small compact.) The MUA today used just a small black brush -- and possibly the foundation brush also. She also used a triangle sponge to press it in/remove any excess.

It's almost worth my trying it! Which I will do some day when I have some leisure to try it out properly.

I forget the color of the lips, but it is very pretty. She put some dazzle glass on top of what I was already wearing.

Later I had some additional Guerlain blush applied to give a little more color and Guerlain lipstick. Those colors were Guerlain #8 (which is shown in another FOTD.)

Thanks for looking!

Karin

Originally posted 2009-07-10 03:31:14.

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Review: MAC wipes

Karin — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:35:12 +0000

One of the benefits of getting a makeover is seeing and trying products I normally would not try or use, as much because I haven't heard of them, as that I don't want or need it, or that the way I perceive it is not the way it actually is.

At a recent makeover at MAC the MUA gave me a wipe to cleanse my skin. In one quick swipe, she had me hooked. It was large enough to do the job easily. I figured it is a good thing to have in my arsenal, not necessarily for everyday use, but for travel or other occasions where it isn't always easy to get to a sink.

I was impressed by it on a number of levels: it had no scent and left no residue. Additionally, it was good sized and quite wet. I really didn't need the whole sheet. I thought perhaps I could use half a sheet, and if that were so, it made the cost of $15 for 45 even more reasonable. There is also a package with more wipes, but this size would give me a good start. I would see how often I used them and how well I liked them. And I knew it would last me a while.

It removed my eye makeup easily and effectively without being oily or slippery, as many eye removers are. I would not want to use eye remover on my whole face as much because of the slippery feel as that I'd worry using it on my face because it feels too oily.

I was especially impressed that it left no residue, but felt completely clean and refreshed. Normally I would feel as if I needed to use water to remove any feeling of residue from the product.

Fast forward to home, and I finally opened the package yesterday about a week later. It is packaged a bit like some baby wipes, in a soft plastic container with a hard cover that snaps in to place. Under the cover is sealed foil. I kept that in place as an added way to keep the moisture in the wipes.

I used a small cut piece to get eye makeup smudges off from sleep. I knew I'd be good to go, and I was. It didn't require a whole new eye makeup to look right. This would be a fast way to refresh eyes after a hard day at the office. I used another cut piece for my eyes this morning, but I'm going to do my whole makeup. It is gentle. You don't need to pull your skin.

My wipes do not seem as wet as the one the MUA gave me. She may have added some water to it. I will have to ask her.

I know some folks use baby wipes for the same purpose. And I have used one on my eyes, but not my face. You can find a wide array of facial cleansing wipes for every possible skin type at the drug store. I have not tried any of them. On a recent trip, one of the women was using one that smelled of tea. It was OK, but I like the MAC ones better.

Paying for a MAC makeover
Some MAC stores or counters require you to buy $50 in product for a MAC makeover, and other counters do not -- either way I always buy something, but still it is almost silly to go to a counter that would require you to spend $50 when another one does not. They are usually very upfront about telling you they charge.

The MAC store at the PGA mall charged a few years ago. I chose not to have a makeover, just had the MUA suggest some products. At the time, they were the only MAC counter in that mall.

SAKs at the FL MALL in Orlando charges. Nordstrom's also has a MAC counter there. And there is a MAC store. I've not asked for a makeover at either Nordies or the MAC store. MACYs at the Milleniuim Mall does not charge. I've had makeovers at both SAKs and MACYs, because I knew I would be buying products.

Have you tried these?
I'm sure they are gentle enough for all skin types. If you tried them, do you like them?

My take
5 for effectiveness
5+ for no residue
5 more expensive than drug store wipes, but I trust these more
4 because they weren't as wet as the one the MUA gave me, but they still work fine -- when I asked at the counter the next visit, they suggested I turn the package upside down because the moisture could be at the bottom. I did, and they are better. Still not as wet as the one she handed me.

Karin

(some stores require you to buy $50 in product for a makeover and other counters do not -- either way I always buy something, but still it is almost silly to go to a counter that would require you to spend $50 when another one does not)

Originally posted 2009-03-10 05:55:12.

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FOTD Aromaleigh + MAC lips + Glitter tipped lashes

Karin — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 14:22:04 +0000

These are pretty colors! I think if you look at all the pictures you can see how pretty the glitter is on the lashes.

Eyes
Over my usual base product:
Inner lids: AL glowing luna les papillons
Outer lids and dry lined lower: AL vigil of change les papillons

Glowing Luna: A pigmented warm green yellow... or yellowish warm green? You choose. Sparks of copper and pink add an ethereal dimension.
Vigil of Change: Intense deep cool purple with smokey metallic undertones and golden highlights with pink sparkles.

Review
Lined lower: 01 Milani crystal eye limited edition -- this is sparkly with gold flecks on your lid without much color even if it looks as if there were, but on my lid without any other product the glitter felt scratchy -- I like it better as liner, used more thickly so the color shows. The glitter in the package looks sparked with blue and green. I expected silver sparks from looking at it in the store. I'm not unhappy I bought it, but I think the ads are photoshopped to show more spark. I will use it for liner. I used it over the top of shadow yesterday (another way they recommend it) and it deepened the shadow a bit, but didn't give much spark.

Edited: I returned the one I bought. It looked purple in the container but had basically no color, and while it says it is buildable, it would have to be too thick to show. Plus the glitter is sharp, at least on my eye. After it had been on a while I didn't feel it, but at first I did. I much prefer the rocks! collection from Aromaleigh. The second time I used it to line with, the line was too thick.

Lashes: Top lashes from Witches Charm Enchantress set (black with silver glitter tips) -- These are so pretty and elegant! This is the first time I've worn them. The bottom lashes are similar to the ones with the red tinsel lashes. I trimmed almost 3/8" from the width at the outer end of the lashes.

Blush and highlighter: Arbonne

Lips:
MAC Flashmode + Money Honey, one on each lip, smooshed

I hope you are having a great day! (All products were purchased by me; they were not given to me to review.)

Karin
www.savvythinker.com

Originally posted 2009-12-03 12:01:46.

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FOTD Lancome mostly

Karin — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 11:01:40 +0000

Today I thought I'd use some of the colors that came in the Lancome GWP at Belks. I chose the cool color gift.

Cheeks: MAC Dollymix
Highlight the center of the face: Mary Kay blend of Pink Sparkle and Porcelain Pink (love this!)
Lips: Lancome Rock Icon Fuchsia with Electric Pink La Laque Fever lipgloss
Liner: MAC graphblack on bottom water line; MAC earthline brown just outside it
Mascara: Black Spinlash (see other post about this mascara)

Using the shadows in the gwp:
Crease: Volcano shimmer
Outer corners: Makeover Metallic (lovely shade of pink)
Dry lining top: The New Black Metallic

Later today I might try the gwp lipsticks and add them to this post -- or I will show them in the next few days. Lancome GWPs always include full size lippies. I try never to buy without a gwp. If it isn't something I can use, I enjoy passing them on.

Karin

Rose Defile, one of the free gwp lippies:

Originally posted 2009-03-04 09:52:08.

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FOTD Meow Lancome Eyes Too Faced gloss

Karin — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 22:19:05 +0000

I wanted to do a Take 2 yesterday with darker greys, but everything still looked so good, it didn't need refreshing. I'm not tired of the look yet, so today I re-did it using deeper greys.

Eyes:
Base: Dior light pink cream in wand; then my sparkly mix
Lid: Cat got your tongue? Meow IdealEyes Purrl -- light pink
Outer corners: Lancome Platinum Couture (darker grey in set)
Crease: Vincent Longo Concerto, glittery black-grey wet-dry – love these colors
Brows: La Prairie pencil

Lined upper: Clinique Granite 10 Quick Eyes pencil (med grey)
Then used the powder with it to go over the line.
Lined lower: MAC graphblack in waterline, then earthline outside it -- This time it didn’t look too strong, not like yesterday.
Lined just outside the lower Sephora Flashy Mauve waterproof pencil
Mascara top: Guerlain Maxi-Lash Black
Mascara lower: Stiletto I wanted a spiky look – love this and might start using it everyday.

Primer: I forgot! And it really does make a difference
Foundation: Revlon Vital Radiance Color 10 discontinued, can find on Internet
Concealer: Mary Kay Highlighting Pen Color 2
Color under my sparkly powder mix: Mary Kay cream rouge
Blush over the powder: Meow Lush Blush Hugs and Kitties -- I really like this!

Using Beau Nelson of Beauté's technique highlighting my lips
Too Faced Mermaid for lips, rimmed with Pink Bling
You can read about this technique here.

Don't you just love the lips with this technique!
I hope you try it!

How do you like this look?

Have a great day!

Karin

Originally posted 2009-03-26 08:58:17.

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