Yikes! Only time will tell if we MAC it through all of these concurrent releases today, ladies. It’s as if MAC’s trying to give us makeup conniptions!

Say howdy to the new Dazzleglass Creme glosses ($18) and Zoom Fast Black Lash Mascara ($13). They join Style Black on counters today.

Remember those sheer, non-sticky Cremesheen Glass glosses from earlier this year? Well, these Dazzleglass Cremes kinda look like shimmery versions.

I see some nice colors here, but I really haven’t been able to concentrate on ‘em yet because of that blasted Zoom Fast Black Lash. It just looks so awesome! The newest member of MAC’s mascara family, MAC says it delivers incredibly dark, midnight black lashes. With hella high hopes, I grabbed a tube to test. I’ll let you know how it turns out!

From left to right: Perfectly Unordinary, My Favourite Pink, Do It Up and Creme Allure

Soft Dazzle, Luscious Spark and Amorous

Sublime Shine and Totally Fab

Perfectly Unordinary, My Favourite Pink, Do It Up and Creme Allure

Soft Dazzle, Luscious Spark and Amorous

Continue Reading…

The scene is hawt! We’re backstage at Fashion Week, a post-runway mixer with models, makeup artists and designers, sipping sparkling wine and talking MAC.

“Action!”

The camera cuts to MAC’s latest launch as it arrives on counters today, the drama-for-your-mama Style Black.

The edgy 18-piece collection for lips, nails and eyes features dark, shimmery purple, gold and, of course, black. For my Joy Division-lovin’ goth chicks — homies, this is YOUR release!

More into neutrals instead? No worries. MAC even remembered to include a few items appropriate for everyday wear.

More wearable than I expected

Style Black knocked me back at first, intimidating me a little, but upon closer inspection I found some pretty wearable goodies as well.

Rocking a full Style Black makeup ensemble at once might make for a fun night out (Halloween, perhaps?), but I can see myself more often sticking to just one or two of the edgier elements at a time.

Tabs does Style Black

For instance, I might try a bold eye with the Greasepaint Stick in Black (lovin’ the blue and purple shimmer!) layered beneath one of the Mineralize Eyeshadows on the lid but toned down with a nude lip.

Or, maybe a dark lip with Night Violet Mattene lipstick and a softly lined eye (smudged along the lash lines) using something like the Smolder Eye Kohl.

What stands out?

I like several things from Style Black but love the Greasepaint Stick in Black, the Mineralize Eyeshadows in Gilt by Association and Young Punk, the Cream Colour Base in Black (*can’t wait* to layer it beneath a shadow for smokey eyes) and Night Violet Mattene. Of everything, these four also struck me as the most user-friendly.

Oh! And skin care junkies, consider the Volanic Ash Exfoliator, a gently moisturizing exfoliator I first fell in love with last year (glad to see it here, too!).

What do you think so far? What moves (or doesn’t move) you?

From left to right: Cream Colour Base in Black and Bat Black

Mineralize Eyeshadows in Blue Flame, Cinder Fella, Gilt by Association and Young Punk

Continue Reading…

It’s raining MAC, hallelujah! Are you ready to get your MAC attack on? — because the collections are falling faster than you can say, “Put it on my charge card, please.”

There’s Style Black, which launches on Thursday, along with four more releases either out now or available soon after that.

• Trend F/W ‘09 — A collection for lips and eyes (there’s a scent, too!), featuring colors inspired by an urban landscape.
• DSquared — With products for cheeks, lips and eyes, DSquared is all about sooty eyes, sculpted skin and soft, kissable lips.
• Dazzleglass Cremes — Shimmery versions of MAC’s incredible Dazzleglass glosses.
• Zoom Fast Black Lash — The latest member of the MAC mascara family should deliver hella dark, dramatic lashes.

Are you ready for another installment of What Would You Get?

Your makeup mission (aka your virtual haul), should you choose to accept it: If you could get any one of the following three options in its entirety (and entirely free!), which one would it be? Peruse the pics and deets, and share your answer in the poll at the bottom.

I’m going with DSquared… LOVE those Greasepaint Sticks, and that brush belongs in my grubby little paws!

Continue Reading…

Do you remember the look I tried last week that featured red lips and teal/brown eyes?

I felt like doing it again today, but this time I snapped a few extra pictures for a quickie tutorial.

After the post last week, reader Jenna left a great tip in the comments that I also wanted to try… She suggested adding some black eyeliner to ramp up the drama, and here’s how it turned out:

Better, right? Thanks for the tip, Jenna!

If you’d like to give the look a try…

What you’ll need

1. An eyeshadow primer like Too Faced Shadow Insurance ($17)
2. A creamy pearl eyeshadow like MAC Cream Colour Base in Pearl ($17)
3. A dark brown pencil eyeliner like MAC Eye Pencil in Coffee ($13)
4. A dark brown eyeshadow like MAC Brun ($15)
5. A warm matte brown eyeshadow like MAC Eyeshadow in Brown Script ($15) or Soft Brown ($15)
6. A matte peach eyeshadow like MAC Eyeshadow in Arena ($15) or Bamboo ($15)
7. A shimmery teal eyeshadow like MAC Eyeshadow in Aquadisiac ($15) or Steamy ($15)
8. A matte black liquid eyeliner like LORAC Front of the Line Pro ($22)
9. A shimmery golden brown eyeshadow like MAC Soba ($15)
10. A black mascara like MAC Mascara X in Black ($13)
11. A matte red lipstick like MAC Lipstick in Chili ($14) or Russian Red ($14)

NOTE: I ended up using MAC Eyeshadow in Waternymph instead of the teal eyeshadows and MAC Mattene in Classic Dame instead of matte red lipsticks listed above. Both are limited edition and tricky to track down, but they’re similar to the colors mentioned.

Swatches from left to right: Too Faced Shadow Insurance, MAC Cream Colour Base in Pearl, MAC Eye Pencil in Coffee, MAC Eyeshadow in Brun, MAC Eyeshadow in Brownscript

From left to right: MAC Eyeshadow in Arena, MAC Eyeshadow in Waternymph, LORAC Front of the Line Pro Liner, MAC Eyeshadow in Soba

Continue Reading…

The giveaway is now closed to new entries, and the winners are being contacted. Good luck!

MACaholics, have you peeped the new MAC In High Def collection? It landed on counters today.

Several standout repromoted items grace the release (the Mineralize Skinfinish Naturals, the Face and Body Foundations, and the 188 and 187 brushes), along with four new lipstick colors.

Today’s giveaway features a couple items from the new collection.

And because I’m in an extra good mood (tomorrow’s Friday!), I’m also throwing in some vintage MAC tidbits for the cheeks, lips and nails from the Dame Edna and Grand Duos collections.

Ready, set, MAC ATTACK!

The prize

One lucky lady will take home $104 in face, nail and lip goodies from MAC Cosmetics:

• Face and Body Foundation in N2 from the MAC in High Def collection ($32)
• Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Deep Dark from the MAC in High Def collection ($25)
• Mineralize Blush in Love Rock from the Grand Duos collection ($22)
• Nail Lacquer in Asiatique from the Dame Edna collection ($11)
• Lipglass in Hot Frost from the Dame Edna collection ($14)

MAC Face and Body Foundation in N2

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Deep Dark

MAC Mineralize Blush in Love Rock

MAC Dame Edna Lipglass in Hot Frost

MAC Nail Lacquer in Asiatique

How to enter…

Entering is easy. There are two different ways, and you can do both of them for two chances to win.

First, you can enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post — a comment describing one of your favorite MAC products.

Love, LOVE Nymphette Lipglass! I can’t live without it.

Second, enter by following me on Twitter and retweeting (RT) the following message:

RT @karenmbb: RT to Win $104 in MAC Cosmetics http://bit.ly/3cL7aB

Recap…

1. Enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post, and don’t forget to use a valid email address so I can reach you if you win.
2. Follow me on Twitter and retweet the following message:
   
   RT @karenmbb: RT to Win $104 in MAC Cosmetics http://bit.ly/3cL7aB

I’ll pick the winner at random from among the people who enter by 11:59 p.m. PST on Saturday, September 12.

Mabuhay!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Don’t forget to enter to win $75 in Pantene and Olay!

The giveaway is now closed to new entries, and the winners are being contacted. Good luck!