Product: MAC Green Gel Cleanser
Use: Facial cleanser
Price: $19.00 for 5 oz
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B – Update as of 3/1/07 – I’m changing this rating to a C because I accidentally got some cleanser in my eyes and it hurt like hell! Not ideal for sensitive eyes.

This morning I tried one of the samples I received from the Barbie Loves MAC seminar last week – MAC’s Green Gel Cleanser.

The website describes it as a foaming, soap-free, hydrating cleanser with extracts of cucumber and algae.

This cleanser smells good – light and fresh, like cut grass in the summer. The texture is nice too, thin without being too sticky.

I did feel like I had to use a lot of it to get a foamy consistency. And after I dried my face, my skin felt a little tight, but that could be also due to the fact that it’s been very cold and windy so my skin is drier than usual. I think my oily skin would like this cleanser during the warmer summer months though.

Green Gel Cleanser reminds me of Dermalogica’s Special Cleansing Gel, so if you are a fan of that cleanser, you might like this too.

One tip I learned from attending a recent Barbie Loves MAC seminar:

When choosing a concealer, pick one with pink tones, even if your skin is yellow or neutral toned. The MAC instructor at the seminar informed my class that 99% of the population should wear a NW color for their undereye concealer. She said that even if you normally wear NC foundation, you should choose a NW concealer because layering yellow-toned concealers over dark circles can create a grayish color.

MAC’s system of labeling is different than most makeup lines. They base their system on the color wheel, so what you may normally think of as cool tones (pinks) and warm tones (yellows) are labeled differently in their foundation, concealer and powder lines.

MAC foundations, concealers and powders with the label “NC” stand for “neutral cool” and are for girls — or boys — with yellow undertones in their skin. Products labeled “NW” are “neutral warm” for those with pink tones.

I have some serious dark circles so I never leave the house without concealer on. I like to rotate between several brands including MAC’s Select Cover-Up concealer. It’s a liquid concealer that comes in a nice tube. Because I have oily skin, I don’t like cream or stick concealers – they feel heavy and tend to just slide off. I mix Select Cover-Up with MAC’s Fast Response Eye Cream before applying it underneath and in the inner corners of my eyes with the 217 Blending Brush. This Friday (my day off, woo hoo!) I’m going to stop by the counter and pick up a NW concealer color. I’ll report afterwards if it makes my dreaded undereye circles less grey.

On Saturday I went to a MAC seminar held at the Corte Madera Nordstrom. It was really fun and I learned a lot.

I found out about it earlier in the week from one of the MAC makeup artists. You reserve your spot by paying $50 beforehand, and at the end of the class you can use that $50 toward MAC makeup purchases. I already knew that I was going to spend about $50 on a few goodies from the new Barbie Loves MAC collection (see yesterday’s post for pictures of my loot!) so I figured I might as well take the class and learn something new.

There were 45 women at the seminar, all different colors and ages. We all met at the MAC counter at 3:00 and then were whisked off into the inner belly of Nordstrom. Each person got a goody bag filled with samples of Studio Moisture Fix SPF 15 and Green Gel Cleanser, Barbie Loves MAC postcards, a mini technique book and a blank face chart to take notes. The instructor, a bubbly blonde who cracked a lot of funny jokes, looked exactly like Scarlett Johansson. At the beginning of class she picked three ladies from the audience to be her models. She asked us what three topics we wanted to cover. She used the first model to demonstrate the new Mineralize Skinfinish Foundation and Powders, the second to create an “open” eye with the Barbie Loves MAC collection, and the third to create a simple smoky eye.

I like how the instructor used an interactive class format to teach the class. She let us ask a lot of questions while she did the demonstrations – I must’ve asked “What brush are you using?’ about four times and she always answered patiently. There seemed to be a lot of makeup newbies in the class as well, and one girl in particular kept asking questions that didn’t make sense, and the instructor was very good about clarifying the question so that she could give her a good answer.

But after the instructor completed the first demo using the Mineralize Skinfinish Foundation, it started to get a little hard to focus on what she was teaching. During the second tutorial on how to create an open eye, she would point out what product she was using and then two MAC makeup artists started to walk around the room with the products. If you wanted the product you’d raise your hand, and then they’d give you one to put in your goody bag for purchase at the end of the class.

I have a one-track mind so this was very distracting, because the makeup artists would sometimes walk in front of the teacher or block my view so I couldn’t always focus on what the instructor was saying. I’m also a terrible impulse buyer. I can see why a situation like this could end up being a hot financial mess of makeup overspending if I was in the mood for it. I actually did buy lipstick and Lipglass on impulse, but in an amazing and rare feat of self-restraint, I managed to pass on the Fit+, Strobe Cream, Mineralize Skinfinish Foundation and Whistle eye shadow.

I do like that the class was essentially free because I had planned on buying at least $50 worth of Barbie Loves MAC products. But while I did learn a few new tricks and some creative ways to use the newest MAC products, the seminars can end up burning a hole in your pocketbook if you are an impulse buyer. If I go again, I’m going to in with a list of specific products to purchase, no credit cards, and a set amount of cash so I won’t be tempted to overspend.

If you are interested in MAC seminars you should ask the makeup artists at your local counter. Try it, but keep in mind you might be tempted to overspend because the instructors will show you lots of cool ways to use the products!

Here are a few pictures of the Barbie Loves MAC loot I picked up this weekend.

From left to right:
Fab Blush (Frost)
Pearl Sunshine Beauty Powder
Pearl Blossom Beauty Powder
Fashion Pack Lipglass
Style It Up Lipstick (Frost)

Within the last two years I’ve developed a serious blush addiction, so I wanted to get the pink blush, Don’t Be Shy, but they ran out. I recently got Dollymix and I’ve been using that as my go-to pink blush for the past two months so I wasn’t too disappointed.

Fab looks a bit dark in person, but I’ve found that it’s kind of sheer on my skin so it takes a while for the color to build and I have to add a few layers. The MAC website describes Fab as a “mid-tone plum with gold pearl,” but on me it looks like a reddish brown with gold flecks. I use a 129 Blush Brush with it and gently bounce the brush on the apples of my cheeks to get a soft brown cheek.

Both Beauty Powders are to die for – I’m seriously thinking about purchasing backups. I’ve been looking for a highlighter without disco-ball glitter and the Beauty Powders deliver a subtle, tasteful shimmer. You can use Pearl Sunshine as an all-over highlighter and as a brow highlighter. Pearl Blossom is also a great highlighter and can also be used to brighten up your inner eye. Use a small, fluffy eye brush like MAC’s 217 blending brush and tap the powder gently over your concealer to instantly get a bright-eyed look.

I purchased Style It Up Lipglass and Fashion Pack Lipstick because I’m currently on the hunt for my holy grail neutral lip. I was first a little scared by the “Frost” in Style it Up but when applied found that the frost is very subtle, not scary like the Wet & Wild frost lipsticks from the 80s. I line my lips first with Subculture lipliner, and use the 316 Lip Brush to first add Style it Up. I then blot and then dab Fashion Pack on with the same brush. Love it!

I tried to order the Barbie Loves MAC T-shirt online but it’s on backorder for the next two weeks, boo hoo! The makeup artists at the MAC counter were wearing them this weekend and the shirts are really cute in person. If I do end up getting it I’ll take a pic and post it.