It has been gloomy, wet and gray here all day today, both outside my house and inside my head.
CRANKY! — with a capital B for BRAT. That’s what I’ve been today.
Not even swatching all 12 of the new MAC Patentpolish Lip Pencils could cheer me up, which is like…unfathomable.
I mean, hello! — they have names like “Pleasant,” “Fearless” and “Revved Up,” and just look at how bright and shiny they are. Oh, yeah, and supremely moisturizing.
I just felt cooped up, tense and scatterbrained this afternoon. At one point I turned on Milli Vanilli’s Blame It on the Rain and listened to that for a while…
Didn’t help, so I just sat in my chair and pouted. 🙁
And then, finally, there was a break in the storm we’re having (which, incidentally, laid waste to my deck garden), and I saw sunshine outside. Sweet blue skies and sunshine, rejoice!
I pulled on my Zella hoodie, a pair of tennies and told Tabs, “BRB.” Then I went for a walk.
Just walked around my circle, down the big hill, then up the street and back. I looked for cats but didn’t see any. I also made myself look at random things — everything — really closely, like at the glistening wet asphalt and the rain drops hanging from the pine needles overhead and the lavender bushes along the side of the road and how they all lean the same direction together like choreographed dancers.
And then I felt better.
Better about everything.
Isn’t that weird? I spent hours today unsuccessfully trying to will myself to feel better (it’s nothing, really, just one of those days), and Mother Nature did it in 10 minutes.
That’s some powerful stuff right there. 🙂
In other news…here are swatches of the 12 new MAC Patentpolishes on my NC42 kisser (they’re $20 each US, $24 CDN).
I reviewed them last week but didn’t swatch all of the colors, so here goes. Maybe if you’re trying to decide among them, the swatches will help.
The MAC Patentpolishes are available online now at maccosmetics.com and coming April 3 to North American MAC counters (internationally this May).
I hope your Monday was more even-keeled than mine.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Musical says
Starting from Teen Dream up to Kittenish-loving those! I was feeling a bit low y’day as well. Went out for a walk-the breeze, the sun and the flowers instantly lifted my mood!
Sylirael says
Hehe – Snap! I’m exactly the same in terms of the colours that I like in this range!
The weather’s been pretty good here(NZ) too, actually. We’re enjoying a bit of late summer sunshine, although the leaves are falling and the wind is getting a bite…
Martha Nelson says
@Sylorael: I live in Canada (Ontario) and we still have snow, yes! still snowing, the weather is improving little by little, and normally I don’t complaint about the weather (because there is nothing that we can do about it) but I kind of a dream about nice warm nights just like in NZ 😀
Lauren says
I had a bad day too, mostly because of work. (Ahh the joys of customer service…) I just cooked myself some fettuccinne alfredo with brocolli and that’s helped me feel a lot better.
On a lighter note, Pleasant and Spontaneous looks gorgeous :)!!!!
jacque says
I’m glad you’re feeling better, Karen. I’m also in the SF Bay and it was totally gloomy which didn’t help the fact that I already had a “case of the Mondays” (sorry I just watched the movie Office Space!). These look like they may be similar to my beloved Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Sticks. Do you know if they are?
Agata says
My day sucked too. I really like the Go for Girlie shade.
Katie says
You know what always cheers me up on a gloomy day? Reading your blog.
Deanna says
I hear ya, Karen. I was having one of those days, too. Mondays are always stressful, because my pre-calc teacher insists on giving quizzes on Mondays–quizzes that she only gives us 5 minutes to do–and Flo was visiting (sorry if that’s TMI). Anyhow, I was pretty sure that I didn’t do too well on the quiz (I mean, I didn’t even finish it) so I was feeling glum.
But then I came home and went for a long walk in the sunshine with my 2 loving dogs and my loving husband, and I felt SO MUCH better.
Rhea says
Sorry to hear about your day Karen! :/ but lovely job as always with swatches and such;) I was wondering Karen if you could recommend me some good foundations? I have typically oily skin and I’m finally ready to invest in a high end foundation especially now that I have a 30$ sephora gift card, less is coming out of my pocket for it:) Thanks 🙂
Sam says
Thank you so much for posting these, I’ve been looking for swatches for days! I personally love kittenish and patentpink & my favorite shade on you is kittenish 🙂
I love your blog and I can always find everything I’m ever looking for here!
Ritu TheIndianBeautyBlog says
whoa, these look fab! I’ll pick up Kittenish when these launch here!
Ankita@corallista says
I really like Teen Dream and Pleasant! But I already have so many of lip crayons of this kind that I dont think I need any more 😐 The lip swatches look great btw!
MakeupbyHilary says
I saw these on the MAC site but wasn’t sure which colour to purchase. Thanks so much for your swatches they’ve been very helpful!
Diana Maria says
Sigh. I scroll through your blog posts while visualizing a mini-movie from of your writing, “We could be best friends. We have the same oddball sense of humor.”
Anywho! These shades are utterly divine. MAC’s just chugging out all the sheers (I probably don’t even have to ask if you saw the Fantasy of Flowers shindig) this season. My faves are Fearless and and Patent Pink – despite being N20, I just look brighter and more well-rested in cool tones. You feel me???
Also, you look best in Berry Bold, Teen Dream, Pleasant, and Hopelessly devoted! Your N42 skin really gets a punch of vibrancy with those shades on and they’re more forthcoming of your personality, because you’re colorful
/boom boom tss
Eesha says
Oh yeah, one of those days when you just feel lost in the world and nothing seems to work your way! Mother Nature is indeed powerful and we often take the liberty to ignore this fact.
Anyways, great swatches and I really like Kittenish and Fearless.
Eesha says
Love these! They look really moisturising. Fearless is now on my wishlist! Thanks for the swatches, great post 🙂
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Kim says
It’s not just you. It’s the weather. Honest. We are still getting snow and it’s well below freezing. People are losing their minds. I know that doesn’t help your situation, but at least you know you’re far from alone!
These have a really interesting finish that I wasn’t expecting (haven’t had a chance to read your whole review yet). I grabbed a Burt’s Bees gloss recently and I hate it. That’s probably too harsh but I strongly dislike it. It goes on streaky and it’s only downhill from there. 🙁
Danielle says
Some of the shades are nice, but I think MAC is a bit late on the balm crayon trend. I already have loads of these haha.
Kat says
I never buy lipsticks like this because I feel like they’ll be really hard to apply right. It’s like applying eyeliner that needs to be sharpened, and a brush defeats the purpose.
Am I way off here?
Poo@beautyandmakeupmatters says
Teen dream is a pretty shade..but ur pout made it even more sexier.. <3 <3
Erin says
They look so good on you! Especially the Berry Bold!
Alyssa says
Wow I’m loving these colors (is it just me or does every color look amazing?!) MAC never fails to deliver when it comes to lips! I’ll definitely be getting Spontaneous and Revved Up next time I’m in the store. Crossing my fingers that these look as good on me as they do on you. Thanks for the post!
Tracy says
Gloomy days can be tough but sometimes a nice walk is all you need. I had every intention on going to MAC and only picking up Speak Louder and Partial to Pink. Instead I walked away with Go For Girlie…and Springsheen blush, Cork eyeshadow and Stud brow crayon. Oh well.