What Are Your MAC Musts Haves? Friends & Family Sale Starts Today

Fellow MACaholics, is your wish list ready for MAC’s latest Friends & Family sale?

Good online only, the promotion runs today through June 18. Use coupon code SUMO (or try SAVE25 if SUMO doesn’t work), et, voila — 25% off purchases made on maccosmetics.com (valid in the US and Canada).

If you’re not able to take advantage of the sale this time around, no worries; MAC holds these sales a few times/year.

Not sure what to get with your discount? Well, it’s the trying to decide that’s my favorite part.

Here are some ideas among products that are currently available…

My MAC Must Haves!

• MAC Russian Red Lipstick ($14; $10.50 after discount): “When I finally got my hands on MAC’s Russian Red lipstick, I had a minor Madonna fan freak-out moment. Madge rocked the Russian Red in her late-80s Blonde Ambition era. Remember the Express Yourself and Vogue videos? I taped them on MTV and replayed the sh*t out of both until my mom yelled at me to ‘turn it off!’ Parents just don’t understand.”
• MAC Wipes Take it All Off ($24.50; $18 after discount): “These wipes work great. As usual, MAC’s got game. A single MAC Wipe removes all of my makeup, even waterproof mascara, and smells fresh and clean (like flowers and soap). The wipes don’t leave a sticky film on my skin, either, like Pond’s Clean Sweep wipes do.”
• Cork, Soba, Brun and Concrete aka a Few Great Non-Orangey Brown Eyeshadows ($14.50 each; $11 after discount): “I can’t live without my MAC browns, so I raided my stash and found a couple non-orangey options.”
• MAC Fix+ Rose ($17; $12.85 after discount ): “MAC took spring and rose waters and infused them with minerals, and the resulting face spray feels about as refreshing on my skin as anything I could imagine.”
• MAC Blot Film ($12.50; $9.30 after discount): “It cuts down on the shine and leaves skin looking super matte without leaving a powdery residue.”
• MAC Prep+Prime Transparent Finishing Powder ($21; $15.75 after discount): “Prep+Prime Finishing Powder looks natural when I dust it on my face with a powder brush. The finely milled powder melts right into the foundation. It never looks caked on or heavy and doesn’t leave one of those white, ashy casts.”
• Two of my favorite MAC Greens — Humid Eyeshadow ($14.50; $11 after discount) and Golden Olive Pigment ($19.50; $14.60 after discount): “When I wear green eyeshadow, I usually try to work it into some sort of smokey variation, but for St. Patrick’s Day today I thought I’d try something with a little shimmer.”
• MAC Amber Lights Eyeshadow ($14.50; $11 after discount): “Have you met MAC Amber lights? She’s a shimmery peach and bronze eyeshadow from MAC’s permanent collection.”
• A few Mighty MAC Crease Brushes: “The 217 Blending Brush ($22.50; $17 after discount), the 219 Pencil Brush ($22.50, $17 after discount), and the 224 Tapered Blending Brush ($22.50; $17 after discount)>.”
• MAC Club and Woodwinked Eye Shadows ($14.50 each; $11 after discount): “I could write sonnets on both of these colors, as they’ve seen me through a lot over the past few years. Club, a shimmery duochorome, flashes from green to brown, and Woodwinked is a warm, shimmery gold. Today I paired ‘em for this easy, breezy, work-friendly daytime eye.”
• Get Eyes That Pop with MAC Cream Color Base in Pearl ($16.50; $12.40 after discount): “MAC’s Cream Color Base in Pearl ($16.50) makes colors really pop, taking eyeshadow to a brighter, bolder, and more diva-superstar level. With Cream Color Base, your eyeshadow is like an A-list celeb; without it, it’s like Jen Bunney from The Hills.”

What are your MAC must-have products, and are you stocking up for the Friends & Family sale?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Still need help making a decision? This article suggests maybe some brushes.

Related Reading...

• Shu Uemura Friends and Family Sale Starts Thursday
• Brainstormers Unite! Maximizing the Sephora Friends and Family Sale
• Nordstrom Half Yearly Sale for Women & Children Starts Tomorrow, June 6
• Three MAC Must-Haves for the Club – Makeup and Beauty Blog’s Guide to Smart Clubbing, Part 5
• Sephora Big Beauty Sale, Save Up to 75%

So far, 62 people have commented on this post. How cool is that?

1. 1. Jamie said, on June 16th, 2009:

   sooo excited for my stuff to come in the mail!

   i ordered:

   109 brush
   129 brush
   134 brush
   zebra makeup bag
   pearl cream colour base
   chrome yellow eyeshadow pan
   retrospeck eyeshadow pan
   melon pigment

2. 2. Arianne said, on June 16th, 2009:

   I already did my beauty spree: Fix+ Rose, Wipes in bulk, Mineralize Skinfinish/Natural, and Liquidlast Liner in Electrolady.

   I’m super excited! It’s the first time I’m getting something from a F&F sale, and it’s quite fun.

   BTW I got the 217 because you rave about it so much. I think it might be my dream brush! Thank you!
   Arianne’s last blog post… The Poor Girl’s Vanity Table.

3. 3. sdpfeiffy said, on June 16th, 2009:

   Still trying to convince myself that I need to order. I’ve been on a self-imposed no-buy for about 6 months now and it’s turned into an addiction of its own. Also, I’m headed to the Mall of America tomorrow, so I think I’ll stop and play at the Mac store and get something small, then place an online order if I still feel the need.

   I would like to get some brushes–263 and a spare brow brush (can’t remember the number.) I’m also in the market for a neutral matte blush, so I’ll be on the lookout for that.

4. 4. Vampy Varnish said, on June 16th, 2009:

   Ok here’s what I got!

   Blush in Coygirl
   217 & 219 brushes
   Eye shadow Pro Palette in Print, Scene, Electra & Contract
   Eye shadow in Top Knot
   Fast Response Eye Cream
   Pro Palette case for 4 shadows
   Pro Palette case for 6 blushes
   Yay!
   Vampy Varnish’s last blog post… Sally Hansen HD Hi-Definition Nail Polish – Part I

5. 5. ines said, on June 16th, 2009:

   hey karen!

   i hope you’re having a good week so far.

   my must haves:
   russian red
   dubonnet
   delish
   morange
   delish lipsticks

   select cover up NC15 and NW20 (one for regular cover up, the other for purplish shadows)

   creme de violette
   swimming
   electric eel eye shadows

   lip conditioner stick spf 15
   tinted lip conditioner fuchsia fix spf 15

   honey skin salve

6. 6. Tiffany said, on June 16th, 2009:

   I got a random assortment of stuff!

   Honey light high-light powder, soft & gentle mineralize skinfinish, era eyeshadow pan, laid back blush creme, and secret crush see thru lip stain. I wish I would have remembered to pick up some empty eyeshadow palettes as well

7. 7. Nicole15 said, on June 16th, 2009:

   Since the F&F code started working yesterday, I placed my order already. I was thrilled to get:

   - 129 brush
   - 109 brush
   - 217 brush
   - 239 brush
   - 222 brush
   - 4 eyeshadow refill pans
   - a 15 pan palette
   - 2 lipglasses
   - 2 pigments

   Can’t wait for the mail to arrive

8. 8. Marina said, on June 16th, 2009:

   hi, Karen and other girls.
   could you please tell me if MAC does such things for Europe?
   thank you.
   Marina’s last blog post… Orly Matte Couture Collection. Fall 2009

9. 9. Zara said, on June 16th, 2009:

   mmmph…. trying to save my money since my job (teaching assistant) is on hiatus for the summer. Boo!

   But I do LOVE mac fluidline in blacktrack– daunting at first, but now I feel like a pro lining my eyes.

10. 10. Tracy said, on June 16th, 2009:

    Brow liner in lingering (not blessed with natural brow color as I am stawberry blonde),there is no better brow liner! Kudos to the self shapening pencil. I shall be stocking up more than usual, NO MAC counter within two hour radius of me!!!! Bummer.

11. 11. Madeleine said, on June 16th, 2009:

    I placed my order @9 in the morning.Since I already owe Soba,Woodwinked,Amber lights and the rest of so called Karen faves this time I ordered following refills (pan):
    - Gorgeus Gold
    - Antiqued
    - Mylar
    - Vapour
    - Bronze

    also 3 lipsticks,that I wanted for some time:
    - A Rose Romance
    - Cream in your Coffee
    - Hot Gossip

    and a blush (also refill) in Well Dressed.

    Plus one more thing:pro palette/4x eye refill (so I can carry in my purse with 4 chosen e/s if I need).

    No S/H charge plus 25% off.I think I scored pretty good

12. 12. tatiana said, on June 16th, 2009:

    I wish I would’ve seen your list yesterday, I used the code early. I finally got that pencil brush though!

13. 13. Paint Me Gorgeous said, on June 16th, 2009:

    I got such a jumble of things:

    Fix+
    Blot Powder
    P&P Finishing Powder
    Melba blush
    109 brush
    eyeshadow in espresso

    total damage? just under $100! With NY tax! woot!
    Paint Me Gorgeous’s last blog post… Mini Hauling!

14. 14. Paint Me Gorgeous said, on June 16th, 2009:

    I got such a jumble of things

    109 brush
    Blot powder in medium dark
    eyeshadow in espresso
    Fix+ (regular)
    P&P Finishing Powder
    powder blush in melba

    Just under $100 with NY tax and free shipping! wowza!
    Paint Me Gorgeous’s last blog post… Mini Hauling!

15. 15. Alexis said, on June 16th, 2009:

    I placed a fun order this morning… I can’t wait to get everything!

    Buckwheat e/s
    Sable and satin taupe pro pan e/s’s
    honey light highlight powder
    2 – 15 pan e/s palettes

    I really wanted to get more, but I just placed a Coastal Scents order, so I’ll have to wait for the next sale .

16. 16. smiley said, on June 16th, 2009:

    I was surprised that they only charged 8.25% tax even in California because it’s supposed to be 9.25% haha random. Anyways I ordered Creme Cup Lipstick, Goldmine eyeshadow, a blush and an eyeshadow palette, Sunbasque blush, and Cubic blush yesterday. Dollymix was already sold out! All this for under 80 woohoo.
    smiley’s last blog post… A Little FOTD

17. 17. Brittany said, on June 16th, 2009:

    after 3 orders i ended up with:

    109 brush
    224 brush
    194 brush

    queen bee lipglass
    buzz lipglass
    crème d’nude lipstick

    a 4 and a 15 pan palette

    studio finish concealer

    carbon
    satin taupe
    club
    all that glitters
    steamy
    trax
    stars n rockets
    sumptuous olive
    amber lights
    vex
    humid
    deep truth
    tilt
    beautiful iris

    we don’t have a mac store here so a lot of the eyeshadows are chosen based on your reviews! =)

18. 18. Karen said, on June 16th, 2009:

    Hi Jamie,

    What a great haul. You will *love* Melon pigment. It’s soo pretty and goes with everything.

19. 19. Karen said, on June 16th, 2009:

    Hi Arianne,

    I am so glad you like it. I am thinking of getting a second one for the F&F sale! How have you used it? As a crease blush, blending brush or as a concealer brush?

20. 20. Karen said, on June 16th, 2009:

    Hi Spdfeiffy,

    Maybe the 266? It’s the angled brush a lot of people use to apply powders to the brow.

    As for neutral matte blush, what color are ya looking for specifically… maybe I can recommend something for you.

21. 21. Karen said, on June 16th, 2009:

    Hi Vampy Varnish,

    YAY for your haul!

    Oh, Fast Response eye cream works great beneath concealer. I hope you like the 217 and 219… I don’t use the 219 as much as the 217 but it does come in handy for smudging along the lash line and very detailed crease work.

22. 22. Karen said, on June 16th, 2009:

    Hi Ines,

    Dubonnet! I haven’t taken her for a spin in awhile… maybe I’ll just take out my tube and wear some around the house for today.

    BTW, which concealer do you use for purplish shadows? The NC or NW? How does it affect the color?

23. 23. Karen said, on June 16th, 2009:

    Hi Tiffany,

    Nice haul! Bummer that you forgot your palettes… maybe you can use the code again with another e-mail address?

24. 24. Karen said, on June 16th, 2009:

    Hi Nicole15,

    I’m getting a 239, too. I lost my short handled SE one (oops) and have felt lost without it.

    I hope you love the 217 as much as I do. It’s such a fantastic brush!

25. 25. Karen said, on June 16th, 2009:

    Hi Marina,

    Hmm, I’m not sure. As far as I know the only F&F sales I’ve seen have been for North America.

26. 26. Karen said, on June 16th, 2009:

    Hi Zara,

    Fluidline is a must. Have you used it beneath powder shadows for smokey eyes? It’s pretty awesome.

27. 27. Karen said, on June 16th, 2009:

    Hi Tracy,

    Oh no! I suppose in a way that’s a good thing… the two hour drive would def. deter my MAC habit.

    I haven’t tried their brow pencils. Are they easy to use?

28. 28. Karen said, on June 16th, 2009:

    Hi Madeleine,

    Woot! Super great haul, homie!

    I am gonna get Gorgeous Gold, too. Would you believe I don’t own that one? I know so many people love it, so I figure I might as well get on the train.

29. 29. Karen said, on June 16th, 2009:

    Hi Tatiana,

    YES! The 219, right? It makes smudging along the lash line a whole new world.

30. 30. Karen said, on June 16th, 2009:

    Hi Paint Me Gorgeous,

    Awesome! Have you tried the Prep+Prime powder before? It’s pretty great, huh?

31. 31. Karen said, on June 16th, 2009:

    Hi Smiley,

    I’m not surprised Dollymix sold out. It looks SO scary in the pan but is one of those surprisingly wearable colors.

    I hope you like Sunbasque… it’s one of my favorite MAC blushes, evah!

32. 32. Karen said, on June 16th, 2009:

    Hi Brittany,

    I hope you *love* Club, Vex, Amber Lights and Humid. You could do a ton of looks with those four alone.

    I’m kinda having fun vicariously living through everybody’s haul, LOL!

33. 33. Michele said, on June 16th, 2009:

    I love ” O ” lipstick I have one in ever drawer!
    Their pinkest blush. Name escapes me. When I go back to me room I will look.
    And their Black & grey quad. The best.
    I am am on the names:(

    Michele

34. 34. Aleia said, on June 16th, 2009:

    When do you use the finishing powder? is it after your regular powder or before?

    Thanks!

35. 35. Marina said, on June 16th, 2009:

    thank you, Karen for reply!
    just as I thought
    so there is no point for asking my friends from US to get me something because the price for shipping from US to Europe will be that 25 % off
    ((
    Marina’s last blog post… Jade Nail Collection by Chanel. Fall 2009

36. 36. Arianne said, on June 16th, 2009:

    Hey Karen, I’ve used the 217 for both concealer and on my crease. But I loooove it for defining the crease. It’s so soft and it works so well.
    Arianne’s last blog post… The Poor Girl’s Vanity Table.

37. 37. Karen said, on June 16th, 2009:

    Hi Arianne,

    I know, right? I would seriously flip out if I lost my brush… tears would be shed, for sho’!

    Oh, one more thing it’s good for — blending!

38. 38. Karen said, on June 16th, 2009:

    Hi Marina,

    Ah, well. I guess it goes both ways. You guys have a lot of cool stuff that we can’t get. It’s not easy being a makeup junkie sometimes, right?

39. 39. Karen said, on June 16th, 2009:

    Hi Aleia,

    Hmm, are you referring to the Prep+Prime powder? I use it in place of a regular powder to set foundation or to get rid of shine.

40. 40. Karen said, on June 16th, 2009:

    Hi Michele,

    I just picked up O this year. I LOVE IT! Hmm, maybe the blush you’re referring to is Dollymix. I love that one!

41. 41. Jenna said, on June 16th, 2009:

    I ordered:

    217 brush (based on your recommendations! yay!)
    Prep + Prime SPF50
    Cleanse Off Oil
    Mineralize Natural Powder (whatever it’s called) in Light Medium

    I hope I don’t regret not buying any lipglosses, lipsticks or eyeshadows!!!

42. 42. Gina said, on June 16th, 2009:

    Blankety lipstick-I can’t live w/o this
    Fix + -Great 4 hot summer days
    Blacktrack Fluidline
    All the e/s from Naked Honey collection
    tinted lipglass in she’s a star

    Hubby is going to freak out…good thing I forgot to go to the mall on Saturday!He should be very proud of me for not paying full price!!

43. 43. Ana said, on June 16th, 2009:

    I just started crying,in Germany we don’t have this sale.
    My favourite ist the Golden Bronze loose powder from the Style Warrior collection.It’s the only one that hits my skin tone.

44. 44. Karen said, on June 16th, 2009:

    Hi Ana,

    That’s such a bummer… who knows, maybe MAC will do it for Europe someday. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you!

45. 45. Karen said, on June 16th, 2009:

    Hi Gina,

    He totally should! You gotta emphasize the whole SALE part of it when he sees the loot, LOL!

46. 46. Karen said, on June 16th, 2009:

    Hi Jenna,

    Oh, I’ve heard good things about the Cleanse Off Oil. Let me know if you end up LOVING it!

47. 47. Nancy said, on June 16th, 2009:

    Hi Karen! I told myself that I would be on a makeup buying ban until the summer was over, but then I read about the MAC F&F sale on your blog and I couldn’t stop myself!! LOL. I added a bunch of things to my bag but ended up ordering Knight Divine, Phloof!, Sketch, and Shale pro palette refill pans, plum foolery blush, the 217 brush, and the pro palette eyeshadow x 4 pan. I’m really excited about the 217 blending brush!! I love reading beauty blogs but you guys are enablers!

48. 48. Stephie said, on June 16th, 2009:

    WOO! I placed my order last night: 219 brush, E/s in silvering, trax, twinks, texture, crystal avalanche, and humid. Im contemplating placing another order for a 168 and 188 blush Gotta LOVE the F&F sale <3 Did you pick up loads of things as well Karen?

49. 49. Aleia said, on June 16th, 2009:

    After much debate with my inner self, here are the goodies I got.

    Queen Bee (temp. out of stock!)
    Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder
    Turquatic (The aqua Perfume, I remember it smelled good in the store)

    Mineralize Skinfinish Medium Plus& Studio Sculpt Concealer NW35 (my essentials to keep @ my bf’s place)

    Honey Light
    Prussian
    Hepcat
    Humid
    Coppering

    Karen, so the finishing powder you use it in place of your powder? interesting. Have you ever tried both? I hope it works out for me, there are no exchanges in the store! damit.

50. 50. sdpfeiffy said, on June 16th, 2009:

    finally got back to fun internet stuff. LOL waiting for my nails to dry so I can go to bed before we hit the road tomorrow. I’ll be taking my laptop so I can check your suggestions before I hit the Mac store.

    I’m looking for something that’s not pink, not peachy, not too brown but golden tan. Something that looks like my skin but way better, to wear with smoky eyes or as a natural look. Prob matte or sheertone, and I’m C40 right now. Hope that’s enough description.

    PS I already have or have tried Mocha, Sweet as Cocoa (not quite right), Margin (too peachy and frosty for what I’m looking for), Sunbasque. Do you think Sincere, Trace Gold, Honour might show up? I do have BP Blush in Eversun, but it’s a tad too light now. Sweet Harmony BP is too orange.

    I know, I’m difficult.

51. 51. paula r said, on June 16th, 2009:

    POOR JEN BUNNEY AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA god you kill me.

    oh and i was totally at century theatre daly city and guess who i saw getting a latte, GUESS. …….

    YES GEORGE LUCAS. i was like no no no no…. YES it was him.

52. 52. Archelle said, on June 17th, 2009:

    I got:

    Girlie, Buckwheat, and Creme de Miel eyeshadows
    She’s a Star lipglass
    239 brush
    Naked Honey skin salve

    I’m on a low-buy so not too terribly much.

53. 53. Joanna said, on June 17th, 2009:

    I ordered some back-ups: blacktrack fluidline, engraved powerpoint pencil, shroom e/s pan, 187 brush. I use these items practically everyday
    Also ordered cork e/s pan, copperplate e/s pan and the 266 brush.
    Really wanted to order more, especially blushes, but I’m gonna wait for Color Craft

54. 54. Tiffany said, on June 17th, 2009:

    Hi Karen! Yeah, I thought about ordering again, but I don’t wanna pay for shipping

55. 55. Jane said, on June 17th, 2009:

    I can’t decide! Please help! I’m on a tight budget. Should I get MSF natural – is it worth it? can it be used instead of foundation esp. during the summer months?

    Also, I can’t decide among the eyeshadow colors. I am only buying two. Please help me choose! (need neutrals for work)
    Naked Lunch?
    Satin Taupe?
    Cork?
    Quarry?
    Woodwinked?

    And what is the best nude lipstick from MAC?

56. 56. Karen said, on June 17th, 2009:

    Hi Sdpfeiffy,

    Hmm, how about a bronzer? I’m thinking Refined Golden.

    For blushes check out Blunt and Coppertone. As for Sincere, Trace Gold and Honour I think you can get them to show up; if one layer isn’t enough color for you, you can always do multiple layers. Sometimes I’ll do even two or three depending what mood I’m in. Dunno what kind of skin you have, but if you wear a thicker moisturizer beneath on your cheeks that also helps to pick up more color. Hope this helps! Have fun at the MAC store!

57. 57. Karen said, on June 17th, 2009:

    Hi Jane,

    From your list I love Woodwinked and Cork. Satin Taupe is another crowd favorite, but it really depends on your skin tone. When I wear it by itself I look bruised, my when my good friend Chris wears it she looks PHENOMENAL.

    Regarding the MSF, are you referring to the loose foundation? I like it, but it’s a challenge to travel with. Here’s a review.

58. 58. Karen said, on June 17th, 2009:

    Hi Paula r,

    Awesome! Did you say hi to him? I totally wanted to but I chickened out!

59. 59. Karen said, on June 17th, 2009:

    Hi Aleia,

    I have tried both the regular powder and the Prep+Primer powder separately, but not together. I like to use ‘em separately.

    I really like the Prep+Prime powder though… it’s probably one of the best translucent ones I’ve ever tried.

60. 60. Karen said, on June 17th, 2009:

    Hi Stephie,

    I got a couple of basics: a 239, a concealer brush, teddy kohl and some MAC wipes (can’t live without ‘em).

61. 61. Daya said, on June 17th, 2009:

    I usually stock up on eyeshadows! My haul consisted of:

    Pro pan e/s in Bronze/Sketch/Shroom
    E/S in Buckwheat
    and my Studio Fix foundation

62. 62. Apple Diva said, on June 17th, 2009:

    I got a few items e.g. natural MSF and Love rock blush. Since I dont use MAC foundation anymore, I felt at a loss. Glad there was a sale though!
    Apple Diva’s last blog post… Neutrogena Deep Clean Relaxing Nightly Cleanser – Review

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