MAC Makeup

It’s MAC Electric Wonder Swatches: That’s Watt’s Up

June 7th, 2019 by Karen 17 Comments

mac electric wonder collection swatches — ZAP!

Ponder, if you would, how much fun it would be to have an electricity-themed dance party.

Question: How much fun would it be?

Answer: Shockingly fun. 😂

Of course, all of the song titles would have to include a reference to electricity. I suggest we start with the following…

Speaking of shocking developments (ha ha), I just realized that it’s a LOT harder to draw a thunderbolt on your arm than you might think. Seriously.

Below are swatches of the new MAC Electric Wonder Summer 2019 collection, errrrthing on my NC42 skin. Overview pics first, followed by closeups.

As you might expect from such a highly charged topic…there’s lots of glimmer, shimmer and glitter!

The collection is available now in stores and on the MAC website.

Overview swatches

mac natural vice — Eye Shadow X 12 in Natural Vice ($48)

mac desert lightning — Eye Shadow X 12 in Desert Lightning ($48)

mac ignite wonder face palette — Ignite Wonder Face Palette ($42.50)

mac iridescent powder next to nothing — Electric Wonder Iridescent Powder ($36) and Next to Nothing Bronzing Powder

mac electric wonder lipstick — Lipsticks ($19.50 each)

mac electric wonder lipglass — Lipglasses ($18.50 each)

Closeup swatches

mac desert lightning swatch 1 — Eye Shadow X 12 in Desert Lightning

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Lady Unicorn

May 31st, 2019 by Karen 21 Comments

GIRL. I haven’t worn big lashes in how long? But it’s just like riding a bike!

I’m also wearing a lot of glitter in this lady unicorn look, I know. 🦄

I was inspired by unicorns because my daughter is obsessed with them at the moment, and, let’s face it, so am I.

Oh, and body glitter. I’m wearing it too because WHY NOT? FYI, body glitter has come a loooooong way since I wore it back in the day. This one from Urban Decay comes in a tube, and you kinda just put it anywhere — on your face, in your hair, on your arms, on your neck, your legs.

And seriously, it does not come off! My goodness, I remember the old stuff lasting about 2.5 seconds in my clubbing days, so props to the sparkly scientists who finally discovered a way to get glitter to stick to yo’ body.

Eyes: Urban Decay After Dark Palette, Urban Decay 24/7 Pencils (Roxy, Electric Empire), MAC 75 Lashes, MAC Graphblack liner, MAC Princess Jasmine Palette (from the Aladdin collection), Urban Decay Glitter Liner in Disco

Face: MAC Studio Fix in NC42 mixed with Pinklite Strobe Cream, NARS Summer Lights palette (bronzer and highlighter), Urban decay Heavy Metal Glitter Gel in Saturday Stardust

Lips: MAC Honey Love Lipstick, Hourglass Prose Lip Gloss

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MAC Aladdin Collection Swatches

May 28th, 2019 by Karen 14 Comments

Even though I’ve had very little real-life experience with magic lamps, I do know this much: Your wish, no matter what it is, will always end up a little wonky.

OK, usually a lot wonky.

HELLA WONKS, if you will.

Like, if you wish for a million dollars, you’ll get a million dollars…but it’ll be in shredded $5 bills that have been stuffed into random prickly cactus plants spread out across the Mojave Desert.

Those genies, man. They’re tricky.

I may not be a genie, but if you wish to see swatches of the new MAC Alladin collection on NC42 skin, I can make that come true, no strings attached!

Below are swatches of the entire collection — the first three are overview swatch pics, and closeups with the product names come after.

FYI, the eye quad and black liner are sold out (but the black liner is just a re-promote of Technakohl in Graphblack, which you can still get in the permanent collection in the regular packaging), but everything else is still available.

Overview swatch pics

mac aladdin lipsticks — The Lipsticks ($20 each)

mac aladdin lipglass — The Lipglasses ($19 each)

mac aladdin princess jasmine — Eye Shadow X 9: Princess Jasmine ($35), Technakohl Liner in Graphblack ($20) and Pigment in Rose ($24)

mac aladdin powder blush — Powder Blushes ($35 each) and Crystal Glaze Gloss ($24)

Detailed swatches

mac aladdin friend like me princess incognito — Lipstick in Friend Like Me and Princess Incognito

mac aladdin rajah whole new world — Lipsticks in Rajah and Whole New World

mac aladdin jewels on jewels diamond in the rough — Lipglass in Jewels on Jewels and Diamond in the Rough

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Blue Kitten Flicks, Lessons From My Cat, and Chanel (Because It’s the Right Thing to Do)

May 2nd, 2019 by Karen 46 Comments

Tabs: “Don’t you do it. Don’t cry.”

Me: *sniffs* “But what if this is our last photo shoot together?”

Tabs: “Then you should probably wear Chanel. It’s the right thing to do.”

Me: “I’m really trying not to cry but…”

Tabs: “No buts, lady. Think about all of the pics we’ve taken together over the years. How many have there been? Thousands? Tens of thousands? Think about how lucky we’ve — no, how lucky you’ve been to have me in all those pics, because, quite frankly, your poses are hella boring. You’re kind of a hot mess…”

Me: “Oh, man. I’m gonna miss you so much.”

Tabs: “Will you promise me something?”

Me: “Anything.”

Tabs: “Promise me you won’t let grief consume you. Because I know you. I KNOW YOU. And you can’t let that happen. Under any circumstances.”

Me: “I can’t guarantee that, my love.”

Tabs: “You’re going to have to be brave. When I’m gone, you’re going to get out of bed in the morning, comb your fur, get out of your pajamas, and maybe put on a little makeup. Every single day. Most importantly, I want you to smile.”

Me: “People will judge me for grieving too much or too little, for sharing too much or too little, for being weird…”

Tabs: “Kid, I thought you were tougher than that.”

Me: “Apparently, I’m not.”

Tabs: *sigh* “Look, here’s the deal: I’m leaving soon, and I’m sorry but that’s the reality. You’re going to have to keep going, and I want you to do it with love in your heart. If there’s anything I’ve taught you, I hope it’s that. Radiate love, and send your joy out into the world.”

Me: “I’ll do my best…”

Tabs: “That’s all any of us can do. Now, will you smile for me? Let’s play some music, take pictures and enjoy the day.”

Me: “That sounds like a good idea.”

I think this song perfectly captures his spirit/cattitude, and it’s the one we listened to while we took these pics. Now it will always remind me of him.

Makeup I’m wearing in these pics…

Chanel Les Beiges Water Fresh Tint in Medium Plus

Wander Beauty Nude Illusion Liquid Foundation in Golden Tan

Chanel Natural Finish Loose Powder in Translucent 3

bareMinerals Endless Summer Bronzer in Warmth

bareMinerals Endless Glow Highlighter in Fierce

MAC Sheertone Blush in Gingerly

Wander Beauty Mile High Club Mascara

Chantecaille Mermaid Eye Matte in Bee

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Chaos

MAC Cicero Full Face Kit (blue eyeshadow)

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict(s),

Karen and Tabs

More MAC Strip Down

May 1st, 2019 by Karen 14 Comments

mac strip down lipsticks — A few of the MAC Strip Down Collection Lipsticks, $18.50 each

Tabs slept in my office and provided supervisory support while I did these lip swatches. These are from the MAC Strip Down Collection of nude lipsticks and glosses.

More from MAC Strip Down…

Spellbound by MAC Strip Down: Mehr Matte Lipstick

Spellbound by MAC Strip Down: Whirl Matte Lipstick

Spellbound by MAC Strip Down: Twig Satin Lipstick

mac brick o la lipstick — Amplified Lipstick in Brick-O-La

mac smoked almond lipstick — Amplified Lipstick in Smoked Almond

mac soar lipstick — Matte Lipstick in Soar

mac del rio lipstick — Satin Lipstick in Del Rio

mac good form lipstick — Lustre Lipstick in Good Form

mac bad n bare lipstick — Satin Lipstick in Bad ‘N’ Bare

mac feeling myself lipstick — Amplified Lipstick in Feeling Myself

mac s sexy lipstick — Amplified Lipstick in S’Sexy

mac move your body lipstick — Amplified in move Your Body

mac double fudge lipstick — Matte Lipstick in Double Fudge

mac creme cup lipstick — Cremesheen Lipstick in Creme Cup

mac pink power lipstick — Frost Lipstick in Pink Power

mac leave me breathless lipstick — Amplified Lipstick in Leave Me Breathless

mac act natural lipstick — Matte Lipstick in Act Natural

Tabs isn’t working anymore, but that hasn’t stopped him from giving me side eye for not doing my hair or putting on makeup.

It was also sunny and warm here, and Tabs felt like doing some relaxing catnip gardening on the back deck.

You know, a lot of people don’t know this, but in addition to being a world-renowned kitty modeling mogul, former professional feline football player, entrepreneur, chef and Cat Academy Award-winning movie star, Tabs is also a gifted landscape architect. 😊

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen