Unsung Heroes

MAC Viva Glam V: An Unsung Makeup Hero

June 5th, 2010 by Karen 42 Comments

mac viva glam V

Have I got a thing for bright lipsticks, HELLO! But sometimes I don’t want the hassle they can bring. Sometimes I just want something easy and effortless on my lips — something like the perfect pink.

That’s where today’s entrant in the MAC Unsung Heroes series shines. She’s MAC Viva Glam V lipstick ($14), and she happens to be one of the most wearable neutral pink lippies I’ve ever met.

Shimmery like a pearl and with a shiny finish, the color’s one Goldilocks (of Three Bears fame) would love, because it’s not too cool or too warm. It’s one of those products that seems to be juuuust right for almost everyone.

mac viva glam V

And it doesn’t just look good on the lips; it feels good, too — rather, it makes me feel good to wear. 🙂 Since its introduction (Viva Glam V came out in 2004), the proceeds from its sale and those of MAC’s other Viva Glam lipsticks have gone to support men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS. Millions have been raised since the program’s start in 1994, much of it one tube at a time.
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MAC Unsung Heroes: Soft Brown Eyeshadow

May 27th, 2010 by Karen 56 Comments

mac soft brown

Oh, the buckets of glittery tears I’d shed if MAC ever discontinued Soft Brown Matte Eyeshadow ($14.50).

Don’t be fooled by how uninspiring it looks in the pan. Soft Brown’s like the sun and the rain, and it makes my life a foolish game. Okay, well, that may be going a little too far, but I do think I could probably wear it every day for the rest of my life (no joke).

Because it’s a color I reach for so often, I think of Soft Brown as an “anchor” shade — like the glue that holds many of my eye looks together.

Worn in the crease, Soft Brown’s warm orangey brown gives depth and dimension to smokey looks. In a matte finish, I think it also ups the contrast of any shimmery shades I wear with it in blue, green, peach, pink — you name it.

A few shots of Soft Brown in action…
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MAC Unsung Heroes: Woodwinked Eyeshadow Fakes a Good Night’s Sleep

May 13th, 2010 by Karen 46 Comments

MAC Woodwinked Eyeshadow ($14.50) rocks harder than Metallica. 🙂 Like a beauty BFF, this shimmery shadow’s been with me through good times and bad. Brown in the pan, it applies like a lovely warm gold, and I find myself still reaching for it often because it’s one of those disbelief-suspending shades able to fake a good night’s sleep.

If I had to pick one shadow to have with me after an all-nighter, Woodwinked would be it. A few swipes of this permanent collection shadow on my lids, and I swear I look well rested.

The MAC Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorite products from MAC’s permanent collection…

MAC Unsung Hero: Powersurge Eye Kohl

MAC Unsung Heroes: All That Glitters Eyeshadow Is Not Just Another Gold

MAC Unsung Heroes: The Technakohl Liners

MAC Unsung Hero: Groundwork Paint Pot

MAC Unsung Hero: Nymphette Lipglass

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MAC Unsung Heroes: All That Glitters Eyeshadow Is Not Just Another Gold

April 30th, 2010 by Karen 55 Comments

There’s an old saying that goes, “all that glitters is not gold.” And it’s true, because sometimes All That Glitters is more like a shimmery golden beige. 🙂

I’m totally kicking myself for not getting to know MAC All That Glitters eyeshadow ($14.50) sooner. It’s been a member of the MAC permanent posse for years but just moseyed into my life last week.
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MAC Unsung Heroes: Lychee Luxe Lipglass

April 12th, 2010 by Karen 64 Comments

Question for my coral lovin’ babes: Do you have a favorite coral lipgloss? Hands down, mine’s got to be MAC Lipglass in Lychee Luxe ($14). It’s a shimmery coral from MAC’s permanent line, and if I had to guess I’d bet I’ve gone through a double-digit number of tubes, yikes!

Wish I could say I stumbled upon Lychee Luxe on my own, but I actually heard about it from my mom. She gave me the heads-up about 10 years ago, which is funny to me because she’s never really been into makeup.

Proof positive that Lychee Luxe holds *great* magical powers. 🙂

One day she swung by a MAC counter looking for a gloss with just the right amount of color for her fabulous 50-ish self. She left with her first tube of Lychee Luxe, and a familial makeup obsession was born.

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