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MAC Stress Shopper’s Diary: Products I Recently Picked Up To Brighten My Look

by 47 Comments

What’s the recipe for a MAC stress shopping session?

Start with a really long week. Add a heaping tablespoon of waking up early every morning looking really, really, REALLY tired. Throw in free shipping on the MAC website, and BAM! Next thing you know, there’s a little black box on your doorstep, and your husband is shaking it and looking at you suspiciously because he’s thinking that the last thing you need in the world is ONE MORE BLUSH. 🙂

These are the days of my life…

Yeah, so I picked up a few things from MAC I’ve been wanting for a while. Most of them are products to help brighten and enliven my look (wish me luck!).

Products mentioned in the video…

MAC Shaping Powder in Lightsweep
Shaping Powder in Lightsweep (MAC Pro)

MAC Shaping Powder in Accentuate
Shaping Powder in Accentuate (MAC Pro)

MAC Cantaloupe Blush
Cantaloupe Blush (MAC Pro)

MAC Style Blush
Style Blush

MAC Swiss Chocolate
Swiss Chocolate Eye Shadow

MAC Prep + Prime Highlighters in Radiant Rose and Bright Forecast
Prep + Prime Highlighters in Radiant Rose and Bright Forecast

MAC Prep + Prime Highlighters in Radiant Rose (a light seashell pink) on the left and Bright Forecast (a mid-tone peachy coral) on the right
Prep + Prime Highlighters in Radiant Rose (left) and Bright Forecast (right)

MAC Shaping Powders in Lightsweep (left) and Accentuate (right)
Shaping Powders in Lightsweep (left) and Accentuate (right)

MAC Style Blush and Cantaloupe Blush Swatches
Style Blush (left) and Cantaloupe Blush (right)

MAC Swiss Chocolate Swatch
Eye Shadow in Swiss Chocolate

MAC Prep + Prime Highlighters in Radiant Rose (left) and Bright Forecast (right)
Prep + Prime Highlighters in Radiant Rose (left) and Bright Forecast (right)

Have you picked up any new brightening/highlighting products lately? Inquiring minds want to know…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Oooooh! I might spend more time at the MAC counter, trying to decide what to buy ($!). I haven’t bought any highlighting/brightening products lately.

    Sephora’s birthday gift had Benefit’s “Watt’s Up” and I used that for a while, but my skin has been so uncooperative and the creamy texture made my dry patches more obvious. 🙁

    Jeebers, I’m going to have to browse the MAC site so I don’t go overboard on Saturday. Must….stick….to….(small) list! 🙂

    Thanks for this, Karen! Have a lovely hump day!

    Reply

  3. Great job on the video Karen. You sounded way more comfortable in this one and you’re such a pleasure to watch! I like those sculpting powders, probably Lightsweep would be good for me and I absolutely LOVE the Style blush, I need to have it! I also like the idea of the highlighter pens but I am not sure which shade would be good for me…Any recommendation?

    Reply

    • Thank you, Agata!

      For the Shaping Powders, you could either do bunch of the shades — Lightsweep, Accentuate and even Emphasize. I bet they’d all work on your skin tone. And for the pens, Radiant Rose is probably a better fit for you if you’re looking for something to wear underneath your under eye concealer. If you want more of a highlighting shade, then Light Boost would be good. You could put that down the bridge of your nose, upper cheekbones, around the smile lines for some brightening. I wouldn’t put it underneath the eyes because yellow on the under eye area can look a little off sometimes.

      I’ve been meaning to ask if you’ve had a chance to wear your Midnight Cowboy Glitter liner yet. I might bust it out today… It feels like a glitter day!

      Reply

      • Thanks for the tips. I haven’t tried my Midnight Cowboy yet, I haven’t gone out since I got it and it seems over the top to wear it to the gym but I hope to wear it over the weekend, it looks so pretty.

        Reply

  5. It’s funny how a little package arriving can brighten an otherwise crummy week! 🙂 Now I’m reminded to check out at Sephora before my gift card runs out.

    Reply

      • I got a 4 pack of Clarisonic brush heads (I know, I’m very exciting – HAHA!) and a rollerball of Escada’s Cherry in the Air. I got it as a sample with my last order and I really like it so I figured I can’t go wrong with the rollerball. Plus I saved $20 with my gift card so it was basically free. I know that’s sort of flawed logic. 🙂 I wanted to reach my 500 VIB points and I did – I got the Kate Somerville kit because I remember you saying you liked one of her products. I’ll let you know what’s in it when it arrives. It all shipped today.

        Reply

  6. Looking forward to watching this once I’m at home. The past week I feel like I’ve been looking really tired. As much as I would like to sleep 23 hours a day like the cats, that’s probably not gonna happen. 🙂 So any tips for looking more awake are always welcome!

    Reply

    • Hi Ruchita,

      The kitties seriously have it made. 🙂

      BTW, I saw your recent pic of Mingy on Instagram and he looked so cute! Is it snowing there yet? I want to see him in the snow.

      Reply

      • Thanks! I will make sure to pass along the comment to Mingy. 🙂

        It has snowed quite a bit here and I’ve taken Mingy out, but this year he hasn’t been to interested in the snow. He’ll go out for a little bit and tiptoe around, and then he wants to come back inside! It’s kind of strange b/c he usually loves being outside. Although, it has been really cold as well, so that might be part of it.

        I will definitely share some pics if he decides to spend more time outside!

        Reply

    • Hi Bella,

      Yes I was! Was wearing both the Shaping Powders (Lightsweep underneath my eyes and Accentuate to highlight), Bright Forecast underneath my eye concealer, Cantaloupe Blush on my cheeks and Skin Refined on my forehead!

      Reply

  9. Hi Karen, I have been following for awhile now and wanted to say I loved this video and was wondering if you could do more video posts on products, makeup looks for different occasions, and your favorite products? I also like your unsung heroes posts for Nars blushes and was wondering what shades you would recommend for med-dark Asian indian skin? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Hi Linghesh,

      Thank you! And thanks for the video ideas. I have a list of videos to do and am adding these ideas to it. 🙂

      Re NARS Blush, try Amour or Torrid.

      Reply

  12. Eeeeeee! A MAC haul! I don’t usually buy MAC (Here in Australia, the mark up is about 50%, and often on par with luxury/high-end brands!) but as soon as I visit the US, I’m going to get a nice big haul with all the basics. I’m really interested in trying their Sculpting Powders – I loved the look of Chanel Notorious, but I think that Sculpt would work for me!

    Reply

  14. Those powders look gorgeous! Wish we had a MAC Pro store!

    I just picked up my first paint pot the other day, Bare Study. It’s nice for when I’m too lazy to do real makeup, LOL.

    Reply

      • Probably! I also just got a new foundation that’s a stick, so I’m excited that that will be portable! I got a blush and highlighter stick too, so excellent portability.

        I just need to get a more professional looking handbag. After the semester ends, I’ll be doing some serious shopping. It’s almost the end.

        Reply

  15. I have the highlighter pen from Givenchy Mr Light. I have been in love with it but looking for a little bit better price point compared to my failed drug store buys (hard candy and L’Oreal). Would you recommend Mac?

    Reply

    • Hi Darbie,

      Definitely. I’ve been using both Radiant Rose and Bright Forecast for about a week now and am so far very impressed.

      As long as I set Bright Forecast with powder, it doesn’t move or crease, and it really does seem to brighten up my under eye area. I’ve been pairing it lately with MAC Pro Longwear Concealer — it’s a good combo for heavy duty concealing!

      Reply

  19. Nice haul Karen. I recently did a Mac Pro products haul a week ago due to the free overnight shipping. I bought the Oval 6 face brush, the duo fiber fan brush #184 and the #163 contour brush. I also bought 2 lip mixes (orange and deep nude) to “customize” some lipsticks and 2 correctors ( orange and ochre) for my under eye area. I used the the Bright Forecast highlighter all summer (I’m NC 50/MUFE 177) and loved it. I hope you enjoy yours as well. I recently bought the Kevin Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer to conceal my under eye area this winter. My favorite highlighter is the Ambient powder by Hourglass. It gives me an inner glow (lol). I love Swiss Chocolate e/s and the Cantaloupe blush is so pretty for your complexion. Enjoy your haul!

    Reply

  21. Reading your blog is the bright spot in my day 🙂

    I only own a few MAC items, and I’m obsessed with my skin looking brighter. What should I pick up? I have their Skin Finish, the Prep and Prime that you recommended in one of your posts, one of the limited edition orange blushes from this summer (honey jasmine? I can’t remember!) and Woodwinked eyeshadow. That’s it! What should I try next? I think everything you hauled in this post is lovely!

    Reply

  22. I love this post and video! These types of product are my absolute favorite, make such a difference and I’m still learning to use. They get less attention…seemingly…than color but are (my opinion) so much more important. You inspired me to head to MAC and learn more. Thanks!!!!

    Reply

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