Wearing MAC Beth Ditto Shade & Smoke Shadow/Liner in “Drag, Strip”
Dual-ended eye makeup brushes, cream shadows that double as primers, twist-up eyeliners that never, ever need sharpening — what’s the key word here?
That would be convenience. 🙂
If it makes my life easier, I’m generally a fan. Like, if it’s something I can apply in the back of a cab on the way to meet the cast of Magic Mike for drinks at the Tonga Room, I’ll probably say, “Yes, please!”
Speaking of that, “Siri, remind me to Fandango tickets to see Magic Mike…”
Oops! — back to convenience. If we also happen to be talking about convenient eye makeup, my resistance is futile. Anything that saves space in my makeup bag and shaves a few steps off my eye makeup routine, like the new dual-ended Beth Ditto Shade & Smoke Shadow/Liners ($22 each), can be characterized as one of my weak spots.
On one end, a slanted eyeliner; on the other, a creamy, intensely pigmented coordinating eyeshadow with a rounded tip. And both ends laugh in the face of sharpeners! With their twist-up tips, they just don’t need ’em.
When you get the urge to go bigger with your eye look or just feel like skipping your brushes, just twist up the eyeshadow tip, apply the product directly to your lids, and smooth out the edges with a finger. Then, follow up with the liner, but only if you feel like it (I usually do).
The four limited edition pencils include Little Miss Moffett, which pairs a true black shadow with a true white liner; “Drag, Strip,” which pairs a smokey navy shadow with a pale blue liner; Beth Mask, which pairs a reddish brown bronze shadow with a golden peachy pink liner; and Beth or Glory, which puts a deep brown shadow together with a bright blue liner.
Application tips from MAC Senior Artist Keri Blair
“The tapered end is the ‘liner,’ so it’s better for more detailing and defining (I don’t recommend it for the water line). The slanted tip makes it easy to apply to eyelids or the inner corners of the eyes. Use it to pop the lid, and with a flick of your wrist, you can use the rounded side to smoke out the outer and inner corners of the eyes.
The rounded side is great for smudging and ‘smoking’ out the eye. You can blend with your finger or a brush, but work quickly because the long-wearing, water-resistant formula dries fast! My best advice is to work one eye at a time to achieve a perfectly smokey, smudgy look.”
Shade & Smoke Shadow/Liner
From bottom to top: Little Miss Moffet, Beth or Glory, Beth Mask and Drag, Strip
Swatches from the left, Shade & Smoke Shadow/Liners in #1 Beth Mask, #2 Beth or Glory, #3 “Drag, Strip” and #4 Little Miss Moffett; Zoom Lash Mascara in #5 Plum Reserve, #6 Blue Charge and #7 New Hue; Pro Longwear Lipcremes in #8 BOOYAH!!, Dear Diary and Heart Hangover
Wearing Shade & Smoke Shadow/Liner in “Drag, Strip”
When used together, the eyeshadows with their partner liners, and worn atop eye primer on my combination dry/oily lids, I get between 8-10 hours of wear time. That said, I think MAC left themselves a little room to improve the liners, which seem somewhat dry to me. And not only do they tug at my skin, but they also apply unevenly.
As for as convenience, these have it in spades, and I dig the selection of colors. I can see myself wearing them well into fall.
But I think I’d love them even more if MAC tweaked the liners a little to make them a touch smoother and easier to apply.
PRICE: $22 each
AVAILABILITY: Available now at maccosmetics.com and coming to North American MAC counters and stores June 7; internationally later this month
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+
This tea!
So, I’d hoped to be sipping iced tea poolside by this time of year, but nooo. We hit a cool spell this week, and it even rained yesterday.
Luckily, a tea I recently found at Trader Joe’s has been keeping me warm. It’s called Spiced Rooibos Ruby Red Chai.
Have you tried it before? Omigosh! SO GOOD. It’s also organic and caffeine-free.
I wish I’d found it back in winter when I really needed warming up. The mix of red rooibos and spices (cloves, ginger, allspice, cardamon, nutmeg and cinnamon) are like wearing a comfortable sweater.
Sometimes I have it with a little bit of almond milk and sugar, but I think it’s also great plain.
Delish!
Here, I’ll pour you a cup, and then you can tell me about your day. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
antara says
June 5th, 2012 at 9:54 pmvery informative post karen…:)
antara recently posted … Basic Winged Eyeliner Tutorial
Heidi says
June 5th, 2012 at 10:21 pmI was drinking the exact same tea this evening. I added some coconut milk — divine!
musical says
June 5th, 2012 at 11:01 pmRooibos does that fantastic with all the spices! And i am the one to reach out for hot tea, no mater what season it is ;).
Becca @ The Beauty Sample says
June 6th, 2012 at 1:18 amEh…based on the few reviews I’ve read of this product, I think I’ll probably pass on these. They just seem like they’re not all the way there. Nice idea though (didn’t CoverGirl release a similar product a while back? Wonder how they measure up…)
As far as tea goes, I love my Rooibos–I drink the Republic of Tea’s Get Clean detox tea. I just got into Chai so I’ll have to definitely check this one out. Sounds yummy!
Becca @ The Beauty Sample recently posted … The Sample: Guerlain Terracotta Light Sheer Bronzing Powder in #02 Brunettes Review
Karen says
June 6th, 2012 at 7:57 amHi Becca,
I’ll have to look up that Get Clean tea. Does it have caffeine?
Becca @ The Beauty Sample says
June 8th, 2012 at 9:10 pmNope! Caffeine free all the way 🙂
Sunny @ Mostly Sunny says
June 6th, 2012 at 5:20 amAahh you look too good! I do want to try eyeshadow sticks at some point. I used to stick to nothing but pressed shadows, but now I see the beauty in cream/stick products (no brush to wash afterwards mwahaha)!
Love Rooibos too! We don’t have this one here, but I’ve tasted great ones too 🙂
Karen says
June 6th, 2012 at 7:56 amHi Sunny,
Yup, gotta love when you can skip a step!
Nina says
June 6th, 2012 at 5:25 amThese sticks look great on you and it is awesome that someone actually made them work! 🙂
I want that Rooibois — cannot wait for TJs to finally open here!
Karen says
June 6th, 2012 at 7:56 amIt feels like we’ve been waiting FOREVER for your TJ’s to open. I hope it’s soon — you need to experience the wonder that is mango bars!
Nina says
June 6th, 2012 at 11:44 amJune 15, 8 am! I *might* take the morning off LOL! 😀 Im so excited!
Tiffany C. says
June 6th, 2012 at 6:28 amI want to see Magic Mike too!!! I actually had no intention in seeing it (Channing Tatum is cute but he does nothing for me) until the MTV Movie Awards when Matthew McConaughey and Joe Manganiello were on stage with Channing Tatum. Then I IMDB’d the movie and found put that Alex Pettyfer and Matt Bomer are in it as well!! Matthew, Joe, Alex, and Matt all together in one movie….YES PLEASE!!!!
Karen says
June 6th, 2012 at 7:55 amHi Tiffany,
LOL! Apparently it’s supposed to be loosely based on Channing Tatum’s life?!
Kim says
June 6th, 2012 at 6:29 amOooh, the tea sounds divine. Chai always reminds me of Christmas in a Cup, but I’ve only had the vanilla version, not the Ruby Red (which actually makes me think of grapefruit).
I’ve found that twist-up liners I’ve tried in the past tend to have a waxier texture that tugs and doesn’t apply evenly. I know it’s less convenient, but I’ve always preferred the sharpen-yourself kind. Oh, and Miss Moffett makes me think of Silence of the Lambs. Search Yourself, Clarice. 🙂
Karen says
June 6th, 2012 at 7:53 amYou know what always makes me think of Silence of the Lambs? Fava beans and a nice chianti.
Kim says
June 8th, 2012 at 8:17 amOh, definitely a classic! 🙂 Are you a movie-line quoter? I’m so bad about that; half of what comes out of my mouth is from one movie or another. We often still say, “it puts the lotion on its skin…”
Ruchita says
June 6th, 2012 at 6:55 amI love this look! I love the combo of the darker eyes and light lips.
I have never tried Roobios tea, but I’ll check out nex time I’m at TJ’s.
Also, I love the Trader Joe’s Chocolate Chip Brownie and Oat Bars. I keep a stash at work, for when I get a chocolate craving – which is pretty much every afternoon. 🙂 They are not too bad calorie wise for a yummy chocolate fix.
Karen says
June 6th, 2012 at 7:52 amHi Ruchita,
Rooibos is really good, especially if you like drinking teas with milk and sugar. Celestial Seasonings makes a rooibos that’s delish, too. It’s a bit more mellow than the TJ’s version, though, because it doesn’t have the kick of the spices.
Anywho, I’ll have to hunt down those Chocolate Chip Brownie bars, NOM!
Agata says
June 6th, 2012 at 7:19 amYou look stunning in those pictures Karen!
Karen says
June 6th, 2012 at 7:51 amHi Agata,
Thank you! 🙂
BTW, I’m drinking some flavored coffee right now. Have you ever had Lion Coffee (they’re from Hawaii)? I have a bag of their Hawaiian Hazelnut and it’s pretty good.
http://www.lioncoffee.com/flavored-coffee.html
Agata says
June 6th, 2012 at 2:45 pmI have never tried it but it sounds delicious! I love Hazelnut flavored coffee. I will have to try it 🙂
Karen says
June 6th, 2012 at 4:52 pmIt’s pretty good. My fave of all time, though, are the flavored coffees from Hawaiian Isles Kona Coffee Co. You can get it at Cost Plus World Market!
http://www.hawaiianisles.com/products.asp?dept=25
Kelly - Glitter Diaries says
June 6th, 2012 at 7:34 amThose shadow/liners are gorgeous! It’s a shame that they don’t apply that well 🙁 I may still check it out though!
Kelly – Glitter Diaries recently posted … Sultry Silvery Grey Eye Makeup Tutorial
Karen says
June 6th, 2012 at 7:46 amHi Kelly,
The shadow part is ok; it’s the liner that could use some work. Overall I think it’s a pretty good product! 🙂
Liz says
June 6th, 2012 at 9:38 amPersonally, I’ll pass. However, your makeup does look great, especially with the top you’re wearing.
mina says
June 6th, 2012 at 10:14 amYour skin looks gorgeous! I love the brightness under your eyes!
LOLbeauty says
June 6th, 2012 at 11:30 amDespite the review on these liners, your smokey that you have there is gorgeous!
Bun Bun Makeup Tips says
June 6th, 2012 at 11:41 amooh! I love products that provide great convenience too! Makes applying makeup on-the-go just easier and accident-proof!
Bun Bun Makeup Tips recently posted … If I Set Up Shop, Will You Come Support?
Gina says
June 6th, 2012 at 5:31 pmWould you mind sharing your blush/lip combo for these pics? So gorgeous on your skin tone!
ChicNChoco says
June 7th, 2012 at 3:06 amLove the shades!
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corallista says
June 7th, 2012 at 4:06 amI like the shade combo of Beth Mask but the dry texture is a deal breaker!
corallista recently posted … Introducing Tutorial Thursdays : Neutral plum eye makeup Tutorial with MAC eye shadows
Gwen says
June 7th, 2012 at 6:46 amWoah! That gonna save lots of time and extra space for my ever overflowing makeup bag! Thanks Karen!
Tenzing Tsering says
June 7th, 2012 at 5:09 pmHi Karen,
I’ve been reading your post everyday :)…and finding it really interesting and informative…For some reason I really like your lips in this post…..What do you have on??? Thanks!!!
Elena says
June 11th, 2012 at 7:41 pmHi Karen,
I read your blog fairly regularly and I love it!! I usually check your blog first before any major beauty purchases to see if you’ve reviewed the product first. I was definitely thinking of buying these shadow/liners (in part because they seem cool and in part because I love Beth Ditto), so thanks for the review! All that being said, what top are you wearing in this post?? Its gorgeous!! Thanks for all the reviews/tips!! You’re fantastic!
Elena
Karen says
June 11th, 2012 at 8:34 pmHi Elena,
It’s a dress by a brand for juniors (!) called Lush:
https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/just-for-fun/outfit-of-the-day-vol-1-a-blue-summer-dress-with-yellow-heels/
I got it at Nordstrom last year.