The skinny
Snag it – Kitschmas, Melon, Golden Olive and Violet Pigments from the MAC Cosmetics Originals Collection.
Yes – Vibrant, wearable brights that even hapless color clumsies (ahem, like yours truly) can use with ease.
Texture – Finely milled color with soft shimmer.
Bang for your buck – You barely need to use any for excellent color payoff, and, at $19.50 each, one huge jar will last a long time.
Skip it – Steel Blue.
No – I was very turned off by the grainy texture; it doesn’t apply as smoothly as the other pigments.
Texture – Thick, with big granules and too-obvious shimmer.
Bang for your buck – Nada. I don’t wear a lot of blues, so I probably won’t reach for this often.
Swatches for your viewing pleasure
Whatcha thinking? Are you gonna snag any pigments?
I’m off to the gym (story of my life) but will be back later this afternoon with the MAC Glitter swatches from the Originals collection. See ya soon!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Mrs. Lynne says
December 27th, 2007 at 1:10 pmI actually thought Steel Blue was really pretty but I guess I may have to reconsider. I actually don’t own piggies. I wish they came in containers half that size so they’d more affordable, lol. But they’re so cute. I’m just a cosmetics collector and will buy things just to have a complete set (bad, I know) and a sucker for cute packaging. Oh, help me. I need to have an intervention.
nilla cookie says
December 27th, 2007 at 2:33 pmThe pigment swatches are pretty, but I have no clue how to use them. Maybe I’m just more afraid of making a mess in my bathroom. This may also be why I’m so slow to get on the mineral makeup train as well.
Baby steps, Lilan. You can do it (eventually).. Karen, you have any tips on application, I’d love to know! 🙂
Vanessa says
December 27th, 2007 at 2:53 pmI love the piggies! I have quite a lot considering I only started and wanted Violet, then I was hooked! I agree, Steel Blue was a bit chunky and yucky when I swatched it, no bueno. But of course I fell in love with the Golden Olive pigment, it’s gorgeous and like Lynne, I too wish they sold it in smaller, more affordable sizes! 🙂
Hope you enjoyed your holidays!
TUPRNUT says
December 27th, 2007 at 5:44 pmOh, Nilla Cookie – I’m so glad you spoke up!!!
Yes – Karen, please help with some ideas for application! The MA’s at our MAC counter are always bringing up Pigments to me, but I am way too intimidated by them.
HELP! 🙂
Rowena says
December 27th, 2007 at 6:43 pmI have so many pigments but I don’t use them much at all. I don’t want to drop them.
BTW Karen! I just finished watching 3.10 to Yuma…oh my god. Christian Bale in that…mmmmm……
Melissa says
December 27th, 2007 at 8:14 pmHi Karen!
I love your blog:)
I picked up a few of these….actually my sister, friend and I each bought a pigment and split them three ways. So we each got a golden olive, reflects antique gold and steel blue. (I’m a sucker for blues!) When we told the Mac girl we were splitting them, she offered us sample jars for free! I think this is perefect because as others have said, it would take a lifetime to use a whole jar.
I have also been using a homemade mix of 1 part glycerin (purchased at rite aid) and 3 parts water to apply my pigments wet. I use a very small spray bottle and lightly mist my Mac 249 brush then dip it in my pigment. It goes on beautifully, especially the glitters.
I also want to go back and get the violet. My friends talked me out of it and I’m regretting not picking up that little purple piggy:)
Karen says
December 28th, 2007 at 12:01 amMrs. Lynne,
If you’re looking for an intervention I’m afraid you’ve come to the wrong place 😉
Perhaps you have a makeup shopping buddy you could split the pigment with? That way you can still try it without having to commit to a huge ass jar!
Karen says
December 28th, 2007 at 12:03 amHey Nilla and Tuprnut –
You guys just inspired a new post! 😉 I’ll whip up a quickie how-to tomorrow if I have time!
Karen says
December 28th, 2007 at 12:04 amHi Vanessa!
I had a nice, relaxing Christmas, how about you?
I loooooooove Golden Olive. Did you get the Melon color, too?
Karen says
December 28th, 2007 at 12:06 amHey Rowena,
I hear ya. I don’t really use mine on this “I’m in a hurry days”. They are reserved for times when more than 3-5 minutes of makeup is needed, for sho’. I just know I’d end up dropping a whole jar down the sink if I was rushing around.
Ahhh, my honey Mr. Bale! I can’t wait to see him in the new Batman. Hopefully he’ll wear a tux, HAWT!
Karen says
December 28th, 2007 at 12:08 amHi Melissa!
Thank you, I’m so glad you like the blog. 😉
You better get that Violet pigment ASAP! It’s super pretty and not to be missed.
I’ve heard of that homemade mixing medium recipe, so thank you for sharing it. I can’t wait to give it a try as it sounds like it really intensifies the color.
Happy holidays and have a happy new year!
Mrs. Lynne says
December 28th, 2007 at 1:13 amGirl, you so funny! Remember, we’re already contemplating the restraints for us going into MAC together. I like to do rhetorical typing here and there. It works better during an actual conversation, hardly distinguishable cyberly, but I just type how I talk. The last person I’d ask to join my intervention team would be you, lol.
I’ll have to ask my cousin if she’ll go halfsies on the piggies. She’s my MAC buddy. Wish I could recruit another MAC buddy though. I know a little goes a long way in that jar of magic.
Karen says
December 28th, 2007 at 11:08 pmHa ha ha! You crack me up! I’d be the worst makeup intervention person EVER. I’d be like, “Oh girl, you better get that or else some heffer is gonna end up nabbing the last one.”
That’s a great idea going halfsies with your cousin. Gotta keep the MAC addiction in the family, I say.
Mrs. Lynne says
December 28th, 2007 at 11:51 pmI’m pretty good at justifying purchases too. That’s actually not a good skill to have though considering that justification and wallet are absolute rivals especially with all these back-to-back releases!
Karen says
December 29th, 2007 at 12:12 amRIGHT? It’s like MAC is purposefully appealing to the makeup hoarding freak in all of us with this relentless slew of limited edition fabulousness. It’s almost cruel!
Yeah, I can justify anything pretty much, as well. I don’t do it as much with clothes any more (glad I broke that expensive habit) but makeup and shoes are another story.
Lily says
May 4th, 2008 at 12:11 amHey!
I love love love violet and steel blue 🙂 a couple of friends were nice enough to send me samples, and im begging my boyfirend to let me borrow his credit card so i can get the full sizes of violet and then later, golden olive
I actually think steel blue is really pretty, even if it does look chunky in the jar- i guess cos it goes with my eyes.
btw, you’re the first makeup blog I’ve ever actually bookmarked 🙂
Lilys last blog post..Violet+Copper Sparkle