Ride the pigment train!
Figuring out how to use MAC pigments opened up a new world of makeup for me. I used to be at a loss when it came to these sparkly jars of color, but learning what brushes to use made a big difference in preparing this face of the day. Below is the Originals C-Thru face chart for inspiration.
Do you ever go through makeup phases? Right now, I’m all about green eye makeup, and MAC Golden Olive pigment really makes the eyes in this look pop!
Here’s what I used to get the look:
Eyes
Brows – MAC A Little Folie eyeshadow
Browbone – MAC Frisco eyeshadow
Lid – MAC Sweet Sage Fluidline, followed by MAC Golden Olive pigment
Crease – MAC A Little Folie eyeshadow
Upper lashline – MAC Blacktrack Fluidline
Lower lashline – MAC A Little Folie eyeshadow
Lashes (upper and lower) – Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! mascara
Cheeks
Cheeks – Neutrogena Softcolor blush in Sunny Spice
Cheekbones – MAC Antique Gold Reflects
Lips
Lipliner – MAC Subculture
Lipstick – MAC Sandy B
Lipgloss – MAC C-Thru lipglass
You want this!
Do you wanna know what your new favorite browbone shadow is? Despite its terrible, terrible name, you’ve got to pick up Frisco eyeshadow because it’s totally boss. This beautiful pale pink is sheer and subtle, and it’s not as loud as browbone shadows like Ricepaper or Shroom. It’s a great choice for natural looks (for work, pair it with Woodwinked or Soba).
Sidenote: Please don’t call San Francisco “Frisco” when you visit! It is my number #3 pet peeve in the entire universe (#1 is when people leave an empty toilet roll and don’t bother to put in a fresh one, and #2 is knee-high boots that don’t hug your calves). It’s “The City,” or “SF,” and in some very rare cases (i.e., Christian Bale can get away with it) “San Fran.”
Also, Sandy B lipstick is a can’t miss color. Peachy with a slight frost, it’s a pretty neutral for no-fuss days. That said, I’m not crazy about it with C-Thru Lipglass in the look above because the C-Thru has that overly frosty, 60s go-go dancer thing going. I think it’s much more wearable and prettier topped with a clear gloss instead.
A few days ago I was all about the glitters in this collection, but now I’m having second thoughts. Next time I do this look, I’m skipping the Reflects Blackened Red. It made my cheeks look really muddy and didn’t mesh well with my skin tone at all. I’d think twice about this purchase!
We got hit by a hurricane early this morning in the Bay Area. Trees and street signs were down outside, but we made it through. I heard that 6-foot waves were supposed to hit inside the Bay and 28 footers just outside the Golden Gate. Too bad we can’t surf this!
Right now I’ve got a killer sore throat. I guess I’m fighting a cold, so I’m off to do some serious resting on the couch. Stay dry, and if you’re out on the road drive safely, please!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Glosslizard says
January 4th, 2008 at 6:12 pmWow, you sure look great for having a cold! I was going to ask if you had a hot date tonight! 🙂
I think you should try the Enchanteresse blush with this look, it was so hot on you, and I think it would work well with the eye color and nude lips!
Hope you feel better soon! Stay out of the rain and out from under those falling branches!
TUPRNUT says
January 4th, 2008 at 6:14 pmThanks again for reading my mind and doing this post. Yes, you can definately rock the green. Great look on you.
I’m glad to hear that you are safe and sound, despite the hurricane. Get some rest this weekend and I hope you’re feeling better soon!
Karen says
January 4th, 2008 at 6:30 pmLOL, thanks Glosslizard. I think I faked healthiness in these pics with a massive amount of undereye concealer (MAC Select Moisturecover) along with my tried and true Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder! I ended up just wearing this look around the house while sporting a pair of oh-so-stylish blue and green plaid pajasmas … it totally brought the look together, if I do say so myself.
And the Enchanteresse blush is a goooooood call. It’ll also be 10X easier to work with than the glitter, which takes a bit o’ concentration.
You stay out of the rain too…I hope your house doesn’t slide down a hill or anything! I’m praying that the electricity stays on, cause it sure is hard to internet with just a cinnamon candle and some matches, sigh.
Karen says
January 4th, 2008 at 6:31 pmThanks, Tuprnut. I’ll try my best to step away from the keyboard and catch up on the America’s Next Top Model marathon.
Take care and stay warm!
Vera says
January 4th, 2008 at 8:23 pmHey Karen! I love the looks you’ve done. I’ve always contemplated on doing some of the face charts, but I’ve been lazy. hehe As for the hurricaine, I’m glad it’s over. I called in sick because I am sick, but I would have called in sick anyways so I wouldn’t have to drive in the crazy wind. And it annoys me when people call SF Frisco, especially when they’re not from the Bay Area. I was born and raised and still live in SF, so I’m very protective. hehe Enjoy your weekend!
Karen says
January 4th, 2008 at 9:18 pmHi Vera,
Ha ha, I’m glad to know I’m not alone in my Frisco hating ways.
Good thing you stayed home – holy crap, I saw on the news that the winds were 70mph on the Golden Gate Bridge! Scary!
Anyway, stay dry and safe, ’cause there’s another bad storm that’s going to be even worse this weekend. 🙂
Melissa says
January 4th, 2008 at 9:26 pmKaren, your eyes are smokin’! Green Olive is awesome on you. I am also givin’ Sandy B some love lately.
My New Year’s look was a
Green Eye – Golden Olive with Metal X 6th Sin patted on top, Bio Green (Pro) in the crease, and Juxt to blend.
Cheeks – Margin
Lips – Sandy B, Majestic and a little bit of Melon pigment patted on the fullest part of the lip
Lip and eye combo was inspired by the C-Thru face chart.
I wasn’t crazy about the C-thru either.
Thanks for posting the look, you look great!
Miss Gisele B. says
January 4th, 2008 at 9:37 pmKaren,
You are working (I mean W-O-R-K-I-N-G) those MAC Cosmetics pigments!
You did a stunning job with them!
Gisele
Mrs. Lynne says
January 4th, 2008 at 10:26 pmThis is jazzin’ hun! You are really getting that pigment magic down to a ‘T’! I really dig the golden green colors. It really reminded me of Pure Ore (Metal-X) and I gueeess I can make due with that since I don’t have Golden Olive 🙁 And you were just all about A Little Folie, huh? Hah. I’m guessing you’re doing alright with the Originals collection 🙂 It’s funny because I’ve actually been using a lot of my stuff from the Originals collection also. Somehow they work well together.
Lovely job you sexy beast!
Sandy says
January 4th, 2008 at 10:37 pmKaren, which eyeshadow brush is better for everyday use MAC #239 or #249?? 🙂
Mariah says
January 5th, 2008 at 10:05 amBeautiful makeup Karen!! One question: in these pictures Frisco almost looks iridescent on you. I thought it was matte? Is it actually iridescent?
Karen says
January 5th, 2008 at 10:13 amHi Melissa,
Thanks! I’ll try the melon pigment on the lips next time I do this look.
Have a good weekend. 🙂
Karen says
January 5th, 2008 at 10:14 amThanks Gisele. 🙂 Are you a pigments fan?
Karen says
January 5th, 2008 at 10:17 amHi Sandy,
It will really depend on what you want to use it for. Do you use MAC Paint or Paint Pots everyday? Then the 249 is very handy. The 239 would probably be better if you want a multi-purpose brush, like for Paint Pots, Pigments and shadows.
If you can get the longer handled brush because the brush head is softer than the short brushes you get in those brush sets.
Hit me up if you have any more questions!
Karen says
January 5th, 2008 at 10:19 amHey Mrs. Lynne,
Aww, thanks girlfriend. 🙂
And I totally agree with you about the Originals. When I first saw the collection I wondered how all the colors were going to work together but somehow it ended up being very cohesive. I’m really loving it. I haven’t liked anything this much since smoke signals.
Karen says
January 5th, 2008 at 10:23 amHi Mariah,
It’s actually matte, although when I look closely at it I see the tiniest little flecks of sparkle. I also packed it on for these pictures. You can totally take it down a notch with a fluffier brush or a lighter hand, for sure. Are you thinking about getting it? ‘Cause it’s really a faboo brow highlighter!
Adina says
January 5th, 2008 at 11:32 amKaren, this look is way gorgeous! Love it!!
Karen says
January 5th, 2008 at 11:58 amThanks Adina! Are you a green eyeshadow kinda girl?
Have a fab weekend 🙂
Lilan says
January 5th, 2008 at 12:46 pmI love the eyes! Makes me think that it’s time for me to really start taking those pigments seriously 😉
Oh my gosh, the storm was crazy yesterday! I contemplated staying home from work until the power went out at 8AM. So I made the trek out to work with winds that looked like we were in a tropical storm. When it rains sideways, you KNOW it’s bad! Glad all of you in the Bay Area this weekend are safe!
And I’m glad my power is back on after being out for 24 hours! 🙂
slvrlips says
January 5th, 2008 at 1:03 pmGolden Olive is one of my favorite pigments as well.
Fabulous
Have a great day!
Nikkia
Karen says
January 5th, 2008 at 3:17 pmYikes, Lilan, that’s tough. Good thing your power is up and running! Have a good weekend. 🙂
Karen says
January 5th, 2008 at 3:17 pmSlvrlips!
I love it too. What do you pair it with?
Beauty411 says
January 5th, 2008 at 5:14 pmWow! You can really rock that Golden Olive! It looks great on you. I’m off to order the Frisco; you gave it such a good rec & it looks good on.
Karen says
January 6th, 2008 at 12:41 amThank you, Beauty411. I think you’ll love it, it’s a fantastic shade. Let me know what you end up pairing it with 🙂
Emmy says
January 6th, 2008 at 6:05 pmKaren,
I just started using MAC pigment.I had to order Online from MAC. ( was sold out to every mall here in Tampa)I have the MAC pigment limited edition Curiositease in warm and cool.I love mixing them all up to get a different look.I love The Copper sparkle applied to the lids and and on the outer corner just dab a bit of black eyesahadow and you just need a little bit of glitter.
Karen says
January 6th, 2008 at 6:45 pmThanks for these tips, Emmy! I will have to try Copper sparkle w/ black shadow. That is totally my style and sounds really pretty.
Did you end up keeping the cute containers that the pigments came in?
kia says
January 7th, 2008 at 11:42 amgreat look! golden olive has always been the hotness! i def have to check out that highlighter…. get well soon!
Karen says
January 7th, 2008 at 6:32 pmThanks, Miss Kia! You’ll love the Frisco … so super hot.
Sminkan says
January 8th, 2008 at 12:40 pmYou look gorgeous in that golden olive! Perfect with your own colours! And I so envy you your eyes!
Karen says
January 8th, 2008 at 12:56 pmAww, thanks Sminkan. Do you own any pigments? I think I might have to get every single one of them, yikes!