MAC Tropical Taboo: Mineralize Skinfinish Review, Swatches and Photos

Undoubtedly the most anticipated products of a MAC Mineralize collection are the Mineralize Skinfinishes, and this summer's collection Tropical Taboo is no exception. Featured in Tropical Taboo are three new limited edition Skinfinishes: Adored, Lust and Rio ($35.00 CA/$30.00 US). All photos taken in natural light, swatches on NC 40/42 skin.

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish: Adored, Lust and Rio

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Adored

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lust

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Rio

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish: Adored, Lust and Rio

Adored - described by MAC as "coral with a light beige pearl." Once mixed Adored turns into a champagne beige shimmer with a hint of peach/pink. On most skin tones it would work best as a neutral highlighter, as it's pigment is on the light end and it's colour is essentially close to that of skin. On darker complexions it will obviously look cooler and more dramatic. It's texture is very finely milled and a little powdery so it tends to blend out very easily.

Grade: B+

Lust - the description of Lust as a "pale pink with cranberry pearl" is somewhat misleading as I would peg Lust as a light-medium pink with pink pearl. Unlike Adored or Rio, Lust has an added pearl or fleck, which gives it's finish a slightly glittery/metallic look. It's texture is a little bit grittier than Adored or Rio due to this added pearl. Out of the three this one was the most pigmented on my skin, so on  light skin tones I could see this working as a blush. On medium and dark skin tone sit would be a slightly more dramatic/metallic highlighter.

Grade: B

Rio - a "bronze with a bright pink pearl" is more like a beige-coral on my skin tone. My favorite out of the three, it has a finely milled, powdery texture and a warm tone that I would imagine would be flattering to both warm and cool complexions. Pigmentation is on the light side, so this would again be best as more of a highlighter than a blush. On really fair complexions this would make a great companion to soften or blend out bronzer.

Grade: A-

I was very pleased to see MAC producing a refined group of MSF's. In the past this product has been extremely frosty/glittery which is fine for more dramatic looks but much too obvious for a "natural sheen" effect. I would like to see MAC continue to move towards this trend of finely milled highlighters...maybe they could end up somewhere in the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders end of the spectrum?

J

Chanel L’été Papillon de Chanel Azuré Le Vernis Nail Colour

Chanel's 2013 summer collection L’été Papillon is inspired by butterfly wings and draws upon the popular summer colours of teal, coral and blue. I recently purchased one of the three LE nail polishes, Azuré.

 Azuré is a metallic teal polish that at certain angles leans sky blue and others leans teal. It is opaque in two coats and flows smoothly on the nail with virtually no visible brush strokes.

Chanel Azuré Nail Colour

Though not the most original colour, it's a pretty, subtle duochrome that would look great with a summer dress and slight tan. Like most Chanel polishes it wears well, with 2-3 days without chipping. Readers should note that almost all nail polish regardless of brand, chips on me within days due to the heavy amount of art making//climbing/hand washing I do.

Grade: B+

J

Beauty Squared Round-Up - April 7, 2013

It's time to take a look at the beautiful links we've gathered for you this week. Scroll through and enjoy!

This is a photo of actress Emilia Clarke who plays Daenerys Targaryen on Game of Thrones. Is she wearing "too much" makeup? 

Lipstick trends throughout the decades. This stuff is fascinating. 

New Butter London shades for summer 2013!!!

Watch drag queen Ivy Winters transform into her glam self in 50 seconds (edited down from 90 minutes). 

Kirstie Clements, former editor of Vogue Australia, has written a tell-all book about the behind-the-scenes of the fashion glossies. One of the bombshells she reveals is how models starve themselves and some resort to eating tissues to try to make themselves feel full.

Your retro girlfriend, the inimitable Audrey Hepburn, felt that her nose was too big, her breasts were too small and that she was too skinny, a new book reveals.

The eye-brightening white eyeshadow look at Emilio Pucci's Spring Summer 2013 show.

Flare Magazine rounds-up ten eco-friendly, all-Canadian beauty buys, including Lovefresh (pictured above). 

Burlesque queen and retro beauty, Dita von Teese makes her musical debut with English electronic act, Monarchy. Watch the super-sexy video here.