MAC Viva Glam Lipglass in Viva Glam Cyndi and Gaga Preview

M·A·C Viva Glam Lipglass in Viva Glam Gaga and Cyndi

Wham up the GLAM in VIVA GLAM! Ladies and gentlemen, we give you the sensational Cyndi Lauper and the electric Lady Gaga! The uninhibited new voices behind M∙A∙C’s new “From Our Lips” campaign, designed to speak to the challenges women face as the fastest new group affected by HIV/AIDS around the world. The M·A·C AIDS Fund and the VIVA GLAM program are the heart and soul of M·A·C Cosmetics. Established in 1994 to support men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS globally, VIVA GLAM I, II, III, IV, V, and VI were launched as continuous shades and have achieved tremendous success over the years. 


Fall 2010 sees two new Lipglass shades, introduced by our audacious superstars for a limited six months on counter.


Available September 2 in North America!

Viva Glam Lipstick Cyndi
($17.50 CDN/$14.50 US)
Light coral red (lustre)

Viva Glam Lipstick Gaga
($17.50 CDN/$14.50 US)
Light blue pink (lustre)

Viva Glam Cyndi Lipglass
($17.50 CDN/$14.50 US)
Mid-tone dirty coral

Viva Glam Gaga Lipglass
($17.50 CDN/$14.50 US)
Light blue pink

Viva Glam Cyndi Makeup Bag
($33.50 CDN/$28 US)

Viva Glam Gaga Makeup Bag
($33.50 CDN/$28 US)

C&J

LUSTING: UNII Palette

I came across this fantastic product on www.luckypennydaily.com (a good source for lots of fantastic things - check it out!). It's a magnetic palette that you can use to store palettes of all sizes and shapes together. You can use it everyday, for a night out or a weekend away or when you travel. Mix and match your own customized palettes or just use the Unii palette to store your make-up.

This is such a clever idea and one that solves a long-standing problem. How many eyeshadows, blushes and powders do you have in your make-up collection? You DO NOT want to see my make-up case. Luckily I know where everything is (most of the time), but imagine the space you could save with this in your suitcase or purse or overnight bag.

The palette fits almost every brand and multiple-combinations of products.

Learn more here: http://www.uniicosmetics.com/

Unii Palette

C.

Alexa Chung/Indie Chick Eyeliner FOTD

Alexa Chung

Alexa Chung is a British model, television presenter and "IT girl". She's the current host of 'Frock Me', a fashion and music television series. A clip from 'Frock Me' featuring Lily Allen can be seen here:

Silly me, I thought it'd be fun to try to recreate one of Alexa's signature looks. It's become a popular look amongst the young, hip fashion set in London. It's a little rock & roll while still being chic. The silly me part comes in because I'm comparing my face with a model's. Not to mention the 10+ year age difference between us. 

But I did it anyway. This look is very simple but still packs a punch. Her skin looks very natural and fresh, brows are dark and groomed but not overly polished and she's not wearing much else besides eyeliner. The eyeliner is the star of the show though. It's 60s cat eye, punk rock and chicly edgy all at once. What she's done is line both the top and bottom of her eyes with black liquid liner. And that's all she's wearing on her eyes. No eyeshadow, contouring, maybe a touch of highlight on the browbone but that's it.

So here's my recreation.

I'm wearing a bit of foundation and concealer, but only to get rid of my skin's oily sheen and to cover up the redness in my cheeks and t-zone. I used a bit of concealer on my undereye area and on any areas not covered by the foundation. My skin isn't as perfect as Alexa's but then, she's in her 20s and has access to all kinds of skin treatments and products that I don't.

Using an angle brush (MAC) I drew on the eyeliner in a thin line along my lashline to just at the corner of my eye, moving from the inside out. I find it helpful at this point to turn my brush around draw from the outside in. I gently and gradually extended the tail out and slightly up. I went over the outer edge of the liner to thicken it. My eyes are rounder than Alexa's, who has a natural cat eye shape to her eyes. Her eyeliner is thicker all along her lashline, whereas mine starts thin and gets thick. Eyeliner, like any other make-up should suit the eye of the person who's wearing it. 

Underneath my eye I used a very small brush (one I salvaged from my watercolour painting days) to softly brush the eyeliner for a somewhat softer, but still dramatic line. In the photo of Alexa, it appears that her liner stops at about the halfway point beneath her eye but I pulled mine further across. This is more flattering on me since my under eye area is soft and there's quite a bit of my lower waterline showing. If I were to wear this look out I would likely use black pencil liner on my waterline.

Ooops, mascara smears on my eyelid.

I used black mascara on my upper lashes only. I have pretty full lower lashes and adding mascara to them would take away from the strong line of the eyeliner. My bare lashes alone aren't ideal for this look, but there's nothing I can do about them. 

I used no blush or highlight and on my lips is a sheer, shiny lipstick (MAC Plink!).

Here's what I used:

Thin artist's brush and MAC 263 - wet from washing.

MAC Fluidline in Blacktrak

Maybelline Great Lash in Blackest Black

MAC Plink! (Lustre)

MAC Plink! (Lustre) swatched

I'm not sure what I think of this look on me. I love the idea of it but it's a bit harsh on me, particularly with the liquid liner under my eye. I might rock it on a night out with some added black liner on my waterline and some shimmer on my cheeks. 

This look could be done with eyeshadow for a softer look and with other colours such as brown, grey, purple, green or blue for a different effect. Black is always the choice to achieve chic and dramatic though. 

What do you think? Do you love this look?

C.

MAC Fabulous Felines Superslick Liquid Eyeliner Review and Swatches

This fall, statement making eyeliner was all over the catwalks. MAC's highly anticipated fall collection - Fabulous Felines, delivers a new product designed to make those runway looks achieveable at home. The Superslick Liquid Eyeliner is a waterbased formula which applies with a firm pointed dense foam applicator. These are a LE product ($21.00 CA/ 17.50 US).

Available in nine highly pigmented shades, this liner is unique in that even when dry, it has a slighty shiny, wet look. Photos taken in natural light, NC 42 skin.

Superslick Eyeliners (l to r): Treat Me Nice, Desires & Devices,

Defiantly Feline, Smoky Heir and Nocturnal

Superslick Eyeliners (l to r): Signature Blue, Marked for Glamour,

Pure Show and On the Hunt

General Comments

The best features of these liners are their intense colour and pigmentation, long wear and ease of application. I also love the glossy finish and the wide variety of shades. However, my main and somewhat large reservation with this product is the consistency of the formula and drying time. On MAC's website they claim that these liners dry in 15 seconds. When I tested these in the store I found they took at least 2-3 minutes to dry. As well, their consistency is very watery, which means while they are drying they are more prone to smudging and running. It also means that having an excess of product on the applicator could be an issue. I would suggest users have a hairdryer set on cool nearby to speed up the process (sounds silly but it works!). Either that or practice your meditation while waiting for one, then the other eyelid to dry!

My picks out of the bunch are Treat Me Nice, Desires & Devices, Smoky Heir, Signature Blue and On the Hunt.

What are yours?

J

MAC Nail Trend F/W '10 Preview

Nail Trend F/W ‘10

Mistress of the art of the sophisticated nail, Jin Soon was inspired this season by the sensual pleasures of the Forbidden City for Nail Trend F/W ’10 – colours taken from the sculptures, tiles, architecture, fabrics, and decorative papers of Imperial China. Jin synthesized this vision to arrive at a collection in exotic and ravishing combinations of orange, blue, taupe, green, purple and, of course, lacquer red. These hues are opaque and rich with pearl essences for a subtle dimension. Six must-have shades will be sold with our top coat Overlacquer to finish off the manicured look.

Nail lacquers are all Frosts and are priced at $15.50 CDN/$13 US. They will be available in North America on August 28th and internationally in October 2010.

MAC Overlacquer

Earthly Harmony
Muted taupe with sophisticated copper shimmer

Imperial Flower
Bright reddish orange with gold and red shimmer

Ming Blue
Cobalt blue with sophisticated teal and red shimmer

Jade Dragon
Emerald green with sophisticated teal shimmer

Concubine
Blackened red with sophisticated red shimmer

Rain of Flowers
Blackened violet with sophisticated violet shimmer

C&J

Fabulous Felines - Burmese Beauty - The LOOK!

HOW-TO TIPS BY AMBER DREADON

This look is all about drawing attention to your eyes. Soft textures, and rich dark eye shadows blended and buffed with a few M·A·C brushes, can create the wild drama and soft allure of the feline.

First, prep the skin with a generous spritz of Fix+ Spray; then gently massage Studio Moisture Cream over the entire face.

Apply Studio Sculpt SPF 15 Foundation with a 190 Foundation Brush, so the skin appears radiant and flawless. Buff a small amount of Studio Sculpt Concealer over areas that need extra coverage (around the eyes, blemishes, etc). Set everything in place with Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder and a 129 Powder/ Blush Brush.

The Soft Meow Blush is our contouring shade. With a 168 Large Angled Contour Brush, start just under the cheekbone and close to the ear and sweep the brush following under the cheekbone. Use the same brush again (slightly dusted off) with Prized Eye Shadow just above the cheekbone for a sheer highlight.

Brows are slightly extended using a 266 Small Angled Brush with Showstopper Eye Shadow and then combed up using Clear Brow Set. This perfect brow will help enlarge the eyes.

Use Prized Eye Shadow to highlight the eye area. With a 224 Tapered Blending Brush, lightly dust the colour from the eyelid to the brow bone to create a sheer colour wash. Then, using a 239 Eye Shader Brush, swipe Skintone 2 Eye Shadow solidly onto the eyelid.

Create over-exaggerated eye lines above and below the eye by applying a line of On the Hunt Superslick Liquid Eye Liner.

To soften the edges, apply Showstopper Eye Shadow to the side of the 239 Brush Shader, and blend the two shades together. You need only a small amount of Showstopper Eye Shadow on the top of the 219 Pencil Brush, to add depth to the outer crease of the eye, and also to create a shadow on the inner corners of the eyes.

With precision, cleanly line the lash line using On the Hunt Superslick Liquid Eye liner. Follow this by curling the lashes and applying a generous amount of Plush Lash Plushblack to the top lashes only.

Enlarge lips artfully with Velvetella Cremestick Liner; use on the outer corners and blended inward using the 316 Lip Brush. Layer To Pamper Lipstick over the pencil, again using the 316. The whole look is then finished with a dash of Spree Lipglass on the centre of the lip.

* to see the Burmese Beauty products, click here.

C&J

Fabulous Felines - Leopard Luxe - The LOOK!

HOW-TO TIPS BY KERI BLAIR

This mix of warm tones and velvety finishes captures the sensual side of feline characteristics. Sultry browns softly sculpt the eye, and by extending the shape, we create a feline-inspired look that’s both powerful and playful. Finish with a sweetly dramatic lip.

Before you start with colour, prep skin with Fix + and Studio Moisture Fix, followed by a small amount of Prep + Prime Face Protect SPF 50 in the T-zone.

Smooth the lips with Lip Conditioner.

For colour, start with the eyes using Teddy Eye Kohl to line the upper and lower lash lines. Using the tip of the pencil, start at the end of the bottom lash line and wing the liner up to create the template for your liner. Smudge the Teddy pencil slightly around the eye.

With the 239 Eye Shader Brush, apply Style Predator on the inner corner of the eyelid and blend towards the middle of the lid.

Flip over your brush and apply Old Gold Pigment to the center of the eyelid, layering it over the base colour of Style Predator.

Using the 217 Blending Brush, apply Wild by Nature into the crease of your eye. Start in the inner corner and work up into the eyebrow, then follow the natural shape of your crease and pull out the colour to your eyebrow.

In the outer corner, use the 219 Pencil Brush and apply Notoriety to the outer corner of the eye in the same shape of a cat’s eye (blend this over the Wild by Nature).

Use Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light under your brow and pull down.

Using the 266 Small Angle Brush, apply Embark Eye Shadow as eye liner, keeping it tight to your lash line and winging out over the Teddy Eye Kohl.

Then, to intensify your liner, use On the Hunt Superslick Liquid Liner in the outer corner of your wing!

Lastly, apply two coats of Plush Black Mascara to the top and bottom lashes. Use the brush to extend your top lashes out and up!

Clean up any debris around your eyes with Fast Response Eye Cream and a sponge.

Using the 187 Duo Fibre Brush, apply Mineralize Satinfinish SPF 15 Foundation. Set with a light powder of Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder.

Apply Utterly Game Mineralize Blush with a 116 Blush Brush. Start close to the ear, and then using circular motions, move the colour over the cheeks, towards the nose.

Blot off the Lip Conditioner and lightly outline, then fill, your lips with Creamola Cremestick Liner. Finish off with an application of On The Prowl lipstick.

To see the Leopard Luxe products, click here.

C&J

Fabulous Felines - Palace Pedigreed - The LOOK!

HOW-TO TIPS BY LYNE DESNOYERS

A feline’s gaze is glamorous and hypnotic – but can be graphically interpreted via an Eye Liner against muted shades of nudes and lavender. No need to default to the classic “cat’s eye.” This is new, modern, and flatters all bone structures!

Your starting point is fresh-looking, luminous skin. Apply Mineralize SPF 15 Foundation/Loose with a 109 Small Contour Brush. Use a circular motion on the outer part of the face and a dabbing motion where you need more coverage. If you have any imperfections, use Studio Sculpt Concealer with a 252 Large Shader Brush, then blend it into the skin until it disappears.

Dust the entire lid with Eye Shadow in Courtly. For a smooth application, use the 217 Blending Brush. Over this, apply Quite Spoiled Eye Shadow with the 230 Brush. Best coverage will be achieved if you use a dabbing motion.

Next, mix a little bit of Quite Spoiled and Kid Eye Shadows with a 224 Tapered Blending Brush and sweep gently into the crease of your eyes. The idea is to create skin tone-coloured shadow that provides soft definition but not a defined line.

Now, for the drama. Using the 266 Small Angle Brush, take Blacktrack Fluidline and draw a little “check mark” on the outer corner of your eyes. This mark should follow the line of your lash line and your brow bone. Make sure you keep your black line at the first quarter on the crease. Fill in this “check mark” with the Blacktrack and intensify it with Russian Blue Eye Shadow, using the same 266 brush. The combination of the two will give a very nice, velvety look.

Eyes like the above look best on a face with some definition. Here, we use Pet Me Blush dusted on the apples of the cheeks, while the cheekbones are sculpted with Taupe Blush. The 116 Blush Brush can be used for both applications.

Lips are defined with Beurre Lip Liner and then blended with a 316 Lip Brush. Once again, the idea is not to create a line but to shape and shade the lips. Superior Lipstick should be applied with a brush and then given a grand finale with a lush application of Docile Lipglass.

To see the Palace Pedigreed products, click here.

*I LOVE the eyeshadow shape on this look! 

- C.

Fabulous Felines Burmese Beauty Preview

Shades of sable, champagne and teak-olive, the Burmese is saucer-eyed and sensually compelling, prized for her sophistication and intelligence but woefully ill-equipped for the real world - should should never be let outside!

Luxury, pampering, excess — all attend the Burmese in her indulgent glory.

A colour collection that celebrates the well-cared-for, and exalts in her high-borne right to be spoiled...she knows how to get what she wants.

She’s a creature of luxury, and should be treated as such.

Cremestick Liner  ($17.50 CDN/$14.50 US)
Velvetella 
(Blackened plum)

Burmese Beauty Eyeshadow Palette ($43 CDN/$36 US)
Burmese Beauty (Frosted brown green (Lustre))
Showstopper (Deep blackened brown (Matte))
Prized (Pale yellow beige (Satin))
Skintone 2 (Dirty gold (Frost))

Lipglass ($17.50 CDN/$14.50 US)
Fancy Cat 
(Dark dirty brown with pearl)

Lipgloss ($17.50 CDN/$14.50 US)
Jealous 
(Light dirty green with pearl)

Lipglass ($17.50 CDN/$14.50 US)

Spree 

(Pink champagned taupe)

Lipstick ($17.50 CDN/$14.50 US)
Kittenish 
(Deep Berry Red (Cremesheen))

Lipstick ($17.50 CDN/$14.50 US)
Liquid Lurex 
(Light yellow green with dazzle multipearl (Dazzle))

Lipstick ($17.50 CDN/$14.50 US)
Pet Me Please 
(Frosted light dirty mauve (Frost))

Lipstick ($17.50 CDN/$14.50 US)
To Pamper 
(Creamy mid-tone taupe (Lustre))

Mineralize Blush ($25 CDN/$21 US)
The Soft Meow 
(Mid-tone golden bronze with soft pearl (Frost))

Pigment ($23.50 CDN/$19.50 US)
Antique Green
(Turquoise green with green pearl (Frost))

Pigment ($23.50 CDN/$19.50 US)
Gold Stroke
(High-frosted tarnished gold (Frost))

Plush Lash Mascara ($16.50 CDN/$14 US)
Black

Superslick Liquid Eyeliner ($21 CDN/$17.50 US)
Defiantly Feline
(Chocolate brown with soft pearl)

Superslick Liquid Eyeliner ($21 CDN/$17.50 US)
Treat Me Nice
(Emerald green with soft pearl)

Burmese Beauty Make-up Bag ($30 CDN/$25 US)
Felt cosmetic bag with faux leather trim

For the Burmese Beauty look, click here.

So what do you think? Does anything from this collection jump out at you? What do you think of the new superslick liners? 

Let us know what you want and what you're picking up!

C&J