MAC Reel Sexy Preview

RSVP now for a private screening starring an iconic model as big as anyone who’s ever graced the screen:  Kristen McMenamy, photographed and filmed by Miles Aldridge.  What is she watching as she laughs, cries and sits mesmerized in a surreal cinema where popcorn is pink, fingernails fierce and the wardrobe minimal?  Obviously, it’s REEL SEXY.  Miss McMenamy’s bright, bold and brilliant look features a colour collection of enigmatic Eye Shadow Duos, Vivid Lipstick, Creamsheen Glass, Eye Kohl, Powder Blush, Lighscapade Mineralize Skinfinish, Nail Lacquer and Zoom Lash.

Cremesheen Glass in Cinestyle
Mid-tone blue grey violet
$22.50 CDN/$14.50 US

Cremesheen Glass in Colour Saturation
Dark cool wine
$22.50 CDN/$14.50 US

Cremesheen Glass in Private Screening
Mid-tone peach
$22.50 CDN/$14.50 US

Cremesheen Glass in Star Quality
Bright orange coral
$22.50 CDN/$14.50 US

Eye Kohl in Heirloom
A highly metallicized greyed lavender
$18 CDN/$15 US

Eye Kohl in Hyacinth
Dirtied mid-tone blue
$18 CDN/$15 US

Eye Kohl in Resort
Deep amethyst plum
$18 CDN/$15 US

Eye Kohl in Smolder
Intense black
$18 CDN/$15 US

Lipstick in Heroine
Bright violet/purple (matte)
$17.50 CDN/$14.50 US

Lipstick in Pink Popcorn
Lavender (lustre)
$17.50 CDN/$14.50 US

Lipstick in Watch Me Simmer
Bright pink-orange (amplified)
$17.50 CDN/$14.50 US

Lipstick in Reel Sexy
Light bright coral (amplified)
$17.50 CDN/$14.50 US

Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade
Soft candlelit beige with multi-dimensional shimmer
$33.50 CDN/$28 US

Nail Lacquer in In the Dark...Purple
Vivid violet (creme)
$18 CDN/$15 US

Nail Lacquer in Screening Room
Bright mid-tone teal (creme)
$18 CDN/$15 US

Nail Lacquer in Vivid Effect
Light bright coral (creme)
$18 CDN/$15 US

Powder Blush in Magenta
Bright magenta (matte)
$24 CDN/$20 US

Powder Blush in Pink Cult
Mid-tone dirty neutral pink (matte)
$24 CDN/$20 US

Pro Palette Eyeshadow X2
Dynamic Duo 1
Coral with yellow pearl (veluxe pearl) and clean purple (matte)
$33 CDN/$27.50 US

Pro Palette Eyeshadow X2
Dynamic Duo 2
Violet duochrome with pearl and clean violet (matte)
$33 CDN/$27.50 US

Pro Palette Eyeshadow X2
Dynamic Duo 3
Dirty-toned purple (veluxe pearl) and teal blue (matte)
$33 CDN/$27.50 US

Pro Palette Eyeshadow X2
Dynamic Duo 4
Mid-tone pink (satin) and blackened violet (matte)
$33 CDN/$27.50 US

Zoom Lash Mascara in Zoomblack
Rich black
$18 CDN/$15 US

MAC Prime Future Preview

M·A·C PRIME FUTURE

For Spring, we are introducing two all-over face Primers. Prep + Prime Moisture Infusion saturates skin with a concentrated boost of hydration, making it a unique hybrid between skincare and priming. Further upping the ante, the product that quickly became a backstage necessity – Prep + Prime Skin Smoother. A velvety, skin-perfecting Primer that instantly fills in fine lines and wrinkles, while softening the skin. Comes in a convenient compact for all your on-the-go moments.

Prep + Prime Moisture Infusion
$48 CDN/$40 US

Prep + Prime Skin Smoother
$36.50 CDN/$30 US

MAC In Extra Dimension Preview

M·A·C IN EXTRA DIMENSION

Introducing a NEW liquid-powder hybrid formula with prismatic reflections that instantly sculpts, highlights and models the face to the desired effect – In Extra Dimension. Two formulas to try: the three shades of Extra Dimension Skinfinish and the ten shimmering tints of Extra Dimension Eye Shadow. This cool, creamy, silky, near-fluid formula creates a luminous, visually arresting, well-defined finish.

Available in North America on April 5, 2012.

Eyeshadow in Blue Orbit
Light iridescent purple (metallic)
$24 CDN/$20 US

Eyeshadow in Dark Dare
Charcoal black (glow)
$24 CDN/$20 US

Eyeshadow in Grand Galaxy
Dirty mid-tone violet
$24 CDN/$20 US

Eyeshadow in Havana
Dirty copper brown (metallic)
$24 CDN/$20 US

Eyeshadow in Lunar
Royal blue (metallic)
$24 CDN/$20 US

Eyeshadow in Modern Pewter
Dirty olive green (metallic)
$24 CDN/$20 US

Eyeshadow in Rich Core
Dirty aubergine (metallic)
$24 CDN/$20 US

Eyeshadow in Sweet Heat
Bright peach champagne (metallic)
$24 CDN/$20 US

Eyeshadow in Warm Thunder
Dirty silver grey (metallic)
$24 CDN/$20 US

Eyeshadow in Young Venus
Pale white pink (metallic)
$24 CDN/$20 US

Skinfinish in Glorify
Copper with golden shimmer
$33.50 CDN/$28 US

Skinfinish in Superb
Soft peachy nude with multi-dimension shimmer
$33.50 CDN/$28 US

Skinfinish in Whisper of Gilt
Light, soft white gold with shimmery sheen
$33.50 CDN/$28 US

Also available, but not pictured:

Brushes:

128 Split Fibre Cheek Brush 

$38.50 CDN/$32 US 

234 Split Fibre Eye Blending Brush

$27 CDN/$22.50 US

Beauty Squared Round-Up April 1st, 2012

Check out this must-see beauty stuff B2 has stumbled on over the last little while.

Look at how Barbie has evolved over the years, reflecting fashion and beauty trends. 

Do you know who this goofy bathing beauty is? You know her name, I promise but I bet you can't guess. Click through to find out who it is. 

OCC has released their Spring/Summer 2012 colour collection. Six new lip tars, five new loose colour concentrates, one new cosmetic glitter, six new nail lacquers and new lip tar and nail lacquer packaging.

I absolutely love the MAC Artist instructional videos. Check out Jennifer C's false lash video, Caitlin C's brow video, Tiffany J's contouring videos and many more on the MAC website.

A pair of the legendary Marie Antoinette's slippers were auctioned off recently in France, going for 43,225 euros, or $57,336 US. 

Television channel ABC won't air Madonna's Truth or Dare fragrance commercial unless her breasts and bottom are digitally covered up. You can watch the unedited version on YouTube here. 

American Apparel has created a line of lip gloss to supplement their nail polish collection. There are nine shades, with focus on natural and nude hues to coordinate with their pre-teen sexpot aesthetic.

Happy surfing!

Essie Matte About You Matte Finisher Review and Swatches

Nail polish and shiny go together hand-in-hand. Who knew there was anything other than shiny nail polish? Who knew that anything other than shiny nail polish would look good?

But along came the matte nail polish trend. You can buy matte nail polish colours or matte top coats to mattify any nail polish colour.

I picked up Essie's Matte About You matte finisher to try out the trend.

You simply apply Matte About You as you would a top coat. Within a few seconds it clouds over, mattifying your colour. It's a lot of fun to watch!

Here is Butter London's Wallis on my nails, pre-Matte About You.

And here is my manicure after applying Matte About You. Cool, right? I love how antique a colour Wallis becomes with the matte topcoat. 

More photos. 

I'm completely smitten with the effect of Matte About You. Matte nails look a little cooler, a little edgier and they definitely set you apart.


Check out some of the cool effects you can do with a matte top coat here. 


However, as a top coat, Matte About You fails for me. It doesn't really prolong the wear of my polish at all. 


Who else loves matte top coats? What creative manicures have you created with it?


C.

Origins Starting Over Age-Erasing Moisturizer with Mimosa Review

Origins Starting Over Age-Erasing Moisturizer with Mimosa ($46 US, 1.7 oz/50 mL) is touted as a moisturizer that'll help to decrease the appearance of aging. It claims to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and rebuild collagen in the skin.

Here's what the Origins website has to say:

94% saw a significant reduction in the appearance of lines and wrinkles.

This moisturizer with Mimosa, Argan leaf and Green algae helps to rebuild collagen, repair visible lines and improves skin texture and tone. Skin looks and feels measurably younger from day one.

I used this moisturizer almost every night until it was all gone. I loved it so much. It was the perfect texture and thickness for my skin. In the morning my skin felt hydrated, silky and fresh.

It's definitely a moisturizer I felt better suited to wearing at night just because it was a little on the heavier side. It didn't absorb in as readily as I like day moisturizers to. However, the reverse is true for the colder months. This isn't heavy enough for night but fared me quite well in the day since my skin was tighter and dryer from the cold, dry winter air.

As for the reducing signs of aging, it definitely made my skin softer, firmer, and plumper and healthy-looking so in that way, definitely younger. I don't have much in the way of aging signs to have this make a significant difference but I'd love to hear if it has any affect on skin that does have aging signs. 

I would buy this moisturizer again in a heartbeat. It's one of the nicest moisturizers I've ever used. The fragrance took a little getting used to as it's a bit sharp. I love citrus anything and Origins Starting Over Moisturizer has that orangey scent but it's not quite orange enough, if that makes sense. I wanted a more true orange scent, I guess. But I got used to the sharper citrus scent and that disappointment went away once I realized how fabulous my skin felt with it on.

Has anyone tried this? Do you love it? Hate it?

C.

Sephora + Pantone Colour of the Year = Awesome

Check this out! You've probably heard that Pantone announces what will be the colour of the upcoming year and fashion and beauty trends typically follow suit. Of course when the colour of the year is purple or teal it's a bit tougher to into beauty, but when it's a wearable shade like Tangerine Tango (2012's colour), it translates really well.


Sephora has paired up with Pantone with a collection dedicated to Tangerine Tango. And it's pretty impressive. Take a look!

There's more than these photos show - see the full collection on the Sephora website here. 

To see some swatches, check out The Muse's review of the lipgloss set and these swatch posts here and here.

I'm not an orange lover and it doesn't really look good on me but I'm excited about the quality and pricing of this collection. It bodes well for future Colour of the Year collaborations!

Have any of you seen the collection in person yet? Are you in love? Tell us!

C.