MAC Cosmetics Star Trek (Review, Swatches & Look)

July 27, 2016Makeup, Reviews, SwatchesMACChelle

MAC Star Trek

Guys… this is pretty exciting! Several months ago, we all found out that there was going to be a MAC x Star Trek collection, but details were (and still are) a bit scarce. The whole collection was premiered at San Diego Comic Con, but it doesn’t launch online till August 25th and in stores on September 1st.

The timing of this collection coincides not only with the movie that was just released, but also with Star Trek‘s 50th anniversary (which is the “50” you see emblazoned on the insignia). My husband and I have also been watching/rewatching all of the movies over from the beginning over the last year, so my interest in this collection is piqued even more than normal for a MAC collection!

All items in the collection feature the usual matte black MAC packaging, but they’re also layered with the silver insignia.

MAc Star Trek - even in the inside packaging matches! — MAc Star Trek – even in the inside packaging matches!

Even the interior design of the packaging matches!

MAC Star Trek - Pressed Pigment in Bird of Prey — MAC Star Trek – Pressed Pigment in Bird of Prey

On to the products! I’ve got a pressed pigment in Bird of Prey. At first glance, I thought this was a black with gold sparkle (the lighting in my office is bad, okay?) – but it is not! It’s a very, VERY deep green with a black base and some gold sparkle.

I’ve only used a few other pressed pigments by MAC before and they were ALL a disaster. We’re talking Fallout City, crumbling everywhere, etc. I can thankfully report that this pressed pigment behaved like none of the others. It felt smooth when I stuck my brush in it and applied to the lid nicely as well. Pigmentation is good, but you will need to apply a few layers to get full opacity.

MAC Star Trek - Pressed Pigment in Bird of Prey - swatch — MAC Star Trek – Pressed Pigment in Bird of Prey – swatch

MAC Star Trek - Frost Lipstick in LLAP — MAC Star Trek – Frost Lipstick in LLAP

The item that intrigued me the most was the lipstick in LLAP (Live Long and Prosper).

LLAP is a frost which is a finish I haven’t worn in years (I’m thinking back to the 90s and wearing MAC‘s Gel…).

As I was photographing this product, it finally clicked for me what this shade was. LLAP is a true rose gold FOR YOUR LIPS.

MAC Star Trek - Frost Lipstick in LLAP - swatch — MAC Star Trek – Frost Lipstick in LLAP – swatch

Swatching it confirmed the rose gold hues and I was so, so curious to see how it would look on my lips.

MAC Star Trek - Frost Lipstick in LLAP - lip swatch — MAC Star Trek – Frost Lipstick in LLAP – lip swatch

There are full shots of my face later in the post, but I was astonished with how oddly flattering I found this shade. I never thought I needed or wanted to wear a rose gold hue on my lips and certainly not in a frost finish lipstick… but you know what? I’m sold. I love this. I cannot wait to show LLAP some love and wear that bullet down!

MAC Star Trek - False Lashes in Wink of an Eye — MAC Star Trek – False Lashes in Wink of an Eye

That beautiful pair of lashes you see right there are called Wink of an Eye. I can’t seem to find these lashes on MAC‘s site, so they don’t seem to be a permanent product repackaged. These lashes have a thick band and are swept sideways which gives a bit of a cartoon-like slow lash wink to the outer corners of your eyes. I especially love how there are bright blue lashes in the mix with the usual black. It adds for quite a bit of intrigue when I looked back on my photos.

Sadly, I found the last band too thick and firm. It was causing the lashes to want to straighten out no matter how much (or how little) glue I used. I did wrap them around my makeup brush for a few minutes before applying them, but I would suggest that if you want to wear these for a long period of time, wrap them around your makeup brush handle, clamp it in place and let it stay that way overnight to put some solid curve into that stiff band.

MAC Star Trek - Superslick Liquid Eye Liner in On The Hunt — MAC Star Trek – Superslick Liquid Eye Liner in On The Hunt

MAC‘s usual Super Slick Liquid Eye Liner in On The Hunt has been repackaged for this collection.

I was unfamiliar with this formula, but I’m telling you now… this thing can last through anything. MAC‘s site says it’s a water-based, water-resistant liquid liner that’s quick and precise to apply. Yes to all of the above, but I have to say, this thing is MORE than water-resistant. I had one heck of an impressive time getting this off my eyes when I was done my look. Even rubbing the swatch off my arm proved its impressive longevity. Need something bulletproof for your eyes? Give this one a shot!

MAC Star Trek - Superslick Liquid Eye Liner in On The Hunt - swatch — MAC Star Trek – Superslick Liquid Eye Liner in On The Hunt – swatch

On The Hunt does have a bit of a sheen, so if you’re looking for something purely matte, this isn’t the one you’d want to pick up.

MAC Star Trek Look

This makeup look will be coming to my YouTube channel ~~tomorrow~~ – here it is! but for now, I hope the pictures will suffice! For those curious, I have Bird of Prey all over my lid, I created the wing with On The Hunt, I’m wearing the Wink of an Eye false lashes, and the LLAP lipstick is on my lips. 🙂

MAC Star Trek - up close — MAC Star Trek – up close

I also have an additional post on the Trip the Light Fantastic Powder in Strange New Worlds that’s just been posted!

So how about you? Are you excited for this MAC Star Trek collection? Let me know!

The products featured in this post were sent to me by PR for review.

VIDEO: Mermaid Eyes Makeup Tutorial

July 26, 2016Makeup, Tutorials, YouTubeChelle

What’s On My Face – Volume 47

July 25, 2016MakeupBECCA, Bourjois, Clinique, Hourglass, House of Lashes, Joe Fresh, Kat Von D, Lit Cosmetics, MAC, Make Up For Ever, Makeup Geek, Marc Jacobs, Maybelline, Mehron, NYX, Physicians Formula, Revlon, Stila, Sugarpill, Tarte, Too Faced, Urban Decay, Violet Voss, Wet n WildChelle

I’ve only just realized that this is going to be a very heavy “makeup posting” week! I’ve got a What’s On My Face post for you today, a makeup tutorial up on YouTube tomorrow and then a “Totally Cute Challenge Week” on Friday. So if you’re looking for inspiration, hopefully you’ll find something you like on here this week. 🙂

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Even though I had picked it up aaaages ago at IMATS New York, I hadn’t yet had the opportunity to play with my Mehron Fire palette. The look came out pretty nicely, but they were HUGELY benefited by a white, sticky base.

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Eyes
I first applied NYX’s Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Milk as a base, then:

MAC Cork
Mehron Inferno
Mehron Hot Pink
Mehron Purple Heat
MAC Blanc Type

I created the wing with MAC‘s Blacktrack fluidline and applied Too Faced Better Than Sex waterproof mascara to my lashes.

Face

Foundation: Revlon Colorstay liquid in 200 Nude
Blush: Hourglass Diffused Heat
Highlighter: MAC Soft & Gentle
Lips: Tarte Lip Quench in Rose

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More playing around with my IMATS goodies!

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Eyes
(all from the Violet Voss Holy Grail palette)

Transition
Toffee
How U Doin
Wine N Dine
Teddy Bear
Crystal
Thanks A Latte

I created the wing with Kat Von D‘s Tattoo Liner in Trooper and tightlined both water lines with Marc Jacobs’ Highliner Gel Crayon in Blacquer. I coacted my lashes with Maybelline Lash Sensational Luscious Full Fan Effect mascara and applied a pair of House of Lashes Au Naturale falsies.

Face

Foundation: BECCA Aqua Luminous Perfecting Foundation in Fair
Blush: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Luminous Flush
Bronzer: Joe Fresh Sand Bronzer
Highlighter: MAC Whisper of Gilt
Lips: Wet n Wild Cherry Picking

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I did this one as a guest post for Zoe over on Writing Whimsy in June! She asked for “purple” and I just went hogwild with it.

201606_forzoe_purple_openeye 201606_forzoe_purple_eyemap

Eyes

Makeup Geek Peach Smoothie through the top of the crease.
Makeup Geek Blacklight all over the lid.
Makeup Geek Masquerade on the outer half of the lid.
Makeup Geek Drama Queen on the outer corner to deepen it up.
Makeup Geek Vanilla Bean and White lies mixed together on the brow bone.
Makeup Geek Phantom on the inner corner.

I lined the outer half of my lash line with Makeup Geek Masquerade and then applied Lit Cosmetics’ Disco Diva glitter to the inner half and painted it into a thin point (I used Lit’s glitter adhesive to get it to stick). I created the wing with Kat Von D’s Tattoo Liner in Trooper and tightlined my waterlines with Marc Jacobs’ Highliner Gel Crayon in Blacquer. I applied Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof mascara to my lashes and popped on a pair of Bombshell lashes by Houses of Lashes.

Face

Foundation: Make Up For Ever Ultra HD liquid in Y225
Bronzer: Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer in Bronze
Blush: Urban Decay Bittersweet
Highlighter: BECCA Pearl
Lips: Too Faced Unicorn Tears

201607_womfvol47_look3.1

I did this look for a YouTube tutorial back in March. At the time I thought I was going to be able to cross post every makeup tutorial I did on there to on here… and it looks like that won’t be possible, but here’s that looks regardless!

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Eyes

BECCA Ombre Rouge shade #3
BECCA Ombre Rouge shade #4
BECCA Ombre Rouge shade #2
BECCA Ombre Rouge shade #1
BECCA Ombre Rouge shade #5

I created the wing with Make Up For Ever‘s Ink Liner and applied Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara to my lashes. I’m also wearing a pair of Bombshell lashes by House of Lashes.

Face

Primer: Make Up For Ever Step 1 Radiant Pink Primer
Foundation: BECCA Aqua Luminous Perfecting foundation in Fair
Bronzer: Bourjois Delice de Poudre
Blush: BECCA Flowerchild
Highlighter: BECCA Champagne Pop
Lips: I lined my lips with MAC‘s Boldly Bare lip pencil first, then filled them in with MAC Brave with MAC Shy Girl on top

201607_womfvol47_look4.1

Annnnd more products I got from IMATS New York. Eesh, I had no idea how IMATS heavy this post was going to be!

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Eyes
I first applied NYX‘s Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Milk as a base, then:

Sugarpill Flamepoint
Sugarpill Mochi
Sugarpill Velocity
Sugarpill 2AM
MAC Blanc Type

I created the wing with MAC‘s Blacktrack fluidline and applied Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof mascara to my lashes.

Face

Primer: Joe Fresh Illuminating Primer in Pure Glow
Foundation: Clinique Chubby in the Nude in Intense Ivory
Blush: Stila Convertible Color in Peach Blossom
Bronzer: MAC Refined Golden
Highlighter: Too Faced Candelight Warm Glow
Lips: Clinique Pop Glaze in Licorice Pop

Swatch Sunday: tarte Rainforest of the Sea

July 24, 2016Makeup, SwatchesTarteChelle

tarte Rainforest of the Sea palette

tarte’s Rainforest of the Sea collection was a huuuuge hit online and in stores. So much so, that I can’t seem to find this palette available any longer on Sephora’s site, neither in Canada nor the US!

The sad fact is that I had planned to do a full face makeup look using several products from the limited edition collection… but this palette never came back in stock so I was never really sure if there was a point in doing a look if no one could actually get their hands on this product. It’s still on Sephora’s site… but it’s been out of stock for over a month now. 🙁

So instead I’ll leave you with pretty pictures and swatches. (And if they ever do restock it, get it quickly, because this thing sold out FAST!)

tarte Rainforest of the Sea Swatches

The product featured in this post was sent to me for consideration.

Skincare Saturday: Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Weightless + Ultra Radiance After Sun

July 23, 2016Reviews, SkincareHawaiian TropicChelle

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I’ve been an absolute sucker for Hawaiian Tropic suncare ever since my friend introduced me to the brand a few years back. Why did I become so entranced by it? Well, frankly, it’s entirely because the fact that if you buy the “Ultra Radiance” version of their sunscreens, you get glorious freaking SHIMMER particles in it! Sunscreen isn’t the most fun thing to wear, but we gotta do it so we can:

avoid the painful lobster look,
avoid getting skin cancer, and;
keep our skin looking youthful!

So if we’re going to wear sunscreen, we might as well have a little fun with it!

Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Weightless (SPF 30)

New for 2016 is Hawaiian Tropic’s Silk Hydration Weightless which comes in SPF 15, 30 and 50. It’s intended to be a “barely there” sunscreen lotion which has a dual-ribbon formula that combines strong protection from the sun alongside 12 hours of moisturization.

Right off the bat, I can tell you that I love this product. I love that it has a pump top because I’m so DONE with squeezy sunscreen tubes that get soooo gooped up. The pump even does that “push the product up from the bottom thing” so you’re not left trying to bang the open container against your hand when you’re trying to get the remaining drops out. I am more than happy to report that the Silk Hydration Weightless formula smells identical to Hawaiian Tropic‘s regular lineup of sunscreens – yay!

This sunscreen does have a lightweight feel, but since I definitely glob my sunscreen on, it still FEELS like sunscreen to me. This one is water resistant, not waterproof like the original Hawaiian Tropic sunscreens. Not a problem in general, but something to be aware of if you plan to use this on beach or pool days where you may be getting wet. I wore this all over my face and body last weekend for soccer in roughly 30 degree heat and it didn’t sweat off which was a HUGE relief since I’ve used a few sunscreens that have seeped into my eyes while playing and it’s hell on earth when that happens. I also didn’t burn or excessively tan either! Winner!

The other new product I’ve got my hands on is the Ultra Radiance After Sun which is an ultra-conditioning moisturizer that soothes, softens and leaves your skin radiant. The Ultra Radiance formula is the one with the shimmer particles in it which are light reflecting mica minerals – they’re very, VERY subtle in this bottle though. I didn’t feel they were nearly as strong as the ones in the sunscreens I’ve had in the past (which is probably a pro for most people!).

The scent on this one is “Island Mango” which smells just as beachy and summery as you would expect with a name like that! Although it’s labeled as an After Sun, what I learned by looking at the ingredients on the back is that this doesn’t actually contain aloe vera. I checked the other After Suns had in my closet and it honestly seemed to be 50/50 on whether or not the products had aloe in them (was a surprise to me, I always thought After Sun meant that it contained aloe vera!). While this the After Sun is soothing and hydrating, if you’re looking for something that contains aloe, this isn’t the one for you.

I’ve seen Hawaiian Tropic at just about every drugstore in Canada, and you can buy it online at ulta.com if you’re in the USA.

The products featured in this review were sent to me review.