Sunday Video Love: Anklebiters

Paramore released a new music video for their song, "Anklebiters," a few days ago, so you know I had to share it with y'all. It reminds me of pop-punk songs from the '90s — like a mix of Rancid, Letters to Cleo, and early No Doubt — somehow fierce, upbeat, and catchy, all at the same time. Love the message and sentiment behind the song, too; like a reminder to be the best person you can be. Their entire self-titled album has proven that they can push their boundaries as rock musicians with influences from all sorts of genres — everything from soul and gospel to ska and new wave to swing and funk. A lot of bands will maintain the same sound throughout their active years, and while a lot of people have complained that this doesn't sound like "the old Paramore," that's exactly what I like about it.

MAC Tropical Taboo: Cremesheen Glasses

This past Thursday, MAC released a new and limited edition collection in-stores called Tropical Taboo, which is MAC's annual Mineralize launch this year. Tropical Taboo is comprised of two parts, Colour and Face, with a total of 33 products —15 of which are new and limited edition, six of which are re-promotes, ten of which are permanent, one of which is new and permanent, and one of which is a re-promote and now permanent. Tropical Taboo sees the release of four shades of Cremesheen Glass, two of which are new and limited edition, and two of which are re-promotes. MAC's Cremesheen Glass is "a lip finish that fuses the creamy, sheen-filled nature of Cremesheen Lipstick with the shine of MAC Lipglass. Soft, comfortable, non-sticky." They are vanilla-scented but taste-free. Each Cremesheen Glass comes in regular clear packaging with a doe-foot applicator, comes with 2.7 grams of product, and retails for $23. These are not applicable for the Back to MAC recycling program.
Fever Isle, Calypso Beat, Japanese Spring, and Narcissus

Fever Isle is a medium-dark brightened coral-red with gold micro-shimmer. It is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is lightweight and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is brighter and warmer than Double Dare.

Calypso Beat is a light-medium neutral peach with gold micro-shimmer. It is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is lightweight and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is darker and more peach than Boy Bait, and darker and less pink than Double Happiness.

Japanese Spring is a pale cool-toned milky pink. It is a re-promoted shade from 2011's Daphne Guinness collection, and is limited edition. The texture is lightweight and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. Due to the milkiness of the shade, it does have a tendency to settle into lip lines. It has low pigmentation and sheer colour pay-off. It is sheerer than Fashion Scoop, and more pink and less shimmery than Paper Lantern.

Narcissus is a medium-dark brightened magenta-purple. It is a re-promoted shade from 2011's Daphne Guinness collection, and is limited edition. The texture is lightweight and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and nearly opaque colour pay-off. There is nothing similar to this in MAC's permanent range; in terms of colour, it is slightly more purple than Show Orchid Lipstick (PRO), and darker and more purple than Love Forever! Pro Longwear Lipcreme.

Cremesheen Glass is by far my favourite lip gloss formula from MAC for a few reasons — they're non-sticky, ultra-creamy, super-glossy, and are excellent for layering. The major drawback here is the wear-time, which is three hours at most, but that's the only thing that could be improved upon, in my opinion. While they are not touted as moisturizing, they are definitely not drying, and I feel that these keep my lips soft and hydrated — these are by far MAC's most hydrating lip gloss formula. With the exception of Japanese Spring, these shades are more pigmented and have less of a tendency to settle into lip lines than many other Cremesheen Glasses. For those who missed Narcissus from two years ago, here's your chance to pick it up now — it's definitely the most unique shade of Cremesheen Glass I've seen. Fever Isle is a stunning colour for summer, and is a lovely option for those looking for a nice coral gloss. Calypso Beat isn't very unique considering how many of these peachy shades are available in the Cremesheen Glass range now, but it's a seriously universally flattering shade and works incredibly well on all complexions so it's a good option for a nice, natural, and neutral lip gloss. The only skippable shade here is Japanese Spring, as it's nearly colourless and really only adds a slight milkiness to the lips — and even then, it has a tendency to settle into lip lines.

MAC Tropical Taboo: Mineralize Rich Lipsicks

Yesterday, MAC released a new and limited edition collection in-stores called Tropical Taboo, which is MAC's annual Mineralize launch this year. Tropical Taboo is comprised of two parts, Colour and Face, with a total of 33 products —15 of which are new and limited edition, six of which are re-promotes, ten of which are permanent, one of which is new and permanent, and one of which is a re-promote and now permanent. Tropical Taboo sees the release of five shades of Mineralize Rich Lipstick, one of which is new and limited edition, and four of which are permanent. MAC's Mineralize Rich Lipstick is "a luxurious formula and gorgeous colour, enhanced with a 77-Mineral Moist Complex that provides lips with nourishment and lasting hydration. The impact is instant — softer, smoother, more supple lips that are luminous and shiny." Each bullet is made larger at the base and is cut at a steeper angle to give the product more surface area which enables it to lay down more product in one swipe. Like all MAC lipsticks, they are vanilla-scented but taste-free. They are packaged in a black hourglass-shaped case with a magnetic closure. Each Mineralize Rich Lipstick comes with 4 grams of product, and retails for $26. These are not applicable for the Back to MAC recycling program.
Lady at Play, Glamour Era, Luxe Naturale, Divine Choice, and Midnight Mambo

Lady at Play is a medium-dark vibrant reddened coral with a soft sheen in a creamy finish. This is a permanent shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is much softer and more coral than Lady Danger, and less pink than Full Speed Sheen Supreme Lipstick.

Glamour Era is a medium-dark warm peachy-pink brown with a soft sheen in a creamy finish. This is a new permanent shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more pink than Mocha, and much lighter than Retro. 

Luxe Naturale is a light peach-toned beige nude with a soft sheen in a creamy finish. This is a permanent shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is slightly darker than Creme d'Nude, and more peach and more pigmented than Hue. 

Divine Choice is a medium cool-toned bubblegum pink with a soft sheen in a creamy finish. This is a permanent shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is warmer than Pink Nouveau, and darker and much brighter than Speed Dial. 

Midnight Mambo is a medium-dark cool-toned magenta-purple with a soft sheen in a creamy finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is slightly more purple than Show Orchid (PRO), and lighter and more pink than Violetta (PRO).

The Mineralize Rich Lipstick is meant to be MAC's "luxury lipstick" with its soft, lightweight gel-based formula, new sleek tube, and higher price point. And it shows. The moment you swipe this lipstick on, you immediately notice that it's whisper light, soft and creamy, and pigmented to boot. And for the duration of wear, lips actually feel soft and hydrated. Moreover, this formula has a very impressive wear time considering how light and creamy it is; I get an average of five to six hours of wear before needing to re-apply. Now, of the five shades released this collection, Midnight Mambo is the only one that's new and limited edition. It isn't a very new kind of shade for MAC, considering the amount of purple or purple-toned lipsticks they've released over the past year, but the fact that they've released this shade in the Mineralize Rich formula makes it unique. It's the kind of shade that's bright enough to be trendy for summer, but deep enough to bring you right into fall and winter. It does seem slightly sheerer than the other shades in the line-up, having a slight translucency to it and reaching semi-opaque colour pay-off, but it does wear for a good six hours and leaves a stain behind to make the wear appear even longer. If you like your purple-toned lipsticks, this one is definitely worth looking into.

MAC Tropical Taboo: Mineralize Eyeshadows

Today, MAC released a new and limited edition collection in-stores called Tropical Taboo, which is MAC's annual Mineralize launch this year. Tropical Taboo is comprised of two parts, Colour and Face, with a total of 33 products —15 of which are new and limited edition, six of which are re-promotes, ten of which are permanent, one of which is new and permanent, and one of which is a re-promote and now permanent. Tropical Taboo sees the release of six shades of Mineralize Eyeshadow, all of which are new and limited edition. MAC's Mineralize Eyeshadow "provides exceptionally sheer and lightweight application" so that "colour builds lightly, layer after layer, without heavy coverage." They can be used both wet and dry. Each Mineralize Eyeshadow comes in regular black packaging with a clear lid, contains 2 grams of product, and retails for $25.
Clockwise from left: Bossa Blue, Caribbean, and Cha-Cha-Cha
Swatches (dry): Bossa Blue, Caribbean, and Cha-Cha-Cha
Swatches (wet): Bossa Blue, Caribbean, and Cha-Cha-Cha

Bossa Blue is a mélange of medium-dark cerulean blue and medium-dark taupe-brown. When swirled together, it creates a medium-dark taupe-grey with dark silver shimmer-sheen in a frosted finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a silky, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. Due to the nature of the product, it is a bit powdery and there will be some fall-out as a result. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. When used wet, both the colour and the metallic finish become more intense. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is more grey than Satin Taupe, and less brown and more metallic than Copperplate. 

Caribbean is a mélange of light rose pink and medium-dark reddened copper. When swirled together, it creates a medium warm rose pink with copper sparkle in a metallic finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a drier, grittier texture, and goes on fairly patchy and unevenly. Due to the nature of the product, it is a bit powdery and there will be some fall-out as a result. It has medium pigmentation and semi-sheer to semi-opaque buildable colour pay-off. When used wet, both the colour and the metallic finish become more intense. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is more pink than Mythology, and more reddened than Expensive Pink. 

Cha-Cha-Cha is a mélange of medium brightened chartreuse green and dark teal-blue. When swirled together, it creates a medium-dark gunmetal blue with green and blue shimmer-sheen in a metallic finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a silky, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. Due to the nature of the product, it is a bit powdery and there will be some fall-out as a result. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. When used wet, both the colour and the metallic finish become more intense. It can be layered and blended out easily. There is nothing really similar to this in MAC's permanent range; it is lighter and more teal than Knight Divine.

Clockwise from left: Dare to Bare, Time to Tango, and Tropica
Swatches (dry): Dare to Bare, Time to Tango, and Tropica
Swatches (wet): Dare to Bare, Time to Tango, and Tropica

Dare to Bare is a mélange of pale silvered lavender and light golden beige. When swirled together, it creates a light pinked beige with silver shimmer-sheen in a frosted finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a silky, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. Due to the nature of the product, it is a bit powdery and there will be some fall-out as a result. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. When used wet, both the colour and the metallic finish become more intense. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is warmer than Seedy Pearl, and more muted than Phloof!.

Time to Tango is a mélange of medium cool-toned purple and medium warm-toned grey. When swirled together, it creates a medium cool-toned silvered lavender with silver sparkle in a metallic finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a slightly grittier texture, and goes on a bit patchy. Due to the nature of the product, it is a bit powdery and there will be some fall-out as a result. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. When used wet, both the colour and the metallic finish become more intense. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is more silver than Idol Eyes, and darker than Crystal.

Tropica is a mélange of light lilac and light teal-toned silver. When swirled together, it creates a light cool-toned silvered lavender with silver shimmer-sheen in a frosted finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a silky, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. Due to the nature of the product, it is a bit powdery and there will be some fall-out as a result. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. When used wet, both the colour and the metallic finish become more intense. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is more metallic than Crystal, and more silver than Digit.

For those who are looking for intense, pigmented eyeshadows that go on and blend out without any effort, Mineralize Eyeshadows are not for you. Oh, and if you prefer matte eyeshadows, these aren't for you, either. Mineralize Eyeshadows are meant to be buildable and layerable to achieve different opacities, and they all have metallic or shimmery finishes. Because they are baked eyeshadows, they do have a very dry, lightweight feel (as opposed to buttery or dense). Caribbean was the most disappointing shade of the six with an annoyingly gritty texture with a great deal of fall out and a patchy finish. I don't think any of them are necessarily must-haves, but Cha-Cha-Cha is the most unique with a very pretty multi-faceted shimmery finish. I must also note that Mineralize Eyeshadows perform significantly better with a good eye primer and/or an emollient base (e.g. MAC Paint Pot). Those who are fans of Mineralize Eyeshadow should take a look at these to see if there are some new, interesting shades to pick up that they don't already have. Those who don't like Mineralize Eyeshadows can keep walking — these won't change your mind.

MAC Tropical Taboo: Mineralize Blushes

Today, MAC released a new and limited edition collection in-stores called Tropical Taboo, which is MAC's annual Mineralize launch this year. Tropical Taboo is comprised of two parts, Colour and Face, with a total of 33 products —15 of which are new and limited edition, six of which are re-promotes, ten of which are permanent, one of which is new and permanent, and one of which is a re-promote and now permanent. Tropical Taboo sees the release of three shades of Mineralize Blush, all of which are new and limited edition. MAC's Mineralize Blush "provides exceptionally sheer and lightweight application" so that "colour builds lightly, layer after layer, without heavy coverage." Each Mineralize Blush comes in regular black packaging with a clear lid, contains 3.2 grams of product, and retails for $29.50.
Exotic Ember
Simmer
Sweet Samba
Exotic Ember, Simmer, and Sweet Samba

Exotic Ember is a mélange of medium brightened orange and dark bronze-brown. When swirled together, it creates a dark warm bronze-brown with gold shimmer-sheen in a frosted finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, silky, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is darker and more brown than Love Joy, warmer than Sweet as Cocoa Powder Blush, and less golden than Format Powder Blush.

Simmer is a mélange of light peachy gold and dark burnt cranberry red. When swirled together, it creates a medium-dark vibrant coral-pink with gold shimmer-sheen in a frosted finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, silky, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is more pink than Gleeful, warmer than Dollymix Powder Blush, and darker and more pink than Fleur Power Powder Blush.

Sweet Samba is a mélange of light-medium golden tan and medium-dark fuchsia pink. When swirled together, it creates a medium-dark cool-toned raspberry pink with a pearlized sheen in a frosted finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, silky, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is brighter and more pink than Love Thing, darker and cooler than Dollymix Powder Blush, and cooler and less reddened than Breezy Powder Blush.

All three shades had really soft, smooth textures and good pigmentation. Keep in mind that each blush is created differently, so the resulting colour may vary slightly; that is, each one has different "swirls" with differing amounts of colour, so they may look slightly different than the ones swatched here (for example, Sweet Samba may look lighter or darker, brighter or more muted, depending on the swirl design). All three blushes should work well across all complexions from fair to dark, and because Mineralize Blushes are more finely-milled, they do layer and blend out more effortlessly so it is very easy to change the opacity. The only tricky shade here is Exotic Ember because the orange just doesn't blend seamlessly with the brown shade, so it can look blotchy on the skin. What I love about Mineralize Blushes is that you can blend them on the skin so that they look quite natural, and the shimmer doesn't translate the way it looks in a swatch or in the pan — skin just looks perfectly glowy. Unlike Mineralize Skinfinishes, the finish on these are not metallic, so they don't emphasize pores and skin texture nearly as much. Mineralize Blushes don't wear as long as MAC's regular powder blushes, but I love the way they sit on the skin, making it look fresh and illuminated and smooth.

MAC Tropical Taboo: Mineralize Skinfinishes

Tomorrow, MAC will release a new and limited edition collection in-stores called Tropical Taboo, which is MAC's annual Mineralize launch this year. Tropical Taboo is comprised of two parts, Colour and Face, with a total of 33 products —15 of which are new and limited edition, six of which are re-promotes, ten of which are permanent, one of which is new and permanent, and one of which is a re-promote and now permanent. Tropical Taboo sees the release of five shades of Mineralize Skinfinish, three of which are new and limited edition, and two of which are permanent (and will not be reviewed here). MAC describes Mineralize Skinfinish as "a luxurious velvet-soft powder with high-frost metallic finish." It's ideal for adding "buffed-up highlights to cheeks or an overall ultra-deluxe polish to the face." Each Mineralize Skinfinish comes in regular black packaging with a clear lid, contains 7 grams of product, and retails for $35.
Adored
Lust
Rio
Adored, Lust, and Rio

Adored is a mélange of light beige and medium orange-coral. When swirled together, it creates a light pinked peach with champagne shimmer-sheen in a frosted finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, silky, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is darker and more pink than Soft and Gentle, and lighter and much more frosted than Stay By Me Pro Longwear Blush.

Lust is a mélange of light peach-pink and medium-dark rose-bronze. When swirled together, it creates a medium warm rose pink with champagne shimmer-sheen in a frosted finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, silky, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is lighter and warmer than Gentle Mineralize Blush, and more pink than Warm Soul Mineralize Blush.

Rio is a mélange of light warm pink and medium-dark bronze. When swirled together, it creates a medium warm peachy pink with champagne shimmer-sheen in a frosted finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, silky, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is lighter and less brown than Warm Soul Mineralize Blush, and more pink and more metallic than Cubic Powder Blush.

All three shades had really soft, smooth textures and good pigmentation. Keep in mind that each Skinfinish is created differently, so the resulting colour may vary slightly; that is, each one has different "swirls" with differing amounts of colour, so they may look slightly different than the ones swatched here (for example, Rio may look lighter or darker, more bronze or more pink, depending on the swirl design). Due to the lighter colour, Adored will likely be used as a highlighting shade on most skintones, though those with very fair skin can definitely use it as a blush. Both Lust and Rio should work well as cheek colours for fair to medium-dark skintones, though may work better as highlighters or finishing powders on very dark skintones. As usual, Mineralize Skinfinishes have very metallic finishes, so for those who like a more matte look to their skin, you can definitely skip these. I find that Mineralize Skinfinish has a tendency to emphasize skin texture and pores due to the high-frost finish, so I recommend using a face primer first. If you aren't a fan of Mineralize Skinfinishes, these likely won't change your mind, but if you are, definitely check these out because these look stunning on.

MAC RiRi ♥ MAC Summer: Lipsticks

Last Tuesday, MAC released a new collection in collaboration with Rihanna called RiRi ♥ MAC Summer. It is an online-exclusive collection that was created by Rihanna for MAC, and is one of three colour collaboration collections (the other two collections will be launched in the fall and for holiday, both in-store). RiRi ♥ MAC Summer consists of five products, and sees the release of three new and limited edition lipstick shades. All of the lipsticks in this collection have Rihanna's signature etched on the actual bullets. Each lipstick comes in regular black packaging, contains 3 grams of product, and retails for $18.
RiRi Woo, RiRi Boy, and Heaux
Okay, so this collection was launched online last Tuesday at noon, and the surge of traffic on MAC's website was so intense that it took a full minute for the order page to actually show up and then over three hours for my order to process. I don't have a particular interest in Rihanna herself, but when I saw the initial photos and swatches of the products, I ended up loving the colours quite a lot so I thought I would attempt to get my hands on them (when her lipstick, RiRi Woo, was initially launched in May — also as an online-exclusive — it sold out in a couple hours so my expectations of actually getting these products were quite low). I actually didn't think my order would go through at all until, three hours later, the page finally showed my shopping cart with the items ready for check-out. Sadly, as this post goes up, the majority of the collection is sold out. I thought I would post it, anyway, just for those who were curious as to what the shades look like. As of today, however, RiRi Woo is still available for purchase.

RiRi Woo, RiRi Boy, and Heaux

RiRi Woo is a medium-dark vibrant blue-toned red in a Retro Matte finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is on the drier, stiffer side, so there will be some tugging or pulling upon application, though it goes on evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. As this is a play on Ruby Woo, they are incredibly similar, though RiRi Woo is very slightly darker and cooler in swatches — on the lips, the difference is incredibly minute. It is cooler than Russian Red, and darker and less pink than MAC Red.

RiRi Boy is a medium brightened pinked purple in a Retro Matte finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is on the drier, stiffer side, so there will be some tugging or pulling upon application, though it goes on evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. As this is a play on Up the Amp, they are quite similar in colour, but due to the Retro Matte finish of RiRi Boy, it looks slightly darker and more intense. There is nothing else that is similar in MAC's permanent range.

Heaux is a medium-dark brightened berry red in a Retro Matte finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is on the drier, stiffer side, so there will be some tugging or pulling upon application, though it goes on evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more red than Rebel,  lighter and less brown than Diva, and darker and much more matte than Lush Life Mineralize Rich Lipstick.

Within MAC's permanent lipstick range, Ruby Woo is currently the only lipstick left in the Retro Matte finish. MAC used to have a whole range of Retro Matte lipsticks, but due to the popularity of lip gloss back in the early 2000s, mattes became more and more obsolete and MAC discontinued the range except Ruby Woo (which is still a top-selling shade to this day). Of course, in the last couple years, matte lipstick has made a huge comeback. Since Ruby Woo is Rihanna's favourite MAC lipstick, she wanted to make all the lipsticks in this collection in the Retro Matte finish. If you're wondering what the difference between Retro Matte and the regular Matte finish is, it's that the Retro Mattes are drier and stiffer and somehow more matte. The regular Matte finish lipsticks go on smoother and creamier. But the Retro Matte finish wears like a champ — you can eat, drink, smoke, whatever, and it'll still look immaculate even hours later. I'm talking like, eight to ten hours. So, while they are kind of a pain in the ass to apply (a lip brush is totally recommended here, as the stiffness of the finish will result in a somewhat jagged application due to tugging), they wear longer than any of MAC's other lipstick finishes without fading.

In my opinion, RiRi Boy is the undisputed must-have from this collection, despite its colour similarity to Up the Amp. Because Up the Amp is an Amplified finish, it has a much glossier, and therefore less intense, look. Whereas Up the Amp can alter with one's natural lip colour (for example, it turns slightly pinker on my lips because I have naturally reddened lips), RiRi Boy has full-coverage, opaque colour pay-off and ends up looking much more true-to-tube than Up the Amp. And there is not another shade within MAC's permanent range that looks remotely similar. I'm on the fence with Heaux, because while it is a beautiful colour, MAC also makes a ton of similar shades — nothing exact, but in the same family. However, MAC doesn't have anything similar in a matte finish, so this will appeal to many. I've been told that it looks very similar to Rubine, which was discontinued over a decade ago. Surprisingly, the only lipstick from this collection that is skippable is RiRi Woo (this shade will be made available in all of her collaboration collections). While someone who is trained to see colour variance will see a very slight difference between RiRi Woo and Ruby Woo, they are just too similar for me to say that it's worth getting over Ruby Woo. Someone who cares more so for the collaboration aspect of the lipstick (e.g. a die-hard Rihanna fan) will probably still want RiRi Woo, though. Which is fine, since it is the only shade that is still available from this collection.

MAC RiRi ♥ MAC Summer: Barbados Girl Lustre Drops

Last Tuesday, MAC released a new collection in collaboration with Rihanna called RiRi ♥ MAC Summer. It is an online-exclusive collection that was created by Rihanna for MAC, and is one of three colour collaboration collections (the other two collections will be launched in the fall and for holiday, both in-store). RiRi ♥ MAC Summer consists of five products, and sees the release of one new and limited edition shade of Lustre Drops. Each Lustre Drops comes in regular clear plastic packaging, contains 18 ml of product, and retails for $24.
Barbados Girl
Okay, so this collection was launched online last Tuesday at noon, and the surge of traffic on MAC's website was so intense that it took a full minute for the order page to actually show up and then over three hours for my order to process. I don't have a particular interest in Rihanna herself, but when I saw the initial photos and swatches of the products, I ended up loving the colours quite a lot so I thought I would attempt to get my hands on them (when her lipstick, RiRi Woo, was initially launched in May — also as an online-exclusive — it sold out in a couple hours so my expectations of actually getting these products were quite low). I actually didn't think my order would go through at all until, three hours later, the page finally showed my shopping cart with the items ready for check-out. Sadly, as this post goes up, the majority of the collection is sold out (as of today, however, RiRi Woo is still available for purchase). I thought I would post it, anyway, just for those who were curious as to what the shades look like.

Barbados Girl

Barbados Girl is a medium warm copper-bronze with a hint of rose and a shimmery pearl finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. The consistency is thin, like a very watery lotion, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has low pigmentation and sheer colour pay-off. It dries fairly quickly; fast enough that you can layer it easily, but not so fast that you can't blend it out well. There is nothing similar to this in MAC's permanent range; it is darker and more copper than Sun Rush, and darker and more bronze than Pink Rebel. 

Lustre Drops is an often underrated, over-looked product from MAC. It is technically a liquid illuminating bronzer, or as MAC likes to call it, "liquid sun." Because of its incredibly fluid texture, it's especially ideal for mixing into foundation or moisturizer to add an illuminating effect while adding a subtle warmth. However, used on its own, Barbados Girl does add a beautiful, subtle bronze lustre to whatever it's on top of, whether it's bare skin, foundation, or blush. It wears incredibly well, over eight hours on its own, so it's also ideal to use on the body. I like that this is a more subtle liquid illuminator, as well — I find that Strobe Cream (or Liquid) is often too pearlized and too light for many skintones, and Cream Colour Base is too metallic. Barbados Girl is a darker option in the Lustre Drops family, and it does add a more tanned effect than both Sun Rush and Pink Rebel (which are permanent), so the shade itself is ideal for summer.

MAC RiRi ♥ MAC Summer: Hibiscus Kiss Powder Blush Duo

Last Tuesday, MAC released a new collection in collaboration with Rihanna called RiRi ♥ MAC Summer. It is an online-exclusive collection that was created by Rihanna for MAC, and is one of three colour collaboration collections (the other two collections will be launched in the fall and for holiday, both in-store). RiRi ♥ MAC Summer consists of five products, and sees the release of a new and limited edition Blush Duo. Each blush duo comes in regular black packaging, contains 10.5 grams of product, and retails for $30.
Hibiscus Kiss
Okay, so this collection was launched online last Tuesday at noon, and the surge of traffic on MAC's website was so intense that it took a full minute for the order page to actually show up and then over three hours for my order to process. I don't have a particular interest in Rihanna herself, but when I saw the initial photos and swatches of the products, I ended up loving the colours quite a lot so I thought I would attempt to get my hands on them (when her lipstick, RiRi Woo, was initially launched in May — also as an online-exclusive — it sold out in a couple hours so my expectations of actually getting these products were quite low). I actually didn't think my order would go through at all until, three hours later, the page finally showed my shopping cart with the items ready for check-out. Sadly, as this post goes up, the majority of the collection, including this blush duo, is sold out. I thought I would post it, anyway, just for those who were curious as to what the shades look like.

Hibiscus Kiss

Hibiscus Kiss Bronzer is a medium-dark warm golden tan with yellow-orange undertones in a matte finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is soft, silky, and finely-milled, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is less orange than Give Me Sun! Mineralize Skinfinish, and more yellow-toned and less shimmery than Refined Golden Bronzing Powder. 

Hibiscus Kiss Blush is a medium brightened warm coral-pink in a satin finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is on the drier side and is slightly stiff, but it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is darker and brighter than Pinch O' Peach, and more pink than Fleur Power.

I can appreciate the release of this duo because MAC hasn't actually come out with anything similar to this since 2011's Wonder Woman collection. Apparently, Rihanna loves bronzer/blush duo compacts because she travels so much and it's easier to streamline her make-up bag if products are multi-tasking, so she wanted to create one for this launch. I actually really love the texture of the bronzer; it reminds me a lot of the Pro Longwear Bronzing Powders (that were released with last month's Temperature Rising collection and with last year's Hey, Sailor! collection), which are similarly soft, finely-milled, and pigmented. The shade works particularly well for those with warmer complexions, as there is quite a strong yellow undertone in it (I personally prefer bronzers with more of a yellow tone than a pink one). It should work well for light-medium to dark skintones — those with very fair to fair complexions may find it looking a bit muddy, and those with deep dark complexions will find it doesn't show up well.

The blush is a lovely colour, one that is very on-trend and very popular this time of year. When I initially tried swatching it, it was incredibly stiff and difficult to get any colour out of it because my fingers left oil marks on it. But once I scratched off the top layer with a clean mascara wand, I actually found the powder to go on much softer and smoother. It doesn't go on fully opaque but it is easily layerable, and I recommend applying it in light layers in any case, since it is actually quite a bright colour — however, those with darker complexions may find they have to layer on quite a lot more to get it to look remotely bright. For me, the biggest disappointment is the size of the blush compared to the size of the bronzer; I understand that bronzers are generally used all over the face and so a larger bronzer makes more sense, but it's annoying that a typical blush brush will be too big to fit properly (e.g. without manipulating the bristles with your fingertips) on the blush side. In general, this blush duo is nice to have, especially for summer travel — the shades are actually quite flattering across many skintones — but it is not a must-have by any means, and if you wanted it and couldn't get your hands on it, don't fret 'cause there are lots of other (and nicer) dupes out there.

Sunday Video Love: Don't Save Me

What do you get when you mix '70s folk rock, '80s synth pop, and '90s R&B and pop-rock? Or maybe if there was a crazy musical orgy between Fleetwood Mac, Cyndi Lauper, Michael Jackson, and Hanson? Can you even imagine it? Well, you don't have to, 'cause sister trio and indie pop band, Haim, will do it for you. And they're goddamn catchy as hell. You will find yourself bopping your head, snapping your fingers, shuffling your feet, or singing along to their songs in no time.

Julep Maven Box: June 2013

This month's Julep Maven box features shades from Julep's new Nantucket Nostalgia collection, which was inspired by the "preppy, playful colours... of beaches and boardwalks." Nothing groundbreaking this time of year, but I do like the East Coast, New England-y feel of the collection — these are the beach colours of yachts and yuppies rather than of exotic, balmy locales, which I actually think makes it slightly more unique than many other brands' summer collections. I decided to get the "Boho Glam" style box this month, which included two nail polishes from the Nantucket Nostalgia collection, plus a tube of their new DD Crème. I decided to add a third nail colour for $4.99 as well. So, the polishes I got this month are:

Dianna, Lexie, and Payton
Dianna, Lexie, and Payton

Dianna is a light seafoam green with aqua undertones in a cream finish.  It has a fluid consistency without being too thick or too runny. It goes on smoothly and evenly, without any pulling, bubbling, or streaking. It has high pigmentation and will reach opacity in two medium coats. It is similar to Butter London's Poole, darker and more green than OCC's Pool Boy, and less blue than Essie's In the Cab-ana.

Lexie is a light bright dandelion yellow in a cream finish. It has a fluid consistency, but is on the thicker side. Due to the thicker flow, there was some streaking and unevenness. It has high pigmentation, but due to the streakiness, three medium coats are needed for evenness. It is lighter and less golden than Julep's Daisy, brighter than Butter London's Cheeky Chops, and quite similar to Clinique's 70° and Sunny.

Payton is a medium brightened kelly green in a cream finish. It has a fluid consistency without being too thick or too runny. It goes on smoothly and evenly, without any pulling, bubbling, or streaking. It has high pigmentation and will reach opacity in two medium coats. It is lighter and brighter than Julep's Popova, brighter than Essie's Mojito Madness, and more muted than Essie's Shake Your $$ Maker.

Dianna and Payton had great formulas that are smooth and pigmented and self-levelling, but Lexie left something to be desired. For some reason, it's really common with these bright yellow shades to be thick and streaky, so it was kind of to be expected, but I was hoping that Julep would somehow work their magic on it and make it beautifully flowing like so many of their other shades. Alas, no such luck. On that note, I do love shades like this for summer, and I think these three represented the theme of the collection quite well. They're fresh and clean and preppy, and remind me of sailing and sweaters wrapped around polos and lunching at golf clubs.

DD Crème
DD Crème swatches — unblended and blended

Okay, I have never been on board with the whole BB cream thing (or CC creams or whatever-other-letter creams). I understand the appeal of them — the multi-tasking, money-saving, efficiency-promoting aspect of them — but people, they are just glorified tinted moisturizers. Apparently, Julep has made the first DD cream, "a dynamic do-all make-up that goes beyond BB cream to moisturize, prime, perfect, and protect — both instantly and over time." It has SPF 25, "two patented anti-aging ingredients [that] decrease the appearance of pores and fine lines," hibiscus and olive extracts to hydrate, and "lightweight, buildable coverage with an ultra-smoothing finish." Not that this product doesn't do or have all those things, but there are separate products that do them better. 2-in-1 products? Yes. 3-in-1? Getting a little ambitious. 4-or-more-in-1? Marketing scam. I get that multi-tasking means time-saving, and time is money, but I really, genuinely think that people are just getting lazier.

It must be noted that I have never been of fan of the marriage of skincare and make-up. There are much more effective serums and moisturizers that hydrate and help with the appearance of pores and fine lines (and, honestly, if these were genuine concerns of yours, you probably should be looking into a better skincare routine, not some goddamn BB/CC/DD cream). And the coverage on this is light-medium at best, so if you want anything actually covered, you'd better be prepared to layer on concealer after this. Also, if you have skin that is anywhere on the oilier side of normal, this is going to look dewy at best and greasy at worst. (Also, this shade, medium, which you would think works for my NC35 complexion, makes me look kind of like a pumpkin. Just sayin'.) This is a product for people who genuinely have about two minutes to get ready in the morning, like new moms. Or for people who already have perfect skin but feel the need to put something on to feel more "done." Conclusion: DD cream is no better than CC cream which is no better than BB cream, which is kind of crap to begin with (you know, in my humble, unbiased opinion). Also, Julep, please stop trying to foray into make-up.

Ding Tai Fung Shanghai Dim Sum

Steph and I went for dinner at Ding Tai Fung, where there is so much deliciousness to be had:

Steamed sticky rice dumplings
Steamed pork soup dumplings
Pan-fried green onion pancakes
Steamed rice cakes with shredded pork and pickled cabbage in soup
Feeling daring, we decided to order the sticky rice dumplings, since the photo of them in the menu made them look so good. Essentially, it's glutinous rice cooked with Chinese sausage, chopped Chinese mushrooms, and chopped barbecued pork, which is then lovingly stuffed into a dumpling wrapper. When they arrive freshly steamed and piping hot, these are positively amazing; gloriously sticky and magically fluffy. But when they get cold, they get kind of tough and uncomfortably chewy. Also, they're incredibly filling because, um, it's glutinous rice. So, I advise ordering these if you have more than two people at the table. And as I mentioned the first time I came here, the steamed pork soup dumplings are a must-have, and I still think they're some of the best ones you can get in the city. These ones seem to be a bit bigger than the standard xiaolongbao, but it's the insides that set these apart. Incredibly plump and impossibly juicy, with the perfect meat-to-fat-to-soup ratio. I told Steph we need to become BFFs with the dumpling-making guys there (who you can see behind the glass wall at the back — like a little dumpling-assembling factory). We will be so fat and happy!
Of course, we needed something pan-fried to round out our little feast. The green onion pancakes are classic and totally fit the bill. The ones here are lovely, the perfect thinness with the right amount of onions. And they somehow stay magically crispy, even when they get cold. Finally, we ordered a noodle dish. For some reason, it doesn't seem like dinner at a dim sum restaurant unless there's some noodles in the mix. I was so pleased with the stir-fried rice cakes with pork and cabbage last time I was here that we decided to try the soup version this time. And I might even like this better! It still has that amazing textural contrast between the chewy rice cakes, crunchy cabbage, and crisp bamboo shoots, and the beautiful co-mingling flavours of the salted pork and pickled cabbage, but the soup aspect elevates it to comfort food status. Oh, man, so many delicious noms. Next time, I am determined to try some of the desserts. I saw some deep-fried sugary delights at some of the other tables that were just calling my name.


Ding Tai Fung Shanghai Dim Sum 3255 Highway 7 East, Unit 18B Markham, ON L3R 3P9 (905) 943-9880

Friday Five: Scattergories, Part III

This week's Friday Five:

Random letter generated by the online random-letter generator: N.

1. What geographical location, whose name begins with the letter, would you most like to visit someday? I always want to go to New York, but if we're talking about places I've never been to, then I'd say... New Orleans, Louisiana, or Nashville, Tennessee. They just have a lot of culture and history. If we're talking countries, then Norway or New Zealand. I have no idea what to do there, but they seem like interesting places to go.
2. What's a yummy dessert whose name begins with the letter? New York cheesecake. Or Neapolitan ice cream. Or Nutella.
3. What's an annoying or unpleasant task whose name begins with the letter? Nail filing. I rarely ever do it. Something about it makes me cringe. The sound of it, or maybe the thought of nail powder flying everywhere...
4. What implement, whose name begins with the letter, would be good to take on a camping trip? A novel. It would take my mind off the fact that I'm camping. 
5. Which of your body parts, whose name begins with the letter, needs some attention or maintenance? Neck. It's always in pain. I really should look into getting new pillows. And also, my nails. I need to cut and re-paint them.

Urban Decay Build Your Own Palette: Easy Baked, Psychedelic Sister, Gravity, and Loaded

Since my first Urban Decay custom palette, I've been on kind of an Urban Decay rampage, wherein I just want to build all sorts of custom eyeshadow palettes. Now, I realize that Urban Decay's pre-assembled palettes (e.g. Naked, Naked2, Feminine, Dangerous, Fun) give you way more bang for your buck. But I wanted to be able to choose my own shades because there are shades in the pre-assembled palettes that I wouldn't reach for often, if ever. Let it be known that putting together a palette does not save you any money, either; the palette comes separately and is only a means to keep your single eyeshadows together in one place. I prefer to have the singles in a palette because it creates less clutter (and, let me tell you, when you have 400+ eyeshadows, there is a lot of clutter), and that's really the only reason I bought the palette along with the eyeshadows. So, while I was in New York City in April, I decided to take advantage of the lower American retail price and lower sales tax, and put together another palette.
Single eyeshadows (clockwise from top): Easy Baked, Psychedelic Sister, Gravity, and Loaded
Single eyeshadows removed from their containers
This time around, I picked up the empty Rebound palette (as opposed to the Breathless palette, which included one eyeshadow), which retails for $10 USD (or $12 CAD). The palette is a brushed metal tin with a black plastic insert on the inside to fit four single eyeshadows; the palette itself comes in a white floral tattoo-style design outlined in rainbow shades, with Urban Decay's logo in the centre. As far as I know, this particular palette is exclusive to Sephora. I picked four single eyeshadows to put in the palette; all of Urban Decay's single eyeshadows are packaged in silver plastic pots with a design that is meant to mimic a New York City subway token, except with Urban Decay's logo in the centre. Each eyeshadow can be popped out of its plastic container to fit into the palette, giving you the choice to keep them as single eyeshadows or pans (a very handy design — I have spent hours de-potting MAC's eyeshadows!). Each single eyeshadow contains 1.5 grams of product, and retails for $18 USD (or $22 CAD).

Clockwise from left: Easy Baked, Psychedelic Sister, Gravity, and Loaded
Easy Baked, Psychedelic Sister, Gravity, and Loaded

Easy Baked is a light warm golden beige with light gold shimmer-sheen in a frosted finish. This is a permanent shade. The texture is soft, silky, and finely-milled, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is lighter and less bronze than Urban Decay Half Baked, lighter and less gold than Urban Decay Blunt, darker and more golden than theBalm's Devilish Danielle, and slightly darker than MAC Ricepaper.

Psychedelic Sister is a medium-dark brightened red-toned purple with iridescent violet shimmer-sheen in a frosted finish. This is a permanent shade. The texture is soft, silky, almost buttery, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is warmer and more red-toned than Urban Decay Gravity, brighter and warmer than Urban Decay AC/DC, less iridescent and more muted than Inglot Pearl #439, and brighter and cooler than MAC Nocturnelle.

Gravity is a medium-dark brightened cool-toned violet with silver micro-shimmer in a frosted finish. This is a permanent shade. The texture is soft, silky, almost buttery, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is cooler and smokier than Urban Decay Psychedelic Sister, brighter and less grey than Urban Decay AC/DC, brighter and more frosted than MAC Purple Haze, and brighter and cooler than MAC Satellite Dreams.

Loaded is a dark teal-green in a frosted finish. This is a permanent shade. The texture is soft, silky, almost buttery, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is much darker and more green than Urban Decay Hijack, more teal than theBalm Jealous Jordana, darker and less brown than MAC Club, and darker and more teal than MAC Humid.

My obsession with Urban Decay is still going strong! Every single eyeshadow I've ever used from the brand has a gorgeous texture — incredibly smooth, soft, buttery, and richly pigmented — and these are no exception. I know, at first, you're like, "Why do you need both Psychedelic Sister and Gravity?" But they're actually very different in execution, with Psychedelic Sister looking brighter and warmer, and Gravity looking cooler and smokier. And why get Easy Baked in a sea of jewel tones, you ask? Because it's one of those shades that looks good with everything and it's softer than MAC Ricepaper, which is what I wanted since Ricepaper can look too bright, especially as a highlight colour. Finally, Loaded — the undisputed must-have of the bunch. There is such a richness, such a depth in that shade that makes it so unique. I could not find a single dupe for it that wasn't more teal or more green or more duochrome, etc. My only gripe with these is the huge price difference between Canada and the US... but it's something us Canadians should be used to by now, and thusly, I will only buy Urban Decay when I make my way south of the border.

Survey Says... (And a Glimpse Into My Make-Up Collection)

This week's Survey Says... from Temptalia:

Eyeshadow colour you have too many of? I think I have too many of every kind of eyeshadow colour...

Lipstick colour you have too many of? I think I have too many of every kind of lipstick colour...



Blush colour you have too many of? I think I have too many of every kind of blush colour...


Um, how much make-up is too much make-up?