Empties: Summer 2013

Not being the biggest fan of summer (heat, humidity, bugs, general discomfort), I am absolutely stoked that it's fall right now, but I will say that the past few months flew by insanely fast — even I could've done with a slightly longer summer. We had a late start to the season, and then we had a heat wave, and then we got some intense rainfall, and then before we knew it, CNE was here which brought around Labour Day and now it's all over. And tomorrow's October. October! On that note, the end of September means that it's time for my third empties post of the year. In January, when I did my first empties post of 2013, I decided to do these once every season rather than once a month, to kind of keep track of how many products I use up, and also to provide mini reviews of products. This post is, as per usual, dedicated to the original Beauty Reductionista, who inspired me to start the empties project to begin with. Without further ado, here is my empties tally, collected from July 1 to September 30:


Skincare:

Lancôme Crème Radiance Clarifying Cream-to-Foam Cleanser (200 ml) — Probably my ultimate holy grail make-up removing cleanser (yes, even over Philosophy's Purity Made Simple Foaming Gel). I stopped buying it regularly because it was way too expensive, but I was at Sears one day with my mom and saw that Lancôme came out with deluxe-sized versions (200 ml) of this cleanser for the price of the regular-sized ones (125 ml). Amazing for removing make-up (including eye make-up and mascara), and it also cleans my skin effectively without leaving it feeling dry.

Re-purchase? Yes, but only when there's a special deal or promotion.

MAC Cleanse Off Oil (150 ml) — I don't use cleansing oils often because I prefer creamy foaming cleansers, so I've actually had this bottle for over a year now. But as far as cleansing oils go, this one is really effective in removing all make-up, including waterproof. It's also extremely good for removing wax off of skin (say, if you're using a wax strip on your upper lip) and for getting stains out of make-up brushes. Just sayin'.

Re-purchase? Yes, but not at regular retail price.

MAC Lightful Marine-Bright Formula Softening Lotion (150 ml) — This toner is meant to "condition the skin for a smoother, more radiant look and feel." I'm not sure if my face has gotten smoother or more radiant because of this toner, but it feels great on the skin — it makes it feel softer and more hydrated without leaving a film. And it smells good.
Re-purchase? Yes.

MAC Lightful Marine-Bright Formula Cleanser (100 ml) — MAC says this cleanser "actively cleanses, rebalances, refreshes, hydrates and brightens the skin." I don't believe this has any long-term benefits since you rinse it off almost right away, but it has the most perfect texture: creamy, whipped, foaming, like a really thick mousse. It smells good, makes my skin feel soft and not stripped or dry at all. It doesn't take off make-up very well, but I use it in the morning and after removing make-up. I just love the feel of this stuff.
Re-purchase? Yes, I always have a back-up.

MAC Lightful Marine-Bright Formula Essence (30 ml) — The Lightful line of skincare is probably MAC's most underrated products. I've been using the serum for ages, and it's amazing for evening out skintone and adding brightness to the skin. It doesn't necessarily fade dark spots, but it does help a lot with discolouration. It's lightweight and absorbs instantly and smells good, too. Love.
Re-purchase? Yes.

AmorePacific Moisture Bound Rejuvenating Serum (50 ml) — This serum is described as "a highly concentrated, lightweight treatment to reduce visible signs of aging, restore density, and boost radiance." Now, I technically don't need any anti-aging skincare so I can't say how effective it is with the appearance of wrinkles and firmness, but it does make my skin feel really hydrated and soft, and look smoother and more radiant. I love the texture of it, too, and the scent is amazing — like a really nice, super luxe spa. And, for the amount you get, it's actually less expensive than many similar serums out there.
Re-purchase? Yes.

Origins Have a Nice Day Super-Charged Moisture Lotion (50 ml) — This was discontinued earlier this year and it was on sale for $10 so I couldn't say no. I had originally said I wouldn't buy this again because of the packaging; it doesn't have a pump and it's in a screw bottle which makes it annoying to dispense. But I love everything else about it — the lightweight texture, the fast absorption, how it feels on my face, how it makes my skin look, how it sits under make-up. Amazing for my combination-oily skin.
Re-purchase? No, it's no longer available.

Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash (150 ml) — I bought this last year at the Origins store in New York and it took me nearly a year to finish it because you only need a dime-size amount to create a most glorious creamy foam. It's meant to be "a face cleanser that cleverly balances dry and oily places" and I would say it's pretty effective in this aspect. But I didn't find that it takes off make-up effectively, so I used this more so as a post-make-up-removing cleanser. Like the MAC Lightful Cleanser, I'd buy this again for the texture alone.
Re-purchase? Yes.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex (50 ml) — As much skincare as I buy and use, I credit this serum as single-handedly fixing all my skin problems. I thought it was just for old people with wrinkles and dry skin (the opposite of what I have), so I was totally wary of using it... but within a week, my skin was clearer, smoother, more radiant, more hydrated. It makes pimples heal and scars fade faster. My skin's texture has never been better. Seriously a skin saver, if there ever was one. This formula was discontinued, but I managed to get another one of these at the warehouse sale last month for $55.
Re-purchase? Yes, but in the new formulation as this one was discontinued.

Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream with Super 7 Complex (50 ml) — Got this on a whim for use in the winter at the beginning of the year, but it lasted way longer than I expected it to. I was using this as my night cream and it lasted me over six months. Again, I didn't see any anti-aging benefits, but it did keep my skin feeling really hydrated and smooth and soft through the coldest of winter months. My skin actually felt more protected from harsh winds and bitter temperatures while using this, and it didn't break me out at all.
Re-purchase? Yes, in the winter.

Bodycare + Haircare:

Herbal Essences Smooth Collection Conditioner (400 ml) — I bought this along with the matching shampoo, but I always finish conditioners first. This was my favourite drugstore shampoo/conditioner from elementary school days and it was discontinued a long time ago, but they brought it back this year and you know I had to go back to it. I love everything about this and the shampoo, too. You know those commercials where the woman is just basking in the delight of washing her hair? That's basically me when I use this. I would buy it for the scent alone, but it actually leaves my hair feeling soft and smooth without any film, residue, or build-up, and yes, the scent lingers, too. Extreme love.

Re-purchase? Yes, already bought one!

Garnier Fructis Fruit Sensation Grapefruit Tonic Fortifying Conditioner (750 ml) — I bought this because it was on sale and I really like the grapefruit scent. And it's good at detangling and leaving my hair fairly shiny. But, between this and the Herbal Essences? I'm gonna go with HE.

Re-purchase? Yes, but only on sale.

The Body Shop Sweet Lemon Shower Gel (250 ml) — Bought this on sale for $4, and have no regrets at all — it has a fresh lemon scent that isn't too sweet or bathroom cleaner-esque. It was perfect for summer when you just want something light, fresh, and clean.

Re-purchase? Yes, if it's on sale.

Fruits & Passion Bamboo Body Soufflé (200 ml) — Bought this for $6 during Fruits & Passion's summer sale. I love, love, love this. The texture is like a thick mousse but still feels lightweight (actually a lot like the face cleansers I love), but offers substantial hydration and absorbs relatively fast. But it's the smell that gets me. It's somehow fresh and green but musky at the same time. Actually reminds me of the AmorePacific serum that I just finished.
Re-purchase? Yes, if it's on sale.

Fruits & Passion Pomelo Granité Moisturizing Body Gel (200 ml) — The perfect formulation for a hot weather body moisturizer. I've never really come across anything else like this; it's a gel-lotion that sinks in super-fast and leaves skin feeling soft and hydrated. And it leaves skin quite scented, too, so it's ideal for summer when you don't want to wear too much fragrance and you don't need a super-heavy body cream. This scent is also really nice for summer, sweet and citrusy and fresh.
Re-purchase? Yes, but only on sale and only during the summer.

Make-up + Nails:

MAC Blot Powder Pressed — Medium Dark (12 g) — This has been my go-to finishing powder for years. Goes on nearly colourless and keeps me matte enough so I only have to blot once or twice a day. I also sweep some under my eyes; it keeps all eye make-up from smudging so I don't look like a raccoon by day's end.
Re-purchase? Yes, I always have a back-up. 

MAC Studio Fix Powder+ Foundation — NC35 (15 g x 2) — My go-to foundation. It's been a staple product for me for years. I'll try other foundations and always come back to this one because it feels weightless, is super buildable (to full coverage), has a matte finish, is super fast to put on, and is really low maintenance. And I've since learned that I prefer powder foundations over liquids or creams. I usually use this on its own with a flat-top buffing brush, but I sometimes layer it on top of MAC's Mineralize Concealer if I want a bit more coverage.
Re-purchase? Yes, I always have a back-up.

MAC Eyebrows — Brunette (0.09 g) — I have been using this eyebrow pencil for years (I used to use the shade Lingering, but like this one slightly more). I love that it's self-sharpening and has a super-fine point. I have thin, patchy, asymmetrical eyebrows, and this really helps fill them and shape them with precision. Brunette is a medium cool-toned taupe-brown shade and is universally flattering. The only thing I don't like about it is that it comes with such little product; I go through one every two months. But I haven't found anything I like better.
Re-purchase? Yes, I always have two back-ups.  

MAC Haute & Naughty Too Black Lash Mascara (9 g) — My holy grail mascara.
Re-purchase? Yes, I always have two back-ups.

MAC Haute & Naughty Mascara — Black (9 g) — The original version of the above mascara, which doesn't use carbon pigments so it's "less black." I find it's slightly less "wet" than Too Black Lash. I found this extra one in one of my overstock drawers, so I thought I'd use it up first before getting into my Too Black Lash stash.
Re-purchase? No, I prefer the Too Black Lash version.

Yves Saint Laurent Mascara Volume Effect Faux Cils  — High Density Black (6 g) — A lot of people love this mascara and I bought it because there was so much hype over it, but I actually hated it. I have very long, very thin, very straight lashes and I want a mascara that offers intense volume, is easily buildable, and doesn't smudge. This one is a really dry mascara so it didn't go on very smoothly and while it didn't clump a lot, I also found it hard to build up volume. I thought I had had a defective one because it's like the product didn't want to coat my lashes; it looked like I had barely anything on after one coat. I think this might be a good mascara for people with shorter lashes or perhaps those who are looking for more natural-looking lashes. It was really disappointing for me, though.
Re-purchase? No.

MAC Mineralize Concealer — NC30 (5 ml) — I use this mostly for evening out any redness on my cheeks, but occasionally under my eyes if I'm looking particularly tired. It has medium buildable coverage and a natural luminous finish, so it's ideal for people who want to even out skintone but not full or heavy coverage. It's hydrating and super-blendable, and doesn't cake or build-up in fine lines so it's ideal for layering. Love this stuff.
Re-purchase? Yes. 

MAC Prep + Prime Face Protect SPF 50 (30 ml) — My go-to foundation primer. I've been using this for a couple years now. I like this primer because it protects my face without leaving a residue (I'm not a fan of gel primers because I can actually feel it on my face). In the winter, I only use it on my T-zone because it's mattifying, but I use it all over my face in warmer months. This also replaces facial sunscreen for me.
Re-purchase? Yes, I always have a back-up.   

MAC Fix+ (100 ml + 30 ml) — The original make-up setting spray. Makes make-up look smoother, less powdery, less "make-uppy." You don't know the difference it makes until you use it. I spray it on mid-day to freshen up my make-up, too. I always keep a full-size one in my bathroom and a travel-size one in my purse.
Re-purchase? Yes, I always have a back-up.

Fresh Sugar Lip Polish (17 g) — A really nice lip scrub made with brown sugar (it looks and tastes and feels like brown sugar, so there's no surprises here). Made my lips feel super-smooth and super-soft. Except I've since learned that I am really bad with using lip scrubs. Like, I bought this over two years ago and I think I've used maybe a quarter of it. And then I totally forgot about using it. So this pot isn't actually empty; it's just old and probably expired.
Re-purchase? No; as it turns out, I cannot be bothered using lip scrubs.

Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat (14 ml) — I've gone through a few of these, and it's definitely one of my favourite top coats — dries polish in seconds, leaves a shiny finish, and keeps my nails from chipping — but I find that it starts thickening quite a lot after using about half of the bottle, to the point where you need to use a polish thinner to fix it. It's definitely the fastest drying top coat I've ever used, but I've been preferring Essie's Good to Go over this one recently.
Re-purchase? Yes, but maybe only on occasion. 

Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 — Lemon & Chamomile (7 g) — Best emollient lip balm I have ever used. It really hydrates lips and repairs cracked, chapped, generally dry lips, instead of just protecting them (like Vaseline). The lemon and chamomile scent is my favourite; it smells like lemon cupcakes!
Re-purchase? Yes, I always buy a back-up. 

Principessa Bacio Me Lip Balm (14 g) — I got this with one of my beauty subscription boxes a couple years ago, and it's actually a really good lip balm — very smooth and moisturizing, and leaves lips really soft and glossy, and smells like raspberries — but it doesn't repair my lips nearly as well as Jack Black. I didn't finish this one completely; I had to toss it because it's really old now and the formulation has started to separate.
Re-purchase? No.

Miscellaneous:

Shiseido Facial Cotton (80 g) — Best cotton pads, ever. Ridiculously soft and fluff-free, and holds product better than any other cotton pad out there, so you end up needing less product. And before you think $9 is too steep for a package of cotton pads, think again. In terms of cost per pad, it's about the same as your typical drugstore brand. Also amazing to use to remove nail polish, because it holds remover like no other so it's always soaked.
Re-purchase? Yes, I always buy two packs at a time. 

Fresh Sugar Lychee Eau de Parfum (100 ml) — My favourite perfume. I go through about four full-size bottles a year.
Re-purchase? Yes, I always have a back-up.

Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial Deep Cleansing Hand Soap — Rain Kissed (259 ml) —  I go through hand soap like they're going out of style; I wash my hands like crazy because I am a germaphobe. I bought this along with a few others during the Semi-Annual Sale and it was a limited edition scent, but I actually really liked this one; it's clean, fresh, and slightly floral. However, the deep cleansing formulation of Bath & Body Works' Anti-Bacterial soaps are insanely drying, and I've found that they've contributed to my eczema, so I go for the moisturizing formulation instead now.
Re-purchase? No.

Method Orla Kiely Naturally Derived Foaming Hand Soap — Honeysuckle (300 ml) — While I was at Target many months ago, I stockpiled on Method + Orla Kiely hand soaps. I bought this more so for the packaging (love Orla Kiely's designs), but I actually really love the scent. In fact, it might be my favourite of all the Orla Kiely range. It's fresh and sweet and floral, much like you'd expect from a Honeysuckle scent, but not cloying at all. The Orla Kiely collections are all discontinued now, though, 'cause they were limited edition.
Re-purchase? No, it's no longer available.

Method Orla Kiely Naturally Derived Hand Wash — Tomato Vine (354 ml) — Part of my Method + Orla Kiely stockpiling at Target. This scent was actually really nice; I originally thought it was going to be like... salad-y. While it does have a very slight herbal scent, it was more fresh and clean than anything else. I didn't really get "tomato" from it, but maybe what a tomato plant smells like... if it was wearing perfume.
Re-purchase? No, it's no longer available.

Glysomed Hand Cream (50 ml) — A staple for my eczema-prone hands. It's thick and kind of greasy so I only apply it before I go to sleep, but it repairs dry skin like nothing else I've tried.
Re-purchase? Yes, I buy a couple at a time.

Quo Nail Polish Remover — Strengthening (354 ml) — I originally bought this because I had ran out of my Zoya remover and needed a back-up. This takes three times the amount of work to take off nail polish. But it doesn't dry out my nails or skin, and it doesn't have that strong alcohol smell like most removers do. Still, there's way better removers out there for the same price.
Re-purchase? No.

Up & Up Nail Polish Remover — Acetone (473 ml) — 100% acetone nail polish remover is the only thing that will take off glitter polish (with relative ease). Any brand will do, but I bought a few bottles of this last time I was at Target.
Re-purchase? Yes, I always have a back-up bottle.

Total: 38 products (35 full size, 2 jumbo size, 1 travel size)

Nawab Fusion Grill

Knowing that I've been craving Indian food recently, Edward took me for dinner this evening at Nawab Fusion Grill. I guess I wasn't really paying attention to where we were walking to, because the first thing I noticed when I walked into the place was that the layout of the restaurant looked really familiar. And as I sat there contemplating this, I finally realized that it was the same space as Bombay Bhel and they had closed down. Until now, Bombay Bhel had been my favourite Indian restaurant, so I was kinda sad because thus far, I have not been able to find a place where the lamb korma or butter chicken is better (don't get me wrong, I wasn't exactly looking very hard, but theirs was reliably delicious and never disappointing). But I had to let that go and accept that it was gone, and instead focused on this new "Indian gastropub" that took its place. 
Shrimp Pakora
We decided to share the shrimp "poppers" (or pakora) to start. I've only ever had the classic chickpea pakora, so this was a whole new experience for me. Pakora, if you've ever had the pleasure of having one, is basically an incredibly addictive deep-fried fritter of utmost delight. Dipped the accompanying creamy coriander sauce (which I prefer over the spicier tamarind sauce), and it's pretty much the best damn deep-fried shrimp, ever. Each shrimp was coated in just the right amount of batter that had a nice spicy kick to it, and a beautiful golden exterior that provided the right amount of crunch. I could easily have eaten all of them myself and then ordered a second one because I'm a glutton like that, but that'd be really selfish of me because sharing is caring, and I care, people. I care. 
Saffron Chicken
While Edward opted for the much spicier Bombay Chicken, I prefer a milder taste and decided on the Saffron Chicken. Big chunks of perfectly moist, tender chicken breast is immersed in a rich, creamy, saffron-infused curry and topped with a flurry of sliced almonds. This dish was totally up my alley; it has that nuttiness of korma and the creaminess of butter chicken, so basically it's perfection. But whereas butter chicken uses tomato puree and korma has more of a coconut base, this has a fresher, sweeter aroma from the saffron. Definitely a must-have for fans of mild curries. If I hadn't been so damn full, I would've ordered a second naan to sop up the rest of the sauce... but I knew if I had eaten any more, my arteries would've started yelling at me. 
What I do appreciate about Nawab's replacing Bombay Bhel is that they've really polished up the space — re-painted, re-tiled, changed all the light fixtures, etc. — so that it's much more modern and sleek and clean while still keeping in with the Indian theme through artwork. Definitely working the whole modern fusion Indian thing. The service was also really good; even though there were only two people working the whole restaurant, they were really nice, efficient, and attentive. I'd definitely come here again — there's just too many things on the menu that I have to try including, but not limited to, tandoori lamb chops, pulled lamb sliders, fusion coconut curry, and Amritsari fish and chips. It's not strictly classic Indian food, but I've discovered that I really quite enjoy Indian gastropub fare.

Nawab Fusion Grill 5009 Yonge Street Toronto, ON M2N 5P1 (416) 221-4255

Sunday Video Love: Stay the Night

I will blindly follow Hayley Williams wherever her voice takes her — though my heart will always be true to Paramore, I've loved all the collaborations she's done with bands from Death in the Park to Weezer, and even her foray into hip hop with B.o.B (I'm pretty sure "Airplanes, Part II" was one of the biggest, and therefore most overplayed, songs in 2010). And now she's stepped it up a notch and forayed into the electronic genre with her latest collaboration with Zedd. The song was released a few weeks ago now and I've been playing it on repeat because it is so goddamn catchy. Needless to say, it's a dance party in my house every day.

Chanel Superstition de Chanel: Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick in Rendez-Vous

I was at Pacific Mall sometime last week with the boyfriend, and while perusing the usual Asian goodies (e.g. Japanese snack foods, cell phone cases, Korean skincare, etc.), I found myself looking at the Chanel Fall 2013 make-up collection at Le SaSa. I wasn't originally interested in anything from the collection and had written it off as boring, but when I saw the actual display in person, I fell in love with two products. The first one is the Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick in Rendez-Vous. I've always really liked the Rouge Coco Shine formula — they're smooth, creamy, and emollient, and leave lips with a soft flush of colour and a glossy finish — and have found that they're my go-to lipsticks for an easy, low-maintenance, casual look. Superstition saw the release of four new and limited edition shades of Rouge Coco Shine, but this is the only one I had to have. Each Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick comes in a black square tube, contains 3 grams of product, and retails for $39.
Rendez-Vous Rendez-Vous

Rendez-Vous is a medium slightly cool-toned petal pink with a luminous sheen. 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 with semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is slightly darker and brighter than MAC Lovelorn, brighter and warmer than MAC Speed Dial, and cooler than Urban Decay Fiend.

Such a lovely everyday pink. While I generally bust out deeper, richer shades this time of year, I do love a good soft rosy lip when I'm feeling more "natural." It's not too light or dark or bright, and totally fitting for the season given the whole "blooming pinks" trend this fall in make-up (though I do see myself wearing this in the spring and summer, too). I found this shade to be more pigmented than my other Rouge Coco Shines, too — the four other shades I have (Boy, Rivage, Fétiche, and Antigone) definitely fall into the semi-sheer camp, whereas this one is nearly opaque. So, is this worth $39? Probably not. But if you're at the Chanel counter, anyway, and looking for a nice, sweet pink that's incredibly wearable for all seasons, you might as well splurge...

Friday Five: Skin

This week's Friday Five:

1. How would you describe your skin? My face is fairly clear for the most part, at least in terms of texture, but I do have some redness and freckles on my cheeks that I would love to even out, and I have an oily-combination skin type, where my T-zone is really oily and my cheeks are relatively normal to dehydrated. However, the rest of my body is usually really dry and eczema-prone so I have to slather on lots of body creams all year 'round because it never seems hydrated enough.
2. As a teenager, what was your acne like? It was relatively mild (or Stage I); I had enough breakouts to need Proactiv to help get rid of it, but it wasn't cystic or severely inflammed or anything. 
3. When did you last escape something by the skin of your teeth? I can't really think of anything at the moment... Maybe that time a couple years ago when I got pulled over for driving with a newly expired license plate sticker (the cop was a dick). I got off with a warning.
4. What most recently gave you goose bumps? The dip in temperature at night. 
5. When did you last burn yourself? I was de-potting a MAC eyeshadow the other night (like, last week) and burned myself while trying to melt the plastic container with a lighter.

Hare Polish Nail Lacquer in Cast in Bronze

As some of you might have noticed, I go through phases with my nails and after going a little overboard with the glitters over last winter, I ended up getting so sick of them that I wore cream finishes for about six months straight afterwards. Enter Hare Polish, an indie brand that makes some of the most unique glitter polishes I've ever seen. I bought six shades from their Etsy shop (their stock is constantly rotating, so they don't always have the same shades for sale) and each one marries a gorgeous base colour with contrasting but complementary shades of glitter. Depending on how stocked their Etsy shop is, I'll likely put in another order in the next couple months, but for now, this is probably going to be the last full-blown glitter I'm going to be featuring before the holiday collections roll out, 'cause I gotta give some love to my other polishes, you know? I feel like after giving this brand a try, though, it's going to be hard for me to find a glitter polish that'll truly impress me.

Cast in Bronze is a dusty red-toned violet base with large bronze square and hexagonal glitter, medium bronze glitter, medium bronze hexagonal glitter, and small bronze glitter. It has a thicker consistency that is common with glitter polishes, but it doesn't hinder the application. It goes on smoothly and evenly, without any pulling, bubbling, or streaking. The glitter goes on evenly dispersed, and I had no problems getting the glitter to stay put, either. It has medium pigmentation, and will reach opacity in three medium coats (I used one coat of Dior's Forget-Me-Not beforehand to darken the base so the glitter stands out more). I cannot think of any dupes for this. This is definitely the most subtle shade of the glitters I picked up from Hare Polish, and therefore the least... obnoxious. I love that the jelly base can look more muted and rose-tinted in a certain light, and then brighter and more violet in another. Though I don't typically associate glitters with this time of year, this one is just so appropriate for autumn — like shimmering leaves falling at dusk.

Rossini Restaurant

The boys and I wanted to take Steph out for a belated birthday dinner this evening, so I told her to pick whatever restaurant she was interested in trying. As per usual, she texted me with a few different restaurants options and we ended up picking out Rossini:
Bruschetta
I don't often order bruschetta because I tend to find that it's usually really overpriced for what it is (toasted garlic bread topped with diced tomatoes, fresh herbs, and extra virgin olive oil) but a lot of the reviews of this place recommends the bruschetta and it's only $4 for an order, which has two pieces (frankly, I think bruschetta priced over $10 is highway robbery unless each piece is like, the size of my head), so we decided to go for it. And what do you know? It's actually really damn tasty; totally lived up to the raves. I honestly don't know how so many places can screw up such a simple thing, but I have found that it happens with alarming frequency. Rossini's version uses a nice crusty bread that still has a good soft chew in the centre, with just enough garlic butter soaked in it to make it flavourful without getting the bread soggy. The diced tomatoes are fresh with a good crunch and are perfectly seasoned and tossed in just the right amount of olive oil so as to keep it light but still incredibly flavourful. Great way to start a classic Italian meal.


Calamari Fritti
We decided to share the calamari as an appetizer, of which you can choose between fried and grilled. Naturally, we went for the fried version — there really is no contest, especially with four Asians — which our server recommended over the grilled, anyway. Okay, so I have had my fair share of calamari, whether it be at an Italian restaurant or a pizza joint or a bar, but the squid they use here is perfect. Like, it's soft but still firm, not too chewy, not too hard or rubbery. They are lightly battered and deep-fried to a perfect golden crisp, and really well-seasoned — add a squeeze of lemon and you've got yourself one hell of an addictive appetizer. If Goldilocks was choosing between calamari instead of porridge, she undoubtedly would go for Rossini's version. And she's one picky bitch.
Pappardelle al Cinghiale e Funghi
And for my main course, I decided on one of tonight's specials: the pappardelle with wild boar ragout, a melange of wild mushrooms, and a splash of truffle oil. When I'm at an Italian restaurant, it seems that I always order pappardelle if it's available, as evidenced here, here, here, and here. And for good reason, people — I am never disappointed! Fat, wide ribbons of fresh pasta, each strand perfectly coated in a most heavenly buttery sauce, topped with a most delightful marriage of mushrooms and boar meat (which tastes somewhere in between pork and beef, strangely enough) and a drizzle of truffle oil. Rich and luxurious and just... magnificent. 
The moment you walk in, you know you're in a classic Italian fine dining restaurant — clean, neat, and elegant, white linens and wine glasses on every table, with proper napkins and place settings and candles. The service is friendly, professional, polite, and efficient, and the best part (for me, anyway) is that it's perfectly lit — dim enough to feel warm and intimate, but bright enough to take great photos. Oh, and the food is really decently priced, too, at less than $40 per person after tax and tip! It's no surprise this place has been around for over 40 years. Definite recommend if you're looking for a great uptown Italian restaurant, whether it's for a special occasion or a date or just a night out with your friends and family. 

Rossini Restaurant 1988 Avenue Road Toronto, ON M5M 4A4 (416) 481-1188

MAC Viva Glam The Original: Viva Glam I Lipglass

For those who don't already know about MAC's Viva Glam program, every cent of the entire selling price of every Viva Glam product sold goes to the MAC AIDS Fund, which helps men, women, and children infected and affected by AIDS and HIV. In 1994, MAC launched the first Viva Glam product, Viva Glam I lipstick, and signed on RuPaul as the spokesmodel for this lipstick, making him the first drag queen supermodel. Using the same visuals from 1994 (featuring RuPaul spelling out "VIVA GLAM" in various poses), Viva Glam I is making a comeback this fall — now available in gloss form. The Viva Glam I Lipglass will be added to the permanent Lipglass range. As with all Lipglasses, it is vanilla-scented but taste-free, and comes in a clear tube with a black cap and a doe-foot applicator. Each tube contains 4.8 grams of product, and retails for $18. As they are for charity, none of the Viva Glam products are applicable for the Back to MAC recycling program.
Viva Glam I Lipglass
Viva Glam I Lipglass

Viva Glam I is a medium-dark vibrant cool-toned crimson red. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a creamy texture, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation with opaque colour pay-off. It is similar though slightly brighter than its lipstick counterpart. There is nothing similar to this in MAC's current permanent range; it is darker and less cool-toned than Russian Red Lipglass.

My favourite red lipstick of all time now comes in gloss form! I don't usually get too excited about Lipglasses in general, but this shade is perfection. It is possibly the easiest red to wear, ever — it's not too bright or too dark, and because it's cool-toned but also a brown-based red, it is actually universally flattering. The formula is great as well: it's incredibly pigmented and just applies so beautifully — no streaks, no patches, no seeping into lip lines. And it adds incredible dimension and richness when worn on top of Viva Glam I lipstick. I've worn this combo several times already and get dozens of compliments every time. I've personally found that it's not as sticky as many of the other Lipglass shades so it's more comfortable to wear, and I get a good four hours of wear-time with it alone.

The MAC AIDS Fund is one of the best and most effective charities I have ever seen a cosmetics company identify with. It still blows my mind that MAC helps this charity on a daily, on-going basis with their Viva Glam program. Not only that, but they don't just donate a portion or the proceeds to this cause — it's 100% of the selling price of any Viva Glam product. To date, the MAC AIDS Fund has raised over $270 million to help men, women, and children infected or affected by AIDS/HIV all over the world (you can see what buying one Viva Glam lipstick or Lipglass can do here). This is a really worthy cause, so if you're not personally a fan of red lips, it's worth checking out any of the other Viva Glam shades that may be more wearable or flattering on you.

Sunday Video Love: Goodbye, Goodbye

Taking a little break from the MAC review extravaganza to share the latest music video from our favourite Canadian lesbian twin musicians, Tegan and Sara! "Goodbye, Goodbye" is one of my favourite songs off Heartthrob, so I'm really happy they decided to release it as their latest single. On a separate note, is it just a coincidence that this video features an intense amount of Apple products and it was released on the same day as iOS 7? I mean, that's okay — I love Apple, too — it just seems kind of... blatant. (On that note, I'm actually really quite pleased with the iOS 7; it's like I have a brand new phone!)

Friday Five: Film Flam

This week's Friday Five:

1. In The Spectacular Now, the main character is good at making everybody laugh. What social skill do you bring to a large party? My friends call me a 'chameleon' because I tend to be able to talk about anything with just about anyone (like, seriously, from a motorcycle gangster to a 90-year-old granny — I can have a conversation with you). I'm also really empathetic, so I tend to make people feel more comfortable in social situations. Chalk it up to having a make-up artist's social skills.
2. In The Way Way Back, one character was supposedly there when, at the local water park, one person passed another on the huge water slide. What amazing or strange feat that everyone supposedly knows about did someone pull off in your area (or at your school)? I'm not gonna lie, I really can't think of anything amazing or strange that someone pulled either in my area or in school, at least recently. Margot Kidder graduated from my high school in 1966 and later became famous for playing the role of Lois Lane in the Superman movies, which I guess is a pretty amazing feat... but it was before I was born...
3. In Austenland, the main character spends a week in a large Victorian-era house designed for fans of Jane Austen. In what book's setting would you love to spend a week immersed? Hands down, Harry Potter. No competition.
4. In The Heat, two main characters at first have great difficulty getting along personally, but they work unusually well together professionally. With whom have you had huge personal differences while still doing excellent work? No one. I've had the opposite, though, where I get along really well with someone outside of work, but don't always see eye to eye at work.
5. In We're the Millers, a marijuana-dealer and a reluctant stripper pose as husband and wife in order to complete a job. If you had to do the same for an undetermined length of time, who could pose as your Platonic life partner? Probably my BFF, Ben. I would say my other best friend, but we just started dating after three years, so it's not quite so platonic anymore...

MAC Antonio Lopez: 3 Lips Palette in Red

Last Thursday, MAC released a new collection featuring the works of Antonio Lopez. It is inspired by "this legendary fashion illustrator's vibrant energy, brazen attitude, and love of life." Antonio Lopez is comprised of 12 new and limited edition products —10 of which will be available at all locations, one of which is available at MAC Stores only, and one of which is online exclusive. Antonio Lopez will see the release of three lip palettes, each of which include three shades of lipstick and a mini 316SE brush. "Each palette displays the fiercely individual face of one of his muses, 'Antonio's girls,' while each product's packaging features an exclusive drawing by the artist." Each lip palette contains 3.75 grams of product, and retails for $33.
Scarlet Ibis, MAC Red, and Deeply Adored
Scarlet Ibis, MAC Red, and Deeply Adored

Scarlet Ibis is a medium-dark bright orange-red in a Matte finish. This is a re-promoted shade from 2012's Iris Apfel collection, and is limited edition. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation with opaque colour pay-off. It is more orange than Lady Danger, and more red than So Chaud. 

MAC Red is a medium-dark vibrant blue-toned red in a Satin 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 cooler and less matte than Ruby Woo, and lighter and cooler than Russian Red.

Deeply Adored is a medium-dark crimson red in a Matte finish. This is a re-promoted shade from last year's Marilyn Monroe collection, and is limited edition. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation with opaque colour pay-off. It is brighter and less brown than Dubonnet, and lighter and cooler than Viva Glam I.

If you love your red lipsticks, then this might be a palette for you to consider. I think the three red shades included are different enough to be worth getting this palette — assuming you don't already own them. If you missed out on Scarlet Ibis (highly coveted from 2012's Iris Apfel and last year's Marilyn Monroe collections) and Deeply Adored (also highly coveted from last year's Marilyn Monroe collection), both of which sold out insanely fast upon release, here's your chance to get both shades now, all in one handy palette. Like the nude lip palette, I like that this encompasses different types of red shades — an orange red, a cool-toned red, and a deeper crimson — so you can wear them on their own or mix them to create custom red shades to suit your preferences. I also like that they decided to pick MAC Red as the cool-toned red instead of Ruby Woo or Russian Red, because it's an often over-looked red shade from MAC, and it deserves some love, too.

MAC Antonio Lopez: 3 Lips Palette in Nude

Last Thursday, MAC released a new collection featuring the works of Antonio Lopez. It is inspired by "this legendary fashion illustrator's vibrant energy, brazen attitude, and love of life." Antonio Lopez is comprised of 12 new and limited edition products —10 of which will be available at all locations, one of which is available at MAC Stores only, and one of which is online exclusive. Antonio Lopez will see the release of three lip palettes, each of which include three shades of lipstick and a mini 316SE brush. "Each palette displays the fiercely individual face of one of his muses, 'Antonio's girls,' while each product's packaging features an exclusive drawing by the artist." Each lip palette contains 3.75 grams of product, and retails for $33.
Vivid Image, Antonio's Girls, and Art Directed
Vivid Image, Antonio's Girls, and Art Directed

Vivid Image is a light-medium warm milky pink and a subtle sheen in an Amplified finish. This is a new and limited edition 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 lighter than Creme Cup, and warmer and slightly darker than Dreaminess Mineralize Lipstick.

Antonio's Girls is a medium pinked peach in a Satin finish. This is a new and limited edition 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 lighter than Shy Girl, and slightly darker and more peach than To the Future! Pro Longwear Lipcreme.

Art Directed is a medium warm beige with multi-coloured shimmer in a Glaze finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has low-medium pigmentation and semi-sheer colour pay-off. It is more pink than Frou, and lighter and less brown than Gleam.

Despite all three colours being new and limited edition, I wouldn't say that this palette is a must-have by any means just because MAC has so many similar shades in their permanent range. That having been said, I like that this palette encompasses different types of nude shades — a pink nude, a peach nude, and a beige nude — so you can wear them on their own or mix them to create custom nude shades to suit your preferences. The only drawback to this palette is that I find they're more suited towards fair to medium skintones; those with darker skintones than that will find these a bit too light to use as nude shades.

MAC Antonio Lopez: 3 Lips Palette in Fuchsia

Last Thursday, MAC released a new collection featuring the works of Antonio Lopez. It is inspired by "this legendary fashion illustrator's vibrant energy, brazen attitude, and love of life." Antonio Lopez is comprised of 12 new and limited edition products —10 of which will be available at all locations, one of which is available at MAC Stores only, and one of which is online exclusive. Antonio Lopez will see the release of three lip palettes, each of which include three shades of lipstick and a mini 316SE brush. "Each palette displays the fiercely individual face of one of his muses, 'Antonio's girls,' while each product's packaging features an exclusive drawing by the artist." Each lip palette contains 3.75 grams of product, and retails for $33.
Candy Yum-Yum, Moxie, and Violetta
Candy Yum-Yum, Moxie, and Violetta

Candy Yum-Yum is a medium-dark vibrant cool-toned neon fuchsia pink in a Matte 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 lighter and more neon than Show Orchid (PRO).

Moxie is a medium-dark vibrant reddened pink in a Matte finish. This was a permanent shade that was discontinued in 1999, re-promoted in 2012's MAC By Request collection, and is limited edition. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is cooler and more pink than Impassioned, and warmer and more reddened than Full Fuchsia (PRO).

Violetta is a medium-dark brightened magenta-purple with soft fuchsia micro-shimmer in an Amplified finish. This is a permanent PRO shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. There is nothing similar to this within MAC's permanent range; it is darker and less pink than Up the Amp, and less neon and much more purple than Candy Yum-Yum.

I'm not a huge fan of lip palettes in general because I find that most of them have maybe one or two shades that I love and then the rest I won't use at all. But when I saw this palette, I knew I had to have it. Yes, it has two shades in it that are permanent (one is a PRO-only shade), but it also has Moxie, a most gorgeous matte reddened pink that was discontinued over a decade ago (it was available online from last year's MAC By Request collection but was sold out in about two hours). I'm a huge sucker for these insanely bright lipsticks, so you know I had to grab this one. And the formulas on all of them are beautiful — they all feel creamy going on, apply smoothly and evenly, and with full colour coverage. If you don't have any of these shades and you're a fan of bright fuchsia lips, this palette is definitely worth looking at.

MAC Antonio Lopez: 6 Eyes Palette in Teal

Last Thursday, MAC released a new collection featuring the works of Antonio Lopez. It is inspired by "this legendary fashion illustrator's vibrant energy, brazen attitude, and love of life." Antonio Lopez is comprised of 12 new and limited edition products —10 of which will be available at all locations, one of which is available at MAC Stores only, and one of which is online exclusive. Antonio Lopez will see the release of three eyeshadow palettes, each of which include six shades of powder eyeshadow and a mini 213SE brush. "Each palette displays the fiercely individual face of one of his muses, 'Antonio's girls,' while each product's packaging features an exclusive drawing by the artist." Each eyeshadow palette contains 5.3 grams of product, and retails for $52.
Top row: Sex & Disco, Colourful Life, and Freshwater Bottom row: Nighttrain, Sketchbook, and Fashion Legend
Swatches: Sex & Disco, Colourful Life, Freshwater, Nighttrain, Sketchbook, and Fashion Legend

Sex & Disco is a light lavender-toned silver with silver sparkle in a Lustre finish. It is a new and limited edition shade. It has a somewhat gritty texture due to the amount of sparkle, but it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is lighter and more sparkly than Crystal, and darker and more purple than Forgery.

Colourful Life is a medium vibrant green-toned teal in a Veluxe Pearl finish. It is a new and limited edition shade. It has a slightly drier texture considering the finish, but it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. There is nothing similar to this within MAC's permanent eyeshadow range; it is lighter and much more green-leaning than Teal Pigment, and more blue-leaning than Emerald Green Pigment.

Freshwater is a medium brightened cerulean blue with a pearlized sheen in a Veluxe Pearl finish. It is a permanent shade. It has a soft, silky 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 slightly darker than Blue Calm (PRO), and darker, more muted, and less cyan than Electric Eel.

Nighttrain is a dark gunmetal grey with silver shimmer in a Lustre finish. It is a re-promoted shade from 2005's Lustrevision collection, and is limited edition. It has a soft, silky 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 less blue-toned than Knight Divine, and darker than Silver Ring.

Sketchbook is a dark warm olive brown with dirty gold sparkle in a Lustre finish. It is a new and limited edition shade. It has a dry, stiff texture, and can go on somewhat patchy and uneven. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered easily, but is difficult to blend out well. It is darker and warmer than Greensmoke, and less blackened than Gilt by Association Mineralize Eyeshadow.

Fashion Legend is a soft cool-toned black with pink and violet sparkle in a Lustre finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a somewhat dry, stiff texture, but it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is similar to Black Tied, but with pink sparkle.

This is my favourite eyeshadow palette of the three released. It doesn't have the best textures across the board like Creative Copper, but it has the most unique shades and I haven't seen MAC release a palette with these types of colours in a while. That having been said, these are shades that work well with more matte textures outside of the palette to create a more dimensional look; used together, I find that some of the combinations can look really muddied because there's a lot of shimmer going on. Weirdly enough, these aren't colours that I wear very often, but between the three, it's the one that I would call a must-have.

MAC Antonio Lopez: 6 Eyes Palette in Violet

This past Thursday, MAC released a new collection featuring the works of Antonio Lopez. It is inspired by "this legendary fashion illustrator's vibrant energy, brazen attitude, and love of life." Antonio Lopez is comprised of 12 new and limited edition products —10 of which will be available at all locations, one of which is available at MAC Stores only, and one of which is online exclusive. Antonio Lopez will see the release of three eyeshadow palettes, each of which include six shades of powder eyeshadow and a mini 213SE brush. "Each palette displays the fiercely individual face of one of his muses, 'Antonio's girls,' while each product's packaging features an exclusive drawing by the artist." Each eyeshadow palette contains 5.3 grams of product, and retails for $52.
Top row: Lithe Spirit, Envisioning Pink, and Violet Impact Bottom row: Showgirl, Graphic Style, and Carbon
Swatches: Lithe Spirit, Envisioning Pink, Violet Impact, Showgirl, Graphic Style, and Carbon

Lithe Spirit is a pale cool-toned beige in a Satin finish. It is a re-promoted shade from 2012's Strength collection, and is limited edition. It has a somewhat dry, powdery texture, but 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 than Vanilla, and lighter than Vapour.

Envisioning Pink is a medium cool-toned cotton candy pink in a Satin finish. It is a new and limited edition shade. It has a somewhat dry, powdery texture, but goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is cooler and much less frosted than Swish, and much more blue-toned than Da Bling.

Violet Impact is a medium-dark brightened pinked violet in a Veluxe Pearl finish. It is a new and limited edition shade. It has a somewhat dry, powdery texture, but 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 purple than Stars 'n Rockets, and cooler than Creme de Violet.

Showgirl is a medium-dark blue-toned grey in a Veluxe Pearl finish. It is a re-promoted shade from 2012's Marilyn Monroe collection, and is limited edition. It has a soft, silky 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 more blue than Silver Ring, and cooler and more frosted than Scene.

Graphic Style is a medium-dark warm taupe-grey in a Veluxe Pearl finish. It is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, silky 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 much more grey than Satin Taupe, and warmer than Silver Ring.

Carbon is a soft black in a Matte finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a dry, stiff texture, and goes on a patchy and unevenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered easily, but is difficult to blend out well. It is more black than Nehru, and less pigmented than Typographic.

This is generally nice cool-toned palette that can creative a lot of fun looks, but there are a few things that disappointed me. The shadows that have Veluxe Pearl finishes are stiffer than typical Veluxe Pearls (e.g. Woodwinked, All That Glitters, etc.), so while they do still have good pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off, they aren't nearly as soft or buttery as they should be and, as a result, they don't look as smooth and aren't as easily blendable. Secondly, the inclusion of Carbon in this palette is really disappointing because it's just such a difficult shade to work with compared to similar shades like Nehru and Typographic. It's stiff, dry, and just doesn't want to blend out well. That having been said, there are a couple of more unique shades in this palette —Violet Impact and Showgirl in particular — that might make it worth getting if you're a fan of cool-toned eyeshadows.

MAC Antonio Lopez: 6 Eyes Palette in Creative Copper

On Thursday, MAC released a new collection featuring the works of Antonio Lopez. It is inspired by "this legendary fashion illustrator's vibrant energy, brazen attitude, and love of life." Antonio Lopez is comprised of 12 new and limited edition products —10 of which will be available at all locations, one of which is available at MAC Stores only, and one of which is online exclusive. Antonio Lopez will see the release of three eyeshadow palettes, each of which include six shades of powder eyeshadow and a mini 213SE brush. "Each palette displays the fiercely individual face of one of his muses, 'Antonio's girls,' while each product's packaging features an exclusive drawing by the artist." Each eyeshadow palette contains 5.3 grams of product, and retails for $52.
Top row: Easy Gesture, Artistic License, and Dear Cupcake Bottom row: Creative Copper, Golden Touch, and Carbonized
Swatches: Easy Gesture, Artistic License, Dear Cupcake, Creative Copper, Golden Touch, and Carbonized

Easy Gesture is a light peachy beige with a golden sheen in a Frost finish. It is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, silky 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 frosted than Orb, and less pink than Naked Lunch.

Artistic License is a light-medium peachy-pink with a golden sheen in a Veluxe Pearl finish. It is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, silky 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 more peach than Expensive Pink, and more pink than Melon Pigment.

Dear Cupcake is a medium coral-pink in a Satin finish. It is a re-promoted shade from 2009's Sugarsweet collection, and is limited edition. It has a slightly dry, powdery texture, but goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is more pink than Free to Be, and lighter and more coral than Sushi Flower.

Creative Copper is a medium-dark bronzed gold with copper sparkles in a Lustre finish. It is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, silky 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 much less orange than Amber Lights, and darker and more gold than Honey Lust. 

Golden Touch is a medium muted wheat brown with a soft golden sheen in a Veluxe Pearl finish. It is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, silky 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 similar though a bit cooler than Sweet Satisfaction Pro Longwear Eyeshadow, and warmer than Patina. 

Carbonized is a dark rich chocolate brown with bronze shimmer in a Veluxe Pearl finish. It is a re-promoted shade from 2011's MAC Me Over collection, and is limited edition. It has a soft, silky 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 less reddened than Twinks, and darker and less gold than Tempting.

This is generally a nice palette option for those who like warmer shades — all of the shades apply smoothly and evenly with good colour pay-off and blend easily. Dear Cupcake is the only shade that has a slightly stiffer texture, but it doesn't hinder the application. That having been said, this palette just doesn't seem that exciting to me because MAC has previously released ones with very similar shades, and in fact has plenty of dupes within their permanent range. If you like all six shades here or if you love the packaging (or love Antonio Lopez, or maybe all three), it may be worth getting because it is still a better value than MAC's single eyeshadows. But if you only love a few shades here, I suggest building a custom palette with similar shades instead.

MAC Antonio Lopez: Face Palette in Pink

On Thursday, MAC released a new collection featuring the works of Antonio Lopez. It is inspired by "this legendary fashion illustrator's vibrant energy, brazen attitude, and love of life." Antonio Lopez is comprised of 12 new and limited edition products —10 of which will be available at all locations, one of which is available at MAC Stores only, and one of which is online exclusive. Antonio Lopez will see the release of two Face palettes, each of which include one shade of Iridescent Powder, one shade of Powder Blush, and one shade of Beauty Powder. "Each palette displays the fiercely individual face of one of his muses, 'Antonio's girls,' while each product's packaging features an exclusive drawing by the artist." Each Face palette contains 3.5 grams of Iridescent Powder, 3.8 grams of Powder Blush, and 6.1 grams of Beauty Powder in two compartments, and retails for $55.
Peaceful, Belightful, and Pure Femininity
Peaceful, Belightful, and Pure Femininity

Peaceful is a medium peachy tan with a subtle sheen. It is a re-promoted shade from 2007's Raquel Welch Icon collection, and is limited edition. It is on the powdery side, but 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 brown than Peaches Powder Blush, and much more peach than Golden Bronzing Powder.

Belightful is a light golden champagne beige with gold sparkle. It is a re-promoted shade from 2008's Fafi for MAC collection, and is limited edition. It has a soft, silky texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium pigmentation and semi-sheer to semi-opaque buildable colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is less pinked than Soft and Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish.

Pure Femininity is a medium cool-toned cotton candy pink with a mostly matte finish. It is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, silky 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 blue-toned than Pink Swoon Powder Blush, and much darker and brighter than Well Dressed Powder Blush.

For fans of face kits, this is a really nice cooler-toned option (it's not strictly cool-toned, but cooler than the Coral palette). Peaceful is technically a Beauty Powder, so it is meant to be used anywhere on the face, but I prefer this option as a nice warm blush as it's quite peachy to be a bronzer or contour powder for most skintones. Belightful has been released many times (I actually have one from the Fafi for MAC collection from five years ago!) and is a great highlighting shade for most skintones. It's quite sparkly in the pan, but it isn't too metallic or pigmented in execution. Pure Femininity is a great pop of colour and despite its cool undertones, it does warm up nicely if you have a naturally warm undertone, so don't be scared of it looking too bright. Pure Femininity also blends really well with Peaceful if you wanted to create a more neutral pinky peach shade. While I don't think this palette works quite as well across all skintones as the Coral palette, it's a nice option to brighten and warm up fair to medium-dark complexions.

MAC Antonio Lopez: Face Palette in Coral

Today, MAC released a new collection featuring the works of Antonio Lopez. It is inspired by "this legendary fashion illustrator's vibrant energy, brazen attitude, and love of life." Antonio Lopez is comprised of 12 new and limited edition products —10 of which will be available at all locations, one of which is available at MAC Stores only, and one of which is online exclusive. Antonio Lopez will see the release of two Face palettes, each of which include one shade of Iridescent Powder, one shade of Powder Blush, and one shade of Beauty Powder. "Each palette displays the fiercely individual face of one of his muses, 'Antonio's girls,' while each product's packaging features an exclusive drawing by the artist." Each Face palette contains 3.5 grams of Iridescent Powder, 3.8 grams of Powder Blush, and 6.1 grams of Beauty Powder in two compartments, and retails for $55.
Smooth Harmony, Star!, and Passion for Colour
Smooth Harmony, Star!, and Passion for Colour

Smooth Harmony is a medium-dark orange-tan with a golden sheen. It is a re-promoted shade from 2008's Heatherette collection, and is limited edition. It is very slightly on the drier side, but 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 warmer than Golden Bronzing Powder, lighter and more orange than Refined Golden Bronzing Powder, and more bronze than Gingerly Powder Blush.

Star! is a light peachy beige with gold shimmer-sheen. It is a re-promoted shade from 2003, and is limited edition. It has a soft, silky texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium pigmentation and semi-sheer to semi-opaque buildable colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is warmer and less metallic than Soft and Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish.

Passion for Colour is a medium pinked coral with a subtle sheen. It is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, silky 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 less pink than Fleur Power, and darker and more coral than Peachykeen.

For fans of face kits, this is a really nice warm-toned option. Smooth Harmony is technically a Beauty Powder, so it is meant to be used anywhere on the face, whether it's as a bronzer or a blush or to contour (though beware when contouring as this shade is quite orange-toned). Star! is a great shade for a highlighter for medium to dark skintones as it's not too light and is warm-toned so it won't look ashy, and because it's an Iridescent Powder, it isn't too metallic or pigmented so it keeps it softer and more subtle. And Passion for Colour is lovely coral shade for cheeks; nothing that new or unique especially after the summer season, but it's a beautiful colour, nonetheless. Aside from portability, the best thing about this kit is that it should work for all skintones from light to dark. Fans of limited edition products and '80s fashion will likely buy this for the novelty of the collaboration and packaging, but in general, this particular face palette is perfect for prolonging that summer look into fall/winter.

MAC Retro Matte: Pro Longwear Lip Pencils

Tomorrow, MAC will release a new collection in-stores called Retro Matte. Inspired by the stunning popularity of their famous Ruby Woo lipstick, "MAC has revamped the lipstick legend with invigorating, bold shades... in Ruby Woo's signature finish to create a look that's feminine yet fierce." Retro Matte is comprised of 16 products —11 of which are new and permanent, and five of which are permanent. Retro Matte will see the release of eight complementary shades of Pro Longwear Lip Pencil, of which four are new and permanent, one is new and limited edition, and three are permanent (which were previously reviewed here). MAC describes Pro Longwear Lip Pencil as "a new generation of long-wearing lip pencil technology. Glides on fluidly and adheres instantly. Defines the lips with an instant release of rich, saturated colour. Prolongs the hours between re-application. Transfer proof." Each Pro Longwear Lip Pencil comes in regular black packaging, contains 1.2 grams of product, and retails for $23. 
Fashion Boost, Shock Value, Dynamo, Trust in Red, and High Energy
Fashion Boost, Shock Value, Dynamo, Trust in Red, and High Energy

Fashion Boost is a medium-dark vibrant magenta-purple. This is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is darker and more purple than Magenta Lip Pencil.

Shock Value is a medium vibrant cool-toned neon bubblegum pink. This is a new and permanent shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. There is nothing very similar to this within MAC's permanent lip pencil range; it is much cooler and brighter than In Anticipation, and lighter and much cooler than More to Love.

Dynamo is a medium vibrant reddened coral-pink. This is a new and permanent shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. There is nothing very similar to this within MAC's permanent lip pencil range; it is more pink than Redd Lip Pencil.

Trust in Red is a medium-dark vibrant cool-toned cherry red. This is a new and permanent shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is lighter than Cherry Lip Pencil, and cooler than Kiss Me Quick. 

High Energy is a medium-dark vibrant orange-red. This is a new and permanent shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more orange than Redd Lip Pencil, and much more red than What A Blast!.

I've always been a fan of the Pro Longwear Lip Pencil formula — they feel creamy and smooth going on, glide on effortlessly with full colour pay-off, dries down to a matte finish, and once they set, they do not budge. They wear for at least six hours; the brighter shades like these ones wear at least eight without fading. These five new shades are a great addition to the MAC lip pencil range (with the exception of Fashion Boost, which is limited edition) as the bright lip trend is going strong, and these fill in the gaps that were missing before. A coral lip pencil that doesn't lean too orange? A hot pink lip pencil to wear with eye-searing shades like Candy Yum-Yum? A magenta lip pencil that doesn't lean too pink? Yes, please!