Pick-Ups & Deliveries: September 2014

Get a snack and a drink and get comfortable, 'cause this month's haul post is a long one. I'd taken on a few extra wedding jobs over the past month so I found myself with an influx of cash, and proceeded to do copious amounts of shopping. It all started when I went to the Estée Lauder warehouse sale at the beginning of September with my friend Steph.
Darphin Hydraskin Light Gel Crème and Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair
Origins A Perfect World Highly Hydrating Body Lotion with White Tea (x 2)
Michael Kors Holiday Nail Lacquer Set: Runway Star, Rock Star, and Superstar
MAC Powder Blush in Bred for Beauty, Lipstick in Embrace Me, and Nail Lacquer in Coffee Break
This is the first time I'd seen Darphin being carried at the warehouse sale (I didn't even know they were owned by Lauder). Darphin is a brand that I've always wanted to try but their products are just a little too expensive for me to justify at retail price. But when I saw their moisturizers being sold at 50% off, I didn't even hesitate; I ended up getting the Hydraskin Light Cream Gel for $40 from $80. And I also got a bottle of my favourite Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair (the old formula, not the new one that I haven't tried yet) for $50 (!) from $97. Other purchases include two tubes of Origins A Perfect World Body Lotion for $18 each from $32.50, a Michael Kors nail polish set for $25 from $50, and a MAC charity grab bag for $5 (that included Bred for Beauty blush and Embrace Me lipstick). The free gift was a MAC Nail Lacquer in Coffee Break.
MAC #262, #130, #132, and #127 Brushes
MAC Lipsticks in Siss and Yash, Matchmaster Concealer in 2 and 3, and Studio Sculpt Defining Powder in Light Plus
MAC Prep + Prime Fix+ Finishing Mist
Several days later, I made a trip to a MAC Store to get all The Simpsons collection goodies (which I reviewed earlier this month here, here, here, and here), during which I also bought some new brushes, two new lipsticks in Siss and Yash (permanent at MAC Stores, re-promoted in the Artificially Wild collection), two shades in the new Matchmaster Concealer (amazingly weightless, medium buildable coverage, natural satin finish in a super-convenient stick), the new Studio Sculpt Defining Powder in Light Plus for more natural highlighting, and three new bottles of Fix+ (now in fancy new packaging that mimics frosted glass).
Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Serum
Clinique Gift with Purchase: Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief, Deep Comfort Hand and Cuticle Cream, Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+, Rinse-Off Eye Makeup Solvent, All About Shadow Duo and Soft-Pressed Powder Blusher Palette, Chubby Stick Baby Tint in Flowering Freesia, and High Impact Mascara
Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Hydrating Colour Lipshine in 46 Liberté and 89 Satisfaction
I went to The Bay to pick up the Clinique Smart Serum that I had pre-ordered with my friend for their Gift with Purchase event. I had been really curious about this serum since its launch (the fact that it sounded so much like Lauder's Advanced Night Repair is actually what sold me on it) and was going to buy it regardless of whether or not there was a gift, but I decided to support them during their event since I know their targets are crazy high. My friend added a tube of Deep Comfort Hand and Cuticle Cream to my gift 'cause she's awesome like that. While I was at The Bay, I stopped by the Chanel counter for a peruse and somehow ended up not with one, but two new Chanel Rouge Coco Shines. As none of the new limited edition shades appealed to me, I got two permanent shades instead (Satisfaction is the perfect everyday MLBB-meets-nude shade that I wanted Boy to be, and Liberté is the closest shade I've found to replace my beloved Rivage). I had enough points on my rewards card to redeem $20, though, so at least I didn't have to pay full price.

NYX Blushes in Summer Peach, Peach, and Pinky
NYX Round Lipsticks in Pumpkin Pie, Tea Rose, and Doll
I went to the doctor's a couple of weeks ago to get a new prescription for my eczema, and made my way to my local Rexall to pick up my new ointment. Not only did I not realize I lived so close to a Rexall, but I also discovered that they carry a huge selection of NYX products there! That wasn't completely ravaged by barbarians (ahem, Target)! So, killing two birds with one stone, I picked out a bunch of NYX goodies while waiting for the pharmacy to prepare my prescription. They didn't have any of those Butter Glosses that everyone's been raving about, but I did end up with three new blushes and three new lipsticks.

Makeup Geek Blushes
(Top: Love Affair, Hanky Panky, and Head Over Heels
Bottom: Rendezvous, Secret Admirer, and Honeymoon)
Makeup Geek Blushes (Top: Summer Fling, Bliss, and Smitten Bottom: Infatuation, Spell Bound, and Romance)
Makeup Geek Eyeshadows (Top: Lemon Drop, Pixie Dust, Shimmermint, Poison Ivy, and Envy Middle: Appletini, Sea Mist, Shark Bait, Poolside, and Mermaid Bottom: Peacock, Ocean Breeze, Nautica, Neptune, and Duchess)
Then, online shopping happened. A lot of it. A bit too much, really. Some might even call it going overboard. I found out that Makeup Geek had re-stocked all their blush pans, so I got the other eight shades that I wasn't able to get last time I ordered from them. I've also been using their eyeshadows quite frequently and have been incredibly impressed with their quality and execution, so I decided to get 15 more eyeshadows in the green and blue families (I got mostly neutrals and warm shades last time). I did not need them at all because, really, how often do I use these types of colour? But the collector/hoarder in me is just like, "More, more, more!" and at $5.99 a pop, I can't really resist... And then I bought new MAC palettes to put them in because I decided I like the look of the new palettes way better than the old palettes I had put them in.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Champagne Gold and Rose Gold
Becca Mineral Blushes (clockwise from left): Flowerchild, Damselfly, Songbird, and Wild Honey
Deborah Lippmann Nail Lacquer in Just Dance and Harlem Nocturne
I was watching a YouTube video that featured Becca's Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Rose Gold and was like, "Oooooh, so pretty!" Which obviously led me to check it out on Sephora's website, where I saw that they also had a new shade called Champagne Gold. I was adding them to my wishlist thinking I'd wait until the next VIB sale to get them... but visions of gorgeous shimmery skin kept dancing in my head and I was like, "Fuck it, I'm getting them." So I added the two shades to my basket... and as I looked through my wishlist, I remembered that Becca's Mineral Blushes had been on my to-buy list for months. I think I would've waited to purchase them if Becca was available in any of the Sephora locations remotely close to me, but as it's not, I allowed myself to get two. And then I couldn't decide on which two to get because four of the shades were on my wishlist. I was debating over these shades for over half an hour before I was like, "Oh, fuck it. I'll just get all four." Clearly, my self-control is non-existent. Another case in point: I went into Sephora last week looking for Ardency Inn (which they didn't carry) and came out with two new Deborah Lippmann nail polishes instead. 
Cirque Nail Lacquer in Magic Hour, Lullaby, Xochitl, Planet Caravan, and Baptisia
Cirque Nail Lacquer in French Roast, Lichen, Lonesome George, Bejeweled, and Tibetan Nights
Speaking of nail polish and online shopping... I put in a massive order of Cirque polishes at Nail Polish Canada. I've noticed that I'll go one month without being intrigued by nail polishes at all and almost being positively bored by all the offerings, and then the next month, without fail, I will want every single shade I come across. I remember going on that site for months and almost all of the Cirque shades that I wanted were never in stock, so when I saw that they had most of the ones I wanted available again, I just binged. I got ten shades total from five separate collections, but I think Lichen is that one that I'd been lemming for nearly a year now. 
Soap & Paper Factory Ultra Moisturizing Shea Butter Hand Cream in Green Tea and Marine
Soap & Paper Factory Shea Butter Soap in Marine and Green Tea
Soap & Paper Factory Lip Butter in Blood Orange and Limoncello
I was ordering some new books on Indigo last weekend when I noticed two things: a) they carry Soap & Paper Factory and b) a lot of it was on sale. I have been interested in Soap & Paper Factory's products from when I first saw them featured in an issue of Lucky magazine six of seven years ago. At the time, however, no stores were carrying their products here and they wouldn't ship to Canada from their website (and even if they did, it would probably have cost an arm and a leg). So I never got to try them out. But Indigo has their shea butter hand creams and bar soaps on sale for 50% off right now, so I bought two of each in Green Tea and Marine scents (I've been using bar soap almost exclusively at home because I've discovered that a lot of liquid hand soaps irritate my hands). I also got a coupon code for an extra 15% off gift items, so I added two of their lip butters in Blood Orange and Limoncello, too. 
 Bath & Body Works 3-Wick Candles in Wasabi Apple and Bourbon Butterscotch
Bath & Body Works Mason Jar Candles in Pumpkin Caramel Latte, Caramel Pumpkin Swirl, and Pumpkin Pecan Waffles
And then I went back on my word and ended up buying more candles. Because Bath & Body Works always has these ridiculous, irresistible sales and an extra coupon on top of the sales, and you end up buying all the things. They were having a 2 for $25.50 sale for their 3-wick candles, and I had a coupon for an extra 20% off, so I bought Wasabi Apple and Bourbon Butterscotch. Then, literally a week later, they were having a 3 for $25 sale for their mason jar candles. So I got three pumpkin scents (I don't like them in the 3-wicks because they're way too strong and way too sweet, but they give off just the right amount of scent in the mason jars), and had another coupon for 20% off that I got through e-mail. But it's over now, guys. I'm done. No more. Really. I swear. (Let's see how long this lasts.)

What did you get this month? Any sales you just couldn't resist? 

Sunday Video Love: La La Latch

I first heard of Pentatonix when looking through Lindsey Stirling's videos, and discovered their collaboration on a cover of Imagine Dragons' "Radioactive" (which I posted here). Of course, being freshly obsessed with Pitch Perfect at the time, I had a newfound appreciation for a cappella, which all of a sudden seemed ridiculously cool (at least, in my head, it's cool). Pentatonix just released their third album which features this song. It's apparently a mash-up of Sam Smith, Disclosure, and Naughty Boy, all three of whom I had never heard of and don't know any of the songs to, but Pentatonix makes them sound fantastic together. (You can see their crazy talent and versatility in this video here.) And guess what? They're gonna be in Pitch Perfect 2. I am so freakin' excited.

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Barbara, Vanessa, and Audrey

NARS released a new lipstick formula this month called Audacious, and once I saw the swatches and reviews roll out in the blogosphere late last month, I knew I had to get in on the action. There are a total of 40 new and permanent shades in this range, though some shades are exclusive to certain retailers. All shades, however, are available through the NARS website. I ordered six shades online to get shipped to my brother in NYC so he could bring them with him when we came to visit during Labour Day weekend (for a few reasons: four of the shades I wanted are exclusive to Barneys and thus not available in-store in Canada, the American retail price is $5 cheaper a pop, and there is free shipping within the US). Audacious is described as a "modern lipstick so shamelessly seductive in touch and texture, the sensation is audacious." It is touted to be "long-lasting," and have "one-stroke, full-coverage creamy wear" and "luxurious texture and enriched with ingredients to smooth and nourish lips." They are scent- and taste-free. Each lipstick comes in a square black metal tubes with magnetized closures, contains a total of 4.2 grams of product, and retails for $32 USD or $37 CAD.

Barbara, Vanessa, and Audrey
Barbara, Vanessa, and Audrey

Barbara is a medium peachy beige with brown undertones in a satin finish. This is a new and permanent shade, and is exclusive to Barneys. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is darker than NARS Raquel, more peach than NARS Vanessa, more brown than MAC Kinda Sexy, darker and more peach than MAC Cherish, lighter and more brown than YSL #5 Beige Etrusque Rouge Pur Couture, and darker and more peach than Urban Decay Naked2.

Vanessa is a medium warm muted pink beige in a satin finish. This is a new and permanent shade, and is exclusive to Barneys. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is similar though slightly cooler than NARS Anita, more pink than NARS Barbara, warmer than MAC Faux, lighter and more beige than MAC Brave, more pink than YSL #5 Beige Etrusque Rouge Pur Couture, darker than Urban Decay Naked, and similar to Urban Decay Liar.

Audrey is a medium-dark warm reddened currant in a satin finish. This is a new and permanent shade, and is available at all NARS retailers. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is warmer and more red than NARS Vivien, warmer and more muted than NARS Vera, more plum and more muted than MAC Viva Glam I, lighter and more red than MAC Viva Glam III, darker and more red than MAC Captive, more muted and less shimmery than Urban Decay Manic, and more brown than Chanel 40 La Sensuelle Rouge Allure Velvet.

I don't want to make any ridiculous claims, but Audacious has definitely entered my Top 5 favourite lipstick formulas list. It performs exactly the way NARS says it does: intense pigmentation and full colour pay-off in one stroke, smooth and even application, emollient texture that dries down to a satin finish. I like that these have a demi-matte finish because they stay smooth and lightly creamy but aren't shiny or slippery. They're not really hydrating nor are they touted to be, but they're never drying and lips stay comfortable during the entire duration of wear (which is about six hours). I would say Audacious is a slightly creamier version of MAC's Mattene, which was limited edition, or a more matte version of Urban Decay's Revolution. They're actually quite similar to YSL's Rouge Pur Couture lipsticks, but with a whole lot more colour selection. And to whoever decided to change the packaging of these to metallic cases instead of those dreaded "soft-touch" tubes: thank you!

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Dominique, Silvia, and Vivien

NARS released a new lipstick formula this month called Audacious, and once I saw the swatches and reviews roll out in the blogosphere late last month, I knew I had to get in on the action. There are a total of 40 new and permanent shades in this range, though some shades are exclusive to certain retailers. All shades, however, are available through the NARS website. I ordered six shades online to get shipped to my brother in NYC so he could bring them with him when we came to visit during Labour Day weekend (for a few reasons: four of the shades I wanted are exclusive to Barneys and thus not available in-store in Canada, the American retail price is $5 cheaper a pop, and there is free shipping within the US). Audacious is described as a "modern lipstick so shamelessly seductive in touch and texture, the sensation is audacious." It is touted to be "long-lasting," and have "one-stroke, full-coverage creamy wear" and "luxurious texture and enriched with ingredients to smooth and nourish lips." They are scent- and taste-free. Each lipstick comes in a square black metal tubes with magnetized closures, contains a total of 4.2 grams of product, and retails for $32 USD or $37 CAD.

Dominique, Silvia, and Vivien
Dominique, Silvia, and Vivien

Dominique is a medium-dark muted lilac-purple with subtle pink undertones in a satin finish. This is a new and permanent shade, and is exclusive to Barneys. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. I couldn't find any close dupes for this shade, but it is darker and more purple than MAC Up The Amp, darker and more muted than Lime Crime Airborne Unicorn, and more purple and less shimmery than NYX Castle.

Silvia is a medium-dark vibrant cool-toned orchid-magenta in a satin finish. This is a new and permanent shade, and is exclusive to Barneys. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is darker than NARS Angela, more purple than NARS Michiyo, slightly darker and more muted than MAC Violetta, lighter and more pink than MAC Heroine, and darker than Dolce & Gabbana 100 Violet.

Vivien is a medium-dark neutral reddened plum in a satin finish. This is a new and permanent shade, and is exclusive to Barneys. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is cooler and more plum than NARS Audrey, slightly warmer and more pinked than NARS Afghan Red, lighter and more plum than MAC Diva, more reddened and cooler than MAC Viva Glam III, and slightly warmer than Marc Jacobs 146 Cabaret.

I don't want to make any ridiculous claims, but Audacious has definitely entered my Top 5 favourite lipstick formulas list. It performs exactly the way NARS says it does: intense pigmentation and full colour pay-off in one stroke, smooth and even application, emollient texture that dries down to a satin finish. I like that these have a demi-matte finish because they stay smooth and lightly creamy but aren't shiny or slippery. They're not really hydrating nor are they touted to be, but they're never drying and lips stay comfortable during the entire duration of wear (which is about six hours). I would say Audacious is a slightly creamier version of MAC's Mattene, which was limited edition, or a more matte version of Urban Decay's Revolution. They're actually quite similar to YSL's Rouge Pur Couture lipsticks, but with a whole lot more colour selection. And to whoever decided to change the packaging of these to metallic cases instead of those dreaded "soft-touch" tubes: thank you!

An Autumn Tag

Haven't done a tag in a while, so when I saw this one on Larie's blog, I decided it'd be a fun one to do because fall is my favourite season and even though it's not technically fall yet, it certainly feels like it here in Toronto. So, here we go!

1. OK, we're talking coffee — what's your favourite seasonal drink from Starbucks or another coffee shop? Not gonna lie, this is where I follow the masses: Pumpkin Spice Latte. I don't often go to Starbucks to order coffee anymore because I buy their coffee ground and make it myself at home, but I just can't resist a PSL. I actually prefer the one from Second Cup, along with their Cinnamon Swirl Latte. When it comes down to it, I think Second Cup makes tastier lattes.

2. Accessories — what do you opt for: scarf, boots, or gloves? I do love myself a good scarf and rarely go without one in the fall, but I think the accessory I get most excited for is boots. There's just nothing like a good pair of boots to complete an outfit. They're also my favourite kind of footwear.

Nine West Vintage America Collection Sabady Suede Booties

3. Music — what's your favourite music to listen to during autumn? I don't necessarily change the music I listen to seasonally, but I've found that I go for moodier or more "haunting" songs when fall rolls around, whereas I listen to a lot more peppy, upbeat tunes in the summer. I've been really into Half Moon Run recently and just downloaded their album, Dark Eyes. They're kind of Radiohead meets The Black Keys meets Kings of Leon. I've had this song on repeat for the last week:



4. Perfume — what's your favourite scent for this time of year? Okay, so y'all know my all-time favourite scent is Fresh's Sugar Lychee, which is unabashedly fresh and citrusy (and therefore quite "summery"), but I do switch it up with somewhat heavier scents when fall comes around. I tend to go for more rose-based scents like Stella McCartney's Stella, Dolce & Gabbana's Rose The One, and YSL's Parisienne. But I'm on the lookout for a new scent this year. Any suggestions?

Stella McCartney Stella, YSL Parisienne, and Dolce & Gabbana Rose The One

5. Candles — what scents will you be burning this season? I'm supposed to be on a candle ban (as usual), but I cannot resist Bath & Body Works' fall scents. I'm like a moth to flame. I don't really like the scents they bring out for the other seasons, but fall is my weakness. I bought the Banana Nutmeg Bread Pudding scent last month and have been burning it non-stop (it actually smells more nutty than banana once it's burning, so it really does smell exactly like bread pudding), though I did just buy a couple new scents (Bourbon Butterscotch and Wasabi Apple) as well... And I've been burning the Honey Cinnamon Crumb Cake candle I bought last winter and promptly forgot about...

Bath & Body Works Banana Nutmeg Bread Pudding Candle

6. What do you love most about autumn? What don't I love about autumn? The weather is perfect (cool and crisp but not freezing yet), the fashion is amazing (coats and boots and scarves and blazers!), the make-up is more refined and polished and more dramatic, we can use candles without seeming crazy...

7. Favourite makeup look? Nudes and deeper red hues like maroon and burgundy for lips. I mean, vampy lips have always been in for fall, but I'm leaning more towards warmer shades rather than plums or berries this year. I like to pair them with warm-toned smoky eyes using golds and orangey browns and coppers and reddened bronzes, plus winged liquid eyeliner (as usual) and tons of mascara (as usual). I've also been digging a thicker, more defined brow.

Marc Jacobs Beauty Lovemarc Lip Gel in 110 Role Play and 146 Cabaret; NARS Audacious Lipstick in Vanessa, Vivien, and Audrey; Illamasqua Glamore Lipstick in Minx, Naked, and Starkers; MAC Lipstick in Cherish, Viva Glam II, Viva Glam III, and Media

8. What are you looking forward to most in autumn? Everything, but mostly make-up collections. As we all know, I have a hoarding problem. And also, new outerwear! I've got my eye on like, five coats right now. Oh, and fall also means my birthday which means IMATS is coming up!

As you know, I don't like tagging specific people because I don't want them to feel obligated to do this, but if you end up doing this tag on your blog, let me know in the comments so I can read your answers!

MAC Viva Glam Rihanna 2: Lipstick and 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. Every year, MAC appoints a celebrity to be their Viva Glam ambassador to help raise HIV/AIDS awareness. Every Viva Glam lip product that has been launched after Fergie's Viva Glam VI Special Edition in 2009 has been named after the celebrity ambassador of the year, with Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper in 2010, Lady Gaga again in 2011, Nicki Minaj and Ricky Martin in 2012, Nicki Minaj again in 2013, and now Rihanna for 2014. Rihanna is back with her second Viva Glam shade to bring us into 2015. To date, MAC's Viva Glam campaign has raised $345 million globally to help men, women, and children infected and affected by AIDS and HIV.
Viva Glam Rihanna 2 comes in both lipstick and lip gloss form, and both were launched in-stores last Thursday. Both are limited edition and will be available for six months (subject to change). As with all MAC lip products, they are vanilla-scented but taste-free. Viva Glam Rihanna 2 Lipstick comes in crimson rubberized packaging and a black metal tube featuring MAC's logo and Rihanna's signature printed across it in red. Viva Glam Rihanna 2 Lipglass comes in a clear tube with a crimson rubberized lid, and Rihanna's signature is again printed across the tube in red. Each lipstick contains 3 grams of product, and retails for $19. Each Lipglass comes with a doe-foot applicator, contains 4.8 grams of product, and also retails for $19. As they are for charity, none of the Viva Glam products are applicable for the Back to MAC recycling program.
Viva Glam Rihanna 2 Lipstick
Viva Glam Rihanna 2 Lipglass
Viva Glam Rihanna 2 Lipstick and Viva Glam Rihanna 2 Lipglass

Viva Glam Rihanna 2 Lipstick is a medium-dark warm bronzy mauve with silver pearl in a Frost finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It will look more bronze, or more mauve, or more silver depending on the angle and the lighting. It has a creamy texture, but due to the nature of the finish, it does go on a bit unevenly. It has medium-high pigmentation with semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is cooler and more silver than Fluid, darker and more brown than Plum Dandy, and more mauve than Chintz.

Viva Glam Rihanna 2 Lipglass is a clear greyed mauve with pink and silver iridescent shimmer. This is a new and limited edition shade. It will look more pink or more silver depending on the angle and the lighting. It has a creamy texture, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has low pigmentation with sheer colour pay-off. It is more grey and less pink than Bountiful Plushglass, and more grey than Morning Glory Lustreglass.

I don't think it came as a surprise to anyone that Rihanna was going to have a second run as Viva Glam ambassador, especially since the last two ambassadors (Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj) also had two terms. I'm sure many people have opinions about Rihanna or MAC teaming up with Rihanna again, but in the end, if Rihanna can use her fame and popularity to sell a product that goes directly to charity rather than for profit, I'm all for it. There's going to be a little more backlash for this lipstick than her previous Viva Glam shade just because it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea. It's not widely appealing and it does require some work to make it look flattering on many skintones. I mean, let's be real, we can't all be Rihanna, who's rocking these lip products plus neon green hair in the latest Viva Glam ad and looking like a fierce urban fashionista. 
I can see why they decided to release this colour for this fall, as the whole '90s grunge look is on trend right now and these brown/grey/taupe shades are trying to make a comeback, but I can't help but be a little disappointed that they didn't try to release something a little more wearable (the original Viva Glam line-up in general is extremely flattering across a plethora of skintones, so it's always surprising to see that the celebrity-driven shades aren't). If you were a fan of MAC's Icon lipstick, which was discontinued last year (and made a re-appearance in this month's Artificially Wild collection), you'll love this one because they're very similar. I do think this shade looks exceptional on medium-dark to deep-dark skintones, but those with fairer skintones can look very washed out and almost zombie-like so I like pairing it with lip pencils (MAC's Whirl, Half-Red, or Plum look fantastic with it). On that note, I do think they did a great job with the Rihanna 2 Lipglass, as you can layer it on top of every single lip colour out there to add more dimension; it looks like someone sprinkled diamond dust and magic unicorn sparkles on your lips. And the Rihanna 2 gloss definitely makes the Rihanna 2 lipstick that much prettier.
The MAC AIDS Fund is one of the most effective charities I have ever seen a cosmetics company identify with, and 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. This is a really worthy cause, so if you're not personally a fan of these, it's worth checking out any of the other Viva Glam shades that may be more wearable or flattering on you.

MAC Artificially Wild: Eyeshadows

Last Thursday, MAC launched a collection called Artificially Wild, inspired by the '90s grunge trend where "nudes rule in colour," "camouflage reins supreme," and "untamed neutrals [are] anything but bare." This collection will see the launch of 22 products, nine of which are new and limited edition, five of which are re-promotes, and eight of which are permanent. Artificially Wild sees the release of four new and limited edition shades of eyeshadow. Each eyeshadow comes in regular black plastic pots with clear lids, contains a total of 1.5 grams of product, and retails for $19. These are applicable for the Back to MAC recycling program at participating MAC Stores.

Clockwise from left: Artificial Earth, Stony, Marsh, and Natural Wilderness
Artificial Earth, Stony, Marsh, and Natural Wilderness

Artificial Earth is a light-medium neutral mauve-pink with a soft sheen in a Satin finish. This 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 cooler and more mauve than Girlie, darker and more pink than Malt, and darker and cooler than Bloom On Pro Longwear Eyeshadow.

Stony is a medium-dark neutral-warm pewter grey with a soft sheen in a Satin finish. This 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 blue-toned than Scene, lighter and warmer than Copperplate, and more grey than Coquette.

Marsh is a medium-dark warm muted olive green in a Satin finish. This 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. There's nothing really similar to this in MAC's permanent range; it is more green and less metallic than Sumptuous Olive.

Natural Wilderness is a medium-dark yellow-toned ochre brown in a Satin finish. This 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 slightly less yellow-toned than Uninterrupted Pro Longwear Eyeshadow, much more yellow-toned than Cork, and less orange than Saddle.

All four of these eyeshadows have absolutely phenomenal textures — soft, smooth, finely-milled, and very pigmented — that make them a dream to work with. At a glance, these four shades aren't the most exciting and they aren't necessarily meant to be; they're inspired by nudes and camouflage, so ultimately, their goal is to be wearable. And that they are, without being your stereotypical neutrals. These seem like a fresh approach at "camouflage" and there's nothing quite like them in MAC's permanent eyeshadow range. I personally think the star shade here is Natural Wilderness which, let's be honest, looks a bit like poop, but is such a fantastic workhorse shade across all skintones. I can see it being a go-to crease colour for many (weird but true: poop colours look good on the skin). In general, all four shades work well on their own, and exceptionally well as crease or transition colours (these are positively dreamy to a make-up artist!). Well worth taking a look at if you're looking for everyday shades. MAC did a fantastic job with these.

MAC The Simpsons: Lipglasses

Last Thursday, MAC launched their collaboration collection with The Simpsons. The collection is largely inspired by the main female character and matriarch of the show, Marge Simpson, but was created as a whole in honour of the 25th anniversary of the animated sitcom. This collection will see the launch of 10 products, nine of which are new and limited edition (of which one is an online exclusive), and one of which is permanent. The Simpsons collection will see the release of four new and limited shades of Lipglass. They come in clear tubes with a design featuring Marge Simpson's head and The Simpsons logo. The secondary cardstock packaging features a collage of characters from The Simpsons in primary yellow, with Marge Simpson's hair coloured in blue and The Simpsons logo in red. Like all MAC glosses, Lipglass is vanilla-scented but taste-free and comes with a doe-foot applicator. Each Lipglass contains a total of 4.8 ml of product, and retails for $20. Due to the special edition nature of this collection, these are not applicable for the Back to MAC recycling program.

Itchy & Scratchy & Sexy, Red Blazer, Grand Pumpkin, and Nacho Cheese Explosion
Itchy & Scratchy & Sexy, Red Blazer, Grand Pumpkin, and Nacho Cheese Explosion

Itchy & Scratchy & Sexy is a medium-dark brightened violet-magenta with blue and magenta micro-shimmer. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a creamy texture, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation with opaque colour pay-off. It is brighter and more purple than Pink Poodle Lipglass, lighter and much more purple than Rebel Lipglass, and brighter and more purple than Fashion Perk Mineralize Glass.

Red Blazer is a medium-dark vibrant cool-toned reddened fuchsia with pink pearl. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a creamy texture, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation with opaque colour pay-off. It is lighter and more fuchsia than Venetian Lustreglass, more red and warmer than Girl About Town Lipglass, and brighter and more reddened than New Love Mineralize Glass.

Grand Pumpkin is a medium muted warm peach-orange. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a creamy texture, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation with opaque colour pay-off. It is more orange than Pink Lemonade, more orange and much more opaque than Richer, Lusher Cremesheen Glass, and more orange than Be Nice Mineralize Glass.

Nacho Cheese Explosion is a light vibrant chartreuse-tinted neon yellow with green and pink micro-shimmer. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a creamy texture, but goes on quite unevenly; it settles into lip lines and emphasizes lip texture. It has medium pigmentation with semi-sheer to semi-opaque buildable colour pay-off. There is nothing similar to this in MAC's permanent range.

If you're a fan of MAC's Lipglass formula and like brighter shades, you'll definitely want to check these out. There's nothing quite like these in MAC's permanent Lipglass range and, with the exception of Nacho Cheese Explosion, they go on very smoothly and evenly with incredible colour saturation. The wear-time is also pretty impressive, at about four to five hours before fading. The biggest let down, Nacho Cheese Explosion, also happens to be the most unique colour I've seen in a gloss despite its less-than-stellar consistency. Like most yellow lip products, though, it's not particularly flattering across skintones. I find that it's great for toning down really, really red lips or adding more dimension to a lip look, but on its own, it tends to make the majority of lips quite dirty or corpse-like, so I would generally pair it with something else, like lipstick or liner. Personally, I just had to buy any make-up product called "Nacho Cheese Explosion."