The Beauty Scenario Tag

I wasn't tagged by anyone, but after seeing it on Liz's and Larie's blogs, I thought it'd be fun to do, too:

1. You have to get rid of all of your foundations and only keep one high-end and one drugstore; which do you keep? Lucky for me, I actually only use one foundation: MAC's Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation.

MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation
2. You go for an interview, and the lady interviewing you has lipstick on her teeth. Do you approach the subject or ignore it completely? I'd approach the subject. Any interview I'd go for would be for the make-up industry, and all of us appreciate it when someone tells us there's lipstick on our teeth. I don't usually need to say anything; I drag my tongue across my front teeth to signal it, and it gets the point across.

3. You're not feeling yourself and need a pick-me-up lipstick. Which do you go for? The lipstick shade I made at Bite Beauty Lip Lab. Also, MAC's Petals & Peacocks from their Give Me Liberty of London collection in 2010. I didn't get it when it launched because I didn't really wear bright shades back then, but I regretted it so hard like, six months later, so my friend, who's worked for MAC for 18 years, gifted me a brand new tube that she had gotten as gratis for that collection. Just looking at it puts me in a good mood.

MAC Give Me Liberty of London Lipstick in Petals & Peacocks
4. You go back in time for a day to your teenage years; how would you do your hair or makeup differently? My hair hasn't really changed since high school (long, straight, layered, side-swept bangs) so I wouldn't really change anything, but I would definitely do my make-up differently. First, I'd get a foundation that actually matched me. (Not three shades lighter and pink-toned because I wanted to look like Brody Dalle. I am not white, nor am I a punk.) Second, I'd do my eyebrows. (They legit looked like dark brown sperms back then.) Third, I'd use blush. (Yes, this present-day blush fiend did not use blush until her early 20s.) Fourth, I'd use liquid eye liner. (Because smudgy brown eye pencil was just not cutting it.)

5. You ask your hairdresser for a shoulder length Pixie Lott haircut but they hear wrong and give you a pixie cut - what would you do?

A) Smile, say thank you, call your mum and cry hysterically
B) Cry in the chair and things get awkward
C) Complain to the manager and demand a refund

I just had to Google who the hell Pixie Lott is. Okay, first of all, am I completely unconscious? Because how would I not notice when my hairdresser is about to cut that much hair off if I had requested a style that was significantly longer than that? Like, why wouldn't I stop them the moment I saw them put scissors that close to my scalp? And if my hairdresser really did cut off that length of hair in the first snip, how would I not notice them continuing to cut all of my hair off? I'm sorry, but I would deserve that hair cut because I would be fucking stupid. But I understand that this question is hypothetical, so: I would get pissed and complain, but I wouldn't demand a refund because that's just straight-up bitchy and I’m stuck with the hair cut, anyway. I think I would just style it kinda messy chic, or maybe wear a pretty head scarf and some ultra-glam earrings. If I looked good with short hair, though, I'd be like, “Daaaamn, I look fiiiine.”

6. Your friend surprises you with a four-day city break and you have one hour to pack. Which 'Do it all' palette do you pack in your makeup bag? As I said to Larie, a friend that gives you one hour to pack for a four-day trip is no friend at all. That having been said, I don't actually own any "do it all" palettes; I just don't like them because there's always something in there that I don't like and won't use. I do have products that I use on a daily basis, so I would pack all of those, plus a neutral eyeshadow palette (actually been really loving MAC’s Eyeshadow x15 Warm Neutral Palette recently), a few neutral blushes (likely MAC Warm Soul, Becca’s Songbird, and Hourglass’ Mood Exposure), plus a few nude and MLBB lipsticks (my favourites right now are YSL’s Rouge Pur Couture in 10 Beige Tribute, Too Faced’s La Crème in Naughty Nude, and Bite Beauty's Honey Berry). When in doubt, do neutral.

MAC Eyeshadow x15 Warm Neutral Palette
7. Your house has been robbed. Don't worry, everyone is safe, but your beauty stash has been raided. What's the product you really hope is safe? This question always makes me laugh because why the fuck would any robber bypass a flat-screen TV, laptop, camera, and jewelry and go straight for used make-up? Like, why wouldn't you shoplift at Sephora instead? But, I digress... so let's say that stupid robber really did go into my beauty stash (and I really do have a massive one); I'd be most pissed about limited edition products, especially ones in special edition packaging. Anything else is replaceable.

8. Your friend borrows makeup and returns it in awful condition. Do you:

A) Pretend you haven't noticed
B) Ask them to re-purchase it
C) Secretly do it back to their makeup

Is this the same douche bag friend who gave me an hour to pack for a four-day trip? Time to break up! It's not that I wouldn't lend something to a friend (I do have a lot of spare items in my kit), it's more the fact that they have the audacity to return it in bad condition. If any of my friends ruined anything of mine, they would have enough respect for me to replace it without me having to ask. I wouldn't be friends with someone who can't respect me, my time, and my possessions. Realistically, though, I don't think I'd ever really lend make-up out to a friend (unless they're a fellow make-up artist working on a photoshoot or a wedding or something); I'd just do their make-up.


Feel free to do this on your blog if you feel so inclined!

Sunday Video Love: Dirrty

A lot can go wrong with an acoustic cover of "Dirrty." But you know what, Ed Sheeran slayed it.

Friday Five: Without Lamps, There'd Be No Light

This week's Friday Five:

1. When you were seventeen, how did you spend most of your Saturdays? I was in senior year of high school, so you know, parties. Otherwise, I was usually roaming Queen Street West with Janetta, shopping, eating, and watching local bands at tiny venues. We also used to spend a lot of Saturday nights eating pizza and watching DVDs.


2. What was your high school locker like? Actually really organized. I had a lot of locker shelves. I also decorated it a lot; I had origami cranes and flowers hanging everywhere, photos I took of friends and of bands at concerts, cutesy art prints, etc.


3. When did you last have to replace a missing screw? I honestly can't remember. I think maybe when one of the arms of my glasses fell off, but it's been years.


4. What was the last thing you drank out of a Thermos? I don't own a Thermos brand one, but I do have Contigo travel mugs (these ones that I got from Costco) that I use daily. So, coffee. Always coffee.


5. Do you still possess anything you created in high school? I did a lot of art in high school, so I still have all my sketchbooks and paintings and photography somewhere in storage. 

Dior Kingdom of Colors: Diorblush Vibrant Color Powder Blush in 536 Peach Splendor

For Spring 2015, Dior released a collection called Kingdom of Colors, which includes a total of 29 products. Kingdom of Colors sees the release of two new and limited edition shades of Diorblush Vibrant Color Powder Blush, which is described as "a unique formula that gives maximum expression to pigments! Its micronized powder texture blends seamlessly with the skin, leaving nothing but a veil of pure, evanescent, weightless color." I picked up the shade 536 Peach Splendor, which is the lighter of the two (I think the other colour, 873 Cherry Glory, is exclusive to certain retailers, so I didn't see it at the Hudson's Bay location that I bought mine at). It is housed in Dior's signature blue-black rectangular mirrored compact, and comes with a mini flat angled brush. The powder itself is embossed with "the personal crest of Christian Dior." Each blush comes with 7 grams of product, and retails for $46.
536 Peach Splendor
536 Peach Splendor

536 Peach Splendor is a light-medium warm pinked peach with soft golden sparkle. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, silky texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is more peach and more sparkly than MAC Rosy Outlook, more pink and more sparkly than MAC Tenderling, darker and more peach than MAC Soft and Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish, more pink and more sparkly than NARS Sex Appeal, lighter and less gold than NARS Orgasm, warmer and more peach than Hourglass Ethereal, lighter and more pink than Hourglass Dim Infusion, and lighter than Too Faced Candy Glow.

There have been a lot of disappointing Dior blushes over the years, but Peach Splendor has a really soft, finely-milled texture that applies smoothly on the skin with good pigmentation that is easily buildable to full colour pay-off. The shade itself is definitely best for our fair friends if used as blush, but it actually makes for a fantastic highlighter on medium to dark skintones because it provides a beautiful soft illumination to the skin. However you choose to use it, it gives life back into dull winter skin and gives all complexions a fresh-faced glow, and what's more appropriate for a Spring collection?

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Naked2, Liar, Rush, Fiend, and Rapture

As I'm in a nude/MLBB lip phase right now, I thought it was about time to post about Urban Decay's offerings in their Revolution formula. Urban Decay's Revolution Lipstick is described as "a rich, buttery lipstick at its best — with the signature Urban Decay pigment-rich colour you crave" that "glides on without dragging or skipping and hugs every curve. Just one swipe gives you a big, gorgeous lay down of colour." The formula has "a nourishing blend of jojoba oil, avocado oil, cocoa butter and shea butter [that] keeps lips super moisturized and cushiony soft." The current range includes 23 shades, 20 of which are available at Sephora, and three of which are available at Urban Decay's website only. They are housed in "luxe, custom-designed gunmetal tubes lined in Urban Decay’s signature dark purple." Each Revolution Lipstick contains 2.8 grams of product, and retails for $26.
Naked2, Liar, Rush, Fiend, and Rapture
Naked2, Liar, Rush, Fiend, and Rapture

Naked2 is a light-medium warm peachy beige with a luminous sheen in a cream finish. This is a permanent shade. 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 MAC Peachstock, lighter and more peach than MAC Cherish, more brown than NARS Raquel, lighter than NARS Barbara, slightly lighter and more brown than Too Faced Naughty Nude, slightly darker and more brown than Too Faced Naked Dolly, and slightly lighter and more beige than Colour Pop Cookie.
Liar is a medium warm peachy-pink beige with a luminous sheen in a cream finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more brown than Urban Decay Naked, more brown than MAC Faux, lighter than MAC Modesty, more peach than NARS Vanessa, similar to NARS Anita, lighter than Make Up For Ever N4, darker and more peach than Bite Beauty Amaretto, and more brown than Bite Beauty Léché.
Rush is a medium muted mauve-pink with a luminous sheen in a cream finish. This is a permanent shade. 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 mauve than Urban Decay Naked, more pigmented than MAC Syrup, pinker and more pigmented than MAC Midimauve, more muted and less matte than MAC Pink Plaid, more muted than NARS Anna, and cooler and more pink than NARS Anita.
Fiend is a medium warm-toned carnation pink with a luminous sheen in a cream finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is brighter and more pink than Urban Decay Naked, cooler than Urban Decay Streak, more muted and slightly cooler than MAC Chatterbox, more pigmented than MAC Lovelorn, more muted than NARS Marisa, and more brown than Bite Beauty Tatin.
Rapture is a medium-dark muted plummy mauve with a luminous sheen in a cream finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more muted and more mauve than MAC Plumful, cooler and more plum than MAC Fast Play, darker and more plum than NARS Anna, more muted and more mauve than NARS Vivien, and more plum than Colour Pop Lumière.

You know, despite all these new lipstick formulas that have come out over the past year, Urban Decay's Revolution Lipstick still remains in my Top 3 favourite lipstick formulas of all time. It's creamy and emollient without being too soft or slippery, it's hydrating and never feels dry but has a great wear-time (four to six hours), it has high pigmentation with opaque colour pay-off, it glides on super-smooth and never skips or tugs, and it doesn't leave that dreaded white ring around the inner lip. It has a luminous sheen so lips always look healthy (and it doesn't emphasize lip texture), but they never veer into glossy. They've come out with a great shade range that encompasses nudes to brights to darks, so there's something for everyone, and the price point is just right (still prestige, but not outrageous). If you were the Goldilocks of lipstick, this formula is the first one I'd recommend.

Sunday Video Love: Talking Body

Sorry I've been MIA this past week; I'm exhausted from work all the time and I went to get evaluated for Advanced Skill make-up drills on my only day off (but I passed on my first go and got my certification!). I will be back posting with some regularity this week, but in the meantime, I thought I'd share some Tove Lo with you. I downloaded Queen of the Clouds last month and have been playing it on repeat. It's a pop album like none I've ever heard; tongue-in-cheek, satirical, refreshingly raw, and unapologetically honest, but still head-boppingly, hip-shakingly, foot-stompingly catchy. Kinda like Lorde meets Sia meets Lana Del Rey... in the best way possible.

Addicted to Blush Tag

I was tagged by the lovely Liz to do this tag, because she knows that I am a blush fiend. So, here goes:
1. What colour blush suits you the most? Peach, and anything peach-toned.
MAC Blushes (from top, left to right): Ripe for Love (2013's Temperature Rising), Cream Soda (2013's Archie's Girls), Flatter Me (2013's Archie's Girls), Ripe Peach (2015's Toledo), Warm Soul, Seduced at Sea (2014's Alluring Aquatic), Sideshow You (2014's The Simpsons), Mighty Aphrodite (2011's Wonder Woman), Hipness (2010's To the Beach), and Ocean City (2014's Proenza Schouler)
Clockwise from left: Becca Wild Honey, Songbird, and Damselfly; Tarte Blissful and Glisten; Hourglass Diffused Heat; NARS Super Orgasm, Deep Throat, and Luster; Marc Jacobs Irresistible; Clinique Peach Pop and Ginger Pop
2. Pressed/cream/loose blush? Pressed, always. I might get into cream blush at some point (perhaps when I stop using powder foundation), but I really doubt I'd ever get into loose.


3. Favourite shimmery blush? Becca's Mineral Blush and MAC's Mineralize Blush.

Becca Mineral Blush in Flowerchild, Songbird, and Damselfly
MAC Mineralize Blush in New Romance, Love Joy, Gentle, Petal Power, and Warm Soul
4. Favourite matte blush? I think MAC does some great matte blushes, and so does TheBalm.

MAC Matte Blush in Prism, Melba, Eternal Sun, Peaches, Pinch Me, Whole Lotta Love, and Desert Rose
TheBalm InStain Blush in Lace, Swiss Dot, and Argyle
5. Favourite drugstore blush? Admittedly, I own a lot more high-end blushes than drugstore, but I do think Joe Fresh, Milani, Hard Candy, and NYX make great formulas and shades.

Joe Fresh Powder Blush in Melon, Rose, and Pink; Milani Baked Powder Blush in Dolce Pink, Rose D'Oro, and Corallina; Hard Candy Blush Crush Baked Blush in Bombshell, Living Doll, and Honeymoon
NYX Powder Blushes
6. Favourite high-end blush? Right now, it's gotta be Becca's Mineral Blush.
Becca Mineral Blush in Songbird, Damselfly, Wild Honey, Sweetpea, and Flowerchild
7. Favourite bright blush? Oooh, you know I love my clown cheeks...

Sleek Pumpkin Blush by 3, TheBalm Toile and Lace, NARS Coeur Battant and Exhibit A, and Tarte Flush and Natural Beauty
MAC Salsarose, Frankly Scarlet, Full Fuchsia, Azalea, and Rhubarb
MAC Hot Nights (2013's Temperature Rising), Prom Princess (2013's Archie's Girls), Bite of an Apple (2010's Venomous Villains), and Tippy (2009's Hello Kitty)
8. Biggest blush disappointment/regret? Lancôme's La Roseraie from their 2012 Roseraie des Delice collection. 
9. Best blush packaging? While there are a lot of brands that do really nice, sleek regular packaging, I think MAC has done some of the prettiest, most memorable packaging for their LE collections. My all-time favourite would probably be last year's Alluring Aquatic packaging, but I also love last year's Proenza Schouler and 2010's To The Beach packaging.
MAC Sea Me, Hear Me Extra Dimension Blush (2014's Alluring Aquatics), Hipness Blush (2010's To The Beach), and Sunset Beach Blush Ombre (2014's Proenza Schouler)
10. What's on your blush wishlist? Tom Ford, Burberry, and Giorgio Armani.
11. Number 1 holy grail blush? MAC's Warm Soul Mineralize Blush. It's my most-used, looks-good-with-everything, ride-or-die blush.
MAC Warm Soul Mineralize Blush
Feel free to do this tag if you're a fellow blush fiend!

Sunday Video Love: Style

My favourite song from 1989 just so happens to be my favourite Taylor Swift song of all time.

Friday Five: But Seriously...

This week's Friday Five:

1. What's something most people just don't take seriously enough? Drunk driving.


2. What's something most people take too seriously? The credibility of YouTube "beauty gurus."


3. What kind of serious business are you up to today? Coaching one of my staff for her first make-up application certification.


4. When did you last get the giggles at a time when you were expected to be serious? During Fifty Shades of Grey.


5. What are some foods you think of as serious, and what are some you think of as funny? I don't know if I've ever considered food to be serious, but I guess foie gras? And I think crabs (as in crustaceans) and black truffles are pretty funny.

MAC Bao Bao Wan: Lipstick in Burmese Kiss, Forbidden Sunrise, and Lavender Jade

Last Thursday, MAC released their collaboration collection with "high-society darling, artist, pop philosopher, muse, and jewelry designer," Bao Bao Wan. She is "one of China's most renowned stars on the international fashion circuit" and is "considered China's first socialite." In 2006, Bao Bao Wan "fused her love of fashion and art by becoming a gemologist and conceiving her eponymous fine jewelry collection... crafting treasured bijoux that are at both times feminine and flashy..." This collection is available online and at select locations only. It is inspired by Bao Bao Wan's "womanly and brazen aesthetic" and the beauty and sensuality of gemstones. The entire collection features a total of nine products, all of which are new and limited edition. Bao Bao Wan will see the launch of four new and limited edition shades of lipstick (one of which will not be reviewed here). They come in rubberized brown-teal duochrome tubes with metallic bronze trim and Bao Bao Wan's signature logo in gold. Each lipstick contains 3 grams of product, and retails for $21. Due to the special edition packaging, these lipsticks are not applicable for the Back to MAC recycling program.

Burmese Kiss, Forbidden Sunrise, and Lavender Jade
Burmese Kiss, Forbidden Sunrise, and Lavender Jade

Burmese Kiss is a medium-dark vibrant reddened coral-pink in a Matte finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is lighter and less red than Relentlessly Red, more red and more matte than Impassioned, and more coral and more matte than Fusion Pink.

Forbidden Sunrise is a medium vibrant yellow-toned tangerine orange in a Matte finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. There is nothing similar to this in MAC's permanent range; it is lighter and more yellow than So Chaud, darker and less yellow than Tangerine Dream, and more yellow than Morange. 

Lavender Jade is a light-medium cool-toned lavender purple in a Matte finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. There is nothing similar to this in MAC's permanent range; it is less pink and more matte than Asian Flower Sheen Supreme, lighter and less pink than Up The Amp.

Whereas Cinderella is all about the barely-there, sparkly shades, Bao Bao Wan is all about bold jewel tones with a fresh, modern twist. These shades get us totally pumped for the warm weather ahead of us (and, seriously, it really felt like Spring today), and getting us excited for the return of bright lips. And it seems like MAC knows that people are still wanting and rocking that matte lip, so for those who like their bold lips to be matte (my personal preference), these are totally for you. As with most of MAC's Matte lipsticks (not to be mixed up with their Retro Matte finish), these three shades have soft and creamy textures and go on smoothly with full colour pay-off. These are surprisingly unique, too, especially Forbidden Sunrise and Lavender Jade, which don't have any true dupes within MAC's permanent range. Again, Bao Bao Wan is sold out online, but it is available at select freestanding and partnered locations, so if you're interested in this collection, call your local MAC retailer to see if they are carrying it and then get there ASAP.

MAC Bao Bao Wan: Beauty Powder in Summer Opal

Last Thursday, MAC released their collaboration collection with "high-society darling, artist, pop philosopher, muse, and jewelry designer," Bao Bao Wan. She is "one of China's most renowned stars on the international fashion circuit" and is "considered China's first socialite." In 2006, Bao Bao Wan "fused her love of fashion and art by becoming a gemologist and conceiving her eponymous fine jewelry collection... crafting treasured bijoux that are at both times feminine and flashy..." This collection is available online and at select locations only. It is inspired by Bao Bao Wan's "womanly and brazen aesthetic" and the beauty and sensuality of gemstones. The entire collection features a total of nine products, all of which are new and limited edition. Bao Bao Wan will see the launch of one new and limited edition shade of Beauty Powder. It comes in "velvety brown packaging featuring burnished metal, crowned with her fluid signature." Each Beauty Powder contains 11.19 grams of product, and retails for $33.

Summer Opal
Summer Opal

Summer Opal is a light-medium warm golden peach with golden pearlized shimmer-sheen. 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 semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is darker and more peach than Soft and Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish, lighter and more peach than Global Glow Mineralize Skinfinish, and darker and warmer than Lightscapade Mineralize Skinfinish.

It seems like MAC is having a moment with highlighting powders right now. Like the Cinderella Beauty Powder, Summer Opal focuses more on adding a beautiful illumination to the skin so it looks like it's glowing from within. The powder itself is soft and finely-milled with good colour pay-off, and is easily blendable for a more subtle glow and buildable for a more frosted finish. But whereas Mystery Princess added a cool, almost angelic iciness to the skin that mimics Cinderella's fair complexion, Summer Opal adds a gorgeous warmth that gives a soft sun-kissed look to the skin. It's not too light so darker skintones can use this as a highlighter, but it has enough colour so that fair skintones can use it as a really soft, shimmery blush. On my medium skintone, I can use it as both a warm highlighter and as a general illuminator. This shade should work beautifully all year round; to highlight tanned skin in the summer, and to add warmth and radiance in the winter. And it's not as metallic as Mineralize Skinfinishes, so it gives a softer look overall. Bao Bao Wan sold out really fast online, but it is available at select freestanding and partnered locations, so if you're interested in this collection, call your local MAC retailer to see if they are carrying it and then get there ASAP.

MAC Cinderella: Beauty Powder in Mystery Princess

Last Thursday, MAC released their collaboration collection with Disney's Cinderella, meant to coincide with the movie launch next week. This collection is available online and at MAC Stores only. It is inspired by, of course, Cinderella: "Classic and compassionate, the most famous Disney princess of all inspires a limited-edition colour collection magical enough to make all your fairytale dreams come true. Beloved for generations for her benevolent heart and whimsical mind that dares to dream, Cinderella envisages enough makeup shades to fill a pumpkin carriage." The entire collection features a total of 17 products, of which seven are new and limited edition, five are re-promotes, and five are permanent. Cinderella will see the launch of one new and limited edition shade of Beauty Powder. It comes in a pearlized light blue mirrored compact with gold trim and the Cinderella logo on the lid in gold, along with matching secondary cardstock packaging. Each Beauty Powder contains 10 grams of product, and retails for $33.

Mystery Princess
Mystery Princess

Mystery Princess is a pale cool-toned pinked beige with silver pearlized shimmer-sheen. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, dense texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is slightly cooler and more shimmery than Lightscapade Mineralize Skinfinish, lighter and cooler than Soft and Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish, and less sparkly than Light Touch Pressed Pigment.

Like the Iridescent Powder, this Beauty Powder is meant to be used as a skin illuminator (it's basically a non-mineral version of Mineralize Skinfinish), and they both have fairly similar textures: soft, dense, and smooth. Whereas Coupe D'Chic is meant to add sparkle to the face, Mystery Princess has more of a pearlized finish and adds "a touch of radiance for skin that seems to glow from within." When Mystery Princess is buffed into the skin, it really does look glowy and softly illuminated, whereas Coupe D'Chic remains sparkly no matter how much you buff it in. Because the Beauty Powder has less sparkle content, it does seem to be more pigmented and have more colour pay-off as well (as a result, those with darker skintones will need to use it with caution lest it become ashy or chalky). The effect is angelic, ethereal, and rather enchanting — definitely Cinderella as the belle of the ball.

MAC Cinderella: Iridescent Pressed Powder in Coupe D'Chic

Last Thursday, MAC released their collaboration collection with Disney's Cinderella, meant to coincide with the movie launch next week. This collection is available online and at MAC Stores only. It is inspired by, of course, Cinderella: "Classic and compassionate, the most famous Disney princess of all inspires a limited-edition colour collection magical enough to make all your fairytale dreams come true. Beloved for generations for her benevolent heart and whimsical mind that dares to dream, Cinderella envisages enough makeup shades to fill a pumpkin carriage." The entire collection features a total of 17 products, of which seven are new and limited edition, five are re-promotes, and five are permanent. Cinderella will see the launch of one new and limited edition shade of Iridescent Pressed Powder. It comes in a pearlized light blue mirrored compact with gold trim and the Cinderella logo on the lid in gold, along with matching secondary cardstock packaging. Each Iridescent Pressed Powder contains 8 grams of product, and retails for $33.

Coupe D'Chic
Coupe D'Chic

Coupe D'Chic is a light pinked peach with a golden sheen and golden sparkle. This is a re-promoted shade from 2005's Tailormade collection, and is limited edition. It has a soft, dense texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium pigmentation and semi-sheer to semi-opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is more peach than Sweet Acting Pressed Pigment, darker and more pink than Light Touch Pressed Pigment, and darker and more sparkly than Soft and Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish.

I actually managed to get two products from this insanely hyped collection, one of which is the Iridescent Pressed Powder. I love, love, love MAC's Iridescent Pressed Powder formula, and was heartbroken when they decided to discontinue them from their permanent range, so I'm always excited when they release new ones in their LE collections. Coupe D'Chic was originally launched ten years ago, so it was about time to take it out of the vault again. Because it reflects light more than anything else, you'll see that Coupe D'Chic looks more/less pink or more/less peach or darker/lighter depending on your complexion and, as a result, flatters all skintones from fair to dark. The Iridescent Pressed Powder differs from MAC's current powder highlighting options (which is basically Mineralize Skinfinish) in the finish. It's not necessarily metallic, but there is a high shimmer and sparkle content (so it's ideal for use on the body, too). As my friend so lovingly put it: "You look like Tinkerbell pooped on you, or like unicorns caressed your skin!" What I love about it is that it doesn't feel dry or gritty even with the high sparkle content. It goes on smoothly and evenly and blends out beautifully. I love using this as a highlighter and as a blush finisher; basically anywhere you want to add sparkle and gleam. And the look is really quite magical. Which is what MAC intended for Cinderella, I'm sure.

Make Up For Ever — Fifty Shades of Grey Give In to Me: Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick and Lab Shine Lip Gloss

Make Up For Ever has launched four new and limited edition make-up sets as apart of their collection in collaboration with the Fifty Shades of Grey movie. The Give In to Me set includes a total of five full-size permanent products: four shades of Artist Shadow in a palette, a Graphic Liner Vinyl Pen Eyeliner, a tube of Smoky Extravagant Mascara, a tube of Lab Shine Diamond Collection Lip Gloss in D14 Indian Pink, and a tube of Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick in N4 Pink Beige. This is a review of the lipstick and the lip gloss. The Rouge Artist Natural formula is described as "an ultra creamy formula that hydrates the lips with a natural sheen," and the Lab Shine formula is simply described as offering "spectacular and intense shine." The set comes in a black vinyl keepsake box with peach trim. Inside the box is a side compartment with a key charm that goes with the theme of the collection. Aside from the exterior and keepsake boxes, the products are housed in regular Make Up For Ever packaging. The Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick comes with 3.5 grams of product, and has a light rose scent. The Lab Shine Lip Gloss comes with 2.6 grams of product, and has a light fruity tea scent. The Give In to Me set retails for $79 USD or $90 CAD.
Rouge Artist Natural in N4 Pink Beige
Lab Shine Diamond Collection in D14 Indian Pink
Rouge Artist Natural in N4 Pink Beige and Lab Shine Diamond Collection in D14 Indian Pink

N4 Pink Beige is a medium warm-toned pinked beige with a soft sheen in a cream finish. It is a permanent shade. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is warmer and more pink than Make Up For Ever N5 Nude Beige, more pink and less frosted than Make Up For Ever N3 Iridescent Pink Beige, slightly more brown than MAC Bare Again Sheen Supreme, slightly darker and warmer than MAC Patisserie, darker and more pink than MAC Jubilee, lighter than Urban Decay Liar, darker and more brown than Urban Decay Naked, lighter and more muted than NARS Anita, and darker and more pink than Too Faced Naughty Nude.
D14 Indian Pink is a light-medium muted guava pink with gold and pink iridescent shimmer in a Diamond finish. It is a permanent shade. It has a creamy, non-sticky texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has low pigmentation and sheer to semi-sheer buildable colour pay-off. It is darker and warmer than Make Up For Ever D12 Quartz Pink, lighter and cooler than Make Up For Ever D22 Papaya, sheerer and more sparkly than MAC Partial to Pink, sheerer and cooler than MAC Dynasty at Dusk, darker than MAC Baby Sparks, darker than Dior 343 Spring Ball, sheerer and more sparkly than Dior 583 Papillon, warmer and more sparkly than NARS Belize, and sheerer and more sparkly than NARS Chihuahua.

I never gave much thought to Make Up For Ever's lip products before, but both of these have left me pleasantly surprised and completely impressed. The Rouge Artist Natural lipstick has a soft, creamy texture that applies smoothly and evenly. It doesn't feel too heavy or balmy on the lips, but it remains creamy and comfortable to wear. As implied, it gives a more "natural" finish, so it does have a soft sheen and semi-opaque colour pay-off (though it is buildable to complete opacity), and makes lips look softer and fuller and generally more plush. It's comparable to MAC's Mineralize Rich Lipstick and Too Faced's La Crème in terms of colour pay-off and finish, and YSL's Rouge Volupté Shine and Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine in terms of texture. The Lab Shine gloss is non-sticky, slick, smooth, moisturizing, and also really comfortable to wear. The Diamond finish in particular gives a fantastic dimensional look without being too sparkly, and has a sheer to semi-sheer opacity that makes it ideal for layering. I would say it's the most similar to Dior's Ultra Gloss and MAC's Cremesheen Glass in terms of feel and application. Oh, and have I mentioned that it smells like peach tea? I don't think I've ever smelled a lip product quite like this, and it's totally delightful (to me). 
Kudos to Make Up For Ever for doing a fantastic job at choosing the lip shades for this set, too. Both shades are truly universally flattering and will work beautifully on all complexions from light to dark and warm to cool. The Give In to Me set as a whole is also an incredible value, given that all of the products in it are full-size and permanent (the set is worth $179 USD or $204 CAD). Again, the Fifty Shades of Grey theme is only reflected in the keepsake box so fans of the movie can appreciate the novelty of it, but those who want the set strictly for the make-up can breathe a sigh of relief that the product itself is in Make Up For Ever's regular black packaging. Oh, and if you only have an interest in selected products in the set, they are all available to purchase individually.