MAC Le Disko: Dazzleshadow in Can't Stop Don't Stop, Feel the Fever, Say It Isn't So, and Let's Boogie

Last Thursday, MAC released a collection called Le Disko. As of today, it is available at all MAC locations. As the name implies, this collection is inspired by the disco, "where glitter and glamour intoxicate and colour gets physical. It's all see and be seen as the crowd converges under a sparkling aura of lights and erupts into a dazzling sea of eyes and lips." The collection includes a total of 20 products, of which 14 are new and limited edition, four are re-promotes, one is permanent, and one is new and will become permanent. Le Disko sees the launch of 12 shades of Dazzleshadow, which is described as "an eyeshadow with rich, stay-true pigments that impart a beautiful, twinkling sheen. The creamy, talc-free formula delivers a texture that’s the perfect union of cream and powder, creating a multidimensional, reflective surface that leaves lids looking dazzling yet delicate." Each Dazzleshadow comes in regular black packaging, contains 1.0 gram of product, and retails for $24. Due to a higher price point, these are not applicable for the Back to MAC recycling program.

Clockwise from left: Can't Stop, Don't Stop; Feel the Fever; Say It Isn't So; and Let's Boogie
Can't Stop, Don't Stop; Feel the Fever; Say It Isn't So; and Let's Boogie

Can't Stop, Don't Stop is a medium-dark pinked plum with magenta and purple sparkles in a metallic 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. 

Feel the Fever is a medium-dark muted cool-toned purple with blue and pink sparkles in a metallic 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. 

Say It Isn't So is a medium-dark cool-toned grey with silver and pink sparkles in a metallic 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. 

Let's Boogie is a dark muted charcoal black with gold, blue, and silver sparkles in a metallic 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. 

Imagine the intense sparkle content of MAC's Pressed Pigment on top of a buttery metallic Veluxe Pearl Eyeshadow, and the result is the new Dazzleshadow. Each shade has a 3D multi-dimensional effect that gives a wet, duochrome look; this collection is aptly named because these shadows really look like disco balls are reflecting off your lids, and they will shift in colour depending on the angle and the lighting. You really have to see these for yourself in person because photos really don't do them justice. As with all glittery shadows, I do recommend using Dazzleshadows with a flatter synthetic brush (like MAC's new #247 or the #242, which are ideal for packing on colour) on top of a good eye primer; though these are made with a "liquid bridge" to "minimize fall-out and maximize pigmentation," they still adhere and show up best on top of a slightly tackier base (MAC's 24 Hour Extend Eye Base or Too Faced's Glitter Glue works wonders). If you love your eyeshadows shimmery, glittery, sparkly, or in anyway shiny, these will totally be up your alley. And if you had your eye on any of these, snatch them up ASAP — a lot of locations are already sold out of a majority of the shades.

MAC Le Disko: Dazzleshadow in I Like 2 Watch, Try Me On, Get Physical, and Boom Boom Room

Last Thursday, MAC released a collection called Le Disko. It is currently available online and at MAC Stores, and will launch at partnered locations this coming Thursday. As the name implies, this collection is inspired by the disco, "where glitter and glamour intoxicate and colour gets physical. It's all see and be seen as the crowd converges under a sparkling aura of lights and erupts into a dazzling sea of eyes and lips." The collection includes a total of 20 products, of which 14 are new and limited edition, four are re-promotes, one is permanent, and one is new and will become permanent. Le Disko sees the launch of 12 shades of Dazzleshadow, which is described as "an eyeshadow with rich, stay-true pigments that impart a beautiful, twinkling sheen. The creamy, talc-free formula delivers a texture that’s the perfect union of cream and powder, creating a multidimensional, reflective surface that leaves lids looking dazzling yet delicate." Each Dazzleshadow comes in regular black packaging, contains 1.0 gram of product, and retails for $24. Due to a higher price point, these are not applicable for the Back to MAC recycling program.

Clockwise from left: I Like 2 Watch, Try Me On, Get Physical, and Boom Boom Room
I Like 2 Watch, Try Me On, Get Physical, and Boom Boom Room

I Like 2 Watch is a medium vibrant amber bronze with yellow gold and green-gold sparkles in a metallic 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. 

Try Me On is a medium muted blue-green with teal and olive-gold sparkles in a metallic 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. 

Get Physical is a medium-dark muted cool-toned plum with light blue sparkles in a metallic 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. 

Boom Boom Room is a medium muted reddish burgundy with green and teal sparkles in a metallic finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft but slightly gritty texture, so it can go on a bit patchy with some fall-out. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered easily, but is a little harder to blend out due to the texture.

Imagine the intense sparkle content of MAC's Pressed Pigment on top of a buttery metallic Veluxe Pearl Eyeshadow, and the result is the new Dazzleshadow. Each shade has a 3D multi-dimensional effect that gives a wet, duochrome look; this collection is aptly named because these shadows really look like disco balls are reflecting off your lids, and they will shift in colour depending on the angle and the lighting. You really have to see these for yourself in person because photos really don't do them justice. As with all glittery shadows, I do recommend using Dazzleshadows with a flatter synthetic brush (like MAC's new #247 or the #242, which are ideal for packing on colour) on top of a good eye primer; though these are made with a "liquid bridge" to "minimize fall-out and maximize pigmentation," they still adhere and show up best on top of a slightly tackier base (MAC's 24 Hour Extend Eye Base or Too Faced's Glitter Glue works wonders). If you love your eyeshadows shimmery, glittery, sparkly, or in anyway shiny, these will totally be up your alley.

MAC Le Disko: Dazzleshadow in She Sparkles, Last Dance, Slow/Fast/Slow, and Let's Roll

Last Thursday, MAC released a collection called Le Disko. It is currently available online and at MAC Stores, and will launch at partnered locations this coming Thursday. As the name implies, this collection is inspired by the disco, "where glitter and glamour intoxicate and colour gets physical. It's all see and be seen as the crowd converges under a sparkling aura of lights and erupts into a dazzling sea of eyes and lips." The collection includes a total of 20 products, of which 14 are new and limited edition, four are re-promotes, one is permanent, and one is new and will become permanent. Le Disko sees the launch of 12 shades of Dazzleshadow, which is described as "an eyeshadow with rich, stay-true pigments that impart a beautiful, twinkling sheen. The creamy, talc-free formula delivers a texture that’s the perfect union of cream and powder, creating a multidimensional, reflective surface that leaves lids looking dazzling yet delicate." Each Dazzleshadow comes in regular black packaging, contains 1.0 gram of product, and retails for $24. Due to a higher price point, these are not applicable for the Back to MAC recycling program.

Clockwise from left: She Sparkles, Last Dance, Slow/Fast/Slow, and Let's Roll
She Sparkles, Last Dance, Slow/Fast/Slow, and Let's Roll

She Sparkles is a light-medium warm pewter beige with silver sparkles in a metallic 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. 

Last Dance is a light peachy beige with peach and pink sparkles in a metallic finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft but slightly gritty texture, so it can go on a bit patchy with some fall-out. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered easily, but is a little harder to blend out due to the texture.

Slow/Fast/Slow is a medium warm rosy bronze with copper and magenta sparkles in a metallic 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. 

Let's Roll is a medium brightened copper red with pink and orange sparkles in a metallic 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. 

Imagine the intense sparkle content of MAC's Pressed Pigment on top of a buttery metallic Veluxe Pearl Eyeshadow, and the result is the new Dazzleshadow. Each shade has a 3D multi-dimensional effect that gives a wet, duochrome look; this collection is aptly named because these shadows really look like disco balls are reflecting off your lids, and they will shift in colour depending on the angle and the lighting. You really have to see these for yourself in person because photos really don't do them justice. As with all glittery shadows, I do recommend using Dazzleshadows with a flatter synthetic brush (like MAC's new #247 or the #242, which are ideal for packing on colour) on top of a good eye primer; though these are made with a "liquid bridge" to "minimize fall-out and maximize pigmentation," they still adhere and show up best on top of a slightly tackier base (MAC's 24 Hour Extend Eye Base or Too Faced's Glitter Glue works wonders). If you love your eyeshadows shimmery, glittery, sparkly, or in anyway shiny, these will totally be up your alley.

Makeup and Beauty Blog: Monday Poll, Vol. 378

This week's Monday Poll:

1. Walk me through your everyday concealer process. After I prime my skin (MAC's original Face Protect SPF 50 on my T-zone because it keeps me matte longer and MAC's Natural Radiance or Laura Mercier's Foundation Primer Oil-Free on the rest of my face), I use NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Ginger on the tops of my cheeks where I have some redness and freckles, and a bit under my eyes (I don't really have dark circles, but I like looking fresh). Then I use my Hakuhodo J527G flat-top brush to buff MAC Studio Fix Powder in NC35 all over my face. And finally, I dust a light layer of MAC Blot Powder in Medium Dark under my eyes (to keep mascara from smudging) and my T-zone (to keep me matte).


2. Would you rather carry a designer bag or wear a pair of designer shoes? Designer bag. I treat my shoes like shit, so I can't be trusted with really expensive pairs. I have a pair of Tory Burch flats that I bought a couple years ago and they seriously look like crap now (and I had to get the soles replaced twice). Designer bags, on the other hand, tend to look the same, if not better, with age, so I feel like they're a much better investment.


3. What are your five favourite stores right now? Sephora (always), Aritzia, Hudson's Bay, Wal-Mart, and Loblaws. 


4. What was your favourite movie when you were a kid? Clueless. It's still one of my favourites!


5. Do you think you're more book smart or people smart? Between the two, I'd have to go with people smart. I'm a fast learner and understand concepts and theories efficiently, but was always an average student because I just didn't like academia. The subjects I excelled in (in both high school and university) were always applied/practical ones (e.g. visual arts, design, computer sciences, marketing). On that note, I've worked in a retail/customer service environment for over a decade, and five years as a professional make-up artist, so aside from being personable (and charming!), I am also good at reading people and understanding their behaviours.

Sunday Video Love: Change (In the House of Flies)

Happy 15^th anniversary to White Pony, which remains one of my Top 5 favourite records of all time and one of the most relevant albums in alternative metal to this day, and happy birthday to Chino Moreno, who remains one of the most distinct voices in rock music history. I cannot wait to see Deftones perform live again (next month with Incubus — my teenage dreams come true!).

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Angela, Michiyo, and Fanny

Since launching last September, NARS' Audacious lipsticks have gotten so much hype that you'd have to be living under a beauty-banned rock to not have heard of them by now. There are a total of 40 permanent shades in this range, though some shades are exclusive to certain retailers. I believe Sephora carries about 20 to 24 shades in all stores, but 30 shades are available on their website. There are 10 shades that are exclusive to Barneys in the US, and Holt Renfrew carries these exclusives in Canada. All shades, however, are available through the NARS website. 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 $37.

Angela, Michiyo, and Fanny
Angela, Michiyo, and Fanny

Angela is a medium-dark vibrant cool-toned orchid pink in a satin finish. This is a 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 lighter than NARS Silvia, slightly more muted and more purple than NARS Michiyo, brighter than MAC Love Forever!, lighter and more muted than MAC Flat Out Fabulous, darker than MAC Bold Spring, and darker and brighter than Tarte Whimsy.

Michiyo is a medium-dark vibrant cool-toned fuchsia pink in a satin finish. This is a 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 brighter and more pink than NARS Angela, brighter and less purple than NARS Silvia, cooler than MAC Viva Glam Miley Cyrus, warmer than MAC Pink Pigeon, darker and less blue-toned than ColourPop Wifey, and more muted than Too Faced Melted Fuchsia.

Fanny is a medium-dark cool-toned berry-fuchsia in a satin finish. This is a 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 more red than NARS Silvia, more muted than NARS Janet, cooler and more berry than NARS Audrey, more pink than NARS Vivien, lighter than MAC Rebel, and more matte than MAC Lush Life.

If you want something different than oranges and corals for this time of year, here's three different summer-ready pinks for you to choose from, from a softer magenta like Angela, to an in-your-face fuchsia like Michiyo, to a classy berry-toned pink like Fanny (which would really be appropriate all year round). As someone who now owns 18 shades of this formula, I can safely say that Audacious is definitely one of my Top 3 favourite lipstick formulas of all time. 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 Brigitte, Catherine, and Natalie

Since launching last September, NARS' Audacious lipsticks have gotten so much hype that you'd have to be living under a beauty-banned rock to not have heard of them by now. There are a total of 40 permanent shades in this range, though some shades are exclusive to certain retailers. I believe Sephora carries about 20 to 24 shades in all stores, but 30 shades are available on their website. There are 10 shades that are exclusive to Barneys in the US, and Holt Renfrew carries these exclusives in Canada. All shades, however, are available through the NARS website. 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 $37.

Brigitte, Catherine, and Natalie
Brigitte, Catherine, and Natalie

Brigitte is a light-medium warm muted pinked peach in a satin finish. This is a 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 slightly lighter and more peach than NARS Anita, brighter and more pink than NARS Barbara, similar though more matte than MAC Fanfare, more muted and more peach than Bite Beauty Tatin, more pink than ColourPop Brink, and more peach than ColourPop Frida.

Catherine is a medium brightened papaya-orange in a satin finish. This is a 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 more orange than NARS Juliette, lighter and brighter than NARS Jane, darker and more orange than MAC Style Surge, lighter and more muted than MAC So Chaud, and darker than Too Faced Melted Coral.

Natalie is a medium brightened flamingo pink in a satin finish. This is a 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 more pink than NARS Juliette, lighter and more muted than NARS Kelly, similar though more matte than MAC Elegant Accent, warmer and slightly more muted than MAC Speak Louder, more matte than YSL 33 Rose Neillia, and more matte than Too Faced Bon Bon.

Here's three great shades for summer, especially for those who like a softer, more casual pop of colour rather than bright in-your-face fuchsias and oranges that's so popular this time of year. As someone who now owns 18 shades of this formula, I can safely say that Audacious is definitely one of my Top 3 favourite lipstick formulas of all time. 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!

Becca Blushed Copper Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed

I realize I'm a little behind on this review as it was launched in March, but I figured since it's still available online, I'm not too late to post this. For Spring, Becca launched a limited edition shade of their best-selling Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in a shade called Blushed Copper, which is described as "a creamy powder… [that] fuses together the soft shimmer of a luminizer with the subtle pigment of a blush. It is formulated with ultra-fine luminescent pearls that absorb, reflect, and refract light so your natural radiance is not lost. Unlike the traditional pressed powder method, which simply mixes and compresses dry ingredients, this unique process blends pigments with proprietary liquid binders — resulting in an optimum, creamy application with balanced colour dispersion. This compact of multi-toned, ultra-fine pigment pearls adjust to the skin's natural undertones for a truly unique glow." Each Blushed Copper comes in a special edition rose copper mirrored compact, 8 grams of product, and retails for $46.

Blushed Copper
Blushed Copper

Blushed Copper is a medium-dark soft copper brown with rose gold micro-shimmer in a pearlized finish. It has a very soft, almost creamy 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 muted and more brown than Becca Songbird, darker and more brown than Becca Damselfly, more muted and less reddened than MAC Ambering Rose, more brown than MAC Peachtwist, lighter and more copper than MAC Sweet as Cocoa, darker than MAC Cheeky Bronze, darker than NARS Luster, and more golden than NARS Lovejoy.

Becca remains one of my Top 3 brands for cheek products, and I am so pleased to be adding Blushed Copper to my collection. Like the other Perfectors, this is so incredibly soft and finely-milled that it really feels almost creamy, and despite being described as having "the subtle pigment of a blush," it actually has intense pigmentation and incredible colour pay-off. Unlike the other Perfectors, though, this one is squarely in the blush category versus highlighter, which makes it more unique in terms of colour. Those with fairer complexions will want to use a light hand with this product because a little goes a long way (I recommend a light, feathery brush like MAC's #137), but on everyone with medium to deep dark skintones, this will work beautifully as a warm, luminous blush that is just perfect for summer. I really hope Becca will launch more blush shades in their Shimmering Skin Perfector series; it adds more shimmer and pearl than their normal Mineral Blushes, but it doesn't emphasize pores and diffuses really easily for a more subtle illumination. For those who have not had the pleasure of trying Becca's Shimmering Skin Perfectors... what the hell are you waiting for?

Makeup and Beauty Blog: Monday Poll, Vol. 377

This week's Monday Poll:

1. Sunglasses or hats? My head seems to be too big for most hats and I end up looking ridiculous in them (any of them; baseball caps, fedoras, beanies, sun hats, cloches, etc.), so as much as I want to get into hats, I can't. Thusly, sunglasses. But I don't really wear sunglasses often, either, because I'll only wear them if I'm not wearing make-up (Asian nose bridge + long lashes with mascara = hot mess) and that's a rarity for me. So, conclusion: I prefer gloomy weather.


2. Have you ever been waterskiing? No. I was really quite into swimming and water sports when I was younger, but had never tried waterskiing. Now, of course, I hate beaches. And in general, I'm just like, "Gross, sports." 


3. Preppy or bohemian? Er, neither. Preppy looks too stuck-up and clean-cut, and bohemian looks too sloppy and unstructured. I find myself to be somewhere in-between in everything. 


4. Bright lipstick or bright eyeliner? Bright lipstick, hands down.


5. What's your current favourite face cream? Shu Uemura's Depsea Hydrability Moisturizing Emulsion. I never thought much about Shu Uemura's skincare range, but I ordered this on a whim when they were offering a 25% discount through their website. I haven't really heard much about it and I don't know anyone else that's used it, but it's fantastic. I'm using it as my night-time moisturizer right now, and it leaves my skin feeling refreshed and well-hydrated while still being lightweight and fast-absorbing. It never feels sticky or heavy, which is ideal for me since I layer it on top of serums. And it smells great, too.

Friday Five: Alt

This week's Friday Five:

1. A sandwich is usually some kind of ingredients between slices of bread, but what's a great sandwich that has no bread at all? Do tacos count? Because I do really love Taco Bell (especially their steak quesadillas and chalupas), and their motto is "Think outside the bun," after all...
   
   
2. A salad is generally thought of as a mixture of fresh greens, but what's a great salad whose main ingredients are not veggies? Does caprese salad count? I mean, technically, tomatoes are fruits and basil is an herb... If not, then fruit salad, especially if it includes pineapple and/or mango.
   
   
3. Juice is usually the liquid squeezed from a fruit or vegetable. What's a juice you enjoy that isn't? Ummm, none. I only like fruit juices. Unless it's juice in reference to energy or electricity, then I enjoy it a great deal.
   
   
4. Milk is usually the food that a mammal produces for its young. How do you feel about milk alternatives that aren't animal-produced? They're great for people who are lactose intolerant. I'm okay with soy milk, but I don't have it often. That having been said, I'm not big on milk to begin with; I only drink it if it's in my cereal or in my latte.
   
   
5. A staple is usually some food that forms the basic constituent of a cultural diet. What's a staple in your diet that doesn't exactly fit that definition? Cheese. I needs my cheese. 

MAC The Matte Lip (2015): Lipstick in Studded Kiss, D for Danger, Men Love Mystery, Instigator, and Matte Royal

This past Thursday, MAC released a new lipstick collection called The Matte Lip: "For those who prefer timeless glamour rather than all-out flash and shine, the sophisticated allure of matte reigns supreme." It is currently available online and at MAC Stores, and will be released at partnered locations next Thursday. The collection includes a total of 22 lipsticks, of which nine are new and will become permanent, five are re-promotes and will become permanent, seven are existing permanent. Each lipstick comes in regular black packaging, contains 3 grams of product, and retails for $19. These are applicable for the Back to MAC recycling program at all locations.

Studded Kiss, D for Danger, Men Love Mystery, Instigator, and Matte Royal
Studded Kiss, D for Danger, Men Love Mystery, Instigator, and Matte Royal

Studded Kiss is a medium-dark oxblood red in a Matte finish. This is a re-promoted shade from 2013's Punk Couture collection, and is now permanent. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is darker and cooler than Viva Glam I, and warmer than Diva.

D for Danger is a medium-dark cranberry red in a Matte finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft, creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is cooler and pinker than Russian Red, and darker than Perpetual Flame Pro Longwear Lipcreme.

Men Love Mystery is a medium muted lilac purple in a Matte finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft, creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is similar but more matte than Up the Amp, and lighter and more pink than Heroine.

Instigator is a blackened cool-toned berry plum with purple undertones in a Matte finish. This is a re-promoted shade from 2013's Punk Couture collection, and is now permanent. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more purple than Media, and more berry than Smoked Purple.

Matte Royal is a dark cool-toned royal blue in a Matte finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft, creamy texture, but can go on patchy or unevenly due to the nature of the colour. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. There is nothing similar to this in MAC's permanent lipstick range.

It seems like MAC is finally adding more fan- and consumer-requested products to the permanent range. For those who wanted more matte shades from MAC, you can rejoice because it seems like the matte lip trend is here to stay. This is MAC's second time extending their permanent matte range, and they will be adding 14 shades. For those who missed out on previously limited edition shades like Steady Going and Runway Hit, you can get them now with no fear that they will never be coming back. For those who have been wanting MAC to add a blue lipstick to their permanent range, you can now get Matte Royal. I haven't seen MAC release a colour like this before and there's nothing remotely similar to it in the permanent range, so if you're on the market for a blue lipstick, it's worth checking out. And for those who missed out on RiRi Boy from Rihanna's summer collaboration with MAC, Men Love Mystery is very similar. MAC has added some great unique shades that filled a much-needed gap in their permanent range, and also some much-needed additions to their matte range in general (finally, a matte coral!), so if you like your matte lipsticks, these are all definitely worth checking out.

MAC The Matte Lip (2015): Lipstick in Naturally Transformed, Persistence, Whirl, Stone, and Antique Velvet

This past Thursday, MAC released a new lipstick collection called The Matte Lip: "For those who prefer timeless glamour rather than all-out flash and shine, the sophisticated allure of matte reigns supreme." It is currently available online and at MAC Stores, and will be released at partnered locations next Thursday. The collection includes a total of 22 lipsticks, of which nine are new and will become permanent, five are re-promotes and will become permanent, seven are existing permanent. Each lipstick comes in regular black packaging, contains 3 grams of product, and retails for $19. These are applicable for the Back to MAC recycling program at all locations.

Naturally Transformed, Persistence, Whirl, Stone, and Antique Velvet
Naturally Transformed, Persistence, Whirl, Stone, and Antique Velvet

Naturally Transformed is a light-medium golden beige-nude in a Matte finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft, creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more golden than Peachstock, and slightly cooler than Siss.

Persistence is a medium-dark warm cinnamon brown in a Matte finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft, creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is darker and more brown than Mocha, and more muted and more brown than Retro.

Whirl is a medium-dark rosy brown in a Matte finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft, creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is lighter and more pink than Del Rio, and darker and more brown than Taupe.

Stone a medium-dark muted grey-taupe in a Matte finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft, 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 lipstick range, but it is similar to Stone Lip Pencil.

Antique Velvet is a dark warm chestnut brown in a Matte finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft, creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more brown than Film Noir, and darker and more reddened than Photo.

Calling all fans of the '90s lip trend! These five shades will be totally up your alley. Those who have been looking for the lipstick counterparts to Whirl and Stone Lip Pencils (which have been flying off the shelves since the whole "Kylie Jenner lip" trend took off) can finally breathe a sigh of relief. It seems like MAC is finally adding more fan- and consumer-requested products to the permanent range. For those who wanted more matte shades from MAC, you can rejoice because it seems like the matte lip trend is here to stay. This is MAC's second time extending their permanent matte range, and they will be adding 14 shades. For those who missed out on previously limited edition shades like Steady Going and Runway Hit, you can get them now with no fear that they will never be coming back. MAC has added some great unique shades that filled a much-needed gap in their permanent range, and also some much-needed additions to their matte range in general (finally, a matte coral!), so if you like your matte lipsticks, these are all definitely worth checking out.

MAC The Matte Lip (2015): Lipstick in Steady Going, Runway Hit, Tropic Tonic, and Dangerous

This past Thursday, MAC released a new lipstick collection called The Matte Lip: "For those who prefer timeless glamour rather than all-out flash and shine, the sophisticated allure of matte reigns supreme." It is currently available online and at MAC Stores, and will be released at partnered locations next Thursday. The collection includes a total of 22 lipsticks, of which nine are new and will become permanent, five are re-promotes and will become permanent, seven are existing permanent. Each lipstick comes in regular black packaging, contains 3 grams of product, and retails for $19. These are applicable for the Back to MAC recycling program at all locations.

Steady Going, Runway Hit, Tropic Tonic, and Dangerous
Steady Going, Runway Hit, Tropic Tonic, and Dangerous

Steady Going is a light-medium cool-toned cotton candy pink in a Retro Matte finish. This is a re-promoted shade from 2013's Retro Matte collection and is now permanent. The texture is on the slightly drier side, but it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is lighter and warmer than Pink Nouveau, and slightly darker and warmer than Snob.

Runway Hit is a light-medium warm peachy pink in a Retro Matte finish. This is a re-promoted shade from 2013's Retro Matte collection and is now permanent. The texture is on the slightly drier side, but it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is darker and more peach than Please Me, and darker and pinker than Kinda Sexy.

Tropic Tonic is a medium vibrant warm coral in a Matte finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft, creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is similar but more matte than Vegas Volt, and more orange and more matte than Lady at Play Mineralize Rich.

Dangerous a medium-dark vibrant orange-red in a Retro Matte finish. This is a re-promoted shade from 2013's Retro Matte collection and is now permanent. The texture is on the slightly drier side, but it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more orange than Lady Danger, and brighter than So Chaud.

It seems like MAC is finally adding more fan- and consumer-requested products to the permanent range. For those who wanted more matte shades from MAC, you can rejoice because it seems like the matte lip trend is here to stay. This is MAC's second time extending their permanent matte range, and they will be adding 14 shades. For those who missed out on previously limited edition shades like Steady Going and Runway Hit, you can get them now with no fear that they will never be coming back. MAC has added some great unique shades that filled a much-needed gap in their permanent range, and also some much-needed additions to their matte range in general (finally, a matte coral!), so if you like your matte lipsticks, these are all definitely worth checking out.

Pick-Ups & Deliveries: May 2015

For whatever reason, May seemed to go by way faster than any other month in recent memory. Maybe it's because prom/grad/wedding season has begun and I've been so crazy busy with make-up appointments that it's all been a blur, but it's almost as if we went straight from April to June. Though judging from all the things I hauled, it seems like all I did in May was shop. For blush. A lot of fucking blush.

Dior Diorskin Nude Tan Tie Dye Edition Blush Harmony in 001 Pink Sunrise and 002 Coral Sunset
Kat Von D Everlasting Face Shaper Blush in Bellisima, Por Vida, Love Song, and Heartagram
Urban Decay Afterglow 8-Hour Powder Blush in Rapture and Score
Okay, and a couple highlighters because apparently, I'm in a cheek phase right now. I'm not usually into Estée Lauder, but we all know my sick obsession with these liquid-powder hybrid formulas (e.g. MAC In Extreme Dimension, NARS Dual-Intensity, etc.), and when I saw the Illuminating Powder Gelée that they released for this year's Bronze Goddess collection, I had to snatch it up. It's a beautiful champagne with a hint of peach, and it's not too light which is just perfect for summer. Plus, I got the last one at my local counter, so it was meant to be. And then, of course, at one of my many trips to Sephora, I also picked up Laura Mercier's Indiscretion. Like Lauder, I'm not huge on Laura Mercier and I'm rarely intrigued by their products, but once in a while, they'll come out with a stand-out product that makes me stop in my tracks and swatch. And it's usually a highlighter. And this year's is Indiscretion, a gorgeous soft rosy apricot with gold shimmer. Of course, my local Sephora sold out of it on the first day that they launched the summer collection, so when I was downtown for afternoon tea a couple weeks ago and saw that the Bloor location still had five in stock, I immediately grabbed one.

Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess Illuminating Powder Gelée
Laura Mercier Face Illuminator Powder in Indiscretion
Bobbi Brown was having their Friends & Family sale last month which entailed shoppers to 20% off everything, and Ebates was having 8% cash back on all purchases from the Bobbi Brown website, so you know I had to take advantage. I was never really into Bobbi Brown before (are you noticing a trend here?), but I've recently gotten more and more intrigued with her products, especially after Liz featured one of their gorgeous Brightening Bricks on her blog. Add that to my ever-growing lemming for her Shimmer Bricks (can you believe I didn't have one?), and next thing you know, I bought two of each. I figured I should get some lipstick, too, since it's what made Bobbi Brown famous, so I bought three neutral shades of her Rich Lip Color. Not really sure how this formula differs from the other ones, but it's supposed to be lightweight, full-coverage, and long-lasting with a smooth, moisturizing feel. Anyone try these before? How do they differ from her original range?

Bobbi Brown Brightening Brick in Coral and Cranberry
Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Compact in Nectar and Rose
Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color in 31 Uber Pink, 32 Uber Beige, and 33 Uber Nude
Speaking of Ebates, I got a nice fat paycheque from all the shopping I did last quarter, so obviously, I did what anyone would do... and spent it on nail polish. Even though they're typically more autumn/winter shades, I ordered all four polishes from A-England's new Rossetti's Goddess collection. Whereas only one or two shades from A-England's last few collections intrigued me, all the shades from Rossetti's Goddess were just screaming my name. Nail Polish Canada is offering all four shades for $40.50, which is like getting one shade for free, so I ordered the set. I also ordered all six shades of Essie's Summer 2015 collection (also being offered as a set for $45) 'cause I thought they'd be fun cream shades to layer with glitter, as well as a new bottle of Seche Vite and a bottle of Seche Restore because I want to thin out some of my older polishes that are getting too thick or chunky.

A-England Rossetti's Goddess Collection Nail Varnish in Proserpine, Captive Goddess, Jane Morris, and Incense Burner
Essie Summer 2015 Collection Nail Polish in Pret-a-Surfer, Salt Water Happy, Private Weekend, Chillato, Peach Side Babe, and Sunset Sneaks
Rainbow Honey hasn't piqued my interest in a while (since last summer, actually), but their new Patisserie collection for Spring was just too cute to resist. What actually made me check it out initially was their adorable limited edition French macaron hand soaps, which come individually wrapped in gift-worthy boxes. I picked up all six scents which came in a set for $18, plus two of the nail polishes (Cotton Candy Meringue and Gâteau de Citron) from the Patisserie collection, the infamous Heisenberg (their Breaking Bad-inspired polish that had been out of stock for ages) and Konpeito! (which reminded me of unicorns, so I had to have it). And as a gift, they gave me a bottle of Peachy Sangria (peach, gold, and champagne glitters) and Pâte de Pistaches (pale pistachio green cream) for free.

Rainbow Honey French Macaron Hand Soap in Petit Four, Rose Macaron, Orange Confites, Pâte de Pistaches, Tea Biscuit, and Gelée de Fraises
Rainbow Honey Nail Lacquer in Heisenberg, Cotton Candy Meringue, Konpeito!, Peachy Sangria, Gâteau de Citron, and Pâte de Pistaches
Since finishing both my Fresh and Clinique face scrubs this past week, I decided to go into Sephora to look at some new options. My friend Adrian who works at my local store recommended me the REN Micro Polish Cleanser, which also foams up into a delightful creamy lather that smells like orange Creamsicle. So I grabbed that and I also picked up a big bottle of Ole Henriksen's Truth Serum (which, coincidentally, also smells like orange Creamsicle) to use when my Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair runs out (I think my skin has gotten used to it so I'm not really seeing any differences with it anymore). Then last weekend, my friend Cynthia went to the Shiseido warehouse sale, and scored me some awesome deals: two tubes of my favourite Pureness Deep Cleansing Foam (for $16 each from $28), two bottles of Pureness Balancing Softener (for $16 each from $32), a jar of Pureness Moisturizing Gel-Cream (for $22 from $42), and a bottle of the discontinued White Lucent Intensive Spot Targeting Serum (for $80 from $140). Suffice it to say, I'm set for skincare for a long while, and am hereby on a skincare ban (which is way more do-able than, say, a blush ban).

REN Clean Skincare Micro Polish Cleanser and Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster
Shiseido Pureness Deep Cleansing Foam (x2), Pureness Balancing Softener Alcohol-Free (x2), Pureness Moisturizing Gel-Cream, and White Lucent Intensive Spot Targeting Serum
The Body Shop Shea Body Whip, Mango Body Whip, Satsuma Body Purée, and Pink Grapefruit Body Purée
Finally, I went into The Body Shop on a whim (and with time to kill while waiting for Viv to get off work), and they were having their "Buy 3, Get 3 Free" promotion. I've been looking for lighter weight body moisturizers since all those body butters that I stockpiled during the winter now feel super-thick and sticky. So I ended up getting three Body Whips and three Body Purées for half-price, and split the deal with Viv (four for me, two for her because I am way more anal about moisturizing than she is). And that's it. I swear.
What did y'all buy last month? Any good deals/steals? Anything I need to check out?