MAC In The Spotlight Extra Dimension Skinfinish: Soft Frost, DoubleGleam, Beaming Blush, Show Gold

Let's all just take a moment to appreciate MAC and their strobe game. For years I have always been a fan of MAC's extra dimension skinfinish products (face compacts and eye shadows), so these were something I definitely wanted to include in my collection. Strobe creams are also part of the 'In The Spotlight" collection but I prefer powder products, so I thought I'd pick these up first. Also, I've read this is a permanent collection too so that is always a bonus. 

MAC Holiday Nutcracker Collection 2016 - Whisper of Gilt is finally back!

Whisper of Gilt is probably MAC's most heard of buzz phrase in their headquarters, with many people demanding for it to come back since its official release in the Extra Dimension collection back in 2012. I didn't get my hands on it when it first came out because I didn't live up to the hype but when it started to become more and more desired, I started to want it. There have been a few dupes that have come round since the release of MAC Whisper of Gilt - Laura Geller Baked Illuminator in Gilded Honey and Kiko Water Shadow in 208 - both of which I own but very rarely pick up. 

MAC Holiday Nutcracker Collection 2016 - Whisper of Gilt is finally back!

Whisper of Gilt is probably MAC's most heard of buzz phrase in their headquarters, with many people demanding for it to come back since its official release in the Extra Dimension collection back in 2012. I didn't get my hands on it when it first came out because I didn't live up to the hype but when it started to become more and more desired, I started to want it. There have been a few dupes that have come round since the release of MAC Whisper of Gilt - Laura Geller Baked Illuminator in Gilded Honey and Kiko Water Shadow in 208 - both of which I own but very rarely pick up. 

March Beauty Wish List

Beauty Wish List | March 2016

Another month, another round of beauty goodies to lust over. I'm really into liquid lipsticks at the moment and currently own a few from a different brands including Limecrime, Inglot, Sleek, and NYX. I want to try out Gerrard Cosmetics because the colours are quite unique. Stila is a brand that I have never tried before, and I like to texture and colours of their eyeshadows but I certainly do not need another neutral eyeshadow palette. The colours of there liquid lipsticks are so vibrant and bright - something that I want to get more into - wearing brighter lip colours. Makeup Geek Cosmetics is another brand  haven't tried and I'm desperate to try some of their eyeshadows since they've been known to be amazing quality for a very reasonable price. Their foiled eye shadows are the products I want to try the most as the swatches I've seen are unbelievably pigmented. Not that I need another highlighter since I just bought 3 Becca shimmering skin perfectos and a Dior illuminator, but I quite fancy the very golden look and packaging of the Charlotte Tilbury "Bar of Gold" highlighter which is Limited Edition, and that makes me want it more. Lately, i've in getting a bad breakout of spots before my time of the month and I'm currently using Clearasil spot treatment to clear them up, and while it does an okay job, I feel like I want to try something else. I have never used Mario Badescu skincare before, but is supposedly a really good product for bad spots or acne. Now, I am a hoarder of makeup brushes and I love having multiple brushes for the same purpose, mostly because I find that some brushes work better for some precepts than others. I enjoy the MAC brushes because  look after them by cleaning them at least one a week and I know they will last me for a long time to come. this angled foundation brush would be ideal to get into the harder contours of the face like the nose and would even work for creamy contouring because the brush is so dense. 

So that is my wish list for March, and I'm most likely to go ahead with purchasing the Mario Badescu drying lotion since I know that is something I'll definitely need for future breakouts. You can purchase directly from Beauty Bay for only £12.50. 

Laura Geller Gilded Honey Illuminator & KIKO 208 Water Eyeshadow: Dupes for MAC Whisper of Gilt?

Are they a dupe of the famous MAC Whisper of Gilt highlighter? I don't actually own the MAC Whisper of Gilt highlighter but I have a good idea in my mind what it looks like, but there are many swatches on Google. Although I am not crazy enough to spend over £100 on eBay for the product, I am partial to dupes - especially if they are at a good price. This is where Laura Geller Gilded Honey and KIKO 208 Water Eyeshadow comes in. 

My Under-eye Concealer Correction Routine: MAC, Maybelline andLaura Mercier

Fortunately, I am blessed to not have super dark circles under my eyes or have heavy looking bags, I just find them slightly blue/purple in the mornings or when I have had very little sleep. Most days I can get away without the colour corrector but I personally feel it improves the overall underage colour, especially when I'm doing a full-face look. 

Mini Drugstore/Beauty Haul: Boots and Superdrug

I love a good drugstore haul. I always get sucked in to the 3 for 2 offers in Boots, and I treat myself to a skincare serum from Chanel - the Hydra Beauty Micro Serum which is just so delicious for your face. I first wore this serum underneath loreal's BB magique cream and received 5 compliments on my makeup and skincare from makeup artists working in the stores during my shopping trip. This was before I bought the serum because I was contemplating buying it (the price was holding me back at...£66) but after receiving the lovely compliments, I convinced myself it was the serum and I had to buy it. 

Beauty Wish List | November 2015

Beauty Wish List | November 2015 (click for more details)

MAC Extra Dimension highlighters: 'Oh, Darling' and 'Shaft of Gold' | Anastasia Beverly Hills 'Self-Made' Eyeshadow Palette | L.A Girl Pro Conceal Concealer | Anastasia Beverly Hills 'So Hollywood' Highlighter | MAC Holiday Collection Pigments/Glitter 'Gold' | Rimmel Salon Pro Nail Polish | Clarins Pure and Radiant Mask and Pore Minimizing Serum | Artis Brush Oval 6

I'm not sure why I added the MAC highlighters since they are sold out, and I know that a lot of beauty lovers out there were p*ssed with MAC because they released the collection much earlier online, then sent an email launch a couple days after. I have seen these highlighters floating around Instagram for months and the hype was insane but I knew there was no way I could get my hands on them because I was away with work when they launched in stores, then later found out that they sold out in 15-20 minutes in both my local MAC concessions. I find it ridiculous that MAC know a product is going to sell well, and they don't supply enough for the demand as I've been told that concessions only get  a handful (and are likely to be taken by staff first). There wasn't a lot I wanted from the MAC Holiday collection but I may go ahead and pick up the gold pigment sets because I have wanted to try the glitter. 

I am forever changing my skincare routine, and at the moment I am into Clarins after seeing the beautiful StyleSuzi using the hydra-matte lotion, and so far I'm enjoying it, and looking to try more from the range. I'm a fan of Anastasia Beverly Hills products and I really want to try out 'So Hollywood' highlighter and the 'Self Made' eyeshadow palette which are both sold out, so I'm on the waiting list ready to purchase them when they come back in stock. The Artis brush is something I spied Kylie Jenner using in one of her makeup tutorial app videos (don't judge me, I don't actually have the app, I just saw it on Instagram...). They're extremely pricey and I know MAC do something similar, so I might try them out first. Basically, you can use them to buff in moisturiser and foundation, and it's meant to give you a flawless finish so I am intrigued...

Have you tried any of these brands or products?

MAC Lash Upward Volume Mascara | Review

Based on my obsession for makeup, mascara is the only product that I don’t change very often. Since I have short Asian, stubby lashes, I find that most mascaras that claim to give ‘volume and length’ either clump my lashes or flatten them.

Happy Halloween - Asian Barbie Unzipped - Tutorial!

I'm BACKKKKK! After a few weeks of personal difficulties in my life, I've finally managed to sort myself out and move forward. 

Of course, with Halloween coming up, I wanted to do something fun for myself and my blog. I saw a video of a girl doing this on Instagram and thought it looked quite easy to do...two hours later, this was the result. I personally think it would have been better with some fake blood (but I was too afraid to try that, with it being my first time), so I ended up using SFX pro colour creams instead, which didn't bring out the red as much as I liked but because I ended up mixing shades of black and a bit of purple, it all kind of mixed in together.

Beauty Wish List | September 2015

Beauty Wish List | September 2015 (click for more details)

Estee Lauder Little Black Liner | Estee Lauder Idealist Pore Minimising Skin Refinisher | Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum | Bobbi Brown Hydrating Face Cream | Makeup Revolution Ultra Cover and Concealer Palette | Anastasia Beverly Hills L'Orange Contour Refill | OGX coconut Water Shampoo | Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder | MAC 139 & 161 Duo Fibre Brush

My last few skincare products haven't been 'wow' for me so I am currently on the hunt to find something really, really good. At the moment I am trailing out something new and determined to see some good results - so far I am enjoying it so I will probably review them. Ester Lauder has never been a brand that I looked to for skincare but I do love the Double Wear foundation so figured I would look into the skincare. About 98% of the reviews for the skincare have been highly recommended, and my own mother actually used to use this brand so I figured it can't be that bad for the price. I will most likely be purchasing the two skincare products in my next haul, seeing as all the beauty departments have special offers that are too good to miss at the moment.... 

Bobbi Brown has started to draw my interest in with their makeup products, and keen to try out the skincare so a moisturiser is always one of the best ones to go for, first. The Laura Mercier secret brightening powder is out of stock EVERYWHERE. I am after shade 2, which is the slightly yellow shade and I am desperate to get my hands on it but I believe it has been discontinued. If anyone knows where I can get my hands on it - please get in touch with me!

MAC Studio Water Weight Foundation and 196 Foundation Brush | Review

Another day, another new MAC product launch. This new MAC foundation launched a few weeks ago and of course, I wanted to get it straight away along with the unique foundation brush. I'm always intrigued by new foundations and I'm a fan of both Studio Fix Fluid/Powder and Matchmaster so I thought I'd try this because the description sounded intriguing.

London Beauty Haul: Charlotte Tilbury, Illamasqua, MAC

My short but sweet trip to London last month was filled with good food, beauty adventures and family time. My main aim was to buy stuff I can't get in my local area (I like to see and swatch in person before I buy any beauty products), and so far I'm loving everything I've got.

My Top 3 Red MAC Lipsticks

For a long time, I struggled to find a nice red that suited my yellow skin tone without looking like...a hooker. I find that true reds were slightly too bold for my complexion and warmer reds were a better colour for me. Both All Fired Up and Lady Danger lean slightly warmer on my skin tone, whilst Ruby Woo is more of a darker red with cooler, blue undertones that suits most skin tones. These three reds are all mattes and when it comes to a bright colour like red, I do prefer a matte finish because it's already such a bright colour, I wouldn't want it sparkling or bright.

All Fired Up / Lady Danger / Ruby Woo

What are your favourite MAC red lipsticks?

My Top 3 Dark MAC Lipsticks

Dark lips are sometimes dismissed as only nighttime colours or maybe halloween but I think they look great as a daytime look too. Every now and then I like to opt for a dark lip, depending on my mood and eye look but it's a lot more maintenance to make sure it doesn't smudge/bleed.  If and when I choose to do a dark lip, I always make sure I exfoliate and moisturise my lips beforehand because I find that darker lipsticks look more obvious and enhance the texture of your lips more. Lip liner is also a must to stop any bleeding or smudging around the outer lip and I sometimes like to create an ember effect using a darker shade of the lipstick to make my lips look a little fuller. 

Heroine / Rebel / Diva

What are your favourite dark lipsticks from MAC?

My Top 3 Pink MAC Lipsticks

Pink is probably my favourite colour and I can't resist buying anything cute that is pink. Like most colours, you can get a huge range of the different shades of pink from neon to baby. My personal preference falls between the nude pinks to a bright pink, depending on what I'm wearing the day. For everyday, I like to pick either MAC Creme Cup or Angel and for a brighter lip, I'd choose something like Candy Yum Yum or Impassioned. Pink is such a great colour on anyone, some work better on certain skin tones so it's about finding the right colour match. 

Angel / Creme Cup / Impassioned

Angel and Creme Cup are both very similar, I would say creme cup is slightly more blue toned/cooler. Impassioned is just a beautiful bright pink that's not too harsh.

Which are your fave pink lipsticks from MAC?

MAC Lip Conditioner and MAC Prep + Prime Lip Balm | Review

Okay, so priming my face and eyes are a must for my makeup routine but I've never considered priming my lips. Boy, have I been missing out! I have quite medium, full lips that used to make me feel self-conscious when I was younger but now I love the fact that they aren't small and non-existent. My lips get quite dry and flakey easily, and for the last 4 years I have been on the hunt for the best lip balm/conditioner and I didn't even think about using MAC. I've tried everything from EOS, Burts Bees, Vaseline, Nivea and all the other drugstore brands but found that they never nourished my lips for long. 

I went on a whim to purchase these two MAC lip care products: MAC Lip Conditioner Hydrant (£12.00) and MAC Prep + Prime Lip Base (£13.50) and they have to be my favourite recent beauty purchases.

The lip conditioner is a scent-less glossy (but not sticky) product that can be used day or night (I use it during the night only and I wake up with the most baby soft lips EVER!). I dare say this is my holy grail lip balm/conditioner because I have seen less flaking and drying on my lips. I think using this in conjunction with the Prep + Prime lip base definitely helps too. Before I apply any lip product to my lips, I prime them with a generous coating and then start layering my lip products on top. During the day, I find that I don't even need to reapply my lip colour even after having a few cups of green tea and food. The lip primer definitely holds the colour and lipstick to my lips better than it would, without. 

Lip priming has definitely become part of my core makeup routine whether I'm doing a full face or minimal face look. Especially now that I use lipliners more, and wear lipstick every single day - I need my lips looking its best. For the prices of these two products, I am happy to continue paying more because you'll probably know that I am a die-hard MAC fan, and I will more than likely re-purchase both these products when I've run out. I'm not sure if there are any other lip primers on the market but I am open to trying out new brands and products so if there are any lip primers out there you think I should try, please let me know in my comments!

My Top 3 Nude MAC Lipsticks

There is a nude for everyone and MAC will have a nude fit for the palest to the darkest of skin colours. I used to be guilty of "concealer lip" until I discovered nude lipsticks and now I'm obsessed. I used to only buy very pale nudes but I have recently started to go for darker nudes which suit my skin tone more.

Honey Love / Velvet Teddy / Myth

My go to's, my everything, my weapon of choices! Depending on my eye look, I will switch it up day-to-day but these are the nude lipsticks I'll pick up.

What are your favourite nude colours from MAC?

MAC 135, 137, 221 Face & Eye Brushes | Mini Review

MAC 135 Large Flat Powder Brush (£35.50)

"An ultra-soft and smooth brush in a large double chiseled shape made of super-luxurious natural fibres. Because of its slightly flat paddle shape and silky bristles, this brush is best used for sheer washes of powder all over the face. MAC professional brushes are hand-sculpted and assembled using the finest quality materials. They feature wood handles and nickel-plated brass ferrules."

I find this brush perfect for a light dusting of powder across the face or a light wash of bronzer chiseled into the cheekbones and temples. It's a good brush to also dust off any excess powder under the eye, if you've done the baking technique to set your concealer.

MAC 137 Long Blending Brush (£34.50)

"A long-haired blending brush for the face made of natural fibres. This ultra-soft and silky tapered brush allows for a light dusting of any powder, making it perfect for an all-over wash of colour. MAC professional brushes are hand-sculpted and assembled using the finest quality materials. They feature wood handles and nickel-plated brass ferrules."

As soon as I saw this brush, I wasn't sure how to use it but I liked it because it was a different shape. I consulted with the MAC consultant and he recommended it for soft contouring, highlighting and even for foundation. Although I probably wouldn't use it for foundation, I actually love it for contouring. It places the colour exactly where I want it and I've been picking this brush up more, and more for contouring.

MAC 221 Mini Tapered Blending Brush (£19.00)

"A mini shadow-blending brush made of the softest natural fibres. The small shape with a tapered tip allows for the more controlled application and blending of powders. Provides for a sheer colour-washed effect on eyes. MAC professional brushes are hand-sculpted and assembled using the finest quality materials. They feature wood handles and nickel-plated brass ferrules."

I have several tapered blending brushes but this is something else. Since I have small asian eyelids, this blending brush fits perfectly into my small socket and create definition like no other brush I own. It picks up and deposits colour exactly where I want it, and for those who are blessed with beautiful, large eyelids, it would be perfect for cut-eye creases. Im considering purchasing another one because I love it so much. 

Have you tried any of the new MAC brushes? Let me know which ones are your favourite...

Beauty Wish List | June 2015 |

Beauty Wish List | June 2015 (Click to view)

I'm a tiny bit late this month, I haven't got my eye on a lot but just a selected few I have had my eye on this month.

MAC Lightful C Skincare Collection | Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen | Zoeva Face and Eye Brush Set | Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder - Luminous Bronze Light / Radiant Bronze Light | Chanel Healthy Glow Powder | Laura Mercier Face Illuminator | MAC Eyeshadow x 15 Palette - Warm & Cool | Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow | Charlotte Tilbury Powder & Sculpt Brush | Charlotte Tilbury Lip Contour Pillow Talk 

Out of everything, I think I'm going to make the Charlotte Tilbury purchase next because I haven't experienced that brand yet and I've heard so many good things about it.

Have you tried any of these yet? Let me know!