Mac Holiday Collection: Part 2

Well, as the killer returns to the crime scene (LOL), I returned to my local Mac to get a few more things and also to get 1-2 items from the permanent collections using the 30% off card from the Glamour magazine.

First thing first: I wanted to buy the Uncoditionally Fabulous nail polish from the Glitter and Ice collection from the day I saw the first swatches online. But, at €15, it seemed quite expensive to me since I hardly ever wear glitter nail polish. So, instead of buying it, I decided to order the China Glaze Snow Globe, because a lot of people said that it was very similar. I got it for €5 (shipping included) on e-bay and, I've been wearing this since I received it (5 days ago) because... I just love it! I wear one coat, over a semi-transparent pinkish-beige base, and I named this combo the snow princess manicure, it's sooo freaking fairytale like!

Unfortunatelly the picture doesn't do it any justice, because, in real life, as I move my hands, the light catches all the different colors and they sparkle sooo beautifully! I was also impressed that only with one coat, the distribution of glitter is even all over my nails, there are no gaps, etc.

From Mac, first of all I got a few lip products:

Whirls & Twirls lipstick (LE, Glitter and Ice collection). I picked this one because I'm afraid of nude lipsticks and this one, while being almost nude, it has a pinkish tone and a little shimmer, so, it is perfect for the days when I want to keep my lips discreet (with a twist!).

Pleasure Principle dazzleglass (LE, Glitter and Ice collection). I don't have any dazzleglasses but I decided to get this one because it's a lot like the glitter nail polish in a dazzleglass! Love it!

Love Alert dazzleglass. After seeing swatches of it online I loved the strawberry pink shade. It is also part of the Glitter and Ice collection but since it is also in the permanent line, I decided to get it from the permanent line, because of the 30% off with the Glamour card and because I can back to Mac this one.

Here are the three of them together: Pleasure Principle, Love Alert, Whirls & Twirls.

One thing I really needed was a warm blush. I came to this conclusion after looking at my blushes and realized that they all leaned to the pink/raspberry/plum categories. So, after some online searching I had narrowed the list to 2-3 shades and after swatching them in store, I decided to get Sunbasque. Mac describes this as "gilded peach with pearl" (huh???) but in real life it is like a peachy-rose-bronze, really pretty. I also realized that the sheertone shimmer is my favorite finish (next to the satin) because of the discreet and totally wearable shimmer that gives my cheeks a little pizzazz in the quick, without the need to use any other product on top. I used my mac 187 brush, it's a pair made in heaven!

On the left I swatched it with my finger and then I blended it out on the right part.

Last thing I got was the Make it Perfect Brush Kit / Special Edition (€56 - Ice Parade Collection), I just couldn't resist it because I already have 3 of them in ful size and I love them (168-239-217) and the mini version with the sparkling handles is totally adorable (LOL) and travel friendly! The kit has five brushes totally:

• 167 SE blush/powder brush
• 168 SE angled contour brush
• 239 SE eye shader brush
• 217 SE blending brush
• 212 SE flat definer brush 

After washing them, I was really impressed with the softness of the bristles (not being handmade etc).

They come in this pouch, I don't like it very much but the plastic is of good quality, really sturdy.

I also took some photos in comparison to my full size ones (on the right), you will notice that there are minor differences, but I haven't tried them as yet so I can't tell if they will affect the actual performance (probably not).

The 217

The 239

The 168

All of them together

PS: have you managed to find here in Greece the Let's Skate painpot, Winterized eyeshadow and Snow Globe powder? I can't find them anywhere and the mac assistants don't have a clue if and when they will be available. I've also emailed mac but I haven't heard from the as yet...

Mac Ice Parade Holiday Collection: it's here!

It's been almost a week that my local Mac store is decorated according to the holiday themes (Glitter & Ice etc.) but no products yet!

So, this evening, while passing by on my way home,  I was pleasantly surprised because I accidentally noticed that they had already positioned the Ice Parade testers.
It goes without saying that I stopped by to get the few things from the Glitter & Ice that I had planned to buy. Instead, the assistant told me that they didn't have the Glitter and Ice as yet but they already had the Ice Parade and the Holiday Viva Glam kit. Momentarily, I got dissappointed, but then (surprise!), I decided to take a look at the available collections, although I knew that I wasn't planning to get anything from these.

Well, you know how that goes: a few swatches is all it takes to buy something that you've convinced yourself you don't need. The item that managed to brake my resistance was the Festive Kit in Wintercool . After a lot of inner struggle (the plot goes dramatic, LOL!) I decided that, although I definitely didn' t need it, it was actually a value for money kit. The reasons are that at €56 you get the following, full sized products:

• a frost lipstick (Hot Gossip), a very pretty and wearable medium pink
• a lipgloss (Emancipation), a light pink without glitter etc,
• a matte blush (Mocha), a lovely medium pink-plum shade
• four eyeshadows
• Phloof!, a frost white a bit on the pink side
• Quarry, a matte medium pink-plum-brown
• Dance in the Dark, a matte dark brown-black 
• Brun, a satin deep grey brown
• three short handle brushes
• 129SE, 
• 266SE,
• 275SE
• a clear plastic bag with a silver pocket on the outside

All the shades (I think that) they are permanent, but, the fun part of being a recent Mac convert is that, with the exception of Quarry, I didn't have any of them, so that was a plus to me.

As for the three included brushes, I don't have to tell you that they're inferior in quality compared to the full sized ones, BUT:

• they're not that bad as some beauty gurus say, meaning that I will definitely use them and they will be quite handy in my everyday makeup bag or in my travel bag, etc. I'm not a makeup artist thus not an expert, but, for personal use, they're acceptable. 
• also, let's say that you're a total beginner, or that you don't want to invest 20-30-40 euros to get one mac brush. In that case they have separate holiday brush kits that seemed very soft to me, even for everyday use, that I would buy in a heartbeat if I could justify the expense (since I already have the full sized ones that I need).

Now, the right part of my brain (LOL), says that I don't have to stress out the cuteness of every item! I really love the white, sparkly theme, everything is so tacky but alluring at the same time!

Enough said, photos please!

What do you plan to get from the holiday collections?

Beauty Gadgets

I must confess that I love gadgets, beauty gadgets even more!

The first one is a nail polish remover by Sephora, and I must thank christina77star and many other fellow beauty bloggers for bringing this item to my attention. I have only one thing to tell you: go get this!
It's awesome because it removes my nail polish in a second, no kidding! I have this almost for a month, an it is still going strong. It is very easy to use, no cotton pad required because inside it there is a sponge, I just dip my finger inside it and move it in semi circle, left and right, until it is clean.

Next beauty gadget is the Model Mirror, I saw it on You Tube and instantly loved it! It is a little mirror, baterry operated,  with lights (so that I can easily pluck my eyebrows in the dead of night, without disturbing anyone, LOL!). It cost me €27 (postage included).

I got the pink one with the black bow and appart from the cute design, the material is rubberized, so it doesn't slip off my hands (everything else does!!!). It also comes with a little drawstring pouch (it could use some washing now that I see it, duh!)

Last beauty gadget is a Unii  empty palette, I saw this too on You Tube and I had to have it, although at €27 (postage included) it is quite expensive.
The reasons that I really like this palette are:

• sturdy construction
• secure clasp
• perfect travel size, for a blush or two and a few eyeshadows, not too big, not too small, easy to carry
• it comes with a sheet of adhesive magnets so that I can cut it in pieces and magnetize pans
• it has a big mirror
• I chose the white, a beautiful pearly shade, but it also comes in a variety of colors

The inside of the packaging has useful instructions about the palette (adhering the magnets, etc)

The little square cube on the left is supposed to facilitate holding the palette, it is also movable so that you can put it anywhere it suits you (or remove it altogether). Here you can also see the adhesive magnet sheet.

See? LOL!
BTW, the nail polish is OPI "My address is Hollywood", I really like it.

Here I put it on top of my mac palette, for comparison.

Another photo next to my mac one.

Here I added a few mac eyeshadows and a mac blush, so as to give you an idea. I could probably fit a small flat brush inside it as well.

What's your favorite beauty gadget?