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...

Basics: Face tools

First of all, face brushes are the tools that enable me to achieve the best possible results in combination with the products that I use (foundation etc.).
Given the fact that they come in contact with my face on a daily basis, they must be of a good quality and they must be regularly cleaned.
That being said, I was really sceptical and undesicive about selecting face brushes. The reasons are:

• there are too many choices out there
• they are not cheap
• even if they were cheap, it wouldn't be practical to me to have too many brushes 

So, after a lot of searching and reading and taking in consideration my needs and the products that I use, I visited my local Mac with a clear plan. 

The first brush that I had to try was the very popular 187 (also known as duo fibre or stippling or skunk brush) and the Mac assistant told me that this is definitely THE must have brush. Although I'm always reserved when I hear raves about a product, this time I found the raves to be true.
In the store I wasn't that impressed (but I'm never impressed with brushes), but when I got home I used it right away and then I got sooo excited, because it is simply PERFECT for:

• liquid foundation: I get an even, flawless coverage, almost airbrushed, with minimal use of product. 
• powder: it delivers the desired amount of powder for my dry skin (that is less is best).
• blush: even the more pigmented ones (that were a nightmare to blend) have become my best friends
• bronzers: I was intimidated to use on my fair complexion but with this brush it is a pair made in heaven!
• mineralize skinfinishes: I get glow without the discoball effect.

Best feature is that it delivers the right amount of every product and even in layering it doesn't get cakey.
Mac 187 - €46 (€34,50 on a 25% discount)
So, here's my loved Mac 187 brush

Next day I run back to my local Mac shop and I got the 188 as well. It is the same brush as the 187 but narrower.
I use this one for the base products for eye makeup:

• concealer: it blends it like a dream (and I use cream concealer, not the easiest product to apply)
• powder: here too, it applies just the right amount (as already mentioned, less is best for me)
• paint pots: with cream eyeshadow bases in general, I get an even, flawless coverage.

Mac 188 - €37 (€27,75 on a 25% discount) 
Here's my loved (and a little dirty!) Mac 188 brush

The next brush is the Mac 168 angled contour brush and I got it when I started to contour my face with matte bronzing powder. I found that I needed more precision (in comparison to the 187), for example under the cheekbones etc. I also tried it with blush, higlighters etc, and it works great when I want a little heavier application (again in comparison to the 187). It also can be used for foundation. I don't love it like the 187 or 188, but it is a really practical one.
Mac 168 - €37 (€27,75 on a 25% discount).
Here's my handy Mac 168 brush

Here they are all together :-)

Cleaning my brushes is an essential step that I rarely miss:

• everyday, after I 've completed my makeup, I spray some Mac Brush Cleanser on a paper towel and I swipe them repeatedly on it. For that reason I keep in my brush case a small travel bottle with a spray pump.
• once a week, I wash them with a baby shampoo

Mac Brush Cleanser 235ML - €11,00 (€8,25 on a 25% discount).
Mac Small Travel bottle (package of 2) - €5,50 (€4,12 on a 25% discount).
Mac Spray Pump - €4,00 (€3,00 on a 25% discount).

Talking about face basics, I could not ommit my Mac Face & Body foundation. Although its coverage is on the light/sheer side, I love it because:

• it melts into my skin and it actually looks like my skin but better
• it evens out my skintone
• it gives my dry skin a dewy and fresh look
• even when I use two layers, it doesn't look like "makeup"
• it is quite affordable even fullprice - €34 for 120ML of product!

The funny thing is that I get the best coverage and less dewiness from it (more natural this way) when I apply it with my palms: I put some on my palm and rub my palms together until it starts feeling less slippery and more sticky. Then I "rub" it gently all over my face.
Shadewise, I was never into Mac foundations because they're dark for me, but in the summer (when I purchased the F&B) I was tanned so N1 was perfect. Now, it starts getting darker on me, so I got the Face & Body in White (available only at the Pro Mac stores, I got it in the Ermou street store) and I mix the two colors. Now that I think of it, this is a way to adjust the foundation to my skintone throughout the year, at least until I get excited to try something new!

By the way, I tried to get the new Mac Matchmaster in 1.0 (I think it's the lightest Mac shade) but there's nowhere to find it! The lightest shade they got is 1.5 and it's not that 1.0 is sold out (Mac at Ermou street hadn't even set the display for this collection). Maybe Mac supposed that all greek women are fairly tanned??? Well, news for you Mac, there are many greek women that could use the 1.0!

Anyway,  back to the topic..
Mac Face & Body 120ML - €34,00 (€25,50 on a 25% discount).
Here are my foundations

During the summer, I also used some Elf mineral makeup (very lightly) as a setting powder.
Although it makes my makeup last even longer (all day) without touch ups (dry skin), I didn't like it that much, it felt weird, not itchy but close to that.

So, last week, after reading all the positive reviews about the Mac Careblend pressed powder, I decided to give it a try and I got one in Light. What makes this setting powder "special" is that it is supposed to be the most moisturising of all the Mac powders. Powder and moisturizing definitely sounds like an oxymore but, it really has a creamy-like feeling. I use it only with the 187 brush, so that I get the least possible amount of it and then I buff it into my skin.
It has a mirror and a little sponge application.
Mac Studio Careblend Pressed Powder - €25,00 (€18,75 on a 25% discount).
Here 's my Careblend

Last thing that I use on an everyday basis is the Mac Fix+ spray. It is supposed to be like a setting mist, after the makeup application to blend everything seamlessly together. It can also be used as a moisturizer, before makeup application.
Well, it didn't sound like that much, nor like a product that I must have had, but, one day, I saw the mini bottle of it and I got it out of pure curiosity. And (surprise!) it became a staple product to me. I keep the mini bottle in my purse at all times and I also keep a large one at home with my makeup stuff.
The reason I love it is mainly because it gives me the solution to "combat" the midday dullnes, when my face becomes flat and dehydrated. A couple of spritzes is all it takes to bring life and moisturization back to it!
I also use it after completing my makeup, it melts everything into my skin.
Mac Fix+ 30ML - €11,00 (€8,25 on a 25% discount).
Mac Fix+ 100ML - €17,50 (€13,12 on a 25% discount).
Here are the two of them

So, long story short (LOL!) these are my basic tools for face makeup.

What's your staple product for face makeup?