Greasepaint Stick Swatches

Now I’m on a kick with swatches, so here’s the next installment. This time around I’m featuring two similar products for the eyes that are multi-purpose as bases, liners and shadows.

The Greasepaint Stick made it’s debut this past fall with the release of MAC’s Style Black collection. It was released in a single colour that didn’t have a name, but matched the rest of the collection by being an intense black with a slight purple shimmer undertone. Shortly afterwards, the DSquared collection saw the release of two more colours, V (purple) and B (blue). Unfortunately, all three were limited edition.

Greasepaint Stick:
A smooth and creamy black eye crayon with an opalescent sparkle finish specially formulated for maximum drama. Easily provides ultra-high-level coverage. Versatile. Use as a soft but intense liner or blend out to create a smoke-like shadow. Long-wearing. Transfer and water-resistant. Limited edition.

- maccosmetics.com.au

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Mattene Lipstick Swatches

It’s been far too long since I’ve updated with a “stash” post. During today’s makeup storage re-organization I figured I might as well knock out another one.

Some more lip products, this time featuring the slender tubed Mattene and Slimshine lipsticks. While the packaging looks similar, the formulas couldn’t be anymore different.

Mattene Lipstick:
With its streamlined design, this new slimline lipcolour, features the traditional glamour properties of a matte lipstick – intense colour and semi-matte velvety finish – while offering a creamier, softer, more glide-on application. Non-caking, non drying. Moisturizing and incredibly wearable yet absolutely matte.

- maccosmetics.ca

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Two Tone

This look was inspired by the Spring Colour Forecast using a mix of pinks and corals, plus a bit of a twist. I’ve been fascinated with two toned lips for ages and figured this would be a good opportunity to try it out. Since pink and peach aren’t too much of a contrast, this came out relatively subtle. I actually really liked it, what do you think?

Face

• Make Up Forever HD Foundation / 153
• Maybelline Super Stay Makeup 24HR / Honey Beige
• MAC Eye Shadow / Handwritten
• MAC Brow Set / Clear
• MAC Sheertone Shimmer Blush / Dollymix
• MAC Powder Blush / Rhubarb
• MAC Studio Fix / NC 42

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After posting the photos I decided to do a video version as well, for those who may want a better look at some of the products.

Enjoy!

This past Friday I made the trek to Markham to attend the Estée Lauder warehouse sale. It was my second time going and it was just as much fun this time around, especially since I got to meet up with some other makeup fanatics. As always, it’s by invitation only and if you don’t have a ticket, you cannot enter. I arrived before 10:30 am, and while there was a line up it moved quickly. There was even some entertainment as the police on duty (yep, they have popo patrolling the entire area) who reminded everyone to write their name on the ticket so as not to hold up the line. Repeatedly. LOL

After my last experience I felt much more comfortable moving around the space, and I felt like my browsing was more efficient. I knew roughly where the points of interest were, which helped me navigate through all the rooms relatively quickly. It so happened that what I was after was in fact there, the old style pigment jars.. yay! I’ve got a lot of pressing to do now. By far though, the lip products were a great deal.. they were all $10 each and buy one get one free! Good times I say, good times.

Warehouse Haulage

I also managed to pick up the free gift and charity bag. The charity bags are fantastic, they cost $5 and the full proceeds to to charity. My bag contained a pearlglide eye liner, an eye shadow, a lipstick and a blush.. for $5!  The free gift was a Mineralized Skin Finish in Perfect Topping, a limited edition item from last year’s Sugarsweet collection.

If you have any questions about the sale or any of the products, just let me know.  Enjoy the photos. :]

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This tag comes via Saadeh of Beauty Spot fame.  Thanks for the tag!  So often life can get crazy, but if we can remember those things that make us happy it can turn a bad day around.  Share the positivity! :]

Here’s the deal: “Post 10 things that make you happy, try to do at least one of them today, link back to the person who awarded you and pass along for up to ten people.”

In no particular order:

1. Sunshine – I love the sun.  Sunshine makes the winter bearable, and I love picking up a tan in the summer.   Safely mind you, rock that sunscreen everyday!

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Another look from last weekend. It was a social night, meeting up with a few different groups of friends. I was originally going to do the classic silver/black smokey eye, but then decided that smoking it out with brown was more to my liking. In retrospect it reminds me of a fellow beauty blogger, Beda. She is the queen of brown infused smokey eyes. Despite the muted colours compared to Bright Smoke, I received quite a few compliments that night. Thanks for the inspiration Beda!

Brown Smoke

Face

• Make Up Forever HD Foundation / 153
• Maybelline Super Stay Makeup 24HR / Honey Beige
• MAC Brow / Stud
• MAC Brow Set / Clear
• MAC Beauty Powder Blush / On A Mission
• MAC Studio Fix / NC 42

Eyes

• Urban Decay Primer Potion
• MAC Eye Shadow / Arena, Saddle, Typographic & Blanc Type
• Bobbi Brown Gel Eye Liner / Black Ink
• MAC Kohl Power Eye Pencil / Feline
• L’Oreal Voluminous Waterproof Mascara / Carbon Black

Lips

• Nyx Lip Liner / 1000 Years
• MAC Amplified Creme Lipstick / Blankety
• MAC Lipglass / Soft Wave

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A lot of people talk about investing in makeup brushes and unless you make it habit to waste money, it only makes sense to take care of your investments. Keeping your brushes in good condition has a lot to do with routine cleaning. This keeps the bristles in good repair, which can allow a years old brush to look like new.

There are lots of options when it comes to keeping your brushes clean. The most thorough is commonly called a deep clean. This is when you literally take your brushes to the sink, and wash them like you would your own hair; wet, shampoo, condition, style/shape and dry. While this is a great way to clean your brushes, it can be very time consuming with numerous brushes. A quicker alternative is to spot clean, which you can do more frequently. You can pick up cleansers at various shops and online retailers, or you can make your own. Most people probably have these items at home already, which makes it a very affordable option. Just keep in mind that if your dish soap or shampoo/conditioner has a scent it will be on your brushes, so if you’re sensitive to that sort of thing you may want to find some non-scented ones.

Please keep in mind that the following measurements are just a rough estimate, depending on how much you want to make and the size of your bottle. I use a 250mL spray bottle and it lasts at least a month.

• ¾ cup of distilled water
• ¼ cup of isopropyl alcohol (minimum 70%)

• ½ tbsp of dish soap

• ½ tbsp of shampoo
• 1 tbsp conditioner (spray/liquid condition is best)

** alternatively you can use 1 ½ tbsp of a 2-in-1 shampoo/conditioner

Everything goes into a 2 cup measuring cup, (very) gently stir everything together and then pour into your bottle.