MACsimum Volt

Since it says in big letters on the front page of my blog that I'm a self confessed beauty junkie, no-one will raise an eyebrow when I say that I have a decent amount, although not an outrageous amount of products from different brands. You may however be surprised when I say that I don't actually have a lot of products from MAC, this colorful makeup heaven of all things wonderful. I do however have a list of things to try and possibly even get that keeps on growing and it seems that the most frequently added item to that list is... yep you've guessed it - the lipstick. Slowly but surely I have started to chip away at the Lippy List - last year I bought my first MAC lipstick ever, the amazing Please me, and I'm now the proud owner of my second MAC lipstick - Vegas Volt (£15).

I've mentioned before that for me shopping at MAC can be a bit overwhelming since there is simply sooooooo much to choose from and it's one of the few shops in the world that always give me shopping catatonia, and for a short - but painful period oftime I will be completely unable to make the simples of decisions like pink or coral... ok, maybe not that simple then... The whole experience is made even "worse" by the fact that there are more than 10 different types of lipstick formulas, all with different effects and finishes. Vegas Volt is from the amplified creme lipstick range, and it has a lovely creamy formula that feels lovely and moisturising on the lips and even if you don't wear a lip balm as a primer this formula is enough for a smooth full coverage without dehydrating the lips. The formula is completely scent free and very strongly pigmented with a gorgeous and rich glossy finish which makes the lips look plump and supple. The color itself lasts for about 2-3 hrs and it fades evenly without any horrible patches and lines along the lip contours, but you might find that the high glossiness goes a little bit matte after eating and drinking, although you can of course add some high shine gloss to amp it up a bit.  

Vegas Volt is a beautiful golden, silky peachy coral shade that despite the strong pigmentation looks really natural - like your lips, but better. I love how versatile it is and how it seems to work both with a heavy smokey eye, natural neutral shades and color pops like purple or turquoise. I absolutely adore this lipstick and both the shade and the formula have completely bowled me over - however, there's some strong competition on the lipstick market at the moment, and as much as I truly love this product, I personally think it's priced quite high if you compare with other brands including premium brands like Clinique (£17 for 4g lipstick vs MAC's 3g lipstick at £15). That switches me off a little bit since for me MAC doesn't have the wow factor when it comes to packaging or scent or some other "je ne sais quoi" that makes you go gaga over a product. I will definitely continue to test my way through the MAC Lippy List but I will be very selective in terms of what I actually end up taking with me home. What do you think of MAC lipsticks - which is your favorite?

The coral edition

 

The colour coral can be described as a pinkish, peachy shade somewhere in between red and orange - that doesn't sound very distinct right? For me what is very distinct though, is the association to summer, sheer femininity, fun and playfulness. This summer I've been wearing coral in almost every way possible - clothes, shoes, jewellery and makeup so I thought I would put together some of my coral favourites for this colour edition.

Benefit is such a fun brand! I love their cheeky humorous packaging and they do come up with some lovely items too. The past few years they have really focused on their range of fragrances creating fun, flirty and affordable smellies. My absolute favourite though is the old classic Maybe Baby (EdT). The name is so cheesy but my goodness is it a delicious fragrance. It is described as a warm and inviting fragrance, which I agree with to some extent, but on me at least it still retains a certain cool crispness to it. It's filled with fruity, delicate and lovely apricots and peaches in combination with white flowers and the softest, gentlest musk that smells exactly like White Musk from Body Shop. This is not a complex fragrance that keeps on developing on your skin, but the simplicity of it and the fantastic clear notes that ooze angelic and playful femininity makes it a real gem!

Another product range that Benefit is famous for is their blushers and bronzers, and Coralista has been a fave of mine for a long time. I've never been very good with lip and cheek tints but when I got the Chachatint as a freebie a while back, this was an opportunity to try something completely new. The reason I'd never tried these multi tasking products is that I'd always thought it would be difficult to work with the liquid, getting it all over the place and blending it etc. But what do you know - I was positively surprised! Anyone can see that the colour is a beautiful mango coral that works perfectly with tanned skin, but I had not expected the tint to be so easy to work with. It's better to take just a tiny bit and build it up if you need to, rather than overdoing it and then having to correct - ruining any foundation, but it's really easy to blend although you have to work quickly before it sets and turns into a surprisingly matte finish. Personally I'm not sure about wearing it on my lips at the same time, but if you're packing light for a holiday trip, then why not.  

I use very little eye makeup in the summer and tend to only use one shade that really emphasizes my blue eyes, and for me a golden, rusty peach or corally orange like MAC Eye shadow in Rule is all I need. I'm fairly new to MAC eye shadows so don't have a lot to compare with, but this one is very pigmented - you barely need to touch it with your brush and therfore you don't need a lot of it. You can either wear it as a very bold and vibrant statement, or blend it well for a matte subtle effect. I'm very impressed with the formula and will get some other colours as well, to play with this autumn. 

One of the best coral shade lipsticks I've ever found is Rimmel Moisture Renewal Lipstick in 600 Soft Coral. The formula apparently consists of different moisturisers and vitamins to really hydrate the lips, giving them a well cared for, plump look. This is all great and it does make the lipstick pleasant to wear and longlasting, but when I bought this it was purely for the colour! It's such a lovely, soft and natural coral that adds radiance to you lips, and it's perfect for a delicate, everyday look. 

Swatches from left to right

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick - 600 Soft Coral

MAC Eyeshadow - Rule

Benefit Chachatint

And off course we could trust good old Barry - the King of Nail polishes to come up with a gorgeous, absolute coral shade for the spring and summer collection of the Gelly Nail Paint (Papaya). By now I probably don't even have to tell you about these fabulous Gelly High Shine colours, but I will anyway.

Barry M Gelly Nail Paint - Papaya

With the gelly paints, there's no need to go to the salon and spend a fortune a gel mani when you can get more or less the same effect at home. These nail paints have an incredible high shine finish and with a lot of the colours you don't need more than one coat. However for the lighter shades like Papaya and Dragon fruit, I would recommend that you use two coats for that deliciously ice creamy opaque and glossy finish. These really are amazing and if you haven't already tried any of the gelly paints, you should put one at the top of your beauty shopping list for August.

As we move into autumn, other colours will dominate the fashion and beauty scene, but I'm so sure that next summer we'll see the return of coral again, I might even bet on it!

MAC Lipstick - Please me

As a beauty junkie I'm almost ashamed to admit it, but up until very recently I was a MAC virgin. Not a single MAC product in my make up bag... outrageous really, when you think about it.

After much soul searching - after all was I ready for this next step? - I took the plunge and got myself my first ever MAC lipstick. What a momentous occasion - oh happy happy joy joy!

Going into a MAC store can be a bit overwhelming, because they have soooooooooo many products and colour shades to choose from. To the point that I (a seasoned shopper) almost get shopping catatonia and a severe attack of indecisiveness.... I think, but I'm not so sure....

But since it is summertime and let's face it, we all like a little bit of pastel, I honed in on the shade Please me. And it does - please me, that is. How accommodating!

The formula is very creamy so not only is it easy to apply but it seems to lock in moisture as well, making it pleasant to wear. I'll give it another thumbs up since it doesn't have that weird  "dusty" and powdery taste or smell like some other brands do. I've taken it for quite a challenging test drive the past week, and I am positively surprised at how well the lipstick has lasted during these scorching summer days  - while most lipsticks would have melted away this one stayed on like a real trooper, so we can also add long lasting to the list of great qualities.

 

MAC Please me

The shade Please me is a soft, feminine and classic light peony rose shade - gorgeous with a smokey eye, and what makes it different from a lot of the other lip products in my make up bag just now, is that it's matte, giving it a very natural but velvety finish. The swatch gives the impression that it's a quite intense shade - cerise with some blue undertones, but on your lips somehow mysteriously it is much more peachy and subtle.

I really like this product - can only say good things about it, and this pretty shade would also work well for most skin tones. This will not be the last time I get a MAC lipstick and I'm sure that if you are looking for a very specific shade that you haven't seen anywhere else, chances are that MAC will have it. However, they are £15 and since the high street at the moment is overflowing with great value lip products for well under £10, for me personally I think I'll be a bit selective with the products I do decide to get from MAC. 

Do you have a MAC favourite or could recommend a nice rusty red for autumn wear - let me know!