New MAC Mineralize blushes in Just a wisp and New Romance

My love for MAC has been rediscovered lately in a big manner. I have been "shopping my stash" and using some old favorites as well as some new items. Today totally unplanned trip to a doctor ended up being a small shopping trip too. Actually I only wanted to swatch two new permanent shades - Just a wisp and New romance - but loved them so much they went home with me to join my little MAC family.

I have previously reviewed other Mineralize blushes I have :

Dainty

Warm soul

Amber glow

Petal power

These two beauties are joining Petal power as  three new blushes in MAC's permanent  Mineralize range. 

Ingredients list:

New packaging that looks like UFO. It's sleek and more modern than the old one but it is extremely hard to open. You have to have long nails and you have to use them in order to open the lid. So annoying. Also it has magnetic snap closure which is nice. 

Just a wisp is described as a light pink. It is VERY light cool toned baby pink. When blended color almost becomes silverish white, with some pink sheen. This will most likely be highlighter on any skin tone. Pink might show up if used over some cream base. It is not so glittery it has more of a metallic finish. It might look ashy on darker skin tones.

New romance is simply described as peach. It is one of the most beautiful peach blushes I've seen. It does not have large shimmer or glitter but very subtle golden sheen. This was love at first sight. I wanted to write about texture of these two new blushes - they are like the softest smoothest silk. They are extremely pigmented and just a tiny dab with a brush will pick up enough product. I can see huge improvement from their old Mineralize blushes. I would love to see even the old colors being made in this amazing formula. Whatever MAC did or changed I am impressed. And what a relief to see products being permanent! 

L-R : New romance, Just a Wisp

With the packaging change price of the Mineralize blushes went up to 27$. Not happy about it. 

I will soon post comparison swatches with other Mineralize blushes. 

MAC Alluring aquatic extra dimension bronzing powder in Aphrodite's Shell

A liquid-powder bronzer with prismatic reflections. Highlights the face in the golden bronze shimmer of Aphrodite’s Shell . The cool, creamy near-fluid formula creates a luminous, well-defined finish. Wears ten hours. Limited-edition teal packaging, elegantly accented with crystal clear water droplets.



I have always loved  MAC summer collections especially for their limited edition bronzers and fun packaging. Alluring aquatic is probably the most beautiful special packaging MAC ever had. Idea with raised water dropplets is fantastic! I think in real it actually looks even prettier than in the photos.

I was sad to hear they will not repromote Prolongwear bronzers - I was so hoping to get my hands on Sundipped again. I have previously reviewed it here and lately I have been using it more than any other bronzer I have.

Anyway MAC decided to stick to their new and super popular Extra dimension formulas - blushes , eyeshadows and now bronzers too. So far I only purchased two ED products and reviewed them here.

I just can't get allong with this formula. Since I know that everyone is super crazy about ED stuff maybe it's just me not knowing how to use it?

Formula is dry and stiff with poor color payoff. Thinking about bronzer being light and sheer is not so terribly especially if you are fair. You can build the color without worrying you'll overdo it.

Aphrodite's shell is described as "golden bronze with a fine touch of shimmer". It has very strong pink undertones - I know hard to tell by photos but when applied on skin at least on me it pulls pinkish . I should have learned by now that bronzers who have too much pink in them do not look too good on me. I tried to apply this with couple of different MAC brushes and it always took me a while to build the color and I had to scratch scratch the surface to get any product on the brush. I plan to order special edition face brush that came out with this collection hoping it will make this application easier.

I think this would look very nice on cooler skin tones, especially very fair ones. It is in between blush and a bronzer. When it comes to staying power MAC claims it's "10 hours". I do not like these claims because it mostly depends on someones skin type - clearly this will slide off oilier skin much faster than the dry ones, depends on the type of a foundation powder primer you use etc...  Aphrodite's shell has a nice satin finish with a barely there golden shimmer visible only under direct sunlight (or flash).

Left: heavy swatch with MAC 168 brush. I did three layers trying to get some color to show up

Right: heavy finger swatch - swiped 4 times

MAC Adored Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Adored mineralize skinfinish was part of Tropical taboo collection released back in June 2013. I never got back to this piece of beauty to review it until now. Unfortunately it was limited edition (as almost always with MAC) but hopefully they will repromote it. Adored is described as a coral with light beige pearl. It is honestly one of the most beautiful mineralize skinfinishes MAC has released (trust me I have too many of them). It is perfect for light and medium skin tones. 

Adored might work as a very subtle blush for light skin tones or lightly dusted as a highlighter. For medium skin tones this would not show up enough to be worn as a blush but as a highlighter I think it would look great - or even as a blush topper. I can see this looking great over darker or brighter coral/peach blushes.

I love MAC mineralize skinfinishes and use them probably more than any other product. Darker ones I can use as a blush while lighter I like to use as a highlighter or over other blushes/ bronzers. 

It has finely milled powder, very soft and easy to work with. These can be applied with pretty much any brush - I usually use duo fiber ones like 188 or 187 depending on how much I want to apply. Some of the Mineralize skinfinishes are more glittery but most have more of a fine shimmer. Some have metallic sheen (if applied too much).  I will try to review more of these from my stash. 

Look at that shimmer! <3

A while ago I was asked to make comparison between MAC Lightscapade, Soft&Gentle and Adored  (left to right in the photo)

MAC Petal Power Mineralize blush

MAC Petal Power blush was part of the limited edition A fantasy of flowers collection and it sold out pretty quickly. It's one of those MAC items that you know will sell out even before the collection came out. It is described as "coral pink with golden shimmer". Description is very accurate. It is warm toned pink with very strong coral undertone and shimmer in it is somewhat larger than usual for MAC but not gritty or chunky. I did not have problem with shimmer migration all over the face. This really isn't a blush for those who do not like shimmer. It is noticeable. I like shimmer and have no problem with it. I can't do matte it's not for me because I look very dull and boring. Shimmer makes me look fresh, more glowy and my skin looks healthier. 

Texture is their usual Mineralize blush texture, maybe slightly dryer. Petal power looks dark and scary in the pan - at least for me with my ghostly white currently NC15 skin. I remember I ordered it even without seeing swatches and when pictures started rolling out I got scared that this is going to be too dark for me. Well it isn't and the main reason is that it is VERY SHEER. I can see this being used as a hihglihgter on medium/darker skin tones but it would not show up even with layering. 

I really love it because I can't overdo it. It gives nice glow with one brush swipe and with two natural pop of color. I am still trying to figure out what blush would be the best to use with Petal power - currently I am using 168.

I am so glad MAC will make this blush permanent!! Yay! So if you missed out on it, no worries it will be available again. If I ever run out I would buy it again for sure. Petal power, Dainty and Warm soul could make someone's complete blush collection. With these three you do not need anything else (blush wise).

I had such a hard time trying to make swatch photos. 

  On the left you can see very light blended out swatch- this is couple of swipes with MAC 168 brush (that picks up a lot of product) and on the right is heavy finger swatch (three swipes).

Comparison with NARS Orgasm, Deep throat and MAC Springsheen

February and March 2014 hauls

I can easily use my birthday month as an excuse for excessive shopping... Anyway life became very difficult again and as always I had a need to shop like there is no tomorrow. I never get any gifts for my birthday from other people - or rarely ever so I decided couple of years ago that I will start treating myself. 

First up my MAC fix - small haul including re-promoted Perfect topping - unfortunately not as good as original release. Why oh why does MAC do this? Lately they have been promoting some amazing old products. Well actually they would create completely new product and just use a name of the old one. So irritating. Old Perfect topping was very unique and I was so excited to be able to buy it again. I am not saying new one is not nice but it's not the same as the original. 

Mineralize blush in Petal power - This one is stunning with it's beautiful golden sheen. I can't wait to review it. I can see myself wearing it often especially during warmer months. It sold out quickly but I can tell you this is back up worthy.

 Dior amber diamond <3 My first ever HE makeup purchase. Long long time ago I think it was 2007. I still have it but I bought another one when I realized it was gone completely. I know it got discontinued a while ago in EU but was hoping it will stay permanent in the US. Well since they are coming out with two new shimmer powders they got rid of Amber diamond. I will never forgive you Dior!! So I went on a hunt trying to find it and thankfully local Nordstrom had two left and shipped one to me.

Now my real birthday haul from Ulta. I restocked on some skincare. My skin is terribly dry, like a dessert. I decided to switch to Tonique confort (btw I love it! what a pleasant surprise) from my Tonique radiance (will go back to it when this never ending winter ends). Also wanted to try hydrating mask for a first time - let's see if it will make any difference, I am not big believer in masks.  Binefait UV is my choice for this summer when it comes to sun protection. Previous two summers I used clinique and shiseido and I loved both, but wanted to try something new.  Juicy tubes are one of my favorite glosses and I added Hallucination to my
collection.

Second part of my Ulta : OPI avoplex oil - buying it for the second time. When I originally got it I did not like it at all. Lately I have been using it often and it is great when applied right before I make nail swatches. Great for on the go to. Clarisonic cashmere cleanse will replace my sensitive brush - can't wait to try it! CK one mascara is birthday gift from Ulta. I have never tried anything from CK one line but I have heard some amazing things about their foundation. Too faced revamped they Natural eyes palette and I had to buy it. I am huge fan of the first one. It has been my mostly used palette of all the eyeshadows and palettes I have (reviewed here).

 Lancome added another product to their Visionnaire line. So excited to try Visionnaire blur! I wore it today with Lancome teint miracle foundation over it and first impressions are that this can easily become my all time favorite primer. Makes skin super smooth and silky without heavy silicone feeling. 

 NARSSisist eyeshadow palette. They pretty much hit it out of the park with this one. Lately NARS has been killing my wallet. Selection of their best eyeshadows all in one palette. What morec oould one NARS fan ask for? <3
I love the looks Lauren created with his palette http://www.lcmakeupblog.com/2014/01/fotd-using-new-narsissist-eyeshadow.html  http://www.lcmakeupblog.com/2014/01/arabic-eye-inspired-fotd-with.html

Giorgio Armani blush number 10 has been sitting on my wishlist for months. Or maybe a year? I keep delaying to buy it but when I found out that they will discontinue it and come out with new line of blushes I had to order it right away. I am sure it sold out quickly among it's loyal fans. It is very pretty shade for light skin tones. Not to beige not to pink with subtle shimmer. Why do companies discontinue such a classic products? This is my first Armani product.

Couple of new fragrances. I needed another one like I need hole in the head. Manifesto was such a surprise. I have tried it many times on the blotter and it was just ok, not worth buying. It has this annoying top note. I liked how it smelled on other people. Couple of weekends ago I sprayed it on my skin just for fun even though I already had perfume on... First it completely overpowered what I had on, it had amazing staying power and smelled better and better as timed went by. It is extremely sweet, yummy and sexy at the same time.

I have been eyeing Valentina for over two years. I remember trying it when it came out and I liked it right away. Simple, feminine, soft. Easy to wear and great choice for springs. Main reason I did not buy it was that staying power is not so great. It's not terrible but not as good as I would like it to be. Well I broke down and finally got it. I will make sure to use it often this spring. 

Finally I treated myself with one of the best perfumed body lotions out there - Prada Infusion D'iris. I've had small bottle long time ago and loved it. It smells exactly like the perfume which I find is very rare, mostly ancilery products smell similar with some added "plastic" scent to it. I assume it's hard to recreate the same scent used in actual fragrance and transfer it to body lotion, shower gel etc... And huge plus is that it is actually very moisturizing which is almost never the case with this type of body products. Only thing I find annoying is that there is no pump. Seriously for 50$ body lotion they could at least put a pump on that bottle! I used Infusion D'iris EDP 4 years ago and brings beautiful memories back on our vacation to Hawaii. Can't wait to use it again this summer!