MAC Stylishly Yours Beauty Powders - highlighter comparison

this was an absolutely spontaneous purchase for me, i never planned to get these (i always make to-buy/to-look-at-lists when the collection-previews come out). but then everybody on the virtual beauty world was so pleased with them, i had to give in.
the talk is about the Beauty Powders of MAC's recent Stylishly Yours collection. i ordered at douglas.de on dec 24th, and today the package arrived.
i saved some money with a 5€-off-code and because i purchased above 39€, i could use some GWP codes so i got some extra goodies .
those were:

• Estée Lauder Sumptous mascara sample (twice, i think it's just by oversight)
• Helena Rubinstein Lash Queen Sexy Blacks mascara sample
• Lancome Trésor body lotion, 50ml
• Lancome Génifique serum sample
• Estée Lauder Perfectionist serum sample
• 5€ voucher for my next in-store purchase

now to the Beauty Powders:
i bought both, i couldn't decide. they come in a mirrored compact and contain 10g of product. each costs 22€, which i think is really reasonable in comparison to the Highlighters or MSFs.

 Too Chic is a pale white gold with gold pearl and slight soft shimmers. it's a very fine powder that i would describe as a child of love if Perfect Topping MSF and NARS Albatross highlighter would pair. soooo beautiful!!!  if Albatross is too yellow-gold for you, this would be perfect.

Too Chic in natural lighting

artificial light

Too Chic in comparison to similar highlighting powders

compared to other highlighters:

• upper left: Lorac Perfectly Lit highlighter in Spotlight
• upper middle: MAC beauty powder in Too Chic
• upper right: NARS Albatross
• lower left: Dior Shimmer Powder in Amber Diamond
• lower right: MAC MSF in Perfect Topping

thumb: Lorac Spotlight, index: MSF Perfect Topping, middle finger: MAC Too Chic, ring finger: Dior Amber Diamond, pinkie: NARS Albatross

swatched: MAC Too Chic as a strip on the upper part, second row: Lorac Spotlight - MAC MSF Perfect Topping - Dior Amber Diamond - NARS Albatross

this is me wearing Too Chic, it's just amazing, doesn't emphasize pores or looks greasy. i wear it on the top of my cheeks and on my brow bone in this pic, i used the MAC 131 brush. i'm very happy i bought it.

Play It Proper is a pale icy pink with soft white pearl and almost no visible shimmer when applied. it's just as finely milled as Too Chic.

Play It Proper in natural lighting

Play It Proper in artificial light

Play It Proper in comparison to other products

compared to similar products:

• upper left: Clinique blush in Tuxedo Plum
• upper right: MAC Beauty Powder in Play It Proper
• lower left: MAC MSF in Blonde
• lower middle: MAC Blush in Well Dressed
• lower right: MAC MSF in By Candlelight

thumb: light stripe of MAC Blonde - index: lightest stripe of Clinique Tuxedo Plum - middle finger: MAC Play It Proper - ring finger: MAC Well Dressed - pinkie: MAC By Candlelight

the two i find most alike -  index: Clinique Tuxedo Plum - middle finger: MAC Play It Proper

MAC Play It Proper - MAC Blonde - MAC Well Dressed - MAC By Candlelight - Clinique Tuxedo Plum

BeautyBlender

sorry for the delay of posts, but the pre-christmas-time is especially busy for a last-minute-gift-buyer like me!

as today is the holy night, i wish all of you a merry christmas and a cozy time with your beloved.


now to the actual post: the BeautyBlender!

 

it is a bright pink (first reason to buy :P), egg shaped sponge. you have to wet it and squeeze it well to use it best - then it will almost double its size! 

you can use it with liquid, cream or even compact/powder foundation (although i haven't tried it with dry foundation so far).

second reason to purchase:it is perfect for liquid foundation! i can't think of putting on any make up without it anymore. it's so easy and quick, you just have to tap the rounded side of the damp sponge into your foundation and then bounce it on your skin. the pointed size is suited for the  small corners of your face, like under the eyes, around the nose, etc.

it applies an even film, with zero streaks or grainy-look. with its moisture, it helps every foundation melt into your skin and doesn't cause flakes on dry winter skin. 

third plus: it doesn't absorb much product (because it's already damp), so you only need a small amount to achieve a good coverage.

4th buying-argument: you don't need several ones even if you use it daily. like with some dense brushes, if you wash them daily, they would still be wet if you want to use them again. but the BeautyBlender, you just wash it out and it is  immediately ready for action. no drying time needed.

for washing, i don't think you'll need to buy the Blender-Cleanser, that is adverted with the BeautyBlender. i use a normal soap and it's totally fine (no alcohol -i don't think a brush cleanser is good for the sponge).

the only con with this versus a foundation brush would be the lasting time of it. i heard people use it over 6 month and then it started to fall apart, while a good brush should last you many many years.

i bought mine over half a year now but just started to use it regularly since about 2 months (and it's still in a very good shape) - so i have no experience with that. still i have started to get fear of loss, so i'll have to order some more sponges soon.

i have never been a sponge-user, i never liked their small shapes (especially the wedges) but the BeautyBlender has really convinced me.

you can get it for about 15€ in some online-shops, i haven't heard of it being sold in-store in germany yet. (i bought mine at kultkosmetik.de)

I'm digging powders! part V

today it's Kanebo &  Kryolan!

Kanebo Sensai Loose Powder (Translucent)

20g, about 45€
this powder is really great!!! it sets my foundation and enhances the lasting power of it, controls my excess sebum and evens out my skin.
it gives a blurred soft focus effect and minimizes big pores or tiny bumps that makes your skin look uneven. it is very finely milled and applies translucent without changing the colour of your foundation although it is a white powder.
i noticed a illuminating/brightening effect with this, so you just need a light dust of it and shouldn't pack it on overly to avoid chalkiness or a dull veil on darker skin tones.
it makes the skin feel so soft and silky and leaves a satin glow on my skin, without visible shimmer.
it comes in a sifter jar (the holes are quite big, you shouldn't take off the whole foil on the sifter, only take it half off) with a beautiful soft and fluffy and REALLY useable pouf (unlike Chanel, Guerlain or other luxury brands, boo on them! you see it's totally possible do to a great powder AND a good quality pouf!).


Kryolan Micro Silk Powder

this is from Kryolan's High Definition line, with products created to come up to high def cameras (and are much more expensive than their average stuff :/ ).

it comes in a metal container, i can't really remember, but i think it had a poor pouf included. i don't like the container at all, it's closure mechanism would create a vacuum if you would push the cap down all the way and opening it will be soo hard, quite impossible - i once had this problem, had to use metal tools to pry it open and so i made some dents into it :( . now i can only close it about 90% to avoid this happening again.

it's a loose setting powder, i have it in shade MSP 3. although white it gets totally translucent on your face. it mattifies without making you look dull and creates an even velvety skin. with this, you should really only use a minimal amount and then brush out excess powder to have the best results. it is an excellent setting powder which really prolongs the wearing time of your foundations.

20g of this will set you back about 36€.

MAC swatches galore! - Mineralize Eyeshadows

i looove the Mineralize eyeshadows!
like MSF's they are baked on a terracotta plate.
they are shimmery and look very multidimensional applied. they are easy to work with, too. you can always slap on a colour, then blend out and you'll look perfectly smokey.
of all the ones i own, i can't complain about pigmentation, and mostly i don't have fall outs (only with 1 or 2).
most are totally appropriate for daytime-wear (ok, except Blue Flame and My Dark Magic), but with a dampened brush, they will get a metallic, frosty look.
the usual  pans contain 2.2g and cost 19.50€/15£/19.50$.
all swatches are done dry on moisturised skin.

Under Your Spell
this came out with the holiday collection in 2009 (Magic, Mirth & Mischief).
a shimmery grayish pink with frost finish and silver + pink sparkles that is perfect for the inner corner together with a glittery copper side. this is quite flaky and glittery, so beware of fallouts when you apply it dry. i bought this eyeshadow only for the lighter side, i quite never use the glittery part. layering the copper glitters over the pink makes a really special colour.

mixed together

It's A Miracle
also from Magic, Mirth & Mischief. this is a dark plummy purple with pink + GOLD shimmer and a flaky gold part that i never use.

Midnight Madness
again from M, M & M. this is a shimmery dark taupe with silver sparkles and the same flaky gold side as above (but a little bit more pigmented). i love it for a daytime-smokey look.

Odd Couple
this is a permanent shade which contains a cool metallic bright purple with a blue sheen and a glittery mix of lavender, gold and brown on the other half. this is great for a evening/party make up.

Earthly Riches
this is a limited edition shade, but was repromoted several times, also in a kit with the recent holiday collection (A Tartan Tale).
it has a dark taupe side with siver and pink sparkles and a plummy side with pink shimmer, with pink glitter veins running through the whole shadow.

Togetherness
this Mineralize Eyeshadow trio was released with the In The Groove collection summer 2010. it is different to the others because it's less shimmery, two shades are of satin finish.
there is a satin light lavender, a dark blue-purple with blue sheen and a satin medium gray. it is very well pigmented.

 

Blue Flame
saw it on the counter when Stye Black  came out but convinced myself not to buy it. regreted it, searched everywhere - sold out. so i bit the bullet and bought overpriced on ebay. it is a matte black base with a TON of blue sparkles and glimmer. it just looks stunning swatched, but you have to use it wet or at least on a black or blue base on your lid to get the whole effect and less fall outs.

My Dark Magic
released with the Venomous Villains LE this autumn (packaging is so ugly!). this is a bigger compact than normal, it has the size of a Mineralize Blush and the same content (3.2g). it also was more expensive, i think about 25€?
the bigger part is a mix of matte black and pink shimmer, the smaller side is a matte black infused with lots of purple glitter and shimmery white veins.
this also should be used wet or on a coloured base to give i more oomph and lessen the fall out.