Category Archives: MAC

Best of Beauty: My Favourite Products of 2011.

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Out of the many products that I tried this year, here are the 9 that have stolen my heart forever (in no particular order).  Links lead to the products’ corresponding reviews.

Diorskin Nude Healthy Glow Powder in Aurora is the first Dior makeup I ever bought, and is still my favourite bronzer to this day. Let’s hope they come out with another great one next summer. (Limited Edition for Summer 2011)

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush gets a lot of rave reviews and for good reason. I recently added Exposed to my stash and my friends agree that it is a universally flattering blush.

MAC Prep + Prime Highlighter in Bright Forecast is my first line of defence against under eye circles every. single. day. It is life changing.

Annabelle Le Big Show Mascara is my favourite mascara of the year. I recommend it to everyone.

Lise Watier Wet & Dry Eyeshadow Quad in Équinoxe + Métamorfix Liquid Transformer was the best makeup palette/set I tried this year. The colours and performance are unparalleled. (Limited Edition for Fall 2011)

Giorgio Armani Rouge d’Armani in Rouge 406 is a beautiful red lipstick and the formula is divine. I try a lot of lipsticks and think that the Rouge d’Armani is one of the best. I must try more colours next year. (Limited Edition for Fall 2011)

NUXE Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Usage Dry Oil is one product I can’t stop raving about. What can I say; I just love it so much!  This one isn’t new; it’s a classic that I got to finally try this year.

Velour Lashes in You Complete Me gives me Bambi eyes. That is all.

THANN Jasmine Blossom Set is a staple in my bathroom. I just can’t get enough.

What are your favourite beauty products of 2011?

IMATS Toronto 2011: Eras Interpreted with MAC Senior Artist Melissa Gibson.

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One of the seminars I absolutely had to go to this year was presented by MAC Senior Artist Melissa Gibson.  I had the opportunity to attend one of MAC’s Master classes before (usually only available to professionals) and it is an invaluable resource for picking up new tips and tricks.

Source: Simeon Muller for Make-up Artist Magazine Facebook Page 

Melissa Gibson chose to tackle two eras: the flapper makeup from the 1920s and Twiggy’s iconic makeup of the 1960s.  I’ve always been fascinated with makeup trends of different times so everything Melissa presented was so awesome and I instantly turned into a fan girl. LOL! :)

Makeup Trends of the 1920s and 1960s

The ’20s Flapper Girl

The flapper girl penciled in her brows to be dark and thin, and arching very low on the outer corners.  She wore dark smokey eyes with emphasis on the inner corners.  Red lips were in style as well, and were worn with crisp lines and a rounded pout.

1920s Flapper Girl as interpreted by MAC’s Melissa Gibson

The look was started by applying Fluidline in Blacktrack all over the eyes, with emphasis on the inner crease, using a 217 brush.  Once you get the desired shape, add a silver eyeshadow just below the crease to add dimension.  Add eyeshadow in Carbon to the inner corner to carve out the eye shape some more.  You want the smokey eye to droop on the outer corner as well, following the shape of the brows.  Line the upper and lower waterlines.  Because the flapper girl probably partied all night long, her smokey eye has a lived in feel to it, so Melissa added a dab of gloss to make it crease.

In order to get crisp red lips, conceal the edges first before lining the lips.  Fill the lips in with red lipstick and gloss.

1920s Flapper Girl as interpreted by MAC’s Melissa Gibson

The ’60s Twiggy

Twiggy was all about the bold bottom lashes (a look that’s been modernized as featured on Beauty Geeks) and the sharp line across the eye crease.  Oh, and I can’t forget to mention: freckle love. <3

1960s Twiggy as interpreted by MAC’s Melissa Gibson

Start with Fluidline in Dipdown to sketch out the crease shape, then go back with eyeshadow in Omega to diffuse the line a bit.  Add a soft highlight on the lids and brows with eyeshadows in Orb and Vapour.  Still using Dipdown, take a thin liner brush like the 210 to draw on fake eyelashes along the lower lash line.  Then, line the top lash line with Dipdown.  Glob on (technical term) mascara for a clumpy lash look for top and bottom lashes.

For the face, add freckles all over the cheeks and nose with Eye Brows in Lingering.  Add a pink blush and pink lips, et voila!  You’re done!

1960s Twiggy as interpreted by MAC’s Melissa Gibson

Inspired

What I love most about IMATS is the sudden rush of inspiration I feel when I step into the exhibition hall.  I can’t really explain it; you have to be there to know what I’m talking about.  This year was no different.  Although there were a lot of pushing and shoving in the crowded hall during the first day, I instantly forgot about it when I listened to one of the guest speakers.  It was such an amazing experience for makeup artists and junkies alike.  Thank you Make-up Artist Magazine for another great show.

Lipstick Bandits Strike Again: Fall Lipsticks We Crave.

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If this is the first time you’re hearing about the Lipstick Bandits, this post should suffice for an introduction. :)

After a lot of digging around our massive lipstick wardrobes, we present to you our must-have lipstick for fall.  When I think of fall, I think of girls with perfectly berry-stained lips.  Berry lips are incredibly flattering on all skin tones, and of course MAC’s vast lipstick line would have something that is perfection.  My pick is MAC Lipstick in Amorous ($17.50).

MAC Amorous Lipstick

MAC’s description of Amorous cracks me up; they call it a “lovestruck cranberry.”  *snickers*  Whatever.  It’s a beautiful hidden gem from their permanent collection.  Amorous is from MAC’s Satin line — a semi-matte, pigmented and long-wearing formula.  I wore her for the first time for IMATS Toronto this weekend and fell in love.  After a solid nine hours, its pigment hugged my lips without drying them out or settling into fine lines.  I can’t even believe I don’t own other Satins in my lipstick collection.

MAC Amorous Lipstick Swatch

Wearing MAC Amorous Lipstick

It’s one of those colors that makes you feel instantly put together even without a lot of eye makeup.  However I chose to pair it with an antique gold — Illamasqua Pure Pigment in Ore — for a very autumnal and flattering palette. :)  Oh how I love berries and golds!

Wearing MAC Amorous Lipstick, and Illamasqua Ore Pure Pigment on eyes

The other Lipstick Bandits picked out some amazing lipsticks, too! Check out these posts for all our fall picks:

IMATS Toronto 2011 Sneak Peek!

In other beauty news, IMATS took Toronto by storm again this past weekend.  Here’s a little teaser photo of the student winner of the fantasy tribal contest.  I am absolutely slack jawed.  The finished look is so arresting!

First place winner of student make-up competition

P.S.  How have you been?  Sorry I haven’t been around that much lately.  I have so many things that I want to do with this makeup thing, and first I want to get an online portfolio started.  What do you think of ArianneMakeup.ca, or MakeupByArianne.ca?