The MAC Makeup Thread

[Trista]

Well, I didn't wear a spot of foundation until I was 23, how old are you, if you don't mind me asking? My age seems to have a lot to do with my need to wear more slap, at 25 I could walk around with none on and not feel bad. At 30 my skin is far more blotchy, red and with large pores, hateful I tell you, hateful!

I'm barely 21. I wore some Cover Girl cream-to-powder stuff through most of high school but stopped at the end of 2006. I think with how my skin is though, I can get away with doing a strong eye and a blush and it's almost like foundation would kill the look, because it would look too made-up at times. I would go for something like Mineralize Satinfinish, because I like the idea of a mineral-based foundation.

As far as items for a starter kit, I definitely recommend the following:

Several eyeshadows, depending on your eye colour-Crystal Avalanche, Amber Lights, Goldmine, Deep Truth, Paradisco, Pink Freeze, Plum Dressing, Satin Taupe, and Soba are all good ones.
Eyeliner-Blacktrack Fluidline
Blush-Pink Swoon, Breezy, plus a mineralized blush of your choice.
Lipstick-Honestly, it depends on the kinds of colours you like because I tend to go for brighter colours, corals, and intense pinks, but you may like nudes or pastels more. Sweetie is a nice one though, and Vegas Volt is so lovely it isn't funny.
Lipglass-I don't really like a ton of the permanent ones, however Pink Poodle and Dreamy are a couple good choices. Also Love Nectar Lustreglass is popular, however I'm more of a Wonderstruck girl. Also get a Dazzleglass or two-I like Extra Amps and Date Night, but Bare Necessity is gorgeous, too.
Brushes-109, 182, 209, 217, 228, 231, 275

That's not a complete list, but it's some really good basics to build a MAC collection on.

 

[Mindbear]

I'm barely 21. I wore some Cover Girl cream-to-powder stuff through most of high school but stopped at the end of 2006. I think with how my skin is though, I can get away with doing a strong eye and a blush and it's almost like foundation would kill the look, because it would look too made-up at times. I would go for something like Mineralize Satinfinish, because I like the idea of a mineral-based foundation.

Wow, that makes me feel much better! I was there thinking I must have revolting skin but your age is a gift! I wish I'd done more with myself when it was easy for me to look flawless, when the most I ever did was put on mascara, and at that point my boyfriend of the time would have a go at me for it!

I love your posts though, you know everything about Mac! I'm currently trying to work out whether I can wear Girl About Town lips with anything more than black eyeliner on my eyes. What would you suggest?

 

[Trista]

See I was always a makeup fan, but I just had drugstore and then the occasional Lancome item until I got my job and then I bought a few MAC items, but I really got into it in early 08, and well...lure, bait, hooked. (Like the collection-bring it back plzthx) My skin isn't that great, I have a lot of acne scars but I trust a vitamin C serum, as it really helps to brighten my skin and fade scars without making me break out. Avon used to do a good one that was fairly inexpensive, but my only option is eBay. It faded so many acne scars, it's crazy.

For me, I actually would use Girl About Town with a light green/teal eye. I tried to dupe the Bait facechart from Lure today (I posted the results at my blog) and while I did Pleasure Principle as the lip, I could have done Girl About Town. You would want to go very pale on the cheek-today I have Lune brushed on the cheekbone, and then I dabbed Tippy on the apple of the cheek and buffed up and out. You can also go with a gold/bronze-I would do a wash of Amber Lights with an accent of whatever lighter pigment you want (hint: Jardin Aires) and then do GAT on the lip. GAT is bright but I think people don't really know the best ways to use it. That actually gives me some ideas for the blog.

 

[Mindbear]

Thanks for all the info! I have been wondering whether I could team stars and rockets with a Girl About Town lip. I think I'll give it a go! I never considered gold and pink, but again, it'd work. I generally like to have a very dark eye, but I wasn't sure whether I could have a dark eye plus lipstick, or whether I'd look like a circus freak!

 

[Trista]

I have done GAT with really bright eye looks, and the key is to not wear anything over it, as well as to keep the cheek light. I think what makes it more wearable is the fact that it is an AC. It doesn't have shimmer, but it's not truly matte. After my job interview tomorrow, or Friday, I may try some brights with it. I have done it with a yellow-green-blue look, but I haven't done it with my purples. I put it on with the Bait eyes, and it's actually gorgeous-very Peter Pan.

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ What's the Vit C serum you use, Trista? My skin scars if you just look at it wrong, I think ... I could definitely use some help

Just wanted to mention, I am very pale, and I have & use Black Tied--just in the corners. I like it. I wear it even during the daytime--just a little. I wear glasses, so maybe I can get away with a bit more eye makeup ...

Wore Strawberry Blonde for the first time today, and it's just the color I wanted--nice & pigmented. More glitter would be nice of course

 

[Trista]

I use the Avon Anew Alternative serum. It's $20 a bottle and it did wonders for me-not to mention it is priced WAY below many other serums. If you read the reviews on the site, you would think that they are talking about a wonder product that cost a hundred bucks a bottle. I think you would like it, as it really helps to fade scars.

I could do a little bit of Black Tied, but you definitely have the advantage with glasses. I haven't tried Strawberry Blonde, but I hope to very soon

 

[Guessgirl96]

ta ta, the kinerase c8 peptide cream has really helped with my acne scars and sk ii brightening masks also work well.

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ Thanks, GG. Do you mind if I ask how much it is?

I so wish for you girls better luck than I have had with my skin ... I am still breaking out ... it seems to be related to both stress and the time of the month. It is so not pretty to be dealing with both wrinkles and breakouts ... but I know I'm not the only one because I see products targeted to both issues.

Trista, I know Strawberry Blonde is LE, but I'm not sure which collection ... was it part of the Brunette/Blonde/Redhead one?

 

[Trista]

I have bad luck with my skin too-I am still breaking out at 21, but part of it is due to a very incomplete skin regimen. I am going to be going Murad or Korres as soon as I get a job, as pomegranate is good for more oily skin. I was using some Wexler products but they are really bad for skin like mine, as the oil-free moisturizer contains a lot of clogging ingredients. I loved it, it worked-but most people hate it.

Strawberry Blonde was a BBR lipglass, you are correct. I skipped that collection, and the only things I would get at the CCO are the MSF's, that, Red Devil, and the brushes. Other than that, so not my thing. My list of items to haul when I get a job is pretty long.

 

[thesiren]

i have decent skin with the occasional zit on my chin when i'm going to be on my period. what keeps this at bay and keeps my skin bright is lush's mask of magnaminty. it's amazing and used consistently (once or twice a week) keeps my skin completely clear and very supple with a nice glow. i'm very, very fair, so though i have always had clear skin, i've had to wear a bit of concealer and powder because my skin is SO light and can have a sallowness to it. this is the only product that has performed consistently for me to solve this problem.

i am going to try that avon serum! that's a great price and i want to start doing something for anti-aging.

 

[Trista]

In my book (having sold high-end skincare) you're never too young to start on anti-aging, and it all has to do with sunscreen, taking proper care of your skin, and drinking lots of water. Also lots of sleep. Once I get a job (long story) I'm definitely going to try out MSFN or Mineralize Satinfinish because I would like something to even me out.

 

[Mindbear]

I've started to notice wrinkles around my eyes. Argh! MA's always say it's dehydration, but I don't know what to do, if I use cream I get very oily, if I don't, I'm line ridden. Oh the misery of being 30!

 

[Trista]

I've had wrinkles under my eyes since I was 17, but I'm trying to stave it off by wearing sunglasses all the time. Luckily no crows feet! There are girls who are freshmen in high school and have more wrinkles than me.

 

[Mindbear]

Really? Maybe I'm not sure a freak though. In my job I spend so much time around teens and kids in their early twenties that it's easy to compare and think I look utterly bedraggled and ancient. I certainly know I'm fatter....damn metabolism!

 

[Guessgirl96]

^ Thanks, GG. Do you mind if I ask how much it is?

I so wish for you girls better luck than I have had with my skin ... I am still breaking out ... it seems to be related to both stress and the time of the month. It is so not pretty to be dealing with both wrinkles and breakouts ... but I know I'm not the only one because I see products targeted to both issues.

Trista, I know Strawberry Blonde is LE, but I'm not sure which collection ... was it part of the Brunette/Blonde/Redhead one?

It's $98 an once which lasts 4-5 months. I also save a little by getting sephora gift cards off ebay for under value. I have many products in my skincare routine but this is the product I'd really recommend. My goal is to prevent aging, I wasnt expecting any real change in my skin and this is the only product along with my revive eye cream that actually made my skin look better.

 

[Trista]

Okay here's my new cheek lust:

What I do is I apply Lune blushcreme from the apple of the cheek up along the cheekbone, stopping right below the end of the eyebrow. A lot of people prefer to use their fingers for blushcreme, and I admit, I do, because I apply it at home and I use sanitizer before and after. Then I use my brush to dot Tippy onto the apple of the cheek and get enouch colour so that it's a nice pink dot. Then I use my 181 (use the 182 if you have it) to buff it up and out and it gives the cheeks a nice flush, while also giving shine and highlight.

Also Temptalia posted info on the new Love that Look collection...which is Starflash, part 2, with some repromotes. Thank you for saving me money Starflash is terrible.

 

[Mindbear]

Does anyone know the answer to this - If you keep studio fix for more than a year, does it get darker? I used an old bottle of studio fix because I really needed the coverage and I looked dreadful by the end of the night....

 

[thesiren]

i finally snagged bright future! i love it, especially paired with beautiful iris, which is how i'm wearing it today.

i wasn't too impressed with anything else (peaceable wasn't what i thought it would be at all, though one lipglass is slightly haunting me...might have to go back) and ended up with a few of my staples that needed replenishing - shirelle polish, gee whiz because it's being discontinued, and myth lipstick.

future ref - can anyone suggest a less expensive version of myth? it doesn't have to me exact, just comparable.

 

[Trista]

Bright Future is amazing; I have to tell myself to use it less. Apparently Crest the Wave (the yellow from the Stowaways quad) is going to be repromoted. Temptalia posted some fall tidbits and let me just say that it looks to be brights-sign me up.