REVIEW: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Semi Precious Goldstone

Product Brand and Name, Price (CDN), Where Purchased

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Semi Precious Goldstone, $ 33.50 CDN @ MAC.ca

Reason for Purchase

I was extremely excited about the Semi Precious collection and, consequently, ended up buying most of it.

Notable Features

This mineralize skinfinish is limited edition, released as part of the Semi Precious collection in July of 2011.

This MSF is designed slightly differently than normal MSFs - it’s not marbleized or done in stripes. There’s an outer ring of one color, and the centre is a blob of marbleized color meant to look like a crystal.

Packaging

This MSF comes in the standard black MAC compact.

The MSF will not fit into a Pro Palette.

Experience Using Product

Of the four MSFs released as part of the collection (I did buy all four), this is my favorite! It’s bizarre, but out of the four MSFs released, this was the one I thought I would use the least and was least excited about.

This MSF has a shimmery brown outer circle with a rosy pink, white and gold inner-circle. I like to wear the outer brown color as an eye shadow; I also like to blend the entire MSF together and use it as a blush. The color of the inner circle is so pretty when it’s swirled together - it looks like a very pretty coral-flesh color; I’m trying it out on my eyes as a shadow today! I’ve debated using this MSF as a bronzer, but I think it might make me look too shiny. Women with darker skin-tones may have better luck using it as a bronzer.

Of the four MSFs in this collection, Semi Precious Goldstone seems to be the smoothest to apply - it feels very silky. The shimmer in this MSF is also more toned down than the shimmer in the other three in the collection.

Here is a swatch of what the MSF looks like:



Left: Outer cirlce
Center: Inner circle
Right: Both shades blended

Would I Re-Purchase, Recommend, or Reject

This is a Limited Edition product, so I can’t re-purchase it. I would absolutely recommend this MSF to you - I'm in love with it!

You can get this MSF from the your local MAC counter or online. Remember that it’s Limited Edition, though - so once it’s gone, it’s gone!

REVIEW: CARGO BeachBlush in Sunset Beach

Product Brand and Name, Price (CDN), Where Purchased

CARGO BeachBlush in Sunset Beach, $32.00 CDN @ Sears.ca

Reason for Purchase

I was on the CARGO website shopping and this pretty item caught my eye. I couldn’t resist picking it up. It was an ‘ooo shiny’ moment.

Notable Features

This product is a blush/bronzer all-in-one product. Here’s what’s written on the box the product comes in: BeachBlush, the marriage of blush and bronzer. Use a large fluff brush to apply to cheeks. Can be used alone or with CARGO’s bronzers for a beach-inspired glow.

It’s made up of four stripes of colors (typically different shades of the same color) that you can either blend together and apply, or you can just wear one of the stripes.

Packaging

This product comes in a round tin. The word ‘CARGO’ is stamped into the lid (it’s a lift off lid - no twist-off lid). The shade name is on a sticker affixed to the bottom of the tin.

I like the CARGO packaging because it’s very clean and doesn’t take up ton of room (unlike square or rectangular packaging). The downside to this packaging is the lid - it just lifts off, which can be a downside if this product is just floating around in a makeup bag, purse, or suitcase - the lid might pop off.

Experience Using Product

I thought that I would end up using this product as a luminzer when I first got it. The champagne and pink shimmery shades in the pan would help brighten complexions. I actually use it as blush. I blend all four shades together using a blush brush and apply it to the apples of my cheeks. The result is a nice deep pink shimmer that resembles my own natural flush - the color my cheeks turn when I’m actually blushing (minus the shimmer. I’m no Cullen).

I’ve never used this product as a bronzer; to me, it’s too pink for that. You would probably end up looking more burnt than bronzed if you put this all over your face. I have used one or two of the shades as eyeshadow (the brown and the gold).

This product will compliment any neutral look. I love using it when I’m wearing shadows from the Naked palette, or the CARGO Colour Palettes in either Baja or Bermuda.

This has become a staple in my makeup bag. Sometimes I set it aside to make room for other items, but it always finds its way back into my kit.

I would have to say that of all the CARGO products I own, this is my favorite. I have also featured it in several Monthly Faves posts.

Would I Re-Purchase, Recommend, or Reject

I will re-purchase this product, for sure. I love it too much not to!

I would recommend this to just about anyone. The shades in the pan are workable for any skin tone. I know I said this about the Tenerife BeachBlush, but this product is also a good starter purchase for anyone looking to try out the CARGO brand.

To learn more about this palette, you can visit the CARGO website (you can also shop from their site! - USA or Canada only) or the Sears website.

REVIEW: CARGO BeachBlush in Tenerife

Product Brand and Name, Price (CDN), Where Purchased

CARGO BeachBlush in Tenerife, $25.60 CDN @ CARGO.ca

Reason for Purchase

I really enjoy CARGO products, especially their BeachBlush products.

Notable Features

A BeachBlush is a powder product that can be used either as a blush or bronzer. It’s made up of four stripes of colors (typically different shades of the same color) that you can either blend together and apply, or you can just wear one of the stripes.

What sets Tenerife apart from the rest of the BeachBlush collection is that it’s matte.

Packaging

This product comes in a round tin. The word ‘CARGO’ is stamped into the lid (it’s a lift off lid - no twist-off lid). The shade name is on a sticker affixed to the bottom of the tin.

I like the CARGO packaging because it’s very clean and doesn’t take up ton of room (unlike square or rectangular packaging). The downside to this packaging is the lid - it just lifts off, which can be a downside if this product is just floating around in a makeup bag, purse, or suitcase - the lid might pop off.

Experience Using Product

Tenerife is a half coral, half bronze powder. What I like about this is the fact that when the color is blended, it looks neither muddy nor oompa-loompa on my skin. I use a big powder brush and blend all four stripes together when I want to wear this as a bronzer; if I’m using it as a blush I’ll do the same thing but with a blush brush, or sometimes I just blend the two coral stripes and use that as a blush.

I bought this in early spring (February or March...I can’t remember) and found it hard to wear then, because it was still very white and wintery out. Now that it’s sunny and the world is colorful again, this product is seeing much more use.

Would I Re-Purchase, Recommend, or Reject

Of all the BeachBlush shades available, this one is probably one of the safest to wear - and for that reason I recommend it to you. This will also be a great product for you if you’re looking for a matte bronzer with an equal balance of coral and brown tones to it.

I would certainly re-purchase this product; however, I doubt I will have to! You get a lot of product in the pan!

To learn more about this product, you can visit the CARGO website (you can also shop from their site! - USA or Canada only) or the Sears website.

REVIEW: CARGO Bronzer in Light

Product Brand and Name, Price (CDN), Where Purchased

CARGO Bronzer in Light, $26.00 CDN @ Sears.ca

Reason for Purchase

I’ve recently re-discovered the CARGO brand. I really like their BeachBlush products and wanted to try out one of their bronzers.

Notable Features

This is not a matte bronzer; the bronzer has a finely-milled shimmer.

CARGO is a Canadian cosmetics company.

Packaging

The Bronzer comes in a silver tin, stamped with CARGO on the lid. The shade name is on a sticker on the bottom of the tin. When you take the lid off, you can sit the pan into the lid.

Experience Using Product

I use a big fluffy powder brush to apply this bronzer to my face and neck.

The shade of this bronzer really reminds me of NARS Irresistiblement - a favorite bronzer of mine. The only difference between the CARGO bronzer and the NARS bronzer (aside from the price!) is the shimmer - one has it and the other does not. Other than that, both products have a terra-cotta color to them, so they make fair skin warmer without making it look muddy. However, if you were to use a very heavy hand and a whack-load of product, you will end up with that Oompa-Loompa hue to your skin that we all try to avoid.

Surprisingly enough, I like the fine shimmer in this product. I find it gives me a nice dewy look, without making me look shiny - even when my skin is oily. I’ve been wearing the bronzer about every other day since I got it. I do not find that it makes me look unnaturally tanned, even when it is snowing outside and I’m standing against a backdrop of the white fluffy stuff.

I am curious to see how I fair out with this bronzer in the summer, when my skin gets a little more color to it - will it be dark enough or will I need to buy the next shade up? I can definitely see myself using the bronzer as an eyeshadow in the summer; it’s got an orange base instead of red, so it will both flatter my blue eyes and won’t make my eyes look swollen and/or irritated (like red based eyeshadows do).

Would I Re-Purchase, Recommend, or Reject

I have to say, CARGO is quickly becoming a new favorite brand of mine. I had one of their regular blushes and an eyeshadow years ago (blush, Tonga; eyeshadow, Yukon) and loved them to bits. Unfortunately, both met an untimely demise when I dropped them and they shattered in their pans. The pigmentation of CARGO products is great, and I love the fact that the company originated in Canada.

I am strongly leaning towards saying that yes, I would buy this bronzer again. However, like I said a bit earlier in this review, I am curious to see how the bronzer looks on my skin in the summer. I would recommend this product to you if you like bronzers with a bit of fine shimmer, you are fair-skinned, and you’re looking for a bronzer that doesn’t make your skin look dirty.

Curious about CARGO bronzer? Check out the CARGO page here; you can switch between Canadian and American content by using the location option at the top of their page.

Organizing My Stash

Wow - it feels like I have not been online forever. I am finally 'well' again...no more Bronchitis! In total, I was off work for 6 days over the past two weeks. I probably should have been off more than that, but I did make it in a few times to stay caught up with my daily tasks.

I am behind in my blogging; I had wanted to post you my January favorites on the weekend, but spent the weekend in bed instead. So, that will be a posting that will go up later this week. In the interim, I thought I would write a post about how I organize my makeup and various cosmetics products.

I use to just keep everything in assorted plastic bins on a shelf in my bedroom closet. Recently, I decided I needed a new system for things and bought a small cabinet that now accommodates over half my collection - I have to pick up a second one for nail polish and lip stuff.

Here is what the cabinet looks like head-on:



The top of the cabinet is nice and flat. There's a top drawer, which is where I store my mirror, brush tins, headbands, nail files and clippers, glasses cleaner and a cloth, and assorted random products like vaseline and sunscreen:



When you open the cabinet door, here is what you see:



The top shelf is eyeshadow - the green bin is all NARS (I know, I have a problem!), palettes and a few paint are off to the left, and there's a small plastic bins of 'other' eyeshadows like NYX, Annabelle and MAC Mineralize Duos.



The middle shelf is just blush. I recently bought a couple pencil containers at Dollarama and filled them with lipsticks - those sit on this shelf now too (not pictured):



Last is the bottom shelf - the least exciting shelf. In the plastic bin is foundation, powders, highlighters and bronzer. To the left of the bin are some extra brushes I can't fit anywhere else, a new unopened foundation, and a new unopened mascara. In the cat pencil tin is some eyeliner pencils and my eyelash curler. To the right is my NARS Sheer Glow, Clinique Almost Makeup, and a Clinique Concealer.



I find keeping everything organized like this helps me feel more organized; it doesn't have to be expensive to keep organized, either. All of the bins in my cabinet were bought at Dollarama for $1 each - and they have them in every shape and color conceivable. Really - do what works best for you in your space/financial situation. Any solution is better than mess!

Have a great rest of your week!

NARS Starter Kit

It is a bit crazy how excited I am to post this blog entry.

This, is my NARS Starter Kit. I am posting the items in my NARS Kit that I believe are good 'introductory' items to the brand. Everything is selected with individuals with fair to light skin in mind. Later, I may post recommendations for darker skin tones, but for now I am starting with what I know. Also, I am posting items in 4 categories: eyeshadow, blush, bronzer, and primers. I tried to pick some every-day products, as well as some that are more fun and probably more appropriate to a night out than a day at the office. So, with that all being said, here we go!

Primers



Clockwise: NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base, Makeup Primer SPF 20, NARS Multiple in Copacobana, NARS Blush in Nico

Why These Items?

I have picked these two primers as in my experience with them, they do exactly what they are suppose to. Both products come with directions, and it is a good idea to give them a quick read before putting the products to use. The Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base lasts a good 5 to 6 hours for me, before my shadow creases. The Makeup Primer is long-lasting too - and has about the same lifespan when applied. The Multiple in Copacobana is probably one of the more versatile Multiples you can buy. You can use it as a brow bone, inner-corner, or under-eye highlighter, or as an eyeshadow base, or illuminator. The Blush in Nico is what I use as an undereye highlighter; it's a very faint light pink, and it manages to help hide under-eye circles quite well. You can also use it as a 'barely there' blush on days you want to look polished without looking like you're wearing too much makeup.

Bronzer



NARS Bronzer in Irresistiblement

Why This Item?

This is the only bronzer in the NARS range of products that has almost no shimmer. Laguna and Casino are both incredibly shimmery, where Irresistiblement is more matte. This shade also has more of a terra-cotta base, but is not hideously orange. It's build-able color, and is more user friendly for us ladies who are so fair that more brown-based bronzers make our skin look muddy. If you have oily skin, this bronzer may also work better for you than Laguna or Casino since the shimmer is minimal, and will not highlight oily skin.

Blush



Left: Madly
Right: Deep Throat
Bottom: Desire

Why These Items?

In case you don't already know, NARS is very well known for their extremely pigmented, universally flattering blush shades. I own quite a few, and it was a little difficult to just pick a few to recommend.

Madly is a light salmon pink, with minimal shimmer. This is a very pretty everyday shade, and works well if you want to be more dramatic with your eye makeup or lipstick.

Deep Throat is the big sister to Orgasm (which is touted as the best blush for any skin tone), and in my book Deep Throat is superior to it, too. Deep Throat is a darker peach/pink, with high shimmer (very finely milled). This is a great color to use if you want look like you actually have some color on your cheeks; it gives you a nice healthy glow.

Desire is one of NARS's 'scary' blushes. It is a matte bright hot pink - and my photo doesn't truly do it justice. If you grew up in the 80s or 90s when neon hues were all the rage, think of neon pink. This blush is exactly that color. You do not need much product to give you a good flush of color. The shade is very pretty on very fair, alabaster/ivory skinned women.

Eyeshadow - Singles



Left to Right: Mekong, Ondine, Abyssinia

Why These Items?

NARS does not have many single eyeshadows. And, most of the shades can be found in duo's. These three above are three of the most versatile shades, and have also shown up in several of NARS Limited Edition palettes.

Mekong is a dark, dark, brown (almost a black-brown) that I use mostly as a powder eyeliner, or an outer-v shade. It's very pretty!

Ondine is a gorgeous smokey-purple plum color. You can use this as an all-over lid color, or as an outer-v shade. It goes very well with Ashes to Ashes (not featured here) and any grey-based colors.

Abyssinia is what I consider to be the best eyeshadow single for your money. You can use it for everything: all over lid, brown bown highlight, inner corner highlight, under eye highlight....it's my favorite. It is a very light pearlescent pink, with a white base. It makes gives you that 'wide awake' look, and is another great thing to use when you want to wear makeup but don't want to look 'made up'.

Eyeshadow - Duos



All About Eve

Why This Duo?

As I mentioned in my last blog post, I use All About Eve pretty much every day. The shades are two skin-tone colors with shimmer, and they work well as great bases/highlighters to other eye makeup.



Bellissima

Why This Duo?

The left side of Bellissima is a shimmery Ivory color, and the left is a muted taupe-grey with a bit of shimmer. This duo is nice to use for an understated eye. It's very pretty on its own, or with black eyeliner.



Alhambra

Why This Duo?

This duo sounds magical to me - Alhambra sounds to much like 'Abra Cadabra'. The left side of this duo is a high-shimmer baby pink, and the left side is a high-shimmer gold. I like to use this duo with the gold side on the lid, and the pink side as the highlight near the upper lash line. You can use either color to highlight the lower lash line, and also as an inner-corner highlight. When I can't make up my mind about what makeup to wear, Alhambra is the one I pull out.



Charade

Why This Duo?

Charade is probably my most used duo, next to All About Eve. The left side is a deep salmon pink with a pearlescent shine (it is not shimmery/glittery), and the left side is a deep lilac with pearlescent shine (again, not shimmery/glittery). Both colors are extremely versatile, and I wear them on their own, or with Mekong as a liner, or together with the deep salmon pink as a lid color and the deep lilac as the highlight. This is a duo I use at least once a week.



Egea

Why This Duo?

Egea is a lot like Habanera (below), but is the more toned-down version. The left side is a high-shimmer sage green, and the right side is a high-shimmer lilac. They work great on their own as an all over lid color, but they are equally as pretty with the sage green color as the all-over lid color, and the lilac shade as the highlight near the upper lash line. This is a more fun and colorful selection for makeup that is work-appropriate.



Habanera

Why this Duo?

Habanera is one of the 'oddball' shades in the NARS ranger of eyeshadow duos that makes you think 'Seriously? How do those two colors go together?'...but when you actually see the two colors together? Pure gorgeousness. The left side is a highly pigmented mint green shimmer, and the right shade is an intense charcoal plum with mint green and burgundy shimmer. This is one of the colors that is more suited to an event that allows you to be more playful with your makeup. If you're not sure about it, I would suggest going to a makeup counter to try it out/see it for yourself before purchase.



Eurydice

Why This Duo?

Aah, Eurydice. This is probably the prettiest NARS duo in the pan. The left side is a pink with blue undertone with shimmer, and the right side is a smokey dark charcoal with multicolor pearl shimmers. What drew me to this duo was the pink - it looks soooo pretty! When applied, the pink actually turns into a dark magenta - and the blue undertone really comes out. This duo is best when the dark charcoal shade is used as an outer-v shade, and an eyeliner. This is another duo that I would say is more 'fun' and isn't necessarily work appropriate if you use it with a heavy hand.

Now that you've seen my Starter Kit, you're probably wondering why I didn't bother mentioning things like foundation, concealers, lipstick, eyeliner, etc.

For me, it all boils down to value for money. I do not want to shell out a lot of cash for a product I will have to either re-purchase or throw-out in one month to a year. I would rather spend my money on something that will last longer, and I will get much more use out of. For lipstick, lip gloss, mascara, and foundation - I am a drugstore girl, all the way!

I hope you have found this NARS Stater Kit helpful. If you're not sure about a shade I've mentioned, feel free to ask me any questions. I have found that doing google searches on NARS shades has helped too - as there are usually tons of pictures out on the net for you to reference if you are not sure about something!

As always, if you're interested in any of the NARS products I've mentioned here, check out the NARS website here. If you're Canadian though, you will not be able to order from that site; you're either going to hit up Sephora or see if there's a counter at your nearest Holt Renfrew store or at The Bay.