What I simply must get soon

If I can, that is. Because it seems like MAC's super pretty Making Pretty Collection sold out in a lot of places in the US when it was launched there. So let's hope the same thing does not happen when the collection is launched worldwide, in February. Because I seriously need something from this collection, the packaging is right up my alley!

To be honest, I can't believe I have missed this collection until now, the MAC Making Pretty Collection seems to be a really great one, and I actually am in need of some of these things anyway!

(pics from Tempitalia)

MAC Skin Refresher, Prep + Prime Skin Base and Cleanse Off Oil

So I have been getting accquainted with quite a few new MAC products lately. (Read previous reviews here, here and here)
One of the most interesting things to try for me was the Skin Refresher Spray, the Prep + Prime Skin Base and the Cleanse Off Oil that was sold to me in a set:

This is because I had never used sprays on my skin before applying make up before, so I was interested to know if there was actually any use to that. And while I have tried primers (like the Prep + Prime Skin Base) before, I must say I do not use them regularly.

I was very pleasantly surprised by the Skin Refresher Spray, I thought it would not have a very long lasting impact, but after having used it for a couple of weeks, I actually think it does. It leaves your skin very moist and fresh looking which I love. So I will definitely be getting another one of these sprays once I run out of this one! (which won't take that long, I think, since I have been using it every day since I got it, and the bottle I bought was a small one to begin with)

Like I said, I am by no means a primer expert, but I must say the Prep + Prime Skin Base worked wonders too. It smooths your skin instantly (and leaves it that way), but still doesn't make the skin look greasy or oily, which I love. So definitely a good buy as well, and I think I will be buying this Skin Base again as well.

The worst product out of the bunch was by far the Cleanse Off Oil. Which isn't to say it was very bad, actually. But it just does the job, nothing more, nothing less. But since I suppose that is what a Cleanse Off Oil is supposed to do anyway, I would still say it's good. It does what it promises, after all.

I guess I just got so much more than I expected with the other two products that the Cleanse Off Oil not being anything out of the ordinary was a bit of a dissapointment...

But if you have a chance to buy this set (I believe it is a travel set), it is definitely a great purchase, so go for it! I am so happy I did!

Review: MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation

As I mentioned before, I got quite a few things from MAC a while ago, and among other things, I decided to give one of their foundations a try, mostly because I haven't really found the perfect foundation for me yet.

The foundation that was recommended to me, based on my skin type, was the Studio Fix Fluid, in a shade called NW15 (since my skin is very fair) and I was initially very pleased with it.

You don't need to use a lot of this foundation for it to cover everything completely, and the result looks quite good, yet natural at the same time, I must say.
However, the bad thing about this foundation is that it doesn't really last a full day, like some other foundations I am used to. So this bothered me a bit, but besides that, I definitely like this foundation. The Studio Fix Fluid is kind of expensive though (at least where I bought mine, in a MAC store), so I think you might be able to find more durable foundations for the same price.

I also tried the MAC Studio Fix Fluid with the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Powder and with one of the MAC brushes (the MAC 187). While the brush was kind of useless for this, because of the brush itself, I believe, the powder really looks great with this foundation, so I can really recommend using them together.

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Powder

I mentioned in a previous post that I had been shopping at MAC recently. One of the products I got was the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Powder, so I thought I should share my views on this powder with you guys.

First of all, the powder really covers well, and you don't even have to use very much of it to get a great result. However, if you accidentally do use slightly too much, the result will be quite bad. (I did this mistake myself)
So I really like this powder, even though I am not usually too big on powders, but this really does make your skin look flawless if used right. You really have to apply it carefully though. I got one of MACs brushes to apply it with (read more about that here), and that seems to be the best way to apply it indeed, so I do recommend that if you intend to get this powder.

My new MAC brushes

I went shopping at MAC recently, and got quite a few things. They will all be reviewed here of course, but let's start with the brushes I got. I've never owned brushes from MAC before, but I have heard very good things about them, so I decided to give them a try, largely because the sales girl really pushed me into it a little bit as well.

The brushes I got was the MAC 138 and the MAC 187. The MAC 138 is supposed to be used for blush, as well as face powder, and that is indeed what I have been using it for. (the MAC 138 is the brush on the left in the photo above)
I have to say it works wonderfully for this, it gives you just the right amount and you don't have to work very hard at making the end result good. So I was quite pleased with the MAC 138!

The MAC 187 Brush is another story completely though...
I wasn't sure I should get this to begin with, since I have always prefered sponges for foundation, which is what you should be using this brush for. But the sales girl convinced me this would be a better choice for the foundation I got (more on that later), so I decided to give it a try. But applying foundation with a brush like this is a lot of work, since the result will not be smooth and nice immediately, like when you use a sponge. And I prefer for any product I use to give me fast results, I generally do not feel like working on my face for hours before it looks presentable.
So I definitely would not recommend the MAC 187 to anyone who is a sponge user normally and wants their make up application to be fast and easy.

Another thing worth mentioning in case you are not that familiar with MAC products is that MAC brushes need to be washed and cleaned once a week. You can buy special brush cleansers from MAC themselves, but the sales girl who sold me these brushes told me you can use regular shampoo as well, so that's what I have been doing. It seems to work pretty well, but once a week is really very often I think, I haven't been washing other brushes I own quite that often. But I guess you get used to it...

Either way, the brushes are quite well made, the quality is nice, I am just not sure if a brush is the way to go for a foundation for me personally.

Review: MAC Lustreglass Love Nectar

A while ago, I went to my local MAC store and got quite a few things. (I will be reviewing all of them here, of course)
One of the things I got was the MAC Lustreglass in the shade Love Nectar.

I actually got it because the store did not have my previous favorite gloss, Boy Bait, a Cremesheen Glass, so I asked the salesgirl for another recommendation. She suggested Love Nectar, and since I liked the way it looked on my lips, I decided to get it.
And while the Lustreglass is stickier than the Cremesheen Glass for some reason, I quite like this lipgloss too. It has some sparkles in it, but they are barely noticeable when you use the product (which I like, I've never been a fan of sparkles on my lips, you see) and this product actually hydrates your lips while you wear it too, which is great!

So yes, I like Love Nectar, but since I had some Boy Bait left, I tried them both on after eachother, and I have to say Boy Bait looked better on. But Love Nectar is a nice substitute as well.
I think I will still try to get hold of some more Boy Bait if possible. Maybe on Ebay?

A must read for all beauty fanatics

An interview with Iris Apfel (who currently has her own MAC line!) over at Into the Gloss. Click here to read it!
The best beauty interview I have read in a really, really long time!

(pic from Into the Gloss as well)

One of my favorite lip glosses

I'm a huge fan of MAC and their products, and in particular of their lip glosses. Even though they are not cheap, they last for a really long time (even if I use lip gloss almost every day!) and give you just the right look. Natural, not too shiny and glossy and they don't have a bad taste either, like some lip glosses.
Their only down side is, I guess that your hair can sometimes get stuck in the lip gloss quite easily, if you have long hair like me and it is windy outside, but then again, that is the case with most lip glosses, so it's not really a very uncommon disadvantage.

Currently, one of my favorite lip glosses is the MAC Cremesheen Glass in the shade Boy Bait, a lovely light, but still natural looking shade that I tend to wear during the day when going for a low maintenance and fun look.

I can highly recommend both the MAC Cremesheen Glass in general and this shade in particular, even though you will be able to find the MAC Cremesheen Glass in tons of other shades as well, if Boy Bait is not quite to your liking.

Before we get started

Let me tell you a little bit about me, what kind of beauty products I like generally, and what is important to me.

I am:
Slightly over 30 years old.
Married.
Someone who lives in a warm, humid climate.
Someone who does not have a lot of time, so I like products that do not require a lot of time.
A fanatic when it comes to skin care.

I think:
Natural and organic beauty products are awesome, so I look for them all the time.
Everything looks better when it's applied on great skin, so we should all care for our skin properly before looking at anything else.
Makeup can be fun, but should never be a chore.
Makeup for special occasions is even more fun.
The best products are not always the most expensive ones, but sometimes you do get what you pay for.
The right perfume and scent can make a huge difference.
Sometimes you need to feel girly and glamorous, and beauty products can help us do just that.

Some of my favorite brands are:
L'Occitane
MAC
Clarins
Dior
Chanel
Neutrogena
Lancome (especially their mascaras)
Lumene (a brand made for Scandinavian skin)
But I still have tons of other brands to try, and I also use products from tons of other brands as well on a regular basis.

(pic from Face Fitness Center)