Hello my darlings! We are back live!

The site is not 100% yet but I’ve decided I couldn’t wait any longer! As you see we have the same layout with a few modification tweaks here and there. As my grandmother would say, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” I’m looking forward to many fun post, tutorials and articles coming your way soon!

Unfortunately, in my fixing up of the site I made an error and deleted a whole page of postings (about almost 10 or so post) .. my bad. Just look on the bright side, think of how many more helpful post you’ll be getting better then the ones I deleted!

For those of you that have been with me from the start, thank you and enjoy. For those of you that are new, welcome and feel free to look around and explore!

We knew it was coming, It hadn’t happened in a while.

Its the national “yearly” price increase day. Most things increased .50¢ - $1.00.

From what I have seen eyeshadows have gone up from 14.00 -14.50. I haven’t checked out anything else but I’m sure foundations, and lip products are on that list as well.

This new pricing is in place starting today at ALL mac locations. Freestanding stores, counters, website, .. if its official mac then the price has gone up.

Why do they do this yearly - bi yearly? To keep up with suply and demand. Gas for deliveries has gone up, and total cost of running a business has gone up as well.

I don’t think that .50¢ - $1.00 is going to deter a mac lover from getting her fix, but damn will I be cutting back!

In part one I’ll be talking about my face basics. I don’t do my make-up foundation in the hot summer days without these things .

After washing my face, the first thing I put on is my Mac Fast Response Eye cream. I have big eyes that get puffy when I sleep so this takes care of the puffiness, and any fine lines that I may have around my eyes. This is great to use after nights of hard summer parties !

After letting that soak in for a minute or two next is my Mac Oil Control Lotion. I have oily skin, especially in the summer, and this combats the problem with ease. I’m particular about getting it around my nose, forehead, and chin regions (t-zone)  because those are the oiliest. I’m very light with it around the cheeks, because I find that since they don’t get that oily it dries them out too much.

Next, I step out of the Mac region (just for a moment!) and into smashbox for their Photofinish Primer Light This is a under foundation primer that makes your skin ready and smooth for the foundation application. The reason I use the light formula is that I find that the regular formula adds on in my oiliness, and that is NOT something I’m looking for at all!

Next, its back to Mac for my final summer face basic, Mac’s Select Tint SPF 15. In the summer I like my skin to look as dewy (not oily) and “un-foundation” touched as possible. This shearish tint gives me exactly what I want, coverage that feels like nothing and looks like nothing. Who wants their face feeling heavy under foundation in 90° weather? Not I. A tip I can give you about this is make sure you match your shade to your new summer completion especially if you are outside a lot. For example, I am usually an NC50 in the winter, but for my summer foundation I use NW45 for the new warmth and color the sun gives me. The only people I wouldn’t recommend this product to are those with severe acne or that have deep discolorations. Since its a light formula it might not cover those up completely. I have moderate acne hyper pigmentation on my cheeks and while it may not cover it up like a heavier foundation or concealer, it does my skin justice.  Another good thing about this is that you get SPF 15 right in the foundation. I finish off my look with a very tiny bit of powder (usually mac’s blotting powder in dark) and depending on the day I might put on some color, or I might put on some clear lipgloss and be out!

Anyway, because of my baby I realize that I’m going to have to cut down on the self spending. I’m going to take one final big splurge-a-rama before my little man comes and steals all of my shine. In the next three weeks I plan to spend mucho dinero ( I don’t even know if I spelled that right, oh well). I’m going to have an extreme haul of make-up, hair, and beauty items. Want to go shopping with me? Well, you can’t. You can however take a peak at all the stuff I’m plaining to buy and create your own Hauliday list. I want to know what you guys are getting too!

*Click on the images to go to their respective web pages!

First stop, MAC Cosmetics

What? you knew that right? lol! They just opened a new mac counter in the Macy’s near me (If you live in the Bronx that would be the Macy’s in Parkchester. Check it out, and ask for “Martini” if he is available!) so it’s now easier for me to get my Mac fix.

- Mac Volcanic Ash Exfoliator $19.50 This item is a maybe only because it might not be at the counter by the time I get there. I’ve been hearing rave reviews about it from my fellow specktra members saying how soft and supple this facial exfoliater leaves your skin. Some were even mad that it is not a permanent item. It’s so good, I’ve even heard of people getting 10 or more back ups. While, I wont go that crazy, I will try and get two or more if supplies permit. I’m going to hate this if I end up loving this product, run out, and mac never reintroduces it to their stock.

- Mac Prep+Prime Microfine Lip Refinisher $14.50 For some reason, all throughout this pregnancy my lips (especially my bottom lip) have been dry as hell. No, I’m not dehydrated, I just think its something with the hormones. Before I apply any lip color I have to exfoliate my lips. I have been doing so with a hard .99¢ toothbrush and Vaseline! I think this will be much more gentle on my poor dry lips.

- Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer $14.50 Can you believe I’ve never owned my own pan of this? I used to use my mothers before I knew better, which subsequently is too dark for my skin. Erin from Scandalous Beauty made a great video about how to use it to cover blemishes and get that smooth, non caked up look. I have been lusting for some after seeing that tutorial.

Other Mac Nonessentials

Some eyeshaodows (making sure to stay clear of any BLUE shadow. I own wayyyy too many), maybe a fluildline or two.

Second Stop, Sephora

- Laura Geller Blush-N-Brighten Blush $28.00 I’m a sucker for baked mineral products. They shimmer and glow so beautifully on darker skin. Not to mention that the product itself is a work of art. They say on sephora.com that these are for all skin tones, but first I’m going to try them all on … just to see which three I like the most. Maybe I might get them all, but at 28 bucks thats kinda pushing it a little bit.

- Anastasia Brow Enhancing Serum $35.00 - Prenatal pills are the SH*T for growing hair and nails, but I would like for my eyebrows to be a little thicker. Thanks to my over plucking, shaving, and the nasty little scar my old eyebrow ring left right on my arch, my left brow needs a little enhancing. Its worth a try right?

- Go Smile Go All Out Starter Kit with Advanced Formula B1$99.00 I’ve noticed that my teeth aren’t as white as they used to be. Alyssa is using this product and says it worked so I’m going to give it a try too! Its a little expensive even considering that its on sale from $127.50, but I’m really pressed for beautiful, white, bright teeth. I might get the summer kit in lieu of this one for the same price.

Other Sephora Nonessentials

A new tube of Urban Decay Primer Potion . Some Carol’s Daughter products. (if I don’t go to the Carol’s Daughter freestanding store in Harlem)

Because of all of my make up and the new “need for space” I have to get some new storage containers too. I currently use two of these (sterilite brand) to store my cosmetics. Its sad that my cosmetics and hair products are bursting out of 14 draws! I also have two smaller 3 draw chest that hold pigments, junk make-up, and jewelry. Pursebuzz made me remember something I had seen a long time ago in my fathers workspace. Click here to see what I’m going to get. Thanks for the heads up Elisa!

I’m also taking a trip to the container store . I’m getting some counter top storage for my cotton balls and other throw away things.

As for my hair? I think I’m going to make a major Hairsisters.com haulage as well! My mother is nagging me to get my hair braided, and I think thats exactly what I’m going to do because of the low maintenance. If you didn’t know, the ONLY brand of synthetic hair that I deal with is freetress. They quality is far more superb then any other brand and they have many diffrent options. I’m really feeling the curls on the model over there. at only $5.99 its a steal!

I’m also in LOVE with this hair piece right here. Its from Freetress and its fierce! I hardly go and get my hair done anymore (except if I want braids). I have the skills to hook myself up and I’m grateful that I don’t have to pay for the labor, only the products.

Im shelling out the big bucks in the next three weeks! I want to know now .. what are YOU getting to spoil yourself?

*If you haven’t entered the Eyes Have It contest then do it soon! Contest ends 6/25!

All my (make-up) life I’ve been a shadow junkie. I love eyeshadow. My very first M.A.C. cosmetics product was the 7 color pink pallet you see over to the left. It was a holiday 2003 LE pallet. This was back when we just got a mac freestanding store in Harlem,NY. My mom was driving me back from the doctor down town and said “hey, I need some lipstick. Lets stop at Mac” . Little did she know that day she would create a lifetime monster. As of today, I have way over $4,000 worth of cosmetics. Most of that is mac so thank you mother! Anyway, I still use some of the colors in that pallet. Mainly the darkest purple on the right, Beauty Marked. I love that shade for smokey, purple eyes.

So I want to know, what were your first MAC Products? Please share! If you have yet to own any mac products read on to get my recommendations on what your first shades should be in eyeshadow and lipglass (lipgloss).

All of my picks are from personal preference and from seeing how often these colors are used in tutorials online. Every color I picked is from the permanent line (no L/E colors) and can be found at a counter or freestanding mac store (no pro colors).

First eyeshadow recommendations

Hover over for names and description.

*if you are running firefox and can’t see the alternate text by hovering, right click the images and select “properties” to view the shade name and description. Sorry about that.

First lipglass recommendations

*mac needs to seriously get some new perm. line lipglass asap. Most of the lipglasses I own are L/E.

Pedicure Infections

Nail Salons Exposed

More after the jump!

Utterly disgusting. After watching this I thought about the practices used in the salon that I frequent and I’m sad to say that aside from not using credo blades on kids (you must ASK for the blade so I guess that’s not a good thing that they have them because in actuality they are banned in NY as well) they do the same unsanitary things such as use buffers, cuticle sticks, and nail files without disinfecting them on more then one client, use the same metal instruments on more then one client with out proper sanitation, ( I always see them share nail clippers or just take them out of a draw and put them back while doing manicures and pedicures) and I’m not sure, but from the looks of things they don’t sanitize the whirl pool foot spas in the proper manor. I started getting pedicures back in ‘99 when I was about 11 years old. I never put the two together, but now that I look at it thats around the time the big toe nails on both of my feet started turning yellow and hard. They are still hard and kinda brownish/Yellow to this day and I’m 20 years old. They don’t look bad because I keep on getting my pedicures, but that in fact could be the reason that it never cleared up even after home treatments of tea tree oil and such things.

Ever walk into a nail salon and just want to reach for the gas mask so you can breath? That’s why I haven’t been in one in a while because I’m scared of the fumes, not for myself, but the affect it may have on my unborn child’s development. Ever hear about MMA acrylic? I’m not going to talk about it here but all my discount salon lovin’ acrylic nail wearing divas need to Google that asap. I’m pretty sure that the “$15 for a full set with 10 “free” hand design” salons are using MMA acrylic. Hell, after reading some of the characteristics of it I’m sure it has been used on my hands on numerous occasions.

But you’re thinking “Allie, I love getting my feet done! Why do you want to take away one of the only simple pleasures life has to offer?” I don’t. I just want you to know how to get your “fix” without sacrificing your heath. Here are some tips I can offer you.

1. No “Discount” Salons EVER! - I live in the Bronx, New York and if you come to my “hood” there are two popular discount nail salons, “Nails R Us” located on Fordham Rd and a popular one on 3rd ave and 149th street. Both have similar “dirt cheep” prices for procedures, bad lighting, strong oder, and most importantly don’t look clean at all. Why would you put your health at risk just to save a few bucks? I won’t even get a wax there anymore. Lord knows what you are putting yourself against. Since those kinds of salons get 70+ customers a day because of their enormous size and cheep price, you are at risk for more kinds of bacteria and infection from other peoples hands and feet to you. Find out the average cost of the salons in your aria and compare price with conditions to see how much you think a “safe” pedi or mani should cost.
2. You must have an “understanding” - Lets be real. We all know that in most states Vietnamese nail salon techs are common. Lots of them come fresh out of Vietnam and don’t speak a lick of English. As I have read on my study of this subject, the reason that they dominate the nail market is because of the ease of obtaining a license … the test is given not only in English but in Vietnamese too. Before you have a service done by a new nail tech, have a small conversation with that tech. Many are friendly and like to talk to customers if they understand English well enough. I say this not to discriminate but how are you going to relay a problem or concern to someone who doesn’t speak your language?
3. B.Y.O.T - Remember B.Y.O.T or “Bring your own tools”. If you are not sure about the sanitization of their tools (which in that case you shouldn’t be there at all but oh well) you can always bring your own. Professional nail clippers, a buffing block, cuticle sticks, professional nail files and such can all be found in most beauty supply stores. Make sure to label your stuff (like place a red sticker on each item) so its not confused with their tools and keep in a pouch for easy travel. If you bring your own tools its less likely to gain an infection. Make sure to sanitize your tools at home ever so often as well.
4. Open your mouth - Don’t be shy to ask about how they clean their stations and tools. Foot spas with whirl pools should be cleaned between every customer, not just in the bowl, but they should be running the jets with an EPA approved cleaner. You can find out more about foot spa sanitation on the EPA website here . FYI, if you find a place with a foot spa without whirl pool then I suggest them over ones with the jets. The jets may feel great, but its easier to clean spas without jets, thus making it more likely that the techs clean them regularly. Metal implements (including drill file bits) should be cleaned with such techniques as using an autoclave (if you’ve ever gotten a tatoo, that is what they use to sterilize their tools with. It’s also used in hospitals) or hospital grade cleaner (such as soaking tools in Barbicide). Most salons have a germicidal cabinet. You’ll notice it as a white box with UV light inside, usually on the wall like a very small refrigerator. Do not mistake that for a sanitization process. The germicidal cabinet is for storage of pre-sterilized implements only. It does not clean dirty tools, just provides storage in a sterile environment.
5. Keep it hairy - Don’t shave or wax your legs 24 hours before a pedicure. Shaving can cause small abrasions in the skin that help bacteria get into your body.

A nail salon that I can recommend to everyone as being safe and clean is the Dashing Diva nail salon chain. At DD they uphold cleanliness and safety as their #1 priority. All foot spas are simple basins without whirl pool and cleaned properly between clients. They disinfect hands before any services begin, and make you buy your own reusable tools from them before your first appointment. Not to mention the plethora of options in color (they even have a special nail polish line for pregnant woman and people with sensitivity to regular nail polish), and a multitude of diffrent types of manis and pedis. They don’t even use acrylic*! They have a special type of extension exclusive to them called “virtual nails” plus UV gel tips and silk wraps. Well worth the extra money spent.

If you want to do your own tootsies at home then invest in a home foot spa. In my quest for a nice one I’ve found the best brand was the Dr. Scholl’s Sole Sensations home foot spa. At $24 its a steal and works better then the other more expensive brands. Check it out on target.com

Dead skin? You’ve seen it on TV and I’m here to tell you it really works. Yes, The PedEgg. Its great for gently removing dead skin off of your feet. I got one for my birthday and boy has it seen use. It even made the callouses on my feet smoother.

Another treat yourself at home item is a paraffin wax heater. I know target has a bunch. I used to get this done at the salon on my feet leaving them soft and relaxed. The heaters are inexpensive, and so are the wax refills.

To all out there who lust after pretty polished toes just remember to be careful! That French pedicure is NOT worth loosing a toe over!

* I’m not sure if dashing diva salons use acrylic or not. They do not list acrylic manicures as one of their options, so I’m only assuming that they don’t utilize it. Check with them before hand to see.

]]> http://luscious-deluxe.com/?feed=rss2&p=54 http://luscious-deluxe.com/?p=35 http://luscious-deluxe.com/?p=35#comments Tue, 20 May 2008 15:04:59 +0000 Allie http://luscious-deluxe.com/?p=38 I love hair. I love long hair, short hair, red hair, blue hair. Simply put I love hair. My love affair with hair didn’t start until I was in the 9th grade. That’s when my mother let me try full weaves for the very first time. Before then I was the braid queen. The closest thing I came to a weave was cornrows in the front and short sew in weave in the back. I didn’t know anything about a true weave but that they looked glamorous. Back then my idol was Beyonce and she was coming out of her braid phase into her weave phase and I wanted to be just like her with the flowing wavy hair down my back… however, I was in the 9th grade so all that extra 22 inch red carpet glam wasn’t going down in my mothers book. I settled for just the normal weave. I had some 14 inch tracks sewn in with my natural hair pulled back and I loved it!

Since that day I am what is known as a “weaveologist”. If I have to take the subway I occupy my time by spotting the females with horrible weave abominations. Its become somewhat of a sport to me, even getting my friends and my boyfriend into the action. If I was a mean girl I would have taken pics on my phone cam but I’m not that bad! However, I will share with you 8 of my biggest hair weave abominations.

9. Uneven cuts- Ever see a female with a weave that looks like it was cut with a kitchen shear? Even if you do your own weave, if you cant cut properly then please don’t! Blunt edges are in style right now, but I can tell when it was meant to be and when it was just a snap happy mistake.

8. Lumps and bumps - Ladies, I beg of you. I understand that we all don’t have the money to get that $500 weave from the master weaver that leaves you looking like it just magically grew out of your baron scalp. However, if you are going to the cheepo weavo salon or doing that jammy yourself, please please make sure your end product is laying flat on your scalp. No one wants to look like they got hit in the head with a baseball. I once saw a girl who had a nice weave with a nice cut … but a lump that looked like it had stage 4 cancer right at the top. Not sexy at all.

7. Close that closure! - If you are a tall girl like myself (I’m 5′10 baby!) then you hardly think that anyone is going to really be looking at the top of your head like that, but trust me they do. Ever been on the subway in NYC at rush hour? I’ve had the chance to be right up on people that I don’t even know without them causing a stink about it. I remember once this girl was sting down and I was directly over her and was looking at the top of her weave and noticed that her closure at the top wasn’t fully closed! I’m not a big fan of full head top closure weaves, just because (to me) they look a lot like wigs. If you or your stylist can’t fully close the weave with just normal track, then you can buy a closure piece from your local beauty supply store or just do what I do and use my own hair to make it blend and look natural.

6. Track stars - Speaking on visible parts that shouldn’t be, I don’t want to see any tracks at all! I don’t even have to say much about this one because thats just uber tacky and ..dare I say it? GHETTO.

5. When its over, its over - You know that saying “some people just don’t know when to quit?” Yes, there is a time to quit that tired looking weave. Its knotted, Its several months old, you are missing 4 tracks in the back, it smells like last week’s chicken, its synthetic and melting. Do yourself a favor and cut that out asap. I can understand if you are just going to the store real quickly in your sweatpants, but if you have on your freakum dress, with the fly girl pumps on your feet, but still rocking that tired old weave then I’m talking to you.

4. You know that isn’t your color - If you plan on wearing some of your own hair to cover the closure then do yourself a favor and make sure you have the correct color. If your hair is naturally a 1b then don’t get #4 weaving hair. Another tip I can give you is don’t just go by the color #. If you are a 1b in one brand you might be a 2 in another. That rule mostly applies to synthetic hair which I have noticed that depending on what brand the colors can drastically vary.

3. Stuck on you - Hair glue is bad for your natural hair. However, I abuse it to the max. One thing I can’t stand is seeing a girl with visible glue on the tracks and even on her forehead. I understand that most glue is black but if you are rocking light colored tracks you can get white glue or you could use liquid gold glue.

2. Is that a hard hat or your hair?- Ever see someone with just too much gel on their head? I don’t understand why some people think that a weave requires a whole gallon of black gel to stay in place! Its not natural looking, and in the summer months melts down the side of your face!

1. You ain’t foolin’ no one - This to me is the greatest weave abomination the the book. I see this all the time at least twice a day. Honey, that hair ain’t fooling no one, Especially if your hair doesn’t match the texture of the weaving hair! If you are going to wear your natural hair out in combination with the extensions then please find extensions that closely match the texture of your hair. People are always thinking about the color and not the texture of the hair. You can have tracks that are the same color as your hair, but are WAY too silky and straight to blend into your natural hair. My rule with hair (human and synthetic) is if it doesn’t feel “yaky” (because it can say yaky on the package all it wants to, doesn’t mean its not super straight) to my touch then I’m not buying it. This has come about in record numbers recently because of the popularity of Remy hair which usually is straight and silky. If you don’t have a fresh perm, or an excellent flat iron then don’t select super straight tracks! Just because its expensive (because remy hair is sold at $70+ a pack/ounce) doesn’t mean its the best for your hair. One of my favorite hairs to buy is this little known brand sold at my local beauty supply store. Its cheap at only $20 for 16-20 inches and it blends into my hair with little effort. My sister jokes that “its thick and texured because its 90% yak hair” but if it is I don’t care. It looks natural and lovely on me.

Honestly, at first when the Heatherette collection was nothing more then a mere rumor I was exited. I mean, the speculated all pink packaging, the trashy-glam style of the Heatherette clothing line, everything about that screamed “Aaaalllyyyssooonnnnn”. However, for some reason now you couldn’t get me exited about it if Will Smith was at the release party naked serving chips and dip (alright, so maybe that MIGHT get me going, but as we know that’s not going to happen…). There is something to be said about a collection who’s lip products and eyeshadows come off as bland to me. Usually, those are the core products in a Mac cosmetics collection. Everything is centered around the lippies and the shadows, if those don’t strike me good then everything else is a waste. All of Heatherette’s shadows are a waste to me because I already own similar colors. I Just cant get into the shades of the lippies being suitable for WOC (except the brightest fuschia/pink ones). Now, this could be just me talking from seeing images and NOT playing with the collection yet, or it could be because I spent over $300 on my Fafi haul and I wasn’t too crazy about all the things In that collection either (but I love Fafi so I couldn’t help myself). Honestly, though the colors aren’t all that I wanted, I wish that you could just buy the shadow trio without the shadows and put your own in there. Its just so pretty. Im going to have a real hard time passing it up. If I do end up getting one im getting #2.

Now, with that all said about the main staples of the collection…. there are some things that I just can’t see myself passing up. Ok, so I may have gave you the impression that heatherette was going to suck major booty (and hey it might) but every booty suckin’ collection has its rare gems.

The image is courtesy of Specktra.net member Blueangel1023. See her color swatches here.

I’ve had my eyes on the duel sided eye pencils for some time now. Since I was in uber lust with the soft sparkle eye pencils from the 2007 holiday line these look like they are right up my ally. At $16.00 each I think I’ll curb my appetite to just two pencils, but which ones? Oh, and to give you guys a heads up, it looks like the pencils are not waterline safe, though that’s just the rummer now. (Your waterline is the part of your lid closest to your eyeball. It usually stays moist from your natural tears so sometimes its hard to get color there anyway without it smudging)

The image is courtesy of Specktra.net member Blueangel1023.

I’m also going to get the pigments and maybe one or both of the glitters. All of the pigments and glitters are re promotes from the pro line (except Jardin Aires, that was from Strange Hybrid) but since I don’t have any of them now is a good time to help my collection (as if my collection needs anymore help).

The last and only other thing that I MAY spring for in this collection are the new lashes. “She’s Bad” is a mid length crosshatch kinda false lash. “She’s Good” looks to me like Mac #7 lashes, but since I don’t have a pair of #7’s I may just scoop these up.

Click on the more link to get the complete list of the Heatherette products and prices courtesy of our good friend Mac_Whore over at Specktra.net!

Read my updated  heatherette haul information and what I really thought of the collection in the next post!

• Lipstick $14.00USD- Lollipop Loving (G) - Mid-tone coral w/ subtle green gold iridescence (LE)
  - Fleshpot (S) - Light neutral beige (Pro)
  - Hollywood Nights (S) - Fuchsia pink (LE)
  - Melrose Mood (AC) - pastel pink (LE)
• Lipglass $14.00USD- Bonus Beat (F) - Sheer yellow beige w/ gold pearlized pigments (LE)
  - Sock Hop (C) - Soft mid-tone coral (LE)
  - Style Minx (F) - Fuchsia pink (LE)
  - Starlet Kiss (F) - Pastel pink (LE)
• Eye Trio (a 3 pan eyeshadow compact w/eyeshadows) $32.50USDEye Trio 1- Mood Ring (VP) - Pastel mint green (LE)
  - Cloudburst (V) - True black w/subtle green pearlized pigments (Repromote from Blue Storm) (LE)
  - Hoppin’ (F)- Pastel peach (LE)

  Eye Trio 2

  - Baby Petals (S) - Pastel pink (LE)
  - V.I.P. (V) - Mid-tone yellow pink LE)
  - Cassette - Blackened eggplant - (LE)

• Glitter$16.50USD- Reflects Gold - translucent glitter w/ gold reflection (Pro)
  - 3D Silver - Multi-reflective silver (Pro)
• Pigment $19.00USD- Jardin Aires (F) - Gilded peach w/ silver reflection (LE - Repromote from Strange Hybrid)
  - Pink Pearl - Mid-tone pink w/ blue reflection (Pro)
• Dual Edge Pencil (a pencil with 2 ends and 2 different colours) $16.00USD- Black Funk/Pop Blue - True black/turquoise w/ silver glitter (LE)
  - Phone Me/Text Me - Charcoal grey/metallic silver w/ silver glitter (LE)
  - Nighthawk/Front Row - Coffee brown/neutral peach w/ gold glitter (LE)
  - Fab Orchid/Dash Lily - Jewel-tone purple/mid-tone lavender w/ silver glitter (LE)

  

• Nail Lacquer $10.00USD- Lola Devine (C) - Soft mid-tone coral (LE)
  - $$$$$ Yes (F) - Metallic silver foil (pronounced “Cash Yes”)
• Beauty Powder $22.00USD- Smooth Harmony - Medium golden bronze (LE - Repromote from Dianna Ross Colection)
  - Alpha Girl - Pink w/ gold nuances (LE)
• Lashes $11.00USD- She’s Good - Similar to #7 (patent finish)
  - She’s Bad - Fishnet texture (patent finish)

Man. I have never brought this much from one Mac Cosmetics collection before in my life. I have to say though, I had a personal bias to liking this collection from jump (not just because its MAC lol!). If you follow my regular blog you will see that I have a “thing” for the french artist fafi and her girly world of Faffinettes. When I found out that mac was going to do a collection I had to jump on the bandwagon.

For the most part I liked this whole collection. At first I didn’t think it would be WOC friendly, do to most of the promotional images looking kinda pastelly. A lot of pastels (in my opinion) look chalky on darker skinned woman. I was shocked when I actualy got to see the colors in person just how WOC friendly they actually were. This is one of those rare collection which blurs color lines. You tuber Fauryn78 shows just how WOC friendly the Fafi Eyes 1 pallet is in here tutorial HERE (sorry, embedding was disabled).

Here are some Swatches and comparisons of the lip products. Colors may not be true to life being I used the flash. They are as close as I could get them though. Sorry about that. Click for larger picture.

When I first saw the Fafi L/G “Totally It” I thought of the bright L/G “Love Rules” from the very limited “A-Mei” collection. They look similar in the package, but Totally It is brighter, richer, and the glitter is finner then the fat glitter chunks found in “Love Rules”.

 These are the 4 lipsticks I purchased, though I think im going in for “High Top” when I get some extra cash. Flash-N-Dash wasn’t that orange at all. The flash didn’t capture the true color of that shade at all. The only person that I knew who could rock a orange lipstick that bright and look good in it was my Grandmother (god rest her soul)! Fun N Sexy came out more purple on my skin then bright pink which I thought was beautiful. I love purples!

 When I opened up “Squeeze It” L/G I was sad. It looked JUST like 4N. Then, when I swached it next to 4N and other browns I saw the difference. You can’t judge something just by the packaging. You have to open it up and test it to see the  true color intended.

Maybe my own Fafi Tutorial? I’m thinking about it!