July 18, 2008

MAC Colour Forms Swatches and Review

Grrr I’m so peeved with myself! Last night as soon as I got off work I picked up my best mate Jai and we took our fabulous selves off to Nordies to get the low down on the Nordstrom Exclusive MAC Colour Forms Collection (plus see the other exclusive bits and bobs)!

When we got there we headed to the MAC counter first and I was told that the pressed powder was sold out! UGH! I was so disappointed as this was the item I was the most excited about! My MA told me virtually everything was gone aside from two or so each of the new pigment shades, a few palettes, three shades of the highlighters (the rest were gone, gone, gone!) and the brush sets. Can you believe it? Who knew it would go this quickly!!!!!!!

I normally pre-book everything in advance but since I’m always seen these exclusives pop up at my local CCO a few months later at killer deals I was playing it safe by waiting until the date of release but sadly I got turned out in the cold! Can you believe it? The Muse missing out on MAC! Don’t they know who I am?

It’s not all bad as I can get it online but still! Damnit!

On top of that horror story I thought that the new green pigment was a re-promote of “Golders Green” so I skipped it…I got home and realized it’s called Glided Green! Someone shoot me please?

So the Muse is only bringing you part of my haul and the rest will come next week after my order ships from Nordies website!

Jai ended up with zero which is very unlike him as he’s like me and collects all the palettes. He was either suffering from some unknown disease last night or he just wasn’t too thrilled with MAC Color Forms. I can’t blame him too much as it really wasn’t too much to get excited about.

Do not get me wrong. There are some sincerely beautiful things in this collection but I just felt a little tiny bit meh about it. I ended up hauling one palette (very unlike me), one lipstick, and three piggies! $126 USD later I left swinging my bag and humming a happy tune!

Again, very unlike me but I only picked up one of the two palettes. I’d normally grab both but the Cool Eye palette was just blah. Not great colors at all! However, the Warm Eye palette was simply divine and well worth grabbing. It’s a perfect selection of great Fall colors plus it’s a design I haven’t personally seen from MAC before so that alone makes it unique!

The compact design is pretty much identical to last year’s Novel Twist. It’s a solid rectangle box with a flip lid, magnetic closure, and fabric cover. Aside from it’s bright green material cover it’s virtually the same exact compact style as last year’s design. Unlike last year’s five shadow line up this is a tiny bit different. Yes, it does contain five shadow shades but instead of a straight line placement they now have three shadows facing the standard upwards position and two shades that are laying on the side.

It’s an interesting set up for the palette and as I said I’ve never seen MAC do a palette like this. They choose to make the two shadows on the left hand side bigger sizes or at least they look bigger to me. The two lightest shades that you’d use as a base and highlighter are the shades that they give you more of (or it appears to be more but it could be just the set up!).

The color selection is pretty much a very nice array of Fall colors. Granted it’s probably very similar to past MAC palettes but I really like it anyway. I might be bias because I just enjoy MAC palettes but this seems really pretty to me.

MAC Colour Forms Warm Eye Palette versus Novel Twist Warm Eye Palette

Colors included are:

Chillproof-Creamy white comparable MAC Eyeshadow in Mylar or Nyon
Tancentric- Pale Rose
Rolled Gold-Smoky Khaki Green
Rustic-Cranberryish Shade comparable to MAC Eyeshadow in Cranberry
Fertile-Matte Chocolate Brown

Personally I like the palette and I think it’s worth picking up! It has a nice healthy array of Fall colors plus if you’re a collector you’re going to want one!

The lipsticks released with MAC Colour Forms are unique and again, not something I have seen from MAC prior to this. They contain a lip color that surrounds a core pearl finished core. Let me tell you it looks really pretty but it does nothing. The color I selected was Rose Go Around and it’s a gorgeous maroon red while the inside houses a peachy, gold shimmering core. It’s lovely, truly it is but that core doesn’t really do much that I see? Once I apply I just get beautiful, pigmented off red lips. I’m not really noticing any gold shimmer to my lips….I’m not even noticing that the lipstick applies easier or has some sort of moisturizing benefits due to the new core. Nada. Very nice to look at and definately worth picking up as the shades available are very nice but don’t get it because you’re thinking that the core will give your lips a slick look. That’s not the case, it applies as any other MAC lipstick would.

And finally, something I think everyone always gets excited about, the piggies! It’s always very exciting when MAC does some new pigments. It’s not something they do often and I think it makes everyone very happy when they do release new shades! I had two of the shades already so I ended up with three total and a fourth that I thought I had as I mentioned but didn’t get. Damnit! Review for that one later.

Repromotes are Steel Blue and Jardin Aires. Steel Blue shouldn’t even be a repromote actually..I believe Pro sales it or at the very least MAC’s website carries it or stores. Unsure but it’s definately available around somewhere! Jardin Aires was released with a collection that the name escapes me at the moment but it’s a color you’ll definately want to grab up if you missed it the first time around. It’s a creamy beige, peachy shade!

Now new colors that have never been released prior to Colour Forms are Royal Flush, Tea Time, and Circa Plum. Get all three if you have the spare cash as they are very nice shades for Fall. They aren’t very Muse-like but they are very pretty especially Royal Flush which is kinda like a lighter shade of MAC Cranberry in pigment form! Cool!

Royal Flush-Cranberry Shade
Tea Time-Simply a light brown
Circa Plum-Plummy purple

I guess that’s pretty much it! All in all it’s a pretty nice selection of items from MAC. I’m not really jumping around doing cartwheels over it but I think it’s worth checking out for yourself because there are a few items in the collection that you might want to see, swatch, or buy! And as always I highly recommend the brush sets, these are such a killer deal and it works out to like $10 USD per a brush if you do indulge! Good one!

Head on into Nordstrom to check out MAC Colour Forms for yourself or click on over to Nordies site and see it for yourself!

Expect a review of the highlighter/blush powders and Glided Green pigment shortly!

Here’s a simple Face of the Day using MAC Colour Forms Warm Eye Palette. I used Chillproof as a highlighter, Tancentric all over the and creaase, Rustic on the crease and V, and finished off with Rolled Gold on the lower lash line. On my lips I’m wearing the MAC Color Forms Lipstick in Rose Go Around.

So tell me…….

What did you haul?

What did you stash? What did you trash?

Love MAC Color Forms?

Not for you?

Tell the Muse!

Get your MAC cravings filled by clicking through past posts!

Check out what I hauled from Nordstrom’s Exclusive MAC Collection Novel Twist from last year!

MAC Sonic Chic Review

MAC Neo Sci-Fi Review

MAC Dazzleglass Review

MAC Naughty Nauticals Review

MAC Dress Camp Review

Fafi for MAC Review

MAC C-Shock Review

43 Comments

July 18, 2008

Philosophy Green Apple 3 in 1 Shower Gel Review

Mmmmm look what I found hanging out at my local Nordies:

I had blogged about Philosophy Green Apple 3 in 1 Shower Gel a few weeks ago but I hadn’t been around Nordstrom for a while to get my hands on it. Last night I hopped into Nordies to have a look at MAC Colour Forms and the bright, neon color of Green Apple lured me to the display.

I didn’t order this online because I was a bit worried I’d be disappointed. Philosophy makes great shower gels but sometimes they are lacking and scents are really hit and miss! However, we have a total winner with the new Green Apple scent!

The Muse loves it! I used it this morning and I can’t rave enough about the delicious smell. It’s very true to it’s name and smells like a crunchy green apple but the best part of all is the cocktail of sweet versus sour. It smells like a sour apple jolly rancher candy! Mmmmm! It has that sweet scent with a nice sour edge and kick. They captured the essence of a sour candy beautifully!

I have to say I have had my share of disappointments with Philosophy Shower Gels and I am slightly choosy when I purchase a new one. But they really did an outstanding job with this one. I felt like the scent was more pronounced and stronger in comparison to older releases. I also noticed that it seemed to sud up more and offered tons and tons of luxurious foam!

If you like sweet scents with a bit of a kick this one is for you!

The Muse gives it a big Muse Approval for purchase!

Grab this one up for yourself!

Want it?

Tried it already?

Love it?

What’s in your shower?

Tell the Muse!

Grab some more great Shower and Bath reviews and posts by clicking below!

Bath and Body Works Hello Sugar! Review

Philosophy Bubbly Shower Gel Review

Bath and Body Works Sassy Strawberry Three in One Shower Gel

A Slice of Soap! Check out these cute Slice of Cake shaped soaps!

Philosophy Sugar Plum Fairy Gift Set

A round up of Basin products!

Bath and Body Works Fall and Winter Collection Round Up

Philosophy Pink Lemonade Collection Review

L’Occitane en Provence Verbena Collection Review

7 Comments

July 18, 2008

Gosh Cosmetics Fall Collection 2008: Spellbound

Gosh Cosmetics has been on my hit list for a while. I read about it everywhere and I’ve seen some raving reviews. It’s a Denmark brand that recently hit our shores and is available for purchase online.

Gosh Cosmetics has tempted me for so long and I think I’m going to finally indulge in a few purchases to see if it lives up to all the hype I hear. The Fall Collection looks stunning in particular the eyeshadow trios!

See of yourself if you don’t believe me:

That cranberry pink trio shall be mine! Hmmmm…expect a review soon! The collection consists of four new Effects colors (these are loose shimmering pigments), four new shades of eyeshadow trios, two new colors of shimmering of the eyeshadow stick, and three new shades of eye liner.

Find out more about the Fall Collection by clicking here!

Have you tried Gosh?

Love it?

Want to try it out?

Tell the Muse!

Get your Beauty Abroad fill by clicking through some past posts!

Indonesian Cosmetic Brands

Korean Cosmetic Brands

An Introduction to Japanese Cosmetic Brands

Purchase your Dior abroad!

19 Comments

July 18, 2008

Sephora The Lash Stash

How awesome is this?

This kit contains an array of various mascaras so you can test them out prior to committing to a full size. $28 USD nabs you seven designer brand mascaras!

I think this is simply awesome. I hate purchasing mascara and later finding out it’s rubbish this allows you to try it out prior to buying the full size to see if it’s really something worth purchasing! So cool!

It works out to about $4 USD per a sample size of each mascara and that’s not really alot since you’ll probably get more than a months use out of each sample. Plus they are the perfect size for travel!

The kit includes all of the following:
Benefit BADgal
Blinc Kiss Me Mascara
Lorac Publicity Stunt Lashes
Smashbox Bionic Mascara
Stila Multi-Effect Mascara
Sephora Brand Lash Plumper
Too Faced Lash Injection

Even though I normally wear Japanese brand mascara only I think the kit is a genius idea!

Props to Sephora for this one!

Sephora Atomic Maximum Volume Mascara Review

Maybelline The Colossal Volum’ Express Mascara Review

L’Oreal Telescopic Mascara Review

Urban Decay “Color” Big Fatty Mascara Review

Spinlash Review

Bourjois Paris Clubbing Mascara Review

Majolica Majorca Mascara Review

KATE Gel Mascara Review

22 Comments

July 17, 2008

Pop Beauty Lip Lust Review

Have you ever successfully completed a tube of lipstick? Am I the only one in the world that has the hardest time in the world using one up?

If you have this problem too you might be interested in trying out Pop Beauty’s new Lip Lust Lipstick! These tiny tubes house a hydrating, moisturizing lipstick that’s sheer and natural with a beautiful glossy finish.

I tested out Dewy Toffee which is a nude peach. The color gave me a beautiful, natural look that went beautifully with my MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Shimpange. I’m particularly smitten with the glossy finish on these and I love how they simply glide onto my lips not to mention give my lips much needed moisture on hot days.

The packaging is simply sweet! Since this isn’t a full size lipstick you can easily slip it into your makeup bag for touch ups without taking a ton of room. The size makes it equally charming for the simple fact you can actually get through the entire tube where as with full size lipsticks I’m normally ditching them because I can’t get through them within a year or two and by that time they are long since old, dry, gross, and germ ridden! If you’re familiar with Lavshuca’s Jewel Lips Mini the Pout Beauty Lip Lust is comparable in size to this.

All in all it’s a rather great Summer lip stick as it offers a beautiful glossy finish plus plenty of moisturizing benefits to keep your lips shiny and hydrated in the hot sun!

The Muse digs it!

Check it out at Sephora!

Tried it?

Can you get through an entire tube of lipstick?

Love Pout?

Tell the Muse!

Pop Smokey Rose Palette Review

Pop Day to Play Palette Review

Pop Rose Belle Blush Palette Review

Pop Lid Neon Palette Review

Pop Eye Cake Review

28 Comments