My MAC Wishlist

I’m constantly adding to my ‘beauty must-buy’ list and have found my lusting for MAC products to be getting a little out of control lately.  It’s about time I made a few purchases but I can’t decide what I should get first.  I don’t even know a great deal about some of the products I want, I just know I want them (advertisers dream right here!).  Here’s my top ten items from my MAC Wishlist (trust me - there’s more than ten things I want).  I need some serious advice on what to buy!

Duo Adhesive (£10)

My standard Eyelure lash glue is starting to fail me a little bit.  I use the stuff that comes free with the strip lashes but lately I’m finding it’s just not sticky enough.  I’ve heard really good things about the Duo Adhesive including that it’s waterproof so I think I’ll be most definitely adding this one to my basket pronto.

Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation (£21.50)

Now I know it’s not for everyone but when I go out I like my make-up to have that ‘done’ look, if you know what I mean.  I’m all for ‘no make-up make-up’ but sometimes that flawless finish is just so appealing.  I’ve seen this powder foundation used in many a YouTube tutorial to fully set the face and think it could be just what I’m looking for.

Pressed Pigment (£17)

I already have one of these in my collection and it probably receives more compliments than any other eyeshadow I own.  It’s buttery soft, easy to apply and packed full to the brim with shimmery glitter.  I’d love to extend my collection with a few more of these and have my eye on the shade Day Gleam.

Prep + Prime Highlighter (£18.50)

I’m all over anything that will give me that Kardashian contoured look and this radiant creamy highlighter looks like it would do the trick.  Tanya Burr uses the shade Bright Forecast but I’m a little paler than her so don’t know if I’d suit one of the other shades more?  I’d really appreciate your help with this one so if you could let me know your thoughts in the comments that would great.

219 Pencil Brush (£21)

MAC fan or not - you have to agree their brushes are simply the best.  Overpriced, yes but I’m yet to find another brand that can live up to them.  The next one I’m after is the Pencil Brush as I think the shape of the bristles looks perfect for getting in the crease and adding shadow below the eye.

Eye Kohl in Teddy (£14)
I never thought I’d see the day that I’d favour brown eyeliner over black but when a kohl is a gorgeous as this I can’t resist.  Smudgy and sultry, I think this shade would accentuate my brown eyes beautifully.  Points for the super cute name too! 

Lipstick in Twig (£15.50)
You may be able to tell but I’m a little Kardashian krazy at the moment and I’m lusting after MAC’s Twig lipstick as it’s apparently the shade Kylie Jenner uses to get ‘those’ lips.  WANT.  WANT.  WANT. 

Travel Size Strobe Cream (£10)
I’ve been meaning to buy this for ages and I’m not entirely sure why I haven’t to be honest.  Strobe Cream can either be used alone or mixed with foundation to give you that glow from within.  I’m going to opt for the travel size as it’s half the price and the perfect trial amount.

Powder Blush in Frankly Scarlett (£18)
I admit it.  This shade of blush looks terrifying.  However, used with the right brush and a light hand it can look amazing.  I’m fast-forwarding to Autumn days where I’d wear this with pale skin and lashings of mascara to create that ‘just come in from the cold’ look.  Perfection!

Fix + (£15.50)
Another product that’s been on my lust list for years now.  Fix + is quite simply a vitamin and mineral infused water designed to feed the skin and give it the vital goodness which it needs.  This would be great on holiday to freshen up your face when poolside.  I think it’s time I bought it.

And there you have it - the top ten MAC products I want NEED in my life right now.  I’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions.  Which ones do I need?  Which ones aren’t worth it?  Sharing is caring girls.  Let me know!

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What's On My Face: The Office Edition

Max Factor’s Instant Complexion Enhancer CC Cream (£9.99) | Paul & Joe’s Limited Edition Pressed Powder UV (£28) | MAC Powder Blush in Supercontinental | Maybelline’s Mega Plush Volum’ Expess mascara (£7.99) | Benefit Browzings Brow Shaping Kit (£23.50) | Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant (£25)

Every morning I’m faced with the same old predicament: get up and apply some makeup or have an extra ten minutes in bed.  You can guarantee I choose my bed every time.  However, I’m not brave enough to go to work barefaced so have to try to make myself look presentable with a limited amount of time and a few products.

When I don’t have time to sit and blend in my foundation, the Max Factor’s Instant Complexion Enhancer CC Cream comes in really handy.  It’s more like a tinted moisturiser than a foundation so doesn’t need as much work.  It’s light and refreshing yet gives me good coverage.  If needs be I top up with a little concealer.  I forgot to photograph it but no prizes for guessing which one I use (Collection’s  Lasting Perfection concealer - review here).

I have to add powder when I need my makeup to last all day and my current dusting of choice comes from Paul & Joe’s Limited Edition Pressed Powder UV.  It contains finely milled glitter which adds a sheen to my face - the perfect pick me up for when I’m at work.  Onto blush and my usual office choice is MAC Powder Blush in Supercontinental, a bright yet natural coral shade.  It’s perfect for giving me a bit of a flush whilst not being too OTT or girly.  Unfortunately it was a limited edition from a collection last year so you will find it hard to hunt it down.  I’m using it sparingly!

Now for the eye area.  I tend to keep my eyes really simple whilst at work because as you nine-to-five girls know, too much tired eye-rubbing will leave you looking like an office zombie.  I apply a good few lashings of Maybelline’s Mega Plush Volum’ Expess mascara to keep my peepers looking wide awake.  I didn’t get on with this mascara at first as I found the formula rather runny and hard to work with but I persevered and glad I did.  I fill in my browns using the amazing Browzings duo from Benefit.  As you can see, the wax (left) is my favourite but I stick to the powder (right) during the day for a subtle look.

Finally, the lips.  Whenever I wear bright lipstick during the day at work I’m often asked if I’m going out afterwards and I get sick of saying “no I just like fancy a change!”  Can’t a girl wear a bit of bright lippy if she pleases?  Jeez!  Most days I opt for a touch of lip balm to keep my lips soft but glossy.  I make sure I keep it on my desk and top up during the day, especially in the colder weather.  My all time favourite lip balm is the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant.  If you don’t have this in your makeup bag then why not?  It cures an array of ailments and I love how soft it makes my lips feel.

And there you have it.  This whole routine takes around 10 minutes and is so fool proof it can be done when half asleep.  I plan on doing a few more What’s On My Face posts so let me know other ‘faces’ you would like to see.

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MAC Girl About Town Lipstick

 MAC Girl About Town Lipstick (£15)

It’s been a while since I’ve done a MAC lipstick review so I thought I’d spoil you all on this Sunday evening and show you which shade has been gracing my lips of late.  

Girl About Town is bright fuchsia pink shade from MAC’s permanent lipstick line.  It had been on my wish list for some time and when I came to the conclusion that I didn’t have a shade like this one in my collection, I decided to treat myself.  It’s what MAC call an ‘amplified’ formula which means that although it’s very pigmented, it’s also very moisturising and won’t dry your lips out.  The colour has cool blue undertones to it which help to make your teeth look whiter too - another perk!

I find myself reaching for this when my makeup is missing something and I need a bit of zhuzh.  It not only brightens up my lips but my whole face too.  I really like the name.  Girl About Town is playful and reminds me of going out on the town with my girlfriends for a cocktail or two...or three!  I smile just thinking about this shade :) And for that reason my friends, I deem it a very worthy member of my MAC collection.

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PS.  I would just like to add that is my 100th blog post!  I can't believe I've wrote 100 posts!  Thank you to everyone who reads and follows Something Kinda Cloughton.  You have no idea how much I enjoy writing it and your support means so much to me   ♥ 

MAC Neon Orange Lipstick

 MAC Neon Orange Lipstick (£14)

MAC’s All About Orange collection is now available in stores and wow, there’s so much love for it!  I thought the colour orange would be something that most people would shy away from but it seems a lot of people are feeling rather brave and embracing it.  And why not?  It’s such a gorgeous collection.  How are we supposed to resist?  I’ve already reviewed the Sweet & Sour lipstick, a peachy, cutesy orange which I’m obsessed with, but here’s a little something on the opposite end of the orange spectrum for you.  

Neon Orange is a super bright shade which really packs a punch.  Probably not for the faint hearted, this colour screams ‘look at me‘ whilst staying classy and remaining very wearable.  If I’m being honest I don’t think neon is the right word to describe this colour.  Looking at other MAC lipsticks, I would say the likes of ‘Show Orchid’ or ‘Candy Yum Yum‘ were truer neon shades.  I think this is a very, very bright orange but I know that doesn’t sound half as good for a lipstick name so I can see why MAC went with what they did.  The amplified formula means that the colour applies opaque to the lips in one or two slicks and is very rich.  Despite being so pigmented I find it still leaves a trace of gloss which feels really moisturising.  There’s nothing worse than when you love the colour of a lipstick but it really dries your lips out.  

I know there’s a lot of comparisons currently being made between this and MAC’s cult shade Morange but I haven’t tried the latter so I can’t comment yet.  Morange is on my lust list so I shall give you my two cents on the matter once I’ve tried it out.  I’m in no rush though because Neon Orange is fulfilling all of my ‘loud orange lipstick’ needs right now.  I wore it one night last week to help change my outfit from day to night and it instantly picked me up.  My face looked brighter and even my teeth looked a little whiter.  The things a little bit of lipstick can do eh?  Amazing!  Another fabulous offering from the All About Orange collection!  

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MAC Sweet & Sour Lipstick

 MAC Sweet & Sour lipstick (£14)

A newly released MAC collection will have any make-up lover’s heart racing but a collection which includes seven, yes seven, brand new shades of lipstick will just about give us a cardiac arrest.  The much anticipated All About Orange range has finally launched and I’ve bagged myself a few beauties.  Inspired by the colour which is sweeping Korea, Asia and soon to be the rest of the world, this collection includes a gorgeous mix of powder blushes, nail polishes, lipsticks, glosses, an eye-shadow quad and as the name suggests, is all about the colour orange!

Being the lipstick lover that I am I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the new shades so picked up several of them.  I also grabbed a blush too but I’m going to review everything in individual posts so it doesn’t get too long.  First to catch my eye was Sweet & Sour, a creme sheen formula lipstick with a simply divine unique colour.  As you can see this isn’t a bright, ‘in your face’ orange so is definitely one to try if you’re a bit colour shy.  The shade is described as a ‘soft peach cream’ which fits the bill perfectly.  It does have orange undertones but it definitely airs more on the side of peachy/light coral.

As the formula is a cremesheen, the lipstick isn’t too pigmented.  Therefore, you can give lips a quick slick for a more sheer effect or build up the color with lots of layers for something a little more bold.  I went for it and applied a generous amount.  It lasts around two to three hours as it’s quite a glossy finish so top ups will be required throughout the day.  My lips looked fresh and my whole face was brightened by the colour - as was my mood!  Orange just reminds me of my bright sunny summer days (nothing like the weather today!)

I am in love with this lippy as I don’t have anything else like it in my lipstick collection.  I’m more of a pinks, purples and reds kind of girl so having some orange on my lips is a nice change.  I can’t wait to try out the rest of the collection so watch out for the rest of my reviews which will be coming soon.  Unfortunately, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but Sweet & Sour is already sold out on MAC’s website.  That’s just made you want it that little bit more hasn’t it?  Don’t fret - you may be able to pick it up in the shops but I would be quick as this is a limited edition collection and they don’t half sell out fast.  Eek!  Maybe I should go and buy some more?

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MAC Viva Glam Nicki Lipstick

 Viva Glam Nicki Lipstick (£14.00)

The launch of the new MAC Viva Glam Nicki 2 lipstick has had me burrowing into the depths of my lip product drawer to find an old favourite of mine, Ms Minaj's first Viva Glam offering. Released in February last year, this shade is a must have for bright lip lovers and Nicki fans alike.  And the best part?  The full price of all Viva Glam lipsticks goes to the MAC Aids Fund which helps people suffering with aids worldwide.  Finally, a lippy you can purchase and feel guilt free!

I really love the colour of this lipstick.  It’s a bright, fresh, pink with yellow undertones that make it look a little more peachy than Barbie pink and it works well with most skin tones.  The formula is satin which means it’s long wearing and is supposed to be moisturising however, it’s not the case for me.  I wore this last week when I was out all day attending the One Direction concert (my lips had to look kissable for Harry!) and although I didn’t need to top up the colour much, when I did reapply it towards the end of the night I noticed my lips had really dried out.  That’s nothing a little vaseline in between top ups won’t solve but it is a little disappointing.  Still, it wouldn’t put me off wearing this shade because it’s too lovely not to wear!

I’m really debating buying the Nicki 2 lipstick which is in shops now but I’m a little scared of the lilac colour and I really don’t know if if it will suit me.  I have nothing like it in my collection so it would be very unique but I don’t know how wearable it is.  I think I need to go into MAC and have a little play (any excuse!).  What about you?  Do you love the Nicki Viva Glam lipstick?  Are you going to purchase the new one?  Let me know!

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MAC Saigon Summer Lipstick

MAC Saigon Summer Lipstick (£14)*

Saigon Summer is the perfect colour for bold lip lovers.  It's a super bright orange frost formula by MAC and I couldn't wait to try this lipstick.   The colour looks a lot brighter in the bullet than when it's applied to my lips and it takes a few slicks to achieve a fully opaque colour.  The MAC frost formulas can be known to be a little drying but I didn’t have any issues with Saigon Summer and found it quite moisturising.  It lasts a a good few hours too before it needs a top up.    

It’s a wearable, fun shade and great for perking up any outfit.  I wore this lipstick when wearing an all black outfit and I feel it really changed it up a little and made the outfit less boring.  I think it would be perfect for - as the name suggests - Summer!  I’m looking forward to wearing it with an all white outfit and a tan (please hurry warmer weather...we’re so over the cold!)  Overall, a great addition to any MAC lover’s lipstick collection and one to try if you’re not afraid of colour!

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MAC Studio Fix Fluid

MAC Studio Fluid Fix (£20.50)

Sometimes I find myself in a bit of a make-up rut.  If I come across something I like I stick to it, hence the reason I've used the same foundation since I was 16.  I'd been ever faithful to L'oreal Infallible but following many months of denial and picture after picture of my make up looking 'a bit iffy', I accepted the fact I needed a change.  I can't pinpoint what was wrong with L'oreal Infallible other than the fact it just didn't suit my skin anymore.  It was time to look for something new and so the hunt for the perfect foundation began.

I decided my first stop would be my favourite make up brand and after many recommendations from friends and beauty blogs, I settled on MAC Studio Fluid Fix in NW20.  At £20.50 for 30ml it was almost twice the price of what I was currently paying for my base but I'd pay double again for the perfect product.  I was matched by one of the counter girls and happily skipped away thinking my foundation woes were over.  I was wrong.  Before this post starts to get really negative I want to say that I do LOVE the way this foundation looks on my skin.  It's a great colour match (well done counter girl) and makes my skin look fresh and bright.  I only needed a few pumps to achieve full coverage and it was great at covering blemishes and imperfections.  Imagine my disappointment when I realised a few weeks down the line that it was the foundation itself that was causing said spots and pimples.  In fact, it was completely breaking me out!  I've had breakouts in the past but have never been able to pinpoint the cause to a specific product.  This time, it was undoubtedly the foundation so I had no other choice but to stop using it.

Reading a few forums online, it seems as though I'm not the only person to have had issues with this product.  My skin for reference is combination and can get a little sore during the colder months but I wouldn't say it was particularly sensitive.  Since I've stopped using it my face has cleared a little but it's not completely back to normal yet.  It's so disappointing because breakout aside I really liked this product and wouldn't want to put anyone off buying it.  Instead, I would recommend asking for a 7 day sample first just to be sure you're skin is okay before fully committing to buying.  I know that's what I will be doing in future as the search for my perfect foundation continues.

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