Makeup Swag with Shanna

I’m curious about you! What makeup products do you love and why? Is there an item that you just can’t live without?

I can’t live without eyeshadow primer! My personal favorite is Urban Decay’s Primer Potion (I’ll do a review of this soon). I have combination/oily skin and had a problem with my eyeshadow lasting throughout the day. After about two hours, my perfectly placed shadow would be creased or smudged off. While watching makeup tutorials on YouTube, I noticed that a lot of the gurus were priming their eyelids with Urban Decay’s Primer Potion. So I decided to give it a try and I’m so glad I did! Check back for a full review of this product!

What products do you love?

Review: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Smooth Merge

Retail Price – $27.00

Overview

Until recently, I never was a huge fan of blush. I always thought it made women look like they had a rash. But every now and then, I would see a lady with beautifully colored cheeks and would wonder how she achieved that look. So I took a trip to my local MAC counter and asked to try on some blush. I told the artist that I wanted something subtle, yet noticeable. She suggested that I try a mineralized skinfinish. The MAC website describes it as “A luxurious velvet-soft powder with high-frost metallic finish. Smoothes on: adds buffed-up highlights to cheeks and brows, or an overall ultra-deluxe polish to the face.” And I’d say they’re right. This product is great for beginners who aren’t ready to take the plunge into full blush mode. The color I chose, Smooth Merge, is actually three colors in one. There is a bronze pink, a mauve pink, and a pale shimmery pink. You can choose to apply just one color or mix them up. Together, they create the  perfect shade of pink for any skintone, in my opinion.

Application

This stuff glides on beautifully! It can be applied with any blush brush to the cheekbones or even under the brows. It makes a great highlighter, too. The formula is very buildable; It can be applied lightly for sheer coverage or you can create a heavier coverage by applying a bit more (I personally like sheer coverage, as you can see in the pictures below). It also lasts for quite some time, much longer than I expected.

Worth the price?

I’ll admit, $27.00 is a lot of money for blush. Heck, that’s a full tank of gas! But you get a good amount of product (9g/0.32 US oz). And because I like a lighter coverage, this will last a long time. So is it worth it? In this case, it depends on the individual. I would probably buy it again, but that’s because I absolutely love makeup. The average person, who isn’t crazy about makeup, might want to consider looking elsewhere for a cheaper alternative. Maybelline, Revlon, and many other drugstore brands make great blushes,too, but for a fraction of the cost.

This product can be purchased at www.maccosmetics.com, MAC stores, and MAC counters.

*The first picture is me without blush. The second is me with MAC’s Smooth Merge (sheer coverage)*

Review – MAC Lustreglass in Decorative

Retail Price: $14.00

Overview

I was in Macy’s not too long ago and decided to make a stop at the MAC counter. I was looking for the perfect lipgloss for the fall. Many holiday parties are coming up, so I wanted something that would go well with the season. After glancing at the selection, I decided to try their Lustreglass in Decorative. Not only does the name fit the holiday theme, but the color seemed perfect. I was excited about my new purchase and tried it on the moment I went home. The first thing I noticed about MAC Lustreglass in Decorative is the lack of color payoff. In the tube, the color appears to be a rich, vibrant burgandy pigment. But once applied, it comes off as more of a light mauve tone. Definitely not what I was expecting. Also, the color did not last very long. After about an hour, most of the color had faded. I still had a shine to my lips, but no color.

Application

The formula glides on the lips very smoothly. It comes with a brush applicator which picks up just the right amount of product but makes the application a bit longer than usual. Because the brush is not very firm, the tip can glide all over the place so you definitely have to take your time with this type of brush if you want a precise application.

Worth the price?

Overall, I’d say no. Although the formula applies very smoothly, it doesn’t seem to last longer than an hour. The brush applicator makes application time consuming. I would not recommend this product to anyone who wants a quick, easy lip application.

This product can be purchased at www.maccosmetics.com, MAC stores, and MAC counters.