MAC Face Haulage

So, I decided to just go ahead and make that move from BareMinerals on over to MAC Studio Fix Fluid (SFF).  I ended up having to visit the MAC store two days in a row because on my first visit I wasn’t matched correctly.    I knew it was wrong when I left the store, but I just went with it because my Hubby said it looked fine, which it did.

I got the SFF home, looked at it and got very unhappy.  I was matched with a NW50 and I could tell just by looking at the bottle that it was too dark.  I kept looking at myself in the mirror without foundation on and then looking at the bottle.  It was a no go.

Another thing that got me a little upset is that the MAC makeup artist (MA) said that I didn’t need any concealer.  I have very dark blemishes on my face from breakouts (I go to the Dermatologist tomorrow…thank God) and I felt that I really needed it.  I don’t want to have to build up my foundation.  I want to just even out my skin tone and then conceal my blemishes.  That’s it.  She insisted that I didn’t need it.  She also didn’t know what collection that the eyeshadow Off The Page was from and told me they didn’t have it when I was looking at it, but that is another story.  The store was busy so I’m sure maybe that threw her off a little bit.  She was nice so I can’t complain.

So, on the first visit I purchased Studio Fix Fluid Foundation in NW50 because I was told that if I have very oily skin (which I do) not to go with the Studio Sculpt Foundation which I wanted to try.  I took the MA’s advice and went with the SFF.  I also bought the Volcanic Ash Exfoliator because it was on my wantages list.  I didn’t get the mask because my funds was low so I got the eyeshadow that was also on my wantages list, Off The Page…which I LOVE LOVE by the way.  It is very pigmented, it’s easy to work with and it looks vibrant on me and stays that way all day.

Yes, I was upset with my foundation purchase so I went back to MAC the next day.  I also left my beauty notebook there on the first visit so I had to go back to get it anyway.

I get there and I get my notebook….whew!!!!  I showed the MA that went to get my notebook my foundation and he said that it matches me and that he would have picked the same shade by jut looking at me.   The foundation I had on at the time was one from Revlon and it was in “dark” and it was way lighter than NW50.  He was helping another customer before me so I didn’t get to show him my Revlon (yep, I took it to the store with me).

I guess that MA told another MA to help me because she came over and asked me if I needed any help.  Her name is Janelle and she is such a pleasure to work with.  She made all of my problems and worries go away in a matter of minutes.  I took my foundation out and I told her that it’s not right.  I also showed her my bottle of Revlon.  She pumped some Revlon on her hand and worked it into her palm and she said that it’s not right for me and that it’s too light.  She then asked me if she could remove my foundation and I let her.  She then told me that she will do half of my face in NW50 and the other in NC50.  Before she applied my foundation she put concealer under my eyes (which is where I wear my concealer normally anyway – I just apply it after I apply my foundation). She also taught me how to stipple the foundation on using the 187 brush and she told me that since I only have the 188 brush that that brush does the same job.  So now my 188 blush brush has now because my new 188 foundation brush.

While she was working on my face my husband was watching.  He then said, “I think the left side is the right color”.  The right side doesn’t look right.  He then said that the left side matched the rest of my body and the other side didn’t.  WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!  Janelle said she liked the left side better too.  So, ladies and gentz…I AM A MAC NC50.  Yay!!!!  Janelle said that the NW50 has red undertones and the NC50 has more of a yellow tone and that my skin color is on the cooler side and not on the warm side.  That made all the difference.  My confidence level went right back up after that. I gave back the NW50 in exchange for the NC50.

My MA, yes Janelle is now my MAC MA, suggested that if I go with a concealer to go with an NW because it will make my under eye area look warm and not ashy on my skin color.  She was totally spot on.  So, in Studio Fix Concealer I am an NW45.  She also set my foundation with Mineralized Skinfinish Natural (MSFN) in Dark so I bought that too.  That MSFN was on my wantages list as well, but I never got it because I didn’t really need it since I was using BareMineral Foundation.

Thank you Janelle!!!!!  Here are pics from my second visit to the MAC store…

Added Givenchy and NARS to my list…

I want everything MAC so I don’t add MAC items to my wants list, but I do add non-MAC items to it.  I call my makeup wants list “My Wantages”.  I want and I want , but I can’t always have so I just add things that I really want at the time and hope to be able to purchase it one day.  I also go back over my list from time to time and scratch things off because I’ve learned about something better.

OK so on to the two things I really want right now and have been thinking about for the past month already.  I am late on this, but I am some what new to makeup so forgive me…I am really wanting  a Givenchy Phenomen’eyes mascara badly.  There is something about that wand that I love when I look at it.  I saw Lauren Luke and Samantha from Pixiwoo (on YouTube) using this mascara in their tutorials so that’s how I learned about it.  On pay day I’m going to fly over to Sephora and pick it up right away for sure.  Price: $28.00

The other thing that I really want is the NARS Scorching Sun Eyeshadow Duo.  I have really been loving oranges for the past month so I went looking for more orangey types of makeup and came across this duo.  I did have a look see at Off the Page by MAC, but it is an OK orange color – but not as vibrant as any of the colors in Scorching Sun.  I’m still going to pick that eyeshadow up still, but it’s nothing like Scorching Sun at all.  The left side of the duo is a shimmery light orange color and the right side is shimmery orangey red color, but much more on the orange side  A little too orangey of a duo, but that’s OK with me. I must have it and when I do get it I’ll sport it during the summertime.  Price: $32.00

That’s all (for now) folks!

Was Only Supposed to Pick Up Brunette MSF but…

…I came back with a couple more things in addition to it!  I’m not surprised.  Ha!

I visited my CCO today because since my last haul I’ve been a little annoyed at myself for not purchasing  a Mineralized Skinfinish in Brunette when I picked up Blond and Redhead.  I was able to get it today and I must say that I love it.  The women of color on Youtube who I watch that bought Brunette were right…it is definitely a great MSF for dark skin.

When I swatch it it doesn’t come out chalky like my MSF in Blonde.  I sort of regret buying both Blonde and Redhead and I’m thinking about swapping it for something else on MUA or wherever.  I have tried them both a few times trying to work with them, but they don’t do anything for me that my MSF in So Ceylon (which I love love love) cannot do so…I thin they have got to go, sadly.

Someone suggested that both MSFs in Blonde and Redhead works well as highlighters for dark skin. Well, I found that concealer under my eyes works well as a highlighter and that my neutral and ligt brown eyeshadows work well on my brow bone.  I won’t say that I’m disappointed with Blonde and Redhead,b but they are just not for me.  Brunette on the other hand works well as a overall face color, as a blusher and brow highlight.  If I want to highlight parts of my face then that works too.  It does not come out chalky when swatched or applied which is weird to me because none of them should come out chalky if they are all from the same collection.  I’m not expert, but it’s what I expected.  Price $19.75.

Also, I’ve been seeing that Mineralized Skinfish Natural/Shimmer at the CCO too on the last two visits and I’m still trying to make a decision as to purchase it or not or to just go to a MAC store and just get the Mineralized Skinfish Natural in Dark.  Still thinking…I really need a natural.

Moving on, since my best friend and I are big fans of MAC pre-made quads, we had to get the Stowaways quad right away.  That was something new that came to the CCO since the last time I was there (two weeks ago) – Yay!  I noticed that Crest the Wave eyeshadow is in that quad and that is the same eyeshadow that came out in a recent collection that was released by called, “Makeup Art” (I didn’t get anything from this collection, but I will get Off the Page eyeshadow sooner or later because I’m really into the color orange right now).  It is a very lovely quad so I am happy with my purchase with this one as well.  Price $24.50.

Lastly, I came across a new addition to my CCO.  I was able to pick up a Viva Glam VI lipglass.  This was the one I really wanted two weeks ago, but they didn’t have it so I had gotten Viva Glam V lipglass which I really love too.  So now, I have V and VI…I want the others and I will definitely look out for them. Price $10.00

Oh and before I end this I wanted to add that I picked up a few Breast Cancer Awareness cards and ribbons from my CCO.  Estee Lauder donates to and supports the Breast Cancer Campaign and so do I.  I will be sporting my ribbon everyday in the month of October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  The card is very informational.  It tells you things like get screened for lumps, to check yourself regulary, eat healthy foods, exercise, watch your weight, don’t smoke and drink less…which I apply all of these plus more to my life each and every day.  I registered to do participate in a walk coming up in mid-October 2009 in support of Breast Cancer Awareness…it will be my first walk for charity ever so I am very excited!!!!

And now…here are the pics of my haul!  Again, excuse my camera as it is acting really funky today.