PRODUCT REVIEW - M.A.C._ Semi Precious Collection

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"Imagine the impact, gleam and depth of colour as ethically mined minerals from Brazil work their mystique on Mineralize Skinfinish and Mineralize Blush. Limited edition....Get rich while you can!”

So I made a trip last week to the MAC Pro store to re-purchase a Pro product I ran out of. To my surprise it's been over a year since I last purchased anything from M.A.C. and my Pro card was expired. (Booo!)  But the good news is that I got chance to check out the new Semi Precious collection in person. I'm not a huge M.A.C. aficionado but I have to admit, most of the products in this collection are gorgeous!

Since I was already in the store I decided to play and swatch all the products in the collection....be prepared to fall in love. This collection of products launched online and in MAC stores last Wednesday so if you like any of the colors get out your credit card immediately!

Semi Precious Eyes

Mineralize Eye Shadow ($20.00)

[from left to right, indoor light and natural light]

"Quartz Fusion" - soft pink, silver and deep pink

"Jade's Fortune" - bright yellow, blue, lime and black

"Faux Gold" - coral, gold, lime and bronze

 

"Clarity" - light pink, off-white, green, gold and black

"Mineral Mode" - white base with copper and grey

"Unsurpassable" - green, teal, purple and copper

"Blue Sheen" - navy, black and peach

"Hint of Sapphire" - pink, violet, teal, copper and blue

"Rare Find" - violet, brown and gold

Missing from Display (SOLD OUT):

"Golden Glaze" - pink and gold

"Dark Indulgence" - forrest green and black

"Smoked Ruby" - burgundy and black'

Semi-Precious Colour

 Lipstick ($20.00)

[from left to right, indoor light and natural light]
"Musky Amethyst" - deep plum (Frost)

"One of a Kind" - midtone rosy neutral (Lustre)

"Gem of Roses" - midtone strawberry pink (Lustre) SOLD OUT

"Lush Amber" -light nude beige (Lustre)

Cremesheen Glass  ($18.50)

 

[from left to right, indoor light and natural light]
"Richly Revered" - deep plum brown
"Looks Like Sin" -midtone reddish plum
"Geo Pink" - strawberry pink
"Natural Flare" - light caramel nude
"Pure Magnificence" - light grey pink

Mineralize Blush  ($23.50)

 

[from left to right, indoor light and natural light]
"Warmth of Coral" - coral and peach
"Pressed Amber" - nude, beige and brown
"Feeling Flush" - pink, deep blue pink, and brown SOLD OUT

Mineralize Skinfinish  ($28.50)

 

[colors from left to right - base, inner circle and mixed with indoor light and natural light]
"Semi Precious Crystal Pink" - Base: pink champagne, Inner Circle: pink, dirty green and bronze
"Semi Precious Pearl" - Base: beige champagne, Inner Circle: white, plum and bronze SOLD OUT
 
"Rose Quartz" - Base: rosy pink, Inner Circle: deep blue pink, and brown SOLD OUT 
"Semi Precious Goldstone" - Base: brown, Inner Circle: rosy pink, white, and gold 

Semi Precious Skin

Mineralized Charged Water ($22.00)
Mineralize SatinFinish spf 15 Foundation ($29.50)
Mineralize Face + Body Lotion ($29.50) SOLD OUT

Also part of the Semi Precious collection were two new brushes: # 179 Angled Split Fibre Buffer Brush ($47.00) and Split Fibre Blush Brush ($32.00)


My top picks from the M.A.C. Semi Precious collection are as follows:
Mineralize Eyeshadows in “Blue Sheen”, “Hint of Sapphire”, "Rare Find" and "Clarity"
Mineralize Skinfinishes in “Semi Precious Pearl” and “Semi Precious Gold Stone”
Semi-Precious Lipstick in “Lush Amber” and "One of a Kind"
Cremesheen Gloss in “Natural Flare” and “Geo Pink”
Mineralize Charged Water and Mineralize Face + Body Lotion
 
The only product I didn't like for myself was the Mineralize Blushes - they looked chalky and ashy on my deep skin tone. Not one of the colors worked which was disappointing. I especially loved the the Mineralize Eye Shadows...I tried to duplicate their color and effect using other mineral products but it just didn't work. Guess I'll have to pay full price for those little gems. I also really liked the Mineralize Skinfinishes as well - I would use them as highlighter or layer over blush though, instead of over my whole face.

So what do you think dear Readers? Are any of you planning to buy products from this MAC Limited Edition collection? I've heard through the social network "grapevine" that this is a much anticipated collection and its going fast so if you like anything, I'd advise buying it ASAP my darlings.  Happy shopping!!!

PRODUCT REVIEW - AROMALEIGH COSMETICS: Hi-Fi Retro Matte Collection

If you're not a fan of Twitter than I suggest you jump on the social networking bandwagon asap!  Yet again, thanks to the marvel of Twitter, I've become friends with another awesome cosmetic company.  Kristen Leigh Bell, better known as Miss K., is Aromaleigh Cosmetic's President & Creative Director and a real sweetheart (not to mention color genius). I encourage you all to follow her on Twitter (aromaleigh_MMU).

Aromaleigh is a cutting-edge, indie mineral cosmetics company at the forefront of the mineral makeup revolution. Since 1998, Aromaleigh has been micro-formulating quality mineral makeup to the highest standards to give consumer's an endless spectrum of colors and skin-healthy mineral cosmetics at affordable prices. Luckily for myself and a few other Beauty Bloggers we got the opportunity to review Aromaleigh's newest collection. Aromaleigh's Hi-Fi Retro Matte Collection features 20 shades of bright and vivid matte mineral makeup. 

I asked my friend and Hairstylist extraordinare, Lurlene Lewis, to be my model for this makeup review. With the matte colors in this collection I was able to create Mod/60's inspired, slightly "Retro Barbie" makeup looks (see below).
*You can click on images to enlarge the photo.

 

LOOK #1:

Eyes:  "Kookie" -The girliest cool pink ever (used on inner eye & brow bone),
"Cool It" -Vivid bright spaced-out blue (crease & outer corner of eye)
"Supermirgatroid" - Intense coral orange (slightly above the crease of eye)
"Got Dibs" - Warm toned purple (used wet as liner on lower lid),
"What's Shakin'" -  Cool toned purple (used over other color on lower lash line)
Cheeks: "Supermirgatroid" - Intense coral orange
Lips: "Cranked" - Slightly muted coral red mixed w/alittle Bilkerdijk clear gloss
* Also used: Bilkerdijk Custom Blend Foundation, Black Liquid Liner and Black Mascara

 LOOK #2:
Eyes: "Real Gone" - Bright lemony yellow (used on inner eye & brow bone),
"In Orbit" - wicked chartreuse green (center of lid, up & slightly above crease),
"Ankle Biter" -  Warm-toned orange (in outer corner & crease),
"Radioactive" - A vivid cool green (used wet on lower lash line)
Cheeks: Mixed "Train Wreck" - Wow pinked red  and "Flip Your Lid" - atomic orange
Lips:"Cat's Pajamas" - matte coral with warm orange tones mixed w/alittle Bilkerdijk clear gloss
* Also used: Bilkerdijk Custom Blend Foundation, Black Liquid Liner and Black Mascara


I'm usually more of a shimmer, rather than matte, makeup kind of girl but I liked alot of the colors in this collection. And even though they are matte, the colors in the Hi-Fi Retro Matte Collection are very pigmented and bright. I just wish there were a few darker, more intense colors.  Despite this fact I will definitely be checking out more color collections from Aromaleigh in the near future. How about you?


* Received samples of Hi-Fi Retro Matte Collection to review. 

BEAUTÉ MINÉRAL COSMETICS CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

Hello my Lovelies!

Here's the 2 lucky "Karen'sWorldofBeauty" Readers who have won the Beauté Minéral Cosmetics Giveaway featuring 2 Fall Eyeshadow sets:

Mimz (thriftybeauty) and Nicki (Nicnacbeauty)

Thanks to everyone who entered the contest...I really appreciate your support of my Beauty Blog!

And don't despair, if you weren't lucky enough to win you can still get your beauty fix by going to Beauté Minéral website to purchase any of their natural mineral makeup products.

I'll try to sponsor a new contest each month so keep checking back and seeing what's new in Karen's World of Beauty!!!

Smooches!
Karen

PRODUCT REVIEW & READER GIVEAWAY- Beauté Minéral Cosmetics

Thanks to the modern wonder of Twitter I've had the opportunity to virtually "met" and chat with a variety of small, niche brand cosmetic and skincare companies. Amy Phillips of Beauté Minéral Cosmetics is one of the people I've become friends with on Twitter and FaceBook.  Amy was kind enough to send me some of her mineral cosmetic products to test so I created the makeup look below using items from her line:

PRODUCTS USED:

1. Beauté Balm
2. Pure and Natural Mineral Powder Foundation by Beauté Minéral: BO – 117 (mixed with my own mineral sunscreen to create creamy foundation)
3. Charming Cheeks Face Color by Beauté Minéral: CK – 305Sk
4. Alluring Eyes Shadow and Liner Color by Beauté Minéral in: BW-202, PL-203, PL-204
5. Lipstick: 151
   

Also used: Lancôme: Hypnôse Custom Volume Mascara in “Black” and Bilkerdijk: Concealer in “Fawn” and Eye Brow Pencil in “Brown”

Here's alittle more information about Beauté Minéral makeup:

-    FD&C-free / D&C-free
-    Bismuth Oxychloride-free
-    Oil-free
-    Paraben-free
-    Talc-free
-    Fragrance-free
-     Cruelty-free (never tested on animals)
-    Made with pure mineral pigments only

Amy has also been kind enough to sponsor a Reader Giveaway for "Karen'sWorldofBeauty" Readers! The Giveway features 2 Fall Eyeshadow sets:

PL-203M (dark matte purple)
PL-204Sk (light shimmery purple)

GN-204M (dark matte green)
GN-206Sk (med. shimmery green)

*Included in each eye set is a neutral Lipstick: #95 - a nude pink color.

Beauté Minéral - The Worry-free Makeup: Pure + Natural Mineral Makeup for Everyone!
www.beautemineral.com


Here’s how to enter Reader Giveaway:
1) To enter to win you must subscribe to karensworldofbeauty.blogspot.com either through Blogger or Google and then leave a comment with you user name and email by Nov. 19, 2009.
 
2) You can tweet this giveway and/or link it on facebook or your own blog for extra chances to win! Just make sure you leave individual comments so all of your entries count. (That’s an extra chance at winning!)

3) For those (few) Readers who are already subscribed to my Blog just leave a comment stating "I'm a Karen's World of Beauty Subscriber" and include your name and the email address you signed up with.

Other Contest Info:
** US Residents only (and your comment must be in English, my Spanish is really bad).
**Winner will be chosen at random.
**Comments posted after the deadline won’t be included in the drawing.
**If you win, you must respond to my email with your mailing address within a week after the end of the drawing in order to receive your prize. I am not responsible for anything that happens once prizes are mailed out. If it gets lost, damaged or melts, etc., I'm sorry but I can’t replace it. 
Thanks & good luck everyone!!!