Tip for the Day: Top MAC Lipsticks

"What's your top 10 MAC Lipsticks in no particular order?"

The question I got from the reader intrigued me and made me rummage through my lipstick collection!  Then I realized, 10 MAC lipsticks would cost a whole lot especially if you're not a makeup artist, well you're probably a MAC lipstick collector if you  have more than 10 if not a makeup artist!  So for regular people, what are the must have MAC lipsticks or where can you start?

I can still remember my first ever lipstick from MAC which was TWIG which, unfortunately, was lost during a makeup gig *sniffles*, it was the first ever purchase that got me staring at it the whole afternoon as I took all the time to research "the best" shade for me! 

With the wide range of MAC lipstick, where can you start? 

Here's a guide on how I started with the collection, it's not top 10 but I call it my "MAC Starter Lipstick Collection".  Please keep in mind that I'm in no way a MAC lipstick expert but I will be sharing my humble opinion on my favorite shades as I use these the most on gigs!

Let's start with pinks, the ultimate blue-based pink lipstick called Pink Nouveau (smile and click HERE for review) has been used by many actresses and have been a cult favorite!  To be honest, Pink Nouveau doesn't look that good on me but, the power of Pink Nouveau cannot be underestimated!  Most of my clients look so good on this lip color!  Whether they are models or regular people, I find Pink Nouveau can flatter them!

MAC Pink Nouveau on tube

 and Swatch

Reds.  The ultimate "sexy" color that could make or break a look!  A good red lipstick will make you look hot and sexy but a bad red lipstick choice may make you look trashy!  *laughs*  Okay, it wasn't a good description but you get the drift!  There's 2 reds that I totally like!

MAC Russian Red and "Red" She Said

MAC Russian Red is a medium red shade that leans to a cooler tone.  This works so well on most skin tone but I have to stress that it takes a lot of "getting used to" to be able to pull off this shade!  (Smile and click HERE to see photos worn by different individuals including myself!)

MAC "Red" She Said on the other hand, is a limited edition shade from Holiday 2008, I can't help but include this shade as it is a beautiful deep blood kind of red!  This works so well on most of my clients who dislikes the "in your face" red lips but still make the lips pop in a non-car crashing way!  Since this is limited edition, a good dupe and a more inexpensive alternative would be the one from Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Red Velvet. (Review HERE)

Left: Russian Red

Right: 'Red' She Said

What if you're not into loud lipstick shades?  What's the best lip color for everyday?  Neutrals - light pinks or peach.  There's 2 that I like to pick up for bridal clients.

MAC Viva Glam V and Sandy B

MAC Viva Glam V was one of those few purchases that took me weeks of research before deciding this shade!  I went straight to MAC Counter and got it immediately after I tested it on my lips!  This is the type of lip color that spells "Your lips but only better!"  This shade is perfect for anyone who's afraid to wear color yet doesn't want to look pale at the same time.

Sandy B, a peachy lip color with gold flecks.  I enjoy using this lipstick if I'm on a shoot that requires a healthy, bronze-y, tanned look!  This works so well on lighting and it screams "summer time"! 

Left: Viva Glam V

Right: Sandy B

Last but not the least, let's move on to people who are into dramatic eyes!  What's the best pairing to a super wild colored eye makeup looks?  A nude lip color!  Nude lipsticks aren't only there for smokey eyes but it's also a great product to "blur out" the original pigmentation of your lips if you plan to apply a light colored lipstick!  Oh, have you tried Ombre Lips?  Nude lip colors are a great base to start off your Ombre Lips creation --- let's talk more about it in future posts!  Let me know if you're interested! :)

MAC Close to Real and Yash

It is easy to save up on lipstick by using your choice of concealer to cover your lip's original color, one huge CON on using concealer on lips, most of them may dry up the lips thus settling into lip lines making the overall effect weird and "not sexy"!

MAC Close to Real is lipstick shade closest to a concealer!  The advantage of this over concealer is the appearance of peach.  Best applied on light to medium skin tone.

MAC Yash is a favorite of mine to reach out to for people with medium to dark skin tone.

Left: Close to Real

Right: Yash

Keep in mind that some of my "favorites" listed are LE (Limited Edition) but don't fret, MAC has a wide range of lipstick shades and you can always ask help from their SAs and ask for "similar shades".  They'll always have at least one!  

Most MAC lipsticks that I've tried are a bit drying especially on people who suffer from dry lips. *me!*  It helps to moisturize your lips properly while you do your makeup prior to lipstick application and top it with your preferred gloss for that extra shine!

My favorite MAC Lipstick swatches all ined up!

L-R Pink Nouveau, Russian Red, Red She Said, 

Viva Glam V, Sandy B, Close to Real and Yash

What's your favorite MAC lip color? 
Click comment and let's help our reader! :)
Thank you! :)

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

Revlon PhotoReady Perfecting and Color Correcting Primers Review

Primers, I can never get tired of them!  It's not because I use them a lot on myself but I use primers on all my clients depending on the needs of their skin!  I've gone through and tested a whole lot of primers and so far, they've all been put to use and I always welcome new primers as one is never enough!  

Revlon created a Photoready line meant for High Definition photography!  When I was just starting out collecting makeup, I search high and low to look for face primers available locally but obviously, I didn't find a lot so I tend to shop online or ask a friend to help me purchase when they're on travel!  

Today, one of the oldest name in drugstore makeup Revlon finally created a face primer they can call their own! 

Revlon Photoready

Perfecting Primer and Color Correcting Primer

AMW Makeover: June Bride

What's the source of my happiness?

You got it right!  Prettifying other people is the answer! 

I haven't posted much on AMW makeovers for quite some time as I've been caught up with a very busy schedule so I had to wait for July to post one of my June brides! 

 The Bride

Skin type: Combination (normal and dry)

Request: None

 The bride didn't go through any trial makeover with me so the day of her wedding was the first time I met her.  Once I saw her, I can't help but compliment her nice skin and all of a sudden, I have a "look" in mind which I'm glad came out the exact way as I've imagined!

I was aiming for soft looking brows, very light, neutral eye makeup, soft pink cheeks and lips!  The bride exclaimed that she had her pre-nup shoot done in China and this was how her makeup looks like.  For me, it was a huge compliment as I've always been a fan of pre-nup/bridal makeup done in China!  I've seen albums after albums and have always wanted to re-create a fresh, vibrant, no makeup-yet blooming kind of look!

 

Final look

The bride felt a bit uncomfortable with false lashes on but after a couple of minutes, she finally got the hang of it!  I appreciated the fact that she took my advise and wore a pair as it made a huge difference not only in person, but also on photos!

She's got great smile, don't you agree?

 

 Mother of the Bride

Skin type: Normal with dry patches

Request: None

Even without uttering a word for makeup requests, at the back of my head, I know what moms are aiming for especially on the day of their daughters/sons' wedding!

Natural and fresh minus the cake-y look.  Of course, the younger looking, the better!  Who wouldn't want to look younger than their real age right?  I know my mom would!  *laughs*

Lucky her, the mother of the bride have a very young-looking skin, it was a bit tricky on my part to find a matching foundation on her as she has some red pigmentation at the center of her face. I had to mix and foundations several times before finding the right one!  I also had to correct the redness by applying green colored corrector prior to foundation application.   Just in case you wonder, I used CK Foundation on her mixing my lightest and darkest shade to create a personalized shade for her.

For the rest of the makeup, I steered away from shimmery powders but went for eye shadows with a tiny bit of sheen to make her overall look more youthful.  I concentrated on applying the eyeshadow at the outer corners to "lift" her eyes creating youthful vibe!

I finished off with a peachy pink colored blush and to be honest, I forgot the exact shade of lipstick used as we tried various colors before she finally picked the one she likes!  So I guess it's a mix of this and that shade!  :)

Mother of the Bride

Au natural and glowing!

 

 Sister of the Bride 1

Skin type: Oily

Request: Natural makeup with falsies!

The eldest sister of the bride also have good skin.  After a bit of chit chat and interview, we were able to come into a conclusion that she has acidic skin.  I'm glad I did her makeup a bit earlier as I get to glance at her skin every now and then checking on her foundation.

Note: For acidic skin, some foundations may turn dark or orange.

So far, I picked the right shade of foundation (2 shades lighter) as the end result was foundation matched in heaven.

A very light, pinky peach shade of blush and lip color was used as "natural makeup" is the trend of this family :) 

Sister of Bride 1 final look

Check out the gorgeous smile!

 

 Sister of Bride 2

Skin: Combination (Normal/Oily)

Request: None

The second sister is actually a friend/ex-colleague of mine, she was the one who booked my services even without trial and I haven't seen her for more than 10 years!  It was nice catching up with her while I do her makeup.

For her makeup, I didn't have a hard time picking a foundation shade as she doesn't need much coverage, I used a light foundation from Paul & Joe and focused a bit on her eye makeup, creating more "depth" to her eyes.  I also thickened her brows a tiny bit using a shade lighter than her hair color so it'll show up a more natural and sweet.

Sister of the Bride 2 final look

I love her curls!  Suits her well!

Hair done by : Kim Tan Rodriguez
Photos by my loving husband Keith Tiu!

Which among the 4 is your favorite?
Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

AMW Reviews: Clinique Age Defense BB Cream

Western brands creating they're version of BB creams.  How good are they?

Well, they aren't bad!  I actually liked my Estee Lauder's CyberWhite Brilliant Cells Extra Intensive BB Cream so much I get to alternate it with my favorite Skin 79 VIP Gold BB Cream because *gasp* I only have a bottle of it left!  Mr. AMW, if you're reading this, time to book a flight to Korea!  *I wish*

Clinique, one of my to-go-to skincare brand came up with their version of BB Cream called Age Defense BB Cream.  

SPF - Check!

Anti-Aging - Check!

Is it worth he purchase?  Let's leave it blank for now and read my review to know my thoughts on this BeBe cream *laughs

Clinique says ---

This instant morning routine gives skin just about everything it needs for a quick start. SPF protection, antioxidants for prevention, plus enough coverage to banish imperfections. The perfect primer, too.

Why is BB Cream an Asian cult favorite?
Clinique's clients in Asia know it means perfect-looking skin. It will take you a minute to realize it's true.

AMW Reviews: Benefit Hervana Boxed Powder

When I mention Benefit, what comes to your mind?

Most of you probably would say Benetint!  In my case, I've always been drawn to Benefit's Box O' Powders (blushes) and I've always wanted to include this inside my train case but what's stopping me?  The bulkiness of the box and I'm a pro-space saver when it comes to my makeup kit.  But the brand never escaped my thoughts in terms of my personal blush collection, I've always been lemming for Benefit blushes but whenever I get online, I can't seem to pick one product because I tend to want at least 3 of them! (which isn't good for my credit card!)

It was great news when we finally have Benefit locally and I was one of the few lucky bloggers who get to "play" with testers and I went straight to their Box o' Powders!  I have to be honest, after all the testing, I came into a final conclusion, I want them all! 

BUT!  That's not possible, so I trimmed down my choices and went for Bella Bamba instead  (review HERE)  as it showed up  best on my skin. 

With my strong willpower, I can let the rest go, but there's ONE box that did not escape my mind for the past months, it must be the marketing strategy or the name?  Whatever it is, it's working!

A "good karma" face powder, that's how they call the newest boxed powder from Benefit. 

It didn't help that their online commercial was such a cutie too!  I watched it again and again and at the end of the day, I was weak, I gave in!