When MAC first introduced the Oval 3, Oval 6 and Linear 1 brushes years ago, I remember being tempted to buy them. I never did because they looked hilarious and were very expensive! I appreciated the innovation but I was happy with the brushes I had at the time Read more
Let your innocence roam free. Transcend seasons with charmed hues inspired by the secret, wondrous world of fairies. Eyes flutter impishly in new Foiled Shadows, in luminous wet or dry shades that flicker like morning mist. Feathery pinks for cheeks brighten the day, imbuing you with a spritely glow. Cast a spell with rosy metallics for nails and pearl-lit nudes for lips, spinning glamour ’til the moon turns to sun.
If that, which is MAC’s description of the Faerie Whispers Collection, doesn’t sound whimsical and make you want to don a tulle skirt and put on your angel wings, I don’t know what will!
Ok, so there’s no glitter, no shebang! It looks boring, but it’s anything but!
If you have been following me for a while, you will know that I’m a Beccaholic! But I have never tried their eyeshadows, so when Becca SA brought them into the country, I got my paws on it faster that you can say: ‘who let the dogs out, woof, woof!”
There are five, richly pigmented matte shades in the Becca Ombre Nudes palette
A pair of nude stiletto heels, a gorgeous clutch, the perfect red lipstick and a little black dress is all I need to feel sexy. This classic glam look never goes out of style! Well that’s what I think any way.
Now, I’ve added the Two Faced Little Black Book of Bronzers to that essential mix. Hey, I mean, when I got married I binned my Little Black Book . . . 😉 I did keep it during the engagement until I was officially married . . . you know, anything can happen during that time period, you feel me? So I got this Little Black Book of Bronzers as a replacement!
Too Faced Litte Book of Bronzers.
Bronzers to me are life! I am as brown as a peanut but I love bronzing up my dark skin. It just gives a healthy glow and some of them can be used to contour with. #browngirlobbsessedwithbronzer
When I think Too Faced, I think of Geminis, my ex-boyfriend’s sister, chocolate and bronzer!
The iconic Chocolate Soleil bronzer had me lusting after it as soon as I smelt of it!
I watched endless YT videos where beauty vloggers would whip out their Too Faced bronzer and contour and warm up their faces, before, sniffing it and saying “ It smells like chocolate!’
So, why does it smell like chocolate? The bronzers are infused with cocoa powder, not ‘hot chocolate’ the real makhoya!
Cocoa is also rich in anti-oxidants when you drink it or eat it, not sure it does anything for your skin. But there you have it, it is what it is.
This limited edition set is a collection of eight iconic bronzers from the Too Faced line and includes the newest edition to the Two Faced’s bronzer line, the Dark Chocolate Soleil! Halaala, thank you Too Faced for considering brown girls!
The thing about these bronzers is that they’re not shhhheeeep. I’m mean, I’m tjatjarag not a fool! So before I invest in something that ssssspensive . . . I want to at least swatch and try the stuff to test them, which in our case (South Africans or readers that don’t get Too Faced cosmetics in their country) is not possible. Too Faced cosmetics doesn’t ship here, so 3rd party sellers, selected online stores in SA and ones that ship internationally are usually expensive, especially when you add customs into the mix.
The Two Faced Little Book of Bronzers is described as the ULTIMATE bronzing wardrobe. There are cool illustrations on the book’s inside cover that give you a guide on what bronzer to wear according to the day of the week, outfit, mood and magical moment. The packaging is super cute and the concept super cool!
You have some reading material in this book.
All the bronzers are super pigmented and easy to blend, so nothing will look choppy and the shimmer shades have a glorious sheen . . . not sparkle central!
The bronzers:
Milk Chocolate Soleil: This is lighter version of Chocolate Soleil. It is also matte but more suited to lighter beauties.
Chocolate Soleil: This iconic matte bronzer works on most skin tones (if you have skin deeper than an NC40, then skip this). It’s perfect for everyday contouring (not very intense if you’re my skin tone) and creating an all-over deep tan.
Swatch:
Monday (Power Player)
Dark Chocolate Soleil: This is a darker version of Chocolate Soleil that’s perfect for more sculpted contouring, creating a more dramatic, deep matte bronzed look. This is a welcomed addition for me, who is dark skinned and sometimes wants to go darker with my contour to really chisel out my cheekbones without a hammer. However, if you are a deeper than an NC45, this may work as a face powder or will not show up on you at all. 🙁
The beauty of these three bronzers is that they are warm enough to bronze with and cool enough to contour with.
Wednesday: Date Night
Swatched:
Snow Bunny: This is a highlighter on me . . . it still smells like chocolate and has four shimmer shades of white, golden brown, pink and light bronze (champagne?) that when blended together and applied to the face give off a natural radiance to the skin. You can also use each strip as an eyeshadow, which I think is pretty cool. However, once you blend it all, it’s kinda gets jacked up and the individual strips blend into each other. Nevertheless is a beautiful bronzy /rose gold. Perfect for ALL skin tones.
Tuesday: Lunch with Mum
Pink Leopard: This has brown, pink and light bronze leopard design that is marketed as a blush. This is just straight up glow! This can be worn as a blush topper or a rocking highlight on my skin tone and darker. You can also apply a light dusting of it where the sun naturally hits your face for all-over glow. It’s pinky bronze hue is soft but striking. Brown girls can especially strike a pose and take a selfie with this on!
Thursday: Girls Night Out
Beach Bunny: This is like the darker version of Snow Bunny with four strips of brown, copper, and golden brown shades that when blended together gives a beautiful shimmery bronze. The bronzy sheen is unmatched! Great for MOST skin tones. It can however be too warm for very pale skin.
Friday: Play Hooky
Endless summer: This bronzer looks a lot like the Chocolate Soleil bronzer, the OG. But this isn’t a matte bronzer. I have not worn it for 16 hours but all the bronzers are long wearing. What makes this bronzer different is that it has slight shimmer that gives a bronze glow, not sparkle. Suits most skin tones. Again, those with really deep skin tones will not see a difference.
Saturday: Love, Peach and Festivals
Swatch
Sun Bunny: This duo is made up of a bronzy brown with a pink undertone while the other side is a golden brown, Swirled together, this creates a gorgeous, peachy, golden brown. It is not overly shimmery but a happy medium to the point where you can’t dust it on your face as a bronzer. Suits ALL skin tones and is perfect for dark skinned girls like me or even deeper. #wocofcoloursayyyaaassss
Sunday: Sunday Funday
These are 8 bronzers that are petite weighing in at 2,5 g each A regular sized product is 10g.
Yes, they are small pans, but you will be able to fit a brush into them, use them, test them and the packaging looks great on any vanity!
So what have I decided to go out and get in the full size? Definitely the Too Faced Chocolate Soleil bronzer, Pink Leopard, Sun Bunny , Beach Bunny, Snow bunny and Dark Chocolate Soleil .
Price: $49 (US)
Price: I paid R1200 for the Two Faced Little Book of Bronzera, excluding shipping. I know, it’s sssssspensive but worth every penny.
Ordinarily an individual bronzer costs $30 – $32 (USD) depending on where you buy it from.
We may pay anything between R600 and upwards for an individual bronzer.
Where to buy:http://biovea.net/ZA/ does stock Too Faced products as does www.hastagawesome.co.za , which are South African online stores. You can also try amazon.com or www.beautybay.com.
muse.sa ,who is a South African IG 3rd party seller that I trust and delivers incredible service.
Oh, and the bronzers are Gluten Free, just putting it out there! And yes (virtual sniff), IT DOES SMELL LIKE CHOCOLATE!
Will you be buying any of these iconic Too Faced Bronzers? Have you tried any of them? Which is your favourite?
Let me know down below.
Love you beauties more than bronzer, now that’s HUGE!
While Becca’ s Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal (the pressed version) took the highlighter world by storm, the original Shimmering Skin Perfector in the same shade has taken kind of a back seat and it should be in the driving seat or at least in the front passenger seat, in my opinion.
Becca’ s Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal
The Becca Shimmering Skin Perfectors are one of the brand’s best sellers and with good reason.
Described as a water-based moisturizer, it has an SPF of 20+. Yip, they thought about that sun protection.
Becca says: “It has light-diffusing particles of shimmer that creates instant radiance and vitality and reduces imperfections.” Basically, it makes you look good!
This stuff is a brown girl’s dream and is the perfect rosy gold shade. It comes in a sleek rubberized bottle with a pump and a chocolate brown cap with a metal centre, which has the Becca logo engraved on it.
l love the detail of the beck logo engraved on the cap. Looks so elegant, no?
It’s looks sleek and modern.
The consistency is on the thicker side so it is great for mixing in with your foundation, which is what I generally use it for.When I use it in this way, it adds ‘rose goldiness’ (it’s a word, now) and sheers it out without totally compromising the coverage of the foundation. I love this because I wear full coverage foundation. It gives a beautiful luminosity to the skin and it not greasy, unless you go cray-cray with it. It thick enough to add to the tops of your cheekbones and worn this way it dries to a beautiful sheen that really just makes you look like a shimmering goddess as the light hits the your face. If you want a more intense highlight, you can easily apply a powder highlighter over top. . This is BAM! Can I get a collective YAAAASSSS! You can also wear this alone on your skin for a healthy glow and is a great product for strobing.
This works well on all skin tones because of the hint of champagne in it that looks great on everyone, everyone. Did I mention that I think it looks great on everyone?
Becca’ s Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal in the three stages of ‘gorgeousness’ (this is a word now)
It comes with a pump . . . but the one downside with all these Shimmering Skin Perfectors is that it pumps out too much product in one pump. This can appear wasteful, but you can use this guy all over your body (that sounds wrong, but you beauties know what I’m talking about.)
Becca’ s Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal in the three stages of ‘gorgeousness’ (this is a word now)
It looks especially nice on the décolletage and try a bit on you legs, I know this is a bit out there, but it gives such a sheen to the skin, especially when it’s summer and those sexy pins are on show! This is the beauty of Becca’s Shimmering Skin Perfectors; it’s just minimal effort with maximum impact to really glow. It’s subtle yet so visibly gorgeous at the same time. It’s the epitome of feminity. It’s beachy elegance . . . that the best way to describe these shimmering skin perfectors. It’s multi-purpose? It truly is perfection in a bottle
Brown girls, if you have been following me for a while, you know I hate boxing us into only using golden illuminators or highlighters, but let me tell you, when brown and rose gold collide, magic happens. You know my approach, if it doesn’t look ashy or chalky, go for it!
Just another shot of Becca’ s Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal because it’s soon pretty
Where to buy: www.beccacosmetics.co.za
Physical Address
4th floor
Fredman Towers,
13 Fredman Drive
Sandton, 2146
Phone: +27 (0) 11 881 1440
Email:sandton@beccacosmetics.co.za
Price: R410 for 50ml (Yes, it’s ssssspensive, but you are getting a bucketful of product)
Dupe: I don’t have anything in my stash that matches the formula and I don’t think I ever will. But in terms of something comparable in shade is Inglot’s Face and Body Illuminator in #63.
Have you tried Becca’s Shimmering Skin Perfecto in Opal? What’s your favourite liquid illuminator? Do you know of a dupe that’s cheaper? Would you try it?
Doing the laundry has never looked this good! The MAC Wash and Dry Summer 2015 collection truly was a sight to behold in store. The stuff I wanted sold out online fast so I had to go into the MAC store on Sunday morning! Now that’s dedication!It was like a tidal wave of colour and ombre and bronzer, lots of bronzer!Now, I am as brown as peanut but I’m bronzer obsessed, highlighter obsessed . . . ok, I’m make up obsessed.
MAC Wash and Dry Summer 2015 collection (clockwise) MAC Studio Sculpt Defining Bronzing Powder (Delicates), High-Light Powder: (Freshen Up and 125SE Split Fibre Dense Face Brush:
So, let’s get rid of the elephant in the room and talk about the packaging . . . it’s a beautiful, metallic ombre that runs from turquoise to orange to gold. It’s shinier that my face at noon and just a thing of beauty. I will say that it doesn’t hold a candle to the packaging of last year’s summer collection, the MAC’s Alluring Aquatic collection, but let’s be real, will that ever be topped?
I didn’t go cray cray because technically, I’m on a no-buy, because I have heaps of products to review and hauls I’ve done and have yet to film because life’s hectic when you’re a working mother of a Yorkshire terrier whose greatest pleasure is playing soccer . . . with his mum 🙂
I got items from this collection that I knew I would use.
The items I picked up from the MAC Wash and Dry Summer Collection 2015.
I didn’t get any lip products because I don’t like lipgloss and the only lipgloss I wear is MAC’s plushglass. The lipstick that I wanted, Morange (a vivid but oh so wearable orange) was sold out. However, Morange is a permanent lipstick so I wasn’t in a rush to get it.
As for blush, Hipness did appeal to me but it looked pretty dupable so there wasn’t that ‘I will sell my first-born child to get it’ desire.
I did have that desire though for the High-Light in Freshen Up.
MAC Wash and Dry High-Light Powder (Freshen Up) Even the box is stunning!
It has the same ombre packaging with a see-through top and a button open and close mechanism. If there is one thing I wish MAC would do is use that mechanism with the new packaged MSFs.
You can see the MAC High-Light Powder (Freshen Up) through the clear plastic cover.
Back to Freshen Up, it is a highly pigmented tri-coloured powder with a wavy design and a gold overspray and a texture that mimics the beach. As for the ‘hoo haa’ about the overspray, it happens, I’ve moved on.
Doesn’t it look heaven-sent?
The powder has some peach, tangerine, red-orange, yellow and orange tones with a very fine shimmer.
I used the powder, overspray rubbed off, with a fan brush concentrating on the larger yellow-peach section and applied it to the tops of my cheekbones and it gave a beautiful peachy highlight that really stood out (in a good way) on my dark skin. Swirled together it is a beauty deep coral blush borderline orange, again in a good way.
The three main colours of the MAC Wash and Dry High-Light Powder (Freshen Up) swatched.
Lighter skin tones may find this worn as a highlight or a blush too intense, but for brown girls like me, rejoice, this guy was made for our hue!
I actually love the fact that this isn’t high frost; it’s like a kind of ‘Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder’ for brown girls. No, it’s not a dupe, the feel and texture reminds me of that. I don’t own anything like this from MAC so I am super stoked to have this in my collection.
MAC Studio Sculpt Defining Bronzing Powder (Delicates)
The next thing I picked up was the MAC Studio Sculpt Defining Bronzing Powder, which is the same as the line of permanent line of powders, except that these are marketed as bronzers and I’m sure the shades are limited edition. While the sculpting powders have gotten a bad rep for being too sheer for contouring or shading, it’s a definite winning formula for a bronzer. It comes in a beautiful mirrored compact with the same button closure.
The magic button!
I got shade Delicates.
MAC Studio Sculpt Defining Bronzing Powder (Delicates)
This is muted, medium-dark brown with soft, warm undertones with a golden sheen. I had to swipe this a few times to get some colour but I didn’t get this shade to add too much of colour to my skin, I got this shade to add a luminosity to my skin and it does.
Look at that bronzing powder! Perfection in a pan!
It’s soft to the touch and blendable and it’s not muddy.
MAC Studio Sculpt Defining Bronzing Powder (Delicates) swatched.
This is a powder I would happily dust all over my face as a finishing powder, like a MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural but with a glow! The satin finish is beautiful. I didn’t get Golden Rinse, which was a very red-based bronzer. It reminded me of red clay. I mean, I’m brown not brick and the colour didn’t appeal to me.
MAC 125SE Split Fibre Dense Face Brush comes with a cover that will help keep it protected and keep it’s shape.
The last thing I picked up was the limited edition MAC 125SE Split Fibre Dense Face Brush. I have two other split fibre brushes and I love them.
One side is made with natural hair (best for powder products)
The natural bristle side.
The other side is synthetic (for cream products).
The synthetic bristle side.
The idea behind these split brushes is that the natural bristles soften a look and the synthetic side applies product.
The MAC 125SE Split Fiber Dense Face Brush is a wide, densely packed brush with a blunt top. It is the prefect shape for getting a good, solid contour and you can use it with both cream and powder.
Duo fibre, dense, soft and with a blunt top that’s perfect for contouring with both cream and powder? Could you ask for more?
You can apply your contour products with the top of the brush and blend the products out with the sides. The bristles are super soft and the multi-coloured ferule is firm. The handle of the brush is also a glossy black unlike the traditional matte black MAC brushes. You could also use this to blend out blush, apply highlighter or even liquid foundation.
Overall, I am happy with the items I picked up. Even though we in South Africa are heading towards a dry and cold winter, these products will surely add some glow and sunshine to my days . . . for sure.
Where to buy: MAC FFS nationwide and while most of the stuff is sold out online, you can still pick up a few items at www.maccosmetics.co.za
Price: MAC Wash and Dry High-Light Powder: (Freshen Up) R420
MAC Studio Sculpt Defining Bronzing Powder (Delicates): R420
MAC 125SE Split Fibre Dense Face Brush: R660
Have you picked up anything from the MAC Wash and Dry Summer 2015 collection? I’d love to hear about your favourite picks!
The huge MAC spring collection hut our shores a few day ago. Was I excited? Well, not really, from the promo pics and reviews, I wasn’t overwhelmed. There was no special packaging and well, far too many fluid lines, which will now become part of MAC’s permanent line, so I didn’t feel the need to rush out and pick anything up.
I picked up three items from the MAC is Beauty 2015 collection: an eye shadow, an eye kohl and a fluidline.
MAC Bouffant eye shadow is a pale peach shimmer with a Veluxe Pearl finish. Looking at it I thought it looked like MAC’s Expensive Pink eye shadow in the pan, but it’s very different. I would say it’s more pink than peach. It’s a beautiful colour worn as a wash all over the eye or to highlight the brow bone or inner corner of the eye.
MAC Bouffant eyeshadow
The pearl finish is beautiful and it definitely has a metallic sheen which isn’t BAM, but beautiful enough. It has to be built up quite a bit to show up, even over MAC Soft Ocher Paint pot, which is what I wore it over. But when you’re done packing and pressing and patting your life away, the results are worth it.
MAC Bouffant swatched.
Pretty, feminine and sweet. It’s a fun flirty colour. Applied wet is still subtle but the metallic pigments in it are intensified and it has an almost frosty finish. It suits my NC40 skin fine, however, I think this colour would look ashy on someone darker than an NC42.
MAC Eye Khol in I Get No Kicks
Mac Eye Kohl: I Get No Kicks is a soft champagne nude with a metallic sheen. Worn in the waterline, it gives the eyes a pretty sheen. Unlike a traditional while or flesh-toned liner, this kohl doesn’t give you a Bambi, I had three red bulls now I’m wide-awake look.
MAC I Get No Kicks is on point!
It draws attention to the eye and make the eyes gleam, in a good way. I love that the soft metallic finish it gives to the eyes. I’m not saving this guy for the night; I will defiantly be rocking this in the day.
MAC I Get No Kicks swatched
So, I’ve saved the best for last. I wasn’t really expecting to find a gem in this collection but I did
MAC Prolongwear Fluidline in Siahi is EVERYTHING!
Siahi is a deep ocean blue. It is rich in colour and has a slight metallic finish. I believe this was released in 2010 with the Mickey Contractor collection. I’ll be honest. MAC’s fluidlines in Blacktrack, Macroviolet and Dip down are the only three fluidlines I love. When other fluidlines are released, I find them to have poor pigmentation and watery formulas. The metallic shades are probably my worst nightmare as they usually have zero pigmentation and glitter or so-so pigmentation and no glitter. Generally, they’re just a waste of time. BUT this little pot of ocean blue/teal is the business. It takes about two strokes to get the pigmentation on point, the formula is rich and it applies smoothly, glides on the eyes like seagulls over the ocean. (FYI, I’m trying to create a water theme here)
MAC Prolongwear Fluidline in Siahi swatched. The intensity of the colour is breathtaking, no?
I have been looking for a good intense blue gel liner for a while now, since my Smashbox Jet Set Liner in Navy Blue had to retire, old age . . . it happens.
MAC Prolongwear Fluidline in Siahi ticks all the right boxes and whether you’re flicking it, winging it or just lining with it, it makes brown eyes POP!!!!! It didn’t move on me and didn’t fade for as long as I wore it. This eyeliner is a great alternative to black. It definitely adds a bit of something special to the eyes . . . I could look at it all day.
MAC Bouffant eyeshadow: R200 for 1,5g
MAC Prolongwear Fluidline in Siahi: R200
MAC Eye Khol in I Get No Kick: R195 for 1,36g
Where to but, selected MAC counters and FSS across the country or at www.maccosmetics.co.za
The LA Girl Pro Conceal HD concealer is off the hook!
This guy is the bizzness! I wanted to use this as a highlighter. If you have been reading my blogs, you know about my obsession with highlighters.
He’s the one!
I bought this at Dischem because I had never tried any make up from this brand so while in the process of filming my very first YouTube video, I saw HD and thought immediately – no white-out. So I bought it.
The first time I applied it, I knew I was onto something here, something big at a very low price.
Lets get into it.
I got onto their website and this is what it claimed:
The LA Girl PRO.Conceal
HD concealer is: Crease-resistant, opaque coverage in a creamy yet lightweight texture. The long-wearing formula camouflages darkness under the eyes, redness and skin imperfections. Provides complete, natural-looking coverage, evens skin tone, covers dark circles and minimizes fine lines around the eyes.
Whoa that’s a lot to live up to and it does live up to some of its claims.
First off, it comes in a plastic squeeze tube that has a BRUSH APPLICATOR! Love that. Of course, you know the drill, use it with the applicator for personal use and if you’re a make up artist, no, you can’t.
The LA Girl Pro Conceal HD concealer comes with a brush applicator.
That said, the bristles on the applicator are super soft and when you squeeze the product onto your hand, the formula is as creamy and smooth as soft serve ice-cream (yummy), so I wasn’t worried about pulling and tugging on my under eye area. BB beauties, when you hit the other side of 25, you know you got to proceed with caution with these kind of products . . .
The product is so opaque that I knew right then and there that this was going to double up as a concealer and highlighter.
The LA Girl Pro Conceal HD concealer swatches is super pigmented.
I got the shade in Pure Beige. I haven’t lost my mind.. . yet . . . but I wanted to use it for extreme highlighting – not spot concealing.
I got the colour in Pure Beige.
It glided on the skin seamlessly and didn’t settle in fine lines. I dusted it lightly with some Ben Nye Banana powder and it looked amazing. It is in your face full coverage, so there is no need to double up on concealer. It wore well for about 6 hours, it did oxidize slightly, but the powder could have been a contributing factor there. Overall, an amazing product and what a steal!
The BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector™ Pressed highlighter in Opal has been taking the beauty world by storm since gaining popularity as a dupe for the limited edition Estee Lauder Heat Wave Illuminating Powder Gelee.
BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector
Description and directions on the back of the box.the back of the box
I own Heat Wave and it is my favourite highlighter of all time because it does make you look like a shot of summer all year round!
Heat Wave can only be bought off eBay or from a private seller at the cost of both your arms and legs , your BFF’s left eye and the spare tyre in your boot, if you’re lucky.
I’ve been to the BECCA store in Sandton a few times but nothing ever wowed me about this Australian brand, which since opening here in 2011, really hasn’t been given the oxygen it deserves.
I’ve never tried their range because at the time, I was looking for a full coverage foundation and their products are known to be one of those ‘enhancing a woman’s natural beauty’ ranges, which for me, my freckles and imperfect skin meant sheer coverage – and sheer was not what I was after.
On Saturday, I popped into the store to buy the highlighter to see if it was indeed the dupe that’s got everyone in a flap.
But after trying this guy out, I think it would be a shame if this highlighter gained popularity for being the ‘the dupe’. I don’t think it has to ride on the coat tails of the Heat Wave because this product is unlike anything I’ve ever tried and deserves a spotlight of it’s own
The packaging is simple. It comes in a mirrored compact. The compact is chocolate brown plastic with a metal circle covering the top part of the compact with the words BECCA engraved on it. The packaging is not wow, it’s got a kind of “army-weapon-grenade’ thing going on. But I can live with that because the product is AMAZING!
The shade Opal is described as “golden opal pearl.” It’s a frosted , shimmery soft gold shade with a hint of champagne.
The colour in the pan is gorgeous.
BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector swatched
It is a ‘powder highlighter’ but is creamy texture melts into the skin taking on a life of it’s own, adjusting to your skin tone (the perfect for a brown girl like me). This product is definite not chalky and didn’t apply patchy. And you don’t have to stand under a strobe light or at a 45-degree head tilt to see the effect, the luminescent pearls show up in any light so you’ll be taking your natural glow with you wherever you go.
It glides on the skin and I like to highlight my face using a soft tapered contour brush for a soft shimmer on the cheekbones, brow bones and bridge of the nose. It also works great on the cupids bow to create the illusion of fuller lips (Love!) Using a small stippling brush or a fan brush is great too.
How does it compare Estee Lauder Heat Wave Illuminating Powder Gelee:
Estee Lauder Heat Wave and BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector
Heat Wave is a tri-blend formula that’s a gel, powder, and liquid product in one. The formulas are unique to each product but both have the ‘wet powder feel’
The shades are a 99% match with Becca’s Opal being a touch darker.
Now there’s the 99% match!
Both products wear well and do not settle into pores or fine lines. It has a lasting power of about 8 hours. The main difference I find with the two is that Heat Wave leaves a soft sheen on the skin when blended out while Becca’s Opal is has more of a soft shimmer gives the look that screams ‘ I woke up like this!’
MAC has been releasing so many collections recently, it’s insane . . . People have been complaining about them having re-promotes, but if you didn’t get a chance to check out some of these limited edition re-promotes, now is your chance.
Yes, MAC did release an electrically cool eye shadow range back in 2012.
However, with the Novel Romance collection, these eye shadows have been re-launched with four new shades and four re-promotes.
MAC describes it as: A soft, lightweight, springy formula delivers hue-rich colour in a modern mode. One touch and you’ll be wired into its sensational blending power. Medium-to-high coverage transforms eyes.
They also recommend using a shader brush for better application and blending. This eye shadow lives up to MAC’s claims.
Since I didn’t get my hands on a single electric cool eye shadow in 2012, I had to get one this time. There were an array of shades to choose from, but I decided to buy just one, to see how well it wears before grabbing the entire range. Yes, I do that sometimes, if I really like the product.
I played it safe . . . I got a neutral shade. It was a toss up between Pure Flash and Superwatt.
When I swatched Pure Flash in store, I found it beautiful, but was put off by the sheerness and sparkles/glitter chunks. Superwatt on the other hand had shimmer. These cream shadows are insanely pigmented (bar the sheerer, lighter shades) with shimmer or glitter and dry down to a powder finish.
MAC Superwatt Electric Cool Eye shadow is described as a “light shimmering taupe.” It has a frosted, metallic finish. It showed up beautifully on my eyes on first application and I can see myself wearing this alone when I’m lazy, if I just want a wash of colour on my lids, as an eye shadow base (it doesn’t crease much in my experience) or even as a highlighter on darker skin like mine.
The sponge-like texture and is very soft and kind of bouncy. Superwatt applied evenly and smoothly. It has an excellent colour pay-off a wears well for about 6-8 hours before fading. Although, you don’t really need a primer, I wore the Smashbox 24-hour eye shadow primer under just to make it last a bit longer.
Of course, I am going back to get four more shades, Highly Charged (rich purple with pink pearl), Switch to Blue (Rich cobalt), Blacklit (black with, multidimensional shimmer) and Love Power (a soft shimmering rose).
Yes, I’m that impressed!
Where to buy: MAC FFS and MAC counters across the country