My favorite neutral crease colors

Hi all, a blessed Sunday to everyone and to the girlies from Manila; A cozy snuggle-fest weather to you. :) I recently discovered my addiction to neutral colored crease eye shadow. The crease color can depend on what type of makeup look you are going for, but for me the safest way to go are neutral colors, my favorite are the mid tone brown shades.

Here are my favorite crease color shades:
From top to bottom:
Soba, Cork, Wedge

Swatches:
Soba, Cork, Wedge

From left to right:
Seedling, Moleskin, Outre

Swatch from left to right:
Seedling, Moleskin, Outre

These are my most favorite crease colors from MAC. The reason why I have a lot of crease color favorites is because, not all shadows colors go well or actually even register color on everyone. So having a number of choices is good. :)

What are your favorite crease colors? :)

Toodles! :)

What are your MAC must have products?

It's no secret that probably the most popular and well trusted brand when it comes to make up is MAC whether for professional artists or not. MAC has been around for a number of years now and has ever since never failed when it comes to their marketing strategies. From Back to Mac, to a huuuggeee line of products and to the always exciting seasonal collections, they always know how to keep their customers wanting more.

I must admit, I have fallen into the MAC trap (I was sorta anti-MAC before but now i eat my words!) and I can't get enough of the brand! My kit has transformed and is now 85% MAC filled and it just keeps on growing. I want to share with you all my can't-live-without-must-have MAC products.

MAC Eye Shadows
Photo taken from Temptalia

MAC has got to be the brand that carries a full range of colors and finishes for its eye shadows. At first, I thought they were overpriced and any eyeshadow will do. But once I started taking Makeup Artistry seriously, the main problem I faced with other eye shadow brands was that there was fall out and the colors just wouldn't stick. Until I tried MAC eye shadows, the color output was superb, hardly any fall out and the colors just blend well. Yes, you pay a pretty hefty price per eye shadow but it definitely is worth it. MAC eye shadows are top on must-have list.

MAC Brushes
Photos taken from MAC Website

MAC is also well known for their make up brushes because of their quality and many rave reviews. You may think that any other brush can do the job because yes, I used to also think that way, but what I've realized is that without the right tools, you can't achieve perfection. Sounds so way up there huh? Haha but to clear that out, when I say right tools, what I'm looking for is a product that is made with top notch quality to help it last a long time, a product that can produce the same result every time and one that I can use with utmost ease. And with the wide array of MAC brushes, these have got to be my must-haves:

MAC 190
Can be used for cream and liquid foundation, out of all foundation brushes I have tried and own, this gives me the least streaks and most of the time gives me no streaks at all. Thus making my foundation application flawless every time.




MAC 109
This brush is raved for it's flawless-ness when used to apply liquid foundation in a buffer motion, that is true yes because for a time that's what I used it for. But after that I realized that because the brush really isn't intended for liquid products it encountered more shedding, thus is shifted it's purpose. I started using this brush to set liquid foundation with powder foundation. Because of its round-ness it is like a 'kabuki on a stick' and the size perfect for buffing making sure every corner and crevice of the face is reached.



MAC 266
I really can't live without this brush. This is my best friend hand-in-hand to help create the best looking eye brows in every face. Perfect angle and perfect shape, it works 100% with my favorite brow products.


MAC Brow Set
Photo taken from MAC Website

I don't know of any other brand that can come close to a product like MAC's Brow Set. It looks like mascara but this baby is intended to give your brows the tint that it needs. Aside from the tint, it also helps keeps your unruly brows polished. I start panicking when I see this product running out in my kit. I love it that much.

MAC Fluidline
Photo taken from MAC Website

Almost every cosmetic brand has their own gel liner, but MAC's version is just so convenient to use. It glides on like silk, dries to a matte finish and looks smooth every time. Just always make sure to not leave it open for long and close it tightly so it doesn't dry easily.

With MAC's full range of products, most of what I have in my kit if not all are well used and really treasured, but the ones that I have mentioned above have got to be the products that can't be beaten by other brands.

What about you girls, which MAC Products are your must-haves? :) Can't wait to read all your answers. :)


Toodles! :)

The MAC 189 Brush

I used to think that all brushes were equal regardless if they were branded or not. Then I used to think that buying brushes under a certain brand was just merely a marketing strategy. This was until I became a make up artist and realized that our face need corresponding brushes that will complement the contours it has and not all brushes can do the job well done. With this you know you have a good brush when everything about it is thought about, from its shape, its bristles, density, size and etc.

That's exactly what I felt when I purchased this one of a kind MAC Brush. The MAC 189.


The MAC 189 is no longer available in the MAC website but as far as I can remember this brush retailed for about $50. A hefty price I know but it is surely worth it. I purchased mine at a CCO for about $28, so for those who have access to a CCO nearby I do suggest you check them out. Also since I am not sure if this is a discontinued brush or a PRO product only.

Compared to the MAC 190 foundation brush, you can clearly see how much bigger the bristles are. The bristles are made from Natural animal hair and is about double the size of the MAC 190, making it perfect for application of foundation on the face and Body.

What makes this brush super unique is that the bristles are incredible-y soft yet so so so dense. This makes it perfect for foundation application whether you are using liquid or cream foundation. The density allows you a flawless application one with less streaks on the face. This is also great when used with powder foundation since it buffs in the product better and also, no product goes to waste.

Overall, I think this brush is really a smart purchase. The only thing that can set you back from purchasing this brush in my opinion is:

1. Availability - Since it's no longer available in the MAC website it may now be discontinued or a PRO product.
2. Price - It was priced at $50 in the website but I purchased this for $28 in CCO. Still a hefty price both ways.

But on the other hand this brush has more good to it:

1. 1 Brush for all - can be used with Cream, Liquid and Powder Foundation.
2. Fast - With its size, you get the job done faster without compensating on the quality of work.
3. Big - It's such a big sized brush it can be used for both face and body.
4. Limitless - This brush is not only for foundation type it can be used for other things too. ( I use it to apply body shimmer to certain areas of the body such as the collar bone).
5. Sturdy - This is such a sturdy brush, I'm sure it will last me a long time. :)


So what do you guys think? The MAC 189 surely is one of my favorite brushes. :) What are yours?


Toodles! :)