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 rave about the MAC 109

I have been contemplating for quite some time on purchasing this brush mainly because of its price. Out of all my brushes, this is only my second MAC brush. I couldn't bear thinking on spending a lot of money for a brush that a lot of brands also offer. But the MAC 109 proved to be different. From all the endless nights on watching youtube videos, watching reviews and sleepless nights (Yes, I get sleepless thinking about make up haha) I decided to give in. There is no other brand with a brush like this anywhere else just the real deal; MAC 109.

When I finally decided that I would spend for this brush, getting the brush was a whole different story. The 4 branches of MAC in Manila was out of stock. Everyone wanted it and there just isn't enough for everyone. Me hearing stories about how they just bought the last piece in the store were like stories of a miracle that just happened (LOL). Eveytime I took random trips to MAC they were as usual out of stock with the MAC 109. Mostly, it was a relief since it meant not having to spend PHP2000+++ on a brush then and there. Then one day, a friend told me she was selling a MAC 109 since she had an extra one unused and brand spankin new! And so without hesitation, i told her yes, definitely, oui, si, oo I will get it. And since we don't see each other often and the 2-3 times we did see each other she forgot the brush, Yesterday finally she brought it, and I finally got my hands on the MAC 109.



The brush itself looks distinctively MAC. But after analyzing the brush in the attempts in figuring out how and why it is raved about I saw that the ferrule and the brush is round unlike other brushes whose ferrule's have a pinch. Because of the roundness its giving the brush bristles its perfect spherical shape. A mini mini kabuki on a stick is how others would like to describe it.

The MAC 109 has many uses, from contouring, highlighting, powder to applying foundation. The versatility of this brush is one of the main reasons why it is a raved product, but amongst all its uses about 80% like for applying foundation. So excited me, when I got my MAC 109 I immediately put it to the test. What I used:

MAC Studio Sculpt in NC40
MAC 109 Brush
Mixing Palette

First, I put a pea sized amount of foundation on to the mixing palette, I used a mixing palette instead of the back of my hands since I needed a flat surface and so that no product is wasted and absorbs by my hand instead of my face.

When I deposited the product I made sure to lay it flat, sort of spreading it already. I did this so that When I stipple the brush on to the product it would pick up even amounts all over the brush.

Next I lightly stippled the MAC 109 on to the product.

This is what it looks like when the MAC 109 picked up the foundation. This is enough to apply all over the face, re apply when you need more coverage, but never apply more than that on the first application.

Here's my bare face, I have a couple of pimple marks and uneven areas on my face.

Then I used the MAC 109 to apply the MAC Studio Sculpt in a swirling motion to achieve flawless even coverage that isn't too thick and heavy. It's quick and simple to do too! :)

My Face with MAC Studio Sculpt applied with MAC 109 Brush, More even color but not fake looking.

Next with the MAC 109 brush still, I dabbed the brush on a little powder and buffed it lightly in a swirling motion to set the foundation.

My Face with Mac Studio Sculpt and Powder both applied with the MAC 109 Brush, even canvas but still very natural.

Overall, this brush is really worth every penny mostly because of its versatility. It definitely is worth raving and deserves a slot in my tool belt (that means I have to let one brush rest) since I know I would extensively use this. Yes, the brush does shed, but what brush doesn't right? even brushes aren't perfect haha and those hairs don't grow on the handles. But with proper care and cleaning, extensive shedding can be avoided.

The only con I can think about is the price, PHP2000++ is a lot of money for 1 brush, but If you do decide to get one, it really is worth it. :) And the other con I see is the availability, Manila has a scarcity of the MAC 109 brush. Hehe

Toodles! :)