MAC Haul: Bred for Beauty Blush (Moody Blooms Collection)

June has been THE month for new MAC collections!

 

MAC's newest collection (Moody Blooms) is described as exotic, night-blooming flowers with a hint of danger inspire a hothouse of seductive shades.

 

This collection released in stores on June 26, 2014 and it features six eye shadows (one repromoted from the permanent line), three fluidlines, six sheen supreme lipsticks, five sheen supreme lipglass tints, and two powder blushes.

 

I decided to pick up the most beautiful and highly pigmented blush I've ever seen - Bred for Beauty.

 

This blush retails for $21 and is available anywhere MAC is sold. Don't forget to use eBates if you decide to order online!

 

 

 

 

I will update this blog post with any swatches and FOTD in the near future! I wanted to get this blog post up so that anyone who is interested in this blush can still get their hands on it!

 

 

XOXO

 

MAC Haul: Cheeky Bugger Blush (Kelly Osbourne Collection)

MACs latest celebrity collection featured the mother-daughter duo from the Osbourne family - Kelly and Sharon.

 

This collection featured the bright fun colors typically worn by Kelly Osbourne and the neutral colors typically worn by Sharon Osbourne. This collection features something for EVERYONE!

 

Kelly's' side features products encased in lavender packaging while Sharon's' side features products encased in red packaging.

 

Many people have said that the packaging colors were based upon the duos hair colors.

 

Each side features their signature in the opposite color scheme. Meaning that Kelly's' signature is in red while Sharon's signature is in lavender.

 

I only picked up one item from this collection - Cheeky Bugger blush from the Kelly Osbourne side.

 

 

 

Kelly's lavender packaging with her red signature

 

Kelly Powder Blush in Cheeky Bugger ($23)

M•A•C’s celebrated colour for cheek and face in Kelly’s rosy pink shade of Cheeky Bugger. Limited-edition packaging in Kelly’s light violet with red signature.

 

 

 

Another shot of the Cheeky Bugger blush

 

Swatch of Cheeky Bugger

 

 

I thought that I would compare this blush to some other blushes in my collection. Thankfully this blush is unique to my collection!

 

Left to right: Love Cloud, Cheeky Bugger, Azalea in the Afternoon, & Petal Power (all by MAC)

 

 

Left to right: Love Cloud, Cheeky Bugger, Azalea in the Afternoon, & Petal Power (all by MAC)

 

 

Close up of the swatches!

Left to right: Love Cloud, Cheeky Bugger, Azalea in the Afternoon, & Petal Power (all by MAC)

 

 

 

Side note: MAC has made Petal Power permanent!!

 

 

FOTD featuring Cheeky Bugger (& Pedro Lourenco Nude Quad featured here)

 



 

 



This blush is BEAUTIFUL and perfect for spring/summer. I highly recommend this if you can still get your hands on it.

 

Don't be afraid to call up to your counters and ask! I picked this baby up a week after it was released in stores and my counter had ONE left!

 

Keep checking online because collections are often restocked!

 

 

XOXO

Haul: NARS Douceur Blush (Being Discontinued!)

NARS blushes are slowly but surely becoming one of my favorite makeup products!

 

I've hauled my first NARS blush, Gina, in this post.

 

I decided to purchase my second NARS blush, Douceur, because I had heard that this beauty would be discontinued!

 

If you love natural flushed cheeks for everyday, this blush is for you!

 

This blush has been compared to Tarte Exposed and MAC Blushbaby. I personally do not own either blush but I'd love to try them out!

 

This blush is available at NARS online (5% cashback), Nordstrom (3% cashback), & Sephora (8% cashback)!

 

 

 

Swatches!!

 

 

I thought of one blush in my collection (MAC Pink Tea) that may be similar to this blush. I was pleasantly surprised to find that these are not in fact dupes!

 

Left: NARS Douceur

Right: MAC Pink Tea

 

 

Left: NARS Douceur

Right: MAC Pink Tea

 

 

Close up of the swatches!

Left: NARS Douceur

Right: MAC Pink Tea

 

 

This blush is gorgeous! I haven't gotten the chance to take it for a spin yet, but don't worry!! This baby will be well loved.

 

I highly recommend this blush! This seems like the perfect blush to pair with ANY look. I can't believe that NARS is discontinuing this!

 

 

Remember to purchase through eBates if you wish to get your hands on this blush! You can sign up by clicking here or by clicking the banner at the bottom of this page.

 

You can also read more about eBates on my previous blog post here.

 

XOXO

 

 

MAC Haul: Pedro Lourenco Nude Quad (The Perfect Nude Eye Shadow Palette)

 

This blog will be featuring the newest eye shadow palette to my collection - MAC's Nude Quad from their newest collection with Pedro Lourenco.

Nude: Eye Shadow x4 ($44)

Featuring: Pink Sands (LE), All That Glitters, Rose Cloud (LE), and Sable

Four Eye Shadows with a subtle metallic finish in frosted champagne, pale fleshy peach, cool bronze and soft golden-beige. The highly pigmented powder formula applies evenly, blends and builds beautifully. Limited-edition, black packaging with a chic, velvet finish.

 

Clockwise from top left: Pink Sands, All That Glitters, Rose Cloud, & Sable

 

This palette is perfect for the neutral/nude eye shadow lovers out there. Although this quad features two permanent shades out of the four, I really recommend this quad. This is perfect for everyday and on the go!

 

Left to right: Pink Sands, All That Glitters, Rose Cloud, & Sable

Close up of the swatches!

Left to right: Pink Sands, All That Glitters, Rose Cloud, & Sable

 

Here is a simple EOTD featuring these eyeshadows!

 

Painterly Paint Pot used as a base
Pink Sands and Rose Cloud in the crease
All That Glitters on the lid and inner corner
Sable on the outer lid and lower lashline
Urban Decay Strange (Naked 3) on the browbone


This palette does lack a highlight shade.
I personally do not mind this because many times palettes feature a super high shine highlight shade that isn't the look I'm going for.

This palette would work perfectly with a second palette to "spice it up".

I'd make another quad with a satin/matte highlight shade, a medium-to-deep matte brown shade to deepen up the crease, a matte gray or black shade to really smoke it out, and either a "bonus" shade to use as an accent (purple, blue, etc) or a high shine highlight shade for the inner corner.


This palette is still available on Nordstrom online as I type this up! Don't forget to shop through eBates to receive 3% cashback!

You can sign up for eBates by clicking here! or by clicking the logo at the bottom of the screen.

You can read more about eBates here!


XOXO

How to Earn Money While Shopping Online! (Not a Scam!!)

You may have heard a whisper of the word "Ebates" while browsing online, watching YouTube videos, reading blogs, or even watching the news. You may have even thought to yourself, "that's a scam" or "that's too good to be true". You may have pushed the word out of your thoughts to never been mentioned again.

 

Well I'm hear to remind you of that wondrous word "Ebates". Or I may be introducing you to the word for the first time ever.

 

You may be asking me "what is Ebates?"

 

Ebates is a website that claims "it pays to shop online!" This site is free to sign up and use. Once signed up, you shop directly through Ebates for your online purchases. Once you've confirmed your purchases, Ebates will provide you with a percentage of your total (before shipping and tax) and give you money cash back!

 

Four times a year or more, Ebates will send you cash back from your previous purchases. There are a couple different options: a Big Fat Check that will be mailed to you, the money transferred to a PayPal account, or you can send the money to your favorite charity.

 

This money is FREE when you purchase something online.

 

Ebates is available for over 1,700 stores!

 

Here are some examples of the cash back at different online stores!

 

For the ladies...

Bloomingdale's - 3% cash back

Nordstrom - 3% cash back

QVC - 2.5% cash back

Sephora - 4% cash back

ULTA - 4% cash back

 

And for any guys out there...

Auto Zone - 4% cash back

GNC - 5% cash back

Sports Authority - 6% cash back

 

For anyone...

Apple Store - 1% cash back

Best Buy - 1% cash back

iTunes - 7% cash back

Office Depot - 2% cash back

 

 

Please note: Sometimes the cash back will be doubled for extra savings! For example, at the time that I'm typing this Nordstrom is 6% cash back!

 

This website also lets you know of any coupons that you can use when shopping online!

 

If you are interested in signing up to Ebates, you can click here or click the Ebates logo at the bottom of this page.

 

Please let me know if you've ever used Ebates or you plan to start using Ebates! It's an amazing site and I wish I had found it sooner.

 

XOXO

 

 

 

Please note: I am not affiliated with Ebates at all. I signed up after hearing so much about it and I've been loving it!

 

 

Nordstrom Haul: NARS Blush in Gina (Swatches + Face of the Day)

I've never owned anything from NARS, however their blushes are very popular and known for their pigmentation!

 

I decided to pick up NARS blush in Gina after hearing amazing things about it. This blush is perfect for spring & summer!

 

NARS Gina is considered a "true tangerine".

 

Here is what NARS has to say:

The ultimate authority in blush, NARS offers the industry's most iconic shades for cheeks. Natural, healthy-looking color that immediately enlivens the complexion. A light application of even the highest-intensity hues delivers a natural-looking flush.

Silky texture in matte and shimmering shades

Micronized powder ensures soft, blendable application

Iconic NARS shades

 

NARS blush in Gina is available at Nordstroms and NARS online. Unfortunately this color is not sold at Sephora.

 

Nordstrom currently has this (and many other beauty products) 10%! You can pick this beauty up for $27 rather than $30. Plus free shipping!

 

As I write this, you can get 6% cash back (normally 3%) if you shop through ebates. Ebates is completely free to join/use and legit! Once you sign up, click Nordstroms link on ebates and then shop away! You must go through ebates first to get the cash back.

 

So if you purchase this blush at Nordstroms and use ebates, you will save $3 plus get $1.62 FREE!

 

If you would rather purchase directly through NARS, you can get 5% cash back, but you will have to pay for shipping (unless you spend over $50).

 

You can sign up to ebates for free by clicking here!

 

Onto the swatches....

 

 

 

Onto the face of the day (FOTD)....

 

 

Featured makeup....

 

Face:

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW 15

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light Plus

MAC Beauty Powder in Natural

MAC Extra Dimension Bronzer in Aphrodite's Shell

NARS Blush in Gina

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Perfect Topping

 

Eyes:

MAC Paint Pot in Painterly

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Perfect Topping

MAC Extra Dimension Bronzer in Aphrodite's Shell

MAC Sculpting Powder in Sculpt

Makeup Forever Smoky Extravagant Mascara

 

Lips:

MAC Lipstick in Crème Cup

MAC Cremesheen Glass in Paper Lantern

 

 

I am in love with this blush already and I can't wait to add more NARS blushes to my collection. My next one to pick up will be Sex Appeal when it finally comes back in stock!

 

Do you own any NARS blushes? I'd love to know which ones are in your collection and which ones are your favorites!

 

XOXO