So MAC has put out two new collections within the last couple of weeks: Monogram (MAC's anual couture collection) and Metal Urge. Guess what? I have not bought one single item from either of these collections! I know it's shocking to me too!!! I think I'm at a point where I realize I probably have enough makeup. It's weird but I think my MAC addiction is dying (if that's even possible). At least I think that I may be focusing more on the perm line and only pick up LE things that are extremely unique.

Now I wanted to try the new Metal Urge creme shadows but then I hear that they have the same formulation as last year's crap shadows. Those bitches creased on me like no tomorrow so I returned one and gave away the other. The pigments look kinda boring to me except for Spiritualize so I may get a sample of that later. I have 12 full jars of pigments and everything else is sample size. The liquid last liners I'm not a fan of at all, especially hate the brush they come with so this collection was an easy skip for me.

The Monogram collection looked interesting (package-wise) when I looked at the pics online. However, I saw the collection if person today and the packaging doesn't look as good as I thought. Also, I really liked the red lipstick and was going to get it, but I have three red MAC lipsticks (Port Red, So Scarlet and Russian Red) and though I love all three, there are not too many occasions where I can wear red lipstick. So I came to my senses and skipped this collection as well.

So this was kinda my frustration for today. Though perhaps I should be happy as I can now save more money toward other pretty things and also get a chance to play with my existing stash. We shall see...

I have a Too Faced palette from last X-mas I believe that I hadn't used for a while. I'm not too fond of the lipsticks, mainly because I don't want to take the whole palette with me to work just to touch up my lipstick after lunch. The eyeshadows and blushes are very good though. Especially this e/s called Dirt Bag. I'm definitely buying a pot when I run out of the one in my palette. So here's my look

Face
same as usual
Too Faced Blush in Lust is Love
MAC Petticoat MSF

Eyes
MAC Stilife paint
MAC Copperplate e/s
MAC Solar While e/s
Too Faced e/s in Dirt Bag
NYX Black e/s
UD 24/7 liner in Bourbon
CG Mascara

Lips
MAC Swelter Slimshine

I love MAC and their eye products but I'm also a huge NYX fan. For the fellow Canadian girls, you can find NYX in selected Pharmaplus locations. NYX products can also be purchased online at http://www.nyxcosmetics.ca/ or for a better price at Cheery Culture. I find that NYX is perhaps the best value for your money and for those folks who don't want to or don't have the means to drop cash on more expensive brands such as MAC, NYX is a great alternative. Below is some swatches and reviews of some of the NYX products I own.



NYX Jumbo Pencils

From left to right: Horseradish, Purple, Sky Blue, Rust, Pots and Pans



Generan Review: The jumbo pencils make great bases for your eyeshadows. They are very creamy and soft and go on very smooth. They colours are vibrant and come in a large selection. I'm definitely planning on getting more of these. One con though, these are very creamy and hence can crease on your lids. I usually use MAC's Bare Canvas paint as a base, Jumbo Pencil as base for my colours and then my eyeshadow or pigments. I would definitely recommend these to every colour lover out there.

NYX Ultra Pearl Mania



Top row, left to right: Rust, Chocolate Brown, Baby Pink, Lilac, Purple, Yello Gold
Bottom row, left to right: Penny, Lime, Fanta, Baby Blue, Turqoise

(All swatches done with dry pigment and no base)


General review: NYX Ultra Pearl Mania are loose pigment that can be used dry or wet. I usually use them with homemade mixing medium to get more intensity. They are similar
to MAC pigments as in they're also very vibrant but they are very finely milled. You can buy these from Cherry Culture for about $1.99 most of the time. Once con is that these babies come in is very tiny bottle and has an even tinier opening. To make these more user friendly, I emptied the bottles in clear screw top jars I had bought before. My two top picks out of the ones I own are Penny and Lilac.


In conclusion, definitely look into NYX if you want quality product for less. Unlike most drugstore brands, these show up on your skin exactly as they show in the pot. Two thums up!

I have a sample of the Steel Blue pigment since last year and though I think it looks very pretty, I never used it coz it looks chunky in the jar. So I finally broke it out today and using wet, this pigment is very gorgeous, especially over a gold base. I don't think my camera does any justice to how vibrant the colour is.

Face
same as usual
Hard Candy Bronzer
MAC Lovejoy mb
MAC Sunspill loose bp

Eyes
MAC Cash Flow p/p as base
MAC Steel Blue p/m on lid
MAC Golden Lemon p/m in the crease
NYX Black e/s in the outer v
MAC Vanilla p/m to highlight
Lise Watier waterproof e/l in Blue Noir to line lower lashline
CG mascara

Lips
MAC 3N l/s - what the heck will I do when this LE fave product runs out? :(

It looks like so far my blog's been mostly about my looks. I really need to put some other materials in here. On the other hand I do doll up everyday pretty much, might as well share them with others here. That way hopefully I can inspire someone out there and also I won't forget my own look.

Face
Same as usual
Hard Candy Bronzer
MAC X-Rocks blush
MAC Alpha Girls bpb

Eyes
MAC Stilife paint as base
MAC Blonde's Gold p/m all over lid
MAC Humid e/s in the crease
MAC Gorgeous Gold e/s on lid
MAC Graphology e/s in the outer v
Gosh green e/l
CG mascara

Lips
MAC Vegas Volt l/s - still deciding if this is a good colour for me or not
MAC Pink Grapefruit l/g

I'm on a roll today with the FOTD's! So here's a look I did a few hours ago. My eyebrows are badly in need of shaping :( but try to see past that. I took the pics in my car and the sun was blazing so it washed the colours a lil bit. Ok, enough rambling:

Face
Same as usual
MAC Eversun bpb
BB Gold Shimmer Brick

Eyes
MAC Bare Canvas paint
NYX Sky Blue Jumbo Pencil
MAC Tilt e/s
MAC Amber Lights e/s
MAC Embark e/s
MAC Solar White e/s
Lise Watier Black Gold e/l
CG mascara

Lips
Dior Ultra Addict l/s in 612

So I did this girlie look yesterday for work. I was wearing a pink argyle sweater and I did the look to match it. I tend to use a mix of MAC and NYX products on my eyes.

I know most folks are fairly familiar with MAC, but I do need to do some swatches and reviews of the NYX stuff I have.

I used:

Same Face stuff as always

Eyes
MAC Fresco Rose p/p
NYX pearl Mania in Baby Pink
MAC Vanilla p/m
MAC Royal Flush p/m
Rimmel White e/l
CG mascara Volume Exact

Cheeks
MAC Love Thing mb
MAC Alpha Girl bp

Lips
MAC Chatterbox l/s
MAC Steppin Out dazzleglass

So this is my first post in blog land! I am so excited to have my own blog finally. I will be updating frequently with FOTD's and hopefully new release reviews. Can't wait for all of that :D