I recently hosted my first Instagram collab!
Our theme was “otherworldly”.. As in other worldly creatures.
I was a mermaid and both of the other makeup artists in the collab chose to be villains!
I had so much fun doing this collab and really love the Instagram makeup community. Hope you like our looks!
Check out the fabulous and ultra talented Jade and Julie on Instagram!
@therealslimjadee_ & @julie_odsgaard
Julie was inspired by Cruella Deville! Such a great take.
I made a mini Sephora haul yesterday and will be reviewing some of the products I picked up. I’m already so in love with some of them. Well, maybe all of them, actually.
The first product I’ll be reviewing is a liquid lipstick I picked up by Kat Von D beauty in the shade “underage red”. I usually use ABH when it comes to liquid lipstick but this one by KVD popped out at me and I love some of her other products, so I decided to try.
First off, it looked amazing and glided on perfectly. It’s a little stickier than ABH and has a much different consistency. Kind of oily or glossy going on. I believe that helped in creating less dryness though!
I wore this for the first time to an outdoor event. 99 degree weather and lots of drinks. I got home 5 hours later and it was still on and there was NO CRUMBLE, drying, or cracking!! I couldn’t believe it. It didn’t feel cakey at all. I’m Amazed!
It doesn’t have quite as much staying power as ABH, but it didn’t dry my lips out as much either.
One thing I will say could be both a pro and a con is that it was pretty hard to get off at the end of the night. I looked like a clown after attempting to wash it off with water, it smeared everywhere, but my favorite lip scrub and some water on a wash cloth took it right off. It’s interesting though because it seems and feels like a pretty light liquid lipstick.
One con: I did notice a little bit of wear on my lower lip at the end of the night.
The shade I tried reminded me a bit of Mac’s famous, Ruby Woo.
Underage Red is the perfect, classic, red shade. Doesn’t lean orange, does any lean pink. Super romantic.
Overall, I’m impressed once again with Kat Von D’s products.
The packaging is sexy and romantic.
The products have fun, kitschy names.
The colors pop.
Kat Von D’s Everlasting liquid lipstick retails for $20.
You can find it in store or online at Sephora or on the Kat Von D beauty website.
So, I just heard that Mac cosmetics will be carried at Ulta soon! This is crazy. I love MAC and always have. It has been my go to makeup for 15 years. At times it’s been a hassle. Always having to go find a MAC counter or store, but it did add some mystery and glimmer. I mean, every girl likes the chase, lol!
I was always fortunate enough to be able to shop at MAC, but I knew plenty of people who couldn’t afford to spend what Mac was asking on cosmetics. They are pricey. Not to mention there are probably plenty of people with no MAC store near them.
So, recently I’ve noticed more and more limited edition collections and super trendy, fad products coming from Mac.
A Trolls line, Caitlin Jenner line, Selena line. Don’t get me wrong, Mac has had limited edition collections like viva glam etc, for a long time, but it seemed we were seeing more and more of this and with more focus.
They also started a VIP type club on their website.
I believe they have even slightly lowered some prices this past year.
All these things made me wonder…
Does Mac need a little push into the limelight again?
If you ask me, no brushes compare to Mac. Their lipsticks are phenomenal, eyeshadows are so rich and so pigmented, and I love bright pops of color, but cosmetics everywhere are just getting better and better and more products are trending.
You can go to Ulta right down the road and easily buy an Urban Decay or Tarte palette that you will really like and that will be trending on social media. Get some points to use towards your next purchase. Get other products from other brands you need that are in the same store.
I will say, I would expect MAC to be carried in Sephora, with higher end products like YSL & Lancôme, but thats the point, that would probably defeat the purpose of what they are doing to some degree.
Things are changing in the world and in the world of cosmetics. There is a lot on the market, we live in a land of Instagram “dupes” and reviews. Products are becoming more green (look at brands like Tarte), and people want more “in” products to talk about. Mac may be loved by Mua’s and entertainers, but the everyday girl may not be looking for such full coverage foundation or crazy shadows.
I remember how horrified I was when Mac stopped carrying my favorite contour shade of blush (Strada). The girl at the counter told me that Mac discontinues a lot of their more timeless colors to make room for their ridiculous number of crazy hot pink (or whatever crazy color) blushes.
I did find a similar shade in the end though along with a bronzer she recommended that was again, a very trendy shade.
Well, I’m excited to see Mac in Ulta stores and I think MAC is amazing at what they do best. I wonder which products Ulta will carry or how extensive the MAC section will be. I hear they will have everything from (my fave) Ruby Woo lipstick, to eyeshadow palettes. You can swatch the palettes next to other brands palettes and see how they compare, etc. I’m excited that Mac will be easier for some people to check out in person or purchase, but I really never thought I’d see this happen!
What do you guys think?
Does it make Mac less exclusive?
Is obtainable cool?
Are you excited?
I wish Shu Uemura would’ve done something like this instead of closing down all of their US counters (not that I hear MAC is facing that in any way). I just mean, it’s nice to have products in front of you that you don’t have to order or make a super special trip for.
Makeup for all!!
wildswanbeauty.com 