Tuesday 8 May 2012

NOTD - Gargantuan Play Date!


Essie's Play Date is a bright pastel purple that is a huge colour in fashion for this spring and summer. Essie have captured the most amazing colour here as it is super bright for a pastel shade. I teamed it with an accent nail in OPI's Gargantuan Green Grape a pastel minty green shade. I love the colours together and I will wear this again but I think I will do polka dots on the accent nail in the Essie colour, I think that'll be really fun for the summer. 

Essie's Play Date applies smoothly and perfect in two coats, OPI's Gargantuan Green Grape is a monster to apply. It's thin, watery and streaky which is probably why I've never worn it as a full manicure which is a shame as its such a pretty colour. I only had the patience for two accent nails this time!


xoxo

Monday 7 May 2012

Hey Sailor!

The first week of a new month means new MAC collections! This month I was surprised to see the release of their summer collection, Hey Sailor here in Europe before the US get it! 

When I first saw pictures online of this collection a couple of months ago I was super excited. I just love the theme especially with the nautical theme being huge in fashion and interiors it makes perfect sense to release a makeup collection in time for the summer.

The collection is split into two groups, face and colour. The face group features bronzers and a body oil to look glowy for the warmer season and having just purchased my first proper bronzer Nars Laguna, I skipped this section and headed straight for the colour!

Since this collection was only online and with no chance of me going to a MAC counter any time soon or at least before the stars of the collection sell out I had to order online blind as some of the bigger makeup bloggers like Temptalia have not received the collection yet as its only in Europe right now. Usually I would peruse the pages to be sure I don't own something similar but I had to go with my gut!




This part of the collection features the usual items you would expect, eyeshadows, lipsticks, blushers, lipglass, nail lacquers, pigments and a highlighter.

Obviously I headed straight for the lipstick section and I chose Sail Le Vie.




A bright reddy toned orange, Sail Le Vie is absolutely perfect for me. The others in the range are nudes, which I have trouble with and I certainly wasn't ordering without seeing a swatch and a red which I do enjoy but don't wear often and I have three anyway!

Sail Le Vie is similar to Neon Orange but it certainly has more a of a red tint to it than all out orange and is brighter and less coral than last years Hibiscus from the Surf Baby collection, also their summer offering. It glides on to the lips and is very bright. It's a satin, one of MAC best formulas.

Hibiscus, Sail Le Vie and Neon Orange


Next I picked out the highlight powder, Crew.


I was attracted to the mix of colours on the surface however now I have the product in my had I think they are just surface colours and may only last a few uses. The highlight colour itself is a warm pinky peachy type tone with gold shimmer. I have yet to use it but I shall look forward to trying it out.

Finally I chose an eyeshadow. Jaunty is a warm champagne frosty colour. Similar to Retrospeck but more beige. Much easier to wear all over the lid alone as it's very opaque on its own.


I have really been enjoying wearing an all over gold wash on my lids so I was instantly drawn to this although if there had been a palette with the other colours in the collection, Navy (blue obv), Feeling Fresh (green), Barefoot (gold) and Jaunty I wouldn't have hesitated to buy it! I'm wearing it in the above picture.

The packaging is divine.
The blue and white stripey cardboard packaging is absolutely appropriate and when opened the the red interior of the box is a treat. The deep blue casing is perfect and MAC have used gold lettering which makes the collection feel special and exclusive. The products are pleasurable to hold, I know it sonuds weird but seriously they are super soft and slinky.

I may have purchased a blusher but I bought two in the Tres Cheek collection last month, If I happen upon a counter before they sell out I'll check them out but I'm not making a special journey.

Have you got your eye on anything in this collection?

xoxo