MAC Hot Gossip Lipstick Review, Photos and Swatches!

MAC Hot Gossip Lipstick

MAC Hot Gossip Lipstick ($15) is described as a mid-tone pinky plum. It's a shade I would have never picked up a couple of years ago, and a shade I've overlooked ever time I'm shopping at the MAC counter. I'd like to call it a grown-up pink - your progression from baby pinks and nudes. It looks quite boring in the tube when you look at it in indoor lighting, but in the sunlight, you really get to see how complex and pretty this pink is. It kind of reminds me of a more pigmented, brighter and pinker Rimmel Airy Fairy.

Hot Gossip brings color to my face without being too bright, and makes my lips look a bit more noticeable and full. I think it's a shade that will work on many skintones from warm to cool, light and dark.

It's a cremesheen formula, so it applies smooth and is opaque with a few swipes of the tube.

MAC Hot Gossip Lipstick on my lips

I actually really like the way this lipstick looks on my lips when my lips are a bit more rosy-red. It just looks like such a pretty rose. The plummy tones are a bit more prominent when my natural lip color is toned down. When the color fades, it's more of a natural pink.

This is several layers

Overall, I'm really happy I got this lipstick and I can see it being one of my go-to's for nights out or for daily wear when I want to wear a pink that has a little more to it than the standard nude pink and a bit less than a bright pink.

What do you think? Would you rock it?

The Round-Up

Pros:

• Creamy formula that feels great on my lips
• Semi-opaque color that is buildable to opaque
• Makes my lips look fuller
• Will work on a variety of skin tones - despite it being plummy, it flatters warm and cool skin

Cons:

• Cremesheen formulas tend to melt and/or tilt because of the soft, creamy formula, so be careful not to leave it in a warm area.

Price: $15, MAC.

L'Oreal True Match Lumi Foundation Review!

L'Oreal True Match Lumi Foundation

L'Oreal True Match Lumi Foundation ($12.95) is a lightweight, buildable foundation that provides a luminous, glowing finish to the skin. It's actually said to improve the clarity and skin tone with continued use.

L'Oreal True Match Lumi Foundation is available in 15 shades: Porcelain/Light Ivory, Nude Beige, Natural Beige, Sand Beige, Sun Beige, Soft Ivory/Classic Ivory, Natural Buff, Buff Beige, True Beige, Classic Tan, Creamy Natural, Shell Beige, Classic Beige, Soft Sable and Nut Brown/Cocoa.

To find your match a bit easier, the shades are broken up into three categories: Warm, Neutral and Cool. If you know your undertone, you can go straight to the appropriate category and figure out your exact shade. Sound familiar? Yep. L'Oreal True Match Foundation has the same coloring system. I picked W3 Nude Beige (I'm typically a W4 in L'Oreal True Match, but unfortunately my store was sold out of W4, and I was feeling impatient.. must.. have.. now!) W3 is a pretty good match for the MAC NC30 coloring. It's a bit peach - it could use more yellow/golden tones. For reference, it's less yellow than many of the other warm shades in the range.

The consistency is very lightweight; runny, but also very creamy. If I had to compare the consistency to another drugstore foundation, I'd probably say it's the most similar to Neutrogena Healthy Skin, but slightly creamier. Because of the thin texture, it's very easy to blend and doesn't cake or dry on the skin before you're finished blending the whole face.

The coverage is light, buildable to light-medium with an additional layer. I'd prefer if it had a touch more coverage, but it has nice coverage for my "better" skin days. When I want additional coverage, I usually add a touch of Revlon Colorstay Whipped to any areas that need it, and my face looks flawless.

It gives off a very natural, radiant finish. Not dewy or matte - somewhat along the lines of a satin finish with a bit more glow. Not Revlon Photoready glow, though (sparkle city). It's the type of glow your skin has after you've had a chemical peel.

Here's my skin closer up. I didn't set with a powder to preserve the luminosity. 

The lasting power on my balanced skin is around 6 hours with a setting powder. L'Oreal states that it lasts around 8 hours, which might be true on a good day. With the addition of Revlon Whipped, it lasts much longer (until the time I wash my face at night). I find that when it breaks down, it fades pretty naturally without looking patchy. The regular True Match fades patchy on my skin, which is why I don't particularly care for it. 

For color comparison-

Swatches from left to right: L'Oreal True Match LUMI Foundation W3, L'Oreal True Match Foundation W4, MAC Studio Fix Fluid NC30.

Overall, I really like this foundation and my main gripe is mainly with the color. I think L'Oreal needs to go back to the drawing board with W3, because it's not warm enough. Lastly, I wish the lasting power was better, but most times lighter coverage/liquidy foundations don't last as long as heavier foundations.

It's a nice foundation, and much more wallet-friendly than most higher end alternatives. The reviews are very 50/50, but I will continue using this foundation, and mixing it with some of my other foundations to add a bit of radiance to my skin. I think this foundation would work particularly well on dry skin, as it's fairly moisturizing, spreads well on the face and gives a glow to the skin. It might have a little too much slip for oily skin, but individual results will vary.

The Round-Up
Pros:

• Light, creamy-liquid formula that is very easy to work with
• Light, buildable to light-medium coverage
• SPF20
• Pump dispenser - no mess!
• Makes my skin look glowing and radiant

Cons:

• W3 is too peach (it actually matches my MAC NW20 concealer)
• Becomes shiny within a couple of hours if I don't set with a powder
• Lasting power is 6 hours (results will vary - it may last longer or less on your skin)

Price: $12.95, at your local drugstore.

MAC Saint Germain Lipstick Review, Photos and Swatches!

MAC Saint Germain Lipstick

MAC Saint Germain Lipstick ($15) is described on the MAC website as a clean, pastel pink. It's a very blue-based (cool toned) pink, so it can appear a bit lilac-purple. It's a very "barbie" pink, that can be difficult to pull off, and most times is a hit or miss on most skin tones. I think it's absolutely beautiful on light skin tones (see Katy Perry below) and I actually didn't discover my love for blue-pink lipsticks until I tried one minus my faux tan (around the MAC NC15 coloring).

Because it's very light (pastel), and it's a very opaque formula of lipstick, it can look a bit harsh as it can completely block out the color of your lips (much like any pastel - such as MAC Fleshpot or Myth), but when applied sheer, and combined with a pink lip gloss on top, it's so much more wearable.

MAC Saint Germain on my lips.

NYX Sand Pink Lip Liner, MAC Saint Germain Lipstick and MAC Like Venus Dazzleglass.

The above photo isn't exactly the most flattering photo of my lips - MAC Dazzleglasses are quite thick and tacky, and combined with the dryness of my lips, the colors didn't mix properly. But, hopefully you get the idea of how the color can be easily changed to adapt better to your skin tone.

I typically like applying a pink lip liner, a thin coat of Saint Germain and a pink lip gloss over top. Sometimes I'll mix a bright pink or warm pink lipstick with Saint Germain, as Saint Germain makes colors appear much more vibrant and pink. The combinations are pretty much endless, so do a little experimenting!

Here are some comparisons-

From left to right: MAC Saint Germain Lipstick, MAC Viva Glam Gaga, MAC Royal Azalea Sheen Supreme, Wet n Wild Dollhouse Pink Mega Last Matte Lipstick and MAC Enchantee Kissable Lip Colour.

MAC Viva Glam Gaga is more wearable on it's own as it's much more sheer and slightly less blue. MAC Royal Azalea is slightly lighter and less vibrant, but is a good alternative if you want something equally opaque, with a shiny finish.

If you don't want to invest in Saint Germain, Wet n Wild Dollhouse Pink is a great alternative. It's a bit darker and brighter, but similar enough. NYX Narcissus Round Lipstick and Revlon Pink Pout Matte Lipstick are also similar.

It's one of those lipsticks that's fun to have, but can easily look bad (Jerseylicious or Ganguro) if you allow it to. If seen it look bad on some and amazing on some (from every skin tone; light to dark). To really make this work, make sure to exfoliate and/or moisturize your lips prior to application, as pastel shades can show dryness. Apply a light coat of the lipstick and blot if necessary. If you like the semi-matte finish, you can keep your lips as-is, but if you like a little shine, add your favorite pink gloss on top. Also, pastel blue-toned pinks can emphasize yellow teeth, if that concerns you. It's nothing a weeks worth of Crest White Strips can't fix! :)

The Round-Up

Pros:

• Ultra girly, fun shade
• Bold, pigmented color
• Applies evenly

Cons:

• Formula can be drying on it's own
• Can be difficult to wear on certain skin tones, but is a great mixing color
• Can emphasize yellow teeth

Price: $15, MAC.

Photo Credits: Amber Rose (Media Outrage), Lea Michele (Real Style Network), Katy Perry (Style Bistro) and Kim Kardashian (tumblr).

Shabby Apple Giveaway Winner Announced!

Shabby Apple $50 Gift Card Giveaway

I'd like to thank all of those who participated in my recent Shabby Apple $50 Gift Card Giveaway, and of course, I'd like to give a special thanks to Shabby Apple for hosting this giveaway exclusively for the readers of Miss Natty's Beauty Diary!

As always, the winner was chosen randomly using random.org. And without further ado, the winner is... Rebecca Kazimir! Congrats!

Shabby Apple was also kind enough to provide my readers with a coupon code that can be used on everything on the Shabby Apple website.

For 10% off your order, use code: missnattysbeautydiary10off.

Thank you all again, and have a wonderful day!

MAC Radiant Rose Prep + Prime Highlighter Review, Photos and Swatches!

MAC Radiant Rose Prep + Prime Highlighter 

MAC Prep + Primer Highlighter  ($24) is a pen-style creamy highlighter that brings a sheer wash of color to the skin wherever it is applied. It can be used under makeup to prime and brighten, or on top of makeup to highlight.

MAC Prep + Prime Highlighter is available in (3) shades: Light Boost (soft yellow cream), Radiant Rose (light shell pink) and Bright Forecast (mid tone peachy coral). (You can find swatches of all three shades on Temptalia)

I purchased Radiant Rose, as pink toned highlighters seem to do the best job brightening on my particular skin tone.

Several brand make these pen style highlighters, and I find that most of the time they are pretty expensive for the amount of product you receive. YSL Touche Eclat for instance costs $40 for a 0.10 oz tube. Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener costs $38 for 0.05 oz and Dior Skinflash Radiance Booster Pen costs $37 for 0.05 oz. They might all be mildly effective, but I personally think they are very expensive for how long they last with daily use.

I was thrilled when MAC came out with a highlighter pen, as MAC tends to be a bit lower priced than most high-end cosmetics. At $24 for 0.12 oz, it's very easily the best value overall, therefore I'm the most willing to purchase from MAC.

MAC Prep & Prime Radiant Rose Highlighter (left) and YSL Touche Eclat #1 Radiant Touch (right). Both are swatched on warm, medium skin (MAC NC30).

In comparison to the YSL Touche Eclat in #1, the color is slightly lighter and is solely pink toned, whereas the YSL is peachy-pink toned. They both have just about the same opacity, but because the MAC pen is a bit lighter, it's a little more apparent on the skin. 

I've actually been preferring it to my much loved YSL Touche Eclat, as it seems to do a better job brightening overall.

The product is thin and creamy, and although it's sheer, it does have a bit of pigment to provide a bit of coverage. It is buildable, so if you have very mild under-eye darkness, you might not need an additional concealer. If you do have severe darkness, this will work well when combined with your favorite concealer. It blends very easily and because of it's thin texture, it blends in with the skin so well, making the product undetectable.

Can you see the faint highlight under my eye?

I like applying it straight from the brush and using my fingertips with patting motions to blend. I also sometimes like using a tapered blending brush to blend any harsh edges without disturbing the coverage. 

I like applying this under my foundation on my dark circles to brighten the area, as well as over my foundation near my tear ducts. I also apply it to my cupid's bow and along the bridge of my nose. I also sometimes like to apply a thin line under the contours of my cheeks to further define my face.

I love this pen, and I will no doubt repurchase it when mine is finished. Because it's more affordable than the YSL pen, I won't feel too guilty about using it daily. I'd typically reserve my YSL pen for nights out and special occasions so I won't go through it as fast.

The reviews on Makeupalley seem to be the most favorable for 'Radiant Rose'. Although there are only 13 reviews, the rating is a 4.8/5 with a 92% re-purchase rate. (view here)

Have you tried this highlighter or similar? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

The Round-Up
Pros:

• Works very well at highlighting/brightening areas where it has been applied
• The thin, creamy consistency blends into the skin without being detectable (natural)
• Doesn't look stark or ashy on my medium skin tone
• Great, cheaper alternative to the YSL Touche Eclat

Cons:

• May be too pale for deep-dark skin tones

Price: $24, MAC.

OPI Jade is the New Black.

I don't know about all of you, but I'm tired of Summer and can't wait for Fall to start! Fall is my favorite time of the year, and I'm crazy about Fall fashion and the dark, warm colors it has to offer. 

One of my favorite Fall nail colors is dark green, and I always turn to my trusty bottle of OPI Jade is the New Black. It's a really basic medium-toned cool-toned green creme polish, and the formula is an absolute pleasure to work with. It's the perfect consistency, applies without streaks and is completely opaque with two coats. 

On my ring finger, I was playing around with a white nail art polish and created some geometric designs to mimic tribal print. I'm a huge fan of tribal print nails, and hopefully soon when I have more time on my hands, I'll attempt to do tribal print on all of my nails with different colors. But for now, I can deal with one nail. haha!

I'm loving this tribal print manicure - 

(Source)

I added Studio M Covered in Diamonds over top for a little glitz.

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

MAC Supreme Style Sheen Supreme Lipstick Review!

MAC Supreme Style Sheen Supreme Lipstick

MAC Supreme Style Sheen Supreme Lipstick ($16) is described as a light coral with pink and a frost finish. The coverage is semi-opaque, which is almost hard to distinguish because the base color is so similar to my actual lip color. At a glance, it looks sheer, but it's actually quite pigmented. It reminds me a bit of a pinker version of MAC High Tea. It's a great natural shade to pair with dramatic eyes.

This shade plays off the natural shade of the lips a bit, so if your lips are redder, the color may appear more rosy. I like applying a tiny bit of MAC Lip Erase on my lips to tone down the color for a perfect, glossy nude.

If you aren't familiar with MAC Sheen Supremes, they are an ultra-creamy, moisturizing formula with a shiny finish. In some ways, they kind of remind me of the texture of Revlon Lip Butters (but creamier) — they feel like a soft, creamy lip balm, yet the coverage is opaque. I absolutely love them, and if you are particular to softer, glossy formulas of lipstick, you will love them too.

MAC Supreme Style on my lips.

The Round-Up

Pros:

• Fairly opaque color.
• Creamy texture, that feels great on the lips.
• Moisturizing formula — no lip balm needed! Doesn't dry my lips out.
• Although the lipstick is very soft, the packaging design makes the lipstick break-proof — it's a chapstick-like design, so the product is right smack against the inside of the tube. Therefore, the lipstick won't break from the base, slant, etc, which you may experience with MAC Creamsheen Lipticks and other soft formulas.
• Contains more product (3.6g/0.12 oz) than the standard MAC lipstick (3g/0.1 oz).
• Eligible for Back to MAC, even though it costs $1 more than reg. MAC lipsticks.

Cons:

• None!

Price: $16, MAC.

MAC Supreme Style Sheen Supreme Lipstick Review!

MAC Supreme Style Sheen Supreme Lipstick

MAC Supreme Style Sheen Supreme Lipstick ($16) is described as a light coral with pink and a frost finish. The coverage is semi-opaque, which is almost hard to distinguish because the base color is so similar to my actual lip color. At a glance, it looks sheer, but it's actually quite pigmented. It reminds me a bit of a pinker version of MAC High Tea. It's a great natural shade to pair with dramatic eyes.

This shade plays off the natural shade of the lips a bit, so if your lips are redder, the color may appear more rosy. I like applying a tiny bit of MAC Lip Erase on my lips to tone down the color for a perfect, glossy nude.

If you aren't familiar with MAC Sheen Supremes, they are an ultra-creamy, moisturizing formula with a shiny finish. In some ways, they kind of remind me of the texture of Revlon Lip Butters (but creamier) � they feel like a soft, creamy lip balm, yet the coverage is opaque. I absolutely love them, and if you are particular to softer, glossy formulas of lipstick, you will love them too.

MAC Supreme Style on my lips.

The Round-Up

Pros:

• Fairly opaque color.
• Creamy texture, that feels great on the lips.
• Moisturizing formula � no lip balm needed! Doesn't dry my lips out.
• Although the lipstick is very soft, the packaging design makes the lipstick break-proof � it's a chapstick-like design, so the product is right smack against the inside of the tube. Therefore, the lipstick won't break from the base, slant, etc, which you may experience with MAC Creamsheen Lipticks and other soft formulas.
• Contains more product (3.6g/0.12 oz) than the standard MAC lipstick (3g/0.1 oz).
• Eligible for Back to MAC, even though it costs $1 more than reg. MAC lipsticks.

Cons:

• None!

Price: $16, MAC.

Make Up For Ever #5 Nip Slip HD Blush Review, Photos and Swatches!

Make Up For Ever #5 Nip Slip HD Blush

Make Up For Ever #5 Nip Slip HD Blush ($26) is a matte, neutral mid-tone pink. Because it has a good balance of cool and warm tones, #5 is a flattering pink on most skin tones. It has a little bit of vibrancy to the color, but it's also not too "barbie doll". It warms up quite nicely on my warm, medium skin tone.

If you aren't familiar with Make Up For Ever HD Blushes; they are a lightweight, yet dense cream that is dispensed in a pump tube. The formula is intensely pigmented, and a little goes a long way.

My favorite application method is using a duo-fiber stippling brush. I usually pump a small amount of product on a clean surface (I sometimes use the lid of one of my freshly sanitized mirrored compacts) and dip the brush in the product with light tapping motions to evenly coat the ends of the bristles. Then, stipple it on my cheeks, and blend upward until blended. You kind of have to work with it quickly, as it does dry pretty fast.

The formula might take a little getting use to at first, but after using it a few times, it should be a breeze.

#5 Nip Slip

I'm indifferent when it comes to the packaging. I like it, but I don't love it. It's a nice idea overall to place a cream blush in a dispensable container because the problem with cream blushes is that they aren't very sanitary (bacteria needs moisture to grow), sometimes you might use your fingers, sometimes you might use a brush, and almost always the surface of your cream brushes somehow has attracted lint, fibers, dust, etc. Also, many times the surface will dry out. The packaging for the MUFE HD Blushes eliminates all of that and keeps the product inside clean and fresh.

The only problem is that convenience-wise, the standard cream blush compact packaging works better.

Overall though, I am a fan of these blushes, and will continue to try additional shades. Despite them sometimes being a pain to use, it can be overlooked because of the beautiful color selection, bold pigmentation and long lasting power.

Comparison swatches from left to right: MUFE HD #5 Nip Slip, MAC Fleur Power, MAC Dollymix, Physician's Formula Happy Booster Blush in Natural, Physician's Formula Matchmaker Blush in Natural.

Although it doesn't look like it by the swatches, but on the cheeks, I can't tell the difference between MUFE HD #5, MAC Fleur Power and Physician's Formula Matchmaker Blush in the shade Natural. Nip Slip turns into a warm pink once it hits my cheeks (all pinks do because of the yellow tones in my skin), which kind of bums me out, but it's still a color I really love.

I've also reviewed #10 Skinny Dipping in the past, so if you're interested, check out that review as well!

Have you tried the HD blushes? Are you a fan?

The Round-Up

Pros:

• Very pigmented color  — a small amount goes a long way.
• Will work well on a wide variety of skin tones for a natural, flushed pink.
• Dries quickly without leaving the cheeks feeling tacky.
• Long-lasting; better lasting power than many.
• Nice, lightweight packaging for travel, sanitary and keeps product fresh.

Cons:

• Can sometimes be difficult to work with, mostly because the actual formula isn't very wet, and it dries quickly.
• You have to be very careful and dispense the product with a very light hand as it can dispense too much product.
• A bit expensive, yet it should last a long time with daily use. 

Price: $26, Sephora.