10.  Reflects Antique Gold

Shade Description: Sparkling Taupe
Finish: Glitter
Buy a sample in the MUG store

Now technically this isn’t a pigment, but a very fine glitter.  I love this as it has this bronzy gold color and looks amazing with brown for a neutral look with a kick, or with a black or dark blue for an amazing night out on the town look!

9.  Bright Fuchsia

Shade Description: Intensely rich fuchsia with a hint of pearl
Finish: Pearl
Buy a sample in the MUG store

Now my other favorite pink was Brash and Bold, but since MAC discontinued it, this is a close 2nd  :)

8.  Grape

Shade Description: Deep purple with shimmer
Finish: Frost
Buy a sample in the MUG store

Purples are my favorite color to wear as they make my baby browns pop! This one is such a pretty shimmery deep purple color that I love!

7.  Pure White

Shade Description: Flat pure matte white
Finish:   Matte
Buy a sample in the MUG store

This has been my go to color lately as it’s such an intense white color (it beats out Gesso eyeshadow every time!)

6.  Platinum

Shade Description: Smooth, high-shine platinum
Finish: Metal
Buy a sample in the MUG store

I love this one as it really does look like pure metallic metal!  It’s pretty potent and VERY finely milled, so be carefully applying….

5.   Emerald Green

Shade Description: Rich, emerald green infused with tiny diamond-like particle
Finish: Pearl
Buy a sample in the MUG store

If you love dark shimmery green, you will love this one!  It reminds me a little bit of NARS Night Porter eyeshadow

4.   Copper Sparkle

Shade Description: Super frosty copper flecks
Finish: Frost/Glitter
Buy a sample in the MUG store

I like this one as it’s unique- it’s a copper color with little bits of fine glitter in it.  It looks great by itself on the lid for a nice Fall look!

3.  Deep Blue Green

Shade Description: Rich, deep bluish green
Finish:   Pearl
Buy a sample in the MUG store

This is such a gorgeous deep teal color! I love it on top of Delft paintpot- ooh la la!

2.  Mutiny

Shade Description: Shimmery teal
Finish: Frost
Buy a sample in the MUG store

I’m not sure why MAC doesn’t make this part of their regular line, as everyone I know loves this pigment!  It’s a gorgeous shimmery aqua that looks great on any eye/skin color.

1.   Melon

Shade Description: Soft bright golden peach
Finish: Frost
Buy a sample in the MUG store

This color I think will always be my number 1 favorite as it’s so versatile!  I wear this on the lid with a little brown in the outer corner for a perfect neutral look, or pair it with a dark purple eyeshadow for a great night time look.

FYI:  My list is based off what I believe is most unique to MAC.   Yes, there are a TON of eyeshadows and lipsticks that you could easily get, but why pay $11 each if you could find the same color somewhere else for cheaper?  So…. I picked the more unique colors that other brands don’t have.  I hope this helps!

Fix +  Spray

This is by far my favorite products that MAC sells!  I use it everyday after I finish my makeup to give my skin that youthful glow.   You can also mix it with pigments to get a wet eyeshadow look, or spray in your hair to make it shiny and soft.

Price: $19

217 Brush

If you have watched any of my videos, you know that I swear by this brush.  I love it because it’s stiff and dome shaped which is great for smoking out eyeshadows, blending colors in the crease, or feathering colors together.  You can even use it to apply cream products to the lid as it gives a soft application.  This brush is a staple in my everyday kit!

Price: $22.50

219 Brush

This is another favorite brush of mine that I use every day!  It’s the perfect brush for smudging eyeshadow along the lashline, defining the crease, or creating the perfect “outer V”.    I don’t even remember what I used before this brush, but I don’t leave home without it!

Price: $24.50

Expensive Pink Eyeshadow

I realize that MAC has well over 100 eyeshadows, and most all of them are pretty.  But… this one is very unique to me and looks great on just about anyone!  It’s a medium pink color that works well for an everyday look, and since it is a warm pink, it is flattering and doesn’t make you look sick  Plus, I can’t think of any other brands that have this exact color.

Price: $11.00  (for the refill pan)

Amber Lights Eyeshadow

This is another gorgeous color that looks good on everyone, and I mean EVERYONE.  I haven’t found a client yet that this doesn’t look great on.  It’s a warm golden bronze color that can be toned down for an everyday look, or paired with a black shadow for a fantastic date night look.   There are some brands that have colors close to this, but it’s not quite the same texture or richly pigmented like this one!

Price: $11.00

Blacktrack Fluidline

I am a 100% addict to gel or cream eyeliners.  They glide easily, last a long time, are rich in color, and are easy to apply.  I like this MAC one since the gel formula doesn’t dry out and look cakey on my eyes.  I love to dip an eyeliner pencil in it to line my waterline, or use a bent liner brush for that perfect winged liner.  You can choose from 6 colors of fluidlines, but the black one can be used everyday

Price: $15.00

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Total cost for this shopping trip:   $105 (ok, so I was $5 off- give up Starbucks for one day )

But amiss the mass amounts of makeup brushes out there, how do you decide which ones you should have in your kit?   I’ve broken down the types of brushes you should have and what each one is used for, so hopefully this eliminates all those useless brushes sitting in your makeup drawer and saves you some money!

*Now I do compare the MAC brushes to some of the MUG ones- I am completely 100% honest in my reviews of these brushes and am not going to push certain ones just to “make a sell”- I promise!  I have spent many months trying out different brushes to sell in the store that were comparable to some of the MAC ones- my goal is for you to save money while still having decent quality tools.   I will describe each brush so you can choose for yourself whichever brush you feel is best for you

Eyes

There are 4 main brushes you should have for your eye makeup…..

This brush is used to pack on color to the lid.  It needs to be flat so you can pat on the eyeshadow over your eye primer,  and it needs to be stiff so it picks up plenty of color.

The MAC equivalent is the #239- the Eye Shader Brush     (MAC)

• Cost:  $24.50

A cheaper alternative is the MUG Eye Shader Brush     (Makeup Geek Store)

• Cost:   $4.29

Both brushes work well in packing on color, and both are stiff.  The MAC one is a bit larger and thicker than the MUG one.  Technically, the MUG one is a concealer brush, but does not work well at all for concealer- it is MUCH better at packing on eyeshadows or pigments…

This brush is used for creating the perfect smoky eye, for feathering in darker eyeshadows, and for applying more color to the crease.  This is my all time favorite eye brush!

The MAC equivalent is the #217- the Blending Brush     (MAC)

• Cost:  $22.50

A cheaper alternative is the NYX Professional Crease Brush     (Makeup Geek Store)

• Cost:   $8.89

These brushes are VERY comparable- the only difference I can tell is the NYX one is a smidge shorter

This brush is just like the stiff dome brush but much softer- it creates a much softer blended look.   It is used for blending shadow under the brow, applying a softer amount of color in the crease, and even for applying powder under the eyes to prevent that creasing throughout the day.

The MAC equivalent is the #224- the Tapered Blending Brush     (MAC)

• Cost:  $28.00

A cheaper alternative is the MUG Soft Dome Brush     (Makeup Geek Store)

• Cost:   $7.49

These brushes are very comparable- the only difference is the MUG one is a little bit smaller, which is actually better as the MAC one can be a bit too large for smaller eyes…

This brush is used for smudging eyeshadow under the lower lashline, for smudging eyeliner, or for creating a very defined crease.  The smaller tip allows for more precise lines.

The MAC equivalent is the #219- the Pencil Brush     (MAC)

• Cost:  $23.00

A cheaper alternative is the Essence of Beauty Crease Brush Duo     (Makeup Geek Store)

• Cost:   $9.99

Many companies sell similar brushes, so you can find this one fairly easily. The Essence of Beauty one has 2 sizes, so is great if you have a smaller area to work with and need a smaller brush.  They are also a bit softer than the MAC one.

Face

There are really only a few brushes you need for the face- it really depends on what all you wear.  But these 4 are the ones I use daily…

This brush is used for stippling foundation onto the skin for a more airbrushed finish.  The bristles need to be stiff in order to hold up to the foundation and not streak.

The MAC equivalent is the #130- the Short Duo Fibre Brush     (MAC)

• Cost:  $38.00

A cheaper (and better) alternative is the MUG Foundation Stippling Brush   (Makeup Geek Store)

• Cost:   $12.98

I am completely honest on this one- the MUG one works much better for me than the MAC one.  I say this as the MUG one has stiffer bristles which allows for more of a stippling effect and doesn’t streak like the MAC one.  Granted the MAC one is softer against the skin, but it doesn’t give the airbrushed finish as much.  These 2 brushes are quite different, but are used similarly.  I do wish the MUG one was a bit softer, so I wash mine with a bit of olive oil then baby shampoo.

This brush is used for applying darker powder under the cheekbones to create a contoured effect- it makes the cheekbones stand out and your face look slimmer.  This brush isn’t absolutely necessary unless you want to contour your cheekbones, but I recommend having if you are a makeup artist…

The MAC equivalent is the #109- the Small Contour Brush     (MAC)

• Cost:  $32.00

A cheaper alternative is the MUG Deluxe Contour Brush (Makeup Geek Store)

• Cost:   $7.89

Now these 2 brushes are VERY different, but they work the same way.  I actually prefer the MAC one as the rounded edge allows me to get under the cheekbones for that more “chiseled” look.  If you are just starting to contour though, you may want the angled brush as it’s a little easier to work with.   If you do find an angled brush, make sure the bristles are stiff as you need enough powder to actually contour your cheeks- don’t use the fluffy blush brush as it will apply color all over the place.  Just my helpful tip for the day

This brush is used for applying powder blush to the cheeks.  It needs to be angled so the blush is easier to blend, and it needs to be soft so it doesn’t pick up too much color.

The MAC equivalent is the #168- the Large Angled Contour Brush     (MAC)

• Cost:  $32.00

A cheaper alternative is the MUG Blush Brush   (Makeup Geek Store)

• Cost:   $7.49

These brushes are VERY comparable- I honestly cannot tell much difference between the two.  They’re both soft and both apply blush beautifully!

This brush can be used for many things- light application of foundation, applying a small amount of blush to the cheeks, or for highlighting the top of the cheekbones.  My favorite use is for highlighting as the bristles are soft and pick up little color, and it is small enough to not cover the whole face with shimmer.  This isn’t an absolute necessary brush for your kit, but definitely nice to have.

The MAC equivalent is the #188- the Small Duo Fibre Face Brush   (MAC)

• Cost:  $34.00

A cheaper alternative is the MUG Cheek Highlighter Brush   (Makeup Geek Store)

• Cost:   $6.98

These brushes are VERY comparable- I honestly cannot tell much difference between the two.  Just like the blush brushes, they’re both soft and both apply shimmer beautifully!

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I hope this was helpful for all of you!  For the lips, you only need a small flat brush to apply lipstick IF you are working on a client- most of us apply lipstick straight from the tube

10.   Vanilla Shimmer

Description: Shimmery Champagne       (Makeup Geek Store)

9.    Red Pink

Description: Matte Bright Pink     (Makeup Geek Store)

8.   Copper

Description: Metallic Copper     (Makeup Geek Store)

7.    Hunter Green

Description: Metallic Dark Green     (Makeup Geek Store)

6.    Deep Charcoal

Description: Metallic Dark Silver       (Makeup Geek Store)

5.    Red Bean Pie

Description: Frosty Red-Purple     (Makeup Geek Store)

4.    Golden

Description: Metallic Dark Gold     (Makeup Geek Store)

3.    Lanikai

Description: Shimmery purple-blue       (Makeup Geek Store)

2.    Wild Fire

Description: Metallic Aquamarine     (Makeup Geek Store)

1.    Morocco

Description: Frosty vivid blue-purple       (Makeup Geek Store)

Fashion shows are a hotspot for finding exciting beauty trends and backstage at Spring 2010 Fashion Week we saw tons of funky makeup looks we loved. Over and over again we were told that most of these looks were wearable in real life, so we decided to put that statement to the test. We invited MAC and their makeup artistry team to give Associate Editor Megan McIntyre a runway-inspired makeover to test-run and see if it really worked off the runway. First up: Matte, neon orange lips, as seen at Twinkle by Wenlan.

Orange is not a color I would say I’m comfortable with. Coral and I have an okay relationship, but the highway-safety-vest orange that dominated the Spring 2010 runways is not something I see as easy to wear. Therefore, I was a little shocked when MAC Senior Artist Gina Bettelli told me that it’s actually a very diverse color that works on any skin tone. It also helps make blue eyes like mine stand out because orange is a polar opposite of blue, so it draws out the color, making eyes appear brighter.

Gina wanted my lipcolor to last, so she started off by dusting my pout with Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation. Then, using a lip brush, she applied Lipmix in Orange all over my pout. The color was intense and the matte finish left my lips feeling a bit dry, but manageable.

The minute I left the makeup chair, the comments started flowing. One coworker nicknamed me Hot Lips while another commented that she couldn’t concentrate on what I was saying because she was too busy staring at my lips. Once I ventured outside, I expected to get “crazy lady” stares, but was surprised when no one batted an eye. I got a few double takes from tourists and some construction workers on their break had some colorful comments for me, but no one was pointing and staring. I also kept hearing friends and coworkers say they had never noticed before what a pretty lip shape I had. One even said I had Angelina Jolie lips–sweet!

If you like the idea of orange lips but want something a little less bright, Gina recommends trying out a lipstain like Pro Longwear Lipstain Marker because it’s a “non-threatening way to do a bright lip. It has precision and it’s longwearing so you don’t have to babysit it,” she says.

“Babysitting” was definitely a requirement with this look; I had to touch my lips up at least 5 times throughout the day. Aside from that one pesky point, I really loved orange lips. Once I got used to the shock of seeing myself in such a bright color, I began to really dig the way it looked on me. I felt more confident and a whole lot of sexy as I made my way from event to event later that night. Verdict: Wearable, but be prepared to put in some major effort to maintain it.

Want to see how you’d look with neon orange lips? Try this look on now in the virtual Makeover Studio!

Related Articles:
Spring 2010: What’s Hot, What’s Not
Selena Gomez’s Mermaid Braid
Bad Roots and More Beauty Turn-Offs That Men Notice
Matte Lips
Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Nearly There

*To see original article, please go to Daily Makeover

When Oscar night rolls around, we expect to see the usual array of smoky eyes and red lips making their way down the red carpet. Instead, this year we saw more starlets ditching the old-school glamour makeup in favor of a softer, more seasonally appropriate beauty look. In a continuation of the romantic hairstyles and makeup trend we saw at the Golden Globes, the Oscars were all about nude and pastel tones on eyes and lips.

Check out these makeup tips from the pro’s to find out how you can get the look at home.

Photo: © Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Courtesy of:  Daily Makeover

If there’s one thing Jennifer Lopez loves, it’s a shimmery pastel eye. This year she teamed up with makeup artist Matthew Vanleeuween to create a look that really highlighted her gorgeous lavender dress. Working with Nars, Vanleeuween used D. Gorgeous Single Eyeshadow and Brousse Duo Eyeshadow to create a soft lilac eye with just the right amount of definition on the lashline. Another important feature for this look were the cheeks. “I wanted to create an ethereal movie star look. I kept the cheekbones high and highlighted with the Enchanted Cream Blush (on counter in April) for a soft and supportive look,” said Vanleeuween. Lips were layered with Cruising Lipstick and Sweet Dreams Lip Gloss to create a warm, pinky-nude lip that kept the pastel shadow and shimmery cheek from veering into ice princess territory.

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Photo: © Steve Granitz/WireImage
Courtesy of:  Daily Makeover

Rachel McAdams’ trendy tie-dye dress was the inspiration for her pretty red carpet makeup. “There was a wash of cool tones in the dress–blue, green, purple, pink–so we wanted the eye, cheek and lips to all have this same water color sheerness to it,” said makeup artist Kayleen McAdams. On the eyes, Kayleen used Chanel Fluid Iridescent Eyeshadow in Fountain, keeping the grey tone on the outer corners of the lid and underneath the eye. On the lid and up to the browbone she swept a rose gold shade, then finished by applying Soft Touch Eye Shadow in Slate on the inner corners of the eye. Kayleen chose Rouge Coco in Rose Comete on the lips to give them that beautiful, healthy pink color. A dab of Glossimer in Futile accentuated the hue and gave it a modern gleam.

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Photo: © John Shearer/Getty Images
Courtesy of:  Daily Makeover

After spending all of her on-screen time in Avatar sporting CGI blue skin, it makes sense that Zoe Saldana would want to keep her makeup minimal on the red carpet. Makeup artist Vera Steinberg balanced out Zoe’s confection of a dress with a sophisticated, creamy nude look. She kept skin luminous with Nars Orgasm Illuminator and Enchanted Cream Blush and lips were neutral and glossy with Love Devotion Lipstick (available in April) and Ophelia Lip Gloss. Steinberg kept the focus on Zoe’s amazing almond-shaped eyes, using Brousse Duo Eyeshadow on the lid and lashline, then defined their shape with Nuits Blanches Eyeliner Stylo.

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Description: High frosted green/gold

Price: $3.49

Where to Buy: Makeup Geek Store

9.   Urban Decay Green Goddess

Description: Shimmery mint green

Price: $17.00

Where to Buy: Sephora or (eBay)

8.   NARS Night Porter

Description: Black with green pearls

Price: $23.00

Where to Buy: Sephora or (eBay)

7.   NYX Herb

Description: Shimmery olive green

Price: $3.89

Where to Buy: Makeup Geek Store

6.   Ben Nye Chartreuse Pigment

Description: Bright lime green

Price: $2.19

Where to Buy: Makeup Geek Store

5.     MAC Lucky Green

Description: Frosted midtone lime

Price: $14.50

Where to Buy: MAC

4.   Urban Decay Graffiti

Description: Bright green

Price: $18.00

Where to Buy: Sephora or (eBay)

3.    Bare Escentuals Black Emerald

Description: Green black glimmer

Price: $13.00

Where to Buy: Sephora or (eBay)

2.  Make Up For Ever #91

Description: Matte apple green

Price: $19.00

Where to Buy: Sephora

1.   MAC Humid

Description: Intense green with shimmer

Price: $14.50

Where to Buy: MAC

10.     Bourjois Night Lip Balm

Why I love it: This moisturizing lip balm leaves my lips so soft and not greasy feeling, plus it’s less than $5- can’t beat the quality for that price!

Cost: $4.99

Where to Buy: Ulta or (eBay)

9.     NYX Mega Shine Lipglosses

Why I love it: They come in so many colors and are very smooth and not too sticky!  The only negative is the cherry smell….

Cost: $4.79

Where to Buy: Makeup Geek Store

8.     MAC Mineralize Skinfinish

Why I love it: The texture is smooth, and the shimmer is just right for getting that gorgeous glow to the cheeks, eyes, or wherever else you want to shine…

Cost: $28

Where to Buy: MAC

7.     Bobbi Brown Corrector in Peach

Why I love it: Unlike many concealers, this corrector is not cakey at all!  It feels almost like a gel, so it doesn’t make your eyes look dry. Plus the color is great for hiding those dark circles.

Cost: $22

Where to Buy: Bobbi Brown or (eBay)

*For under eye circles, get in Peach, Light Peach, or Dark Peach depending on how light or dark your skin is.

6.     Revlon Colorstay Liquid Foundation

Why I love it: The coverage is amazing, there are many colors, and you cannot beat the price!  Apply with a damp sponge or stippling brush, and voila! smooth looking skin….

Cost: $12.99

Where to Buy: Amazon or  Most drugstores or eBay

5.     Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner

Why I love it: This creamy eyeliner does not tug on the eyes like some dry eyeliners do, plus there are so many great colors to choose from!

Cost: $17

Where to Buy: Sephora or (eBay)

4.     NYX Powder Blush

Why I love it: The matte finish is great for keeping the face from looking like a disco ball… Plus, the price is great and the colors are beautiful!

Cost: $6.89

Where to Buy: Makeup Geek Store

3.     Loreal Voluminous Mascara

Why I love it: The formula is thick and dark- which makes my lashes look super thick and luscious!

Cost: $7.49

Where to Buy: Amazon or  Most drugstores

2.     NARS Loose Powder

Why I love it: This powder is super smooth, finely ground, and has vitamin E in it.  My skin has not looked any smoother with this product- it’s lightweight and doesn’t break me out!  (I wear the color “Flesh”)

Cost: $35

Where to Buy: NARS    or   (eBay)

1.     MAC Fix+ Spray

Why I love it: It makes my skin look flawless!  It gets rid of the powdery look, sets my makeup nicely, and feels great on the skin.  Makes for a great hair detangler too….

Cost: $18

Where to Buy: MAC (eBay)

Color: shimmering nude pink
Price: $18
Where to Buy: Sephora or (eBay)

9.   Smashbox Flamingo Eyeshadow

Color: coral pink shimmer
Price: $16
Where to Buy: Sephora or (eBay)

8.   MAC Plumage Eyeshadow

Color: matte dusty peacock
Price: $11  or $14.50
Where to Buy: MAC

7.  NARS Rated R Eyeshadow Duo

Colors: chartreuse green shimmer/ cobalt blue shimmer
Price: $32
Where to Buy: Sephora or (eBay)

6.   MAC Melon Pigment

Color: soft bright golden peach
Price: $19.50
Where to Buy: MAC or  Makeup Geek Store

5.   NYX Herb Single Eyeshadow

Color: shimmery olive green
Price: $3.89
Where to Buy: Makeup Geek Store

4.   Urban Decay Baked Eyeshadow

Color: rich bronze
Price: $17
Where to Buy: Sephora or Urban Decay or (eBay)

3.   FACE Atelier Azure Eyeshadow

Color: frosted purple-blue
Price: $17
Where to Buy: FACE Atelier

2.   Bare Escentuals True Gold Glimmer

Color: 14K gold
Price: $13
Where to Buy: Sephora or (eBay)

1.   Make Up For Ever #92 Eyeshadow

Color: matte brilliant purple
Price: $19
Where to Buy: Sephora or (eBay)