REVIEW: MAC Wash and Dry Lipsticks and Lipglass – Steam Heat, Tumble Dry & Domestic Diva

Hey everyone!

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MAC Wash and Dry for Summer 2015

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Is that you, Cara Delevingne??

I’ve been splurging a lot on lipsticks recently, no thanks to MAC’s incessant release of new collections. And I admit that it has gotten more out of hand due to the stunning packaging MAC has come up with lately. Like many girls, I have a soft spot for nice packaging so it’s extremely easy to strike my fancy when it comes to makeup. A differently-designed packaging (from the regular) is all it takes to make me go gaga over the product. But it’s a very expensive obsession because the more elaborate the wrapping material it is, the deeper I would have to dig into my pocket. And this is driving me closer and closer to bankruptcy!

*sigh* And just when I’m about to give my wallet a break, MAC had to launch the most vibrant-looking limited-edition lipsticks ever.

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MAC Wash and Dry: AREN’T THEY GORGEOUS?

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Gotta get something from this collection!

Many of my friends who aren’t as crazy as me about makeup were also blown away by the striking packaging. The yellow, orange and turquoise ombré is just so apt for the summer. I also love that it’s made of reflective material, making the product look really sleek and expensive in general (when it’s only US$20 per lipstick!).

But unfortunately, not all of the lipstick shades are brand new here. In fact, 2 of them are already in the permanent range. Despite the repeats and marked up price, I know some diehard MAC fans would still be very eager to purchase them because of the packaging.

Besides lipsticks and lipglass, this collection also boasts a wide array of products such as the Wash and Dry Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow Trio (in 3 colour options – Warm Wash, Permanent Press & Green Clean), Technakohl Liner (in Colour Matters, Sudsy, Coin Operated & Practice Makes Perfect), False Lashes Waterproof (in Stay Black!), Powder Blush (in Crisp Whites & Hipness), Highlight Powder (in Freshen Up) and Studio Nail Lacquer (in Monday Blues & Washeteria). Click here for more details.

That’s not all. Fluid Brow Gelcreme (in Ash Blonde, Redhead, Dirty Blonde, True Brunette & Deep Dark Brunette), Eye Brow pencils (in Delineated, Accentuated, Tapered & Stylized), Brow Set (in Clear), Pro Longwear Waterproof Brow Set (in Emphatically Blonde, Toasted Blonde, Red Chestnut, Quiet Brunette, Bold Brunette & Brown Ebony), Bronzing Powder (in Refined Golden & Matte Bronze), Studio Sculpt Defining Bronzing Powder (in Delicates & Golden Rinse), Face Brushes (125 & 126) and makeup bag are available under The Modern Brow collection.

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Out of the four lipstick shades in this collection, 2 are already permanent.

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2 new shades are introduced in this collection – Tumble Dry and Steam Heat

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Official swatch for lipsticks

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Real-life swatch (my Creme d’Nude and Morange are in old/regular packaging)

Tumble Dry

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Tumble Dry is a light peachy coral with Lustre finish (US$20)

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Tumble Dry

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Tumble Dry

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Tumble Dry

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Tumble Dry

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Tumble Dry

Call me a natural actor but I’m amazed how I could still smile so warmly wearing this shade despite not liking it at all. I think the reason is quite obvious from the pictures. It leaves unsightly clumps on the driest part of my lower lips and the colour totally disappears upon application. It’s so bad, it reminded me of my rant on Highlights. Actually, come to think of it now, they do look quite similar.

I had rather high expectations for this since none of my corals have failed me (as far as I can remember). Plus, the finish isn’t stated for all the lipsticks on the website so I didn’t know it was Lustre until I received the items (thus adding to my dissatisfaction with this purchase).

Essentially, this has a pretty bullet but disappointing payoff. What a shame! I wouldn’t recommend buying this shade at all.

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Tumble Dry swatch comparison

Steam Heat

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Steam Heat is a vivid yellow red with Satin finish (US$20)

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Steam Heat

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Steam Heat

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Steam Heat

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Steam Heat

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Steam Heat

This is easily one of the dupe-able reds by MAC but leaving that aside, I find that it has fantastic consistency and pigmentation which allowed me to line my lips with it perfectly. It has a Satin finish so it’s not too matte nor shiny – just fabulous. Its smooth and velvety texture leaves a long-lasting opaque coverage over the lips and most importantly, it doesn’t feather nor dry out my lips over time. With its great payoff and lovely packaging, this definitely scores high point on my lipstick coolometer – just a few points shy of hitting maximum due to it’s not-so-novel colour.

Steam Heat swatch comparison

Steam Heat swatch comparison

Normally after carting out my desired lipstick shades I would have exited the page and resumed my previous activity. But somehow that didn’t happen on that day of launch. I wandered off to another place within the same webpage and unwittingly bought a lipglass… when I’m not the sort of person who wears lip gloss. Darn, it must be the packaging, silently hynotising me and making me spend more. Never mind, that’s when Carousell comes in handy, right?

Domestic Diva

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Domestic Diva is a frosty, watery pink. (US$16.50)

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Official swatch for the Wash and Dry Tinted Lipglass

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Domestic Diva Lipglass

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Domestic Diva Lipglass

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Domestic Diva Lipglass

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Domestic Diva Lipglass

Okay, this is weird but… I actually liked it?

I hated lip gloss because it’d always leaves a really thin uneven layer on my lips regardless of the amount I apply and it wears off quicker than anything else. I disliked the hassle of reapplying and I came to a point where I stopped applying lip gloss altogether. But this is gonna reverse my decision. Can you see the (relatively) thick layer of gloss on my lips and the evenly spread-out glitter? That was achieved with just a SINGLE layer. And the gloss actually felt pretty adhesive! Look, it even gave me pouty lips!

Now I don’t know if I should keep this :\

What are your thoughts about this collection?

 

Let me know your views in the comments below! 🙂

Thanks for reading!

MAC Wash & Dry is now available on MACCosmetics.com and in local MAC stores for a limited time only.

REVIEW: MAC Huggable Lipcolour – Soft Talkin’, Play It Soft, I’m Game, Dramatical, Flaming Lips & Bare Hug

“What time is it? Summertime! It’s our vacation!”

Are you guys old enough to know where I got the above quote from? *nostalgia mode* The last movie aired more than 6 years ago! Isn’t it amazing how time flies by? Just like how it was only a few weeks ago that I reviewed on the last MAC collection for Spring. In the blink of an eye, summer is upon us! And so are some of the new MAC releases for this season 🙂 Let’s talk about the first one!

First unveiled in Winter 2013, the MAC Huggable Lipcolour collection featured a range of limited-edition creamy lipsticks formulated to provide a lasting, glossy finish that would leave lips smooth and sculpted. This amazing formula was inspired by Asian trends and could last for up to 6 hours.

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MAC Huggable Lipcolour 2015

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The Huggable Bear!

This May, more than one year since the collection first flew off the shelf, it’s back by popular demand for a limited time only! With 12 huggable hues to choose from, these lipsticks promise a rich and glossy shine that boosts collagen, and a unique gel base that melts upon contact, allowing each shade to glide on effortlessly with a feather-light moisturizing finish. [source]

The 12 colours available from this collection are Soft Talkin’, I’m In, Bare Hug, Play It Soft, I’m Game, Fashion Force, Dramatical, Flaming Lips, Glamorized and Love Feeling.

There was a preview for this endearing collection at Sephora ION outlet last Friday (slated to be launched on 15 May 2015) and being on the Singapore MAC mailing list entitled me a pass to the event. Technically since it’s not a closed-door event, anyone could enter. But then registered attendees were served glasses of fruit punch and champagne 😀 The event was joined by the huggable bear above (so cute!) which was so popular with the ladies, I didn’t have a chance to take a selfie with it. 😦

Bare Hug wasn’t available for sale and preview at the event which explains why I had to buy it off the US site. Having said that, all 12 shades will definitely be available on its official launch day.

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Overview

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Official swatch

The nude hues on the top row are simply gorgeous! In fact I kinda like all the shades in this collection. But I don’t have the deepest of pockets so I gotta narrow my choices down to 5 or 6 😦

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These are my choices! With another one (Bare Hug) on its way from the States! (UPDATE: Bare Hug review added towards the end of this post!)

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My swatch (Bare Hug is not in this picture because I didn’t have the product at the time of first publication)

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Packaging

At US$20, I expected some differentiation to the box. Perhaps some not-so-conspicuous images of teddy bear (since the theme for this collection revolves around huggable bear) printed on the box would be lovely 😀 Of course, the hike in the price this time ’round is largely due to the sleek metallic packaging of the lipstick tube (which I feel, to be honest, isn’t sufficient to warrant a US$4 increment).

Soft Talkin’

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Soft Talkin’ is a warm peachy nude. (US$20 / S$35)

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Soft Talkin’

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Soft Talkin’

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Soft Talkin’

Since I was at the physical MAC store, I had every opportunity to swatch the colours before deciding to pay for them. So I really have no idea what actually got into me that led me to purchase the lightest nude from this collection which obviously doesn’t really show on my lips except to give it some shine. Perhaps I bought it because I was fond of the colour of the bullet. It’s such a sweet warm peachy nude and it’s a shame that it doesn’t appear to be like that on my lips 😦

On the other hand, it really felt emollient and the application left behind what looked like a protective sheen that clings comfortably on my lips. Huggable indeed 🙂

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Swatch comparison against other nude colours. You can tell how emollient it is as compared to Satin and Cremesheen shades like Myth and Shanghai Spice.

Play It Soft

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Play It Soft is a bright coral red. (US$20 / SG$35)

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Play It Soft

This colour is mega love. It makes me look like I have really healthy and hydrated lips because of the warm-toned pink that’s not too over the top (it’s not really bright despite the description). But I would recommend this shade for its great consistency 🙂 Plus, don’t you think it appears like it has lip glass applied over it?

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Swatch comparison with some shades I own. 5-Alarm is close, but darker and more opaque.

I’m Game

I'm Game

I’m Game is a creamy raspberry. (US$20 / SG$35)

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I’m Game

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I’m Game

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I’m Game

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I’m Game

I was contemplating between this and Glamorized because both are what I’d consider to be the attention-grabbing kind of brights. I only picked this because I felt this isn’t as scarily bright as Glamorized. (But to be honest I almost wavered when the emcee of the event commented that it would be the first shade to sell out. That’s enough to make a kiasu (grasping) Singaporean like me to buy it. But thankfully I resisted and walked away!). It actually looks pretty alright on me.

The finish is comparable to Play It Soft, perhaps equally commendable. Similarly, it has awesome coverage and consistency and it also gives me lips a very healthy shine.

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Swatch comparison. Strangely it looks sheer on my hand but more opaque on my lips! It’s usually the other way round haha.

Dramatical

Dramatical

Dramatical is a bright cherry red. (US$20 / SG$35)

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Dramatical

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Dramatical

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Oh no, yet another classic red! But this has slightly more blue undertones.

I feel that among all my red lipsticks (excluding my Matte ones of course. Those are irreplaceable), this is the best because of the finish and the colour isn’t too glaring or in-your-face. I do see myself wearing this more often than the others. Light-weighted with such smooth application, it just feels like it’s part of my lips. Plus it deserves some bonus marks for not making my lips flake over time!

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Swatch comparison with other reds!

Flaming Lips

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Flaming Lips is a deep creamy red. (US$20 / SG$35)

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Flaming Lips

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Flaming Lips

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Flaming Lips

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Flaming Lips

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Flaming Lips

In contrast to Dramatical, this has yellow undertones and is sheerer. It doesn’t apply as evenly as the others because some of the product tend to settle heavily in the middle and accentuating the lines, making my lips look cracked at that area (you can tell from the pictures above). Still, it wore very comfortably on me because it feels very hydrating over time.

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Comparing with Dramatical and a Lustre shade (Call the Hairdresser!)

Bare Hug

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Bare Hug is a creamy soft peach/orange. (US$20 / SG$35)

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Bare Hug

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Bare Hug

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Bare Hug

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Bare Hug

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Bare Hug

Adding on to my list of favourite MLBB lipsticks is Bare Hug! The semi-opaque finish allows your natural lip colour to show through and on top of that give life to your pale lips without having to overdo your makeup.

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Swatch comparison!

To sum things up.. Well, it’s confirmed: I’m a new fan of the Huggable formula. I thought I was gonna hate it because nothing good comes out of sheer lipsticks. But I’m awfully wrong this time! 🙂

That’s all for this review! Let me know your thoughts through the poll below:

 

Thanks for reading! ❤

MAC Huggable Lipcolour is now available on MACCosmetics.com and will be on sale from 15 May 2015 at local MAC stores.

Enjoy a Fuss-Free Travel with Laneige Perfect Renew Travel Set

SPONSORED

Hey everyone!

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With the mid-year school holidays (our version of summer break) just around the corner, many of us would already have plans for a getaway trip out of Singapore. My internship will come to a complete halt this coming June and I may be taking a short break before my next school term commences in August. I don’t have a particular place to go in mind yet but it’s possibly going to be somewhere not too far away as I’d prefer to set aside more funds for my year-end vacation instead.

My shortlisted destinations are Bali, Bintan Island and Bangkok. Perhaps a staycation at a boutique hotel doesn’t seem like a bad idea too!

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Bali (cr: freeimages.com)

Villas in Bali are available for booking on The Luxe Nomad!
Click here to find out more.

But regardless of the destination, packing is the integral step to the journey. Packing light is pivotal to creating an effortless and stress-free trip, but it also takes an experienced and adventurous person to do it well. I used to fail miserably in this aspect of travel planning because I am overly-cautious and averse to risks. I would end up bringing all my full-sized beauty products and other redundant stuff because of my “just in case” mentality, eventually only leaving a meagre amount of weight and space for my holiday loots.

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Fuss-free travelling tip #1: collect small pouches (which are usually free with purchase of related products) to store small items like makeup and toiletries, and buy small containers to store your shampoo and shower gel (that is, if you have rather sensitive skin like me and can only use certain products, just to be safe)

It also never ceased to amaze me how flight attendants report to work with only a small baggage in tow, and even more so when they are flying to farther destinations like Europe and USA. But according to my air stewardess friend, it’s not difficult as it seems. When it comes to toiletries and cosmetics (which are what occupy the most space in my luggage), they pack minimally (since most hotels have the bathroom essentials) and throw in only travel-sized items. Sounds like a no-brainer, right? But many a time the brands I use, especially for facial products, don’t come in travel sizes.

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Fuss-free travelling tip #2: save those samples you obtained from Sephora (or anywhere else) for your travels! A 20-cent coin placed there for you to compare the size (my LipIce sample so cute and miniature right?!)

So I started exploring other products which also exist in deluxe sizes – Laneige in particular, which was brought to my attention by Luxola Singapore.

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Beauty essentials. I love small pouches like this. Always come in handy when I travel 🙂

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Laneige Perfect Renew Travel Set consists of 1x Multi Cleanser 30ml, 1x Perfect Renew Skin Refiner_EX 50ml, 1x Perfect Renew Emulsion_EX 50ml, 1x Perfect Renew Essence_EX 15ml & 1x Perfect Renew Cream_EX 20ml

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Basically, all the products needed in your daily skincare routine in a pouch! How convenient is that?

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Each of them smaller than the size of my palm

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Laneige Perfect Renew Skin Refinger_EX is a gel-type skin refiner that makes skin texture smooth with boosting effect.

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Laneige Perfect Renew Emulsion_EX delivers moisture balance with soothing effect.

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Laneige Perfect Renew Essence_EX prevents premature aging with helping face contour firming effect.

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Laneige Multi Cleanser mildly and thoroughly cleanses for a clear and brighter skin.

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The facial wash gave my skin a sticky feel which went away after applying the cream below

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Laneige Perfect Renew Cream_EX enhances elasticity and moisture barrier with repairing effect.

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#nomakeup

I have been using them for the past few nights (even though I’m not on a holiday) and I must say I see significant improvements in my skin texture. I felt instantly refreshed after washing my face with the cleanser. My face appears to be smoother and more dewy (I seriously think I look a few months younger) the next morning too.

Most importantly, these products are light and portable. C’est Magnifique! They are absolutely perfect for travel. And I will definitely bring them along when I go on my year-end vacation to protect me from the dry climate.

If you’re not intending to get one for yourself, why not make this a gift for your Mom this coming Mother’s Day? 🙂

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This product is available on Luxola for S$65.
Quote “BLX-FIONASEAH” at checkout to enjoy 15% off on all first time orders by 29 May 2015. This offer is not valid on non-discountable brands as found in the FAQpage.

Thanks for reading! 🙂