MAC Cosmetics

REVIEW: MAC x James Kaliardos Lipstick in Jasper

/ Fiona Seah / 5 Comments

Hello everyone!

While many of us (still) struggle to find our ultimate goal in life, Detroit-born James Kaliardos realised his calling to be a makeup artist when doing his mother’s makeup at just age seven. His interest for makeup sparked after constantly watching his mother doll up her lids with eye shadow and despite his tender age, he was able to translate his love for colours and drawing into the beauty looks he saw on Vogue. This passion followed him through his formative years – where he helped his female friends look aesthetically rad for school proms – before it progressed to theatrical makeup.

Now a master makeup artist among other trades, he creates trends backstage across all international fashion weeks and had worked on the most famous faces in the world including Hillary Clinton, Madonna (especially Madonna – you know her Ray of Light-era boho-tech look? Yeah, that’s the work of James Kaliardos!), Julianne Moore, Barbra Streisand, Nicole Kidman, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus and Victoria Beckham (source). On top of that, he is a publishing mogul, having co-founded one of today’s most exclusive and expensive magazines Visionaire which ranges in the hundreds of dollars with very limited circulation, and an actor with his own troupe, the Innocent Theatre Company. Holy moly, how the heck does he do it?! I can’t even keep up with one job 😨

That’s not all! Adding to his already-impressive portfolio of achievements, Kaliardos recently collaborated with M.A.C on a new makeup range as part of the 50-piece Make-Up Art Cosmetics collection with two other notable makeup maestros Diane Kendal and Kabuki (which I passed on). But he commands a larger chunk of this launch with 22 pieces. However, as my money was saved for other upcoming releases, I only spent on a single lipstick (out of 4) from this sub-collection.

M.A.C X James Kaliardos lipstick packaging

M.A.C X James Kaliardos lipstick packaging

Every item in this collaboration is decked out in limited-edition packaging with the name and autograph of the makeup artist printed below the M.A.C logo in gold foil on both the black box and container, so the lipstick is no exception. The lipstick tube has a matte surface that feels smooth to the touch. All of the four lipsticks in the James Kaliardos collection are shades that he frequently uses to create red carpet looks and for photo shoots.

M.A.C X James Kaliardos Lipstick in Jasper (US$17)

M.A.C X James Kaliardos Lipstick in Jasper (US$17)

M.A.C X James Kaliardos Lipstick in Jasper

M.A.C X James Kaliardos Lipstick in Jasper

M.A.C X James Kaliardos Lipstick in Jasper

M.A.C X James Kaliardos Lipstick in Jasper

M.A.C X James Kaliardos Lipstick in Jasper

M.A.C X James Kaliardos Lipstick in Jasper

M.A.C X James Kaliardos Lipstick in Jasper

M.A.C X James Kaliardos Lipstick in Jasper

M.A.C X James Kaliardos Lipstick in Jasper

M.A.C X James Kaliardos Lipstick in Jasper

Described as a deep reddish brown with Satin finish, Jasper is in fact based on the brown from Paramount with deep wine pigment mixed into it. In appearance, it is a drop-dead gorgeous burgundy with cool undertones.

It runs smoothly on the lips with no tug and leaves a comfortable and hydrating texture topped with a healthy sheen. It is mostly opaque with a buildable intensity – swipe once for a just bitten look and two more coats for full coverage. It has a slightly patchy consistency so some parts of the lips would seem darker than the rest, but it’s not really visible from far and you can fix it momentarily by pursing your lips.

This lasts relatively long on me (I don’t really take note of the duration because I pig out a lot and lipsticks generally don’t remain in their original state after coming contact with anything) and fades to a natural-looking stain. Jasper is a shade that goes well with every skin tone!

M.A.C X James Kaliardos Jasper swatch comparison - Diva is brighter and warmer whereas Hearts Aflamed is more muted and warmer

M.A.C X James Kaliardos Jasper swatch comparison – Diva is brighter and warmer whereas Hearts Aflamed is more muted and warmer

What do you think of this lipstick? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below or take a quick poll! 🙂

Thanks for reading!

M·A·C James Kaliardos was launched in january and is still available on MACCosmetics.com (collection page taken down, so lipsticks only here or view the full list of items here on the australian site). do check with your local M.A.C outlets on its availability.

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REVIEW: MAC x Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved

/ Fiona Seah / 1 Comment

Hey everyone!

Since drifting away from the pop culture scene (is it normal to gain a preference for oldies music as you age?), I’ve lost count the number of times I have gone, “Who is that?” whenever M.A.C announced a new collaboration with a pop artiste. Having not tuned into any local contemporary hit radio stations for the past decade, needless to say, I had the same reaction when I got wind of their partnership with a Canadian singer-songwriter who calls herself Kiesza. But hey, if not for this collaboration, I wouldn’t have known about this talented yet underrated lady (look her up on YouTube and treat your ears to some upbeat H&M-worthy music if you must), so it’s all good 👍

Joining the ranks of other celebrities such as Halsey, Tinashe and Brooke Candy, all of whom I honestly didn’t know existed until they teamed up with M.A.C, Kiesza presents her first makeup collection with the well-loved cosmetics brand – a four-piece capsule collection comprising a Matte Lipstick, Vamplify Lipgloss, Liquidlast Liner and Big Brow Pencil – and they (except the eyeliner) are brown-hued. Hence, even without finding out who Kiesza is, this collection, or rather the lipstick, already has my name written on it.

M·A·C Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved (regular packaging again..)

M·A·C Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved (regular packaging again..)

M·A·C Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved (US$17)

M·A·C Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved (US$17)

M·A·C Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved

M·A·C Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved

M·A·C Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved

M·A·C Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved

M·A·C Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved

M·A·C Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved

M·A·C Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved

M·A·C Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved

M·A·C Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved

M·A·C Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved

Named after Kiesza’s latest single off her sophomore album, Dearly Beloved – the sole lipstick in this collection – reflects the understated look that she had been experimenting while trying to move away from her usual red lip colour.

Described as a warm soft brown with Matte finish, it appears to have ashy undertones when applied. Far from the usual drying Matte formula of M.A.C lipsticks, the payoff of this shade feels almost like a Satin as it goes on smooth with a creamy consistency and even has a slight sheen to it. Mostly opaque, it is moderately pigmented with a buildable intensity but emphasises every fine line (very noticeable on the upper lip) and dry bit of the lips. Having said that, it does leave my lips feeling moisturised and comfortable the entire time I had it on, so I guess it’s a fair trade-off!

M·A·C Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved swatch comparison - Cold Hard Cash is the closest dupe but has warmer undertones

M·A·C Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved swatch comparison – Cold Hard Cash is the closest dupe but has warmer undertones

What are your thoughts of this? Let me know what you think in the comments below or take a quick poll 😉

Thanks for reading! 🙂

M·A·C × Kiesza is now available on MACCosmetics.com. This collection is not available in Singapore.

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REVIEW: MAC Fruity Juicy Lipsticks – Love At First Bite & Si, Si, Me!

/ Fiona Seah / 4 Comments

Hello everyone!

Now that the sun has finally broken through the raging clouds to warm us with its delightful rays, bright pops of tropical colours are officially in full swing. Ah, fellow beautyholics, you know what that means – it’s time to update our makeup game for the summer season! Because for makeup fiends like us, nothing says summer like a radiant swoosh of blush and swathe of highlight on the cheekbones to mimic that healthy flush, or a dusting of bronzer to radiate a sun-kissed glow coupled with a playful jolt of colour across the lips to heighten that overall refreshed look.

Fueling our obsession with all-things vibrant (especially at this sunny time of the year), M.A.C has planned a Summer collection slated for worldwide release on 18 May. And you know, when it comes to most limited-edition collections, M.A.C means business and does not mess around with their packaging. From packaging designs we saw in the previous year inspired by the deserts and kaleidoscopic colours of an ancient Chinese art form, M.A.C is somehow always able to tempt us into splurging on their products no matter the necessity for them. So this month, be prepared to see a dip in your bank account because you wouldn’t want to miss anything in this upcoming frootilicious M.A.C collection 😋

With daylilies, palm leaves, bananas and papayas dominating the packaging, the Fruity Juicy collection is a kind of tropical fruits and floral fantasia that beckons with its loud and fancy colour scheme. Therefore, you should have no problems spotting the display in the M.A.C store when the collection comes out next week.

Pictured at a recent M.A.C preview I was invited to. No idea why there are Chinese characters on the display but they probably won't be there on the actual launch day

Pictured at a recent M.A.C preview I was invited to. No idea why there are Chinese characters on the display but they probably won’t be there on the actual launch day

Excluding the online-exclusive Eye Shadow × 6 in Oh My Banana (already launched in the UK), there will be a total of 21 products in this collection to fulfill your summer makeup goals. And to better prep your bank account for the sudden departure of at least a few tens of dollars, here’s the full price (and product) list for this collection, courtesy of M.A.C Cosmetics Singapore:

M.A.C FRUITY JUICY COLLECTION · Full price list (SGD)

■ Lipstick (Calm Heat / Shy Girl / Love At First Bite / Sí, Sí, Me!) $36
■ Cremesheen Glass (Cha-Cha-Cha / Shake, Shake, Shake! , La Salsa , Summer Succulence) $41
■ Eye Shadow × 6 (Fruit a La La / Love in the Glades) $77
■ Bronzing Powder (Refined Golden / Baiana Bronze) $49
■ M.A.C Studio Sculpt Bronzing Powder (Delicates / Delphic) $60
■ Pearlmatte Face Powder (Oh My, Passion!) $60
■ Lustre Drops (Bronze Hero / Sun Rush) $37
■ Prep+Prime Fix+ (Coconut) $34
■ Brush (125) $70 (126) $89
■ Makeup Bag $58

If you’re more a lip person like me, you might also be interested in the swatches of all the Fruity Juicy lip products below:

M.A.C Fruity Juicy lipsticks

M.A.C Fruity Juicy lipsticks

M.A.C Fruity Juicy - all lipstick swatches

M.A.C Fruity Juicy – all lipstick swatches

M.A.C Fruity Juicy Cremesheen Glass

M.A.C Fruity Juicy Cremesheen Glass

M.A.C Fruity Juicy - all Cremesheen Glass swatches

M.A.C Fruity Juicy – all Cremesheen Glass swatches

You’re welcome 😚

Going against my hoarder tendencies, I only snagged two out of the four lipstick shades because as you might have noticed, the nude-ish hues are really light even on my wrist and from past experience, I doubt they will show up on my lips at all. Besides, the darker shades seem to apply better as well.

M.A.C Fruity Juicy Lipsticks in Love At First Bite & Si, Si, Me!

M.A.C Fruity Juicy Lipsticks in Love At First Bite & Si, Si, Me!

The lipsticks are fitted in a reflective plastic tube decorated with theme-appropriate illustrations against a black backdrop. Also in ensuring a positive first impression, M.A.C does not relent even for the box, which is something that most people would likely discard to free up space.

#1 Love At First Bite

M.A.C Fruity Juicy Lipstick in Love At First Bite (US$17 / S$36)

M.A.C Fruity Juicy Lipstick in Love At First Bite (US$17 / S$36)

M.A.C Fruity Juicy Lipstick in Love At First Bite

M.A.C Fruity Juicy Lipstick in Love At First Bite

M.A.C Fruity Juicy Lipstick in Love At First Bite

M.A.C Fruity Juicy Lipstick in Love At First Bite

M.A.C Fruity Juicy Lipstick in Love At First Bite

M.A.C Fruity Juicy Lipstick in Love At First Bite

M.A.C Fruity Juicy Lipstick in Love At First Bite

M.A.C Fruity Juicy Lipstick in Love At First Bite

M.A.C Fruity Juicy Lipstick in Love At First Bite

M.A.C Fruity Juicy Lipstick in Love At First Bite

Described as a bright fuchsia with Amplified Creme finish, Love At First Bite is a muted hot pink with cool undertones. It has good slip which enables it to run smoothly without drag but it tends to settle into the lip lines after a while. It has an opaque payoff and an emollient and glossy texture, characterised by a slight sheen. Although thin and lightweight in consistency, it applies uniformly across the lips so there is no skipping or obvious streaks. This shade feels hydrating on the lips.

#2 Sí, Sí, Me!

M.A.C Fruity Juicy Lipstick in Sí, Sí, Me! (US$17 / S$36)

M.A.C Fruity Juicy Lipstick in Sí, Sí, Me! (US$17 / S$36)

M.A.C Fruity Juicy Lipstick in Sí, Sí, Me! (US$17 / S$36)

M.A.C Fruity Juicy Lipstick in Sí, Sí, Me! (US$17 / S$36)

M.A.C Fruity Juicy Lipstick in Sí, Sí, Me! (US$17 / S$36)

M.A.C Fruity Juicy Lipstick in Sí, Sí, Me! (US$17 / S$36)

M.A.C Fruity Juicy Lipstick in Sí, Sí, Me! (US$17 / S$36)

M.A.C Fruity Juicy Lipstick in Sí, Sí, Me! (US$17 / S$36)

M.A.C Fruity Juicy Lipstick in Sí, Sí, Me! (US$17 / S$36)

M.A.C Fruity Juicy Lipstick in Sí, Sí, Me! (US$17 / S$36)

M.A.C Fruity Juicy Lipstick in Sí, Sí, Me! (US$17 / S$36)

M.A.C Fruity Juicy Lipstick in Sí, Sí, Me! (US$17 / S$36)

Described as a deep violet with Satin finish, Sí, Sí, Me! is a darkened fuchsia pink with cool undertones. It has equally good slip backed by a thick and buttery texture with an incredibly pigmented colour payoff topped with a luscious sheen. It reminds me of the reformulated version of M.A.C’s matte because it feels matte but not drying at all.

You don’t have to purse your lips to even out the colour with this lipstick – it pretty much spreads out uniformly on its own as you apply. Although it goes on reasonably opaque at the first swipe, its intensity can still be built on with more coats. However, it become tackier with every additional layer.

Swatch comparison for Sí, Sí, Me! and Love At First Bite

Swatch comparison for Sí, Sí, Me! and Love At First Bite

This collection may not boast a diverse range of hues (as it’s just nudes and pinks). Even so, die-hard M.A.C customers who are suckers for nice packaging will flip over it. Don’t know what to buy or which products are expected to sell out fast? The availability of the items on the UK website should provide a rough indication of the product popularity among consumers. Be sure to be at the launch early if you are planning to get the Prep+Prime Fix+ because (according to reliable sources) it will be among the first (if not the first) to fly off the shelves. Heard it’s coconut-scented (didn’t really pay attention to it at the preview), so yeah… 😝

What are your thoughts on this collection? Let me know in the comments below 🙂

Thanks for reading!

M.A.C Fruity Juicy collection goes on sale online and in all local M.A.C stores on 18 May 2017. Singapore M.A.C members get to preview this collection on 12 May so do RSVP (check your e-mail) to avoid disappointment!

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