The ‘#2′ in the title is a concern, apparently MAC Haulin’ is becoming a segment with multiple instalments. Last time it was nine products, this time it is eleven… the situation is escalating.

In my defence, I was recently invited to the MAC Global Beauty Forum, where iconic artists (James Molloy, Gordon Espinet… say whatttttt?!) dissected beauty trends around the globe. I summarise the findings at the end of this post – it was, without a doubt, the most insightful event I’ve attended… ever. When it comes to artistry, MAC takes the cake and gorges it in front of everyone.

Still on a high, I went off to haul some MAC. It would be rude not to.

1. Paint Pot – Soft Ochre // I have a love hate relationship with Paint Pots, I adore the opacity and the colours but often, they look a bit crepey or, shock horror, crusty on me. Nonetheless, Painterly was always a bit pale and a bit pink for my liking, so we’re giving Soft Ochre a go.

2. Pearglide Eye Liner – Lord It Up // The Pearglide formula is bloody fabulous, sufficient raving in my Longwear Eyeliner Smackdown <— Check that out. I own the two blackened shades within the line (Black Swan & Black Line) so brown seemed like the logical next purchase.

Lord It Up has a warm chocolate base with large-ish reflects of both the yellow gold and antique gold variety. The liner pictured beside it is…

3. Technakohl Liner – Earthline // I’m new to the Technakohl formula but this shade caught my eye – Earthline has a warm sepia base with a fine graphite shimmer overlay. In certain lights, it pulls lavender. Nomnom <3

4. Zoom Fast Black Lash Mascara // Until recently, minis and sample sizes and even rollerball fragrances were simply not available in Australia so when I spot a mini, I purchase. Every time. It’s a compulsion.

5. Sized to Go Pigment – Violet // Refer to #4. Also, PARPUL!

6. False Lashes – #33 // I’ve worked with a few MAC trainers in the past and each raved about the 33 lash. I gather it’s quite an iconic lash? They’re lightweight with clustered flares, a mix of both black and brown fibres – I’m game 🙂

7. Studio Fix Fluid Foundation – NC20 // Not a foundation I’ve ever considered but I had a brain explosion in store like LET’S DO THIS. Anyone interested in a first impressions video? Pump must be purchased separately… bit of resentment there.

8. False Lashes Mascara // Again, refer to #4. I have 30 mascaras in rotation, it’s downright embarrassing.

9. Mineralized Skinfinish – Soft & Gentle // I feel like I owned this once upon a time and gave it away because the shimmer was chunky? Don’t know what the hell happened there because I love this stuff. The shimmer is indeed a mix of a larger particles and uber fine glimmer but that’s okay with me – the alternative is a fine but perfectly even frost, which can look a bit dated.

Sorry to post this picture for the third time (!), here is Soft & Gentle – on the cheekbones, brow bone and dusted above the brow. I’d describe the colour as a pale rose gold; a mix of both warm pink and gold reflect. Soft & Gentle would register as quite saturated and warm on a very pale skintone – it translates best on a medium colouring and deeper.

10. Cream Color Base – Pearl // I fell in love with the Cream Color Base formula after my last MAC haul so I went back for Luna (pure white) and somehow picked up Pearl (pale warm gold), dumbass mistake but Luna isn’t off the hook, I’m coming back for you gurl. This formula doesn’t really set, I’d describe it as a fine shimmer suspended in a glossy balm – glossy, luminous, plausible, youthful highlight. YAS.

11. Eyeshadow X 15 – Cool Neutral // Lucky last and the real purse pincher, the Cool Neutral Palette retails for 250AUD or 100USD (wtf, seriously). I must have been in a really good mood.

It is permanent and includes a couple of exclusive shades while most are part of the regular eyeshadow range – Temptalia has decent swatches. Many of the complaints pertained to the fact that this palette isn’t genuinely cool toned; most shades are neutral and quite a few lean warm, so keep that in mind if you’re all about dat cool lyf.

I’ve tried it on one occasion and I did like the outcome, it was pretty if not a little boring. For whatever reason, this palette doesn’t really lend itself to impact but if you’re a polite taupe girl (quote credit: Nicole Thompson), you may very well love it 😛

MAC Global Beauty Forum Recap / Makeup Nerd Chatter

For those who enjoy a bit of makeup geekery, here are some emerging trends from the perspectives of James Molloy, Gordon Espinet, Lyne Desnoyers, Terry Barber and Nicole Thompson. AKA makeup legends and early visionaries. Not direct quotes, everything is paraphrased by yours truly 🙂

• Surprise surprise, brows are making a comeback, often as a focal point in a look. Texturally, there appears to be two extremes: the super duper sharp brow with little suggestion of individual hairs AND the extra textured, downright bushy brow where hairs are individually placed to build a stronger shape. The latter trend appears to most prevalent in London. I always liked London 😛 Artists suggest that realistically, the everyday woman likely finds a happy medium.

• Social media and greater connectivity is bringing the world that bit closer, Ruby Woo is the best selling lipstick in most regions; even in cultures where, historically, a bold lip isn’t favoured.

• Some decades ago, shoots and catwalks called for an even layer of Studio Fix, it was all about the coverage. There is now a shift towards believable skin – gradually stylists and photographers are becoming more perceptive, and more averse, to visible makeup on the skin. In a skin-obsessed era, artists must employ clever skills and new technologies to perfect the base in an imperceivable way.

• More and more, women are seeking a throwaway cool aesthetic as opposed to traditionally beautiful ideals. Previously, liner trends were more crisp and perfected, increasingly liner is dotted across the lash line and smudged for an effortless vibe.

• Polished has taken on a new definition, artists suggest that we need not work on every element on the face to look polished. Playing down one portion (say, a bare eye) allows another to steal the show (a red lip, for example). Again, it’s all about that effortless cool as opposed to predictable perfection.

• Shade and light has long been a topic of conversation, artists now closely consider finish and texture. One artist (can’t recall which, bad Karima) spoke of contouring and highlighting simply by mattifying areas of the face and glossing up high points – no introduction of dark and light and all – that struck me as a very novel and super subtle interpretation of the classic! In a nutshell: to achieve balance in a look, there must be yin and yang, matte and shimmer and satins, in appropriate proportions.

• Nicole Thompson ended the night on a high note, something like this – Rules are boring and exist to be broken. As soon as we make some suggestion of a rule, it comes back next season to bite us. If you like it, it’s probably right.

ALERT, new life motto: If you like it, it’s probably right. I friggin love that.

Hopefully at least one other makeup obsessor took pleasure in that ramble 🙂 It was beyond exciting to me and I’m so honoured to have attended the event. I’d love to talk about it MOAR so leave me your comments and we can converse!

xxkarima