A glimpse at the lips: MAC's lipstick in Lady Bug

MAC's Lady Bug

To date I've only come across a few beauty-related items that have never ceased to amaze me, and NARS' Flamenco was a lipstick to behold, cherish, and stop other women in their tracks to ask precisely, "what are you wearing on your lips?" My hopes of replacing such a special candied red were dashed when NARS stopped manufacturing Flamenco, or so I thought.

A few weeks ago I was tinkering about at my local MAC counter when my eyes haphazardly locked on Lady Bug, "a juiced yellow tomato" -- better yet, Flamenco's doppelgänger.

Swatch of Lady Bug

Lady Bug's boldness is tempered by its lustre finish -- sheer, and subtly glossy.

Wearing Lady Bug

When I was a kid I wholeheartedly believed in the luck all lady bugs possessed. Here's hoping this tube comes with a bit of it.

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for MAC's Lady Bug:

• $36.00 AUS / $16.00 USD

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

• 10 out of 10 bags — Wear it alone, or layer it over an even more intense red liner. <3

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

• I recently built my own blush/eyeshadow palette during our Hawaiian holiday. I'll share my picks with you really soon.

Beauty in a tick: Becca's Beach Tint Shimmer Souffle in Raspberry/Opal

Becca's Beach Tint Shimmer Souffle

A blush hybrid combining the pigmentation from Becca's Beach Tint, a glint of sparkle imparted by the Shimmering Skin Perfector and loads of pearls to give this blush its squishy-like consistency.

Raspberry/Opal

Swatch of Becca's Beach Tint Shimmer Souffle in Raspberry/Opal

This blush is scent-sational (smells like raspberries), and aims to be goof-proof in the application department for blush noobs and expert makeup mavens alike. Personally, I prefer to apply Becca's Beach Tint Shimmer Souffle with a proper blush brush as my fingers have a tendency to deposit too much product in random spots. Nobody likes a patchy/splotchy blush situation.

The soft wash of colour across my cheeks is natural and effortless. An easy like Sunday morning kind of thing.

There are five other shades available for your smelling pleasure if Raspberry/Opal doesn't really float your boat.

Wearing Raspberry/Opal on my cheeks

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for Becca's Beach Tint Souffle:

• $45.00 AUS / $27.00 USD

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

• 8 out of 10 bags — Solid, but I think I was too safe with my colour choice. Until next time, Papaya/Topaz.

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

• Absolutely kicking myself for not picking up the Shimmering Skin Perfector Spotlights. Totes passes the Gift Giving Guidelines.

Gift Giving: MAC's Keepsake Red Lip Bag

MAC's Keepsake Red Lip Bag

I'm a fan of giving gifts no matter what time of year it is, because the idea of shopping during the holidays stresses the crap out of me. After working over a decade in the retail industry I can assure you that the month of November and or December doesn't bring out the best in some of us. Stores don't make it any better either with their rock bottom pricing on [insert that special item you thought Jane or Matt needed, but didn't even know they really wanted].

Cheap televisions, stinky cologne and riot-inducing toys aside, the cosmetics industry certainly brings their own je ne se quoi -- gift packs with single use samples which can be a b*tch to open and well, after squeezing half the product onto the floor your gift recipient is left thinking, "why bother?" This said kit is then tossed into a drawer, left for dead until Spring 2016 and promptly chucked in the bin with the rest of their dusty castoffs.

My advice to you when shopping for your significant other, loved ones and or friends is to put yourself in their shoes and ask yourself, "would I want this for myself?" Now, I realise this takes a modicum of effort, but isn't this time of year really about the thought that counts rather than obligatory timing?

What I have here today is something for the makeup lover(s) in your life, MAC's Red Keepsake Red Lip Bag; this set also comes in nude and coral if you're uncertain about their level of makeup brazenness. Why does this particular thing make for a great gift? Well, let me breakdown the art of gift giving for both the giver and receiver.

• It comes in a box = easy to wrap/unwrap
• The price point for this gift pack is a few dollars cheaper than purchasing each item individually. Don't forget about that sparkle-laden makeup bag, MAC practically throws it in for free!
• Full-size items on the cheaper
• Options abound for the wearer 

Finally, if you feel like spending a few more dollars on Jane, may I suggest throwing in a pencil sharpener, pencils don't sharpen themselves and a tube of MAC's Prep + Prime Lip, chapped lips and matte lippie isn't a good look for anyone, got it? 

Ruby Woo swatches from left to right: lip pencil, gloss and lipstick

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for MAC's Keepsake Red Lip Bag:

• $89.00 AUS ($12.00 savings) / $39.50 USD ($7.50 savings)

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

• 10 out of 10 bags — a biased selection on my part because I love me some Ruby Woo.

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

• MAC's matte lip edit is drool inducing.

Eyes to mesmerize: Chanel's Inimitable Waterproof Mascara in Noir

Chanel's Inimitable Waterproof Mascara in Noir

You can have friends and they might even come and go. Then there's your best friend, the guy or girl in your life you will forever carry in your pocket. Years might even separate the last time you've seen each other, but you always pick back up like it was yesterday.

So, what does this have to do with mascara? Well, choosing a mascara or two is similar to making friends - complex personalities, differing backgrounds and timing. What brought you together will either make or break that long-lasting foundation or bond.

This bond, I'm sad to say, with Chanel's Inimitable Waterproof Mascara in Noir was never meant to be.

Inimitable Waterproof Mascara is flashy with her wet formula, yet the heaviness of her pull forces the lashes to stick together as opposed to lifting and separating. The qualities I cherished in the non-waterproof version - feather light, flirty lashes complete with a matte finish were nowhere to be found.

Wearing Chanel's Inimitable Waterproof Mascara in Noir

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for Chanel's Inimitable Waterproof Mascara in Noir:

• $72.00 AUS / $30.00 USD

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

• 3 out of 10 bags — Don't let a waterproof formula be the only factor in your decision making process.

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

• The elusive Sweet Star will forever be that unicorn in the sky.