My First Mac Products!

Hello everyone! I've just completed my first week back from break and I'm already procrastinating, so why not make a new post?

Typically I stick to drugstore products because I like to stretch a buck and trick myself into believing I'm frugal by purchasing 3 lipsticks for $15 rather than one for the same price (you feelin' me?). Well, I've always heard about the great quality of MAC from various YouTubers and the like, and I figured now was the time to treat myself (tax refund money, for the win).

I thought I would test the waters and get a few products in various categories, and I settled on purchasing a powder blush, eye shadow, and lipstick. I knew I definitely wanted to try a higher quality blush because I always seem to struggle with blushes. There is either no color payoff or gross glittery bits everywhere, but that's the price you pay when the actual price you pay is low.

My new babies.

 I purchased a powder blush in Dame (satin finish, $21), an eyeshadow in Cranberry (frost finish, $15), and a lipstick in Hang Up (cremesheen, $16). I ordered all of these products online and received them rather quickly, within four days I believe. I also got free shipping, because I spent a ridiculous amount (or at least I think so).

I really like the blush. It's very wearable and appears quite natural, even on my scarily pale skin. Even though it is a beautiful color, I was still just a teensy bit let down on the color payoff. I find I have to dip my brush in a couple of times to really build up much color, and for $21 dollars the pigment should jump out of it's packaging and straight onto my cheeks. But I guess that's what you get when

From left to right: Dame, Cranberry, and Hang Up.

you're not easy to please. It's still a good product though, pickiness aside.

The eyeshadow is a confusing one. It appears to be a much lighter mauve online than in person. In the pan it looks nice, not an everyday color, but certainly one to have in your collection whenever the need for that shade arises. However, when I swatched it on my wrist (as you can see to the left) it comes off as a very rusty brown, but when I wear it on my eyes it stays more true to the actual color. I wasn't even wearing eye primer and it still registered differently. While it's pretty on the eyes, I'm certain I could have found a drugstore dupe and saved myself that $15. Lessons learned.

I love lip products. Stains, balms, sticks, glosses, what have you — I love them. I find you can't go wrong with the Revlon Balm Stains or Matte Balms, but again, I wanted to give MAC a try. I'm partial to deep berries and darker lip colors, so naturally I gravitated towards Hang Up. Again, the color appeared a bit different than the actual product, but if I build it up enough it is still a lovely color. I wish it had a bit more staying power, because I'm terrible about reapplying (that's why balm stains are the bomb), but I can learn to deal with it. I don't think I'll be purchasing strictly MAC lipsticks from here on out. They're nice, but I'll probably save those special purchases for special colors (I've been wanting a lilac lipstick really, really badly—thoughts on that?).

Overall, I'm fairly pleased with these MAC products. I think I'll start branching out into some more higher end products (when funds allow) and see how they compare. I've also recently purchased from two brands I've never tried before, both drugstore, so stay tuned for that!

xoxo,
Caitlin.