First Impressions and Swatches: MAC X The Simpsons Collection Blushes

Considering this collection came out a month ago and the fact that MAC is pumping out collection after collection these days, these are old news to you by now. If there’s anything you’ll learn from our time together, though, I play by my own rules. So here we go!

The packaging for these blushes is pretty decent. I love that sultry eyed Marge look that was branded onto the majority of the products. I would like to note that these are actually my very first MAC products (?!?! yeah, I know) so I don’t have anything else MAC-wise to compare them to, so this is my general impression. It feels sturdy, and it opens after you push down on the release button. If I’m being honest, the packaging is what sucked me in. It’s nothing extraordinary, but I like that they kept it simple and I think it’s cute.

Sideshow You on left, Pink Sprinkles on right

I enjoy that the same Marge that’s on the cover was also imprinted into the blush, but that’s what made me so hesitant to get in there and swatch these! Luckily the imprint is deep enough that is has survived well post-swatches and I think it’ll stick around for a while yet. Sideshow You is described as a light peach coral with a Satin finish, and Pink Sprinkles is a cute blue pink with a Satin finish. I love me some corals which is what drew me to Sideshow You, and I have yet to own anything like Pink Sprinkles. Plus, since my skin is neutral leaning cool-toned, I thought Pink Sprinkles would suit me well.

Starting bottom left going up diagonally: Sideshow You, Sideshow You blended, Pink Sprinkles, Pink Sprinkles blended

The swatches you see above took me several swipes to get enough product to show up as they do in the photo (admittedly, my swatches need work, but I digress). This isn’t necessarily a negative or a deal breaker for myself, but to those who are not as fair complexioned as myself I’m sure it is. For those who may be a bit heavy handed with prodcuts or like the option to start off light and build up color to your liking, this could be an ideal product for you. The texture also threw me for a loop a bit as it’s definitely more powdery than what I contain in my collection but still blended well. You can see that Sideshow You is more pigmented than Pink Sprinkles, but both appear more pigmented in the pan than they did when swatched. I have yet to test the longevity of either blush, but there are these reviews from Temptalia where she states that she got around eight hours wear-time before fading with each, so they have decent potential.

Overall, I like these blushes. I don’t feel overly impressed by them, and I do wish that MAC would stop coming out with back-to-back collections and instead really throw focus into one every so often, not only to give us some breathing room but to also make us feel confident that the collection will be up to our expectations for a company as reputable as MAC. I do wish that these blushes came out as pigmented as they appear in the pan, but at 0.33 oz–larger than the regular MAC blushes–I don’t feel like I’ll run out of product anytime soon even when building it up to my liking. Personally, I think I’ll be passing Sideshow You onto someone on MakeupExchange as it doesn’t stand out among my other corals, but Pink Sprinkles will remain a welcome addition to my collection. And anytime I think of it, I hear Homer in my head saying, “Mmm, sprinkles”, so I don’t think I can let this one go.

Did you pick up the blushes and/or anything else from the MAC x The Simpsons collection? What did you think of the products you snagged? Is there anything you missed out on that you wish you would’ve gotten your hands on? Let me know in the comments below! And if you’d like any further information or opinions from myself on either blush, let me know about that as well.

Until next time, stay well, stay beautiful! xx

The Wayne Goss Method + Happy Easter!

Hello everyone! Let me start off by wishing those who celebrate this holiday a Happy and Blessed Easter to you and yours. If you don’t celebrate, that’s okay, just remember that all the candy goes on sale tomorrow so treat yoself!

If you’re yet unfamiliar with what I mean by the “Wayne Goss Method”, quick check out the video below:

The beauties of MakeupAddiction (and I’m sure other beauty subreddits) have been going nuts over this for the past few weeks, and I decided to give it a shot.

It’s a Saturday morning and I’m going into work yayyyyy

Products used:
– Mosturizer: Whatever Target’s version of Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Mosturizer is because I’m cheap
– Primer: Monistat Chafing Relief Powder -Gel*
– Powder: NARS Light Reflecting Setting Powder
– Foundation: Urban Decay Naked Skin Shade 3.5
– Concealer: Neutrogena Skinclearing Blemish Concealer in shade Buff (09)
– Mascara: Revlon Lash Potion
*Before you get weirded out that I’m using a Monistat product on my skin, first, IT’S NOT A VAGINA CREAM (even though it’s in the vag care aisle). It’s meant for the inner thigh and bikini area, for chafing, just like it says in the name. Second, it’s been thrown out there as a dupe for Smashbox Photo Finish Primer because the ingredients between the two are almost identical. I’ve never used Smashbox but I was willing to give this a shot because I’m playing around with primers. You may continue.

This is how I started off the day. Had to go into work to help someone feed their cells. Not the best quality photo since it’s the front-facing camera on my phone but I was pretty happy with the results overall. You’ll be able to tell in a photo I post at the end of this that I have some blemishes on my forehead and cheeks. You barely notice them here. I’m still dealing with dry skin recovery from this brutal winter so my foundation isn’t always perfect and I’m struggling with that, but whatever, this looked pretty damn good in comparison to the usual.

A few hours later…

More products:
– Eyeliner: NYX Super Skinny Eye Marker in Carbon Black
– Blush: NARS Orgasm
– Bronzer: NARS Laguna
– Brows: Wet n’ Wild Color Icon brow pencil in Taupe & Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade in Blonde
– Lips: NYX Butter Lipstick in… Fireball? I think this was Fireball, not Hot Tamale. Still NYX regardless. And then Urban Decay Naked Lipgloss in Streak on top.

I worked for three hours, got lunch at Culver’s with the coworker I helped out, then went to the mall when my dad called me asking hey, want me to bring you home for Easter then take you back tomorrow? The man can’t stand not having his little girl home for the holidays. In total, I was gone for about 5 1/2 hours before I got home and added on all the other stuff. So this photo was taken approximately 7 hours after initial foundation application.

Hey sexy

Ohhh dem brows. Dat wing.

A moment to appreciate my stupid, oily hooded lids

The brows are still a work in progress, ladies and gents. Give them time.

You can probably notice in the eye closeup photos the lovely areas of dry skin I have. And the freaking patches of blonde-white hairs I have all over my face. Overall, though, I’m still pretty satisfied with how my foundation has held up, and my skin still feels nice and not oily, other than my eyelids which I didn’t put anything on since I opted against eyeshadow. (For reference, I have normal to dry skin, with maybe some oilyness in my T-zone. I swept on a little extra powder in that area after putting on foundation just in case.)

And then I went on a motorcycle ride.

Post-dinner, it-was-a-freaking-frigid-ride face.

Again, I apologize for the horrible front-facing camera photo. There was no natural light left outside and I was too freaking cold to care. Wind sucks.

Anyway, obviously the lipstick has faded off which I totally expected it to, but even after my face was battered by the wind for over an hour and a half, things look not all that bad. The foundation did look a little patchy upon closer mirror inspection, but seriously, I was whipped in the face by the wind for almost two hours, what do you expect?

I’m a pretty big fan of this method of application if I’m looking for my makeup to last extended periods of time, albeit through less-extreme conditions. If you haven’t tried it yet, definitely give it a go. I’m looking forward to testing this out more myself.

“That is some really bright lipstick.” THAT WAS THE POINT, MOM.

And finally, for your viewing pleasure, a nice pre-church selfie featuring Revlon Lash Potion mascara, Covergirl Clean Pressed Powder in Buff Beige, and NYX Butter Lipstick in Little Susie for some festive color. Since we were on the motorcycle, I had a to pack a small bag to take home with me, so I only brought a couple products back to use. I cared 0% about impressing anyone at church anyway.

My hair also sucks because I showered the night before and then slept on slightly damp hair. Again, 0% caring. Deal with it.

I did a little mini Ulta haul on Saturday since they were doing 40% off some drugtstore brands that included Revlon and Maybelline, so those products may be introduced soon. I also picked up the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge which I’ve been dying to try! I currently use their Expert Face Brush as well as a Beautyblender for applying my foundation. I’ve heard the RT Sponge is as good if not better than the Beautyblender, so I’m super excited to give it a go.

I’m probably going to wait a bit before posting anything. I just ordered a new makeup mirror that will hopefully make practice much easier (I’m currently doing stuff in my bathroom, which works but isn’t the most practical) so I’ll probably wait until that arrives in the mail to do anything. I’m also participating in the Crazylegs Classic 8K next Saturday so this week is all about making sure I’m prepped and ready for that. I’ve only really gotten into running in these past six or seven months so this’ll be my first race and I’m super excited!

Now if you excuse me, there are some chocolate bunnies calling my name.

Until next time, stay well, stay beautiful!