MAC Must Haves for Dark Skin

Good afternoon! I've put together a small guide for those of you who have medium-dark to deep skin and don't know what to get from MAC. You can buy whatever you like but these are products I have tried and used for a long time. I hope you find it helpful and if you have any questions or comments, don't be afraid to leave a comment below! All the photos are courtesy of the MAC website (maccosmetics.com).

1. Eyebrow pencil-comes in 6 colors. I suggest either Spiked or Stud because they work with brown/dark brown/black eyebrows. The formula is creamy and comes in a twist-up pen. It runs out easily and for $16 it's inconvenient to spend that much every 8 weeks but it's the best thing I've ever used for my eyebrows so it's worth it in the long run.

2. Zoom lash mascara- I like all of MAC's mascaras but this one is my favorite because the formula is the creamiest and doesn't leave my lashes crunchy at all! It runs for $17 and doesn't try out very fast.

3. Fluidline- This is a gel eyeliner, so it requires a brush (an angled brush or a pencil brush is easiest to do gel liner with). It's creamy and very pigmented, however it dries out pretty quick. I got sick of replacing it every three months but I don't use eyeliner everyday so I switched to another brand. If you are the type of girl who likes winged liner every day then you will probably get more use out of this and it might even be finished before it dries out. It comes in a jar so remember to keep the cap screwed on at all times and keep it stored upside down. It cost $16. If blacktrack is too harsh for you to wear then try one of the many browns they offer : Dipdown or Lowlights.

 4. 4-pan eyeshadow pan- MAC is one of my favorite brands because the wide variety of eyeshadow colors and finishes. I fell in love with this brand while I was in high school, I walked by a freestanding store at my local mall and all the colors caught my eye. I think I just stood there with my mouth open and the MUA just giggled until I could muster up the courage to ask for help picking some out. lol It's up to you which colors you want to start out with but I suggest a light color for highlighting underneath the brow and the inner corner of the eye, a dark color for the outer-V, a transitional color and a lid color. A 4-pan palette is $48 and lasts forever. I still have my first 4-pan from almost 4 years ago and I have only hit pan on one :) Here's a suggestion:

Shroom-highlight/inner corner

Carbon-outer V/smokey eye

Charcoal Brown-crease

Twinks-lid color

5. Studio Finish Concealer- this is hands down the best concealer ever! It can be used to cover discoloration, to shape eyebrows, to fix mistakes with eyeliner or shadow, to contour and highlight, etc. It is very creamy and heavy so apply lightly. A little goes a long way! Ask an MUA to match you to see if you are cool or warm (or neutral). Make sure to check yourself out in the mirror in natural light before you purchase as the artificial light in the store can throw off the color. $19

6. Studio Fix Powder- This powder can be heavy if not applied with a light hand,so apply sparingly, especially if you have already applied concealer. MAC was intended for professional use, for fashion shows and theater/television. $27

7. Powder blush-some people seem to think dark skinned women shouldn't wear blush because dark women do not blush naturally. I think that's silly. The key is to wear colors that work with your undertone. If you have acneic skin, avoid blush with shimmer, If your skin is ooily, avoid creamy formulas. My favorites for dark skin are Blunt, Desert Rose, Format and Raizin.

                            Blunt ^^                                                                              Raizin ^^


I hope that was helpful for you! If you would like reviews for some of the skin care products provided by MAC, I would be more than happy! Enjoy your Easter


♥

Discount store mini haul & MAC

I totally forgot about this blog lol I started a more personal one. I guess I'll keep this for my beauty stuff :) Update on my skin: I have been using retin-a from my dermatologist since last fall so my skin is looking so much better OMG!

Anyway:

I went to the mall for work clothes and left with makeup. *sigh*

MAC eyebrow pencil in spiked, powder blush in raizin and studio fix powder in NC45. The total was only like $70something dollars and I know that they will last a long time (except the eyebrow pencil which only last like two months) but I still felt a little guilty because it wasn't stuff that I needed. I'm debating on returning it or keeping them since I haven't tried their powder blushes or foundations before. IDK #makeupjunkieproblems


This mini haul was from the other day and I am excited about it! Lately I've been more into other beauty stuff besides makeup. Idk I've just gotten less and less interested in having a beatface and more into my over all look. I had a bogo free coupon for pantene but the cashier at Big Lots said they don't accept coupons. I had a feeling she was lying but I didn't argue because it was only two bucks.

The Pantene Heat Shield shampoo & conditioner looks promising. It has few reviews online but they are all good. None are from women with my hair texture and formation but that's ok ;) It smells really good and I'm excited to start wearing my hair straight again. I've been bunning for months now and I'm getting sick of it lol

Kiss My Face peaches and cream moisturizer is a re-buy. I used it a few years ago. It is an awesome AHA (exfoliator). I already have retin-a right now but since it worked to smooth and exfoliate my face I figured I can use it on other parts of my body such as my decolletage, arms and legs to make them smooth.

Phisoderm acne wash has salycilic acid in it, which helps with breakouts. For me it works better than benzoyl peroxide. BP can be harsh and I only use it when I have a huge pimple (which is rare nowadays).

Nothing special about softlips. Birthday cake and holiday scent. The dessert essence tea tree blemish concealer was only 99 cents but to me was still a waste because it doesn't conceal s%#^t haha

But OMG the highlight of this haul has to be the Essie nail polishes I bought from grocery outlet! I got them for $3 each! Yep, less than half of what they usually retail. They were in a huge bin full of assorted essie polishes. Some were old/separated but I know that nail polishes don't expire. You just shake them up and they are good as new. I am still picky LOL so I picked out a few that weren't separated yet.

Anyway, that's pretty much it. I've had small hauls a few times since my last post but nothing spectacular. A few mac lipglasses, some dissapointing drugstore mascaras, a new inglot eyeshadow palette.

Part of my new years resolution was not only to stop spending as much money on beauty items and use up the stuff I have. I'm thinking of doing a project 10-pan and/or a no-buy. It sounds kind of fun, actually. I think I've only hit pan on 3 items since I started buying beauty products six years ago.....SAD :(

Favorite Affordable Skin Care Products

I suffered from acne and the scars that that came with it for over 10 years. My skin wreaked havoc on my self esteem and I spent a lot of money trying out products. Essentially, my blemishes were caused by hormones, bad diet and genetics. What helped was time (getting through puberty), eliminating cows milk and red meat from my diet and drinking water. I also take supplements to help my skin but that's another post :)

Here are the products that I tried and stuck with for years. None of them ever failed me. They are also pretty affordable, all can be found online or at your local drugstore (except for the toner, which is sold at Sally's Beauty). I hope this can help someone who wants to save some $$$.



1. Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Castile Soap ($4-$5): I know they say bar soaps are bad for your face but this work great for acne, especially if you have sensitive skin!  This is a non-irritating bar soap that has peppermint, which gives a nice, refreshing tingle. It's also good for the environment as it doesn't produce waste ;) It is gentle enough to use twice a day.

2. St. Ives Green Tea Scrub ($5): This is a face scrub with granules that are smaller and less harsh than the apricot scrub from the same brand. The scent isn't very strong either.  The active ingredient is salicylic acid, which helps with breakouts. I used this about twice a week and enjoyed the smoothness of my skin afterward.

3. Neutrogena Make-up Remover Wipes ($6-$8, cheaper online): These are the best makeup wipes I have ever used! They are thick and saturated enough to remove all face makeup with one towelette. They are pretty pricey for the size so I tend to stock up when it's on sale. The scent is almost non-existent.

4. Beyond Belief Witch Hazel ($5 from Sally Beauty): I use this witch hazel as a toner after I cleanse/exfoliate my skin. Unlike most witch hazels from the drugstore, it smells nice and doesn't sting. I use large cotton pads to apply.

5. Clean & Clear Persa Gel-10 ($5-$7): This is basically the benzoyl peroxide that the dermatologists usually prescribe for acne. Benzoyl peroxide is banned in other countries because with prolonged use, it can bleach the skin and thin it out. Horrible! I applied this to blemishes instead of my whole face and it was usually gone in two days. I do not suggest applying this to your whole face, just the pimple itself.

6. Aveeno Daily Moisturizer with SPF ($14-$19): This is on the expensive side, compared to the other products but it is quite affordable since it lasts a long time. It has added sun protection, which is essential for everyone regardless of skin tone! I used this everyday and found that it helped with scars. I had a hard time finding a moisturizer with sunscreen that didn't leave a cast and didn't make my face an oil slick. Give it a try!

7. Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque ($3-$5): I'm sure everyone has tried or at least heard of this. For me, it lived up to the hype. The clay and salicylic acid in it is what helps. Clay is very good with acne prone and oily skin. I used this about twice a week.