MAC eye shadow haul

There is nothing like a MAC eye shadow haul :) This haul is actually a few months old, but I though I would still share. 

I much prefer to buy MAC shadows as refills. First of all they are a lot cheaper and I find them much easier to store in the palettes. I really like the quad palettes as they are super for going away or putting in you make-up bag for the gym etc. I love being able to mix & match and having the flexibility to make my own palettes.

So this time around I got (clockwise): Coppering, Embark, Arena and Espresso:

Coppering lives up to its name, an amazing coppery shade. Like all MAC shades it has excellent pigmentation and staying power. Embark is a matt dark brown with red undertones which really seem to make my blue/green eyes pop.

Espresso is not as dark as I though it would be as it is more of a soft brown, but it is still a great colour and a very versatile matt brown that goes with almost anything. The last shade in this haul is Arena, which is a super pretty neutral warm peachy/golden colour with a satin finish.

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My foundation routine for combination to oily skin

First thing you will notice with this foundation routine is that I don't actually mention any specific foundation! This is a routine that basically works with any foundation you choose and will help keep oil and shine at bay through out the day...at least this has been my experience the past few months, so I though I would share :) 

I have included my morning skincare products below - all from the Effeclar series by French pharmacy brand La Roche-Posay, just for good measure, even if it really isn't part of the overall make-up routine. All these products are for combination/oily skin and do ultimately help give a more matt finish to my skin.

La Roche-Posay Effeclar series

The first step in this routine is primer. If you "suffer" from oily skin using a primer is a must, if you want to prolong the staying power of your foundation. For the past year I've been partial to the Photo Finish primer from Smashbox, but have also used the Neutrogena shine control with great results. I actually think I prefer the shine control, but both are really good primers.

Recently however, I have been using an SPF from La Roche-Posay! This was a bit of an experiment as in the past I have found all SPF's for the face to be super greasy and something I've only ever resorted to when on holiday and definitely never something I used with my make-up. But this is a dry touch formula and it truly is an amazing primer! It's actually quite superior to the other two on my skin and I've used nothing but since I got it. Added benefits is the SPF 50,which is the recommended SPF for the face, it is great for sensitive skin and without parabens and perfume. Really what is not to love?

I know that Vichy has a similar product, which I haven't tried, it does however contain perfume - or so I'm told.

Left to right: Neutrogena Shine Control Primer, La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL SPF 50 Dry touch and Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer

Step 2 is a loose translucent powder. This is a fairly new step for me in my routine, I randomly came across it surfing the web one day. I decided to give it a try, seeing if it really made a difference in terms of controlling shine and prolonging the staying power of my foundation and I found that it did. I use it lightly all over the face, but with extra focus on the t-zone where I get the most shine, applying it with a large powder brush.

I've been really pleased with the e.l.f. HD Powder for this step, which also has the added bonus of a great price tag. At a recent Sephora visit I got my hands on a deluxe sample of the MUFE Microfinish Powder, which I can also recommend.

E.l.f. High Definition Powder and MUFE Microfinish powder

Next step is then to apply my foundation, but as I mentioned at the beginning, this is a routine that works with any (liquid) foundation. So I'm "skipping" that step here and going straight to the last step which is setting powder.

If you have oily skin you benefit greatly by setting your foundation with a powder. I'm not a big fan of using the HD powders mentioned above as my setting powder. I just don't like the "colour" they give and I prefer pressed powders. I alternate between the 3 pictured below, depending on mood and whether I want to add some colour or not. Reserve Your Cabana by Wet n' Wild is actually a bronzer, but it works perfect as a setting powder. I don't find that one works better than the other and I really do reach equally for all 3.

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish, Wet n' Wild Bronzer and Neutrogena Shine control powder

I "suffer" for oily skin year round and as much as I try to embrace and accept it, keep reminding myself that it should mean less wrinkles for me when I get old, I do gravitate towards skincare and make-up products that help control and minimise oil and shine on my face. 

That being said I don't really want products that completely eliminate it, as I find it hard to believe that such products would allow my skin to breath and wouldn't ultimately clog my pores and generally be bad for my skin long term.

But I have now been doing this routine, with multiple different foundations, for about 2-3 months and for me it has made a massive difference in the overall appearance and staying power of my foundation(s). I live in Denmark where we, despite some less than impressive temperatures, do endure crazy levels of humidity, which basically sucks if you have oily skin and more often than not makes your make-up run down your face! But with this routine I've truly had such improvements in this area, even on days were the humidity have been high. I still have oil and shine coming through, but nothing like I use to, which is enough for me to keep up this routine! 

Obviously I cannot guarantee that this will work for anybody but me...but it can't hurt to share, just in case someone else can benefit :)

As a very last point ( I promise) I want to say, learn to love blotting paper! Instead of using more product and continuing to re-powder throughout the day, I find that using blotting paper is a massive help. More product often just makes for a cakey look, especially if you powder directly on the oily part. If you feel that you have to powder, use blotting paper first and you'll get a much better result.

Bobbi Brown blotting papers

The End 

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Samoa Silk by MAC

Samoa Silk is my latest MAC purchase. This is one of their Velux shades, meaning that it has a matte silky finish, is very pigmented and has a very fine texture. This colour is kind of hard to describe...I cannot decide if it's peachy or orange :) In any case I really like it and think it will work perfectly as a more subtle warm crease colour. I have also worn it all over the lid with MAC's Texture in the "outer v" as I think those two shades compliment each other really well. Basically Samoa Silk is a great and versatile matte shade :) 

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Expensive Pink by MAC

I recently treated myself to the fabulous Expensive Pink eye shadow from MAC. The colour really reminds me of Rubenesque, which is one of my all-time favourite MAC colours. This is one of the velux pearl shades, so it has metallic shimmer and a high-shine pearl finish. Just such a pretty colour, perhaps a bit redundant to mention that it has great pigmentation and colour payoff ...like any other MAC eye shadow :) 

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Rubenesque by MAC

I love the Rubenesque paint pot from MAC! The cream based eye colour is amazing! This creamy beautiful peachy gold is prefect to use as a tinted primer, but can easily be worn on its own with just some eyeliner on days where you are looking for a quick on-the-go look. I personally love using it as a base/primer, it applies easily with its creamy formula and dries quickly and never creases. It is also really long wearing, I use mine several times a week and you can barely see that I've used it. I really enjoy this product, especially and will obviously eventually repurchase ;)

 

Paint Pots retail for DKK 165;- Pin It

Mini MAC haul

I am not a big MAC-oholic by any means, I think they have some really great products, but their prices are just too high and that puts me off most of the time. However there are a few items that I do pick up again and again, and that is their brush cleanser and their Mineralize Skinfinish Natural powder. As I was close to running out of both I went to the store this weekend to stock up :)

When it comes to brush cleaning some people are fine with using regular shampoo or the like to clean their make-up brushes, but my skin is super sensitive and I break out easily so I need to be 100% sure that my brushes are clean and sanitized and as most shampoos for one thing do not contain alcohol, I prefer using an actual brush cleanser like this one from MAC. This bottle contains 233ml and costs DKK 95,- I am ok with that price as it lasts me a long time. I know other make up brands also do similar cleansers, but so far I am really happy with this one :)



As I have oily skin I find it necessary to set my foundation with a powder every day and I really love MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish Natural, my shade is Medium Plus. This is a light powder with a light coverage, but I find that it's perfect for setting my foundation. I apply it lightly with a big fluffy brush which helps give me a matte but natural finish that it isn't too heavy.

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What's in my (gym) make up bag

3 times a week I take a morning class at the local gym, which means that I have to haul all my make up with me, so I thought I would do a little "What's in my make up bag" post.

I use my grey/black Marimekko bag, that is a good size for "traveling". 

For my face I use Tromborg Mineral foundation in Vanilla, which I apply with a kabuki brush from Sigma, Garnier's anti-dark circles for under the eyes and then finally the Urban Decay Primer Potion (original)

I use Calvin Klein eye shadow in vanilla cream (as a highlight), my favourite Wet n' Wild trio Walking on Eggshells, Stila eye shadow in Espresso for the outer coner and for my brows and then Tromborg blush in Peach

Lastly I use the Jemma Kidd lipstick in Peach, Benefit mascara Bad gal in Deep Brown, Smashbox liquid liner in Dark Brown, Smashbox eye beam brightner and MAC pencil in Coffee

Here are the brushes I used, most are from Sigma, one is from Elf and the red one is from DK brand Nilens Jord

And yes, that all fits into the bag...a little snug perhaps, but as long as it can still zip up it's all good :)

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