This is it. To all of my followers, I thank you so much for the support and love I’ve received all of these years.
It’s been FOUR years since the mega foundation review series and I’ve decided to follow up with another marathon review series called the Holy Grail of Cosmetics.
The format is going to be similar to the “On the Search for the Perfect” series but we’ll be kicking it up a notch with first impression videos, plenty of high quality photos, and even more in-depth commentary on the products themselves. For an idea of how it’s going to look, please check out my latest post on MAC lipsticks and MAC Lip pencils.
The first set of reviews will be on the best drugstore mascaras according to Today.com’s article, “6 waterproof mascaras that makeup artists buy at the drugstore.” I was able to find 4 out of the 6 listed mascaras to give them a whirl and I settled for one other alternate product to review.
The Holy Grail Mascaras Series will include the following products:
L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Original Waterproof Mascara in Black
Maybelline New York Great Lash Waterproof Mascara in Very Black
L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Miss Manga Waterproof Mascara in Blackest Black
CoverGirl Total Tease Waterproof Mascara in Very Black
L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Butterfly Waterproof Mascara in Black
All of the listed mascaras will be rated and reviewed on their performance as black, waterproof mascaras that do a combination of lengthening, defining, volumizing, and curling.
At the end of this first series, I’ll be posting a very special review for my Asian readers – a how-to with beauty tips to curl those stubborn Asian lashes. Whether you’ve got short, wispy lashes or long and thick lashes, we’re going to get that beautifully-curled, wide-eyed look. I believe there are many products out there that do wonders but fail to target or cater to people of color. As an Asian American woman, it’s important for me to write more reviews and articles like this thus demarginalizing and giving a voice to more women and people of color. And regardless of your ethnicity, tune in then to pick up some tips and tricks to make your mascara look and wear better.
The first mascara review will post this Thursday with a video! See you then!
For more information and updates please subscribe to my blog and check out my new Facebook page as well!
I’ve been buying MAC lipsticks and MAC foundations for a while. Not religiously, but I enjoy their expansive range of colors and products that cater to every need and whim. Looking in my travel make up bag (not the big guns one), everything is divided between NARS and MAC Cosmetics.
So after trying out the Hourglass GIRL Lip Stylo and left underwhelmed, I ended up at the MAC store on the prowl for the perfect nude.
And I’m not talking about a dead person kind of nude that some lucky few can pull off, but the kind that looks natural enough that even if it begins to wear off, you’re not that worried. So with this in mind, I decided to match the lipstick and lip liner to the shade closest to the center (and almost inner) portion of my lips where it’s a medium rose color as opposed to the outer corners of my lips which are more of a beige.
I’m pretty sure I’ll end up picking up a few more in case I run out since I plan to use this duo HEAVILY. And I’m thinking about experimenting with some other nude shades that are slightly lighter or darker than the existing ones here.
You’ll find the heavy duty reviews below with all of the nitty-gritty details you’ve come to know me for. And be sure to check out my short and sweet first impression video as well:
The Lipstick
MAC Cosmetics Lipstick in Kinda Sexy – This is a regular matte rosy-pink lipstick ($17.50) with neutral undertones. It isn’t a retro matte, so it’s still creamy and feels very hydrating despite the full coverage matte finish.
Description: Formulated to shade, define and showcase the lips. Hundreds of hues, high-fashion textures. The iconic product that made M.A.C. famous.
First Impression: I’ve worn MAC lipsticks before but they all have this signature cupcake smell to them and they always apply smoothly regardless of the different textures. With Kinda Sexy, I knew right away that it was the nude for me.
Shade: A whopping 145 shades if you count all of the textures! I’m pretty sure any color you want, they’ve got it.
Finish: Natural matte that feels powdery instead of sticky on the lips.
Texture: Matte. The texture replicates your actual lips vs. the other plumping and smoothing textures like satin and cremesheen.
Coverage: High/Full. You can fake anything with these lipsticks.
Longevity: Since it’s a matte, it has the advantage of being non-sticky and having a higher staying power. If you line your lips first, you can definitely wear this all day with maybe one or two touch-ups depending on your diet and habits. So without liner and pro tips, probably 5 hours tops. With at least lip liner, you’ll get 6-7. Lip liner, blotting method, and layer will get you 8-9 hours of wear. If you snack a lot, drink straight from the cup instead of a straw or tend to bite your lips, the longevity will definitely decrease.
Application: I applied it straight from the tube. The MAC lipsticks are well-shaped and allow you to get into every nook and cranny. You can use a lip brush, but for the sake of convenience and with a realistic approach in mind, just the tube is fine.
Packaging: Standard MAC packaging with a whole lot of black, polished satin plastic, silver trimmings, and capital letters.
The Verdict: With the various shades and textures available, you’re bound to find your holy grail nude lipstick (or any shade for that matter). Based on its staying power and quality at an attainable price (when you compare it to some other lipsticks that do worse at $30-100 each), I highly recommend their lipsticks. They are easy to work with, non-drying, and for $17.50 it’s a wonderful lip product.
The Liner
MAC Cosmetics Pro Longwear Lip Pencil in Doubletime – Doubletime is a dusty pinky that is just a smidge darker than the Kinda Sexy lipstick. Although priced slightly higher ($21) than the regular Lip Pencil ($17.50), the Pro Longwear is definitely worth it as it’s transfer-resistant, smudge-proof, and delivers high pigmentation without the necessity to keep reapplying.
Description: A new generation of long-wearing lip pencil technology. Glides on fluidly and adheres instantly. Defines the lips with an instant release of rich, saturated color. The transfer-proof formula prolongs the hours between reapplication.
First Impression: Creamy formulation, true to display color, and easy to use. I’ll admit I don’t wear lip liner often because I had some bad experiences in the past. The lip liners I was exposed to were chalky, required a lot of work to get the product on and did not have any staying power. However, I’ve really come to like this one.
Shade: 28 in the Pro Longwear line and 41 in the regular Lip Pencil collection.
Finish: Very matte. It still looks natural but without a lip balm or any prep, it definitely comes off as very dry-looking despite it’s non-drying formulation. It’s very dry to the touch and essentially budge-proof.
Texture: Matte.
Coverage: Full coverage.
Longevity: All day. I say this because even after your lipstick’s worn off, the pigmentation from the lip color is still there.
Application: I applied the lip pencil directly to my lips and had no issues blending and working the product out. Some lip liners require a brush but this is not one of them.
Packaging: The product is encased in a wooden pencil that’s slightly slimmer than a color pencil. The bottom piece showcases the shade and the cap is your standard plastic lip liner cap.
The Verdict: I’ve come to the conclusion that lip liner is an important (almost necessary) step for lipstick wearers because it helps provide a pigmented foundation for your lipstick to adhere to. Your lipstick lasts longer that way and you’ll find yourself using less lipstick. Using the MAC Lip Pencil gave my lips structure and emphasized their shape. The lip pencil doesn’t feel chalky at all and glides on smoothly. The shade was so flattering that I was very tempted to just wear it by itself sans lipstick. It’s extremely pigmented so I ended up using only a small amount of product. At $21, this lip liner does everything it promises to do and more.
If you’ve made it this far, you’re pretty dedicated to makeup (like me) and I hope you find nude lip products that work for you. Thank you for reading and see you next time!
Napalm Kitty 