MAC Blushcreme in Sweet William

I've just fallen in love all over again...with cream blush. Having eschewed my collection for months, I dug it out of my blush drawer, and discovered to my delight that not only does it work on my combination skin, it actually gives me a fresher look than my powder blush.

The star of my collection is MAC Blushcreme in Sweet William. The pearly pink color blends easily and imparts a luminous tint to the cheeks. Dewy and glowing, it gives skin a youthful look and stays in place.

Pair it with black liquid liner, jet black mascara and highlight the eyes with a shimmering white powder, like Benefit Miss Popularity, for a look that is sweet and flirty.

Try it and you'll see--a few dabs of this blush will leave you look like a living doll.

MAC Lipglass in Nymphette

Every once in a while, a beauty lover finds that special product that is worthy enough to be elevated to "Holy Grail" status. Beauty junkies bestow this honor on products that are tried and true-- a no-fail go-to product that will always have a permanent place in their makeup bag.

MAC Lipglass in Nymphette is my HG lipgloss. It was my first MAC product back in the day and one of the few glosses I've ever managed to finish and repurchase regularly.

A transparent pink with suspended fine gold flecks and a finish that is perfectly smooth and glassy, this gloss finishes any look beautifully. Nymphette glazes lips in lasting shimmer and shine, with pout-enhancing dimension. The combination of gold and pink is always a hit (hence the NARS Orgasm craze), and the vanilla scent is perfect.

Pair this gloss with some bronzer, jet black mascara and some surf spray for a summery look that has instant sex appeal.

MAC Eyeshadow in Tempting

Like any girl deserving of the title "makeup junkie," I own enough MAC eyeshadow to create my own schematically sorted multi-tiered display.

But if I had to pick one eyeshadow to wear the rest of my life, MAC Eyeshadow in Tempting would be it. Like a little pot of treasure, the antique golden brown bronze glitters with a rich lustre finish.

Complimenting every eye color, this shadow adds instant sizzle. Dull eyes dance with a flash of Tempting, and shine like two expertly set gems. A true multi-tasker, this eyeshadow works for day or night. And like all MAC shadows, the pigmentation is divine, wearing color true and smooth all day long.

To fully experience the glory of this god among eyeshadows, you must sweep it underneath your lower lash line. Try using a MAC 219 brush, or similar stiff brush. Even on days when Tempting doesn't make it onto my lids, that gilded line is still the perfect finishing touch.

MAC Paint Pots

You know the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears? One porridge was too hot, one was too cold, and the other was just right? That's how I feel about MAC Shadesticks, Paints and Paint Pots--my arsenal of eyeshadow primers.

Don't get me wrong; Shadesticks and Paints are good, but the Paint Pots are better. Shadesticks are super fast and easy to use, but can be a little dry and don't hold up quite as long as Paints. Paints--well you could run a marathon and your eyeshadow wouldn't budge, but the squeeze tube is messy and wastes product.

But Paint Pots? Perfection. The creamy texture goes on so smooth, priming the lids superbly for powder eyeshadow. For hours, eye makeup stays firmly in place, nary a crease to be seen. Plus, they're completely user-friendly: a dab in the pot, a pat over the lids, and voila!

My two must-have shades are Soft Ochre, a deliciously creamy yellow beige, and Bare Study, a shimmering golden-pink peach.

Smashbox Soft Lights in Prism

My nickname at work is Barbie (I totally embrace it), so to say that the MAC Loves Barbie Collection rocked my world--well, you know I mean it. Pearl Blossom Beauty Powder (pictured bottom left) has been in heavy rotation ever since its debut last February in the limited edition collection, but once the bottom of the pan started showing, panic ensued.

Until I found Smashbox Soft Lights in Prism, a perfect clone to my beloved. This silky, shimmering powder doesn't translate on the face as overly-pink. The color that shows up can only be described as magic.


Granted, I'm a huge believer in the power of highlighters, but the pink powder does something a little more kittenish, a little more girly than standard shimmery beige highlighter. In short, I cannot live without it.

Another beauty crisis averted. Phew!

MAC 187 Duo Fibre Brush

As much as I can't live without my various eyeshadow, blush, contour, highlight and powder brushes, there was something very fundamental that I couldn't get down with until fairly recently: the foundation brush.

That's right; for years I was putting on my liquid foundation with nothing but my own two (clean) hands. I never saw the need for a brush because my fingers were doing the job just fine--that is, until I obtained the MAC 187 Duo Fibre Brush.

Composed of goat and synthetic fibers, this brush picks up the product with its wispy white tips and buffs the product in with the black fibers. Just some quick swirls all over my face with this brush, and my foundation gets diffused smoothly and evenly for a flawless finish. It's faster, easier and cleaner than using my hands, and the immaculate finish looks more professional. The brush doesn't shed--a huge plus when working with liquids.

At $42 the price may seem steep, but for a tool that's used daily and has the realistic potential to last for years (when well cared for) it's worth every penny.

All of MAC's brushes are cruelty-free.

Revlon Brow Fantasy

I live and die by my simple eyebrow mantra: Defined at all times. Why? Because it can take your look from pretty girl to spellbinding beauty in an instant.

Revlon aims to bring perfectly groomed brows to the masses with their Brow Fantasy, a duo with a brow pencil on one end and a tinted gel on the other.

At first I loved this product--my brows looked defined, but natural, the color was a good match (available in 4 shades, mine's dark brown) and the gel kept any unruly hairs in check. But after a few weeks of testing it, the performance was inconsistent. Sometimes the gel takes on a dull, greyish color. Also, the pencil is so soft and chubby that it can be difficult to make tiny, hairlike strokes.

This product is alright but it won't replace my own eyebrow combo: MAC Mystery eyeshadow applied with a MAC 208 angled brush and topped off with my beloved MAC Brow Finisher--a tinted wax stick. The wax stays soft (so you never get that dull, harded-glue look), holds the brows and power in place, and gives just a hint of extra color. Once you go with wax, you'll never go back!

MAC Studio Moisture Cream

Every year, at the first threat of frost, my skin rebels against Summer's end with a bout of dry patches. This time around, I was armed with MAC Studio Moisture Cream, and now there's no going back!

I'll admit I was a little leery at first. I mean, a moisturizer that bypasses the word "lotion" and goes straight to declaring itself a "cream?" But although this moisturizer is very hydrating, it doesn't make me greasy! It really nourishes my skin and makes my skin look replenished and supple. A pea-sized amount is all it takes to hydrate the entire face. In fact, it makes my skin so silky that I've been skipping primer and going straight to the foundation. My foundation goes on so smoothly and evenly and doesn't slide off during the day.

This moisturizer is like the ultimate skincare smoothie, blended with passion fruit, spinach leaf, green tea, algae, wheat germ and coconut.

MAC Mineralize SkinFinish Natural

Long-wearing foundation will give you a leg-up in creating lasting look, but if you want to go all the way, you better break out some powder to set that foundation! My favorite setting powder of the moment is MAC Mineralize SkinFinish Natural.

Baked to perfection, this super silky fine powder leaves my skin looking velvety and smooth. Unlike other mineral powders, this doesn't leave a sheen on the skin--instead it imparts a creamy matte finish. It never looks cakey and doesn't ever change colors or end up streaky after hours of wear. This powder isn't heavy, but I do find I can wear less foundation, and a dusting of this powder will disguise any lingering imperfections. For areas where I want extra coverage, like under the eyes or a blemish, I employ my trusty MAC 227 brush for concentrated application.

If you decide to give this powder a try, be sure to get your shade matched first! These powders seem to run on the lighter side (for reference, I'm an NC20 and I use Medium).

MAC FIX+

For me, MAC Fix+ is like the Holy Water of the cosmetics world. Formulated with vitamins, minerals and skin-soothing green tea, chamomile and cucumber, this spray is magic.

With a few light mists, it melds foundation, powder and blush together. The result is a finished look, where makeup looks almost airbrushed on, and even if you're wearing a foundation with more coverage, it will just look like great skin, not like a caked-on catastrophe. Fix+ also sets makeup, acting like an invisible, weightless shield that protects makeup throughout the day. The setting power of Fix+ is truly remarkable.

This is one product you really must experience to believe. So go ahead, girl; spray on that gorgeousness!

MAC So Chaude Matte Lipstick

While the thought of orangey-red lipstick sends most women running for the hills, there are a select few who embrace it. I fall in the latter camp. And for my orangey-red lovin’ sisters, I present to you Mac’s So Chaud matte lipstick.

The color is opaque and vibrant, and the matte finish means it stays in place for hours. I usually pair this lipstick up with MAC lip pencil in Redd.

A quick swipe and I feel transformed into a silver screen siren of yore, the type who wouldn’t leave home without her face on. So Chaud is so glamorous!

MAC Cremestick Liner

I'm not the type of girl who questions the importance of lip liner, but I realize not everyone is as gung-ho about it as me. The main concern of lip liner critics is, of course, the risk of a harsh visible line. This is a legitimate concern, but with MAC's Cremestick Liners, the risk is obsolete.

These creamy, self-sharpening, water-resistant liners always glide on effortlessly--it's not like other liners that are so dry they won't budge. With these liners, a simple rub of the lips together will blend the line enough to turn it into a gradual fade.

The creamy consistency of these liners also makes them comfortable to wear as an all-over lip color. Just fill-in your lips and dab a little lipgloss in the center, and you'll have a full, long-lasting pout. If you end up scooping up one of these liners, be sure to always snap the cap back on so your liner won't dry out.

My favorite shades are Sublime Culture for a nude, Beurre for a deeper neutral, and Pink Treat for, what else? Pink lips!

MAC Plushglass

As a believer in the power of lip plumpers, I was delighted to discover MAC Plushglass. It was love at first plump. These glosses create a visibly plumper pout, and, although you can feel them working, they don’t cause a stinging or burning sensation. Vitamin E enriched, these plumpers don’t dry out the lips either. Which is good, because really who would want big, puffy, dry lips? The formula is sheerer than traditional MAC lipglass, so the staying-power isn’t quite as long, but the gloss still manages to stay on for an impressive amount of time. When applied, the colors are translucent yet noticeable, making them ideal to wear alone or over lipstick. (Don’t worry—it still plumps through the lipstick!)

The tasty coconut scent and wide array of colors will make you want to collect ‘em all!