All it's MAC'd up to be?

ella minnow pea

Hi folks,

I need some help. I reckon I'm a bit of a late bloomer - I kinda accidently skipped that whole experiementing-with-make-up phase (must've been too busy being moody, listening to Linkin Park and moaning about the Junior Cert), and I've been wearing the same stuff every day for almost ten years now - Clinque superfit foundation, plus some powder, a bit of Touche Eclat and a teensy bit of blusher, if I'm feeling special. My skin's pretty good - thank you, Lancome - but I still think I should make some more effort.

I reckon I need a change. Not just for day wear, either - I'd love any tips you guys have about how to do proper going-out make-up, not just my day look with added blusher and lip gloss.

But most of all, I'd love a bit of advice on a brand to switch to. I've been reading some stuff online, and most people seem to recommend MAC or Benefit.

I'm going to take the plunge and brave the counters in town this weekend, but it'd be class to hear what you guys think first - is MAC all its cracked up to be? Is Benefit actually good, or does it just have deadly labels? And what's the craic with Laura Mercier?

Also, would I be alright just getting a new foundation and powder, or do I need a primer for day wear?

Cheers millions!

moonflower

MAC is great for some products, it's not so great for others. I'd really reccommend that you don't stick to any one brand but instead pick and choose the best products from lots of different brands. Check out reviews on makeupalley.com and swatches on specktra.net for some ideas.

With MAC I like their eyeshadows, pigments, paint pots, blushers and lipsticks. I find all those products to be worth the money spent, they're well pigmented and long lasting. I'm not a fan of their mascaras, foundations, eyeliners or lipglosses. I think you can get products of similar or better quality from other brands for less money.

Try out Urban Decay, their eyeshadows, foundations, concealers, eyeliners and eye primer are all brilliant. I really can't reccomend their primer or 24/7 liners enough, they're just fantastic!

If you're buying Benefit I'd suggest that you order it from the US site, it's much cheaper than here. There is a chance that you'll get hit with customs charges though. I'm not the biggest fan of Benefit, I think it's a little overhyped tbh, although their packaging is very nice. I don't really use their products so I don't know what's good or bad from them.

Depending on what kind of skin you have you might not need a foundation primer. If you find your foundation comes off quickly, get one. If not you probably don't need to bother. Judging by the fact that you listened to linkin park during the junior cert I'm assuming you're around the same age as me so not wrinkly yet so there's no need for a line-filling primer.

I hope some of that helps, if you want to know anything else just ask. Also I reccommend that you check out some tutorials on youtube, specktra or in blogs if you're looking for ideas. Posting pictures of your makeup on forums for that purpose to get constructive criticism is very helpful too, I know it helped me a lot!

*Dallas

OP im in a similar situation to yourself, I find the tutorials on youtube great.. just type in 'makeup tutorial'.

Even google can be handy.. there's alot of girls that have their own makeup blogs with videos on how to apply products and they always say which products they use!

I got a MAC foundation recently and have to say im really not happy with it and only use it on nights out.

ive been trying different foundations for the past year and I cant find one im 100% happy with

also, when you do find products you are happy with, buy them on eBay.. they are so much cheaper

jenizzle

^^ What Moonflower said!

To be honest, most MAC stuff is over-hyped. Same with Benefit. I have some eyeshadows by MAC, but nothing is better quality to the Urban Decay / NKD SKIN / Barry M stuff that I have.

TBH, the most important part of a make up regime is the preparation. Get yourself a good foundation primer (I use Laura Mercier and GOSH for this) and eyeshadow primer (Urban Decay Primer Potion or Art Deco primer). These will transform any decent products. It seems that you need some eyeshadow in your life! Experiment with cheaper products in Boots, find out what suits you and work from there. Gosh eyeliners are the shiznit.

However, one MAC product that I highly recommend is Mineralize Skinfinish. It's powers are endless!

Vinta81

MAC eyeshadows are the best I've tried. From colour selection to actually lasting and not fading off after an hour. The blushes and lipglosses are also superb.

I'm not loving their foundations, the one I have isn't all that great especially in natural light, so a good foundation, preferably liquid is what I'm looking for now.

SarcasticFairy

*Dallas wrote: »

OP im in a similar situation to yourself, I find the tutorials on youtube great.. just type in 'makeup tutorial'.

This is how I learned. And more often than not, they'll reccommend products as they're putting them on. I love xsparkage, petrilude, enkore (not sure of his username, but if you search that, it should come up!), macnc40, and makeupgeek (again, think that's her username!). Some of the stuff they do is a bit dramatic, but there are a lot of reviews and tips to be picked up nonetheless.

I would also echo the reccommendation of makeupalley.com for reviews. You can get a fairly good idea whether or not a product will suit you form reading what others have said!

As for MAC, I find it a little overhyped. I dont particularly like their foundations, and I really don't like their lipglosses or mascaras. Their eye-shadows are good, especially the pigments, but I would say Barry M's dazzle dusts are more or less on a par, for the most part.

I love Benefit, but I am an absolute packaging whore. Their blushers are pretty good though. The rest, is probably more about the packaging, but they're fairly decent products.

ella minnow pea

Awesome folks, great advice from all of you. Love make-up alley, and was just looking at online prices - ridiculous cheapness. I'm off to youtube so!

degausserxo

The only things Benefit is good for are their blushes, highglighters and lip glosses. Their foundations wear away far too easily, and to get a half decent cover you need to use a lot. If you're looking for a good foundation, I'd reccomend Max Factor Lasting Performance. I'm not the palest person in the world, but for some reason even the palest of other foundations turn out bright orange, except for this one. It makes your skin look really healthy and clear.

LivingDeadGirl

I've always been a make up fan but only just recently started getting into MAC. I think they're the best high end brand overall that I've come across so far, but they aren't the best for everything, eg. I prefer MakeupForever foundation, it's better suited to my pale skin tone and sensitive skin. Also their mascaras aren't meant to be too great afaik. I think they are a great higher end make up brand but I wouldn't buy purely from them, they don't have the best of everything imho. So far I've tried their tinited moisturiser, gel eyeliner, eyeshadows, quite a few pigments and brow set. If you wanna know about any of those just ask.
I'm not overly impressed by Benefit, it seems to be all marketing to me. I've only had a few products, all with varying results. I hated Dr. Feelgood, thought it did nothing but leave a greasy film on my skin! Highbeam is a beautiful shade but I find it difficult to work with, either putting too much or too little on, or it ending up in the wrong place when I blend it into my skin. I also have a few lipglosses from them, my absolute favourite is a shade called 'didn't hear it from me', a beautiful nude gloss worn by itself or over a pink/nude lipstick. Highly recommend that and the other lipglosses.


I hope this thread takes off, I love a good make up thread!

Bluebell55

Brill advice everyone, picked up a thing or two myself...
Personally, I started using benefit years ago, and have used practically every product they have out. I do find their foundations wear off very quickly, and am looking for a new one.

I must say their eyeliner (bad gal and the one in the compact-think its too faced) are BRILL!!! re eyeshadows, the newer ones are not that good. I have been dipping into urban decay also, very impressed with that.

At the end of the day thou, when u need a brand new eyeshadow just for a night out to match an outfit, ur nearly as well of buying a rimmel one- they have a great selection!!

Also I keep reading about a new palate of eyeshadows Bobbi Brown is bringing out on the 1st march- it is supposed to be brill, but haven't persoanlly used her stuff before, so will have to wait and see.

AngelMae

Where can you buy Barry M in Dublin?

Aisling(",)

AngelMae wrote: »

Where can you buy Barry M in Dublin?

boots in the jervis center stocks it and im not sure but think tht superdrug in the omni center do aswell

LivingDeadGirl

Also in Boots in Blanchardstown shopping centre, Liffey Valley and Pavillions, and in Superdrug in The Town Square Centre, Tallaght.

No where in Cork unfortunately so I'm gonna head to Omni next time I'm up in Dublin hopefully!

MadgeBadge

Where can you get urban decay products?

LivingDeadGirl

http://www.urbandecay.com/StoreLocator_POST.cfm

Google is your friend

Gauge

That store locater is USA only.

MadgeBadge

ty Livingdeadgirl, in hindsight that was very lazy of me!

LivingDeadGirl

Actually it'll locate suppliers in Ireland too, the Irish ones were what I linked to, but the link screwed up or whatever. Just go onto the main page and click on the 'other countries' part on the right hand side. Lists out a few Boots stores and Debenhams.

LivingDeadGirl

Anyone know where you can get NYC make up in Ireland? Preferably Cork. I'm not being lazy, try typing NYC make up locations into google and see what you get!! The official website just says its available at Superdrug

degausserxo

MadgeBadge wrote: »

Where can you get urban decay products?

I'm pretty sure you can get it in Arnotts

jenizzle

LivingDeadGirl wrote: »

Anyone know where you can get NYC make up in Ireland? Preferably Cork. I'm not being lazy, try typing NYC make up locations into google and see what you get!! The official website just says its available at Superdrug

There's a superdrug in the Omni in Santry, and they stock it there. I've never seen it anywhere else unfortunately.

LivingDeadGirl

jenizzle wrote: »

There's a superdrug in the Omni in Santry, and they stock it there. I've never seen it anywhere else unfortunately.

Thanks for the tip. I'll definitely be going there so, Barry M and NYC!

degausserxo

LivingDeadGirl wrote: »

Thanks for the tip. I'll definitely be going there so, Barry M and NYC!

You can get both in Superdrug in the Square in Tallaght too.

Madame Razz

Can I give a big thumbs up to Smashbox aswell!!

Great products as a whole, bar their bionic mascara which is appalling!!

It's pretty good value anyway, but they do sell it in Dublin and Shannon and Cork airports for a little less and it's cheap as chips in Canada as is MAC and Clinique if you know anybody heading over there!!

The Ruby and Millie stuff is v.good for it's price also, you'll get this in Boots in Liffey Valley, but at Xmas most Boots do their sets and you can pick them up for 75% off after Christmas.... I got a big palate of their stuff for less than €20 in January!!

I think pretty much all of the brands have soemthing to offer, even the seemingly not as cool as MAC ones, like Clinique, and YSL etc.

It's trial and error really...... unfortuntely it can be an expensive and addictive business!!

LivingDeadGirl

I'm definitely an addict. I can't get enough of watching reviews/hauls/collections on Ebay and making lists of everything I want for when I go to New York in September!!