MAC Charlotte Olympia Collection Review (Retro Rouge Lipstick + Compact Mirror)

I've said this countless times, but if you're new to my blog, then you must know, I am a sucker for limited edition/cute packaging. My favourite thing about blogging is photographing beautiful works of art; also known as make-up. When companies understand that make-up is sometimes not all about what's inside, I will be the first customer there to get my hands on the product. 

I have to be honest, I don't know much about the Charlotte Olympia collection, but it derives from the Charlotte Olympia brand of accessories. The luxury shoe and accessory brand is famous for their vintage aesthetic and feminine charm. 

Just look at that packaging. Super cute! 

I decided to purchase the compact mirror on impulse, because in my head I thought I needed another compact mirror I'll never use. Just look at it though. It's a cute little 90 degree angle! 

To be honest though, it wasn't really worth the money. I think it was around $16CAN, and for the flimsy plastic that it's made of, it's a definite pass. I do enjoy the mirrored gold and the design of the mirror itself, very unique. 

This was the main reason the Charlotte Olympia collection got my attention. Look at the packaging for that lipstick though!! I've never seen a lipstick look like this, and I knew I needed to have it in my collection. I love acrylic containers for storing stuff, so why not an acrylic lipstick? The clear packaging with the gold accent makes this lipstick the perfect addition to a make-up hoarders collection.

This was one of the three reds in the Charlotte Olympia collection. I chose to purchase Retro Rouge, which is a very pretty brown red. The other two reds didn't stand out to me much, or were just not of my preference. Starlett Scarlet is a bright true red, which I find to look a little like an orange-red. Leading Lady Red was the deep red, which was very nice, but looked a lot like another MAC lipstick I already owned. 

I'm not the biggest fan of wearing red lipsticks, but the packaging is what sold me. 

Stunning.

The shade itself is a dark brown-red which would look great more in the fall/winter months. 

What do you think of the Charlotte Olympia collection?

Twitter | Youtube | Bloglovin

MAC Giambattista Valli Collection Review + Swatches

This is an early warning to you. This post is picture heavy, and I mean HEAVY. I don't think I've had such a detailed photoshoot session for any make-up product until today. I am in love. My heart is happy and my wallet is empty, but I am in love. I don't think I've ever felt so much love for a make-up product until now. The MAC Giambattista Valli Collection is the most gorgeous, beautiful, breathtaking MAC collection I have ever seen in my life. 

MAC has collaborated with the couture fashion designer Giambattista Valli, and it couldn't be more perfect. If you've ever seen any of his runway photos/shows, you could see that a lot of his work has to do with floral prints and bright pops of fun colours. Wonderful works of art. Enough chatting, time to indulge in the most glorious of photos. I'll try to keep the words to a minimum, because the pictures really say all there is to say for this collection. Absolute perfection.

Even the boxes are bright, eye-catching and sophisticated. I'm never throwing these out.

My original plan was to purchase all 5 lipsticks in the collection. For months, I kept telling myself I didn't need these lipsticks, and then I told myself I did, and then I decided to only buy the colours I would for sure wear. If you've already noticed, I'm missing Bianca B, for whatever reason, is also the most sought out shade. Everyone wants this specific lipstick because of the packaging. It's not a wearable colour on its own at all, unless you like wearing white lipstick? I also didn't pick up Eugenie, the darkest shade (a deep cherry) because it just didn't appeal to me. 

This is the first time (that I know of) MAC has made a lipstick tube that matches the lipstick inside. It looks absolutely amazing.

How could you resist buying these? (I'm not even getting paid to say all this, I wholeheartedly am in love with these lipsticks and the packaging!)

MAC Giambattista Valli Collection - Charlotte

This was the one I was on the fence about buying. I kept thinking "do I really need another red, it looks like any other red!" Of course I gave in and got it, because the packaging really sucked me in. I'm so glad I did. I don't own any red lipsticks from MAC, so this is my first. I absolutely love the feeling of MAC lipsticks on my lips, so having a MAC red finally in my collection was really what sold me. For a matte lipstick, it didn't drag or tug at all when applied, and my lips felt super moisturized.

A brighter red than I'm used to, but I love it. (I'm usually a deep/blood red lover)

MAC Giambattista Valli Collection - Margherita

This seems to be the shade that everyone is avoiding because it's a coral orange. This is my absolute favourite shade in the collection. I would have never thought orange/coral would look good on me, but this just looks amazing with my summer tan. It's really bright, almost neon like, but it just works. I think this would look best on those with a medium to dark skin tone. It doesn't hurt to try if you have a light/fair skintone, it could always work as a coral/nude! This colour just gives me life, I love it so much.

MAC Giambattista Valli Collection - Tats

I bought this shade solely for the packaging, but I'm glad I love this shade as well. I was afraid that it would be too similar to my MAC Kelly Osbourne Collection - Kelly Yum Yum lipstick, but Kelly Yum Yum is a cooler toned pink, while Tats is a very warm, hot, bright pink. It's practically a Barbie pink.

The swatch makes the colour look almost transparent, but it looks a lot better in person.

This shade is lovvveeee.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed that super long photoshoot for 3 of the most beautiful lipsticks I've ever owned. 

Will you be picking up any lipsticks from this collection?

If not, which lipstick did you like best?

Twitter | Youtube | Bloglovin

My Favourite MAC Products

One of my favourite brands to photograph has always been MAC. It must be the simplicity in the packaging, or the curves of each product. Anyways, I thought "what would be more fitting than a favourite MAC products post". So, here we are. These are products I would repurchase over and over again in a heart beat (minus one being limited edition).

My Favourite MAC Products

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in "Medium Deep"

By the way, I used a mini stapler to help keep this compact up haha. Being an oily skinned girl, finishing powders are my best friend. The Mac Mineralize Skinfinish sits at the top as being one of my all time favourite finishing powders. It leaves my skin looking matte without being too cakey, and it looks completely natural. 

I've been using the same compact for maybe.. 2 years now? Don't really know the shelf life for this product, but it seems to work fine til this day. A little sure does go a long way.

A bit on the pricey side than most powders I know, but for the amount of time I've been using it, it's totally worth it.

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in "NC35"

I really need to figure out a new set up for taking pictures, because I really hate how yellow this concealer looks. It's really more nude beige in person. I've actually been in the market for a new concealer, and wanted to try a new one from MAC, but my cousin told me that the pro longwear is the best from them. I couldn't agree more. This concealer is amazing in so many ways. It works great for the under eye area because it doesn't crease, and it lives up to its "longwear" name. I only use this concealer on my pimples and blemishes, and it does a great job blending into my foundation and looking completely natural. It has medium coverage that is quite buildable. You can always add more and it'll never get too dry or caked up.

MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation in "C4.5"

Once again, this foundation is more nude beige in person with a hint of pink undertones, so don't let the picture fool you, I'm not that yellow in real life! This was my all time favourite foundation to wear for the summer last year, and it's absolutely amazing. Not only is it one of my favourite MAC products, it's one of my favourite products of all time. I use this foundation for days I want to look super flawless because of it's buildable coverage formula. It leaves my skin looking beautiful and matte, and has a pretty long lasting power for about 6+ hours on a good day. 

My Favourite MAC Lipsticks

I wish I could of put all my MAC lipsticks on here, but there's just too many. I love photographing MAC lipsticks. So simple, yet each shade is just as amazing as the next. 

MAC Heroine (matte finish), Syrup (lustre finish), and Kelly Yum Yum (satin finish)

I love wearing MAC Heroine every season of the year. It's the lipstick that screams "hey look at me, I'm awesome" with it's super vibrant purple flare.

Syrup is the more quiet shade, very natural, very subtle. A simple muted pink/brown that would work for many skin tones. 

Now Kelly Yum Yum is a vibrant hot pink that screams for attention. My go to summer shade last year. Being limited edition, it isn't available for purchase anymore, but it's fraternal twin "Candy Yum Yum" is in MAC's permanent line. I fell in love with the purple packaging from the Kelly Osborne make-up line so I had to pick up this lipstick. 

Swatches in natural light:

I love that MAC has a huge line of lipsticks with different types of finishes, yet the formulation is always consistent with their lipsticks. I don't know one person who has a MAC lipstick they didn't like (or maybe I just haven't run into that person yet).

Swatches with flash:

What are your favourite MAC products?

Twitter | Youtube | Bloglovin