MAC | M·A·Cstack Mascara | Superstack Mega Brush | Review | Worth the Splurge?

 

Hey Beauty Lovers!

It's been a while since my last post.

A lot has happened in the last few months.

Between getting COVID after avoiding it for two and a half years, and some heartbreaking family losses I didn't feel up to even thinking about blogging for a while.

But in trying to adjust to the losses I choose to honor my lost loved ones in all I do and keep the memory of them close to my heart...

That's enough sentimentality for now, let's talk about some beauty products.

I have been trying some new makeup over the last few months and now I want to share my thoughts with you all!💖

Today is MAC and their new M·A·Cstack Mascara!

You can watch my video review here

I was so thrilled when I saw this mascara as an option for me to choose for my ipsy bag in July. 

I added it without looking at any of the other choices.😅

I had wanted to try MAC’s newest mascara but didn’t want to make the purchase. 

Why? Because mascara is one of the most overly sensationalized makeup products in the beauty industry. 

There are so many commercials that make outrageous claims about a mascara.

We see a model with full lashes that are miles long. 

But if we look at the small print in the bottom corner of the screen it typically says something to the effect of: "This models natural lashes have been enhanced with false lashes/inserts to show the affect of the mascara".

So is it the mascara that gave the model's lashes this incredible look or the false lashes?

It's hard to know without purchasing the mascara and trying it for yourself. 

And let’s be real, mascara is often a higher price than a foundation. 

But it’s MAC, I’ve always had a good experience with MAC products, so this one must be good too right?

Keep reading and I will breakdown the claims of M·A·Cstack Mascara Superstack Mega Brush versus the reality.

Note: My review is of M·A·CStack Mascara with Superstack MEGA brush, not M·A·CStack Micro Mascara.

QUICK STATS

Size: Mini

Color: Black

Waterproof: Yes

Formula: Volumizing & Lengthening

Wand Shape: Pyramid-like

Lasts for: 10+ Hours

Smudges/Flakes: No/No

Claim: "Infinite-Build Volume + Length"

Reality: The first time I used this mascara I was impressed by the instant length that it gave my lashes.

It is extremely buildable, as you can layer multiple "stacks" (coats) of mascara to reach the intensity and drama you like for your lashes.

Claim: "Clumps-resistant"

Reality: It's pretty clump free. As I was applying a coat I got a couple clumps in the corner of my lashes, but as I continued to brush the wand through it eliminated the clumps.

Claim: "Flake-resistant"

Reality: I haven't noticed ANY flaking at all. Even with a few "stacks" I haven't had flakes or any type of fallout.

Claim: "Customizable volume from natural to next-level, along with instant length"

Reality: Very customizable. If you apply just one or two "stacks" it will give you a natural, wide-eyed look, perfect for everyday.

If you apply multiple "stacks" it will give you varying levels of full, dramatic lashes for a night out, or anytime you want to feel a little extra special.

Claim: "24-hour wear"

Reality: This is likely true. I haven't had the occasion to wear mascara for 24-hours recently, but I wore it for a good 10+ hours in heat and humidity, and it didn't budge. 

I have the sample size that came in my ipsy bag. 

The sample size retails for $16 and the full size mascara for $28.

Steep, I know, especially right now. 

However, this mascara goes a long way and if capped tight can be used for quite a while.

Plus, the incredible building effect of this mascara can almost eliminate the need for additional eye products, like false lashes.

Pros: Gives great length and volume with totally customizable lash intensity. 

Perfect for any eye look you want to create; from a subtle flirty wink to a dramatic smoky eye.

Cons: No real cons with the formula, the only drawback would be the price. 

But based on how it's performed I think it's worth the price tag.

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 out of 5)

Would I Purchase a Full Size: Yes.

Worth the Splurge? Yes!

Final Thoughts: A multitasking mascara that can deliver on its claims (no false lashes needed 😉).

And here are a couple makeup looks I created using MACstack mascara

(Also using Winky Lux Peeper Perfect Concealer, stay tuned for that review!)

A dusty purple eyeshadow gives the perfect contrast to the intense black MACstack mascara.

(Also using Too Faced Better Than Chocolate palette. You can read that review here!)

A shimmery bronze smoky eye is made even more dramatic with MACstack mascara.

So I must say: Well done, MAC!

MACstack Superstack Mega Brush is a force to be reckoned with in the mascara world.

It moves up to the top of my go-to mascaras list.

I think it's Worth the Splurge and would recommend checking it out!

Again, you can check out my video review here

Thanks for stopping by and reading my MACstack Superstack Mega Brush review!

So you won't miss my next post, don't forget to subscribe  📧

You also might like:

Urban Decay Perversion Mascara | Worth the Splurge?

Benefit They're Real! Magnet Mascara | Worth the Splurge?

Thanks again for checking out my post!

XOXO

Ultima Beauty

Want more makeup fun between blog posts?  Check out my social media pages!

Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Twitter

Follow me on Facebook 

Subscribe on YouTube

Benefit | They're Real! Magnet Mascara | Worth the Splurge? | Review

Hey Beautiful People!

For today's installment of 'Worth the Splurge?' I'm giving you an in depth review of Benefit's They’re Real Magnet Mascara.

It is an update on Benefit's original 'They're Real' mascara. 

For the record there is no actual metal pieces or magnets in the mascara formula, so no worries there.

They claim the wand has a magnetically charged core that is attracted to the "magnetic mineral enriched" formula that lifts and pulls lashes for extra length and definition.

I received a travel size of They're Real! Magnet mascara as a sample with my Sephora order and one in my ipsy Glam Bag the next month. So, I am pretty well acquainted with this mascara now. 😄 

But does it really give length and volume?

Is it better than the original They're Real?

And the bigger question: is it worth the splurge?

My review/investigation answers all three of these questions.

First, here is a quick breakdown of They're Real! Magnet mascara

Name of Shade: Supercharged Black

Color: Black

Waterproof: Almost

Formula: Lengthening/Lifting

Wand Shape: Straight, Short Bristles

Lasts for: 12+ Hours

Smudges/Flakes: No/No

Pros: It gives a subtle, natural look to lashes; they are your own lashes ("They're Real") and it appears that you're wearing no mascara at all, but your lashes look fuller and more fanned out.

It lasts me all day with no smudging or streaking.

It could almost be waterproof (it doesn't claim to be though) as it stands up pretty well to water, only an occasional fleck of mascara comes off.

Cons: Not dramatically different from it's OG counterpart They're Real! mascara.

Some claims are overdramatized (read on).

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭑⭑ (3 out of 5)

Would I Purchase: No

Claims VS Reality

Claim: "Builds 40% longer lashes"

Reality: Without getting out a calculator and figuring out what length my lashes would be at 40% longer, I can say by comparison to even just other Benefit mascaras, this one does not give me as much lash length. 

I get better length from Benefit's Bad Gal Bang and original They're Real! mascaras. 

Claim: "Flexible, lightweight & builds easily"

Reality: Yes, the formula is easy to work with and can be built up to cover lashes in a thicker coat.

Claim: "Won't smudge or flake"

Reality: 100% accurate, it has not flaked or smudged once.

Claim: "93% said it was extremely lengthening"

Reality: This is probably an accurate percentage. I suppose I would just be in the other 7%

Also, if I was less familiar with Benefit and other mascaras that are "extremely lengthening" I might too perceive They're Real Magnet as such.

Claim: "95% said it lifts & lengthens lashes up & out"

Reality: To an extent I agree with this claim. It does give lift and length to lashes, just not as dramatically as the hype would have you believe.

Claim: "93% said it gives lashes fullness AND length"

Reality: It definitely gives fullness to lashes "AND" (really?) to a relatively lesser extent it gives length.

Here are some before and after photos 📷

After applying They're Real! Magnet mascara it really did give fullness to my lashes and a fanned out effect. It gave some length as well.

They're Real! Magnet VS. They're Real! OG

Both are really lovely mascaras, but if longer lashes is your goal, the original definitely gives more length. If you are looking for volume and fullness, magnet is your friend. 

The wand for the original mascara has a slightly rounded, spikey tip that helps grad little lashes.

The OG also has slightly longer bristles.

Final Thoughts

They're Real! Magnet mascara is nice but truly over-hyped.

It gives fantastic fullness but doesn't really "pull" lashes up, making them appear tremendously longer.

I don't see myself purchasing this mascara again because it doesn't fully deliver.

It's not bad, or poor quality, but for the price ($27 for a full size) I can get better lengthening results from a more affordable mascara, or from a similarly priced Benefit one.

Is it worth the splurge? 

No.

Thanks for checking out my review of Benefit's They're Real! Magnet Mascara.

For more honest reviews and some tutorials too subscribe so you will be the first to read them 📪

Here are some other posts you may like:

My Go-To Makeup: Foundation (AKA The Best Drugstore Foundation)

Too Faced  Chocolate Gold Eyeshadow Palette  Review & Tutorial (with Swatches)

Urban Decay Naked Wild West Palette Tutorial & Review (with Swatches)

Urban Decay Wired Palette Review & Swatches

Thanks again for stopping by!

XOXO

Ultima Beauty 

Want more makeup fun between blog posts?  Check out my social media pages!

Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Twitter

Follow me on Facebook 

Subscribe on YouTube

Best of ipsy 2020 (Should I Subscribe to ipsy in 2021?)

 

Hey Beauties!

Today I'm doing a look back at the ipsy glam bags of 2020.

I'll show you which products were my favorites and whether it's worth subscribing to ipsy in 2021 or if they are behind the times.

So read on for some makeup highlights of 2020 👀

Winter

January 

ipsy's first glam bag of 2020 started with such potential (as did the year itself). I was a fan of almost every product that month!

My favorites: 

Araceli Beauty: Ojos Perfectos Liquid Eyeliner in Night/Noche

Bellápierre Cosmetics: Liquid Shadow Eye Candy in Venus

Why Araceli's Liner is My Favorite:

A super saturated matte black liquid liner pen that has a slightly longer tip making winged eyeliner looks a breeze! 

Why Bellapierre's Shadow is My Favorite:

Super shimmery, non-creasing, and long lasting. All the color payoff of a liquid with none of the drawbacks.

You can read my full review of Araceli's liner and Bellápierre's shadow along with the rest of January's products here.

You can also check out my video review here

February

A luxe pink makeup bag with mainly pink products defined the cold month of February 2020.

My Favorites:

Tarte Cosmetics: Kitten Liquid Liner in Black

Color Club: Nail Polish in Can You Not?

Why Tarte's Liner is My Favorite:

Super long lasting liquid liner that sinks into skin giving lashes a natural, full effect. Plus the kitty head on the cap is super cute! 🐱

Why Color Club's Polish is My Favorite:

Lovely lilac pink nails add the perfect touch of femininity to any look. And this polish lasts a very long time without chipping.

Check out the full review of Tarte's liner and Color Club's polish plus the rest of February's products here.

You can also catch the video review here

Spring

March

A pretty turquoise bag adorned with gold studs was March 2020. And since it was ipsy's 100th glam bag they gave out a sixth product!😍 

My Favorites:

Wander Beauty: Eyeshadow in Blossom

Sugar Cosmetics: Uptown Curl Lengthening Mascara in Black

Why Wander's Eyeshadow is My Favorite:

Pretty pink shadow with an ultra-shimmery rose gold finish. Glides on like butter and lasts all day without creasing.

Why Sugar's Mascara My Favorite:

Slightly curved wand gives lift and curl to lashes for a full on lash effect. Plus the name sounds like the title of a Billy Joel song (Uptown Girl).

Read a more in depth review of Wander's shadow and Sugar's mascara and the rest of March's products here

Check out March's video review here

April

A lavender bag sprinkled with printed flowers brought all the spring vibes for April.

My Favorites:

Estate Cosmetics: Dew Me Baked Highlighter in Lit

Kaleido Cosmetics: Skin Blush in Primadonna

Why Estate's Highlighter is My Favorite:

Pearly finished champagne highlighter that is the best saturated baked powder I've ever used. 

Why Kaleido's Blush is My Favorite:

Matte rose blush that is universally flattering and is perfect for a natural 'no makeup' look. 

Catch the full review of Estate's highlighter and Kaleido's blush in April's review here

May

A pink ombre bag that was reminiscent of a sunset welcomed May 2020.

My Favorites:

Space Case Cosmetics: Eyeshadow in Intense Stargasm

Slmissglam: SS57 Blender Brush

Why Space Case's Shadow is My Favorite:

Gorgeous silver shimmer shadow that is a powder, but is also smooth and creamy. It blends like a dream and stays put all day.

Why SLMISSGLAM's Brush is My Favorite:

Slightly larger than usual blending brush for extra coverage. It also has super soft bristles and a pretty sparkly handle. 

Check out the full review of Space Case's shadow and Slmissglam's brush here in my double post of May & June's glam bags

Summer

(Where the products started to fall of the rails for me)

June

A yellow-green bag with printed cartoon people on pool rafts (?) led us into June 2020.

My Favorite:

Ofra Cosmetics: "Covent Garden" Highlighter

Why Ofra's Highlighter is My Favorite:

Cream-Rose shade makes this a beyond beautiful highlighter. It reflects the light perfectly for a lit-from-within glow.

Catch the full review of this highlighter in the duel post of May & June's glam bags here

July

A pink, plastic-y bag with palm trees and an airplane shaped zipper gave July a major vacay feel.

My Favorite:

the Balm Cosmetics: Will Powder Blush in Perseverance

Why the Balm's Blush is My Favorite:

Subtly shimmery coral pink blush that is incredibly blendable and lasts even in the summer heat without running or streaking.

See my full review of this blush in my July-August double post here

And check out the video here

August

A futuristic, chrome like makeup bag took August 2020 to a new galaxy 🌠

My Favorite:

Lottie London: AM to PM Eyeliner Pencil in Sunburst

Why Lottie London's Liner is My Favorite:

Matte/shimmer eye pencil in a champagne shade that looks gorgeous in the water line of the eye, creating a bright, wide-eyed look. 

Read the full review of this eyeliner in my Summer of ipsy post here

And watch the video review here

Fall

(FINALLY loving the products again!)

September

A "two faced" bag that was gold on one side and burgundy on the other transitioned nicely into the fall season in September 2020.  

My Favorites:

Sundays: Nail Polish in No. 18

Tarte Cosmetics: big ego™ mascara in Black

Why Sunday's Polish is My Favorite:

Truly fabulous nail polish in a beautiful red shade. Someone actually stopped me and asked where I got my "gel nails" done while I was wearing it! And it lasts nearly three weeks without any significant chipping.

Why Tarte's Mascara is My Favorite:

Gives crazy volume with this hourglass shaped wand. Excellent saturation for dramatic black lashes.

See my full review of Sunday's polish and Tarte's mascara here along with all of September's products.

October

My Favorites:

Complex Culture: Full Time Eyeshadow in Lavender Metal

Bobbi Brown Cosmetics: Smokey Eye Mascara in Black

Why Complex Culture's Shadow is My Favorite:

 Icy lavender that is super buildable for a light sweep of color or a lovely saturation of purple. 

Why Bobbi Brown's Mascara is My Favorite:

The straight wand helps give mega length to lashes catching every last one for ultimate lash line definition. 

Read my full review of Complex Culture's eyeshadow and Bobbi Brown's mascara with the rest of October's glam bag products here

November

A cool toned color blocked bag with clean lines perfectly housed one of my favorite product line ups was November 2020.

My Favorites:

Tarte Cosmetics: Double Duty Beauty™ Shape Tape™ Concealer in N12 Fair Neutral

Eyeko: Rock Out and Lash Out Mascara in Carbon Black

Why Tarte's Concealer is My Favorite:

The absolute Holy Grail of concealers! It's light, plush, and gives excellent coverage, but isn't cakey or thick. Totally worth the hype!

Why Eyeko's Mascara is My Favorite:

The unique shaped wand and formula gives a black lacquered effect to lashes. It makes lashes thick and fully defined.

Catch the full review of Tarte's concealer and Eyeko's mascara along with the rest of November's glam bag here

Watch the video review here

Winter

December

A fuzzy pink bag reminiscent of a Muppet capped off the year and contained the five beauty products in December 2020. 

My Favorites:

IBY Beauty: Lush Eyeshadow in Into the Woods

Estate Cosmetics: Precision Liquid Liner

Why IBY's Shadow is My Favorite:

Amazingly pigmented chocolate brown eyeshadow with just the slightest hint of shimmer. It's perfect blended out for a smoky eye or built up for an intense brown.

Why Estate's Liner is My Favorite:

Inky black liner that sinks deep into lash line making lashes look fuller. Pretty much waterproof and incredibly long lasting.

See the full review of IBY's eyeshadow and Estate's eyeliner here  along with the rest of December's glam bag products.

And those are my favorite products from ipsy 2020.

You can see what makeup looks you can create with them by checking out the full reviews.

So, should you subscribe to ipsy in 2021?

For me, even though the products were not to my liking in the summer months, the rest of the year's products were pretty awesome! 

And in spite of the fact that I disliked nearly every product in January 2021's bag (stay tuned for that review) I still think subscribing to ipsy is worth it!

Thanks for reading and don't forget to subscribe to my blog so you will be the first to see my reviews & tutorials 😎

ICYMI

Some of my other posts that you may like:

Too Faced | Enchanted Beauty Unbearably Glam Makeup Set | Tutorial & Review (with Swatches!)

Too Faced | Enchanted Beauty Foxy Neutrals Makeup Set | Tutorial & Review (with Swatches!)

Urban Decay Wired Palette Review & Swatches

My Go-To Makeup | Foundation (AKA The Best Drugstore Foundation)

20 Beauty & Entertainment Ideas for Quarantine 

Thanks again for stopping by!

Stay safe out there 😷

XOXO

Ultima Beauty

Want more makeup fun between blog posts?  Check out my social media pages!

Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Twitter

Follow me on Facebook 

Subscribe on YouTube