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!π
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.π
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 π).
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!
Don’t get me wrong the quality of the products are top notch, but the type of products and/or shades aren’t for me. But there is one that is a total starπ Read on to find out.
Quick Stats:
Number of Products
I'll Use Regularly: 1
My Overall Star
Rating for January's Glam Bag: ⭐⭐⭑⭑⭑ (2 out of 5)
Thoughts on January’s Glam Bag: Not their best product
selection… Not a 'dream' bag for me. Majority of products are not my taste, but there are some bright spots.
1. BELLE EN ARGENT: 8 Free Nail Polish in Love and
Attention
Product:Nail
Polish
Brand: Belle En Argent
Name of Shade:Love and
Attention
Color: Nude
Finish: Cream
Number of Coats to Get Bottle Shade:2
Lasts for: 1 ½ to 2 Weeks
Pros:
Long lasting and a lovely cream finish.
Plus it’s free of eight nasty ingredients: Dibutyl Phthalate, Toluene, Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, Camphor, Xylene,
Ethyl Tosylamide, & Triphenyl Phosphate.
And it is cruelty free, as well
as vegan. Definitely a game changer in regards to ingredients.
Cons: The only real
con for me is that the shade is not my cup of tea ⛾. More of a con for ipsy than this
polish.
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭑⭑ (3 out of 5) Would I Purchase: Not in
this shade (but the shade ‘Bore Someone Else’ looks gorgeous!)
Final Thoughts: A nice nail polish with good staying power. If
you like nude/cream shades this one is lovely.
2. FIRMA BEAUTY: 403 Round Blending Brush
Brand: Firma Beauty
Name of Brush: Round Blending
Feature for Brush: Eyes
Feature I Use it for: Eyes, Under Eyes
Formula it Works Best with: Powder
Blends Makeup Well: Yes
Bristles Splay: None
Pros: A small fluffy brush with a rounded
tip that is super soft. It is the perfect size for blending out and diffusing
shadow through the crease of the eye for a beautiful smoky eye look. It also
works well for dusting setting powder under eyes.
Cons: None
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 out of 5)
Would I Purchase: Yes
Final Thoughts: A well-built brush that lives up to its name and blends
eyeshadow and makeup seamlessly.
3. SOO'AE: HangBang Sheet Mask Duo in Collagen &
Hyaluronic Acid
Brand: Soo'ae
Product: Sheet
Masks
Quantity: 2
Formula: Firming
& Moisturizing
Skin Type It Works Best For: Combination
to Dry
Pros:
I don’t use sheet masks; just have never been my thing. I gave these away
so I can’t really say good or bad.
Cons: I can’t say if
there is a con with the product.
But as for ipsy: I constantly make it clear on my ipsy
profile, through re-taking their beauty quiz and rating each bag, that
I don’t use or need this type of skin care. So, that’s a con for subscribing to ipsy.
Star Rating: Can’t say, gave
it away.
Would I Purchase: N/A
Final Thoughts: This could
be the holy grail of sheet masks but I don’t use them so I can’t in good
conscience say one way or the other.
4. STILA COSMETICS: Stay All Day® Liquid Lipstick in
Patina
Brand: Stila
Cosmetics
Product: Lipstick
Name of Shade: Patina
Color: DustyRose
Finish: Matte
Formula: Liquid
Smudges/Drying/Sticky: No/No/No
Lasts for: 12+ Hours
Pros:
This cult-classic totally lives up to the hype!
It glides on so soft and smooth
and it sets to a matte finish.
It is one of the most comfortable matte finishes
I’ve ever used!
It isn’t drying at all and it truly does last ALL day.
Even
through eating and drinking it stays put and doesn’t smudge or budge.
It comes
in 20+ shades and in shimmer and sheer finishes as well.
Patina is a gorgeous
dusty rose shade, perfect for every occasion.
Cons: None!
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 out of 5)
Would I Purchase: Yes!(And the shade Fiery looks amazing
too!)
Final Thoughts: This is a totally fabulous liquid lipstick
that is the perfect everyday shade and is so comfortable I forget I’m wearing
it. It is crazy long lasting and it does not disappoint!
5. VIOLET VOSS: Single Eyeshadow in Bare it All
Brand: Violet
Voss
Product: Eyeshadow
Name of Shade: Bare it All
Color: Bronze
Finish: Shimmer
Formula: Pressed Powder
Fallout:
Minimal
Chalky/Flaky:No/No
Blendable: Yes
Lasts for: 6-8 Hours
Pros:
A pretty, shimmery powder eyeshadow. It sweeps across lids with a lovely
wash of bronze and stays put for a pretty decent amount of time. There is
minimal to no shadow fallout.
Cons:
It’s a nice shadow but it’s not better (or worse) than other bronze shimmer
eyeshadows.
My con is more for ipsy (again) for the record number of bronze shadows I’ve
received in the last few months.
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭑⭑ (3 out of 5)
Would I Purchase: Probably Not
Final Thoughts: It’s
a good eyeshadow and it does last a good long while before creasing. It just isn’t
anything that hasn’t been done before.
Here is a makeup look I created using a couple of the products from ipsy's January glam bag:
STILA COSMETICS: Stay All Day® Liquid Lipstick in Patina
VIOLET VOSS: Single Eyeshadow in Bare it All
And that is my review of ipsy's January glam bag.
Definitely not my favorite, but I loved the Stila lipstick!
I'll give ipsy a mulligan on this one; after all, they are coming off of the year 2020.
Looking forward to better product selections moving forward!
Thanks for stopping by!
If you like makeup reviews and tutorials be sure to subscribe via email π§
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
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 π