Review Time: The Cinderella MAC collection

Review Time: The Cinderella MAC collection

Ok, so once upon a time, Samantha was obsessed with Disney everything and blew all her money every time something gimmicky came out with a Disney sticker on it.

The end.

No, actually this is a more accurate story.

Samantha wishes she had money to blow all the time on Disney stuff (my house would be wall to wall Disney if I had a choice).

Ok, kidding aside- here's the real and accurate story.

I love Disney anything, but this in particular I felt would be money well spent because almost everything in this collection is also part of MAC's current permanent line and I knew all the items used for this collection were either things I've wanted to try for a long time or things I've had and loved. This is also why I waited awhile to review. Honestly everything with the Cinderella packaging sold out online in 15 minutes and in the stores not long after so I wasn't going to hype up the stuff too much if you couldn't get it- but almost all of it is permanent, so it gave me some time to try everything out and give it an honest review.

Plus, Cinderella is my mom's favorite and since I was there buying her Easter/Mothers Day gifts, I figured I could spoil myself and buy some pieces for my bridal kit.

I mean, c'mon, Cinderella packaging, beautiful cool neutral colors and subtle shimmer-

That's like, Bridal for Dummies 101.

So the only brush I got that was part of the collection was the 168. ($35, I believe) I really needed a good small contour brush that could multitask and be a highlight/blush brush. The 168 is goat hair I believe, so if you're a vegan or into only using synthetics for animal lover clients- don't bring this out. Personally, I have very few animal hair brushes and it's possible to live without them. This shape and size however is for some reason, hard to find in a good quality synthetic. I don't know why. Whatever.

The snap on the bristles though is sooo good and it's soft and fluffy. Downside is this thing sheds like no other. I don't know why. At this rate, it'll be an eyeliner brush by next year.

Next is an item I didn't get at first, but it grew on me to the point that I sort of can't live without it. 

It's the Beauty Powder in Mystery Princess. ($28)

 I remember swatching this and thinking, "seriously, that's it?" I honestly thought it would be... I don't know, more shine, more glitter, something else I guess. In the packaging it's a tiny bit peachy but it doesn't come off like that at all. So I was like, "Ok, it's not a blush but it's not really a highlight?"

Here's what it is.

It's not going to be that high shine highlight that's crazy popular right now, it's going to be a luminous shine. It actually gives skin the appearance of being "lit from within". It's gorgeous, how have I lived without this, what am I going to do with all my stupid, obvious highlighters now?!

I've been wearing this every day since I got it and it's beautiful. I can't wait to try this out on a bride and see her totally light up. (Sarah, you'll probably be the first, fyi).

 Next up is my other can't live without product- the Stoke of Midnight eyeshadow palette ($44)

 This is the most convenient package I've ever had. Basically it's 3 MAC shadows I've had before and loved, plus 3 new ones that I love and am amazed by all in one palette. This is going to be great for travel and bridal. 

The colors included are:

Vapour- a peach pink/violet pearl, velvet finish

Ploof- off white, frost finish

Omega- muted beige taupe, matte finish

Quarry- soft muted plum brown, matte finish

Satin Taupe- taupe with silver shimmer, frost finish

Stroke of Midnight- black/plum with sparkle pearl, velvet finish.

The only non-permanent color is Stroke of Midnight, but I would say in the MAC family, Dark Soul pigment is probably the closest. Really you just need a purple and a black with glitter to make something very similar.

I will say though, this is one of the few palettes I've worked with where every color has it's reason and place and is used. Most of the time there's a few colors in a palette I overlook or just don't work for me, but this set of shadows is awesome and they all LOOK awesome and hold up through the day. 

That's probably why they're all cult classics in their own right- especially phloof, satin taupe and omega.

 The last thing I picked up was the lipstick in Royal Ball ($17.50)

This was the only thing that I'm still kind of scratching my head over.

In the tube and swatch below it's like a pearlescent peach. It's described on the website as being a lustre but when I swatch it on my lips it turns into a 90's frost nightmare.

Layered with something else it looks amazing, but on it's own it's a bit like, wtf? It swatched on my hand and my lips completely differently from each other which was so utterly confusing. HOWEVER, I do like it. I don't have anything like it and when I'm in the mood for something shiny and frosty, I reach for this.

I will say though as I keep using it, I think it's getting darker and closer to the original color. I'm wondering if the frost was mostly an overspray or something?

Honestly, I think I would skip the lipstick and brush in favor of the powder or eye shadow palette. 

All in all, this was a very good collection MAC put out. It was very reminiscent of Cinderella and the new movie that was put out and I totally 100% get all the choices they made- right down to the blue and gold packaging.

However, what I do wish MAC did was put out a companion collection where it was inspired by Lady Tremaine and her daughters. In the movie, the makeup the 3 wore was so vibrant and fun and frankly, I would kill for Lady Tremaine's red film noir goddess lipstick. It would have been super fun to have a companion palette and lipstick to the Cinderella one- buuuuuuut I get why they stuck with just Cinderella as inspiration.

Food for thought, MAC?

-SamanthaK

Ahhhhh, Things are Happening! An Update: 3/43/15

Ahhhhh, Things are Happening! An Update: 3/43/15

First things first (I'm the realest), I moved salons!

Ain't it pretty?

It's a bit of a jump for me, to be honest. The clientele volume is higher, the need to perform is more demanding- but, let me be the one who shatters every artists' dream. When it comes to money, I will follow whatever pays the bills. It just so happened that I really like the shop and the people I'm working with/for.

But, the money guys, so much better. I can actually start throwing money into a savings account for things. Things you'll see further down.

Next, someone must have spiked the kool-aid because it felt like everyone was wanting that summertime change. 

And by that I mean everyone cut off their hair. Lots.

I forgot to get a "before" picture, but for reference, her hair was down past her shoulder blades.

Then my friend Blake was like, "Hey...let's hack it."

And I said, "Ok." Mostly because I know what I'm doing and also she's paying me money.

This might be my most favorite haircut I've ever done.

Between the cut and the old ombre, it's a pretty cute look.

And speaking of cute looks....

 I did Dakota's nails for our Disneyland trip. They're Monsters Inc themed, and it was my first attempt at the art. Also, it was midnight the night before after a long day at work- so be kind. I did no clean up work. When you get your nails painted at Salon de Samantha's House at midnight- there ain't no clean up.

So after finally falling asleep at 2am, we awoke at 6am to go to Disneyland. This is my family/my boo thang Roger. 

Admittedly, this is one of our better family portraits in a long, long time.

Here's all the adorable pictures.

Because following those adorable pictures, on my birthday, Roger proposed and it was awesome.

Poor Roger. We were next to Snow White's wishing well (next to the castle) and it was pretty dark already and apparently- that area is not well lit, so all the pictures I have of this blessed event are pretty terrible. However, it's kind of the least of my worries. I was just happy this happened at all. We've been dating for 4 years and talking about marriage in the last year or so. 

Now I know a lot of you are like, "Weren't you surprised, at least a little?"

And I was, technically. Roger and I are realists though, and realists with a lot of anxiety. I would be horrified if this were a true and big surprise. But he managed to pick a secluded spot that I would have never guessed, and did it on a day I wouldn't have guessed- so he did pretty damn good. These pictures are actually staged after the event- which is why we both look ridiculous. 

He was on his knee for like 20 minutes and these were the photos we got. 

I should not trust my parents to be in charge of iPhone pictures. 

And before you guys start acting crazy- yes there will be a blog stream of wedding posts. I will definitely include you all in the planning of it, especially the hair and makeup stuff. And comments will definitely be open. I need all the advice I can get.

And the last thing that's happening:

I got asked to be a bridesmaid in one of my bestie's weddings.

We also went wedding dress shopping for her, but I won't talk or post anything about it because she DID find her dress and I don't want to ruin the surprise for her. Needless to say, it was a very fun and stress free day and I think she made the perfect choice.

The month was kind of intense for me, but it was non-stop fun things happening. I mean, new job, birthday, engaged, bridesmaid....

I can optimistically say that this year is going to be fast paced and really fun... if February is any indicator.

-SamanthaK