The Brant Brothers X MAC Collection

New York socialites and the offspring of famous supermodel parent Stephanie Seymour, Peter and Harry Brant can often be found posing for pictures at Naomi Campbell's birthday party and out and about on the street of Manhattan. These young bon vivants from the Big Apple are the current toast of the fashion scene so it is little wonder that they have recently collaborated with the beauty giants, MAC Cosmetics, to launch a unisex makeup range.

This new makeup collection from the Brant Brothers gives us a modern selection of products for the face, brows, eyes and lips and comes encased in striking matte and glossy packaging with the guys' signatures scrawled across. Some of the key, limited edition products to note are the Pro Longwear Lipstain Markers, the Fluidline Brow Gel Creme and a range of online exclusive skincare products. The Mineralize Volcanic Ash Exfoliator and the Mineralize Charged Water Moisture Gel both sound very intriguing!

The Eyeshadow Palette X 4:4 Pillars is a great mix of taupe and neutral brown shades along with a cult favourite - Carbon, an intense matte black. Alongside Carbon there is Mother's Milk (a soft matte satin beige), Sandstone (a soft matte taupe) and Mystery (a muted plum-brown in a deluxe pearl finish). This new collection also features three new Eye Kohls in Smolder (intense black), Paragon Pearl (champagne gold) and El Dorado (bold gold) pictured above. Finally, one of the most exciting new, limited edition products to launch with this range is the Pro Sculpting Cream Duo which contains a light white highlighting cream and a taupe, neutral shade to contour and define those cheekbones!

The Brant Brothers makeup line will be available at all MAC free standing stores and online from August 2016.

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*this post contains samples gifted for review purposes

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MAC Rebel Lipstick

The perfect Winter berry lipstick from MAC (£15.50) | available online

It may be a cliche but at this time of year it is inevitable that you will find yourself drawn towards those darker, more wintery shades when picking out your daily makeup and one shift I always make is swapping my pinky-nudes for a more sultry, berry pop on the lips.

Choosing that perfect Winter lip shade can be a tricky business as literally every brand will have a plethora of rich burgundy and dark purple shades to choose from but my ultimate pick for a ripened berry lip this Winter has to be a classic - MAC's Rebel lipstick. This lipstick has been around for years but is a firm favourite for many because of its gorgeous plummy colour and satin-rich texture. It is vampy and luxurious with superb pigmentation and lasting power. I love the Satin finish which leaves your lips with a slight sheen keeping it from being too dry and uncomfortable to wear.

If you are after a ravishing Winter berry lip this season then Rebel from MAC could be the perfect choice - I know I shall be wearing it non-stop for all those Christmas parties just around the corner!

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A MAC Haul

So this is what happens when I am left unsupervised on the MAC website when my sole intention is to purchase just one new foundation. My love for MAC waivers - some days I can't get enough of their new collections and other times I just find the it all a bit overwhelming and overhyped and I swiftly move on. However MAC will always be my saviour when it comes to great base products and gorgeous lipsticks in every shade imaginable so I decided to treat myself to a few new things for my eyes, lips and face.

Firstly, let's talk lipsticks! From left to right, top to bottom we have Blankety (a soft beige pink) and Pure Zen (a frosted warm nude). I honestly don't know why it has taken me so long to purchase either of these lipsticks as they are both so beautiful and totally my kind of shades. Blankety is one of those lipsticks that sits neatly alongside the likes of Velvet Teddy and Honeylove - a warm, brown-ish nude that warms up the complexion and helps emulate those Kylie Jenner lips! Pure Zen is such a pretty nude with a peachy base and slightly frosted finish. It is a flattering nude option if you are a bit wary of the starker options, such as Myth and Fleshpot, and works perfectly paired with a heavier eye look and coral-powdered cheeks.

Onto the eyes and there were a few things on my mind as I scrolled through MAC's extension selection - some loose pigments and a new paint pot for a quick, easy base. You may be surprised to discover that I didn't own a single MAC pigment before this order hit my post box so I was excited to venture into a world of sparkles and duo-chrome shimmer. Vanilla was an obvious choice and top of my list due to its wonderful versatility to highlight your eyes and complexion with a simple sweep of powder. It is a gorgeous soft ivory white with a warm golden-yellow sheen which looks so pretty applied to the tops of your cheekbones or in the corner of your eyes. Next to be dropped in my shopping basket was Melon pigment which looked beautiful from the numerous swatches I googled beforehand. Melon is a sunny, shimmering peachy-gold shade. It is stunning and the beauty of these loose pigments is that they can be used dry or wet for extra vibrancy. Finally I purchased a new paint pot in Let's Skate - a pale pink with pearl shimmer. It is a beautiful ballet-pink cream base with a soft golden sheen running through it and has a great pigmentation, giving you opaque coverage on your eyelids. It is creamy and blendable and can be easily worn alone for a pretty, toned down look or used as a base for a powder eyeshadow on top.

Last but by no means least we move onto the base products and one of the main reasons I was surfing the MAC website to begin with! MAC's Studio Fix Fluid foundation has been one of those foundations I have fallen in and out of love with ever since I started using it many many years ago. It is a medium to full coverage base product with a satin/matte finish. The coverage is great and I have always found the colour match (NC25 if you're interested) works really well for my skin tone. It isn't an everyday foundation choice for me but when I want a really flawless base that I know will last then this is what I find myself reaching for.

Finally I decided to purchase the much raved about Prep & Prime Highlighter Pens in Bright Forecast (left) and Light Boost (right). I first saw these featured by Tanya Burr in several of her tutorial videos and was blown away by their effectiveness to lighten, brighten and conceal in a few simple twists and swipes. They are creamy and blend into the skin beautifully. Bright Forecast is a mid-toned, peachy coral shade and works well to conceal and even out skin tone under my eyes and on other blemishes. For some people with lighter skin tones this might also work quite well as a contour colour. Light Boost is my favourite out of the two and does wonders at faking a ten hour sleep when really you've been up until 1am watching Netflix! The soft yellow tone of this highlighter perfectly cancel out any darkness or sallowness under your eyes and brightens your eye area quite dramatically. It is amazing and will definitely be one of my must-have products when my baby arrives and sleep is a distant memory!

Have you splurged on anything from MAC recently?

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New MAC purchases: Whirl + Soar Lip Liner

Ever since Kylie Jenner made the likes of MAC's Soar and Whirl lip liner household names they swiftly became top of every beauty lovers' wish list - cue said items being sold out in every store and an online waiting list as long as your arm. The other day my email pinged and I was greeted with the joyous news that Soar and Whirl lip liner were both back in stock so I pounced online and also treated myself to two new eyeshadows that I had been lusting after for some time - Satin Taupe and Sable.

As for the eyeshadows, they are some of my favourite frosty shades and have completely lived up to my expectations after swooning over many a YouTube tutorial featuring both Satin Taupe and Sable. Satin Taupe (left, first swatch) is a gorgeous frost taupe with silver shimmer running through it. Sable (right, second swatch) is a warmer golden brown with a hint of bronze pearl and looks absolutely gorgeous paired with All That Glitters shadow.

The lip pencils are such a welcome addition to my makeup collection and I am so happy I have finally got my mitts on them after a rather long wait. The hype around these products may have died down by now but I still think they are gorgeous lip colours to own and work so well used alone all over your lip or as a lip liner to perfect and define your pout before applying one of these MAC lipsticks - Brave and Twig would both work spectacularly well! Whirl Lip Pencil (top swatch) is described as a dirty rose and Soar (bottom swatch) is a mid-toned pinky brown. I love both and am pleased to say they are both still in stock if you fancied a little Sunday splurge...just click quickly before they are gone again!

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MAC Ruby Woo Lipstick

MAC Ruby Woo is one of those classic red lipsticks that everyone needs to have in their collection! I am sure most of you reading this can either confirm that they already have this beauty in their makeup stash or have it on the never-ending wish list, for that next venture to a MAC counter. Neatly sitting in the middle of the colour spectrum somewhere between MAC Lady Danger and MAC Russian Red, it is the perfect pin-up red that will suit the majority of skin tones and complexions.

The Retro Matte formula makes this lipstick ooze Hollywood glamour and will stay put for hours on end! It is best applied with a lip brush and would also benefit from an accompanying lip liner to ensure you pout is drawn to perfection, but it is definitely worth the effort. Available online from MAC Cosmetics and on all counters, Ruby Woo (£15.50) is a scarlet stunner that I think everyone needs to give a go at some point!

Have you a fan of Ruby Woo?

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New MAC Lipsticks

It would be fair to say that most of my family and friends know that if they are ever struggling to buy me a birthday or Christmas present then I will be more than happy with a new MAC lipstick - it just might take them a while to work out which ones I have and haven't got in my overflowing collection! Call me predictable but I wholeheartedly believe you can never have too many lipsticks and I was very lucky to receive a fantastic foursome of new lip shades on Christmas Day. Ever since the whole Kylie Jenner lip trend has rocked the beauty world there has been a few particular MAC lipsticks that have been thrust into the limelight and promoted to the top of many beauty junkies' wish lists and I of course swiftly added them to my wish list too!

These four lipsticks I have been coveting for sometime now all fall into a similar colour family despite, in my eyes anyway, being all completely different and necessary! They all nearly falls under the nude-beige-pinky-brown family and either have a satin or matte finish. First up is Brave (Satin) which is described as a "pink-beige with white pearls" but I can assure you that the pearly aspect is very minimal if not non-existent but simply gives the colour a pretty, cool tone. Next is Honeylove (Matte) which is probably my favourite out of the four. It is a true nude with brown-beige undertones which warm it up and successfully keep it from being too "fleshy" or stark on your lips. Back with the pinky-browns we have Twig (Satin) which is a stunning lip shade, best described as a muted brownish pink - soft and flattering on most skin tones. It is darker and slightly duskier than Brave and the satin finish gives your lips a lovely, semi-glossy finish. Finally there is Velvet Teddy (Matte) which has possibly the most adorable name ever for a lipstick! Velvet Teddy is a lovely pinky-beige, slightly warmer than Honeylove with a flattering brown tone to it, making it a perfect, toned-down choice to pair with a heavy, smokey eye or with a neutral lip liner to give your lips a fuller look. All lipsticks available from MAC counters and online for £15.50.

Did you receive any lipsticks this Christmas? Which shades are currently on your wish list? Also I just want to wish all my amazing readers here on Pearls & Poodles a very happy New Year and a healthy, joyful 2015!

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MAC Duty Free Lipstick Purchases

Last month Rob and I flew off to Italy to spend a long weekend away with friends nestled high in the Tuscan mountains and enjoyed a few lovely days eating, drinking and keeping warm by the roaring log fire. Whilst killing some time in Stansted airport I innocently wandered into their beauty hall to just have a little peruse and ended up picking up three MAC lip products that had been on my wish list from sometime! Always the way, eh?!

The first lipstick I ticked off my list was Lovelorn (top photo) which is a wonderfully wearable pink shade with slight blue undertone and a lustre finish, giving the lips a gorgeous glossy finish without being too sticky. It is a very natural, soft pink and a little similar to MAC's Creme Cup but just with a shiny, gloss-like texture on the lips. It is a very easy, fuss-free lipstick to use and would work best paired with a heavier eye look and maybe some beautifully bronzed cheekbones.

Secondly I picked up MAC's Faux lipstick (middle photo) which is one of my most recent coveted items since the whole Kylie-Jenner-lip-thing has swept the beauty world. Rumour has it that Kylie often reaches for Faux lipstick alongside other MAC faithfuls such as Velvet Teddy and Brave, so I decided to give it a whirl myself and I am so glad I did! I really do love this lipstick which is probably one of the 'darkest' nudes I have ever tried. Faux is a pinky-brown shade with a lovely Satin finish on the lips, making it a perfect day to day colour to wear with a creamy consistency and good colour payoff. It is literally the only lipstick I am reaching for at the minute!

And finally, to continue with the Kylie Jenner theme, I picked up a new lip pencil in Subculture, (bottom photo) seeing as Soar and Whirl are still so damn hard to track down! MAC Subculture lip pencil is described as an underground pink but really is an earthy-brown with a slight pinky-peach undertone to it. As you would expect from a lip pencil, it is incredible matte and would benefit from a slick of gloss or lip balm on top if you are planning on filling your whole lip in. But it is a great product if you want to line your lips in preparation for a similar lipstick like Velvet Teddy perhaps to be layered on top or simply to wear alone for a pretty nude look.

All these lip products are available from MAC counters and of course, online. Which lipsticks are on your current wishlist?

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MAC Cosmetics Maleficent Collection

Inspired by the iconic Disney villain and bringing an element of the mysterious and the magnificent to a new limited edition makeup launch, MAC introduces the Maleficent collection with some wickedly gorgeous packaging and sensuous shades for the eyes, lips and nails. Admired for her evil elegance and hardened heart, Maleficent has inspired a dark, sultry collection of limited edition products from MAC which will tempt and captivate the darkest of sorceresses.

The Maleficent collection, launched earlier last month, features a trio of lips products to define, line and colour the most perfectly devilish red lips, a brow crayon, liquid eyeliner, a sculpting and beauty powder, a wonderfully complimentary eyeshadow quad and three rich nail lacquers. The lipstick, "True Love's Kiss" is a clean bright red with an amplified finish and fine ruby shimmer throughout. The colour is fairly similar to MAC's Russian Red but the velvety texture when applied gives the lips a slight sheen and glossiness, very different to Russian Red's definite matte finish. For matching, fiery red talons, MAC has launched "Flaming Red" nail lacquer which is a true blood red with a lovely glossy finish. The shade has a touch of old hollywood glamour and is pretty much perfect after two coats.

Finally, and probably the most exciting part of the collection for any limited edition package hoarder, is the eyeshadow quad comprising of "Ground Brown" (dirty deep brown, matte) "Concrete" (muted taupe brown, satin) "Carbon" (intense black, matte) and "Goldmine" (intense gold with shimmer, frost). All shades are permanent from the MAC eyeshadow line but I know some people will love to have this quad in their collection and all the shadows work really nicely together. Goldmine is a frosty metallic shimmer that works perfectly in the corner of your eye or as a lower lash colour to really brighten and lift your eye makeup. Carbon is one of those classic MAC shadows that everyone needs in their collection and Concrete is a really interesting taupe, grey-ish shade that is great to use all over the lid or in the crease to define and deepen the finished look.

Did you treat yourself to anything from the MAC Maleficent collection?

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MAC haul - A Fantasy of Flowers

Lipsticks in Sunny Seoul (not from the Fantasy of Flowers collection) Snapdragon and Fleur D'Coral
Mineralise Skinfinish in Stereo Rose and Azalea in the Afternoon Mineralise Blush
Pink Sensibilities Mineralise Eye Shadow Quad

In my early days of blogging I had a serious MAC Cosmetics obsession and as far as their lipsticks are concerned, I still have! But I remember I use to covet every single new launch and collection that graced the MAC website and would feel the need to own every new MSF or blusher and I was at their mercy when it came to limited edition packaging! Things have definitely changed over the years but every now and then out comes a new collection which makes me weak at the knees and compels me to venture in store to take a closer look. I don't know if it was the soft petal hues or shimmery finishes but MAC's A Fantasy of Flowers limited edition collection meant that a harmless perusal in the Spitalfields store last week swiftly led to a few new purchases.

The new lipsticks capture all the prettiness and lightness of Spring with their sugary-sweet shades and lustre finish on the lips and are completely gorgeous paired with bronzed skin and shimmery eyelids. The two new cheek products I picked up were completely unnecessary but when I saw the much sought-after Stereo Rose MSF, which has been re-promoted, sitting pretty in store I couldn't leave without it. Stereo Rose is coppery coral-bronze blush with gold veins running through it which gives your cheeks a beautiful warm flush and shimmery glow. Azalea in the Afternoon mineralise blush is a mid-tone cool pink powder with a frosty finish so highlights and colours your cheeks in one loving sweep of your blush brush. Finally I wanted to try one of MAC's mineralise eye shadow quads for the first time so picked up Pink Sensibilities which looked like my perfect combination of colours to highlight and define my eyes. The frosty pinks are perfect for highlighting and adding a touch of shimmer to your brow bone and inner corner and the two shades of brown, one pinky-brown, one chocolate brown) work really nicely together to colour and define the crease. The pigmentation of these shadows is really good despite rumours that they would be a little powdery and it is definitely a product I will get lots of use out of over the coming months.

Have you splurged on anything from the new A Fantasy of Flowers collection? Are there any particular products you would like to see a review of?

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MAC All That Glitters eye shadow

MAC All that Glitters eye shadow £12.50
available online and in stores

There is always that one item that reappears time and time again on your beauty wish list but you never get round to purchasing. After watching countless tutorial videos I knew that All That Glitters eye shadow was a shade that I needed in my collection. I had been hunting for the perfect warm toned, golden-champagne shimmer shadow for ages; one that I could easily sweep all over my lid for a fresh, Spring look paired with pink lips and bronzed cheeks.

All that Glitters is one of those shadows that goes hand in hand with a multitude of other shades and colours - coral, pinks, browns and taupes - they all work perfectly alongside this shadow which makes it such a must for any eyeshadow enthusiast! It is a Veluxe Pearl finish which is a lovely understated shimmer with a smooth texture and strong pigmentation. Described by MAC it is a beige shade with gold pearl and seems like it would suit most skin tones, buffed all over the lid and into the corners of the eyes to add sparkle and highlight. Whether you use it as an all-over colour or a highlighter to contrast with a darker shade, it is absolutely perfect and a shadow I would consider incorporating into my own wedding makeup as it would make the ideal shade for my summertime look and is so pretty on the lids.

Have you tried All That glitters eye shadow from MAC?

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MAC Sketch eyeshadow

wearing MAC Show Orchid lipstick | Jumpsuit from RARE London

MAC Sketch eyeshadow £12.50
available online and in stores

Described as a burgundy with red shimmer, Sketch is a velvet eyeshadow from MAC and is absolutely perfect to create an all over smokey eye with a twist or buffed into the crease to add definition. Sketch is such a versatile shade and can be applied quite lightly all over the lid or pressed into the crease for a more intense look. I personally don't see the red shimmer in this eyeshadow but it does have a lovely, luxe finish with a beautiful blackened-plum tone to it. I used Sketch above blended all across my lid with a little powder of MAC Nylon in the corner of my eyes to brighten the look. Ultimately I think this shade would work best as a duo, placed in the crease to contrast with a lighter, shimmery shade all over the lid, so I took to twitter and was recommended MAC All That Glitters to work as the perfect companion to Sketch. So I now think a little beauty trip to MAC is in order!

Is Sketch eyeshadow part of your makeup collection? What shade do you think will go well with it?

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