HAUL | MAC Alluring Aquatic Collection (Summer 2014)

So you pretty much can guess that I became quite obsessed with this summer 2014 collection from MAC.  MAC just recently came out with their Alluring Aquatic Collection and seriously, for me, it was worth the hype.  They have been touting this anticipated collection for quite some time now and once it was released online... everyone went bananas over them.  I lucked out on the MAC online release, but managed to wait less than a week for Nordstrom to release theirs online.  Once they did at about 5:30 am PST.  I was literally half a sleep, but managed to work up an effort to go on my computer and pick up some valuable goodies.

What I manage to snag, all of which I was debating and coveting for the past couple weeks after I've seen many other bloggers reviewing and swatching some of the press releases they received.  I was able to figure out what I wanted and what I needed.

Purchased:

Lipstick: "Enchanted One" (Matte), "Mystical" (Creamesheen), and "Goddess of the Sea" (Creamesheen)

Bronzer: Refined Golden (Permanent), only got it or the packaging, essentially, lol

Extra Dimension Blush: "Sea Me, Hear Me"

Extra Dimension Bronzer: "Delphic," "Aphrodite's Shell"

They were all packaged in beautiful reflective aqua color with raised water droplets that you can actually feel (you can even feel the puddles on the boxes too).  I find this to be the best MAC packaging they ever came out with.  I'm really impressed and realized why the prices were a little bit higher.

I got a lot of good items that were very coveted from the collection and I'm glad I was able to snag all of what I wanted.  The only thing I wished was included into the collection was a highlighting product, yes, I know the Extra Dimensions create that highlight/sheen effect on the skin, but it would be nice to have at least an Extra Dimension Highlighter to go with the collection.  Overall, I was pleased with the collection and hope a lot of you were ably to grab a few items from the collection, if not a few, at least gotten one item.

-BENNevolent

HAUL | Maleficent for MAC

MAC released a collection to coincide with the Disney 'Maleficent' film that came out in May 30, 2014.  When MAC teased about the collection, a lot of people became excited for it, as I was.  I truly believed this collection would have been really big with colors that really represent Maleficent and the film.  When the press photos was released I felt very disappointed with the range of the collection.  Which really made it easier on my decision to pick what I wanted, but also save me a lot of money by not making me go overboard.  This is why I only purchased two things that are the only stand out products and one of them was only for the packaging.

Purchased:

Lipstick: "True Loves Kiss" (Amplified)

Beauty Powder: "Natural"

The two items that I bought were the only stand out products which I find to be the best pieces from the collection.  I knew the lipstick was going to be a big hit and it was because it sold out very quickly online.  The lipstick is an amplified finish which goes on smoothly and opaque and it has fine glitters what you don't feel on your lips at all, but adds that extra gleam to the lips on.  The beauty powder was the product I only got for the packaging because it had the Maleficent insignia on it, its not extravagant, but its really nice.  Hopefully, a lot of you got the lipstick because that was the best part of the collection.

If you wanted to know, I wished that offered more eyeshadows than just an eyeshadow quad.  Colors like green, purple, more greys.  I hoped for more lipsticks colors, but that wasn't the case.  It was a small collection that wasn't worth the hype, but at least the got the red lipstick right.

-BENNevolent

HAUL | The Balm

The Balm recently had their "New Server" Sale where all of their products were 50% off !  I knew I had to make a purchase of items I've been coveting for quite awhile, especially their new "Cindy-Lou Manizer."

Purchased:

"Down Boy" blush
"Argyle" Instain blush
"Houndstooth" Instain blush
"Cindy-Lou Manizer" highlighter

I wish I gotten more, but that would have been detrimental to my bank account, so I sufficed to a couple of items that I've had on my list for a while now.  First off, I had to get their new "Cindy-Lou Manizer" I have the other two and I just had to add it to my collection.  It is a pink-y version of their Manizer range and I find it adds more of a rosey glow to your face.  I also got "Down Boy" which is their Boy blush range and I've always wanted to get more from this range.  I'm excited for these because I heard so much great things about the Instain blushes and I've always wanted to try them and I finally got to and I of course had to purchase two of them.  "Houndstooth" which is their mauvey pink blush, which looks very natural and "Argyle" which looks more blue toned pinky shade which really brighten up the face.

I love the balm and I love that they don't use harmful or toxic ingredients and more minerals, plus they are cruelty free! They are also from San Francisco which I really love because all their stuff if made from the USA.  (:

-BENNevolent