MAC Fall ’12: MAC & Carine Roitfeld

This is the collection many of us have been patiently waiting for! MAC partners with iconic Frenchwoman and former editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris to bring you a sophisticated, edgy, fashion-forward collection. It focuses on Carine’s most recognizable feature: the heavy smoky eye. All products in this collection follow a pattern of sleek and black.

Items noted LE are limited edition and included only in this collection.

Desert Camouflage Full Face Kit ($44, LE): Includes 4 eyeshadows: Sahara Dust (light neutral beige; satin), Cactus Thorn (bronze-brown; frost), Desert (shimmering warm taupe; satin), Carbon (matte black; permanent). Also includes Sandstorm (warm caramel) blush/face powder. All tucked inside a matte black compact, the signature packaging for Carine’s collection.

Jungle Camouflage Full Face Kit ($44, LE): Includes 4 shadows: Dew (soft cream beige; Veluxe Pearl), Camo (muted grey-taupe; satin), Bad Lieutenant (blackened deep brown; matte), Carbon (matte black; permanent). Also includes 1 blush/face color: Bootcamp Bronze (soft chestnut).

From left: Kohl Power Eye Pencil in Feline ($15, LE); Eye Brows in Brunette ($15, LE); Fluidline in Blacktrack ($15); Brow Set in Clear ($16); Studio Boldblack Lash ($16); Zoom Fast Black Lash ($16).Lipstick in Tropical Mist ($16.50, LE): sheer translucent nude.

From left: Studio Fix Fluid SPF15 in ($27); Mineralize Concealer in NC33 ($20); Face & Body Foundation in C4 ($27); Good Luck Star stencil ($18, LE); 49 Lash Lashes ($16, LE).

From left: Slanted Tweezers ($33); Lash curler ($20); Nail Lacquer in Undercover Nude ($17.50, LE); Nail Lacquer in Underfire Red ($17.50, LE); 266 Small Angle Brush ($20); 275 Medium Angled Shading Brush ($30); 191 Foundation Brush ($33).

Available online today (!), Aug. 30; in North American stores and MAC counters on Sept. 6; and in October internationally.

What do you think? Any items you have your eye on?Images via MAC

MAC Fall ’12: Styleseeker

This fall, MAC takes it cues from a global aesthetic, dishing up ethnic-inspired hues from around the world. The Styleseeker collection weaves a rich tapestry of color, texture, and earthy tones that will resonate with globetrotters, nomads, and those with wanderlust.

Items marked LE are limited edition. Items marked RP are repromoted products/shades that debuted in a previous limited-edition collection. (I noted them here because you may have seen them before.) Items not marked with any notes are always available at MAC.

Eyeshadow x 2 ($27.50, LE)

• Culturalized: contains Brule (soft beige [satin]) & Retrospeck (neutral gold [lustre]) shadows
• On the Hunt: Raving Mad (bronzed red [frost]) & Star Myth (bronzed violet [veluxe pearl])
• Whims & Fancies: Performance Art (silvery lilac [veluxe pearl]) & Shadowy Lady (blackened plum [matte])
• Marche Au Puces: Chessa (golden orange [veluxe pearl]) & Indie Spirit (chestnut brown [matte])

Mattene Lipstick ($15, LE): A velvety matte finish for lips. From left: Fun Finds, Delectable (RP), Fashion Nomad, Eden Rouge (RP), Camden Chic

More photos, prices, and details on a special event after the break.

What’s In My Makeup Bag

I have 3 makeup kits: a train case that has all my products that I often use when I do makeup for other people, a bigger personal case that contains the items I don’t use every day (like my smoky eyeshadows and the like), and a small bag of everyday essentials. By far, the items I turn to literally every single day are stashed in the smallest case. Here is what’s inside that case. I would recommend these products without hesitation; they’re the ones I rely on day in and day out.

1. Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Pale Pink ($24): This cream blush lasts all day, and is the prettiest pink shade I’ve found. It glides on whisper-soft for a gentle blush, and layers beautifully for a more pronounced flush. Note: this is the old packaging of this product; check out the new packaging, available now.

2. Shiseido Eyelash Curler ($19): Since the She Uemura curler is only sold online now, I use this–and it’s just as good. Curls expertly, with all-day hold.

3. MAC Strobe Cream ($15-$30): I mix a few drops of this into my tinted moisturizer for extra glow.

4. MAC Bronzing Powder in Refined Golden ($23): This shimmery bronzer gives my fair skin just enough bronzey glow that’s believable, not fake. Note: This packaging is from the 2010 “To The Beach” collection, and is no longer available. Refined Golden is part of MAC’s permanent collection, so the bronzer itself is still available.

Keep reading for more products!

MAC Spring ’12: Chen Man Love & Water

For their latest spring collection, MAC collaborates with famed Chinese fashion photographer Chen Man. The artist, born in Beijing in 1980, studied graphic design at the Central Academy of Fine Arts before going on to create some of China’s most iconic fashion photographs. The collection is based upon “her infatuation with love and water, yin and yang, pink and blue,” according to MAC. For spring, it’s a pretty mix of creamy, pastel-like pinks and blues, with a few lavenders thrown in the mix.

Click through to see the full collection (sneak peek below).

All items are limited-edition (LE) unless otherwise noted.

Summerize Your Eyes

Standard neutral and brown eyeshadows are so boring this time of year. I found myself in a rut, doing the same eye color (pale brown) every day and night. Not anymore. Why not try an ocean-inspired twist on your eye makeup? It’s super easy and provides a beautiful pop of summer-inspired color to your eyes.

Learn how I did it after the jump.

MAC Stylishly Yours

Get ready for MAC’s latest collection, Stylishly Yours. The collection will be released Dec. 26 in the U.S., making it both a winter and holiday collection. In stark contrast to the dark hues of winter, this collection is infused with brights, neons, and vivid, saturated colors for eyes, lips, and cheeks.

Full line-up and photos after the jump.

A Peek Inside My Makeup Bag

I love checking out what other women stash in their makeup bags. It’s a great way to steal beauty tips, get inspiration, and discover new products. Here is what I’m currently stocking my makeup bag with, the products that I repeatedly turn to to feel pretty.1. MAC Studio Moisture Tint SPF15 in Medium ($29.50)
2. MAC Select Cover-Up in NW20 ($16.50)
3. NARS Bronzer in Laguna ($32)
4. MAC Cream Colour Base in Pearl, used as highlighter ($16.50)

1. MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study, used as eye primer ($16.50)
2. MAC Fluidline eyeliner in Blacktrack ($15)
3. MAC eyeshadow in Phloof! ($14.50)
4. Smashbox eyeshadow in Minx ($16)
5. Smashbox eyeshadow in Envy ($16)
6. MAC eyeshadow in Print ($14.50)
7. Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill mascara ($)
9. MAC Haute & Naughty Lash mascara ($18)

1. MAC Eye Brows in Fling ($15)
2. Anastasia Brow Duality in Camille/Sand ($23)
3. Beauty Society Brow Doctor brow gel ($28)

There’s more – cheeks, lips, and nails after the jump!

Another Kick-Ass Black Eyeliner from MAC

I am hopelessly devoted to MAC Fluidline gel eyeliner. The inky black formula glides on easily and smoothly and will not budge – even in a flood of tears or crazy gym-induced sweat.

But on rushed mornings, it’s just not realistic to get out the angled brush, dip it into the gel pot, and brush it on…it just takes too much time. I need something I can draw on quickly that will look great no matter how speedily I apply it. Enter MAC Technakohl Eyeliner in Graphblack ($14.50), an ultra-black mechanical pencil liner that won’t let me down.

The color is rich and pitch-black – very sexy with a little edge. Like Fluidline, it’s waterproof, smudgeproof, and basically life-proof, meaning that you can do almost anything in it without it smudging, smearing, running, or fading. Plus, it’s in mechanical form, so I can just twist up without having to worry about sharpening or obtaining a fine point.

It’s portable perfection that gets my eyes pretty with the flick of a wrist.

Get the Look: Lauren Conrad’s “Hills” Series Finale Glow

Turns out a boho-glam Lauren Conrad is enough to get me out out of a blogging hiatus! I know I said I’d be taking a short break, but I had to break that promise when I saw Lauren Conrad’s look for aftershow of the The Hills series finale. The reality star mixed a bit of bohemian with retro glamour for a result that was striking in its simplicity, and showed just how far she’s come since her Laguna Beach days 6 years ago.

MAC artist Gregory Arlt created Conrad’s quintessential California girl look with MAC products. To recreate it yourself, start by dabbing foundation (Arlt used Studio Sculpt foundation) on the back of your hand, and mix in a drop or 2 of jasmine oil. The oil will help the foundation go further so you use less, and stay longer on your face. To get a Cali glow like Conrad, dust on a bronzer like To The Beach Bronzing Powder in Refined Golden on your nose, cheeks, and forehead for a natural-looking tan. Buff blush onto apples of cheeks with a fluffy brush; Arlt used Margin blush.

On her lashes, Arlt applied Haute & Naughty Lash. A tip from Arlt: To get Conrad’s doe-eyed effect, apply mascara diagonally on the outer lashes, upward on the middle lashes, and downward on the inner lashes. He finished off her eyes with Blacktrack liner, swept up at the outer corners to create the reality star’s signature cateye, and a sweep of Mineralize Skinfinish in Light/Medium in place of eyeshadow. Fill in brows with a slim brow pencil in a matching shade to get Conrad’s full, envious brows, and set with clear brow gel. Polish your look with a light pink lipgloss.

LC’s hairstylist, Kristin Ess, completed the look with a voluminous, bouncy ponytail reminiscent of ’60s bedhead. She created waves with a 1.25-inch curling iron, and swept them into a ponytail with lots of volume at the crown. Conrad donned a long-sleeved glittering minidress to complete her look.

Get the Look: Lea Michele

I’ve never seen an episode of Glee. But I did see the female stars in a pictorial in the May issue of Glamour. Lea Michele is one seriously pulled-together 23-year-old. Aside from appearing mature and confident in her skin, she must have an amazing stylist; the girl masterfully pulls off a different look every time she’s photographed. Be it her eye makeup, hair, or dress choice, something is always just a little different, which keeps things interesting. She always looks great.

I particularly love her look at this year’s Screen Actors Guild Awards. She donned a killer emerald green dress, offset by pretty, natural makeup. You can easily copy this look at home.

But first, here is a sampling of some of Lea’s varied looks, to give you an idea of what a style chameleon she is:

(I have to have that white dress!)

Images (from left) via Just Jared and Art in Slow Motion.

Keep reading for tips on how to achieve her gorgeous SAG glow.