0 MAC A Tartan tale - Color collection, Lippies

The only 2 lippies that caught my eye from this collection was Full Fuschia and Cut a Caper. Although The Fairy Glen is a nice nude/neutral, I skipped it because I thought it was quite a common color and I have more than enough nude/neutral lipcolors (although i'm nowhere near my friend who has about 400 lippies!!!!)

I currently own only 2 other fuschia lippies from MAC - Lickable and Show orchid. And i don't think they are really similar to Full Fuschia.  Full fuschia has significantly more warm /red undertones to it and Lickable & Show orchid have more blue undertones. In fact, I think Lickable and show orchid are pretty close other than the difference in textures.

Here are my comparison swatch pics for Full  Fuschia, Lickable and Show Orchid

As for Cut a Caper, the first time i set my eyes on it and tried it on my lips, I was instantly in love with it. It looks like a bright coral peach pink on the tube, but on my lips, it turns out to be a warm shade of pink. It's pretty good for both girls with warm or cool undertones imho.

I have nothing that's similar to Cut a Caper, so no comparison swatch from me. But i've heard people commenting that it looks like Ever Hip l/s (LE l/s from MAC from give me liberty of london), but i don't personally own that lipstick so i cannot comment. If u don't have a similar color to Cut a Caper, do grab it asap @ the MAC counter. It's a really lovely shade. While stocks last!!

1 MAC A Tartan Tale - Color collection. Blushers

Being a blush whore who collects MAC blushers, I bought both blushers Her Blooming Cheek and My Highland Honey. And yeah, they are kinda similar to other MAC blushers which I own... Sigh. I really do need to go on a blusher ban soon. I've close to almost 200 blushers - both MAC and non MAC.

Her blooming cheek, Azalea (a MAC pro blush color) and Full Fuschia do indeed look pretty similar in the pan, especially Her blooming cheek and Full Fuschia. But after swatched on hand, the differences in the 3  blushers can be seen. Her blooming cheek has more pink-purple undertones, Azalea more of pink undertones and Full Fuschia has the most significant red undertones in it. Then again, once applied on the cheeks, the differences wouldn't be obvious, so if you have one of the three, I would think that you need not buy the other 2. Unless u are a blush collector like i am. Hahah. U definitely need a VERY light hand with this or otherwise, use a stripping blush like the MAC 188 or 131 to apply.

When I first saw Highland honey in the pan, it reminded me of Tippy Beauty powder blush from MAC hello kitty collection, just that it has no shimmers. But when swatched, My highland Honey has a more powdery texture than Tippy BPB, and if you are on the tanned side, you might need several layers and a very dense blush brush like MAC's 129 brush for the color to appear on for your face. In order to get the color for it to appear on my hand in this pic, I had to swatch about 3 or 4 times to get the color to appear. It's a pretty color, but it definitely needs some work for it to appear.

Other than the blushers, I also got myself 2 lipsticks Cut a Caper and Full Fuschia plus a gloss from this collection, which i shall review and post swatches in the next post.

0 MAC A Tartan Tale - eyeshadow palettes

I wasn't planning on gettin anything from Tartan tale at first other than one of the brush sets (For the pouch)... But i was kinda attracted to the combination of colors in 2 of the palettes 6 Twists of Tartan and 6 Reelers and Rockers eye palettes. I love love love the tartan print packaging of this Holiday collection. In fact, I would have to say that the packaging for this holiday collection is the best ever packagin. . . .

Packaging of the 2 eyeshadow palettes - it has some sort of a classy feel about it.

The first time i set my eyes on this palette, i was instantly attracted to the 2 goldish shades in the palettes. I find this to be a pretty versatile palette. The following are just 2 tips for using this palette. Of course, there are many other ways to using this palette. It's all about playing around with the colors and placement of colors =) Generally, I love the textures of most of the eyeshadows in this palettes (4 colors are of the veluxe pearl textures!!! Smooth, pigmented  and blendable!).The only exception being Carbon e/s. I find it a tad chalky .....

 For a smokey look:

1. Use #1 as a base color

2. Apply #3 on the eyelid and slowly blend it upwards

3. Using MAC #217 or #275 brush, apply #6 jus below the brow bone and in the socket area to contour the eyes and blend the black shadow together

4. Use MAC #219 to apply #2 to the inner V of the eyes to brighten the eyes

5. Apply brow bone highlighter

For a day/neutral look:

1. Also use #1 as a base color

2. Apply #4 all over the lid

3. Apply #6 on the outer 1/3 lid and blending it inwards and upwards

4, Apply #5 on the inner corner of the eye and lower lash line

5. Finish off with brow bone highlighter...

Comments on the individual e/s

White Rabbit: A nice basic base color but easily dupeable

Melt my Heart: Kinda reminds me of MAC's electra e/s but just a tad more silvery. Electra has more blue undertones in it. Great texture and pigmentation

Carbon: Never did like Carbon e/s. It's pretty chalky to me

Family Treasures: Love love love this color and texture. Reminds me a bit of MAC's goldmine e/s just that goldmine has more orange undertones to it. Definitely different enough from goldmine e/s to own both e/s

Gaelic gold: I also love this color and texture.Hmmm can't think of anything that's close to this color though. Definitely a must have shade if u like goldy kinda shadows like me

Crown & Sceptre: Reminds me a bit of coppering e/s... I do like it. But it's not terribly unique though.

All in all, I love this palette for the combination of colors even though some colors are not unique. I cannot be luggin my MAC 15 pan palettes every time i go out or travel. This is a useful palette to have. Well, at least for me.

I am usually a sucker for palettes with interesting combination of colors (I didn't purchase the purple palette and the brown palette cause they were like very common..and every christmas, MAC is bound to release a purple and and a brown palette and i think i have more than enough purple and  brown shadows to last me a lifetime. However, if u are new to MAC, I do think it's worth gettin the holiday set as a start. They are value for money). Here was what i did with this palette:

1. Apply #1 as the base color all over the lid

2. Apply #2 up to the socket area and slowly blending it out

3. Apply #3 on the crease area

4. Apply #6 on the outer 1/3 corner of the eye and outer v of the eye

5. Apply #4 as a eye contour color on the socket

6. Apply #5 as a lower lash line color

It is POSSIBLE to use all the colors at one time... =) I am loving this palette especially the #3 green eyeshadow

Comments on the individual eyeshadows:

Lady's Prance: It's slightly greyish when applied...very unique color, but i won't recommend it to be worn alone. Definitely to be used in combination with other colors

Rolled Gold: Reminds me of sumptious olive, but sumptious olive has more brown undertones in it.

High spirits: Love love love this green. Great color payoff and texture. Doesn't look similar to MAC's swimming e/s if u are wondering. This is a tad brighter than MAC's swimming e/s and is definitely easier to work with.

Vainglorious: Nice texture and color payoff. Easy to blend

Set to Dance: A bit on the chalky side...but still workable

Bows & Curtseys: I like pairing this with high spirits and roll gold to give a semi green smokey look

Well, that's it for now....... Happy Holidays to all =)