MAC Prep + Prime BB Beauty Balm SPF 35

It's official. In the world of make up 2011 has become the summer of the BB cream. Whilst brands such as Garnier and Clinique launch their very own takes on Asia's biggest cosmetic sensation, make up giants MAC have approached the trend from a slightly different angle by producing a single toned balm designed primarily for use as a primer. I, being the complete foundation fanatic I am, was simply desperate to learn more...

Sold as part of the ever growing Prep + Prime range, BB Beauty Balm promises to work on an array on complexions, instantly re-texturizing the skin whilst offering a high level of built in sun protection. Unlike most BB creams it sells itself as simply a foundation base, something to help even out skin tone before fuller, thicker coverage is later applied. In all honesty I wasn't particularly blown away with this product's primer skills - after all, at £21 it sits near the likes of Laura Mercier - yet as a light tint to instantly perk up my sleepy morning skin, I've been pretty impressed with the results.

MAC BB Beauty Balm swatched/ slightly sheered out

Creamy and smooth in texture, the balm dispenses fluidly from the finely tipped nozzle, providing around 1 to 2 layers of delicate coverage with a firm squeeze of the tube. When applied the colour is easy to sheer down, making it an accessible choice for those with fair to light medium toned skin. Over on Temptalia, Christine who is an NC30 needed to apply a tinted moisturiser over the top to darken the colour, it's best to bare this in mind if you are considering purchasing this as more of a facial tint than a primer. On me it's absolutely fine (so go ahead pale ladies) but I can imagine for a fair percentage of you this limited beige shade will automatically make this product a complete no go; which is utterly ridiculous when you consider just how big the MAC foundation range is

MAC Prep + Prime BB Beauty Balm applied to bare skin (no other make up applied except mascara/tinted lip balm)

The finish is divine. My skin looks smooth and radiant, whilst light blemishes and larger pores are softly diminished under a layer or two of product. Application with my fingers repeatedly gave the best results, allowing me to really work the balm into any areas I felt needed extra attention. Throughout the day the effect held up pretty well, yet believe me when I say the coverage provided is extremely sheer - if you want to hide red spots or dark patches then you'll need a lot more than a light dab of this stuff.

Extreme close up of product on skin

On a personal level I like this product. It leaves my skin both feeling and looking good, plus the added SPF 35 is hugely appreciated on a day to day basis. As the above picture shows a single application of this balm gently mutes down my freckles and gives a good indication of the level of coverage it can give in terms of blemishes and sun damage. If you have fair toned, relatively clear skin then this will work beautifully as a tint - but otherwise it'd be best to approach this as merely an illuminating primer. I'm disappointed at the one-shade-fits-all approach and for that reason alone I can imagine many of you struggling to fit this into your routine. If MAC expand the range then I'd definitely recommend you go for it, but for now, go find a shade that works for you. After all, make up should be made to fit us all.

MAC Prep + Prime BB Beauty Balm is available from MAC counters worldwide and maccosmetics.co.uk for £21

*this product was a free sample obtained by the Beauty Bite*

MAC Mocha Lipstick

After featuring this shade in last week's 5 Minute Face post, I thought it'd be a good idea to take a slightly better look at - what I think - is quite a chameleon of a colour...

Mocha Satin Lipstick is described by MAC as a "peachy yellow brown", a description which is undoubtably hard to argue with. Whilst the strongest tones in this shade are dark, Mocha has the ability to pull slightly pinker in certain lights, a trait which makes it suitable for both cool and warm complexions.

Mocha swatched

Although stocked as a permanent shade, Mocha is currently available as part of the Surf Baby! range - embellished in bright white and yellow packaging. Whilst it might look fairly boring compared to the likes of Hibiscus or Bust Out!, as far as summer nudes go this really is a great candidate for flushed and natural looking lips.

Mocha applied to heavily pigmented lips (blotted)

When applied the colour transfers with a moderately opaque texture, making it the perfect density for those of you with more pigmented lips. Once blotted I find it turns an almost burnt shade of coral which is not only gorgeous but very, very wearable. Although after time I find the satin formula somewhat drying, it's nothing that a slick of lip balm can't medicine. If you're planning a trip down to your local MAC counter anytime soon then this is definitely worthy of a swatch or two...

Mocha Lipstick is available from MAC counters worldwide and maccosmetics.co.uk for £14

*this product was purchased by the Beauty Bite

MAC Prep + Prime Skin

What can I say; MAC's Prep + Prime Skin is quite the minx. Whilst I picked it up expecting a smoothing facial primer I found repeatedly this product flirting towards the credentials of a radiance booster. Undeniably lovely, but not necessarily what I had mind...

Formulated with special effect silicones to give a calm and soft appearance to the skin, this sheer fluid is designed to blot away oil, tone down facial redness and improve the overall longevity of your base. Whilst I found my foundation sat cleaner on the skin, I didn't necessarily feel it pro-longed the general wear. However, on my dry to combination skin the texture felt both light and subtle, two factors I always look for in a primer.

Prep + Prime Skin swatched/ sheered out

Bizarrely though I seem to get much better use from this product as an overall radiance cream. Filled with tiny particles of white shimmer, this reflective formula instantly brightens the complexion catching the light in an understated yet beautiful manner. Lately I've been massaging this into the face and skipping foundation all together, allowing the luminous qualities of the cream to add a healthy sheen to the skin.

Priced at £18 I'm not quite sure how to recommend this product. Overall I think it performs OK as a primer, but I truthfully get better use out of it as a reflective cream. It doesn't clog the pores or feel overly greasy - which is always a good thing - yet I would still highly recommend testing this out in store before committing to any purchase, simply to see how best it works for you. Ah, the riddles of make up...!

MAC Prep + Prime Skin can be purchased from MAC counters worldwide and maccosmetics.co.uk for £18.

*this product was purchased by the Beauty Bite*

MAC Surf Baby!

Launching nationwide next month, MAC's Surf Baby range is looking very, very nice indeed....

Click image to enlarge

I'm trying to get hold of some high res images as we speak, but as first impressions go this collection is most definitely hitting the spot. After all, who doesn't love a good coral blush!

MAC Miss Behave Mineralize Blush

MAC's latest collection - Quite Cute - launches in store later on this week, and whilst the pastel shades may not be suitable for all skin tones (me with a pale lilac lip is not a pretty sight...), you can't go wrong with a little bit of blusher, right?

It was love at first sight when I initially saw the promo pictures featuring these gorgeous limited edition blushes. As someone who finds it hard to resist a pretty cheek colour at the best of times, the added bonus of the adorable contrasting heart meant at least one of these mineralize beauties had to be mine.

In the end I opted for Miss Behave, a delicious pairing of light beige and pearly mint green. On application the powder feels soft against the cheek yet seems to settle on the skin with a slightly chalky finish. This can be quickly resolved with some rather liberal brush buffing, but I'd say in general this is the most powdery MAC mineralize product I've used.

Miss Behave Mineralize Blush applied to cheek

As you can see from the picture above, Miss Behave comes across more as a highlighter than a full blown colour adding blush. The mint green heart is packed full of small pieces of shimmer, which is great for adding a light sheen to the skin - yet I found both colours apply so sheerly, it's practically impossible to translate what you see in the pan onto the cheeks.

I'm not quite sure who this blush would work best on. As someone who is too pasty for MAC foundations I would guess those who fit in the NC/NW15 mark might have the best of luck. I do like the sweet and subtle glow this gives to the complexion, but at nearly £20 I was expecting more than a dusting of shimmer to the skin. If you're going to buy a blush from the Quite Cute range then Miss Behave perhaps isn't the best way to go,regardless of how lovely it'll look in your make up bag....

Miss Behave Mineralize blush is available from maccosmetics.co.uk for £18.00

*this product was purchased by the Beauty Bite*

MAC Prep + Prime Radiant Rose Highlighter

The latest member of the ever increasing Prep + Prime family has finally arrived - and me being the eager highlighter hoarder I am simply couldn't wait to get my hands on it...

Available in a trio of tones (Light Boost - yellow cream, Bright Forecast - peachy coral), I picked up Radiant Rose, a light shell pink designed to give the skin a sheer wash of subtle colour. Presented in a black plastic casing decorated with playful flecks of glitter, these 3.6g brush pens currently retail at an equivalent price of £4.72 per gram.

Intended for a wide range of uses including priming, brightening and instant-on-the-go-top ups, these twist pens possess a rather generous flow, dispensing enough product to cover most, if not all areas desired. The liquid is both creamy and seamless, blending beautifully into the skin using just the warmth of the finger tips.

Although the product is advertised and labelled as a 'highlighter', the formula itself isn't particularly radiant or reflective. Instead the colour applies in a way not too dissimilar to that of Touche Eclat, providing moderately light coverage with a gentle, uplifting sheen. It's very subtle, so subtle in fact it's almost hard to tell if it's doing anything at all.

Radiant Rose Highlighter in Sunlight

Radiant Rose Highlighter in dim light

This morning I applied the liquid to my cheeks, brow bones and under eyes - adding more product to any areas containing either light blemishes or darker freckles. As you can see from the picture below the whole look is very fresh and wide awake; absolutely perfect for creating clean spring skin. The brush itself makes application an absolute doddle, lending this range to be the ideal candidate for anyone searching for a fuss free top up tool.

Radiant Rose Highlighter applied to under eyes, brow bone and cheeks

In practice I like this product. It applies flawlessly, cleans up my complexion and gives a decent days wear without any caking. I just think for the price - and finish - it's simply not unique enough to justify repurchasing, especially as it seems to do very similar things to several products I already own; a £7Bourjois Concealer being one...

As always MAC have made a fantastically high quality product, and whilst this is helpful for pulling together a more flaw-free look, I'm sure most of you will already have a cheaper alternative in your stash. Definitely one to road test in store first.

MAC Prep & Prime Radiant Rose Highlighter pen is currently available from maccosmetics.co.uk for £17. Stores worldwide will stock the range from April 7th onwards.

*this product was purchased by the Beauty Bite*

The Beauty Bite's Make Up Staples: Eyebrows

When I was younger my mum forbid me from wearing make up - mainly due to the fact I was about 9 years old at the time - however, my sister developed a cunning plan which involved us buying a clear Miss Selfridge eyebrow gel and grooming our unruly hairs in secret. Man, those days were WILD!

Now, come 2011, I wouldn't be anywhere without my brow based essentials. After all, structured brows are crucial to finishing off any look, and all good make up bags wouldn't be complete without at least one trusted eyebrow pencil. Whilst reasonably pigmented matte shadows work gorgeously well at filling in gaps, pencils are without a doubt a more quick and precise way at pulling together a polished look in record time.

MAC Eye Brow Crayon in Fling swatched

The market is literally flooded with shades and textures to pick from; my ultimate go-to product is Eye Brows by MAC, an ultra fine self sharpening crayon that provides natural looking shape and definition in a matter of moments. It applies beautifully smooth and feels incredibly soft against the skin, regardless of how scratchy the nib may appear.

Another quick brow essential is Vaseline. By simply applying the tiniest amount of product to your little finger, the brows can be styled into place obtaining up to 8 hours firm hold. I've been doing this since I was 14 years old and love the sleek finish it gives. Voila! Abracadabra! Shazam! You get the picture...

What brow weapons do you swear by? Am I the only one too chicken to get them threaded?!

MAC Eye Brows are available in a wide range of shades from MAC counters worldwide and maccosmetics.co.uk for £11.50

MAC Mocha Powder Blush

There are few products I've touched pan on - let alone many I've repeatedly finished up - yet MAC's Mocha Blush seems to be one beauty staple I simply can't get enough of:

When applied with a light hand the matte powder appears stunningly natural against the skin. Possessing a beautiful semi-sheer formula, it's delicate dusky tones also work faultlessly well as a subtle contour.

Mocha Powder Blush applied lightly to cheeks.

Dainty in it's plummy pigmentation, the colour's depths adapt beautifully to work in sync with your own complexion . If you're a fan of the sweet and natural look then Mocha - although deceptively dark in it's pan - would be a great candidate for all skin tones.

MAC Mocha blush is available from MAC counters worldwide and maccosmetics.co.uk for £16.50

*this product was purchased by the Beauty Bite*

MAC Viva Glam

This Wednesday don't forget to don your red ribbon and help support World Aids Day 2010.

MAC are once again backing the charity via their range of Viva Glam lipsticks, glosses, cards and accessories. Since 1998 the sale of these items alone have raised over £4.4 million in the UK; and with your help this year that figure can be made far, far higher.

Your purchases really do change lives, so please visit the MAC website (search 'Viva Glam') and help support this vitally important fund. Alternatively, check out worldaidsday.org this December 1st to donate straight to the cause.

MAC & Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday

This Friday sees the limited UK launch of MAC's latest collaboration with gorgeous US rapper and style icon Nicki Minaj. Available exclusively at selfridges.com and maccosmetics.co.uk, this creamy satin formula takes the name 'Pink Friday' in honour of the singer's latest album.

If you fancy a piece of the action then be quick; this lippy is only available to purchase for the following four Fridays: November 26th, December 3rd, December 10th and December 17th. After that - it's gone for good! To celebrate the newest addition to MAC's enviable collaboration repertoire, Nicki revealed the inspiration behind her custom made shade:

"This shade is similar to the one I've worn for years by M·A·C but with a little extra ZING! I wanted a color that represented female empowerment as well as euphoria! The color makes u feel free to rule the world. Its sexy, yet fun! It pops! Its theatrical! It turns heads! No matter your age, Pink Friday makes u feel like you're the life of the party!

I've been wearing M·A·C products since my High School prom. I actually got it done at a M·A·C counter. From that day on, I've been hooked! I've always felt like M·A·C represents women of all colors and shades. The make- up always feels like it was custom made for your skin, your shade, your beauty regimen. The day I sat down with them I was very nervous. This had been my dream for a very long time. Surprisingly, they made me feel right at home. They had researched my pictures, my music, my fans! The staff seemed more like family than co-workers. It was a great experience."

If you're a fan of Nicki's pop out style or just a sucker for full blown Barbie pinks, this lipstick will be the perfect start to your weekend.

Pink Friday is available exclusively at selfridges.com and maccosmetics.co.uk from November 26th.

MAC - In The Groove FOTD

Skin: Product free

Eyes: Soften The Mood eye shadow trio (gold and blue used only)

Lashes: Max Factor False Lash Effect mascara.

Cheeks: Hang Loose/ Happy Together mineralize blush

Lips: All Styled Up Lipstick/ Right Image gloss

Hang Loose is without a doubt our favourite piece from the collection - such a gorgeous, gorgeous blush! We might need to stock up; after all, it is limited edition...

How have you guys found this collection? Any must haves and misses?

The Beauty Bite

xxx

p.s - come on Andy!

MAC - In The Groove

No talk. No chat. Just pictures. Because let's face it, that's what we're all here for.

Jazzed/All Styled Up Creme-Sheen Lipstick

Jazzed/All Styled Up swatched

All Styled Up applied to heavily pigmented lips (blotted)

Right Image Creme-Sheen Glass

Right Image Creme-Sheen Glass swatched

Right Image layered over All Styled Up.

Happy Together Mineralize Blush

Happy Together swatched (L-R top colour, bottom colour, blended)

Hang Loose Mineralize Blush

Hang Loose swatched (L-R top colour, bottom colour, blended)

Soften The Mood Eye Shadow

Soften The Mood Eyeshadow swatched

By Candle Light Mineralize Skin-finish

By Candle Light swirled and swatched

Petticoat Mineralize Skin-finish

Petticoat swirled and swatched

MAC Eye Shadow - Swimming

Firstly, sorry if we're a little bit distracted. There is a 15 year old boy on Countdown who is, quite frankly, beyond human. He is playing against a man with very shifty eyes. Now there is another man wearing a shirt covered in pictures of goldfish. If this gets anymore exciting our minds might actually explode.

However, something that's even more exciting then man in a tragic shirt (now he's doing magic tricks!) is this: MAC's Swimming. A gorgeous sea green lustre finish packed full of glistening silver shimmer.

Soft on the skin and smooth to apply, this bright green shadow is ideal for summer days. It's vibrant tone is perfect for making the eyes 'pop!' and is a fantastic compliment for all you out there with brown, blue or grey peepers.

MAC Swimming swatched

Rich with pigment, Swimming can be easily layered to increase the colour's intensity. We applied a single light coating using a fluffy eye brush, shading it out slightly towards the crease. The powder doesn't drop on application and, without primer, gave around 6 hours wear.

Swimming applied directly to eyelids

If you want to translate this fresh look into a smokier affair, simply layer with an olive toned shimmer and flat, matte, blackened green. We chose MAC's Green Smoke and it's sadly discontinued Femme Noir (Bourjois does fantastic dupes of both).

MAC Swimming, Green Smoke & Femme Noir swatched

Keeping it simple, we swiped across the lid with a large shadow brush working the matte powder into the crease. We then lightly blended the olive based shimmer upwards to soften the line. This look is great for a smouldering work eye or, loaded up with liner and lashes, a vampish evening ensemble.

MAC Swimming, Green Smoke & Femme Noir applied directly to eyelids

If you're someone who shys away from grassier shades then why not dip your toes in and take a swim? You never know - you might find it very refreshing.

MAC Swimming and Green Smoke and available internationally and at maccosmetics.co.uk at £11 for 1.5g.

*this product was purchased by the Beauty Bite*

MAC To The Beach - Beach Bronze Creme Bronzer

We realise most of you have probably read thousands of posts about MAC's newest addition to the family; so why not spend time soaking up another? Go on. It's a Saturday after all.

Ultra creamy and weightless, this formula is an absolute dream to apply; gliding smoothly onto the skin to create the most wonderfully natural sun kissed glow. In fact, we don't think we've ever loved a creme blend more. With each use it's limited edition status causes our brow to break out into the universally experienced 'must-stock-up-but-don't-want-to-spend-the-money' sweat. When this happens, you know you're onto a good thing.

Available in two golden shades, the formula's layering ability allows both colours to be suitable for use on all skin tones. It can be tough to find a bronzer that doesn't "dirty" the face - yet thanks to the sheerness of this mix, it's pretty hard to go O.T.T.

Beach Bronze swatched and blended out

Containing quite a large number of shimmer particles, if you hate the glittery effect then this bronzer might be best left. However, we found that if applied with a stippling brush the bristles are able to break down the worst offenders and offer a radiant, up-lighting sheen to the skin. It's a pro at catching the light.

Beach Bronze applied to bare skin

With a staying power of over 6 hours, we've fallen head over heels for this liquid gold. As far as MAC's latest releases go, this creme bronzer certainly sticks out as one of the best this year.

We're sure lots of you have checked this out. Yay or nay? Let us know what you think!

MAC Beach Bronze is available internationally and at maccosmetics.co.uk for £18.

*this product was purchased by the Beauty Bite*