In this makeup feature, we look at some MAC makeup must-haves for Key Trends AW14. Some will be classic products you already own, and others you may have heard of, and some could be new to you – but all are tried-and-true essentials for their Autumn Winter key trends report from the international runways in 2014.
Read our summary of the AW14 key trends, with model faces and the four key trends on Thread here.
There is a theme of Beauty is Individuality. Makeup, oxymoronically, is about using artistry to achieve something that looks un-cosmetic, thanks to ever sophisticated and subtle makeup formulations and applications. The four key looks are Off Colour, Streamlined, On Reflection, and Unprocessed.
In the photos below, I’ve swatched many of them to show you how they look on skin. First up; Clear Brow Set. This lauded product is a brush-on gel to do three basic tasks: stroke your brows into shape, make them stay put in shape, and adds shine to brows.
I found LUNA Cream Colour Base is best used sparingly as a dewy highlighter and do be careful to use clean fingers in it or the pot gets quite dirty. If you want a colour with more warmth, choose Shell. It is multi-use, so you can blend it into inner corners of eyes, bridge of nose, cheekbones, and cupid’s bow.
Painterly Pro Longwear Paint Pot is a creamy eye colour in the perfect peachy-nude shade. It is described as nude-beige but I think it is slightly peachy in person. It goes on quite matte yet creamy and is longlasting so it makes an ideal eyeshadow base.
Ladyblush Cremeblend Blush is the only MAC blusher I have actually used up completely to the pan. It is a true rose shade that suits most skin tones. Some people tell me they don’t agree with the sticky nature but I had no problem with it and found it blended well over foundation.
Eyebrow pencil in Fling is a great colour for blondes such as myself. I found it very fine-tipped, so you could draw on individual hairs with a little flicking motion of your wrist, as opposed to the very thick eyebrow pencils that draw on a rather solid brow line which can look a bit fake. You never need to sharpen it as it winds up.
Chromagraphic pencil in Primary Yellow is a pop of colour that is sure to get comments. When I put the intro photo on Instagram, this yellow pencil is the one people were drawn to to ask questions about, as it’s really different. Whilst not for everyone, if you’re looking for a fun injection of seasonal colour, this is a highly-pigmented and comfortable to wear pencil. I have swatched it below. I would wear this as an eyeliner on the upper eyelid.
Lustre Lipstick in Cockney is a nice deep red a bit lighter than Russian Red, and similar to Ruby Woo or Maleficent True Love’s Kiss. The main difference to these other MAC lipsticks is that Cockney is a Lustre finish, meaning is it pearlised and quite sheer. I recommend Lustre lipsticks to those new to wearing red lipsticks who want a wash of colour rather than a matte coverage.
Cockney lipstick swatched.
Painterly Paint Pot. So very pretty.
Paint Pot in Painterly, next to my skintone for comparison. By the way, my nude nailpolish is MAC Proenza Schouler flesh nail lacquer.
Pressed Pigment in Blond Streak takes a bit of practice to apply; I did get a lot of fall out. I like it brushed on over another eyeshadow base as it is quite pale alone. Note: in the Pressed Pigment range, Jet Couture is a beautiful black shimmer shadow to look out for.
Words and photography by Megan Robinson
19th July 2014
Leave a Reply