It's MAC Week once again! The brand just sent me some press material + a bunch of products so I'll be going through them and letting you know what's up. ^_^ MAC remains one of the most relevant brands in the beauty world so it's important to pay attention to its trend reports and collections. It's great if you can buy the products, but more than anything it's the inspiration you take away that really improves your makeup style.

For my first post, here's a daring lipstick from the Magnetic Nude Collection, which was released last month. This collection features a lot of shimmery skintone nudes and molten metals. It's a winter collection, hence the dramatic play in contrast and colors. I know we're moving on to summer but the Carnal Instinct Lipstick (P1,000) is still a beautiful color to wear!

MAC describes it as a deep brick red with gold pearl. It's a dark, dramatic color that can turn off those with weaker constitutions (lol) but if you adore unforgettable lip colors then this you shouldn't miss. Carnal Instinct is a heart-stopping, dare I say vampiric shade of red that you won't easily find in other brands.

I do tons of makeup reviews, but what actually ends up on my face during a full day out of the house? Now that's the question. I guess the best way to show that is to do regular FOTDs (Face of the Days), where I can discuss the logic of each makeup choice. Haha. Look at us, talking about logic here.

Anyway, I just want to show you a look I wore last week. I failed, terribly, at capturing what I wore (it was a printed navy dress from Dorothy Perkins with a classy pair of nude pumps), so this is all I have to write about here. -_- I'll wear that outfit again, it deserves to be chronicled!

Okay! For my face, I just wore the MAC Studio Finish Concealer with the Ellana Intensive Cover Foundation. That's it. No other hoopla. I love the flawless finish I get with this duo! It's mostly matte but there is a subtle sheen to the foundation. 

I unearthed the Laura Mercier Creme Smooth Lip Color in Tamara Red (P1,250 at Rustan's) while I was searching for something else entirely. I've had this for almost a year now but didn't get to wear it very often - why, I have no idea! This is a gorgeous color in an equally beautiful bullet. I don't know what's wrong with me.

The formula is a creamy but sticks and sets on the lips comfortably. It's opaque in one layer! Staying power is good, at three hours before it starts to fade. It leaves a nice, even stain even after I've eaten. You might need a lip balm to moisturize your lips beforehand though, since this lipstick can feel drying after a while (typical of longwearing formulas really).

Are you still reluctant to wear loud lipstick? I'm not going to force you if it's really not your thing, but if you want to then here are a few steps to ease you into your scandalous color of choice. Remember - it's all in your head! Loud colors are fun to wear and shouldn't be taken too seriously. It's just lipstick.  You can take it off any time.

That being said, today I want to talk about a mini-selection of daring Maybelline Colorsensational Lipsticks (P399). These come in different variations of red (except one) hence the color of the tubes.

The formula is just okay. It's pigmented and fairly smooth, although I find that it can be drying after a couple of hours (you know the SOP for this). The lasting power of the bright reds are good at three hours plus a stain, but the lighter ones like the peach and coral - not so much at less than two hours. It has this strong sweetish vanilla scent that fades away after a few minutes.

Overall, the Maybelline Colorsensational is not too shabby for the price. I do love the reds here, which I have finally swatched for you!

Let's begin.

I think of shades as beauty products. Why? Because wearing them instantly provides you some level of sun protection on the eyes and face. If you have a major pimple, puffy and red eyes due to crying or an allergy, or if you came from a chemical peel, shades are your best friends. It covers up most of the unglamorous things on your face and immediately gives it an aura of mystique. What's not to love?

FLY Shades sent me these sunglasses about two months ago and I've been wearing them since then. I'm not one for high-end, uber-expensive sunnies (not yet?) so I really appreciate that these pretty FLY Shades are just around P340-P390. They're not flimsy at all - I've dropped the ones I use regularly and they're doing fine, if not a bit scratched up. Anyway you can find more information about FLY on their Facebook Page. :)

FLY Shades / Zara dress / Veloci watch / Ferretti heels / Tory Burch satchel

Yes, I'm wearing shorts underneath. I doubted the wisdom of this mini-dress as soon as I left the house, but oh well I like it like this. I can't think of it as a top because it's too long and thick so I will stubbornly maintain that it is in fact a mini-dress until the day I die.

I don't get a lot of opportunities to wear this glam sequined jacket, but when I do, I make the most of it! Last night's MAC event was the perfect occasion. I paired it with a sequined top since they sort of match, as well as pumps with shimmery gold heels. 

Promod jacket / Forever 21 skirt and top / Louis Vuitton Alma / Shoe Etiquette pumps

I had meetings before the event so I didn't have a clutch with me, hay. I'm not fond of carrying big bags in evening parties but it's hard to be prissy when you don't drive and get to bring a change of clothes/bags.

For the makeup I thought I'd try heavily lined eyes in saphire + red lips (MAC Russian Red of course). Would you guess that this is just black eyeliner topped with eyeshadow?

Remember my red phase? Yep, still not quite over it. I was in Powerplant a couple of weeks back when I randomly decided to buy a true red lipstick. For the life of me I don't know why I did it, because I have maybe seven red lipppies in my collection already. I just wanted a true red and there's only one lipstick I know that fits in that category: MAC Russian Red (P1,000).

Like I said, I already have a handful of reds, but Russian Red is on a whole new level of its own. It's a seductive, intense, blue-based red that nobody can miss. It's completely opaque in one layer and has a matte finish. I would recommend this to anyone who needs a memorable, eye-catching red - skintone issues aside as this is touted to match all shades. Makes teeth look super white too!

Now matte lipsticks are great because they tend to be very pigmented and long-lasting. The downside, however, is that they drag when you apply them, plus they can also be very drying.

I'm into red lately, particularly red lipstick. I'm also digging the vintage 50s movie star look, so my outfits recently are along those lines.

Anyway! I know that red on lips can be a rather intimidating color, but worn the right way, it can be your defining polished look. Sounding like a broken record I know, but out of all the lipstick shades out there red is the most liberating color to wear. You'll know it if you've tried it.