MAC Store Haul - Sonic Chic Mineralize Blush & Pro Longwear Lustre Twins

I finally went in and picked up a few things from the MAC store not too long ago. I wanted to redeem my 6 empty items for a lipstick and also pick up something from one of the new color stories. I ended up getting one of the Pro Longwear Lustre Twins in Ripe & Ready/Soft & Lush and a Mineralize blush in Gleeful from the Sonic Chic line.

I'm so glad that the Back 2 MAC program now offers a variety of products for redemption rather than just a lipstick. You now have the option of either an eyeshadow, lipgloss or lipstick (including Pro Longwear!). So save up your 6 empty containers to redeem for any of those 3 types of items! There are a few things to keep in mind - for eyeshadow containers, it has to have the metal pan. You can actually buy an empty pan if you depot your shadow & just glue it in, only actual plastic containers qualify. No paper packaging can be brought in, so the boxes the products come in don't count. This one is new too - they are now accepting eyeshadow pans that are bought to fill a palette. The pan has to have the magnet with the actual sticker on it. If you bring in an item that is a minature set, like the pigment and lipgloss sets from the Holiday colorstories, you need to bring in the entire set. All 6 lipgloss tubes or pigment containers. I think its pretty easy to collect 6 empty containers if you, for example, have a HG lipgloss/lipstick that is MAC, use the skincare line frequently or depot your eyeshadows to put them in to a MAC palette! If you have any questions, you can always chat online with a rep at MAC.com.

First off, the lippy. I’m not so fond of longwear color due to the feeling it leaves your lips without the glossy top coat. It kind of makes my lips feel tight after applying, but when you add the glossy topcoat, my lips feel fine! You really have to keep applying the topcoat if you're out and drinking. It can make your lips dry later during wear as well. Instead of using the topcoat all the time, I sometimes dab on a little bit of Tendertone balm on top. The pros about this product is it really is very long wearing, excluding if you're eating foods that are oily. The con is that the topcoat needs to be used frequently and they do not offer replacements for the Lustre gloss! Currently they only have replacements for the clear gloss or mirror which is a silvery glitter topcoat. I don't think I will repurchase this item in this particular color because I think I'll have it for a long time. If anything, I will pick up another color to add to my collection. Maybe a red!

I love the Soft & Lush glossy coat on the left!
Such a pretty coral color on! I love how the Lustre topcoat really adds some depth to the color.
I forgot that I did have a Pro Longwear lipstick from a few years back when they first launched. Top is Stuck On You with the clear topcoat.

Mineralize blush in Gleeful from the Sonic Chic line

The one make up item that I rarely really buy is blush. I really stick to either a more pink or a more peach tone depending on the look I'm going for. My HG blush is NARS' Deep Throat for a peachy shade and MAC's Blushbaby for a pinky tone. It took me going into the store and swatching the colors myself to decided if I wanted one. I checked out Nuance and Gleeful and this one was the winner. Nuance was more of a peach color but with my complexion, it wouldn't have really shown. The pigmentation on these blushes are wonderful! I just dab a little bit on the apples of my cheeks! I don't think I will be purchasing another blush from this line and am very pleased with this purchase!

Minor rant about the MUA's at the Westfield Southcenter Mall - they are gd rude. First the gal flat out said that I could not redeem my 6 for a Pro Longwear. I told her I chatted with a rep online and she still had to confirm it with her manager who confirmed it was true. Bitch, see I told you. She did not seem like she wanted to help me and I was just irritated. Arrrggh! I wish my girl Tiffy was closer to me! She is mgr at the DT Seattle MAC counter @ Nordy's so visit her if you're in DT! :) I don't want to go back to that MAC store, but I probably will since its closer to me.