Mac 168 Large Angled Contour Brush: Old vs New

Top: Old Version
Bottom: New Version

I already wrote a review about the Mac 168 Large Angled Contour brush. You can read it here. =)

This post is just going to be a comparison of the old version and the new version of the Mac 168 brush.

Left: New Version
Right: Old Version

Old Version 

• has a more angled shape
• bristles are very soft, but not as soft as the new version
• less denser, but is by no means floppy
• sheds 1-2 hairs after each wash
• bought it at a Mac counter in Macy's

New Version 

• has a more oval shape and less angled shape
• bristles are softer
• denser
• sheds 1-2 hairs after each wash
• handle is a smidgen longer
• bought it at MacCosmetics.com



Left: New Version

Right: Old Version



Bottom Line: Even though there are physical differences between the old and the new version of the Mac 168 brush, I find the differences to be insignificant because they both apply my blushes and bronzers the same way. However, I do like the old version more because the head is more angled and it looks better.

I'm not bashing Mac's brushes. This post is just to inform you guys and gals that there are differences with each of the brushes that Mac sells. The differences can be slight, such as the two Mac 168 brushes above; however, the differences can also be drastic, such as the two Mac 187 brushes that I compared in a previous post here. 

Have you experienced this before with any of Mac's brushes?

Eyeshadow Swatches & Comparisons: Urban Decay Blaze, Urban Decay Chopper and Urban Decay Free Love

*Color Description*

Mac All That Glitters - peachy pink with gold shimmers; shimmery finish

Urban Decay Blaze - peachy gold; metallic frost finish

Urban Decay Chopper - peachy bronze with a hint of a copper undertone 

& microglitters; metallic frost finish

Mac Tan Pigment - peachy tan with a more copper undertone

than Chopper; shimmery finish

Mac Paradisco - pinky coral with gold sheen; similar to Free Love,

except Paradisco is lighter & pinker; shimmery finish
 

Urban Decay Free Love - pinky coral with gold sheen; similar to Paradisco,

except Free Love is darker & more coral; metallic frost finish

*Favorite*

Blaze: gorgeous metallic sheen and lovely color when paired with greens.

(I know it may sound like an odd couple, but the colors do work very well together.)

*Skip*

I'm happy with all the colors, but Chopper might frustrate some people because it has microglitters.

*Urban Decay Eyeshadows*

Pros:

• pigmented and easy to blend
• buttery texture (except the ones with microglitters)  
  
• pretty frost finish with a metallic sheen
• no fallouts with most of the eyeshadows
• doesn't crease & lasts all day on my eyes when used with a primer
• good range of colors 
• fits in my Stars Makeup Haven empty eyeshadow palette (review)

  

Cons: 

• gets dusty and messy in the pan
• some eyeshadows have microglitters (which causes me to have fallouts when I apply them on my eyes)
• refill pans can't be purchased
• harder to depot than mac eyeshadows
• expensive when compared to Mac and other brands

Bottom Line: I would definitely repurchase more Urban Decay eyeshadows when they're on sale, but I would stay away from the ones that have microglitters.

Note: Mac Eyeshadows in pan form cost $11.00 for 1.5 grams (some of the eyeshadows have 1.3 grams). Urban Decay Eyeshadows cost $17.00 for 1.5 grams. Stars Makeup Haven (SMH) raised their price from $4.95 to $6.00 for 1.3 grams.

The quality of Mac eyeshadows are better than SMH eyeshadows. I hit pan faster with SMH eyeshadows because the formula is smoother. They also get really dusty and crumbly in the pan and a lot of the product tends to fall down to my cheeks and under eye area when I apply them on my lids. It's much more worth it to invest in a Mac eyeshadow since they last longer in the pan and I don't get any fallouts. I would only purchase from SMH if they have shades that Mac doesn't carry, but I wouldn't purchase "Mac dupes" from SMH because the quality of Mac eyeshadows are far superior. 

What Urban Decay eyshadows do you have or would like to have?

Sigma Brush Cup Holder and 10% OFF Coupon

Finally, Sigma has the brush cup holder for sale! In the past, you had to purchase one of the "Make Me Up*" kits in order to get the brush cup holder too. I was not going to pay $99 just for the brush cup holder. Sigma is now selling it individually for $20.

The Sigma Brush Cup Holder is great for travel and for storage. When you open it, it turns into 2 brush holders. You can put all your face brushes in 1 cup and your eye brushes in the other cup to be more organized. Also, the cup holder isn't just for Sigma brushes. Brushes from other brands will fit inside it too.

You can get the Sigma Brush Cup Holder here* for $20.  Also, you can get 10% off all orders. Just enter code GLOW2011 at checkout. Coupon expires July 31 and a new coupon code can be found on my blog's sidebar. The Sigma coupon code on the sidebar is updated every month.

As usual, you get a free gift when you purchase $30 or more.

Also, the Premium Professional Kit with Brush Roll* is currently $10 off its normal price plus you can use the 10% off coupon.

*affiliate link

Eyeshadow Swatches & Comparisons: Urban Decay Sin and Urban Decay Sellout

I bought these Urban Decay eyeshadows in October/November 

and I haven't gotten the chance to swatch them until now.

Enjoy =)

*Color Description*

Stars Makeup Haven Sin-Sational - peachy champagne;

a little darker than Jest; shimmery finish

Urban Decay Sin - pinky beige; darker than Guilty as Sin & Sellout; 

similar to Naked Lunch, except Sin has a metallic frost finish

Mac Naked Lunch - pinky beige; darker than Guilty as Sin & Sellout; 

similar to Sin, except Naked Lunch has a shimmery finish

Stars Makeup Haven Guilty as Sin - pinky beige; a little lighter than Sin & Naked Lunch, 

but darker and pinker than Sellout; shimmery finish

Mac Jest - light peachy beige; a little lighter than Sin-Sational; similar to Sellout, 

except Jest has a peachy undertone & a shimmery finish

Urban Decay Sellout - light pinky beige; lighter than Sin, Naked Lunch & Guilty as Sin; 

similar to Jest, except Sellout has a pinky undertone & a metallic frost finish

*Favorite*

Sellout: perfect color for the lids, feels so buttery smooth 
& has a gorgeous metallic sheen

*Skip*

Sin-Sational - doesn't last long on my eyes even with my 

Too Faced Shadow Insurance Primer or Urban Decay Primer

Guilty as Sin - a little bit glittery

*Urban Decay Eyeshadows*

Pros:

• pigmented and easy to blend
• buttery texture (except the ones with microglitters) 
  
• pretty frost finish with a metallic sheen
• no fallouts with most of the eyeshadows
• doesn't crease & lasts all day on my eyes when used with a primer
• good range of colors 
• fits in my Stars Makeup Haven empty eyeshadow palette (review)

  

Cons: 

• gets dusty and messy in the pan
• some eyeshadows have microglitters (which causes me to have fallouts when I apply them on my eyes)
• refill pans can't be purchased
• harder to depot than mac eyeshadows
• expensive when compared to Mac and other brands

 

Bottom Line: I would definitely repurchase more Urban Decay eyeshadows when they're on sale, but I would stay away from the ones that have microglitters.

Note: Mac Eyeshadows in pan form cost $11.00 for 1.5 grams (some of the eyeshadows have 1.3 grams). Urban Decay Eyeshadows cost $17.00 for 1.5 grams. Stars Makeup Haven (SMH) raised their price from $4.95 to $6.00 for 1.3 grams. 

The quality of Mac eyeshadows are better than SMH eyeshadows. I hit pan faster with SMH eyeshadows because the formula is smoother. They also get really dusty and crumbly in the pan and a lot of the product tends to fall down to my cheeks and under eye area when I apply them on my lids. It's much more worth it to invest in a Mac eyeshadow since they last longer in the pan and I don't get any fallouts. I would only purchase from SMH if they have shades that Mac doesn't carry, but I wouldn't purchase "Mac dupes" from SMH because the quality of Mac eyeshadows are far superior.

What Urban Decay eyshadows do you have or would like to have?

Eyeshadow Swatches & Comparisons: Inglot Pearl 402

This post is long overdue!

 I bought a 10 round pan eyeshadow palette from Inglot for $32.15 + $2.85 tax when I was at IMATS in April 

and I finally took pictures of swatches for you guys. =). 

This post will only be about the Inglot Pearl 402 eyeshadow.

I will be posting swatches of the other Inglot eyeshadows as well as comparisons in the near future.

  

*Color Description*

All shades are taupey and have a plummy purple undertone
 

Urban Decay YDK - has a hint of a brown undertone; has a more plummy undertone than Inglot 

Pearl 402, Satin Taupe & Stray Dog; metallic frost finish with microglitters

Inglot Pearl 402 - light taupe with a brown undertone; shimmery finish

Stars Makeup Haven Breathless - the lightest and has the strongest plummy 
purple undertone among the 5 eyeshadows; shimmery finish 

Mac Satin Taupe - similar to Stray Dog, except Satin Taupe has a 

more plummy undertone with a shimmery finish 

Urban Decay Stray Dog - similar to Satin Taupe, except Stray Dog has a 

more brown undertone & a prettier metallic frost finish

 

*Inglot Empty Palette Problem*

I don't have pictures of the Inglot empty palette because I gave it to my friend. I don't like Inglot's palettes because they are magnetic and the magnets are super strong.You must slide the lid in order to remove it. If you lift the lid, you have a great chance of "nicking" or ruining your eyeshadows. Also, it is difficult to remove the eyeshadows from the palette. You need to use a magnet to lift the eyeshadow out. I prefer to use my Stars Makeup Haven empty pan palette (review) because it holds more eyeshadows, it's lighter, and it's easy to reorganize my eyeshadows whenever I need to.

*Inglot Round Pan Eyeshadow*

Pros:

• pigmented, buttery and easy to blend
• no fallouts when I apply it
• doesn't crease & lasts all day on my eyes when used with a primer
• huge range of colors 
• fits in my Stars Makeup Haven empty eyeshadow palette

  

Cons: 

• gets dusty and crumbly in the pan
• hit pan faster than Mac eyeshadows (which amounts to the same price as a Mac eyeshadow, since you will have to repurchase an Inglot eyeshadow faster)  
• round pan eyeshadows are not available to purchase online
• you can't buy eyeshadow refills unless you buy the Inglot palette or unless you bring your Inglot palette in store
• stores are currently limited in the US
• shipping costs around $8 (free shipping over $150)
  

Bottom Line: It's much more worth it to invest in a Mac eyeshadow since they last longer in the pan. Even though the Inglot round pan eyeshadows contain 1.6 grams - 1.8 grams of product, I will definitely hit pan faster with an Inglot round pan eyeshadow than with a Mac eyeshadow because I have used the Inglot Pearl 402 eyeshadow less than 10 times and there is already a small dent. I would only purchase the Inglot round pan eyeshadows if Inglot has shades that Mac doesn't carry, but I wouldn't purchase "Mac dupes" from Inglot.

However, it may be more worth it to buy the Inglot 10 square pan eyeshadow palette since each eyeshadow contains 2.3 grams - 2.7 grams and the whole palette retails for $60. The Inglot 10 round pan eyeshadow palette retails for $50. (I got the price information from Inglot's main website. Bloggers are reporting different prices for in-store and online purchases. The prices are inconsistent, so it's best to check your nearest Inglot store for prices if you plan on purchasing in-store.)

Side Note: I like Inglot eyeshadows more than Stars Makeup Haven & Coastal Scents eyeshadows because Inglot eyeshadows feel buttery and I don't get any fallouts when I apply them on my eyes.

 

Note: Mac Eyeshadows in pan form cost $11.00 for 1.5 grams (some of the eyeshadows have 1.3 grams). Urban Decay Eyeshadows cost $17.00 for 1.5 grams. Stars Makeup Haven (SMH) raised their price from $4.95 to $6.00 for 1.3 grams. Coastal Scents (CS) eyeshadows cost $4.49 for 1.3 grams.

The formula of Urban Decay eyeshadows is different than Mac, with the exception of some Mac eyeshadows. Urban Decay eyeshadows are much smoother and buttery, and the shimmery eyeshadows look much prettier than the Mac shimmery eyeshadows. However, I do get some fallouts when I apply certain Urban Decay eyeshadows (the ones with the microglitters), but I don't get as much fallouts as I do with my SMH & CS eyeshadows.

The quality of Mac eyeshadows are better than SMH & CS eyeshadows. I hit pan faster with SMH & CS eyeshadows because the formula is smoother. They also get really dusty and crumbly in the pan and a lot of the product tends to fall down to my cheeks and under eye area when I apply them on my lids. It's much more worth it to invest in a Mac eyeshadow since they last longer in the pan and I don't get any fallouts. I would only purchase from SMH and CS if they have shades that Mac doesn't carry, but I wouldn't purchase "Mac dupes" from SMH & CS because the quality of Mac eyeshadows are far superior.

Do you prefer Inglot or Mac eyeshadows? 

Looks: Golden Ivy

 

Highlight: Mac Brule

Lid: Urban Decay Half Baked

Crease: Inglot Pearl 433 + Inglot AMC Shine 44

Outer V: Mac Carbon

Transition Color: Wedge

I added some color on my lower lash line in the last picture. I had to clean up the eyeshadow a little bit with some concealer. So, that's why it kind of looks a little bit too light under my eyes. 

P.S. I actually prefer not to add any color on my lower lash line, but I just wanted to show you guys/gals the difference.

Review & Swatches: Inglot AMC #75 Bronzing Powder

Direct Sunlight 

The stock photo of the Inglot AMC #75 Bronzing Powder looks like a dark mud shade. (The color differs depending on the computer screen settings.) Not only is the stock photo unhelpful, but Inglot doesn't provide any color description on their website. 

Instead of ordering it online, I decided to check out the color in store, which I hate because most SAs "hard sell" their products. One of the SAs at Inglot did just that. She tried to "hard sell' me EVERY product in the store. I am NOT exageratting. She kept blabbing on and on about each and every one of Inglot's product, and asked me to check out how good her face looked because she was wearing all Inglot products, but I just did my own thing and swatched what I was interested in.

When I swatched AMC #75 on my arm, it did NOT show a hint of orange at all and did not look like mud either. It leans more to the golden and bronzey side. When compared to Too Faced Chocolate Soleil (review & swatches), AMC #75 has a yellow undertone to it. 

The lighting was not bright enough in the store, so I asked the SA what type of finish the bronzer had. The SA looked dumbfounded and responded, "Uh, what type of finish it has? Uh, what type do you think it has?" WTH?? Not only did she not give me an answer, but she asked the question back to me. I would have been easily satisfied if she just said, "I'm not sure, but I can ask one of my co-workers."

Horrible Bathroom Lighting

When I got home, I did a little research and found out that AMC meant Advanced Makeup Component. Still, that tells me nothing about the shade, texture or finish. So, I emailed Inglot, but they never replied back to me.

See how dusty, crumbly, and messy it gets?

If I'm contouring, I always reach for Chocolate Soleil because it is completely matte and looks natural. As for AMC #75, I prefer to use it as a bronzer because I can see microscopic gold shimmers & a gold sheen upclose under artificial lighting and it looks extremely shimmery under direct sunlight, which looks very unnatural, especially if you're using it to contour. It only looks good & natural from a short distance (1ft or farther) in indoor lighting because I can't see the gold sheen or shimmer. Just keep in mind that AMC #75 is more suitable to use as a bronzer and not for contouring.

Indoor Natural Lighting with Shade

Another thing that I'm not too fond of is the formula of the product. It's very dusty and even if you are tapping the brush lightly into the pan, it still makes a mess in the pan. I've also tried pressing the brush firmly into the pan and it doesn't make a mess; however, the brush ends up picking up too much product that way, and then I have to tap off the excess; thus, it still makes a mess in the pan. 

 Indoor Natural Lighting near Window

Another important thing to mention is that I've only used the Inglot bronzer less than 10 times, but there's already a dent in the pan! WTH??!! I've used my other bronzers and blushes more than 20 times; however, I've barely made a dent in any of them and they still look like new. The problem with Inglot's bronzer is that the formula is smoother & more crumbly, and this is also the reason why it makes such a mess in the pan. No doubt, I will hit pan faster even if I don't use it as much as my other bronzers and blushes.

 Outside with Barely any Sunlight

The product looks very pigmented when I swatch it with my finger and onto my arm; however, the shade is not dark enough for me when I apply it on my face. It only gives me a hint of warmth to my cheeks, which might be good for someone who wants a "minimal makeup" look. I like more color on my cheeks because lately, I've been lazy with my eye makeup, and have been just wearing eyeliner & mascara. So, I like wearing Mac's My Paradise Cheek Powder (review & swatches) underneath the AMC #75 bronzer because that combination gives me more color on my cheeks and dimension to my face. (Usually, blush is worn on top of a bronzer; however, I find that My Paradise looks better under the Inglot bronzer.) I just hate that I have to pair it with another product just to make the color work.

Direct Sunlight

The only good thing about this bronzer is that it applies evenly without any blotchiness, and if you have a heavy hand and go overboard, don't worry, it's very easy to blend out. (I use my Royal & Langnickel BC180 brush: review.)

Note: The Inglot AMC #75 Bronzing Powder retails $18 for 9 grams. I got mine for $14.40 because I received 20% off from an Inglot store. Even though Too Faced Chocolate Soleil costs $28 for 10 grams and Mac's bronzers retails $21-$24 for 10 grams, it's much more worth it to invest in those brands because they last longer in the pan and their formula is not dusty, powdery or crumbly. I highly recommend checking them out because their quality is far superior to Inglot. 

Have you tried any of Inglot's bronzers?

Mac Matte Eyeshadows: Blending Issues?

Mac's matte eyeshadows have a bad reputation and it's just so unfortunate because I actually LOVE their matte eyeshadows. I've been reading alot of people's reviews, and some have said that the pigmentation of Mac's matte eyeshadows "sucks," and they said that when they swatch the color with their fingers, it does not show up on their arm. It's really unfair to Mac when people just base their assessment by swatching the eyeshadows on their arms or fingers because products apply differently when used on the eyes. Mac's eyeshadows in Corduroy, Espresso, Brown Down, Carbon & a few other ones do not show up that well when I swatch it on my arm; however, when I use a brush and apply it onto my eyes, they are VERY pigmented. (Important: Do not swatch with your fingers before washing them first because the natural oils produced by your fingers/hands will leave a "shiny film" on the eyeshadow. That's why some of the testers at Mac look yucky because people rubbed their greasy/oily/dirty fingers on it, which I've been guilty of doing too.)

Other reviewers have said that Mac's matte eyeshadows do not blend out that well. The Mac 217 brush (review) is not ideal for blending out HARSH lines, especially highly pigmented eyeshadows like the Mac matte eyeshadows. You need to get the Sonia Kashuk Large Crease brush (review) because it's dense and firm enough to blend out HARSH lines as well as Mac's matte eyeshadows. It is my holy grail blending brush and I highly recommend grabbing one. Also, you should apply Mac's matte eyeshadows with a fluffy brush or a light hand.

Another reason why people might be having a hard time blending is that they are not letting their eye primer set or dry before applying the eyeshadows. If you add any type of powder eyeshadow (matte, satin or frost) onto your lids when your eye primer is still wet or tacky, it'll be very difficult to blend out the eyeshadows. You need to let the eye primer set and dry first.

Bottom Line: Mac's matte eyeshadows are wonderful if you know how to use them. =)

On a side note: I love Mac eyeshadows in general because the quality is as good as or even better than the high end brands. As for cheaper brands, such as Coastal Scents (CS) and Stars Makeup Haven (SMH), their quality is definitely inferior to Mac. I've had most of my Mac eyeshadows for more than 1 year & some for more than 2 years, and I've barely made a dent or hit pan on any of them, except for Brule because I've been using it everyday for the past 6 months as a highlight. Still, I have not hit pan! There is only a small dent.

However, I've made a big dent on some of my CS and SMH eyeshadows, even though I only used them a handful of times. Some even hit pan and I only used those less than 60 times. I remember using SMH Cat's Meow & CS S06 almost everyday for 2 months (the colors are gorgeous), but I stopped when I noticed that I hit pan. I also get a lot of fall outs when I apply them because the formula of Coastal Scents and Stars Makeup Haven eyeshadows are more smoother and crumbly, which causes me to hit pan faster. 

Coastal Scents eyeshadows cost $4.49 for 1.3 grams while SMH eyeshadows cost $6 for 1.3 grams. Even though Mac eyeshadows in pan form cost $11 for 1.5 grams (some of the eyeshadows have 1.3 grams), it's much more worth it to invest in a Mac eyeshadow, since they last longer in the pan and I don't get any fall outs. I would only purchase from SMH and CS if they have shades that Mac doesn't carry, but I wouldn't purchase "Mac dupes" from SMH or CS because the quality of Mac eyeshadows are far superior.

What is your experience with Mac's matte eyeshadows?