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MAC: Viva Glam Rihanna Campaign

Rihanna dominated much of 2013, with her makeup collaboration with MAC and MAC didn't sleep on an opportunity to carry this dynamic duo into 2014.  Rihanna is now the spokesmodel for the MAC AIDS Viva Glam campaign.  100% of the proceeds from Viva Glam purchases "go toward helping women, men, and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS".

The Viva Glam Rihanna collection promotes two lip products; Viva Glam Rihanna lipstick, which is described as a frosty blue-red, and a lipglass under the same moniker and description.

Although the lipstick is labeled as a frost, it gives more of a metallic finish (in my opinion), whereas the lipglass is undeniably a frost.

L-R: Viva Glam Rihanna Lipstick and Viva Glam Rihanna Lipglass

Viva Glam Rihanna Lipstick 

Viva Glam Rihanna Lipglass

Viva Glam Rihanna Lipstick with Viva Glam Rihanna Lipglass on top

As much as this purchase is a charitable contribution, there is a bit of a mutual benefit.  I'm beginning to wonder if there's a such thing as having too many reds.

While traveling over the Holidays, I managed to acquire more items from the RiRi Hearts MAC, Fall collection.  I'm having loads of fun working these products into my everyday looks.

If you're interested in purchasing the Viva Glam lippies, stop by your local MAC and check them out.  These colors are just in time for Valentine's day.

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RiRi Hearts MAC Holiday Eyes

This Holiday season, MAC reintroduced us to the Veluxe Pearlfusion Eyeshadow Palettes which feature 5 shades that are sure to make any eyelid sparkle.  As if Veluxe Pearlfusion wouldn't be enough glint and glimmer on its own, MAC rolled out two shades of Superslick eye liners. 

The Veluxe Pearlfusion palette in "Phresh Out" stays true to the rose gold theme of the last two RiRi Hearts MAC collections and "2X Dare" doesn't stray far away, offering more cool but neutral tones.  The colors in the "Phresh Out" palette are described by MAC as "soft champagne, peach gold with pearl, blackened plum, pearlescent pink, and violet mauve".  "2X Dare" is described by MAC as "white silver, deep grey blue, beige-grey, cement with pearl, and light crystal mauve".  The shadows are described as having a "highly pearlized frost finish".  Not all frosts are the same in these palettes.  Some shades give a nice sheen while others are more obvious, chunky flecks of glitter.

I walked away from this collection, only picking up the "Phresh Out" palette (for now...but we all know how that goes).

The two Superslick Eye Liners were also standouts for this collection.  "Cockiness" is described as a "shimmery rose gold" and "Pisces Persuasion" is described as a "shimmery white" eyeliner.  Both liners seem perfect for the holiday season.  I, personally, like layering the liner on the lower lashline.  When I purchased this collection during the store launch, the MA initially gave me "Pisces Persuasion", although I specifically requested "Cockiness".  I am glad that I confirmed my order, but both liners are very beautiful.

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RiRi Hearts MAC Holiday Accessories

I'm back again, with another post on the RiRi Hearts MAC Holiday Collection.  In this collection, there was a makeup bag, a double ended brush, and a nail polish.  I decided to skip out on the makeup brush and add the makeup bag and nail polish to my collection.

RiRi Hearts MAC: RiRi Woo Nail Polish (Retails for $17.50 USD)

With each installment of the RiRi Hearts MAC collection, RiRi Woo lipstick remained a staple.  This time MAC switched it up and offered a vibrant red nail color under the same moniker.  RiRi Woo nail lacquer is described as a "matte cool red".  I can't really attest to the "matte" factor of the nail polish but it definitely has a thick formula and a beautiful vibrant tone.  When I swatched the polish, it gave full opacity in just one coat.  I have been giving my nails a break because the skin around my nails have been going through some issues, but I hope to be back to posting nail swatches eventually.

RiRi Hearts MAC: RiRi Woo Nail Polish (Retails for $17.50 USD)

The makeup bag has been described as small, by some, but I've found that it is large enough to fit quite a few makeup items.  So far, I have been able to fit 7 lipsticks (from the various RiRi Hearts MAC launches), a veluxe pearlfusion eyeshadow palette, "Love, Rihanna" and "Hibiscus Kiss" bronzers, "Cockiness" superslick eyeliner, and "RiRi Woo" nail polish...and I still have room for more items.  This quilted, rose gold bag has the dimensions of 6.5" x 4.5" x 1.5".  Perfect to tote in your purse, or to travel with.

RiRi Hearts MAC Makeup Bag (Retails for $40.00 USD)

RiRi Hearts MAC Makeup Bag (Retails for $40.00 USD)

RiRi Hearts MAC Makeup Bag (Retails for $40.00 USD)

RiRi Hearts MAC Makeup Bag (Retails for $40.00 USD)

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RiRi Hearts MAC: Battle of the Bronzers

RiRi Hearts MAC Bronzing Powder in the shade "Love, Rihanna"

With MAC's recent collaboration with Rihanna, the third installment brings yet another bronzing powder.  This time, MAC left out the blush bit and stuck to rose gold goodness.  The "Love, Rihanna" bronzer is described as a "soft golden brown with overspray of gold pearl".  The overspray comes off more copper than gold and I've been hard pressed to find a dupe for its sheen, considering oversprays will disappear after some uses.  I've shied away from MAC's products with overspray because I have a thing with consistency.  I mean, what do you do when the overspray is gone?  How do you recreate the effect?  The layer of overspray seems slightly thick to where you may get some longevity out of it, depending on how much product you use.

RiRi Hearts MAC Bronzing Powder in the shade "Love, Rihanna"

RiRi Hearts MAC Bronzing Powder in the shade "Love, Rihanna"

RiRi Hearts MAC Bronzing Powder in the shade "Love, Rihanna"

RiRi Hearts MAC Bronzing Powder: "Love, Rihanna" ingredients

I've been playing around with the Love, Rihanna bronzer and I love the way it gives a subtle wash of color on my cheeks.  If it weren't for the fact that the overspray will eventually go away, this could easily be my everyday cheek color.

RiRi Hearts MAC Bronzing Powder in the shade "Love, Rihanna" (with camera flash)
L-R: Overspray, Bronzer, Mix of Overspray and Bronzer

RiRi Hearts MAC Bronzing Powder in the shade "Love, Rihanna"
L-R: Overspray, Bronzer, Mix of Overspray and Bronzer

The night before the collection launched in stores, I managed to pick up the bronzer/blush duo in "Hibiscus Kiss",  Hibiscuss Kiss was a repromote from the RiRi Hearts MAC summer collection, but this time they brought it back in special packaging.  As I mentioned in a previous post, I wasn't really able to get my hands on much, from the RiRi Hearts MAC fall collection.  I thought that perhaps mixing the blush and bronzer might give off a shade closer to the "Bad Girl Gone Good" blush that was released with the same collection.  MAC describes Bad Girl Gone Good as a "warm copper" shade.  Hibiscus Kiss is described as a "cool coral/matte neutral blush".

RiRi Hearts MAC Powder Blush Duo in the shade "Hibiscus Kiss"

RiRi Hearts MAC Powder Blush Duo in the shade "Hibiscus Kiss"

RiRi Hearts MAC Powder Blush Duo in the shade "Hibiscus Kiss"

RiRi Hearts MAC Powder Blush Duo in the shade "Hibiscus Kiss"

L-R: "Love, Rihanna" and "Hibiscus Kiss"

One of the slight differences between the two bronzer products is that "Love, Rihanna" has small, very finely milled glitter flecks in the powder, compared to "Hibiscus Kiss" which is totally matte.

All may not be lost when it comes to acquiring pieces from the Fall and Holiday launches.  Keep checking your local counters and online MAC retailers.  You may be surprised at what's still laying around!!

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RiRi Hearts MAC Holiday Lipsticks

Three lipsticks were released with MAC's most recent Rihanna Holiday collection: Pleasure Bomb, Bad Girl RiRi, and RiRi Woo (re-promote).  The packaging was a play on the Fall collection, with Rose Gold making it's grand return.  Check out the pics below.

RiRi Hearts MAC Holiday Lipsticks: (L-R) Pleasure Bomb, Bad Girl RiRi, and RiRi Woo

Pleasure Bomb is described as a "matte fuchsia" and is easily the "stand-out" of this collection.  This vibrant pink is perfect to switch up the standard red lip for the holidays.

RiRi Hearts MAC Holiday Lipsticks: (L-R) Pleasure Bomb, Bad Girl RiRi, and RiRi Woo

Swatching Pleasure Bomb reminded me of another bright pink/red shade that I picked up earlier this year.  Maybelline launched its Vivids collection which featured 10 bright shades ranging from reds to oranges to pinks to purples.  I picked up the shade Vivid Rose, which is very creamy and has a nice sheen.  Vivid Rose and Pleasure Bomb are pretty similar in color only; the finishes are quite different.

L-R; MAC's Pleasure Bomb and Maybelline's Vivid Rose

L-R; MAC's Pleasure Bomb and Maybelline's Vivid Rose swatches indoor with flash

Bad Girl RiRi is described as a "matte taupey nude".  Depending on your skin tone/color, it can come across as a very natural pink leaning nude.  It makes my lip color look a little Olivia Pope-esque, which is quite refreshing considering I have very unevenly pigmented lips. *Edit:  It seems as though, either this was a very popular color or MAC drastically limited the supply.  I believe this was the first of the lipstick trio to sell out on-line.  At my local MAC counter, within 5 minutes of opening, the lady that was 7th in line couldn't get Bad Girl RiRi.

RiRi Hearts MAC Holiday Lipsticks: (L-R) Pleasure Bomb, Bad Girl RiRi, and RiRi Woo

RiRi Woo has been the staple for the Rihanna/MAC collaboration as this color has been launched in the Summer, Fall, and Holiday collections.  This retro-matte is described as a "matte cool red".  Swatches of this lipstick have been compared to MAC's Ruby Woo, which is probably one of the most popular reds offered by the cosmetic company.  The exquisite packaging just gave MAC and Rihanna fans a reason to re-purchase the lippie.

RiRi Hearts MAC Holiday Lipsticks: (L-R) Pleasure Bomb, Bad Girl RiRi, and RiRi Woo

RiRi Hearts MAC Holiday Lipsticks: (L-R) Pleasure Bomb, Bad Girl RiRi, and RiRi Woo swatched outdoors

RiRi Hearts MAC Holiday Lipsticks: (L-R) Pleasure Bomb, Bad Girl RiRi, and RiRi Woo swatched indoors

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