I hate to admit it, especially because of what I do, but a  MAC makeup artist managed to get me to take a fresh look at my makeup style...

As you can probably imagine, I have analyzed to the "nth degree" what makeup styles are best for me (and for others); the best palette of colors, the best techniques, the best product choices, the most feature flattering techniques and style etc... You might even say that I think I'm good at it.

So, when a girlfriend planned a "MAC Makeover Party" as a Christmas gift for her friends I thought, this will be fun, but I didn't expect to learn anything new.

Well I did.

I always pay attention when makeup is being applied to anyone ( I don't know why, kind  of like some strange hypnosis is taking place) but most of the time the application steps and styles created are all very familiar ...sometimes boringly familiar.  

This time I decided to really tune into the creative use of makeup product and have more of an open mind, especially when it came to me.

When it was my turn, I waived the polite MAC protocol approach initially used; "what products do you like to use?" and the quest for your style ideals.  Their objectives are, of coarse, to try to create a look that both suits you and flatters you, is in the vicinity of your comfort zone, and produces a very positive experience for you... positive enough to motivate product sales (no the work of MAC makeup artists isn't completely altruistic).

Sometimes you just have to trust the creativity of an artist and let go of control...

I gave my MAC makeup artist free reign over "the look" she was going to create on me.  Well she kind of took it...I think she detected a bit of an "I already know what I'm doing" tone in our conversation, although I really didn't intend it, which of coarse challenged her.  Plus, I really couldn't come up with a short answer to her question of what I wanted in this "makeover" look.   

Frankly, amidst my long winded babbling, I think I was saying "I want a fresh approach to my makeup style"...and this is when my MAC makeup artist took action.

Here is a little snap shot comparison of the usual makeup routine and my MAC makeup artist's creative "Evening Out" update, plus some of the feature products she used.

 (Un-retouched Snap Shot of "new look".)

Almost all of us were happy with the results, and it made for a fun evening out afterwards.  All of the "looks" were a variation of the ever popular "smoky eye" look, but effectively geared to the personal style and coloring of the individual.  I was actually pleasantly surprised with the results since I would have assumed that this style, especially with black lined inner lids, would have been way too harsh for my coloring  BUT Hey, I liked it!  

The following is a quick, step by step rundown of my Mac makeup artist's application on me.  If you are interested in more detail about the products highlighted, just click on the product name and a pop up window with more product information will appear.

1. Evened out my skin tone with a light weight foundation/tint applied and blended with a combination of brush, sponge and fingertips; Select Tint SPF 15 NC30

2.  Covered marks with concealer using concealer brush, blending into skin tone with brush; Studio Finish Concealer SPF 35 Nw25

3.  Applied light veil of translucent loose powder with large fluffy brush; Select Sheer/Loose Translucent Powder

4.  Worked Creme Blush beginning color focus on apples of cheeks and blending out along cheek bone with brush and finger tips; Blushcreme Ladyblush.

5.  Base eye shadow over entire eyelid and under lower lash line as well with medium eye shadow brush; Eye Shadow: Vanilla.

6.  Dabbed three small deposits of fluidline liner pigment over upper lid between crease and lash line and began blending from inner to outer corner and up into crease and brow bone.  A lot of blending strategy and care here!  Eventually working under the lower lash line too. Liner: Fluidline- Rich Ground.

7.  Lined upper lid lash line and blended into lid, plus lining inner upper and lower lids. Liner: Eye Kohl-Smolder

8.  Multiple coats of rich black mascara on upper and lower lashes.

9.  Filled sparse outer brows with Omega Eye Shadow.

10.  Lined lips and filled in with lip pencil; Lip Pencil: Oak

11.  Lipglass applied to lips and final touch to lips; Lustreglass-Love Nectar

12.  Pressed bronzing powder applied with brush across cheek bone and circling lightly under the cheekbone close to temple area.

13.  Final touches with cotton swab and fluffy powder brush removing any specs and reducing shine.

What did I buy?  

Well, I did happen to have a lot of the MAC makeup products already (Select tint, concealer, blushcreme etc).  My MAC makeup artist sold me on the versatility of a lot of the newer products, which I probably wouldn't have bought without her informative explanation.  So...I bought the Fluidline Liner-Rich Ground since it was also used as a beautiful creamy shadow, the Lustreglass-Love Nectar for its multi shade dimensional qualities, and the Oak Pencil because the shade worked well with Love Nectar. 

If you need a fresh perspective on your makeup style, I really encourage you to hit a MAC makeup counter and get some direction from a makeup artist.  You can take a short immediate consultation, make an appointment for the works, or even get a few friends together and have a MAC party (I think the minimum is six people to have a "MAC Makeover Party").  These artists are well trained in the very least, if not talented stylists.

There is one other point I would like to make about MAC makeup artists.  When you see them in your favorite department store, they often appear to have a lot of makeup on...more than most of us would likely where for most occasions.  

Remember, they are trying to capture our imagination with the possibilities of makeup and the boundless styles makeup can create. 

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