MAC - Semi Precious Discussion

plusluxe

Active member
I'm not feeling this collection, kind of boring to me!
Except for the brushes...how are they to work with?

I'll wait for the glitter later this year
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dreamer246

Well-known member
Guess what I hauled today?
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http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu299/WinnieYeo/Swatches/IMG_0794.jpg

Pretty cool to be able to see this whole massive collection in person before most people get to see it. Hehe. Sorry I do not have swatch pics for you, but I will do a really quick review to help all who's still undecided! To start off, I would say that this is truly a collection to be seen in person if possible, because most of the products were not quite what I was expecting. I also honestly thought that most of the colors in this collection are not unique at all in person.

Eyeshadows:
Blue Sheen - you HAVE to use this wet, otherwise you don't get to see the true beauty of it. I took a pic of it together with She Who Dares MES and Blue Flame MES, and it's pretty clear that Blue Sheen has a much deeper and richer color than the other 2.

http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu299/WinnieYeo/Swatches/IMG_0790.jpg

Clarity VS Jade's Fortune - i lumped them together because I always had the impression that they were similar, judging from online swatches. they both swatch poorly when dry (although Jade's Fortuned fared a little better). When wet, Clarity has the metallic/foiled look to it whereas Jade's Fortune provided more of a sheen. Clarity is more of a charcoal-grey color whereas Jade's Fortune is more dirty silver-blue. They may appear similar when swatched dry, but when you wet them the difference is definitely quite obvious.
Faux Gold - this was actually pretty and decently pigmented enough when swatched dry. i didn't get a chance to try it wet, but i may go back to check it out.
Golden Gaze - i preferred this when swatched dry (probably the most pigmented among the the whole lot when used dry), because it has a really metallic/foil appearance when used wet, which I'm not a fan of.
Mineral Mode - i was surprised to see quite a lot of white in this color, especially when swatched wet (i was expecting pink). maybe it has got to do with the vening of the particular tester that I swatched.
Quartz Fusion - this was the only one that i didn't bother swatching. the huge glitter chunks that were visible in the MES compact made me want to stay as far away from it as possible. Eeeks.
Smoked Ruby - very pretty color, but it's another one which you HAVE to wet it to get the full vibrancy. reminded me of Vainglorious e/s when used wet.
Unsurpassable - this is TERRIBLE when swatched dry, but when you wet it something magical happens. i don't quite know how to describe this gorgeous, complex color, but Karlasugar's swatch is pretty accurate. (her swatches can be found here: http://karlasugar.net/2011/06/mac-semi-precious-part-1/)

Blushes: Easily the stars of this collection, hands down. They're pigmented and smooth like butter. What's not to like?!
Pressed Amber - the MA told me i could use this as a highlighter. not entirely sure about that, but when used lightly, i think it's possible. anyhow this makes a really nice no-brainer neutral blush shade.
Feeling Flush - lovely color, i'm not sure how unique it will be from my other purple-pink blushes when worn on the cheeks
Warmth of Coral - nice texture, but looked kinda dull when swatched on my hand.

MSFs: first off, these are extremely GLITTER packed. I wouldn't say huge chunky glitter as the glitter particles are fairly finely milled, but still they are visible and glitter was the first thing i noticed when swatching the MSFs (says a lot, doesn't it?). They are also very sheer.
Pearl - this is more of a highlighter on me (NC30)
Rose Quartz - this has the metallic sheen to it that i do not like, although the color is pretty

Lipsticks:
Gem of Roses - LOVELY. gives a pretty but natural pink lip color on me. here is a pic comparing it with Chanel's Confidential rouge allure l/s (which is perhaps one or two shades lighter).

http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu299/WinnieYeo/Swatches/IMG_0791.jpg

Lush Amber - barely visible on my lips
One of a Kind - it looked dull on me and made me look older

Cremesheen Glass:
Geo Pink - much more orangey than i was expecting
Pure Manificence - looks almost colorless when sheered out. i think it will appear almost clear on the lips too.

The brushes were interesting (and perplexing), I honestly didn't know how I would use the 2 face brushes. I loved the #234 though (which was what I got) and might go back for the #235.

I need to rush off now, hope my mini review helped! Feel free to ask me any questions that you may have!

EDIT: I'm soooo sorry, I don't know why I can't make the images appear (someone please advice?), so I'm putting a link to my photos instead.
 

Mac-Guy

Well-known member
Blushes: Easily the stars of this collection, hands down. They're pigmented and smooth like butter. What's not to like?!
Pressed Amber - the MA told me i could use this as a highlighter. not entirely sure about that, but when used lightly, i think it's possible. anyhow this makes a really nice no-brainer neutral blush shade.
Feeling Flush - lovely color, i'm not sure how unique it will be from my other purple-pink blushes when worn on the cheeks
Warmth of Coral - nice texture, but looked kinda dull when swatched on my hand.

MSFs: first off, these are extremely GLITTER packed. I wouldn't say huge chunky glitter as the glitter particles are fairly finely milled, but still they are visible and glitter was the first thing i noticed when swatching the MSFs (says a lot, doesn't it?). They are also very sheer.
Pearl - this is more of a highlighter on me (NC30)
Rose Quartz - this has the metallic sheen to it that i do not like, although the color is pretty

Lipsticks:
Gem of Roses - LOVELY. gives a pretty but natural pink lip color on me. here is a pic comparing it with Chanel's Confidential rouge allure l/s (which is perhaps one or two shades lighter).

http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu299/WinnieYeo/Swatches/IMG_0791.jpg

Lush Amber - barely visible on my lips
One of a Kind - it looked dull on me and made me look older

Cremesheen Glass:
Geo Pink - much more orangey than i was expecting
Pure Manificence - looks almost colorless when sheered out. i think it will appear almost clear on the lips too.

The brushes were interesting (and perplexing), I honestly didn't know how I would use the 2 face brushes. I loved the #234 though (which was what I got) and might go back for the #235.

I need to rush off now, hope my mini review helped! Feel free to ask me any questions that you may have!

EDIT: I'm soooo sorry, I don't know why I can't make the images appear (someone please advice?), so I'm putting a link to my photos instead.
Great haul. I love how light your PA - due to the veining - looks in the pan.

How do you like Goldstone? Was this one glittery too?
 

Edelmc

Well-known member
my mes list keeps changing the more reviews I read and swatches I see

I am getting hint of sapphire and unsurpassable but I can't decide which of the pink/red/plum shades to get...
mineral mode (is it more beige than pink and is there easily dupes for it?), quartz fusion (beautiful colour and like nothing I have but its very glittery and I want something shimmery and I don't know if this is it!), rare find (lovely colour but I have earthly riches and don't know if they are to similar) and finally smoked ruby (beautiful to look at but I don't normally get much use out of dark colours)

I am very pale (nw10-15) and have green eyes and plummy purple hair - which do you think would suit me and why? thanks
 

Edelmc

Well-known member
just found this on you tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhUEiXRxNuY

she compares the brushes to existing perm brushes which I found helpful
 

Edelmc

Well-known member
There's a video review of the brushes on Temptalia. YouTube - ‪MAC Semi-Precious Brush Review‬‏

thanks for posting
I think she got it in a nut shell when she said that if you are looking for a particular shape then these are good rather than buying them for the split fibre. i am hoping to get the small eye brush and I like the idea of packing on colour with one side and blending with the other. I want to get the cheek brush due to the nice small size (I currently have a 129 which is alot bigger) and I would use the synthetic side for application of cream highlighters. The jury is still out on the kabuki...I wonder if it would give more coverage applying foundation than the 182 due to the synthetic hairs??
 

Mac-Guy

Well-known member
thanks for posting
I think she got it in a nut shell when she said that if you are looking for a particular shape then these are good rather than buying them for the split fibre. i am hoping to get the small eye brush and I like the idea of packing on colour with one side and blending with the other. I want to get the cheek brush due to the nice small size (I currently have a 129 which is alot bigger) and I would use the synthetic side for application of cream highlighters. The jury is still out on the kabuki...I wonder if it would give more coverage applying foundation than the 182 due to the synthetic hairs??
I would think it would give you less coverage, but a more sheer finish.
 

dreamer246

Well-known member
Great haul. I love how light your PA - due to the veining - looks in the pan.
How do you like Goldstone? Was this one glittery too?
Will you be getting Pressed Amber too?
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It's probably my fave out of the 3 blushes!

Goldstone was very, very sheer on me. I'm not sure if it's because the MA gave me the big fluffy #150 to apply it, but I had to layer it 2-3 times before I could see anything. And yes, this one is VERY glittery. But like I said, it's finely milled glitter and not huge chunky ones (thank god).
 

Mac-Guy

Well-known member
Will you be getting Pressed Amber too?
greengrin.gif
It's probably my fave out of the 3 blushes!
Goldstone was very, very sheer on me. I'm not sure if it's because the MA gave me the big fluffy #150 to apply it, but I had to layer it 2-3 times before I could see anything. And yes, this one is VERY glittery. But like I said, it's finely milled glitter and not huge chunky ones (thank god).
PA is on my list
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Did you get chance to play with the kabuki or the face brush? Maybe they would work better with the MSF? I prefer the 150 more for loose powders.
 

elegant-one

Well-known member
So, is Gem of Rose strawberry pink or what? It looks browned almost in some of the pics. I want it to be on the pink side
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DILLIGAF

Well-known member
Smoked Ruby is back on my list. I thought I had SOY from Peacocky but I actually had Center Stage. So on the 7th I will be going to my local FS Store and getting it there!
 
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