So, i went back to my local MAC shop today. "My" MUA was there, and she said, No Problem pre-ordering from Strength and from Apres Chic because they got a large amount of product! Whew! She said that it was the Taste Temptation collection they couldn't pre-sell because they'd only gotten 4 of each item. Since i had tested pretty much everything yesterday, she could put back most of what she had been holding for me from the two collections, because i had narrowed down what i wanted. AND i got to do that CP for a Specktralite, so I feel so much better now.
Lipsticks - nice range of varied colors
Hot Chocolate! Yesssss! I think it's a terrific color, lighter than most plums and not too plummy, with just a touch of brown, sort of the color of cocoa powder in the light.
Haute Altitude is a nice and very wearable pink, but it seems immanently dupe-able.
Cozy Up was not the brown i hoped it would be and was way too orange on me; i'm sure it will be different on other people.
Warm Companion was pretty - a frosty pale beige that would be nice to layer, but i just can't get everything i like
Après Chic I didn't test, since i don't wear red.
Mineralize Lip Balms - I don't know how they feel on the lips, but after testing them on my arm, i only ordered Nice & Simple. They're nice, they're also quite sheer and a bit expensive. I also liked Pure & Tender, which is very neutral, but i'm trying to keep the buying under control. If it hangs around i may get it next month. No doubt they're good for those who mostly just wear lip balm and sheer glosses.
MES are all absolutely beautiful - Liba's reviews were excellent. But if i get one - and i didn't bother to pre-order - it will be Silver Birch, which goes one as a warm beige with cool sparkle. I really like Frost at Midnight, which is very violet with a duochrome shimmer and a black undertone that doesn't make the color dull, and Fireside, which is warm plum purple with a turquoise-green sheen, but i gotta control myself.
I'm passing on:
-- eye liner pencils - i don't wear black or navy, i have enough teals and browns, and the violet one was kinda weak and dull.
-- MSFs - Pink Porcelain and Stereo Rose are truly lovely, but I have other MSFs in similar enough colors.
-- Mineralize Blushes - they're quite nice, of course; but I've got enough blushes i can't wear my way through and none stood out to me as extraordinary -- the way Unconventional did for me. BTW, Amber Glow was the one that looked so light in one of the swatch sets - it's a medium-light warm tan color. It's not that light on pale skin; it might work as a highlighter on darker skin if it's not chalky/ashy - it will need to be tested.
