MAC Strength Collection Discussion (December 2012)

[erine1881]

General question....can you still return them? These lipsticks are from a recent collection and should not have "snow" yet :dunno:

Even tho they're new, it could still "snow" depending on the temperature where they were shipped from/to, as well as where they were stored (warehouse, stockroom).

 

[Mac-Guy]

Even tho they're new, it could still "snow" depending on the temperature where they were shipped from/to, as well as where they were stored (warehouse, stockroom).

... especially during the summer months. Those days with 90 degrees or higher are a killer for any kind of cream products.

 

[bulbasaur359]

I feel much better about my snowed lippies. I am sorry that we all have this issue tho. I'll just clean them when necessary. Seems to not come back where it's been wiped tho. I'll just have to make a point to use them more quickly. Mine haven't been too bad tho as it's hardly noticeable unless I shine a light on it. My Fire Sign had snow on it when I purchased it and I've never had issues with that store. It was so super muggy and nasty that day too so I wonder if it's just weather. So long as it doesn't make me sick lol.

 

[lilinah]

But hey, what do I know? I don't think I've ever finished a lippy

. How long does an unopened lippy live anyway?

I think i've only used up maybe 3 lipsticks in 45+ years, but that's 'cuz: i like to switch colors, i have waaaay too many, and i don't even wear lipstick every day.

Experts say toss 'em after 1 to 4 years, depending on the expert... I understand that keeping them in the fridge helps them last longer, too, although i don't do this myself. I stop wearing mine when they smell rancid.

I've had little-used lipsticks that were still good after 10 years. It helps that i live somewhere without temperature extremes -- East Bay of San Francisco Bay Area (Berkeley/Oakland), where most of the year it's between 55 and 68 F. (circa 37 to 50 C.), although we have a few days in the low 40s (January) and a few in the mid 80s (September). And i don't turn the heat up much in the winter, so that helps, too. Also, i don't share mine, so i'm not collecting extra viruses, bacteria, and fungi from friends.

I'm sad because the MAC lipsticks i bought in the mid-1990s -- Lust (frosted pale blue violet), Grid (frosted dark blue violet), and Cyber -- finally went "off" toward the end of 2012.

 

[bulbasaur359]

I think i've only used up maybe 3 lipsticks in 45+ years, but that's 'cuz: i like to switch colors, i have waaaay too many, and i don't even wear lipstick every day.

Experts say toss 'em after 1 to 4 years, depending on the expert... I understand that keeping them in the fridge helps them last longer, too, although i don't do this myself. I stop wearing mine when they smell rancid.

I've had little-used lipsticks that were still good after 10 years. It helps that i live somewhere without temperature extremes -- East Bay of San Francisco Bay Area (Berkeley/Oakland), where most of the year it's between 55 and 68 F. (circa 37 to 50 C.), although we have a few days in the low 40s (January) and a few in the mid 80s (September). And i don't turn the heat up much in the winter, so that helps, too. Also, i don't share mine, so i'm not collecting extra viruses, bacteria, and fungi from friends.

I'm sad because the MAC lipsticks i bought in the mid-1990s -- Lust (frosted pale blue violet), Grid (frosted dark blue violet), and Cyber -- finally went "off" toward the end of 2012.

If you still have them I'd love to see what Lust and Grid look like. I'm sorry for your loss those sound like really unique colors.

 

[lilinah]

Quote: Originally Posted by vaisforluvrs
Has anyone noticed a white/grayish coating on older lipsticks, almost like they are dusty? They smell fine but just look kind of weird.


Quote: Originally Posted by erine1881
Yeah. I just sold sold some lipsticks like that. It happens to non-airtight cream products. Lipsticks and eye kohls especially. Not sure exactly what it is, but it's not dust or anything dirty. It's completely safe to use.


I've always suspected it's wax when i see this on pencil products. I think it may be a form of surface oxidation. Sharpening gets rid of it and the products are fine. I haven't had it happen on lipsticks.

I've had lipsticks and other creme products "weep", get transparent beads on the surface. This i've usually found to happen when the product goes through more extreme temperature changes in a short period of time. Usually they're fine. But this can also happen as they approach the end of their usable lives and the ingredients are oxidizing and separating a bit.

 

[lilinah]

Quote: Originally Posted by makeupgrrl
What are lip liner suggestions for Firm Form? I am going out Wednesday night and I was thinking about wearing it...any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!


I'd say it depends on which way you want the color to go.

Various suggestions people have made already will get it to lean more purple or plum or brown or taupe...

NYX Black Berry is a black lip liner, so it will darken the color and be neutral.

I'm thinking of playing with gold eyeliner pencils and seeing where that takes it... i really need to get Handforged from Hey, Sailor.

 

[lilinah]

Quote: Originally Posted by jennifae
Does it look like this? I just received a lipstick that kinda looks like this (but not as bad). I've never seen anything like it before, but I immediately suspected mold. I googled "lipstick mold" and that's the first blog post I found. I wiped the white coating off because I didn't really know if it was mold. I still can't bring myself to use it, but I'm keeping it to B2M later. It wasn't that old either (maybe a year and a half based on the collection it came from). Not a big deal though since it was free and I only paid for shipping.


Eeew! I read her blog.

I have "museumized" lipsticks that go back to the late 1960s/early 1970s and i've never had any with real MOLD on them - no hairs, no changing colors. They are rancid and unwearable, but not moldy.

 

[luckyme]

I finally got my lipsticks from MAC in Vegas! Does anyone else think that Taupe Shape looks like Emote or Strada?

 

[lilinah]

Which means after it's been open, you have this many months until it can go bad. The timeframe is a general guideline, and can change based on temperature, humidity, direct sunlight, etc. again, it's not an exact date. It can be less, it can be more. Just use your senses. If it's smells/tastes/looks different than normal, it's probably time to replace it.

Most makeup and skin care products in the US have that symbol, a little jar with its lid at an angle, on them somewhere, or else an expiration date stamped on the packaging. If it has that little jar, there's a number on it which says how long it will be good after it has been opened - although i must say, sometimes the number is almost too small to read and i'm nearsighted!

My skin care products in squeeze tubes have the expy date stamped / impressed on the seal band at the bottom of the tube. Others have a sticker on them with either an expy date or a number indicating how long it'll be good after opening.

And everything Erine says about temp., humidity, light, etc. exposures applies. Also, products with a water base tend to "expire" sooner - check the ingredients list which is somewhere on all products or in the packaging.

 

[lilinah]

Quote: Originally Posted by bulbasaur359
If you still have them I'd love to see what Lust and Grid look like. I'm sorry for your loss those sound like really unique colors.


Well, i finally got a camera at the end of November, so now i CAN take photos. I'll try to remember to do it tomorrow. If i forget, please give me a nudge!

I was especially sad because red-violet and plum lipsticks are easy to find, but it's so hard to find good blue-violet lipsticks.

 

[luckyme]

.. NYX lipliners I picked up from Ulta from recommendations.

 

[erine1881]

..   NYX lipliners I picked up from Ulta from recommendations.

I've never tried nyx lip pencils, but I've thought about it. How are they compared to mac?

 

[luckyme]

For the price, they are great. I bought them in sale for$2.49 each and they have a good selection of colors. I do like MAC's liners but cant experiment to much at their price.

 

[bulbasaur359]

Well, just throwing this out there but it doesn't hurt to try right? Well, I really want SW now and well Sold Out. If anyone is willing to part with one I would be interested. I'd be able to pay friday but figured it didn't hurt to put it out there now. Thanks and sorry to ask.

 

[bulbasaur359]

For the price, they are great. I bought them in sale for$2.49 each and they have a good selection of colors. I do like MAC's liners but cant experiment to much at their price.

I have some NYX liners as well. I can never get a bright pink one tho b/c people will swatch all of the ones in stock. (smh) I hate that they are not sealed but I have found some untouched. They are a great price for what you get too. I might have to order purple rain sometime as I heard it's a dupe for MAC's Magenta pencil. I don't wear liner all the time usually I wear my lippies commando lol.

 

[makeupgrrl]

Well, just throwing this out there but it doesn't hurt to try right? Well, I really want SW now and well Sold Out. If anyone is willing to part with one I would be interested. I'd be able to pay friday but figured it didn't hurt to put it out there now. Thanks and sorry to ask.

There are a few listed in the Clearance Bin, this one looks like it is the cheapest http://www.specktra.net/t/180930/mac-strong-woman-pink-parrot-mac-sweet-sienna-pigment-added

 

[B7uemo0n]

You guys are making me feel bad I missed out on Hot Chocolate *tear*...I may need to track one down to see what all the fuss is over!

Hot chocolate is still in the nordies site. At least it was last night when I checked along with some other ones.

 

[Mac-Guy]

I have some NYX liners as well. I can never get a bright pink one tho b/c people will swatch all of the ones in stock. (smh) I hate that they are not sealed but I have found some untouched. They are a great price for what you get too. I might have to order purple rain sometime as I heard it's a dupe for MAC's Magenta pencil. I don't wear liner all the time usually I wear my lippies commando lol.

 

[B7uemo0n]

I've never tried nyx lip pencils, but I've thought about it. How are they compared to mac?

I have the color burgundy that I wear with Viva Glam V and it is so beautiful. The lip liner goes on smooth and not harsh hurting the lips like MAC ones can do sometimes.