MAC Cleanse Off Oil – My Holy Grail Makeup Remover

I thought it was about time I started sharing some of my holy grail and everyday staple products with you. It suddenly seemed ridiculous that I could review and feature new products all the time without ever visiting the products I couldn’t live without. First up is MAC Cleanse Off Oil. I have tried numerous other makeup removers and I always end up coming back to MAC’s. Actually I usually end up crawling back to MAC Cleanse Off Oil begging forgiveness and promising to never leave her again!

From the MAC Cosmetics website:

An industry-strength oil-based makeup remover that’s gentle on the skin. Botanically formulated with oils of olive fruit, evening primrose and jojoba seed and absolutely 100 percent mineral-oil free. Massages onto the skin to loosen all makeup, including waterproof mascara. Emulsifies into a lotion-type liquid with water: rinses off easily, no tissues required – and no residue! Protects with vitamin E. Skin softening and conditioning. Good for all skin types.

The trouble that I usually end up having with makeup removers is that no matter how thorough I think I’ve been I still end up with some residual smudges of mascara/liner under my eyes. Even if I think there is none remaining after washing my face sometimes when I wake up the next morning there it is. This problem became especially prevalent after tight lining my upper lash line became part of my daily routine. Tight lining involves lining right at the base of your lashes underneath your upper lash line. You can see how this would make makeup removal even trickier. 
Another issue I frequently experience with makeup removers is eye irritation after use. Whether it be fogginess, redness, itching/irritation or watering most removers cause me some form of grief.
So this is where MAC’s Cleanse Off Oil becomes holy grail for me. I don’t experience any of these issues with the Cleanse Off Oil. Even more impressive is that it does it’s job not only effectively, but effortlessly as well.
Pros:
  • Removes every single trace of eye makeup, every single time.
  • Doesn’t irritate my eyes.
  • I don’t have to use a cotton pad with it. I just pump into my hand and massage my eyes with my fingers and then move on to the rest of my face.
  • It emulsifies when water is added and rinses clean with no greasy feel. I always follow with another cleanser since I focus the Cleanse Off Oil mainly on my eyes but I don’t even think this is a necessary step.

Cons:
  • None I can think of other than it is on the expensive side but I’m also saving money not having to purchase cotton pads to use with it every night. The price is worth it for me because it delivers every time and the bottle lasts forever.

Another great thing is there is now a travel sized version available so you can try it out at a lessor cost. 30ml/1oz is $12 CDN or $10 US. The full size version (150ml/5oz) is $31.50 CDN or $26 US.

 Bottomline: Can’t live without it.

Digging Out Some MAC Pigment Samples Face of the Day

I’ve promised myself to make an effort to get over my aversion to loose eye shadows. I’ve been anxious to try out some indie brands and will be featuring some reviews and looks in the near future. I thought what better way to start trying to “feel the love” than to dig out some of my long neglected MAC Pigment samples. I always admire them in their cute little jars and never use them. I did find the area where I blended the two shades together turned out a little muddy when compared to how my beloved Le Metier de Beaute eye shadows layer.

Final thought: Well what the heck was I waiting for?!

Products used:

Face:
Le Metier de Beaute Classic Flawless Finish Foundation Shade 1 mixed with Peau Vierge Shade 1
Le Metier de Beaute Visage de Soie powder
Make Up For Ever HD Concealer 305 set with Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder

Cheeks:
Rouge Bunny Rouge Original Skin Blush Starina
Le Metier de Beaute Whisper highlighter

Eyes:
NARS Smudge Proof Eye Primer and MAC Painterly Paint Pot as base
MAC Copperbeam  pigment on the lid and Copperized pigment in the crease, Le Metier de Beaute Chameleon True Color eyeshadow to blend out crease, Sugar and Whisper to highlight and Whisper in inner corner
Le Metier de Beaute Precision Liquid liner in Noir on upper lash line
Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill mascara in black

Lips:
Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Peregrina

Natural indirect light:

With flash:

I almost posted a front on pic of myself but chickened out at the last minute. :-P

Face of the Day with MAC Antiqued, Guerlain Maya and Chanel Rebel Rouge Coco Shine

I don’t know if there’s much point in my putting up a review of the Guerlain Ombre Fusion eye shadows or not. Let me know if you’re interested. I just got my hands on them but I believe they were LE so availability is likely scarce. I haven’t had much luck with these more liquid type cream shadows in the past and Maya was not an exception.This was my second look I did using it and you’ll see the result on the lid is less than acceptable. I will maybe give it one more go before I decide to part with it as I did the Chanel Ombre D’Eau.

Products Used:

Face:
Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge Shade 1
Make Up Forever HD Concealer 305 set with LM Secret Brightening Powder
Fresh Face Luster in Fair Isle

Cheeks:
Make Up Forever HD Blush in 6
Rouge Bunny Rouge Sea of Nectar Illuminating Liquid

Eyes:
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
Guerlain Ombre Fusion Creme eye shadow in 03 Maya all over lid as base, MAC Antiqued on outer 3rd of lid and crease and to line under lower lashes, MAC Patina lightly dusted over Maya on lid and in inner corner, MAC Femme Fi on brow bone.
Rouge Bunny Rouge Long Lasting Eye Pencil in Lola to tightline and line upper lash line.
Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill mascara in black

Lips:
Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Rebelle