Riri Hearts MAC: Heaux Retro Matte Lipstick reviewed

It's Riri hearts MAC, Heaux

Isn't it Heaux-larious

Next up from the Riri Hearts MAC collaboration is Heaux Retro Matte Lipstick. The color is described as a "Matte Berry", which doesn't really convey the life of the lippie. The color errs on the side of a deep raspberry and the texture is very lite and long lasting, just like its Riri counterpart Riri Woo.
 While I like the color and texture, I do think that there are plenty of other colors from that can be dupes for Heaux. Try Rebel  by MAC and NARS Damaged lipsticks if you are looking for a Heaux dupe.

Beauty Experiment: Mixing Turmeric with Tinted Moisturizer

Turmeric + DiorSkin Nude BB Creme Beauty Challenge

 Earlier this year I read in a Lucky Magazine feature that Thandie Newton mixed turmeric powder with her base for an au natural glow. Since I love the look and feel of " the glow" a la Bruce Leroy of The Last Dragon and by highlighters, I decided to go ahead and experiment with mixing just a pinch of tumeric powder with my Spring/ Summer beauty bag favorite, DiorSkin Nude BB Creme in #004.
Here is how my day went:

7:50am-8:00 am- I mixed a pinch of turmeric with my DiorSkin Nude BB Creme and applied with my fingertips..I hope I blended well (Checks mirror at the crosswalk), it looks ok, I don't want to look Oompa Loompa-ish.

8:10 am- (Checks mirror on subway platform) Is that a clump? No, the texture is a bit grainy but also surprisingly lite.

9:48 am- (Checks mirror at my desk) Ok, so far so good, my oil glands are going to kick in just in time for lunch

12:07 pm- (Checks bathroom mirror) No yellow! my normal shiny skin actually looks relatively normal- meaning no need for me to use a Starbucks napkin to dab my face.

5:10 pm- ( Checks mirror at my desk) I have a tiny bit of shine ( about 35% less oil than I would have otherwise), no yellow and I'm satisfied!

I will be repeating this experiment throughout the summer because I absolutely loved the way my skin felt and looked!

Tumeric powder + DiorSkin Nude BB Creme = Dream Team!

Riri Hearts MAC: Barbados Girl Lustre Drops Reviewed

Barbados Girl Lustre drops

Barbados Girl Lustre Drops Swatch

 After the 3.5 hours of refreshing by 3 open tabs on MAC's website and 2 browsers on my phone,
I was finally able to get my Riri Loves MAC items.
First up for review in Barbados Girl Lustre Drops. While MAC has had lustre drops in their rotation for a while, I have never tried them. So I figure, I'll try it out this time as I was excited about the possibility of a shimmery highlighter that I can add above my cheek bone or add to my beloved Diorskin Nude BB Creme.
I swatched a pin size of Barbados Girl on my hand (above) and blended the color out to see what the effect would look like. I think I applied too much to my hand because it was a bit too shimmery but when I applied to the top of my cheekbones, it was tolerable (below).
Overall Barbados girl will be in my Summer stash for this year as I'm pairing down on wearing anything but tinted moisturizer.

Gettin' Cheeky with Barbados Girl Lustre Drops

Riri Hearts MAC: Riri Woo reviewed

Riri Woo.. at the kitchen table

Riri Woo Swatched

Before the chaos that was the Riri Hearts MAC on June 18th,  I picked up Riri Woo at the MAC Times Square store on quiet rainy day in May. I was ready for the MA to tell me that the lippie was all sold out but instead showed me the boxes that were available.. don't know if even a lippie is available now. I haven't been to the store since my purchase and I just checked the website and Riri Woo is on backorder until the middle of this month. Pressing on.

 Riri Woo is described as a "Matte Cool Red" retro matte lipstick but unfortunately the color description doesn't do the product justice as Ruby Woo is Riri Woo's bigger sister on the age spectrum and as far as color, both Woos are very similar.

I love the light textures of the retro mattes and this one is no different. The lipcolor stayed on for over 4 hours, including dinner and left a nice tint when rounding the 4th hour.

If you don't have this color already try to hold on for the next 2-3 weeks, its worth the wait.

Get ready: RiRi hearts MAC- June 18th

RiRi hearts MAC- June 18th

Did you miss out on the first launch of RiRi Woo? Are you ready to stalk MAC for the coveted RiRi hearts MAC Summer collection?  Get ready to be early, refresh and be crafty.

Last month, I lucked out and got RiRi Woo on MAC Cosmetics.com and it was a task at hand. After that experience, I'm here to let you know that there is hope beyond thinking about paying $50 on eBay for RiRi Woo. Here are 3 tips for you:


1. Check your connection.
Yes, this seems like a no-brainer but internet connection on your computer is very important and if you don't have it or its wonky, you lose out.
Recommendation: Go to a secure Wi-fi zone or use your phone's data as a backup to go on the site.

2. Multiple browsers.
The waiting room is a bust. When a collection goes live, people go HAM. Now there is a waiting room to help queue you. Well.. from previous experience, the waiting room felt like a nice gesture but nowhere close to actually ordering.
Recommendation: Have 2-3 browsers open on a desktop and a browser open on your phone.

3. Find a friend
So, you can't wait around for the launch on Tuesday the 18th at who-knows time. You've got work, you're travelling, you've got sleep. What to do?
Recommendation: Ask someone if they can order for you. There are some kind people out there that will throw some shade but at least you can throw them something non-RiRi related in return. Return the favor kindly.

gif credit:GabStankBx on Lipstick Alley