Best tips, advice, recs MAC MAs have given you?

[Klava]

I went to MAC Mode today and had lots of fun. So here are some tips that I've learned that I hope you guys will find helpful. Sorry, if I'm repeating somethings.

-for those drawing face charts - #252 & 242 works the best on paper in circular motion.
-you know how tricky it is not to be messy with pigment, so here is how you do it: shake a little of pigment out of the box on spread kleenex, take a firm brush and dip very lightly to deposit a very small amount - you'll have less mess on the eyelids; also helps for pigment to grab on is to use it over eye prep+prime.
-soft brushes are great for concealers - they give more natural finish and easier to layer, # 239 & 217 work well!
-blushcreams in light colors work great on lips if you are going for that nude look
That's all I can remember that I didn't know before.

[Hilly]

Some people say on the softer textures, but I hadnt noticed a change.

[Desertmom4]

Hello everyone...my MA told me to use the 187 brush for foundation application. I use SFF and she said to gently blot it on my face with the brush, then swirl outwards in circular fashion... use the 190 brush only around the eyes, nose, and under nose as this area is smaller. When using the 187 brush for the face, it does not show any lines/steaks from the brush ...plus it looks airbrushed. Also when setting your foundation with powder, swirl the brush (I use the 129SE) in the powder, tap off excess, and blot on face softly, don't "brush" it on... it really makes a difference. Lastly, when trying to cover red spots ( broken capillary on my nose), cover with green corrector, then concealer ( I use Mac select cover-up), then foundation, set with powder...it worked!! I always used to cover it with concealer after foundation.

[verdge]

Using Soft Brown e/s (MAC) with any eyeshadow color I wear... i dunno.. it just gives a good effect on every eye make-up... I use it on the crease... it emphasizes it...

[kchan99]

Quote:

Originally Posted by arieeel

here's some tips:

- mix liquid bronzer and firming body cream and massage it into your limbs. it'll temporarily tighten your skin and give you a golden glow.

- if you havent got an eyelash curler on hand, use a sturdy plastic spoon to flip up your lashes.

- to scent your strands, use a small amount of oil-based fragrance on your fingers and run them through your hair. alcohol-based will only dry it out.

- To give your skin a sexy sheen in seconds, fill a spray bottle with a dry body oil and mist it all over right after you shower.

- Before you go to work in the morning, mist your undergarments with your favorite fragrance. The perfume will adhere to the fabric and last until you get undressed. This way, you don't have to lug your fragrance around in your bag.

- If your locks smell like a bar, rub a fabric-softener sheet along the length of your hair, starting at your roots. It makes your hair smell great, if not better.

- To create the illusion of well-rested peepers, use a flesh-toned pencil to line the lower inner rims of your eyes. It offsets the redness in bloodshot eyes.

- If there's no time to shampoo, dip a makeup brush into baby powder (or matte bronzer if your hair is dark) and sweep it over your roots.

- heating your eyelash curler for 10secs with your hairdryer gives your lashes a temporary "perm" and makes the curl last longer.

- keep your eyebrow tweezers in the fridge. as weird as it sounds, it does help numb the pain to some degree.

- to save on cleansers, wash your brushes with baby shampoo instead of brush cleaners. Also, get baby wipes for removing your makeup instead of buying makeup wipes. Just as effective, a lot cheaper and a lot less risk of being allergic to the wipes.

I use fragrance free baby wipes for removing makeup because I can't get over the baby wipe fragrance. I like to use Huggies Natural Care.

[Misty]

I can't remember any that you guys haven't mentioned yet. Hmm..

* When applying color to your lid, turn your brush upside down so you can get color in the the lashline. (Works well if you're applying shadow to another person. Your hand will be out of their face and not resting on their nose or something :P)

[twinkley]

- To wipe off shine of your face, use cigarette wrapping paper! It absorbs the oiliness away easily, they are very cheap and so small that you can carry them around wherever you go! Very easy to take with you in to the bar for example in a pocket.

- If you want even longerlasting eye make up, use eyedrops instead of water with your eyeshadows. It makes your lovely make up last forever!

- Clean your brushes with hair conditioner. It makes the brushes very soft and still very clean. Conditioner really conditiones the fibers!

- To keep your eyebrows on place for whole day, spray some hairspray into eyebrow comb and brush eyebrows into shape.

- If you are new to blending eyeshadows, try dipping your eye shadow brush in to powder and then blend. It really helps the blending and makes eye colors last even longer.

- To get a delicate and natural daytime look, use some illuminating concealer on your eyelid and powder. Brightens up eyes and looks very natural. Can be also used as a base for eye make up.

- When choosing browcolor, remember that the shade looks always one shade darker on your brows than in the jar.

- To make your lips appear bigger, add some light reflecting concealer above your whole lipline and blend nicely. Your lips look fuller and bigger instantly!

- When choosing a lipcolor, choose a color that makes your teeth look whiter. That is the right color for you.

- If you have metalic eyelash curler, heat them up with hairdryer before curling your lashes and you'll have even longerlasting curl in your lashes!

- Be creative! Use eyeshadows as a lipcolor (add some gloss over and you have a whole new lipgloss), put some gloss over your eyelids for sexy look, use browpencil as a liner, use blush as a eyeshadow and eyeshadows as a blush etc. There is no limitations!

[Karyn]

I love an idea my MAC MA gave me to use the 190 brush to apply my foundation and the 187 brush to blend it on my skin--total airbrushed look with any of my foundations! I also use it for my blush the same way. I apply with my blush with the 116 brush and blend with the 187. It works so well!

My MA also suggested the Prep + Prime Lash before my mascara, and I love it! Makes my mascara stay soft and look like I have false lashes!

Karyn

[dmenchi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karyn

I love an idea my MAC MA gave me to use the 190 brush to apply my foundation and the 187 brush to blend it on my skin--total airbrushed look with any of my foundations! I also use it for my blush the same way. I apply with my blush with the 116 brush and blend with the 187. It works so well!

My MA also suggested the Prep + Prime Lash before my mascara, and I love it! Makes my mascara stay soft and look like I have false lashes!

Karyn

great tip! i do it in a similar manner and the 187 makes all the difference

[BloodMittens]

Put Flammable Paint underneath Stars n' Rockets Eyeshadow. It makes the iredesent glow of the eyeshadow pop so well

[claresauntie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinkley

- Clean your brushes with hair conditioner. It makes the brushes very soft and still very clean. Conditioner really conditiones the fibers!

Hmmm... I would think that most conditioners don't have cleansing properties...? It may help rinse out some of the color that is on the bristles, but you're probably not actually getting your brushes clean. Why not just buy the MAC brush cleanser for only $10? It cleans and conditions, and more importantly: it sanitizes (so you aren't moving bacteria around your face over and over and over).

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinkley

- Be creative! Use eyeshadows as a lipcolor (add some gloss over and you have a whole new lipgloss), put some gloss over your eyelids for sexy look, use browpencil as a liner, use blush as a eyeshadow and eyeshadows as a blush etc. There is no limitations!

I'm all for creativity, but there actually are some limitations. Everyone should check the precautions for products if they are at all sensitive. For example, most blushes are not considered "eye safe" and, in fact, many people get reactions from red pigments/dyes. So just be careful while you play...

[evie42]

Once I was really wanting a certain lipglass (I think it was a barbie one) and it was sold out (of course), the MA told me "If you have Nymphette, don't bother with the barbie one, it's very similar." I guess it's technically not a tip, but my wallet sure did appreciate it!

[StelliR]

I have yellowish-greenish eyes and for almost 20 years I've hated eye shadow because nothing ever looked good on me! Then I went to a MAC Pro store and was looking for powder, but the MA urged me to let him do some other makeup on me, as well. He showed me Sable e/s and I was like NO WAY, but he put it on and the difference was amazing. I NEVER would have tried reddish colors for me (though I'd tried everything else), but thank goodness he was there that day, because seriously (kind of) learning about the way reddish eye shadows flatter green eyes has changed my life! Well, I look a lot better lately, anyway! I've tried other reddish e/s but I always go back to Sable for my most flattering look (and it's the color I've received the most compliments on).

[Karyn]

A couple of other ideas that have been helpful to me:

1. I put on eye makeup before foundation. I never have to worry about fall-out.

2. I pour out my pigments and fluid foundation into MAC sample jars. For the pigments, I never have to worry about dropping the whole thing and I can just take a bit from the top of the jar to do my eyes. It's also easy to take a pigment with me in my little makeup bag. I love the jar for my foundation, because I am able to control how much goes on my brush and I find it so much easier to manage each morning.

My MA gave me a bunch of jars when I asked. She's gone to another store now , so I hope someone else will do the same for me.

[janwa09]

Wiggle the mascara wand as you apply it on your lashes

[PRiNCiPESSAx4]

Quote:

Originally Posted by evie42

Once I was really wanting a certain lipglass (I think it was a barbie one) and it was sold out (of course), the MA told me "If you have Nymphette, don't bother with the barbie one, it's very similar." I guess it's technically not a tip, but my wallet sure did appreciate it!

now that you said this, i definitely notice my one barbie lipglass (i forget the name but cant check, im at work) looks very similar to nymphette!

[PRiNCiPESSAx4]

i forgot a tip! my MA told me to apply even my moisturizer with a brush, so it looks flawless (her key word of the day ) so the oil from fingers doesn't mix into it..it also feels pretty nice while applying!

[dmenchi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Isis

It does! I do it alot. I've also used it on rough cuticles & other random patches

ME TOO! i thought i was a freak LOL
I have lipbalm stick form for mt toes, apply around nail before applying polish-my toes look great IMO

[dmenchi]

My personal tip is to dot on concealor under eyes and spread it with a foundation brush, it's much more gentle that the constant little strockes from a concealor brush. also you can blend the concealor slightly upwards to geta agreat eye shape.
contouring is important but dont forget the temples: before shadow apply blush and all other stuff then take a soft brush like 109 sqeeze it slightly with your fingers into a londer shape and apply a v-shape contour colour between eyes and hairline- instant high cheek bones and cat eyes..it's very sutle but you can see it almost every photograph if you look at the contouring

[dmenchi]

Avoid any shiny shades whereever you have wrinkles, it makes wrinkles look like valleys due to reflections and setteling.

For maximum glitter effect or foiling spread a thin layer of mixing-medim eyeliner and then gently press pigment /glitter with a flat paddelshaped brush like 242 onto eyelid/skin.

Instead of brow products use a shadow to fill brows it's much smoother and more gentle

store fragrances in a dark cool place to maintain maximum quality.

Don't use any fluid/gel products on waterline-very unhealthy. When using a pencil sharpen and then smooth top into gentle rounder shape by pressing it lightly onto top of your hand..it makes most pencils less scratchy and the warmth of your hand makes it smoother to apply.

put any pencil in the freezer for 2 min before sharpening- it won't break off as much!

when using the same brush for different colour swipe it clean on a wipe (baby wipes work fine)
also the beloved 109 get hard if you don't remove fluidline from it right a way, use the baby wipe technique to prevent damage to the brush and your eyes!

[NoAddedSugar]

"Don't depot e/s yourself!"

LMAO, sorry I had to share that

[Rene]

Everyone has great advice. Thanks!!!

[endlessnot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by claresauntie

Hmmm... I would think that most conditioners don't have cleansing properties...? It may help rinse out some of the color that is on the bristles, but you're probably not actually getting your brushes clean. Why not just buy the MAC brush cleanser for only $10? It cleans and conditions, and more importantly: it sanitizes (so you aren't moving bacteria around your face over and over and over).

Actually, conditioner does cleanse, it just doesn't bubble b/c it doesn't have detergent in it (which dries your hair out). I personally don't use shampoo anymore because of the detergent.

[nunu]

when i went to MAC a few days ago the MUA gave me this tip:
using motif eyeshadow as a base for bluish/silvery colours makes the colour purple. or even using motif as a base makes purples pop! im not sure if using it as a base for pinks does the same thing but i will definately experiment!

[Kuuipo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebonyannette

The toilet seat covers is such a great tip, I and it really works for blotting I was so surprised!

If you do this in a public bathroom, make sure the door is locked or you have the water running so no one walks in. I was blotting my forehead at work with a cover and we have no doorlock and someone walked in and i was the discussion for the next two weeks.