March 7, 2014

Free MAC cosmetics and cheap MAC alternatives

Did you know you can get MAC cosmetics for free? Hang on to those empty lip gloss, eyeshadow, blush, and foundation containers. Once you have six of them, you can take them to your MAC counter within your department store to redeem them for one free lipstick! This gets even better if you live near a larger city. MAC not only has the department store counters, they also have freestanding stores within malls, along city streets, and in open air shopping centers. At these freestanding stores, you can redeem your six empty containers for a free lipstick, lip gloss or eyeshadow! CRAZY!!!!!!!

I wish I knew this before!

Also here are some cheaper alternatives to MAC cosmetics. I personally don't find anything special about MAC gloss and lipsticks (may be I had bad luck); the quality seems the same as a regular drugstore lipsticks and lip glosses (some I find even better quality). But it's only my opinion. 



Instead of: MAC Boy Bait, $20
Try: NYX Whipped, $3.72
MAC’s Boy Bait is a pinkish, nude lip gloss with pearly undertones. The formula is milky and applies opaque after just a few swipes. Although this lip gloss is pretty, it doesn’t have the most awesome wear-time—I find that it fades after an hour or so. The price—$20—is also something to pout about.
NYX makes a lip gloss in the exact same color for under $4! NYX Whipped is not only the same color as Boy Bait, the packaging is very similar as well. Both products have the same doe-foot applicators that allow the gloss to glide on smoothly. There’s a slight shimmer to the NYX gloss but it’s only noticeable in the bottle—the sparkle doesn’t transfer to the lips. Not only is NYX’s version cheaper, you get more product! Plus, it has a fresh lemon scent.


Instead of: MAC Up the Amp, $16
Try: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick Berry Haute, $4.99
Up the Amp by MAC is a breathtaking dark rose/purple lip color that looks amazing on any complexion. The formula is creamy and super-opaque—don’t wear it if you don’t want to draw some positive attention to your lips! I find that it actually lasts me up to 6 hours, even after eating and drinking! There’s only one thing that I don’t like about this lipstick: its shocking $16 price tag!
Revlon’s Berry Haute is the same purplish berry color as Up the Amp but will only set you back $5! The application is creamy and lasts for hours just like MAC’s version. When Berry Haute finally does wear off, it leaves behind a berry-colored stain that looks super pretty and natural. 



Instead of:  Mean and Green by MAC is a flashy purple and green duo-chrome nail polish. I get tons of compliments whenever I wear it—mostly because it changes from gold to green to purple depending on the lighting! It’s also super pigmented and glides on opaque with just one coat. Like other MAC polishes, it does tend to chip after two days (you can prevent this with a good top coat). Although Mean and Green is  a great polish, it costs $16—mean, just like the polish’s title says!
Try:  Orly’s Space Cadet looks exactly like Mean and Green and is only about $8 (even cheaper if you find it at a local store). Space Cadet is easy to apply and turns opaque after just one coat. It also lasts longer on my nails. I went five days before the tips of my nails started to chip!

Instead of: MAC Filament Eye Shadow, $13.08
Try: CoverGirl Snow Blossom Eye Shadow, $3.19
MAC’s Filament is a light, silvery-white eye shadow with just a touch of sparkle. It works perfectly as a highlight for under the brow bone and on the inner corners of the eyes.The color is opaque, but if you get the eye shadow just a tiny bit wet, the color pay-off is much better. There are a few downsides to this expensive eye shadow: the fallout is horrendous—I tend to get more eye shadow on my cheeks than my eyelids when I’m in a hurry. I also find that Filament fades after a couple of hours.
CoverGirl sells the same eye shadow for only $3! Snow Blossom is the same sheer white color and applies perfectly as a highlight. I’ll admit, Snow Blossom does have the same fallout issue as Filament, but I take advantage of the double-ended sponge applicator—instead of using a brush—to reduce some of the mess. It applies the same way and actually stays on my eyes all day long. 

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