MAC addict.

yes, i admit, i have addiction... my vice? MAC cosmetics eye shadows.

they seriously are the most amazing things - ever. i'm a big fan of eye make-up in general, but i was constantly frustrated with how easily products seem to melt away after a long day - especially in the e/s department. but about a year and half ago, that all changed when my sister in law introduced me to the MAC counter.

at first i was little intimidated by their approach to make-up - i mean, they do have a reputation for going "artistic" with looks, but i guess that's also part of the appeal... you are the canvas, become the artist. but once i picked up my first shadow pot, i was won over completely. not only are the colors beautiful but they go on smooth and velvety, have great staying power and a little bit goes a long way so that one pot lasts forever. really, i have used one shade everyday for the past year, and i still haven't reached the bottom of the pan yet!

the only set-back is that these peeper pleasures are certainly expensive. so i've been slowly building my collection of both basic and play shades - usually through using macy's gift cards i have received by redeeming my company's "celebrating performance" reward points! ingenious. so now my collection has grown, so much that dealing with the individual eyeshadow pots is getting rather annoying, let alone trying to travel with them. uggh.

so i decided it's time to invest in a mac pro palette and depot all my shadows. having heard about this possibility but being clueless on how this was done, i turned to youtube, of course, for some helpful tutorials. after picking up both 15 slot and 4 slot palettes (one for home, one for travel) at my local MAC store in georgetown, i sat down last night and got to work. it was quite a labor-some ordeal but in the end, well worth the effort.

and the best part? their "back to MAC" recycling program which allows customers to redeem 6 of their empty original MAC packaging for a free lipstick. so i'll be due at least 2 new products by just simplifying my make-up drawer! a win-win all around.

check out my before and after photos... isn't it a beaut?!


BEFORE





















AFTER





















COLORS (left to right, top to bottom):
deep truth (frost), nocturnelle (frost), cranberry (frost),
club (satin), steamy (frost), juxt (satin),
silver ring (veluxe pearl), sumptuous olive (veluxe pearl), woodwinked (veluxe pearl),
seedling (satin), coquette (satin), cork (satin),
shroom (satin), naked lunch (frost), girlie (satin)