Review: MAC Hot 'n' Saucy

MAC Tendertone in Hot 'n' Saucy from the Cook Collection February 2012

Looking back at my blog, I'm just now realizing I haven't purchased any MAC collections since December 2010 – a little over a year. Nothing has really caught my eye until I saw the Shop/Cook press release.

For lip-product lovers, I'm sure it wasn't too hard to find multiple things to buy with new lipstick shades, kissable lip colors, and what I was excited for, the repromotion of Tendertones. Everyone was crossing their fingers for a repromotion of Ripe Peach Blush in this spring collection. Unfortunately, a lot of people were let down. I've heard raves about Tendertones, and like most good MAC products (and sometimes colors), you'll only see them every few years. I practically ran to my MAC counter the day the collection was released to look at all of the Tendertones in-person. All of the lip colors were pretty intimidating – an orange, yellow, neon green, and bright red. But I remembered reading a review saying these were really sheer. I decided to go with the bright red, Hot 'n' Saucy.

First Impression
I loved the precious exterior box packaging...a summer picnic with the pink plaid packaging. (The lipstick sleeves were really neat, too.) It looked look a lip product in a paint pot. I expected it to be a harder balm so I accidentally dug my finger into with first use.

Review
The formula is excellent, super soft and easily glides on, pretty moisturizing and little to no color.

I usually don't care much for scented products – especially food scents. But I actually don't mind this one... it's some mix between strawberry-kiwi-watermelon. Like Kool-Aid, or a childhood Smackers lip product.

With the Tendertone itself, I was impressed and it does live up to its hype. It appears most other consumer reviews recommended the other 3 shades for the shimmer it provides, but I'm happy with the one I chose. I probably won't pick up any of the others, because there are better lip products out there for about one-third of the cost... if that. It does have SPF 12, so I'll probably end up using this a lot more in the Summer.

I prefer convenient packaging that allows the product to go directly onto the lips. I don't like to mess with lip brushes and putting your finger into a product is unsanitary and messy. Not to mention, the bottom being made of glass doesn't seem safe to travel...

Rating
Product: 4/5
Value: 3/5
Packaging: 3/5
Overall: 3/5

Retail: $15.00

Overall: It's a good product, and a nice one to have if you're really into MAC collections, especially products that are rarely out often. However, for the average consumer, there are better and cheaper lip products available.
Best For: Those who like potted, scented lip products and are looking for moisture but little to no color.
Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this product to a friend.

Saucy,
-Kaitlyn

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January Favorites

"Favorites" posts/videos discuss the products (and other misc things) you loved for that month. The products can either be purchased that month or (old) "rediscovered" items. Favorites are published at the end of the current month or at the beginning of the following month."

This month I had to repurchase quite a few items that I love and ran out of Origins Vitazing Moisturizer and MAC Turquatic Perfume, to name a few. I also picked up items that I already owned in other shades.  Instead of me giving a mini review on products you can already find on my blog, I'll just focus on the new products (From the drugstore!) I've been loving for the month of January:

John Frieda Sheer Solution: Lightweight Frizz Control Serum
The reason I''m so obsessed with this is just for the smell.  It smells better than any salon product that has every touched my hair.  (I purchased a few other items from the line, hoping they'd smell similar, only to be disappointed.) It does tame down frizz on damp hair.  But to tame morning bed head, I'm still on the hunt for a miracle product.

Maybelline Illegal Length Mascara
It's a fabulous lengthening mascara, the fibers add quite a few centimeters to the end of my lashes. However, it doesn't do much thickening.

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Pink Truffle
See my full review.   I picked up quite a few of these lip butters but two in this shade.  I wear it every day and apply multiple times, it's replaced my favorite (drying) MAC lipstick.

Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro Top Coat in Crystal Clear
The bottle claims it lasts up to 10 days. (I'm not sure if that's possible - I'm tired of the same color after a week.)  It has made usual manicure of 1-3 days last at least 5-6 days and still looks good (no peeling, minimal chipping.)  It's similar to Seche Vite, but better, and only one-third of the cost.  I just hope it doesn't thicken and ruin like Seche Vite does when you use half the bottle...

the salon smell,
-Kaitlyn

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Review: Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette

Foxy - pale yellowed beige matte
Half Baked - coppery brown with golden shimmer metallic
Booty Call - peach-tinted white beige satin
Chopper - orange-toned with copper shimmer metallic
Tease - mauve brown matte
Snakebite - bronze with golden shimmer satin
Suspect - soft champagne-bronze satin
Pistol - taupe with a lot of brown satin
Verve - white-gray metallic
YDK - warm coppery brown metallic
Busted - burgundy deep brown satin
Blackout - deep black matte

Naked - sheer neutral pink with white shimmer.

It's a fabulous value, if you bought everything separately (12 shadows, the lip gloss, the brush) you would pay $234.  They put it all in one sleek palette for $50.

Pros:
-Packaging - Sleek packaging in a metal tin that shuts really well.  It's a little heavier than the original but feels more durable and travel-friendly.
-All eyeshadow have good color payoff, easy to work with.
-Matte highlight and black (can be used as eyeliner!)
- A large usable mirror.  Palettes and face products usually always come with those tiny impossible to see anything mirrors, but this one might actually get some use!

Cons:
-Lack of dark colors - not that many dark colors to work with. Only two good crease colors.
-Too many similar colors to the original palette.
-Dual-ended brush - (This is probably just me being weird and picky) I keep my brushes in brush holder - how am I supposed to store a dual ended one? One side will be messed up.  I don't like keeping brushes in the palette, they usually aways fall out when you open it.
-Lip gloss - I don't understand why a lip gloss was placed in this EYE palette? Another primer potion would've made more sense.

Comparison
Let's compare Naked (the original) to Naked 2.

There's really no need to purchase both palettes. If you're an obsessed beauty junkie, of course, you'll want both but the everyday normal person can definitely just get away with one.

-Half Baked is in both palettes.
-Booty Call (2) and Virgin (1) are nearly the same color.
-Suspect (2) and Smog (1) are nearly the same color.
-YDK (2) and Sidecar (1) are nearly the same color.
-Busted (2) and Hustle (1) are nearly the same color.

A few others are similar. Only 5 shades (out of 12) aren't similar at all to any in the first palette.  I'm a little disappointed with Urban Decay for producing such similar colors and even including one of the exact same.

The only two things I really couldn't stand about Naked the original were:
1.) The "black" color was really a glitter almost black/navy mess. I needed a true black to go over eyeliner or deepen the crease for night time looks.  I always had my Naked palette along with MAC Carbon Eyeshadow.

2.) The felt packaging always collected dirt.

Both of these 2 flaws were fixed in the Naked 2 palette. A deep dark black eyeshadow and a sleek metal tin as packaging.

So which one do I buy?
It took me a year to finally just give in and purchase Naked. I've used it every day since and have gotten rid of almost all of my neutral MAC eyeshadows (minus Carbon.)  Only a few colors are starting to have a dent in them.  It only took me a month to purchase Naked 2 this time around.  I looked at swatches but I never really sat down and read multiple reviews saying you don't REALLY need both.

My ideal Naked palette would be to take all of the eyeshadows from the original and put it in Naked 2's sleek case.  Then switch out Creed (1) with Blackout (2) and switch Gunmetal (1) with Verve (2).

Both Naked and Naked 2 both have warm tones.  Naked 2 is the cooler toned palette but still may not suit all cool tones.  Naked can create more looks.  Naked 2 has a matte highlight and black (can be used for eyeliner or deepening.) Naked is more pigmented and shimmery.  Basically, the choice will depend on your preferences and skin tone...

Rating:
Product: 4/5
Value: 5/5
Packaging: 5/5

Retail: $50.00
The Winner: Naked (the original)
Overall: I'd be more impressed with this palette if I didn't already own the original.  Don't get me wrong, I do like it and I've been alternating back and forth between the two palettes. They're pretty similar, but I understand it's hard to produce so many different shades of neutral.  The original Naked palette got a ridiculous amount of hype and Urban Decay played off that. $50 for 12 full-sized eyeshadows with great color payoff is a great value and worth looking into especially if you never purchased the original palette.
Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this product to a friend.

naked again,
-Kaitlyn

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