Review: Viva Glam Ariana Grande Lipstick

It's that time of the year once again when MAC launches a new lipstick to launch its newest Viva Glam Spokesperson. As you all know, I've always been collecting Viva Glam lipsticks not just because I love the shade (okay, of course I love the shade) or the artist but because it's for a good cause, as proceeds of the sales of a Viva Glam lipstick goes to the MAC AIDS fund.

This year, we have the gorgeous petite Ariana Grande as the Viva Glam spokesperson.

Last year, Miley Cyrus had us at a hot pink lipstick. This year, Ariana dazzles us with a deep, matte plum shade. The lipglass is a clear, sparkly one which goes well with almost anything, either or its own or on top of lipliner, your favorite lipstick, or the matte, plum lipstick to enhance it some more.

The lipstick comes as usual with the iconic Viva Glam red packaging afixed with Ariana Grande's Signature.

Here's the swatch of the lipstick. As you can see, it stays true as it is on the tube, super pigmented and not overly dry but less slidy and feathery.

In comparison with other deep colored lipsticks:

vs Sin

Sin was much redder than Viva Glam Ariana Grande

vs Rihanna Talk That Talk

This one, they were almost identical I had quite forgotten which one was which. The only slight difference is that Talk That Talk, being Retro Matte is much drier than Ariana Grande. 

I actually have this thing for bold and deep-colored lipsticks because they cut my prep time in half. I like wearing this on its own and like Ariana with just eyeliner and mascara on my eyes. I know plum is usually a fall color but hey, why not? It's a nice color anyway.

Another way of wearing this is using this like a stain, much like the gradient lips or ombre lips, which are making raves right now, just like the K-pop stars.This may also be the technique used by those who are still scared to use a deep and strong color like plum on the lips.

For those who are curious with the lipglass, here's a swatch.

It's super glittery though and there were glittery specks on the back of my hand even after cleaning up with a wet tissue. Gloss fans  would like all MAC lipglasses because they are non-sticky but just to be sure, use lipglasses sparingly or else too much would make you look like you faceplanted on a lechon.

The lipstick retails for Php 1,000 at all MAC stores near you. If you're thinking of a perfect gift for your friend and this friend of yours loves Ariana Grande or plum lipsticks, this would be an awesome gift.

Swatching Viva Glam Nicki Minaj Lipstick

I love how artists and makeup brands agree to contribute to causes. When MAC confirmed that Nicki Minaj and Ricky Martin would be joining their list of celebrity spokespersons, we're all a wonder what the new Viva Glam shades would be that would definitely be as hot as Ricky shakes his bonbon. The Nicki Minaj shade didn't disappoint fanatics as I tried it on last Sunday from my friend who was really excited showing me her makeup stash.

The Nicki Minaj Viva Glam lipstick is as quirky and cheery as her candy-colored hair. It's very apt that just for Nicki, a color be super cute and happy as I always associate her with bright colors, LED lights, and super pastel and in-your-face hues. A neutral lippie just wouldn't do, right? Just like the new Viva Glam lipsticks, this one has got the Nicki Minaj signature etched on the tube holding the lipstick bullet.

MAC describes the shade as a "bright yellow pink" in a satin finish. The first Lady Gaga lipstick was a pink also in a lustre finish, if you remember it and as I have reviewed it, it functions better topped over an opaque color rather than on its own. Being a satin finish, the Nicki Minaj lippie is more pigmented, so it's nice to use this on its own. It's not really like a candy Barbie pink though like the other pinks I bought. This is a slightly warmer pink, a bright warmer one that could stand alone or flatter the face with a bit of peach gloss. I could say that it matches up more to the Cyndi Lauper in terms of how it brightens the whole face even on its own.

It's actually still a bright pink but not really like your stereotype cool blue-pink bright lipstick, but a warmer one. With just the right touch, I'd even recommend this for a bridal look toned down with a bit of coral or peach lipstick. Would I wear it? Yes I would. Do I recommend it to clients? Why not? It's quite a statement color so lazy daisies like me could get away with just this. The satin finish makes it stay put on the lips so color doesn't feather out much yet it's not as drying for those who would worry about their lips looking like the Sahara after.

The Viva Glam Ricky Martin and Nicki Minaj lippies are said to come out next month in the Philippines, to those who might be waiting.

Ricky and Nicki for MAC

If you've been following makeup blogs often, you'd see chismis that two recording artists are the new MAC Viva Glam endorsers. Well honeys, lemme show you, chismis is confeermed! This 2012, make way for Ricky and Nicki. I'm talking about Latino music star Ricky Martin and the girl with the colorful hair Nicki Minaj.

I'm not sure what will be the lipstick shade for this line but I see that it's a pretty candy pink, the one that Ricky Martin is carrying, and I think it's like the one Nicki's wearing. Something fun and candy-like, just like Nicki in the Victoria's Secret Fashion show that's gone viral in social networks.

I'm not quite sure though if there's another shade with that pink but I really hope for a big, bold, in-your-face hot red color for Ricky Martin, to match his hot, hot personality. Personally, I don't care about what others say, Ricky Martin will always be Ricky Martin for me from his Les Miz days up to his recent video, Samba, which I'm pole-ling in one freestyle move.

These Viva Glam lipsticks are to hit counters next year. Wiii!!!!!!

Glitter and Ice: MAC Holiday 2011

When I visited the MAC counter at Shangri-La, it really showed that it was Christmas time. Instead of rich red colors, though, it was crystal, silver, and white, as the otherwise chic trademark black MAC counter seemed to be enveloped in snowballs and crystals as their Holiday Collection arrived, aptly named Glitter and Ice.

Superhuman, mystical, and fierce is what I'd describe the design of the poster.

Carlos busy setting up the displays. As you all know, every holiday collection consists of gift pouches or sets, which are perfect gifts to self (heehee, if you're a makeup addict) or to a female friend or relative you love who you know loves MAC makeup (uuuhhh helloo!!!!!! In case you don't have a gift for me yet!).

[image credits]

The goodies such as lip glass sets, nail lacquer sets, and stacked pigments are encased in a pretty see-through sphere, that's like a crystal ball showing your wish, except your wish is tangible when you dismantle the crystal ball. Aptly named Dazzlespheres, these sets are just too pretty you'd giggle. Take note with the lipglasses that their caps are white, which matches everything.

Eye makeup junkies, here are your eye palettes. What's perfect to make them stay put on the eye? Paint pots! :)

Travel-sized brush sets in white and glittery silver. And no, that's not a design, that's a dual fibre brush set you see containing SE versions of 187, 130, 266 duo fibre taper brush, and 282 duo fibre shader brush. These are the four key Mineralize brushes, used for, obviously the Mineralize line.

What else do we see during the Holidays in the MAC counter? Viva Glam! This year's Viva Glam endorser is the ever-so-unpredictable Lady Gaga. Lady Gaga's fans will go gaga for the Viva Glam Melt Your Heart Lip Bag, which contains not one but two full-size lipsticks.

Remember the sold out in minutes Lady Gaga pink lipstick? It's back with its younger sister, Gaga2 (the nude one).

See? I'm not lying when I told you they came in full sizes.

As I'm typing this, I'm sure that some of the items mentioned are up for grabs. Anyone eyeing on a favorite now? What would it be?

Swatching Viva Glam 2 Gaga

Yes, yes, I am a proud owner of Viva Glam's Lady Gaga since purchasing one on counter. The cushy amplified creme lipstick in a nude color is finally mine. mua ha ha ha.

MAC logo + Viva Glam packaging + Lady Gaga's signature + pale creamy color

Pale does not mean one shade lighter here. It goes really really pale on the lips, almost like a concealer, so a perfect combination with this would be dark, smoky eyes. Wear this with hardly any eye makeup and expect people asking you need blood transfusion as it's a very, very pale nude color, or maybe it's because we're darker. So we really need to play up on the eyes. But with the right balance, it could go on really, really sexy like Angelina Jolie or those Victoria's Secret supermodels.

In case you're lazy, a thick line of Blacktrack winged out and lots of mascara would do the trick. Since this is so pale, I really need eye emphasis on this to look alive, but nevertheless, I think it's a pretty good buy if you want a pale lippie to give the eyes some focus.

MAC Viva Glam Gaga 2 lipstick costs Php 1,000. And remember, for every MAC Viva Glam lipstick you buy, proceeds go to the MAC AIDS Fund so those who want to spend a little extra would be glad to know that it's for a good cause. :)

Glamming With Gaga for a Cause

Lady Gaga never fails to surprise us with her wacky costumes, out-of-this world hair and makeup, and her music that's meant to be hits guaranteed. I first fell in love with her in Poker Face and loved her more when she did Alejandro. Right now she shocks us with whaddya know, a not-so-shocking look that makes us look twice and verify if that is indeed, Lady Gaga.

photo from oliviasobsession.com

Last year, when Lady Gaga became a Viva Glam celebrity spokesperson, her signature shade was a pale bluish pink in a lustre finish. As she again does Viva Glam, she does so in a pretty and classic shade of nude. As the Gaga peg last year was pink brows, smoky eyes, and pink lips to match, this one is a rather tame version, that's almost bridal, if I must say - clean hydroluminous skin, subtle taupe brown eyes lined with lashes with the dark smokiness only on the lower lashline, and if there must be black, it wedges ever-so-slightly on the outer V to tie things together. It reminds me of the papercut bride bridal peg many MAC seasons ago (refresher picture below).

picture from pacificweddings.com

Hmmm... now that I stared at Lady Gaga's picture, maybe I should have used this as Jho's peg during our trial yesterday? Just kidding Jho. I love you!

Although the nude Lady Gaga lipstick is available already at the MAC website (US and Canada Launch date was February 2011), it's still not here in the Philippines. While at it, here's how they look like (photo credits from Temptalia and you could view her post here).

Iconic red and black Viva Glam packaging, check! Lady Gaga's signature, check! Nude lipstick check!

Same goes with the lipglass.

Much of the swatches and all could be found by google-ing them, so I had to rely on searching online to see if it's a good shade for me or not. I was able to find a good swatch here, since her skin's sorta close to my color, and to most of the colors I work on in general. It looks quite yellow-brown on the tube (it's actually a light neutral beige, as the MAC website describes it). Since this is an amplified finish, it goes on creamy on the lips, which would be a choice of someone who wants coverage without the dry cracked finish that some matte lipsticks cause.

On real time, here's how the Viva Glam lipstick looks on Lady Gaga as she promotes this product. I chanced upon this video on Facebook when Don shared it, which zoinked me to write about the upcoming lippie and lipglass as well.

Going Gaga Since (we) Girls Just Want To Have Fun

Viva Glam gets a double-dose this year by launching two new LE lipsticks this spring featuring two of the music industry's most popular icons - Cyndi Lauper and Lady Gaga.

[photo from omgcelebrities.com]

Cyndi Lauper made waves during the 80s and became the first female singer to have four top-five singles released from one album. Her songs "Time After Time" and "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" have been popular favorites during that time. Last year, she also became one of the celebrities who designed a T-shirt for the second Fashion Against AIDS campaign, a collaboration between H&M and Designers Against AIDS to raise HIV/AIDS awareness. That and a lot more achievements plus her timeless spunk makes her an apt endorser for Viva Glam.

Fast-forward to this day and age, Lady Gaga has wowed youngsters with her talent and artistic capability. Her songs are forever blasting at the store plus who doesn't love the way she surprises us with her out-of-this world costumes and makeup? I think every mp3 player has a Lady Gaga song in it. She's famous among fans in various age groups.

The lipsticks have been so popular there were reservations made in every MAC store and these babies were sold out in less than a week the moment they arrived on counter. Fortunately, I was able to purchase a Cyndi Lauper lipstick and I set on reviewing both shades for those who are curious about it.

The difference between these two lipsticks between the traditional Viva Glam lipsticks is that instead of numbers, they are labeled according to the names of these artists and each lipstick has their signature. On the left is the Cyndi Lauper lipstick, and on the right is Lady Gaga.

Above are swatches. Cyndi Lauper is more of a warm red-orange shade while Lady Gaga takes on a cool pastel pink finish. Both are Lustre finishes, so they're sheer and less dry than traditional matte and satin lipsticks. Swatched twice, you see the lip texture through, so for a more opaque finish, we need a third coat or so.

Here are three coats of Cyndi lipstick on my lips. Instead of a berry or wine red, I get a very subtle red color that looks very rosy on the lips. On its own, I could use this on a bride who would want some color on her lip without looking too outlandish. In fact, I used this on my trial makeup for my bride and she loved it. Cyndi red is less intimidating than the traditional Russian Red, so this is one entry-level red for girls. It does give a bit of a rosy lift on the lips, without looking too over-the-top.

The pastel pink of Lady Gaga lipstick is more on the nude side than the bright pink. If you remember Saint Germain from the Euristocrats collection, it's quite similar. The only difference is that Saint Germain is more opaque, being in an Amplified finish. It looks great with smoky eyes, just like how Lady Gaga wears her eyes (I bet a little subtle in real life). Actually, I think instead of on its own, Lady Gaga would look better if topped over another pink lipstick in a satin or matte finish. Try topping this with another MAC favorite lipstick like Pink Noveau. It will tame down the bright pink and add a bit of gloss too, if you're not fond of the sticky gloss.

Among the two, the Cyndi happens to be my favorite. I like the Lady Gaga though, but I like how Cyndi brightens up the face. Plus, I could use Cyndi even with minimal makeup. On days when I feel the urge for smoky eyes though and a pale lip, Lady Gaga could be another option.

[MAC Viva Glam lipsticks are available at all MAC counters for a limited time only. Each lipstick retails for Php950. Every cent of your purchase of the Viva Glam lipstick goes directly to the MAC AIDS fund, which was developed to support people who are living with HIV/AIDS worldwide]

MAC Celebrates Viva Glam 2009

December 1 marks not just the first day of December and we've got but only a few weeks left before our Christmas shopping but also World AIDS Day. My favorite brand of all time celebrates this day donning the purple shirt and going Viva Glam. More than just a makeup brand, MAC also has programs that are more than just prettifying ourselves with a sweep and a pat. I've already blogged about the Back To MAC program (and those who have seen me guest at the stores have already heard about it). Here, what we're gonna be talking about is the MAC AIDS Fund.

This program was created in 1994 to support men, women, and children affected by HIV and AIDS. The MAC AIDS FUND provides monies to non-profit organizations globally in support of direct services (food, housing, health care, etc) as well as education and prevention programs.

What fuels the funding is actually the sales of the MAC Viva Glam lipsticks. The MAC Viva Glam lipsticks have been endorsed by international celebrities such as Pamela Anderson, Elton John, Dita Von Teese, Eve, Lisa Marie Presley, and right now Fergie of Black Eyed Peas. Every cent of the retail selling price of Viva Glam lipsticks and lipglasses (and this holiday season, lip palettes) is donated to various AIDS programs in the communities where the product is sold. To distinguish a Viva GLam lipstick, check out those in a red tube.

For this year, MAC invited celebrities such as Marc Nelson, Rovilson Fernandez, Hindy Tantoco, Alexi Alunan, Jinno Rufino, and Cecile Van Straten to share with us how we could help the MAC AIDS FUND, by purchasing a Viva Glam lipstick. The shades are really very wearable, with colors ranging from a bold red to a pale nude color.

As I arrived at Glorietta, the MAC store was decorated with Viva Glam paraphernalia. Fergie was on display too.

Of course I would definitely wear black for this day, as it's been MAC's standard color. The white sash came with that shirt and I still kept my outfit 95% black.

And check out how the fabulous MAC team wore Viva Glam lipsticks.

Ever-so-fabulous Rizza sporting my favorite Viva Glam I.

The bright red makes a bold statement on its own, so Rizza's eyes were kept neutral, but still flirty and feminine with winged eyeliner and lots of mascara.

Cyndee shows how to wear Viva Glam II without looking pale. Love the blue smokey eyes to accentuate her eyes. Viva Glam II is prolly what people would want for the nude Jolie-esque lips.

As I already purchased Viva Glam I earlier, I was searching for a lipstick that's still natural but not too pale, something I could still use for bridals without washing out the lip color. Until I found my choice in Viva Glam V and guess who sold it to me?

yep, I bought that from Marc Nelson (weeeeeee! :P), and he's holding out the lipstick that I bought. Viva Glam V is actually pink with a bit of brownish undertone so it's perfect for weddings and prenup shots. The finish is actually frosty instead of matte and I'm assured of a relatively long staying power, with my experience from MAC lipsticks, all having less time to retouch. I have actually the lipglass variety of this one, which is about to run out, so it's good to have a backup tube. More of this lipstick soon.

Of course, what would an event be without pictures?

Me, Lyn of MAC Makati, Kang, Sam, Owen of MAC MoA, and of course, the lovely Mikee.

Mikee and I. I'm currently wearing Viva Glam I on my lips today.

Me and Rovilson Fernandez. Hell yeah I'd buy if guys this good-looking would be there at the counter too selling.

Viva Glam lipsticks aren't just for prettifying the lips but they're also a good cause. :) Be sure to catch the Viva Glam lipsticks and limited edition palettes on counter.