Mac makeup

[FizzyPink]

I've asked for the £50 mac voucher for my birthday where you get taught how to use the products and then can choose £50 worth to take home. I expect I'll also end up spending some of my own money as I know you can't get much for that.
Just wondering if there's anything I should definitely choose. Any stand out products? I usually wear make up everyday but only very light foundation, blusher, mascara.

[ihatethecold]

Avoid the mascara. It's really stings.

Also when they do the makeover, go outside and check you aren't orange in daylight.

The eye primer is very good.

[Sunshineonsea]

I went and bought pro long wear foundation yesterday, I'm a complete make up novice but I think it's good good coverage

[Housewife2010]

I love their duo fibre buffing brush. I use it for foundation, tinted moisturiser, mineral foundation, bronzer & to blend my cream blusher. I also use their eye buffing brush every day. It's great for really blended eyeshadow. I've used both brushes daily for the last 7 years & they're still going strong. I bought them after my MAC wedding makeover. Have a look at their new cool neutral & warm neutral palettes too.

[nickdrakeslovechild]

The face and body foundation is fantastic and you can build up the coverage, I also use it to cover the horrible red spots on my upper arms in the summer. The eyeliners and eyeshadows are great as are the lipsticks and cream blushers. The nail polish is rubbish and nowhere near the quality of the rest of the items. I love mac and converted most of my friends on to it. The makeover was really good and showed me how to use eyelash curlers properly.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

The eye shadows are amazing!

[squoosh]

Great eyeshadows/blush/lipsticks

Really don't like their foundations and really, really don't like their staff! Mac staff are experts in being bored and unhelpful.

[Xfirefly]

I've bought some MAC products online a while back (primer, foundation) and they are good. went into a store for the first time last week and it was a mess...all the make up stands looked like they hadn't been cleaned in months. it out me off and I walked out.

[Sparkletastic]

Lipsticks - spend it all on lipsticks...

If you want to vary it though I rate their colour-free blotting powder and their metallic liquid eyeliners. Eyeshadows are pretty good but can be hard to blend - stick to lighter colours.

[craftynclothy]

The eyeshadows are fantastic and last ages.

[boogiewoogie]

I am a very minimal make up wearer but if I had to choose one essential make up item then it would be the Mac concealer. I bought one back in 2007 and have replaced it only recently .

[ZacharyQuack]

MAC eyeshadows are lovely, and their eyeshadow brushes are amazing, especially 217. If you have voucher to spend and can't decide, get some brushes. I have 217, 239, 219 and 224 and they make even cheap crappy eyeshadow look good, and will last for years.

[Whitershadeofpale]

I would get a nice neutral paint point, they're great on their own or as a base. A 217 brush (honestly the best eyeshadow brush you could have) and a nice lipstick, they do a good variety of reds so might be a good chance to find the one that's you.

[Flangeofmingetown]

I like their Brule eyeshadow and matte CHili lipstick.

[Onsera3]

Paint pots and tubes have great staying power alone or under other eyeshadows.

Mascara rubbish IMO.

Brushes good- esp duo fibre as mentioned above.

Foundation hmm. I've had some hits and misses and don't love finish of many such as studio ones. Face and body has great coverage for dewy finish but separates badly in bottle so get small one not the professional size.

I think the best lipsticks are the 'satin' finish ones. Best pigment and staying power.

[sandalsinthebin]

The mineralize foundation is nice and dewy and the bottle lasts ages as you only need a tiny bit. I also use one of their tiny pots of brown eyeshadow with a brow brush for filling my (sparse) eyebrows, instead of an eyebrow pencil. This lasts all day and longer and the pot lasts forever. The cream blusher is also really natural looking and long lasting.

[PoemGirl]

Lipsticks, eyeshadow, creme eyeliners, lip glosses (if you like lipgloss), blusher, blot powder and brushes are all amazing. I don't get on with their mascara, foundation or skin care. But the lipsticks are amazing, I have an embarassing number of them.

Also, once you have 6 empties, you can take them to a Mac counter and get a free lipstick. WIN

[HollaAtMeBaby]

Another vote for the lipsticks. Also Strobe Cream!

[KateSpade]

Another vote for the paint pots, they really are amazing, and so useful as a base or alone if have a lazy day!

[singaporeswing]

For brushes, I find the Real Techniques brushes a lot better value for money, you can get them in Boots.

From MAC, I always get the lipsticks and Face and Body foundation. I buy in one shade lighter to mix with other foundations and it just seems to "set" it.

I would get a neutral eyeshadow and, depending on the colour of your eyes, a coloured one that brings out your eye colour. I have very green eyes and always get compliments for wearing Star Violet or Cranberry (purple/berry colours).

[Deathwatchbeetle]

The brushes are supposed to be good but as singaporeswing says - the Real Techniques from Boots are very good - from Pixiwoos Sam Chapman.
Have a look at Mac stuff online of do a search on youtube of Mac reviews and it should come up with a number of people who have made a haul of Mac stuff and are reviewing it. If you find it hard going on the purse, financially, you can always look for cheaper duplicates. I got a NYX palette which has a dupe for the famous Mac Shiny Taupe eyeshadow and two other well known mac eyeshadow dupes.

Look at their online site and take your time deciding on colours etc. If you can stretch to 2 eyeshadows then as singa suggests get a neutral one and then a coloured one.

Lots of people rate their lipstick. I quite like the lustre and cremesheen formulas but it won't stay all day.

[JoStrom]

The MAC brushes giving an amazing look to lessexpensive cosmetics is something I have heard before. Must get me some Mac brushes I think!

[Onsera3]

Yes I love the blushes!

Don't know how I forgot that- bought 5 at outlet in States last month! Was a great haul. Also got 4 piece duo fibre brush set for £17 which was my best buy.

The brush sets they bring out at Xmas etc are often quite good value. Shorter handles but I quite like that.

[whereisshe]

Their primers are great! I don't rate their foundation but to hate being able to feel foundation on my skin so I may be the wrong person to ask.

If you want to try red lipstick, Ruby Woo or Russian Red are both regulars on "best red lipstick" lists.

And their shadows are great - really pigmented. The downside is that they last for AGES as they're quite big so always go off before they can be used in my experience.

Their brushes are lovely as pp have said, but be ready to take proper care of them (all my lovely mac brushes moult because I didn't )