photo courtesy of maccosmetics.com

One of MAC’s capsule collection this summer highlights Asia’s number one trending shade: orange. This color used to worry me. I used to think the only option available was police tape orange. After making peace with this hue, I made it my friend and that said – I ran to my nearest MAC counter when this collection debuted.

This collection consists of a smoky grey shadow quartet palette ($40/USD), blushes ($21/USD), lipsticks ($15/USD), cremesheen glosses ($20/USD) and nail polishes ($16/USD).

photo courtesy of maccosmetics.com

photo courtesy of maccosmetics.com

photo courtesy of maccosmetics.com

photo courtesy of maccosmetics.com

I went with just two items – just because I tend to get overwhelmed pretty easily and I couldn’t afford more than two items – Royal Sunset blush and Tart & Trendy lipstick (lustre):

I know lighting can be very misleading and it is here – Royal Sunset is actually lighter in person and has more of a pinky hue to it. Nonetheless, it’s a very flattering light cool pink-peach. And Tart & Trendy, a bright neutral orange cream is a lot lighter in the daylight.

Here it is swatched:

I honestly thought this blush was going to be too light to even be seen. Yes it is soft but it does give me a nice soft touch of color. It’s perfect for toning down very smoky eyes, really bright/dark lips and it”s great on the go while I’m out on chauffeuring my daughter around to her dance and karate lessons on Saturdays. I am surprised that I get about a good four hours of wear time with this blush. When I wear this at the office, I reapply after my lunchtime boot camp classes, then again I have to reapply everything after boot camp classes.

Tart & Trendy lipstick however, is one I’m still trying to get the hang of. Because it’s a lustre finish it has lots of slip and pigment power varies. This one goes on pretty sheer. But when layered over my dark pink brown lips, it leaves a nice soft peachy, coral stain. Unfortunately, this lasts barely two hours on me so I will have the tendency to reapply. This causes my lips to dry out and peel. I can’t wear most of these lustre finish lipsticks on back to back days.

Because these shades are soft, emphasis should be focused on the eyes with the smoky palette or in my case, a thick black liquid liner. I am very pleased with my choices and unfortunately since these shades are limited edition, they are currently sold out. Also, these shades accentuate my vacation tan pretty nicely!

The nail polish shades are still available, which is awesome because I’m eyeing Fiestaware  (I am pretty sure that’s what the model is wearing in the ad picture).

Have you purchased anything from the All About Orange collection? Thoughts? Please share…

Items featured were purchased by yours truly.

Don’t jump the gun when it comes to dumping someone

Dear MISSter Simms,

A month ago I broke things off with my boyfriend of six months.  We are both in our late 20s, never married, and without kids. He’s extremely easy to get along with, and we never had any arguments.  He’s also very considerate, good natured, even tempered, fun, funny, successful, and responsible.   Whenever we had free time we would spend it together, and he’d often arrange weekend trips away for us to take.  I loved that about him.

You’re probably wondering why I broke up with such a great guy.  Well, right before we broke up we were both away on business trips and I didn’t hear from him for a week.  He wasn’t trying to contact me, and I couldn’t get in touch with him.  A month before this incident he disappeared for a couple of days when we were supposed to be spending time together.  He apologized and admitted he screwed up, but there he was doing the same thing again.  I was really upset because I’d won an award at work that week for a project that really meant a lot to me, and my boyfriend wasn’t around to share the moment with me.

I made up my mind then and there that it was over and broke up with him.  His disappearing was too hard for me, and on top of all that, he wasn’t as affectionate as I needed him to be.  I told him that he didn’t seem that into me, or he would have at least asked me if I had won the award that I wanted so bad.  And he hadn’t introduced me to his friends yet.  I asked if he was crazy about me, and all he could say was that he liked spending time with me.

But…I miss him.  I liked my life better with him than without him.  I wonder if I ended things too soon.  He’s got so many great qualities that I want in a partner.  Should I have given him another chance?  Was I too rash with my decision making?  Should I stick with my decision, or try to go back and work things out with him?

Dropped Too Soon?

Dear DTS,

I have a philosophy about dating and it goes a little something like this.  I don’t break up with anyone until I know good and hell well that I don’t want to be with them anymore…ever.   Because when you break up with someone, it can be very hard to undo what’s been done and go back to what you were.

Judging by your current thoughts on the matter, it seems like you didn’t know good and hell well that you didn’t want to be with your boyfriend anymore…ever.  And from your letter it’s easy to see why you’re so conflicted.  On the one had, he did some things that you thought were unforgivable, like disappearing for a week…not parading you in front of his friends.  On the other hand, everything else about him is awesome.  Perhaps the things you thought were so unforgivable weren’t that unforgivable in the face of his overall awesomeness.

Which is why I say you need to pick up the phone and give him another chance.  You know you want to; otherwise you wouldn’t have sought out my advice on the matter and would have just stuck to your guns.   He’ll either be receptive to your attempt to win him back, or he’ll laugh in your face and hang up the phone (hopefully not, because that’s kind of dramatic).   But if he did that, it’d go to show that he wasn’t so crazy about you after all and you’re not really missing out on anything in that case.

And if you do get back together, don’t be so quick to drop him the next time he messes up.

Need relationship advice?  Send your questions to ronsimmsjr at gmail dot com and you might be featured on the next installment of Ask MISSter Simms.

Necklaces have earrings. Blazers have slacks. Karl Lagerfeld has Choupette. In the fashion world, all things great have a mate (Hey! That rhymes!). Usually sneakers are partnered with a creative pair of laces. For those of us who are past the days of Bow Biters a nice pair of socks is enough to spunk up a sneaker look. Orange County, Ca. brand Stance is a brand we just caught wind of, but their sock designs are freaking epic!

The company’s tootsie toasters come in every design imaginable. Whether you’re keeping work appropriate with solids and stripes or are feeling frisky with animal prints and tribal Stance has gotcha covered. Socks begin at $10 and can be purchased from the Stance online store.

Image Layout: Feesh

One of our favorite artists Choco Moo has put her signature black and white illustrations on Joyrich apparel.  The capsule collection consists of tees, tanks, crop tops and totes all with her unmistakable graphics.  I’m sure this collection will sell out fast so get to Joyrich ASAP!

Everyone’s favorite fairy has moved on up from her days of buzzing in Peter Pan’s ear and running rampant in Never Never Land. Tinkerbell’s style, personality, and pixie dust has been translated into a six shade lacquer collection by Nicole by OPI. Included in the collection is a glitter gloss and vivid shades of tangerine, coral, fuchsia, pink and lime green.

The limited-edition collection will be available July 1 for $7.99 at select Walgreens locations.

Image Layout: C_Rocka