Amelia’s Magazine | MAC Semi-Precious Collection: New Mineral Make Up Range from the Mata Atlantica Coast of Brazil

MAC Semi Precious range by AntoniaParker
MAC Semi-Precious range by Antonia Parker. Her lady wears Hint of Sapphire on eyes, case Geo Pink on lips, sildenafil Warmth of Coral blush. The background is inspired by Blue Sheen eyeshadow.

Now, I don’t generally get that excited about the launch of a new make up range, but I was most intrigued when I learnt (on the grapevine) about the new MAC Semi-Precious Collection. Why, you may well ask? Well, this large new beauty range boasts plenty of semi precious mineral ingredients and the final products are intriguing – a swirly shimmer of glistening particles that reflect the source of their creation. Time to find out a bit more….

MAC semi precious range collection review 2011

Over at MAC HQ Jennifer Balbier and Nick Gavrelis are the brains behind the collection, inspired by trips to Brazil where the use of natural minerals in make up is much more commonplace. The minerals are pulverised into very small particles and then baked into the marbleised finishes that typify the collection. They were helped in their knowledge of the Brazilian beauty arena by Fabiana Gomes, who grew up in Curitiba and has worked with MAC since they opened their first store in Brazil in 2002. Beauty is super important in Brazil, so the launch of the Semi-Precious Collection clearly sees MAC with one eye on this huge emerging customer base.

MAC semi precious by Lorna Scobie
MAC semi precious by Lorna Scobie.

But what about the really interesting stuff? The ingredients themselves? The finely milled gems which have been chosen for the Semi-Precious range are Bronzite, Black Tourmaline, Gold Pyrite and Lilac Lepidolite – each of which create beautiful jewel-like colours and are also believed to have some interesting properties.

MAC semi precious range collection review 2011

Bronzite, the Stone of Courtesy, is a deep chocolate colour with golden swirls, believed to be energised by the Earth, thus improving metabolism and oxygenation at a micro level (wow, all that from wearing a pretty eye shadow!)

Black Tourmaline is iron rich and known as the Electric Stone because it conducts a gentle current – for this reason it’s believed to neutralise negative energies and enhance happiness in the wearer.

Gold Pyrite is very bright and metallic as anyone will know who has marvelled at Fool’s Gold. It’s the Fire Stone, sparking when struck against iron and steel. For this reason it’s associated with stamina and transforming intuition into logic and reasoned action. It also aids concentration and fosters open communication.

Lepidolite is a member of the Mica family. It is the Peace Stone, used to encourage openness and honesty. It is believed to dissipate pain when placed on the body, to relieve allergies and stabilise mood swings. If wearing a pretty lipstick can do this I’ll be damned, but there’s nothing like a bit of folklore to encourage sales.

MAC Semi Precious by Sally Jane Thompson
MAC Semi Precious by Sally Jane Thompson.

Research was done by the MAC team in Canada and the minerals were mined by Solabia International – slogan Between Nature and Technology – then put together to echo the beauty of the Brazilian landscape in their laboratory just outside Milan. Solabia mines on the Mata Atlantica coast of Brazil where the four precious stones are found, following an ethical code of practice laid out by DNPM the Brazilian National Department of Mineral Production. I am assured that the process does not use large quantities of water.

MAC semi precious range collection review 2011

The Semi-Precious stones are used in Mineralize eye shadow, blush and lipstick, though the new range also features body lotions as well as mascara and foundation. With names like Pure Magnificence, Natural Flare, and Geo Pink the geographical nature of the ingredients is always at the fore. I’ve been wearing the Golden Gaze on my eyes over the past few days and the way that the gold particles are swirled together with black gives a multi-layered finish that is very different to your average eye shadow: think sultry charcoal grey with a glinting hint of gold once on the eyelid – a subtle look that is totally suitable for daytime. I’ve also tried the Feeling Flush blusher, which is a perky pink colour on the skin. Be warned though, I needed very little of this to achieve a strong effect.

Mac Semi Precious by Claire Kearns
Mac Semi Precious by Claire Kearns.

MAC Semi-Precious was launched in the US & UK last week so it should be available at make-up counters near you very soon….

Categories ,Antonia Parker, ,Beauty, ,Between Nature and Technology, ,Black Tourmaline, ,Blue Sheen, ,Blusher, ,brazil, ,Brazilian National Department of Mineral Production, ,Bronzite, ,canada, ,Claire Kearns, ,Coast, ,Curitiba, ,DNPM, ,Electric Stone, ,eye shadow, ,Fabiana Gomes, ,Feeling Flush, ,Fire Stone, ,Folklore, ,Fool’s Gold, ,Geo Pink, ,Gold Pyrite, ,Golden Gaze, ,Hint of Sapphire, ,Honesty, ,HQ, ,Intuition, ,Jennifer Balbier, ,Jewel, ,Lepidolite, ,Lilac Lepidolite, ,Lipstick, ,Logic, ,Lorna Scobie, ,Mac, ,Make-up, ,Mata Atlantica, ,Metabolism, ,Mica, ,Milan, ,Mineralize, ,Minerals, ,mining, ,Natural Flare, ,Negativity, ,Neutralise, ,Nick Gavrelis, ,Peace Stone, ,Pure Magnificence, ,Sally Jane Thompson, ,Semi-Precious, ,Solabia International, ,Stamina, ,Stone of Courtesy, ,Warmth of Coral

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Amelia’s Magazine | Renegade Craft Fair in London 2011 Review: Jewellery

Renegade Craft Fair London oct 2011 -Esoterica Bazaar
Now for my final Renegade Craft Fair blog post: the best of the jewellery.

Renegade Craft Fair London oct 2011 -Esoterica Bazaar
Renegade Craft Fair London oct 2011 -Esoterica Bazaar
Renegade Craft Fair London oct 2011 -Esoterica Bazaar
I totally and utterly fell in love with jewellery made by Caroline of Esoterica Bazaar, pharm who is based in Los Angeles. Her bold rings were displayed like gorgeous sweeties, what is ed and thus utterly irresistible to little ol’ me. She sources rare and unusual gems such as veined Ammolite, erectile aurora borealis enhanced Labradorite and many faceted crystal Pyrite (also known as Fool’s Gold).

Renegade Craft Fair London oct 2011 -Kirsty Kirkpatrick uncommonly Beautiful
Renegade Craft Fair London oct 2011 -Kirsty Kirkpatrick uncommonly Beautiful
It’s great news that there are now plenty of people upcycling vintage jewellery parts to create new pieces, but London based Kirsty Kirkpatrick of Uncommonly Beautiful stands out for her clever use of jewellery parts and unusual combinations of pieces: she uses bits of furniture, scrap leather and even broken suitcases in her designs. I also likes the way that she describes herself as anti-landfill, challenging preconceptions of waste.

Renegade Craft Fair London oct 2011 -The Weekend Store
Adjowah Brodie of the US based The Weekend Store specialises in upcycled parts as well. My eye was particularly drawn to unique necklaces, cufflinks and rings made from old typewriter keys.

Renegade Craft Fair London oct 2011 -Foamy Wader
Renegade Craft Fair London oct 2011 -Foamy Wader
Renegade Craft Fair London oct 2011 -Foamy Wader
Renegade Craft Fair London oct 2011 -Foamy Wader
Alexa Allamano of Seattle had travelled a long way to show her Foamy Wader jewellery collection. Her delicate pieces were beautifully displayed with miniature animals, and according to her website she also specialises in knitted beards. As you do.

Foamy Wader frozen necklace
Until next year Renegade Craft Fair! Don’t forget that if you are based in the US you can find their events all year round.

Categories ,2011, ,Adjowah Brodie, ,Alexa Allamano, ,Ammolite, ,Anti-Landfill, ,Aurora Borealis, ,Caroline, ,Esoterica Bazaar, ,Foamy Wader, ,Fool’s Gold, ,jewellery, ,Kirsty Kirkpatrick, ,Knitted Beards, ,london, ,Los Angeles, ,Pyrite, ,Renegade Craft Fair, ,seattle, ,The Weekend Store, ,Uncommonly Beautiful, ,Upcycled

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