AMONG COSMETIC BRANDS, I will always have a soft spot for MAC. After all, this was the brand that set off the nude makeup revolution and gave women the color foundation and powder that matched their skin tone. Unlike most companies that present a collection only each season, MAC does so every month. They may all be great but I cannot tell you to buy them all as I am aware of budget constraints.

So I chose the collection for February called All Ages, All Races, All Sexes, a collection of nude and natural shades to match and flatter skin tones across races.

They have four items for perfecting eyebrows alone, which is a crucial part of a woman?s makeup regimen:

1. Brow Set for unruly brows is a clear or tinted gel to add slight color and to groom brows into place. 2. Impeccable Brow pencil?the classic creamy easy-to-sharpen eyebrow pencil for the woman who won?t stray from the tried and true method used by Classic Divas for perfect filled-in arches. 3. Penultimate Brow Maker?This pen-type tapered tip marker is quick-drying and smudge-proof to easily fill in those bald spaces for a natural feathery look.

For your eyebrows, the Brow Maker adds shape, color and density effortlessly in one self-sharpening, brow-defining tool. Their eye shadows are highly pigmented powder in beige, apricot and brown that define and enhance the eyes just right. My very dry lips cannot even go near their lipsticks so I am limited to their Lipglass, which gives megawatt shine without compromising pigment. My top pick: Liqueur?a mauve bronze for all skin tones and stays on while making lips look fuller. Check out their collection at any MAC counter near you.

Affordable foundation

Revlon Colorstay Mineral Mousse Makeup boasts 16 hours? staying power with a soft matte finish. My take: The moment you squeeze a small amount from the tube into your fingers, dab on a chosen area of your face and blend right away as it dries fast. Applying dots to all areas first and blending later will result in a cakey finish. Drier skin types should stay away from this in cold weather or make sure their skin is well-exfoliated and moisturized before application so it won?t settle in lines and flaky skin.

Oily skin should use a mattifying primer underneath during summer; this was not enough to prevent my forehead and nose from shining after three hours, even as the rest of my face looked velvety smooth. What I love about it: 1. One color can accommodate a wide range of skin tones and blends seamlessly so skin looks unmade up. Shades 02 and 03 blended in perfectly with my MAC NC20 skin; 2. Can replace pressed powder for touch-up as it blends right in without creating a mess; 3. SPF 20?after my morning skincare regimen I apply this as my sunblock, foundation and light concealer; 4. The minerals have healing properties so I can use this to cover redness after an acne treatment; 5. Tube is very hygienic but make sure fingers are clean during touch-ups. Cons: 1. Some may be turned off by the clay-like smell. 2. SPF 20 may not be enough for most ladies who want at least SPF 30.

E-mail the author at kinny salas@yahoo. com