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Archives for July 2011

New Hourglass Film Noir Lash Lacquer Nails the Color, But the Formula Could Use Some Help

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hourglass film noir lash lacquer

Hourglass Film Noir Lash Lacquer sure is interesting. I’ll give it that.

In my ceaseless pursuit of products to transform my mousy, stage-fright fringe into the lash equivalent of Cher on tour (complete with crazy wigs and pyrotechnics), I’ve tried a lot of different mascaras, but I can safely say I’ve never tried one quite like this.

Here's lookin' at you, kidLash Lacquer comes in a single shade, inky black Kohl. Not quite a mascara, Hourglass says it does for lashes what top coat does for nails (at least one of the things), giving them an almost wet look that’s supposed to ramp up the intensity of bare lashes and other mascaras when layered on top. Ya know, the old false lash look.

Basically, it’s supposed to perform like a thickening, jet black liquid mascara top coat that you apply with a brush. The brush, incidentally, looks like a nail polish brush, and it’s supposed to be used kinda like one, too, held horizontally, with each lash painted one by one.

For the most dramatic affect, pair it with a lengthening mascara, rather than a thickening mascara. I tried it with several lengthening mascaras (including Hourglass Film Noir), and basically got same effect with all of them. In these pictures I applied it over one layer of my current lengthening mascara crush, Urban Decay Cannonball.

hourglass film noir lash lacquer

hourglass film noir lash lacquer brush
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MAC Unsung Heroes: Ricepaper Eyeshadow

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mac ricepaper eyeshadow

I know I did not just hear you say that you don’t have MAC Ricepaper Eyeshadow ($14.50) yet because that, my love, would be a makeup travesty of epic proportions.

EPIC!

Okay, maybe not epic. But large. Let’s say, bigger than a breadbox? 🙂

Shoot, I can’t even remember when I first started wearing Ricepaper (I think it was around 1999), but I do remember that it changed my life (as only good makeup can).

mac ricepaper eyeshadow

This shimmery, pigmented peachy gold is one of those colors I find I’m able to wear every single day, and I almost do. I probably reach for it at least a few times a week and wear it most often as a wash over my lids, or along my brow bone as a highlighter (I think it lifts the arches), or at the inner corners of my eyes when I feel I look tired.

It’s quite the team player, too. It maintains an excellent working relationship with many MAC neutrals, like Soba, Saddle, Soft Brown, Brown Script, Cork and Smoke & Diamonds, and I think it also works well as an accent color for brights that go well with golds, like blues and teals. Freshwater and Aquadisiac are two of its biggest fans.

How do you feel about peachy golden Arena? Similar pigmentation and same soft, buttery texture, but I think Ricepaper looks lighter and peachier to me. Both colors work together really well.

mac ricepaper eyeshadow
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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, July 18

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  • You might be wondering, “So what the heck is this Monday Poll thing anyway?”
    Well, it isn’t much of a poll. It’s more just a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past three years, which I guess makes this somewhere around Vol. 177. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.
  1. Mood:

    2. Pretty good, but it was touch and go there until I cranked out an “At least…” list. It’s a trick I use to improve my outlook and snap myself out of funks, like those that seem to accompany many Monday mornings.

    What I do is give myself 10 minutes to finish as many sentences as I can that start with the words, “At least…” like, “At least my cat is only a partial psycho, and not a total and complete psycho bent on making my life a living hell,” and, “At least I have opposable thumbs.”

    Usually helps. 🙂

  2. Speaking of which, “At least…”

    3. At least I’m not on a reality TV show and having Orange County housewives throw drinks in my face. At least I’m not in a hot tub with Flava Flav and a bunch of hoochies wearing butt floss. At least my teeth aren’t shaped like vampire fangs. At least I have my health.

  3. Hoops or studs?

    4. Studs for work; hoops for play.

  4. Snakeskin prints: yea or nay?

    5. Yea, but only on shoes and bags (and not both at the same time).

  5. When was the last time you wore teal eyeshadow?

    6. Last week! It’s one of my current favorite colors to play with.

  6. One day I’m going to…

    7. Figure it all out. Everything. But until then, I’m just gonna do my best and try to enjoy being a work in progress.

  7. Your favorite product to conceal pimples (but not necessarily under-eye circles)?

    8. I haven’t found one I’m really happy with for pimples. Got any recs?

  8. Today’s accessories?

    9. My wedding ring, a pair of bow-shaped Kate Spade studs and Tiffany silver bangles.

  9. Three things I love about myself:

    10. 1) That I don’t take myself (“Allow myself to introduce…myself.” -Austin Powers) too seriously, 2) that I’m sensitive, and 3) my blueberry/peach cobbler (I make a mean one, boo!).

  10. Weekly goals:

    11. Not much. Just to stay positive and focused on good thoughts. Oh, and to make an appointment to get my hair did. It’s the roots… They’re taking over, and it’s not pretty.

So…please, please tell me you watched the new True Blood last night because I’m dying to dish! I promise, no spoilers (except in the comments, where it’s fair game), but I think it’s safe to mention that I was quite pleased with the amount of shirtless-ness in the episode. Yes, that was most appreciated. 😀

In music news, I’ve been listening to Pat Benetar’s (or Pat Nebetar, for the Beavis and Butthead fans among us) Love Is a Battlefield for two straight days, and I WILL NOT BE SATISFIED until it’s stuck in your head, too.

Now, on to the Monday Poll (Love Is a Battlefield)!

  • To complete the Monday Poll, just copy the following list, and paste it with your answers in the comments.



1. Mood:
2. At least…
3. Hoops or studs?
4. Snakeskin prints: yea or nay?
5. When was the last time you wore teal eyeshadow?
6. One day I’m going to…
7. Your favorite product to conceal pimples?
8. Today’s accessories?
9. Three things I love about myself:
10. Weekly goals:

You have a kickin’ week now, ya hear?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 148

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Tabs for the Guerlain Mirror Mirror Collection

The creative director’s eyes lit up like fireworks when the page turned. “Who’s that cat?!” she exclaimed, literally pointing down at Tabs’ portfolio picture in the kitty models book. “Get me that cat!”

Oh, you should have seen it! Hook. Line. Sinker.

It was just a case of crazy good timing, really. I had to stop by the offices of Elite Kitty Modeling last weekend to drop off a tennis key Tabs had borrowed from François Nars but “forgot” to return. I was standing out at the reception area, chatting with the girl at the desk, when I overheard the words “top kitty model” coming from an office in front of me.

The door was open, and I could see from where I was standing in the hall what the people in the room were doing because I’d seen things like it before. It was a creative meeting between photographers and editors looking through a portfolio book of model pictures. It’s how the top dogs choose which kitty models to hire for jobs.

I said a hushed goodbye to the girl at reception and quietly moseyed over to the open office door. The people inside were too busy to notice me looking over their shoulders, and I got close enough to be able to see the kitty models in the book on the table when it opened to the picture of Tabs.

“Uh…I can get you that cat,” I said, almost sheepishly.

The three people in the room all turned their heads in unison to look at me. The woman — who I took to be the creative director judging by the nameplate on the door and how the others were interacting with her — blurted out, “Who are you?”

I cleared my throat. “I’m Karen,” I said, more assertively this time, “and I can get you that cat.”

And I did! Tabs had a full week of awesome kitty modeling jobs this week, all because of randomly great timing. 🙂 Here’s a quick look at his portfolio, if you’re interested.

Tabs for Urban Decay Fall 2011

Tabs for the MAC Me Over Collection
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Great Wear Time and Hydration Give $8 L’Oreal Le Gloss the Win

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Okay, so you know those new L’Oreal Colour Riche Le Glosses?

Um…kind of awesome.

They come in 16 colors across a wide range of finishes and different levels of coverage, and they feel fantastic on my lips — smooth, comfy and non-sticky. They also have a very faint vanilla flavor and scent.

L’Oreal gave them argan oil, omega 3’s and vitamin E to condition lips, and I gotta say, these are among the most moisturizing drugstore glosses I’ve ever worn.

I was surprised by how long the color lasts. Wear time is great for a non-sticky gloss. I get about three hours out of them, and they’re even able to survive a snack and a glass of water.


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