Archives for July 2011

MAC Unsung Heroes: Impassioned Lipstick (and Watermelon)

July 1st, 2011 by Karen 39 Comments

mac impassioned lipstick

It’s official: I am in food lust with watermelon. That one from the other day? Completely gone. And it was ginormous, too! — like bigger than Tabs, and I ate it all by myself in, like, two days. On the one hand (and I’m thrilled about this) I’m not having any, um, fiber issues, but on the other hand, I’m a little afraid I might be overdoing it.

So sweet, so juicy!

Gotta swing by Trader Joe’s to get another one ASAP.

I’m obsessed… I’ve got watermelon on the brain. It’s even creeping into my makeup. Just the other day, I was looking at Impassioned ($14.50), one of my favorite MAC Lipsticks, when it hit me…

No, not the watermelon (silly). 🙂 It occurred to me that Impassioned is a perfect watermelon pink.

MAC describes it as a full-throttle fuchsia, but on me it’s more of an intense, warmish hot pink. I’ve been wearing it a lot lately because, ya know, the whole watermelon thing, and also because I love the way it lights up my face. I think it looks fantabulous with summery gold, teal and bronze eye looks.

Impassioned and the other MAC Amplified lipsticks are famous for long-lasting, rich color (all day wear). That’s a lot longer than it takes to devour a plate of watermelon slices.

Watermelon…

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Tarte for True Blood Natural Cheek Stain: Y’all Red-y for This?

July 1st, 2011 by Karen 45 Comments

tarte for true blood

Remember the True Blood episode last season when Pam busted out the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil? I turned to El Hub on the couch and was like, “ZOMG! Did you see Pam with her NARS!? AAAHHHH!”

He just stared at me like I’d lost my mind…

Don’t you just love it when you recognize makeup on your favorite TV shows? I wonder if the new Tarte for True Blood Natural Cheek Stain ($30) will make an appearance on TV this year.

It’s an intensely pigmented red gel blush, recently launched with two other pieces in the new limited edition Tarte for True Blood collection, and it’s loaded with golden glitter.

I can see it now, gracing some of True Blood’s malevolent and benevolent characters like…

Lafayette, clad in a see-through mesh top and camo capri pants. He’s getting ready in the bathroom at Merlotte’s for a rollicking night with the wiccans. He applies a single layer directly onto the apples of his cheeks, then blends out the edges with his fingers. The sheer red stain hides on his dark skin, just barely showing through, but the gobs of golden glitter sparkle like vampire fangs in the moonlight.

Or pale, beautiful Jessica, with her everlasting red hair. She’s sprucing up before a dinner date with Hoyt, her human beau (and her favorite meal). On her porcelain skin, the stain looks much more intense than it does on Lafayette, but Jessica isn’t afraid to make a statement with her looks. As a matter of fact, she loves the attention.

Whether the stain was designed with supernatural beings in mind, mere mortals can rock ’em, too. A single layer gives me a deep red flush and enough golden glitter to last a few lifetimes.

Did I mention that it’s sparkly? Very, very sparkly? I loves me some glitter, but dayum — borderline obnoxious, y’all.

tarte for true blood

tarte for true blood
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Outfit of the Day, Vol. 3: Call Me Cat Lady (and a Trick to Look Taller)

July 1st, 2011 by Karen 50 Comments

I’m pretty short at 5’1″, but in my mind I’m taller.

How much taller?

On a good day, at least 5’8″. Of course, the rest of the world disagrees.

Once, years ago when I worked in San Francisco, I was walking through China Town on my lunch break in four-inch heels when I found myself behind a group of middle school students on an historic tour of the neighborhood. I was heading to my favorite greasy spoon for lunch, a place in the same direction the group was heading, so I tagged along (hey, free tour!), listening to the group’s tour guide.

When I finally arrived at my lunch spot and broke away from the group, one of the volunteer moms started yelling.

“Get back with the group!” she barked, and I could hear her footsteps pounding behind me.

I slowly turned around, looking up at a much taller woman. “Dude…” I replied, more confused than amused, “I don’t go to school with these kids.”

She pursed her lips and raised an eyebrow quizzically, probably thinking she had a troublemaker on her hands. “Where do you go to school?”

“Uh…” I saw an opportunity I couldn’t resist. “The school of life?”

I think that’s where she figured it out. 🙂

Over the years, I’ve picked up a few height-enhancing tricks. One of my favorites? — pairing nude heels (more accurately, heels in a color close to my natural skin tone) with an above-the-knee length dress.

When my shoes and leg color sort of blend together, I think it creates an illusion of height, and when the dress rests above the knee, it enhances the overall effect.
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Next Stop, Fangtasia

July 1st, 2011 by Karen 9 Comments

The limited edition Tarte for True Blood Natural Cheek Stain, $30. Available now at Sephora stores and also online.