Archives for July 2013

A Bit of a Bear, Kevyn Aucoin Tenacious Matte Lip Color Is Worth the Fight

July 31st, 2013 by Karen 11 Comments

Kevyn Aucoin Matte Lipstick — Wearing Kevyn Aucoin’s Matte Lipstick in Tenacious

If I were a makeup artist working on an artsy-fartsy magazine shoot, I wouldn’t think twice about putting Kevyn Aucoin’s $32 Matte Lip Color in Tenacious on a model because it’s one of those rare, otherworldly lipsticks that takes your breath away in pics.

I can see it now, maybe with a bright green or shimmery gold on the lids…

When Nicki Minaj’s Pink 4 Friday Lipstick came out in 2010, this is what I was hoping that was going to look like (instead, it looked pretty ghastly on me).

Thing is, as much as I love how Tenacious looks in pics, in real life, it’s kind of a bear. Being highly pigmented and matte makes finding its sweet spot — the right amount to wear — difficult. Too little and it looks uneven and streaky; too much and it settles into my fine lines, leaving me looking like a hot mess.

Eventually, I get there, but not before a lot of layering, blotting, and pat-pat-patting with a finger.

Tenacious is definitely not a color you can absentmindedly swipe on your lips and bop along your day. Even after it’s applied, it’s like a needy boyfriend who requires frequent check-ins.

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Unsung Makeup Heroes: Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Beso

July 31st, 2013 by Karen 25 Comments

About the Author
The following guest post was written by Stef of weheartthis.com. You can also find Stef (and Tyna) on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Google+.

I’m almost embarrassed by my lip product collection.

Almost.

It requires its own shelving system and contains at least 30 nearly identical coral glosses. And it confuses my husband to the point of exhaustion (“How many lipsticks does one person need, Stef?! I don’t get it!”)

But my fellow lip product junkies, you understand, don’t you? You appreciate the difference between fuchsia and hot pink. You’re staunchly opinionated about your favorite gloss applicators (DFF/doe foot forever!), and you know that the correct answer to the question, “How many lipsticks does one person need?” is, “How many lipsticks are there?”

Folks like us also know that, sometimes, nothing will do but a red lip, and when I’m having a red lip kind of day and I open my red lip drawers (yes, plural), the red I reach for most often is Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Beso ($22). It’s a gorgeous color, an innovative product and my favorite red. Like, ever.

Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick doesn’t stay quite all day, unless your day is six hours long (in which case, I’m terribly jealous), but for those six hours it’s not going anywhere. No transfer onto napkins, no traces left behind on hubby cheeks or puppy bellies, and no bleeding into lip lines whatsoever.
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We Are Stef and Tyna of we heart this, and This Is Our Makeup Life

July 31st, 2013 by Karen 39 Comments

The My Makeup Life series asks beauty biz insiders, bloggers, makeup mavens and artists to share their holy grail products, tricks, tips and favorite beauty tools. Is there anyone you would like to see featured in My Makeup Life or questions you think I should ask? Let me know here.

Names: Stef Andrews and Tyna Werner
Location: Southern California in the U.S. Stef lives in Joshua Tree and Tyna lives in Los Angeles.
Day job/current gig: STEF: I’m the editor of a magazine aimed at military spouses, and Tyna is a manager at Top Tier Social Media.
Hangouts online: weheartthis.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Google+
Current favorite product: STEF: Sorry, they’re limited edition MAC products! Tyna’s go-to blush this summer is The Perfect Cheek from the Marilyn Monroe collection. And I’m loving Feel My Pulse Lipstick topped with Underdressed Lipglass from Temperature Rising.
Beauty inspirations: STEF: We find beauty inspiration in the same places we find life inspiration — old Hollywood, punk rock girls, artesian cocktails, the desert, great shoes, luxury packaging, cityscapes, the French Riviera in the 1920s, playing dress-up, animals and every gorgeous nail polish that has touched our nails.
One word that best describes your outlook on beauty: TYNA: We both agree on this one. It’s “more!”

What makeup/beauty products can’t you live without?

STEF: The one product that is on both of our must have lists is MAC Pressed Blot Powder. Tyna’s skin borders on dry and I’m super oily, but we both rely on it to diminish shine without getting cakey.

When did you start getting into makeup?

STEF: Though my dolls always got sharpie makeovers and choppy haircuts, my beauty addiction swung into high gear in 9th grade when I discovered my Mom’s mega eye shadow palette with every shade of the rainbow. I painted Adam Ant-esque stripes on one eye and never looked back!

What’s your best beauty time-saving trick?

TYNA: To save time when trying to cover a large pimple and shave some time off of the lifespan of said pimple, I take a few minutes to apply ice before putting on makeup. Wrap a cube in a washcloth and hold it against the pimple for 1 minute. The ice will reduce the inflammation and redness, making it much easier to hide.

What’s your favorite beauty tool?

STEF: My favorite is also the cheapest — the e.l.f. Small Smudge Brush. At only $3 a pop, I buy these by the dozen. I color code the handles with a stripe of nail polish and have one devoted to each liner/shadow shade (brown, black, green, etc.). The small dense bristles are also good for concealer and lip liner too. It’s the only brush I’m guaranteed to use every day.

What’s the best beauty advice you ever received?

TYNA: Treat your neck and dÃ©colletage the same way you do your face. The neck is one of the first areas to show signs of aging, and the entire “portrait” area is what people notice first. So don’t stop at your chin when going through your beauty routine; wash, moisturize, tone and treat the whole area.

What’s your skincare routine?

STEF: The only constants are Kiehl’s Calendula Toner and Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel. They’re joined by an ever-changing supporting cast of products! In the a.m., I use only the toner followed by eye cream and moisturizer. In the p.m., I use cleanser, eye cream and serum. I exfoliate with the Alpha Beta Peel 1-2 times per week.

One of the newest products I’ve fallen for is Orlane Super-Moisturizing Light Cream.

Something about French skincare gets me every time…

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve tried in the name of beauty?

STEF: My stint with a home microdermabrasion machine (pretty much a miniature sander) didn’t end well. It was totally my fault, but I got a bit too vigorous and made my skin bleed!

(Some things are best left to the pros.)

Do you have a trademark look (hair/styling/makeup)?

TYNA: Bangs. I have what I think is a large forehead (a five-head, if you will) so I’ve had bangs in some form or another (long bangs, short bangs, choppy bangs, side-swept bangs) my whole life.

Are there any beauty decisions you’ve made that you look back on and ask yourself, “why?!”

STEF: In 8th grade I gave myself DIY highlights with tin foil and a Tide powder mixture because I thought it’s what I saw them use in the salon.

I fried my hair, but it was squeaky clean!

Where are your favorite places to shop?

TYNA: Blue Mercury, Shopbop, Sephora, Target, H&M, Etsy, and vintage stores.

Anything else you want to share?

STEF: We’ve been BFFs since 6th grade, and we started we heart this together so that we could share our obsessions — beauty, DIY, entertaining and more — with a larger audience than just each other.

Oh, and nothing to do with beauty, but we think you’d all like to see my deaf Boston Terrier Mabel…

The New NARS Adult Content Blush Palette Is Rated Rawwwrr!

July 31st, 2013 by Karen 25 Comments

Uh…I don’t know why (ok, well, maybe I do), but the name of this palette makes me laugh. 🙂

Because really, if it contained “adult content,” you’d probably find things like bills, lame bowls for “portion control” (man, I sure miss my 19-year-old metabolism!) and, like, an hour-long commute in gridlocked traffic (both ways).

Anywho, the name’s cheeky.

Get it? Cheeky? Blush?

Ha! I made myself laugh!

This new powder blush palette arrives in stores, NARS boutiques and online September 1.

NARS stocked it with Zen (a natural beige), Miss Liberty (a soft, shimmering peach), Deep Throat (a flirty, sheer peach) and Desire (a cotton candy pink).

All I have to say is STOKED! This one’s a stunner.

NARS Adult Content Swatches from the left: Zen (a natural beige), Miss Liberty (a soft, shimmering peach), Desire (a cotton candy pink) and Deep Throat (a flirty, sheer peach) — Swatches from the left: Zen (a natural beige), Miss Liberty (a soft, shimmering peach), Desire (a cotton candy pink) and Deep Throat (a flirty, sheer peach)

My Cheeks Just Had a Revelation! Chanel Revelation Le Blush Creme de Chanel

July 31st, 2013 by Karen 7 Comments

I had an a-ha! moment the first time I swept Chanel’s Le Blush Creme de Chanel in Revelation ($38) on my cheeks.

A revelation, if you will. 🙂

It was almost as great as the first time I had blueberries in a salad. Gurrrl, blueberries in a salad. You gotta try it.

Revelation is a soft, shimmery pink that creates a natural-looking cheek flush.

I built it up in layers here so it would show up in these pics, but for everyday looks, I’d probably wear it sheer.

Either way, I think it’s tops. It lasts all day long (as long as I keep my hands away from my face) and looks fab on top of bare skin, foundation and/or powder.

Chanel really did a great job on these cream blushes. I’m impressed!

Revelation is part of the Chanel permanent line, and you can find it now on counters and online.

Chanel Revelation Le Blush Creme de Chanel, $38 — Revelation Le Blush Creme de Chanel, $38

Tingly, Non-Sticky Lip Injection Color Bombs by Too Faced Cosmetics: Around These Balms, You Can Let Your Hair Down, Baby

July 30th, 2013 by Karen 15 Comments

Too Faced Lip Injection Color Bomb Bigger Berry — New $21 Lip Injection Color Bomb in Bigger Berry, by Too Faced Cosmetics

Yup, I’m still waiting.

Still waiting for that personal wind machine I keep hoping someone will invent. The battery-powered, artificially intelligent one that follows me around wherever I go, ensuring that my hair is kept in a permanent state of wind-blown divaliciousness worthy of Mrs. Carter/Sasha Fierce herself.

Yeah, that would be AWESOME.

But then there’s the whole issue of getting your windblown hair stuck in whatever lip product you’re wearing (#firstworldproblems).

Sticky, shiny lipglosses? Sooo great for flashing pouty faces at strangers on the bus, like that cute boy in the glasses (oh, hai!), but really, really annoying when your hair accidentally gets stuck to your lips.

Too Faced Lip Injection Color Bombs from the left: Bigger Berry, Coral Pop, Candy Burst, Eastwood Red, Never Enough Nude and Plump It Up Pink — From the left: Bigger Berry, Coral Pop, Candy Burst, Eastwood Red, Never Enough Nude and Plump It Up Pink

Coming soon to rescue lips from wind-whipped hair, the new Too Faced Lip Injection Color Bombs ($21 each), a line of six chubby twist-up stick balms to lavish lips with a stain of color while plumping them up at the same time.

Why give them a try? — well, other than the fact that they won’t stick to your lips outside or while you’re posing in front of your wind machine?

Why try these Lip Injection Color Bombs by Too Faced Cosmetics?

Because they’re lightweight, comfortable and non-sticky! They feel just like a lip balm but look way more intense than that.
Because they smell (faintly) and taste like yummy strawberry candy.
Because the slightly shiny satin finish goes with almost any makeup look from dressy to casual.
Because of their smooth, even color
Because of their 2-3 hour wear time, which isn’t bad for such pigmented balms.
Because they’re pretty darned moisturizing (the formula contains mango butter and Vitamins A, C and E to soften and smooth yo’ pout), although not quite as moisturizing as Neutrogena’s similar MoistureSmooth Color Sticks.
Because of the way they tingle when they’re applied (they’re lip-plumping products, after all) and how it reminds me I’m alive! The sensation reminds me of MAC’s Plushglasses and lasts about 5 minutes before I don’t notice it anymore.

As for the lip plumping effect, it’s very subtle with these, so if you were hoping to come away with lips like one of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, you might be disappointed.

Too Faced Lip Injection Color Bombs from the left: Bigger Berry, Coral Pop and Candy Burst — From the left: Bigger Berry, Coral Pop and Candy Burst

Too Faced Lip Injection Color Bombs from the left: Eastwood Red, Not Enough Nude and Plump It Up Pink — From the left: Eastwood Red, Not Enough Nude and Plump It Up Pink

Too Faced Lip Injection Color Bomb swatches from the left: Bigger Berry, Candy Burst, Coral Pop, Eastwood Red, Never Enough Nude and Plump It Up Pink — From the left: Bigger Berry, Candy Burst, Coral Pop, Eastwood Red, Never Enough Nude and Plump It Up Pink

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She’s a Pretty Rebel: The Too Faced Pretty Rebel Palette

July 30th, 2013 by Karen 20 Comments

I’m about as naturally rebellious as a miniature pony at a 5-year-old’s birthday party, which is to say not very rebellious at all.

My idea of shaking things up is playing Katy Perry a little loudly in my office (shout-out to my next-door neighbors, who’ve heard me sing Teenage Dream at the top of my lungs many times).

But the winds, they are a-changin’. 🙂 I am a bona fide rebel now — a Pretty Rebel, that is, thanks to Too Faced Cosmetics, and all I have to say is, “Welcome to the Thunderdome, b*tches! Sh*t just got real!”

WARNING: You may find yourself pumping your fists randomly toward strangers when you wear this limited-edition eyeshadow palette. I did when I opened the door this morning to say hi to our FedEx guy.

He was like, “Hi. Why are you doing that? I like your eye makeup. You’re making me a little nervous.”

Pretty Rebel is the star attraction in the Too Faced Cosmetics Fall 2013 makeup collection. Inside the gold, black and pink packaging reside 10 powder eyeshadows, all of which are new shades.

You’ll find mostly saturated, shimmery colors and jewel-toned metallics here, with a sprinkling of mattes and glitters — the kinds of colors I’d be more inclined to wear on a Friday night, as opposed to a Sunday brunch with the fam.

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Chanel Khaki Bronze Le Volume de Chanel Mascara: Heralding the Start of a New Bronze Age

July 30th, 2013 by Karen 15 Comments

Chanel Khaki Bronze Mascara — Wearing limited edition Chanel Khaki Bronze Le Volume de Chanel Mascara ($30)

There was a time when I felt that mascaras in colors other than black were incredibly depressing. Having naturally black lashes, I felt that attempting to overpower their natural pigment with anything other than black seemed like (yawn) a waste o’ precious time. I mean, there are only so many hours in the day in which one can work on important projects like tracking down new shirtless pictures of RyGos.

Ya feel me?

Chanel Khaki Bronze Le Volume de Chanel Mascara, $30 — Khaki Bronze Le Volume de Chanel Mascara, $30

That changed when I discovered fun fringe pigments like blue and plum and their ability to create eye-catching effects on different colored irises.

Plums often look amazing with blue, hazel, brown, green and gray eyes, and blues deepen and enrich brown, green and hazel eyes, among other eye colors.

It was a little weird at first seeing my lashes coated in Chanel’s latest adventure into the world o’ colorful mascaras, Le Volume de Chanel in Khaki Bronze ($30). Much as I love Le Volume (my favorite high-end mascara when it comes to dramatic lift, curl and thickness), I didn’t fall for Khaki Bronze immediately because it lightens the look of my lashes a shade or two, an effect that grew on me over time.

I was on the fence about it the first couple of tries, but I changed my tune when I saw how it looked in pics.

The name describes it perfectly — Khaki Bronze.

If you wear warm bronze, gold or dark khaki shadows often, I think you’ll want to treat your lashes to Khaki Bronze. It creates beautiful music with each of those shadow shades, bringing out their various tones and nuances. I’m wearing it here with the dark golden khaki color in the new Chanel Mystere quad as a liner and with bronze and gold shadows on my lids (MAC Bronze and Woodwinked), and I think they complement each other perfectly.

The Le Volume mascaras are all about drama, so if you like your mascaras quiet (shh…), then you may want to unload much of the product from the brush before applying.

Me, I lurves me some Beyonce/Mariah/Diva-licious lashes, so I go full-on, all-out with two, or sometimes three (or four!) coats.

I exercised a little restraint for these pics… For these I’m only wearing two. 🙂

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