Archives for June 2014

The Rock N Roll Palette by Too Faced Cosmetics: These Tough and Tender Jewel Tones Rock

June 24th, 2014 by Karen 19 Comments

Wearing the new Too Faced Rock N Roll Palette while doing my best impression of a vixen in an ’80s Billy Idol video

I’m about as rock ‘n’ roll as a porcelain cat figurine sitting on a lace doily, but I’m not gonna let that stop me from releasing my inner headbanger!

Rock, rock, rock, ROCK!

No, really. ’80s Billy Idol would totally hate me. He’d, like, sneer at me because I’d want to go home early because “I have to be in bed by 10.”

Actually 9:30. OK, 9.

But maybe he’d hate me less if I were wearing the new Too Faced Rock N Roll Palette ($36)…

Rock N Roll: what’s it all about?

One of three palettes in the Too Faced Smitten Kitten collection for fall 2014 (the others are Country and Cat Eyes), Rock N Roll has a couple things in common with its siblings. Like the others, it houses nine eyeshadows in three rows, with each of the rows corresponding to a different makeup look — day, classic and fashion.

With a focus on jewel tones, Rock N Roll’s shadows are richer and more intense than the others, so if you like the way you look in jewels, and particularly if you have a medium or darker skin tone and don’t want to spend eternity packing on shadows to get them to show up on you, this one is definitely swatch worthy.

Someone’s been channeling Urban Decay

I’m thinking it. You’re thinking it. We’re all thinking it. So let’s just come out and say it. 🙂

These are some very UD-like colors — a deep green, a dark blue, an intense purple, and glitter for days.

That said, there are far worse things in life than channeling Urban Decay.

So, does it rock?

Rock N Roll’s colors have a harder edge to ’em, but at the same time, I think they’re still very girly. It’s glam meets pretty — something I think Too Faced does exceptionally well. Perfect for a Too Faced Cosmetics girl going to a Metallica concert with her metalhead boyfriend, ya feel me?

[INSERT SIGN OF THE BEAST HERE, AND TRY NOT TO CONFUSE IT WITH “I LOVE YOU” WHEN YOU’RE IN HEAD-BANGING MODE.]

Think tough with a little tenderness to it. Even with the more intense shades, the darkest you get is navy blue Heavy Metal, deep green Punk and dark brown Ska, which, by the way, is like a shimmery version of MAC Brun (LOVE!). I’m wearing it in the crease in these pics.

Even then, the colors aren’t too harsh or dark.

What about wear time?

Let me put it this way: these shadows easily last through the encore. Same goes for the other fall palettes. With Rock N Roll, I get 8-10 hours with just a bit of fading starting around hour 8.

The right tools for the job

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What Beauty Issues Are Currently Besieging Your Mind?

June 24th, 2014 by Karen 67 Comments

Well, besieging is maybe a tad overdramatic…

Naw, it’s fine. 🙂

Let’s see… Other than finding new ways to stuff even more lipsticks and glosses into my bag (#truth), the beauty issues currently besieging my mind are…

Finding skin care products that actually work on my fine lines and wrinkles

First, I’m totally cool with looking my age. I’ve been through a lot in my 39 years, and ~~I like~~ I’m OK that it shows on my face.

But I wouldn’t say no to a new kick-@ss anti-aging eye cream!

I’ve been using a non-acidic daily peel, Pericone MD’s Blue Plasma Orbital, at night for the past few months, and it does a good job on the tiny bumps on the skin around my eyes, but my fine lines are still just as fine as can be!

The stuff also dries out quickly in the jar once it’s opened, and it’s not cheap ($65 for 0.5 ounces).

Brows, brows, brows!

Ha! Sounds like a chant from a Dr. Seuss book.

Even though I’m satisfied with the current state of my brows (they’ve taken FOREVER to grow out) and have fully accepted that the bald spot in my left brow, aka Raul, will never leave me, I feel like I’m always looking for the next best way to get them looking full, yet natural.

It’s a never-ending story, but a great pair of brows sets the stage for your makeup.

Covering up dark circles, aka finding the ultimate under-eye concealer

I want one that does it all! — the One True Concealer. One that brightens, covers completely, lasts all day long, looks and feels lightweight and doesn’t crease or settle into my fine lines.

I’ve been using MAC Pro Longwear Concealer for years, and it gets the job done, but there’s always room for something better, ya know?

Witchy woman

Probably TMI, but I have these really annoying stiff hairs on my chin, and there’s like a whole gang of them, too. Not just one.

I would love to find a way to vanquish them permanently, because I am hella tired of plucking them.

How about you? What are your most important and/or urgent beauty issues? In other words, what beauty issues are currently besieging your mind?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Beauty Booty/Self Bribery: Chanel Joues Contrasts Powder Blush in Malice and Illusion D’Ombre Cream Shadow in New Moon

June 23rd, 2014 by Karen 15 Comments

Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blush in Malice

Hi, my name is Karen, and I like long walks around Chanel counters. 🙂

So, this happened last weekend (see: blush above), along with the cream shadow, Illusion D’Ombre in New Moon, from the Chanel summer collection.

(That one I had to order, but it hasn’t arrived yet.)

I also came dangerously close to grabbing a tube of Correcteur Perfection Long Lasting Concealer (been having issues with my under-eye circles lately because I haven’t been getting enough sleep), but they didn’t have the shade I wanted, so that one was a no-go.

The First Epic Taste of Summer

June 23rd, 2014 by Karen 12 Comments

Honestly, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to eat a sad, half-@ssed store-bought tomato ever again.

I’m ruined for tomatoes.

Simply ruined.

OMG, the ones growing in my deck garden are finally starting to ripen, and let me tell you — biting into one is like instant food ecstasy. The flavor is so intense that my eyes roll back in my head when I bite one, no joke!

I’ve yet to try those lemon cucumbers yet, but I will.

OH, I will… 🙂

How’s your summer garden coming?

Incite Lipstick Envy This Fall With the New Smitten Kitten Collection La Creme and Melted Lipstick Shades

June 23rd, 2014 by Karen 14 Comments

Too Faced La Creme Lipstick in Country Star — Wearing the new La Creme Lipstick in Country Star by Too Faced

I love me some sheer lip balm (lazy girl says haaaay!), but I’ll be the first to admit that when a girl walks by me wearing a snazzy lip that catches my eye and I’m wearing one of those nondescript barely-there shades I’m apt to do on any given day, my insides start metaphorically pounding the air with bratty baby fists, WAH!

I call it lipstick envy, and I’m totally guilty of having it.

Like, if you walked by me wearing one of the new shades from the Too Faced Smitten Kitten collection for fall 2014, I’d be going ape-sh*t inside.

This time around, Jerrod and crew added fun new shades of peach, pink, berry and purple to the La Creme Lipstick and Melted Lipstick lines.

Too Faced Smitten Kitten Collection Swatches from the left: La Creme Lipstick in Country Star; Melted Long Wear Lipsticks in Melted Marshmallow, Melted Fig and Melted Berry — Swatches from the left: La Creme Lipstick in Country Star; Melted Long Wear Lipsticks in Melted Marshmallow, Melted Fig and Melted Berry

All of the shades are eminently wearable, ’cause hello! — this is Too Faced, and they have the glam/girly/pretty corner of the makeup market down pat.

The brand new line of Too Faced La Creme Lip Balms ($22, in the pink tubes) and a new La Creme Lipstick shade, Country Star ($22, in the gold tube)

Peachy pinkish nude Country Star ($22), the new La Creme Lipstick shade in the release, is so creamy and smooth that it could almost pass for a gloss.

I have trouble with some nude lip colors washing me out (Or otherwise looking strange… You know how it is with some funky nude shades.), but this one doesn’t do that.

Unfortunately, it’s limited edition, so when it’s gone, you’ll find me in the corner with an embroidered lace hanky, daintily dabbing at glittery tears as they pool in the corners of my cat eyes. 🙁

The new Too Faced Smitten Kitten fall 2014 collection, with the Melted Lipsticks in the lower left ($21 each)

Then there are the four new $21 Melted Long Wear Lipsticks in the launch, which are like intense liquid lipsticks with a glossy finish and a smooth texture. They join the permanent line.

Too Faced Melted Lipstick in Melted Fig — Melted Fig

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The $36 Too Faced Country Nashville Nudes Eye Shadow Collection Palette Has Such a Cool Swagger

June 23rd, 2014 by Karen 19 Comments

Too Faced Country Palette — That, little darlin’, is the new Country Nashville Nudes Eye Shadow Palette by Too Faced Cosmetics on my eyes, yee-haw!

Giddyup, girl! Let’s get a move on! Go grab your cutest dress, and I’ll get your boots, because we’re double-dating in Music City tonight!

Well, I mean, figuratively… Not in the literal sense, although I wish, right?! I’m referring to the new Country Nashville Nudes Eye Shadow Collection ($36) of nine powder shadows by Too Faced Cosmetics, the brand’s latest palette for fall.

This one’s all about country charm and the glamour of Nashville.

Versatile, like a country song that crosses over into the pop genre

It’s a versatile mix of beige, gold and pinky nudes peppered with deeper blues, purples, brown and gray — mostly in neutral and cooler color temps — but not so cool that warmer-toned vixens won’t also be able to wear it.

Too Faced Country Palette swatches from the left: Cowboy Take Me Away (a matte neutral peach), Y'All (a neutral gold) and Dolly (a cool satin plummy brown) — Swatches from the left: Cowboy Take Me Away (a matte neutral peach), Y’All (a neutral gold) and Dolly (a cool satin plummy brown)

Eight of the nine shadows contain varying levels of shimmer and glitter, while the other shade, a sheer, cool-toned peachy matte, adds a touch of contrast.

Too Faced Country Palette swatches: Famous in a Small Town (a frosty white beige), Paper roses (a shimmery golden peachy coral) and Rhinestone (a dark purple with glitter) — Famous in a Small Town (a frosty white beige), Paper roses (a shimmery golden peachy coral) and Rhinestone (a dark purple with glitter)

Compared to Rock ‘n’ Roll, its counterpart palette also released this fall, Country seems sweeter and more delicate to me — perfect for everyday glam (see: wearing wedding makeup on a random Wednesday).

Too Faced Country Palette swatches: All American Girl (a cool frosty silver), Nashville (a shimmery cool purplish taupe) and Bluebird (a shimmery navy blue with glitter) — All American Girl (a cool frosty silver), Nashville (a shimmery cool purplish taupe) and Bluebird (a shimmery navy blue with glitter)

Like a soft country song

The nude shades here have a subtlety about them, and even with the darker blues, purples and brown, there’s nothing too hard-edged about this palette. The colors shouldn’t appear overly harsh, not even on the lightest lasses. That said, I think Country will rock hard on cooler toned cowgirls with light and medium skin tones.

Too cool for school, but not too cool

Perfect Pink — That’s purply taupe Nashville on my lids, matte peach Cowboy Take Me Away on my brow bones and inner corners, Bluebird on my upper lash lines and Dolly on my lower lash lines

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 327

June 23rd, 2014 by Karen 39 Comments

The Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll — A sleepy Monday…

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 seven years. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

How’s it going this morning?
Pretty good, but I’m still kinda sleepy, to be honest. Needless to say, it’s been slow going this morning!

I’ve been running fine on about six hours of sleep a night for the past couple weeks, but I think I finally hit the wall. I need one of those 10-hours-of-sleep nights to catch up.

Meanwhile, could someone please pass the coffee? Or I might need a mid-morning nap, zzzz…

OK, it’s tip sharing time! Let’s share the wealth of our collective beauty knowledge. What’s one of your all-time best beauty, skin or hair care tips?
Hmm… Well, for skin, the whole water thing. Drink copious amounts.

Like TONS! Whenever my skin starts acting cray or when my lips get so dry that they’re painful, chances are I haven’t been drinking enough water.

I usually drink obscene amounts of it. I’m that annoying person in the group who always needs to find a loo, LOL! But I am absolutely convinced that drinking enough water helps my skin.

It’s OK if you don’t ______.
It’s OK if you don’t know what you want to be when you grow up.

I’m serious!

Now, if you’re one of those people who always knew what you wanted to in your life, congrat-poo-lations. 🙂 You’re very lucky.

For the rest of us who have no clue, that’s OK. Plans will always change anyway, and things still work out.

Are you adept at applying those individual little bundled false lashes?
Oh, hell no! I can apply full and half strip lashes reasonably well now, but those little bundles are rough.

Maybe I should make getting better at that my summer makeup project.

What was the last TV show you marathoned?
Game of Thrones! And I’m still going through GoT withdrawals.

I’m not ready to say goodbye to Westeros yet, but I’m all caught up.

I tried binging on the second season of Orange is the New Black last weekend, but it’s just not the same.

I mean, where are my dragons??

Your turn. 🙂 Just copy and paste the following questions into a comment with your answers. I look forward to reading ’em!

1. How’s it going this morning?
2. What’s one of your all-time best beauty, skin or hair care tips?
3. It’s OK if you don’t ______.
4. Are you adept at applying those individual little bundled false lashes?
5. What was the last TV show you marathoned?

Good morning, cutie pie. 🙂

Yup, it’s Monday.

I always like to start the week implementing some tip or technique to help things go smoothly, and this week that something will be walks.

This week, I’m going to be all about taking breaks to go walk.

Do you ever take little 5- or 10-minute walks during the day? You should try it sometime. I know it’s cliche, but it’s like the water thing with skin care. It really helps.

I find that when I do it consistently — usually one short walk in the morning around 10:30 and another one in the afternoon around 3 — I feel much better overall. Much less stressed out.

It helps to just get away from your workspace, move around and get some fresh air for a while.

I always bring my phone or a camera with me, too. That way I can snap some pics if I happen upon anything cool (like neighborhood cats).

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 301

June 22nd, 2014 by Karen 9 Comments

This post is sponsored by Purina Pro Plan #proplancatpartner. For information about my posting policy, please see my Disclaimer.

Philanthropy. Partnership. Perfection (alternate spelling: purr-fection).

Powerful P words, all.

Today, Makeup and Beauty Blog mascot and world-famous kitty supermodel Tabs the Cat is proud to announce a new partnership with Purina! — and they’ve sponsored his kitty modeling campaigns this week.

When Tabs found out about the new Purina Pro Plan #MyGreatCat social media campaign and how the brand has committed to donate up to 50,000 pounds of its delicious food to cat rescue groups, he said, “Where do I sign?”

Well…he actually said, “mrrow!” but I knew what he meant. 🙂

So, what is the #MyGreatCat campaign?

“We want cat owners everywhere to not only recognize what makes their cats great but be empowered to share that,” says Purina Pro Plan Cat food brand manager Aaron Williams.

For each picture or video you share on your social media channels that includes the hashtag #MyGreatCat from now through August 31, Purina Pro Plan will donate one pound of cat food — up to 50,000 pounds — to hundreds of cat rescue groups nationwide through the Purina Pro Plan Rally to Rescue network.

That’s right! Every time you share a pic or video of your feline employer just being awesome in his/her own way, you’ll be feeding a hungry cat.

Even though Tabs has achieved fame and greatness despite his meager beginnings as a stray on the mean streets of Mill Valley, he remembers what it was like to be hungry.

Actually, he’s still pretty much hungry all the time, LOL! 🙂

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