Archives for 2014

Sailors With Brown, Green and Hazel Eyes May Want to Enlist in This Navy: LORAC Front of the Line Pro Liquid Eyeliner in Navy

October 30th, 2014 by Karen 22 Comments

LORAC Front of the Line Pro Navy — Meow, cat eyeliner! Wearing the new LORAC Front of the Line Pro Liquid Eyeliner in Navy, $23

If LORAC had a Navy (they do), and it was recruiting (they are), I’d tell the ladies in charge that this sailor is going to need a steady supply of Front of the Line Pro Liquid Eyeliner if you want her to sign up.

Because I am not about to get stuck at sea without the proper tools to do cat eyes.

Huh-uh.

I’d also add that I absolutely, positively don’t do boats.

Sorry. Just one of my stipulations. 🙂

Ulgh, all the bobbing up and down… Makes me a little nauseous, which is kind of funny, seeing as how I come from Navy stock (my dad was in the service), and I love the ocean.

Weird.

New LORAC Front of the Line Pro Liquid Eyeliner in dark blue Navy ($23) is the latest shade in the brand’s fabulous line of liquid liners.

I’ve been a fan of the original black version for years. I like it because it’s relatively inexpensive, I can get really crisp lines with it, and the long, flexible tip makes it easy to draw those little flicks at the ends of my cat eyeliner.

A dark bluish black (no green in it), Navy has a gorgeous satiny finish that loves lash lines, and it’s strong as iron! It easily lasts all day.

I think it really does a lot for brown, green and hazel eyes (and other eye colors too).

The tube I’ve been using, though, might be a little wonky, and I’m actually hoping it’s a manufacturing error. For reasons unknown, this particular pen is nowhere near as easy to wield as the other Front of the Lines I’ve used, and I’ve gone through three or four of them over the past few years.

[Continue reading…]

Next Stop: Kitties! The New Giorgio Armani Orient Excess Palette Clutch Is Almost Purr-Fect

October 30th, 2014 by Karen 32 Comments

Tickets, please! Please have your tickets ready. Now boarding for the Giorgio Armani Orient Excess!

Good afternoon! My name is Karen, and I’ll be your conductor today.

This is a holiday train. Before we leave Novato station, all tray tables and seat backs must be in the upright position. Fasten your safety belt, and please keep your new Orient Excess Palette Clutch ($100) in sight at all times.

A two-piece holiday set, the $100 limited edition Giorgio Armani Orient Excess Palette Clutch includes a lush, velvet clutch and a two-tiered palette with an illuminating powder and three powder eyeshadows.

Be advised that pickpockets are known to target passengers on the train, and thefts have been on the rise ever since this two-piece set arrived on Giorgio Armani counters (it’s also available online).

Management believes that a local criminal syndicate of crazy cat ladies is responsible. The CCLs have been targeting the set’s blue compact for two reasons.

First, the thieves are unable to resist the sumptuous design on the illuminating face powder; second, the three powder eyeshadow colors remind them of kitties.

The three eyeshadows on the shadow tier of the round palette are classic Armani. No fallout whatsoever, and they’re smoother than a tomcat lothario.

CCLs report that the shades look kind of like cat fur colors. The dark brown on the far left reminds them of a Havana Brown, the middle shade a Russian Blue, and the golden taupe on the far left evokes a Siamese.

According to one CCL, “The shimmery finish doesn’t emphasize the fine lines on my lids, either.”

When asked about the compact’s illuminating powder, the CCL replied, “It’s not my favorite. It’s very sheer, and I can barely see any sheen or shine on my skin. I dig subtle finishes, but this one’s a little too quiet…”

She did, however, like the clutch. “Totally cute!” she said. “But it’s small and doesn’t fit a lot. Just a compact, a lipstick and maybe your ID. You can forget about your phone though.”

Speaking as a part-time CCL who only moonlights as a conductor, the blueish gray shadow in the center totally reminds me of a Russian Blue in my neighborhood.

I may or may not have exclaimed, “Ooh, kitties!” the first time I put these shadows on my lids.
[Continue reading…]

When You’re Suddenly Struck by an Urge for Pink Hair, There’s Redken Color Rebel Temporary Hair Makeup in Punked Up Pink

October 30th, 2014 by Karen 32 Comments

Redken Color Rebel Punked Up Pink — Good morning!

This morning, shortly after my second cup of coffee but before I put on any makeup, this happened.

Yes, I’m rocking pajamas, and I have not yet filled in my brows (wassup, Raul?!), but I so overtaken by the pink power of Redken’s Color Rebel Hair Makeup in Punked Up Pink ($25) that I couldn’t wait to take pics.

With a low mess factor, it’s a super-easy-to-use temporary hair color. I did this in about 20 minutes.

This color, Punked Up Pink, leans a little more magenta than pink on my dark chocolate brown hair.

The thick, water-resistant formula starts out like a lotion but dries to a fine powder, which, I’m learning right now, lasts through blow drying and styling with a round brush. It’s also supposed to stand up to flat ironing, curling and other kinds of styling, but I haven’t tried those yet.

Twisting the applicator dispenses the product, which comes out through a sponge at the top.

You apply from the sponge directly to dry hair, comb it through, and either wait for it to air dry, or use a blow dryer to speed things along. Apply additional layers for more color intensity.

Redken says that after it sets, the color can last up to two shampoos, depending on how porous your hair is and how much of the product you use.

A couple things though…

Use gloves. The product doesn’t come with a pair, but I wish it did. I thought I’d be able use it and just walk away without pink fingers if I washed my hands between layers (I did two or three for each section of hair), but even with washing and trying to be careful, I have a couple of bright pink freckles on my fingers.
Wait until you’re done applying the color before you style your hair. The lotion-y formula starts wet, so any heat styling done before using it will go bye-bye.
[Continue reading…]

Tom Ford Lays Out the Welcome Matte With the Holiday 2014 Color Collection

October 29th, 2014 by Karen 38 Comments

Tom Ford Lip Color Matte — The new Tom Ford Holiday 2014 Color Collection

Tom Ford must moonlight as a matte scientist…because his new 13-piece holiday Color Collection is all about matte!

[crickets]

Get it…? Matte scientist? Sorry, I know that was a totally substandard pun.

Let me try again…

This year, Tom Ford is channeling Spencer Tracy with an all-star cast of matte lipsticks to make sure we’re all living in a matte, matte, matte, matte world!

Get it? Spencer Tracy? Because there was a movie…

Never mind.

Last try…

I am so matte right now.

(How matte are you?)

I am so matte right now that Tom Ford could hire me to be one his eight new Lip Color Matte lipsticks, badum-tish!

Good enough! 🙂

Lips take center stage in the new 13-piece Tom Ford Holiday 2014 Color Collection (Tom also released some other holiday sets and perfumes), with a new line of eight Lip Color Mattes.

Sadly, they’re a double take-inducing $50 each, but day-um! — Tom did some serious work on these because I think every one is absolutely freakin’ beautiful.

Tom Ford Spice Tom Ford Lip Color Mattes from the bottom left: Black Dahlia, First Time, Velvet Cherry, Ruby Rush, Flame, Plum Lush, Pussycat and Pink Tease — The Tom Ford Lip Color Mattes from the bottom left in Black Dahlia, First Time, Velvet Cherry, Ruby Rush, Flame, Plum Lush, Pussycat and Pink Tease

Crazy pigmented, they lay down color like Tabs lays down for a nap — smoothly — and without any patchiness in sight.

As if that wasn’t enough, the lightweight formula lasts a good, long time. I haven’t had them on long enough to clock them down to the minute, but I’m going to say six or seven hours (they remind me of a thicker, longer-lasting version of the Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Intense Long-Wear Lip Colours).

Tom Ford Lip Color Matte Swatches, Top row: First Time (left) and Pink Tease, (right); second row: Pussycat and Plum Lush; third row: Flame and Ruby Rush; bottom row: Sweet Cherry and Black Dahlia — Top row: First Time (left) and Pink Tease, (right); second row: Pussycat and Plum Lush; third row: Flame and Ruby Rush; bottom row: Sweet Cherry and Black Dahlia

I’m crushing Hulk-caliber hard on the nude shades in First Time, Pink Tease and Pussycat. Oh! — but that bright orangey red (Flame) is also a stunner.

For eyes, Tom included two glossy, neutral cream shadows as spicy counterparts to the matte lipsticks.

Tom Ford Cream Color for Eyes in Platinum — Cream Color for Eyes in Platinum

Tom Ford Cream Color for Eyes in Spice — Cream Color for Eyes in Spice

[Continue reading…]

The Chanel Collection Plumes Precieuses de Chanel Holiday 2014: Feathers and Diamonds to Tickle Fancies and Make Hearts Flutter

October 29th, 2014 by Karen 41 Comments

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in Phenix — Makeup by the new Plumes Precieuses de Chanel holiday 2014 collection. Eyes: Les 5 Ombres de Chanel Eyeshadow Palette in Oiseaux de Nuit. Upper cheekbones: Camelia de Plumes Highlighting Powder. Lips: Rouge Allure Velvet Luminous Matte Lip Colour in La Flamboyante. Nails: Le Vernis Nail Colour in Phenix.

Feathers and diamonds, the inspirations for the new Plumes Precieuses de Chanel holiday 2014 collection, are two things that Tabs and I love in almost equal measure (well, I’m more partial to the diamonds, but he goes buck wild for the feathers!).

The nine-piece holiday release has just started to alight and sparkle on Chanel counters (it’s also available online), and it’s steeped in classic colors. Red and gold enliven lips and nails, while luminescent peach and platinum gold highlight cheeks, and subtle, sophisticated gray, black, beige and gold luxuriously glimmer on lids.

Can I just say that I think the marketing visuals for this collection are off the hook gorgeous??

I LOVE those eyes! — and how the gold wraps around the inner corners to merge with the smokey black lower lash lines, and the shimmery gray goes all the way up to the brows.

The velvet matte red lips and glossy red nails? Also killer. The whole ensemble combines bold and sophisticated in a way I’d happily wear every day, if I thought I could get away with it.

Chanel Collection Plumes Precieuses de Chanel Holiday 2014 — LOVE. IT.

All of the pieces are limited edition, so if you see something you love or like, better to grab it sooner than later.

Here are the items aggressively tickling my fancy…

Camelia de Plumes Highlighting Powder, $72

Chanel Camelia de Plumes — Camelia de Plumes Highlighting Powder in Platine, a soft platinum sheen, $72

If I could bathe in a claw-foot tub filled with this stuff, I would, and with as much as that would probably cost (according to my calculations and based on an 80-gallon tub, about $2.6 million), people would wonder if I made a deal with the devil. Looking at the otherworldly glow of my skin from the platinum gold sheen, they might also assume I was doing an extreme wheatgrass juice cleanse, but I digress…

When light catches the high points on my face while I’m wearing this, it looks like there are creamy streams of starlight on my cheeks.

Seriously. Lovin’ on this.

Chanel Camelia de Plumes Swatch — Camelia de Plumes

Les 5 Ombres de Chanel Eyeshadow Palette in Oiseaux de Nuit, $80

Chanel Oiseaux de Nuit — Les 5 Ombres de Chanel Eyeshadow Palette ($80) in Oiseaux de Nuit, with a luminous white, a soft grayish lavender, an intense dark gray, an intense black and an antique gold

If you like your eye looks bold, you probably won’t have lusty dreams about this palette. Its shadows are closer to moderately pigmented than high, and I see it more for ladies and gents looking for softly defined, luminous lids.

The shadows blend like buttah and behave well, with very little fallout (even the black shade), but be careful if you tend to over-blend, because these are so buttery that things can turn muddy fast. I repeat: keep control of your blending brush.

Chanel Oiseaux de Nuit Swatch — Oiseaux de Nuit

Rouge Allure Velvet Luminous Matte Lip Colour in La Flamboyante, $35

Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Luminous Matte Lip Colour in La Flamboyante, a bright orangey red, $35 — Rouge Allure Velvet Luminous Matte Lip Colour in La Flamboyante, a bright orangey red, $35

[Continue reading…]

If Your Pets Could Talk, What Would They Say About Your Sense of Style?

October 29th, 2014 by Karen 38 Comments

A talking Tabs would have plenty to say about this subject.

First, he’d voice his strong displeasure about my penchant for stretchy pants, and then call Karl Lagerfeld on his iPhone to vent. “The leggings in her closet are multiplying exponentially! Something must be done!”

I’m sorry, Tabs, it’s not my fault that the Zella Live-In Leggings are, in fact, so comfortable that I really do want to live in them. 🙂

Next, he’d give me grief about my footwear choices. In particular, these boots, which he attacks every time I wear them (I think that he thinks they’re cats making a move on his territory).

Then, after listing all of the many fashion faux pas I commit on a daily basis, he would hopefully give me a little props for the kitty-themed clothing in my closet.

[Continue reading…]

The New Chanel Rouge Allure Glosses: For Full-Coverage Chanel Firepower When You Need a Little Chanel

October 28th, 2014 by Karen 32 Comments

If I’m going to have a stranger stick me with a sharp object, you better believe I’ll be wearing a little Chanel, because Chanel makes everything better (even flu shots).

At least that’s what I told myself when I applied the new Rouge Allure Gloss in 15 Sensible (one of 10 shades, $34 each, available now at Chanel counters and online) before I went to get my flu shot today.

Chanel Rouge Allure Gloss wands from the left: 13 Affriolant, 15 Sensible, 17 Supreme, 18 Seduction and 19 Pirate — From the left: 13 Affriolant, 15 Sensible, 17 Supreme, 18 Seduction and 19 Pirate

Every year when I walk into the flu shot clinic and catch that first glimpse of the needle, the panic sets in… I start mumbling and sweating profusely, and my eyes expand to double their normal size.

I had hoped that 15 Sensible would make me look less, I dunno, frightened? Rabid? Ready to rumble? I’d always reckoned that full-coverage lip glosses like the Rouge Allures tended to convey the appearance of serenity and properly aligned chakras.

But that could just be the crazy beauty logic talking. 🙂

Today, as I bared my left shoulder, concentrated on kittens, and waited for the nurse to jam the needle into my arm (“This won’t hurt at all,” she said. “Just a little pinch.”), I set my mouth into a stylishly glossy Chanel smile, even though I really wanted to scream, “THAT SH*T STINGS, MA!”

Chanel Rouge Allure Gloss in 15 Sensible — 15 Sensible

Chanel Rouge Allure Gloss in 13 Affriolant — 13 Affriolant

[Continue reading…]

Whether Seated in a Balcony or on a Bus, You’ll Look Elegant in Guerlain’s Night at the Opera Holiday Collection

October 28th, 2014 by Karen 35 Comments

Unlike me at karaoke, Guerlain’s new Night at the Opera holiday collection hits all the right notes, tra-la-la-la-laaaaaaaa!

Please pardon my need to insert a vibrato on that last laaaaaaaa! It’s leftover trauma from living with a slightly overbearing opera singer in college. She regularly criticized my breathing technique when I sang around the house (Really, dude? It was just a little Alanis Morissette while I did my chem lab homework.) and held notes out for a beat too long when she covered pop songs.

I still can’t listen to I Still Believe by Brenda K. Starr without thinking of her take on the chorus…

The 10-piece limited edition Guerlain Night at the Opera collection

At any rate, one does not have to enjoy opera, or to have lived with an overbearing opera singer, to derive great joy from the classic holiday reds and golds in this 10-piece limited edition collection for eyes, cheeks, lips and nails.

But an appreciation for opera may translate into a greater appreciation for the release’s finer details, like the bows on the packaging, which are supposed to represent the bows worn by men at big galas, or the bows worn by the ballerinas in their hair.

Me likes. I’m a sucker for strong themes and collections that tell a story. 🙂

Guerlain Meteorites Perles d'Etoiles Illuminating Pearls, $60 — Meteorites Perles d’Etoiles Illuminating Pearls, $60

Guerlain Petrouchka Palette for Eyes and Cheeks — Petrouchka Palette for Eyes and Cheeks

I also like that when I’ve worn pieces from this collection over the past couple weeks, I’ve gotten pretty good feedback — both from El Hub, also known as “the man who never notices anything,” and from you guys, too.

I was wearing pieces from A Night at the Opera on my eyes, lips and cheeks in the Mia Bun Ease post last week and received a number of positive inquiries about the makeup I was wearing.

Guerlain Gloss d'Enfer Maxi Shine Lipgloss in 901 L'Oiseau de Feau — Gloss d’Enfer Maxi Shine Lipgloss in 901 L’Oiseau de Feau on my lips, and the Petrouchka Palette on my eyes and cheeks

The fresh, glowing peachy golden cheeks, shimmery beige and copper eyes, and glossy golden lips — those are pure Guerlain, man. What I affectionately refer to as (in air quotes) “that magical Guerlain holiday glow.” It’s makeup that catches your eye but doesn’t SCREAM IN YOUR FACE.

In that way I think Guerlain totally got this collection right. Yes, it’s a holiday release, and it’s made to feel glamorous and indulgent, but the pieces are also versatile enough to wear during the workweek leading up to the big gala.

Typical for Guerlain, the products are hella expensive. Thankfully, they also exude quality. The eyeshadows, powders and blushes blend effortlessly, and everything — from the lipsticks to the glosses to the nail polishes and that to-die-for jar of golden pinkish peach highlighter (SWOON!) — looks high-end.

If you’re going to take a closer look at the collection on counter, don’t miss the Petrouchka Palette for Eyes and Cheeks, the Meteorites Pereles d’Etoiles Illuminating Pearls, Gloss d’Enfer Maxi Shine Lipgloss in L’Oiseau de Feau, or the nail polishes, especially if you like subtly radiant golds, beiges and coppers.

Le sigh! I could happily wear these pieces every day for a year. With these colors and finishes, warmer skin tones will make out like bandits.

Meteorites Perles d'Etoiles Illuminating Pearls — Meteorites Perles d’Etoiles Illuminating Pearls

[Continue reading…]