Archives for January 2015

The Drugstore Dupe Files: $7.50 Almay Brow Defining Pencil Versus $21 Anastasia Brow Wiz

January 16th, 2015 by Karen 25 Comments

$7.50 Almay Brow Defining Pencil in Brunette

It would probably be a fool’s errand at this point in my life to try to become an Olympic sprinter…

I’m barely 5’2″ tall, I’m in questionable physical condition, and one of my legs is shorter than the other.

The Olympic sprinting thing? Not the most realistic goal for me, but I do have other aspirations, like finding drugstore dupes of my favorite department store/high-end makeup.

Now THAT’s something I can do. 🙂

It’s not gonna be easy, for sure. Sometimes (but not always) with makeup, I do think that you get what you pay for.

So I’m on a mission. I’m a woman on a mission to find respectable, affordable alternatives to her favorite department store items.

Almay Brow Defining Pencil in Brunette on the left and Anastasia Brow Wiz in Dark Brown on the right — $7.50 Almay Brow Defining Pencil in Brunette on the left and $21 Anastasia Brow Wiz in Dark Brown on the right

This one here is Almay’s $7.50 Brow Defining Pencil, which I’d hoped would be a drugstore dupe for my current eye pencil love, the $21 Brow Wiz by Anastasia Beverly Hills.

I completely forgot to mention this pencil in the Ulta post the other day (it was buried at the bottom of that huge bag!), which is weird because, seriously, it took me a really long time to find in the store. I combed the aisles for a possible Brow Wiz dupe.

And then I saw it — Almay’s $7.50 Brow Defining Pencil — tucked away on the bottom shelf.

“Aha!” I exclaimed…to myself. 🙂

The size of the tip is what first caught my eye. It’s very thin, just like Anastasia Brow Wiz, and the pencil also has a brow comb on the back end, again, like Brow Wiz.

Unfortunately, I only spotted two shades on the shelf…

I figured, OK, well, maybe that’s because Ulta doesn’t carry all of the colors, so I checked online from my phone.

Apparently it only comes in two colors, Brunette (which is what I’m wearing here) and Dark Blonde, whereas Anastasia Brow Wiz comes in nine.

Obvs, the other major difference is price. Anastasia’s is $21, and Almay’s is $7.50.

WOWZA!

Now for some may-jah bare-faced action in three, two, one…

Before Almay Brow Defining Pencil…

Before applying Almay Brow Defining Pencil in Brunette in my brows — Untamed, naked brows (and face, because I’m makeup-less)

After Almay Brow Defining Pencil…

Wearing Almay Brow Defining Pencil in Brunette in my brows

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The Hourglass Modernist Eyeshadow Palettes in Exposure, Graphite and Infinity

January 15th, 2015 by Karen 32 Comments

Hourglass Modernist Eyeshadow Palettes in Exposure (left) and Graphite (right)

OH, MAH GAH!

I had to do it. After the fun I had with these the other day, I couldn’t resist. Fabulous forces beyond my control made me put these into my Sephora cart, and then the free three-day shipping pushed me over the edge.

It was like when the Enterprise rolled up on the Borg. Resistance was futile.

Hourglass Modernist Eyeshadow Palette in Graphite

Hourglass Modernist Eyeshadow Palette in Infinity

Hourglass Modernist Eyeshadow Palette in Exposure

Hourglass Modernist Eyeshadow Palette in Infinity (left) and Graphite (right) — Infinity (left) and Graphite (right)

The New NARS Spring 2015 Collection Is Hot and Cold About Nudes

January 15th, 2015 by Karen 34 Comments

Wearing the NARS spring 2015 collection on my eyes, cheeks and lips

Spring. NARS. 2015.

A pendulum swings back and forth between two nude worlds — one, a realm of cool-toned silver, and the other a roiling river of warm-toned coppery caramel.

My pulse pounded as I gazed at the new NARS Spring 2015 collection on the floor in front of me. Staring wide-eyed at the color palette, I thought, “Yeah, I’ll be able to rock this.”

Um…yeah, that’s where the story got weird, because the pieces proved to be a little more challenging than I thought.

This one’s a study in extremes.

It’s a small release, only seven pieces, but for me, that’s not enough. I will most definitely need to include some other products in the mix to make the most of these.

The word “dissonance” comes to mind, the concept in music where you purposefully play two notes at the same time that aren’t intended to be harmonious. That’s how I feel about what NARS has done here with the cool tones butted up against the warm. Yeah, nudes have been done to death…but not in this way. It’s very, vary NARS.

Why stop at pink nudes, peach nudes and brown nudes when you can also have silvery nudes? Maybe that’s a question NARS asks here, because there’s a lot of silvery shimmer in the house, which is kind of unusual for nudes.

I’m also getting a strange concealer vibe…

The 7 piece NARS Spring 2015 collection, coming to January 1 to NARS boutiques and online at narscosmetics.com, and February 1 to Sephora, NARS counters and online — The seven-piece NARS Spring 2015 collection is available now online and coming February 1 to Sephora and NARS counters.

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Ulta Adventures! One Girl’s Ongoing Quest to Find Bad$ss Beauty Bargains

January 15th, 2015 by Karen 34 Comments

Because, obviously, the most logical thing to do with that new Real Techniques Contour Brush you just picked up on sale on Ulta is use it to pretend you’re contouring your cat’s cheekbones.

Tabs contouring with his new Real Techniques Contour Brush…

Obviously!

Yeah, um, my brush stash is looking a little more robust these days — robust like my tabby! — because I went to Ulta last weekend and the Real Techniques brushes and brush kits were on sale.

They still are, too (buy one get the second one 50% off), and you know me and the word, “sale.”

I’m definitely my mother’s daughter. 🙂

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What Are You Wearing on Your Nails?

January 14th, 2015 by Karen 56 Comments

Chanel Nail Colour in Tenderly and Deborah Lippmann Polish in Dream Weaver — I’m wearing Chanel Nail Colour in Tenderly with Deborah Lippmann Polish in Dream Weaver as an accent nail… I’m also holding one of my favorite scents du jour, Aerin Beauty Iris Meadow Eau de Parfum (available now at Neiman Marcus stores and online).

Ya all about that accent nail life, babe? You know I am. 🙂 Right now I can’t even fathom the idea of wearing the same color on all 10 claws. It would just seem…wrong.

There are too many cute colors to choose from!

So my mani mantra these days has been, “So many polishes, so little time.”

Today’s mani mixes two different finishes and plays with lovely lavender.

The main star of the show is Chanel Tenderly ($27), from the spring 2015 collection. It’s a creamy limited edition lavender with an undercurrent of tenacious tough girl grayish taupe and a faint whisper of traditional springy pastel.

Yeah, like something a tough-but-tender biker gal might wear on Easter Sunday.

FYI, if you’re going to take on Tenderly, treat her with kid gloves/paws. I sandwiched two coats between my standard issue base and top coats by Givenchy, thinking that altogether they’d last at least five days, but bah! — two significant chips appeared the very next day.

Don’t even think about doing a full sink of dishes without wearing a pair of gloves.

Heck, just leave the gloves in there, and then maybe your husband will take care of them. 🙂 (hint-hint) Or, perhaps that magical housecleaning fairy that you’ve been wishing for and dreaming about for the past 30 years will materialize… You never know.

To tango with the violet tones in Tenderly, I used Deborah Lippmann’s Dream Weaver ($18) as an accent nail. It’s a moody, iridescent peacock polish that leaves me weak in the knees. The fine, complex shimmer complements Tenderly’s creamy sweetness nicely, methinks.

Ooh! I love this shade… The first time I saw it flash from forest green to deep teal to dark purple, my heart fluttered, and even though it’s “officially” (air quotes) a winter color from the Deborah’s holiday 2014 collection, it has killer summertime pedi polish painted all over it. 🙂

Next time I wear this mani, I’m going to use Dream Weaver as the main shade. I also seem to have better luck with Lippmann polishes lasting longer. With a base and top coat, this shade should stay chip-free at least six or seven days.

So, friend, tell me about your mani situation right meow. What are you wearing on your claws?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy hump day.

How Did Your Last Eye Look Turn Out?

January 13th, 2015 by Karen 31 Comments

Wearing the new Hourglass Modernist Eyeshadow Palettes in Color Field and Obscura on my lids — Yesterday I went army green with the Hourglass Modernist Eyeshadow Palettes in Color Field and Obscura on my lids.

Not too shabby, tabby. But I didn’t venture far out of my comfort zone. It was yesterday, and I wore matte browns in the crease with a satiny army green on my lids and lower lash lines.

I keep telling myself to push myself (telling myself to push myself, myself?) and try more different kinds of looks, but I’m hooked on hazy, blown-out and smokey.

I mean, all ya gotta do is keep blending, you know?

How about you, babe? How did your last eye look turn out?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Link me to pics! I wanna see pics. 🙂

10 Things I Love About January

January 12th, 2015 by Karen 33 Comments

1. Early springs

On my walk today I saw — get this — early cherry blossom blooms!
We get that out here in Northern California some years, and I guess it’s happening now.

It’s been sunny for a week or so since the heavy rains, and everything is growing like crazy now. This tree here is right down the hill behind my house where Else the Tortie hangs out. I looked for her today, but she was nowhere to be found (sad face).

On the bright side, I did see…

2. This neighborhood kitty

He’s very skittish and never lets me get too close, but he’s just unaware of how this little game of ours is going to play out.

Soon… Soon we will be BFFs.

The Long Haired Tabby Neighbor — What up, playa?!

3. Scarves

If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to have Tabs draped across your neck, just wrap yourself up in your coziest scarf. 🙂

I wear scarves pretty much 24/7 throughout January because dude! — they feel so wonderful. I like it when the back of my neck and the bottoms of my ears are all cozy and warm.

Wearing Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Ether — Scarf action all day, every day!

4. Moisturizing face masks

I’ve been putting one on every night after I wash my face.

So not kidding! My skin gets dreadfully dry this time of year, so I give my favorite moisturizing face masks a mega workout. Current faves in rotation include Glamglow Thirsty Mud, Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask and Fresh Creme Ancienne Ultimate Nourishing Honey Mask.

Side note: I’m looking for a HELLA moisturizing drugstore mask, so if you have any recs, let me know in the comments. 🙂

5. These Walkers Scottie Dog Shortbread Cookies

Totally a January thing for me because I always seem to get them for Christmas.

I have a very specific method to eating them, too. First, I line all of them up on a plate. Then I bite their heads off.

I let the guilt course through my veins…

And then I wash everything down with a big gulp of tea or coffee.

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Make Army Green Your New Neutral: A Fresh Way to Wear Olive and Neutral Eyeshadows Starring the Hourglass Modernist Eyeshadow Palette

January 12th, 2015 by Karen 59 Comments

Wearing the new Hourglass Modernist Eye Shadow Palettes in Color Field and Obscura on my lids, $58 each

Ten-hut! Members of the neutral eyeshadow makeup army, fall in, and salute the newest member of our ranks. Her codename: army green.

Also known as olive, who, I know, you may have seen around base last summer, but she’s also trained as a fully functional neutral, like agents beige, taupe and tan.

Let’s be real. Woman cannot live on brown shadow alone. At some point, even our favorite neutrals, as classic and timeless as they are, need refreshing, and the brass feels that army green eyeshadow is the new way to go.

My favorite army green finishes are satins and shimmers, but I think some of the mattes are beautiful too. But then, some of them (the mattes) also tend to fall a little flat, or end up being difficult to blend. I’m a mattes girl through and through, but gimme a satin or shimmery army green any day of the week.

The trick is finding the right finish for you. In my case, I like shimmers that don’t showcase my fine lines, and I don’t want a formula that’s going to give me any grief (also known as patchiness and fallout), because oy! — I already get enough of that from mah cat.

(Incidentally, he’s been so naughty lately! At night he scratches the stairs, noisily fiddles with cabinets and knocks things off shelves onto the floor.)

The army greens in the new $58 Hourglass Modernest Eyeshadow Palette in Color Field are so my jam.

The new Hourglass Modernist Eyeshadow Palette in Color Field ($58)

One of seven new Hourglass powder eyeshadow quints coming this spring, Color Field has two army greens you need to get on yo’ lids LIKE RIGHT NOW.

The lighter one has golden pearl, and the darker one is richer and filled with flecks of micro golden glitter. Both are so completely forgiving on my lids that they make me feel like 29-year-old Karen, the wee lass she was… 🙂

Color Field also contains a matte beige (which is kind of like a powder eyeshadow version of MAC Painterly Paint Pot), a neutral shimmery gold, and a neutral mid-toned tan.

Last weekend Color Field and I had a blast. Picture a draped dress that effortlessly flows in all the right places, and these shadows are like that.

The shades fluidly transition into each other with hardly any fallout and last all day long with primer.

I’ve already made room in my Hourglass drawer for more of the seven Modernist palettes, which are available now online for VIB Rouge members, and soon to be available for errryone else.
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