Archives for January 2015

A Brief MAC Rainbow Intermission to Brighten Your Day

January 8th, 2015 by Karen 11 Comments

A MAC Rainbow with makeup from the new Lightness of Being collection

Like a double rainbow…only much cooler because you can put this one all over yo’ face!

I got a distinctly rainbow-y vibe from this handful of pieces in the new MAC Lightness of Being collection. From the left, that’s Mineralize Rich Lipstick in Style Surge, Mineralize Rich Lipstick in Luxe Naturale, Mineralize Eye Shadow in Spiritual Life, Lipglass in Beautiful Moves, Mineralize Lipstick in Dreaminess, and Mineralize Lipstick in Be Fabulous on the far right.

They’re all $22 each and available now with the rest of the Lightness of Being collection at MAC counters and online.

* Leprechaun legal disclaimer: pot o’ gold not included.

Swatches from the left: Mineralize Rich Lipstick in Style Surge, Mineralize Rich Lipstick in Luxe Naturale, Mineralize Eye Shadow in Spiritual Life, Lipglass in Beautiful Moves, Mineralize Lipstick in Dreaminess and Mineralize Lipstick in Be Fabulous

What’s Your Current Favorite Primer (or Primers) and Why?

January 8th, 2015 by Karen 56 Comments

GURL, when it comes to primer, I’m a believer — like hands in the air, testifying with my eyes closed and my head up to the sky, hollering “PRRRRRRIMERRRRRR!” as tears run down my cheeks and a children’s choir sings in the background.

A day rarely passes when I skip it. Primer is as integral to my makeup routine as a lash curler and brow filler.

Face primers

The main reason I love face primer so much is, quite frankly, my damned pores! Primer makes the texture of my cheeks, forehead and nose look smoother, and it’s a pretty noticeable difference in real life and pics.

For face primers, I use two (sounds like overkill, I know, but it works for me). I start by prepping my skin for foundation using MAC Prep + Prime Natural Radiance ($41) all over my face, which makes whichever foundation I layer on top of it “sit” better and last longer.

After giving Prep + Prime a minute or two to sink in, I go back in with Smashbox Pore Minimizing Photo Finish ($39), which I spot apply on the apples of my cheeks, my nose and around my mouth.

Essentially, Photo Finish works like spackling paste or putty, filling any uneven dips and pores on the skin to make foundation, powder and blush appear more smooth and silky.

Eye primers

I’ve got MAD love for eye primers, too, but if we get into the nitty-gritty details of which ones and why, we’ll seriously be here till Tuesday.

So, for my eyes, the short answer is that I usually use some combination of the following: NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base by itself, or with MAC Paint Pot in Soft Ochre or Painterly buffed on top.
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Get Flawless Skin From a Weightless Formula With New Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer

January 7th, 2015 by Karen 24 Comments

Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealers from the left: Medium Light Neutral, Medium Neutral and Medium Dark Warm — Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealers from the left in Medium Light Neutral, Medium Neutral and Medium Dark Warm

So, one day last weekend when I wore Urban Decay’s new Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer ($28, coming this spring to the permanent line), I got into a big tiff with my parents, and there was lots of crying involved.

(Long story, but it was a misunderstanding, and everything’s fine now.)

When El Hub and I got home later that night, I went to wash my face and saw that the concealer I’d been wearing was still intact…10 hours later!

Granted, it didn’t look perfect, especially around my fine lines, but considering the buckets I’d cried a few hours earlier, it looked pretty good.

Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealers from the left in Medium Light Neutral, Medium Neutral and Medium Dark Warm

Before Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer…

Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer Before shot — The before shot: yeah, I know, I look tired…

And after Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer…

Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer in Medium Dark Warm — And after: wearing Medium Dark Warm underneath my eyes

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For Light or Medium Coverage, Try Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Powder Foundation

January 7th, 2015 by Karen 15 Comments

Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Powder Foundations from the top to the bottom: Medium Neutral, Medium Warm and Medium Dark Golden — From top to bottom, 3 of 14 shades in the new Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Powder line: Medium Neutral, Medium Warm and Medium Dark Golden

Naked. Let’s get naked. So here’s today’s naked truth…

Some days, I really feel “it,” and when I do, it’s Wonderful with a capital W. 🙂

I look out my window up into the sky, and the sun seems higher and brighter, and it’s like the birds are singing songs just for me. Everything falls into place, like my hair and makeup, and even my muffin top doesn’t bug me as much as it usually does.

I walk with a spring in my step! — and my fingers practically fly. Things seem almost effortless.

Buuut, then there are those other days (like today), and sometimes weeks, when I just don’t feel “it” at all.

Those are the days when even my stretchy pants give me grief (and you know how much I love my stretchy pants). Instead of them hugging my bum and making it look all perky and cute, I just see that annoying bunch of fabric that sags in the butt.

When I look out my window, all I see are the barren branches on the oak trees, and instead of admiring their angles and strong lines, I’m sad because they have no leaves. The gnarled branches seem menacing against the darkening sky…

Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Powder Foundation Swatches from the left: Medium Neutral, Medium War and Medium Dark Golden — From the left: Medium Neutral, Medium War and Medium Dark Golden

On those days, when simply lifting a lash curler feels like a monumental task, I just keep trying. I apply a bit of makeup, perhaps something like Urban Decay’s new Naked Skin Ultra Definition Powder Foundation, along with a slick of gloss and a few swipes of brow gel.

Then I place my fingers gently on the keyboard and take a few deep breaths…

Before Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Powder Foundation…

Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Powder Foundation Before — The before shot: wearing just a little bit of brow filler, mascara and lipstick, and without anything on my skin at all

And after Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Powder Foundation…

Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Powder Foundation After — And after: I applied a single layer of Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Powder Foundation in Medium Neutral with a fluffy powder brush

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What Are 5 of Your Favorite Face/Cheek Products of All Time, and Why Do You Love Them?

January 7th, 2015 by Karen 38 Comments

In no particular order…

Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blush in Malice ($45)

Malice, with her barely-there golden shimmer, is my idea of a purrfect peachy pink blush. If glittery golden wild child NARS Orgasm were sent to finishing school for a year, she’d come back wearing pearls instead of a leather jacket and call herself Chanel Malice.

MAC Extra Dimension Bronzer in Delphic ($27.50)

Delphic bronzer was in last year’s limited edition Alluring Aquatic collection, and I will cry a raging river of black mascara-streaked tears when I finish it.

I feel like it makes me look like I just spent an afternoon soaking up the sun with friends. Ahh…

MAC Mineralize Blush in Warm Soul ($27)

I mean, really, how many times can I gush about this golden beige blush!?

Apparently, at least one more. 🙂

It’s just so effortlessly awesome.

MAC Warm Soul Mineralize Blush — Wearing MAC Warm Soul on my cheeks

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10 Things I Love About Rouge Bunny Rouge

January 6th, 2015 by Karen 29 Comments

1. Satin Eyeliner in Blue Roan

Don’t get me wrong, I love me some black liquid liner. It’s timeless and classic, never goes out of style, yada-yada-yada-yada, but wearing it day in/day out starts to get repetitive. At least for me it does. This deep blue…sigh! It’s gorgeously rich, with no weird green undertones, and it’s a fun way to switch things up and get out of a black liner rut. Plus, it’s smooth and easy to use. $28, and available now at Rouge Bunny Rouge counters and online.

Rouge Bunny Rouge Blue Roan — Wearing my newest liquid liner love, Rouge Bunny Rouge Satin Eyeliner in Blue Roan ($28)

2. The exclusivity

I kind of love that you can’t just roll up to any ol’ Macy’s and find RBR in the cosmetics department. There’s an air of exclusivity about it that I dig. It’s the same feeling I get whenever I wear Byredo Parfum’s Gypsy Water fragrance…like I’m in on a secret that only the cool girls know about.

3. Speaking of perfume…

Rouge Bunny Rouge has some really interesting and complex scents that aren’t your run-of-the-mill candy-coated pop star sh*t that someone slapped a glittery label on and dropped on a shelf at Sephora. Their scents surprise me all the time, but aren’t so far out and artsy that I can’t relate to them. Tenera ($129) is one of my faves when I’m in the mood for something kinda spicy and cozy (has notes of black pepper, heliotrope, vanilla pod), and Allegria’s my go-to when I want something more feminine and soft (grapefruit, mint, basil and tonka bean).

4. The extra touches

I like that the brand does fun little extras, like jewelry trays and tiny ceramic flower room fresheners that you can spritz your favorite RBR fragrances onto, every once in a while when you order from their website.

5. Long-Lasting Eye Shadow in Rufous-Tailed Weaver

ERHMAYGOODNESS. Don’t even get me started on Rouge Bunny Rouge’s powder eyeshadows because we will be here for DAYS. Their complex, long-lasting, interesting colors and finishes are such a joy to blend. They really do make it SO easy.
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What Are Your 5 Favorite Makeup Brushes Right Now?

January 6th, 2015 by Karen 30 Comments

Happy Tuesday, beautiful brush lover. 🙂 What are your five favorite makeup brushes right meow? Here are mine…

1. NARS #42 Blending Brush

Last year NARS completely revamped their brush line, and this brush, the NARS #42, is already one my favorite brushes of all time. I love it even more than my beloved MAC 224 (I KNOW!)…

I mean, I still love the 224 (both brushes have similarly shaped heads), but the 42’s bristles are wider and fuller, and I think it actually is better at diffusing and blending color, especially in the crease.

It’s my go-to brush for blending transition colors together, and if I ever reach for it and find that it’s dirty because I forgot to clean it, I freak out a little…

OK, I freak out A LOT. Available now for $32 at NARS counters and online.

2. NARS #47 Angled Eyeliner Brush

I don’t think I could, or at least would want to, line my eyes with anything other than this brush. The NARS #47 draws crisp, precise edges and defined cat eye flicks like an architect draws plans, and it deftly handles lines of varying width, from thin to thick to semi-skinny — whatev.

You get supreme control over whatever product you’re using it with, and it also diffuses pencil, gel and eye powders perfectly. Works great as a brow filler, too. Available now for $28 at NARS counters and online.

3. Laura Mercier Pony Tail Brush

I am trying very hard to write about this brush without quoting that Ginuwine Pony song right now.

It’s so hard, though!

Ride it, my pony…

Anyways, Laura’s Pony Tail Brush is another fantastic transition shade/crease tool. Like the NARS #42, which has a slightly shorter brush head and a less tapered tip, it’s fluffy and full, so any powders you’re scooting around with it in your crease or on your lids blend together beautifully.

I like Laura’s version better for applying transition colors in the lower part of the crease, and I also use it all the time for buffing out under-eye concealer because the tapered tip allows me to really get into those hard-to-reach areas in the inner corners and lower lash line. Available now for $29 at Laura Mercier counters and online.

4. Sephora Pro Angled Shadow Brush #13

On one hand, I feel like I really need to stop stress-shopping at Sephora…but on the other I’m like, “How else would I find gems like the Pro Angled Shadow Brush?”

Dude! What a great stress-shopping find. It’s so easy to perfectly place shadow into the outer corners and lower crease thanks to this brush’s angled shape. At the same time, it doesn’t lay down so much product that I end up having to spend forever and a day buffing. Available now for $20 at Sephora and online.

5. Sonia Kashuk Lash & Brow Comb

For me, the largest measure of success for this brow/lash comb combo is the fact that I have yet to poke my eye out with it.

Knocks on wood! 🙂

Seriously, though, this collapsable contraption is great. It’s kinda like a pocketknife, which makes it nice and portable, but most importantly it gets the job done right. Plus, it costs less than a fancy cup of coffee. Available now for $4.99 at Target and online.

How about you, babe? What are your five favorite makeup brushes right meow?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

More of a Rebellion Than a Revolution, the New Urban Decay Sheer Revolution Lipsticks Still Pack Some Pigment Firepower

January 5th, 2015 by Karen 27 Comments

The brand new Urban Decay Sheer Revolution Lipsticks ($20 each), new for spring 2015

A lot of makeup lines have been doing the sheer lip thing for a while, so really, the idea is NOT that revolutionary anymore.

Like Clinique Black Honey? That’s one of the O.G. sheer lipsticks from the back in the day, so at this point, we can safely assume that a new line of sheer lipsticks will probably not leave you slack-jawed at your desk with drool dribbling from the left corner of your mouth and a mind so completely blown that you may cease to exist on this plane because you’ve been transported to a magical makeup alternate reality…

Let’s face it. The idea has been done before.

That said, Urban Decay’s new Sheer Revolution Lipsticks ($20 each, coming spring 2015) are different in one major way: they’re significantly more pigmented than many sheer lipsticks in the same price range (for instance, the $22 Too Faced La Cremes and $19 Benefit Tinted Tinted Lip Balms), particularly the brighter colors, like hot pink Sheer Anarchy and berry Sheer Shame.

Unfortunately, the nudes in the collection all start to look the same after a while on my pigmented lips…but that’s not unusual for me when it comes to sheer lipsticks and balms.

Urban Decay Sheer Revolution Lipsticks from the top to the bottom: Sheer Ladyflower, Sheer Streak, Sheer F-Bomb, Sheer Liar, Sheer Rapture, Sheer Anarchy, Sheer SHame, Sheer Slowburn, Sheer Obsessed and Sheer Walk of Shame — From top to bottom: Sheer Ladyflower, Sheer Streak, Sheer F-Bomb, Sheer Liar, Sheer Rapture, Sheer Anarchy, Sheer Shame, Sheer Slowburn, Sheer Obsessed and Sheer Walk of Shame

A completely new line of lipsticks en route to the permanent line, these are similar to UD’s current Revolution Lipsticks (same moderately thick, creamy texture), only they’re sheer, or sheerer — maybe about half as pigmented — but all 10 shades are still more pigmented than average for sheer lipsticks from other brands.

Because of the sheer-ish formula, though, if I had to pick just one, I’d choose one of the brighter shades, like fuchsia Sheer Anarchy or berry Sheer Walk of Shame.

I also dig red Sheer F-Bomb and orangey red Sheer Slowburn, but most of the time when I feel like wearing red on my lips, I want to go all out, like with opaque coverage, lip liner — the whole shebang.

These particular reds are like starter reds, and might be good for someone who wants to wear red on their lips, but isn’t ready for MAC Ruby Woo.

Urban Decay Sheer Revolution Lipstick Swatches from the left: Sheer Ladyflower, Sheer Streak, Sheer F-Bomb, Sheer Liar and Sheer Rapture — Swatches from the left: Sheer Ladyflower, Sheer Streak, Sheer F-Bomb, Sheer Liar and Sheer Rapture

From the left: Sheer Anarchy, Sheer Shame, Sheer Slowburn, Sheer Obsessed and Sheer Walk of Shame — Sheer Anarchy, Sheer Shame, Sheer Slowburn, Sheer Obsessed and Sheer Walk of Shame

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