Archives for September 2017

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation

September 12th, 2017 by Karen 24 Comments

fenty foundation review — A little more than obsessed with this.

Normally, I would advise caution when hugging complete strangers, but if I ever run into Rihanna at the gym (I can totes see Riri doing squats) or TJ’s, I’m going to walk up to that lady and give her the tightest freaking bear hug. I don’t even care if her people jujitsu me and take my @ss to the floor. I’ll take that risk! Because I want to personally thank her for releasing her new Fenty foundation. I think it’s life changing. It’s really, really, REALLY good.

When I heard it would be available in 40 shades (OMG!), I was like, “OK, Riri, I’m not sure if I completely buy into the whole celebrity makeup line thing, but I SEE YOU, GURL.” And I appreciate what you did. 🙂 I mean, who releases a foundation in 40 shades? You know as well as I do how hard it is to find a perfect undertone match, especially for ladies and gents at the extreme ends of the light/dark spectrum.

fenty beauty foundation — So many shades…

Then I took it for a test run and officially leveled up to R.S.S. (Rihanna Stalker Status).

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation is a $34 medium-to-full coverage liquid foundation that comes in a 1.08-oz. glass bottle with a pump.

Now, can I vent about my new pet peeve? I can’t stand it when foundation leaks out of a pump applicator after I use it. It happens with a lot of foundation pumps, including this one, I’m sad to say, and I’m a grumpy-grump about it because I don’t like wasting product. NOT EVEN A DROP.

Seriously, why can’t companies figure out how to stop foundation pumps from leaking?? Someone needs to solve this pressing problem and build a better mousetrap. Then, give me a fat cut of the proceeds, because y’all gonna make millions. I’m just saying.

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Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer

September 12th, 2017 by Karen 14 Comments

I’m ~~sorry~~ not sorry, but it’s right there, so I gotta do it: Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer ($18) is BOMB. Yet another pleasant surprise from Rihanna’s new makeup line. There’s only one lip product in it — this gloss. One. Seriously, who does that? Riri does, folks.

It’s a medium pigment rosy nude with fine golden sparkle, and gah! — so pretty. It’s first thing I put in my basket when I rolled up to the Fenty Beauty display at Sephora. No hesitation.

Apparently, the scars of college chem will never leave me because I shouted “THAT TUBE IS SHAPED LIKE AN AZOLE” in my head when I saw the packaging.

Shh, inside voice, Karen…

When you open it up, BAM! There’s a massive doe-foot applicator. Seriously, half the wand is the doe foot. It’s big and it’s useful. I do one swipe across my lower lip (no mirror needed), and I’m freaking done, which is kind of awesome.

fenty gloss wand — With a MAC Lipglass doe foot for scale

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Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Match Stix Shimmer Skinsticks

September 12th, 2017 by Karen 15 Comments

fenty beauty yacht lyfe rum wheat — Have cream sticks, will travel

It’s the little things, ya know?

Like the fact that I can stick these Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Match Stix, which have magnets in them, on my fridge.

fenty on my fridge — “Fenty on my fridge,” 2017, by Karen

Officially, the magnets, which are embedded in the little tubes, are there so that the sticks cluster together when you have more than one of them in your makeup bag, thereby making them easier to find at the bottom. The fridge-sticking component is just a bonus!

Why I love this as much as I do, I have NO idea, but maybe it’s because I like having easy access to cream highlighter while I have my coffee in the morning.

Technically, these are cream-to-powder sticks, and they’re split among two different families in the line — the matte family for concealing and contouring, and the shimmers for highlighting and adding color to your cheeks, eyes and even your lips, if ya want.

fenty beauty yacht lyfe rum wheat 2 final — I’m testing three — Wheat (a matte, which I’ll be reviewing soon), Rum and Yacht Lyfe

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Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer

September 11th, 2017 by Karen 23 Comments

fenty beauty primer — Rihanna’s new makeup line is kind of fabulous.

Rihanna’s no stranger to the makeup world. She’s collaborated on collections with MAC and was a spokesperson for CoverGirl, among other makeup endeavors, so it’s not a big surprise that she decided to bust a move and create her own makeup line.

And surprise! — it’s really good. Not to say that I didn’t expect great things from Badgal Riri (a.k.a Robin Rihanna Fenty), because I did. I just didn’t expect such an extensive line, or a line this wonderfully focused on skin. I mean, there are 40 foundation shades (!). FORTY! And they have these subtle undertone shifts, which are kind of incredible, but we’ll get to that later because I gotta stay on task…

The entire line is available right now at Sephora.

OK, let’s talk about the primer first. 🙂 It’s called Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch, and it’s $32 for a 1.08-oz. glass tube with a pump.

I saw a video of Rihanna talking about her vision for the line, and she said that she wanted to make makeup that would look like perfect skin, but not like skin that looks like it’s wearing a ton of makeup, which I can totally relate to because that’s what I’d want to do too, and that’s what I think my skin looks like when I wear this cruelty-free liquid primer (everything in the line is cruelty-free, BTW).

First, I think it smells fab (like Stella perfume). Second, the soft matte finish completely cuts down on shine without being obsessive about it, which is to say that it leaves behind a lovely, subtle radiance on my combo 40-somethin’-somethin’ skin. No pearl. Just a hint of light reflecting back at ya to keep the finish from looking flat.

fenty beauty primer swatch final — Pretty in pale pink

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 492

September 11th, 2017 by Karen 28 Comments

I’m starting my second tub of Pixi Double Cleanse ($24 at Target) and my umpteenth bottle of Pixi Glow Tonic ($15 at Target). They sure are great for the price!

So…what is the Monday Poll?

Well, it isn’t exactly a poll. It’s more of a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past 10 (!) years. (It’s like a kickstart for your brain.) I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

1. Madonna or Prince? (Sorry! I know it’s cruel, but you have to pick one.)

I love them both. They’re the soundtrack of my adolescent years, but since I have to pick one…today I’ll go with Prince (I know, shocker, because I love Madge so much).

But I love dancing to Raspberry Beret, and I played it a lot last week.

2. Pumpkin spice latte or pumpkin pie?

El Hub will say this is sacrilege because he’s all about the pumpkin pie…but I could take it or leave it to be honest. I’m all about that #PSL life! 🙂 Especially when it’s made with coconut milk, YUM!

3. Pick one (only one) to wear today: tinted moisturizer, a cushion compact, liquid foundation, stick foundation or powder foundation.

Ooh! — liquid foundation today because I’m testing Rihanna’s new FENTY BEAUTY one (Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation). It looks way more natural than I expected.

Speaking of stick foundations, though, sometimes I’m amazed by the number of good flexible coverage ones out there that you can’t even feel on your skin, like Hourglass Vanish and Tarte Clay Stick Foundation, both of which I adore and would be wearing today if it weren’t for testing something new.

4. Have you ever shared a room with someone?

Yes, back in college. I had a roommate my freshman year in the dorms, and then for the first year when I moved off campus. And we haven’t kept in touch over the years.

I think I’m the kind of person who does better in her own space…although I have shared a room with El Hub for the last umpteen years, and we haven’t killed each other yet, ha!

Came preeeeety close a few times, though. 🙂

5. What was middle school like for you?

Dude, it was BEYOND awkward. I mean, did anybody have epic middle school years? Because I didn’t. Fifth and sixth grades were particularly awful.

I remember always being stressed out about who I was going to have lunch with and always being physically uncomfortable, too, because my body was changing quickly and suddenly. I also really hated wearing a bra, because I was a total tomboy. I just wasn’t into it.

If sports bras had been available, I would’ve been A LOT less ornery, for sure.

I also remember that none of my pants ever fit right because I started getting hips and a booty… When leggings became a thing (happened when I was in eighth grade), they seriously changed my life.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Here are the questions to copy and paste. I can’t wait to read your answers! Happy Monday, my friend.

1. Madonna or Prince? (Sorry! I know it’s cruel, but you have to pick one.)
2. Pumpkin spice latte or pumpkin pie?
3. Pick one (only one) to wear today: tinted moisturizer, a cushion compact, liquid foundation, stick foundation or powder foundation.
4. Have you ever shared a room with someone?
5. What was middle school like for you?

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 466

September 10th, 2017 by Karen 9 Comments

I can’t get over how much this cat likes carbs! It’s crazy. It doesn’t make any sense to me. He’s a full-on carnivore, so why would he rather eat a zinnia flower, a croissant or a piece of toast than a slab of bacon or an egg?

The only thing I can think of is that his old dry food (Hill’s Science Diet) contained whole grain wheat and other veggie fillers, which I didn’t think twice about at the time, but then a few years ago Tabs was diagnosed as pre-diabetic, and his vet said he should lay off the carbs.

These days he mostly eats low glycemic grain-free Nutrisca crunchies and grain-free wet food, which he eats…reluctantly.

Well, he loves his nightly wet food (mostly Sheba Paté, but sometimes he gets $$$ ZiwiPeak), but I don’t think he loves it as much as he used to love regular Fancy Feast, which has wheat in it to make that delicious gravy.

I’ve asked a couple different vets why some cats like to eat grass, other plants and flowers, and they weren’t sure. I guess there are different schools of thought. Some vets think cats do it as an instinct to clean their teeth, because the plant fibers can get down in there between their teeth and gums, or to supplement their diet with certain nutrients that they don’t get from meat, or to force themselves to barf, because it helps them clear out their digestive system. Even wild cats do it.

I don’t know the reason, but I do know that Tabs is a fiend for grass. He’ll eat grass and flowers till he barfs every chance he gets if I let him, which I do sometimes.

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Saturday Surfing: September 9th, 2017

September 9th, 2017 by Karen 9 Comments

moda prismatic brushes hello weekend — Aren’t these brushes powerfully pretty? They’re the MODA Prismatics by Royal and Langnickel.

Thinking good thoughts for all of you who are waiting on Irma this weekend (or Jose or Katia), or dealing with the aftermath of Harvey. There are also wildfires raging out west, and a bad earthquake hit Mexico.

Basically, it’s been a rough couple of weeks in this hemisphere. I hope it’s OK if we talk about fluffy things for a bit and maybe take our minds off the heavy things.

I’ll go first: French toast. I’m craving it, but I don’t have any brioche in the house, which is a (minor) travesty, but…

Wait — WHAT? You haven’t had brioche French toast?! Girl. Let me blow your mind. Next time you make French toast, instead of using regular ol’ wheat or white bread, make it with a buttery brioche.

I got a sliced loaf of brioche at TJ’s last week and used the whole thing for what turned out to be THE BEST French toast I’ve ever had. Light, fluffy and just the perfect amount of sweetness (like King’s Hawaiian Sweet Bread). I’ll never be able to look at non-brioche French toast the same way again.

In other news…

Today is a cleaning day. 🙁 Bluh. But it has to get done, right? It’s so totally and completely uninspiring and boring, and I feel like the broken-est of broken records talking about cleaning yet again, but it never goes away. Huzzah, cleaning!

I want to clean the bathroom extra well because the Coywolf has expressed an interest in potty training. She watches me, and I can see the little gears at work trying to figure out what’s going on, so we’re gonna get that started. If you have any potty training tips, please drop your knowledge in the comments, because I need all the help I can get!

Purr usual, I jotted down some of the interesting articles and blog posts I came across this week that I thought you’d also appreciate.

Got your coffee? OK, let’s go. 🙂

NOOOOO! This is really disappointing because I loved this magazine. Nylon is shutting down their print publication. 🙁 Dang! I’m so bummed about this! It’s so irreverent and outrageously creative. I LOVED the beauty section.
Oh, the brights in these gorgeously pigmented liquid lipsticks from Dior look extra great!
No, I’m not making this sh*t up: someone out there thought that the women of the world needed to contour their vaginas, so they invented a vagina highlighter…
Do you ever shop at ASOS? When I was pregs with the Coywolf I bought a few maternity dresses from them. One of them fell apart after washing it once…but I wore the other two all the time toward the end of her time in my tum. Looks like they’re launching a new ASOS makeup line. I think the packaging looks very chic and cute.
I’m happy to see my ride-or-die Surratt curler on this list of best eyelash curlers for different eye shapes.
Essie has ’90s vibes in their fall collection.
Who else loves wearing berry shades in the fall? Here are 14 berry lip colors under $12!
Um…do you have $750 burning a hole in your pocket? If so, do you wanna buy the wig Vivien Leigh wore in A Streetcar Named Desire? I’m sure there’s someone out there who can say “yes” to these two things.
3 cruelty-free beauty products everyone needs
What role does climate change play in the hurricanes sweeping the Atlantic?
Advice for women going through difficult times from a woman who lost her father, husband and had a miscarriage over a period of six weeks.
Cut these seven words from your vocabulary to sound more confident at work.
Black Mirror is on this list (YES!) of British TV shows you should be watching.

I hope you and your families are safe and sound this weekend. Talk to you soon.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Highlighting Eyeshadow Palette Vol III

September 8th, 2017 by Karen 6 Comments

tarte rainforest of the sea vol iii — The Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Vol. III palette

I’ve always been intrigued and a little bit confused by the name of Tarte’s “Rainforest of the Sea” palettes.

Because it’s a little confusing, right? I picture a rainforest literally emerging from the sea like an Amazonian Atlantis, or something from a kids cartoon.

There’s absolutely no way sober people came up with it.

Tarte’s latest color canopy, the Rainforest of the Sea Volume III Palette, is available now for $36.

Yup, they made a third one!

I don’t know if you remember the second one, but I thought it was epic. EPIC.

I never tried the first Rainforest of the Sea palette (my friend Jessica reviewed it for MBB), but I love the heck out of the second one and its beautiful, buttery, satiny blues and browns.

They’re to die for and so creamy. Easy to blend too.

tarte rainforest of the sea vol iii closeup — I see you, shimmer!

Volume III is more metal. It has seven high shine metallics and one matte beige. Like Volume II, the shadows are a super creamy combination of a powder and a cream, and they feel slightly bouncy, so you can practically blend them in yo’ sleep.

Or, when you’re half-awake because you didn’t get enough sleep, ha!

tarte rainforest of the sea vol iii k — I’m wearing Jewel and Rays mixed together on my lids, and Tiki in the crease. The lip is NARS Powermatte in Get It On topped with MAC Lipglass in Goldfinch. Cheeks are MAC Sunbasque Blush.

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