Dolce & Gabbana

A Glammed Up Face of the Day With Lancôme’s Color Design Shadow & Liner Palette in Dancing Rose

February 27th, 2014 by Karen 26 Comments

First thing this morning I told myself, “Karen, take note of the little things today,” and I’ve taken note of some wonderful little tidbits throughout the course of my day (a hot cup tea, seeing a rainbow, catching Tabs looking extra cute), but I have to say…

Even though I didn’t really plan to go anywhere fancy today, I thought it might be fun to glam it up a little — ya know, for Tabs, and because it’s Thursday.

Lancome Dancing Rose Color Design Palette — Lancôme Dancing Rose Color Design Palette

It all started with the Lancôme Color Design Shadow & Liner Palette in Dancing Rose ($50) from the French Ballerine spring collection. One glance at that deep, plummy reddish purple in the middle, and I just had to get it on my lids, ASAP!

I used the sparkly light purple as a base all over my eyes, patted the pink shade on my lids, swept the plummy shade in my crease (creases?), and then highlighted underneath my brow bones with the light opalescent pinkish beige.

Then, I added a fatty-bo-batty wing on my upper lash line with the deep blackish plum, woo hoo!

Katy Perry Eylure Lashes in Banging Beauty

Glam eyeshadow deserves glam lashes, so I brought out the big guns, Katy Perry Lashes in Banging Beauty ($6.99). These falsies are cray, yo! I could barely lift my eyes because they were so big and so over the top. Definitely not for the faint o’ heart.

Since the eyes were so shimmery, so purple, so BAM! — I tried to keep my cheeks and lips soft to balance things out.

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New From Dolce & Gabbana: Shaping Eyebrow Pencil

February 6th, 2014 by Karen 9 Comments

In the event that you’ve been brow-zing (sorry, couldn’t resist) for a fancy new brow pencil, here’s a new one from Dolce & Gabbana, and guess what?

Yeah, it’s pretty darned good!

It’s also pretty darned pricey at $45, but coming from Dolce & Gabbana, that’s not a big surprise.

D&G’s new Shaping Eyebrow Pencil is a lot like my latest brow pencil love, Arch by Hourglass. Like Arch, its tip has a triangular shape, so you can draw either thick or thin lines with it (thick lines with one of the edges and thin lines with the nib). It also has a similar natural-looking powder finish.

Where it differs is in terms of texture. Dolce & Gabbana’s is just a smidgen softer than Arch, and I think it’s also a tad easier to blend.

The smudge- and water-resistant formula is supposed to last up to 12 hours, even wet, but I haven’t had an opportunity to really test that out (I’ll see how it responds to a sweaty run on the treadmill tomorrow).

I have worn it sans serious perspiration a couple of times, however, and both times it lasted from dusk till dawn with hardly any fading.

Shaping Brow Pencil comes in Soft Brown, Stromboli, Chestnut and Mocha (the ones shown here are light brown Chestnut and dark brown Stromboli). All four shades are available now exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue stores and online at saksfifthavenue.com.

New From Dolce & Gabbana: Perfection Veil Pressed Powder

February 6th, 2014 by Karen 14 Comments

Dolce & Gabbana Perfection Veil Pressed Powder

One thing I think Dolce & Gabbana does extremely well is pressed powder (have you tried their blush? AH-MAZE-BALLS!), so I’m very excited about introducing my mug to their new face powder.

Perfection Veil Pressed Powder ($60) is all about natural, trasnlucent radiance. It’s supposed to seamlessly blend into the skin and remain there inconspicuously, even after several touchups.

As a woman perpetually on the prowl for face makeup that looks as close to real skin as possible, I’m keeping my fingers crossed. 🙂

The six-piece Perfection Veil Pressed Powder range of permanent products includes translucent rose ivory Nude Ivory 1, translucent pale tan Natural Glow 2, translucent rosy beige Soft Blush, translucent light tan Caramel 4, translucent golden beige Soft Sand 5 and translucent deep tan Biscuit 6.

The ones seducing your eyeballs here now are Nude Ivory 1, Caramel 4 and Biscuit 6.

They’re available now at Dolce & Gabbana counters and online at saksfifthavenue.com.

Dolce & Gabbana The One Goes Gold

December 6th, 2013 by Karen 11 Comments

This perfume is like an old friend, who even if you haven’t seen or talked to them in ages, when you do see each other again, it’s as if no time has passed at all. 🙂

I’ve been wearing it for years… (It’s my all-time second-favorite Dolce & Gabbana fragrance, after Light Blue.) A heavy oriental floral scent, I find myself reaching for it a lot this time of year.

Official fragrance notes: Bergamot, Mandarin, Lychee, Peach, Madonna Lily, Muguet, Plum, Jasmine, Vetiver, Vanilla, Amber and Musk.

It has a warmth that reminds me of Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle, and I have a feeling that if you love Coco’s scent, you may very well like this, too.

The gold bottle here is a limited edition of the Eau de Parfum ($108 for a 1.6-ounce bottle).

Could be a very thoughtful, gorgeous gift for someone you love (or for yourself, of course) who has a lot of gold decor on her vanity.

You can find it now online and at Dolce & Gabbana counters at Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Sephora stores.

Do you wear any Dolce & Gabbana scents? I wear The One, Light Blue, Desire, Pour Femme, Pour Femme Intense, Sicily (remember that one?!)…and I love them all!

I think there’s just something about their perfumes that goes well with my body chemistry, if that makes any sense at all, haha.

Dolce & Gabbana National Artist Christian McCulloch Will Be in San Francisco This Saturday

October 31st, 2013 by Karen 11 Comments

It being Halloween and all, how about some eye candy? Walk with me, while we take a quick excursion to the Land of Dolce & Gabbana…

If you’ve never crossed paths with Dolce & Gabbana’s Desert Quad ($67, and part of the brand’s permanent line), try to, especially if you love warm brown on your eyes. It’s an absolute joy to blend!

And speaking of joy…if you plan to be in San Francisco this Saturday, November 2, swing by the Dolce & Gabbana counter at Saks Fifth Avenue in Union Square.

D&G national artist Christian McCulloch will be there giving makeovers at the counter.

I met Christian last spring, and he was a ton of fun and a tremendous resource with a vast arsenal of makeup tips.

Call the Dolce & Gabbana counter at (415) 438-5225 to schedule an appointment. No minimum purchase necessary, and it’s free to attend. 🙂

Dolce & Gabbana Lipsticks in Ultra (left) and Amethyst (right) — Lipsticks in Ultra (left) and Amethyst (right), $32 each

Dolce & Gabbana Perfect Matte Concealer — Perfect Matte Concealer, $40

Dolce & Gabbana Warm Rose Liquid Matte Foundation — Warm Rose Liquid Matte Foundation, $66

Dolce & Gabbana Rose Beige Perfect Luminous Foundation — Rose Beige Perfect Luminous Foundation, $59

Dolce & Gabbana Nude Nail Lacquer — Nude Nail Lacquer, $24

Dolce & Gabbanna Desert Quad Swatch — Desert Quad, $67

Dolce & Gabbana Swatches from the left: Concealers in Classic and Creamy; Perfect Luminous Foundation in Rose Beige and Perfect Matte Liquid Foundation in Warm Rose — Concealers in Classic and Creamy; Perfect Luminous Foundation in Rose Beige and Perfect Matte Liquid Foundation in Warm Rose

Dolce& Gabbana Lipstick Swatches in Ultra (left) and Amethyst (right — Lipstick Swatches in Ultra (left) and Amethyst (right

Dolce & Gabbana PassionEyes Duo Mascara: Lash Passion Now Comes in Blue, Brown and Black

September 26th, 2013 by Karen 6 Comments

Dolce Gabbana Passioneyes Mascara — Dolce & Gabbana PassionEyes Duo Mascara ($32)

Brown mascara, wha!?

Ain’t nobody got time for that!

That’s the first thing I thought when I saw Dolce & Gabbana’s new PassionEyes Duo Mascara ($32).

It comes in three shades — black, blue (referred to as Blue Indigo online, but it’s called Blu Indaco on the tube) and brown — the least exciting of which, for me, is the brown, mostly ’cause the tint is almost indistinguishable on my dark lashes.

A brown mascara could come in handy if you’re very fair, or if you don’t want your lashes to look too dark or stark, so if that sounds like a good fit for you, haaaaay! — now you’ve got a PassionEyes option.

Dolce Gabbana Passioneyes Mascara wands from the left: Nero, Terra and Blue Indaco — Wands from the left: Nero, Terra and Blue Indigo

According to D&G, PassionEyes gives a double boost to lashes, amplifying lash length and curl, which is why they bill it as a “Duo Mascara.” Tapioca polymers lock lashes into place, while beeswax enhances flexibility and glycerin conditions.

The look? How about feminine and curvy (they say they were inspired by a classic Dolce & Gabbana dress)?

Today I tested Nero, the black shade, and Blue Indigo, the blue one, and they reminded me of mellower versions of YSL Faux Cils because most of the volume-enhancement occurs at the roots and slowly tapers toward the tips.

Both colors have a gorgeous glossy finish — very shiny and smooth — without any bumps or clumps.

Dolce Gabbana Passioneyes Mascara swatches from the left: Nero (black), Terra (brown) and Blue Indigo (blue) — Swatches from the left: Nero (black), Terra (brown) and Blu Indigo (blue)

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Amethyst, Ruby, Emerald and Topaz: A Jeweler’s Inventory, or the New Classic Cream Lipsticks in the Dolce & Gabbana Sicilian Jewels Collection

September 16th, 2013 by Karen 23 Comments

The four new Classic Cream Lipsticks from the Dolce Gabbana Sicilian Jewels Collection, available in November — The four new Classic Cream Lipsticks from the Dolce & Gabbana Sicilian Jewels Collection, coming this November. From the left: Amethyst, Ruby, Emerald and Topaz.

In the event you were wondering how it feels to wear green lipstick late on a Monday afternoon…

Dolce & Gabbana Classic Cream Lipstick in Emerald — Straaaange!

Emerald, one of four new Classic Cream Lipsticks in the eight-piece Dolce & Gabbana Sicilian Jewels holiday collection, is one of those colors that can look edgy and cute if you’re a teen or in your early 20s…but fast-forward a decade or two and it’s “Hello, Helena Bonham Crazy!”

The four jewel-toned lipsticks in the release ($35 each) are joined by four matching nail polishes, so yeah, while you’re sporting your funky green lip, you can also rock green claws/paws.

I think Emerald’s the most fashion-forward lippie in the collection by far (I’ve yet to see the nail polishes up close and personal), and to truly pull it off, you either have to be a villain from the Harry Potter movies or a 6-foot-tall model stomping down a runway in Milan.

Or something like that.

Who cares though? It’s still fun. 🙂

The other lipsticks seem pretty tame by comparison. Red Ruby, purple Amethyst and amber Topaz take a more classic route.

Dolce Gabbana Sicilian Jewels Collection Lipsticks — Elegant golden packaging…

Dolce Gabbana Sicilian Jewels Collection Lipstick Caps — Cute caps!

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Beauty Bribe Yourself With Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Energy Body Bath & Shower Gel, or Refreshing Body Cream

September 13th, 2013 by Karen 7 Comments

Beauty bribery, babe. It’s the key to getting sh*t done, I kid you not.

If I find myself dragging my feet or otherwise struggling to finish a task, I dangle the idea of getting a little beauty treat if/when I finish, like a carrot in front of a horse’s eyes, and 99.9% of the time, it works.

Of course, you have to be strict with yourself here. I mean, if you don’t finish the task, you don’t get the treat.

The trick works particularly well on household chores (like one lipstick for cleaning two toilets), tasks that require standing in long lines (go to the DMV, get a new nail polish) or any activity tied to sweating (30 minutes of exercise for a new body care product).

And the treat doesn’t have to be a brand new product. It can be a special treatment, like a relaxing bath or manicure, with something you already own.

Like this week, the only reason I exercised at all was Dolce & Gabbana!

I tell myself that I only get to take a shower with Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Energy Body Bath & Shower Gel ($35) after I go for a run.

Seems to be working.

And after I dry myself off, I follow up with Light Blue Refreshing Body Cream (a $51 splurge, albeit a wonderful one).

Both have the same crisp, fruity floral scent as the regular Light Blue fragrance, one of my staple perfumes.

On me, Light Blue is refreshing like a resort vacation, with jasmine, apple, orange and musk notes. If you like light, summery scents like MAC Turquatic and Bobbi Brown Beach, you might lurve Light Blue.

There’s also a Light Blue deodorant, by the way, and sometimes I wear that, too.

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