Loreal

L’Oreal Colour Riche Le Matte and La Lacque Lip Pens

September 30th, 2015 by Karen 15 Comments

loreal le matte le lacque lip pens — Starting from the top, that’s L’Oreal Le Matte Lip Pencil in 100 Matte For Me, 102 She’s So Matte, 104 Game Set & Matte, 106 Mad for Matte and 198 Matter-R of Fact; and La Lacque in 201 Lacque-y Charm, 203 Lacquerizied, 205 Lacque and Roll, 207 Lacque-y You and 209 Choco-Lacque

Oh! Nice to see you again, L’Oreal Colour Riche Le Matte. And you, too, La Lacque. You two Lip Pens are only $9.99 each, and I remember you from last fall. You were released as limited edition lippies, weren’t you? And now you’re back.

From the outside, these twist-up full-coverage lipsticks (no sharpener needed) look pretty much the same as they did last year, and they still don’t twist all the way down, so sometimes the caps scrunch the tips (Grr… Why?!). Other than that minor hiccup, I think they’re great. They have the same smooth, pigmented formula, excellent coverage and respectable five-hour wear time.

Pretty good deals for $10.

If at all possible, though, try to sniff one in the car before you bring it all the way home, because the rosy scent is VERY strong. Thankfully, it fades after about 10 minutes, but still.

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How to Do Perfect Red Lips

September 18th, 2015 by Karen 24 Comments

Some things are really hard — climbing Mount Everest, saying no to the last French fry, learning how to breakdance when you’re over 30 and completely inflexible (particularly in the hamstrings) — but other things, like achieving a perfect red lip, aren’t that hard at all.

Smooth, symmetrical red lips with crisp, yet not harsh, edges are easy with the right tools, a few tips and a little practice. By the end of this post, you will NOT look like a demented clown about to go on a rampage at a children’s birthday party (although this happens sometimes when I try to do lip liner on bare lips). Pretty soon you’ll be doing ’em like a seasoned pro.

So, let’s start at the very beginning, which is a very good place to start. 🙂

Um…I think I may or may not have just quoted Sound of Music, but whatever!

1. Apply lipstick to the center area of your lips

Begin by applying (directly from the bullet) the red lipstick you’d like to wear around the center area of your lips. The key here: don’t take the lipstick all the way out to the edges.

At this point, as is the case so often with makeup, if you’re doing it right, it’ll look kinda weird…

2. Now drag the lipstick out to your natural lip line

Using a lip brush loaded with the same red lipstick, fill in the edges around the area you applied from the bullet a moment ago, dragging some of the existing lipstick out while also painting all the way to the edge of your lip line. We’re doing this because the brush is more detailed than the lipstick bullet.

Try to get that lip line smooth and even, but it doesn’t have to be perfect at this point.

3. Line your lips with a lip liner in a complementary color

Now set aside the lip brush, and grab a sharpened red lip liner (sharpen it first, because we want the point to be nice and sharp) in a color that complements your lipstick.

Take that lip liner, and start drawing a line right around the edge of your lip, following your natural lip line, and we have two reasons for this. First, we’re creating a boundary for our red lipstick outside of which we won’t go, and second, we’re also using this as an opportunity to tweak the shape of our lips, if need be, to make them look perfectly symmetrical. Like, one side of my lips is thinner than the other, so I slightly overdraw that side at this step to make my lips look even and full.

Next, with the same lip brush you used earlier, although this time without any extra product on it, gently merge the line you created with your lip pencil into the lipstick to soften the appearance of the lip liner.
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I’m Lovin’ the Rad Reds in the L’oreal Colour Riche Exclusive Red Lipcolor Collection

September 17th, 2015 by Karen 20 Comments

L'Oreal Colour Riche Collection Exclusive Red Lipcolor from the left: 401 Julianne's Red, 402 Blake's Red, 403 Eva's Red, 405 Freida's Red, 406 Zoe's Red and 407 Liya's Red — L’Oreal Colour Riche Collection Exclusive Red Lipcolor from the left: 401 Julianne’s Red, 402 Blake’s Red, 403 Eva’s Red, 405 Freida’s Red, 406 Zoe’s Red and 407 Liya’s Red

These six reds are rad!

It’s hard to pick a favorite from among the six $8.99 red lipsticks in the new L’Oreal Colour Riche Collection Exclusive Red Lipcolor line, but if you said, “Karen, you have to pick one!” first I would say, “Curses! Why you gotta be so cruel?” then I’d say 402 Blake’s Red, which you may remember from the 5 Fabulously Affordable Fall Lipstick post earlier this week. It’s neutral, so I could wear it with warm and cool looks (and I bet it would look great on most skin tones).

From the left: 401 Julianne's Red, 402 Blake's Red, 403 Eva's Red, 405 Freida's Red, 406 Zoe's Red and 407 Liya's Red — From the left: 401 Julianne’s Red, 402 Blake’s Red, 403 Eva’s Red, 405 Freida’s Red, 406 Zoe’s Red and 407 Liya’s Red

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5 Fabulously Affordable Fall Lipsticks

September 14th, 2015 by Karen 28 Comments

I have a tabby by my side (as opposed to on my lap — what’s up with that?), and I’m wearing a snuggly long-sleeved sweater and long pants to keep away the unseasonably fall-like chill outside.

I’m also wearing layers, as weird as that sounds, but it’s brisk and overcast outside. The leaves have even started to fall, and I’m seriously contemplating socks (toe oppression!).

Technically, it may not be “that time of year” yet, but I’m definitely getting a fall vibe.

There’s no way I’m ready for El Niño or the cold weather fall entails, but I do feel full-on ready for fall makeup, like these five fabulously affordable fall lipsticks that are all less than $10 each.

1. L’Oreal Colour Riche Collection Exclusive in Blake’s Red ($8.99)

Blake, as in Lively, the lucky lady with the long, luscious blonde hair (and, um, Ryan — oh, what’s his name? Not Gosling! Ryan Reynolds, how dare I?! — Ryan Reynolds’ baby mama). L’Oreal Colour Riche Collection Exclusive in Blake’s Red is her red addition to the L’Oreal Colour Riche Collection Exclusive line.

Blake’s Red is a beauty of a neutral red, neither too warm nor cool, with an opaque demi-matte finish, and it won’t just work through fall. This one will also carry you through the holidays.

I love this lippie with classic fall looks, and it suits a wide range of skin tones. Wear it with a simple cat eye for something vintage, or a black or gray smoky eye (a la Robert Palmer’s Addicted to Love video), or metallic golden lids.

SO PRETTY!

Because it’s by L’Oreal, it has their very strong floral flavor and scent (both fade quickly), which folks seem to either love or hate. I don’t mind it at all.

It’s available now online for $8.99 and at drugstores and Ulta.

2. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipcolor in Toast of New York ($7.99)

This is so old-school, you guys! I wore this color back in the day, and it’s making a comeback again.

I feel like there have been an overabundance of dark browns with almost grayish undertones lately, and I like that look on some people, but I feel like it looks a little macabre on me. THIS kind of brown has a little yellow in it, and I think it makes it more wearable. The matte finish also has a hint of a shine to it.

It’s available now online for $7.99 and at drugstores and Ulta.

3. COVERGIRL Star Wars Limited Edition Colorlicious Lipstick in Dark Purple 50 ($6.99)

Do you think this lipstick is on the dark side or the light…? Ooh, Star Wars reference! Where’s my light saber, Tabs?! 🙂

This dark purple berry is a classic fall color. It’s from the new limited edition COVERGIRL Star Wars collection, and it has a creamy finish.

It’s also flexible. You can wear it as a stain by applying one layer, then blotting, or build it up like I’ve done here. I’m wearing three layers, so it looks a little vampy.

It’s available now online for $6.99 and at drugstores.
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5 Things I’ve Been Loving Lately

August 21st, 2015 by Karen 18 Comments

1. Tocca Cleopatra Candela Luxe ($54)

Kind of a sucker over here! Yep, I’m a sucker for fancy candles, and this one is from Tocca, the makers of Bianca, which is one of my premiere most perfect perfumes of all time. Candela Luxe is a new collection of luxury candles inspired by their fragrances, and each one comes in a gorgeous glass you can repurpose. They’re also rated to burn for 60 hours (!).

The one I have is the Cleopatra, which fills my immediate vicinity with the aromas of clean, crisp cucumber and sweet grapefruit.

Ahh… 🙂

2. L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Last Nailcolor ($9.99)

These dynamic nail polish duos have twin tips! One end has a colorful base shade, and the other end has a (very lightly) tinted top coat. The idea is that you can skip an additional base coat, and just use one of these with its accompanying top coat.

They come in a variety of colors (I’ve been wearing them a lot in videos). I’ve tested a creamy light blue shade called Endless Sky and a creamy taupe called Timeless Taupe, and Endless Sky chipped on me pretty quickly (like within a day!), but Timeless Taupe made it about five days before the first chips appeared at the edges, which isn’t bad for me, considering the heck I put my nails through every day, all day.

I’m going to try Always A Lady next, which is a dark reddish brown… I guess I’m in the mood for fall!

3. Trader Joe’s Sour Gummies ($1.99)

ERHMAHGOSH! There’s a key lime sour gummy!

I think I may have mentioned that I’ve been all about sour flavors lately (especially lime), and that’s why I put this in my shopping cart the other day.

Man, oh, man! — I’m so glad I did. They’re delicious. They’re gummier and firmer (furmier? LOL!) than regular sour gummies… They also stick to my teeth worse/more, which isn’t ideal, but I can overlook that on account of them being so tasty.

The flavors are lemon, grapefruit (YUM), lime and tangerine, and they’re all in little “T” or “J” shapes.

I WILL be getting another bag on my next trip to Trader Joe’s.
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Let’s Glow Crazy! L’Oreal True Match Lumi Liquid Glow Illuminator Prime & Highlight in Ice

July 29th, 2015 by Karen 15 Comments

This is the kind of high-beam headlights liquid highlighter I can totally see Beyonce rocking with head-to-toe leather on stage. It’s L’Oreal True Match Lumi Liquid Glow Illuminator in Ice ($12.99, one of three shades), and it’s bold, brash and shines so brightly that you can see it from across a room.

My first thought when these came out earlier this summer was, “Hm! Looks like a drugstore dupe of BECCA’s Shimmering Skin Perfectors.” Because they are similar. Both are liquid highlighters for use under your foundation or tinted moisturizer (so the shimmer peeks through your base), or on top of your foundation or tinted moisturizer (so the shimmer’s more obvious), or mixed in with your foundation or other base, and then applied all over yo’ pretty face (for an all-over glow).

It’s available in three shades — Rose (for people with yellow, peach, pink or blue) Golden (for peachy or yellow undertones) and Ice (for pink and blue undertones).

My skin tone is warm (MAC NC42), and I chose to try Ice…partly because I just like the pink color. 🙂
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L’Oreal $12.99 True Match Lumi Powder Glow Illuminator: For Highlights So Shiny That They Make Mirrors Quake in Their Shiny Boots

July 28th, 2015 by Karen 18 Comments

loreal true match lumi powder glow illuminator

Sooner or later I’ll make through a day without saying the word “strobing” at least once, but today? — totally not that day.

Yes, sweets, these new $13 L’Oreal True Match Lumi Powder Glow Illuminators are all about that high-shine frosty life, and they’re just in time for strobing madness! — the latest craze sweeping the nation.

These three illuminating powders work a little like Bobbi Brown’s Shimmer Bricks. Each pan is comprised of four different colors of varying levels of shimmer, glitter and opacity. You swirl ’em together and use the combined mix to highlight specific areas, or your entire face, although I’d be wary of doing the latter, unless your skin is smoother and more perfectly porcelain than a baby’s butt, because the frosty finish seeks out pores and fine lines like a tabby seeks out gravy.

I actually tried it once… I applied one of these all over just for kicks and ended up looking hella sweaty with, like, huge 3D horror movie-sized pores.

Basically, I’m not the biggest fan of frosty highlighters, and I kinda wish that the shimmery effect were subtler, but these could prove useful if you like dramatic frosty effects that shine like high-beam headlights, perhaps for spot highlights on your cheekbones and/or down the bridge of your nose.

They’re available now online and at drugstores, Walgreens and Ulta in Golden for warm skin tones, Ice for cool skin tones, and Rose for neutral skin tones.

Oh! — one last thing. Try not to drop these, because they’ll almost definitely shatter (see the sad pan of Rose?). 🙁

loreal true match lumi powder glow illuminator golden — L’Oreal True Match Lumi Powder Glow Illuminator in Golden

loreal true match lumi powder glow illuminator ice — L’Oreal True Match Lumi Powder Glow Illuminator in Ice

loreal true match lumi powder glow illuminator rose — L’Oreal True Match Lumi Powder Glow Illuminator in Rose

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L’Oreal Infallible Makeup Extender Setting Spray: Is This $17 Spray Infallible?

July 20th, 2015 by Karen 27 Comments

You know how when you finish your makeup, and you lightly mist your face with a makeup setting spray, it feels like the confirmation of a job well done?

Like spritz! Thank you! Reward. 🙂

I like that whole experiential angle to makeup setting sprays. The refreshing fragrances and enhanced wear time are just bonuses.

My current favorites are Urban Decay’s $30 All Nighter and MAC Fix+ ($22), but they’re both pretty pricey. I’d love a good drugstore option, which is why I decided to try L’Oreal Infallible Makeup Extender Setting Spray. It’s only $16.99, which is still expensive for drugstore, but less than All Nighter and Fix+.

loreal infallible setting spray — L’Oreal Infallible Setting Spray ($16)

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