MAC Cosmetics

FOTD: Matte Monochromatic Makeup in Rusty Brown Tones (And With One Eyeshadow!)

September 4th, 2020 by Karen 13 Comments

mac devoted to chili k down smile — This eye look involves just one eyeshadow!

Some days, you wanna wear three eyeshadows, or maybe even four or five. Or six if you’re feeling extra feisty! Other days, you just wanna wear one, and that’s what happening here in this matte monochromatic makeup look.

Gosh, don’t you love a little alliteration? I certainly do.

Now this is one of those looks that seems more complicated than it actually is. I didn’t use many products. Like, for starters, the eye look only involves one eyeshadow, and it’s a very intense rusty, reddish brown matte from MAC called Devoted to Chili.

It’s one of the new MAC Powder Kiss Matte Eye Shadows, and it’s $20. (You can also buy it as a single pan without a case for $9.)

I’ve tried a few of them, and they’re super intense when you first pile them on, but they also blend and buff out beautifully. You can layer them to amplify the saturation, and yet even when you do, they don’t look heavy on your lids, which is unusual for mattes. Every one I’ve tried so far has impressed me!

mac fotd devoted to chili swatch — Living that NC42 life

Devoted to Chili is one of those eyeshadows that looks like it would be super scary, because it’s just *so* red in the pan, but, particularly if you wear orangey browns like MAC Texture or Saddle or Soft Brown well, Devoted to Chili really pops on lids. It works very well on warm-toned skin.

mac devoted to chili fotd products — Key products in this look

And that’s it for the eyeshadow. ONE SHADE!

I mean, there’s also some liner action happening, too, but that was easier. Just a little bronze liner smudged along my lower lash line (MAC Teddy) and bronzy brown MAC Powersurge on my lower water lines.

So the eyes were easy, peasy, lemon squeezy.

Another thing that makes the look a little more glamorous is the repetition of that rusty brown matte eyeshadow shade on my lips. The liquid lipstick is also from MAC and called Devoted to Chili (also from the new Powder Kiss collection).

I applied it directly from the wand, where I think it looks soft and approachable. I didn’t want my lips to look too crisp or “done,” since the color is a very ’90s lipstick shade, but if you want to go full-on ’90s, I’d suggest using a reddish brown pencil liner instead, and be sure to sharpen it until the tip can cut glass if you do! Something like MAC Mahogany Lip Pencil would totally work. Then, after applying the lipstick, line your lips with the pencil, and leave it as is. Don’t blend it, because you want to see that strong edge.

Or, just wear it like this. ? It’s up to you. Next time I wear this combo, I’m going channel my inner ’90s diva, methinks.

One last thing — since the eye and lip colors here are so intense, I pulled back a bit on the blush by going with nude tones. I used a mix of two nude MAC Glow Play Blushes, which are the creams that came out a few months ago, and yes, they’re epically easy to blend. Also yes, they’re still available!

Makeup worn in this look

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FOTD: A Clean Makeup Look With Chocolate Wings and Matte Peach and Pink Tones

September 2nd, 2020 by Karen 23 Comments

mac mull it over powder kiss liquid lipcolour k front smile — Forever loving and wearing peachy pink and chocolate brown tones!

Yesterday was a good day because 1) I managed to put on some makeup, and I felt really good about it (especially the base, because dang, it’s been a minute since I’ve mixed and layered and just played, ya know?), and 2) I did something almost, well…normal.

Connor’s fall dance classes started yesterday, so I took her to her dance studio for the first time since February? March? I can’t remember. It’s been a loooong time.

Underneath that mask is a smile a mile wide!

It’s still hard for me to believe it was somewhere we went every week for two years…

Anyway, she started doing outdoor, socially-distanced dance classes this week, so for the first time in six months I dropped her off to do something without me, and yeah, I teared up a little. Happy tears, though, because she was overjoyed to do something with other kids. ?

While she danced, I ran errands around town and popped into TJs, where it occurred to me that once upon a time, in pre-pademic life, days like this were commonplace, and I didn’t give them a second thought, but yesterday it just felt SO GOOD. Maybe it was because it was a little taste of normal life again, which made it that much sweeter.

Regarding my makeup, I’m wearing chocolate brown wings on my lash lines here, along with matte peach and pink tones on my lids, cheeks and lips. It’s a very clean, classic look.

I put a little more effort into the base than I usually do, and I think it made a difference. I started by applying a foundation primer, then mixed a full-coverage foundation with a pearly illuminating lotion and buffed a thin layer of that all over my face.

Next, I mixed a couple drops of face oil into a medium-to-full coverage concealer, then applied it in thin layers on my cheeks, nose and around my mouth, taking care to seamlessly blend all of the layers together.

To finish, I set everything with the lightest dusting of loose powder…

What I like about this type of base is that you get a good amount of coverage, but it doesn’t look or feel heavy!

Oh, and one last thing — I test drove a few new-ish things in this look from MAC and Laura Mercier for the first time. I used a couple of the Powder Kiss Soft Matte Eye Shadows, a MAC Powder Kiss Liquid Lipstick and a Laura Mercier Translucent Honey Loose Powder. I’ll let ya know how I feel about them after I’ve had some time to ruminate!

mac mull it over power kiss liquid lipcolour — When simple-looking makeup is deceptively complicated, LOL!

mac mull it over best of me what clout — Yeah, man, I’m still an NC42!

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FOTD: Glowing and Natural Makeup With Coppery Lids and Nude Lips

August 20th, 2020 by Karen 30 Comments

When the going gets tough, the tough wear MAC (at least they do in my world, ha!). MAC is my makeup comfort food… It’s like an In-n-Out Double Double with grilled onions, fries and a vanilla shake (of course). When I need a little TLC, Saddle and Soft Brown usually work for me. ?

I’m wearing both of them in this look here, along with some coppery action on my lids via two In Extra Dimension Eyeshadow faves — Amorous Alloy and Havana.

Girlfriend, have you gotten on the In Extra Dimension train yet? They’re a sub-family of eyeshadows in the permanent line, and they’re so, so good. They feel light and airy, almost like a cream, but blend like a powder, and all of them have a very distinct shiny finish, which is a little bit more intense than a satin but less intense than a frost. They’re also super long lasting, too, and incredibly easy to blend. Talk about unsung makeup heroes.

Back to the copper shades…Havana is a warm chocolate brown with that has a secret hidden coppery glint (grab it if you want a mostly brown with a touch of copper), and Amorous Alloy is a reddish orangey copper (it’s the one for you if you love how orangey or reddish browns look on your lids).

I blended both together because I was in the mood to experiment, but either looks fantastic with any number of the MAC classic neutrals, like Saddle and/or Soft Brown. You could also do Texture or Soba. I haven’t tried either with Groundwork Paint Pot, which is a cooler-toned brown that’s also a go-to neutral, but I’m curious to see if the contrast between the cool and warm colors would work well or clash (note to self, try this out).

By the way, the In Extra Dimension family also includes blushes and highlighters. I’m wearing one of the blushes here — Just a Pink layered on top of MAC Gingerly blush and Give Me Sun Mineralize Skin Finish Natural Powder (another underrated hero).

OH! — and if you’re into the whole wet/dry application thing, you can just as easily apply any of the In Extra Dimension products with a wet brush to amplify the shimmer.

I applied Havana and Amorous Alloy with a dry tapered brush here, but, as you can see in the pics, the shimmer is still there, and it does a pretty good job of not highlighting fine lines, so it’s very forgiving.

All in all, the In Extra Dimensions are one of MAC’s most blendable eyeshadows, so if you haven’t tried them yet, you must, ASAP.

Makeup worn in this look

EYES

NARS Tinted Eye Primer in Light
MAC Saddle, Soft Brown, Amorous Alloy and Havana eyeshadows
MAC Costa Riche
Urban Decay Brow Blade in Dark Drapes
MAC Clear Brow Set
Urban Decay Cannonball Mascara

LIPS

MAC Subculture Lip Pencil
The Lip Bar Baby Bellini Lipstick
MAC Myth Lipglass

CHEEKS

MAC Just a Pinch and Gingerly blushes
MAC Give Me Sun Mineralize Skinfinish Natural

BASE

Wander Beauty Glow Ahead Face oil
Wander Beauty Hidden Glow Brightening Cream
MAC Studio Fix Soft Matte Foundation Sticks in NC42 and NC45
Kevyn Aucion Supernatural Concealer
Estee Lauder 24HR Concealer

Question for you

I took this pic last night as the sun set and just before the whole sky went red and purple. Marin County where I live in the North Bay Area is close to many of the fires burning around the Bay Area, and one of the…silver linings (?) has been that our sunsets and sunrises have been particularly beautiful and eerily apocalyptic lately.

When you walk outside, the air smells like a barbecue… ?
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FOTD: A Clean and (Almost) Effortless Makeup Look Using Mostly MAC Classics

August 18th, 2020 by Karen 30 Comments

I PUT ON EARRINGS TODAY!

*And* a full-face of makeup.

Take that, pandemic blues! ?

I was going for clean and effortless with simple matte browns to define the lids and an elegant dark brown winged liner. And, yes, girlfriend, you read that correctly: Dark. Brown. Winged. Liner.

Back in the day (uh, two years ago?), winged liner was hallowed ground reserved solely for either black or jewel tones. I liked — and still like — the intense drama of the contrast of a solid black or a brightly colored line against my lids, but I’ve reached the point where I’ll try anything to get myself out of the makeup funk I’ve been experiencing over the last couple months, which currently involves playing with makeup in ways that aren’t overwhelming. Like, there’s no way homegirl is about to knock out a look with five colors in the crease right now, but I’m certainly down to try a dark chocolaty wing.

And, ya know, I really like it! It’s like the kinder, gentler version of winged liner without the stark black edges. I mean, you still see the crisp lines, but I think there’s something less severe about the brown.

For the liner, I used a mix of MAC Coffee and MAC Brushbrown (liquid liner), and the rest of the makeup is pretty heavy in MAC classics, because when I’m not feeling super great, those go-tos always hit the spot. MAC was my first love ❤️, and I could go on about old-school colors like Saddle eyeshadow and Melba blush for days.

Basically, if you like listening to me ramble about MAC permanent collection classics, let me know. ?? I’ll take any excuse to talk about those O.G. shades.

Speaking of O.G.s, I can’t find my MAC Spice liner, and I’m borderline panicking about it! I wanted to wear it in this look but ended up using Boldly Bare instead.

Makeup worn in this look

EYES

NARS Tinted Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base in Light (several shades lighter than my skin tone, but I used it to brighten up matte browns)
MAC Groundwork Paint Pot
MAC Saddle eyeshadow
MAC Coffee pencil liner
MAC Brushbrown liquid liner
Urban Decay Browblade in Dark Drapes
MAC Clear Brow Set
Urban Decay Cannonball Mascara

CHEEKS

MAC Melba Blush
MAC Coppertone Blush
BECCA Rose Gold highlighter

LIPS

MAC Boldly Bare lip liner
MAC C-Thru Lipglass

BASE

MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation in NC42 mixed with Pinklite Strobe cream (applied a thin layer buffed all over the face)
Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter in 5 Tan mixed with Kevyn Aucoin Supernatural Concealer in Medium EC06 (applied on under eyes, cheeks, nose and around mouth)
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Golden

Seriously, you can’t go wrong building up your makeup collection with some staples from MAC.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. HAPPY TUESDAY! We’ve made it past Monday, which is an accomplishment. It should get easier from here.

Glam on the Go: A Creamy, Dreamy Purple and Gold Look With Big, Bushy Brows

August 7th, 2020 by Karen 13 Comments

creamy dreamy purples side view glitter — The easiest eyeshadow placement, ever!

Note to self: stop overcomplicating things, both in life and in makeup! Because sometimes taking the easy route is actually, well…easier. And sometimes it turns out better than you expect!

I did the *least* complicated eyeshadow placement in this eye look, and I ended up liking the final result so much that I can’t wait to wear it again (I might do it again today, ha!).

creamy dreamy purples eyes closed — See the sparkles on the upper lash line?

How to do creamy, dreamy purple and golden bronze lids with a smattering of sparkle

Here’s what I did:

I started with a layer of matte purple cream liner as a base with a satiny bronzy gold blended directly on top.
Then, I rimmed my water lines with a creamy warm brown eye pencil and buffed a little bit of it from the lash line to my crease, and on the outer third, for a subtle hint of depth.
Next, I pushed a bit of glittery cream shadow onto the upper lash line, whacked some mascara on my lashes, and that’s it. DONE!

UD Brow Blade is the best

If you’re into bold brows, my brows are epically bushy — again, with minimal effort! — thanks to Urban Decay’s brilliant Brow Blade. Have you tried it? If you want to exert minimal effort but get maximum bushiness, it’s the way to go.

First, apply the twist-up pencil to fill in those sparse spots. The pencil acts like an anchor/base, so that when you layer the liquid pigment from the felt tip pen on top, it has something to grab onto. Super fast, super easy and super bushy.

creamy dreamy purples open — Pandemic hair, don’t care.

Effortlessness of creams

Gotta give a shout-out to the cream bronzer, highlighter and blush (which also doubles as a lipstick) on my cheeks and lips, because, like the eye makeup, blending happened in a flash. I did everything with a single brush!

I also love how cream face products look on skin because you can’t really see the makeup sitting on top of your face. If you’re going for the whole “Is she or isn’t she wearing anything?” kind of vibe, creams are great for seamless, effortless makeup.

Now that I think about it, the only powder I used for this look was a subtly illuminating setting powder I lightly tapped on specific parts of my face (cheeks and the center of my forehead). An illuminating powder is great to have around if you want to set your cream blush, bronzer and highlighter without altering the color or finish. The trick is to find a powder with a finish that’s closer to a sheen or a satin, rather than a full-on frost. A powder with a sheen or satin finish is less likely to pool up in your pores and highlight them.

creamy dreamy purples smile — Smile and the whole world smiles with you. 🙂

This is definitely making it into my 15-minute-look rotation.

Makeup worn in this look

EYES
Stila Liquid Eye Shadow in Camera Ready, upper lash line
Stila Glitter & Glow in Camera Ready, outer corner
Stila Magnum Mascara, lashes
Stila Heaven’s Hue Highlighter in Bronze, crease
MAC Costa Riche
Urban Decay Brow Blade
MUFE Ultra HD Y42

CHEEKS
Nudstix Nudes in Bondi Bae
Stila Convertible Color Dual Lip and Cheek Cream in Peony
Hourglass Vanish Highlighter in Champagne

LIPS
Stila Convertible Color in Peony

BASE
Kevyn Aucoin Concealer Medium EC06
First Aid Beauty Coconut Skin Smoothie Primer Moisturizer
Stila Illuminating In the Buff Powder Spray

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF! ???

FOTD: Unintentionally ’80s Copper and Purple

July 29th, 2020 by Karen 19 Comments

urban decay naked ultraviolet copper purple2 — Dreaming of Duran Duran?!

I blame all of the talk about Duran Duran in the Monday Poll comments on this makeup. I was going for colorful and modern with copper and plum lids, but I think I may have ended up unintentionally recreating the ’80s instead.

WHOOPS! ?

(While we’re at it, would someone please pass me a pair of big-@ss shoulder pads and a bottle Aqua Net, STAT?)

That’s the Urban Decay Naked Ultraviolet Palette on my lids again, by the way. Marcia asked in the comments last week what I think of it, and ya know…I have mixed feelings.

The purples are easy to blend, and they’re just different enough to be able to create a variety of violet looks with them, which is cool! As for the powder blue highlight shade (Lucid)? It’s surprisingly versatile (and beautiful) as an inner corner highlighter and to mix with other purples, but the warm, orange and copper tones are kind of a challenge to work with. I totally get that UD was going for a purposeful clash with the orange and purple, but they’re a little too disjointed to put the two against each other.

The orange undertones are a tad *too* warm for my taste, which I found out in the makeup I’m wearing here. I struggled to smoothly transition the copper into the plum, as there are a couple of “bridge” colors missing, it seems. The addition of something like MAC Saddle or Soft Brown would’ve made the whole thing a little easier.

Speaking of Duran Duran…what’s your favorite song? Here’s mine!
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FOTD: Warm, Shimmery Bronze-Brown Eyes With Coral Cheeks and Lips

July 23rd, 2020 by Karen 10 Comments

Is it gold? Is it brown? Khaki? Taupe?! HMMMM! I think it’s pretty cool how this eye makeup can look so totally different depending on the details — the color of my clothes, the color temp of the light. Gotta love those secretly complex makeup things.

Officially, I’m wearing a warm and shimmery bronzed brown on my lids (MAC Monaco-co, from the summer collection) with a cool-toned matte taupe in the crease (MAC Omega), a satiny beige on the brow bone (MAC Brule), and a satiny brownish black on the outer corner and lower lash line (MAC Brun).

Unofficially, however, this eye makeup will ad lib with whatever color top you’re wearing. Doesn’t it seem more golden in the pic with the light gray top and more green in the one with the khaki? So, it’s multifunction that way.

I bet you could riff on other colors, too, with a matching liner, like a khaki or a warm dark brown. Or how about bronze? Ooh! — I bet Powersurge would be BEAUTIFUL with this combo.

Also, my brows appear thicker than usual in this look because I feel like full, lush brows frame the eyes nicely when there’s a lot of shimmer on my lids. Alternatively, you could do a subtle brow with a clear brow gel, but you won’t get the same contrast of the big, bold matte brows butting up against the shimmery lids.

It’s all about contrasting finishes, babe! You know I’m all about that life.

Makeup worn in this look

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FOTD: Violet Tendencies and a Shout-Out to the Early Aughts With an Icy Blue Highlight!

July 17th, 2020 by Karen 13 Comments

Do you ever start a look with a specific idea in mind, but then it turns into something completely different?! That’s what happened with this eye makeup. I fully intended to do a simple lid with a sweep of matte brown eyeshadow and the thinnest slice of purple winged liner (“Just five minutes, Karen, that’s it!”), but surprise! — somehow I ended up with several shades of purple swirling together into this violet smoke show.

I mean…there is a hint of a gradient wing happening (on the upper lash line if you look closely), so I guess I kinda stuck to the plan? HA HA HA. Eventually, at some point along this crazy makeup journey we call life, I’m just going to have to lean into my smokey eye tendencies and accept that I really don’t want to do any other type of look. ?‍♀️

Also, shout-out to the early Aughts with the shimmery, icy blue inner corner highlight. Add a satin camisole shirt, low-slung bootcut jeans and a fedora. and it’s 2002 all over again!

(You know you rocked this same look back in the day. ?)

I’m wearing a couple new Urban Decay products, by the way — the Naked Ultraviolet Palette (very easy to blend!) and the Lash Freak Mascara (tons of volume at the roots). If you have any questions about either, hit me up in the comments.

Makeup worn in this look

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