MAC Cosmetics

NARS Alhambra Eyeshadow Duo -> Love!

March 10th, 2020 by Karen 19 Comments

I’m still playing my way through that custom NARS palette, and I’m still rediscovering classics that keep speaking to me (because, obviously, my makeup talks to me), saying nuggets of wisdom like, “Karen, you seriously need to consider wearing us every day for THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.”

nars alhambra products — Key makeup in this look (lots of NARS)

Case in point: the magic combo of Madrague and Alhambra. If these two duos sang a duet, it would go a little something like this…

The sound of disco perfection

Madrague is a matte combo with a creamy brown caramel and a warm beige… Think elevated basics for your crease and brow bone.

Alhambra has a glowing rose gold on one side and a shimmery champagne on the other, and I’ll wear either one, or a mix of both on the inner lids for a wide, doe-eyed effect.

Draw some dainty winged liner, add a couple layers of mascara, and you’re set.

I think this eye look is neutral enough to go with most blushes, but it looks extra pretty when you wear it with warm golden pink. I’m wearing it here with NARS Deep Throat blush, which I’ve always thought was the better, more wearable version of Orgasm…

I know Orgasm gets all the love, but Deep Throat is more pink and less coral, so I think it’s closer to the actual color of flushed cheeks. Plus, Deep Throat’s shimmer is more opalescent and less frosty than Orgasm’s, so it’s more forgiving when skin has visible pores and texture.

Swatch it next time you’re at the counter. I think you’ll like it.

nars alhambra swatches — Yeah, man, still an NC42!

Key makeup for this look

Eyes: Cargo Black Pencil and MAC Coffee (winged liner), NARS Alhambra (inner lids), NARS Madrague (brown side in the crease, and the beige side on brow bone), Laura Mercier Caviar Mascara

Cheeks: NARS Deep Throat (blush)

Lips: NARS Viebke lipstick and NARS Tasmania gloss

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

A Springy Purple and Orange Makeup Look Inspired By Purple Rain

March 3rd, 2020 by Karen 19 Comments

prince purple rain — When the Purple One inspires your look

The first time I saw Purple Rain I was eight, and it was at my friend Peachy’s slumber party.

Peachy’s mom let us pick out whatever movie we wanted at the video store (this was right after she took us to Chuck E. Cheese, of course, where I killed it at ski ball), and I’m 100% positive she had no idea what the movie was about when she rented it.

Even though none of us understood what was going on when we watched it, we knew that Prince was in it, and that’s all we really needed to know. To this day, the soundtrack from the movie is one of my favorite albums of all time.

I don’t care pretty baby, just take me with you.

To take it a step further, the colors on my Purple Rain tee (thanks, Target) inspired this orange and purple makeup look…

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A Fab Friday With Rosy Brown Lids and Lips + Mauve Cheeks

February 28th, 2020 by Karen 11 Comments

I swear, in real life this eye makeup is not as orange as it looks in these pics…

I think the bright top (J. Crew, found at The Rack last fall) is throwing a monkey wrench in the mix.

Hmm… I should probably just be grateful I’m dressed in something that makes me appear to be a real, live grownup. It’s all about the little victories, you know? ?

I was going for a springy pinkish brown for this look but ended up more summery orange… Oh, well! I like it.

I’m wearing several pieces from the new MAC Loud and Clear, and Glow Play, collections, which I’m still (clearly, ha ha ha) into. If you run across something you love, I’d suggest picking it up sooner rather than later because things are either selling out quickly or have already sold out.

One of my coworkers from the bakery is also a MAC gal, and she barely was able to get her hands on one of the lipsticks (Baroque the Internet), so don’t hesitate, MAC-aholics!

One more item of note about this look: I blended the blush I was wearing on my cheeks into my into my crease, an old trick to tie your lids and cheeks together in a neat little bow!
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NARS Kalahari Love

February 27th, 2020 by Karen 10 Comments

They say, if you love something, set it free, which I guess makes sense if you love butterflies or toucans, but in the case of makeup, if you love something, I say you should talk about it ALL THE TIME, which is why I’ve been raving about NARS Kalahari for years!

Kalahari eyeshadow duo is perfect for lightly defining your lids. One side is a shimmery rosy bronze, and the other side is a shimmery taupe — two colors, granted, that you can find in almost any line, but here’s the kicker: NARS found a way to avoid all of the typically problematic side effects that befall so many shimmery shadows.

For instance, Kalahari is reflective, but it isn’t frosty, so fine lines aren’t even a thing. When you sweep and swirl it on your skin, a sweet, bronzed glow remains. It’s very “J. Lo running errands in her velour track suit.” Casual, but still noticeable. (This is a good thing in my book.)

Here’s one of my favorite ways to wear it:
Mix the two shades together with a domed shadow brush, then apply from lash line to crease (or just above the crease if your eyes are hooded like mine). Build it up if you want more color intensity, but don’t worry — this is eyeshadow that won’t look heavy, since the powder is very delicate and fine.

Next, wet that same brush, and apply more of the mix on the mobile part of your lid, which is the part of your eye that “blinks.” Leave it a few minutes to dry, and work on the rest of your face. Once you’ve almost gotten to the end — I usually wait until I’m done with almost everything, including blush and lipstick — take a clean tapered blending brush, and gently rock it back and forth in your crease and along the outer corners to blend.

If you want, you can also rim your lash or water lines with chocolate brown eyeliner, which I did for these pics. I also smudged a cooler taupe liner (Urban Decay’s Mushroom) on the bottom lash line ’cause I like the subtle contrast of tones.

Makeup worn in this look

Eyes: Nars Kalahari (lids), MAC Coffee (water line, upper lash line, smudged between lashes and layered beneath Kalahari), Urban Decay Mushroom (lower lash line smudged with the darker side of Kalahari), It Cosmetics Superhero Mascara (lashes)

Blush: MAC Glow Play Blush in No Shame

Lips: BECCA Lush Lip Colour Balm in Almond Fraise (on sale now!) topped with BECCA Glow Gloss in Snap Dragon

Base: Estee Lauder in Honey Bronze, Estee Lauder 24H Hydra Prep concealer, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Golden Tan

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Electric Eyes and Urban Decay Wired

February 25th, 2020 by Karen 12 Comments

urban decay wired bright eyes — B-A-N-A-N-A-S

*ring* *ring* ☎️

Hello? Is anyone there? Hellooooo. It’s me, Karen, calling on my fruit phone, because this eye makeup is BANANAS. ???

There’s a lot going on here, I know! Not my usual neutral style at all, but I was inspired by the rainbow eye makeup on the model for the new Wired pressed pigment palette. ?

Plus, I was in the mood to try something new, which I highly recommend doing as often as possible, even if your cat is the only creature around to appreciate it…

Or, maybe not, since I can’t tell if Rosie likes brights! ?

Just in case you’re wondering, the fallout on this isn’t an issue. I hardly had to do any cleanup with a makeup wipe, which was great, but I could have done with more intensity.
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Product Spotlight: MAC Glow Play Blush in Grand

February 19th, 2020 by Karen 8 Comments

mac grand glow play blush swatch — 30 seconds to blush

FOR THE LOVE OF CHICKEN STRIPS (this is indicative of my colorful language these days, since Connor’s been repeating everything she hears), I’ve been pushing my luck hard in the mornings to get what I need to get done before heading to the bakery for work.

When it comes time for makeup, I fly up the stairs, grab my most reliable products and tools, and set my timer for three minutes.

One of the reliable products I know I can turn to now is peachy pink MAC Grand Blush ($30), because even in full sunlight (which, you know, takes no prisoners), it absolutely does not make me look crazy. ?

It feels like a finely-packed powder wearing a soft, bouncy cream, and as I smooth it on my cheeks, no particles pool in my pores. Also, hard edges?? What are those?

There’s a comfort in knowing that even though I rushed the makeup (seriously, it’s a miracle I haven’t poked my eye out with a mascara wand), I can dance into my day without looking like a rogue clown who terrifies children in nightmares. ?

(It’s the little things.)

Blush is that often-overlooked connective step that ties many makeup looks together, and so even when I’m doing very simple makeup looks — mascara, tinted moisturizer and a nude (or a bold) lip — I try to make time for blush.

The exceptional ones, like MAC Grand, take a mere 30 seconds to use, and they’re worth it.

mac grand blush before after — I’m wearing Grand on my cheeks. (The lipstick is MAC Baroque the Internet, in case you’re wondering.)

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MAC Loud and Clear Lipsticks: Yash, Baroque the Internet, Fleur D’Coral, Sugar Sweet Cameo and Sugar Dada

February 18th, 2020 by Karen 8 Comments

mac sugar sweet cameo — Matte Lipstick in Sugar Sweet Cameo, a midtone coral pink

I keep vacillating over which of the five lipsticks in the new MAC Loud and Clear collection is the most “noteworthy.” One the one hand, there’s warm nude pink Baroque the Internet, and mid-toned coral-pink Sugar Sweet Cameo, both of which have more than enough oomph and color to compliment smokey eyes, wings and just about every eyeshadow look imaginable.

mac baroque the internet — Matte Lipstick in Baroque the Internet, a warm nude pink

But then there’s also deep natural matte Yash, which is nowhere near as flashy, but you can throw it on with almost anything, so it’s also super flexible.

mac yash — Matte Lipstick in Yash, a deep neutral

Four of the five lipsticks are in MAC’s classic Matte formula, so expect soaring pigment, a nearly flat finish, and longevity for days (OK, more like 4-5 hours).

The odd woman out is Fleur D’Coral, a sheer light peach MAC Lustre with the faintest hint of a sheen.

mac fleur d coral — Lustre Lipstick in Fleur D’Coral, a light peach

And oh: If you like your makeup early-’90s style (I’m guilty of this from time to time), you’ll be sweet on Sugar Dada, a warm brownish orange matte. I, along with half the population of my former high school, rocked a similar shade circa 1992.

mac sugar dada — Matte Lipstick in Sugar Dada, a warm brownish orange

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MAC Loud and Clear, Glow Play Blush Collection Swatches on NC42 Skin

February 6th, 2020 by Karen 22 Comments

mac loud and clear collection — The MAC Loud and Clear Collection and Glow Play Blushes, both available now at select MAC locations and the MAC website

Man, I couldn’t get this on my arm and face fast enough. First of all, NEUTRALS. Second, MAC.

Seriously, too good.

Technically, you are looking at two LE MAC collections. One is Loud and Clear, which consists of single Eyeshadows ($18 each), Lipsticks ($20), Lipglasses ($18.50) and Extra Dimension Skinfinishes ($37 each), and the other is a collection of Glow Play Blushes ($30 cheek colors extraordinaire).

A few high-level observations:

The blushes are not in the standard-issue powder formula. They have a creamy, bouncy formula and feels gel-like. They’re silky. They’re soft, and they work best when applied with my fingers. I believe they’ll be fab friends to five-minute makeup.
As for the eyeshadows, they feel softer than usual, like they have more “give” than usual for MAC powder shadows. I have high hopes for them, especially because they appear to be more intense than usual, too.
If you like monochromatic looks, this is the collection for you. There are several coordinating eye/cheek/lip products (this becomes more apparent when you separate the items into color families). I love matchy-matchy makeup because I think it’s easy sophisticated, so I’m all about that life.
THE PACKAGING! It’s kinda Shu Uemura, yah? I’m into the clear cases, not just because they look cool, but they’re also practical, because it’s easy to tell what shade they are from the front and the back.

mac loud and clear collection swatches lipstick and lipglass — Lipsticks ($20 each) and Lipglasses ($18.50 each)

mac loud and clear collection swatches eyeshadow extra dimension skinfinish — Eyeshadows ($18 each) and Extra Dimension Skinfinishes ($37)

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