NARS

MAC Viva Glam? Yes Ma’am! A Hump Day Face of the Day Using the Too Faced Sugar & Spice Palette, the NARS Virtual Domination Cheek Palette and MAC Viva Glam

October 8th, 2014 by Karen 13 Comments

OK, so I’m enjoying an Amy’s Mexican Casserole Bowl and watching Gilmore Girls last night when I kindasorta FREAKED THE EFF OUT. One of the main characters in the show, Lorelei Gilmore (the mom half of the Gilmore duo), was getting her best friend Sookie ready for a date, doing her hair, putting on her makeup — all of that good stuff a beauty BFF does for her gal pals. Anywho, when she’s ready to apply Sookie’s lipstick, she calls out to her daughter Rory (the other half of the Gilmore Girls) downstairs to bring up “Viva Glam.” Yes! THE Viva Glam. She doesn’t say the word “MAC,” but when she holds the lipstick up to Sookie’s lips, you can clearly see the tube, and it’s definitely MAC.

Witty banter? Endless cups of coffee? MAC makeup references? This just might be the best show ever. 🙂

I still had Viva Glam on my mind this morning when I was getting ready, so I took out my favorite version, Viva Glam V Lipglass, and paired it with a cool-toned smokey brown and peach eye using the new Too Faced Sugar & Spice Palette ($39, available now), and the new NARS Virtual Domination Cheek Palette.

Also, just for fun, and to see how the eyes would look with a more dramatic lip, I swapped out Viva Glam V with the new Viva Glam Rihanna 2 Lipstick and Lipglass…

Wow! I actually really like the bolder lip combo.

Incidentally, the first time I wore the Rihanna 2 lippies separately, I felt they looked a little too stark on me. Then I tried them together and came around. Now I’m lovin’ that deep, sparkling pinkish mauve.

As for my cheeks, I’m wearing the new NARS Virtual Domination Cheek Palette ($65, from the new holiday collection). It comes with three blushes (Sex Fantasy, Deep Throat and Final Cut), a highlighter (Miss liberty) and a bronzer (good ol’ Laguna), available exclusively at Sephora starting November 1.

NARS Virtual Domination Cheek Palette Swatches from the left: Miss Liberty, Deep Throat, Sex Fantasy, Final Cut and Laguna

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NARS All Day Luminous Powder Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF24: The Stuff of My Most Radiant, Soft Matte Finish Dreams (in Somewhat Tricky Packaging)

September 16th, 2014 by Karen 21 Comments

Wearing the new NARS All Day Luminous Powder Foundation Broad Spectrum SFP24 ($48)

Of all my many makeup and beauty pursuits, like the quests for big hair, lush lashes and behaved brows (frickin’ Raul!), the quest for luxurious-looking skin consumes the most time.

I’m always looking for that expensive, luxurious Louis Vuitton skin look…without having to spend Real Housewives of Beverly Hills money.

Polished.

Elegant.

And hella pricey (looking).

Available in 13 shades, the new $48 NARS All Day Luminous Powder Foundation delivers exactly that, and it’s a revelation, especially when it’s applied with a wet sponge (I use a Beauty Blender).

It’s the stuff of my most radiant, soft matte finish dreams (in somewhat tricky packaging).

NARS All Day Luminous Powder Foundation light — The light shades

My big fear with powder foundations is that they’ll look thick and heavy on my combination skin, because many of them do, but NARS All Day Luminous does not. The fine, silky powder formula looks and feels lightweight, while the finish falls somewhere between dewy and matte.

Coverage ranges from light to medium, depending on how you apply them. When I use a dry sponge or brush, the coverage is at its lightest. The formula does even out my skin tone a little, but some of the natural redness in my cheeks still peeks through, and I can still see my freckles. Worn this way, the look is super casual.

NARS All Day Luminous Powder Foundation Medium — The medium shades

NARS All Day Luminous Powder Foundation Medium Dark — The medium-dark shades

Using a sponge or Beauty Blender to apply them kicks up the coverage a notch. For the highest coverage (medium), I like to apply a 50/50 mix of Stromboli and Tahoe, because together they’re a closer match to my skin tone than any of the 13 individual shades, with a wet Beauty Blender. That keeps my freckles on the down-low and makes sure that no red on my cheeks sneaks through.

I’m definitely partial to applying these with the wet sponge (I use a patting and rolling motion). I think that way the look is more natural.

These don’t take long to apply, either. I can have a full face of foundation applied, blended and done in 3-4 minutes.

NARS All Day Luminous Powder Foundation Swatches — Swatches of all 13 shades

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Pirate Karen on the New NARSskin Restorative Night Treatment…

September 11th, 2014 by Karen 14 Comments

“Yaaar!” screeched Pirate Karen. “Avast ye, matey, is that a gel? Shiver me timbers, it looks like a gel. If that thar be a lightweight face moisturizing gel, then make it walk the plank! Because it ain’t gonna do nothin’ for me thirsty skin.

“But blimey! I’m such a curious kitty. I’m thinkin’ I’ll be touchin’ it anyway, just to see how it feels…

“Well blow me down! It’s so rich and silky. It’s lightweight like a gel, but once I work it into me skin, it feels like an oil. My sea-battered pirate skin actually feels plump and moisturized!

“There be a booty of almond, plum and rice bran oils in it to feed me combo dry/oily skin with fatty acids and omegas, and ahoy! There’s seaweed (Alaria extract) in thar too, which is supposed to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles…and ye knows I have me some fine lines and wrinkles, har-har.

“Son of a biscuit eater, I was wrong! This is beauty booty. It’s a treasure in a jar!”

Too bad it costs an actual treasure chest filled with pirate gold. A 0.96-oz. jar of NARSskin Restorative Night Treatment is $85 (yaaaar!). Good thing a small amount goes a long way. This rich gel-to-oil moisturizer is designed to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and boost skin’s moisture levels. It’s also non-comedogenic and alcohol-free. Coming September 20 to NARS Boutiques and online to narscosmetics.com; October 1 to NARS counters at department and specialty stores.

Fare thee well, ye landlubber. 🙂

For a Plush Pout, Call 1-800-NARS Velvet Lip Liner

August 20th, 2014 by Karen 18 Comments

NARS Nihiwatu Velvet Lip Liner — Wearing the new NARS Velvet Lip Liner in Nihiwatu ($24)

Ooh! shiny…

But not shiny like the sparkling mega twinkle of Ryan Gosling’s smile. More like the shiny finish of a classic Chanel flap bag — ideally one in black leather with gold hardware (that’s a hint, El Hub, in case we win the $160 million Mega Millions jackpot this week).

Um…please excuse my crazy hair and lack of makeup today, LOL! I literally put this face on in five minutes before snapping these pics (it’s a long story, but it has to do with tomorrow and a certain long-running American cartoon).

NARS Velvet Lip Liners from the left: Lanikai, Belle Mare, El Agua, Costa Smeralda, Nihiwatu, Playa Dorado, Anse Soleil, Waimea, Patong Beach, Medano Beach, Mirihi Island Beach and Karekare

Thanks to a slight sheen, these new $24 NARS Velvet Lip Liners (which are awesomely named after beaches!) pop in a way that matte lip liners don’t. The velvety finish reflects just enough light to be eye-catching. Because of it, you could probably even wear them alone and skip lipstick altogether if you wanted a long-wearing lip color that you didn’t have to touch up throughout the day.

NARS Velvet Lip Liner Swatches from the left: Lanikai, Belle Mare, El Agua, Costa Smeralda, Nihiwatu and Playa Dorado — Swatches from the left: Lanikai, Belle Mare, El Agua, Costa Smeralda, Nihiwatu and Playa Dorado

NARS Velvet Lip Liner Swatches from the left: Anse Soleil, Waimea, Patong Beach, Medano Beach, Mirihi Island Beach and Karekare — Anse Soleil, Waimea, Patong Beach, Medano Beach, Mirihi Island Beach and Karekare

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The New NARS Audacious Lipstick Collection: The Wines and Browns

August 18th, 2014 by Karen 37 Comments

That’s the new NARS Audacious Lipstick in Ingrid ($32; one of 40 shades) on my lips

BOOYAH! Who’s down with the brown?

How about the wine?

I’m always down with the wine…

I’m actually talking about lipsticks right now. 🙂

Yes, I have a soft spot for the colors in this last batch of new NARS Audacious Lipsticks (the wines and browns) because I spent my college days wearing these colors.

That was back in the ’90s, which appear to be having a resurgence… You know, what’s old is new again, and all that.

Now, if we were talking about the return of lacy plastic chokers, I would not be able to deal, but I’m totally down with ’90s-style brown and wine lipsticks staging a comeback, particularly ones with an interesting twist, like these seven shades here…

NARS Audacious Lipsticks from the left: Charlotte, Leslie, Olivia, Bette, Sandra, Deborah and Ingrid — From the left: Charlotte, Leslie, Olivia, Bette, Sandra, Deborah and Ingrid ($32 each)

Instead of a flat matte ’90s-style finish, these NARS Audacious wines and browns have a dreamy, creamy finish, a super smooth texture and tons of pigment, making them 100% worthy of toting around in your little black satin backpack.

First, the browns…

The Browns: Leslie, Sandra and Deborah

Leslie, Sandra and Deborah are quintessential ’90s colors.

Deborah, a chestnut, seems like the closest one to a straight-up ’90s brown. Just add spaghetti strap dress and white baby tee to complete the ensemble.

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Deborah — Deborah

Meanwhile, Sandra and Leslie may look like they’re twinning, but upon closer inspection, they do have their differences. Reach for Leslie if you want something redder, and Sandra for something deeper and richer.

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Sandra — Sandra (Barneys New York exclusive)

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Leslie — Leslie

If you’re unsure what to wear with your brown lipsticks, you could go with brown eyeshadow, for sure, but when I wear brown on my eyes and my lips, I feel like it can look a little monotone/one note, so with brown lips, I’ll usually opt for reddish browns, purples, bronzes or coppery colors on my eyes, like here in these pics (that’s Tom Ford’s Cognac Sable Eye Quad and MAC Costa Riche Eye Kohl).

The Wines: Olivia, Charlotte, Bette and Ingrid

Olivia, a garnet wine, and Charlotte, a burgundy, are the lighter options. If you can’t decide between the two, I suggest Olivia if you like warmer colors, and Charlotte if you like cooler color temps on your kisser.

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Olivia — Olivia

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The New NARS Audacious Lipstick Collection: The Purples, Plums and Berries

August 15th, 2014 by Karen 26 Comments

Wearing the new NARS Audacious Lipstick in Janet ($32)

Just as a helpful warning, if you plan to fly solo when you peep the purple, plum and berry shades in the new NARS Audacious Lipstick collection, wear a Bluetooth headset, or bring a pomeranian in a bow tie.

That way, when you’re gushing over shades like Angela at the counter (“OMG, I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS IS SO GOOD!”), instead of looking like a crazy chick who carries on loud conversations with herself, you’ll appear to be enthusiastically chatting with your BFF or your favorite canine shopping buddy. 🙂

The new NARS Audacious Lipsticks: Purples, Plums and Berries ($32 each)

It’s about planning ahead, yo.

Among the eight bad-@ss purples, plums and berries in the new 40-piece NARS Audacious Lipstick line, I think the purples are otherworldly!

They may or may not have me speaking in tongues… (“WJguoib hj ahiogh pjogiognae naweagzzzzz!”)

Here they are, along with pics and profiles of the plums and berries.

Let’s do this!

The Purples: Angela, Silvia and Dominique

These three are like the Cher/Dionne/Tai trifecta of the entire collection. Don’t even try to sit with them at their lunch table, unless you can bring it.

Angela, the queen bee, is the one who runs sh*t. A vivid pink orchid, it oozes je ne sais quoi.

Seriously, every time I open this tube, I want to worship it. When I wear Angela on my lips, I feel like raising my arms and screaming up at the sky, “WHERE ARE MY DRAGONS?!”

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Angela — Angela

Now, I know that Angela looks like it might work best for cool skin tones, but don’t be afraid to try it if your skin tone is warm. It’s one of those colors that I think will work well on almost everyone.

Wear it, fall in love with it, and then send me an invite to the wedding. 🙂 I’ll be bringing a plus one, BTW, Tabs or Ryan Gosling. Depends on their schedules…

If you like the idea of Angela but feel like it’s a little too perky for you, peep Silvia. They’re both similar, but Silvia is slightly deeper and more purple.

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Silvia — Silvia

Dominique, the last of these three, is exclusive to Barneys New York. A pink lilac with a hint of silvery gray, for some reason it reminds me of Dame Edna’s hair…

In a good way.

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Dominique — Dominique

I feel kind of like a poser when I wear this shade…but if you’re one of those chic, trendy types who can pull off silvery gray hair, you could totally make it look legit.

The Berries: Fanny and Janet

I bet these two can’t wait for this year’s holiday parties.

While they look very similar at first glance, they come into their own on lips. Janet seems slightly bluer to me and leans cooler.

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Fanny — Fanny

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The New NARS Audacious Lipstick Collection: The Nudes

August 14th, 2014 by Karen 23 Comments

New NARS Audacious Lipstick in Anita ($32)

Am I the only one out there who thinks this is funny?

Full-coverage nude lipsticks?

I dunno… I think it’s kinda funny. 🙂

A completely opaque lipstick in a shade that’s supposed to make it look like you’re not wearing any lipstick at all?

That’s funny! Granted, I am easily amused…

So, opaque nude lipsticks, specifically the ones in the new NARS Audacious Lipstick collection. There are nine nude shades ($32 each) nestled among the radiant reds, courageous corals, awesome oranges, punchy pinks and bold berries in the release, and they aren’t your everyday nudes.

No, these are like nude comic book characters (Chris Evans, perhaps?)! — able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, and hop the hurdles that lesser nude lipsticks often fail to overcome.

NARS Audacious Lipsticks from the left: Jane, Julie, Anna, Barbara, Anita, Raquel, Brigitte and Vanessa (Barneys New York Exclusive) — From the left: Jane, Julie, Anna, Barbara, Anita, Raquel, Brigitte and Vanessa (Barneys New York Exclusive)

First, these NARS Audacious nudes are completely full coverage, so even if your lips are pigmented like mine, these nudes appear rich on the lips. No layering needed. All it takes is a single swipe.

Second, none of the nine make me look like a washed-out Nicki Minaj impersonator, a rare feat in these complicated times.

Like the other Audacious Lipsticks I’ve tried, the nudes are potently pigmented and extra smooth; however, I think they’re also slightly more challenging to wear than their more vibrant counterparts.

I don’t know if it’s because they’re nude, or because of something else, but they seem to exacerbate the funky issues I’m having with my lips — in my case now, dryness and flakes — to a greater degree than the bolder shades do.

Weird…

When my kayak-damaged lips fully heal and return to normal, it won’t be a big whoop, but if your pout is perpetually parched, you might want to incorporate the use of a rich lip balm (I’m lovin’ Osmnia Organics Honey-Myrrh Lip Repair right now), and lather up your lips like butter on a slice of toast.

OK, that’s enough background. Now let’s get nude. 🙂 #pantsareoverrated

The neutral pinkish browns: Raquel and Barbara

For a traditional nude lip, check out Raquel and Barbara. For pinkish browns, I think they’re excellent options, flattering on both warm and cool skin tones.

Raquel, the lighter, brighter option, is a pinkish beige.

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Raquel — Raquel

Barbara is a tad deeper and contains a touch more tan.

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Barbara — Barbara

I think both are extremely flattering and among my overall favorites of the whole bunch because of how they accent without overpowering anything on my lids.

Either would be great as an everyday lipstick, or as something to pair with smokey eyes.

The cooler-toned rose and mauve nudes: Anna, Vanessa and Anita

Alas, the lady cannot live on nude neutral pinkish browns alone… When you’re looking for a cooler-toned rose or mauve to wear with your purply taupes or gunmetal grays, consider Anna, Vanessa and Anita.

Anna, a smokey rose, is the deepest of the three, and on me it reveals a hint of violet, which I dig.

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The New NARS Audacious Lipstick Collection: The Reds

August 13th, 2014 by Karen 21 Comments

Mmmwaah! Smile by new NARS Audacious Lipstick in Annabella ($32)

It wouldn’t be a big NARS lipstick launch if there weren’t some bad-@ss reds up in the mix.

Oh! NARS does some ah-may-zing reds, don’t they? And there are lots of scintillating scarlets in the new NARS Audacious Lipstick collection ($32 each; 40 shades; available starting September 1).

NARS Audacious Lipsticks from the left: Rita, Jeanne, Lana, Marlene, Carmen (Barneys New York Exclusive), Audrey and Annabella — Red, she said! From the left, that’s Rita, Jeanne, Lana, Marlene, Carmen (a Barneys New York Exclusive), Audrey and Annabella

Yesterday when we were looking at the corals and hot pinks I mentioned how I felt that NARS did a really good job making each of the colors in this collection distinct, despite some of them appearing very similar at first. Look closely, and you see the subtle differences among them. They don’t all just blur together into a hazy fog of reddish pink…

So, if you’re one of those unstoppable makeup fanatics (like myself) who, like the Terminator, WILL NOT STOP until you find your personal red lipstick version of Sarah Connor (for me, it’s a super warm tomato red with strong orange undertones), chances are you’ll find it among the reds in this launch.

Quickly, though, before we get to the reds, have I mentioned that my lips have been dry lately?

I think I have…but it wouldn’t be a Wednesday unless I mentioned it at least 26 more times, LOL! 🙂

So yeah, my lips have been very dry, which is what happens when you kayak on a windy lake for four hours. Of course, after doing this batch of swatches — which you know, took a while — they were in even worse shape.

But despite the currently critical lip sitch, I still think these lipsticks look smooth, which is yet another testament to the audaciously smooth Audacious Lipstick formula.

Now, on to the reds!