Sephora

Sephora Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer: I Love This Stuff!

November 4th, 2015 by Karen 56 Comments

A bright future.

I hope so. I hope we all have a bright future, and despite my infatuation with post-apocalyptic zombie TV shows (and one in particular), I REALLY do think the future looks bright.

So…why am I talking about this?

Because of these Sephora Bright Future Gel Serum Concealers ($14 each and available in MANY shades). I stumbled on them back in September and have been using them regularly since.

When you haven’t touched what had been your holy grail concealer (NARS Pure Radiant Creamy Concealer) in two months, it’s time to give what you have been using in its place a shout-out and a thumbs-up.

So this is me giving an official shout-out to these full-coverage gel concealers: Haaaaay! 🙂

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Excited About This! Sephora Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer

September 4th, 2015 by Karen 25 Comments

I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw these new Bright Future Gel Serum Concealers at Sephora today.

So. Many. Colors! Twenty of them in all, which is an incredible range of shades, and they’re only $14 each!

What sealed the deal for me was talking to one of the makeup artists who raved on and on about them and how they don’t settle into fine lines but still provide complete coverage. I asked her if she thought they could handle real-deal dark circles, and she said “definitely.” She even said that she uses them sometimes in place of foundation.

Yes. I like the sound of that. 🙂

sephora bright future gel serum concealer swatches — 1) Bavarian Cream, 2) Meringue, 3) Fondant, 4) Butter Cream, 5) Parfait, 6) Madeleine, 7) Custard, 8) Palmier, 9) Sable, 10) Eclair, 11) Tatin, 12) Pecan Pie, 13) Creme Caramel, 14) Toffee, 15) Dulce de Leche, 16) Pot de Creme, 17) Chocolate Souffle, 18) Ganache, 19) Truffle, 20) Devil’s Food

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Late Summer Sephora Haul!

August 24th, 2015 by Karen 17 Comments

My No. 1 rule when I shop at Sephora is to never, EVER walk around the store with a basket, because if I do, I’ll just keep dropping more and more things into it until eventually — whoops! — there goes all my fun money for the next few months.

I tell myself that I can only leave the store with what I can physically carry in my hands, but that doesn’t always work… You’d be amazed at how much stuff a short Filipino girl can carry, haha! 🙂

On my last trip I grabbed a few things — some re-stocks, some new things I’ve been wanting to try and at least one doodad (maybe two).

As always, my friend, thank you for watching.

Products mentioned

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Marsala Madness Strikes Sephora! Have You Seen the Sephora + Pantone Universe Makeup Collection?

December 31st, 2014 by Karen 29 Comments

Flashback! Marsala sooooo reminds me of the deep, dark reddish browns of the ’90s, like MAC Paramount. Take me back, homie…

I do like the shimmery twists and sheens Sephora incorporated to modernize marsala in their Sephora + Pantone Universe makeup collection, because back in the day, the shade probably would have been reserved for flat mattes, which were nearly impossible to blend.

From the left: Shimmering Marsala Cheek Trio, Pure Marsala Matte Lip Creme, Bold Marsala Mascara & Brow Highlighter and Marsala Metalshine Liquid Liner

The Sephora + Pantone Universe Makeup Collection

A limited edition eight-piece release

Available now at Sephora stores and sephora.com

I’m really liking the $28 Shimmering Marsala Cheek Trio. Very easy to blend.

The $18 Pure Marsala Matte Lip Creme is smooth and creamy and super pretty. Very ’90s, too.

The Marsala Metalshine Liquid Liner, also $18, is quite shimmery and pigmented.

While also pigmented, $20 Bold Marsala Mascara & Brow Highlighter is totally NOT wearable at all.

Overall, I can get behind the cheek trio, the lipstick and the liner…but the mascara and brow highlighter just make my brows and lashes look hella red. But not runway red in a fashion-forward way. More like red as in demon spawn. Think hard before going there… I’m just sayin’.

P.S. I’m on the way out the door to go to that restaurant/nightclub with the Prince cover band in San Rafael. If I don’t see you again tonight, please have a safe and happy New Year’s. See you in 2015! 🙂

Sometimes I Wonder…

November 14th, 2014 by Karen 13 Comments

Sometimes I wonder if I’m the only person who thinks that a Christmas tree decorated entirely with makeup-themed ornaments would be the raddest thing ever.

I’d decorate mine with things like Sephora’s Golden Star Eyelash Curler ($18). 🙂

I’m trying to get El Hub on board with the idea, but it’s been an uphill battle so far…

Someday, I’ll have my makeup-themed tree.

Mark my words! *shakes fist at the sky*

Whether You’re Kissing Cats or Mirrors (or Someone Else), the Sephora Endless Kisses Lip Gloss Set Will Be There For You

November 12th, 2014 by Karen 54 Comments

You know, I realized today while applying one of the lip glosses in the new $28 Endless Kisses Lip Gloss Set by Sephora that I’ve never left a kiss mark on a mirror.

This shocked me, as it’s something that seems like it would be both cute and kinda psycho, which is totally my style. 🙂

Only the universe knows why I haven’t gotten around to it yet…

Should I decide to rectify this situation anytime soon, I’m sure this new lip gloss set would be up for it.

Most of the glosses in it, like the fuchsia, the purple and the golden peachy pink (which is kind of like NARS Orgasm), are so pigmented that they could totally star in their own movie and play liquid lipsticks. I mean, if I were to smooch a mirror with one of these on, yeah, you’d definitely be able to tell that Karen was here.

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The $59 Sephora Favorites Give Me More Lip Set Gives Lips All the Pigment They Can Take

November 4th, 2014 by Karen 17 Comments

Whenever I go shopping at Sephora, there’s a rule I steadfastly adhere to. I tell myself that I can only walk out of the store with what I’m able to carry in my two hands.

No baskets, ever, because the minute a basket gets up in the mix, my credit card starts throbbing with a white hot heat.

Buuuut, you know what they say: where there’s a will, there’s a way. 🙂

With products like the new Sephora Favorites Give Me More Lip Ultimate Lip Sampler Set ($59), I’m able to maximize my self-imposed system of budgetary beauty tyranny. #imjustsayin

The glorious new holiday kit includes 17 (!) sample-sized lip products from 14 makeup brands.

KA-BOOM!

That’s a ton of variety. What’s more, the pieces span a wide range of finishes, textures and coverage levels.

Sephora sorted the products by color family — nudes, berries, pinks and reds — which gives the kit a cohesiveness you don’t always find in limited edition sets.

Sephora Give Me More Lip swatches from the left: Stila Stay All Day Vinyl Lip Gloss in Nude, Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Blush, Fresh Sugar Rose Lip Tint, Too Faced La Creme Lipstick in Naked Dolly, Make Up For Ever Lip LIner in 3C, Tarte LipSurgence in Flush, Too Faced Melted Lipstick in Melted Fuchsia, Benefit Posie Balm and Bite Beauty Luminous Creme Lipstick in Palomino — From the left: Stila Stay All Day Vinyl Lip Gloss in Nude, Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Blush, Fresh Sugar Rose Lip Tint, Too Faced La Creme Lipstick in Naked Dolly, Make Up For Ever Lip Liner in 3C, Tarte LipSurgence in Flush, Too Faced Melted Lipstick in Melted Fuchsia, Benefit Posie Balm and Bite Beauty Luminous Creme Lipstick in Palomino

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Can You Do the Splits? With the $24 Sephora Dramatic Performance Longwear Lash Kit, Your False Lashes Can

July 31st, 2014 by Karen 4 Comments

#makeupconfessions. It wasn’t the double-ended glue stick that caught my eye when I stumbled on the $24 Dramatic Performance Longwear Lash Kit at Sephora the other day, although I did think it was interesting and unlike anything I can recall seeing before. (One end has a thin, flexible brush tip for applying the adhesive, and other end has a mascara-like wand. Neat.)

And it wasn’t the false lashes themselves, although I do think they look pretty cool. Rather than a full or partial strip for each eye, they’re split into two halves to give you customized lash look control.

Like, if you want a more natural false lash look (natural false lash look?), apply just the outer portion to each eye. Or, if you want more lash volume around the inner corners of your eyes, go with just the inner ones. Or, if you’re in the mood to turn that ish up, apply all four pieces, two per eye.

Yeah…that’s a lot of work. And it sounds kind of complicated, doesn’t it?

But wait, there’s more.

These lashes are designed to be applied under your natural lashes. Not directly on top.

Yup, under yo’ lashes.

Wha?!

I know, it’s blowing your mind. 🙂

I actually heard about the under-the-lashes false eyelash technique from a makeup artist friend a while back who herself learned it from a seasoned drag queen. I remember at the time I thought, “That’s completely crazy pants. I’m not coordinated enough to do that.”

But with this kit, maybe I am. I think I should give it a try in the name of makeup science.

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