Makeup

A Dashing Duo: Benefit They’re Real Shadow Blender in Bombshell Brown, and One of the Best Musical Duos of All Time

February 13th, 2017 by Karen 9 Comments

benefit bombshell brown — Benefit They’re Real Duo Shadow Blender in Bombshell Brown and They’re Real Double the Lip in Fuchsia Fever

All I have to say is this: golden brown deliciousness. Of the three new Benefit They’re Real Duo Shadow Blenders I’ve tried so far, Bombshell Brown is my favorite.

I think the two shades in it have the loveliest finishes.

benefit bombshell brown fuchsia fever — Benefit They’re Real Duo Shadow Blender in Bombshell Brown and They’re Real Double the Lip in Fuchsia Fever

I am *so* particular about shimmers and shimmery products. I’ll admit it — sometimes I’m a frost hater, especially when the shine comes with gigantic grains of powder. But the two shadows in this duo are much more satiny than super shiny frost.

benefit bombshell brown eyes down — I’m also wearing Chanel Noir Petrol Stylo Yeux on my lash lines and Hourglass Radiant Bronze Light Bronzer and Radiant Magenta Blush on my cheeks

This duo really makes my eyes look bigger and sexier, and I’m a big fan. By the way, I keep trying to use the round sponge applicator it comes with, but it ends up a hot mess, so I just use regular eyeshadow brushes instead.

I dunno… Maybe I can re-purpose the sponge brush and use it like a mini beautyblender for the inner corners?

benefit bombshell brow closeup — Bombshell Brown has a light golden beige (I want a HUGE pan of this color. It’s perfection!) and a mid-toned golden brown, and both are totally my jam.

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Saturday Surfing, Feb. 11, 2017

February 11th, 2017 by Karen 7 Comments

spacenk spring beauty edit 2017 — Coming to SpaceNK stores February 16th

I may or may not have just opened all of these minis from the SpaceNK Spring Beauty Edit gift-with-purchase set and liberally applied them to various places on my body, my face and in my hair. ?

SpaceNK’s new GWP comes with some sweet samples, yo! — including dry shampoos from Oribe and R+Co, as well as this Ouai hair mask, which I’m so excited about trying that I’m literally (OK, figuratively) salivating at the mouth…

It’s valued at more than $400, and you also get this gigantic beauty bag, too. (Please excuse the chipped mani.)

It’s yours with any $250 purchase at the SpaceNK Spring Beauty Edit event on Thursday, February 16th, at all 27 SpaceNK US stores. There will also be spring beauty trend talk and brand experts on hand for makeovers and to give advice and tips.

And now some highlights from the week in beauty news… 🙂

Who will win the coveted Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling? Last year went to Siân Grigg, Duncan Jarman and Robert Pandini for The Revenant. This year I’m betting on Suicide Squad.
Tell your RBF to take a hike, because Estée Lauder will be re-launching the Victoria Beckham makeup line on March 1st, OHEMMMMGEEEEEEEE!
NEW MAKEUP ARTIST OBSESSION! Her name is Erin Parsons, and she does BAD-@SS work.
Don’t call it a comeback; it’s been here for years! Behold…the return of shampoo!
Lock down those lashes, and stop smearing and smudging with this little lash trick.
So who really runs the world? Why, Blue Ivy Carter, obvs. Beyoncé is launching a line of beauty-related products named after her 5-year-old daughter.
Talk about lightweight and luminous lusciousness, the new spring shades of Diorskin Nude Air Luminizer Powder sound absolutely d-r-e-a-m-y.
OK, I really like the sound of these La Prairie Eye Shadows. Elegant and ladylike.
Check out these six new beauty innovations that you need to meet, like, yesterday.
Here are seven things you can do to raise a trailblazing daughter (according to The Notorious RBG).
Introducing athleisure makeup! — the newest thing to hit the beauty scene. In other words, “yoga pants for your face.”
In honor of Black History Month, shout-out to business pioneer Sara Spencer Washington, an inventor, business owner, salon owner and self-made millionaire in the 1930s and ’40s.

Michelle Phan is relaunching Em Cosmetics.
Have you heard of Beauty Pie??
And, in case you missed it, Giorgio Armani released six new Lip Maestro Notorious Liquid Lipsticks, the new Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Volume II Eye Palette is incredible, and Tom Ford has TWO new spring cream blush duos that look uber-natural.

Now I’m off to an early salon appointment with my friend Alis, which I’m VERY excited about! I can’t even begin to tell you… She just moved to Vegas, but she’s in town for the next week, whoo-hoo! I’m still feeling anxious about having to find someone new to cut my mop, but at least for now, I know my hair is in good hands. 🙂

I don’t think today is the time to do anything crazy or high maintenance, so I’m just going in for a trim.

And on Sunday I’m going to a Pilates class for the very first time — yes, my core is terrified. My friend is teaching, so she’s letting me test out the class.

I’ve always wanted to try Pilates, so I’m really looking forward to it.

How goes it on your end of the keyboard? What are you up to this weekend?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Boop-Oop-a-Doop! It’s MAC Betty Boop Lipstick

February 10th, 2017 by Karen 13 Comments

Boop-oop-a-doop!

OK…that’s all I know about Betty Boop, LOL! 🙂 I just never went through a Betty Boop phase, but I did envy her skinny brows somethin’ fierce in the ’90s.

That, and her signature red pout was/is perfection. It inspired MAC’s sassy new Betty Boop Lipstick, which comes to town on Valentine’s Day for $17. It’s an opaque bright red online exclusive, and it looks a little like MAC Red Lipstick. ?

Ya know, I’ve really been into MAC mattes lately. I think they totally stepped up their game in terms of their matte lipstick formula, and even though my lips are ragged as hell in this pic (I’ve got flakes for days), you can’t really see them. The lipstick lounges magically on my lips without hugging any flaky bits, and it avoids my vertical lip lines, too.

Is it just me, or does this finish have a lazy luster? It’s isn’t completely flat, is it? There’s a subtle shine up in the mix… I think. Hard to say. I like it, though. It keeps things interesting.

I love this color, but gosh, MAC, couldn’t you have done a little something with the packaging? I mean, come on. It’s Betty Boop! Sure, the box is cute, but what about the tube?

Missed opportunity.

If you rock reds with a slight blue hue a la MAC Russian Red, I bet you’ll love ? MAC Betty Boop. Check it out on the MAC website (remember, online exclusive) February 14th through March 31st.

Buttons and hems

OH! So you know how I’m going to my HIIT classes at night now, right? Well, it’s been kind of weird, because I got to know the people I was in the morning class with, but I don’t know anyone in the night class yet.

You know how you get to know people after you’ve sweat with them for a few months. You develop a sense of camaraderie, but it was kind of weird sweating in a room filled with people I don’t know…

OK, yeah, I know that sounds strange.

Anyway, I tried to get myself to socialize, so I was chatting with a lady who told me that she belongs to a sewing group, and she said that their project this week was a makeup bag.

“Makeup?!” I asked. You said the magic word, girl. LOL! 🙂

They meet every day, sew together and hang out. Isn’t that cool?

I have no idea how to sew, but I’ve always wanted to learn how. When I was 14, I asked for a sewing machine for my birthday, and I got it. Of course, I never figured out what to do with it, so I got tired of it in about two months. I’d load the thread, and stitch random pieces of fabric together, LOL!

In retrospect, I wish I’d done more with it. I still have Project Runway dreams of sewing my own clothes.

Do you know how to sew? I can probably manage a button and maybe an emergency hem, but that’s it.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

My Makeup Inspiration for February and March 2017: Boldness, Brightness and Colorful Lids

February 10th, 2017 by Karen 9 Comments

I have finally — FINALLY — caught up on my magazine reading, yay!

It’s the little things, ya know?

Anyway, among other things, this means that I found some new sources of makeup inspiration, like this blue beauty up at the top…

Hoh! — I don’t even know where to start. Like, I love how the blue wraps around her entire eye, and how the shades shift from light to dark in a gradient, but what I REALLY love is how her brow bone highlight is completely ??? bananas.

See how it’s in the center of her brow and all metallic and glittery? And, most importantly, how it moves up into the brow hairs?

That is some cray-cray stuff! I can’t wait to try it.

Also, the stark white (or maybe it’s light blue?) on her lower water line and how the white drifts into the roots of her lower lashes? It’s absolutely beautiful.

I’m also really into this glossy, glittery purple lid look…

OK, it’s not for everyone; I get it. I mean, I wouldn’t up to Target wearing this, but I think it would be fun to try. The artist in the magazine recommended using lip gloss on the lids instead of an eye gloss.

Spring needs to get here, ASAP. That’s all I can say.

Ooh! Now look at this one…

Hello, bright orange. 🙂 This looks takes a warm orange shadow — almost an orange red — from the lash line all the way up to the brow bone, and I can’t tell if the finish is matte or satin.

Whatever it is…I love it. I love the simplicity. Eye makeup doesn’t have to involve 15 different shadows, ya know?

Next up, metallic silver.

Look at how this is placed! Honestly, I don’t know if I’d be able to pull this off… It looks kinda hard.

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5 Things I’ve Been Loving Lately: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer in Radiant Light, Old-School Shampooing, and the Golden Girls Have a Café

February 10th, 2017 by Karen 16 Comments

1. Meet me at Rue La Rue Café

As you may or may not know, I am moderately — OK, intensely — obsessed with The Golden Girls.

There are lots of reasons. Like, I dig their naughty humor (even though it went over my head when I was younger), the camaraderie among the women, the fabulous ’80s fashion, and Sophia Petrillo had THE BEST lines.

Well, get your shoulder pads and your shimmery genie pants ready, because a Golden Girls-themed cafe is now open in New York City!

It’s called Rue La Rue (of course it is).

Do you think they serve cheesecake?? (They do.) I want to fly cross country just to have brunch.

Also in breaking Golden Girls news, all seven seasons start streaming on Hulu February 13th.

You’re welcome. 🙂

2. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer in Radiant Light

Bronzer!

I love bronzer. Always. 24/7/365. But with all the rain we’ve been having (seriously, it just won’t stop!), my skin hasn’t seen the light of day in…I can’t even remember how long. I look borderline jaundiced. The yellow tones are turned up, and I have zero natural bronzy glow.

hourglass cosmetics summer 2015 — Hourglass Cosmetics Ambient Lighting Bronzer in Radiant Bronze Light

I rediscovered Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer in Radiant Bronze Light last week (I just sort of forgot about it for a while), and it’s giving me life. I’ve been all about that sun-kissed deliciousness.

Funny thing is…when it first came out, I just felt so-so about it. I think it was because I wasn’t using it with the right brush, but the trick, I’ve found, is it to use the biggest, fluffiest face brush you’ve got, one that covers a big area, and lightly pat the product (don’t sweep).

The undertones are warm and delicate, so if you use a face brush with a compact, dense brush head, you run the risk of ending up with orange, shiny stripes. If you apply it with a big, fluffy powder brush, on the other paw, and do a series of light pats on your cheek bones, across the bridge of your nose and around the edges of your face, it warms everything up and bathes your skin in the light of a buttery sunset.

Straight magical.

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Clearly…These New H2O+ Lip Gels Are Like the CUTEST THINGS EVER

February 9th, 2017 by Karen 12 Comments

h2o plus lip gels — The new H2O+ Lip Gels, $12 each

LOOK! They’re clear.

I don’t know why, but this amuses me to no end. 🙂

Here to fight the good fight against dry lips, the new $12 H2O+ Lip Gels are…clear. For the most part. And hella hydrating.

h2o plus lip gel coral authority blush crush clear as day — H2O+ Lip Gels from the left in Coral Authority, Blush Crush and Clear as Day ($12 each)

They’re light on lips (in more ways than one)

You know the story… I’m like a broker record sometimes. I have dry lips. There, I said it! I have dry lips, and they’re a pain in the butt, but these H2O+ Lip Gels? WOW. They’re marvelously moisturizing, and yet much lighter than usual for a mega moisturizing product. They’re nowhere near as thick and heavy as, say, an Hourglass Lip Oil.

h2o plus lip gel blush crush — H2O+ Lip Gels from the left: Currant Mood, Clearly Mint and Cloud Wine

Despite being rich with righteous moisture, they’re incredibly light on the lips. Sometimes I even forget I’m wearing one, so if you loathe the heavy-duty feel of real-deal lip balms and lip oils, check ’em out.

I mean…a lot of people already have, because they’re basically sold out online! I’ve found a few of them at Ulta and on the H2O+ website, but I don’t see all of them.

Clearly Mint Ingredients
Isotridecyl Isononanoate, Diisostearyl Malate, Ethylenediamine/Hydrogenated Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer Bis-Di-C14-18 Alkyl Amide, Octyldodecanol, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, Flavor/Aroma, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Tectona Grandis Wood Extract, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Zostera Marina Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Portulaca Pilosa Extract, Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sucrose Cocoate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Cinnamal, Eugenol, Limonene.

They have a hint o’ tint

They come in five sheer tinted shades and one clear one, and if you have pigmented lips like I do, you probably won’t discern a big difference among them (except for the completely clear one).

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The Six New Armani Lip Maestro Notorious Liquid Lipsticks

February 9th, 2017 by Karen 13 Comments

giorgio armani notorious 518 paparazzi pink — Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro Notorious in 518 Paparazzi Pink

To the Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro Notorious liquid lipsticks, thanks for reminding me that I still need to get myself a Notorious RBG t-shirt.

These cuties are new for spring 2017 and — gasp! — they’re $38 each, which is pretty expensive, but I sure do think they’re lovely.

The Notorious Collection is an LE line of six Armani Lip Maestro liquid lipsticks inspired by Hollywood glamour. (Side note: For some reason, Armani refers to their Lip Maestros as glosses, which is a little confusing to me because they have a glossy finish, and I don’t think they feel like a gloss either.)

I’d characterize them as lightweight semi-matte liquid lipsticks with a whipped, wickedly moisturizing formula (totally unlike most liquid lipsticks, which are incredibly drying).

giorgio armani lip maestro notorious swatches — Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro Notorious swatches from the top: 301 A-List, 408 Notorious, 515 Dress Code, 516 Spotlight, 517 Maharaja and 518 Paparazzi Pink

When I swipe one on my lips, I get an opaque lip look with a semi-matte finish that isn’t completely flat. I see light bouncing off my lips, which kinda makes them look plumper and muy delicioso. 🙂

They remain like that for 3-4 hours, assuming I’m only sipping on a beverage or carefully eating Fuji apple slices. If, on the other hand, I eat a full meal, the semi-matte aspect wears away, leaving behind a lovely lip stain throughout the entire lip area (as opposed to just around the edges).

giorgio armani 301 a list — Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro Notorious in 516 A-List

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What I Wore Wednesday, Vol. 2: Blue, Taupe and Gold Eyes

February 8th, 2017 by Karen 16 Comments

tarte rainforest of the sea volume ii eyeshadow palette k — Today’s makeup look!

I contend that Wednesday is the best day of the week to wear blue eye makeup, because you’re halfway through the week. You made it halfway, which calls for something of a mini celebration. You’re saying to the universe, “You can’t stop me, universe! I’m halfway there, and I’ll be chilling on Saturday watching Magic Mike in my pajamas very, very soon.”

I wore a bit of blue today — blue, purple and taupe (Yes! Taupe is dope.), gold and a smidgen o’ brown on my eyes, along with pink cheeks and lips.

axiology lipstick identity — Axiology Lipstick in Identity

So much shimmer

I’m using the RainForest of the Sea II Skin Twinkle Lighting Palette, which is super shimmery, for some glow. I applied a layer underneath my blush and bronzer, just to tone down the shimmer a bit.

tarte rainforest of the sea volume ii — Clockwise from the upper left: Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Volume II Skin Twinkle Lighting Palette and Tarte Blot Party, Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Volume II Eyeshadow Palette, Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Concealer, Axiology Lipstick in Identity, Tarte Color Your World Color-Correcting Palette, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronze in Luminous Bronze Light and Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Radiant Magenta

tarte rainforest of the sea volume ii lighting palette — Swatches of the Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Volume II Skin Twinkle Lighting Palette

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