Makeup

Smoky, Cool and Shimmery Plum With the Tarte Pretty Paintbox Set, Bite Beauty Cashew and MAC Dancing Flowers

November 14th, 2016 by Karen 8 Comments

tarte pretty paintbox fotd — Feeling plummy today with Tarte’s Pretty Paintbox from the holiday 2016 collection

Look. At. This. Makeup.

Where was a going that I needed to put on makeup like this? I don’t know… I don’t think I was going anywhere. I wish I could say that I was going out to dinner or something, but I think the most exciting thing I did while I was wearing this look was take out the trash…

I did run into my neighbor, though, and we talked about her dog a little, so at least somebody got to see the fruit of my labor IRL.

I’m wearing the Bite Beauty Multistick in Cashew here, and I tell you — it’s the best color! It’s underneath a bunch of things on my lids. I sort of used it as an eyeshadow lid primer.

I think it’s SO beautiful, especially with colors like the ones I’m wearing.

Eyes: Bite Beauty Cashew Multi-Stick, Tarte Pretty Paintbox eyeshadows (Van Gogh With It in the crease, and First Impressionism, Hot MOMA and Get Surreal mixed on the lids), Tarte Tarteist Black Eyeliner (from the Wingworkers holiday set), Tarte Tartiest Mascara (from Pretty Paintbox)

Cheeks: Moment blush, Authentic highlighter and Unique bronzer from Tarte Pretty Paintbox

Lips: Dancing Flowers from the MAC Nutcracker Sweet Retro Matte Plum Kit

I’m wearing kind of a rosy taupe-ish brown in my crease, and there’s some shimmery cool-toned purplish gray action happening on my lids that I made by mixing a bunch of colors in this Tarte palette (I marked them with hearts down below).

I grabbed a bunch of shades with the same brush, buffed them on the back of my hand, and then popped them on my lid.

It’s just a phase I’m going through. I like making my own colors. It makes me feel like I’m a mad scientist in a beauty lab or something…

OK, so, my lid color is very cool toned, but I think it balances with the warmth of the browns in my crease. I like that juxtaposition, but of course you could totally stick to one or the other using just cool-toned shadows or warm-toned shadows, and still do a look like this.

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I’m Nuts About the Bite Beauty Cashew Multistick

November 14th, 2016 by Karen 7 Comments

Girl, this is the best color…although I don’t know what it has to do with cashews.

It did give me an excuse to eat some shortly after I took this picture…

You might remember the $24 Bite Beauty Multisticks from earlier this fall when they came out in a bunch of colors. You can use them on your lids, your cheeks and/or your lips, and this particular shade, Cashew, is a warm rosy mauve.

I like to use it as an eyeshadow base for cooler-toned purple and gray eyeshadows — especially shimmery purples and grays — but I think it also looks really pretty on its own.

Sometimes on minimal makeup days, I’ll just stick this on my lids directly with the stick and kind of draw on my lids, which is weird and fun at the same time. Then I’ll use either a finger or a tapered brush to buff out the edges.

After that, I’ll curl my lashes and tightline my upper lash line with black liner, and that’s it. Easy and it looks natural.

If you want to do more than that, you could take whatever shimmery purplish gray shadow is rocking your world at the moment, and the one I love right now is MAC Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Fathoms Deep (it’s what I’m wearing with Cashew in the second pic — the one where I’m wearing a bit more makeup), and just pop that right on top. Then blend them together.

bite beauty cashew swatch — A Cashew swatch…with actual cashews

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NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer: A First Look

November 10th, 2016 by Karen 12 Comments

Hey, want some pot?

If you live in California and voted on Tuesday, you will probably get that joke. 🙂

No, I’m not talking about that kind of pot. Well…

I’m talking about these pots of NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer, a new full-coverage concealer coming to NARS counters in January.

Are you familiar with NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer? Comes in a little tube with a wand like a lipgloss? It’s great and has pretty good coverage. It’s one of my favorites, but I’m kind of a concealer ho…

Err…well, maybe I shouldn’t phrase it that way. How about, “I try a lot of different concealers”?

Anyway, NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer is supposed to be more opaque and have fuller coverage.

If you use NARS Radiant, you might also recognize these shade names. They’re the same names, which makes it easy to find your color (yay!). I did a quick swatch on a piece of paper yesterday and, just eyeballing it, the colors look very similar, too.

NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer
16 shades, permanent, $30, available January 1 at NARS boutiques and online
Chantilly (true ivory shade for a light complexion), Vanilla (tiny cast of pink or a light complexion), Creme Brulee (fair with a light pink undertone), Cannelle (light with a peachy undertone), Honey (warm peach for a light to medium complexion), Custard (yellow tone for a light to medium complexion), Macadamia (medium with a peachy undertone), Ginger (golden undertone for a medium complexion), Biscuit (medium dark natural balance of pink and yellow undertones), Caramel (medium dark yellow and golden undertones), Chestnut (medium with a pink undertone), Amande (medium dark with golden olive undertones), Hazelnut (medium dark with a warm red undertone), Cafe (dark shade with warm red undertones), Cacao (dark shade with deep golden brown undertones), Dark Coffee (dark brown with an olive undertone)

“NARS’ highest coverage concealer yet delivers natural natural-looking coverage in an oil-free cream formula that blurs, concealers and smooths imperfections with its soft-focus smoothing complex. Optimal Diffusion Powder helps maximize light diffusion with spherical surface powders designed to absorb and refract light with a powerful optical effect. Instantly transforms the look of skin to help blur imperfections. Advanced powders created with a unique, interwoven structure lay flat while staying connected for the highest level of coverage with the lightest touch. Resists settling into fine lines and pores. Collagen-boosting peptides smooth and reduce the appearances of wrinkles and pores. Hyaluronic acid helps to hydrate, soften and plump the skin for a healthier-looking complexion. Antioxidant Daily Defense delivers a cocktail of Vitamin A, C and E for environmental defense.”

— NARS PR

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Red Lips and Reverse Liner With the Too Faced Funfetti Set and Sydney Amaryllis Matte Lip Liquid From The Body Shop

November 10th, 2016 by Karen 9 Comments

Reverse liner.

Sounds kinda funny, right? Like, if there’s a reverse liner…shouldn’t there also be a forward or a sideways liner too?

No? OK, maybe not. 🙂

But there is such a thing as reverse liner. It’s actually legit. It’s when your lids are darker than your liner, which is the opposite of the normal style of wearing a darker color along your lash lines than your lids.

I did it today to do something different and exercise my makeup skills.

Oh, gosh. I’m still so out of practice after having Connor Claire. Honestly, makeup is a perishable skill. If you don’t use it, you freaking lose it.

So this look is a little different for me because of the reverse liner, but I still did smoky lids…because what else am I gonna wear? You know how much I like smoky lids.

I used the new Too Faced Funfetti set, which goes on sale tomorrow (Nov. 11) on HSN.

I also tried something different with my lids. I mixed a few of the Funfetti eyeshadows together, and by “mixed” I mean that I took a dark matte purple, a shimmery bronze and a shimmery olive from the palette, swooshed them all together with a brush on the back of my hand, and used that to make my own custom color. Then I patted that on my lids.

I just felt like creating my own color today. I don’t know… I’ve been into that lately.

too faced funfetti palette fotd shades — The shades marked with the heart are the ones I used

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Mission Control to The Body Shop Down to Earth Eye Palettes, Come In Down to Earth Palettes…

November 9th, 2016 by Karen 22 Comments

body shop down to earth eye palette 05 — All five of The Body Shop Down to Earth Eye Palettes ($24 each)

When I hear the phrase, “down to earth,” like the name of these $24 quads from The Body Shop, I think of a day in the not-too-distant future when Captain Connor Claire is hurtling toward Mars in her spaceship, and I’m counting down the seconds till she comes back…down to earth.

OK, no big expectations, Connor. If you don’t want to be on the first manned mission to Mars, that’s OK. The second one would also be fine. 🙂

Seriously, though, I don’t think these have anything to do with astronomy, astrophysics or celestial bodies…. I don’t think they’re that deep. The colors are earthy, as in earth tones, so they’re figuratively down to earth, just like the plants, soil and stones in my front yard. These are shades I love to wear.

These new quads, which are completely new additions to the permanent line, are $24 each, and the way they feel and swatch totally reminds me of pricey Tom Ford. They’re soft, like Tom’s shadows, and have a good amount of pigment, but Tom’s eyeshadows are definitely much more intense.

These blend exceptionally well, but, ironically, because of that…I’m not completely sure what to make of them. They sheer out so much when I buff them down.

Superb blending is sometimes a catch 22, you know? And I think these blend even more easily than LORAC and Urban Decay, which is a double-edged sword, because if you blend them a little too much, you buff away most of the pigment.

The Body Shop Down to Earth Eye Palettes
$24 each and available now in five color combinations at The Body Shop stores and online.

“The individual shades all click in and out of the palette casing, so you can switch shades between palettes and quads. Shades come in three different finishes: true mattes, iridescent shimmers and eye-catching sparkles. All the shades can be used dry for easy blending or wet for more intense, vibrant color.”

— thebodyshop-usa.com

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A Busy Morning With The Body Shop Matte Lip Liquids

November 8th, 2016 by Karen 14 Comments

I haven’t had a coconut Lifesaver in years, but these $10 Matte Lip Liquids from The Body Shop smell and taste exactly like them.

Coconut Lifesavers were/are my favorite, favorite, favorite Lifesavers of them all. When I was just a little Karen and went grocery shopping with my mom, she would let me pick one piece of candy every week when we got up to the cashier, and I would always get the Tropical roll.

I’d rip it open and pick out all the coconut ones. Then I’d eat them all at the same time…but only after I finished all of the other ones.

Anyway, I just started testing these Body Shop Lip Liquid lipsticks today, and I’m loving them so far.

Like a lot of people today in the U.S., I had kind of a crazy morning because I woke up super early to vote, and Connor Claire came with me.

She was all bundled up in her baby carrier, and I’m pretty sure she was the youngest voter there. She even got a sticker. 🙂

When I got back home, I only had a few minutes before my early morning exercise class, but I still wanted to swatch and test these.

So…that’s why I’m not wearing any other makeup in these pics.

body shop windsor rose after class — Here’s the shade Windsor Rose after voting, working out (and sweating like a mofo!), watching Connor, eating a persimmon and some cottage cheese, and drinking about half a gallon of water…

The Body Shop Matte Lip Liquids

New to The Body Shop permanent line and available now at The Body Shop stores and online

$10 each and available in 12 shades

Cruelty-free and 100% vegetarian

#TheBodyShopUSA, #TheBodyShop

The Body Shop Matte Lip Liquid in Sydney Amaryllis 014

body shop tapei orchid 020 — The Body Shop Matte Lip Liquid in Tapei Orchid 020

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A Quick Look at Tarte Holiday 2016

November 7th, 2016 by Karen 9 Comments

Aha! Sometimes it pays to be a #hoarder, especially when things like the Tarte holiday collection come up, and it brings back a flood of memories of this dress that I’ve had since…I don’t know, ’98? ’99?

90s dress — Circa 1999 this dress was my jam

Girl, I had some good times in this dress… I had just moved to SF, so I was like “Girl in the City,” and this was the dress I was wearing during The Cosmopolitan Incident, which I think I may have told you about.

It was the night of the company holiday party. They held it at the SF MOMA. There were waiters and waitresses walking around with these cute cosmopolitans, and I thought, “I’m gonna get one because it matches my dress!” 🙂

Well, one cosmo led to two cosmos, which led to… Anyway, I still can’t look at one of those things without wanting to yak.

This dress, though? So many good memories, and the best thing about it? I freaking found it at T.J. Maxx! One of the waitresses at that party came up to me and said, “I love your dress.” Then she leaned in and whispered, “Versace?”

No, girl, T.J. Maxx! $20!

Coincidentally, the outside of this collection’s eyeshadow palette is made of fabric. Even cooler than that, when you open the palette, the shadow names have artsy references, like Water Lillies and Van Go With It.

Very clever, Tarte.

Items from the Tarte Holiday 2016 Collection

Limited-Edition Wing Workers Deluxe Tarteist Eyeliner Set, $35

Tarte Holiday 2016 Limited-Edition Sculpted Cheeks Deluxe Amazonian Clay Blush Set & Brush, $35

Tarte Holiday Limited-Edition Color Wheel Amazonian Clay Blush Palette, $44

Tarte Holiday 2016 Pretty Paintbox Collector’s Makeup Case, $59

Tarte Holiday 2016 Limited-Edition Wing Workers Deluxe Tarteist Eyeliner Set, $35

Tarte Holiday 2016 Limited-Edition Curl Boss Lash Essentials, $20

Tarte Holiday 2016 Limited-Edition Triple Threat Mascara Trio, $18

Tarte Holiday 2016 Limited-Edition Gallery Gals Deluxe Tareist Eyeliner Set, $19

tarte holiday 2016 pretty paintbox packaging — So pretty!

tarte holiday 2016 pretty paintbox — Tarte Holiday 2016 Pretty Paintbox Collector’s Makeup Case, $59

tarte holiday 2016 color wheel — Tarte Holiday 2016 Limited-Edition Color Wheel Amazonian Clay Blush Palette, $44

tarte holiday 2016 sculpted cheeks — Tarte Holiday 2016 Limited-Edition Sculpted Cheeks Deluxe Amazonian Clay Blush Set & Brush, $35

tarte holiday 2016 wing workers — Tarte Holiday 2016 Limited-Edition Wing Workers Deluxe Tarteist Eyeliner Set, $35

From the left: Curl Boss, Lash Essentials ($20), Triple Threat Mascara Trio ($18) and Gallery Gals Deluxe Tarteist Eyeliner Set ($19)

Swatches of the Color Wheel Blush Palette

tarte holiday 2016 wing workers swatches — Swatches of the Wing Workers set

I’ve only just swatched these items, but it does seem like the shadows in this palette feel a little harder than the Tarte shadows I’m used to.

Oh, and the round blush palette here?When you open it, BAM! — a bevy of blushes, but here’s the thing: Even though there are pans on both sides, Tarte inserted a clear plastic divider between them to keep powder from falling from one side to the other.

This is just a smattering of items in the collection. I hope to spend more time with them this week.

So, hoarder-y dresses. Do you have any in your closet? Or other clothing that you don’t really wear anymore but keep for sentimental reasons? Inquiring minds want to know. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Laura Mercier Master Class Colour Essentials Collection Palette (2nd Edition) for Holiday 2016

November 4th, 2016 by Karen 3 Comments

I’m smiling in this picture out of sheer relief at having gotten one usable photo after doing my makeup today with the 2nd Edition Laura Mercier Master Class Colour Essentials Collection palette.

I don’t know, dude… This look was rough. I am so out of practice with makeup that requires more than 15 minutes and two brushes — like, I’m talking base color, transition shades, gradients… If you don’t use it, you lose it. At least that’s how it’s been for me.

It wasn’t the palette’s fault at all, though. It was just classic user error, but one thing that made this look slightly easier was the fact that — oh, my gosh — there are so many mattes, specifically workhorse shades.

The Laura Mercier Master Class Colour Essentials Collection/palette (2nd Edition)
$125, limited edition, available now online and at Laura Mercier counters

“This incredible collection is filled with some of my favorite shades, finishes and liners to create endless looks. You can transform your eyes from classic to cat eye with just a few easy steps. Get creative!”

— Laura Mercier, from lauramercier.com

The palette comes with…

12 Eye Colours (1.5g / 0.05 oz each): Etoile, Bronze Glow, Minx, Pewter Dust, Gilded Pines, Vanilla Nuts, Café Au Lait, Espresso Bean, Poison Ivory, Stone Taupe, Noir, Stellar
Second Skin Cheek Colour (3g / 0.1 oz): Riche Nectar
Face Highlighter (3g / 0.1 oz): Pink Haze
Bronzing Pressed Powder (3g / 0.1 oz): Soleil Bronze
Tightline Cake Eyeliner (1.5g / 0.05 oz each): Black Ebony, Mahogany Brown
Longwear Creme Eye Pencil (0.8 g / 0.02 oz): Noir
Double Ended Eyeliner Brush
Double Ended Eye Colour Brush

* A $429 value

The palette, which is $125, limited edition and available now at Laura Mercier counters, is referred to as a collection (even though it’s a palette), and it contains 12 eyeshadows, a blush, bronzer, highlighter, pencil eyeliner, two cake eyeliners and two brushes.

Six of those 12 eyeshadows are mattes, which is great because, as you know, I’m always bitchin’ and moaning about eye palettes that don’t have enough workhorse mattes. 🙂 This one, thankfully, has lots of delicious browns and beiges and even a dark black.

It’s part of Laura’s holiday 2016 collection and a followup to last year’s Master Class Collection palette from holiday 2015. Like last year’s, it also comes in what looks like a cute clutch and has the same layout.

The eye look I’m wearing here is on the cooler side. I’m wearing cool-toned and neutral browns with some shimmery, neutral olive, and everything I have on my eyes and cheeks is from this palette.

Because the bronzer, blush and highlighter are all warm toned, I assumed that the eyeshadows would be as well, but they aren’t. They’re generally cooler, which seems unusual to me — the contrasting color temps. The bronzer, blush and highlighter are all very warm. I don’t know if the palette is intended for cool-toned gals or warm-toned gals, or if Laura just wanted to cover all of her bases, but it’s kind of different.

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