Makeup

Are the MAC Brooke Candy Eye Glosses Your Cup o’ Tea?

May 3rd, 2016 by Jen Clark 17 Comments

Eye look using MAC Brooke Candy White-Yin Eye Gloss ($23)

The lion’s share of the MAC Brooke Candy collection are definitely the amazing lippies, but the other items that sparked my interest were the eye glosses. I’d never used an eye gloss before, but I’d seen them floating around the YouTube-o-sphere, and they always looked so interesting to me.

There are two in this collection — White-Yin and Black-Yang.

Brooke Candy MAC Eye Gloss — White-Yin MAC Eye Gloss ($23; a clear gloss with multicolored micro-shimmer)

MAC Brooke Candy Eye Gloss in Black Yang — Black-Yang MAC Eye Gloss ($23; a black/blue gloss with red and blue micro-shimmer)

Not gonna lie, I’m not quite sure what to think of these… I think they’re made for a very specific kind of look and a very specific kind of person.

I love what Jessica did with some of the other MAC Eye Glosses to create a cool, editiorial, grunge-y look, but no matter what you do, you’ll end up with creased, oily-looking eye makeup, which, obviously, isn’t everyone’s cup o’ tea.

They are also crazy sticky, which I guess makes sense for what they are, but they feel so weird on my eyelids. I just can’t deal with it. As you open your eyes and blink, things just stick together.

White-Yin MAC Eye Gloss (a clear gloss with multi colored micro-shimmer) — White-Yin MAC Eye Gloss ($23; a clear gloss with multicolored micro-shimmer)

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Look Fresh and Organically Juicy With Juice Beauty Spring 2016

May 2nd, 2016 by Jessica Revitte 11 Comments

juice-beauty-spring-2016-liquid-lip--gwyneth — Rocking the organic look with Juice Beauty Cream Shadow Stick in Cove, and Satin Lip Cream in Cabernet as a base topped with Liquid Lip in Gwyneth

Although the day will have long since passed by the time you read this post, I started writing it on Earth Day (long story), and while I’m not exactly the world’s foremost expert on green beauty, I love it, and I love seeing what the brands that specialize in organic beauty products have to offer.

Juice Beauty is a well-respected brand in the world of organic, earth-friendly makeup, and they call themselves “the organic solution.” They incorporate a host of plant based ingredients into their products and make it clear that they want you to look at the list of common cosmetic industry ingredients that their products are formulated without.

Juice Beauty Spring 2016 — New juicy treats from Juice Beauty!

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My Favorite Nude Lipsticks for Every Occasion and Budget

May 2nd, 2016 by Anna Oh 22 Comments

ysl rouge volupte 3 beige ultimate maybelline nude lust — An old favorite nude lipstick, and a new favorite nude lipstick: YSL Rouge Volupte, and Maybelline Color Sensational

I’m going to guess that you’re like me and LOVE peeking into someone else’s makeup bag. Well, no need to ask, because today I’m going to share my go-to nude lipsticks. I always have these on hand. They’re my good luck charms, like my Tide to Go (because I’m too lazy to reapply dark lip colors after eating), and these will work for beauty lovers of every budget, yay!

Marcella will also be sharing her nude lipstick favorites in another post, and I can’t wait to see what she picks for hers.

For work: YSL Rouge Volupte “3 Beige Ultimate”

So this one is actually a good luck charm for me. I’ve worn this to every job interview, and so far I’ve had a 100% success rate with it!

I’m half-kidding because I haven’t had THAT many full-time job interviews, but I usually wear a long fitted black blazer with some smart pleated pants with this beauty of a lipstick in my pocket. It’s the YSL Rouge Volupte Silky Sensual Radiant Lipstick in Beige Ultimate ($37). Even at that price point, I don’t think this lipstick disappoints. Heavy golden metal, not-too-sweet-watermelon scent, and amazing pigmentation in one swipe.

Infused with oils, it sits comfortably on my lips, and I barely notice I’m wearing it while talking to friends and interviewers alike. YSL wins the award for my top luxury lip choice.

For play: Maybelline The Buffs “Nude Lust”

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The Best in Beauty From the Boot, Vol. 8: PUPA Milano

April 29th, 2016 by Carolina Braina 22 Comments

PUPA I'M Lipstick 405 Electric Fuchsia PUPA Vamp! Mascara — Wearing PUPA I’M Lipstick in 405 Electric Fuchsia on my lips, and PUPA Vamp! Mascara on my lashes

Hi everyone, I’m back with a new installment of the one where I show you my favorite makeup brands from this boot-shaped country of mine, AKA Italy. I have to admit that I’m really enjoying playing the Virgil to your Dante while we travel through the Italian beauty heaven! 😉

Today we’re talking about PUPA Milano, a mid-range brand that can be found in lots of beauty and department stores across Italy.

One of my earliest memories about PUPA is this makeup set that one Christmas, many moons ago, made me a very happy middle school girl. The Milan-based cosmetic company used to be very famous for that type of sets. Well, it actually might still be, but I’m too old to know! #soontobe30 ?

These days, it’s their more ordinary creations, like the ones I’m showing you today, that make me one very happy girl!

PUPA I’M Lipsticks in 301 Poppy & 405 Electric Fuchsia

Pupa Milano I'M Lipstick 301 Poppy Swatch — PUPA I’M Lipstick in 301 Poppy

Pupa Milano I'M Lipstick 405 Electric Fuchsia Swatch — PUPA I’M Lipstick in 405 Electric Fuchsia

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My Friday FOTD With the NARS Under Cover Summer 2016 Collection

April 29th, 2016 by Adia Goss 33 Comments

I think everything from the NARS Summer 2016 Under Cover Collection — from the Lip Covers to the Dual-Intensity Blushes and the Dual-Intensity Eyeshadows — is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! I love how cohesive the overall collection is and how they included shades for neutral looks and bold looks, too. The makeup look I was wearing in my review of the eyeshadows was something closer to my normal neutral makeup looks, so I thought I’d try a bolder look outside my comfort zone today.

This look was actually really easy, but I think it definitely makes a statement.

First I dampened my brush before applying Deep End all over my lids to intensify the color, and I also used a damp brush to apply Deep End all along my lower lash line. Then, to blend this out, I used a fluffy crease brush to lightly dust Tan Lines into my crease. If I’d wanted to do a smokey look, I could have applied this damp as well, but I just wanted to blend out Deep End, so I applied it dry.

For my blush, I used the right side of the Liberation Dual-Intensity Blush, a really pretty terra-cotta shade. It’s a great everyday blush for me, and I love how there’s a slight sheen it.

I didn’t use any highlighter (which is sooo rare for me because I LOVE, LOVE highlighter), but I still had a soft glow from the blush. I was super impressed that this didn’t look flat on me at all.

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A Closer Look at the MAC Chris Chang of Poesia Lipsticks: The Blue and Yellow Can Be Wearable??

April 29th, 2016 by Jen Clark 21 Comments

Chris Chang x MAC Lipstick in Cloud Gait — MAC Cloud Gait Lipstick from the MAC x Chris Chang collection

My favorite part of the MAC Chris Chang collection has to be the lipsticks…or maybe the eyeshadows… Wait, but I love the Cream Colour Bases too! But for now, let’s just talk about the lipsticks. Every color is unique and different in some way and, in typical MAC style, the formulas are spot on.

I started out excited by three of the colors and a little perplexed by two. How on earth am I, or anyone really, supposed to wear a sheer blue and a sheer yellow lipstick?? If they were opaque, that would be one thing, but they’re really sheer, which didn’t make sense to me. They just don’t look right on my lips!

MAC Chris Chang Cloud Gait Lipstick — MAC Cloud Gait Lipstick

Chris Chang x MAC Lipstick in Gold XIXI — MAC Gold XIXI Lipstick

Chris Chang x MAC Lipstick in Chris Chang x MAC Lipstick in Gold XIXI — MAC Gold XIXI Lipstick

I think I figured it out, though. I remember learning from someone on YouTube that most makeup artists keep a yellow lipstick in their kit, and the reason is because you can layer it on top of other lip colors to create a custom hue! Aha! That’s how you can use it. You can use Gold XIXI to add warmth to another lip color, and Cloud Gait to cool it.

Let me show you what I’m talking about…

Here’s MAC DDDevilish Lipstick from the collection:

Chris Chang x MAC Lipstick in MAC DDDevilish — MAC DDDevilish Lipstick

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I’d Trek Across a Burning Desert for the Chanel Dans La Lumiere De L’Ete Summer 2016 Makeup Collection

April 28th, 2016 by Karen 26 Comments

chanel dans la lumiere de lete k1 — Wearing the new Chanel Dans La Lumiere De L’Ete Summer 2016 collection on my eyes, cheeks and lips

If you were stranded in the desert…

Would you rather have a machete so that you could whack off some cactus to get some water, or would you rather have the Aqua Glosses from the Chanel Summer 2016 collection?

Would you rather experience a mirage of Ryan Gosling slowly walking shirtless toward you across the glittering hot sand, or would you rather experience a mirage of the Empreinte Du Desert eyeshadow quad from the Chanel Summer 2016 collection glittering in front of you with its four shimmery shades?

I think you know what I’d choose. 🙂

Chanel, baby girl. Chanel. ALL. THE. WAY.

chanel summer 2016 — 10 of 17 pieces from the Chanel Dans La Lumiere De L’Ete Summer 2016 makeup collection

By the way, drinking water from a cactus? — not such a good idea. Thank goodness for the internet, because if I’d actually been stranded in the desert, I just may have tried that. I mean, it always worked in my old Saturday morning cartoons…

Oh, well! Knowledge is power, yo.

Anywho, summer. Chanel. 2016. We’ve got 17 pieces (one quad, two cheek duos, two liners, a mascara, six lip glosses and five nail polishes) with lots o’ warm colors — cheerful corals (YUM), awesome oranges, burnished bronzes and browns, gilded golds and tantalizing tans, sprinkled with a handful of lush, lovely greens.

I look forward to Chanel summer all year long and go absolutely goo-goo-ga-ga (to quote my daughter, who is now an expert baby babbler) for it. Thus, I LIVE for these colors.

Gimme warm bronze, tan, gold and green any day of the week, babe. If you have a tan, these shades should look amaze-balls on ya.

But it’s not just their warmth that draws me to the pieces in this collection. The finishes are also totally on point.

I think Chanel is really good at getting all the way up to the edge with certain finishes, and then pulling back just a little.

Does that sound weird?

I think it might…but it’s the best way I can describe their brilliance.

chanel summer 2016 empreinte du desert — Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eyeshadow in Empreinte Du Desert

Take the quad, for example. The four shades in it — a bronze, tan, brown and green — all have a good amount of shimmer in them, but Chanel dialed it back just a little so the finish doesn’t go full-on frosty. Even though these are powder eyeshadows, they almost look glossy on the lids.

It’s neat, and kind of a dream come true, now that I think about it! It’s not always easy to wear high-shine shadows like these because they tend to emphasize the fine lines on my lids.

Oh, and side note, the wear time on these shadows is totally boss lady. I can pop them on early in the morning, and they’re good until late at night.

Now, getting back to the interesting finishes…

The two Les Beiges Duos are also beautifully nuanced. They’re not quite matte, not quite satin; they’re somewhere in between. I only need the faintest kitten kiss for lots of rich cheek color.

chanel summer 2016 les beiges duo no 2 — Les Beiges Duo No. 02

I wear the two duos a little differently. When I want warm peachy bronze cheeks (which go well with bronzy gold eyes like I’m wearing in these pics), I mix the two shades in Les Beiges Duo No. 02 together to wear as a blush, but you can also wear the two shades separately, and use one as a blush and one as a bronzer.

chanel summer 2016 les beiges duo no 1 — Les Beiges Duo No. 01

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You Need at Least One Thing From the MAC Brooke Candy Collection Lip Products for Summer 2016

April 28th, 2016 by Jen Clark 24 Comments

Brooke Candy has come out with her second MAC collection in less than a year (available now online and coming to stores May 5th). I think that speaks to how well her first collection did! This one’s about half lip products, and there’s something for everyone in there.

Among the lip products are a lip pencil and lipstick in MAC’s iconic Whirl shade and its twin called Pamela as a Vamplify lipgloss. There’s a trio of deep vamp-y shades in the lip pencil, lipstick, and gloss, and a couple of staple bright lipsticks that everyone needs.

Let’s start by taking a look at the lippies in the collection…

MAC Brooke Candy Lip Pencils, $17.50 each

All hail MAC lip pencils, am-I-right? I love these. They are so creamy and give you such a sharp, crisp line. TBH, I love just wearing liners on their own, and they act like a matte, long wearing lipstick! And these colors? So on trend! Whirl is one of those must-have colors that belongs in every makeup lover’s kit. It was made uber famous when Kylie Jenner mentioned that it was one of her most loved lip colors.

Night Crawler, one of the shades in the collection, is just so stunning. The pigment is dark and opaque and looks amazing on the lips.

MAC Brooke Candy Whirl Lip Liner (dirty rose)

MAC Brooke Candy Night Crawler Lip Liner (deep plum)

MAC Brooke Candy Lipsticks, $18 each

There is not a single dud in among the lipsticks in this collection. Like I said in the title, you need AT LEAST one of these in your life. The matte shades (Whirl, Doo-Wop, and Witching Hour) are some of my favorite mattes. They feel creamy but have what I would call a satin/matte finish. They aren’t the kind of mattes that suck the life out of your lips, which is oh, so nice, and the amplified shade (Mind Control) packs a punch with amazing pigmentation and a pretty shiny finish.

MAC Brooke Candy Whirl Lipstick (matte dirty rose)

MAC Brooke Candy Doo-Wop (matte blue toned pink) — MAC Brooke Candy Doo-Wop (matte blue-toned pink)

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