Makeup

Build Your Collection of Everyday Shades With the MAC Eye Shadow X 15/Warm Neutral and Cool Neutral Palettes: A Closer Look

March 10th, 2015 by Karen 17 Comments

See, this is how they get ya — cold, hard numbers, baby.

When you run the numbers, $85 for each of the two new MAC Eye Shadow X 15 palettes sounds beyond reasonable — and not just reasonable, but actually wise. Considering that a Pro Palette Insert ($2), an empty Pro Palette ($8) and 15 individual shadow pan refills ($150) would set you back $160, $85 is a steal!

At least that’s what I plan to tell my husband when I go to Nordstrom later this week to “take a look” at another 15-pan MAC palette, this one recently released and filled with some of the brand’s bestselling shades (codename: Nordstrom Naturals).

“But, babe!” I’ll tell him, “It’s basically half off. I’m doing this for the good of the family.” 🙂

Something tells me I’ll be met with rolling eyes and a sigh, but whatevs.

MAC Cool Neutral (top) and Warm Neutral (bottom) Palettes — Cool Neutral (top) and Warm Neutral (bottom)

So, these two palettes — Warm Neutral and Cool Neutral — I can’t even think about them without feeling a little gooey inside. Filled with a mix of perennial permanent collection faves and limited edition colors, they’re the two new Eye Shadow X 15 palettes from the Eyes on MAC collection, and they’re available now at MAC stores and online.

If they look familiar, gold star! You might remember them from last year. They’re essentially re-promotes of those palettes, so you may already have them.

If not, this could be a good time to pounce, and not just because the palettes are a pretty good value (the pans are the same size as MAC’s full-size 0.05-oz. refills). They’re also a good way to quickly build up your collection of MAC workhorse shades, as both of them are bristling with useful, everyday neutrals that never go out of style.

But which one? — that’s the million-dollar question.

Well, what kind of colors do you currently wear? Do you wear more cool grays, pinks and silvers, or more warm, buttery coppers and golds?

MAC Eye Shadow X 15/Cool Neutral — Eye Shadow X 15/Cool Neutral

Some other things to consider…

Overall, the colors in the Cool palette seem less pigmented than the colors in the Warm palette, at least on my NC 42 skin, and I find myself building them up in layers (especially Flounce, Sweet Allure, Pick Me Up and Cozy Grey).

MAC Cool Neutral palette top row: Flounce, Sweet Allure, Sun Tweaked After Dusk and Blackberry — The Cool Neutral palette top row colors in Flounce, Sweet Allure, Sun Tweaked After Dusk and Blackberry

MAC Cool Neutral palette middle row: Pick Me Up, Cozy Grey, Crushed Clove, Deception and Brun — The Cool Neutral palette middle row colors in Pick Me Up, Cozy Grey, Crushed Clove, Deception and Brun

MAC Cool Neutral palette bottom row: Silver Fog, French Clay, Cumulus, Pearled Earth and Black Tied — The Cool Neutral palette bottom row colors in Silver Fog, French Clay, Cumulus, Pearled Earth and Black Tied

The Cool Neutrals seem like they’d be better suited for paler skin tones rather than deep. For that reason I haven’t been reaching for it as much as the Warm Palette.

The Warm one’s shadows pack more pigment than the Cools, and the palette has several shades that I know I can wear every day…for the next three lifetimes (like Saddle, Brule and Amber Lights).

And then there’s Honey Lust — in this case, the dicey shade. It’s definitely a chunky monkey, I know, but that’s just the way it goes with Honey Lust. Whenever I wear it, I use a wet brush, and/or gently pat it on my lids with a flat brush. Be patient, and try not to sweep it, lest you end up with shadow all over the place. It can be worth the effort, though. Honey Lust can look really beautiful when it’s packed on the lids.

MAC Warm Neutral Palette Swatches from the left: Hey, Warm Breeze, Gingershap, Dark Brew and Dance in the Dark — The Warm Neutral palette top row from the left: Hey, Warm Breeze, Gingershap, Dark Brew and Dance in the Dark

[Continue reading…]

Where Are You at Right Now in Terms of Your Foundation Coverage? Have You Been Wearing More Full Coverage, Medium or Sheer and Why?

March 10th, 2015 by Karen 32 Comments

Wearing a medium coverage foundation, Dior Diorskin Nude Air Serum in 40 — Wearing medium-coverage Dior Diorskin Nude Air Serum foundation in 40. I love the velvety finish, which isn’t quite a flat matte.

Full coverage was my jam for a really long time. I was all about opaque coverage (sometimes, um, it was even borderline cakey).

I think this was partly because of some skin issues I had a few years ago. I was breaking out badly, and I felt like I had to cover everything up.

Then, slowly but surely, my skin started to improve, but it took a long time. I made some changes in my diet (mainly more water, less dairy) and started using different skin products. My skin grew less fussy (although by no means was it ever perfect), and I started to feel more comfortable.

But I kept wearing full coverage.

I still have pigmentation issues here and there and other blemishes and fine lines, things like that. I also have my share of freckles, but I’m at a point, at least for now, where I’m more comfortable with that.

I wear medium and sheer coverage a lot now, but I don’t know if you can always tell in pictures, because I think I’m getting better at manipulating the concealer. That’s a big key. Instead of caking all of that foundation on or using tons of full-coverage foundation, I’ll go as light as I can with foundation, and then very purposefully place concealer to cover — not cover up, because I hate words like “cover up” and “mask” — and even out the skin tone. The idea is to let the concealer do all of the heavy lifting.

I think I’ve also gotten better about using primers. I used to think they were total B.S. and just an extra step, but no, they really make a HUGE difference, and not just in terms of how long your makeup lasts, but also in terms of the texture of your skin.
[Continue reading…]

NARS Last Resort Collection Temporary Tattoos and Tahiti Bronzer [VIDEO]

March 6th, 2015 by Karen 12 Comments

I can only imagine what my mom would say about my current state of tattoo-ness.

“Tattoos are for sailors…”

That’s probably what she’d say, and then insert disapproving frown [HERE].

But I’m kind of liking being tatted up! — albeit it’s a temporary thing with these new NARS temporary tattoos. I feel like a different person.

Just another quick video. I’m also wearing the new Tahiti Bronzer. Both are from the new Last Resort Collection, available now at Sephora.

As always, purr usual, thank you for watching. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

MAC Haute & Naughty Waterproof Lash Is a Good Monday Through Fri-Yay Mascara

March 6th, 2015 by Karen 20 Comments

MAC’s new Haute & Naughty Waterproof Lash mascara ($22) made it through the “AVOID EMOTIONAL TRIGGERS” dates on my calendar with flying colors, so it’s alright by me.

Yes…there really is a 10-day block of time highlighted in red on the calendar that I share with El Hub, and there really is a note on it (in all caps) that says, “AVOID EMOTIONAL TRIGGERS.”

I consider it a courtesy alert for my husband, so that he knows to prepare for possible PMS-induced mood swings, and thus stay outta my way…lest he suffer the consequences.

Haha! Kidding. 🙂

Kind of.

OK, not really.

I’ll be going along, doop-da-doo, happy as a lark with a clam, until out of nowhere — BOOM! — I’ll see a commercial about adoptable kittens or read a sad story on Facebook, and just like that, I’ll start crying.

Hence the need for waterproof mascara like Haute & Naughty Waterproof Lash.

Like the other day, I was thinking about the first time I met Tabs (it was about eight years ago) when it occurred to me that he’s not going to be around forever…

*sniffs*

I burst into tears! My baby cat is getting older. 🙁

Waterproof Lash is MAC’s latest addition to their Haute & Naughty Lash mascara line, and it’s available in a single shade, a deep glossy black called Shockproof.

Like MAC’s other Haute & Naughty line mascaras, depending on how you twist off the cap, you can load the brush in one of two ways, with either more (in this case, twisting it off from the sparkly section) or less (twisting it off from the dark blue section) product. Load the brush with extra product for thicker, fuller lashes, or with less product for less volume, but better length and lots o’ separation.

I like to create a lash cocktail, starting with two layers for length and separation, followed by a final layer with the thicker application to add some drama for yo’ mama.

The result is noticeable, but not cray (no spider lashes!), criss-crossing lashes with fullness at the base.
[Continue reading…]

Guerlain KissKiss Lipstick in Rosy Silk Floats Like a Shimmery Pink and Gold Kiss on the Wind

February 26th, 2015 by Karen 20 Comments

If I were wearing Guerlain’s KissKiss Lipstick in Rosy Silk ($37) and blew a kiss across a room to a handsome stranger (let’s call him Nick Jonas), that kiss would drift off my lips and float like a shimmery pink and gold apparition.

The featherweight formula is eminently forgettable…in that I forget sometimes when I’m wearing it because it’s so comfortable.

But the color is anything but forgettable. The slightly see-through pink with golden shimmer alights on my skin like sunshine filtering through the petals of a blooming cherry blossom tree, tender and romantic, ah…

I think one layer works best, which I apply directly from the tube, and then pat down with a finger. When I add more layers, they don’t help, and the formula starts to seek out flakes and settle into my lip lines.

Guerlain KissKiss Lipstick in Rosy Silk Swatch — Rosy Silk

[Continue reading…]

I Get All the Feels From The Texture of These New NARS Dual-Intensity Blushes…

February 23rd, 2015 by Karen 43 Comments

As Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock so eloquently put it, “It takes two to make a thing go right… It takes two to make it out of sight.”

Truer words were never spoken, particularly as they pertain to the new NARS Dual Intensity Blushes ($45 each). 🙂

Yeah, even though I braced myself for it, I still freaked out a little when I opened one of these compacts for the first time and saw, not one, but TWO blushes within it with the same pattern on the pans as the NARS Dual-Intensity Eyeshadows (which I love, and these feel very similar).

Hearts may or may not have shot out of from my eyes.

NARS designed these new blushes, which arrive March 4 as six $45 duos, to 1) look and feel weightless on the skin, and 2) to create two completely different looks. Applying them with a dry powder brush paints your cheeks with bold color, while a wet brush seduces your skin with a softer watercolor-like effect, similar to what you’d get from a cheek tint, and you can wear the shades separately or mix them together.

The one called Frenzy fuses a sparkling pinkish gold highlighter with a shimmering bright tangerine…

NARS Dual-Intensity Blush in Frenzy — Dual-Intensity Blush in Frenzy

While Fervor partners a shimmering soft pink with a deep, sparkling coppery rose…

NARS Dual-Intensity Blush in Fervor — Dual-Intensity Blush in Fervor

And if you’re craving a trip to the tropics…Craving combines a sparkling seashell pink highlighter with a shimmering beachy bronze.

NARS Dual-Intensity Blush in Craving — Dual-Intensity Blush in Craving

WARNING: Do not panic when you see Panic…which is the brightest duo of the six. It contains a shocking, shimmering fuchsia and a shimmering orangey pink.

NARS Dual-Intensity Blush in Panic — Dual-Intensity Blush in Panic!

If you’re just plain partial to pinks in general, you might adore Adoration, which pairs a soft, sparkling baby pink with a shimmering hot pink.

NARS Dual-Intensity Blush in Adoration — Dual-Intensity Blush in Adoration

Last, but certainly not least, there’s Jubilation, yay! It partners a sparkling hot gold with a soft and shimmering nude peach.

NARS Dual-Intensity Blush in Jubilation — Dual Intensity Blush in Jubilation

[Continue reading…]

3 Chic New Reasons to Bring Your Cheeks to Physicians Formula This Spring

February 20th, 2015 by Karen 23 Comments

1. Physicians Formula Argan Wear Ultra-Nourishing Argan Oil Bronzer ($14.95)

Physicians Formula Argan Wear Ultra-Nourishing Argan Oil Blush — $14.95 Argan Wear Ultra-Nourishing Argan Oil Bronzer, new for spring

Ooh! Fancy pan and fancy bronzer formula. The latter contains argan oil, and it’s supposed to brighten, smooth and tone.

That’s great and all, but they had me at the color. It’s a medium warm brown with a golden sheen, almost like someone down there are at Physicians Formula HQ poured liquid sunshine on the pan.

If you notice any big flecks of gold glitter the first few times you swirl your brush in it, not to worry. The design on the top is an overspray.

Just to note, this one has a strong white floral scent. Luckily, I like it.

For a natural-looking golden glow, I like to dust this just below my cheekbones using a big fluffy brush, and sometimes I also use it as a transition color in my crease.

2. Physicians Formula Argan Wear Ultra-Nourishing Argan Oil Blush ($12.95)

Confession: every single time I open this blush I give it a sniff because, my goodness! — it smells delish. Like wild jasmine on a warm summer night…or wild jasmine on a freezing winter night, but the first one sounds better. 🙂

Like the design on the pan of the new bronzer up above, the pattern on this pan is also an overspray (so you might see some big-honkin’ chunks of gold glitter the first few times you use it).

When the overspray’s gone, what’s left is a neutral, mid-toned pink with light reflecting particles. This one creates a lovely youthful glow, and it gets extra credit because it seems to go with everything I wear on my cheeks or lips. This blush easily holds its own with the department store big boys.

I’ve started blending it on the apples of my cheeks after applying the Argan Bronzer. I love that combo so much that I wish the two of them came together in a duo!
[Continue reading…]

Let Dolce & Gabbana Bouganville Lipgloss Lure Your Lips to the Pink Party

February 19th, 2015 by Karen 14 Comments

Now I know what to wear when I finally bite the bullet on that pair of hot pink skinny jeans — Dolce & Gabbana’s new Lipgloss in Bouganville ($30.50).

Pink, pink, pink, PINK!

From the new spring collection, it ticks off all the little checkboxes on my list (no, I don’t really have a list) of Things a Smokin’ Hot Pink Lipgloss Absolutely Needs, like wicked pigment, eye-catching shine and vibrant, bodacious color.

It gives my eyeballs kisses every time I see it on my lips. 🙂

Bouganville also seems to have both warm and cool undertones, or some other such magic. I bet just about everyone will be able to pull it off.
[Continue reading…]