Makeup

You Don’t Have to Be a Nimbus to Wear the Guerlain Les Tendres Écrin 4 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette in Les Nuées

February 18th, 2015 by Karen 20 Comments

Guerlain Les Tendres Écrin 4 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette in Les Nuees — Wearing the new $65 Guerlain Les Tendres Écrin 4 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette in Les Nuées

“En Français,” as my high school French teacher used to say! The name of Guerlain’s new spring eyeshadow palette, Les Nuées, means “The Clouds,” and when I wear it I feel like I’m floating in a blue sky surrounded by puffs of white cotton candy clouds…

Les Nuées is what I like to call a “glisten-y” eye palette, because when I buff any of the three lightest shades — the frosty white, the pale pink or the baby blue, which, truth be told, all look pretty similar on my NC42 skin — on my lids with a fluffy eye brush, I end up with glowing, almost glossy, lids.

Then I line my lash lines with the fourth shade, a deep blue, and pat it in the outer corner for depth before cleaning up any fallout (because there is a little) and finishing with mascara.

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5 Springy New Reasons to Stop by Make Up For Ever

February 18th, 2015 by Karen 15 Comments

Make Up For Ever Spring 2015 — Wearing new spring 2015 makeup from Make Up For Ever

Rouge Artist Intense 53, $20

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Intense 53, a pearly pinky copper — Rouge Artist Intense lipstick in 53, a pearly, pinkish copper

I’m picking up Chanel vibes from this warm pearlescent pink lipstick. The long-lasting, highly pigmented formula feels a little thick and reminds me of Coco’s Rouge Allures.

The pearlescent copper sprinkled through the pink base? That could easily pass for something Chanel might do for spring.

Super pretty!

If your lips happen to be chapped or otherwise textured, try layering a pink gloss on top to tone down the pearl, lest it emphasize any flakes or lip lines.

Coming March 2015 to Make Up For Ever Boutiques, counters and Sephora.

Rouge Artist Intense 54, $20

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Intense 54, a pearly golden pink — Rouge Artist Intense lipstick in 54, a pearly golden pink

Like Rouge Artist Intense 53, warm pearly golden pink 54 has very little patience for imperfect lips.

Oh, but the color… Breathtaking. It’s almost like a lipstick version of MAC Nymphette Lipglass.

I like to layer a gloss like shimmery beige MUFE’s Lab Shine Lip Gloss in D16 on top of this one to slightly downplay and soften the impact of the pink and pearl and create a pretty pinkish nude.

Coming March 2015 to Make Up For Ever Boutiques, counters, and Sephora.

Ink Liner, $23

Make Up For Ever Ink Liner — MUFE’s Ink Liner

Decidedly dark and marvelously matte, this pigmented liquid liner has high-fashion runway look written all over it.

Super stark and super cool, especially if you’re banging out a bold ’60s-style liner.

The firm tip stays stiff when I run it across my lash lines, which makes drawing crisp edges a bit of a challenge for (I’m more of a flexible felt tip gal), so I keep an angled brush and a pot of black gel liner close to smooth out any jagged areas.

Available now at Make Up For Ever Boutiques, counters and Sephora.

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Warm Up Your Skin and Add Color to Your Cheeks With the New Bobbi Brown Brightening Bricks

February 13th, 2015 by Karen 14 Comments

I wish my house was made out of Bobbi Brown Brightening Bricks.

Never mind that they aren’t adequate building materials (Lego would probably be sturdier), but at least when the homies rolled up I’d have a great conversation starter.

“Um…what kind of walls you got there?”

“Bricks.”

“Those don’t look like bricks…”

“They are bricks. They’re Bobbi Brown Brightening Bricks.”

“OK. So, basically, your house is made out of makeup?”

“Yes.”

“Alright then.”

The housing situation would be precarious at best. Cold nights would force me to snuggle closer to Ryan Gosling (darn), but I’d always have access to a good-looking blush.

Sweet! 🙂

Bobbi Brown Brightening Brick in Coral — Brightening Brick in Coral

Recently released with Bobbi’s spring collection, the Brightening Bricks are like toned down Shimmer Bricks, but instead of containing strips of highlighting powder, they’re part blush, part warm bronzer. And they’re $46 each (which seems a little steep for Bobbi Brown, or is that just me?).

Bobbi Brown Brightening Brick in Cranberry — Brightening Brick in Cranberry

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Three Full-Size Lip Products for $32 Makes the Make Up For Ever Tease Me Lip Trios a Tempting Tease

February 13th, 2015 by Karen 24 Comments

Wearing the new $32 Make Up For Ever Tease Me Nude Lip Trio

Every time I see this guy’s face on the two Make Up For Ever Tease Me lip trios I want to tell him to FREAKING RELAX, MAN. Why you so stressed out?? Aren’t you, like, a billionaire playboy or something?

Or maybe that’s Bruce Wayne… OK, whatever.

This series though. Who knew it was so controversial? And here I was thinking it was just a frothy, pulpy schmexy-time romance novel.

However you feel about it, I bet there’s one thing we can all agree on: the makeup inspired by the movie is kind of rocking.

Like MUFE’s two new lip trios, one based on nudes and one built around berries. Each one comes with a lip liner, a waterproof liquid lipstick and a lip gloss, all of them full-size.

Maybe Mr. Grey likes to wear lipstick sometimes, and he’s stressed out about his lip situation. “Which lipstick should I wear, and how will I know what lip liner and gloss to wear with it!?”

Make Up For Ever Tease Me Berry Lip Trio — Tease Me Berry Lip Trio

No worries, Mr. Grey. Make Up For Ever has made it easy for ya. For each of the two trios, they picked a matching lip liner, liquid lipstick and gloss, freeing you up to make the tough decisions, like how many cats is too many cats? Do I appear intense enough in this photo? What should our safety word be? Is my hair too flat? And how’s the lighting in my secret back room?

The Innocent Nude Lip Trio is my favorite of the two because of its flexibility, which is to say that while I don’t intend to wear the trio with thigh-high leather boots and a naughty outfit, I suppose I could. The shades are neutral enough to work with a variety of looks and outfits. It comes with a nude beige lip liner, a soft rosy pink liquid lipstick and a sparkling beige gloss (thankfully, the glitter isn’t gritty).

I do also like the Passionate Berry Lip Trio, but with my lips being so dry and flaky right now, I’m a little reluctant to embrace the darker colors. The deep berry plum lip liner, raspberry liquid lipstick and sparkling deep fuchsia gloss are very wearable, though, and right in the middle of the road in terms of color temperature.

Make Up For Ever Tease Me Nude Lip Trio Swatches from the left: Aqua Lip Pencil in 3C, Aqua Rouge Waterproof Lip Color in 3, Aqua Rouge Clear, Lab Shine Diamond Collection Lip Gloss in D16 — Nude Lip Trio Swatches from the left: Aqua Lip Pencil in 3C, Aqua Rouge Waterproof Lip Color in 3, Aqua Rouge Clear, Lab Shine Diamond Collection Lip Gloss in D16

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Try Estée Lauder Little Black Primer for Lashes Curled Like Roman Arches, Lifted Like My Bangs in the ’80s and Defined Like Merriam-Webster

February 12th, 2015 by Karen 11 Comments

Estee Lauder Little Black Primer — Estée Lauder’s Little Black Primer, $24, available now at counters and online

Holly Golightly. 🙂

I wonder what Holly would have thought about Estée Lauder’s Little Black Primer ($24), because I know what Kendall Jenner probably thinks about it, or maybe, since she’s the official spokesperson, but I dunno…I’ve always been more of a Holly Golightly gal.

And Holly sure did love long lashes and little black dresses.

Not that Holly would have needed a lash primer like this one because her fringe always looked fierce, even when she was rolling out of bed at 2 in the afternoon (probably because she was wearing false lashes).

As for me, I will happily complicate my makeup life when it comes to things like eyeshadow (“Absolutely! A third color in the crease sounds like a brilliant idea!”), but not so much when it comes to mascara.

When it comes to mascara, I usually keep it simple. One tube, a couple coats on my top lashes, and that’s it.

Most of the time.

Sometimes, though, like when I’m feeling fancy, I’ll do a separate swipe of MAC Extended Play Gigablack Lash mascara on my lower lashes.

But Estée Lauder’s Little Black Primer is turning me into a Lady Layers-a-Lot. When I use it with my regular go-to mascaras, my lashes look downright dreamy — curled like Roman arches, lifted like my bangs in the ’80s and defined like Merriam-Webster.

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Rouge Bunny Rouge Original Skin Blush For Love of Roses: It Would Be a Sin to Miss These Original Skin Blushes

February 12th, 2015 by Karen 19 Comments

Rouge Bunny Rouge Delicata Original Skin Blush For Love of Roses

Oh, for the love of roses!

Apparently, along with the recent revelation that I’m more than willing to “Mrs. Robinson” Nick Jonas, I’ve also realized that I’m going to need more makeup storage space for MOAR RBR BLUSHES.

Are you familiar with RBR’s $29 Original Skin Blush For Love of Roses powder blushes from their permanent line?

Um…kinda phenomenal! Like, so phenomenal that they make Chanel Malice shake in its go-go boots. Like, you could go months before wanting to wear anything else.

I’d never tried them before, but I finally got around to it this week, and I’m so glad I did.

I mean, yeah, if you’re going for ’80s-style unblended blush racing stripes down the sides of your face, these probably aren’t the best blushes for that; however, if you want natural-looking cheeks to go with your Victoria’s Secret angel wings and hair, you’ve come to the right place.

Rouge Bunny Rouge Original Skin Blush For Love of Roses in 033 Delicata — 033 Delicata

The name “Original Skin” is totally apt. Think hot cheeks after boom-chicka-wah-wah, if you know what I’m sayin’.

Come on, don’t make me spell it out. 🙂 This is a family show.

The way these fine powders bind to skin is almost hypnotic. They cling so close that it’s hard to tell where your skin begins and the powder ends. At first glance, you don’t even realize it’s there, and then you do and you’re like YES.

Rouge Bunny Rouge Original Skin Blush For Love of Roses in 036 Orpheline — 036 Orpheline

And the flawless finishes will have people wondering if homegirl actually wakes up like that. The mattes border on satins (so they aren’t too stark), and the sheens lovingly do not invite all of the pores in the neighborhood out to play.

Rouge Bunny Rouge Original Skin Blush For Love of Roses in 038 Habenera — 038 Habanera

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Tom Ford’s Glossy Gunmetal Cream Color for Eyes in Spring 2015 Is a Cream Shadow Chimera

February 10th, 2015 by Karen 32 Comments

Wearing Tom Ford Cream Color for Eyes in Spring 2015

OK, that’s it. Game over! I’ve only been waiting, what, years, possibly decades, for this exact cream eyeshadow to walk into my life and subsequently rock my world, all that time patiently wishing, wondering, hoping to find a long-wearing product with a glossy finish that would make it possible for me to do a smokey eye without having to conduct a symphony on my lids with five different eyeshadows and eight brushes.

Finally, the wait is over.

You done good, Tom. SO GOOD. Your new $42 Cream Color for Eyes cream eyeshadow in Spring 2015 (yup, that’s really its name) gives me all the feels.

But I’m actually having a hard time describing the color. One minute I’ll see a deep golden khaki gray. Then I’ll turn my head a certain way or push my hair behind my ear and POW! — get a blast of silvery glitter in a warm, rich taupe or catch a glimpse of gunmetal gray. It’s a cream shadow chimera.

To top it off, there’s the finish. THAT GLOSSY FINISH THO! Such a vivrant thing (shoutout to Q-Tip), slick as a pristine magazine cover beckoning from a shelf at Barnes. At the same time, it’s fresh, spunky and a little bit wild (like Tabs the first time I met him, haha).

Its glossiness holds the key to its grunge-glam fabulosity.

It’s not easy to find a shadow with a glossy finish that actually stays on my lids AND feels comfortable. Most of them scoot around, only to settle into the crease within minutes of applying, but this one doesn’t move. It stays put.

Formula-wise, it’s a whipped mousse (and I don’t mean an exhausted elk), so if you prefer dense creams like the MAC Paint Pots, this kind of cream shadow may not be for you. I like the fluffiness of it, though. I find it easy to blend.

Unfortunately, this one is limited edition.

(Cue the glittery tears and shaking fists.)

But at least it’s available now online for $42. It’ll also be available at bergdorfgoodman.com and neimanmarcus.com beginning later this week.

When I apply Spring 2015, I like to ride the lazy train. I usually don’t use a primer with it because it doesn’t need one. I’ll just pat a small amount on my eyes starting with my lash line and lids, buff out the edges, and rinse and repeat until I reach the level of intensity I want. After that, it’s black eyeliner on my water lines and lots of black mascara.

This shadow adores nude lips (one to try: Tom Ford Sable Smoke) and casual skin. Oh! — and warm-toned lip and cheek pairings.

In these pics I’m wearing it with a coral lip and warm peach cheeks.

Being a $42 cream eyeshadow, Spring 2015 will probably not make your wallet do the Dance of Joy, but that’s Tom for you. Bargains are just not allowed at his counters. Still, in Tom Ford-ville, where a jar of face moisturizer costs $230, $42 is not a bad deal.

If you’re looking for a reasonable way to test the Tom Ford waters (as reasonable as Tom Ford ever gets), consider Spring 2015. I think it’s really something special (Tom, please make it permanent!).

PRICE: $42 for a 0.21-oz. jar
AVAILABILITY: Limited edition, available now online at tomford.com and coming to bergdorfgoodman.com and neimanmarcus.com later this week
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A+

Adventures in tea time…

I’ve been drinking a lot of tea lately…

Partly because I’m trying to cut down on my caffeine intake/dependency (hey, it’s something to do…like growing out my hair), and partly because of that cold I had last week.

I don’t know why, but some things are just totally unappealing to me when I’m sick, like coffee and eggs — especially scrambled eggs, which I normally love.

Anyway, this tea — my parents brought it back from their trip to China and the Philippines last fall. I’m actually not entirely sure what’s in it (the ingredients aren’t in English), but there’s a description on the side of the box, and I see the word “barley.”

This tea is SO DAMN GOOD. It’s hearty, like black tea, but I don’t think it’s caffeinated, because it doesn’t keep me up when I drink it at night.

I’m down to my last five bags now. 🙁 I keep looking for it online, but no luck. I’m seriously thinking about going to Chinatown in SF specifically to look for it.

If you’re a fellow tea lover, what have you been drinking lately?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The Beautiful Beasts in Paul & Joe’s Menagerie Are Wild About Laid-Back Color: The Spring 2015 Menagerie Collection Face and Eye Color CS Palettes

February 9th, 2015 by Karen 23 Comments

Wearing the new Paul & Joe Face & Eye Colors in CS 0996 and CS 094 from the spring 2015 Menagerie collection — Wearing the new Paul & Joe Face & Eye Colors in CS 096 and CS 094 from the spring 2015 Menagerie collection

Paul & Joe’s spring Menagerie collection is not simply a collection of printed animals on powder pans. It is a representation of my not-too-distant future, a future in which I am a woman of advancing years living on a farm on the Big Island of Hawaii surrounding by cats (obviously) and various other fauna.

Despite El Hub’s protests, we adopt a hippo and an elephant, in addition to ducks (and cats), and all of them live together harmoniously, much as they do on these pans. 🙂

Paul & Joe Menagerie Spring 2015 collection Face & Eye Color CS from the left: Elephanteau (096), Les Flamants Roses (094) and Girafe (095), $39 each — The $39 Face & Eye Color CS palettes from the left in Elephanteau (096), Girafe (095) and Les Flamants Roses (094)

I think I’m physically incapable of not smiling when I look at these limited edition palettes, and they’re also a lot of fun to use, especially on casual makeup days when I’m rocking a ponytail, white tee and jeans (with my ASPCA cat Vans).

Paul & Joe Face & Eye Color in CS 096 — Face & Eye Color in Elephanteau CS 096

The powders are multifunctional eyeshadows/blushes/highlighters and can be used on your eyes and cheeks.

Paul & Joe Menagerie Spring 2015 Face & Eye Color CS in Les Flamants Roses — Face & Eye Color in Girafe CS 095

They also smell like candy hearts. 🙂 And the scent is fairly strong (typical of Paul & Joe). Luckily, I like it.

Paul & Joe Face & Eye Color in CS 094 — Face & Eye Color in Les Flamants Roses CS 094

Just like real life on a farm, these animals have jobs. The cat moonlights as an eyeshadow, the hippo works as an accent shade for eyes, the duck dances as a highlighter, and the elephant assists cheeks (while also doubling as an eye color).

Really, though, you can use any of them on your eyes or face, although Greta in the cube next to you might roll her eyes if she sees you wearing the blue hippo on your cheeks.

But who cares? Do it anyway. I did the other day, haha! I wanted to see how the eyeshadows would work on my cheeks, and they worked great. The smooth, easy-to-blend powders deposit a tiny bit of fallout, but it’s not enough to warrant calling the avenging makeup angels down to unleash their wrath of fire and brimstone. Nothing like that.

Paul & Joe Face & Eye Color in CS 096 Swatches — Face & Eye Color in Elephanteau CS 096

Paul & Joe Face & Eye Color in CS 095 Swatches — Face & Eye Color in Girafe CS 095

Paul & Joe Face & Eye Color in CS 094 Swatches — Face & Eye Color in Les Flamants Roses CS 094

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