Makeup

The New NARS Audacious Lipstick Collection: The Nudes

August 14th, 2014 by Karen 23 Comments

New NARS Audacious Lipstick in Anita ($32)

Am I the only one out there who thinks this is funny?

Full-coverage nude lipsticks?

I dunno… I think it’s kinda funny. 🙂

A completely opaque lipstick in a shade that’s supposed to make it look like you’re not wearing any lipstick at all?

That’s funny! Granted, I am easily amused…

So, opaque nude lipsticks, specifically the ones in the new NARS Audacious Lipstick collection. There are nine nude shades ($32 each) nestled among the radiant reds, courageous corals, awesome oranges, punchy pinks and bold berries in the release, and they aren’t your everyday nudes.

No, these are like nude comic book characters (Chris Evans, perhaps?)! — able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, and hop the hurdles that lesser nude lipsticks often fail to overcome.

NARS Audacious Lipsticks from the left: Jane, Julie, Anna, Barbara, Anita, Raquel, Brigitte and Vanessa (Barneys New York Exclusive) — From the left: Jane, Julie, Anna, Barbara, Anita, Raquel, Brigitte and Vanessa (Barneys New York Exclusive)

First, these NARS Audacious nudes are completely full coverage, so even if your lips are pigmented like mine, these nudes appear rich on the lips. No layering needed. All it takes is a single swipe.

Second, none of the nine make me look like a washed-out Nicki Minaj impersonator, a rare feat in these complicated times.

Like the other Audacious Lipsticks I’ve tried, the nudes are potently pigmented and extra smooth; however, I think they’re also slightly more challenging to wear than their more vibrant counterparts.

I don’t know if it’s because they’re nude, or because of something else, but they seem to exacerbate the funky issues I’m having with my lips — in my case now, dryness and flakes — to a greater degree than the bolder shades do.

Weird…

When my kayak-damaged lips fully heal and return to normal, it won’t be a big whoop, but if your pout is perpetually parched, you might want to incorporate the use of a rich lip balm (I’m lovin’ Osmnia Organics Honey-Myrrh Lip Repair right now), and lather up your lips like butter on a slice of toast.

OK, that’s enough background. Now let’s get nude. 🙂 #pantsareoverrated

The neutral pinkish browns: Raquel and Barbara

For a traditional nude lip, check out Raquel and Barbara. For pinkish browns, I think they’re excellent options, flattering on both warm and cool skin tones.

Raquel, the lighter, brighter option, is a pinkish beige.

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Raquel — Raquel

Barbara is a tad deeper and contains a touch more tan.

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Barbara — Barbara

I think both are extremely flattering and among my overall favorites of the whole bunch because of how they accent without overpowering anything on my lids.

Either would be great as an everyday lipstick, or as something to pair with smokey eyes.

The cooler-toned rose and mauve nudes: Anna, Vanessa and Anita

Alas, the lady cannot live on nude neutral pinkish browns alone… When you’re looking for a cooler-toned rose or mauve to wear with your purply taupes or gunmetal grays, consider Anna, Vanessa and Anita.

Anna, a smokey rose, is the deepest of the three, and on me it reveals a hint of violet, which I dig.

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Intensify Your Gaze With New Black Ecstasy Mascara by Giorgio Armani Beauty

August 13th, 2014 by Karen 12 Comments

Giorgio Armani Beauty Black Ecstasy Mascara — New ‘Black Ecstasy’ Mascara by Giorgio Armani in Obsidian Black ($32)

Yup, someone’s been watching re-runs of The Hills lately. 🙂

My Tivo recorded a massive 45-episode marathon last week.

To quote El Hub when he saw them in the menu, “Holy sh*t!”

I wore Giorgio Armani Beauty’s new Black Ecstasy Mascara in Obsidian Black ($32; one of four shades) during an epic 8-hour binge this week.

A recent addition to the brand’s permanent line (available now in three shades exclusively at Nordstrom, but coming to Giorgio Armani Beauty counters and giorgioarmanibeauty.com this September in four shades), ‘Black Ecstasy’ Mascara is designed to create longer, denser, thicker lashes to allow you to deliver intense gazes…

That intensity came in handy while I re-watched season two of The Hills and repeatedly shot disapproving glares at Spencer Pratt.

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The New NARS Audacious Lipstick Collection: The Reds

August 13th, 2014 by Karen 21 Comments

Mmmwaah! Smile by new NARS Audacious Lipstick in Annabella ($32)

It wouldn’t be a big NARS lipstick launch if there weren’t some bad-@ss reds up in the mix.

Oh! NARS does some ah-may-zing reds, don’t they? And there are lots of scintillating scarlets in the new NARS Audacious Lipstick collection ($32 each; 40 shades; available starting September 1).

NARS Audacious Lipsticks from the left: Rita, Jeanne, Lana, Marlene, Carmen (Barneys New York Exclusive), Audrey and Annabella — Red, she said! From the left, that’s Rita, Jeanne, Lana, Marlene, Carmen (a Barneys New York Exclusive), Audrey and Annabella

Yesterday when we were looking at the corals and hot pinks I mentioned how I felt that NARS did a really good job making each of the colors in this collection distinct, despite some of them appearing very similar at first. Look closely, and you see the subtle differences among them. They don’t all just blur together into a hazy fog of reddish pink…

So, if you’re one of those unstoppable makeup fanatics (like myself) who, like the Terminator, WILL NOT STOP until you find your personal red lipstick version of Sarah Connor (for me, it’s a super warm tomato red with strong orange undertones), chances are you’ll find it among the reds in this launch.

Quickly, though, before we get to the reds, have I mentioned that my lips have been dry lately?

I think I have…but it wouldn’t be a Wednesday unless I mentioned it at least 26 more times, LOL! 🙂

So yeah, my lips have been very dry, which is what happens when you kayak on a windy lake for four hours. Of course, after doing this batch of swatches — which you know, took a while — they were in even worse shape.

But despite the currently critical lip sitch, I still think these lipsticks look smooth, which is yet another testament to the audaciously smooth Audacious Lipstick formula.

Now, on to the reds!

If you like warm, orangey reds…

Don’t miss Annabella (a poppy red), Carmen (a geranium red) and Lana (a vivid orangey red) without taking a closer look.

Of the three, I think Lana is the warmest and the most orange. It’s basically like a creamy MAC Lady Danger.

For a warm red with less orange than Lana, check out Carmen (slightly redder, less orange) or Annabella (even more red, and less orange).

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Carmen — Carmen (a Barneys New York Exclusive)

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It’s Taupe Time With the Urban Decay Naked2 Basics Palette

August 12th, 2014 by Karen 24 Comments

Rap battle in 3-2-1…

If you can’t cope when shadow palettes lack taupe,
Or you start to mope when you lose your favorite matte taupe,
Or you think “Dope!” when you see a palette with six taupes,
Then jump over that moat! And climb that slope! ‘Cuz…

OK…I can’t think of anything else that rhymes with taupe. 🙂

The $29 Urban Decay Naked2 Basics Palette

Yeah, man, Naked2 Basics ($29), Urban Decay’s latest vestiphobic eyeshadow palette, is a cool-toned taupe explosion. It comes with five matte shadows and one satin, with all of them being a different incarnation of taupe.

Five of the shadows are new (nude-pink Stark, warm gray Frisk, reddish brown Cover, muted brown Primal and smoky brown Undone), while the remaining one’s a re-promote (pale nude Skimp).

Essentially, the palette is a cool-toned taupe cousin of the original Naked Basics palette.

Compared to the shadows in its predecessor, the original Naked Basics Palette, these shadows seem much easier to blend. I haven’t had any problems mixing or mooshing any of the colors together and haven’t had any trouble with uneven application.

I have seen some fallout, though, but that’s pretty typical of Urban Decay.

According to UD, the palette works well for all skin tones, from like to dark and cool to warm, but I have to politely disagree with that… I’m an olive-toned gal with a darker skin tone, and I feel that without the help of some additional products, like a black shadow or eyeliner, or a warm beige or orangey brown, all six Naked2 Basics shadows tend to blend together into a nondescript haze on my skin.

It’s like when the newspaper gets left out in the rain, and then you open it and everything’s a muddled mix of depressing grays… Sad panda. 🙁

Urban Decay Naked2 Basics Palette with a MAC Lipstick for scale — With a MAC Lipstick for scale

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Pencil In a Date With the New MAC Fluidline Eye Pencils on Your Lash Lines

August 8th, 2014 by Karen 13 Comments

Wearing the new MAC Fluidline Eye Pencil in Black Brilliance ($16) on my lash and water lines

You know, I don’t think I’ve ever actually finished an entire pot of MAC Fluidline. I’ve gotten pretty close several times with Blacktrack, but I usually get distracted by something else (it happens), and then misplace or forget about the particular pot I’m working on, so I open a new one.

This inevitably leads to someone saying, “What sane person needs five half-used pots of gel liner?” when they visit my house and notice the five half-used Blacktrack Fluidlines on the counter, to which I can’t make a smart-a$$ remark because, c’mon, only crazy makeup hoarders keep five pots of half-used Blacktrack.

MAC Fluidline Eye Pencils (left to right) in Atomic Ore, Earth Sign, Deep Blue Sea, Metropolis, Water Willow, Evil Twin and Black Brilliance — Fluidline Eye Pencils (left to right) in Atomic Ore, Earth Sign, Deep Blue Sea, Metropolis, Water Willow, Evil Twin and Black Brilliance

Now, though, I’m betting I’ll actually be able to finish one of the new MAC Fluidline Eye Pencils ($16 each US, $19 CAD), richly pigmented twist-up gel pencils coming soon to MAC counters with the A Novel Romance collection.

I’ve been wearing Black Brilliance, the black shade, a lot lately, and I seem to be going through it quickly. The soft formula glides so smoothly across my lids and lash lines that I sometimes get carried away with it.

There are also many other colors available, like Earth Sign (a deep, shimmery brown, which is a lot like Teddy, but not as reddish bronze) and Water Willow (a deep khaki green), which have also become close, personal faves. I love ’em on lash lines, where they stay put for 12-14 hours.

MAC Fluidline Eye Pencils in Atomic Ore, Earth Sign, Deep Blue, Metropolis, Water Willow, Evil Twin and Black Brilliance — Fluidline Eye Pencils in Atomic Ore, Earth Sign, Deep Blue, Metropolis, Water Willow, Evil Twin and Black Brilliance

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La Prairie Anti-Aging Hydra Tint Sunscreen SPF 20 Sheer Tinted Moisturizer: I Really Don’t Need To Get Addicted To This But…

August 8th, 2014 by Karen 10 Comments

To put it in perspective, a bottle of La Prairie Anti-Aging Hydra Tint SPF 20 Sheer Tinted Moisturizer costs about as much as Choupette Lagerfeld spends daily on gravy. A 1.4 fl. oz. bottle costs $100 (OMG!). That is a lot of gravy, yo.

With a price like that, one would expect something phenomenal, right? Nothing short of tinted moisturizing perfection?

La Prairie is a high-end skin care line with prices that hover around mucho and dinero, but by comparison to their $465 Cellular Radiance Emulsion SPF 30 Lotion and $300 Skin Caviar Luxe Souffle Body Cream, Hydra Tint seems almost affordable.

Yeah…not really.

So, you know how I am almost never not looking for foundations and tinted moisturizers that look like real skin yet provide enough coverage to downplay the whole freckle situation and even out my skin tone? Well, this stuff does that.

It’s weird… Before I massage it in (I wear shade 30, which is one of four shades available and the one that most closely matches my skin), it doesn’t look anything close to my skin tone. It actually looks too pinkish red.

But after I work it in and give it a few minutes to settle, almost suddenly, it matches. My skin looks more even-toned and radiant. My pores appear smaller, and everything just looks, I dunno…more J. Lo with a fan and big hair.

This being summer, I have a slight tan and some additional reddish tones in my skin, but in winter, shade 30 might be a little too pinkish red for me. At that point, I may not be able to wear one of the other shades, either, as all of them seem to lean pinkish red.

“Tinted moisturizer with sun protection for a perfect complexion. Anti-Aging Hydra Tint SPF 20 blends mineral-infused color and illuminating pigments for natural-looking color and sheer coverage that disguises imperfections. Protects the skin from UV rays and age spots, and opens moisture pathways in the skin to increase hydration. Dispenses easily from a convenient squeeze bottle, blending seamlessly into your morning routine. Minimal time for exquisite results. Perfection has never been so simple.”

—laprarie.com

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MAC Animal Instincts Blush: A Primal Plum for Fierce Cheeks

August 7th, 2014 by Karen 17 Comments

If you were reading 50 Shades of Grey on a plane and had to stop and fan yourself for a moment because, whew! — it’s getting hot in hurr — you’d look like you were wearing MAC Powder Blush in Animal Instincts ($22)

Now, to answer what is possibly your first question, yes, MAC Powder Blush in Animal Instincts is pretty dark.

Next, to answer what is possibly your second question, yes, you will still be able to wear it. 🙂

And you’ll look smokin’ hot, especially if you keep the eyes simple (picture bare lids, a shimmering chocolate smudged liner and lots of mascara) and wear it with a rich plummy lip, because the two go together like herds of unicorns and double rainbows.

With this pliant plummy powder blush, which should flatter the heck out of light, medium and darker skin tones, it pays to pick your brush carefully and spend a little time blending out the edges.

I think it’s the most clear-cut nod to classic fall colors in MAC’s new A Novel Romance collection, and it fits right in with the launch’s shmexy theme.

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Exercise Your Right To Look Good While Sweating With the Hourglass 1.5MM Mechanical Gel Liner

August 7th, 2014 by Karen 25 Comments

Wearing the new Hourglass 1.5 MM Mechanical Gel Eye Liner in Obsidian ($45)

Hellooooo, freckles and dark circles! The bare-faced/no makeup action in some of the pics below was necessary to demonstrate the waterproof-ness of the new 1.5 MM Mechanical Gel Eye Liner in Obsidian by Hourglass ($45 for a pack of three).

Here’s from last weekend, before and after a 7-mile run. I’m wearing Obsidian on my lash and water lines.

Hourglass 1.5 MM Mechanical Gel Eye Liner before a workout and after — Before and after Hourglass 1.5 MM Mechanical Gel Eye Liner

Please ignore the haphazard lining, LOL! I wasn’t heavily invested in precision, although the skinny 1.5 MM twist-up tip definitely allows for it. I’ve really been loving it for getting between the roots of my lashes and for doing precision work in the inner corners (like in that pic at the top).

7.25 miles — Nike Women’s Half Marathon, Oct. 19…I’m comin’ for ya!

After seven miles, buckets of sweat, and one complete run through MJ’s Xscape album, Obsidian looked great. With the exception of some very minor transferring to my lower lash lines, I didn’t see any movement up into my crease, any creasing or smudging — basically, no malarky.

Then, I jumped into the shower while still wearing the liner and took this pic after.

Hourglass 1.5 MM Mechanical Gel Eye Liner after 7.25 miles and a shower — Hourglass 1.5 MM Mechanical Gel Eye Liner after 7.25 miles *and* a shower

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