Makeup

Four Tiny Tempting Treasures Frolic in the New $20 Too Faced Cosmetics Beauty Blogger Darlings Set

September 24th, 2013 by Karen 21 Comments

The new Too Faced Beauty Blogger Darlings set ($20)

I firmly believe that good things come in small packages…and not just because I’m too “vertically challenged” to reach anything on the higher shelves at the grocery store. 🙂

Teeny-tiny, travel-sized, diminutive and mini — if it’s small and cute, me likey, me likey.

Entering stage left on pint-sized feet this fall, the new Too Faced Beauty Blogger Darlings set, available now online and at Sephora.

The $20 kit, a $55 value, comes with four pocket-sized pieces of Too Faced makeup beloved by beauty bloggers…including a certain makeup-lurving cat lady you might know, what-what!

Decorate yourself with deluxe mini-me versions of Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara, Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer (OMG, smells so good!), Primed & Poreless Skin Smoothing Face Primer and Shadow Insurance Eye Shadow Primer.

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This Diva’s a Lightweight: Michael Kors Lip Lacquer in Diva

September 20th, 2013 by Karen 19 Comments

In the time it takes to grill a cheese sandwich and watch the new episode of Project Runway, a layer of lovely Lip Lacquer in Diva by Michael Kors comes and goes…

That’s about 90 minutes, give or take.

Diva — a sheer, golden rosy pink with a slick, glossy texture — is part of the new Michael Kors Beauty line available now exclusively at Macy’s.

The line is comprised of three sub collections — Sexy, Sporty and Glam — which, um, kinda remind me Spice Girls names. I guess the ’90s really are making a comeback. 🙂

In each, you’ll find lipsticks, glosses, fragrances, nail polishes and bronzing powders in shades based on the mood of the sub collection. Prices are around the Chanel/Dior range, with $18 for a bottle of nail polish, $24 for a lipstick/gloss and $50 for a bronzing powder. Fragrances are between $50-$95.

But back to Diva…
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Look in This Forest and What do You See? Gold, Khaki and Taupe! The New Clarins Eye Quartet Mineral Palette in Forest

September 19th, 2013 by Karen 13 Comments

Keep looking up! (BTW, that’s the Clarins Forest Eye Quartet on my eyes.)

I was conducting “research” at a Nordie’s MAC counter a few weeks ago, playing with lipsticks and chatting with the gals who work there (They’re all so nice at the Corte Madera counter!), when I overheard a woman discussing her philosophy on makeup.

Ohhhh-kay. So maybe I was eavesdropping. 😉

The woman was looking for false lashes, and one of the makeup artists asked if she wanted a bold look or something more natural. Her response was something along the lines of, “If I’m gonna wear fall lashes, I want people to notice!” She wanted to go bold all the way! Otherwise, why bother?

“Hell, yeah,” I thought to myself, nodding in silent approval as I secretly swatched berry-colored lippies on the back of my hand. “I hear that!”

Having been in a smokey eye phase for a while, her take on makeup really resonated with me.

Of course, there’s a time and place to tone it down, too. Not every hallway is a catwalk, after all, and runway makeup isn’t always appropriate. Plus, some makeup lovers just don’t do bold.

When you don’t have a runway to strut, or you’re just looking to wear something noticeable, but not overwhelming, on your eyes, there’s the new Clarins Eye Quartet Mineral Palette in Forest ($42).

Recently released for fall, the four-pan palette of powdered eyeshadows has a shimmmery golden khaki, a satiny taupe, a blackened khaki with the faintest flecks of golden glitter (SO CUTE) and a sheer, pale gold, any of which can be applied wet or dry, and still look great. Whatever suits yo’ fancy!

All four shadows, which range from sheer to medium coverage, have a lovely, soft reflective shimmer that catches the light juuust enough, so that you’re compelled to take a closer look.

It’s perfect for that watercolor effect — subtle, but you can definitely tell you’re wearing makeup.

Clarins Forest swatches — Swatches from the left: Khaki, gold, blackened khaki and taupe

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The RiRi Hearts MAC Fall Veluxe Brow Liners in Deep Brunette and Deep Dark Brunette

September 18th, 2013 by Karen 13 Comments

RiRi Hearts MAC Fall Veluxe Brow Liner in Deep Dark Brunette and Deep Brunette — Wearing both (I mixed them) of the RiRi Hearts MAC fall Veluxe Brow Liners in Deep Brunette and Deep Dark Brunette, $21.50 each ($25.50 CDN)

Like Gigablack Mascara, the two brow pencils in the new RiRi Hearts MAC fall collection are re-promotes from the permanent line bedecked in eye-catching limited edition pink packaging.

Even before they were RiRi-fied, I kept both of these brow pencils in various makeup bags and — ahem! — the glove compartment of my car, because I never knew when the urge to wear a bold brow would hit me.

Turns out it happens often. 🙂 One minute you’re driving along, dippity-doo, when you glance at yourself in the rearview mirror and think, “Yeah, those brows could be bigger.”

Not a problem if you have one of these around.

RiRi Hearts MAC Fall Veluxe Brow Liner in Deep Brunette and Deep Dark Brunette — Deep Brunette on the left and Deep Dark Brunette on the right

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RiRi Hearts MAC Fall: Extended Play Lash in Gigablack

September 18th, 2013 by Karen 4 Comments

I’ve been wearing MAC’s Extended Play Lash in Gigablack for a few months now, and it’s still one of my favorites when I want long, separated and curled lashes that don’t look spidery.

Gigablack straight-up STAYS ON, refusing to flake or smudge, and my lashes look stretched, smooth and glossy. Plus, the skinny brush is just so easy to use.

I didn’t think it could get any better until I saw the RiRi Hearts MAC version in its adorabe pink packaging.

How cute!

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RiRi Hearts MAC Fall: RiRi Woo Lipglass

September 18th, 2013 by Karen 13 Comments

Hey, Red. How’s it going? Are you wearing MAC RiRi Woo Lipglass ($16.50)? Why yes, yes I am.

Yeah, it’s coo’, RiRi Woo. You and I can be BFFs. We can get dressed up and storm the city sidewalk, stopping strangers in their tracks. They’ll stare at your opaque, crimson color and admire your glistening finish…which shines bright like a diamond (shines bright like a diamond).

Of course, they’ll be compelled to ask about you! I know I’d want to know your name if I saw you stroll past me on the sidewalk.

Of all the lip products in MAC RiRi Hearts for fall, RiRi Woo Lipglass is my favorite of the bunch, and if I had to pick just one lip product from the release, it would be the one dropping into my (already overstuffed) makeup bag.

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RiRi Hearts MAC Fall: Hibiscus Kiss Powder Blush Duo

September 18th, 2013 by Karen 16 Comments

MAC Hibiscus Kiss — The Hibiscus Kiss Powder Blush Duo is blooming on counters with the rest of the MAC RiRi Hearts collection for fall.

One of the themes in last summer’s RiRi Hearts MAC summer collection was the idea of opposites — rich, opaque lips contrasting against sheer cheeks — and MAC seems to have weaved that same idea through RiRi Hearts fall as well, with bold lipsticks balanced with sheer eyeshadows (see: the Smoked Cocoa quad) and cheeks via the re-launched Hibiscus Kiss Powder Blush Duo.

Remember Hibiscus Kiss from last summer? This new version’s basically the same flower, but with updated plumage/attire.