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Makeup

Unsung Makeup Heroes: RMS Beauty Living Luminizer

August 14th, 2013 by Karen 11 Comments

RMS Living Luminizer
Laurie Leopold of 312 BeautyAbout the Author
The following guest post was written by Laurie Leopold of 312beauty.com. You can also find Laurie on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.

Without a doubt, highlighter is one of the hardest working products in my makeup bag. Admittedly, I have an entire drawer full of them in liquid, cream and powder variations.

Don’t wear it? Perhaps it’s a matter of finding the right one. That might just be the only thing standing in the way of you getting your supermodel on. And I mean that rather literally.

My holy grail highlighter is RMS Living Luminizer ($38), developed by Rose-Marie Swift, makeup artist to supermodels everywhere. Giselle and Miranda Kerr are fans of RMS Beauty and who doesn’t want to look like them? They make flawless and glowy look so easy.

Despite the stockpile of highlighter I’ve managed to accumulate, Living Luminizer stands out from the rest.

The long-running Makeup and Beauty Blog Unsung Heroes series features much-loved permanent collection products from a variety of bodacious beauty brands.

Made with just a handful of ingredients, including coconut oil and beeswax, Living Luminizer is a sheer balm that leaves skin glowing and fresh. No glitter or sparkle, just supermodel-worthy glow. The kind that you notice but don’t see.

There’s not much this Luminizer can’t do. It even works on all skin tones, from the fair to the deep. If this was the only beauty product I used on any given day, I’d be all right. Use your fingers or a brush — or both, as I prefer. It’s a no-rules highlighter. It goes far beyond use on just cheekbones and brow bones.

Living Luminizer can also…

  • …oomph up concealer. Because the formula is nearly translucent, it can be used under the eyes. I mix it with a little dab of RMS “Un” Cover-Up and it brightens and conceals.
  • …double as eye shadow. Blend ever so slightly on the lid, focusing on the center. I wear a primer if I do this and usually tote it along in my bag for touchups.
  • …illuminate your body. Sometimes you just need to highlight your clavicle, you know? Also, I love blending just a bit onto shoulders when wearing a sleeveless dress. You notice the effect but don’t see the product.
  • …be used as lip gloss. Always dab a bit at the bow of your lips and even wear as a base for lip gloss. The coconut oil is nourishing so you don’t have to worry about it drying out your lips.

[Continue reading…]

There are 11 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Face, Guest Post, Makeup, Unsung Heroes

The new Giorgio Armani Face & Eye Palette in Scarabeo for a Colorful Pink and Green Update to Your Makeup Bag

August 13th, 2013 by Karen 15 Comments

Giorgio Armani Scarabeo
Wearing Giorgio Armani’s Eye and Face Palette in Scarabeo ($88)

I don’t follow any hard-and-fast rules about wearing colorful eyeshadow during the day, but if I do have many errands to run or expect to interact with lots of different people like I did today — the teller at the bank, the chatty checker at Tar-ghay, other personal assistants at Petco — then I like to keep whatever colors I’m feeling fairly close to my lash lines. That way I can get my color fix on without feeling like I’m wearing a ton of disco makeup on my eyes. Plus, it’s easy (and you know I like that).

Giorgio Armani Scarabeo eyeshadows
The eyeshadows

Today I was in the mood for green and grabbed the pricey new $88 (!) Giorgio Armani Face & Eye Palette in Scarabeo, one of two new Giorgio Armani palettes released for fall.

Giorgio Armani Scarabeo eyeshadows closeup
A closeup of the eyeshadows

I know. That price is insane! You kind of have to be a big Armani fan to even consider it.

With really expensive palettes like this two-tier one from Armani (the shadows are on a level beneath the blush), I usually prefer neutrals, because at least that way you can wear them daily to try to get your money’s worth.

Giorgio Armani Scarabeo blush
The shimmery light pink blush

[Continue reading…]

There are 15 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Eyes, Face, Giorgio Armani, Makeup, Product Reviews

5 Things I’ve Been Loving Lately, Including a Benefit Body Oil Mist, a Veggie-Themed Hand Wash, a Clé de Peau Beauté Lipstick and Bamboo

August 13th, 2013 by Karen 15 Comments

Benefit Bathina Soft to Touch Hard to Get
5 things I’ve been loving lately, including this new body oil from Benefit

1. Benefit Bathina Soft to Touch…Hard to Get ($34 for a 2.5 US fl. oz. bottle)

Benefit Bathina Soft to Touch Hard to Get 2

Ha! This body oil mist sounds like it was inspired by Tabs. 🙂

The name could be his official slogan, ba-dum dum!

Thank you, thank you! I’ll be performing again at 11.

Soft to Touch…Hard to Get is one of those lovely, girly bottles that looks right at home on a vanity. With sweet almond, olive and avocado oils, the lightweight formula lightly moisturizes while leaving skin with a slight sheen and a jasmine flower scent.

The bottle has some heft to it (feels like it’s made out of glass…or really heavy plastic), so when you spray it on damp skin after your shower or on your significant other/booty call as a massage oil, you’ll feel super fancy… Just don’t drop it on your foot.

Yes, I speak from experience.

2. Method Gel Hand Wash Orla Kiely Spring limited Edition in Tomato Vine ($4.49 for a 12 US fl. oz. bottle)

Method Gel Hand Wash Orla Kiely Spring limited Edition in Tomato Vine

I’m so glad I picked up this bottle of Method Gel Hand Wash in Tomato Vine at Target a few weeks ago. The cute green bottle was just sitting there with a sale sticker next to it at the end of the toothpaste aisle.

I needed some hand wash, soooooo of course I unscrewed the cap and gave it a big sniff right there in the store. (Don’t front! I can’t be the only one who’s done that before.)

DUDE! It really does smell like tomato vines. I’ve got some on my deck right now.

The scent is a little weird at first…but I’m addicted to it now. It reminds me of when Demeter was doing cool, unusual scents like Thunderstorm (before they went completely off their rocker and started doing perfumes like Play-Doh and Crayon).

Anyway, I have to run back to Target today, and I’m hoping they’ll still have a few more of these limited edition scents by Orla Kiely (an Irish fashion designer) left, not only because I think this one smells great, but because it also gets my hands squeaky clean without sucking out every ounce of moisture.

If you don’t live near a Target, you can also find it online at methodhome.com.

3. Clé de Peau Beauté Extra Rich Lipstick Silk ($40)

Clé de Peau Beauté Extra Rich Lipstick Silk in 201
Clé de Peau Beauté Extra Rich Lipstick Silk in 201

Speaking of fancy, if a mysterious benefactor were to offer to fund a leisurely life of lunches and makeup, for the record, I would not say no.

If that were to happen, you’d find me at the Neiman Marcus Rotunda in San Francisco from Mondays through Fridays for tea around lunch, and then at the Clé de Peau Beauté counter downstairs playing with the smooth, silky and indulgent Extra Rich Lipstick Silks ($40) and Extra Rich Lipstick Holders ($25).

Clé de Peau Beauté Extra Rich Lipstick Silk in 201
Clé de Peau Beauté Extra Rich Lipstick Silk in 201 and the Extra Rich Lipstick Holder

[Continue reading…]

There are 15 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Benefit, Just For Fun, Makeup

What’s Nude and Covered Up at the Same Time? Your Lips When Wearing These New Hourglass Femme Nude Lip Stylos

August 12th, 2013 by Karen 22 Comments

Hourglass Femme Nude Lip Stylo No. 4, a pink beige
That’s pinky beige Hourglass Femme Nude Lip Stylo in No. 4 smilin’ at you from Novato, California

The last time I was surrounded by this much nudity was last year’s Bay to Breakers in San Francisco, ba-dum bum!

Ha, I jest. 🙂

Well…not really. And that was a little more jarring than the nudity I’m talking about today.

Hourglass Femme Nude Lip Stylos
Oh, hai!

Really, though, when a dude jogs past you in nothing but tennies and a fanny pack at the crack (no pun intended) of dawn, it’s a lot to take in before your first cup of coffee.

But I digress…

These new Femme Nude Lip Stylos by Hourglass ($30 each) are a joy to play with, partly because there are so many different ways a nude lip can go wrong, and this new collection of twist-up, retractable lip pencils gets it right.

Hourglass envisioned all six Stylos working together as part of a wardrobe of nudes — nudes for minimal makeup days, nudes for when you’re feeling artsy-fartsy, and nudes for when you have a hankering for something nude and slightly dramatic.

A satin finish gives lips a sheen while ingredients like vitamin E nourish and protect yo’ pout from the elements.

Hourglass Femme Nude Lip Stylo No. 1
No. 1, a pale pink, and the lightest shade in the collection

Hourglass Femme Nude Lip Stylo No. 2
No. 2, a warm honey beige

Hourglass Femme Nude Lip Stylo No. 3
No. 3, a medium nude rosy pink

[Continue reading…]

There are 22 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Hourglass, Lips, Makeup, Product Reviews

Unsung Makeup Heroes: The Hourglass Visionnaire Duo in Prism

August 12th, 2013 by Karen 23 Comments

Hourglass Prism
Wearing the Visionnaire Duo in Prism by Hourglass…and wondering if I remembered to shave my ‘pits

As a lifetime member of The S.O.S.E. (The Society of Smokey Eyes), I pledge…

  • To acknowledge my fellow sisters/brothers with a fist bump (the standard S.O.S.E. greeting) and by saying our motto loud and proud, “Smokey eye ’til I die.”
  • To wear smokey eyes whenever I damn well please! — and not just when it’s considered seasonally or otherwise appropriate (fall, winter and evenings out on the town).
  • To never, ever withhold sensational smokey eye accouterments, like the $38 Hourglass Cosmetics Visionaire Duo in Prism, from my beauty brethren, and to always spread the gospel of smokey eye love and truth to the best of my abilities.
Hourglass Prism
Smokey eye ’til I die!

I’ve been stuck on this duo big time, babe, and the main reason is that black eyeshadow on the right…

It’s SO KILLER.

Imagine the darkest, deepest, truest black shadow that haunts your makeup dreams. Then make it smoother than Jeremy Renner singing in a smokey jazz bar, add powder grains that refuse fallout, and give it the cutest flecks of silvery blue glitter.

And not just a lame sprinkling of glitter, but a perfect amount — just enough to wink at you without venturing into tween makeup territory.

Swatching it on the back of your hand is like looking into a night sky filled with twinkling stars…

I fall asleep thinking about this eyeshadow, no joke. 🙂

Oh, but it gets better. The other half of this duo rocks just as hard.

It’s a shimmery slate, like a combination of periwinkle Crayola crayons and thunderstorm clouds, that buffs and blends into beautiful, smooth gradients.

Hourglass Prism Swatch

Neither color leans too cool nor warm, so this is truly one of those smokey eye duos that almost everyone can wear.

Hourglass Prism

Hourglass Prism

Hourglass Prism

[Continue reading…]

There are 23 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Eyes, Hourglass, Makeup, Unsung Heroes

You Glow, Girl! Creamy, Luminous Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Powder in Moonstone

August 9th, 2013 by Karen 24 Comments

Becca Moonstone Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed
Thank you, Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone… Now if I could only wake up looking like this, LOL!

I bet Ryan Gosling would notice when you were wearing the new Becca Moonstone Shimmering Skin Perfector (because he’s dreamy like that!!), but odds are most people wouldn’t.

The luminizing face and cheek powder isn’t really one of those products that grabs you by the eyeballs and won’t let go, like
Guerlain Rouge G de Guerlain Lipstick in Madame Batifole, which prompts peeps to cross busy streets to ask, “GUUURRRL, what’s on your lips!?”

Ya know what, though? That’s why I like it. 🙂

Moonstone gets a different kind of attention. It’s subtle, like a good perfume. Similar to when dudes wear flat-front pants pants instead of pleats, it’s not necessarily a dramatic change, but it’s a SERIOUS UPGRADE.

It’s something I’d wear when I want luminous, glowing skin that doesn’t look hella greasy.

Becca Moonstone Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed
Moonstone’s one of three new Shimmering Skin Perfectors available now exclusively at Sephora for $38 each.

But don’t freak out the first time you swatch this shimmery yellow gold. I should warn you — it looks crazy shiny at first, but once you buff it out, ooh, baby! It’s like late afternoon sun on your cheeks…

Becca Moonstone Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Swatch

And get this — Moonstone is also kind to pores and fine lines.

I should know. I have both! 🙂 And when I wear it on my face/cheeks, I barely notice either.

Becca Moonstone Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed box

The most similar products I can think of are the Ambient Powders by Hourglass, but Becca’s Shimmering Skin Perfectors have a different texture.

Becca Moonstone Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in hand
In my paw (claw?) for scale…

[Continue reading…]

There are 24 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Becca, Face, Makeup, Product Reviews

Guerlain’s New Rouge G de Guerlain Lipstick in Madame Batifole, and Fun With the Letter “G”

August 8th, 2013 by Karen 26 Comments

Guerlain Madame Batifole Rouge G
That’s Guerlain’s new Rouge G de Guerlain Lipstick in Madame Batifole ($49.50) on my lips, one of three new limited edition Rouge G’s available now in the fall 2013 Voilette de Madame collection

“G” is for…

Giggle, as in “with delight,” which is what you’ll probably do the first time you see Guerlain’s new Rouge G de Guerlain Lipstick in vibrant fuchsia Batifole on your lips.

Guerlain Madame Batifole Rouge G Closeup

Gasp! — which you’re also liable to do when you hold the limited edition packaging in yo’ paws (and realize that it costs $49.50, holy crap!).

Guerlain Madame Batifole Rouge G Packaging

Generous, which is what Guerlain was with the amount of pigment they squeezed into this tube. One swipe of the super smooth formula covers my lips completely — like crazy opaque.

Guerlain Madame Batifole Rouge G

Glamorous, which is how you’ll feel whenever you take a peek at your reflection in Rouge G’s mirrored cap, or when you catch a whiff of its classic rosy lipstick scent (has the same flavor, too).

Guerlain Madame Batifole Rouge G Swatch

[Continue reading…]

There are 26 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Guerlain, Lips, Makeup, Product Reviews

With the New Guerlain Ecrin 2 Couleurs Eyeshadow Duo in Two Stylish, Mermaid Magic Is a Mere Two Pans Away

August 8th, 2013 by Karen 23 Comments

Guerlain Two Stylish
Wearing the new Guerlain Two Stylish Ecrin 2 Couleurs Eyeshadow Duo on my eyes

Awards I Have a Legitimate Chance of Actually Winning Someday…

  • Craziest Cat Lady in Northern Marin County (in the 30-40 age division)
  • Most Likely to Drop a Makeup or Beauty Product on Her Foot (Happens at least once a day. This morning I dropped my giant pan of Guerlain Terra Nerolia on my left foot. The pan was fine, but my foot is still throbbing.)
  • Least Likely to Say “No” When Offered Ice Cream for Dessert (seriously)

I think I’d also have a shot at the “Best Dressed Landlocked Mermaid Award,” but only if I were wearing the new Guerlain Ecrin 2 Couleurs Eyeshadow Duo in 02 Two Stylish ($44).

Guerlain Two Stylish
Two Stylish!

All I have to say is “mermaid eyes!” This duo (one of eight new permanent collection duos bobbing up on Guerlain counters this month) sings a sea siren’s song with a silky semi-matte deep blue, and a softly shimmering metallic gray.

It’s glowy, gorgeous and guaranteed to make you weak in the knees (or your tail fin area) if you love bold blue eye looks.

Guerlain Two Stylish
All up in yer grill!

Just like the brown shade in the Two Spicy palette, both of these shadows are Dolce & Gabbana/Armani-caliber creamy; they practically melt on lids like butter on hot bread.

And gosh, that blue!

You know how some blues can be really hard to blend? Two Stylish buffs out so smoothly that it’s as if it yearns to blend. Gradients couldn’t be a whole lot easier to create, and there’s barely any fallout at all.

Guerlain Two Stylish Swatches: Matte blue on the left and shimmery silver on the right
Matte blue on the left and shimmery silver on the right

[Continue reading…]

There are 23 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Eyes, Guerlain, Makeup, Product Reviews

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