Makeup

A Beauty Breakdown for the Aerin Beauty Casis Gloss Makeup Look: Radiant Skin, Gold Cat Eyes, Peach Cheeks and Pink Lips

February 27th, 2013 by Karen 49 Comments

A Full Breakdown of the Aerin Beauty Casis Gloss Look — A full breakdown of yesterday’s Aerin Beauty Casis Gloss review from start to finish

Thanks for the great feedback on yesterday’s Aerin Beauty Casis Gloss review, my friend. 🙂

There were quite a few requests in the comments for a full breakdown of the look, so here it is!

I always enjoy switching things up, so for this look, I used products I already had in my makeup bag, but in a slightly different way.

The tweaks? I wore a full-coverage foundation all over my face (not just on my chin, which is what I usually do), used two face primers (a trick I recently learned from a Sephora artist) and added some highlighting and contouring.

Before we jump in, let me just say how this was kind of a long process. There was a lot of layering, blending and buffing from start to finish. Wish I could say that I whipped this out in five minutes, but it took more like 45, LOL!

Not the quickest makeup look around, I know. If I were running to TJ’s to buy Buttermilk Pancake Mix, I probably wouldn’t go there, but for pics or maybe a party, I’d do it again, assuming I had time.

Okay, here we go — all of the makeup products in order, from start to finish.

Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet (face)
SK-II Skin Signature Eye Cream (lids and under-eye area)
MAC Prep + Prime Natural Radiance Face Primer (forehead, cheeks, nose, chin and around my mouth)
BECCA Rejuvenating Primer (forehead, cheeks, nose, chin and around my mouth)
NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base (lids)

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Red Carpet Beauty Inspired by Claire Danes and Jessica Alba: Get a Glam Look for Less Using Drugstore Beauty Products

February 27th, 2013 by Karen 33 Comments

Claire Danes Golden Globes 2013 Makeup Inspiration — Get red carpet looks for less with COVERGIRL, Olay and Aussie

Chances are the bustling beauty teams that style Claire Danes and Jessica Alba for regal red carpet events won’t be showing up at my doorstep any time soon, because unlike the stars, we mere mortals must fend for ourselves when it comes to getting ready for parties and nights on the town (or nights on the couch with your cat, if you’re also into that). 🙂

No problem. Getting glam doesn’t have to involve a small army of beauty professionals (although, not gonna lie, if a pro prep team suddenly appeared — POOF! — I would NOT turn them away).

Recreating red carpet looks at home can be easy and fun, and with drugstore beauty products, it doesn’t have to break the bank.

I recently gave two of my favorite red carpet looks a try from this year’s Golden Globes — a look Claire Danes wore with smokey eyes and nude lips, and Jessica Alba’s look with brown eyes and tangerine lips — both of which seemed simple and elegant, which I liked.

Gearing up for a big night? If you are, you can get red carpet ready like Claire and Jessica using makeup, hair, body and skincare products from COVERGIRL, Olay, Aussie and Secret.

Who says that going glam is reserved for the stars?

Inspired by: Claire Danes

Oh, Angela Chase. You’ve come so far since Jordan Catalano wrote that song ~~about you~~ about his car…

I absolutely loved the wavy hair, smokey eyes and nude lips Claire recently wore. Hello, stunning!

1. Let the glamification begin: skin and hair

Start by prepping in the shower with a hydrating body wash like Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash ($5.99), and washing and conditioning your hair with Aussie Aussome Volume Shampoo and Conditioner ($3.99 each).

Even if the paparazzi aren’t currently stalking you, there’s no reason to let ’em see you sweat, so swipe some Secret Clinical Strength Stress Response ($7.99) under those ‘pits, girl!

Okay, time to tame the mane. Apply Aussie Aussome Volume Styling Mousse ($4.99) to wet hair for hold and volume, and either air or blow dry.

When your hair is dry, recreate Claire’s waves by curling the ends with a large barrel curling iron. Then, mist your mane all over with Aussie You Can Shine Spray Gloss ($3) for red carpet shine.

2. Gotta prep

Ready to play with makeup? Me too, but let’s get our skin ready first with face products from the Olay Professional Even Skin Tone Line, and disguise any uneven areas or imperfections by applying a liquid foundation like COVERGIRL Outlast 3-in-1 Foundation ($12.99).

If your skin tone’s similar to Claire’s, try the shade called Classic Ivory. I have a little — okay, a lot! — more of a tan, so something like Classic Tan works for me.

3. Sights set on smokey eyes

Now for my favorite part — the eyes!

Start by applying your favorite eye primer to your lids, curling your lashes and filling in your brows.

Next, for your smokey eyes, line both upper and lower water lines with COVERGIRL Perfect Point Plus Eyeliner in Black Onyx ($5).

With the same pencil, line your upper and lower lash lines; soften the lines by smudging the edges with a flat eye shadow brush.

Now, it’s time to add the smoke!

Load your flat brush with a combination of black and blue shadows, like COVERGIRL Eye Enhancers 1-Kit Shadows in Shimmering Onyx and Sapphire Sparkle ($4.50 each). Combining the shades here adds depth to the smokey effect.

Pat the mix on your lids and barely into the creases. Then, using a domed blending brush, blend away any harsh edges.

To refine your smokey look even more, take your domed brush, and load it with your favorite blush. Something like COVERGIRL Instant Cheekbones Contouring Blush in Sophisticated Sable ($6) should work great for Claire’s look.

Sweep your loaded domed brush into your creases and along your lower lash lines to soften the edges. This helps everything look a little more polished.

Finish up your eyes by applying a few coats of COVERGIRL Clump Crusher Mascara ($6.99).

4. Wrapping it up

From here on out, the rest is cake!

Sweep that same blush, Sophisticated Sable, on your cheeks, apply a nude lip color, like COVERGIRL Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in Toffee Twist ($8.99) on your lips, and wrap up with a coat or two of COVERGIRL Outlast Nail Gloss in Forever Frosted ($5.99) on your nails.

Claire Danes Golden Globes 2013 Makeup Look Products COVERGIRL — Products Clockwise from the blue pan in the upper left: COVERGIRL Eye Enhancers 1-Kit Shadows in Sapphire Sparkle, COVERGIRL Eye Enhancers 1-Kit Shadows in Shimmering Onyx, COVERGIRL Jumbo Gloss Balm in Toffee Twist, COVERGIRL Outlast Nail Gloss in Forever Frosted, COVERGIRL Perfect Point Plus Eyeliner in Black Onyx and COVERGIRL Clump Crusher Mascara

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Aerin Beauty Lip Gloss in Casis Is Giving My Lips a Case of Smooth Pink Lip Gloss Love

February 26th, 2013 by Karen 29 Comments

Aerin Beauty Casis Lip Gloss Review Swatches Pictures — Wearing the new limited edition Aerin Beauty Lip Gloss in Casis ($30), available now at Aerin Beauty counters and online

I feel like the greatest pink glosses — the epic ones you dream about, and about which you say in casual conversation with other makeup nerds things like, “Remember that one pink gloss from the spring 2007 collection? Gawd, I loved that color!” — are major threats to most of the products I carry in my makeup bag.

With an epic pink gloss that gets the shade just right, one that I feel illuminates my entire face, I’m tempted to just wear it and almost nothing else.

And when I see one of those pink glosses basking at the bottom of my makeup bag, it’s as if it says to me, “C’mon, Karen, forget about primer, foundation and all that extra stuff. As long as we have each other, a little under-eye concealer, mascara and brow powder, we’ll be fine.”

For me, Aerin Beauty’s new spring 2013 collection Lip Gloss in Casis ($30) is totally one of those pinks.

What I love most about this rosy, almost full-coverage neutral pink, other than the ease with which it adds dazzling color to my face, is how smooth it looks on my lips.

Casis doesn’t settle into my fine lip lines or highlight any dips and crevices. Instead, it creates a seamless, glassy block of opaque color that looks almost like I stretched a piece of pink vinyl across my pout.

Aerin Beauty Casis Lip Gloss Picture — Aerin Beauty Casis Lip Gloss also has a doe-foot applicator

Aerin Beauty Casis Lip Gloss Picture Swatch — Aerin Beauty Casis Lip Gloss on my lips

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For No-Makeup Makeup Lash Looks That Go the Extra Mile, Try New Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara

February 25th, 2013 by Karen 7 Comments

Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara Review — Wearing two coats of the new Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara in Carbon Black ($8.49), one of three shades available now at drugstores and online

If you’re into no-makeup makeup looks that go the extra mile, don’t forget your lashes. Swing by the Neutrogena section at your favorite drugstore the next time you cruise the beauty aisle (Can I come with?? We can get Thrifty brand ice cream after), and peep the new $9 Healthy Lengths Mascara.

Supposedly able to make lashes look 100% longer — or twice as long — it’s also designed to strengthen lashes over time from the inside out with vitamin E and olive oil.

Hmm… I’ll pretend that by “100% longer,” Neutrogena meant to say, “slightly longer.” LOL! Because 100% might be a bit of a stretch.

Two coats and my lashes appear lifted, curled, separated and just ever-so-slightly thicker and longer…for the ultimate in no-makeup makeup lash looks. 🙂

Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara Review, Swatches and Photos — No mascara on the left, and two coats of Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara on my upper and lower lashes on the right

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Dior Says Oui to Greenish Gold Micro Shimmer: The New Dior Addict Gloss in Nuit BorÃ©ale

February 25th, 2013 by Karen 14 Comments

Dior Addict Gloss in Nuit Boreale Picture Swatch — Wearing the Dior’s new Addict Gloss in Nuit BorÃ©ale ($29.50) on my lips, one of 24 new Addict Gloss shades coming in March to Dior counters and dior.com

Channing Tatum says what now…? You’re telling me there’s another green lip gloss worthy of a spring obsession?

Unlike Illamasqua’s Shoot, and the audience’s loud shrieks when Chan-Tate starts dancing to Pony, this one is quiet. Very, very quiet… The shimmery greenish golden pearl in Dior’s new Addict Gloss in Nuit BorÃ©ale is so quiet that you have to look closely to even see it (so no Hulk lips here).

Nuit BorÃ©ale (“polar night” in French, according to Google Translate) is one of 24 shades in the recently revamped Dior Addict Gloss line, and like the other Addict Glosses, it’s all about shine.

Or rather, reflection. While most glosses refract light, bouncing it in different directions, Dior says the new Addict formula’s glass micro-beads and crystalline micro-particles line up to reflect light more evenly.

And they say that’s why it also makes lips appear so plump and shiny.

I do think my lips look a little plumper when I’m wearing Nuit BorÃ©ale… Not Angelina Jolie-levels of larger-than-life lusciousness, mind you. Just a tad.

And sure, the chrome shine grabs attention, but I think it’s the color that really sets this particular tube apart.

Dior Addict Gloss in Nuit Boreale Picture — Dior Addict Gloss in Nuit BorÃ©ale

Dior Addict Gloss Nuit Boreale Swatch — Dior Addict Gloss in Nuit BorÃ©ale swatch on NC42 skin

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Panama Is Hella Cool! The New Dior Diorshow Mono Wet & Dry Backstage Eyesahdow in Panama

February 22nd, 2013 by Karen 16 Comments

Dior Panama Diorshow Mono 1 — The Dior Panama Diorshow Mono, one of eight $29 shades available now on Dior counters and online

It’s like, BB creams are the new Naked palettes, and Naked palettes were the new vibrating mascaras, and vibrating mascaras were the new flashlight LED lip glosses/mascaras (remember those?!).

I feel like I can’t whip my hair around without my ponytail striking another new makeup/beauty must-have product.

But there are those things that withstand the test of time, ya know, like black liners, red lipsticks and brown eye shadows, to name a few.

And speaking of brown shadows, here’s one that may be worthy of your affections, especially if you like a little with your shadow.

It’s Dior’s cool, new $29 Diorshow Mono in Panama (haha, I almost typed “Panem,” Hunger Games moment!). 🙂

No, really, it’s cool, color temperature-wise. A satiny brown with microscopic flecks of secret shimmer that glimmer in direct sunlight, it’s also cool in that when you apply it and buff for a bit, the blackened base shows through.

I like the way it looks on its own. Great for chocolaty daytime smokey eyes, but add a soft pink, ladylike lipstick and blush, and it turns into pure perfection!

Dior Panama Diorshow Mono Picture — The Diorshow Monos are designed to be applied dry or with a wet brush for extra drama

Dior Diorshow Panama Swatch — Panama applied dry on the left and wet on the right (see how much more it shimmers when applied wet?)

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Unsung Makeup Heroes: Hourglass Muse Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick

February 21st, 2013 by Karen 38 Comments

Wearing Hourglass Muse Opaque Liquid Lipstick ($28) on my lips

Ever dig into your makeup bag and rediscover something you absolutely love but kindasorta just forgot about for a month or two or 12?

I feel ya, dawg. I do it all the time.

This week I made a point of rutting around through my makeup stash to look for buried treasure, and woo-hoo! — I’ve been finding quite a few things, like Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Muse. Or “Musey” as I like to call her. 🙂

A vibrant matte coral red — one of those “stop you in the street” shades like Make Up For Ever’s Rouge Artist Intense Lipstick in 39 — Muse glows brighter than a neon sign.

You might remember its launch last fall as part of the long-wearing Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick line.

With Muse, absolutely, I love the wow factor, but I also like the wear. Seriously, this shade DOES WORK! It decorates my pout for up to 10 hours (!) without weighing down or drying out my lips — traits not easy to find in such a long-wearing lipstick.

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The Chanel Pearl River Ombres MatelassÃ©es Eyeshadow Palette From the Hong Kong Collection: A Pearl River in a Gilded Land of Quilted Pans, Coral Fans and Golden Tans

February 21st, 2013 by Karen 20 Comments

Chanel Pearl River Ombres Matelassees Eyeshadow Palette — Wearing the Chanel Ombres MatelassÃ©es Eyeshadow Palette in Pearl River ($80) from the new three-piece Hong Kong collection for eyes and nails, available now online

Chanel and gold eye shadow. Gold eye shadow and Chanel. The two go together like…short-sleeve t-shirts shirts and Jeremy Renner’s arms, high heels and pencil skirts, breakfast and Tiffany’s, perfume and pajamas…

In other words, things that go together well. 🙂

Add a pinch of peach and a drizzling of dark chocolate brown, and you get a veritable dream team palette to accompany those springy coral cheeks and lips you’ve been — okay, I’ve been — obsessed with lately.

There’s no real way to get around the fact that Chanel’s $80 Pearl River Ombres MatelassÃ©es Eyeshadow Palette demands an arm, a leg, a low-hanging tabby tum AND a twitchy tail. Chanel ain’t exactly budget, if you know what I mean.

But oh! — the extras you get, like the quilting on the pans and Chanel’s trademark black velvet storage pouch (it looks like a tiny makeup sleeping bag!). It’s the little touches that make it so easy to stay on Team Chanel.

As for the palette itself? Picture this: five (a shout-out to Mademoiselle’s lucky number, perhaps?) powder eye shadow shades based on the luminous reflection of Hong Kong shimmering in the South China Sea.

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