Makeup

Cool Skin Tones May Find These Two MAC Taste Temptations Blushes Tempting

November 20th, 2012 by Karen 16 Comments

mac passionately tempted blush from the taste temptation collection — Wearing the new MAC Passionately Tempted Powder Blush from the new Taste Temptation collection

Um, yeah. Thanksgiving sides? They’re my fave part of the meal. I’ll take a heaping scoop of garlic mashed potatoes, some of that delicioso green bean casserole, the corn pudding, lots of stuffing (don’t be shy with the stuffing!), and those two pigmented powder blushes from the new MAC Taste Temptations collection.

Thanks! 🙂

Granted, the blushes aren’t traditional Thanksgiving sides, but this is 2012, right? We should broaden our horizons.

Plus, if a ton of people show up, cool-toned Unconventional and Passionately Tempted ($20 each, or $24 CDN) pack enough pigment to appease a makeup-hungry crowd.

Unconventional moonlights as a highlighter

Okay, here’s my game plan: I think I’ll start with a serving of shimmery Unconventional. The light lavender may look tailor made for pale pretties, but I think it also looks great on darker skin tones. I’m an NC 42, and I feel like I only need one layer (!), which I might add, doesn’t appear ashy at all.

Oh, and the shimmer? So, so fine. Almost like a MAC Beauty Powder. I just see a soft glow on my face when I’m wearing it.

It’s also going straight into my regular highlighter rotation; I’m looking forward to having another choice other than my regular gold, peach and silver shimmers.

Passionately Tempted seeks fan brush for makeup date

The other blush in this Tantalizing release, Passionately Tempted, is the deeper of the two. It’s a mid-toned magenta and applies with just as much gusto as its Unconventional cousin.

You might want to take a fan brush to it, though, as it’s a little on the darker side and pretty easy to overdo.

But if you ever do happen to apply too much of it, try this: grab a foundation brush (it’s okay if it’s one you used a little earlier, and it’s still wet with product), and gently run it all over your cheeks and along the edges to tone down the color.

mac unconventional blush from the taste temptation collection — Powder Blush in Unconventional, a pale shimmery lavender with a frost finish ($20, $24 CDN)

mac taste temptation swatches blush — Swatches of Unconventional on the left and Passionately Tempted on the right

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For Sheer Eyeshadow Fans, Temptation Is Here: The New MAC Taste Temptation Eyeshadow X 4 Quad

November 20th, 2012 by Karen 14 Comments

Good news for half-asleep ladies who can barely muster a “Hrmph!” after crawling out of bed (hello, I’m there). The new MAC Taste Temptation Eye Shadow X 4 Quad ($40) makes morning makeup much easier on the brain.

The Taste Temptation quad is one of 16-pieces in the soon-to-be released MAC Taste Temptation collection, which graces Macy’s MAC counters (exclusively) for a Black Friday preview sale this Friday, November 23, from midnight to 4 a.m. But if you’d rather sleep during the witching hour (I completely understand), and you’re a U.S. shopper, the quad returns, online at maccosmetics.com, December 6, and then to stores December 23 through January 17.

The quad’s four sheer, cool-toned powder eyeshadows in shades of light violet, purple, blue and black appear dark in their pans, but quite sheer on my NC42 skin. The sheerness of these colors should make the quad a good candidate for hectic mornings when you’re rushing out the door.

One way to wear ’em — just pat the light violet shade, Look at the Eyes, all over your lids before lining your lash lines with one of the three darker colors in the quad.

mac taste temptation eye shadow — Shadows from the blue pan in the lower left: Naval (a navy blue veluxe pearl), Look at the Eyes (a light violet frost), Stay Sultry (a deep navy satin) and Carbon (an black matte)

mact taste temptation quad swatch — Swatches from the left: Look at the Eyes, Stay Sultry, Naval and Carbon

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The Laura Mercier Art Deco Muse Collection Artfully Channels 1920s Paris in Its Intense Reds and Gilded Eye Colours

November 19th, 2012 by Karen 31 Comments

I dunno what was going on at the dentist’s office today — maybe the staff felt like starting the Thanksgiving holiday early — but they were playing some crazy-@ss samba music over the speakers! If someone hadn’t been rutting around inside my mouth at the time with a very sharp hook, I totally would’ve been down to shake my maracas.

But since the tunes didn’t have any lyrics that I could mentally sing along to (they usually play oldies), I kept hearing things in the other rooms… Scary things, like the whine of a very loud drill, and snippets of a convo with the words, “probe” and “bleeding,” being thrown around repeatedly.

Oh, gawd!

Somehow, I managed not to lose my sh*z. No tears or passing out, so yay for small victories!

After my visit, though, I felt like I needed a treat, so I sought solace at the closest peaceful refuge — the makeup counter at Nordie’s. 🙂

I’m almost ashamed to admit that I nearly pushed through a gang of older ladies clad in Burberry from head to toe to get to the new Art Deco Muse display at the Laura Mercier counter.

It caught my eye from across the store… So much shimmer, so much red and gold and OM NOM NOM!

I’d seen the collection online a few weeks ago and, truth be told, didn’t think much of it at the time. Hrmph! Looks like pretty standard holiday fare with red lips and gold eyes.

But, GURL! I must say it’s much more compelling in person.

Inspired by mid-1920s Parisian Art Deco, the limited edition holiday launch features metallic shades like gold and bronze, and rich reds, burgundy and black.

The quilted Illuminating Eye Colours ($24 each) spoke to me. I love shiny metallics, and I almost swooned right there in the store after swatching the four shades on the back of my hand.

Laura did not hold back on the pigment with these powder shadows, and they’re so downy soft that they practically melt into my skin…

I hope I dream tonight, and in my dream I’m wearing Gilded Bronze. 🙂 On my NC 42 skin, it’s a beautifully warm (at least I think so) grayish taupe.

Illuminating Eye Colour in Gilded Moonlight ($24)

Illuminating Eye Colour in Gilded Bronze ($24)

laura mercier laque rouge — Lip Laquer in Lip Rouge ($24)

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The Tempting Taste of LORAC Tucked Into a Sweet Set of Six Shiny Glosses: The New $25 LORAC Sweet Temptations Lip Gloss Collection

November 15th, 2012 by Karen 13 Comments

lorac sweet temptations lip gloss collection frosted gumdrop — Wearing Frosted Gumdrop from the new LORAC Sweet Temptations Lip Gloss Collection

I’ve been paying weekly visits to the milk chocolate buttercerams at See’s Candies lately, and yes, it’s only a matter of time before my transformation into Liz Lemon is complete!!

Soon, my delicious little friends will probably start wondering about the nature of our relationship…

“Where’s that hella short cat lady with the cray-cray hair who always visits on Sundays?” they might ask, if/when I miss a visit.

Heck, they might even shed a tiny, sugary tear…

And I would reply, “It’s nothing personal, guys. It’s just that my sweet tooth has become totally infatuated with the flavors and scents of the new $25 LORAC Sweet Temptations Lip Gloss Collection.”

Each of the six sheer, shiny glosses in the set are named after sweet treats, like Butterscotch and Creme Brulee, and they smell and taste like them, too.

But that’s not even the best part… LORAC actually figured out a way to make the scents and flavors good!

Each gloss is tastefully done (LOL!), and not artificially sweet.

lorac sweet temptations lip gloss collection tubes — From the left: Candy Apple, Butterscotch, Creme Brulee, Cotton Candy, Frosted Gumdrop, Sugar Plum

lorac sweet temptations lip gloss collection swatches — Swatches from the left: Candy Apple, Butterscotch, Creme Brulee, Cotton Candy, Frosted Gumdrop, Sugar Plum

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The Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Collection Delights Eyes With Three Layers of Long-Lasting Liner

November 14th, 2012 by Karen 29 Comments

Like tiramisu, onions and intricate and nefarious plots, there are many layers to the pencil liners in the new $36 Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Collection.

Three, to be exact. 🙂

That’s the number of layers MUFE suggests you apply along your water lines with each of the six silky smooth, waterproof liners that come with the set.

(Oh, they also work pretty well on lash lines, in case you were wondering.)

Just slick on a layer, wait for it dry (takes about a minute), and repeat two more times.

When I follow MUFE’s suggestion and apply three layers, these liners last 6-8 hours on my water lines, sans smudging, and they resist water every step of the way.

That’s not bad.

When I wear ’em on my lash lines, I feel like I can get away with fewer layers; one or two does the trick.

Like the All Eyes On You set we looked at earlier today, this one’s also a good value. Buying the two full-size liners separately would cost $36, but with the set, you also get four additional travel-sized colors for the same price.

MUFE was kind to include a nice mix of practical and fun colors here, and the kit even has a couple of MUFE shades I’ve previously worn down to stubs.

The shimmery, pearly peach, codenamed #23L Champagne, works almost as well as caffeine. When I wear it on my lower water lines, I don’t look half as tired, LOL! And on days when I just want a little soft definition, #21L Metallic Grey hits the spot.

make up for ever aqua eyes collection swatches — From the left: #0L Mat Black, #2L Pearly Brown, #21L Metallic Grey, #23L Champagne, #6L Black Purple and #12L Turquoise

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All Eyes on You? No Sweat, With Make Up For Ever’s $59 Five-Piece All Eyes On You Set

November 14th, 2012 by Karen 47 Comments

In one direction, I see cat butt…

In the other, I see a kick-@ss holiday makeup set — in this case, the new $59 five-piece Make Up For Ever All Eyes On You, which caught my attention when it screamed, “stellar value!”

It’s one of the new makeup sets now available at Sephora (doesn’t it seem like there’s a new one every other day?).

Four of the five pieces in the set are discounted and full-size. Purchased separately, the shimmery pinkish beige Aqua Cream #16, the two Aqua Eyes liners in #0L Mat Black and #21L Dark Gray and the tube of jet black Smoky Lash mascara would cost $82, so $59 represents a pretty good savings there.

And the cherry on top? — the fifth piece, a souped-up, sample-sized HD Microfinish Powder. That, and the surprisingly useful “Get The Look” tutorials on the back of the box, take this already good set to the next level.

make up for ever all eyes on you product — Clockwise from the white jar at the top: HD Microfinish Powder, Aqua Cream #16 Pink Beige, Aqua Eyes #21L Dark Grey, Aqua Eyes #0L Mat Black and Smoky Lash Mascara

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I Spy a Sheer Finish and Plenty of Glitter in the New Lightweight and Moisturizing Guerlain Shine Automatique Lipsticks in Lou-Ling and Altoum

November 14th, 2012 by Karen 27 Comments

Guerlain Shine Automatique Lipstick in Lou-Ling — Wearing the new Guerlain Shine Automatique Hydrating Lip Shine Lipstick in Lou-Ling

Three things I realized this morning while shuffling on the treadmill…

1. You know you’re watching too much late-night television when most of the products on your Christmas list have a red label with the words, “As Seen on TV,” on the packaging.

2. You know you’re a cat lady when you’re watching Days of Our Lives (remember when Marlena was possessed?!), and you swear that instead of Bo calling Hope by her nickname, “Fancy Face,” you hear him say, “Fancy Feast.”

“I love you, Fancy Feast…”

LOL!

3. You know you’ve seen too many spy films when the first thought you have after seeing the new $35 Guerlain Shine Automatique Hydrating Lip Shine Lipsticks in Lou-Ling and Altoum is, “Wow! These lipsticks could double as weapons…or remote controls for tricked-out cars that can fly.”

Yeah.

Both are from Guerlain’s new limited edition Liu holiday collection, and NOT the secret Q branch of MI6, despite appearances.

The Guerlain Shine Automatique Hydrating Lip Shines are some of the most espionage-appropriate lipsticks around. Caught behind enemy lines without your travel makeup kit? Surrounded by covert agents closing in on your location? No problem. Just slide the little button up on the side of the gilded tube with you thumb, and the lipstick bullet pops up from the top.

BAM! — instant beauty switchblade.

Take that, forces of evil. 🙂

And these don’t just have practical, good-looking tubes. I also love how they look and feel on my perennially parched lips — sheer and shiny, with glitter to spare, and a featherweight, moisturizing formula.

Guerlain Liu Shine Automatique Lipstick — Guerlain Shine Automatique Hydrating Lip Shine Lipsticks in Lou-Ling (top) and Altoum (bottom)

Swatches of Guerlain Shine Automatique Lipsticks in Altoum on the left and Lou-Ling on the right — Swatches of the Guerlain Shine Automatique Hydrating Lip Shine Lipsticks in Altoum on the left and Lou-Ling on the right

Guerlain Shine Automatique Lipstick in Altoum — Guerlain Shine Automatique Hydrating Lip Shine Lipstick in Altoum

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I Had a Hunch I’d Take a Shine to the New Cool-Toned Chanel Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow in Intuition

November 13th, 2012 by Karen 12 Comments

chanel intuition quad — Wearing the new Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow in Intuition

You know, it’s funny. A lot of people don’t know this, but M. Night made a sequel to The Sixth Sense.

Yes, it was called The Seventh Sense, and it actually went straight to video, but don’t let that fool you — it’s surprisingly good.

It stars Bruce Willis, back again as the helper/mentor character, and that same little boy, except now the boy’s an aspiring 20-something makeup artist.

In one revealing scene at a dark Nordstrom counter in a locked shopping center after regular store hours, the young man, his face as white as a sheet, turns to Bruce Willis and says, “I see glittery Chanel quads…”

Yeah…it doesn’t really work as well the second time around, but maybe that’s why the movie went straight to video. 🙂

Still, between you and me, I prefer the young man’s preternatural power in the sequel. Forget the ability to see dead people. I’d rather see Chanel.

It could be a little freaky, though, especially when I slip into one of my spells, because that’s when I have the premonitions, like the one I had the first time I saw the new $58 Chanel Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow in Intuition.

Sometimes I even speak in tongues…

chanel intuition — The $58 Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow in Intuition, one of two new quads recently added to the permanent collection and released with the Les Expressions de Chanel collection

“Blurzzzzing murrrphhh gabbabababa boo…” which, roughly translated, means “The sheer and glittery cool-toned pink, gold, taupe and brown powder eyeshadows in this quad awaken eyes like an upbeat Hall & Oates song.”

“Fluurgig arrrghh shloooperbuer…” which is something else I might say, means “Your lids will glow like an apparition. Never mind the minor fallout from the tiny flecks of silver glitter.”

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