Makeup

A Sunset-Inspired Face of the Day with MAC, Urban Decay and Benefit

March 15th, 2010 by Karen 81 Comments

Can you remember the last time you watched a sunset?

I couldn’t, so I watched and waited on the back deck last Saturday afternoon with my camera to refresh my memory. Luckily it was a clear day (one of very few lately), and I caught the sun, in a burst of buttery gold, peach and pink, slip back behind the mountains.

Such beauty… It moved me to do my makeup! 🙂 Well, kinda. We were going out to dinner anyway, but what better inspiration than a beautiful sunset, right? I picked shimmery, peachy golden eyes and a pink lip with some random MAC, Urban Decay and Benefit.

Since we were going out, I blinged it up with Urban Decay’s Heavy Metal Glitter Liner along the lower lash line (what a nice glimmer of subtle, golden sparkle!) and added Benefit Hoola Bronzer into the crease.

Lips: MAC Liberty of London Lipstick in Petals & Peacocks, MAC Lip Pencil in Trimmed in Pink

Hello, kinda awesome! I think it brings a warm depth to the eyes, especially where it contrasts with something shimmery. If you’re already a Hoola fan, I recommend giving it a try in the crease with your favorite shimmery gold eyeshadow on the lid.
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Glow on with Your Bad Self: Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Blush

March 11th, 2010 by Karen 100 Comments

Wearing Make Up For Ever’s HD Microfinish Blush in Quickie

It’s ridonkulous how much time I spend trying to get a “no makeup” makeup look. 🙂 Sometimes I’ll end up spending more time on something subtle with natural looking blushes, lipsticks and whatnot than it takes to do something bolder like a cat eye with pink glossy lips!

Getting makeup to NOT look like makeup can take lots of layering and blending, but there may be another way…

Enter Make Up For Ever’s HD Microfinish Blush ($25, available in 14 shades and carried at Sephora), a new, easy-to-apply liquid cream.

Doesn’t it bug you when you can see cream blushes sitting on top of your skin? This bad boy doesn’t do that. Originally designed for television and movie sets with high definition cameras, HD Microfinish Blush absorbs right into my skin, leaving behind a natural glow (I think so at least).

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Reflecting on HD Makeup with Senna’s HDExtreme Foundation

March 10th, 2010 by Karen 14 Comments

I’m pretty loyal to Laura Mercier’s Oil-Free Foundation for pics and video, but when I read about the “advanced makeup technology” in Senna Cosmetic’s HDExtreme Makeup Foundation ($45), I couldn’t resist the urge to give it a try (in the name of makeup science, you understand).

Senna’s an indie line from So Cal, and the “HD light diffusing pigments” in their new foundation are supposed to help it reflect light. It’s a different approach to foundation than merely covering redness and discoloration with (often) heavy, opaque pigments.

The product comes in five basic shades — Fair, Light, Medium, Honey and Tan — and an illuminating golden pink called Backlit, which is technically also a foundation, but I think of it as a highlighter.

LM’s Oil Free looks fantastic in pics, but like many full-coverage foundations I think it’s sometimes a little too heavy and mask-like for everyday wear. Senna’s HDExtreme, on the other hand, hides imperfections while keeping a low (almost undetectable) profile. My pores feel like they can actually breathe when I’m wearing it, which isn’t always the case with Laura’s foundation, with a thin layer offering complete, lightweight coverage that artfully hides red areas around my nose, as well as acne marks and discolorations.

So does that mean I’m sold on Senna?
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Quelle Surprise! Estee Lauder Goes for the BOLD with Bronze Goddess Liquid Eyeshadows

March 10th, 2010 by Karen 53 Comments

Heya, bronze (and not-so-bronze) goddesses. 🙂 After several days of near-freezing temps, it’s a balmy 58 degrees here in Northern California today, YES!

Since I know it won’t last, I’m taking advantage of the freak warm weather front with a little summertime makeup.

Put your paws up for warm weather, ladies!

I’m totally J-WoWW-ing over Estee Lauder’s latest extraordinary creations for summer, the Bronze Goddess Liquid Eyeshadows ($17.50, available in four shades). We’re talking crazy intense colors (particularly for EL) here that are eye-catching enough to stop even the most hardened MAC girl in her tracks.
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Four Quick Looks at New Face Products from MAC, Stila and Tarte

March 5th, 2010 by Karen 37 Comments

Can I get a HOLLA from my on-the-go girls? Why does it seem like there’s never enough time for, well, anything? If “summarize it” is your mantra, I got yo’ back, holmes. Here are four lickity split looks at new face products from MAC, Stila and Tarte.

MAC Mineralize SPF 15 Foundation ($32; available in 23 shades)

Shade: NC 35

I really wanted to love MAC Mineralize SPF 15, the company’s latest foundation. It blew me away with its creamy, weightless formula, soft focus finish and medium coverage. My combination dry/oily skin couldn’t wait to give it a try.

But, alas, it breaks me out like a mo’ fo’…

Some ladies love it, though, so I’d say it’s worth a try if your skin plays well with other MAC foundations. Performance-wise, it’s great stuff, offering buildable coverage that doesn’t settle into fine lines. Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B+

Tarte Smooth Operator Natural Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 20 ($36; 11 shades)

Shade: Agent 14

When Tarte re-packaged their oil-free Smooth Operator line, they were cool enough to spruce it up with five new shades.

I’ve been wearing sheer Agent 14 on the weekends (I love the names; they also have Agents 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 00). It’s a lightweight tinted moisturizer with just a hint of color, but it still manages to eliminate any redness I might have while evening out my skin tone.
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Accessory to Commit Makeup: Introducing Tarina Tarantino Beauty

March 2nd, 2010 by Karen 56 Comments

I was just walking along the sidewalk today, minding my business, when a Sephora store reached out and grabbed me by the eyeballs!

Well, it was the window, really … a display for the new Tarina Tarantino Beauty collection (exclusive to Sephora).

As soon as I saw the rows of pink compacts and faux diamonds (and wiped up the bit of drool on my chin), I knew what I needed to do!

WHEE! It’s swatch time. 🙂

A few observations and items of note about the collection…

Since Tarina’s jewelry’s so colorful and quirky, I was expecting crazy makeup colors too. Well, it has some of that, but there’s also a solid core of really wearable neutrals, and even the edgier purples and pinks are still tastefully done.
The playful yet wearable vibe reminds me of Anna Sui and Paul & Joe.
Big ups for the Eye Dream Hypershadows ($19), Dollskin Cheek blush ($25) and Dollskin Powder ($32); all of the powder products feel finely milled, soft and apply with concentrated pigmentation. It almost felt like I was playing with Dior!
The Eye Dream Hyperliners ($17) are creamy smooth ala Urban Decay’s Glide-On Eye Pencils, but instead of setting after a minute like UD’s, they stay creamy and moveable.
If you’re a fan of Stila’s Smudge Pots, you might like the Magic Hour Cream Shadows ($19). I think they have a similar texture and color payoff.
I can see Tarina’s not a big fan of matte lipsticks as all of her Conditioning Lipsheens ($22) have either a creamy or a shimmery finish.
Hold on to your sensitive noses because the Gem Glosses ($19) have a strong fruit punch scent that … made my stomach churn (I have a VERY sensitive nose, though).

Here are swatches of the color products. Lemme know if you’re interested in seeing the face and highlighting powders, too.

Eye Dream Hyperliners ($17 each) in 1. Tommy Jet, 2. Rockstar Love, 3. Puppeteer, 4. Locket Book, 5. Ultra Violet, 6. Amethyst Android, 7. Cute Robot, 8. Glamorous Thief, 9. Kanzashi
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5 Random Acts of Beauty to Soothe the Savage Beast

March 1st, 2010 by Karen 102 Comments

For the most part, I think being a woman ROCKS, but the occasional mood swings = not my favorite part of being a girl.

Today I was fine until five, at which time a bit of crankiness crept in (caused by a combination of the weather and my efforts to avoid refined sugar). But instead of unleashing my inner BRAT-A-SAUR, I nipped it in the bud with beauty. 🙂

I started with these NARS blushes, which I’ve had since Christmas but never really played with until now.

NARS Cream Blush in Cactus Flower, $26

Powder Blush in Sin, $26
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Decompressing with the Cargo Pro Picks Collection

February 27th, 2010 by Karen 22 Comments

Hi, ladies. How’s it going tonight? Today was … rough, for lack of a better term. I wasn’t really in the mood for hard core makeup, but I did spend a few minutes with Cargo’s Pro Picks Collection ($39, coming soon to Ulta), a new kit with four full-size Cargo products hand-picked by pro makeup artists.

The price is why it got my attention. Cargo’s kits are usually pretty good deals (check out their 7 by 7 Mini Kit, also $39), and this one’s no exception. Purchased separately, the four Pro Picks pieces would cost a whopping $86.

Cargo Pro Picks

With the kit you get the Los Angeles Cargo Color Palette, the Reverse Lip Liner in Flesh Tone 02 (a creamy medium/fair peach), a Blu_Ray Mascara in Black and their Classic Lip Gloss in Tobago (a sheer, shimmery melon). I didn’t find the official launch date, but I’ll let you know when I do.
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