Makeup

Super Sparkle! A Shimmery Look at What You Can Do With the MAC Shiny Pretty Things Holiday 2018 Collection

October 23rd, 2018 by Karen 21 Comments

Highlights to the moon and back! The MAC Shiny Pretty Things Holiday 2018 collection, which is out now in case you were craving high-intensity highlights, is a limited edition launch split into two parts — 1) a makeup collection with eyeshadows, liners, lipsticks, glosses and highlighters, and 2) a whole lotta gift sets.

Here’s a look I did today with both of the highlighters from the collection, just to give you an idea of what you could do with them. Mind you, I’m not really a gal who likes to walk around highlighted to the gods, but I was taken over by an otherworldly force when I saw these two new Extra Dimension Skinfinish Powders, and it said, “GIRL, YOU NEED TO SPREAD THOSE GLITTERS ALL OVER YOUR FACE LIKE BUTTAH.”

Soooo I did. ?

Highlighter #1: Snowflushed ($35)

This one’s a metallic bronzed pink with medium-sized pieces of pink glitter, and it looks like a glittery powder version of MAC Strobe Cream in Pinklite. I’m wearing it on my upper cheekbones, and I love it!

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Benefit Boi-ing Hydrating Concealer Is Your Dry Under-Eye Area’s BFF

October 22nd, 2018 by Karen 10 Comments

I’m not even really a concealer person anymore, since everything concealer-y adds, like, 1,000 years to my face (FOR SERIOUS!). It’s that dry under-eye area, man. So, so tricky… But this snazzy little stick by Benefit has me feeling like I could fall in love again with concealer.

If their new Boi-ing Hydrating Concealer ($22 for a 0.12-oz. stick) looks familiar to you, well, that’s probably because you might remember a similar product from back in the day called Fakeup. Boi-ing Hydrating is basically the same thing, but in different packaging and more shades (six, to be exact).

From the Benefit website:

Don’t let dry under-eyes and dark shadows get you down. Boi-ing hydrating concealer hides dark circles and visibly smooths fine lines. Plus with Vitamin E & apple seed extract, this hydra-smoothing formula keeps skin hydrated for 6 hours* with Vitamin E and appleseed extract (Formerly known as fakeup. Same shades, same great formula!)
*instrumental test on 10 panelists.

Sheer coverage

Lightweight formula

Natural finish

100% said it hydrates skin**

**results observed in a consumer panel survey

It’s an ultra-creamy under-eye concealer stick with a concealer “core” surrounded by moisturizer, and it completely covers dark areas without creasing or emphasizing ~~wrinkles~~ experience lines. You swipe it directly underneath your eyes, pat with a finger or a brush, then find yourself screaming “WHAT MAGIC IS THIS?” because it really is makeup sorcery. When I wear Boi-ing Hydrating, I can’t even tell it’s there, and I that’s what I really love about it.

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Chanel Has a New CC Cream! $55 Chanel Super Active Complete Correction Broad Spectrum SPF 50

October 18th, 2018 by Karen 12 Comments

chanel cc cream — Chanel has a new CC Cream!

Why, oh, why am I still livin’ ~~on a prayer~~ like it’s 80 degrees outside?

Oh, yeah. Because it was 77 yesterday! Bay Area weather is so weird. We get these spells of the muggiest, summery-est weather right around Halloween, which are usually followed by a couple of very rainy, chilly weeks.

I’m not complaining. It’ll be sweater weather soon enough. Anyway, to go with this warm spell we’re having, I’ve been wearing appropriate warm weather bases, because — hi! — do you like it when your face melts off in the heat? I sure don’t. So, tinted moisturizers and BB and CC creams are in heavy rotation as of late, including this new CC by Chanel.

chanel cc cream ingredients — What’s inside…

From chanel.com:

PRODUCT
1 tinted moisturizer, 5 superpowers: evens, moisturizes, corrects, protects, illuminates. CC CREAM with Broad Spectrum SPF 50 combines skincare benefits with a longwearing, medium-to-full coverage makeup effect and a glowing finish — for the look of a more luminous, healthy complexion. After one month of use, the enhanced formula helps to correct signs of aging, improve skin’s texture and visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Day after day, skin appears healthier with natural-looking radiance.

KEY INGREDIENTS
CC CREAM is infused with Murunga Plum Extract — unearthed from an Australian super fruit rich in vitamin C — to help protect skin from environmental aggressors while enhancing texture and glow. A new form of Hyaluronic Acid helps hydrate skin throughout the day for increased suppleness and comfort. With continuous moisture, skin looks plumped.

HOW TO APPLY
Wear alone after your skincare ritual or underneath powder makeup.

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NARS Newness! Some of My Go-To NARS Eyeshadow Singles and Duos Have Been Relaunched, and There Are New Tinted Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Bases

October 17th, 2018 by Karen 12 Comments

nars eyeshadow relaunch 2018 — NARS newness

Forget for a second the ongoing trend of beauty brands relaunching products in smaller sizes while charging the same price for them (because that’s what’s happening here with the recently relaunched NARS eyeshadow duos and singles), and try instead to focus on the tantalizing taupes, gorgeous golds and beaming bronzes in these NARS eyeshadows, which also happen to be some of my personal faves, oh la la!

nars eyeshadow tinted smudgeproof swatches — A few of my favorite eyeshadow singles and duos, and the new Tinted Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Bases

I’m not overjoyed that NARS whittled the pans down to 0.04 ounces from 0.07, and, in the case of the duos, is charging the same price (still $35), but at least the singles, which used to be $24, are $19 now…

Even so, every time I see Fez on my lids, I’m like, “François, how YOU doin’?” Because if there’s one thing NARS still does really well, it’s neutral colors. I’m still a sucker for them.

nars fez 2018 — Wearing Fez on my lids (the lipstick is MAC Cosmo).

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The Benefit Brow Contour Pro 4-in-1 Defining & Highlighting Brow Pencils Will Take You From “No” Brows to “WHOA!” Brows in Seconds

October 11th, 2018 by Karen 9 Comments

I gotta say, I wasn’t sure what to do with these Benefit Brow Contour Pro 4-in-1 Defining & Highlighting Brow Pencils at first… Do I fill in my brows with them? Or do I furiously take organic chemistry notes? — because back in college those four-color click pens were all the rage in my science classes, and we used to joke that the faster you clicked your pen, the more desperate you were to get into med school, ha ha!

So, about these, I appreciate that Benefit calls them “Pro” because I feel like you gotta be a professional brow person to really appreciate them.

Why?

Because they’re 1) very pigmented and 2) very soft, which can be either a lethal or a pleasant combination, depending on your level of brow game. Like, if you don’t know what you’re doing, there’s a good chance you’ll end up with severe, blocky brows.

“Define & highlight your brows with this 4-in-1 contour pencil. Our multi-tasking brow pencil features a lighter brow shade, deeper brow shade, edge definer and arch highlighter to create clean, shaped brows with depth & dimension. Turn shapeless, flat brows into defined, contoured brows in an instant. Available in 5 shades for a wide range of hair colors and skin tones!”

Easy brow contouring

4-in-1 brow pencil

Blendable formula

24-hour longwear and waterproof

— benefitcosmetics.com

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MAC Kajal Crayon: Better the Second Time Around…

October 10th, 2018 by Karen 5 Comments

It just goes to show ya that it never hurts to give a product a second chance, because I did not care for the $23 MAC Kajal Crayons when they first launched in Diane Kendal, but I’m all about this new batch. I don’t know if MAC tweaked the formula, or if I’m just remembering things differently, but I think these are SO good — especially if you’re a smoky-eye-’til-I-die person like I am.

Basically, these are chubby liners/eyeshadows that adhere to water lines AND skin. You’re supposed to plop them on, then blow out the edges (a.k.a “smoke it the eff out”) using your fingers or a brush.

I like using the MAC 217 with them because I think I can feather out the edges more quickly with it than I can with a fluffier brush like the 224.

By the way, I softened the transition along the edge in this pic with Soft Brown and Saddle.

mac kajal crayon 2018 — I’m wearing Dear Darling on my eyes, and the lip is MAC Liptensity in Smoked Almond (also worn as a blush on my cheeks).

Creamy pencils like these usually have a limited — I guess you could call it “shelf life” on your lids and water lines because of how easily they move. And the creamier they are, the more they move.

You can smudge these Kajal Crayons and smoke them out as much as you want, but once they’ve set, they stay put.

I mean, you don’t have all day long to make tight and tiny circles with your 217, but you get about five minutes, and for a messy, smoky eye using a single color, that’s usually enough time.

Another thing: You can layer these as much as you want to because they don’t go patchy.

mac kajal crayon 2018 swatches — I ❤️ these shades.

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Bada-Bing! The Urban Decay Naked Cherry Collection Is Out Now

October 9th, 2018 by Karen 21 Comments

urban decay naked cherry palette — The new $49 Urban Decay Naked Cherry collection eyeshadow palette

Clearly, UD has a thing for Bing…cherries. Based on the packaging for new Naked Cherry collection, Bing is bomb, and I can appreciate that. I mean, I get it. I see the connection. A deep, dark, purplish Bing makes sense for a makeup collection, but I still like Rainiers more. They’re sweeter, man! And I love that red and yellow ombre action #importantfruitopinions.

(Quick makeup query: Years ago MAC also released a cherry-inspired collection. Can you remember what it was called?)

No reds, but plenty of pink and plum

Surprise! — there’s not a lot of red in UD’s new Naked Cherry collection.

LIKE NONE.

Red eyeshadow is on trend right now, but if you were hoping for seductive scarlets, vampy vermilions and ruby reds in this release, sorry.

The collection, which has been out about a week now, includes an eyeshadow palette ($49), a blush/highlighting trio ($34), two eyeliners ($21), three lipsticks ($34), and a cherry-scented setting spray ($15).

Judging by the name — Naked Cherry — you may have quite naturally expected there to be copious quantities of crimson in this collection, but these pretties are predominantly pink, rose, purple and mauve. Even more shockingly, no orange-y browns in the eye palette!

I know; am I still in the normal reality?? When was the last time UD released a palette without an orange-brown?

Quick take: shockingly wearable

If you’re craving something kind of different that isn’t filled with typical browns, AND you like wearing purples, AND you can see yourself venturing into the Land of Mauve and Rosy Tones, the Naked Cherry palette is worth a look. I like it.

The Naked palettes are Urban’s take on neutrals, and Naked Cherry still seems, well…neutral. I thought I would have a hard time with it because whenever I wear red, or reddish eyeshadows, I look sick and/or tired, but that’s not a problem for this palette, since these shades do not have red undertones. There are just plenty of wearable purples, plums, burgundies, roses and mauves.

Oh, and kisses of copper, beige and peach to break things up a little.

urban decay naked cherry k — Wearing the eye palette, cheek palette and Devilish Lipstick

The palette appears to be similar to Backtalk (which caused a minor uproar among people who were expecting a straight-up red eye palette when it was recently launched), but… Anyway, you could stick the eyeshadows from Naked Cherry into the the Balktalk palette, and they’d appear to fit right in, but they are quite different (see the swatches below). These colors are more than different enough to stand on their own.

urban decay naked cherry collection swatches — From the top: the eyeshadows, the blush and highlighter, lipsticks and the liners

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Another #PSL Pumpkin Spice Look (I Call It “Pumpkin Spice Jewels”), and Bowing Down to the Wonder That Is Charlotte Tilbury

October 4th, 2018 by Karen 19 Comments

I don’t want you to think I’ve been neglecting my pumpkin spice devotion, seeing as how it’s now October, and therefore officially pumpkin season.

SO MANY PUMPKINS EVERYWHERE. One can’t even whip her high pony without bumping into one, and I still have mad love for pumpkin spice, as demonstrated by this look, which I call “Pumpkin Spice Jewels.”

A few things I learned in the process of doing my makeup…

1. This Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino will shake you to the core

Or, should I say, “shake your core”? Because when I’d finished about half of it my body literally started shaking from all the caffeine.

I’d never had one of these before. It’s just a pumpkin version of a regular frap (like the other drinks I’ve tried in this series, I got the recipe from theMacroBarista on Instagram).

I could only finish half of it because I couldn’t take any more caffeine. I dunno… Maybe you’re made of stronger stuff than I am, but if not and you’re also a wimp when it comes to caffeine, you can still admire it from afar (because it’s certainly nice to look at).

pumpkin spice frappuccino — WHOA there, sweet tooth.

2. I may need to build an alter to worship Charlotte Tilbury

Her stuff is so spendy, but when it comes to that effortless, dewy skin-that-looks-like-skin, C.T. has that game on lock. I’m wearing her new Magic Away Liquid Concealer ($32) and Genius Magic Powder ($45) in this look, and I didn’t really have to do any of the buffing, blending and dabbing that’s usually involved in achieving a no-makeup makeup look.

I just swiped a concealer wand on my face (I’m wearing shade 8 underneath my eyes and shade 9 on the rest of my face), blended with my fingers, then dusted a sheer veil of the powder with a fluffy brush, which took all of two minutes.

I love how my skin looks when I wear C.T.’s stuff. Like, I can’t even tell I’m wearing makeup, and it doesn’t budge. Not one bit.

charlotte tilbury — Divine if you’re into the dewy skin thing

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