Makeup

Copper Wings on a Wednesday With Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Lucky From the Beached Collection

May 9th, 2018 by Karen 8 Comments

urban decay lucky — Red Bull isn’t the only that gives you wings!

I can’t remember the last time I wore colorful winged liner like this on a Wednesday, and you know what I did with it on? I wore it to baby story time with Connor. 🙂 Yup, and ya know how that felt? I tell you how it felt. It felt really good to wear something jazzier than usual.

I’m still committed to pushing myself out of my comfort zone, because let’s get real — I’VE BEEN STUCK, and I’ve been stuck for a while.

I’m not trying to go ham or full-on Instafabulous, but I’m sorry — I still like makeup, and I still like getting dressed up, but I’m also constrained, you know? Time is undeniably of the essence at this point in my life, so 1) I don’t have loads of time or patience, and 2) I don’t really like the way my skin feels when I’m wearing a sh*t ton of makeup.

This is the journey, and I’m up for the challenge! 🙂

On that note, here’s what happened this morning: I did this winged liner thinking that it looked massive — like big-@ss predatory hawk wings spanning across the sky and blocking the sun! — and then I took a selfie (which is easiest way to see if your wings are even, BTW) and saw that my flicks had disappeared into nothingness.

What the!? Where’d they go…?

I looked at the copper wings in the mirror (that’s Lucky, one of the new eyeliners from the Urban Decay Beached collection), and they looked pretty substantial, but they look minuscule in these pics.

Such a weird makeup mystery!

I’m still feeling the liner, though, and yes, I probably know what you’re thinking. How many times has UD done a warm metallic bronze/red/copper eyeliner?

SO MANY TIMES.

But this one has the cutest, tiniest pieces of silver micro-glitter, so you get a mixed metals vibe. It’s an out-of-the-box move, IMO, because most brands would’ve picked gold glitter to complement the copper’s warmth. So go on with your bad self, UD!

urban decay lucky swatch — Lovin’ the little flecks

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Try This Skin-Like Base Combo ASAP: MAC Face and Body Foundation Set With Mineralize Foundation/Loose

May 9th, 2018 by Karen 20 Comments

mac face body mineralize skinfinish loose — These two together are pretty epic!

Shout-out to my fellow Bay Area gal pal Kelly (Say hi to her in the comments!) for the 4-1-1 on this awesome base combination. She said it was the BEST combo for skin-like results and said that it had just enough coverage for her to be able to skip concealer.

She. Was. Right! I wholeheartedly agree. I started wearing it last weekend, and I don’t plan to stop.

I’m wearing a mix of Face and Body in C4 and C5 in these pics with a dollop of the new Light Pearl from Mirage Noir. And I set it with Mineralize Foundation/Loose in Medium Dark.

mac face body mineralize skinfinish loose 2 — The face of a happy girl who just found her new favorite face base combo… 🙂

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Testing the MAC Mirage Noir Collection Eye Shadow in Sun, Tan and Repeat, and Lipstick in Twig

May 8th, 2018 by Karen 19 Comments

mac sun tan repeat eye shadow k 1 — Sun, Tan and Repeat!

OK, every time I sit down to do my makeup and say to myself, “Karen, don’t do smoky eyes,” I end up doing smoky eyes, so at this point I’m thinking that I should just tell myself to do smoky eyes and assume that via the power of reverse psychology I’ll do something other than smoky eyes. 🙂 Let’s see if that logic holds. LOL!

Today I used Sun, Tan and Repeat, a duo chrome teal shadow from MAC Mirage Noir,, to see how it performs.

First off, it looks awfully similar to MAC Club, one of my favorite MAC shadows of all time. They’re actually surprisingly similar, so you may not need this one if you have already Club. They’re essentially dupes to my eye… Practically. They’re dupe-esque. Or dupe-like. I think you have to look really closely to see the differences between them, or be like a total eagle-eyed color hound.

Sun, Tan Repeat pops a bit more on lids… It’s a bit brighter and more teal (tealer?) than Club, so it seems a tad more cheerful than Club, which has those deeper charcoal tones… Club is moodier.

Sun, Tan and Repeat is also shinier than Club, so if you always end up applying Club with a wet brush to amplify the shimmer, then ST&R could be a worthy addition.

Here’s it in action…

Every day I tell myself to wear something other than a smoky eye and then I end up wearing smoky eyes. ? The green smoke is @maccosmetics Sun Tan and Repeat eyeshadow layered on top of @urbandecaycosmetics liner in Invasion. ???? #maccosmetics #urbandecaycosmetics #makeupoftheday #instamakeup #igmakeup

A post shared by Karen | Makeup and Beauty Blog (@karenmbb) on May 8, 2018 at 9:40am PDT

Something else I’m noticing: I prefer ST&R’s texture. It’s MUCH softer and creamier than Club.

ST&R, by the way, looks really beautiful if you line your lash lines with a deep, dark forest green or a blackened green liner. You could do an iridescent liner, but I prefer a matte finish because I like the contrast of the matte against the shimmer, so you get that extra interesting element. I’m wearing it today with Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Invasion on my lash line and water lines (although I’m not sure if I’ll be using this particular shade on my water lines again because my left eye is all watery now… I think I’m destined for a life of only wearing certain MAC liners and Chanel Stylo Yeuxs on my water line).

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MAC Mirage Noir Collection Extra Dimension Bronzing Powder in Delphic and Face and Body Foundation in Light Pearl

May 7th, 2018 by Karen 4 Comments

I’m wearing a few items makeup from the new @maccosmetics Mirage Noir summer collection. The two pearly Face & Body foundations are super pretty. #maccosmetics #macmiragenoir #igmakeup #instamakeup #makeupcollection

A post shared by Karen | Makeup and Beauty Blog (@karenmbb) on May 7, 2018 at 2:17pm PDT

Mission “Ketchup Run to Target” was a smashing success this afternoon, and Delphic Bronzer from MAC Mirage Noir looks just as swoon-worthy as it looked when I put it on a few hours ago. Also, just as swoon-worthy as it looked the first time I saw it back in — HOLY CRAP! — the MAC Alluring Aquatic collection in 2014.

Has it really been that long??

Incidentally, I think this is the best bronzer MAC has ever done. Yes, even better than Give Me Sun MSF. Seriously, it’s that creamy, dreamy, buttery, silky Extra Dimension formula, man. It’s amazeballs. It’s like applying pure color to your skin without a trace of powdery residue.

I don’t think there’s anything else quite like it. I’ve been rationing my one from Alluring Aquatic (yes, I don’t care how old it is) for years… Glad I don’t have to do that anymore.

That’s also MAC Eye Shadow in Sun Speck on my lids, which ended up being frostier than I expected, and MAC Face & Body Foundation in Light Pearl, which I mixed with Face & Body C4 and C5… I wouldn’t wear Light Pearl all by itself, except for maybe on my arms and legs, because it’s pearly, but I love it mixed with another Face & Body shade.

Oh, and haha! Yes, that’s the Coywolf saying “hello” in the background of the video. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. I put pics and swatches of the collection in this post here.

MAC Mirage Noir Collection for Summer 2018: Pics, Swatches and My First Look Using the Products

May 7th, 2018 by Karen 23 Comments

Serious question for you: is this “bronzed peach” look too glam for a ketchup run? — because from among the list of “things that go well on BBQ,” I do believe that ketchup is the least fancy of them all. FOR SURE, the fanciest has to be dijon mustard, because — hi — if something can be prefaced with a word en français, it’s officially fancy. 🙂

Speaking of my limited high school French, can anyone out there confirm what Mirage Noir means? Is it “black illusion”?

Pics and swatches coming at’cha…

MAC Mirage Noir: Summer 2018

LE and coming May 17th, 2018, to select MAC locations and the MAC website.

LIPSTICK ($18.50 each)

Nothing to Wear: Cool nude (Cremesheen)

Twig: Soft, muted brownish pink (Satin)

Goodbye Kiss: Cool mid-tone pink (Amplified)

Beach Nut: Deep violet (Matte)

Noon Noir: Frosty brown (Frost)

LIPGLASS ($17.50 each)

Oysterized: Soft white shimmer

Strip ‘n’ Dip: Pink bronze with shimmer

Soft Shell: Mid-tone brown

Midnight Dip: Mid-tone violet shimmer

Treasure Beach: Bright fuchsia

EYE SHADOW ($17 each)

Dust Off: Soft beige shimmer (Frost)

Sun Speck: Light brown shimmer (VLXP)

Slow as You Glow: Purple shimmer (Frost)

Sun, Tan and Repeat: Forest green with purple sparkle (VLXP)

EXTRA DIMENSION BRONZING POWDER ($34 each)

Golden Rinse: Light brick reddish bronze with fine shimmer

Delphic: Coppery bronze with gold sparkle

BRONZING POWDER ($27 each)

Baiana Bronze: Medium deep-tone neutral matte bronze

Matte Bronze: Bare-shouldered bronze

PEARLMATTE FACE POWDER ($34)

Mother o’ Pearl: Gold (mid-tone golden brown), Pink (muted peach beige), Berry (red plum), Brown (warm chestnut brown)

M∙A∙C STUDIO FACE AND BODY FOUNDATION ($30 each)

Light Pearl: Light with added bronze pearl

Medium Deep Pearl: Medium deep with added bronze pearl

BRUSH ($42)

140SES Full Fan Brush

mac sun tan repeat — Sun, Tan and Repeat ($17)

mac slow as you go — Slow as You Go ($17)

mac mother o pearl — Pearlmatte Face Powder in Mother o’ Pearl ($34)

mac mirage noir lipstick — Lipsticks in Nothing to Wear, Twig, Goodbye Kiss, Noon Noir and Beach Nut ($18.50 each)

mac mirage noir lipglass — Lipglasses in Oysterized, Strip & Dip, Soft Shell, Treasure Beach and Midnight Dip ($17.50 each)

mac face body light pearl medium deep pearl — Studio Face and Body Foundation in Light Pearl and Medium Deep Pearl ($30 each)

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Unsung Makeup Heroes: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Tint

May 4th, 2018 by Karen 15 Comments

What’s an unsung makeup hero? For me, it’s an oftentimes underrated makeup morsel, a permanent collection product that scoots under the radar screen of many makeup lovers but regularly rocks my world. The long-running Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorites.

ANNOYING FACTOID OF THE DAY: Ya know…I bought a $50 YSL face tint at the Sephora VIB sale, and I don’t like it anywhere near as much as Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Tint.

Grrr…

Hydro Boost is so, SO good. I started using it when it came out about a year ago, and I’ve been wearing it off and on ever since.

As I’m sure I’ve mentioned (a zillion times), I have combo skin. Some parts are dry, others are oily, and even though I’m a little irked that Neutrogena raised the price from $14.99 to $16.99 in that time, whenever I wear this stuff I remember why it’s one of the best drugstore foundations out there (right up there with L’Oreal True Match Lumi).

It feels like nothing at all, keeps your skin looking like actual, you know, human skin, and it looks just as amazing in pics as it does in real life, even outside on a sunny day!

As a tint, it starts off sheer, but you can build it up to medium. You can’t really push it further than that, though, unless you mix in a concealer (and, if you do that, I recommend Make Up For Ever Ultra HD because they blend very well together).

Hydro Tint has a natural demi-matte finish, so it reflects light ever so slightly, and it also has a slight pore-blurring effect. Very similar to the awesome (and more expensive) NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tints, but with a touch less coverage and a more moisturizing formula.

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Subtle Spring Sparkle: Golden Bronze Halo Eyes for HomeGoods With the Urban Decay Beached Summer Collection

May 3rd, 2018 by Karen 21 Comments

urban decay beached eyeshadow k — Subtle spring sparkle for a trip to HomeGoods

Most of the times when I go to HomeGoods, I’m dressed caj with minimal (or negligible) makeup, but sometimes I like to go gladiator style and do my hair and makeup and get a little more dressed up so I can enter the store like I’m entering an arena.

YES, HOMEGOODS IS A MOTHER-TRUCKIN’ ARENA.

Granted, there are no predatory animals, javelins, swords or armored warhorses galloping at you while you admire a delicately painted lemon bowl (handmade in Italy!), but if I see you pushing your cart toward the last farmhouse-inspired botanical print, trust that I will body check your @ss into the stratosphere. 🙂

I don’t play around at HomeGoods!

The Coywolf and I were there today to look for herb pots for the Lady Sanctuary, and I wore this golden bronze halo eye.

urban decay beached paletted hg1 — I would LOVE a $5,000 shopping spree to this store.

This was a toned-down halo eye, and the highlight in the center of my lids wasn’t as strong as it is in a classic halo.

This was the middle of the day, so I took it down a notch by keeping the golden highlight relatively close in tone to the surrounding bronze shadow, but I didn’t want it to be too subtle, so I layered it on top of a shimmery gold pencil liner and did a swish of teal on the lower lash line.

urban decay beached paletted hg2 — Still looks shimmery from a few feet away! Side note: iPhone case is the Attention Lipsticks iPhone Case from my store, connorclaire.com.

Urban Decay Beached Summer Collection

To keep the focus on my lids, I kept my skin, lips and brows super chill, but I did wear some things from the new Urban Decay Beached Summer Collection, namely the palette, a bronzer and a gold eyeliner.

urban decay beached palette — New for summer

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The Neutrogena Kerry Washington Essential Eye Palette Is on the Cusp of Greatness

May 3rd, 2018 by Karen 9 Comments

neutrogena kerry washington essential eye palette k2 — Lids by Neutrogena and Kerry Washington. I’m wearing the new Essential Eye Palette, which is only $12.99!

It’s not exactly a scandal… Get it? Haha… But I’m definitely getting Olivia Pope vibes from the poised, polished browns in Kerry’s chic new Neutrogena eye palette.

Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I’ve only seen a few episodes from the first season of Scandal (tried but didn’t really get into it), but I remember loving the clothes, like the all-white ensembles! The stiletto pumps! The bags!

Oh, THE BAGS. Olivia Pope’s character dresses like she eats nails for breakfast, and I LIKE IT. No matter what she wears, though, her makeup always looks sophisticated, so yeah, definitely see her wearing this palette.

It has five powder eyeshadows, all in surprisingly cool neutral tones, which is so refreshing betwixt all of the orange and reddish neutral palettes all over the place these days.

neutrogena kerry washington essential eye palette swatches — Swatches of the Neutrogena Kerry Washington Essential Eye Palette

I mean, I like fun warm tones, too, but when you have a slightly hooded lid situation like I do, cool-toned browns are just so handy. They’re perfect for contouring a crease that isn’t very deep, but that really only works with shadows that have a semi-matte or matte finish, because when you’re using them this way, you don’t want them to reflect a lot of light.

I thought Kerry’s palette would focus on semi-matte or satin finishes, but it does not. On my skin, the shadows are shiny… Actually, borderline frosty, even. And they seem to get progressively shinier as I blend.

All of them are moderately pigmented, which I like because I’m not apt to over-apply, and they’re relatively easy to blend (compared to intensely pigmented shadows), but once I get a brush up in the mix and start buffing away, the color diffuses pretty quickly, leaving behind a shiny opalescent finish that highlights every mother-lovin’ line on my lids…

The only one that doesn’t do this is the dark bronzed brown on the far right, and that one is EPIC.

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