Makeup

Too Faced Clover Collection Melted Clover Lipstick and the Clover Makeup Bag

April 4th, 2018 by Karen 7 Comments

too faced melted clover — I get weirdly guilty about eating cookies in the shapes of animals

*** KAWAII ALERT *** KAWAII ALERT *** KAWAII ALERT***

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We interrupt our regular programming to bring you this important message:

I haven’t worn anything from Too Faced Cosmetics in a hot second, but it looks like they’re still doing their thing, appealing to everyone’s inner 12-year-old girl. They have a new collection out that’s so kawaii that there aren’t enough emojis on this blog to describe it. ????

So I’ll use emoticons instead! (✿◕‿◕) (ʘ‿ʘ✿)

The Clover collection is available now. There’s a palette and cute makeup bags, including this one, the Clover Makeup Bag ($20), which looks very Tokidoki, don’t you think?

It has a narwhal on it, so you gotta love on that. Clover is Too Faced Cosmetics founder Jerrod Blandino’s dog, and his charm looks extra cute on the zipper.

too faced clover makeup bag — Check out Clover doing the over-the-shoulder “look at my booty” pose (pretty sure Tabs did it first, though)

too faced clover makeup bag 2 — Sweet pup-pup

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Cream Blush Is Your Secret Weapon Against Raggedy Ann Cheeks

March 30th, 2018 by Karen 11 Comments

kjaer weis suntouched blush — I’m wearing one of my favorite cream blushes of all time, Kjær Weis Cream Blush in Sun Touched.

Yo, I know I’ve been talking about cream blush A LOT this week, but I once unknowingly left the house with blush that looked like two little Raggedy Ann doll circles on my cheeks. I’ve since converted to the Church of Cream Blush because it merges with my foundation and never looks powdery. Amen and hallelujah to makeup that looks like real skin!

In other news, I’m making improv shrimp scampi tonight! It’s Good Friday, which meant seafood for dinner around here, which I’m totally cool with because I was a pascatarian for years, but when I mentioned “no red meat” to El Hub this morning his eyes got wide like we were headed for certain doom.

I googled this skinny version… I don’t know if it’s so skinny anymore because I threw in a bunch of Parmesan and extra butter, but YUM!

Hope you’re having a good night. Got any Netflix recs for me? I want to keep watching season two of Santa Clarita Diet, but I can’t watch it while I’m eating…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

MAC Supernatural Dazzle: Dazzleshadows in It’s All About Shine, Shine De-Light, Oh So Gilty, Dazzle Style, Dreamy Beams and Midnight Shine

March 30th, 2018 by Karen 14 Comments

Hey, if this were like an Internet spelling ? bee, and we had to spell Dreamy Beams, which is the Dazzleshadow from MAC that I’m super in love with right now, it would be spelled D-R-E-A-M-Y B-E-A-M-Z. But maybe with two Zs — NO, THREE Zs! Beamzzz. Then you’d be the the legit Internet spelling bee winner with your three crazy Zs. ?

mac dazzleshadow swatches — It’s All About Shine (NEW), Shine De-Light (NEW), Oh So Gilty (NEW), Dazzle Style (NEW), Dreamy Beams (NEW) and Midnight Shine (Repromote)

I’m wearing Dreamy Beams, a beautiful bronzed brown with a squeeze of purple, on my lids today and thinking that I need to wear it every day for perhaps the next two months! It’s one of the new $18 Dazzleshadows from the MAC Supernatural Dazzle collection, which quietly dropped on MAC counters and the MAC website a few weeks ago.

There are a bunch of these glittery eyeshadow singles, some Dazzleglass glosses as well, all being added to the MAC permanent line. Some of the shades are new, some are re-promotes… Among the Dazzleshadow eyeshadows, there are six new ones, and I have five swatched here. Beamy Dreams… HAHAHA! Dreamy Beams is one of the new ones, and it’s the most swoon-y to me, although there are several that make me fall out of my flip-flops, like moody Midnight Shine, a dark plummy purple.

A few of the gorgeous @maccosmetics Dazzleshadows glistening in the sunshine! From the top: It’s All About Shine, Shine De-Light, Oh So Gilty, Dazzle Style, Dreamy Beams, Midnight Shine #maccosmetics #makeupswatches #makeupstash #makeupcollection

A post shared by Karen | Makeup and Beauty Blog (@karenmbb) on Mar 29, 2018 at 9:34am PDT

These aren’t like the UD Moondusts at all, even though they look similar in the pans. I love the Moondusts, but they’re sheerer than these are, and the glitter bits are bigger, so I think of them more as glitter top coats. Like, if you already have your eyes done on Friday night, and you’re about to leave the house but you want a little something extra, you tap a Moondust on your lids.

On the other hand, you can build an eye look around a single Dazzleshadow. You don’t need to apply them on top of something else because they have a pigmented base, so they can stand alone.

mac dreamy beams — Dreaming of Keanu Reeves making me blueberry pancakes while wearing Dreamy Beams on my lids…

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How to Use Lipstick as a Cream Blush Without It Looking Streaky or Patchy

March 29th, 2018 by Karen 5 Comments

That’s basically it in the gif. That’s how I use ? lipstick as a blush. Just rub the bullet on the back of your hand to warm it up a bit, which makes it more pliable and slippery, then dab it with a synthetic blush brush, and bounce the bristles on cheeks.

Gently, though! — because you don’t want your base makeup to shift.

Now you’re ready to come with me to Target to get plastic Easter eggs. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Convert Crazy Clown Blushes Into Wickedly Wearable Cheek Colors With a Drop of This

March 29th, 2018 by Karen 6 Comments

nars wanted ii palette — The NARS Wanted II Palette, MAC 240S brush, Urban Decay Urban Defense Primer, MAC Prep + Prime Face Skin Base

Rise and shine, pal o’ mine! ? Good morning. It’s the day before Good Friday. Here’s a Thursday quick tip you can use in your Easter Sunday look.

What’s the easiest way to wear those bright red and orange powder blushes you hoard ?️ and love ❤️ but never wear (I’m guilty)?

Try this: swirl a stiff brush in the pan, tap/brush the powder on the back of your hand, and mix in a drop or two of face primer. Finish by patting on your cheeks with fingers.

That’s it! It’s a quick way to add the perfect amount of cheek color and mellow out your pores. ?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Prospecting Ain’t Easy: Benefit Gold Rush Blush Takes Work

March 28th, 2018 by Karen 24 Comments

benefit gold rush blush pacaging — The newest boxed blush by Benefit

Girl, I used to wear shoes like the pair on this box of Benefit Gold Rush Blush, and I’d be able to run in them, too!

Ah, memories of my former taller life… And by “taller,” I mean 5 feet 5 inches tall in 4-inch ? heels.

(In my mind, I’m a 5-foot-8-inch Glamazon, LOL!)

OK, enough rambling. 🙂 Benefit Gold Rush, their latest box o’ blush, just arrived on counters in two sizes, a full-size 0.17-oz. version for $29, and a smaller 0.08-oz. mini for $15. Both are peachy pink with big baddie gold flecks.

That top layer of golden shimmer is an overspray, but there’s also glitter within the peachy pink powder itself. So you won’t be hurtin’ for glitter with Gold Rush. That’s all I’m sayin’.

benefit gold rush blush pan — Yes, that’s an overspray, but there’s also glitter within!

You also won’t be hurtin’ if you’ve been looking your whole life for a HEAVILY scented blush that’s strong enough to pass for a perfume, because this one can.

All of Benefit’s boxes o’ blush are scented (I believe), but this is the strongest one. Definitely the strongest I can recall. I get strong sandalwood and sugar notes, and it’s also supposed to have citrus and vanilla, but I don’t detect those at all.

So, I actually like quite a few perfume-y powders, like Guerlain and Chanel bronzers, and I totes don’t mind smelling like a Nordstrom fragrance counter when I wear them, but Gold Rush is a tad too sweet for my taste. I think it’s cloying, like it belongs in a hot pink body spray with neon star-shaped glitter, but you know how it is with scented products. Just because I’m not a fan doesn’t mean you won’t love it.

benefit gold rush blush swatch — Look closely, because the swatch is there, man!

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The New Urban Decay Naked Heat Vice Lipsticks

March 28th, 2018 by Karen 9 Comments

urban decay naked heat lipsticks spring 2018 — Coming in hot: seven new Urban Decay Naked Heat Vice Lipsticks ($18 each)

DUUUDE. Urban Decay Naked Heat (we’re gonna talk about the new Naked Heat Vice Lipsticks in a second). Not to get to deep on you, but if you think about it, which came first? — nakedness or heat? Like, was it SO HOT that clothes were removed and nakedness ensued? Or were these people — if we’re imagining people dancing around a fire, don’t ask me why my brain goes there — were they naked first, so they were cold, and then they had to get closer to the fire to get heated? WHO KNOWS?

Yeah, chew on THAT for a bit.

Ooh, Urban Decay, there you go again, throwing another limited edition log on the Naked Heat fire. UD just added seven new Naked Heat Vice Lipsticks, all inspired by the original Naked Heat palette and lipsticks, and the petite Naked palette last month, and this release is like “Naked Heat Lipsticks Part Deux.” (Because everything sounds better in French.)

These $18 shades are warm like the colors in a big ol’ bonfire — burgundies, browns, wine — basically, lots of darker colors in metallic finishes with a sprinkling of peachy nudes, which, yeah, I know, #karenishashtagbasic, but I really like them.

urban decay naked heat lipstick swatches — First Sin, Fuel 2.0, Trip, Faith, En Fuego, Singe and Ember

So, I’m always a little thrown by UD’s Vice Lipstick packaging, because…I mean, it’s nice-looking, but when I pick it up, it feels so insubstantial to me and kind of…cheap.

But then I open them up (!), and these Vices feel and wear like a $$$$ Guerlain Rouge G.

urban decay ember — Ember, a metallic coppery burgundy

urban decay singe — Singe, a metallic deep wine red with glitter

They’re practically pure pigment in a bullet. With the exception of First Sin, which is sheerer than the others and more of a mid-level cream, when I slide them across my lips once or twice, BAM! — full-color smile. 🙂 And even though you’ve got all this color on your lips, the formula doesn’t pool in your lip lines. It’s smooth, intense and regal.

urban decay en fuego — En Fuego, a matte burgundy

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The Urban Decay Backtalk Eye & Face Palette Is Getting People Heated!

March 27th, 2018 by Karen 15 Comments

urban decay backtalk palette eye swatch — Wearing the new Urban Decay Backtalk palette on my lids and cheeks, and UD Backtalk Vice Lipstick on my lips (a classic shade in the permanent line)

MAN, people are FIRED UP ? about the $46 Urban Decay Backtalk Palette, and it’s not just because of the warm tones. If you read some of the reviews on Sephora… My goodness! They make it sound like you’re smearing melted cat poop all over you eyelids when you use it. I mean, people have FEELINGS about it, and the main complaint seems to be the level of pigment, which I don’t really understand because I’m not having problems with it.

Granted, I don’t think the palette is the greatest thing since sliced bread. I’m not raving about it, but…

urban decay backtalk palette 1 — Pink, mauve and, yes, warm

It was inspired by a lipstick.

Anyway, let me rewind a second. First things first — the packaging. There’s a mirror in the middle that separates eight powder eyeshadows and four blushes, and the mirror slides out, which I like.

urban decay backtalk mirror — Now you see it, now you don’t.

The shades are predominantly varieties of warm mauve and pink, which again, is because the palette was inspired by Urban Decay’s Backtalk Vice Lipstick in the permanent line.

urban decay backtalk palette eyeshadow — A mix of matte and shimmery shades

urban decay backtalk palette blush — The blushes have different levels of pearl.

It’s actually pretty good!

I’ve been wearing it, and I haven’t had a problem with the pigment, which is generally on the more intense side of medium, so the shades aren’t quite “full on,” but they aren’t as sheer as some of the reviews have said.

urban decay backtalk palette swatches — What’s that, Karen? You’re still an NC42 in MAC for reference? Yes…yes, I am.

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