Makeup

The New NARS NARSissist Wanted Cheek Palette I

March 14th, 2018 by Karen 16 Comments

nars narsissist wanted 1 palette top pic — Your new favorite everyday blush palette

WANTED! Reward offered for the capture of the new NARS NARSissist Wanted Cheek Palette I, which may or may not have fallen between the cushions of my couch.

This bad boy is $59 and one of two new LE NARSissist Wanted blush palettes to launch with the new NARSissist Wanted Power Pack Lip Kits. It comes with six 0.13-oz. pans of powder blush, which are just sliiiightly smaller than regular full-size 0.16-oz. NARS blush pans.
Four of them are mattes, and two are shimmers.

nars narsissist wanted 1 swatches — Unlimited, Buzzed, Notorious, Kingpin, Bumpy Ride and Crave

Now for the really good news: 🙂 Only one of the shades is a re-promote — shimmery candy pink Bumpy Ride. The other five colors are LE.

Of the two Wanted Cheek Palettes, this one, v. 1, is the lighter option, and while its raison d’être is to kiss the cheeks of lasses with light and medium skin tones, I also like it for brown skin because it’s so easy to wear, on account of the mid-toned shades, which means that I can apply them half-asleep using a regular blush brush… Because they don’t look too intense or deep on me, I don’t have to overthink the application.

nars narsissist wanted palettes — Wanted 1 and 2 with my t-rex claw for scale

NARS gets REALLY high marks from me for the mattes, which have had their powder grains whittled down to almost microscopic size, so the blushes look like someone painted pure color on my cheeks. No powdery residue at all! They’re all beautiful on bare skin, too, but matte coral Buzzed and matte rose Kingpin are my faves. I think they’re the most wearable of the six shades.

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The NARS NARSissist Wanted Power Pack Lip Kit in Hot Reds

March 13th, 2018 by Karen 15 Comments

nars wanted power pack lip kit hot reds — $26 for two 0.09-oz. mini NARS Powermattes

When my friend/red lipstick kindred spirit Alis cuts my hair and we get to talking about red lipstick, girl, time ceases to exist. I’m not kidding, seasons will change! We’ll spend 15 minutes deconstructing minute details, like the differences between NARS Red Square and NARS Dragon ~~Roll~~ Girl, or MAC Russian Red and MAC Red. She’s that person in my life!

She’s precisely the kind of makeup lover the new NARS NARSissist Wanted Power Pack Lip Kit in Hot Red was made for, because, at first glance, both of the red liquid lipsticks in it probably look more or less the same to most peeps — but they definitely do NOT look the same to members of #teamredlips like Alis. If you’re a red lippie lover, you probably already noticed that Cherry Bomb is cooler and bluer than Don’t Stop, which is warmer and yellower.

Really, they’re totally different!

nars cherry bomb dont stop powermatte swatches — Cherry Bomb (new, limited edition) and Don’t Stop (a re-promote from the permanent line)

The $26 kit, one of three (the others are Warm Nudes and Cool Nudes), is coming March 18th to Ulta. Each one contains two mini liquid lipsticks from the groundbreaking NARS Powermatte liquid lipstick line.

Only thing is, these diminutive versions leave my lips feeling noticeably drier than the NARS reds in the permanent collection. I rock those all the time without any issues…

nars dont stop lip swatch — Don’t Stop, a geranium red

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NARS NARSissist Wanted Power Pack Lip Kit in Cool Nudes: 3 Things to Know

March 13th, 2018 by Karen 10 Comments

nars wanted power pack lip kit cool nudes — $26 for two NARS Powermatte minis

Awww…freak out!

(Le freak, c’est chic!)

FREAK OUT!

If you listen to disco, you know that your booty is guaranteed to start shaking whenever this song plays.

Le Freak, by the way, is also the name of one of the liquid lipsticks in the new $26 NARS NARSissist Wanted Power Pack Lip Kit in Cool Nude, which is coming exclusively to Ulta very soon — March 18th!

nars le freak lip swatch — Le Freak, a matte pale pink

Cool Nudes is one of three new liquid lip kits from NARS, and each comes with two cute Powermatte Pigment minis. One of the shades is a re-promoted shade from the permanent line (American Woman), and the other, Le Freak, is a new limited edition pale pink.

nars le freak american woman swatches — Le Freak (a new LE shade) and American Woman (a re-promoted shade from the permanent collection)

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MAC Padma Lakshmi Collection: 5 Things to Know About the Lipsticks and Cremesheen Glass

March 12th, 2018 by Karen 23 Comments

mac padma lakshmi collection lipsticks — MAC Padma Lakshmi collection Lipsticks from the left: Susnet Rose, Apricot Gold, Nude Fudge, Mittain Pink, Blue Blood and Sumac, $17.50 each

“Tabs…YOU ARE TOP CHEF!”

LOL! Wouldn’t that be a hoot? — Padma Lakshmi congratulating Tabs on his award-winning final meal on Top Chef.

I mean, even considering that he’s a cat, chances are Tabs would win Top Chef before I did because I don’t have that special something. Sure, I can follow a recipe, but I’m no wonder in the kitchen.

I do, however, have strong opinions on ? lipstick. ? If that counts for anything.

Regardless…

1. There’s a lotta lipstick in the MAC Padma Lakshmi collection!

The 17-piece release, which is coming to MAC counters Thursday, March 15th, has been released early online. It includes six lipsticks ($17.50 each) and a Cremesheen Glass ($21, which is an online exclusive). Four of the lippies are MAC Mattes, one is an Amplified, and one is a Cremesheen. Oh, and the Cremesheen Glass is glossy, of course.

2. The nude lipsticks are a go, ESPECIALLY for tan temptresses and darker divas.

If you have a toasty tan, you know how some nude lipsticks can be, right? Particularly pale pink and pale beige lipsticks? How some will wash you out? Well, I think you’ll have better luck with Padma’s lipsticks. The nudes in this launch are rooted in peach and brown, and they’re deeper than usual for pastel nude lipsticks. They’re generally very pigmented and overall brown-girl friendly.

mac sunset rose lipstick — Cremesheen Lipstick in Sunset Rose, a creamy brown with pearl

mac apricot gold lipstick — Amplified Lipstick in Apricot Gold, a mid-tone peachy nude

mac nude fudge lipstick — Matte Lipstick in Nude Fudge, a mid-tone neutral

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering why pale pink or beige nude lipsticks look wonky or weird on you, check out Padma’s collection if you can, because the nudes should work well with most darker skin tones.

My favorites of the six lipsticks are Sunset Rose and Nude Fudge. Mid-toned peachy brown Sunset Rose has a ’90s feel to it, but if you don’t like the brown matte look, you can always slick a little gloss on top.

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Celebrate Your Uniqueness With ALMAY at Walgreens

March 12th, 2018 by Karen 8 Comments

I think one of the cooler things about getting older, among the less cool things like randomly waking up two hours before dawn and having achy knees before a storm, is how we keep getting to know ourselves better, and how we’re always discovering new sides to our personality.

I mean, deep down inside, I know who I am, and that core Karen stays pretty much the same. But, over time I find new things about myself that I never knew existed, like, it wasn’t until I met Tabs in my 30s that I realized I was a full-on crazy cat lady!

The idea of embracing the different sides of your personality, many of them as yet undiscovered, is at the center of the new #AlmayTrueYou campaign. It’s all about expressing your individuality through makeup that enhances your uniqueness, but doesn’t cover up the true you.

I’m sure you’re familiar with ALMAY, and you’ve seen them at Walgreens. The brand is famous for their hypoallergenic formulas and their more natural look, so even if you’re wearing makeup, you still look like you, and not like a completely different person.

Heads up, smart shoppers! As we speak, all ALMAY products are buy 2, get 1 free at Walgreens through March 24, 2018.

It’s a look I’ve been into lately. It’s still me, but, like, zhuzhed up with extra flair. ???

ALMAY just launched a nifty new line of eyeshadow quads called the Almay Shadow Squad™. They’re only about $6.99 each, and each one comes with a matte, a glitter, a metallic and a satin finish square in the same shade. There are 15 shades in the line, ranging from everyday neutrals to trendy brights. So, there’s a lot to choose from.

I like them, especially because they are Opthamologist tested, don’t irritate my sensitive eyes or make them itch or tear up. I also like having all four soft, easy-to-blend finishes in one place. They’re surprisingly flexible. It’s easy to pick one up and do an entire look from start to finish, but I also like grabbing a few and custom blending to whip up unique finishes (which is so totally my style, and what I’m doing in the three #AlmayTrueYou looks below).

So, as has been well documented in the O.M.R. (Official Makeup Record), I’m a beauty addict, a mom and a friend to the felines, but you may not know that I’m also…

1. A boss baker

At least I am in my head. And I’m getting better all the time. I hope to be a super boss baker someday.

I love to bake, and I obsessively save recipes and pictures of cakes and cupcakes. I’m working toward the dream of baking a three-tiered wedding cake from scratch and piping that frosting to perfection. That day will come eventually, mark my words!

My boss baker look is inspired by dark chocolate cupcakes with hot pink sprinkles.

almay baker look 1 — Add one cup ALMAY and blend….

For these chocolaty eyelids, I used two different Shadow Squads — a cool brown 110 Cause a Stir and a neutral brown 230 Own It.

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MAC Padma Lakshmi Collection: 3 Things to Know About the Powder Blush Duos

March 9th, 2018 by Karen 10 Comments

mac melon pink — MAC Padma Lakshmi collection Powder Blush Duo in Melon Pink ($33)

Tonight on Top Makeup Chef, Dillon and Skyler face off in the Quick Fire 10-Minute Makeup Challenge! Before the day is over [FLASH TO HOST PADMA LAKSHMI], one of them will see their dreams on Top Makeup Chef come to an end. “Please pack your blush and go.”

You’ve gotta know Padmna Lakshmi. She’s the host of Top Chef, one of my favorite TV guilty pleasures, and how do I get a catchphrase, BTW? On Top Chef, Padma’s is “Please pack your knives and go.” Mine could be “So many cats, so little time,” or “The world is a vampire!” ??

LOL.

Padma’s new MAC collaboration comes out next week, and here are three things you should know about it.

1. Unfortunately, neither of the two Blush Duos is called “Please Pack Your Knives and Go.”

I would have loved them even more if they were, haha! One of them has a satiny peachy pink and a frosty orange — that one is the one that’s more like a traditional blush and highlighter duo — and one that has a neutral matte brown and a frosty beige. That one works more like a bronzer and highlighter.

mac moon shine — Moon & Shine on my cheeks

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MAC Padma Lakshmi Collection: 3 Things to Know About the Lakshmi Eye Shadow X 4 Quad in Desert Dusk

March 8th, 2018 by Karen 24 Comments

mac desert dusk — The MAC Padma Lakshmi Eye Shadow X 4 in Desert Dusk ($33)

There are two quads in the upcoming MAC Padma collection (coming March 15), and this one is the one with the unmistakable pop of blue.

I never would’ve guessed that Padma would be into pastel powder shadows, but I’m usually staring at the food, rather than Padma’s makeup, when I’m watching Top Chef.

I do remember that she likes a bright inner corner highlight, and I guess that makes sense with the light green in the purple quad and the baby blue in this one.

1. A good beginner’s quad

I think Desert Dusk is the better beginner’s quad of the two quads in the collection, just because you get three lighter lid colors (a shimmery gold, a matte peach and that beautiful shimmery baby blue), and you also get a deep, delicious dark chocolate matte brown, which looks a little like MAC Brun, by the way, one of my favorite MAC browns of all time. If you blend any one of the three lighter colors on your lids, or a combination of them, then line your lash lines with the dark brown? You’re set. Easy-peasy!

mac desert dusk swatches — Indian Moon, Shell Peach, Hopper Blue and Natural Brown

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MAC Padma Lakshmi Collection: 3 Things to Know About the Powerpoint Eye Pencils

March 6th, 2018 by Karen 10 Comments

mac padma powerpoint eye pencil — From the MAC Padma Lakshmi collection: Powerpoint Eye Pencils (dual-ended) in Iced Heather/Kerala Sun, Indian Ink/Mossy Green, Bordeauxline/Mole Brown ($18.50 each)

OK, so, I’ve been blinking like Morse code blinks for the last, oh, I dunno…two or three minutes, trying to get this freshly applied eyeliner from the MAC Padma Lakshmi collection to transfer up into my crease, and it’s just not happening. This stuff is the real deal for longevity! The MAC Powerpoint Eye Pencils are usually waterproof and budge-proof, and so are these dual-ended versions, which are $18.50 each (coming March 15th to select MAC counters and the MAC website).

1. They’re a lot like the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils.

Like the UD Glide-On Pencils, the MAC Powerpoints are light on their feet as they slide across your skin. They don’t glide quite as smoothly as a gel eyeliner, but still they are smooth, and they set VERY quickly (30 seconds or less).

These dual-enders from MAC Padma might look a little sheer in swatches, and I’ve noticed that the UD ones are like that, too, but once you build them up, the color looks rich, dark and deep. It doesn’t take a dozen layers, either. Just two or three at the most.

mad padma powerpoint eye pencil swatches — Iced Heather/Kerala Sun, IndianInk/Mossy Green, Bordeauxline/Mole Brown

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