Daily Beauty

The New Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow: The Neutrals

July 10th, 2014 by Karen 11 Comments

Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow Neutrals

Bella Eyes — super new from Milani. It’s a new line of gel powder eyeshadows available in 30 colors, $3.99 each.

Of course I had to check out the neutrals first. 🙂

Doesn’t the gold packaging look extra pretty?

In the top row, from the left to the right, that’s Bella Gold, Bella Copper, Bella Espresso and Bella Taupe.

Starting from the left in the middle row are Bella Bronze, Bella Cappuccino, Bella Caffe and Bella Sand.

Last, but not least, in the bottom row, that’s Bella Ivory and Bella Champagne.

You can find these and the rest of the Bella Eyes gel powder eyeshadow shades now at drugstores and online.

The Poverty Flats by Rian Perforated Satchel Strikes Again!

July 9th, 2014 by Karen 9 Comments

Poverty Flats by Rian Perforated Satchel (1)

Last summer I found the most awesome goes-with-anything-and-fits-a-ton purse at DSW — the lightweight Poverty Flats by Rian Perforated Satchel, and I saw it again while cruising DSW today! This time in gray, and on major sale.

Originally $80, it was on sale for $49.95 when I got it in light cream and tan last year. The gray one here is deeply discounted right now to $34.95 (they also have it online in navy blue for the same price).

OK, so this is one of those purses that looks much more expensive than it actually is. Whenever I’m out and about with it, someone usually stops to ask me where I got it, and I’m like, “GUUUUURL! DSW on SALE!” 🙂

LOL! I’m so my mother’s daughter…

Car Selfies

July 8th, 2014 by Karen 16 Comments

Three, two, one…CHEEESE!

LOL! I’m pretty sure the trucker who was stuck next to us on Highway 37 in bumper-to-bumper traffic thought I was a weirdo, but whatevs.

I took these last night as El Hub and I were on our way to dinner in Napa for our anniversary.

I literally only had, from start to finish, about 5 minutes to do my makeup before we left the house, so I blazed through this look figuring I’d be able to make any adjustments and fixes in the car on the way to the restaurant.

Of course, me being me, aka “always in a hurry and five minutes late,” I forgot my makeup bag at home.

Doh!

Aaaand, I didn’t realize until after I looked closely at these pics that my brows were a little wackadoo, haha!

Oh, well.

Wish I could say that my makeup always turns out perfectly, but that’s so not the case, especially when I’m rushing.

I did finally get to break in Chanel New Moon, though, which I’m happy about. I patted it on bare lids (didn’t even have time to put down primer), and then smudged MAC Teddy liner on my lash lines.

That’s Chanel Malice on my cheeks and NARS Giza gloss, with MAC Gingerroot Cremestick Liner, on my lips.

Gingerroot is discontinued, but I love it so, so much… I only bust it out for special occasions.

Mythical Mint Green Manicures With New NARS Nail Polish in Thasos

July 7th, 2014 by Karen 13 Comments

Have you ever basked in the sun on Thasos?

Thasos, Greece — Thasos, a Greek island in the Northern Aegean Sea

Wouldn’t you like to?

I sure would…

Before today, I didn’t even know this beautiful Greek island existed (there’s also a town on the island of the same name).

Thank you, NARS, for the geography lesson. 🙂

I painted my paws with this new creamy mint NARS Nail Polish today.

NARS Thasos Nail Polish Swatch — Two coats of NARS Thasos

Yup, NARS recently reformulated their nail polish line, and when they did so, they added a bunch of colors, kept some old ones, changed the brush (it’s now flat and wide and covers the entire nail in one swipe), and the cap, which is more like Chanel’s caps now, with a removable square cap on top of a cylindrical one.

The new line of 43 polishes ($20 each) arrives July 15 at NARS boutiques and narscosmetics.com, and August 1 at Sephora stores and NARS counters inside department stores.

I can’t gauge the wear time of Thasos yet, but I definitely dig the application. The brush was really easy to use, and the creamy formula wasn’t streaky at all. I only needed two layers.

As for the Island of Thasos, uh, when are we leaving?

That water looks incredible…

Postcard says what now?

To quote Liz Lemon, “I want to go to there.” 😀

Pro Palette Redux! The New LORAC PRO Palette 2

July 1st, 2014 by Karen 18 Comments

Do you remember the LORAC Pro Palette from 2012?

I thought it was/is pretty good. Apparently it was also a hit, because LORAC made a sequel.

Here’s to hoping it’s more Terminator 2 than Hangover 3 (she said, raising a half-empty bottle of Glow Vitamin Water Zero).

The LORAC PRO Palette 2 is available now for $42 at Ulta stores and ulta.com.

P.S. Oh, boy. That navy shade in the top row will be epic for the dark blue liner/nails look. 🙂

A Wave of Color To Wash Over Nails

June 30th, 2014 by Karen 7 Comments

Now that’s a big wave!

Doesn’t this picture look kind of like a wave of rainbow colors? I’m thinking, “Starburst commercial.”

Mmm… Starburst. 🙂

These are 31 of 42 new MAC Studio Nail Lacquers ($12 each).

Each row from left to right, on the top row, that’s Black Glow, Nocturnelle, Rain of Flowers, Formidable, Anti Fashion, Rebel, Saint Germain and Snob.

The second row from the top, that’s Sour Cherry, Flamingo Rose, Shirelle, Impassioned, Instant Crush, Only in Florida, Erogenous and Delicate.

The third row, that’s Tropical, Quick Million, Soiree, Silver Dew, Screaming Bright, Girl Trouble, Coffee Break and Quiet Time.

And the bottom row, that’s Gold Pearl, Pink Pearl, Blue Pearl, Green Pearl, Leather, Underlacquer and Overlacquer.

Stinky Boys and Coping Mechanisms: The Nest Lemongrass & Ginger Reed Diffuser and Diptyque Figuier Hourglass Diffuser

June 27th, 2014 by Karen 8 Comments

I live with two boys, and both of them are stinky (granted, one of them is a cat).

As our condo isn’t very big, there are times when the boy funk permeates every surface and hangs in the air like a poison fog. Out of sheer desperation, I’ve developed a number of coping mechanisms and tools to help me deal with it.

First, I open windows on opposite sides of the house (for cross ventilation) and light candles from Bath & Body Works. I also keep a couple of room fresheners in my office, which is right next to Tabs’ throne room (aka the bathroom where Tabs keeps his litter box), at all times.

Right now the air fresheners are summery to match the season. One is the Nest Lemongrass Ginger Reed Diffuser ($38) up at the top, which I keep on my windowsill, where it fills the room with a sparkly, summery ginger lemon scent.

And then on my desk I keep the Figuier Hourglass Diffuser by Diptyque.

A sturdy hourglass-shaped bottle filled with scented oil, it has a plastic diffuser in the center.

Each time you turn the hourglass over, some of the oil drips down into the diffuser, and the scent fills the room for about 20 minutes.

Got this as a gift, and I loooove the scent (like going for a walk in the woods early on a spring morning and snacking on figs) but it’s obnoxiously expensive ($150!).

I’m currently on the prowl for a less pricey option…

If you’re interested, both are available now at Neiman Marcus stores and neimanmarcus.com.

P.S. Hi, babe. How are you doing tonight? I hope you’re doing something fun. I’m just taking it easy on the couch in front of the TV because I don’t feel extra great. My lower back is killing me (I think it’s cramps).

Dr. Tabs is taking pretty good care of me…

Actually, no he’s not. He doesn’t have a lot of patience for patients, LOL! He’s like, “I know you’re not feeling great, but where’s my damn gravy, woman!?”

Oh, New Moon, Mistress of the Sky, You Are Finally Mine! Hello, Chanel Illusion D’Ombre in New Moon!

June 26th, 2014 by Karen 21 Comments

At last!

She no longer eludes me… I have her in my clutches! Three Chanel counters and $36 later, Illusion D’Ombre cream shadow in New Moon is mine!

This coppery cream shadow has minuscule multicolored flecks of glitter, and it came out with Chanel’s summer 2014 collection.

Sadly, it eluded me then, and I’ve been trying to track in down for a while.

It’s been kind of hard to find because it was/is limited edition, but you know what they say… Where there’s a will, there’s a way. 🙂

If you’re interested and they don’t have it at your nearby counter, see if they’ll check another store. If you can find it somewhere, some places will handle the shipping to you for free.

I know Macy’s does…which is where I found this one.

Good luck!