Eyes

I’ve Got Bon Bons on My Eyes, But It’s Not a Problem: The Perfectly Priced Too Faced Shadow Bon Bons Kit Is Sweet on Neutral Looks and Purple Smokey Eyes

October 3rd, 2012 by Karen 37 Comments

My sweet tooth is absolutely thrilled with all the action it’s seen lately!

What started innocently enough with a batch of Toll House cookies but then rapidly progressed to a box of custom made MBB cupcakes has mutated, yet again, into makeup. My maniacal sweet tooth is so…maniacal that it can no longer tell the difference between real bonbons and the new Too Faced Shadow Bon Bons eye palette ($42).

If I don’t get a handle on this soon, I’m either going to end up in the emergency room with a doctor asking me, “So why were you eating makeup?” or replace my entire wardrobe with stretchy pants.

Blast you, Too Faced!

Scrumptiously sweet, this indulgent holiday kit of 12 powder eyeshadows, one full-size Lashgasm Mascara and one sample-sized tube of Candlelight Shadow Insurance is not just low-cal (no cal?). It’s also convenient as heck. It gives you the option of going subtle with neutrals like brown, beige and peach, or going buck wild with purple, pink and black smokey sass.

More often now that it’s fall, I’ve been getting the urge to ~~eat my feelings~~ wear purple smokey looks, and a lot of the time when it happens, I reach for Bon Bons.

Here, let me give you the recipe. 🙂

Just pat Candlelight primer all over your lids, sprinkle one (or two or three) of Bon Bon’s yummy chocolate or caramel browns on your lids and in the crease, add a dash of purple directly on top of your neutrals and a dollop of mascara on your upper and lower lashes.

Chill before serving…

Okay, not really. It’s ready to go right there! — and the look lasts all day long with barely any fading or creasing.

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How to Marry a Showgirl: The Many Faces of the New MAC Marilyn Monroe Eyeshadows

October 1st, 2012 by Karen 15 Comments

mac marilyn monroe showgirl eyeshadow — Wearing the new MAC Marilyn Monroe Eyeshadow in Showgirl

Being the right-hand human to an international plus-size kitty supermodel can be a real chore if you’re not, you know, in the mood to be your cat’s minion/punching bag.

To my feline employer, I’m merely a toady, a gopher, but there’s more to being a successful pet assistant than having opposable thumbs. It’s a multifaceted job requiring a diverse skill set, dagnabbit, and ideal candidates are people with layers — just like the new $21 Large Eye Shadows from the MAC Marilyn Monroe collection.

Blueish gray Showgirl and soft white How to Marry, two of the four shades in the limited edition launch that arrives on counters this Thursday, might look like standard issue shimmers in swatches, but wait until they get on your lids.

MAC Marilyn Monroe Showgirl How to marry Eye Shadow — Eyeshadows in Showgirl (left) and How to Marry (right)

Like Marilyn, these Large Eye Shadows are larger than life! Each of the $21 0.1-ounce pans contain twice as much product as MAC’s regular $15 eyeshadow pans, which contain 0.05 ounces each.

Thing is, these babies love buffing, so start by pressing either one on your lids with a firm, flat eyeshadow brush or finger (side note: this part’s kind of important, because I’ve noticed that if I skip the firm brush/finger part, these shadows exhibit significant fallout), and then swirl a domed, fluffy brush like the MAC 217 on top of the shadows to lift away some of the pigment.

What remains is a semi-opaque wash of shiny color and tiny glimmering flecks of shimmer. Although the effect’s kinda quiet in these pics, I think it’s much more obvious and super pretty in person, especially if you like your glitter on the understated side.

mac marilyn monroe how to marry eyeshadow — Eyeshadow in How to Marry

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Unsung Heroes: Laura Mercier Metallic Creme Eye Colour in Alloy

September 28th, 2012 by Karen 17 Comments

Lately Laura Mercier’s Metallic Creme Eye Colour in Alloy ($22) has been totally twitching my tail.

I’m not sure if it’s more because I just recently re-discovered my love for Laura Mercier’s permanent line (oh hai, Black Gold and Stormy Grey), because Chanel’s new Harmonie du Soir Quad keeps begging me to find her an appropriate playmate, or just because it’s one of the best taupe products I’ve ever tried. Or maybe a combination of all three.

Whatever the why, with Alloy, the beauty gods granted all of my taupe eye makeup wishes.

Is it neutral enough to flatter warm and cool skin tones? Yup.
Does the finish look alive (and not flat)? Yes again. In fact, I think the glistening metallic finish is just luminous enough to qualify as awesome.
Does it last long enough? I think so. How does eight hours sound?
Does it spread, layer, buff and blend like a dream? Yes, yes, yes and yes. 🙂 All thanks to an epic creamy formula.

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Elegant and Easy Chanel Illusion D’Ombre Eyeshadow in Apparence Satisfies Demanding Inner Lazy Girls

September 27th, 2012 by Karen 21 Comments

chanel apparence illusion d'ombre — Wearing the new Chanel Illusion D’Ombre Eyeshadow in Apparence

It’s funny, but for a slacker, MILG is actually pretty demanding.

MILG — My Inner Lazy Girl — hasn’t been sleeping well lately, and so she has me coveting cream eyeshadows like Golem covets the One Ring in LOTR!

And the lack of shuteye only serves to make MILG more demanding… Most mornings, I find it easier to just give in than fight, so when she tells me to pat shimmery golden bronze Apparence, a new $36 limited edition Illusion D’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow shade from Chanel’s upcoming holiday collection, on my lids with a finger and then buff out the edges with a MAC 217, I do a Kanye shrug and go with the flow.

Sometimes, I will fight for MILG to let me add some black liner on my water lines, because I love how it contrasts with the golden bronze (I’m wearing it in these pics).

Any which way I wear it, Apparence always lights up my lids. It’s no substitute for eight hours of sleep, but it’s sure better than nothing.

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Pricey But Pretty Darn Perfect: The New Chanel Harmonie Du Soir Quadra Eye Shadow

September 27th, 2012 by Karen 38 Comments

Hey, buddy! Another beautiful fall morning here in the Bay Area. I went to take the trash out this morning, and when I exhaled I actually saw my breath in the air. It’s only a matter of time before it gets really cold again (well, cold for this part of California, which I know is not really that cold compared to other parts of the country, but we’re weather wusses here).

Hopefully the new Chanel Harmonie Du Soir quad will keep me warm… Not so much physically warm, but its four colors (taupe, gold, pink and plum) have been firing me up. Lately they’re all I’ve been wanting to wear.

Harmonie’s formal name reads like a champion race horse: “Regard Signe De Chanel Quadra Eye Shadow in Harmonie Du Soir,” and at $65, it’s priced like a thoroughbred, too.

There’s really no way around the fact that this is one expensive piece of makeup, but as hard core Chanel-o-philes already know, the price premium is nothing new from the line. This palette does include a special quilted design on the pan, though, which makes it seem a little more exclusive.

Oh, and it would make such a wonderful gift! Imagine opening it up on Christmas morning… [SWOON!] I’d need a fainting couch.

chanel harmonie du soir quad closeup — Harmonie Du Soir eyeshadow in Bronze Gold

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Is It Real, or a Chanel Blue Illusion? The Chanel Blue Illusion de Chanel Collection

September 20th, 2012 by Karen 27 Comments

KAREN: “Ya know, Tabs, I don’t see why you’re so cranky. I mean, you were the one who orchestrated this whole thing. You said, ‘I want a photo shoot!’ and I said, ‘Fine, you’re the boss.’ And — let me just pull up the text you sent on my phone here — it says, ‘Model some of the new Blue Illusion de Chanel collection eye makeup for me, and make it snappy! I don’t have all day.'”

TABS: “I don’t think I appreciate your attitude. I bet Naomi’s assistant doesn’t give her grief like this.”

KAREN: “Right, that’s because she’s too busy ducking all the phones being thrown at her…”

TABS: “Oh, very funny. You’re just lucky I hurt my paw playing football, otherwise I’d show you what a phone feels like.”

KAREN: “Listen, Tabs, this thing between us right now, this tension, it has to stop. You have a job to do, but so do I, and I need you to respect that. We both know that you’re the talent here, but I’m important, too, Tabs. I’m not your scratching post or your crinkly toy.”

TABS: “I know that! You don’t think I know that? You’re my assistant, so why don’t you do some assisting for a change and make me some gravy?”

KAREN: “Make it yourself. I’m on hiatus until you tell me what’s wrong.”

TABS: “I told you…I don’t want to talk about it.”

KAREN: “Well that’s too bad. Look — I’m just gonna come out and say it. Does this have something to do with Choupette?”

TABS: “I’m sorry but I don’t know anyone by that name…”

KAREN: “Choupette? Choupette Lagerfeld? I know you know who I’m talking about.”

TABS: “Okay, maybe.”

KAREN: “Tabs, just because Choupette prances around all day in her Chanel cat castle with Karl doesn’t mean you should feel threatened. Everyone who’s anyone in the kitty modeling industry knows that you’re the cat’s meow.”

TABS: “Really…? You’re not just saying that?”

KAREN: “Absolutely! I mean, sure, Choupette is cute. I’ll give her that, but she can’t command a room like you do. She doesn’t have the girth or the attitude, and I bet you even know more about Chanel than she does.”

TABS: “True. She wouldn’t know Riva from Jeans or Aurora.”

KAREN: “Exactly. So you see what I’m saying? You’re in a completely different league, Tabs. You have nothing to worry about. Now, if you’re feeling better, can I give you my report on the Blue Illusion pieces you asked me about?”

TABS: “Sure. You’re right. Let’s do that.”

KAREN: “Great. Well, the two $36 potted cream shadows, Illusion D’Ombres in Apparition and Destination, have a metallic, high-shine finish and blend beautifully on my lids. Unfortunately, if I don’t set them with a powder shadow on top, they also crease a ton within one or two hours.”

TABS: “Go on…”

KAREN: “The $29 Le Crayon Yeux Precision Eye Definer in Blue Aerien? — just okay. I think it’s super pretty on the lash line, especially on brown eyes, but it leaps off my water lines like a frog off a lilly pad. Plus, it feels a little hard… I wanted it to glide.”

chanel apparition — Illusion D’Ombre in Apparition

Illusion D'Ombre in Destination — Illusion D’Ombre in Destination

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Laura Mercier Kohl Eye Pencil in Black Gold Fuels My Love for Messy Rocker Chick Looks

September 19th, 2012 by Karen 18 Comments

Most gilded liner groupies would be content to have MAC Powersurge tucked away in their makeup bags… Not this gal. I dream of a day I fling my drawers open and nearly drown under a deluge of shimmery bronze and gold liners!!

Greeting me like a friendly face on this path to gold and bronze liner glory is Laura Mercier’s Kohl Eye Pencil in Black Gold, $20 and available now in Laura’s permanent collection.

Darker than Powersurge and more gold than bronze, from its name, I thought this shimmery kohl would be darker, like a black liner lightly brushed with golden pearl, but it looks like more of a 50/50 split between black and gold to me. When I hold the swatch up to the light and wiggle my wrist, I see flashes of both beautiful shades.

Cool.

Makeup mavens may growl at its tendency to migrate. Although Black Gold clings to water lines fairly well (as long as I apply two layers, I don’t even need touch-ups), the smudgy, soft texture gets happy feet on oily lids, which is a little ironic considering its name. I’d say it behaves better than buttery MAC Feline (which I still love), but if your lids are oily at all, starting with a primer, and then setting Black Gold with a shadow on top, should discourage it from transferring into your crease when you blink.

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Share a Tip Tuesday: Whip That Water Line Into Shape!

September 18th, 2012 by Karen 21 Comments

I love liner. Love wearing it on my water lines. Love the way it intensifies eye looks, but getting that stuff to stay put can be a bear.

Here are a few tricks I use to whip my water lines into shape…

Let’s wait a while…

After I apply a layer of liner, I wait about 10 minutes for it to dry, and then reapply. That second layer really seems to up my mileage.

Push on some powder

Somewhere out there is a lovely Chanel makeup artist who gets credit for this trick (thank you, wherever you are!). After lining your water lines with a pencil, pat a matching eyeshadow on top using a soft, firm brush. It sets the liner and extends your wear time.

Brush-wise, I like the Definition Liner Brush No. 10 from Burberry ($32) for this (although any good, firm eye brush with a little give should also work, like a skinny concealer brush). It’s downy soft, and the pointy tip is all about the details. Perfect for placing shadow along the water lines.

Bring on the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Eye Pencils!

There’s no shortage of long-wearing liners out there now, but Bobbi Brown makes a great one. Her Long-Wear Eye Pencils ($24) are some of the best I’ve used. They glide along my skin like makeup figure skaters, without caking or breaking up later. Plus, no tears! — and they come in six shades. The one I have is called Jet (a midnight black).

Thanks for stopping by for another edition of Share a Tip Tuesday! 🙂 You left so many great ideas for makeup storage solutions in the comments on last week’s post. My cluttered counters thank you.

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