Eyes

Sephora VIB Sale Recommendations: The Tarte Tartelette In Bloom Palette

October 30th, 2018 by Karen 17 Comments

tarte tartlette in bloom palette final — Wish list-worthy

Guess what…? There’s a Sephora VIB sale in November, so this week I’m highlighting some of my favorite makeup workhorses that I think are worthy of your wish list.

Ignore the inside voice inside your head that’s always saying, “Do you really neeeed another neutral eyeshadow palette?” because this one with its matte neutral brown and beige eyeshadows, and its shimmery taupe, gold and copper accent shades, parts the clouds for me, and I say this as an unabashed hoarder of neutral palettes. I love them because you can wear them all the time and for any occasion. But the Tartelette in Bloom Palette rises above the rest IMO.

I use this palette to “cheat” the look of a deeper set eye, which is something I deal with every day since I have hooded lids. This 16-pan palette bucks the current trend of warm red and orange-y browns, and instead boasts a bevy of cool-toned shades and neutral browns, which are great for carving out a crease.

tarte tartelette in bloom palette swatches — YUMMY!

The makeup maestros at Tarte found a way to seamlessly weave these long-lasting, pigmented shadows into each other so that even if you’re rushing (or, even if you don’t know what you’re doing), you can still buff and blend your way into something that looks like you spent hours on it.

tarte tartlette in bloom palette — Another day, another pic of me in pajamas.

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Benefit Boi-ing Hydrating Concealer Is Your Dry Under-Eye Area’s BFF

October 22nd, 2018 by Karen 10 Comments

I’m not even really a concealer person anymore, since everything concealer-y adds, like, 1,000 years to my face (FOR SERIOUS!). It’s that dry under-eye area, man. So, so tricky… But this snazzy little stick by Benefit has me feeling like I could fall in love again with concealer.

If their new Boi-ing Hydrating Concealer ($22 for a 0.12-oz. stick) looks familiar to you, well, that’s probably because you might remember a similar product from back in the day called Fakeup. Boi-ing Hydrating is basically the same thing, but in different packaging and more shades (six, to be exact).

From the Benefit website:

Don’t let dry under-eyes and dark shadows get you down. Boi-ing hydrating concealer hides dark circles and visibly smooths fine lines. Plus with Vitamin E & apple seed extract, this hydra-smoothing formula keeps skin hydrated for 6 hours* with Vitamin E and appleseed extract (Formerly known as fakeup. Same shades, same great formula!)
*instrumental test on 10 panelists.

Sheer coverage

Lightweight formula

Natural finish

100% said it hydrates skin**

**results observed in a consumer panel survey

It’s an ultra-creamy under-eye concealer stick with a concealer “core” surrounded by moisturizer, and it completely covers dark areas without creasing or emphasizing ~~wrinkles~~ experience lines. You swipe it directly underneath your eyes, pat with a finger or a brush, then find yourself screaming “WHAT MAGIC IS THIS?” because it really is makeup sorcery. When I wear Boi-ing Hydrating, I can’t even tell it’s there, and I that’s what I really love about it.

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NARS Newness! Some of My Go-To NARS Eyeshadow Singles and Duos Have Been Relaunched, and There Are New Tinted Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Bases

October 17th, 2018 by Karen 12 Comments

nars eyeshadow relaunch 2018 — NARS newness

Forget for a second the ongoing trend of beauty brands relaunching products in smaller sizes while charging the same price for them (because that’s what’s happening here with the recently relaunched NARS eyeshadow duos and singles), and try instead to focus on the tantalizing taupes, gorgeous golds and beaming bronzes in these NARS eyeshadows, which also happen to be some of my personal faves, oh la la!

nars eyeshadow tinted smudgeproof swatches — A few of my favorite eyeshadow singles and duos, and the new Tinted Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Bases

I’m not overjoyed that NARS whittled the pans down to 0.04 ounces from 0.07, and, in the case of the duos, is charging the same price (still $35), but at least the singles, which used to be $24, are $19 now…

Even so, every time I see Fez on my lids, I’m like, “François, how YOU doin’?” Because if there’s one thing NARS still does really well, it’s neutral colors. I’m still a sucker for them.

nars fez 2018 — Wearing Fez on my lids (the lipstick is MAC Cosmo).

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The Benefit Brow Contour Pro 4-in-1 Defining & Highlighting Brow Pencils Will Take You From “No” Brows to “WHOA!” Brows in Seconds

October 11th, 2018 by Karen 9 Comments

I gotta say, I wasn’t sure what to do with these Benefit Brow Contour Pro 4-in-1 Defining & Highlighting Brow Pencils at first… Do I fill in my brows with them? Or do I furiously take organic chemistry notes? — because back in college those four-color click pens were all the rage in my science classes, and we used to joke that the faster you clicked your pen, the more desperate you were to get into med school, ha ha!

So, about these, I appreciate that Benefit calls them “Pro” because I feel like you gotta be a professional brow person to really appreciate them.

Why?

Because they’re 1) very pigmented and 2) very soft, which can be either a lethal or a pleasant combination, depending on your level of brow game. Like, if you don’t know what you’re doing, there’s a good chance you’ll end up with severe, blocky brows.

“Define & highlight your brows with this 4-in-1 contour pencil. Our multi-tasking brow pencil features a lighter brow shade, deeper brow shade, edge definer and arch highlighter to create clean, shaped brows with depth & dimension. Turn shapeless, flat brows into defined, contoured brows in an instant. Available in 5 shades for a wide range of hair colors and skin tones!”

Easy brow contouring

4-in-1 brow pencil

Blendable formula

24-hour longwear and waterproof

— benefitcosmetics.com

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MAC Kajal Crayon: Better the Second Time Around…

October 10th, 2018 by Karen 5 Comments

It just goes to show ya that it never hurts to give a product a second chance, because I did not care for the $23 MAC Kajal Crayons when they first launched in Diane Kendal, but I’m all about this new batch. I don’t know if MAC tweaked the formula, or if I’m just remembering things differently, but I think these are SO good — especially if you’re a smoky-eye-’til-I-die person like I am.

Basically, these are chubby liners/eyeshadows that adhere to water lines AND skin. You’re supposed to plop them on, then blow out the edges (a.k.a “smoke it the eff out”) using your fingers or a brush.

I like using the MAC 217 with them because I think I can feather out the edges more quickly with it than I can with a fluffier brush like the 224.

By the way, I softened the transition along the edge in this pic with Soft Brown and Saddle.

mac kajal crayon 2018 — I’m wearing Dear Darling on my eyes, and the lip is MAC Liptensity in Smoked Almond (also worn as a blush on my cheeks).

Creamy pencils like these usually have a limited — I guess you could call it “shelf life” on your lids and water lines because of how easily they move. And the creamier they are, the more they move.

You can smudge these Kajal Crayons and smoke them out as much as you want, but once they’ve set, they stay put.

I mean, you don’t have all day long to make tight and tiny circles with your 217, but you get about five minutes, and for a messy, smoky eye using a single color, that’s usually enough time.

Another thing: You can layer these as much as you want to because they don’t go patchy.

mac kajal crayon 2018 swatches — I ❤️ these shades.

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The Pumpkin Spice Must Flow! Another Starbucks #PSL Look With Reviews of the New MAC Studio Fix 24-HR Concealer, Patrick Starrr Boy About Town Kit, and More

September 25th, 2018 by Karen 16 Comments

mat patrick starrr boy about town k — Pumpkin Spice ERRRTHANG

I’m wearing another pumpkin spice latte look today! (More reviews on the key makeup products, all the new things from MAC that are out right now, in just a sec.) But first, my latest Starbucks adventure…

Like I mentioned yesterday, for years I thought the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte was limited to the standard-issue #PSL, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. If you look around, you can find TONS of different versions of the PSL (even healthy-ish ones)! If you’re not into the super sweet OG latte (which, I admit, can be a little much, even for my sweet tooth sometimes), you’ve gotta try this other version from The Macrobarista, which I got earlier today.

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Pumpkin Spice Latte???‍♀️ ~~~~~Approximate Macros~~~~~ Protein: 1.5g/ Carbs: 13g/ Fat: 3g ‼️90 Calories‼️ *with no whip* SUGAR: 10g Fiber: 1g Caffeine: 160mg • Here it is! The oh so awaited HOT pumpkin spice latte! • Don’t be afraid when looking at the ordering instructions! If the store isn’t slammed and you’re polite when ordering, the barista should have no problem fixing up your macro friendly drink! My best advice, show them the picture of the order screen I provide and briefly say why you’re ordering it that way. Or, just use the mobile order screen I’ve provided. • OR, if you’re too intimidated by the instructions.. use my modifications but order this as a latte, keep in mind you’ll double the calories from almond milk. • ◾️◼️The breakdown◼️◾️ Pumpkin Sauce: .5g P/ 10g C Almond Milk: 1g P/ 4g C/ 3g F SF Vanilla: <1g C ( this comes from maltodextrin which the body treats like glucose, so keep that in mind) • ✅HOW TO ORDER✅ 1️⃣Ask for a TALL BLONDE Americano 2️⃣Ask for it in a GRANDE CUP 3️⃣Ask for ONE (1)pump of pumpkin sauce 4️⃣Ask for THREE (3)pumps of sugar free vanilla 5️⃣Ask for STEAMED ALMOND MILK 7️⃣Ask for EXXXXTRA pumpkin spice topping PS.. I only included the whip for the picture! • The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, but the second best time to plant a tree is today. -Alex☕️

A post shared by Alex Moe (@themacrobarista) on Sep 4, 2018 at 9:42pm PDT

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Pumpkin Spice Everything! A Warm Red, Pink and Bronze Eye Look Using the Urban Decay Elements Palette, MAC Studio Fix Sculpt and Shape, MAC The Blonds Lipstick in Davidblond and The Blonds Magic Dust Powder

September 24th, 2018 by Karen 21 Comments

urban decay elements palette k front — Shout-out to Pumpkin Spice!

How do I feel about Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattes? Hmm… Well, you know how much I like pink drinks, right? They’re delish! — but I don’t pump my fist in the air and say YAAASSS when I get one.

But I do when I get a PSL.

Also, even though I went through an intense green tea latte phase last year, ultimately, I could take or leave ’em. But the Pumpkin Spice Latte. THE PSL! It’s my most favorite drink at Starbucks, and it always has been, from even before I started wearing this tank top 24/7.

urban decay elements palette k side 1 — So Karen, tell me how you REALLY feel.

Despite the forecast calling for 80-degree temps here, I’m bubbling over with PSL excitement! I got the fever bad, so I channeled it into this PSL-inspired makeup look. ? Then, I went to Starbucks and ordered a special version of the PSL based on this recipe from The Macrobarista on Instagram.

He’s a Starbucks barista who makes healthy-ish versions of Starbucks drinks.

He calls this refreshing version the Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte, and it has all the spicy sweetness of the standard PSL, but (according to The Macrobarista) it’s only 90 calories with about 11 grams of sugar.

To make my life easier, I took a screenshot of his “recipe” on my phone and held it up to the cashier at Starbucks so he could type it in. ?

Now, about the makeup, my friend, this was the first “LEWK” I’ve done in a minute (been doing a lot of one shade of taupe on my lids with mascara, NARS Orgasm lip balm, and nothing on my skin). Needless to say, I felt like I was wearing everything and the kitchen sink.

But it was fun, and in the process I found some new things to love.

urban decay elements palette k looking down — When you feel overdone but then you just go with it…

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Chanel La Base Ombre À Paupière Longwear Eyeshadow Primer Is the Ace of Base

September 12th, 2018 by Karen 7 Comments

chanel longwear eyeshadow primer — Before, and after eight hours, wearing Chanel Longwear Eyeshadow Primer as a base. (BTW, that’s the PYT Beauty “No BS” palette on my lids.)

Let me begin this by saying that I’ve been skipping eyeshadow primer for months.

I just haven’t been using it.

It was just another step, ya know? And I felt like I could forgo it because it was incompatible with my quest for extreme makeup minimalism (as defined by a person who carries at least five nude lipsticks in her purse at all times).

Basically, it wasn’t like I needed my eye makeup to impress anyone for hella hours anyway. It’s not like Tabs and Connor point out when my crease color is fading into oblivion (thankfully), but with the Coywolf in preschool now, I want to start doing different things with my makeup again.

Mostly, I wanna wear brown smoky eyes and red lips again. 🙂 But I refuse to subject you to patchy lids, so I’d like an eye primer, but I want one that has all the bells and whistles.

Like this one from Chanel.

$32 Chanel La Base Ombre À Paupière Longwear Eyeshadow Primer

This untinted eyeshadow primer swept me off my ~~feet~~ cat Vans!

Granted, it’s not like applying eye primer is difficult, but it’s definitely easier than usual with this one because of its smooth consistency.

La Base is “wetter” than primers from NARS and Urban Decay, but it lasts just as long. Using it is like applying an eye cream, and I think it’s just easier and faster for me to use than other primers from the big dawgs.

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