Eyes

KARL LAGERFELD + MODELCO Kiss Me Karl Choupette Eyeshadow Palette in Smokey/Burgundy

May 24th, 2018 by Karen 14 Comments

karl lagerfeld model co choupette palette — Mrrreeeeow, Choupette!

OK, I realize that this is technically one of the items in Uncle Karl’s latest collab collection, but let’s get real — I’m only here for Choupette. ?

KARL LAGERFELD + MODELCO Kiss Me Karl Choupette Eyeshadow Palette in Smokey/Burgundy (Nordstrom exclusive)

($65, 0.48-oz. palette with 16 powder eyeshadows)

Can you say “no” to a cat-shaped palette?

I DIDN’T THINK SO.

See, that’s why you’re a card-carrying member of Team Cat Lady, and Choupette’s looking extra cute here with her heart-shaped nose and her “K” collar.

Today’s product check in: A look at the @karllagerfeld + @modelco_cosmetics new limited edition makeup line. It’s at @nordstrom l! #karllagerfeld #modelco

A post shared by Karen | Makeup and Beauty Blog (@karenmbb) on May 24, 2018 at 4:12pm PDT

Color-wise, I really like the cool-toned browns in this palette, which is one of two palettes in the collection (the other one, Warm/Nude, leans warmer), and the abundance of mattes, and how almost all of the eyeshadows, with the exception of the glittery burgundy, are soft and buttery enough to practically scoop themselves with a brush or finger.

Here’s what I don’t care for: how the mattes handle my fine lines. Mind you, my kitten-hood was many moons ago, but still. I’m not a senior kitty yet.

karl lagerfeld model co choupette palette 2 — Cool and warm tones in the Smokey/Burgundy palette

Despite being creamy soft, the powders have large grains that draw mucho attention to my lines.

karl lagerfeld model co choupette palette k — I’m wearing shades from the top top row on my lids

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The “New” MAC 224 Synthetic Tapered Blending Brush…

May 18th, 2018 by Karen 20 Comments

Hey, can I borrow your hot tub/DeLorean time machine for an hour? Pretty please?

I need to get back to 2017 or, really, any time before MAC revamped their brush line and changed so many of their classic brushes. Like this one: the 224.

If you say “yes,” I’ll babysit your cat or bake you brownies. What do ya say? Deal? 🙂

MAC 224S Synthetic Tapered Blending Brush ($34)

I wish I could stock up those old 224s because — HELLO, CRANKY PANTS — this new version is scratchy and stiff, several of the bristles have fallen out, and the ferrule is already loose.

Such a bummer, too, because the old-school 224s are beasts. I have two that are more than five years old and still going strong, but they’ll have to be replaced sooner or later.

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Will Hourglass Veil Retouching Fluid Be Your Concealer’s New Best Friend?

May 17th, 2018 by Karen 10 Comments

**BEEP** **BEEP** **BEEP**

We interrupt this blog post to bring you this very important announcement: Hourglass Veil Retouching Fluid is NOT a full-on concealer. It may look like one, but it’s not. If you apply it by itself on top of dark circles, those bad boys won’t disappear. They’ll be like, “What’s up, lady? HOW YOU DOIN’?” ?

Hourglass Veil Retouching Fluid ($32)

But, if you apply it on top of another concealer you already happen to be wearing — in other words, you retouch — you should see a slight difference…

“Meet your concealer’s new best friend. Veil Retouching Fluid is a multitasking complexion enhancer that you won’t want to leave your house without. This weightless, oil-free fluid adds just the right amount of brightness, coverage, and hydration that your skin needs during the day. It’s like your morning cup of coffee, your 3pm piece of chocolate, and your post-workout glow all rolled into one.”

– sephora.com

When I dab and blend it on top of Make Up For Ever Ultra HD, which has been my under-eye concealer du jour lately, and by “lately,” I mean the past couple years, my dark circles look a little brighter.

Bonus: it doesn’t get cake-y or break up the concealer, either.

It would be pretty innovative if you didn’t know about Trish McEvoy’s Instant Eye Lift, which has been around a hot minute.

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REVIEW! MAC Mirage Noir Slow As You Go Eye Shadow and Mother o’ Pearl Pearlmatte Face Powder

May 15th, 2018 by Karen 19 Comments

I went for ’80s today… Don’t know if I quite got there, but it’s all good. 🙂 I still like how this look turned out.

So, plums and purples today. And I found this top that I’ve had forever. It’s by Halogen, and I got it at Nordstrom a zillion years ago.

I wanted my makeup to complement the top, which is something I don’t do very often — coordinate my makeup with my clothes — especially lately. Lately my clothes have basically been an afterthought (although I’m working diligently to change that), but today I thought I’d coordinate. Plus, big hair. I was going for ’80s hair…or a modified version, but I’ll get to that in a sec.

First, the two key ingredients in this look… LOL! Ingredients. 🙂 What, are we making brownies? OK, the two key “elements” are a purple eyeshadow called Slow As You Go, and a plummy golden bronzed cheek/face powder called Mother o’ Pearl.

Both are from the new MAC Mirage Noir summer collection available now.

MAC Slow as You Go Eye Shadow ($17)

You’re gonna dig this if you’re a fan of MAC Trax. Slow as You Go is similar, but I actually think I like it more than Trax because it’s shinier (in a good way) and more richer. Like Trax two point oh. It’s also silky soft and blends like a dream. And — this is important — it doesn’t make my eyes water like so many other purples do.

❤️❤️❤️❤️ 4 out of 5 hearts.

Did you know? Golden purples like Slow as You Go pair very well with MAC Powersurge and MAC Prunella eyeliners. 😉

mac mirage noir mother o pearl slow as you go — Makin’ mah heart flutter!

MAC Mother o’ Pearl Pearlmatte Powder ($34)

This plummy gold has a slightly warm bronze undercurrent. It’s like a combo bronzer, blush and highlighter. Normally I just mix it all together and sweep that on my cheeks and blend.

Technically, it’s a powder, but it feels almost like a cream, and the opalescent finish is pure purr-fection.

It’s like a bronzier MAC Plum Foolery, but not as shiny.

❤️❤️❤️❤️ 4 out of 5 hearts.

Did you know? You can also use Mother o’ Pearl as an eyeshadow. Yup, it’s also approved for lids.

mac mirage noir other o pearl k — CHEEKS!

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Shout-Out to the MAC Cream Colour Bases!

May 15th, 2018 by Karen 8 Comments

Old-school MAC right hurr! It’s been a minute since I’ve talked about the Cream Colour Bases, but I’ve been wearing Improper Copper and Vintage Rose as cream blushes lately and just remembered what makes them so, so good.

mac cream colour base swatches — Hello, my pretties!

mac cream colour base insert — Not all of the shades are eye, cheek and lip safe.

These multitasking creams moonwalk across the skin and stay put on my lids, lips and cheeks. You can easily blur the edges with your finger, too, even if you consider yourself blending-challenged.

I wear Shell and Hush as eyeshadow bases and highlighters all the time, and I give them ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ out of 5 hearts for being awesome.

Do you have a fave? Which one, and how do you use it? Inquiring minds want to know.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Natural Eyeshadow Palette in Deep (Take One)

May 14th, 2018 by Karen 10 Comments

And now for something completely different (not), if I had a nickel for every time I watched a YouTube makeup video and thought, “Oh, I can handle that. That’s gonna be easy.” And then I tried it and was like, “What the hell just happened?” — I’d be a rich girl.

Yeesh, I’m so out of practice with eyeshadow… It is definitely a perishable skill, at least for me. It’s not like riding a bike, where you can take years off, then hop back on and be like, “Lalala! So easy! This is great!”

As you know, I’ve been wanting to do a little more with my makeup lately — not necessarily to put more makeup on, but to, ya know, do something more ambitious than one or two lid shades and some tightlining, so I’ve been watching a lot of videos, like this one by Sephora for hooded lids, which was actually VERY helpful for explaining proper placement (a.k.a “where to put the lighter and darker colors”).

If you have a hooded lid situation, definitely check it out.

Thing is…it assumes you have rudimentary blending skills down pat, which I thought I had, but I guess they were tucked away somewhere because… Well, it’s not that I’m unhappy with how this eye look turned out, but I can see a few things I could have done better.

I like it from straight on, and from the side, with my eyes open. I think it’s pretty decently blended in the crease, and I like the way the gradient is feathering, but when I look at the pics of myself with my eyes closed…WHOA.

And this could just be me being hyper-critical of myself, because I do that, but I can see that one eye is darker than the other, and they aren’t perfectly symmetrical, and I know that I do these things because I’ve made these same mistakes 1,342,521 times before.

I also know that my eyes aren’t identical. They’re naturally asymmetrical. One is slightly larger than the other, and my smaller eye is set a little deeper the the other. Also, I’m right-handed, and I tend to press harder when I’m applying shadow on my right lid than I do on my left, making that eye’s makeup look darker if I don’t pay close attention.

Basically, these are just lessons I have to re-learn from time to time… While not rocket science, makeup is definitely a perishable skill. If you don’t use it, you freakin’ lose it.

Anywho, today’s makeup gave me a chance to get to know the new Chanel Les Beiges Deep eyeshadow palette, and girl, the browns are beautiful! They are SO pretty.

Like the wide buttery golden pan at the top? No, it isn’t MAC Soba, but it is Chanel’s version. If I just stopped trying new makeup and wore this satiny mid-toned brown daily for the rest of my life, I’d be a happy camper.

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Copper Wings on a Wednesday With Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Lucky From the Beached Collection

May 9th, 2018 by Karen 8 Comments

urban decay lucky — Red Bull isn’t the only that gives you wings!

I can’t remember the last time I wore colorful winged liner like this on a Wednesday, and you know what I did with it on? I wore it to baby story time with Connor. 🙂 Yup, and ya know how that felt? I tell you how it felt. It felt really good to wear something jazzier than usual.

I’m still committed to pushing myself out of my comfort zone, because let’s get real — I’VE BEEN STUCK, and I’ve been stuck for a while.

I’m not trying to go ham or full-on Instafabulous, but I’m sorry — I still like makeup, and I still like getting dressed up, but I’m also constrained, you know? Time is undeniably of the essence at this point in my life, so 1) I don’t have loads of time or patience, and 2) I don’t really like the way my skin feels when I’m wearing a sh*t ton of makeup.

This is the journey, and I’m up for the challenge! 🙂

On that note, here’s what happened this morning: I did this winged liner thinking that it looked massive — like big-@ss predatory hawk wings spanning across the sky and blocking the sun! — and then I took a selfie (which is easiest way to see if your wings are even, BTW) and saw that my flicks had disappeared into nothingness.

What the!? Where’d they go…?

I looked at the copper wings in the mirror (that’s Lucky, one of the new eyeliners from the Urban Decay Beached collection), and they looked pretty substantial, but they look minuscule in these pics.

Such a weird makeup mystery!

I’m still feeling the liner, though, and yes, I probably know what you’re thinking. How many times has UD done a warm metallic bronze/red/copper eyeliner?

SO MANY TIMES.

But this one has the cutest, tiniest pieces of silver micro-glitter, so you get a mixed metals vibe. It’s an out-of-the-box move, IMO, because most brands would’ve picked gold glitter to complement the copper’s warmth. So go on with your bad self, UD!

urban decay lucky swatch — Lovin’ the little flecks

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Testing the MAC Mirage Noir Collection Eye Shadow in Sun, Tan and Repeat, and Lipstick in Twig

May 8th, 2018 by Karen 19 Comments

mac sun tan repeat eye shadow k 1 — Sun, Tan and Repeat!

OK, every time I sit down to do my makeup and say to myself, “Karen, don’t do smoky eyes,” I end up doing smoky eyes, so at this point I’m thinking that I should just tell myself to do smoky eyes and assume that via the power of reverse psychology I’ll do something other than smoky eyes. 🙂 Let’s see if that logic holds. LOL!

Today I used Sun, Tan and Repeat, a duo chrome teal shadow from MAC Mirage Noir,, to see how it performs.

First off, it looks awfully similar to MAC Club, one of my favorite MAC shadows of all time. They’re actually surprisingly similar, so you may not need this one if you have already Club. They’re essentially dupes to my eye… Practically. They’re dupe-esque. Or dupe-like. I think you have to look really closely to see the differences between them, or be like a total eagle-eyed color hound.

Sun, Tan Repeat pops a bit more on lids… It’s a bit brighter and more teal (tealer?) than Club, so it seems a tad more cheerful than Club, which has those deeper charcoal tones… Club is moodier.

Sun, Tan and Repeat is also shinier than Club, so if you always end up applying Club with a wet brush to amplify the shimmer, then ST&R could be a worthy addition.

Here’s it in action…

Every day I tell myself to wear something other than a smoky eye and then I end up wearing smoky eyes. ? The green smoke is @maccosmetics Sun Tan and Repeat eyeshadow layered on top of @urbandecaycosmetics liner in Invasion. ???? #maccosmetics #urbandecaycosmetics #makeupoftheday #instamakeup #igmakeup

A post shared by Karen | Makeup and Beauty Blog (@karenmbb) on May 8, 2018 at 9:40am PDT

Something else I’m noticing: I prefer ST&R’s texture. It’s MUCH softer and creamier than Club.

ST&R, by the way, looks really beautiful if you line your lash lines with a deep, dark forest green or a blackened green liner. You could do an iridescent liner, but I prefer a matte finish because I like the contrast of the matte against the shimmer, so you get that extra interesting element. I’m wearing it today with Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Invasion on my lash line and water lines (although I’m not sure if I’ll be using this particular shade on my water lines again because my left eye is all watery now… I think I’m destined for a life of only wearing certain MAC liners and Chanel Stylo Yeuxs on my water line).

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