Eyes

I’ll Take a Double Latte With an Extra Shot of Cute! The New Paul & Joe Fall 2015 Eye Color CS Shades Were Inspired by Frothy Coffee Shop Beverages

July 22nd, 2015 by Karen 26 Comments

paul joe fall 2015 eye color cs 1 — Two of the new LE Paul & Joe Fall 2015 Eye Color CS shades ($28 each)

Paul & Joe: Hello, miss. Would you like an eyeshadow with your caffè latte?

Me: YES, PLEASE. And can you make that a decaf? (The latte, not the eyeshadow.) OOH! And could you please draw a swirl on top of the foam for me?

Paul & Joe: Sure. 🙂 We got’chu, boo.

These two new $28 Paul & Joe Eye Color CS powder eyeshadow singles are certainly kicking my coffee cravings into high gear (I’ve been trying to stick to decaf for the past few weeks…bluh). Inspired by creamy caffè latte colors and espresso shades, they have a soft sheen and a light, airy texture drool-inducingly like warm and frothy coffee shop beverages.

Mmm, coffee…

Even the packaging looks like a little latte cup. See the mini eyeshadow sponge applicator “spoon”? (AWW!)

paul joe fall 2015 eye color packaging — Two of the three Paul & Joe Fall 2015 Eye Color CS shades (LE shades added to P&J’s existing Eye Color CS line)

paul joe cafe macchiato 097 — Paul & Joe Eye Color CS in Cafe Macchiato 097

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Chic Crimson Helps the $40 BECCA Ombre Rouge Eye Palette Contour, Sculpt and Brighten Eyes

July 21st, 2015 by Karen 22 Comments

I highly recommend that you roll your R’s when you say the name of BECCA’s new crimson tinged $40 Ombre Rouge eyeshadow palette like so: “Ombre Rrrrrrrrrrouge. Rrrrrrr-ooooo-uge.”

Why?

BECAUSE IT’S FUN. That’s why. That’s the main reason. And, also, because rolling the R makes the palette seem extra rouge-y, and therefore extra fancy.

Yes, this is irrelevant to most important, thought-provoking aspects of real life, but like I said…IT’S FUN, and this is makeup we’re talking about (not rocket science).

Don’t be scurred, intrepid eye palette addict! All of the shades in this five-pan palette of powder eyeshadows may be tinged with red, but they aren’t straight-up reds, so you won’t be left with your brush in the air wondering, “What the heck am I gonna do with these?” They’re still very wearable and useful.

They’re also warmer and richer than the cool browns in BECCA’s Ombre Nudes Palette, and consequently interesting and different.

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Say “Bye, Felicia!” to Fine Lines, and “Hello, Gorgeous!” to Naturally Pretty Lids With the It Cosmetics Naturally Pretty Eyeshadow Trios

July 17th, 2015 by Karen 10 Comments

it cosmetics eyeshadow trio — Three of the six It Cosmetics Naturally Pretty Eyeshadow Trios ($24 each)

I like to keep the proverbial door open when it comes to certain aspects of my life — making new friends, learning new things, trying new foods, doing new wackadoo things with makeup, befriending new cats…

But I will happily slam that door shut on the fine lines that keep showing up on my lids. 🙂

I realize that aging is one of those freight trains that can’t really be stopped (or bargained with), so I might as well be cool with it (which I am, mostly). In a way, it’s an opportunity of sorts to track down the best, most forgiving eyeshadows for fine lines, and here’s one possible contender: the $24 Naturally Pretty Eyeshadow Trios by It Cosmetics.

it cosmetics eyeshadow trio 1 — Three of the six It Cosmetics Naturally Pretty Eyeshadow Trios ($24 each)

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Dior Diorshow Brow Styler Brush-On Brow Gel Has a Brush for Bushy Brows

July 16th, 2015 by Karen 13 Comments

dior brow styler gel review — The new Dior Brow Styler Gel in #003 Brown ($29)

Check out the tapered tip at the end of the brush on Dior’s new Diorshow Brow Styler Gel ($29). I’ve never seen a brow gel like this before.

The whole design is very futuristic. It has a click brush applicator, and when you twist the bottom of the pen, the brow gel comes out from the sides. Then you just run the brush through your brows to shape, tame and polish them.

It’s so very Bladerunner! Of course, in the not-too-distant future when we have robots for mundane tasks like filling in our brows, things like this will be rendered irrelevant…so we must get our brow thrills while we can. 🙂

So I was thrilled to try this doohickey on Raul (also known as “the bald spot in my left brow”).

dior brow styler gel — Wearing Dior Brow Styler Gel in #003 Brown

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The New Dior 5 Couleurs Designer Eyeshadow All-In-One Professional Eye Palettes in Amber Design and Taupe Design: Why, Yes, Darling, These Palettes Are Designer

July 16th, 2015 by Karen 23 Comments

dior 5 couleurs designer eyeshadow 1 — Two of the new Dior 5 Couleurs Designer Eyeshadow All-In-One Professional Eye Palettes in Amber Design and Taupe Design ($62 each)

My posh feline pal/employer is currently going through a “shoo-shoo frou-frou” phase today where he insists that everything — and I mean everything! — within his kitty line of sight be high end, from the Dior ribbons he exercises with to the Dior 5-Couleurs Designer Eyeshadow I’m wearing.

He’s so fancy!

"I only play with Dior ribbons." — “Dior makes the best training ribbons.” -Tabs the cat

Since I know better than to protest (the consequences are always dire), all I can do is put up my paws in surrender, submit to his demands, paint my lids with one of these new $62 (!) palettes, and go on my merry way.

Amber Design and Taupe Design are two of Dior’s six recently revamped Dior 5-Couleurs Designer All-In-One Professional Eye Palettes available now online and at Dior counters.

If you’re into pearly, shimmery shadows and don’t mind the price, these might interest you.

dior amber design — Dior 5 Couleurs Designer Eyeshadow in Amber Design

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With New NARS Audacious Mascara, What’s the Hook?

July 15th, 2015 by Karen 17 Comments

Raise yo’ paws to the heavens/roof! — NARS has a new mascara, which is quite a rare occurrence in NARS Land. It’s new NARS Audacious Mascara in Black Moon ($26), and it has an outrageous hook.

Actually, hooks.

No, really, it literally has hooks. See the bristles on the red brush? Those are little hooks…

BANANAS, right? I know! The hooks are supposed to catch lashes to better lengthen, lift, thicken and separate them, and I think it actually works.

I see satiny black lashes with nice length at the tips, and it pulls the lashes upward to keep a good curl. You can also add another layer as the day wears on, because everyone knows that nothing beats the 3 p.m. work blahs like an extra layer of mascara. 🙂

No, seriously, this mascara layers really well. No clumps, bumps or flakes. Just loads of seamless length, separation, lift and volume. It goes from cube mascara to club mascara like *that* (snaps fingers).

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Take a Bite Out of Buxom’s Delicious Eyeshadow Bar: Customize Your Own With Six Shadows for $40

July 15th, 2015 by Karen 22 Comments

Mmm, tasty…

Why does the new Buxom Eyeshadow Bar ($40 for an empty palette and six eyeshadows) have to look like a chocolate bar? — because according to the official transcript of my tummy, that falls under the category of “Cruel and Unusual Punishment.”

Oh, well… It’s a good thing my tummy takes orders from my eyelids when it comes to makeup. 🙂

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5 Things You Should Know About MAC Upward Lash Mascara

July 10th, 2015 by Karen 21 Comments

5 Things You Should Know About MAC Upward Lash Mascara ($22)

You might feel compelled to say, “ONWARD AND UPWARD!” to your lashes every time you open the tube — and yes, it is perfectly normal to talk to your lashes (well…).
The compact brush might remind you of other compact things, like kittens! You may even start to think, “Hey! I should get another kitten or two, or 12.”
The glossy black finish makes my lashes look exactly like the fur of this black cat in my neighborhood that I’ve been trying to befriend for, like, ages. Bribing the neighborhood cats with treats usually works, but this cat is wise to my tricks.
Oh, well. Sooner or later, I’ll wear her down.
Your (and by “your” I mean “my”) current MAC mascara love, Extended Play Gigablack Lash, will start to wonder if your three-year love affair is over because you haven’t reached for it in days.
Reassure it by stroking it gently. Try not to look like a pervert.
Friends may mistake your tube of Upward Lash for an XXL tube of MAC Lipstick, because doesn’t it look like one?!
OMG! Can you imagine?

Anyway, feel free to toy with their emotions by saying, “Yes, it’s a giant tube of MAC Lady Danger.” 🙂

The nitty-gritty details about MAC Upward Lash

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