Eyes

The New $10 Maybelline Eye Studio Color Plush Silk Eyeshadow Palette in Desert Fantasy: When YSL Makeup Fantasies and Bangin’ Budget Drugstore Palettes Collide

September 30th, 2013 by Karen 18 Comments

Maybelline Eye Studio in Desert Fantasy — It’s not a fantasy all. It’s real — the limited edition $9.99 Maybelline Eye Studio Plush Silk palette in Desert Fantasy…

For a penny less than $10 (and sometimes less than that on sale), these Maybelline Eye Studio Plush Silk palettes are some of the best drugstore palettes around.

I’d been so really impressed by the couple I picked up earlier this year in Sapphire Sire and Give Me Gold (both permanent, so you should still be able to find them in stores) that I recently went back for more.

They’re packed with pigment and therefore easy to build up in layers (read: I don’t have to spend hella time buildnig up the colors), and it only takes a few swipes from my brush to blend the colors together, which makes them great for gradients and looks involving multiple shadows.

Plus, I can totally swoosh these on my lids in the morning, do my cat’s bidding all day long, and know that my eyeshadow will look just as fresh at gravy time 8-10 hours later.

Until today, though, it never occurred to me just how similar these are to YSL’s (much more expensive) eyeshadows. In the case of Desert Fantasy, the tabby tum-like texture, seamless blending and creative combination of colors remind me of something you might find basking on a Yves Saint Laurent counter.

If you’ve got YSL dreams on a Pop Tart budget, it’s dream time, babe! Catwalk down to your favorite drugstore, and check out these palettes.

There are a number of potentially winning palettes in the permanent line, but don’t miss the four limited edition “Fall 2013 On the Runway” palettes ($9.99 each).

Ohmigosh! — they’re seriously beautiful.

Maybelline Fall 2013 On the Runway — The entire Maybelline “Fall 2013 On the Runway” collection…

They feature brown, gold, black and khaki neutrals; and dreamy jewel-toned teal, blue and purple. When I bumped into them the other day at Rite Aid (I wanted a Vitamin Water), I was like, “Oooh, this one needs a nice lady to adopt her… And this one. AND MAYBE THAT ONE TOO!” 🙂

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MAC Unsung Heroes: Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Painterly

September 27th, 2013 by Karen 18 Comments

Please pardon my less-than-pristine pot of MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Painterly. We’ve done a lot of lovin’ together over the past few years.

Painterly, a clean, classic nude beige with a matte finish, is one of my favorite cream eyeshadows in the MAC Paint Pot line. Mostly, I use it as an eyeshadow base or to even out my lid color by buffing a single layer of it on with a MAC 217 before some cat eyeliner and mascara.

I absolutely lurve the way it enhances other shadow colors when it’s worn as a base. It keeps other colors true to the way they look in their pans, which is a nifty trick. Products are also easy to blend on top of it, so when I’m doing a look with multiple colors and gradients, Painterly is almost always the base I grab.

MAC Painterly on NC42 skin — Painterly on my NC42 skin

On my (now, this time of year) slightly dry lids, Painterly lasts all day long without creasing, but if you have uber-oily lids, you might want to give it a hand by applying it atop a layer of NARS Pro-Prime or Too Faced Shadow Insurance.

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Try $22 Benefit Gimme Brow Brow-Volumizing Fiber Gel for Fuller-Looking Brows

September 26th, 2013 by Karen 19 Comments

Benefit Gimme Brow in Light/Medium — Wearing Benefit’s Gimme Brow in Light/Medium in my brows

Gimme brows.

Gimme brows, I said!

That’s like a beauty lover’s battle cry… “Gimme brows, dagnabbit!” 🙂

Mine have grown out quite a bit since last spring, which is when I decided to leave them to their natural tendencies.

Well, mostly natural. I still tweeze a stray hair every now and then, just to keep myself from looking like a tiny Sasquatch, but for the most part, I let them go wild.

I want my brows so lush, full and bold that passersby do double-takes and say to themselves, “Damn! That girl’s got BROWS!”

Benefit’s new Gimme Brow Brow-Volumizing Fiber Gel ($22) got my attention because of that word, “Volumizing”

I actually don’t know if volumizing is a real word outside of haircare and mascara circles, but it sounds good, doesn’t it?

Vol-yume-eye-zing.

Cute little tube too, yeah? And that mini brush? It’s designed to be very precise.

The brush-on waterproof gel formula adheres to both hair and skin and comes in two build-able, natural-looking shades — Light/Medium and Medium/Deep — and you can apply them in multiple layers to strengthen the look.

With brow fillers, I typically go a few shades lighter than my natural brow color because I think that looks less stark and obvious. That’s why I thought Light/Medium would be better for my fuzzy little caterpillars…

Unfortunately, I think it turned out to be a tad too light for me, but I still found a lot to like.

Benefit Gimme Brow swatch in Light/Medium — Swatch of Light/Medium…

The gel formula is highly pigmented and really adheres to hair and skin with firm hold. In fact, I think if I wanted to, I could build a bold brow with just this alone, and it would last all day.

None of that funky crunchiness, either, that accompanies some brow gels. This formula holds firm but doesn’t get crunchy.

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Dolce & Gabbana PassionEyes Duo Mascara: Lash Passion Now Comes in Blue, Brown and Black

September 26th, 2013 by Karen 6 Comments

Dolce Gabbana Passioneyes Mascara — Dolce & Gabbana PassionEyes Duo Mascara ($32)

Brown mascara, wha!?

Ain’t nobody got time for that!

That’s the first thing I thought when I saw Dolce & Gabbana’s new PassionEyes Duo Mascara ($32).

It comes in three shades — black, blue (referred to as Blue Indigo online, but it’s called Blu Indaco on the tube) and brown — the least exciting of which, for me, is the brown, mostly ’cause the tint is almost indistinguishable on my dark lashes.

A brown mascara could come in handy if you’re very fair, or if you don’t want your lashes to look too dark or stark, so if that sounds like a good fit for you, haaaaay! — now you’ve got a PassionEyes option.

Dolce Gabbana Passioneyes Mascara wands from the left: Nero, Terra and Blue Indaco — Wands from the left: Nero, Terra and Blue Indigo

According to D&G, PassionEyes gives a double boost to lashes, amplifying lash length and curl, which is why they bill it as a “Duo Mascara.” Tapioca polymers lock lashes into place, while beeswax enhances flexibility and glycerin conditions.

The look? How about feminine and curvy (they say they were inspired by a classic Dolce & Gabbana dress)?

Today I tested Nero, the black shade, and Blue Indigo, the blue one, and they reminded me of mellower versions of YSL Faux Cils because most of the volume-enhancement occurs at the roots and slowly tapers toward the tips.

Both colors have a gorgeous glossy finish — very shiny and smooth — without any bumps or clumps.

Dolce Gabbana Passioneyes Mascara swatches from the left: Nero (black), Terra (brown) and Blue Indigo (blue) — Swatches from the left: Nero (black), Terra (brown) and Blu Indigo (blue)

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Tom Ford Shows His Softer Side This Fall With In the Pink, One of Two New Ombre Eye Color Trios

September 24th, 2013 by Karen 16 Comments

Tom Ford In The Pink — Question: What’s the secret to this Ombre Eye Color’s supreme softness? Answer: It must be In the Pink.

In the Pink, a Tom Ford Ombre Eye Color trio ($60), has powder shadows so soft that they make velvet jealous. We’re talking softer than soft — even the glitter, which is weird, because I usually associate glitter with grit.

Running my fingers across these pans is like a fingertip massage… While some eyeshadows scoot along the skin in fits and starts, these skate, and whether I’m patting or swiping them on my lids or along my lash lines, I always come away impressed.

The second of Tom’s two new Ombre Eye trios released for fall (the other being She Wolf), In the Pink is the soft-spoken option. While She Wolf howls at the pale moonlight (AWOOOOO!), In the Pink purrrrs, its dainty paws padding as if on clouds.

Like She Wolf’s shades, these — a matte pale pink, shimmery shell pink and a sheer, silvery pinkish glitter — were designed to be worn together for an ombre effect.

Of course, you could break that rule and wear the colors alone, or create interesting effects by layering the glitter atop or beneath the matte or shimmer.

It would be our little secret. Tom would never know. 🙂

In the Pink lights up my lids without announcing to the world, “She’s wearing eye makeup!” And that’s what I like about it. It’s understated and sophisticated.

Lighter lovelies who don’t mind paying extra for luxury lines, and who like the way they look in neutral and cool-toned shades, might find it particularly appealing. Pair it with cat eye liner and your favorite berry lip, and you’re ready for fall.

Tom Ford In The Pink Swatches — Tabs, and swatches from the left in matte light pink, shimmery seashell pink and the sheer, silvery pinkish glitter…

I like In the Pink well enough but, truth be told, if I were forced to Sophie’s Choice it and had to pick one of Tom’s two trios this fall, I wouldn’t hesitate to join She Wolf’s pack.

Sure, In the Pink is a solid trio of everyday eye makeup, but its colors are more dupe-able — and probably for less than $60. She Wolf, on the other hand, is something that doesn’t come along every day.

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My Cat Eyes Spy Jordana’s Fabulously Affordable $2.99 FabuLiner Bold Felt-Tip Liquid Liner

September 20th, 2013 by Karen 5 Comments

Jordana Fabuliner Bold Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner — Jordana’s Fabuliner Bold Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner

I feel like my makeup universe has been out of balance lately — like something’s off kilter, out of whack.

I’m not sure, but I think it has something to do with liquid liner…

And Tom Ford.

I haven’t gotten over the price of Tom’s Eye Defining Pen in Deeper, and I don’t know if I ever will.

I mean, it’s $55…

WHICH IS CRAZY! But other than that, it’s almost perfect in every single way. The whole universe is confused…

There has to be a drugstore liquid liner equivalent out there to restore the makeup planetary balance.

Maybe it’s Jordana’s new $2.99 Fabuliner Bold Felt-Tip Liquid Eyeliner.

Available now at Walgreens in a single shade called Black, it’s long-wearing, deep and intense, without any red or blue undertones, and it dries to a slightly shiny finish.

It also dries fast! I’m talking Roadrunner fast, like the moment it touches my lids, BAM! It’s dry within seconds.

I love that I can plop it on, blink, and not have to worry about it transferring into my crease. It’s instant cat eye gratification, and I don’t even have to wear primer, since it lasts like a mutha’.

And then there’s the tip.

THE TIP! It’s firm and felt, kind of like an art marker, but…

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Look in This Forest and What do You See? Gold, Khaki and Taupe! The New Clarins Eye Quartet Mineral Palette in Forest

September 19th, 2013 by Karen 13 Comments

Keep looking up! (BTW, that’s the Clarins Forest Eye Quartet on my eyes.)

I was conducting “research” at a Nordie’s MAC counter a few weeks ago, playing with lipsticks and chatting with the gals who work there (They’re all so nice at the Corte Madera counter!), when I overheard a woman discussing her philosophy on makeup.

Ohhhh-kay. So maybe I was eavesdropping. 😉

The woman was looking for false lashes, and one of the makeup artists asked if she wanted a bold look or something more natural. Her response was something along the lines of, “If I’m gonna wear fall lashes, I want people to notice!” She wanted to go bold all the way! Otherwise, why bother?

“Hell, yeah,” I thought to myself, nodding in silent approval as I secretly swatched berry-colored lippies on the back of my hand. “I hear that!”

Having been in a smokey eye phase for a while, her take on makeup really resonated with me.

Of course, there’s a time and place to tone it down, too. Not every hallway is a catwalk, after all, and runway makeup isn’t always appropriate. Plus, some makeup lovers just don’t do bold.

When you don’t have a runway to strut, or you’re just looking to wear something noticeable, but not overwhelming, on your eyes, there’s the new Clarins Eye Quartet Mineral Palette in Forest ($42).

Recently released for fall, the four-pan palette of powdered eyeshadows has a shimmmery golden khaki, a satiny taupe, a blackened khaki with the faintest flecks of golden glitter (SO CUTE) and a sheer, pale gold, any of which can be applied wet or dry, and still look great. Whatever suits yo’ fancy!

All four shadows, which range from sheer to medium coverage, have a lovely, soft reflective shimmer that catches the light juuust enough, so that you’re compelled to take a closer look.

It’s perfect for that watercolor effect — subtle, but you can definitely tell you’re wearing makeup.

Clarins Forest swatches — Swatches from the left: Khaki, gold, blackened khaki and taupe

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The RiRi Hearts MAC Fall Veluxe Brow Liners in Deep Brunette and Deep Dark Brunette

September 18th, 2013 by Karen 13 Comments

RiRi Hearts MAC Fall Veluxe Brow Liner in Deep Dark Brunette and Deep Brunette — Wearing both (I mixed them) of the RiRi Hearts MAC fall Veluxe Brow Liners in Deep Brunette and Deep Dark Brunette, $21.50 each ($25.50 CDN)

Like Gigablack Mascara, the two brow pencils in the new RiRi Hearts MAC fall collection are re-promotes from the permanent line bedecked in eye-catching limited edition pink packaging.

Even before they were RiRi-fied, I kept both of these brow pencils in various makeup bags and — ahem! — the glove compartment of my car, because I never knew when the urge to wear a bold brow would hit me.

Turns out it happens often. 🙂 One minute you’re driving along, dippity-doo, when you glance at yourself in the rearview mirror and think, “Yeah, those brows could be bigger.”

Not a problem if you have one of these around.

RiRi Hearts MAC Fall Veluxe Brow Liner in Deep Brunette and Deep Dark Brunette — Deep Brunette on the left and Deep Dark Brunette on the right

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