Face

Unsung Makeup Heroes: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Tint

May 4th, 2018 by Karen 15 Comments

What’s an unsung makeup hero? For me, it’s an oftentimes underrated makeup morsel, a permanent collection product that scoots under the radar screen of many makeup lovers but regularly rocks my world. The long-running Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorites.

ANNOYING FACTOID OF THE DAY: Ya know…I bought a $50 YSL face tint at the Sephora VIB sale, and I don’t like it anywhere near as much as Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Tint.

Grrr…

Hydro Boost is so, SO good. I started using it when it came out about a year ago, and I’ve been wearing it off and on ever since.

As I’m sure I’ve mentioned (a zillion times), I have combo skin. Some parts are dry, others are oily, and even though I’m a little irked that Neutrogena raised the price from $14.99 to $16.99 in that time, whenever I wear this stuff I remember why it’s one of the best drugstore foundations out there (right up there with L’Oreal True Match Lumi).

It feels like nothing at all, keeps your skin looking like actual, you know, human skin, and it looks just as amazing in pics as it does in real life, even outside on a sunny day!

As a tint, it starts off sheer, but you can build it up to medium. You can’t really push it further than that, though, unless you mix in a concealer (and, if you do that, I recommend Make Up For Ever Ultra HD because they blend very well together).

Hydro Tint has a natural demi-matte finish, so it reflects light ever so slightly, and it also has a slight pore-blurring effect. Very similar to the awesome (and more expensive) NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tints, but with a touch less coverage and a more moisturizing formula.

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MAC Unsung Heroes: Mineralize Foundation/Loose

April 23rd, 2018 by Karen 12 Comments

mac mineralize foundation loose medium dark before after — Seriously, what a difference 10-minute makeup can make!

This powder is So. Dang. Good.

I don’t think it’s as overall epic as MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural, because that’s just… Well, it ticks off all the boxes, and I’m not gonna go there again because I know I talk about it all the time, so I won’t put you through that again. 🙂 But Mineralize Foundation/Loose provides more coverage than MAC Next to Nothing and MAC Blot, but less than MAC Studio Fix Loose. Basically, it has the same magical “your skin but better” mana that Mineralize Skinfinish Natural has, but with a tad more coverage.

What’s an unsung makeup hero? For me, it’s an oftentimes underrated makeup morsel, a permanent collection product that scoots under the radar screen of many makeup lovers but regularly rocks my world. The long-running Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorites.

mac mineralize foundation loose — —–> Fantastic for when you need a quick base

Never cake-y, never heavy, never overly shiny or overly matte, it’s phenomenal at controlling oil (although, if you have an oil slick situation, by mid-morning you’ll probably do better if you use something like MAC Blot instead). The main difference between Mineralize Foundation/Loose and MSF Natural is the level of coverage, as the loose version is straight-up medium coverage, and the pressed version is sheerer, but still build-able up to medium.

Technically, it’s a foundation, and you can wear it by itself, which is really handy for quick makeup looks, but I also think it looks lovely on top of a sheer tint or a BB or CC cream.

I would love Mineralize Foundation/Loose even more if it wasn’t only available in seven bizarrely staggered shades. It’s just so wonky… MSF Natural comes in 17 shades, so what’s the deal with only seven shades of Mineralize Foundation/Loose? And the steps between the the shades make absolutely no sense to me. I’m a MAC NC42 and wear Medium Deep, but the next darker shade, Medium Dark, is like three shades darker than that and super orange.

I don’t get it, but I hope you find a match, because if you do, I think you’ll fall in love.

mac mineralize foundation loose medium dark — Wearing the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Natural Eyehadow Palette, MAC Coffee liner, MAC Gingerly blush, MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour in Burnt Spice, and MAC Dazzleglass in Tangerine Tropica

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Cream Blush Is Your Secret Weapon Against Raggedy Ann Cheeks

March 30th, 2018 by Karen 11 Comments

kjaer weis suntouched blush — I’m wearing one of my favorite cream blushes of all time, Kjær Weis Cream Blush in Sun Touched.

Yo, I know I’ve been talking about cream blush A LOT this week, but I once unknowingly left the house with blush that looked like two little Raggedy Ann doll circles on my cheeks. I’ve since converted to the Church of Cream Blush because it merges with my foundation and never looks powdery. Amen and hallelujah to makeup that looks like real skin!

In other news, I’m making improv shrimp scampi tonight! It’s Good Friday, which meant seafood for dinner around here, which I’m totally cool with because I was a pascatarian for years, but when I mentioned “no red meat” to El Hub this morning his eyes got wide like we were headed for certain doom.

I googled this skinny version… I don’t know if it’s so skinny anymore because I threw in a bunch of Parmesan and extra butter, but YUM!

Hope you’re having a good night. Got any Netflix recs for me? I want to keep watching season two of Santa Clarita Diet, but I can’t watch it while I’m eating…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

How to Use Lipstick as a Cream Blush Without It Looking Streaky or Patchy

March 29th, 2018 by Karen 5 Comments

That’s basically it in the gif. That’s how I use ? lipstick as a blush. Just rub the bullet on the back of your hand to warm it up a bit, which makes it more pliable and slippery, then dab it with a synthetic blush brush, and bounce the bristles on cheeks.

Gently, though! — because you don’t want your base makeup to shift.

Now you’re ready to come with me to Target to get plastic Easter eggs. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Convert Crazy Clown Blushes Into Wickedly Wearable Cheek Colors With a Drop of This

March 29th, 2018 by Karen 6 Comments

nars wanted ii palette — The NARS Wanted II Palette, MAC 240S brush, Urban Decay Urban Defense Primer, MAC Prep + Prime Face Skin Base

Rise and shine, pal o’ mine! ? Good morning. It’s the day before Good Friday. Here’s a Thursday quick tip you can use in your Easter Sunday look.

What’s the easiest way to wear those bright red and orange powder blushes you hoard ?️ and love ❤️ but never wear (I’m guilty)?

Try this: swirl a stiff brush in the pan, tap/brush the powder on the back of your hand, and mix in a drop or two of face primer. Finish by patting on your cheeks with fingers.

That’s it! It’s a quick way to add the perfect amount of cheek color and mellow out your pores. ?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Prospecting Ain’t Easy: Benefit Gold Rush Blush Takes Work

March 28th, 2018 by Karen 24 Comments

benefit gold rush blush pacaging — The newest boxed blush by Benefit

Girl, I used to wear shoes like the pair on this box of Benefit Gold Rush Blush, and I’d be able to run in them, too!

Ah, memories of my former taller life… And by “taller,” I mean 5 feet 5 inches tall in 4-inch ? heels.

(In my mind, I’m a 5-foot-8-inch Glamazon, LOL!)

OK, enough rambling. 🙂 Benefit Gold Rush, their latest box o’ blush, just arrived on counters in two sizes, a full-size 0.17-oz. version for $29, and a smaller 0.08-oz. mini for $15. Both are peachy pink with big baddie gold flecks.

That top layer of golden shimmer is an overspray, but there’s also glitter within the peachy pink powder itself. So you won’t be hurtin’ for glitter with Gold Rush. That’s all I’m sayin’.

benefit gold rush blush pan — Yes, that’s an overspray, but there’s also glitter within!

You also won’t be hurtin’ if you’ve been looking your whole life for a HEAVILY scented blush that’s strong enough to pass for a perfume, because this one can.

All of Benefit’s boxes o’ blush are scented (I believe), but this is the strongest one. Definitely the strongest I can recall. I get strong sandalwood and sugar notes, and it’s also supposed to have citrus and vanilla, but I don’t detect those at all.

So, I actually like quite a few perfume-y powders, like Guerlain and Chanel bronzers, and I totes don’t mind smelling like a Nordstrom fragrance counter when I wear them, but Gold Rush is a tad too sweet for my taste. I think it’s cloying, like it belongs in a hot pink body spray with neon star-shaped glitter, but you know how it is with scented products. Just because I’m not a fan doesn’t mean you won’t love it.

benefit gold rush blush swatch — Look closely, because the swatch is there, man!

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The Urban Decay Backtalk Eye & Face Palette Is Getting People Heated!

March 27th, 2018 by Karen 15 Comments

urban decay backtalk palette eye swatch — Wearing the new Urban Decay Backtalk palette on my lids and cheeks, and UD Backtalk Vice Lipstick on my lips (a classic shade in the permanent line)

MAN, people are FIRED UP ? about the $46 Urban Decay Backtalk Palette, and it’s not just because of the warm tones. If you read some of the reviews on Sephora… My goodness! They make it sound like you’re smearing melted cat poop all over you eyelids when you use it. I mean, people have FEELINGS about it, and the main complaint seems to be the level of pigment, which I don’t really understand because I’m not having problems with it.

Granted, I don’t think the palette is the greatest thing since sliced bread. I’m not raving about it, but…

urban decay backtalk palette 1 — Pink, mauve and, yes, warm

It was inspired by a lipstick.

Anyway, let me rewind a second. First things first — the packaging. There’s a mirror in the middle that separates eight powder eyeshadows and four blushes, and the mirror slides out, which I like.

urban decay backtalk mirror — Now you see it, now you don’t.

The shades are predominantly varieties of warm mauve and pink, which again, is because the palette was inspired by Urban Decay’s Backtalk Vice Lipstick in the permanent line.

urban decay backtalk palette eyeshadow — A mix of matte and shimmery shades

urban decay backtalk palette blush — The blushes have different levels of pearl.

It’s actually pretty good!

I’ve been wearing it, and I haven’t had a problem with the pigment, which is generally on the more intense side of medium, so the shades aren’t quite “full on,” but they aren’t as sheer as some of the reviews have said.

urban decay backtalk palette swatches — What’s that, Karen? You’re still an NC42 in MAC for reference? Yes…yes, I am.

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The New NARS NARSissist Wanted Cheek Palette II

March 15th, 2018 by Karen 8 Comments

nars narsissist wanted cheek palette 2 — The new NARS NARSissist Wanted Cheek Palette II ($59)

Hark! Dost thou hearest the ? trumpets? ’tis the clarion call of the makeup goddesses! Have they answered my call? Because the blushes in the new NARS NARSissist Wanted Cheek Palettes are JUST AS GOOD as the blushes in the permanent collection. If you’ve been into makeup for a while, you’ve probably seen some pretty dicey LE products before, but everything in this palette is permanent collection caliber. Same quality as the NARS blush singles.

Six powder blushes live in the $59 NARS NARSissist Wanted Cheek Palette II — three mattes and three shimmers — and the only re-promoted shade is Taos. The other five are limited edition.

nars narsissist wanted 2 cheek arm swatches — PYT, Ambition, Taos, Explosed, Penthouse and Queen

Wanted II is the Wanted option designed for darker divas, whereas Wanted I caters to lighter lovelies.

As you may already know, because I’ve been saying it for, oh, 11 years (!), I’m a MAC NC42, and I feel like I can wear these blushes, but it definitely takes more effort than Wanted I. I have to bust out my fan brush AND an additional blending brush, because the Wanted II colors look dark on my skin (so they’re more effort to buff and blend), but because they’re so finely milled, they’re still easy to work with. The petite powder particles practically prance across the skin.

It’s just that the colors require some moderately serious buffing to get them looking natural on the apples of your cheeks.

nars exposed blush cheek swatch — Exposed

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