Kits and Sets

Whether You’re Kissing Cats or Mirrors (or Someone Else), the Sephora Endless Kisses Lip Gloss Set Will Be There For You

November 12th, 2014 by Karen 54 Comments

You know, I realized today while applying one of the lip glosses in the new $28 Endless Kisses Lip Gloss Set by Sephora that I’ve never left a kiss mark on a mirror.

This shocked me, as it’s something that seems like it would be both cute and kinda psycho, which is totally my style. 🙂

Only the universe knows why I haven’t gotten around to it yet…

Should I decide to rectify this situation anytime soon, I’m sure this new lip gloss set would be up for it.

Most of the glosses in it, like the fuchsia, the purple and the golden peachy pink (which is kind of like NARS Orgasm), are so pigmented that they could totally star in their own movie and play liquid lipsticks. I mean, if I were to smooch a mirror with one of these on, yeah, you’d definitely be able to tell that Karen was here.

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For the Undercover Makeup Lovers: The New $38 Bobbi Brown Mini Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick Trio

November 12th, 2014 by Karen 21 Comments

For the record, I do not recommend living a secret sneaky makeup double life.

Bolting out the door to school without so much as a stitch of lipgloss on your lips, only to covertly cosmeticize yourself from start to finish before the first bell rings, is initially a thrill, but it gets old fast…

Trust me on this. Half the time I’d be in algebra class with one sloppy purple-rimmed eye and little else. I did this for three years until, at age 14, I was given the official “OK” by my mom to wear makeup to school.

I did learn a few things, though, during those secret squirrel makeup days, like how to appreciate makeup that’s easy to sneak in and out of the house. It’s one of the reasons I was interested in the eyeshadow sticks from Bobbi Brown’s new $38 Mini Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick Trio.

Bobbi Brown Mini Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick Trio from the left: Smookey Topaz, Pink Sparkle and Espresso Bean — From the left: Smokey Topaz, Pink Sparkle and Espresso Bean

Each of the little minis fits nicely in the palm of my paw.

Perfect for covert makeup application. 🙂

There’s a shimmery pastel rose called Pink Sparkle, a shimmery heather mauve called Smokey Topaz and a shimmery blackened charcoal that goes by the name, Espresso Bean.

Bobbi Brown Mini Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick Trio — Wearing Smokey Topaz on my lids

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Delicate Deluxe: The New $80 Bobbi Brown Deluxe Lip & Eye Palette Is a Double-Decker of Delicate Glamour

November 10th, 2014 by Karen 36 Comments

A couple weeks ago my friend Jen and I were chatting about makeup when one of us brought up Bobbi Brown.

Now, Jen’s a recent convert to the cult o’ Bobbi, so I asked her what she liked about the brand, and she said, “When I wear it, I still feel like I look like me, and not like I’m trying to be someone else,” which I totally get. I think it’s why Bobbi’s makeup strikes a chord with so many women, myself included.

I know that when I don’t want to fuss with five different colors blended into my crease, there’s always Bobbi Brown.

For her latest foray into holiday makeup, Bobbi created a double-decker palette designed to flatter all skin tones. The new limited edition Deluxe Lip & Eye Palette ($80) contains two tiers of makeup in lovely tortoiseshell attire, with one tier filled with neutral brown, gold, pink and beige shades for eyes, and another tier with pink, mauve and rose lipsticks for lips.

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Sometimes, Colors Are More Vivid After Dark, Like When They’re Part of the New $20 Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics After Dark Stained Gloss Test Tube x 4 Set

November 7th, 2014 by Karen 15 Comments

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics After Dark Stained Gloss Jealous — Wearing OCC’s Stained Gloss in Jealous, from the new $20 Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics After Dark Stained Gloss Test Tube x 4 Set

A lot can happen after dark…

Vampires can rise, cats can prowl and raccoons can subvert!

Sometimes, vivid, colorful stained glosses can thrill…

That’s right. Vivid, colorful stained glosses After Dark, which is the name of OCC’s new holiday set.

Strange name for such bright colors? Perhaps. But don’t let it stop you from rocking these glossy finishes during daylight hours, or for gifting the set to your favorite makeup-lovin’ vampire.

The Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics After Dark Stained Gloss Test Tube x 4 Set ($20)

Yes, vampires, because with two moody, vampiric shades in the set (the sheer glossy black and the reddish orange), you know I had to go there. It was low-hanging fruit.

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Benefit’s Blushes Lighten Up for the Holidays With the $36 Benefit Cheeky Sweet Spot Box O’ Blushes Holiday Set

November 7th, 2014 by Karen 21 Comments

Behold! In my hand, friends, isn’t just the latest holiday set from Benefit. What we have here is bonafide makeup history!

Yes, years from now, when some intrepid filmmaker/makeup lover makes a Behind the Music-style documentary about Benefit and the Bene-babes who love it, the new $36 Cheeky Sweet Spot Box O’ Blushes will get a mention, for sure, since it’s basically Benefit’s version of the moon landing.

For the first time ever, the brand is releasing a palette filled with their famous Box O’ Blushes (and one rand-o pan of Watt’s Up Illuminator) in a limited edition holiday set.

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When You Play With the Sheer Plumping Glosses in Buxom’s $59 Lip Gloss Roulette Set, You Will Get Lucky

November 6th, 2014 by Karen 12 Comments

Wearing Buxom Lip Gloss in Jennifer, one of the 15 little Buxom Lip Glosses in the new Lip Gloss Roulette set ($59)

They say the house always wins.

Not so when Buxom’s new $59 Lip Gloss Roulette Set is sitting at your table. You can take a chance with any of its 15 miniature plumping glosses and win! — because every one of them leaves lips looking super shiny and, yes, slightly fuller.

Most of the time I can’t tell a difference when I wear plumping glosses. I just don’t see the plump, but I really do see a little something when I wear these glosses.

It’s not epic. I mean, no one is gonna be mistaking my lips for Angelina Jolie’s today, but I do see something there, a slightly plumper pout, unless I’m hallucinating…which is entirely possible in my current state.

Have I mentioned that I’m completely exhausted?

We’re talking hella tired — so tired that you will probably read some extremely confusing and/or strange phrases in this review (and for that, I apologize).

That’s because I spent most of last night totally and completely freaked out, all because I watched a very scary movie right before bed (side note: you might want to stay far, FAR away from The Taking of Deborah Logan, unless you enjoy being traumatized).

If it wasn’t for the minty tingle from these Buxom plumping glosses, gurrrrl, my head would be using this keyboard as a pillow right now, and there would be a tiny puddle of drool between the letters G and H.

Thank goodness for these glosses. They tickle… It’s not a sting. They don’t hurt or anything, but I definitely feel something. It’s enough to make me sit up in my chair.

OMG STAY AWAKE! Wearing Buxom Lip Gloss in Mudslide

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The $25 BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Spotlight Kit Deserves the Limelight

November 6th, 2014 by Karen 8 Comments

So…Pearl, Opal and Champagne Gold really don’t ring a bell?

Really?

No, no, they aren’t the names of a Kardashian’s newborn triplets, although I tip my hat to you. Bravo. That was a good guess. 🙂

Pearl, Opal and Champagne Gold are the three colors in BECCA’s new $25 Shimmering Skin Perfectors Spotlights Kit, and if you aren’t already a fan of BECCA’s Shimmering Skin Perfectors, oh! — let me break it down for you. By the time I’m finished, you’ll probably want to start carrying one (or two or three) of these liquid highlighters with you at all times.

BECCA’s Shimmering Skin Perfectors are some of the best liquid highlighters I’ve ever seen or used. They have a fine, fairy-like opalescent finish that makes skin glow as if it’s being illuminated from within, and the magical light purposefully ignores pores and fine lines.

BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Spotlight Kit doe foot — Opal, Champagne Gold and Pearl

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The Countdown Is On, But the Price Is Up: The New Benefit Candy-Coated Countdown Advent Calendar

November 6th, 2014 by Karen 17 Comments

I am totally that girl who opens every compartment in an advent calendar in one feel swoop.

Perhaps it’s my ~~impatient~~ curious nature. 🙂

It’s not even December yet, but I couldn’t wait to unlock the hidden treasures in this one from Benefit, the Candy-Coated Countdown Advent Calendar ($99).

You’re “supposed” to open one compartment at a time, one per day, beginning on December first for 24 days.

“Supposed” to.

Tucked within each compartment resides a different beauty treasure…

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