Lips

Another Way to Work Your Favorite Nude Lipstick

August 28th, 2018 by Karen 23 Comments

Even when you regularly roll with eight nude lippies at any given moment, sometimes you want to shake things up, which is when a sheer berry gloss comes in handy.

“Sheer” is the key here, i.e. something to add a tantalizing touch of berry tint that will tease and tempt without taking over.

Start with a layer of your nude lippie du jour.
Blot (if you want), but I usually skip it because…laziness, TBH. But it’s helpful if you’ll be taking pics because it keeps your lip color from looking thick and gooey.
Apply a layer of gloss directly on top, but WAIT! — don’t stick that wand back in the tube quite yet. Wipe off any lipstick with a tissue first so the lipstick doesn’t mix with your gloss and change the color. Alternatively, instead of using the doe foot directly on your lips, you can swipe it on the back of your hand, then pick up the gloss from there and apply it to your lips with a finger.

chanel jumbo matte lip crayon 257 — Chanel Jumbo Matte Lip Crayon in 257 Discretion

chanel rouge coco gloss 764 — Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss in 764 Confusion

chanel jumbo matte lip crayon 257 chanel rouge coco gloss 764 — Just a hint of berry

You can also do this trick with reds, purples, browns — any sheer gloss you like.

Good morning, BTW. Happy Tuesday. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The Urban Decay Aphrodisiac Collection (Swatches and First Look)

August 3rd, 2018 by Karen 10 Comments

urban decay aphrodisiac collection k — Wearing the Urban Decay Aphrodisiac collection

Like any good love ? potion, the new Urban Decay Aphrodisiac collection is mysterious and hard to find…

No, literally. It is. The collection doesn’t appear to have officially launched yet, and details are scarce, but what I do know is this: it’s new for fall 2018, and the palette and three glosses are new (the two liners, Rockstar and Zero, are re-promotes).

Urban Decay Aphrodisiac

Release date: TBD

Aphrodisiac Eyeshadow Palette (estimated price, $29, since it’s the same size/shape as Naked Petite Heat)

Hi Fi-Shine Ultra Cushion Lipglosses in Aphrodisiac, Ghosted and Tongue Tied ($20 each)

24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils in Zero and Rockstar ($21 each)

urban decay aphrodisiac collection 2 — New for fall 2018: Urban Decay Aphrodisiac

urban decay aphrodisiac eyeshadow palette — Aphrodisiac Eyeshadow Palette

urban decay aphrodisiac collection lipgloss — Hi Fi-Shine Ultra Cushion Lipglosses in Aphrodisiac, Ghosted and Tongue Tied

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The NARS Fall 2018 Collection! (First Look and Swatches)

August 2nd, 2018 by Karen 8 Comments

nars 7 deadly sins — New NARS Fall 2018 collection

You guys, I am shooketh, and shooketh am I, for there is no blush to be found in the NARS fall 2018 collection.

LIKE NONE.

Perhaps François is assuming that your cheeks will naturally flush when you wear (and perhaps commit) some of the lippies in the 7 Deadly Sin Audacious Lipstick Palette?

Along with the lip palette, there are also two eyeshadow palettes, an eye and cheek palette, and a new line of brow pencils, so there’s lots of newness to fawn over, for sure.

Still…it’s hard for me to imagine a fall without a new NARS blush.

Can you?

Guess I’ll just have to continue my love affair with NARS Deep Throat for a little longer.

The NARS Fall 2018 collection is available now and includes…

7 Deadly Sin Audacious Lipstick Palette, $52

Atomic Blonde Eye and Cheek Palette, $59

Quad Eyeshadows in Singapore and Mojave, $52 each

Brow Perfectors in Calimyra, Goma, Makassar, Moanda, Komo, Naia, Lava and Atacama, $25 each

nars fall 2018 swatches 7 deadly sins — 7 Deadly Sins Palette: Pride, Disobedience, Idolatry, Foolishness, Greed, Wrath and Sloth

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Chanel Fall-Winter Collection 2018 Le Mat de Chanel: A First Look

July 27th, 2018 by Karen 16 Comments

chanel le mat de chanel collection — MATTES!

As a beauty addict who spent her formative years in the golden era of matte makeup — THE ’90s! — I can attest that finding impeccable matte makeup is a freakin’ game-changer, because ye olde days of blending chalky chocolate eyeshadows and tending to parched pouts are ovah if the new all-matte makeup by Chanel has anything to say about it.

Can I just say…not one, but *two* ALL MATTE QUADS. And jumbo twist-up crayons and cream shadows! I believe this all-matte moment is a Chanel first, and if that is the case, please bring out the defibrillator ASAP because I’m dying.

It’s called the Fall-Winter Collection 2018 Le Mat de Chanel, and it’s out right now. Here’s a quickie look at swatches of some of the products, including the brown matte quad, because your homegirl had to go there!

The Chanel Fall-Winter Collection 2018 Le Mat De Chanel includes…

Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Eyeshadow in 308 Clair-Obscur and 312 Quiet Revolution ($61 each)

Joues Contraste Powder Blush in 330 Quintessence ($45)

Le Rouge Crayon de Couleur Jumbo Longwear Mat Lip Crayon in 257 Discretion, 259 Provocation, 265 Subversion, 261 Excess, 267 Impulsion, 269 Impact ($37 each)

Le Vernis Velvet Nail Colour in 636 Ultime, 638 Profondeur ($28 each)

Rouge Allure Ink Matte Liquid Lip Colour in 168 Serenity, 170 Euphorie, 172 Expression, 174 Melancholia ($37 each)

Stylo Ombre Et Contour Eyeshadow Liner Khol in 06 Nude Eclat, 12 Contour Clair, 04 Electric Brown, 08 Rouge Noir, 02 Bleu Nuit, 14 Contour Graphique, 10 Contour Sombre ($34 each)

Le Rouge Duo Ultra Tenue Ultra Wear Lip Colour in 43 Sensual Rose, 112 Chic Rosewood, 48 Soft Rose, 43 Sensual Rose, 43 Strawberry Red, 122 Soft Coral, 124 Soft Candy, 126 Radiant Pink, 59 Shocking Pink, 104 Bright Raspberry, 27 Daring Red, 49 Ever Red, 102 Milky Blueberry, 142 Sweet Berry ($37 each)

chanel le rouge crayon de couleur — Jumbo Longwear Matte Lip Crayons from the left: 257 Discretion, 261 Excess, 265 Subversion, 267 Impulsion, and 269 Impact

chanel les 4 ombres clair obscur — Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Eyeshadow in 308 Clair-Obscur

chanel rouge allure ink fall 2018 — Clockwise from the lower left: Le Vernis Velvet Nail Colour in 638 Profondeur, Rouge Allure Ink in 174 Melancholia and 170 Euphorie, Velvet Nail Colour in 636 Ultime

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Urban Decay Lo-Fi Lip Mousse Is Hella High-Five Worthy

July 19th, 2018 by Karen 11 Comments

Ya know, I’ve been reviewing makeup and waxing philosophic about makeup and photographing makeup (and cats!) for more than a decade now (started in 2007, yo!), and when you write about any topic for that long, you really, REALLY gotta love it (and I do!); otherwise, you risk falling into a fugue state akin to Breaking Bad.

But here’s the deal: although I still relish discovering new coral lipsticks and love the thrill of finding a fab new cream blush, sometimes it feels like every “new” highlighter/palette/liquid lipstick/etc. that crosses my desk is something we’ve all seen before…except with a different cheeky name and outfit.

These days, it takes something seriously funky or outrageous to grab my attention and make me wanna shoop, shoop-eh-doop, if you know what I mean, so when Urban Decay’s new Lo-Fi Lip Mousse showed up, I was like, “I cannot bear to hot tub time machine back to 2012 right now. Let’s just eat some brownies, fire up season four of Sex and the City and take a cat nap, but HOLD ON, WAIT A MINUTE, LET ME PUT SOME BOOTY IN IT — you’re telling me this isn’t a blush?? It’s a matte lipstick instead!? Alright, Urban Decay, tell me more.”

Urban Decay Lo-Fi Lip Mousse ($22 each)

These are mousse matte lipsticks in a compact, and they’re wacky in the best possible way (as opposed to being strange for the sake of being weird). They actually work really well.

urban decay lo fi boxes — The color-coordinated boxes are a nice touch!

Urban Decay must’ve poached some NASA rocket scientists to formulate these because not only do they look smooth, avoid my lip lines and feel feather light, they couldn’t be a lot easier to apply.

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Unsung Makeup Heroes: Chanel Rouge Allure Ink in Créatif

July 16th, 2018 by Karen 9 Comments

chanel creatif swatch — Chanel Rouge Allure Ink Matte Liquid Lip Colour in Créatif

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.

I’m always down for a summery coral lippie, and Chanel Rouge Allure Ink in Créatif ($37) is THE ONE.

Well…the one for this week, ha ha ha! ? Hello, have we met? My name is Karen, and I have a new coral crush every other day.

But that’s neither here nor there.

This one’s a matte liquid lipstick, but it’s unlike your typical dry and heavy/hello horizontal lip lines/cat butt liquid lippie sitch. It’s on the thinner side, like the NARS Powermattes, so you can’t feel it sitting on your lips, and it lasts about the same amount of time (~5 hours), but it’s much, much easier to control as it glides across your lips.

chanel creatif — I’m hoping that wearing Créatif will spark some creativity…

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MAC Plenty of Pout Plumping Lipstick Swatches and a First Look

July 12th, 2018 by Karen 8 Comments

Think about the phrase “bee-stung lips” for a second. LIKE, REALLY THINK ABOUT IT. Literally sounds like the worst thing to ever happen to anyone. I was stung by a bee on my bicep when I was eight, and I still remember, with much clarity, the feeling of a million hot needles pinching my skin. To this day whenever a bee enters my peripheral vision I walk a little faster and mutter under my breath, “Bees can smell fear. No fear. No Fear. NO FEAR!”

Well. MAC’s new line of plumping lipsticks (and a plumping gloss) will not inflict any deep mental scars. At least I hope that’s the case?! I’m sitting here wearing the shade Smooth Going and my mouth is pretty tingly. Not a four-alarm status sting but I definitely feel like I’m alive.

Plenty of Pout Plumping Lipstick creates full, bee-stung lips while laying down sheer, creamy colour. An invigorating ginger root complex volumizes lips immediately, while avocadin and other potent oils moisturize and smooth. Plenty of Pout Plumping Lip Gloss packs the same power with a side of clear, balmy shine. Layer it over Plenty of Pout Plumping Lipstick to erase lip lines for a fresh, pumped-up pout!
–MAC PR

mac plenty of pout plumping lip gloss — Plumping Lip Gloss

Plenty of Pout Plumping Lipsticks ($21 each) and Plumping Lip Gloss ($18.50)

Available now online and at select MAC counters for a limited time

Pout and About: bright tangerine

Extra Kissable: creamy salmon pink

Ample Chic: creamy strawberry pink

Extra-Luscious: mid-tone creamy berry pink

Crazy Lush: bright cherry red

Lovemaker: berry wine

Kiss & Cuddle: soft yellow nude

So Swell: mid-tone cool brown

Smooth Going: bright peachy pink

Nicer Than Nice: soft, warm pink

Plenty of Pout Plumping Lip Gloss: sheer light pink

mac plenty of pout plumping lipstick ingredients — Plumping Lipstick ingredients

mac plenty of pout plumping lip gloss ingredients — Plumping Lip Gloss Ingredients

See anything ya like so far?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

3 Very Important Things

July 5th, 2018 by Karen 11 Comments

1. Le Sportsac has a new line of bags printed bags in a “Caturday” print…

…with drawings of cats doing fun things on a boardwalk on Saturday (as cats are wont to do).

Note: There’s a kitty in a green bikini ordering a hot dog!!!

Seriously, I need everything, but I especially need the backpack. Should I go with the large or the medium? I just need something to hold my wallet, all of Connor’s kid things (which now includes a pink fold-up potty training seat –> who knew these things existed?), and all 14 of the lipstick tubes I have on me at any given moment.

Thanks to my buddy Suzanne for the heads up!

2. There’s a Mrs. Meyer’s Peony Dish Soap, and a Lilac Hand Soap, at Target right meow.

I think they’re both LE for summer? Anyway, they smell really good. I bought both, and I kinda wish I’d gotten backups, too.

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