Lips

Plot a Course for Adventure, Your Lips and Tips on a New Romance With the New NARS 413 BLKR Lipstick and Nail Polish

August 8th, 2013 by Karen 35 Comments

Wearing the new NARS 413 BLKR Lipstick and Nail Polish

Where are we heading today, babe? I’ll drive if you navigate. (Please excuse my messy Mazda! I really need to clean it…)

I know you need to swing by Petco to get your cat her gravy, and we both want to visit DSW to look at shoes…but can we also stop by 413 BLKR to see what’s happening at NARS?

Silly goose! Of course I’m not suggesting that we drive from San Francisco to the company’s flagship boutique in New York, although I give you mad makeup props for remembering the address of the store (it’s on 413 Bleecker Street). I’m referring to the NARS 413 BLKR collection.

Early this month, NARS added two new pieces to the fam — 413 Lipstick ($26), a stunning rosy brown, and moody blue BLKR Nail Polish ($19).

Check it…

NARS 413 BLKR Nail Polish Lipstick — The new NARS 413 BLKR Nail Polish on the left and 413 BLKR Lipstick on the right

NARS 413 BLKR Lipstick is a deep rosy brown with a semi-matte finish ($26)

NARS 413 BLKR Nail Polish Swatch — Three layers of 413 BLKR Nail Polish, a midnight blue ($19)

NARS 413 BLKR Lipstick Swatch — 413 BLKR Lipstick…

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Bonjour, Madame! The Guerlain Gloss d’Enfer Maxi Shines in Madame Batifole, Madame Flirte and Madame Fascine Have Arrived

August 7th, 2013 by Karen 11 Comments

Guerlain 861 Madame Flirte Gloss d'Enfer Maxi Shine — Wearing Guerlain 861 Madame Flirte Gloss d’Enfer Maxi Shine ($30), one of three new limited edition shades in the Voilette de Madame Fall 2013 Collection

Once certain lines get crossed, there’s just no turning back.

Like when you try the ultra soft toilet paper for the first time or make the jump from average pet owner to Crazy Cat Lady.

Or when strangers stop calling you “miss” and start calling you “ma’am.”

Yup…I’m a ma’am now.

It’s okay, I guess, but I think I like “madame” better… Sounds more chic. 🙂

Case in point: the three new Gloss d’Enfer Maxi Shines from the Guerlain Voilette de Madame Fall 2013 Collection ($30).

Guerlain Gloss d'Enfer Maxi Shines in 861 Madame Flirte, 860 Madame Batifole and 863 Madame Fascine — Gloss d’Enfer Maxi Shines in 861 Madame Flirte (a sparkling red), 860 Madame Batifole (a sparkling fuchsia) and 863 Madame Fascine (a sparkling deep purple)

All of them madames with regal, refined names, they definitely don’t sound like their apartments are furnished with castaway pieces bought secondhand from stoner grad students on Craigslist (been there, done that). No, these madames probably own complete sets of Le Creuset pots and pans.

Guerlain Gloss d'Enfer Maxi Shine Swatches in 861 Madame Flirte, 860 Madame Batifole and 863 Madame Fascine — Swatches from the left: 861 Madame Flirte, 860 Madame Batifole and 863 Madame Fascine

And these three limited edition lipglosses have more in common than their names. All of them also tint lips with sheer, shiny color.

Fuchsia 860 Madame Batifole, sparkling red 861 Madame Flirte and deep purple 863 Madame Fascine look dark and intimidating in their tubes, but they’re completely drama-free. Each one applies as a gentle wash of color, no mirror necessary, either.

What else should you know?

Lightweight, smooth and non-sticky, these feel a lot like Chanel Aqualumiere glosses to me (which is great!).
The flocked doe-foot applicator makes precise application easy.
The rose flavor and scent lingers as long as the formula lasts on my lips, which is about two hours.
These look super sparkly in their tubes, but the shimmer isn’t very noticeable on my lips until I walk outside, where they really sparkle in full sunlight.
I like that these are sheer enough that I can still see my natural lip color peeking through, yet they’re also pigmented enough to each look distinct on my lips.
If I had to pick a fave, I’d choose red Madame Flirte. Of the three, I think it brightens my face the most.

Guerlain 860 Madame Batifole Gloss d'Enfer Maxi Shine — 860 Madame Batifole

Guerlain 863 Madame Fascine Gloss d'Enfer Maxi Shine — 863 Madame Fascine

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These New MAC Sheen Supreme Lipglass Tints Place Supreme Importance on Sheer, Shiny Color

August 5th, 2013 by Karen 22 Comments

MAC Gwi-Yo-Mi Sheen Supreme Lipglass Tint, a mid-tone raspberry — MAC Sheen Supreme Lipglass Tint in Gwi-Yo-Mi, a mid-tone raspberry, one of six new shades in the MAC So Supreme Collection

Filed under THINGS I NEVER EXPECTED IN THIS LIFETIME: that I would find cat hair in my bellybutton, that I would ever gush over a panini press (“DUUUUUDE, that thing has seriously changed my life!”), that I would be trying to buy pink satin culottes in 2013, that I would ever derive such joy from a brush tip lipgloss applicator like the one on the new MAC Sheen Supreme Lipglass Tints ($20 each, and available in eight shades).

MAC Sheen Supreme Lipglass — Click-y pen packaging, oh yeah!

It’s not like it’s a newfangled invention or anything… Versions of these brush pen glosses have been floating around for a hot minute, but just in case you’ve been in deep space cryosleep for the past 50 years and just woke up today, to use ’em, all you do is twist the bottom of the pen, listen for the click-click-click, and watch with glee as gloss gushes from the opposite end. Then, apply to lips. 🙂

MAC Sheen Supreme Lipglasses from the left: Bubble Gum, K-Wow, Simply Wow, Heart & Seoul, Kiss Kiss, Blushing Berry, Gwi-Yo-Mi and Glorious Intent — From the left: Bubble Gum, K-Wow, Simply Wow, Heart & Seoul, Kiss Kiss, Blushing Berry, Gwi-Yo-Mi and Glorious Intent

Wearing these glosses is like getting to that part in a relationship with someone when you finally feel comfortable wearing your rattiest bra around them, and no longer feel the need to don that itchy, push-up Victoria’s Secret “come hither” number every single night.

Not to say that these Sheen Supreme Tints are like old, ratty bras… They’re just really, REALLY easy and comfortable. Just twist, apply with or without a mirror, and that’s that.

MAC Sheen Supreme Lipglass Swatches from the left: Bubble Gum, K-Wow, Simply Wow, Heart & Seoul, Kiss Kiss, Blushing Berry, Gwi-Yo-Mi and Glorious Intent — Swatches from the left: Bubble Gum, K-Wow, Simply Wow, Heart & Seoul, Kiss Kiss, Blushing Berry, Gwi-Yo-Mi and Glorious Intent

Maybe I’m just way too easily amused (that’s for sure, ha!), but sh*t is hella fun. WAY more entertaining than the regular old doe-foot applicators on squeeze tubes, like painting in eighth-grade art class, where looking back…I’m pretty sure my teacher, Mr. Freed, was a big-time hippy stoner.

MAC Bubble Gum Sheen Supreme Lipglass Tint, a soft warm pink — Bubble Gum Sheen Supreme Lipglass Tint, a soft warm pink

Anywho! You’ll have to be OK with sheer glosses to appreciate the wonders of these Sheen Supreme Lipglass Tints, because MAC purposefully dialed down the pigment level of all eight shades.

MAC K-Wow Sheen Supreme Lipglass Tint, a soft cool pink — K-Wow Sheen Supreme Lipglass Tint, a soft cool pink

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Moisture Reins Supreme in This New Batch of Six MAC Sheen Supreme Lipsticks

August 3rd, 2013 by Karen 21 Comments

MAC Pleasurefruit — Wearing the new MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Pleasurefruit ($17)

The first time I tried the MAC Sheen Supreme Lipsticks waaaay back in 2011 (Eek! Was it that long ago?!), I loved how shiny and smooth they looked and how creamy and slick they felt.

But man! They sucked every dang molecule of moisture from my lips! They left my pout so parched that I started calling them “the cactus lipsticks,” and whenever I wore one I half expected tumbleweeds to roll past my field of view…

Dry, dry, DRY.

Thankfully, this new batch of six limited edition shades is much improved. Or at least I think so. I’m not sure if MAC tweaked the non-sticky formula, but it sure seems that way to me. They certainly feel much more moisturizing, and no more cactus lips.

The six new MAC Sheen Supreme Lipsticks include…

Pret-a-Pretty: a soft warm pink
Gotta Dash: a clean, pale coral
Playtime: a bright coral pink
Sweet Grenadine: a bright orange
Pleasurefruit: a bright warm pink
Candy Apple: a warm mid-tone plum

MAC Sheen Supreme Lipsticks from the left: Pret-A-Pretty, Playtime, Sweet Grenadine, Pleasurefruit and Candy Apple — From the left: Pret-A-Pretty, Playtime, Sweet Grenadine, Pleasurefruit and Candy Apple

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A Bit of a Bear, Kevyn Aucoin Tenacious Matte Lip Color Is Worth the Fight

July 31st, 2013 by Karen 11 Comments

Kevyn Aucoin Matte Lipstick — Wearing Kevyn Aucoin’s Matte Lipstick in Tenacious

If I were a makeup artist working on an artsy-fartsy magazine shoot, I wouldn’t think twice about putting Kevyn Aucoin’s $32 Matte Lip Color in Tenacious on a model because it’s one of those rare, otherworldly lipsticks that takes your breath away in pics.

I can see it now, maybe with a bright green or shimmery gold on the lids…

When Nicki Minaj’s Pink 4 Friday Lipstick came out in 2010, this is what I was hoping that was going to look like (instead, it looked pretty ghastly on me).

Thing is, as much as I love how Tenacious looks in pics, in real life, it’s kind of a bear. Being highly pigmented and matte makes finding its sweet spot — the right amount to wear — difficult. Too little and it looks uneven and streaky; too much and it settles into my fine lines, leaving me looking like a hot mess.

Eventually, I get there, but not before a lot of layering, blotting, and pat-pat-patting with a finger.

Tenacious is definitely not a color you can absentmindedly swipe on your lips and bop along your day. Even after it’s applied, it’s like a needy boyfriend who requires frequent check-ins.

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Unsung Makeup Heroes: Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Beso

July 31st, 2013 by Karen 25 Comments

About the Author
The following guest post was written by Stef of weheartthis.com. You can also find Stef (and Tyna) on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Google+.

I’m almost embarrassed by my lip product collection.

Almost.

It requires its own shelving system and contains at least 30 nearly identical coral glosses. And it confuses my husband to the point of exhaustion (“How many lipsticks does one person need, Stef?! I don’t get it!”)

But my fellow lip product junkies, you understand, don’t you? You appreciate the difference between fuchsia and hot pink. You’re staunchly opinionated about your favorite gloss applicators (DFF/doe foot forever!), and you know that the correct answer to the question, “How many lipsticks does one person need?” is, “How many lipsticks are there?”

Folks like us also know that, sometimes, nothing will do but a red lip, and when I’m having a red lip kind of day and I open my red lip drawers (yes, plural), the red I reach for most often is Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Beso ($22). It’s a gorgeous color, an innovative product and my favorite red. Like, ever.

Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick doesn’t stay quite all day, unless your day is six hours long (in which case, I’m terribly jealous), but for those six hours it’s not going anywhere. No transfer onto napkins, no traces left behind on hubby cheeks or puppy bellies, and no bleeding into lip lines whatsoever.
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Tingly, Non-Sticky Lip Injection Color Bombs by Too Faced Cosmetics: Around These Balms, You Can Let Your Hair Down, Baby

July 30th, 2013 by Karen 15 Comments

Too Faced Lip Injection Color Bomb Bigger Berry — New $21 Lip Injection Color Bomb in Bigger Berry, by Too Faced Cosmetics

Yup, I’m still waiting.

Still waiting for that personal wind machine I keep hoping someone will invent. The battery-powered, artificially intelligent one that follows me around wherever I go, ensuring that my hair is kept in a permanent state of wind-blown divaliciousness worthy of Mrs. Carter/Sasha Fierce herself.

Yeah, that would be AWESOME.

But then there’s the whole issue of getting your windblown hair stuck in whatever lip product you’re wearing (#firstworldproblems).

Sticky, shiny lipglosses? Sooo great for flashing pouty faces at strangers on the bus, like that cute boy in the glasses (oh, hai!), but really, really annoying when your hair accidentally gets stuck to your lips.

Too Faced Lip Injection Color Bombs from the left: Bigger Berry, Coral Pop, Candy Burst, Eastwood Red, Never Enough Nude and Plump It Up Pink — From the left: Bigger Berry, Coral Pop, Candy Burst, Eastwood Red, Never Enough Nude and Plump It Up Pink

Coming soon to rescue lips from wind-whipped hair, the new Too Faced Lip Injection Color Bombs ($21 each), a line of six chubby twist-up stick balms to lavish lips with a stain of color while plumping them up at the same time.

Why give them a try? — well, other than the fact that they won’t stick to your lips outside or while you’re posing in front of your wind machine?

Why try these Lip Injection Color Bombs by Too Faced Cosmetics?

Because they’re lightweight, comfortable and non-sticky! They feel just like a lip balm but look way more intense than that.
Because they smell (faintly) and taste like yummy strawberry candy.
Because the slightly shiny satin finish goes with almost any makeup look from dressy to casual.
Because of their smooth, even color
Because of their 2-3 hour wear time, which isn’t bad for such pigmented balms.
Because they’re pretty darned moisturizing (the formula contains mango butter and Vitamins A, C and E to soften and smooth yo’ pout), although not quite as moisturizing as Neutrogena’s similar MoistureSmooth Color Sticks.
Because of the way they tingle when they’re applied (they’re lip-plumping products, after all) and how it reminds me I’m alive! The sensation reminds me of MAC’s Plushglasses and lasts about 5 minutes before I don’t notice it anymore.

As for the lip plumping effect, it’s very subtle with these, so if you were hoping to come away with lips like one of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, you might be disappointed.

Too Faced Lip Injection Color Bombs from the left: Bigger Berry, Coral Pop and Candy Burst — From the left: Bigger Berry, Coral Pop and Candy Burst

Too Faced Lip Injection Color Bombs from the left: Eastwood Red, Not Enough Nude and Plump It Up Pink — From the left: Eastwood Red, Not Enough Nude and Plump It Up Pink

Too Faced Lip Injection Color Bomb swatches from the left: Bigger Berry, Candy Burst, Coral Pop, Eastwood Red, Never Enough Nude and Plump It Up Pink — From the left: Bigger Berry, Candy Burst, Coral Pop, Eastwood Red, Never Enough Nude and Plump It Up Pink

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Unsung Makeup Heroes: Revlon Fire & Ice Super Lustrous Lipstick

July 26th, 2013 by Karen 21 Comments

About the Author
The following guest post was written by Arianne de Guzman of Glitter Geek. You can also find Arianne on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

Fact: bright lips give me life. Whenever I’m in an especially sassy mood, a great vibrant lipstick always hits the spot. One of my go-to drugstore brands for statement lipstick is Revlon. Revlon Fire & Ice Super Lustrous Lipstick is an iconic shade that was launched in the 1950s. Depending on your skin’s undertones, Fire & Ice can pull warm or cool, but there’s no denying that it’s a stunner.

When wearing a red lipstick like Fire & Ice, I have to be extra careful to conceal all the redness out of my skin, or risk looking feverish. Instead of blush, I lightly dust my face with bronzer. Then, I fill in my brows, and wear something simple on my eyes like a flicked eyeliner, or a subtle smudging of grey or brown eyeliner.

The long-running Unsung Heroes series features much-loved permanent collection products from a variety of bodacious beauty brands.

As with my other vibrant lip shades, I adapt Fire & Ice to whatever I’m doing that day. Going in for a day at the office? Lightly press over lip balm for a sheer stain. Wanna dress to impress at an evening event? In this case, I apply straight from the tube and precisely shape the lines with a lip brush.

Revlon Fire & Ice Lipstick worn as a stain

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