MAC Makeup

Throwback Thursdays: Bright Blue Inner Corners and Ice Skating!

January 16th, 2020 by Karen 9 Comments

I got all the nostalgic feels with this late ’90s-inspired look with bright blue inner corners (thanks, MAC Tilt). Was anybody else obsessed with blazingly bright inner corner highlights way back when? I most certainly was. I usually rocked MAC Vex around the tear ducts. (Side note: normally accompanied by a frosty brow bone and HELLA SKINNY brows, OMG!)

I felt like revisiting old-school inner corner highlights with this look because I saw a character wearing something similar on a show I just started watching on Netflix called Spinning Out.

It’s a drama about some Olympic hopeful ice skaters (January Jones of Mad Men fame is in it), and if you start watching it, just FYI, 1) there’s more drama than actual skating, and 2) you won’t be able to look away, because something over-the-top happens to the characters every five minutes. It’s not Melrose Place in the ’90s caliber bat-sh*t cray, but it’s pretty close.

Anywho…like I was saying, one of the main characters wore a similar look with a shimmery blue inner corner highlight to a skating competition. I, on the other hand, wore it around the house to do laundry. 🙂 I did keep it on when I left to pick up Connor at preschool, but I buffed down the blue quite a bit to make it more wearable and less in-your-face.

The pencil brush is your friend.

It had been a while since I wore such a bold statement inner corner, and doing so reminded me that a pencil brush is your friend, especially when you’re placing shadow in a tight space like the inner corner.

Sure, you could easily press some shadow there with your finger — and that’s something I do all the time with shimmery peaches, beiges and pinks for a soft highlight — but if you want concentrated, intense color, grab a pencil brush.

I like to start by applying the shadow around the inner corner with the pencil brush. Then I wet the brush head with a setting spray, dip it back into the same eyeshadow (don’t forget to tap off the excess), and apply the just around the tear duct to intensify the color and shimmer and create a subtle gradient.

Then, I take another pencil brush and soften out the edges.

I think this effect looks super cool with many different colors — blue, green, light purple, even pink!
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Lip of the Day: MAC Fashion Legacy

January 15th, 2020 by Karen 6 Comments

MAC Fashion Legacy is a real heavy lifter, and by that I mean that you can wear it with minimal makeup on the rest of your face and have a full finished look in less than five minutes. Bright red lips: spiriting makeup lovers to work on time, one tube at a time!

I wore this to the bakery yesterday and didn’t feel the need to touch up at all during my shift, which included making a delicious sheet of pecan chewy bars (here’s a recipe in case you’ve never heard of them).

Fashion Legacy is an opaque, fire truck red, and it’s one of the MAC Retro Matte liquid lipsticks. I like the Retro Mattes because they stay glued to your lips, so they don’t scoot, but the formula is still a little flexible, so your lips don’t look like a cracked, gross mess as the day wears on. I can eat and drink with them on my lips, and my lips still look presentable afterward, so they’re great for parties (or long days at work).

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Layering Bronze Eyeshadow on Top of Black Liner To Correct Wonky Liner

January 13th, 2020 by Karen 15 Comments

Oh, my hooded lid ladies… I know you can feel me on this. There are days when my upper lash liner turns out perfectly…but then there are those other days when it does not. ?

And those days are baaaaad.

You know how it is. One minute, you’re applying your liner, oblivious to the disaster about to strike. Next thing you know, your liner has taken over half your lid. If you have hooded lids like I do, it also makes your eyes look smaller.

So, that’s what initially happened with this particular look here. Started out, I was in the mood for black cat eyeliner, but I was rushing, and things got out of hand quickly.

My liner was too thick, and the wings didn’t match. My eyes looked teeny, tiny.

Because I didn’t have enough time to remove everything and start again from scratch, I recalled the trick I’ve been using lately with light pencil liner to make my lids look less hooded, and I employed a similar technique to fix this mishap.

Here’s what I did.

I dipped a flat angled brush into a sparkly bronze eyeshadow, wet that brush head with a setting spray, and blended it directly on top of the black liner from the inner corner to about three fourths of the way out.

Why?

Well, just like how applying a light-colored liner on the upper lash line opens up the eye, layering a bronze on top of black also makes lids look more pronounced and larger than they really are.

Next, I cleaned the brush I used, dipped it into a dark brown, and blended that on the outer corner of the black liner to soften it and create the illusion of a little more lift.

I didn’t fully appreciate just how much larger it made my lids look until I got to Costco and started trying on prospective eyeglasses…

I took a pic of my face without frames so I could compare it to pics of myself wearing some of the new frames I was interested in (because I’m nerdy like that), and when I saw my makeup in the harsh overhead Costco lighting, I realized — OH, SNAP! — this eye makeup was actually working for me.

Yeah…I’m definitely gonna do this again, but, like, on purpose. LOL! 🙂

Key makeup worn in this look

Eyes: Pixi Endless Sikly Eye Pen in Black Noir, Pixi Eye Reflection Shadow Palette in Natural Beauty, MAC Omega and Brun (eyebrows), Chanel Dimensions de Chanel, MAC Brow Gel

Base: Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation in Honey Bronze, MAC Strobe Cream in Pinklight, Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow in Fair-Medium, MAC Sur Blush

Lips: MAC Boldly Bare lip pencil, MAC Candy Box Lipglass

This made me laugh so hard!

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A Triple Threat! — Blue Wings, Purple Waterlines and Peachy Glitter Eyes

January 9th, 2020 by Karen 9 Comments

Do I miss the days when I had hours and hours to whisk my eyeshadows into clouds of fluffy color?

Yes and no.

Yes, because I’m in awe of myself — literally in awe — for ever having the patience to do elaborate eye makeup once upon a time.

But also no, because banging out these quick 15-minute makeup looks before I leave for work at the bakery has taught me all kinds of creative tricks!

One thing I’ve been doing lately is combining different elements I’ve worn in various looks to come up with something new.

For this look, I incorporated three makeup elements I’ve been wearing across quite a few bakery-day looks lately.

A colorful lower waterline
Colorful cat eyeliner
Glitter

1. Work your waterline.

Lining your lower water line is an easy, low-stress way to add a pop of color to your look without committing to lots of intense blending. Here I’m wearing a dark purple liner, which is the same one I used in the aubergine look the other day.

2. Embrace your inner colorful cat eyeliner.

Not as low-stress as a colorful waterline because you have to map out your wings and line up the flicks evenly, which is never an easy task, but if you resolve to be cool with imperfection (I am these days… It’s a learning experience!), you’ll get a lot of bang for your buck. You can always keep it simple by using a single bright liner — pencil, liquid or an eyeshadow applied with a wet brush — or you can jooj it up by layering different products together. Here I’m wearing a blue liner, which I topped with a shimmery blue-green shadow mixed with a glittery black shadow.

3. Go for the glitter!

I know it isn’t for everyone, but in controlled amounts, glitter really adds a little something-something. I patted a peach glitter on my lids with a finger, and even though it ended up all over the place (hello, eyebrows!), I’m cool with it.

Key makeup worn in this look

Eyes: Maybelline Tatoo Gel Liner in Striking Navy (cat liner base) and ESUM Aubergine (lower waterline). MAC Now and Zen palette (I blended Soft Brown and Omega as a base, combined Tilt and Black Tie, and patted that on top of the blue liner before patting Honeylust on top for glitter.)

Cheeks: Hourglass Illume Sheer Color Trio in Sunset

Lips: MAC Velvet Teddy topped with Magically Delightful Lipglass

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

MAC Lunar Illusions Collection in Action With Swatches on NC42 Skin

January 6th, 2020 by Karen 8 Comments

mac lunar illusions 2020 — The new MAC Lunar Illusions collection, available now

OK, I totally get it. MAC-aholics are always questing to find “The Newest Newness,” but every now and zen (hint, hint), a MAC collection comes along that puts the classics in the spotlight. And ya know what? I’m not mad at it.

The new Lunar Illusions collection highlights so many MAC must-haves. The Now and Zen eyeshadow palette alone is packed with greatest hits like Soft Brown (LOVE), Honey Lust, Omega, Expensive Pink and good ol’ Tilt, which is a beautiful bluish green…and that’s just for starters!

The shades may be repromotes, but that LE packaging is a fresh twist, so if you’re on the market for a replacement tube of Ruby Woo Lipstick, why not grab one of these for fun?

mac lunar illusions swatches nc42 skin — From the top: Lipsticks ($20 each), Lipglasses ($18.50 each), Blush Split Pan ($31), Eyeshadow X 9 ($33). Not pictured: Extra Dimension Skinfinish ($37).

mac lunar illusions eyeshadow — Lids: Eyeshadow X 9 in Soft Brown, Omega, Honey Lust and Tilt. Cheeks: Blush Split Man in Pinch O’ Peach and Modern Mandarin (mixed together). Lips: Marrakesh Lipstick topped with Magically Delightful Lipglass.

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Potent Pigments Glisten and Gleam in the MAC Patent Paint Lip Lacquers

January 2nd, 2020 by Karen 7 Comments

mac lacquered up — New MAC Patent Paint Lip Lacquer in Laquered Up

If pop culture history has taught us anything, it’s that reality stars come and go, but makeup trends will change, only to return again at some future date like Halley’s Comet.

(Side note: Speaking of reality TV stars, am I the only one who thought that the craziest thing about Flavor of Love was that the prize for winning the show was Flavor Flav himself?)

I digress…

I hope the release of the new MAC Patent Paint Lip Lacquers ($22 each) signals that glossy lips are poised to make a comeback. While I’m not mentally prepared to revisit all of the accoutrements that accompanied them in the early aughts (the frosty brow bone, pencil thin brows, hip-hugging jeans, and the camisole tops, a.k.a. my clubbing uniform, HA HA HA!), I’m more than ready for lipgloss to step into the limelight again.

There are 13 shades in this new line of lively lip lacquers, and MAC punched up the pigments to the max, so each full-coverage swipe evenly and completely covers your kisser. They also combine the thin, non-sticky viscosity of a Cremesheen with the endurance of a Lipglass, so the result is a long-lasting, opaque, comfortable gloss that stays put for hours.

I’m an NC42, and the shade I wear most is deep rosy mauve Lacquered Up, because the middle-of-the-road rose tone goes really well with the brown, purple and gold eyeshadows I love to wear so much.

I was most excited about the lighter nude shades like Magic Mirror and Lacquered Up — they’re so very early 2000s! — but they’re a touch too pastel on my tan skin to wear on their own, so I like to layer a darker lip pencil like Subculture or Cork with them for depth.

And while I’m not usually one to wear a greige-lavender gloss to run errands around town, even I have to admit that the pale purple looks kinda cool.

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Ringing in the New Year With Warm Browns and a Splash of Blue on the Waterline

January 1st, 2020 by Karen 12 Comments

urban decay stay naked threeesome in naked swatches — There’s a 100% chance I’m wearing pajamas right now.

First, hello and welcome to 2020, my friend! ? Hope you’re having a happy new year so far!

Second, I know there must be a scientifically explainable reason why warm orange browns look sooooo good with blues (is it because orange and blue are on opposite sides of the color wheel?), and my left brain knows this, yet when I see the two colors happening on my face, my right brain steps in and is like, GIRL, YES. My heart begins to flutter, and I get that tingly crazy makeup lady feeling in my toes! It’s one of those electric color combinations I love to wear.

I wore the combo yesterday to work at the bakery, where, speaking of color, I made the most beautiful blush pink buttercream frosting. Check it…

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Made the most beautiful blush-colored buttercream frosting at the bakery today! I would love this as an opaque pastel nail polish. ?? ? Also, watching the frosting get fluffier is the most satisfying thing.?

A post shared by Karen | Makeup and Beauty Blog (@karenmbb) on Dec 30, 2019 at 9:19pm PST

I KNOW. I’m going to shop my nail polish stash for a similar opaque pale pink today.

But first, back to the warm browns and blue…

I knocked this out in about 10 minutes yesterday because, basically, it’s just a neutral look with a slice of color on the lower waterline.

If you’re wearing something like this and going about your business, most people won’t be able to tell that you’re wearing blue liner, but ya know, if I were to run into you at TJ’s and we’re chatting about the Mini Brie Bites, if you’ve got blue liner on like this, then I’m gonna be like, “BABES, whatcha got there? Tell me about this business on your waterline.”

This blue, by the way, is one of my MAC favorites. It’s called Take the Plunge, and it’s one of the Technakohls (which I love for the waterline because they don’t move), but (SAD PANDA) I just looked on the MAC website, and it appears to be missing in action. So, if you can’t find it, try something like Urban Decay Mainline, or really any of the dark blue/teal 24/7 Glide-Ons. Basically, if it’s a dark blue/teal, you’re good!

If you struggle to get bright colors to look bold on your waterline, you’re not alone. It’s common for blues like this to look muddy, especially if you wear liner on your upper lash line or upper waterline, because they can get mixed in with the blue and tone it down.

So here’s whatcha do…
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A Face Full of MAC Classics

December 24th, 2019 by Karen 7 Comments

As a makeup hoarding enthusiast, I’ll be the first to admit that the thrill of the hunt — the quest itself — to find new makeup to fall in love with, is one of the motivating factors for why I like makeup and beauty so much.

There’s always something new to discover, right? A new technique to master? A new finish, new formula, a new plant-based ingredient discovered deep in the jungle, a brand new brand, a classic brand re-brand, a secret formula, an ancient skin care secret, a new GWP, BOGO, or a gorgeous LE palette?

At the same time, there are days when I just want to take it back to beauty “comfort food” — the old standards I know so well, and that I know work for me, and for me, that’s always MAC. I’ll always be a MAC girl at heart. ?

In this look, I’m wearing some classic MAC colors I’ve loved for more than this entire decade. It seems weird to say that, but I did the math; it’s true!

There’s a hint of color in the liner, but everything else on the lids, cheeks and lips is neutral.

I like this look because I can wear it anywhere and everywhere. The lids are softly defined with cooler-toned browns in the crease and a sparkling peach from lash line to crease (to create the illusion of more deeply set eyes, since mine are getting more hooded by the second!).

There’s also lash definition by way of the liner, which is *not* a stark, inky black, or even a brown. Instead, I’m wearing an eyeshadow called MAC Club, which is a beautiful shimmery peacock feather that goes from teal to green to gray to dark brown. It’s GORGEOUS.

So, yeah, I’m wearing that along my upper lash line.

On the lower lash line, I’m wearing a pencil liner that I also consider a MAC staple, MAC Powersurge. It’s a warm, shimmery bronzed gold, and it adds a little something-something, but it doesn’t get all up in your face. It’s one of my favorites! I think it’s even subtler and less intense than a brown liner. I wore it every day for almost a year.

On my cheeks, I’m wearing the first MAC blush I ever fell in love with, MAC Blushbaby… It’s a matte pinkish beige.

And, on my lips, I’m wearing an updated take on an early-2000s lip. Yup, you know that light, glossy nude lip everyone was wearing back in the day (along with their low-rise jeans and camisole top, of course)? I got there with MAC Stripdown lip liner, MAC Honey Love Lipstick, and good ol’ Angel Lipglass.

Oh! — I just realized that I forgot to add a swatch of MAC Teddy liner, which I tightlined with.

I wish I could take credit for this combination of eyeshadows, but I can’t. It’s from the most unlikely palette from years and years ago, from, like, Halloween! I never thought I’d fall in love with it, but I use it almost daily. Remember the Monster’s Bride palette? I don’t use the green color (ever), but everything else is a workhorse, so if you’re building a MAC palette, I can recommend all of these colors 100%.

The lightest color — satiny beige Mylar — you can use as an all-over eyeshadow base to brighten your eye makeup, or, you can even use it as an eye or a cheek highlighter. (Side note: I just looked this up on the MAC website, and it’s MIA; sad panda. 🙁 But you can sub it with Shroom.)

The lighter cool-toned matte brown is Omega, which I’m wearing in the crease. It’s great for pushing a hooded lid back *and* for filling out brows (I’m wearing it mixed with Brun in my brows in this look). It’s great if you want a really ashy brown brow, but you don’t want it to look too gray or too harsh.

If you have any gaps in your brow, it’s particularly great for filling in sparse spots.

MAC Brun, LOVE OF MY LIFE. Wearing it in my brows and outer crease.

Club is the liner, which I applied with an angled brush wet with MAC Fix+.

Carbon, I’m not really wearing in this look, but it’s your standard-issue black that you can wear with anything and everything.

While we’re on the subject of MAC classics, please list the MAC classics you love down below. I’m curious!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. I saw this earlier today, and now I can’t stop laughing! It’s a trailer for the Christmas movie Elf (one of my favorites), recut and reimagined as a thriller… 🙂