MAC Makeup

Lipglossing Like It’s 1999

September 7th, 2018 by Karen 4 Comments

It’s funny to me when all ’90s makeup gets lumped together into a single category. Like, for lips it’s the ’90s matte lip look, and trust your homegirl when she says that everyone did not wear matte lips throughout the entire decade of the ’90s.

(Well, a lot of people did, but not everyone.)

You also had different sub-eras, like the late ’90s — circa 1997-1998 — when everybody (at least everybody I knew who wore makeup) wore dark, unblended lip liner, frosty silver lipstick and clear lipgloss.

Then you had 1999, 2000 and 2001, when it was all about glossy, frosty lips, which reminds me…remember when everyone and their mother was carrying a tube MAC Oystergirl?

Yeah, you know what’s up. 😉

I’m getting that ’99 vibe so hard from these non-sticky MAC Grand Illusion Glossy Liquid Lip Colour lipglosses, which are $21 each and hella pigmented.

mac goldieloxxed — Goldieloxxed (this shade reminds me an amped up MAC Nymphette)

Ah, they’re taking me back…especially It’s Just Candy! It reminds me of my early 20s when I rocked MAC Lychee Luxe to da club.

Da club… Oh, my gosh, I feel so ridiculous saying that. Like, when do you get to that point where you just sound silly using slang? It doesn’t happen overnight… It’s a slow burn kinda thing, ha ha ha.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

5 Things I’ve Been Loving Lately

September 5th, 2018 by Karen 20 Comments

1. A lacrosse ball for back massage

This has been the best and worst thing to ever happen to me.

Because I carry most of my tension in my upper back, and I spend most of my day sitting at my desk, my trapezoids are about as flexible as a large block of cheese. WERE, I mean. Past tense. My upper back’s been all loose-y goose-y ever since I started massaging it with this $3 lacrosse ball I found at Sports Basement.

Every night I give myself a poor-woman’s deep-tissue massage by rolling it under my upper back (there’s a bunch of tutorials on YouTube), and even though I’m on the verge of misery while I’m doing it, when I’m done I no longer feel the crunchiness in the knots underneath my shoulder blades.

I watched this originally because I wanted to see this dude’s dog, LOL! It’s super helpful.

FYI: It is a REALLY intense massage. If you don’t think you’ll be able handle it, start with a tennis ball, and work your way up to a lacrosse ball (which is harder).

2. Trader Joe’s Speculoos Cookie Butter

If you’ve previously fallen under the magic spell of Nutella like I have, you’ll totally get this. I’m always looking for different spreads to spruce up toast in the morning because woman cannot exist on peanut butter alone.

This is *the* spread that will make you say, “What’s Nutella?”

Trader Joe’s dreamed up this creamy, silky butter, which is made from…cookies, and it tastes like whipped honey graham crackers and gingerbread. Basically, heaven in a jar. It’s equally delicious on top of toast or as a dip for pretzels or carrot sticks. Highly recommended for when you’re in the mood for a decadent treat.

3. MAC Iridescent Powder/Loose in Silver Dusk

Say peace-the-eff-out to all the other silvery pink highlighters out there because MAC Silver Dusk. It’s a loose powder that comes in a jar, and you can dust it on your face and eyes (and even your body)… This bad boy truly whips my high pony ’round and ’round.

I’m not always a fan of silvery pink loose highlighting powders because 1) they usually clash with my NC42 skin, and 2) they look borderline fros-tay, but this staple of MAC artist bridal looks is a go-to for a reason. Somehow, some way, it just works for almost everyone.

Leave it to the wizards at Team MAC for making a highlighter that not only looks like a soft beam of angelic light is bathing your face, but is also easy to blend, so there’s no risk of those tell-tale highlighting edges along the bridge of your nose or on your upper cheekbones.

Added bonus? It lasts all day (and all night) long, too.

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MAC Golden Bronze Iridescent Powder/Loose Is Back! — and It Wants to Bathe You in Buttery, Lovely, Long-Lasting Sunset Lighting

August 30th, 2018 by Karen 16 Comments

Every MAC artist I’ve ever chatted with about Golden Bronze raves about it and basically showers it with love. (Side note: If you caught the Surface reference, you and I were probably at the same eighth-grade dance.)

Shower me with your looooooooove

MAC Iridescent Powder/Loose in Golden Bronze ($29)

This peachy golden loose highlighting powder briefly peace’d-the-eff out for a while, and I didn’t hear about it or see it around (I gave it the Unsung Heroes treatment in 2012), but it’s back with a new version, and it’s just as epic as before.

Kits everywhere are sighing with relief, I’m sure. 🙂

It’s easy to see why this multipurpose miracle-worker is a staple at photo shoots and on runways. You only need the littlest bit to gleam with a gorgeous glow, and it requires, like…zero skill to blend.

Seriously, if you breathe — if you literally JUST EXIST — you can blend this powder.

It’s fantastic as a basic powder highlighter, or mixed into a face/body lotion or oil, or even sprinkled into tinted moisturizer, BB or CC cream, or foundation.

Tip: Load up a tapered eye brush like the MAC 224 with it to precisely place Golden Bronze down the bridge of your nose, on your upper cheekbones, in the inner corners, and on your Cupid’s bow.

You may be thinking, “OK, but can’t other loose highlighters do the same thing?”

Naw, babe, they don’t.

mac golden bronze swatch final — NC42 in MAC

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The New MAC Patrick Starrr Oh No She Beta Don’t/Patrickstarrr Kit

August 24th, 2018 by Karen 11 Comments

mac patrick starrr sugah mama quad — Oh no she beta don’t!

You know, whenever anyone mentions Patrick Starrr, my mind immediately goes to the MAC glam-bassador’s over-the-top makeup style, and so when a dude at the gym last Wednesday night asked during the stretching part at the end of HIIT class if we could do the “Patrick Starrr,” I just automatically assumed he wanted everyone to bust out their falsies and bake their contours. (As one does at the end of a particularly brutal set of lunges, naturally.)

mac patrick starrr fall 2018 — Oh No She Beta Don’t/Patrickstarrr

Turns out homeboy was talking about another nickname for the “corpse pose” — ya know, the one where you literally just lie there on the floor?

Ha ha ha!

But you can’t blame my brain for going there! Patrick’s been doing his thang with MAC for the past few seasons, and he’s all over the place. Why wouldn’t he be a gym reference, too?!

MAC Patrick Starrr Oh No She Beta Don’t/Patrickstarrr Kit ($21, coming September 6, 2018 to maccosmetics.com and select counters)

His latest MAC collab? — two fall kits, each with an eyeshadow quad and a liquid lippie. I’m wearing the one called “Oh No She Beta Don’t,” which to me sounds like it would be an awesome intro to a Ru Paul song from back in the day.

The other one is called “Boy About Town.”

My breath stopped short at the sight of the shimmery golden purplish taupe in the Sugah Mama eyeshadow quad, since it looks so much like a powder version of one of my fave discontinued cream shadows, MAC Lilacked (RIP).

I tried it on, and gah! — it’s so deliciously toasty and taupe-y and sparkly. Picture an extra shimmery Satin Taupe with the tiniest flakes of golden glitter.

Yummy, right?

I had a little fallout with the darkest blackened brown eyeshadow when I smudged it on my outer corner and swept it into my crease, but the three other shades (including the purply taupe) did just fine.

mac patrick starrr sugah mama — I’m wearing the Sugah Mama eyeshadow quad on my lids and Ulitmate Diva on my lips.

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Try the New MAC Dazzleshadow Liquids for Glittery, Glossy Lids and Long-Lasting Shimmer and Shine

August 15th, 2018 by Karen 12 Comments

mac dazzleshadow liquid rayon rays every day is sunshine — Glossy, glittery goodness

Is it a glitter, or is it a super shiny eye gloss? Quelle suprise! ‘Tis both.

The MAC Dazzleshadow Liquid Eyeshadows ($22 each)

The sparkling new MAC Dazzleshadow Liquid eyeshadows come in 10 shades in every color you’d want to wear to schmexy time, to preschool library story time (IT ME), or any time, really.

“Get lost in eyes that tantalize, mesmerize and glamorize. Introducing the irresistible twinkle of our all-new daze-inducing Dazzleshadow Liquid. Available in a range of beaming finishes – from glaring glitter to subtle sparkle and cool chrome – this ultra-shiny liquid eye shadow glides across lids for a wash of brilliant colour that keeps its splendour for up to 8 hours. Its lightweight cooling formula sets quickly for the ultimate second-skin texture that feels ultra-soft on lids.”

— maccosmetics.com

Seriously, they’re such a find. You’ll never have to deal with renegade glitter bits cascading down your cheeks or under your eyes (or, in my case, up in my brows, and why or how glitter manages to get up there, I’ll never know) again.

And because of the reflective finish, you can also get the high-fashion look of magazine-style glossy eyes without that sticky, gooey, gross feeling on your lids. Dab some on the back of your hand with the doe-foot applicator, pick up the littlest amount with a tapered blending brush (THIS IS KEY! DON’T USE TOO MUCH!), blend on your lids, and it won’t budge all day long. (Watch the clock, though, because you’ll only have about two minutes to buff before the formula completely sets.)

mac dazzleshadow liquid rayon rays every day is sunshine 2 — That’s Liquid Lip Suede Matte Lipstick in Nude Blush by Civilized Cosmetics on my lips.

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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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The MAC Oh, Sweetie Lipcolour Collection Is a Frosted Sugar Rush

June 21st, 2018 by Karen 8 Comments

mac oh sweetie collection — Got a sweet tooth?

I like to bake.

Naw, dawg, I LOVE TO BAKE.

Love. It. ?????❤️??

What’s that? You need a cake baked from scratch? Brownies? Lemon bars? A loaf of artisan bread?? I GOT YOU, GIRL.

That said, when someone tells me that they don’t like sweets, or they claim to never, ever order dessert, my lips immediately form into a tight smile and my right eye starts twitching…because I’m completely short-circuiting inside.

HOW CAN YOU NOT LIKE DESSERT…? 1011101011010101111010110100010011101010111

That does not compute.

Thankfully, it’s sweet stuff galore in the MAC Oh, Sweetie Lipcolour collection. In fact, the glosses are named after desserts.

Here’s a look at some of them…

The MAC Oh, Sweetie Lipcolours ($17 each, 15 LE shades)

The collection is fronted by jet-setting German fashion influencer Caro Daur. (I’ll pause for a moment if you want to google her…) She’s so chic, right? I would like some of that Euro girl magic, okpleaseandthankyou.

Honored to be part of the new @rogervivier book #LoveVivier ??? featured next to icon @inesdelafressangeofficial and all my favorite fashion colleagues ? thank you for the loyality, trust and kindness @rogervivier – adore the brand and the amazing team behind it???

A post shared by Caroline Daur (@carodaur) on May 24, 2018 at 12:53pm PDT

These Lipcolours are like metallic MAC Cremesheens, and they vary in terms of the amount of opalescent pearl they contain (some have more than others). The non-sticky formula is on the thinner side, too, and they shine just like a Cremesheen.

I like the less shimmery ones like Raspberry Pavlova more than the others, because the super shimmery metallic ones like Banana Muffins and Strawberry Mousse make me look CAH-RAY-ZAY.

And I don’t need any help in that department. 🙂

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