MAC Makeup

MAC Unsung Heroes: The Studio Chromagraphic Pencils

January 21st, 2015 by Karen 35 Comments

MAC Chromagraphic Pencil — The MAC Studio Chromagraphic Pencils ($16 each)

Chances are good that if you’ve rolled up to your favorite MAC counter lately (shout-out to the Corte Madera counter at Nordies, woo-hoo!), you probably passed the Studio Chromagraphic Pencils without bringing one home.

MAC Studio Finish Chromagraphic Pencils from the left: NC15/NW20, NW25/NC30, NC42/NW35 — The MAC Studio Finish Chromagraphic Pencils (they aren’t duos) from the left in NC15/NW20, NW25/NC30, NC42/NW35

Honestly, I don’t blame you, because if I didn’t know about them, I’d probably skip ’em too. On paper, they appear quite boring.

Only they’re not. At all. They’re actually really handy. In a nutshell, they’re creamy, flesh-colored eyeliners…which does sound pretty lame, right?

But I keep one of these $16 wonders in my makeup bag at all times and always bring one with me on trips. I use them all the time, really, in so many different ways.

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A Look With Vivacious Violet Eyes and Righteous Red, Glossy Lips Using the New MAC Toledo Collection

January 19th, 2015 by Karen 74 Comments

Wearing the MAC Toledo Violetwink Palette on my eyes, Blush Ombre in Ripe Peach on my cheeks and the Lipstick and Lipglass in Opera on my lips — Wearing the MAC Toledo collection Violetwink Palette on my eyes, Blush Ombre in Ripe Peach on my cheeks and the Lipstick and Lipglass in Opera on my lips

Vivacious violet eyes and righteous red, glossy lips today because, ya know, it’s Monday. Why not? 🙂

This is the flashiest look I’ve flaunted in a while! I’ve been kind of stuck in a neutral eye/nude lip rut, so this is my makeup version of Stella getting her groove back, except instead of me working it out on a tropical island with a hot, young thang, I’m working purple eyeshadow, red gloss and red lipstick…

I’m wearing stuff from the new MAC Toledo collection.

Toledo as in the fashion designers, Isabel and Ruben — not “holy Toledo!” or Toledo, Ohio, in case you were wondering.

MAC is so educational!

Honestly, I hadn’t heard of them before…but I’m also not hip at all, so there’s that.

The eye-catching 31-piece collection comes out next month with limited edition white, black and red packaging.

Wearing the MAC Toledo Violetwink Palette on my eyes, Blush Ombre in Ripe Peach on my cheeks and Lipstick and Lipglass in Opera on my Lips — That’s Pearlglide Intense in Designer Purple along my lower lash lines, also from the collection

I’m most interested in the three six-pan palettes, like the purple one I’m wearing here (there’s also one with green and olive shades, complete with baby-poo green eyeshadow, and I’m so not kidding about that; and another palette that’s blue).

Oh! — and there’s also a lot of red for lips. When I was looking at the packaging this morning, I thought, “Yeah, let’s do red. And purple. Why the heck not?”

The thing is, with bold eye and lip looks like these, I’m trying to strike a delicate balance between dramatic and cra-za-zy. To that end, I follow some basic guidelines…

The first is to chillax on the brows, son, because with a bright purple eye and glossy red lips, there’s already a lot going on, and full, bushy or blocky brows would just be one more thing competing for attention.

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10 Things I Love About January

January 12th, 2015 by Karen 33 Comments

1. Early springs

On my walk today I saw — get this — early cherry blossom blooms!
We get that out here in Northern California some years, and I guess it’s happening now.

It’s been sunny for a week or so since the heavy rains, and everything is growing like crazy now. This tree here is right down the hill behind my house where Else the Tortie hangs out. I looked for her today, but she was nowhere to be found (sad face).

On the bright side, I did see…

2. This neighborhood kitty

He’s very skittish and never lets me get too close, but he’s just unaware of how this little game of ours is going to play out.

Soon… Soon we will be BFFs.

The Long Haired Tabby Neighbor — What up, playa?!

3. Scarves

If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to have Tabs draped across your neck, just wrap yourself up in your coziest scarf. 🙂

I wear scarves pretty much 24/7 throughout January because dude! — they feel so wonderful. I like it when the back of my neck and the bottoms of my ears are all cozy and warm.

Wearing Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Ether — Scarf action all day, every day!

4. Moisturizing face masks

I’ve been putting one on every night after I wash my face.

So not kidding! My skin gets dreadfully dry this time of year, so I give my favorite moisturizing face masks a mega workout. Current faves in rotation include Glamglow Thirsty Mud, Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask and Fresh Creme Ancienne Ultimate Nourishing Honey Mask.

Side note: I’m looking for a HELLA moisturizing drugstore mask, so if you have any recs, let me know in the comments. 🙂

5. These Walkers Scottie Dog Shortbread Cookies

Totally a January thing for me because I always seem to get them for Christmas.

I have a very specific method to eating them, too. First, I line all of them up on a plate. Then I bite their heads off.

I let the guilt course through my veins…

And then I wash everything down with a big gulp of tea or coffee.

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10 More Things I Love About MAC

December 30th, 2014 by Karen 26 Comments

Because a single list of 10 items was nowhere near long enough to fully convey my unbridled MAC passion, here are 10 MORE things I love about MAC.

1. Brun Eye Shadow

I’ve worn Brun in one form or another virtually every single day for the past 10 years.

A dark, satiny blackish brown may sound kind of boring and lame, but this one’s pure genius because 1) it’s dark, but it doesn’t look harsh or stark on the skin, and 2) it’s so versatile!

Seriously, I use it for almost errrthing. I use it as a brow filler (it’s a great all-purpose filler for brunettes because it’s neutral and not overly warm or red), as a liner when I’m pressed for time and lack the dexterity to be precise with pencils, gels or liquids; or as a dark brown to deepen the outer corners in neutral looks.

Oh! — and you can do the quickest smokey eye ever by just buffing Brun on top of MAC Smolder.

Brun might look like a basic brown, but it’s millions of miles from boring.

2. Powersurge, Teddy and Costa Riche

Otherwise known as the ultimate eyeliner trifecta. These are my go-to shades from the MAC Eye Kohl line, and I always have at least one of them with me in my purse, unless I’m on a trip and gotta have all three, or risk having a meltdown, LOL! Sounds silly, but it’s true. 🙂

MAC has a ton of beautiful eyeliners, but these are the ones I have backups of backups of at all times.

Deep bronzy gold Powersurge looks epic on lower lash lines, where it adds a little something-something without making my eyes look smaller.

Costa Riche and Teddy are two of the most beautiful brown liners on the planet. Costa Riche is a warm matte reddish brown (I wear it smudged along my lower lash lines all the time), and Teddy is a rich, bronzy reddish brown.

Both of them look amaze-balls with brown, hazel, grey, blue or green eyes.

MAC Costa Riche and Teddy swatches — Swatches of Costa Riche and Teddy on my NC42 skin

3. The Archie’s Girls Collection

That one time Tabs and I got cartoonified by Archie cartoonist Dan Parent for the Archie’s Girls collection…

4. Turquatic

Turquatic is a light, refreshing fragrance that everyone I run into and hug seems to love.

Er…now that I think about it, I’m not sure if I’ve ever actually finished a bottle of it because I’m always giving them away!

The last time was with my mom-in-law, when she hugged me and said, “I love that scent you’re wearing!” so I gave it to her right there on the spot.

Official fragrance notes include anemone, lotus, orris and Corsican blue cedar. Unofficial fragrance notes include summer crushes and stolen kisses. 🙂

5. Wonder Woman

Such a fun collection! Also, I will gladly take any excuse to dress up as a superhero and wander around the neighborhood.

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10 Things I Love About MAC

December 22nd, 2014 by Karen 24 Comments

1. Their classic neutral brown and beige shades

Before the Urban Decay Naked palette took the makeup world by storm, there were old-school MAC brown and beige neutrals like Brule, Mylar, Ricepaper, Shroom, Soba, Samoa Silk, Kid, Bamboo, Omega, Cork, Wedge, Brun, Soft Brown and Saddle, among other shades. I could write sonnets and dissertations on their awesome sauce.

MAC has a well-deserved rep for crazy colorful shades and brights, but that’s just part of what they do. Some of my friends who are less enthusiastic about makeup than I am say things like, “They’re the ones that do the crazy bright green drag show eyeshadow, right?” and I’m like, um…yeah, they do some of that, but there are also so many great neutrals in the line.

Some of their permanent collection neutrals are timeless classics that women (and men) of all ages can wear.

Shoot, I hope I’m still rocking Soba when I’m 80. That’s the plan. 🙂

Maybelline Blackest Black Lasting Drama Eyestudio — Wearing MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot, Mylar Eye Shadow, Cork Eye Shadow and Brun Eye Shadow on my lids

2. The MAC Rick Baker Monsters Bride Palette

I never expected to like this LE palette as much as I do, but it quickly became one of my most trusted companions this year. It always goes with me on trips, where it gets a coveted spot in my everyday essentials makeup bag.

There is one eyeshadow in it called Bitter, a crazy green, that I never use, but all of the other shades are ones I use and love, like Brun, Mylar, Omega, Club and Carbon.

My default neutral look with this palette is something soft and defined that I do all the time with Mylar all over the lid from lash line to brow bone, Omega in the crease, Brun in the outer corner and Carbon smudged along my upper lash line…

Then, if I’m feeling sassy, I’ll add Club on my lid on top of Mylar.

3. Woodwinked Eye Shadow

Woodwinked is one of all-time greatest two-for-one shadows. Pat it on with a flat 239 Eye Shader Brush for a warm and shimmery golden brown, or buff it out with a 217 for a warm orangey brown with a satin finish. Either way: beautiful!

4. The 217 blending brush

I use the 217 every. Single. Day. It’s not just a brush for me; it’s an investment.

I have multiple 217s. That’s how serious I am about it, and I use them for so many things, like for applying and blending eyeshadow and under-eye concealer, applying highlighter and spot application of face powders. Those are just a few of the things I use the awesome 217 for.

5. Fix+

Another MAC ride-or-die product I never knowingly leave the house without (I always bring a tiny bottle with me when I travel). I use it for many different things, but mostly for blending out full-coverage foundations and under-eye concealers to make them look more natural.
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10 Reasons to Rock Smokey Purple Eyes (and Pics of the New Purple MAC Mineralize Eye Shadow in Leap From the MAC Lightness of Being Collection)

December 19th, 2014 by Karen 24 Comments

10 reasons to rock smokey purple eyes…

Because you’re on day three of “third day hair,” and your roots feel hella janky, and you really need to feel glamorous despite this.
Any excuse to bust out MAC Sketch. Any. Excuse.
Because purple smokey eyes are a temporary distraction from the chaos that is happening around your eyebrows. Note to self: schedule time for some TLC with those fussy, fuzzy little caterpillars.
Purple is the color of royalty, and what better way to stake your claim as Queen of the Crazy Cat Ladies?
Because, hello! — rainy days and Prince songs. *Cues Purple Rain*
Because it’s long past time to pay homage to one of the greatest MAC trifectas of purple power — Bamboo, Saddle and Shroom.
Because it’s been a minute since you’ve done black cat liner, which is a perishable skill. Use it or lose it, yo!
Because scientific studies prove that the best eye makeup to wear while gorging on Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Stars is smokey purple eyes… OK, not really, but in my mind this is true.
Because heaven forbid you go to HomeGoods for the fourth time this week without at least a little makeup on.
Because you never know when the urge to go dancing will hit! Preparedness is key! 🙂

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A Friday Face of the Day With the MAC Lightness of Being Collection: Brown Eyes, Peach Cheeks and Peach Lips

December 19th, 2014 by Karen 11 Comments

A million thank yous, MAC Lightness of Being, for lightening my metaphorical makeup load and reminding me that I don’t actually need six separate pans of eyeshadow up in the mix to have fun.

Look for the 29-piece MAC Lightness of Being collection online at maccosmetics.com starting Dec. 23, 2014, and in stores Dec. 26, 2014, through Feb. 6, 2015.

GIRL, you know how it goes. Sometimes I just get so caught up in the process (Why, yes! That third transition shade in the crease is a perfectly sane idea!) that I forget that uncomplicated makeup can be just as much fun.

The more I play with this collection (also got some swatches here), the more I see the point of these pastel shades.

Since the values don’t vary that much from each other, I find that I’m not having to spend forever and a day blending them together.

And to quote the great Tony the Tiger, that’s grrrrrreat!

The shimmery finishes have also been pretty agreeable. The frosts and pearls haven’t needed as much blending and babying as mattes often do.

For this look here, I’m only using two shadows, one of them, shimmery brown Mineralize Eye Shadow in Force of Nature, from the collection, and the other a permanent collection fave.

MAC Mineralize Eye Shadow in Force of Nature — Mineralize Eye Shadow in Force of Nature, a shimmery brown with a half pearl/half frost finish ($22)

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A Face of the Day With MAC Lightness of Being

December 18th, 2014 by Karen 36 Comments

Knit, purl, knit, purl, knit, purl…

Once upon a time, I was a mediocre knitter. Then I knitted and knitted and knitted until I’d created a scarf! — and after all that knitting, and all that yarn…I was still a mediocre knitter. 🙂

I haven’t quite figured out what the knitted pattern on the new Mineralize Eye Shadows and Skinfinishes in the MAC Lightness of Being collection has to do with the overall theme of the release, but I dig it.

The names of some of the pieces have a dance motif, like Beautiful Moves, and Leap and Modern Movement, but then there’s that knitted pattern on the pans… And all the pastels? I haven’t figured out what they’re doing here either.

Perhaps the collection was designed for a troupe of dancing knitters, or maybe it was inspired by the pastel pink leg warmers I so desperately wanted back in second grade.

Or maybe I’m just reading entirely too much into it, which is probably the case.

The new MAC Lightness of Being collection metaphysically materializes on the MAC website Dec. 23, and then arrives on MAC counters a few days later on Dec. 26, the day after Christmas.

With shimmery lemon, peach, blue, gray, lavender, mint and brown colors, it’s a fresh break from more serious and weighty winter mattes.

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