NARS

7 Cat Lady Things You Could Do While Wearing the 7 New NARS Lip Gloss Shades

April 4th, 2014 by Karen 29 Comments

NARS Priscilla Lip Gloss — A crazy cat lady holding a cat flask while wearing the new NARS Lip Gloss in Priscilla, a shocking pink

What are some things you can do while wearing the seven brand new shades in the newly reformulated NARS Lip Gloss line?

Hmm… Well, you could start writing that young adult novel you’ve been meaning to, and by “you” I mean me (and maybe also you); you could have donuts for dinner; or, if you’re a cat lady like me, you could…

1. Hug your cat while wearing NARS Lip Gloss in Tasmania

NARS Tasmania Lip Gloss — That’s me wearing NARS Lip Gloss in Tasmania, a pink cantaloupe

If time permits, bury your face in his or her tummy while saying, “Mmmmm, delicious tabby belly meat!”

Do this until he or she gets angry.

2. Fall in love at the Humane Society while wearing NARS Lip Gloss in Sixties Fan

NARS Sixties Fan Lip Gloss — Here I’m wearing NARS Lip Gloss in Sixties Fan, a pomegranate

While there, you could also seriously consider adopting a cat. Or two. Or twelve. And pretend not to hear your husband when he says, “Twelve is just too many!”

I mean, how could you not fall in love with a kitty like Kanji, a gorgeous boy with the most beautiful blue eyes in the world?!

3. Wear a cat t-shirt to the mall while wearing NARS Lip Gloss in Salamanca

NARS Salamanca Lip Gloss — That’s NARS Lip Gloss in Salamanca, a pink flamingo, on my lips

Bonus points if the cat on your shirt is wearing glasses.

4. Look for kitty-themed home decor at Anthropologie while wearing NARS Lip Gloss in Quito

NARS Quito Lip Gloss — Here I’m wearing NARS Lip Gloss in Quito, a bright strawberry pink

Why?

Because surrounding yourself (and your kitty and non-kitty companions) with cat-themed home decor takes your cat lady-ness to the next level.
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It’s Champagne and Roses All Around With the New 413 BLKR Blush and 413 BLKR Illuminator

April 3rd, 2014 by Karen 27 Comments

Wearing the new NARS 413 BLKR Blush and Illuminator — Wearing the new NARS 413 BLKR Blush ($30) and Illuminator ($30), available now exclusively at NARS Boutiques and narscosmetics.com

413 — that’s, like, a pager code, right?

LOL! Oh, puh-leaz! Don’t even pretend like you don’t know what I’m talking about. 🙂 I know you got all smiley and giggly when your crush sent you love emergency pages in the (911 143) middle of the night, circa 1995.

Oh, wait. That was me.

Actually, in this instance, 413 is not in reference to the language of pager love, but rather shorthand for a collection of NARS makeup products called 413 BLKR.

It includes 413 Multiples, Nail Polishes, Eyeshadows, Lipsticks — all manner of cute things.

The numerical nomenclature is a shout-out to the address of the very first NARS boutique, located at 413 Bleecker Street in New York, and the 413 BLKR products were created in the spirit of New York City’s unique energy.

NARS 413 BLKR Blush and Illuminator — The two newest additions to the NARS 413 BLKR line

Recently, NARS added two new pieces to the 413 BLKR fam — 413 BLKR Blush ($30) and 413 BLKR Illuminator ($30).

Rosy matte 413 BLKR Blush, an intense rosy pink powder blush, is super smooth and incredibly pigmented. A little goes a long way with this one, so you might want to use a light touch.

Shimmery champagne liquid highlighter 413 BLKR Illuminator looks like it could be frosty, based on how it looks in its tube, but that’s just because it’s fired up about the prospects of getting on skin, where I think it’s actually very subtle and beautiful.

NARS 413 BLKR Illuminator — 413 BLKR Illuminator, a shimmering champagne

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Lips Lap Up the Shine While Eyes Dive Into Shimmer: The NARS Adult Swim Collection Is Calling

April 3rd, 2014 by Karen 31 Comments

Pick up!

PICK UP, PICK UP, PICK UP!

Gah! Where the heck are you, girl?! You better be in the bathroom doing some hella fierce cat eye liner or something; otherwise, I’m going to be terribly offended!

“…please leave a message after the beep, and I’ll return your call as soon as –”

Oh, come on! You are missing one of the most important phone calls of your entire life!

OK, that may have been an exaggeration…

Brace yourself for a loooooong rambling message, but what else is new?

“Beep!”

Hey, babe, it’s me Karen! Wish you were there. Question for ya — are you free on April 15th? You’re not gonna believe this, but I got an invite to a party and need you to be my plus one.

Before you answer, the host is François Nars…

CRAZYPANTS, RIGHT!? It’s pool party with François-freaking-Nars!

It’s for their new summer collection and, uh, I’m already stressing about what to wear. You know me!

NARS Adult Swim Collection, Summer 2014 — The 12-piece NARS Adult Swim Collection, new for Summer 2014

So, Adult Swim — that’s the theme, but I’m pretty sure it doesn’t have anything to do with that cartoon channel…

Oh, but can you imagine if it did? We roll up and Stewie from the Family Guy is there having a sexy party.

EWWW! Yeah, I could not handle that.

I think it’s more along the sultry pool party lines, and no, you cannot show up in your swim cap and goggles, you dork! I am not about to let you jump in the pool and do laps in front of François.

Because I know you want to. 🙂

The invite doesn’t say anything about attire, but I’m guessing bikinis, stilettos — basically, I think if we dress for a rooftop pool party at a really expensive New York hotel, we’ll be alright.

NARS Adult Swim Collection Product Pics

Tropical Princess Duo Eyeshadow, $34

And the for makeup, for you I’m thinking we should do a tropical princess theme. Lime green on your lids with an icy lavender along your lower lash line, ooh-la-la.

We’ll use the new NARS Tropical Princess Duo Eyeshadow ($34).

Those metallic finishes are just so dramatic, and I know you love drawing attention to your eyes. We can even wet the shadows first to make them look more shimmery.

Oh, boy, this is a long message, isn’t it…?

Anywho! If you’re not feelin’ the super high shine, or if you’re stressing about the frosty finishes highlighting your fine lines (yes, dear, you do have fine lines), then we’ll just buff one of the shades on your lids with a domed fluffy brush, and do a light wash of shimmery color.

Don’t worry about the fallout, either. With this, it ain’t no thing.

Malaaca Single Eyeshadow, $24

NARS Malacca Single Eyeshadow — Malacca Single Eyeshadow, $24

For me, I’m going smokey — big surprise! There’s a couple of things in the collection that are totally my smokey style, like the Malaaca Single Eyeshadow ($24).

HOLY WOW, EGYPTIAN MAU! So pretty… It’s like a peacock feather in a pan, and it’s absolutely, freakishly gorgeous. It’s definitely my favorite thing in the summer collection, hands down.

Basically, it’s like MAC Club, but with less intense dark brown tones and more teal.

Baalbek Eye Paint, $25

NARS Baalbek Eye Paint — Baalbek Eye Paint, $25

Malaaca looks AMAZE-BALLS layered with Baalbek Eye Paint ($25), by the way, the one lonely gel liner in Adult Swim.

Baalbek is an intense shimmery bronze — beautiful on it’s own, but layer it under Malacca because the two are like RyGos and Rachel from The Notebook together. Baalbek’s bronze intensifies Malaaca’s teal, and then there’s the shimmering bronze glitter peeking through…

Super cool. My new favorite smokey eye.

Lost Coast Duo Eyeshadow, $34

NARS Lost Coast Duo Eyeshadow — Lost Coast Duo Eyeshadow, $34

Sorry! I know this is a long message, but I’m almost done. 🙂

There are also two more eye pieces in the collection — Lost Coast Duo Eyeshadow ($34), which houses a golden pewter and a lilac; and a creamy, rosy quartz Soft Touch Shadow Pencil called Iraklion ($24).

I think Lost Coast would probably be better for daytime eye looks, since the shadows are muted, so maybe not ideal for the party, assuming it runs late. I mean, they’re pigmented, but definitely not as flashy as Tropical Princess or Malacca.

Iraklion Soft Touch Shadow Pencil, $24

NARS Iraklion Soft Touch Shadow Pencil — Iraklion Soft Touch Shadow Pencil, $24

If you’re wondering about Iraklion, I don’t know. It creases within minutes on me, so I think maybe we should put that one aside for now.

Hot Sand Liquid Illuminator, $30

As for our cheeks, there are no blushes in the Adult Swim collection, but I’m cool just wearing the Hot Sand Liquid Illuminator ($30).

I’m going through a dewy skin phase anyway, and this peachy, champagne liquid highlighter should be perfect that that. I like to pat it on my cheekbones, right around the middle of the forehead and down the bridge of my nose with a flat foundation brush.

Totally subtle but still noticeable. Fresh but not overly shiny.

And don’t trip about having to reapply. It lasts all day on me.
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The New NARS Artistry Eye and Lip Brushes Make Accuracy an Art Form

March 21st, 2014 by Karen 17 Comments

NARS Artistry Brushes Eye Lip Category — The new NARS Artistry Eye and Lip brushes, coming April 1 to NARS boutiques and narscometics.com (you can also read about the the cheek and face brushes from the line here).

We’ve got a pooped princess over here…but she’s gonna do her best to persevere and proclaim pertinent particulars about the new NARS Artistry Eye and Lip Brushes.

Oh, boy, lots of “p” words up there… I can already tell it’s gonna be one of those reviews (read: wackadoo).

This is round two. We looked at the face and cheek brushes in round one.

So why am I tired? Well, I went out to dinner last night and partook (partook — is that a word?) of some wine, and now I’m having trouble stringing coherent sentences together.

Funny how that happens.

Anywho! These new brushes…

There are nine eye brushes and one lip brush in the new Artistry Brush line (we looked at the Face and Cheek brushes the other day). I’ve been using them to paint my mug for a few days, and so far I’m impressed.

With the eye and lip brushes we’re looking at today, “versatility and soft bristles” are the figurative words. There are some exciting things here if you like makeup tools.

NARS Eye Shadow Brush 40, $32

Like my favorite tubby tabby, the flat, paddle-shaped NARS Eye Shadow Brush 40 ($32) is on the thicker side.

Also like my husky tabby’s tum, the shape is…interesting. 🙂 It’s flat like a paddle brush, but fluffy like a domed blending brush, and the shape makes it usable for a variety of tasks, like dusting a base color all over your lids, blending two different shades together, or sweeping color into your crease.

It also blends as well as it applies, so it’s a multitasking mofo. If you want an eye brush that does it all, I think the 40, with its super soft, sable hair bristles, is a good option.

NARS Diffusing Brush 41, $32

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It’s Makeup, Precisely! The New NARS Artistry Face and Cheek Brushes

March 19th, 2014 by Karen 27 Comments

The new NARS Face and Cheek Artistry Brushes

I’ve painted several rooms over the years, but each and every time I swear to myself I’m never doing it again.

That’s because painting rooms frickin’ sucks, man, and every room subtracts at least a year off your life, you know, if you take those Real Age online tests, I swear…

Now, painting faces!? That’s totally different. Painting faces is awesome sauce to the Nth degree.

Enter the new 16-piece NARS Artistry Brush line, arriving at NARS boutiques and online April 1, with four face brushes, two cheek brushes, nine eye brushes and one lip brush, all specially crafted for precision makeup application.

These things are pumping me up to paint my mug. 🙂

First, the face and cheek brushes, which I’ve been using and enjoying very much. I’ll have more to say about the eye and lip brushes soon (target: tomorrow), but for now…

The face brushes…

Powder Brush #10 ($52)

Designed, according to NARS, to buff, blend and diffuse loose powder to a lustrous finish, it also works pretty dang well for pressed powders. I tried it with both and like the results equally. It lays down a fine, even veil of product.

The brush head is slightly narrower than typical powder/fluffy face brushes, but I kind of like that, too. Even though it doesn’t cover as much surface area as your run-of-the-mill fluffy powder brush, I think it’s easier to control and, when using it, difficult to over-apply, and I’m digging on that.

Only thing is…it’s a tad scratchy. Not terribly scratchy, but still.

I’m not sure about the bristles on this one, but based on the way they feel, I’m guessing the fibers are natural, and not synthetic.

Bronzing Powder Brush #11 ($52)

If you’re a bonafide bronzing buff, you may want to seriously consider Bronzing Powder Brush #11 and its dense, domed head (looks almost like a regular kabuki brush).

No matter where I place it on my face — under my cheekbones, at the edge of my hair line, or anywhere else I apply bronzer — it just fits. And it lays down a perfect amount of product.

I have also yet to see the soft natural-fiber brush head shed one hair in the few times I’ve used it.

Like the Powder Brush #10, the one’s head is a little smaller than usual for its ilk, making it quite precise. It lays down smooth, even color. Love.

Cream Blending Brush #12 ($28)

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Chisel Those Cheeks! Contouring Made Easy With the New NARS Contour Blushes

March 19th, 2014 by Karen 47 Comments

Wearing (and holding) the new NARS Contour Blush in Paloma

I don’t want to divulge too much, because I like being mysterious, and I want RyGos to continue thinking that I wake up with these chiseled cheekbones (Haha! Not). Better to have him believe they were sculpted by Michelangelo than have him know they were actually contoured by NARS.

I mean, you already know so many of my secrets — what’s one more? Like, you know that I hide a Mini Babybel Cheese in my purse (because you never know when the urge to eat a small cheese wheel will hit you. #imjustsaying). You know that I love Bravo. You know that I am obsessed with makeup, Trader Joe’s and cats. You also know that one of my legs is slightly longer than the other.

Wait — you didn’t know that? Oops, I thought you did. 🙂

I guess what I’m trying to say is this: being as how you already know so much about me, what’s a little covert contouring talk between friends?

The secret to the chiseled cheeks I’m currently sporting is the new NARS Contour Blush in Paloma, one of three $42 contouring powder blush duos recently added to the permanent line.

Babybel Cheese, yo! — Um…is that cheese in your purse?

Each of the duos has — no surprise here — two shades, one darker than the other. The darker shade is used to define and add depth to the face, while the lighter shades is used for highlights.

Paloma, the one I wear, is the middle-of-the-road option.

Olympia, the lightest of the three duos, has an ivory and a rose; Paloma, a pinkish beige and a deep rose; and Gienah, the darkest duo, houses a honey and an amber.

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An Easy Way To Take Your Winged Liner Looks From Day to Night

March 14th, 2014 by Karen 18 Comments

MAC Pure Show and NARS Black Valley — Wearing MAC Pure Show Superslick Liquid Eye Liner and NARS Black Valley Eye Paint on my upper lash lines (and trying to look “artsy-fartsy”)

I’m all about the winged liner life…

Ya feel me?

Winged liner, also known as cat liner, is one of my favorite makeup looks (especially in a classic black).

You can wear it pretty much anywhere. Pair it with nude lips to proactively synergize your ROI at work (LOL!), or raise the roof with a bright lip and cheek for a night on the town. The possibilities are endless.

I don’t know if I could ever truly get tired of black winged/cat liner, but I don’t always do it the same way. Sometimes I like to try something a little different, like by incorporating a liner in a different color. I’ll run it along my upper lash line parallel to the liner, like I’m doing with the gold in these pics.

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How To Do a Basic Brown Smokey Eye

February 24th, 2014 by Karen 33 Comments

Please ignore the Christmas decorations behind my shoulder, LOL! I filmed this back in December before Christmas but then got too carried away with the holidays to prepare it.

I still wanted to finish it, though, because it’s a staple look of mine that I wear all year round, perfect for just about any occasion from work things to movie dates to running errands around town.

I make little tweaks to it all the time, but this time I paired the eyes with nude cheeks and lips. You could always opt for more dramatic colors to brighten it up.

Here’s the final look…

Brown smokey eyes with nude peachy coral cheeks and lips

There are some steps and layering involved, but I’m sure you can do it. If you haven’t tried something like this before, it just takes a little practice.

Full list of products mentioned in the video…

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