Palettes

The Cool New Hues in the Clarins Vibrant Light Eye Quartet Mineral Palette Love Warm Skin Tones, Too

February 19th, 2014 by Karen 26 Comments

Well, well. Quelle surprise!

I really did not expect the cool-toned plum, pink, gray and white shadows in the new Clarins Vibrant Light Eye Quartet Mineral Palette to get along at all with warm-toned skin like mine, but then what do I know? I also didn’t think that watching Bravo every day for a month would turn my brain to curdled cheese, which it has, haha!

I guess if there’s a lesson here, it’s that you just never know when it comes to eye quads or reality television.

That is, unless we’re talking about The Millionaire Matchmaker, in which case you pretty much do know what’s going to go down, but you (I) keep watching anyway because you (I) can’t look away. 🙂

(Incidentally, does anyone else miss Dustin and Rachel? I think the show is pretty lame without them…)

Vibrant Light. One of 14 pieces in the new Opalescent spring 2014 collection. Cool-toned, fo’ sho’, but surprisingly wearable, even on warm-toned skin.

Par for the Clarins course, these shadows perform exceptionally well, blending without a hitch and lasting a full 8-hour day without exhibiting any fallout, and only the slightest fading. They can be worn wet or dry, too (I’m wearing them dry).

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A Multitude of Mattes Make the New Laura Mercier Artist’s Eyeshadow Palette Quite Flexible

February 17th, 2014 by Karen 28 Comments

The new Laura Mercier Artist's Palette, $80 — The new Laura Mercier Artist’s Palette ($80)

First, before we get to Laura Mercier’s new Artist’s Eyeshadow Palette (in case you’re wondering, though, yes, it does have African Violet), a quick and (hopefully) amusing story…

So I decided to grab lunch at the mall this afternoon to take a break from all of the construction racket directly below my window (Oh, did I mention the new gas line trench being dug through my front yard? Good times…) and, let’s be honest, try to get warm, so I zipped up the jacket I was already wearing (in the house), grabbed my keys and iPhone and said “BRB!” to Tabs (who doesn’t seem to mind the cold at all). “Call me if you need anything, sir!”

The second I opened the door and stepped outside, I realized — holy sh*t! It’s warmer out here than it is inside.

Yay! 🙂

Laura Mercier Artist Eyeshadow Palette — A closer look at the palette…

At Nordstrom, one of the first things I spied was the new Artist’s Eyeshadow Palette from Laura Mercier. Part of a three-piece $80 kit, it also comes with a small Caviar Stick in Cocoa and a mini Full Blown Volume Mascara.

As a side, I love the number of mattes in this palette. Laura stocked the entire top row with really useful non-shimmery shades perfect for lining lash lines, contouring creases and smoking outer corners.

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The $7.50 NYX Adorable Shadow Palette Is Darling, Dahhhling

February 12th, 2014 by Karen 18 Comments

Cray-cray adorbs! The new NYX Adorable Palette.

“This palette is just darling, dahhhhling.”

Why, yes, I have been watching too much Bravo.

What gave it away? Was it the way I said “dahhhling” like Lisa Vanderpump from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills? Because that’s how this new spring eyeshadow palette makes me feel.

With its cute crop of neutral browns, beiges and a dreamy pinkish peach, this palette has adorable written all over it.

No, really, it does. Right there on the front of the packaging. “Adorable.” Says it right there. 🙂

Anywho, don’t these six powder shadows look great together? I can see them working in a bunch of neutral looks.

Like this here pinkish brown smokey eye I’m sporting today…

That’s Bobbi Brown’s Illuminating Bronzing Powder in Antigua on the apples of my cheeks and Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Mood Light on my upper cheekbones.

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For Lids That Shimmer From Dusk Til Dawn, the NYX Dream Catcher Dusk Til Dawn Eyeshadow Palette

February 3rd, 2014 by Karen 17 Comments

NYX Dream Catcher Palette Dusk Til Dawn — Wearing the new NYX Dream Catcher Palette in Dusk Til Dawn ($15) on my eyes

Shocker of all shockers (I’m serious, you may want to sit down for this), I was running late yesterday to go to my parents’ house for Super Bowl Sunday. 🙂

I know! — me, running late? Can you imagine? Haha, but seriously, I was running late, so I just threw some makeup into a bag to get ready in the car on the drive over to their house about an hour away.

NYX Dream Catcher Palette in Dusk Til Dawn — The Dream Catcher Palette in Dusk Til Dawn, one of three NYX limited edition palettes available now

One of the things I put into that bag was NYX’s new Dream Catcher Palette in Dusk ‘Til Dawn, one of three $15 limited edition eyeshadow palettes made to be, so says NYX, the answer to your shimmery dreams (assuming, of course, that there’s a lot of shimmering in your dreams).

Well, as far as any dreams I’ve ever had in which I’m putting on my makeup in the car (and there have been a few)…this palette probably would have helped. It does seem ideal for makeup-in-the-car dreams, particularly for ladies (and lords) who like how they look in warm-toned neutrals.

Ten baked shadows in warm shades of gold, brown and beige, along with a sprinkling of purple and black, reside inside. I ended up doing a shimmery gold and brown smokey eye in the car, and I, despite the bobbing of the car as we crossed the Richmond Bridge, I didn’t have to contend with any fallout or battle with my blending.

NYX Dream Catcher Palette in Dusk Til Dawn swatches — Swatches of Dusk Til Dawn on my NC42 skin…

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The New NARS NARSissist Eye Palette Plays Like a Compilation of NARS No. 1 Hits

January 13th, 2014 by Karen 42 Comments

I think of two things when I hold the new NARSissist Eyeshadow Palette in my paw…

The first one is awesomeness, as in the state of being awesome.

The second one is Greek mythology.

Remember Narcissus? He was the guy so enamored with his reflection in a pool of water that he couldn’t leave it, and eventually, um, he died.

Seriously, dude? You couldn’t even take a break from admiring yourself to at least eat some fruit??

Anyway, I remember reading that story for the first time in fourth grade, which was during the height of my Greek mythology phase, and thinking, “Wow…Narcissus must’ve been really, REALLY cute. I bet he looked like Michael J. Fox.” LOL!

Oh, NARS…

Not gonna lie, I could spend hours cooing at this palette like I’m Narcissus at that pond. “Oh, sweet palette… You’re such a gorgeous palette. Yes you are! I lurve you sooo much.”

Essentially, it’s the brand’s version of a neutral/Naked palette, and holla! — it’s kind of amazing.

NARSissist (NARS∙is∙sist) (n.) – lives by her own rules, not afraid to express herself in every look, mood or attitude. Effortlessly captivating with a bottomless makeup bag.

NARS Cosmetics introduces the NARSissist Eye Palette, named for and inspired by the brand’s devoted fans and cult followers, this inaugural palette will set the stage for future NARSissist products to come.

— NARS PR

The limited edition palette plays like a compilation of NARS No. 1 hits. Most of its 15 powder eyeshadows hail from the NARS single eyeshadows permanent line, while a handful of them appear in NARS permanent eyeshadow duos.

There is also one formerly limited edition shade, Bad Behavior, a deep pewter from the Guy Bourdin holiday 2013 collection.

The whole enchilada: 15 shades

All About Eve I: a flesh-toned neutral (permanent)
Ashes to Ashes: a shimmery violet-based brown (permanent)
Fez: a velvety cocoa (permanent)
Bad Behavior: a deep pewter (limited edition; this is the one from the Guy Bourdin holiday collection)
Bali: a neutral matte brown (permanent)
Brousse II: a shimmery blackened violet (permanent)
Coconut Grove: a deep brown infused with reflective particles (permanent)
Dogon II: a charcoal black (permanent)
Madrague I: a matte cream (permanent)
Madrague II: a matte caramel (permanent)
Belissima I: a shimmering beige with subtle glitter (permanent)
Mekong: an espresso infused with gold (permanent)
Lhasa: a lavender grey (permanent)
Pandora II: a matte black (permanent)
Nepal: a soft, sheer rose (permanent)

Nepal! Lhasa! Coconut Grove! The darker shade from the Dogon duo! OMG! I can’t even…

If I were ever to make a list of my end-all, be-all, must-have NARS eyeshadows, so many of these colors would make the cut. It is literally (OK, figuratively) my NARS eyeshadow palette dream come true.

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The New Too Faced Candy Bar Pop-Out Makeup Palette & iPhone Case, and the Life and Times of an International Kitty Supermodel’s Harried Pet Assistant

December 10th, 2013 by Karen 26 Comments

Wearing (and holding!) the new Too Faced Candy Bar Pop-Out Makeup Palette and iPhone Case ($25)

KAREN: “I’m so sorry, Mr. Lagerfeld, but I have to briefly place you on hold. Tabs’ emergency line is ringing, and I need to answer it.

(Picks up phone.) “Hello, Tabs the Cat Industries, LLC, Office of the President. This is a secure line. How may I assist you?”

TABS: “Meow.” (“It took you long enough.”)

KAREN: “Oh, hello, sir. Did you mean to call me on the emergency line? I have Karl on hold, and he’s kind of in a cranky mood…”

TABS: “Meeeeowww. Mrow.” (“No time for pleasantries, woman. What’s the status on the Too Faced Candy Bar Pop-Out Makeup Palette report I asked you to prepare?”)

KAREN: “Well, I was just about to type up the final draft and email it to you, but I can relay the highlights to you over the phone. Do you have a moment? I don’t want to interrupt your vacay on Kauai…”

TABS: “Mrow. Mrrow-mrow-mrow!” (“You know I’m always on the job, even on vacation! Give me the abridged version; I have two minutes before the limo gets here, and I don’t want to be late for my deep-tissue kitty massage at the Four Seasons.”)

KAREN: “Understood, sir. Well, let’s see, the essentials — it’s $25, limited edition, new for spring, and it comes with 11 powder eyeshadows, a matte bronzer and a matte blush. You can also pop out the palette and use the case as a cover for your phone, but it only works with the iPhone 5 (and possibly the 5s).

“I experienced some minor fallout from the shadows. As for blending, the mattes blended pretty well, as did the shimmers, although the lighter shimmers could use a little more pigment. The darker shades, however — in particular the purple and blue — made my eyes a little teary.

“Regarding the packaging, it’s cute, but the pans are rather small. I couldn’t help but accidentally cross-pollinate the colors.”

Too Faced Candy Bar Palette — The Candy Bar Palette in its case

TABS: “Mrrrwow?” (“The bronzer and blush?”)

KAREN: “I really like them both. Very pigmented, smooth, easy to blend. Again, the smaller pan sizes are kind of a pain because they don’t quite fit my bronzer and blush brushes easily.”

Too Faced Candy Bar Pop Out Makeup Palette Swatches — Swatches…

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Sun-Kissed Peach, Gold and Cocoa Colors Bask on the Beach That Is the New Limited Edition NARS Loves Miami Set

December 3rd, 2013 by Karen 14 Comments

Wearing the new NARS Love Miami set on my eyes, cheeks and lips

Even though I’m feeling like this because it’s hella cold here today…

Wearing the new NARS Loves Miami set makes me feel like this…

It’s one of those sets that makes you (me) wish you (I) lived someplace tropical during the winter — someplace where its golden shimmer and glitter and peach and brown shades (with a shot of violet) would play well with your perpetual tan, which, of course, you earned through regular after-work surf sessions…le sigh!

Um, did I mention that it’s cold here today?! Well…cold by Northern California standards (the high was 54 and the low was 30, and yes, I can hear you laughing from here).

I think the lack of warmth in my extremities right now might directly correlate with my sudden interest in makeup with a warm-weather theme.

NARS Love Miami: A three-piece set — Clockwise from the left: Eye & Cheek Palette, Orgasm Nail Polish and Orgasm lip Gloss

The three-piece limited edition holiday set contains some of Miami’s bestselling shades, like peachy pink Orgasm Nail Polish and Lip Gloss, and an Eye & Cheek Palette with glittery pink Fathom Eyeshadow, shimmery sugared cocoa Kalahari Eyeshadow, matte deep violet Daphne Eyeshadow, shimmery dark brown Cordura Eyeshadow, peachy pink Orgasm Blush and golden brown Laguna Bronzing Powder.

NARS Love Miami: Eye & Cheek Palette — Eye & Cheek Palette

NARS Love Miami: Orgasm Nail Polish — Orgasm Nail Polish

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Get 96 Excellent Eyeshadows (Conveniently Laid Out) for 10 Cents Each With the New ELF Eyes Lips Face 96-Piece Geometric Eyeshadow Palette

December 2nd, 2013 by Karen 11 Comments

How many elves does it take to ~~screw in a lightbulb?~~ make one heck of a gnarly holiday eye palette? Answer: just one, if that elf is e.l.f, and the palette’s their 96-Piece Geometric Eyeshadow Palette (regularly $20, but it’s on sale for $10 now at eyeslipsface.com).

This budget-friendly behemoth isn’t one of those streamlined holiday palettes with just a small handful of select, everyday shades.

Hello! — there are at least five varieties of green up in that one corner (Kermit the Frog would be pleased).

Yeah…there’s definitely a lot going on here.

It’s downright daunting, particularly if you get overwhelmed easily (like moi). I mean, the thought of 96 powder eyeshadows all in one case intimidated me at first, but then I took a closer look at the way the colors are all laid out and started seeing a method to the madness…

The triangular pans aren’t just randomly strewn about. They’re arranged in such a way as to make it easy to find coordinating colors (usually a big struggle for me with these blockbuster palettes) — browns with golds in the upper left, greens with peaches and yellows in the upper right, cool-toned purples and pinks in the lower left, and cool-toned grays and blues in the lower right.

So the palette isn’t just mathematically interesting. It’s also wise. 🙂

I looked at this palette’s smaller nephew, the 18-Piece Geometric, a couple weeks back and thought it, too, was a great value — quality, long-lasting eyeshadows rich in pigment — and the shadows in this larger 96-pan package perform just as well. Same formula, same pigment. I think they’re way up there in terms of drugstore makeup quality.

My only semi-major gripe with the 18-piece version was the diminutive pans (too small for most brushes), but this larger one addresses that with bigger pans, meaning more room to run my brushes across the shadows, making it that much easier to pick up product.

There are so many budget-friendly holiday palettes out there now, but this is one of the best ones I’ve tried. You should be able to track it down in drugstores for $20, but if you don’t mind shopping online, it’s available now for $10 at eyeslipsface.com.

Oh, and for the rest of Cyber Monday, they’re also offering 50% off everything on the site (and free shipping on all orders over $35, no coupon code needed).

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