Product Reviews

Product Spotlight: Estée Lauder Double Wear Instant Fix Concealer 24H Concealer + Hydra Prep

April 22nd, 2019 by Karen 8 Comments

estee lauder double wear instant fix concealer — Hydration and coverage from Estée Lauder

As you know, I am solidly, steadfastly Estée Lauder #teamdoublewear (their Double Wear Light and O.G, Double Wear Foundation are iconic!), and this latest addition to the Double Wear fam has been one of my go-to under-eye concealers as of late.

Estée Lauder Double Wear Instant Fix Concealer 24H Concealer + Hydra Prep ($28, available in 22 shades) is a dual-ended situation with a brush-on moisturizer on one end and a medium-coverage liquid concealer on the other, and it’s made for dry skin with fine lines… HELLO, YOU TALKING TO ME?! LOL.

I like it because the moisturizer smooths everything out and plumps the skin. It’s kinda slippery and silicone-y feeling, and similar to MAC Fast Response Eye Cream, which is famous for under-eye concealer prep.

The concealer chills on top where it hides shadows and dark areas, and it does this without looking leathery after a few hours (again, very similar to another MAC Product — their old-school Select Moisturecover Concealer).

No likey ‘ze crepe-y concealer? This concealer combo is your dawg.

estee lauder double wear instant fix concealer before after — I’m wearing Medium Deep (Warm) in the after pic.

I do feel like the 24HR claim is a stretch, because it fades a little by the end of the day, but eh — I’d rather have a little bit of fading than a little caking and heavy concealer all up in my experience lines.

I think this product is best for peeps who like sheerer concealer coverage and have dry skin and fine lines. If you prefer Tarte Shape Tape levels of concealment, however, then something like Maybelline’s concealer would be a better fit (it hides everything!).

Also, if your under-eye area is oily, again, probably not the best fit.
[Continue reading…]

Spellbound by MAC Strip Down: Twig Satin Lipstick

April 18th, 2019 by Karen 18 Comments

Meet some of my favorite MAC nude shades this week from the MAC Strip Down collection.

I’m a bonafide twig expert! — self proclaimed, of course. I have twigs in every pocket of every jacket. Literally.

And there are two reasons for this:

Because I like to wear MAC Twig lipstick
And because Connor has to pick up all of the twigs she finds whenever we leave the house and adds them to her collection of “treasures that we keep by the front door.”

So, yeah, with the power vested in me by the State of California, I declare myself a twig expert. ?

MAC Twig is such an old-school favorite. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it is not the color of most tiny branches. Really, I don’t know why it’s even called “Twig,” unless somebody somewhere had a dream about a pinkish brown tree…?

Yeah, it’s in the realm of brown, but I think it’s more pink than brown, so if you like the idea of a nude lip color that splits the difference between a Barbie pink and a true brown, a la MAC Paramount, take a look at Twig.

Like other MAC nude lip greats, it’s subtlety different from other nude lip colors in ways that a casual bystanders would have absolutely NO CLUE about. Like my husband — he would never be able to tell the difference between Velvet Teddy and Twig, but you and I? We would.

mac twig swatch — The ultimate trifecta of MAC rosy brown nude lippies!

[Continue reading…]

Spellbound by MAC Strip Down: Whirl Matte Lipstick

April 17th, 2019 by Karen 12 Comments

mac whirl lip swatch — Taking MAC Whirl for a whirl…

Meet some of my favorite MAC nude shades this week from the MAC Strip Down collection.

Fun fact about MAC Whirl: Back in the day (as in pre-2015), Whirl, a dark matte brown with a tinge of rose, only existed as a lip pencil.

Way back before the dinosaurs ? disappeared, I used to outline my lips with Whirl pencil, fill them in, and then top everything off with Chapstick to create my own DIY Whirl lipstick.

Yeah!

In 2015, MAC finally turned this iconic color into a lipstick — the Whirl Matte Lipstick we know and love today.

I know there’s this whole thing that Whirl is a very “Kylie Jenner lips” color (as if she invented it ? ), and yes, it’s definitely one of those lipsticks that will help you get that specific look. In fact, whenever a friend asks me for a Kylie Jenner lips recommendation, first, I try not to outwardly groan… Then, I suggest MAC Whirl. But really, though, whenever I see Whirl, I think more of ’90s supermodels like Linda and Christy and Cindy. It has a very early Bobbi Brown chicness to it IMO, and I love ? it.

There’s also another reason why I love it… Because it’s similar to the color of my gums.

Yes, I realize that that is an odd thing to like about a nude lipstick, but I’m looking at my gums here, and it really is the color of my gums. (Side note: I’m not gonna show you my gums. Hi-res pics of my gums do not need to exist on the Internet.)

Maybe that’s why Whirl is the ultimate nude lipstick for so many people. It matches the color of their gums, ha ha ha! Anyway, here it is on lighter skin and darker skin.

mac whirl lipstick swatch — NC42, babes!

[Continue reading…]

The 2019 Chanel Cruise Makeup Collection in Action: A Few First Impressions

April 16th, 2019 by Karen 16 Comments

chanel cruise makeup collection 2019 — A few pretties from the Chanel Cruise 2019 collection

Despite my obsession with The Love Boat as a child, I’ve never taken a cruise…because HELLO, CLAUSTROPHOBIA! But I might consider one if the destination were Chanel. LOL! “Hello, ladies and gentleman!” announces the captain over the ship’s intercom system. “Next stop: Chanel, a.k.a. ‘Your Makeup paradise.’ Please watch your step as you disembark the vessel.”

Who’s comin’ with me? ??

The new Chanel Cruise collection arrives in port next month, and judging by the pieces I wore today, Lucia Pica was going for a subtle look, as in sheer, luminous highlights on the high points of the face; soft, subtle contours on eyes and cheeks; a rosy brown lip; and a soft glossy glow on the lids.

I like it. Of course, I’ve been really into non-crazy makeup lately.

A few first impressions…

DUO BRONZE ET LUMIÈRE EXCLUSIVE CREATION BRONZER AND HIGHLIGHTER DUO IN CLAIR ($70): This subtle powder highlighter duo, which is the lighter of the two duos in the release, has a light peach matte on one side and a luminous pinkish peach on the other. The lightweight, finely-milled powder feels almost creamy, like the NARS Dual Intensity Blushes, and it’s very elegant and smooth… It’s definitely NOT appropriate for bling-bling highlights.

DUO BRONZE ET LUMIÈRE EXCLUSIVE CREATION BRONZER AND HIGHLIGHTER DUO IN MÉDIUM ($70): This one feels just as light as Clair, but it has a matte neutral chocolate bronzer on one side and a rosy gold highlighter on the other.

Note: It is VERY, VERY sheer, which I don’t mind, because it makes the product easy to control.

It should suit lighter lasses and medium-toned mavens particularly well.

Also noteworthy: The bronzer doesn’t have warm orange tones, so it’s a straight-up brown. If I apply it too heavily, I look like I have dirty stripes on my face…which is why I think you’re forced to wear it sheer.

(Works great as an eyeshadow duo, too.)

ROUGE COCO FLASH IN HYDRATING VIBRANT SHINE LIP COLOUR IN CONTRASTE ($38): This silky, moisturizing rosy brown lipstick looks a tad frightening in the bullet, but I think it’s totally wearable, comfy and oh, so shiny.

The formula smells and tastes a little like roses, and the color lasts about two hours for me.

I’m low-key addicted to this formula… Can I haz all teh colors, plz?

OMBRE PREMIÈRE GLOSSTOP COAT EYESHADOW IN LUNAIRE ($36): No glitter. Just pure silvery gloss.

Wear time is quite limited at about an hour. This is lighter than a MAC eye gloss, but not as light as the NARS one, which, overall, I like better because it lasts longer.

LE VERNIS LONGWEAR NAIL COLOUR IN AFTERGLOW AND PURPLE RAY ($28 EACH): Ooh! Pastel nails! I like that these aren’t simply pink or peach pastels. Afterglow is a grayish beige with a subtle golden pearl, and Purple Ray is a lavender cream with a subtle gray undertone.

I’ll be taking these for a spin after my current Sally Hansen mani disappears (or I remove it, whichever comes first).

chanel cruise makeup collection 2019 k — I’m wearing the bronzer/highlighter duos in Clair and Medium on my eyes and cheeks. There’s also a touch of the silver eye gloss in the inner corners and the center of my lids. On my lips is Rouge Coco Flash in Contraste, and I’m also wearing blush in this pi (I felt naked without it!). It’s Chanel Joues Contraste in Rose Bronze.

chanel cruise makeup collection 2019 swatches — I’m an NC42 in MAC.

The best thing I’ve tried from the collection so far is Rouge Coco Flash, and it’s gorgeous and effortless! I think I just found my new everyday lipstick.

It’s pricey…but you can wear it down to the nub.

I also like the face duos, but they might be too sheer for some peeps, especially considering the $70 price. You really have to appreciate the subtlety of the look Chanel was going for in order to “go there,” because there are similar products out there that will cost you a lot less.
[Continue reading…]

Product Spotlight: The MAC Shiny Pretty Shadows From the Get Blazed Collection

April 16th, 2019 by Karen 5 Comments

mac glitz please closeup — Lids: MAC Shiny Pretty Shadow in Glitz Please with a little bit of MAC Soft Brown blended in the crease. Lips: MAC Mehr and Whirl Matte Lipsticks mixed together. Cheeks: Clinique Cupid Blush

“It’s classy. Not trashy!”

You may recall these glistening gems from your last buried treasure discovery…or from the last MAC Holiday collection, but if you don’t, or if you missed out the last time around, grab ye one from the new MAC Get Blazed collection. The glittery, glistening eyeshadows have a metallic base…which may sound a bit frightening if sparkly makeup isn’t your thing, but the glitter doesn’t go overboard, so they’re shockingly chic, fun and wearable (and NOT excessively frosty or ’80s).

Yup, even for daytime.

mac glitz please — What I’m wearing to volunteer at Connor’s preschool today. I’ll be “the glitter mom,” ha ha ha!

[Continue reading…]

Budget Beauty for $10 or Less: Hask Hair Masks

April 11th, 2019 by Karen 24 Comments

Hooray for budget beauty! In this new series, we talk about sweet finds you can get for $10 or less.

You guys! I’m sitting here running my fingers through my hair thinking, “All this softness for $1.99. ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY NINE PENNIES,” because last night I did a Hask hair mask. They have a few different versions, and I used the Coconut Oil one. Now my hair feels silky soft, but not in the way that feels like your hair is coated in sedimentary layers of silicone… The tangles and knots are gone, and the obnoxious white ramen noodle flyaways in my hairline — which normally stick up at every unfortunate angle you can imagine — are relatively tame and smooth and lying in one direction (SAY WHAT?!).

Inactive ingredients
Aqua/Water/Eau, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Quaternium-18, Gardenia Taitensis (Monoi) Flower Extract, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Oil, Vaccinium Myrtillus (Bilberry) Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Panthenyl Hydroxypropyl Steardimonium Chloride, Isopropyl Palmitate, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, Silk Amino Acids, Sodium Pca, Tetrasodium Edta, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Chlorphenesin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum/Fragrance

If your hair is feeling dry and/or in need of some serious TLC, all you need is 10 minutes and a generous coating of this thick conditioner. I’ve got a lot of’ mane at the moment (Side note: Please talk me out of chopping it all off into a bob because I’m THIS CLOSE.), and I get about three uses from each package. If you buy them at Target, they’re $1.99 a pack (a little more expensive at Ulta: $2.99).

Maaaaaan. If Hask sold this by the gallon, I’d spring for one, for sure. It’s also cruelty-free and doesn’t have any sulfates, parabens, phthalates, gluten, alcohol or artificial colors.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Budget Beauty for $10 or Less: Maybelline Tattoo Studio Gel Pencil Liners

April 3rd, 2019 by Karen 9 Comments

maybelline tattoo studio eyeliner pencil — Long-lasting liners

Hooray for budget beauty! In this new series, we talk about sweet finds you can get for $10 or less.

Maybelline is famous for their potted Tattoo Studio Gel liners, and I’m happy to say that their gel pencils are just as good — AND at $7.99 each, they’re crazy affordable.

I used to wear gel pencils all the time because of the epic wear time (Bobbi Brown Jet was my jam back in the day), but I quit a few years ago when my skin became drier than all earthly deserts combined! Gel pencils just got to be too uncomfortable as they sucked the moisture outta my skin, so I switched to regular old kohl liners instead.

The Maybelline gel pencils are different, though. They’re on the moisturizing side (for gel liners). They’re creamy and easy to feather for perfectly smudgy, soft lines.

One big caveat? Their quality varies based on the color. Like, the brown and gray shades, which I wear all the time, are bulletproof; however, other shades like the blues are softer and have more “give.” Both the navy and the teal tips broke the very first time I used them.

Grrr… After I sharpened the tips, the pencils stayed solid and didn’t crumble, but still, it’s always annoying to waste product right off the bat. Keep your receipt just in case you get a wonky one.

I’m still a Chanel twist-up liner girl all the way, but it’s nice to have affordable options. If you can’t decide which colors to get, I say go for the gray or the bangin’ brown. Both last all day without even a touchup.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

10-Minute Makeup Must-Haves: Clinique Blushing Blush Powder Blush

April 2nd, 2019 by Karen 13 Comments

clinique blushing blush powder blush cupid — Love this blush for fast, fresh makeup! The lipstick is MAC Velvet Teddy, and the eyeshadow is Clinique Lots o’ Latte, by the way.

The 10-Minute Makeup Must-Haves series shows off some of *the best* makeup for speedy (but sensational!) skin, eyes, cheeks and lips.

Five minute, 10 minute… Heck — three-minute makeup! You can do it *all* with Clinique Blushing Blush Powder Blush ($24 each). These totally goof-proof powder blushes are fantastic for those out-the-door days, which I’ve come to love and appreciate lately.

You may have noticed that I’ve been wearing shade Sunset Glow a lot lately (like, all last week!). It’s a beautiful golden coral with a satin finish, and the magic behind this (and all of the blushes in this family) is that it’s semi-transparent, meaning that you can take your blush brush, dip it into the pan, do a swish or two on your cheek, a quick blend at the edges, and be totally and completely done. You won’t be stuck erasing a hard line of demarcation at the edges of your cheeks. Instead, you’ll find a soft, subtle gradient, and it almost just happens naturally if you load a brush with this blush and gently tap-tap-tap it a few times on your cheek. It’s like powder blush for dummies!

clinique blushing blush powder blush sunset glow cupid swatches — Built these up so you could see what they look like when they’re layered heavily. I’m an NC42 in MAC, but I think both of these blushes will look lovely on most skin tones.

And HELLO, flexibility. If I’m ever in the mood for more color on my cheeks, all I have to do is pop another layer or two on, because these blushes also build up beautifully.
[Continue reading…]