Product Reviews

What’s the Matte-er With Public Nudity? According to Urban Decay, Absolutely Nothing, Thanks to the Mattes in the New Naked Basics Palette

November 26th, 2012 by Karen 29 Comments

urban naked basics palette — Wearing the new $27 Urban Decay Naked Basics palette on my eyes, with Crave on my lids and lash lines, Faint in the crease and Venus along my brow bone

NOVATO (MBB) — Makeup mavens predict a dramatic rise in public nakedness over the holidays this year as legions of Urban Decay fans don the all-matte shades in the new $27 Naked Basics Palette.

Many plan to go to work naked, spend time naked in their living rooms, at clubs, and even at local eateries and shopping centers.

“Yesterday I got naked at Trader Joe’s,” said Karen, editor and co-founder of Makeup and Beauty Blog, “and with these six neutral shades, none of which are too cool nor warm, just about anyone can get naked anywhere they please.”

urban decay naked basics palette — Swatches from the left: Venus, Foxy, Walk of Shame, Naked2, Faint and Crave

Honk if you love mattes! I think it’s always a great idea to have some mattes around for adding contrast, depth and dimension to eye makeup looks, and Naked Basics comes complete with six useful shades — four beiges, one medium brown and a dark brownish black.

Urban Decay, the brand that sparked a neutral eyeshadow resurgence/revolution with their Naked and Naked2 palettes, imagined that the mattes in Naked Basics could work as companion colors to the company’s other neutral shades.

Stay tuned, because Naked Basics bares all on Sephora and Ulta counters, and in select Macy’s stores soon, and online at urbandecay.com November 29.
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Rich, Red and Opaque, Laura Mercier Lip Lacquer in Laque Rouge Is Red-dy for Action

November 22nd, 2012 by Karen 23 Comments

laura mercier laque rouge lip lacquer — Wearing the new Laura Mercier Lip Lacquer in Laque Rouge ($22)

Red hot mama or not, Laura Mercier’s new $22 Lip Lacquer in Laque Rouge, from the new Art Deco Muse Collection, is not a lipgloss I’d want to wear on the dance floor while Bizarre Love Triangle pulses over loudspeakers.

No, it is not ideal for such situations — like when you’re shaking your groove thang and that cute boy across the room makes goo-goo eyes at you…

(You know what I’m talking about.)

There are better lip products for times like that, like perhaps sheerer products, like good ol’ MAC Big Baby and Ample Pink.

Limited edition Laque Rouge is so rich, red and opaque that a lip liner and a steady hand are practically required.

Normally, my lazy side would say, “pish-tosh!” to something like that. “I’ll pass.” But Laque Rouge forces me to reconsider. It’s one of the shiniest, most intense fire-engine reds I’ve even seen, and wearing it makes me feel like a (short, Filipino) ’40s screen siren.

What is it?

A full-coverage, intensely pigmented lipgloss with a lacquer-like finish.

What’s the texture like?

The medium-weight formula feels a little sticky, but comfortable, and it applies evenly without streaking.

Is it moisturizing?

Very! My parched pout had a few flakes before I put it on the other day, and after a few hours, my lips felt about a million times better, softer and satiated. I also like that the formula doesn’t emphasize every little crack or flake.

What’s the taste/scent situation?

Non existent, because it has neither.

And how about wear time?

I get anywhere from 4-6 hours per application (less if I’m sipping or snacking).

Is it similar to any other products?

Are you familiar with Hourglass Extreme Sheen High Shine Lip Gloss in Icon or MAC Extreme Sheen in Drive By Love? — because it reminds me of both of those, and other pigmented, high-shine glosses.

Anything else I should know?

Yay for the easy-to-use doe-foot applicator! For a super precise look, though, you might also want a lip brush for getting into corners, and for your cupid’s bow.

One more thing — Laque Rouge seems to lean a little warm on me and has yellow undertones, so it might not be a great fit if you prefer your reds with a blue base. If that’s the case, MAC Russian Red Lipglass might be a better choice.

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Lids Strike It Rich With Yves Saint Laurent Creme D’Eyeliner in No. 7 Gold Star

November 21st, 2012 by Karen 10 Comments

Ever been cruising a beauty department and suddenly start daydreaming about leopard-print carpeting and YSL?

Really?! Me, too! 🙂

It happened the other day while I was playing with the new Yves Saint Laurent Northern Lights holiday collection.

The quads? Mmm-kay. The blushes? I thought they also were pretty cute, but the new $25 Creme D’Eyeliner in No. 07 Gold Star?

Love it!

Note to self: if I ever inherit a mansion from a mysterious billionaire benefactor (BTW, WHERE ARE YOU?!), I’m painting one of the rooms from floor to ceiling in this warm, bronzy gold (and installing leopard-print carpeting and red velvet curtains).

Can you picture Tabs in a room like that wearing his Hugh Hefner robe?

LOL! Here’s my point: this cream liner is opulent and rich.

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With the New MAC Taste Temptation Lipglasses, Purples Reign

November 21st, 2012 by Karen 8 Comments

mac revenge is sweet lipglass — Wearing the new MAC Revenge Is Sweet Lipglass from the Taste Temptation collection

Oh, it’s time! It’s time! He’s coming on stage. Quick, take out your lighter and hold it up like this while we sing along. “Purples reign! Purrrples reign!”

What do you mean, “Those aren’t the lyrics”?

Of course they are… Okay, sure, I’m changing them a little, but it’s only because I’ve got these new purple MAC Taste Temptations Lipglasses ($15 each US, $18 CDN) on my lips and my mind.

There are three of them in the new 16-piece release, and to keep playing with the whole Prince/royalty metaphor, vivid purple Revenge Is Sweet commands the royal guard, while pale mauve Good Times softly sways the crowd, and shimmery lilac Perky (not shown here in this post) aims to ascend to the purple lipgloss throne.

This morning, after I grabbed my scepter and donned my bejeweled crown, I took two of them, Revenge Is Sweet and Good Times, out for a tour of the kingdom…

Alright, I was actually wearing a pair of stretchy pants, my new hoodie and sitting at my messy desk with Tabs on my lap, but come on, where’s the fun in that?? 🙂

mac revenge is sweet and good times lipglass from taste temptation — Revenge Is Sweet on the left and Good Times on the right

mac good times and revenge is sweet lipglass swatches — Swatches of Good Times on the left and Revenge Is Sweet on the Right

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The New MAC Taste Temptation Mattene Lipsticks Roll Out a Vibrant, Velvety Welcome Matte for Lips

November 21st, 2012 by Karen 25 Comments

mac night blooming mattene lipstick from the new taste temptation collection — Wearing the new MAC Night Blooming Mattene Lipstick from the new Taste Temptation collection

Just how beguiling are the Night Blooming and Seductive Intent Mattenes from the new MAC Taste Temptation collection? Well, that depends on how fired up you get about opaque, vibrant lipsticks with an oh-so-smooooove texture.

I cannot get enough of these two tubes. For $15 a pop ($18 for my gals up there in Canada), they do it to it! You could pretty much be wearing anything else — a ‘tow-up terry cloth tracksuit, a pair of men’s over-sized camo capris, gnarly jean shorts — whatevs. Just throw on one layer of either of these two lipsticks, and you’d be like, “Yeah, I’m totally rocking these hella big camo capris on purpose…” 🙂

Just one layer is all it takes (side note: there’s one more shade, a mid-toned grayish lavender called Nocturnal Instincts, in the Taste Temptation collection not shown here).

Both the mid-toned blueish pink Night Blooming and vivid purple Seductive Intent have that great MAC Mattene formula right in the middle of the makeup Goldilocks Zone. They’re neither too slippery nor too thick, which makes them super easy to apply. No liner required.

mac seductive intent and night blooming mattenes from the new taste temptation collection — The Mattenes in Seductive Intent on the left and Night Blooming on the right ($15 US, $18 CDN)

mac night blooming and seductive intent swatches — Swatches of Night Blooming on the left and Seductive Intent on the right

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Cool Skin Tones May Find These Two MAC Taste Temptations Blushes Tempting

November 20th, 2012 by Karen 16 Comments

mac passionately tempted blush from the taste temptation collection — Wearing the new MAC Passionately Tempted Powder Blush from the new Taste Temptation collection

Um, yeah. Thanksgiving sides? They’re my fave part of the meal. I’ll take a heaping scoop of garlic mashed potatoes, some of that delicioso green bean casserole, the corn pudding, lots of stuffing (don’t be shy with the stuffing!), and those two pigmented powder blushes from the new MAC Taste Temptations collection.

Thanks! 🙂

Granted, the blushes aren’t traditional Thanksgiving sides, but this is 2012, right? We should broaden our horizons.

Plus, if a ton of people show up, cool-toned Unconventional and Passionately Tempted ($20 each, or $24 CDN) pack enough pigment to appease a makeup-hungry crowd.

Unconventional moonlights as a highlighter

Okay, here’s my game plan: I think I’ll start with a serving of shimmery Unconventional. The light lavender may look tailor made for pale pretties, but I think it also looks great on darker skin tones. I’m an NC 42, and I feel like I only need one layer (!), which I might add, doesn’t appear ashy at all.

Oh, and the shimmer? So, so fine. Almost like a MAC Beauty Powder. I just see a soft glow on my face when I’m wearing it.

It’s also going straight into my regular highlighter rotation; I’m looking forward to having another choice other than my regular gold, peach and silver shimmers.

Passionately Tempted seeks fan brush for makeup date

The other blush in this Tantalizing release, Passionately Tempted, is the deeper of the two. It’s a mid-toned magenta and applies with just as much gusto as its Unconventional cousin.

You might want to take a fan brush to it, though, as it’s a little on the darker side and pretty easy to overdo.

But if you ever do happen to apply too much of it, try this: grab a foundation brush (it’s okay if it’s one you used a little earlier, and it’s still wet with product), and gently run it all over your cheeks and along the edges to tone down the color.

mac unconventional blush from the taste temptation collection — Powder Blush in Unconventional, a pale shimmery lavender with a frost finish ($20, $24 CDN)

mac taste temptation swatches blush — Swatches of Unconventional on the left and Passionately Tempted on the right

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For Sheer Eyeshadow Fans, Temptation Is Here: The New MAC Taste Temptation Eyeshadow X 4 Quad

November 20th, 2012 by Karen 14 Comments

Good news for half-asleep ladies who can barely muster a “Hrmph!” after crawling out of bed (hello, I’m there). The new MAC Taste Temptation Eye Shadow X 4 Quad ($40) makes morning makeup much easier on the brain.

The Taste Temptation quad is one of 16-pieces in the soon-to-be released MAC Taste Temptation collection, which graces Macy’s MAC counters (exclusively) for a Black Friday preview sale this Friday, November 23, from midnight to 4 a.m. But if you’d rather sleep during the witching hour (I completely understand), and you’re a U.S. shopper, the quad returns, online at maccosmetics.com, December 6, and then to stores December 23 through January 17.

The quad’s four sheer, cool-toned powder eyeshadows in shades of light violet, purple, blue and black appear dark in their pans, but quite sheer on my NC42 skin. The sheerness of these colors should make the quad a good candidate for hectic mornings when you’re rushing out the door.

One way to wear ’em — just pat the light violet shade, Look at the Eyes, all over your lids before lining your lash lines with one of the three darker colors in the quad.

mac taste temptation eye shadow — Shadows from the blue pan in the lower left: Naval (a navy blue veluxe pearl), Look at the Eyes (a light violet frost), Stay Sultry (a deep navy satin) and Carbon (an black matte)

mact taste temptation quad swatch — Swatches from the left: Look at the Eyes, Stay Sultry, Naval and Carbon

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With 14 Full-Size Pencil Liners, the $160 Make Up For Ever Ultimate Eye Liner Collection Draws Beauty Lovers Into Its Pigmented Embrace

November 19th, 2012 by Karen 29 Comments

Ouch! I know I asked you to pinch me to see if I was dreaming, but dagnabbit! — did you have to pinch so hard?!

That’s alright… I forgive you. I’m sure you’re probably just excited about the new $160 Make Up For Ever Ultimate Eye Liner Collection like I am and couldn’t control yourself. Heck, I might have done the same thing.

make up for ever ultimate eye liner collection box open — Wowza! That’s a lotta liner…

The new limited edition release of pencil eye liners comes fully equipped with 14 full-size eyeliners in three different formulas to make holiday dreams come true (and to cover all of your liner bases). With seven long-wearing Aqua Eyes pencils, three smudgy Crayon Kohls and four vibrant liquid Aqua Liners, it really does try to live up to its name as the Ultimate Eye Liner Collection.

And the price also represents a hefty savings (even though $160 is still a ton of tacos).

If you were to buy all 14 of these liners separately, it would set you back $269, but in the kit, the liners work out to $11 each, which is a lot less than the $17-23 MUFE usually charges.

The colors in the kit should flatter a wide range of skin tones. MUFE thoughtfully covered most of the major color bases, sprinkling some fun greens, purples and a shimmery champagne into a mix of everyday basic black, brown and gray shades.

I would’ve loved to also see a bronze or a gold here, but that’s probably just my warm skin tone talking. 🙂

make up for ever ultimate eye liner collection crayon khol product shot — Khol Pencils from the left: #1K Deep Black, #9K Matte Mocha Brown and #4 Intense Green

make up for ever ultimate eye liner collection aqua liner — Aqua Liners from the left: #4 Diamond Lagoon Green, #7 Diamond Black Purple, #15 Iridescent Anthracite and #13 Mat Black

make up for ever ultimate eye liner collection aqua eyes liners — Aqua Eyes from the left: #23L Champagne, #11L Purple, #3L Iridescent Navy, #5L Bronze Green, #2L Pearly Brown and #0L Mat Black

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