Product Reviews

Girl Meets Curl: The New Chanel Le Volume De Chanel Mascara Incites Eyelash Excitement in This Mascara Enthusiast

November 12th, 2012 by Karen 39 Comments

chanel le volume de chanel mascara noir — The new Chanel Le Volume de Chanel Mascara in Noir

Who says makeup can’t influence the weather?

Chanel’s latest mascara does exactly that. When I wave it over my head outdoors, the clouds part, beams of sunlight rain down, and distant trumpets start playing.

LOL! Seriously, I’m not kidding. 🙂

To put it another way, I’m in the process of stuffing that new Sterilite 4-Drawer tote I told you about. I’m filling it with makeup and beauty products I intend to use often — my standbys — so that I have a nice, organized set of essentials in one place.

Well, I just replaced six other tubes of mascara in the tote with this new one from Chanel.

Now that’s love.

It’s the new $30 Chanel Le Volume de Chanel Mascara, and it’s available in a single shade called Noir.

Next time I have to get up and get out the door before dawn to catch an early flight, this will be in my makeup bag. No doubt about it.

Jet black and built for bold, yet elegant, lash looks from a single coat, Le Volume de Chanel thickens, lengthens and separates.

So it’s one of those makeup triple threats…

Carbon black pigments hug lashes in black cat color, while the formula, rich in camelia oil, nourishes and moisturizes those little lash hairs.

The buxom brush bristles with short, nubby stubs. It’s a new design for Chanel, one they call their “snowflake wand,” and it’s supposed to build bigger lashes by thoroughly, quickly coating each lash from root to tip.

I wore the dickens out of it last weekend, and in a word, “BAM!” One layer delivers the lush lashes I love, without clumping, smudging or flaking, and the formula holds a curl sky high all day long.

It reminds me of YSL Faux Cils, except with a little better length. And where Faux Cils tends to concentrate more volume at the roots, Le Volume distributes it more evenly along the lash.

Chanel Le Volume de Chanel mascara in Noir — Those are my bare lashes in the top pic, and that’s me wearing one coat of Chanel Le Volume in the bottom

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Change Your Pants, Change Your Life: Slip Into a Pair of Comfy, Kitty Model-Approved KUT from the Kloth Diana Skinny Corduroy Pants

November 8th, 2012 by Karen 32 Comments

kut from the cloth diana skinny corduroy pants — Wearing the Diana Skinny Corduroy Pants by KUT from the Kloth

FACT: the time has finally come to officially take out cold weather clothes here in the Bay Area.

FACT: international kitty models will always out-pose you, no matter how hard you try.

FACT: the KUT from the Kloth Diana Skinny Corduroy pants I’m wearing today could possibly be the best damn pair of corduroy pants on the planet. Maybe even the universe…assuming the aliens out there actually wear pants (most of the aliens I see in movies like to go au naturel).

Sometimes I squirm when companies ironically spell “C” words with a “K” (because using a “K” automatically makes something “Klassy,” like having a grilled cheese sandwich with a glass of red wine…which I was THIS CLOSE to doing last night, not gonna lie), but it seems totally appropriate in this case (kase?).

Pants, to borrow a phrase from that old-school Run-D.M.C. song, can be tricky. Unless you’re genetically blessed with perfect proportions, it can be really difficult to find a pair that fits. Most of the ones I try on are a little off in one way or another. They’re either too long, falling off my butt or making my muffin top look even more…muffiny. 🙂

But these are perfect! They embrace my curves without bear hugging ’em.

At $70, they’re a little pricey, but they’re so well made that I want to wear them every single day of the week.

Why these pants?

So comfy! They’re like the Pajama Jeans of corduroy pants! The material (98% cotton and 2% spandex) has just the right amount of give to it (so I can eat that extra scoop of mashed potatoes), but it’s not so elastic that it’s all stretched out by the middle of the day. Oh, and the corduroy feels as soft as my tubby tabby’s tum. 🙂
A forgiving fit. I usually find something that bugs me about most pairs of pants (I’m short with long legs and a short torso!), but these are just so forgiving and easy to wear. They have a mid-rise that sits up pretty high on my waist, covering my muffin top, and my bum doesn’t hang out when I’m bending or kneeling. I also don’t have to constantly hike them up or keep adjusting.
Quality construction. I’ve had mine for about a year, and they’ve held up really well. This is some sturdy corduroy here, and I haven’t had any problems with holes or unraveling seams. The color also looks as rich as ever.

I brought them home in basic black because I wanted something I could wear with lots of different tops and sweaters, but they come in some other colors, too, like this here hot pink…

The price is on the steep side for a pair of pants, but compared to higher-end skinnies, which often go for $200 a pop (crazy!), $70 doesn’t seem too bad…

If you’re interested, stalk the Nordstrom site, because I do see these on sale every once in a while (that’s how I found them last year).

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A 60-Second Review: Korres The Lip Blockbuster, Volume II

November 7th, 2012 by Karen 12 Comments

Whether you 1) can’t wrap your presents because your pet employer has you working mad overtime during the holidays, or 2) you suffer from painfully dry lips due to making out with that poster of [INSERT EYE CANDY HERE] on your bedroom wall (no judgment!), or 3) you just really, really like saving money on hydrating lip products from Korres, there’s a good chance your lips will love the new Lip Blockbuster, Volume II.

The Sephora exclusive kit comes with three full-size 0.21-ounce Lip Butter pots and three 0.34-ounce full-size tubes of Lip Butter Glaze in a cute holiday box that even doubles as gift wrapping in a pinch.

Purchased separately, the pieces would cost $78, but that’s the beauty of a good value kit. Together here they’re $39.

Korres’ Lip Butters and Lip Butter Glazes are formulated without parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, petrochemicals, phthalates, GMOs or triclosan.

korres the lip blockbuster swatches — Swatches of The Lip Blockbuster kit

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Power Up With the Four Resplendent Reds From the New Tom Ford Beauty Jasmine Rouge Lip Collection

November 6th, 2012 by Karen 26 Comments

tom ford narcotic rouge — Wearing the new Tom Ford Beauty Lipstick in Narcotic Rouge

For real, though? — never underestimate the power of a rich red lipstick and cat eyeliner.

This morning I woke up feeling like I had molasses in my head. Words hard. Bad brain. Thinking difficult.

Not even a pitcher of coffee could have fixed the way I felt. I needed the big guns, so out came MAC Blacktrack and the new Tom Ford Beauty Jasmine Rouge Lip Collection.

Everything started coming into focus as soon as I saw that black gel liner on my eyes and those rollicking red lipsticks on my lips. Shoot, even those funny symbols (letters) and sounds (words) we use to communicate started making sense. 🙂

tom ford holiday 2012 lipsticks — Clockwise from the lower left: Reckless, Diabolique, Narcotic, Slander

tom ford holiday 2012 swatches — Swatches from the left: Reckless, Diabolique, Narcotic, Slander

tom ford slander — Tom Ford Beauty Lipstick in Slander

tom ford diabolique — Tom Ford Beauty Lipstick in Diabolique

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The Cute Laura Mercier Colour-to-Go Portable Palette for Eyes, Cheeks & Lips in Warm Neutrals Is Such a Fun Size

November 2nd, 2012 by Karen 10 Comments

laura mercier colour to go warm neutrals — Wearing the new Laura Mercier Colour-to-Go Portable Palette for Eyes, Cheeks & Lips in Warm Neutrals, $48

A couple of unimportant fun facts for your Friday night…

1. Laura Mercier’s new Colour-to-Go Portable Palette for Eyes, Cheeks & Lips in Warm Neutrals ($48) is roughly the size of three Fun Size Snickers candybars lying side by side.

2. Having eaten the last of the leftover Fun Size Snickers from Halloween, I am now unable to post a picture of the palette with the candies for scale.

LOL! I had that bowl on my lap last night while watching Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and sipping a glass of Riesling…

Klassy. 🙂

I thought the movie was a’ight (neat concept and effects), but those little Snickers bars were great! In fact, I think I had about four of them.

They’re maybe just a morsel more tempting than this two-tiered, limited edition holiday palette from Laura…

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I’m Grateful for Gratitude Lists, Among Other Things, and MAC Superb Extra Dimension Skinfinish

November 2nd, 2012 by Karen 25 Comments

One of the first things I’ve been doing shortly after getting up every day this week is tap out a quick list of things I’m grateful for. I usually do it on my phone, and sometimes in the early morning dark before dawn.

There’s something about these lists that curbs the urge to run around like a crazy person wielding a fork…

I kid! But no, seriously, the lists help. Whenever I feel that little twinge and tighten my grip on the closest cutlery, I open the Notes app on my phone and reread my lists. Seeing what I’ve written there in front of me puts things in perspective.

Because I don’t want to write the same lists every day (after all, there are some things that would appear on every list), I jot down the very first things that come to my mind each morning.

Here are five of the things I’m grateful for today, along with brief explanations, so you don’t go thinking I’m completely off my rocker! 🙂

1. The new $29 MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinish in Superb

MAC Glamour Daze Superb Extra Dimension Skinfinish — MAC Glamour Daze Extra Dimension Skinfinish in Superb, $29

OHMIGOSH! I’m in lurve. I can’t remember the last day I didn’t wear this shimmery, peachy nude highlighter. I think I’ve worn it every day since Glamour Daze came out.

Ah, but shimmery highlighters can be tricky to wear, especially if you have any blemishes. Luckily, Superb handles imperfections, well, superbly. It’s just so forgiving, and the glow it gives lasts me all day long. Better still, it doesn’t settle into my fine lines, nooks, pores or crannies.

The formula, which is somewhere between a liquid, cream and a powder, is very well behaved.

I just pat it on the tops of my cheekbones, down the bridge of my nose, on my cupid’s bow and on my chin with a large, firm, paddle-shaped eye brush (the MAC 227 does a great job).

Then, I buff and smooth away any visible edges with my favorite tapered blending brush, the MAC 224.

What about its availability? Well, you’re in luck! It’s…Superb. 🙂

Haha. Okay, not really. I just wanted to play with the name one more time. Superb is currently a hot commodity, and last I checked, it was listed as sold out on MAC’s website. You should be able to find it, though, at MAC stores, counters and online at nordstrom.com.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A+

2. Pajama tops with pockets

So I’ve had this PJ Salvage flannel pajama top for about a year now, and I usually use the pockets to hold cat treats and pens (and sometimes my lint roller…’cause that’s how cat ladies roll), but it never occurred to me before to actually use the pockets to warm my hands.

What a revelation!

It occurred to me last night while I was lying in bed. My hands were freezing, and without thinking, I thrust them into the pockets.

Huzzah! So warm, so comforting… It was like hearing a soft lullaby or getting a hug from my mom.

Whoever came up with the idea to put pockets on pajama tops, you sir or madam, were a genius.
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The Bobbi Brown Rich Caviar Eye Palette Hosts a Sumptuous Feast of Mattes, Shimmers and Glitters

November 2nd, 2012 by Karen 13 Comments

Bobbi Brown Rich Caviar Eye Palette

If Tabs wasn’t so hell bent on mugging hard for the camera in these pics, it would probably be easier to appreciate the finer points of the new Bobbi Brown Rich Caviar Eye Palette ($47.50), like its mix of mattes, shimmers and glitters, or how its color palette of olive, gold, beige, taupe, gray and dark brown eyeshadows looks kinda like tabby coloring.

Bobbi Brown Rich Caviar Eye Palette

Even when I shoo’d him out of the shot, he still found a way to get in the frame (see the tabby tail in the lower right-hand corner?).

Bobbi Brown Rich Caviar Eye Palette

The Rich Caviar Eye Shadow Palette, $47.50

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Radiant, Peachy Pink Cheeks Are Easy With the Right Blush: MAC Glamour Daze Powder Blush in Easy Manner

November 1st, 2012 by Karen 38 Comments

mac easy manner blush — Wearing MAC Powder Blush in Easy Manner

It’s like the shy boy you met in front of a bookstore, or the brazen street cat who boldly strutted into your apartment one random afternoon (“From this day forward, YOU ARE MY HUMAN!”).

Big change has a funny way of finding us when we least expect it. One minute we’re eating roasted almonds on the couch; the next minute we’re cleaning up cat barf on the living room floor.

BOOM!

That’s how it was for me and $22 MAC Glamour Daze Powder Blush in Easy Manner, one of the happiest accidents I’ve had in weeks.

MAC Glamour Daze Easy Manner — MAC Glamour Daze Powder Blush in Easy Manner, $22

I was thrilled the first time I saw this sateen, slightly pinkish peach radiantly glowing on my cheeks…

Just like I was on my first date with that shy boy from the bookstore (who turned out to be El Hub). 🙂 Or the first time that brazen kitty purred in my lap.

And the best thing about Easy Manner’s understated but electrifying thrill? — it’s easy to repeat. Just sweep or swirl a couple layers on the apples of your cheeks.
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