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Product Reviews

The MAC Reel Sexy Cremesheen Glasses Whisper AND Shout

April 4th, 2012 by Karen 23 Comments

mac cinestyle
Wearing MAC Cremesheen Glass in Cinestyle

There must be something in the air, because Tabs has been acting strange all day long.

Well…stranger than usual. He’s been grumbling to himself, staring at me for bizarrely long amounts of time, clawing at the carpeting on the stairs (BAD TABBY!) and suddenly taking off like a firecracker in random directions.

And he hasn’t been mugging for camera like he usually does. I got him all set for a few shots with the four new Cremesheen Glasses from the MAC Reel Sexy collection ($19.50 each), but he was like, “Not in the mood for it. Come back later.”

mac reel sexy cremesheen glass
Cremesheen Glasses from the bottom to the top: Private Screening, Cinestyle, Star Quality and Color Saturation ($19.50 US; $22.50 CDN each)

I don’t know… Maybe it’s spring fever. I know he hates being cooped up in the house. I’m sure he would have preferred to shoot on location today, maybe in the city because it’s sunny. Last week he even asked if we could do a photo spread this month (and have lunch) down at Fisherman’s Wharf. Maybe also swing by the Embarcadero.

I didn’t think much of it at the time because it was raining, but I like the idea of a kitty modeling session somewhere on location. Maybe I could bring along one (or maybe all four) of the limited edition Cremesheen Glasses. My lips have been feeling a little dry lately, and MAC’s moisturizing Cremesheens usually hit the spot.

As luck would have it, Reel Sexy includes some good ones. Colorful lips play a big part in Reel Sexy, and some of that color carries over into the Cremesheen Glasses from the release.

But there are also a couple of sheerer shades in the mix, which I like because it offsets the saturated colors. Without them, the lineup would have been like listening to a song in which the singer SHOUTS THE ENTIRE TIME!

Sometimes, it’s the quiet moments that make me appreciate the louder ones even more.

Here are some thoughts on each of the four colors…

Star Quality: And it has it, too. This one’s my favorite of the bunch. When I wear this intensely pigmented bright orange coral, I want to bust out the blender, make frozen pineapple drinks and salsa dance on the lanai. It’s bright, fun and easy to wear, and I think it looks great on its own or layered on top of Watch Me Simmer. LOVE! love
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A+

Colour Saturation: I was really surprised by this dark and creamy cool-toned wine (in a good way). I feared it would feel too fall-ish before I tried it on and was ready to pooh-pooh it, but it’s fresher than I expected it to be. Color traditionalists might still find it too dark for their tastes, but I hope they (and you) give it a try. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A-

Private Screening: This almost transparent milky mid-toned peach does for lips what Essie Ballet Slippers did for nails. Take care not to over-apply. When I did, it settled into the fine lines on my lips, and the coverage didn’t look uniform. I like the color for quick hits of shine, but I would have liked to see a little more pigment — not much, just a tad. As it stands, it’s great for adding shimmer to lippies like Watch Me Simmer and Reel Sexy Lipstick.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B

Cinestyle: MAC describes it as mid-toned blueish gray-violet, but I don’t really see any of the gray on me, and truth be told, I’m relieved; the thought of gray lips was freaking me out! This shade, like Private Screening, applies sheer and milky, and because my lips are rather pigmented, both shades look quite alike. On its own, I think it’s just okay, but I bet it would great atop Pink Popcorn Lipstick (to enhance the shine and bring out the purple tones).
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B

mac star quality
Star Quality

mac colour saturation
Colour Saturation
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There are 23 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Lips, MAC Makeup, Product Reviews Keywords: mac

Becca Balearic Love’s Violet and Bronze Line and Define Pencil in Cabrera Beckons Brown, Green and Hazel Eyes

April 4th, 2012 by Karen 30 Comments

becca cabrera

“Becca invites you — ”

Me?

“Excuse me?”

I just want to make sure I understand you correctly.

“Yes, you. Becca invites you to dream of distant — ”

Just me?

“Really now? Come on, we’re talking about everyone. It’s just a marketing thing.”

Oh, okay… Sorry. I get it now. Please, continue.

“Right. Fine. Becca invites you to dream of distant shores and unguarded temptation with — ”

What you do mean, ‘unguarded’?

“What…?”

You said ‘unguarded’.

“Yes. And?”

What do you mean? Do you mean like no lifeguard on duty?

“…”

Do you have a lifeguard?

“You can’t be serious… Is this some kind of joke? Am I on Punk’d right now?”

* * *

I can almost feel the sun on my face when I gaze at the promo poster for the Becca Balearic Love Collection… That smokey eye, those rich layers of violet, bronze and plum, and that shimmer in the middle of the lid? Gorgeous! It’s one of the most intriguing collections I’ve seen this season so far.

Becca Cosmetics Balearic Love

Named after the Balearic Islands, a Mediterranean archipelago off the Eastern coast of Spain, the eight-piece collection for eyes, lips, cheeks and nails evokes a more grownup beachy vibe to me, a little bit naughty and mysterious, and not the well-trodden beach theme often characterized by lighthearted surfer girls chasing waves.

Balearic Love’s smokey eyes, bronzed, sculpted cheeks and nude pink lips would look right at home on you at that beachside café at sunset, where, instead of reading your Ibiza guidebook and sending your fiancée a text to tell him that you miss him, you’re stealing glances at the handsome stranger sitting across the way.

I just started exploring the collection last weekend, but I’ve already fallen for the dual-ended Line and Define Pencil in Cabrera ($23).

becca cabrera

It’s a super soft, smooth liner with a metallic bronze pencil on one end and a deep violet brown on the other, and I love how messy and undone both shades look smudged along my lash lines.

One of the things I love about Becca is their nuanced approach to color. Take Cabrera’s darker tip, for instance. On my skin, it subtly flashes from deep brown to purple, which gives it a little kick that boring old brown liners lack.

And the finish? From some angles, the shimmer’s unmistakable, but from others, I swear it looks like a matte.

Honestly, if it were available as a single liner, I’d stockpile enough sticks to last me through the next few lifetimes. I love the mix of purple, brown and gold, and I think it really pops on brown, hazel and green eyes.

becca cabrera
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There are 30 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Becca, Eyes, Makeup, Product Reviews Keywords: becca

The MAC Reel Sexy Lipsticks: Bright, Saturated and Undeniably MAC

April 3rd, 2012 by Karen 34 Comments

mac reel sexy
Wearing MAC Lipstick in Reel Sexy

MAC lovers must be finding Reel Sexy real hard to resist. The four lipsticks from the upcoming release don’t arrive on counters until Thursday, April 5, but they had been available for purchase online. Not now, though, at least not directly from MAC. All four are currently sold out, and it’s probably safe to assume they’ll be hot commodities when they arrive in stores this week (at the time of this writing, they were still available on nordstrom.com).

I can’t say I’m surprised that MAC lovers have been snatching ’em up with a quickness. They’re bright, saturated, and undeniably MAC.

mac reel sexy lipsticks
Lipsticks from the left: Pink Popcorn (Lustre), Reel Sexy (Amplified), Watch Me Simmer (Amplified) and Heroine (matte), $14.50 US; $17.50 CDN each

One of these days, I’d love to round up a bunch of us and go to the movies. Maybe — and I’m just throwing out a suggestion here — the movie could be The Hunger Games 🙂 (yes, I’m actually thinking about watching it AGAIN), and we could all wear the Reel Sexy lipsticks, because I like the idea of looking around the theater and seeing all of our faces in the dark, with the light from the screen reflecting off our lips, all lit up and magical…

These colors would be great for something like that.

Here are a few notes on the individual shades…

Watch Me Simmer: Love this shade! So smooth, so bold, so bright… It’s easy to dress up or down, and I only need one layer for complete coverage. The Amplified finish also lasts all day long on my lips.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A+

Reel Sexy: Another win! To me, this one’s all floppy hats, colorful beach coverups and white sandy beaches. I think it can take a little bit of babying to look good, like, I have to pat the lipstick down with a finger to even out the pigment, but a second layer makes it perfect.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A-

Pink Popcorn: A lavender with a Lustre finish, Pink Popcorn is the quiet one. I used a couple of layers to build it up for these pics, but when its worn as a single layer, I think it actually looks very natural, like a purpler version of Syrup. It may not have the staying power of Watch Me Simmer or Reel Sexy, but I really like color and its flexibility.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+

Heroine: She might be a little too much for me, but I bet this intense violet could look really beautiful on darker damsels. If you love All My Purple Life Lipglass, don’t miss this Heroine.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+

mac watch me simmer lip closeup
Watch Me Simmer

mac heroine lip swatch
Heroine
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There are 34 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Lips, MAC Makeup, Product Reviews Keywords: mac

I’m Pretty Wild About Fierce: Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in Fierce

March 31st, 2012 by Karen 26 Comments

illamasqua fierce

Purple lipgloss? So totally my thing, and it has been ever since at least my 27th birthday, when my BFF Jen gave me a tube of Benefit Kiss Me Gloss. I haven’t turned back since.

But to be honest, the first time I swatched Illamasqua’s latest lavender-ish lippie, the appropriately named Fierce, I gasped before I squeed!

It’s just so purple. And opaque. And…purple.

Part of Illamasqua’s new Human Fundamentalism collection, it’s probably not what I’d wear to Easter mass (imagine the look on the padre’s face during communion!), but I do think it’s more wearable than teal blue Apocalips, another loud lippie from the same launch.

The notables

  • Packaging: I think I would have preferred a doe-foot applicator to the brush that comes with Fierce. The fibers are a little long and unruly; some of the ones at the edges tend to splay out.
  • Texture: I love it. It’s somewhere between a MAC Cremesheen and a Lipglass — moderately thick and just slightly sticky.
  • Flavor and scent: Pop Rocks? Remember those? That’s what the scent and taste remind me of. A little weird…but I like it. For what it’s worth, both of them fade pretty quickly.
  • Application: Still pretty easy despite the brush. The gloss itself applies smoothly and lays down nice, even color.
  • Finish: It has a subtle shine (much shinier probably would’ve taken it over the top).
  • Wear time: About three hours on my lips. It doesn’t last through a meal, but it will tolerate a cup of tea.

illamasqua fierce
Intense Lipgloss in Fierce, $20

illamasqua fierce

illamasqua fierce
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There are 26 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Illamasqua, Lips, Makeup, Product Reviews Keywords: illamasqua

Sailing the Seven Seas of Illumination with Rouge Bunny Rouge: The Seas of Illumination Highlighting Liquid in Sea of Showers

March 30th, 2012 by Karen 30 Comments

rouge bunny rouge sea of showers

Careful there, makeup lover. Beware the Rouge Bunny! She’ll hop into your life, steal your liquid highlighter-lovin’ love heart, and then spring away with your entire makeup allowance (and then some).

Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Shh! Do you hear it…? That voice on the wind? It’s saying, You’ll love my peachy golden highlighter, my love. It’s the siren song of RBR’s shimmery Seas of Illumination Highlighting Liquid in Sea of Showers, and it’s my favorite thing from the lavish line so far. It’s also — brace yourself — 72 bucks.

Cruel, cruel rabbit, why dost thou charge so much? Just a couple tiny drops of this multipurpose highlighter turn my upper cheekbones into incandescent light bulbs! Almost. The formula is surprisingly pigmented, shimmery and long-lasting. I’ve clocked it at 14 hours once already, and most of the time when I go to remove it at night, it hasn’t even begun to fade.

rouge bunny rouge sea of showers
Seas of Illumination Highlighting Liquid in Sea of Showers; one of four shades, $72 each

rouge bunny rouge sea of showers

I’ve also tried mixing Sea of Showers with different foundations, from full-coverage Laura Mercier Oil-Free Supreme to sheer NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer, and my skin always seems fresher and more luminous when I’ve added a drop or two.

rouge bunny rouge sea of showers
Wearing Sea of Showers on my upper cheek bones, brow bones, temples and down the bridge of my nose
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There are 30 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Face, Makeup, Product Reviews, Rouge Bunny Rouge Keywords: rouge bunny rouge

Sisley L’Orchidee Highlighter Blush: This Beautiful Blush Costs More Than a Benjamin!

March 30th, 2012 by Karen 31 Comments

sisley lorchidee highlighter blush

Now that’s a lot of tacos. Sisley Cosmetics, a brand I don’t know a lot about, hopes to answer the question, “What does $108 look like?” Their new Lorchidee Highlighter Blush breaks the $100 barrier, but here’s the thing: I think it’s actually really, really good.

$108 is unbelievable for a blush, but for all that coin you do get a natural look that lasts all day and a glow like you just won the Mega Millions jackpot.

Luxurious from front to back — from the silver chariot/pan it rides in, to the powders so finely milled that the grains are almost microscopic — Lorchidee is a sight to behold. The coral, pink, brown and golden colors blend together seamlessly to give cheeks a softly radiant glow of golden peachy pink.

But even though I feel almost regal wearing this blush, I can’t see it working its way into my everyday makeup bag. It’s just too pricey for something like that.

Now, my special occasion makeup bag? Yeah, maybe there. 🙂

Sisley Paris L'Orchidee Highlighting Blush

sisley lorchidee highlighter blush

sisley lorchidee highlighter blush swatch
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There are 31 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Face, Makeup, Product Reviews

Rouge Bunny Rouge Blush Wand in Manet Hops Right Off My Cheeks

March 29th, 2012 by Karen 10 Comments

rouge bunny rouge manet

It’s not like this Bunny doesn’t have game. It totally does. I love how natural Rouge Bunny Rouge Blush Wand in Manet ($45) looks on both my bare skin and atop foundation. The lightest swipe from this creamy, rosy coral stick blush creates a sweet, innocent flush that, quite frankly, kinda rocks.

rouge bunny rouge manet
Blush Wand in Manet; one of two shades, $44 each

rouge bunny rouge manet

rouge bunny rouge manet
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There are 10 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Face, Makeup, Product Reviews, Rouge Bunny Rouge Keywords: rouge bunny rouge

Dreaming of Jell-O and Summer With Clarins Instant Smooth Crystal Lip Balm

March 28th, 2012 by Karen 13 Comments

clarins instant smooth crystal lip balm
Wearing Clarins Instant Smooth Crystal Lip Balm in Crystal Coral

I’ve been trying (“trying” being the key word here) to get into fighting shape by summer, and part of that has meant “trying” to refrain from eating so many sweets. Unfortunately, I don’t have a lot of willpower when it comes to skipping my ritual après dinner rendezvous with [INSERT SWEET TREAT DU JOUR], so we’ll see how long this lasts.

I haven’t been at it long. Only about a week, but already, everywhere I turn, I see things that remind me of sweets, like these tubes of Clarins Instant Smooth Crystal Lip Balms ($24.50 each), which kindasorta look like Jell-O pops, don’t they? Or fruit-flavored Gummi bears?

Or, be still my beating heart, Jell-O-covered Gummi bears!? 🙂

Shoot, if I didn’t know better, I’d probably try to eat one of these hybrid lipstick/gloss/lip balms. But I do, and note: they’re not edible. Luckily for everyone involved, they’re also unflavored (whew!), but they do have a very faint fruity scent.

clarins instant smooth crystal lip balm

Look for the new Instant Smooth Crystal Lip Balms on Clarins counters this May, where they’ll be striking poses alongside the rest of the new 13-piece Clarins Enchanted Summer 2012 collection, which was inspired by classic Indian colors. The four Crystal Lip Balms join three bronzers, two lipglosses, a quad, two eye kohls and a waterproof mascara.

In the look, exotic, sultry eyes smolder above bronzed, sculpted cheeks and lightly pigmented lips that shine…

Fo’ reals, doesn’t that sound delicious? 🙂


[Continue reading…]

There are 13 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Clarins, Lips, Makeup, Product Reviews Keywords: clarins

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