Product Reviews

The Chanel Les Contrastes de Chanel Collection: These Rouge Coco Lipsticks Sing Songs of Summer for Fall 2010

June 23rd, 2010 by Karen 52 Comments

Chanel Les Contrastes de Chanel Collection Fall 2010 Rouge Coco

Dagnabbit, Coco! Why you gotta make me fall in love with you over and over again? Your three new ~~limited edition~~ (I just found out these shades are being added to the permanent line, huzzah!) Rouge Coco Hydrating Creme Lip Colour Lipsticks ($30 each) from the fall 2010 Les Contrastes de Chanel Collection sing a summery song of seduction, and you know what? I’m totally listening.

Each fall dark, serious shades and heavy matte textures crop up on makeup counters, so the pink, peach and coral lippies in Les Contrastes are welcome breaks from the norm. The colors make me think of summer sunsets, like the one I just missed tonight!

Chalys, the shimmery coral, adds a bright but not overwhelming pop of color to pouts; while the other two shades offer sophisticated options for nude lip looks. Try Chintz (the soft peach) if you wear warm-toned shades well, or Rose Dentelle (the cool baby pink) if cooler colors suit you better.

All three colors grace lips with that classic Rouge Coco texture — smooth, light and oh so moisturizing.

Chanel Les Contrastes de Chanel Collection Fall 2010 Rouge Coco Chalys
Chalys

Chanel Les Contrastes de Chanel Collection Fall 2010 Rouge Coco
Chalys
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Everything’s Coming Up Denim & Roses for Bobbi Brown’s Latest Fall Palette

June 23rd, 2010 by Karen 51 Comments

bobbi brown denim rose

Dear Bobbi Brown,

I’m not a crazy fan or anything, but I’ve often wondered if we share a psychic connection. You see, I used to have a picture of Bobby Brown on my algebra folder — I KNOW! What a coincidence, right? Oh, and just last week I spent 15 minutes rifling through my eyeshadow collection, looking for the perfect combo of gray and navy shadows to wear with my new dark rinse J Brand jeans, and now you go and release a jeans-inspired palette for fall called Denim & Rose ($60)? Are you reading my makeup mind??

Much love,

Karen

Right after trying on the new Denim & Rose palette, I peeled off my stretchy yoga pants (which were starting to meld into my thighs) and squeezed into my favorite skinny jeans because it just felt right. 🙂

It’s rock n’ roll meets roses today with this palette for sooty, smokey eyes (for your inner bad gal) and soft lips and cheeks (for your angelic side). I LOVE the mix of edgy — well, edgy for Bobbi — dark navy, gray and neutral shades for the eyes, and the ultra femme pinks for lips and cheeks.

The nine-piece palette rides onto counters next month as part of the Denim & Rose makeup collection for fall 2010, and most of its colors are new. The sole exception, Navajo eyeshadow, also stars in Bobbi’s permanent collection.

I really appreciate when makeup lines create palettes from scratch with fresh colors, rather than recycling stuff that’s already part of their permanent line. I don’t mind occasional re-promotes, but big ups to BB and her crew for keeping us on our toes.

So tell me about the packaging. Doesn’t the dark denim case with its zipper closure look totally unlike Bobbi’s typical black lacquer? It’s sassy and almost MAC-like, yah? I kinda wish they’d separated the lip products from the eyeshadows (argh!), though, to help keep dust from getting where it doesn’t belong.

If you decide to get frisky with this palette, please check out Dark Rinse shadow, the inky blackish blue with flecks of glitter, and if you happen to have last fall’s Declaring Indigo Gel Liner from Lancome, I have a feeling Dark Rinse would look amazing layered on top!

bobbi brown denim rose fall 2010

bobbi brown denim rose fall 2010
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The Becca Bombora Palette Brings Classy Colors to the Beach

June 22nd, 2010 by Karen 32 Comments

becca bombora review

If the best things in life are free, why the heck does the Becca Bombora palette have to cost $65 bones?

Even though the five-piece limited edition summer palette for eyes, lips and cheeks costs an arm and a leg, I gotta say, she’s one classy lady. Drugstores everywhere may curse her existence, but all the way from her packaging to her pigments, fine textures and blendability, Bombora looks and feels luxe.

That said, you may have heard this color story (or one like it) before. With its teal, peach, coral and two golds, the palette might remind you of MAC To The Beach. Like, if MAC To The Beach were a carefree barefoot surfer girl who lives out of her car and chases big waves up and down the coast, Bombora would be her more refined older sister who only stays at five-star seaside resorts.
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Adventures in Drugstore Makeup: NYX Blush Dupes for Two Icons from MAC and NARS

June 22nd, 2010 by Karen 59 Comments

nyx powder blush review

Bargain hunting, blush loving NYX fans, lend me your ears (and cheeks!). Now, for the mere price of two scoops of fancy shmancy gelato, you can dupe (nearly) two more iconic blushes from MAC and NARS.

Meet Red and Pinched, the new summer additions to the NYX Powder Blush line ($6 each).

Pinched, a shimmery golden peachy pink, reminds me of a slightly pinker version of NARS Orgasm, while matte Red could pass for a clone of MAC Frankly Scarlet.

The newcomers are like summer salsa, spicing up NYX’s already wide range of blushes with a price point bound to make beauty bargainistas wanna dance!

This also makes me wanna dance…

The NYX Powder blushes have been around for a while and have gotten mad love on review sites like Makeup Alley. I can see why. Red and Pinched both feel soft to the touch but pack more pigmentation than I expected from them.

Oh, if you’re particular about texture, this may be something to keep in mind:
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T3 Elevate Heat-Seeking Iron Volumizer: A Haiku Review

June 22nd, 2010 by Karen 31 Comments

t3 elevate review

T3 Elevate
Heat-Seeking Volumizer
Nineteen bucks ain’t cheap

Hair can appear flat
When flat irons work too well
That’s why you exist

Said to boost volume
When sprayed on limp or thin hair
Either wet or dry

Comb from roots to ends
Then bust out the flat iron
I tried it on mine…

My ‘do was straight — yes
But felt hella crunchy, too
As for volume? Meh

I think I’ll stick to
Straight Sexy Hair Flat Iron
For smooth, shiny locks

MBB Rating…
C 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Take Center Stage with Benefit Scene Queen

June 21st, 2010 by Karen 84 Comments

benefit scene queen

So there I was, minding my own beeswax, when I caught Tabs staring at his reflection in the big @ss mirror that comes with the new Benefit Scene Queen The Annie Collection palette ($38). I think he might have been checking his eyeliner (cat’s got wicked tightlining skillz) or plotting makeup larceny…

I swear, Benefit must have a soothsayer on staff because they always know what I’m craving. The particular mix of dramatic neutrals in this stash of goodies for eyes, lips, face and cheeks is, again, right up my alley. The second of two new limited edition Sephora exclusives from Benefit Trend Makeup Artists Annie and Maggie (peep the other palette, Sunday Funday, here), Scene Queen’s big drama is designed to steal scenes (and the limelight).

benefit scene queen
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Benefit Sunday Funday Palette Looks Pretty Any Day of the Week

June 21st, 2010 by Karen 82 Comments

The situation: The My So-Called Life marathon you hosted last night was a BIG success, but it went all night long, and now you have just 10 minutes to do your makeup before you meet your Jordon Catalano lookalike for brunch. What to do! what to do!

Yes, it’s totally unfair that dudes get to just pull on a plaid shirt and call themselves “date ready.” Life is cruel that way, but thank goodness for palettes that facilitate fast makeup like the new Benefit Sunday Funday The Maggie Collection palette for eyes, lips, face and cheeks ($38).

This cutie pie (isn’t the packaging to die?) comes with a nice mix of neutrals and breezy pops of color perfect for easy, natural-looking makeup looks in almost no time flat.
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Smashbox Limitless Liner Won’t Leave You in the Lurch

June 17th, 2010 by Karen 58 Comments

smashbox limitless eye liner

When eyeliner disappears, where exactly does it go? Do mischievous makeup angels charm it away with magic erasers while I’m drooling over pics of Jake Gyllenhaal’s muscled bod and manscaping?

Seriously, I can’t be the only person plauged by the plight of the disappearing eyeliner.

Thank ye gods for long-wearing liner formulas like the new Smashbox Limitless Eyeliner ($19). Released for summer, these creamy, long-wearing liners apply with intense color and come with the promise of eight-hour wear time, which makes the hours I’ve whittled away watching people dancing solo to Ginuwine’s Pony a little easier to bear. 🙂

Ready to rock you in shades of Black, Dark Brown, Teal, Deep Navy and Deep Purple, their creamy, easy-to-apply formula also resists water (more on that in a few) and helps protect the skin around those precious peepers with jojoba oil and vitamin E.
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