Product Reviews

Too Faced Peach Perfect Comfort Matte Foundation: What a Nice Surprise From Too Faced!

May 23rd, 2018 by Karen 17 Comments

too faced peach perfect foundation review — Good stuff!

Whoopity-whoop-whoop with a side of whoooooop! You guys…Too Faced Peach Perfect Comfort Matte Foundation is SO GOOD. If you like less-is-best makeup, also known as “Meghan Markle Style,” check it out. (Side note: I’d never been so into a royal wedding before. I LOVED MM’s minimal makeup wedding look.)

Too Faced Peach Perfect Comfort Matte Foundation ($36 for a 1.6-oz. tube, available in 20 shades)

The pump and lightweight tube = travel friendly. This medium-coverage foundation has a satin finish, and it’s a cinch to apply. A 3/4 pump is enough for me, and I just blend it with fingers. Sometimes I set it with powder; sometimes I don’t.

too faced peach perfect foundation swatches 2 — Swatches: Cocoa, Toffee, Mahogany, Chestnut, Mocha, Butterscotch, Honey, Warm Sand, Sand and Warm Beige

too faced peach perfect foundation swatches 1 — Swatches: Natural Beige, Light Beige, Golden Beige, Warm Nude, Nude, Vanilla, Porcelain, Almond, Snow and Swan

I flat-out love this stuff! It makes my skin look like a supernatural version of itself. I feel like I just stepped off a page in a magazine.

“Peach Perfect is infused with refreshing peach and sweet fig cream in Too Faced’s exclusive comfort matte long-wearing formula. This is the modern way to wear matte foundation — photo friendly, smooth, flawless, and comfortable with a soft-focus, velvety finish.”

— sephora.com

It does a little of everything — blurs pores, evens out your skin tone (but still lets your freckles show if you sheer it out), controls oil, and it lasts 10+ hours for me.

too faced peach perfect golden beige — Warm Beige is the closest shade to my skin tone (I’m an NC42 in MAC), although it’s a little too dark for me…so I’ve been adding a couple drops of Golden Beige. This is the foundation looking as fresh as can be after eight (!) hours (I set it the morning with a transparent loose powder).

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Try Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder for a Non-Powdery Powdered Face

May 21st, 2018 by Karen 19 Comments

Because I don’t particularly enjoy having my foundation and concealer move around my face like a team of synchronized Solid Gold Dancers, I wear powder. That said, I don’t like my face to look too powdered, if you know what I mean.

Apparently, I’m not the only one out there who likes a non-powdery face, because this new loose powder from Hourglass has already sold out a couple times on their website since it launched earlier this spring.

Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder ($46 for a 0.36-oz. jar of loose powder)

I really like it. I’ve had it in rotation for a few weeks with different bases and concealers on my combo skin, but I’d slow ya’ roll if you’re ultra oily, because it breaks up the foundation between my eyebrows, which is the oiliest area on my face, by the end of the day.

“The magic of Veil transformed into an ultra-refined loose powder designed to give skin a naturally flawless finish. This finely-milled, weightless powder is formulated with soft-focus light-reflecting particles to instantly blur imperfections and minimize the appearance of pores, fine lines and wrinkles for effortlessly smooth skin. The translucent formula can be used on all skin tones for an invisible, natural skin finish.”

— hourglass.com

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Kérastase Reflection Shampoo, Conditioner and Hair Mask for Color-Treated Hair

May 21st, 2018 by Karen 9 Comments

Unless you’re currently living that Maybach/Balmain/Cartier life, one can’t exactly call Kérastase “budget,” since their shampoos and conditioners are in the mid-$30 range, but if you like their products, or you’ve wanted to try their products, FYI, price cut!

In most cases, they’ve dropped their prices between $2 and $8, which isn’t bad. It makes them a little more accessible.

I’ve been testing a few things I haven’t used before from their Reflection line for color-treated hair — Bain Chromatique Sulfate-Free Shampoo ($30), Fondant Chromatique Conditioner ($34) and Masque Chromatique ($53).

No idea how they compare to their previous pricier versions, because I never used them before, but the company says that the formulas have all remained the same. They just cost a little less.

I started using them this month, and my wavy, dyed hair, which is normally on the drier side, looks noticeably smoother and shinier to me. It also doesn’t feel weighed down. No flakes on my scalp, either, and these don’t strip my color…which is good, considering that they’re designed to not do that.

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The “New” MAC 224 Synthetic Tapered Blending Brush…

May 18th, 2018 by Karen 20 Comments

Hey, can I borrow your hot tub/DeLorean time machine for an hour? Pretty please?

I need to get back to 2017 or, really, any time before MAC revamped their brush line and changed so many of their classic brushes. Like this one: the 224.

If you say “yes,” I’ll babysit your cat or bake you brownies. What do ya say? Deal? 🙂

MAC 224S Synthetic Tapered Blending Brush ($34)

I wish I could stock up those old 224s because — HELLO, CRANKY PANTS — this new version is scratchy and stiff, several of the bristles have fallen out, and the ferrule is already loose.

Such a bummer, too, because the old-school 224s are beasts. I have two that are more than five years old and still going strong, but they’ll have to be replaced sooner or later.

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Will Hourglass Veil Retouching Fluid Be Your Concealer’s New Best Friend?

May 17th, 2018 by Karen 10 Comments

**BEEP** **BEEP** **BEEP**

We interrupt this blog post to bring you this very important announcement: Hourglass Veil Retouching Fluid is NOT a full-on concealer. It may look like one, but it’s not. If you apply it by itself on top of dark circles, those bad boys won’t disappear. They’ll be like, “What’s up, lady? HOW YOU DOIN’?” ?

Hourglass Veil Retouching Fluid ($32)

But, if you apply it on top of another concealer you already happen to be wearing — in other words, you retouch — you should see a slight difference…

“Meet your concealer’s new best friend. Veil Retouching Fluid is a multitasking complexion enhancer that you won’t want to leave your house without. This weightless, oil-free fluid adds just the right amount of brightness, coverage, and hydration that your skin needs during the day. It’s like your morning cup of coffee, your 3pm piece of chocolate, and your post-workout glow all rolled into one.”

– sephora.com

When I dab and blend it on top of Make Up For Ever Ultra HD, which has been my under-eye concealer du jour lately, and by “lately,” I mean the past couple years, my dark circles look a little brighter.

Bonus: it doesn’t get cake-y or break up the concealer, either.

It would be pretty innovative if you didn’t know about Trish McEvoy’s Instant Eye Lift, which has been around a hot minute.

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bliss Got a Makeover! (Yes, the Iconic ’90s Skin Care and Spa Brand)

May 16th, 2018 by Karen 17 Comments

Remember how hot bliss spa was back in the day? Flashback to 1999… There I was, stomp-walking down the windy streets of downtown SF, where I worked as a legal assistant. Wherever I went, I left a trail of spicy white pepper and blood orange in my wake, thanks to bliss, and the brand just got a makeover. The products, some of which are classics that stuck around, and some of which are newbies, are now available at Target with new packaging, new formulas and lower prices. They’re also cruelty-free and sans parabens, phthalates, SLS and SLES.

Here are some of them I’ve been testing lately…

Poetic Waxing Hair Removal Kit ($24 for a 5.3-oz. cup of wax, a few spatulas and a bottle of pre/post-wax oil)

This is THE BEST at-home waxing kit I’ve ever tried (and I’ve tried quite a few). It isn’t messy, it’s relatively painless to use, it removes even the babiest baby hairs, and you can get it done quickly.

Like, this morning I stuck the cup of wax into the microwave on high for three minutes (30-sec intervals; it’s all in the instructions), smeared it on my fuzzy bits, let it cool, then riiiiiipped that sucka off. Now, no more ‘stash! 🙂 It’s totally GONE.

And this works just as well on brows and the bikini area. It comes with a detailed how-to, which pretty much nails all of the insider tips you need to know for a quick, relatively painless wax. It’s REALLY helpful, too, so read it.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ 5 out of 5 hearts.

Did you know? I consider this a pro tip: I usually take two Advil about an hour before waxing (to take the edge off)…

Lemon & Sage Refreshing Body Wipes ($8 for a pack of 30 wipes)

These disposable body wipes whisk away sweat, dirt and oil to leave you with a non-sticky neck (also great for the inside of your elbow and the back of your knees), and they smell like a lemon drop. 🙂

As an HSP (hella sweaty person), I find these useful and refreshing, but I’d like them even more if they were individually wrapped (like the ones by Sweat Cosmetics).

❤️❤️❤️❤️ 4 out of 5 hearts.

Did you know? According to bliss, these wipes contain a mild plant-based deodorant that relies on enzymes to reduce odor.

Makeup Melt Wipes ($7 for 30 wipes)

Pros: ? These wipes really do lift everything, including waterproof mascara. ? Plus, no oily residue. ? Also plus, they don’t make my sensitive eyes water, even when they touch my water line.

Cons: ? You have to put your back into it when you use them (translation: you have to rub your lashes quite a lot) to remove waterproof stuff. ? Also, the wipes feel kinda dry.

❤️❤️❤️ 3 out of 5 hearts.

Did you know? These Makeup Melt Wipes are oil-free and made for all skin types.

Blood Orange & White Pepper Body Butter ($12 for a 6.7-oz. tube)

This is pretty much the same as the old-school version, only much less expensive. It’s moderately moisturizing and smells like a peppery orange soda. The old one was $4.11 per ounce, and now it’s $1.79 per ounce. Love!

I’m a lizard person and use it twice per day, once in the morning and once at night.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ 5 out of 5 hearts.

Did you know? This body butter, like all of the items in the line now, is cruelty-free and doesn’t contain parabens, phthalates or SLS.

Your Situation Hair-softening Oil & Bump Minimizer ($22 for a 2-oz. glass bottle with a dropper)

Does one need a lightweight, quick-absorbing oil for one’s lady parts? No…but it’s kinda nice having fuzz that doesn’t feel like crispy ramen noodles, and the explosion of red bikini line bumps I got from shaving with a cheap razor has subsided considerably.

❤️❤️❤️ 3 out of 5 hearts.

Did you know? You can also use this under your arms and on your chest, and dudes can use it on their beards.

Bump Attendant Ingrown Eliminating Pads ($22 for a jar with 25 pads)

I’m happy to see that bliss kept these around. I used one pad — ONE! — on a slew of red, angry ingrown hairs that cropped up along my bikini line, and they were gone within 24 hours. As much as I like how effective these are, though, I’m a little irked that they increased in price. Now they’re 88 cents per pad instead of 76. Booooo.

❤️❤️❤️ 3 out of 5 hearts.

Did you know? These pads contain both glycolic and salicylic acid exfoliators.

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REVIEW! MAC Mirage Noir Slow As You Go Eye Shadow and Mother o’ Pearl Pearlmatte Face Powder

May 15th, 2018 by Karen 19 Comments

I went for ’80s today… Don’t know if I quite got there, but it’s all good. 🙂 I still like how this look turned out.

So, plums and purples today. And I found this top that I’ve had forever. It’s by Halogen, and I got it at Nordstrom a zillion years ago.

I wanted my makeup to complement the top, which is something I don’t do very often — coordinate my makeup with my clothes — especially lately. Lately my clothes have basically been an afterthought (although I’m working diligently to change that), but today I thought I’d coordinate. Plus, big hair. I was going for ’80s hair…or a modified version, but I’ll get to that in a sec.

First, the two key ingredients in this look… LOL! Ingredients. 🙂 What, are we making brownies? OK, the two key “elements” are a purple eyeshadow called Slow As You Go, and a plummy golden bronzed cheek/face powder called Mother o’ Pearl.

Both are from the new MAC Mirage Noir summer collection available now.

MAC Slow as You Go Eye Shadow ($17)

You’re gonna dig this if you’re a fan of MAC Trax. Slow as You Go is similar, but I actually think I like it more than Trax because it’s shinier (in a good way) and more richer. Like Trax two point oh. It’s also silky soft and blends like a dream. And — this is important — it doesn’t make my eyes water like so many other purples do.

❤️❤️❤️❤️ 4 out of 5 hearts.

Did you know? Golden purples like Slow as You Go pair very well with MAC Powersurge and MAC Prunella eyeliners. 😉

mac mirage noir mother o pearl slow as you go — Makin’ mah heart flutter!

MAC Mother o’ Pearl Pearlmatte Powder ($34)

This plummy gold has a slightly warm bronze undercurrent. It’s like a combo bronzer, blush and highlighter. Normally I just mix it all together and sweep that on my cheeks and blend.

Technically, it’s a powder, but it feels almost like a cream, and the opalescent finish is pure purr-fection.

It’s like a bronzier MAC Plum Foolery, but not as shiny.

❤️❤️❤️❤️ 4 out of 5 hearts.

Did you know? You can also use Mother o’ Pearl as an eyeshadow. Yup, it’s also approved for lids.

mac mirage noir other o pearl k — CHEEKS!

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Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Natural Eyeshadow Palette in Deep (Take One)

May 14th, 2018 by Karen 10 Comments

And now for something completely different (not), if I had a nickel for every time I watched a YouTube makeup video and thought, “Oh, I can handle that. That’s gonna be easy.” And then I tried it and was like, “What the hell just happened?” — I’d be a rich girl.

Yeesh, I’m so out of practice with eyeshadow… It is definitely a perishable skill, at least for me. It’s not like riding a bike, where you can take years off, then hop back on and be like, “Lalala! So easy! This is great!”

As you know, I’ve been wanting to do a little more with my makeup lately — not necessarily to put more makeup on, but to, ya know, do something more ambitious than one or two lid shades and some tightlining, so I’ve been watching a lot of videos, like this one by Sephora for hooded lids, which was actually VERY helpful for explaining proper placement (a.k.a “where to put the lighter and darker colors”).

If you have a hooded lid situation, definitely check it out.

Thing is…it assumes you have rudimentary blending skills down pat, which I thought I had, but I guess they were tucked away somewhere because… Well, it’s not that I’m unhappy with how this eye look turned out, but I can see a few things I could have done better.

I like it from straight on, and from the side, with my eyes open. I think it’s pretty decently blended in the crease, and I like the way the gradient is feathering, but when I look at the pics of myself with my eyes closed…WHOA.

And this could just be me being hyper-critical of myself, because I do that, but I can see that one eye is darker than the other, and they aren’t perfectly symmetrical, and I know that I do these things because I’ve made these same mistakes 1,342,521 times before.

I also know that my eyes aren’t identical. They’re naturally asymmetrical. One is slightly larger than the other, and my smaller eye is set a little deeper the the other. Also, I’m right-handed, and I tend to press harder when I’m applying shadow on my right lid than I do on my left, making that eye’s makeup look darker if I don’t pay close attention.

Basically, these are just lessons I have to re-learn from time to time… While not rocket science, makeup is definitely a perishable skill. If you don’t use it, you freakin’ lose it.

Anywho, today’s makeup gave me a chance to get to know the new Chanel Les Beiges Deep eyeshadow palette, and girl, the browns are beautiful! They are SO pretty.

Like the wide buttery golden pan at the top? No, it isn’t MAC Soba, but it is Chanel’s version. If I just stopped trying new makeup and wore this satiny mid-toned brown daily for the rest of my life, I’d be a happy camper.

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