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Sephora

I’ve Got Designs on the Soft Brushes in the New $38 Five-Piece Sephora Collection IZAK Brush Set

December 7th, 2012 by Karen 14 Comments

sephora collection izak brush set
The new Sephora Collection IZAK Brush Set ($38)

Since the world’s first beauty fanatic triumphantly shouted, “Eureka!” while thrusting her makeup brush into the air, faces and makeup bags everywhere have been plagued by boring brushes and stiff bristles.

For (what seemed like) millennia, brushes with boring black handles and scratchy bristles bothered beauty lovers, who dreamed of living life more colorfully, and comfortably, with brushes like the ones in the new $38 five-piece Sephora IZAK Brush Set.

Not only are the foundation, powder, eyeshadow, brow and liner brushes in this new limited edition holiday set super soft, they’re also quite sassy.

And the source of that sass? New York-based French illustrator Izak Zenou, who’s worked with some of the biggest names in beauty and fashion, including Chanel, Henri Bendel and Laura Mercier.

I love his illustrations and the work he’s done here. The black, white and hot pink brushes in the set, and the illustrated gal gracing the accompanying zippered pouch, are so glam yet oddly approachable…

The illustrated girl on the front looks like she’d be fun to hang out with — chic and totally down to earth. I bet she wouldn’t judge me if I showed up to our lunch date with two-tone matte lips and cat fur stuck to my suede ankle boots.

sephora collection izak brush set

sephora collection izak brush set
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There are 14 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Kits and Sets, Makeup Tools, Product Reviews, Sephora

The Four Universally Flattering Shades in the $15 Sephora Mini Ultra Shine Gloss Set Pack a Seriously Shiny Punch

December 6th, 2012 by Karen 11 Comments

The new Sephora Mini Ultra Shine Gloss Set
Sephora’s new $15 Mini Ultra Shine Gloss Set

Sephora calls the four petite pink and nude shades in their $15 Mini Ultra Shine Gloss Set universally flattering.

I call ’em perfect for purses and sunglasses, on account of their diminutive stature (0.1 ounces each), their easy, breezy sheer-to-medium coverage and a finish that’s brighter than the sun!

sephora mini ultra shine gloss set

sephora mini ultra shine gloss set
From the left: Precious Pink, Pin-Up Pink, Rose Petal and Perfect Nude
sephora mini gloss set swatches
From the left: Precious Pink, Pin-Up Pink, Rose Petal and Perfect Nude

sephora mini shine gloss set
Pin-Up Pink

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There are 11 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Kits and Sets, Lips, Makeup, Sephora

For $15, Sephora Brings the Bling: The New Sephora Blinged Palette Squeezes Some Great Pieces Into a Bedazzling Product

December 4th, 2012 by Karen 32 Comments

sephora blinged palette review
Wearing the products in Sephora’s new $15 Blinged Palette on my eyes, cheeks and lips

“Bling it.”

“Oh, it’s already been blough-it.”

Sorry… Made myself laugh. 🙂

So, what’s better than getting a great deal on a face palette with eight pigmented shadows, a perky pink powder blush and five flattering lipsticks?

How ’bout this: getting it all with a side of bling.

No need to bust out your BeDazzler to bejewel the new limited edition Sephora Blinged Palette, because it already comes complete with sparkly rhinestones. It’s also pretty affordable at $15.

Oh, how do I love thee, Sephora Blinged Palette? Let me count the ways…

The shadows

Fallout? What’s that? I hardly see any at all from these eight powder eyeshadows. Worn with my beloved NARS primer. With the primer’s help, they’re a breeze to blend and last all day long on my lids.

I love the mix of matte and shimmer finishes and the brown, gold, peach, beige and green shades, which are nicely balanced between cool and warm tones.

Only thing is, the high-shine shimmery shades have an appetite for fine lines — meaning they like to highlight ’em.

The blush

What a nice surprise! It’s so smooth and natural looking.

The lipsticks

I wish these five unscented, unflavored lipsticks weren’t seated so close to the blush (such a pain), but I think the colors work so well with the palette that I’m willing to let it go.

Sephora Beauty To Go Mini Palette

Sephora Beauty To Go Mini Palette
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There are 32 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Eyes, Face, Palettes, Product Reviews, Sephora

What’s Cooking at the Sephora Gloss Lab? Sheer, Non-Sticky MAC Cremesheen Dupes

December 4th, 2012 by Karen 21 Comments

sephora gloss lab review Hot Pink No. 5
Wearing Hot Pink No. 5 from the new $25 Sephora Gloss Lab kit

If chem lab had been anywhere near as much fun as Sephora’s new Gloss Lab, I never would have finished any of my titrating!

I would have been too busy mixing and matching the 10 marvelously moisturizing glosses (which could easily pass for MAC Cremesheens) in the $25 kit, and then watching the clouds above my head part to a concerto of harps and herald angels singing.

Unlike chem lab, Gloss Lab is exclusive to Sephora. The limited edition holiday kit, which is available now, comes with seven shades in an assortment of nude and bright colors and three colorless top coats (one clear gloss, another with small bits of white shimmer in it, and a third with larger bits of multi-colored shimmer), and all 10 of them come with an easy-to-use doe-foot applicator.

sephora gloss lab

sephora gloss lab
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There are 21 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Kits and Sets, Lips, Sephora

Share a Tip Tuesdays: This Eye Makeup Tip Will Have You Busting Out Those Bright Eyeshadows More Often

November 6th, 2012 by Karen 34 Comments

Share a Tip Tuesdays

Among the many eyeshadow palettes making their way into the hearts and homes of lovely ladies and makeup-lurving gents this holiday season, I’m betting there’s bound to be at least one (or two!) bright colors in the mix, and if you’re anything like me, some of those brights can be completely terrifying.

For me, it’s usually the bright pinks…

I have no qualms about wearing bright pink on my lips, but my eyes are a different story. It’s like, bright eyeshadows take a different kind of cajones, and sometimes I just don’t feel cool enough to pull them off.

But I know it’s just a state of mind, and so over the weekend, I busted out some of the bright eyeshadows I hardly ever wear and began to experiment. I was just messing around when I stumbled on something by accident…

Wow! Starting with a black base works wonders for bright eyeshadows!

And pretty much any formula should work, be it paint pot, smudgy liner or a creamy kohl. Just apply on your lids, smudge it out, and pat your bright eyeshadow directly on top. The black base sort of grounds the bright shadow, toning it down.


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There are 34 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Eyes, Makeup, Makeup Tips/How To, Sephora, Urban Decay

Say Hello, Kitty, to the New Hello Kitty Eyeshadow Palette in Wild Thing

October 24th, 2012 by Karen 40 Comments

Hello Kitty Say Hello Eyeshadow Palette in Wild Thing

Apparently, I’m a one cat woman. This, according to Tabs.

That cat is so protective, or territorial, or whatever it is, that he won’t even tolerate another feline diva in the house if it’s orange and stuffed!

Witness his fearsome reaction to this predatory plush toy…

Observe the menacing posture, raised claw and puffy tail. There was also a lot of angry meowing and hissing.

Hello Kitty Say Hello Eyeshadow Palette in Wild Thing

Hello Kitty, however, is a completely different story.

Hello Kitty Say Hello Eyeshadow Palette in Wild Thing

Tabs just loooooves anything and everything Hello Kitty, and that includes the new Say Hello Eyeshadow Palette in Wild Thing ($36).

Like a brazen alley cat, the new limited edition palette recently strutted onto shelves at Sephora, just in time for the holidays. The funky print packaging (um…is that a giraffe or a leopard pattern?) contains two tiers of products, one row of shimmery powder eyeshadows, and a second row with a bronzer and a pale powder matte blush.

I also love Hello Kitty, but I’ve always thought of Sephora’s Hello Kitty makeup line as something targeted to teens and tweens (MAC’s Hello Kitty collection, on the other hand? — totally different story).

I am kinda feelin’ this palette, though, especially the eyeshadows. A couple of the colors seem surprisingly complex. There’s a pretty purple, all packed with flecks of golden glitter; an opalescent, peachy pink that reminds me a little of MAC Vex, except without the green and blue; a warm bronze; and a neutral gold. All four of them apply with little-to-no fallout, a good amount of pigment and a striking, shiny finish.

Hello Kitty Say Hello Eyeshadow Palette in Wild Thing

Hello Kitty Say Hello Eyeshadow Palette in Wild Thing

Hello Kitty Say Hello Eyeshadow Palette in Wild Thing
Hello Kitty Say Hello Eyeshadow Palette Swatches

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There are 40 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Eyes, Makeup, Product Reviews, Sephora

Who Wore It Better? — The $7 Sephora Braided Metallic Headband

October 10th, 2012 by Karen 53 Comments

Who wore it better?

US Weekly, TMZ, Cat Fancy — you’ve probably seen it somewhere this morning because the paparazzi have been all over this one.

Yes, Tabs and I were spotted at separate events last night (me at the Novato Whole Foods, and Tabs at San Francisco’s famous Cat Club) wearing the same $7 Sephora Braided Metallic Headband.

It was sooo embarrassing… 🙂

But who do you think wore it better?

(I’m pretty sure Tabs is going to kick my butt in this poll.)

tabs wearing the sephora metallic braided headband

Who wore the Sephora Metallic Braided Headband better?

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Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy hump day! 🙂

There are 53 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Hair, Just For Fun, Sephora

What Are You Wearing On Your Nails?

September 27th, 2012 by Karen 27 Comments

spehora by opi trend tips

Tabs went au naturale today. 🙂 While he’s usually on point when it comes to the latest fashion trends, he generally prefers nude, non-fussy claws. “Meow,” he says. [“It’s a street thing.”]

Chanel Le Vernis in MaliceAs for my claws, I’ve got two coats of Chanel Le Vernis in Malice on my left and nothing on my right…

But I’m just about to slap on these Trend Tips Real Lacquer Strips nail stickers from Sephora by OPI ($12). This one below is called Pink & Black Lace (Sephora also carries 17 other designs).

sephora trend tips

sephora trend tips

sephora trend tips

Tabs apparently approves. 🙂

How about you? What are you wearing on your nails?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. How’s it going tonight?

Oh! Get this — I was at Safeway earlier and saw that DiGiorno makes half-and-half frozen pizzas now. Half cheese, half pepperoni (the cheese for me and the pepperoni for El Hub).

It’s like someone read my mind, LOL! Got one in the oven right now…

Other than that, I’m gonna watch another episode of Friday Night Lights and go to bed. I’m almost halfway done with the fourth season (of five) and already starting to feel sad because I know it’ll be over soon.

[SNIFFS!] Texas forever, y’all. Texas forever.

There are 27 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun, Nails, Sephora

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