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Unsung Heroes

Unsung Makeup Heroes: The $4 Ardell 120 Demi Natural Lashes

May 27th, 2014 by Karen 26 Comments

Ardell Demi 120
The fabulous Ardell Demi 120s…

Much like his bulging biceps (OH, HAI), Jeremey Renner’s makeup advice is a gift that keeps on giving.

J. Renn, do you know how many times your “Brows, lashes, lips. Frame the face,” (3:36 in the video!) wisdom has saved my @ss? More times than Tabs has greedily gobbled down his gravy in 30 seconds or less, I’ll tell you that much.

Whenever I’m running late — like, so late that I don’t even have time to check if I’m putting on my underwear inside-out and literally don’t realize it until halfway through the day (#truth) — I always go back to J. Renn’s philosophy on brows, lashes and lips.

It’s particularly useful when I have to look somewhat respectable, and not like I just fell out of a slow-moving recycling truck, also known as “my usual state of disarray.”

In those cases, I grab a few time-tested faves — an angled brush and MAC Brun to fill in my brows, a bright NARS Satin Lip Pencil (like Lodhi, Jardin des Plants or Yu) and a pair of Ardell 120 Demi false lashes.

Whenever I see those Ardells on sale, I try to grab a few pairs. Like earlier this month, I saw they were marked down to $2.99 from $3.99 at Ulta (they still are!). I picked up three pairs and squirreled them away in a drawer for future lateness.

With these, I really like how the lashes are bundled together.

See how they’re all in little bunches along the band?

I don’t know why, but I like the way that design works. With these and other false lashes that look that way, when they’re bundled up in little bunches, they seem to thicken my natural fringe without looking too crazy — still glam, but more on the natural side.

Ardell Demi 120
A closeup of the bundles…

[Continue reading…]

There are 26 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Drugstore Beauty Finds, Eyes, Unsung Heroes

MAC Unsung Heroes: Staunchly Stylish Pro Longwear Lip Pencil

April 21st, 2014 by Karen 10 Comments

MAC Staunchly Stylish Pro Longwear Lip Pencil
MAC Staunchly Stylish Pro Longwear Lip Pencil, $19.50
MAC Staunchly Stylish Pro Longwear Lip Pencil
Wearing MAC Staunchly Stylish…

I staunchly support giving matte pinkish beige MAC Staunchly Stylish Lip Pencil ($19.50) time in the spotlight right now because of all of the peach and pink shades that came out with the spring collections, which I think it works so well with — especially neutral and warm pinks and peaches.

It’s one of those lip pencil perennials you can wear year round, but it’s really in its element now.

It can also rock with corals, I’ve noticed.

Not so much with intensely orange or red ones, but with quiet corals that have a peachy pink bent, it’s all gravy.

MAC Staunchly Stylish Pro Longwear Lip Pencil
MAC Staunchly Stylish Pro Longwear Lip Pencil ($19.50), available now at MAC counters, stores and maccosmetics.com

I know it looks kind of dark in the swatch, but it’s like the color of nude lips on a kisser. The perfect barely-there lip pencil, and talk about flexible.

Staunchly Stylish is like the yoga master of lip pencils; it goes with so many colors!

Non-drying, it skates across my skin without tugging at all, but I wouldn’t go so far as to call it moisturizing. It doesn’t make my normally cray-cray dry lips worse, though, and that’s pretty good. When I wear it my lips don’t get flaky or dry.

It also lasts a long time, fading slowly over the course of 8-9 hours.

MAC Staunchly Stylish Pro Longwear Lip Pencil with Revved Up Patentpolish Lip Pencil
Staunchly Stylish Pro Longwear Lip Pencil with Revved Up Patentpolish Lip Pencil

Oh! — if you happen to have the new MAC Patentpolish Lip Pencils in creamy peach Revved Up, yellowish pink Go For Girlie or mauvey pink Kittenish, I think Staunchly Stylish looks fab with those shades, as well as creamy peach Lots of Laught Lipglass…

And creamy pink Carousel Lipglass from the MAC Playland collection.

And light pink Toying Around (super pretty!).

And the Mineralize Glasses in Lovingly Yours (a pinkish nude) and light cool-toned peach cream Be Nice.

Seriously, it can do so much! Please give it a try one of these days.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The MAC Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorite products from MAC’s permanent collection

  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Texture Eyeshadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Saddle Eyeshadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Cork Eye Shadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Fleur Power Blush
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Swiss Chocolate Eyeshadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Costa Riche Eye Kohl
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Mineralize Skinfinish Natural
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Havana
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Chicory Lip Pencil
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Smoked Almond Lipstick
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Half ‘n Half Lipstick
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Chili Lipstick
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Coffee Eye Pencil
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Mineralize Skinfinish in Global Glow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Havana
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour in Burnt Spice
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Mineralize Foundation/Loose
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Giddy Lustre Lipstick
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Amorous Alloy Eyeshadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Texture Eyeshadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Prep + Prime 24-Hour Extend Eye Base
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Swiss Chocolate Eyeshadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Saddle Eyeshadow
  • Unsung Heroes: MAC In Extra Dimension Waterproof Mascara
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Minted Eye Kohl
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Take the Plunge Technakohl Liner
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Cork Eye Shadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: 221 Mini Tapered Blending Brush
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Matchmaster Shade Intelligence Compact
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Oh My Mocha Eye Shadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Pro Longwear Waterproof Colour Stick in Lilacked
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Satin Taupe Eye Shadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: High Tea Lipstick
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Blooz Eye Kohl
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Fleur Power Blush
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Layin’ Low Paint Pot
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Constructivist Paint Pot
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Prep + Prime Fix+
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Mineralize Skinfinish Natural
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Persistence Matte Lipstick
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow in Brownluxe
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Costa Riche Eye Kohl
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: The Studio Chromagraphic Pencils
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Brun Eye Shadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Staunchly Stylish Pro Longwear Lip Pencil
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Warm Soul Mineralize Blush
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Reflects Antique Gold Glitter
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Style Blush
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Shaping Powder in Lightsweep
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Painterly
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Era Eye Shadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Bronze Eye Shadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Honey Lust Eye Shadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Sun Rush Lustre Drops
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Nice Buzz Plushglass
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: 33 Lash
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Shale Eyeshadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Harmony Blush
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Careblends Pressed Powder
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Fulfilled Plushglass
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Bamboom Paint
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Sublime Nature Paint
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Face and Body Foundation
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Prunella Eye Kohl
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: The 239 Eye Shader Brush
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Greensmoke Eyeshadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Ample Pink Plushglass
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Indianwood Paint Pot
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Bare Study Paint Pot
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Rubenesque Paint Pot
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Tarnish Eye Kohl
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Big Baby Plushglass
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Kohl Power Pencil Liner in Feline
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Format Blush
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Ambering Rose Blush
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Iridescent Powder/Loose in Silver Dusk
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Iridescent Powder/Loose in Golden Bronze
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: C-Thru Lipglass
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Fresh Flare Pro Longwear Eye Shadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Viva Glam V Lipglass
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Loud & Lovely Cremesheen Glass
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Viva Glam VI Lipglass
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Breezy Sheertone Shimmer Blush
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Care Blends Essential Oils, Grapefruit + Chamomile
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Prep + Prime Vibrancy Eye Primer
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Right Image Cremesheen Glass
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Modesty Cremesheen Lipstick
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Double Dare Cremesheen Lipglass
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Bamboo Eyeshadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Speak Louder Cremesheen Lipstick
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Sandy B Lipstick
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Club Eyeshadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Uniform Technakohl Liner
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Sweet Satisfaction Pro Longwear Eyeshadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Red Lipstick
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Lady Danger Lipstick
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Tempting Eyeshadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Ruby Woo Lipstick
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Retrospeck Eyeshadow
There are 10 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Lips, MAC Makeup, Unsung Heroes

Unsung Makeup Heroes: Chanel Vert Khaki Ombre Essentielle Soft Touch Eyeshadow

April 7th, 2014 by Karen 14 Comments

Chanel Vert Khaki
My “I can’t tell you how happy I am that it’s sunny today!” smile while wearing Chanel’s Vert Khaki on my lids…

I am LOVIN’ this shimmery khaki green eyeshadow, desperately, though I should note that whenever I wear it on my lids, the urge to crank open a fire hydrant so that everyone in the neighborhood can frolic through the spray, perhaps to a choreographed dance routine, befalls me.

(SIDE NOTE: seriously, I have always wanted to do that…)

Chanel Vert Khaki
Chanel Vert Khaki Ombre Essentielle Soft Touch Eyeshadow

Now, I’ll wear khaki greens any time of year, but the warmer months — especially June through August — after I’ve normally darkened a shade or two and it’s like a coral partaaaaay 24/7 on my cheeks and lips, Vert Khaki becomes my BFF. I just love how well it works with juicy, summery corals…

And hot pinks…

And golds and bronzes, too.

Chanel Vert Khaki
Vert Khaki working its magic…

I gotta hand it to Chanel. Their eyeshadow singles cost an arm and a leg, but at least they don’t hold anything back. This one, in particular, looks crazy good!

Even though green eyeshadow can be a huge leap for some, I think Vert Khaki is possibly the closest you can get to a natural-looking khaki green.

Yeah, with this on your lids, it definitely looks like you’re wearing colorful eyeshadow, but it’s not totally in your face.

It’s on your face… 🙂

LOL! Vert Khaki has some gold in it, along with a touch of warm grayish taupe (which really comes through when you buff it down), and I think those extra touches keep it from looking too out-there-cray, you know what I’m sayin’?

With this on your lids, you won’t feel like people are staring at your green eyeshadow. No, they’ll be admiring your sultry eyes, ooh-la-lah.

Chanel Vert Khaki
Also wearing MAC Warm Soul blush on my cheeks and Hourglass Nectar Lip Gloss on my lips…

[Continue reading…]

There are 14 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Chanel, Eyes, Unsung Heroes

Unsung Makeup Heroes: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Scorch

March 18th, 2014 by Karen 39 Comments

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Scorch
The smokin’ hot Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Scorch

Dear UD Scorch,

‘Sup, boo? I’ve been missing you. We haven’t talked in a while (six months, give or take, but who’s counting?).

I just wanted to holla and ask, “How are you?” How’s my smokin’-hot, shimmery bronze liner love? Still the picture of pure perfection in a pencil?

Remember how we always loved to play in spring and summer? Whenever I’d bust out my beach bag and slip on my booty shorts (might as well work it while you can, right?), you were always right there for me, ready to help with the bronze and gold eye makeup looks I was wearing.

Urban Decay Scorch Swatch
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Scorch ($20)

I wonder, are you the same way…?

I bet you are. 🙂 I bet you’d like me to swipe you along my lash lines, wouldn’t ‘cha? Just us, from the break of dawn till late at night, no fading, no smudging — nothing to break our bond.

Urban Decay Scorch Swatch
Heart ya, Scorch!

I’ve been thinking about you again. A lot. And all of the things I want to do with you…like wearing you as a base for shimmery bronze eyeshadows.

Remember that time I layered you with UD’s Half Baked on top? That was smokin’ hot.

Oh! — or that time I wore you with MAC Woodwinked? Hotter than a five-alarm fire.

The 411 on Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Scorch


What is it? A silky soft $20 long-wearing shimmery bronze pencil liner with silver micro-glitter. Available now at Urban Decay counters and urbandecay.com.

Who might lurve it? Anyone who likes wearing warm bronze and gold shades on their eyes.

When’s a good time to wear it? How ’bout now? Or any time of year, but I think it comes into its own in spring and summer because it looks faboo with a tan.

What else? It’s a great liner alternative to basic brown and black.

How do you rock it? You can wear it as a straight-up eyeliner or as a base for powder shadows. It goes well with coral or hot pink cheeks and lips.

Urban Decay Scorch Swatch
Swatch out! Or you’ll get Scorched… (Urban Decay Scorch on my NC42 skin)

[Continue reading…]

There are 39 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Eyes, Makeup, Unsung Heroes, Urban Decay

MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Warm Soul Mineralize Blush

March 10th, 2014 by Karen 38 Comments

MAC Warm Soul Mineralize Blush
Wearing MAC Warm Soul Mineralize Blush ($25) on my cheeks

I love the way I feel with MAC Warm Soul Mineralize Blush on my cheeks…

I feel good, and by “good” I mean that feeling you get on a sunny day when you’re out walking in just jeans and a t-shirt, or “good,” like when you and a friend share dessert someplace on a lazy afternoon, and you both know each other so well that neither of you really feels the need to talk just to fill the space.

Comforting, natural and effortless. That’s how I feel with Warm Soul on my cheeks. It’s as if it was always meant to be there — like it was just waiting for me to find it, and when I did, the puzzle pieces fit.

MAC Warm Soul Mineralize Blush
MAC Warm Soul Mineralize Blush

Is it weird to feel this kind of connection with a golden beige powder blush?

If it is, I can’t say I care. 🙂

Warm Soul is the blush I’ve been waiting for — the one that works with errrrthing, that doesn’t get in the way of whatever eye or lip makeup I happen to be wearing, and yet has enough to stand on its own two legs when all I want to do that day is lightly fill in my brows, curl my lashes and apply a little concealer and gloss.

MAC Warm Soul Swatch on NC42 skin
Warm Soul on my NC42 skin

That’s how I wore it yesterday when El Hub and I made a last-minute Target run before The Walking Dead (which I thought was awesome, BTW).

I had less than five minutes to get ready. Only enough time for minimal makeup (“Brows, lashes, lips,” to quote Jeremy Renner) and to sweep Warm Soul on my cheeks.

Gotta love not having to do any elaborate blending or having to deal with any patchiness. Just a few swipes on each cheek, and it’s all good.

MAC Warm Soul Mineralize Blush
That’s MAC Cremesheen Glass in Over Indulgence on my lips

[Continue reading…]

There are 38 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Face, MAC Makeup, Makeup, Unsung Heroes

MAC Unsung Heroes: Reflects Antique Gold Glitter

March 6th, 2014 by Karen 18 Comments

MAC Reflects Antique Gold
Wearing MAC Reflects Antique Gold on my lids while trying to look sultry in my living room when in reality I’m thinking about a grilled cheese sandwich (no, seriously)

So let’s talk glitter — specifically MAC Reflects Antique Gold Glitter.

Oooh, girl!

Wait — before you put that palm up and say, “No, Karen [INSERT SASSY JENNY-FROM-THE-BLOCK HEAD TWITCH HERE]. I don’t do glitter,” let me just say that this glitter is one of the best afternoon pick-me-ups.

Better than green tea or coffee even. Scout’s honor. 🙂

MAC Reflects Antique Gold
Wearing MAC Mulch and Saddle Eyeshadows on my lids with MAC Reflects Antique Gold Glitter patted on top with a finger

Like, this afternoon, I was feeling really run down and kind of blah. I took this shimmery loose glitter out around 2 and patted a little on top of my lids. Yup, directly on top of the smokey brown eye makeup I was already wearing.

BOOM! I go from “meh” to “Vegas, b*tches!” in 2.5 seconds, thanks to this turbo-charged jar of sparkling happiness.

MAC Reflects Antique Gold
That’s MAC Warm Soul Blush on my cheeks and Urban Decay Naked Lipgloss in Liar on my lips…

[Continue reading…]

There are 18 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Eyes, MAC Makeup, Unsung Heroes

Unsung Makeup Heroes: Tom Ford Beauty African Violet Nail Lacquer

March 3rd, 2014 by Karen 21 Comments

Tom Ford African Violet Nail Lacquer
Tom Ford Nail Lacquer in African Violet ($32)

African violetPurple eyeshadows; purple liners; purple lipsticks; flowers; candy; sweaters; one-eyed, one-horned flying purple people eaters! PURPLE EVERYTHING!

And purple paw polish, too. 🙂

Of the millions (well, hundreds) of promising purple paw polishes in the universe, the one that electrifies me like a Tesla coil from the tips of my ears down to the tips of my toes has to be Tom Ford’s bright creamy Nail Lacquer in African Violet.

Tom Ford African Violet Nail Lacquer
Purse by Reed Krakoff; bracelet by Na Hoku

It borrows its name from one of Mother Nature’s most perfect purple creations, in my opinion, the Saintpaulia ionantha plant, or African violet, which, coincidentally, happens to be cat-friendly, according to the good folks over at VCA Animal Hospitals.

Speaking of cats (’cause we alway circle back to the kittehs around here), this particular African Violet has never elicited any complaints from my favorite fashionable feline.

Tom Ford African Violet Nail Lacquer
Ring by Wings Hawaii; bracelet and earrings from Nordstrom

[Continue reading…]

There are 21 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Nails, Tom Ford Beauty, Unsung Heroes

MAC Unsung Heroes: Style Blush

February 26th, 2014 by Karen 16 Comments

MAC Powder Blush in Style
Wearing a single layer of MAC Powder Blush in Style ($21) on my cheeks

I’ve had to do rapid-fire makeup to get out the door and catch appointments two days this week. From start to finish, I’m talkin’ 10, 15 minutes tops.

This pressure cooker of time has led me to MAC Style, a shimmery golden coral Powder Blush in the MAC permanent line.

I picked it up a while back during a stress shopping session (girl, you do it too!) but set it aside when I became totally infatuated with MAC Cantaloupe.

I guess I was just feeling more like matte cheeks and full-on wintery makeup looks for a while there, and Cantaloupe fit the bill. I had a blast layering different highlighters and shimmer products with it, too, but that was when I had enough time to play…

When my schedule doesn’t allow for that and I have to leave the house in a hurry, extra little makeup touches like highlighter usually get cut.

Which is where MAC Style comes in…

MAC Style Blush
MAC Style Blush

A lovely soft coral powder blush with a delicate golden sheen, I think it’s great for getting out the door in a flash. Its moderately pigmented coral base has just enough color to give a nice flush to my cheeks.

It’s not so intense that I have to spend precious breakfast time buffing and blending everything out if I inadvertently over-apply, and it’s easy to control. No exaggeration, but I can get it on my cheeks and be done with blush in less than a minute.

MAC Style Blush Swatch on NC42 Skin
Style Blush on my NC42 skin

But that’s not my favorite thing about Style. That distinction goes to its fine golden sheen.

Swoon!

While delicate and subtle, it totally takes this blush to the next level for me, transforming it into a hybrid blush/highlighting butterfly, and I smile every time I see a flash of its pearly golden glow.

Not only is Style dynamic, it also shaves a couple steps off my makeup routine.

MAC Style Blush Swatch on NW25 Skin
Style Blush on a good samaritan’s NW25 skin

[Continue reading…]

There are 16 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Face, MAC Makeup, Makeup, Unsung Heroes

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Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog! My name is Karen, and I’m a freelance writer obsessed with makeup.

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