Video

MAC Viva Glam Ariana Grande

January 5th, 2016 by Karen 24 Comments

There’s a video review in this post, but if it’s not appearing, you can click here to watch it on YouTube.

Turn up the music! — and perhaps hide that doughnut you’re planning to eat for your afternoon snack, because it might get licked… WHOA! That ended up sounding a lot naughtier than it did in my head.

Anyways! MAC Viva Glam’s newest ambassador is none other than pop star and infamous doughnut licker Ariana Grande, and [insert ridiculously impossible vocal run here] her new Viva Glam Lipstick and Lipglass hits all the right notes. I’m feelin’ it (especially the lipstick).

The quick deets on the two-piece MAC Viva Glam Ariana Grande collection:

MAC Viva Glam Ariana Grande Lipstick — a deep, dark plum ($17)
MAC Viva Glam Ariana Grande Lipglass — a light, shimmery pink ($15)
Available on the MAC website starting January 13 and in stores at all MAC locations January 21

As always, thank you for watching. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

15-Minute New Year’s Eve/Party Makeup Look

December 30th, 2015 by Karen 20 Comments

Yeah, man! I really did do this look from start to finish in 15 minutes! — and with Baby Girl playing soccer (otherwise known as “football”) in my tum the entire time.

Picture it: it’s New Year’s Eve (um…that’s tomorrow), and you’re already in your flannel pajamas — the ones covered in rainbow cats, because, obviously, wearing a pair of PJs with rainbow cats on them is the right thing to do on New Year’s Eve.

You get a last-minute invite from a friend to grab some pizza and watch fireworks, and so you want to get a little funk-aaaay with your makeup for the night, but you don’t have the patience to sit through two hours of cut creasing and false lashing.

So what do you do?

You bust out the glitter and hot pink lipstick! That’s what you do!

If you can rustle up the glitter and lipstick, you can probably do this look with the products in yo’ makeup bag RIGHT MEOW, and you can be done in 15 minutes, which means that your belly can get that pizza in it sooner…which means that the world will be a happier place. 🙂

Products mentioned

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy new year! 🙂

Happy Holidays! Last-Minute Stocking Stuffer Ideas From Target

December 23rd, 2015 by Karen 9 Comments

Procrastinators, I feel you! If you’re doing any last-minute shopping for your mom or daughter, here are some beauty stocking stuffers I found today at Target. They’re open late on Christmas Eve this year… I’m just sayin’.

I hope you’re having a happy holiday season so far. Merry Christmas Eve Eve. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Pregnancy Update, 28 Weeks!

December 17th, 2015 by Karen 12 Comments

I just posted a baby bump post on the blog the other day, but I haven’t done a YouTube update in a while, so here we are at 28 weeks! Baby Girl, otherwise known as My Little Ninja because she kicks all day long, is doing fine.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Not baby related, but this might be of interest to you if you’re a Clinique fan and live in Southern California…

From Clinique PR:

“Clinique and Eden Passante, DIY Expert behind Sugar&Charm, celebrate the holiday season with complimentary custom gift-wrap services at Macy’s South Coast Plaza [in Costa Mesa].

“In the final few days before the holiday, Clinique has created the perfect one-stop holiday shop! This year, Clinique and Eden Passante, DIY expert and founder of the blog Sugar & Charm, are celebrating together with custom holiday gift-wrap, DIY present toppers and gift tags!

Macy’s South Coast Plaza
3333 Bristol Street
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Friday, December 18th, 2015
5:00pm-7:00pm

On Friday, December 18th, 2015, Clinique will be providing complimentary custom gift-wrap services with the purchase of any Clinique holiday set. Eden Passante will be adding DIY gift touches to complete each present, making the recipient feel extra special before they even open their gift! We’re taking the stress out of holiday shopping — come pick up some last minute gifts with custom wrapping or buy yourself a little holiday gift for you to unwrap yourself, you deserve it!”

Hmm… I live a few hundred miles away, but I could always use another Cheek Pop Blush. 🙂

MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour Video Review & Swatches

December 16th, 2015 by Karen 31 Comments

Swatching all of these new MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour lipsticks yesterday was an adventure because they’re CRAZY pigmented. They’re liquid mattes, which means they can be a little drying (purr usual), or SUPER drying when it comes to my super sensitive lips, especially after applying and removing 15 of them, but with good lip prep beforehand, you should be fine.

After all, only crazy people put on 15 liquid lipsticks one after another.

MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour

$20 US each/$24 CAD
Available January 7, 2016 at all MAC locations (permanent line)

Fashion Legacy – an intense fire truck red

Feels So Good – a deep true red

High Drama – a deep, dark plum

Dance with Me – a deep cranberry red

Lady-Be-Good – a warm mid-ton nude

Tailored to Tease – a bright fuchsia

Oh, Lady – a deep wine

Recollection – an intense bright violet

Quite the Standout – a bright orange-red

To Matte With Love – a bright raspberry

Personal Statement – a shocking pink

Divine-Divine – a light creamy pink

Mademoiselle – a bright creamy coral

Back in Vogue – a peachy nude

Rich & Restless – a mid-tone pinky salmon

As always, thank you for watching! 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The MAC Velvetease Lip Pencils: Video Review & Swatches

December 15th, 2015 by Karen 22 Comments

Just a quick video review and swatches of the new MAC Velvetease Lip Pencils. They’re available now online ($20 each, 12 shades) and coming to stores and counters December 17 into the permanent line.

The MAC Velvetease Lip Pencils

Anything Goes, a matte rosy fuchsia

Temper Tantrum, a matte bright orange coral

Lover’s Lane, a matte deep orange

Frolic, a matte mid-tone peachy pink

Oh Honey, a matte warm chocolate

Aim to Please, a matte dirty mauvey brown

Just My Type, a matte clean blue fuchsia

Just Add Romance, a matte deep red

Tease Me, a matte light pink

Promise Me, a matte soft beige nude

Velvet Teen, a matte deep blackened plum

Reddy to Go, a matte deep brick red

Have you gotten your lips on these yet? What do you think?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The MAC Ellie Goulding Collection Is Polished Pop Star Power

December 4th, 2015 by Karen 22 Comments

There’s also a video review in this post. If it’s not appearing, you can click here to watch it on YouTube.

Wearing a sexy scuba outfit while rocking big blonde hair that looks like it’s being whipped back by 12 Beyoncé fans doesn’t mean you have to go OTT with your makeup.

The first time I saw the sexy scuba promo pic for the MAC Ellie Goulding collection on Instagram a while back, I thought, “OOH! LOVE! Now this is makeup I would want to wear.” It looks so approachable and fresh, but there’s still some drama to it, like the black-winged liner and falsies. I think Ellie just looks really beautiful.

Then I saw the promo pics for the products and fell head over heels.

I’m not sure, but I might be in the minority when it comes to how much I love these colors, specifically the warm browns and neutral browns, but I’m sorry. I’m not 22 years old and about to rock an emerald green eyeshadow to Costco anymore.

I mean…I’ll do it on occasion, 🙂 but when I think of makeup that I know I can wear over and over and over again, it’s things like this: warm browns on the eyes; beautiful bronzy cheeks with a peachy glow and juicy, glossy coral lips.

In that promo pic, Ellie looks like she’s either about to belt out a song, or make out with somebody, LOL!

mac ellie goulding ill hold my brush — MAC Ellie Goulding Powder Blush Duo in I’ll Hold My Breath ($28)

mac ellie goulding halcyon days — MAC Ellie Goulding Halcyon Days ($44)

MAC releases so many collections, but for me, this one stands out. The brand does stuff with singers all the time, but sometimes their collaborations seem a little half-@ssed, ya know? Like the Mariah Carey one? Come on… One lipstick and no special packaging? Like, that’s it? But this got the full red carpet treatment.

Lots and lots more info in the video at the top, and here are some swatches and pictures. Have a look, and let me know what you think.

mac ellie goulding halcyon nights — MAC Ellie Goulding Halcyon Nights ($44)

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Purple Smoky Holiday Makeup Tutorial With Boots No7 [SPONSORED] #MyBestSkin

November 30th, 2015 by Karen 37 Comments

There should be a video in this post, but if you can’t see it, you can click here to watch it on YouTube.

We’re basically on the cusp of December, so from here on out it’s all holidays, all the time, and that definitely means more holiday makeup.

This purple smoky eye might look more complicated than it really is, but you can totally handle it. If you can blend even just a wee bit, you can follow along with this tutorial, which shows how to do the eyes, complexion makeup and cheeks. And there are also four different ideas for lip combos.

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