Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup

A Sunkissed Flush for Paler Pretties: Elizabeth Arden Pure Finish Mineral Cheekcolor in Sunkissed Coral

June 3rd, 2011 by Karen 17 Comments

elizabeth arden sunkissed coral

Summer showcases so many bright, bold coral blushes (hello, MAC My Paradise!), but if you’re a paler princess struggling to find summer shades that work well with your skin tone, you might really like Elizabeth Arden’s new Pure Finish Mineral Cheekcolor in Sunkissed Coral ($28), one of seven pieces in the new Bronze in Bloom Summer 2011 Collection.

I had to apply four layers of this pinkish coral sheen to get it to make a statement on my tan skin, but I’m betting that a single layer would give lighter lasses a gentle, summery flush.

While I give the packaging major points in the cute category (LOVE that it fits in my palm), I wouldn’t have minded a wider pan. It comes with a mini kabuki brush, which does fit inside just fine, but the pan’s too small for my blush brush (at least without having to shove). A small detail, but it’s a little irksome.

elizabeth arden sunkissed coral

elizabeth arden sunkissed coral
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Knotty by Nature: Seychelles Harlow

June 3rd, 2011 by Karen 10 Comments

Seychelles Harlow Wedge Sandal, $69. Also available in black, brown and coral (SO CUTE!).

Seychelles Harlow

Random Acts of iPhone Photography, 06.02.11

June 2nd, 2011 by Karen 12 Comments

Turn Around, Bright Eyes: Tarte EmphasEYES Inner Rim Brightener

June 2nd, 2011 by Karen 60 Comments

Between good old-fashioned insomnia, the fear of demon possession and Tabs sprinting up and down the stairs at midnight like a crazypants, I’ve been averaging about four hours of sleep a night this week.

Yeah, the dark circles are in the mutha’ truckin’ house, and neither my normally reliable MAC Pro Longwear Concealer nor my trusty Smashbox Photo Op Under Eye Brightener are cutting it. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

While it’s not a concealer, soft beige Tarte emphasEYES Inner Rim Brightener ($18) is designed to deliver wide-awake eyes. The matte finish looks natural to me, and the product’s easy enough to use. Just twist the bottom to expose the tip, and guide it along the lower inner rim and inner corner of the eyes. It can also be used to highlight the brow bone to further define the shape of the brows.

The creamy texture skims along my waterlines, and the twist-up tip means not having to bother with sharpening.

Active ingredients

Beeswax: Forms a protective barrier between the skin and the environment

Vitamin A: Helps reduce free radical damage and retains skin’s moisture

Vitamin E: Acts as an anti-inflammatory emollient and protects against free-radical damage

Aloe Leaf Extract: Helps maintain moisture balance in the skin

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MAC Unsung Heroes: Bombshell Lipstick

June 2nd, 2011 by Karen 44 Comments

mac bombshell lipstick

I’ve always loved the theatricality of makeup, and by that I mean more than just its ability to alter our appearance (the WHIZZ! BAM! POP!), but also how something as seemingly insignificant as a tube of lipstick can completely change the way we feel and how we see ourselves.

Take today’s Unsung Hero, the mighty MAC Lipstick in Bombshell ($14.50). One minute with it on, and I feel my inner Mary Ann turning into Ginger!

Sometimes this frosty golden pink gets typecast as a “Barbie pink,” and it’s not hard to see why. Like Barbs, she can be quite flirty and fun, but this Bombshell is also capable of playing other roles, like seductive siren/Bond girl. 🙂

While Barbie cruises the PCH in her pink convertible, Bombshell tests her Masarati on the streets of Monaco. Girlfriend werks a pair of four-inch patent-pink Louboutins and a black tank dress. She’s on her way to a high-stakes poker game to gather intel, her slick ponytail whipping in the wind as she takes every turn a little too fast. Although her mind is on her mission, she recalls the brief but witty exchange she had with a charming billionaire last night. She wouldn’t mind getting to know him better, but now is not the time.

LOL! Yeah, that’s my Bombshell. Sure, she’s pink and girly, but she might just kick your @ss.

mac bombshell lipstick

mac bombshell lipstick swatch
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Elizabeth Arden Has Been Busy in the Garden Making Black Violet Grow: Introducing the Smoky Eyes Powder Pencil in Black Violet

June 2nd, 2011 by Karen 47 Comments

Elizabeth Arden Smoky Eyes Black Violet
Ms. Elizabeth Arden has been busy in the garden again. Her Smoky Eyes Powder Pencil in Black Violet ($16), one of seven pieces in the new Bronze in Bloom Summer 2011 Collection, can’t wait to decorate your eyes.

It’s an easy-to-use, long-wearing cream pencil that dries to a soft, powdery finish in a pretty, purplish black. I have a feeling it’ll look lovely on lasses with lighter eyes, but I think brown-eyed beauties are really in luck.