A beauty blog blooming with fresh makeup reviews, swatches and beauty tips from your friendly neighborhood beauty addict
Becca Mineral Bronzer/Illuminator in Serrana ($43), a matte bronze and a soft pink shimmer. One of 10 pieces from the new Becca Halcyon Days collection for summer 2011.
Thanks to NYC New York Color’s 10 new limited edition Mono Eye Shadows ($2.99 each), I’m a little less freaked out about my birthday next month (I’m turning 36, oy vey!). I’ve been on the market for eye makeup that doesn’t draw attention to my fine lines, so these comfort colors could not have come at a better time.
Most of them have this sophisticated, soft satin finish that’s one of the most attractive, forgiving satins I’ve ever seen from a drugstore line (there are also a couple of mattes and frosts).
In terms of shine, satiny shadows broadcast a subtle sheen that sits somewhere between shimmers (or frosts) and mattes, and unlike hi-shine shimmers, they don’t appear to actively seek out the tiny wrinkles on my lids.
I feel like NYC’s satin shades turn back the clock to a kinder, gentler time — let’s call it 26, LOL! — when my eyes looked all bright and glowy most of the time. 🙂
A few of the shades stand out to me like…
Clockwise from the brown pan on the bottom left: Luxury Reborn, In Vogue and Broadway Look
Clockwise from pink pan on left: Buzz List, High Street and 5th Avenue
I Love NY
Swatches from left to right: Broadway Look, I Love NY, Luxury Reborn, Manhattan Gaze, In Vogue, High Street, 5th Avenue and Buzz List
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I wish I could say I field tested the new Urban Decay Cannonball Waterproof Mascara ($20) by leaping from the rock at Waimea Bay on Oahu, but the methodology I used was a little less glamorous than that.
To put the new lengthening, waterproof mascara to the test, I pit it against two super soaking challenges. First, I charged headlong into a downpour to run some errands without an umbrella-ella-ella. Then, I pushed a heavy vacuum around my house for more than an hour. 🙂
If waterproof mascaras that leave your lashes feeling heavy and cakey make you want to weep bitter tears, you can throw them in the trash. We have a solution: Cannonball Ultra Waterproof Mascara! Rigorously field-tested in the ocean as well as sweat-drenched gym conditions, this exclusive Japanese formula refuses to budge. A special microcrystalline wax works with the dense, fuzzy brush to increase seductive length and volume, all while never flaking off and compromising your lashes’ natural feathery texture. Mermaids can now sing their siren songs with abandon, and high maintenance types can cry all they want.
As soon as I applied two layers first thing last Saturday morning, I noticed a very cool doe-eyed effect. Not only does Cannonball dramatically lengthen and separate lashes, it also cures the curl from my Shu Uemura lash curler, locking it into place. It made my peepers look crazy big, like an anime puppy’s eyes when it begs for bacon.
With it on, I proceeded to vigorously vacuum the house, and by the time I finished, I was covered in a glistening, sweaty sheen. As soon as I finished that, I left to run some errands around town (it was raining cats and dogs!), first to Trader Joe’s, then the UPS store and finally to Target, before returning home to crank out three miles on the treadmill.
Covered. In. Sweat. I know that with what I put it through, I was expecting a lot, but no one wants to make excuses for a $20 mascara. Straight up — I was expecting a lot.
Just a quick heads up for all my fellow Kate Spade addicts: the brand’s currently hosting a kick @ss online sample sale with select handbags, clothing, jewelry and accessories up to 75% off.
Shipping on all orders is just $5, and all sales are final. The sale runs until 11:59pm PST on May 19, and quantities are limited, so if you see something you like you might want to snatch it up sooner than later. Also, you’ll have to enter your email address to gain access to the sale.
My birthday’s next month (shout out to all the Geminis!), so I’m thinking about treating myself to a birthday gift or two. 😉
A few items from the Kate Spade sample sale
Happy (deeply discounted) shopping!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. A big thanks to EC over at Never Enough Nails for the heads up on the sale.
The other day I realized that in all my years of experimenting with different hair styling doodads, I’ve never once used foam curlers. No particular reason why. I think I just fell in love with my curling iron at a young age.
But since I’ve been hitting the curling iron a lot lately, now might be a good time to give foam curlers a try.
I can remember my granny rolling foam curlers into her wet hair before going to bed, so I plan to do the same with the Goody Summer Waves Rollers ($10 for 15 rollers) some time this week. They’re designed to build big, loose beachy waves instead of dense, tight curls.
I did a bit of research online and came up with the following steps to hopefully make The Goody Summer Waves Roller Project a curly success. 🙂
At the scalp, collect about a 2-inch lock of hair in one of your hands (measured about 2 inches along the scalp, as opposed to the length of the hair shaft).
The volume of hair you wrap around each curler determines how tight or loose the curls are. For tight curls, wrap less hair; for loose curls, wrap more.
This seems to be an optional step. I’ll probably use a soft hold hairspray, since my hair usually needs the help of a styling product to keep it under control. I’ve also read that a light application of mousse works well.
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Becca Mineral Blush in Damselfly ($32), a shimmery coral, one of 10 pieces from the new Becca Halcyon Days collection for summer 2011.
How exciting! Becca’s now doing nail polish. 🙂
From the left to the right: Dancing Barefoot (an apricot nude), Summerdaze (a retro pinkish coral) and Tangerine Dream (a bright sunset coral), $15 each. All three are part of the Becca Halcyon Days collection for summer 2011.
Available now at select boutiques and also online.
They were just a blip on my drugstore radar screen a few months ago, but now I’m tracking NYC New York Color full time. Before I even knew about the company’s cruelty-free philosophy, I was impressed by their prices and interesting colors, and after their awesome Ultra Last Lipsticks and Liquid Lip Shines buzzed my tower, I assumed the Smooch Proof 16H Lip Stains ($4.99 each, available in 10 shades) would too.
These unflavored, lightly fruit punch scented liquid lip stains come in a tube with a stiff felt-tip applicator. The 16H in the name refers to 16 hours, which is how long they’re supposed to last. They apply wet but dry to a finish that resembles the way lips look after a Popsicle or a glass of Kool-Aid. I wouldn’t exactly call it matte because it isn’t full coverage or thick like a matte lipstick, but it’s not at all shiny either. One layer leaves a light stain; two or three, a brighter, richer color.
Lip stains are great for date night. 🙂 Typically they deliver easy, long-lasting color without the stickiness or stained collars of a lipstick or gloss. And when one of you leans in to steal a kiss at the end of the night, homeboy won’t go home with glitter on his lips. Good lip stains usually last around four hours, which means not having to worry about touchups between dinner and the movie.
Swatches from left to right: Never Ending Nude, Smooch Proof, Forever Fuchsia, Berry Long Time and Rock on Ruby
Never Ending Nude on lips
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