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

Estee Lauder has a Lil’ Something for Bronze (and Not so Bronze) Goddesses

March 21st, 2008 by Karen 30 Comments

Summer makeup collections usually feature golds, bronzes, bright corals or pinks — perfect colors to accompany a summertime tan. While it’s true that ladies with darker complexions (like your girl) scream a big ol’ “Woot-woot!” when companies release summery products in their preferred shades, light-skinned beauties may feel left out. Fear not, porcelain princesses, because this summer Estee Lauder’s got yo back. Their 2008 summer collection, “Bronze Goddess,” has three great products everyone can wear.

Bronze Goddess Sheer Lip Tint SPF 15 Lipstick

The limited edition Bronze Goddess Sheer Lip Tint SPF 15 lipstick ($25) looks dark in the tube, but don’t let that fool you. Applied, the color looks like a subtle watercolor bronze — just barely there at all — with a touch of shimmer. It should flatter most skin types, even if you’re on the lighter side.

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I had a lunch date with El Hub today (over his lunch break) and didn’t want wear too much makeup (aka, I was too lazy to put on a full face!), so I used Bronze Goddess on my lips, a tinted moisturizer on my face and cream blush on my cheeks. Tres casual without looking too sloppy.

I like the texture of Bronze Goddess. It isn’t sticky, goopy or heavy, and on my lips it faintly smells of peach Jolly Ranchers (LOL). The gold and tortoise shell case may look too mature for some, but I think it’s classy and cute.[Continue reading…]

Go Bronze and Shimmer with Laura Mercier’s Gold Digger Collection

March 20th, 2008 by Karen 22 Comments

If I ever make it back to the tropics, Laura Mercier’s Gold Digger collection is coming with me. Set to debut this spring, Laura’s summer collection is all about gold and bronze shimmer and includes two travel-friendly products that caught my eye: Colour Pots and Lip Glace lipglosses. I predict both would go perfectly with a surfer girl tan.

Each Colour Pot houses a cream eyeshadow base, with a coordinating loose powder shadow tucked away beneath it (so very James Bond!). Both products work well separately, but they’re intended to be layered one on top the other for an intense metallic shine.

I prefer to pack lightly when it comes to makeup and travel, so the idea of two products in one handy and compact package moves me. I welcome anything that lightens my load and means a bit more room for souvenirs in my carry-on bag.

Laura Mercier has made three gilded shades available — White Gold, Solid Gold and Bronze Gold.

As if you haven’t noticed, the gold theme continues. I’m excited about picking up all three new Lip Glace shades — Bronze, Gold and Platinum. Lip Glace lipglosses are non-sticky and don’t chap my lips or make them peel.

Here are a few pics, along with details on the rest of the collection.[Continue reading…]

Midnight Manicure with Shu Uemura Nail Polish

March 19th, 2008 by Karen 37 Comments

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Shu Uemura Nail Enamel Supplement Mineral in Gold Beige
Use: To make nails sing with color
Price: $16
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A

Even with huge work deadlines hanging over my head, I’m not afraid to procrastinate. Procrastination? I say bring it! Last night, when I should have either been sleeping or working on my project for work, I was painting my nails.

I’m on a Shu Uemura nail polish kick, and last night’s midnight manicure in Gold Beige may not have been the best use of time. Eh, who am I kidding?? Of course it was! I officially love these polishes and can’t wait to get more. Gold Beige dries fast, applies easily and looks great. [Continue reading…]

Chanel Summer 2008 Color Collection Now Available at Nordstrom!

March 18th, 2008 by Karen 65 Comments

Pink, coral, khaki, bronze — Chanel’s summer 2008 color collection has arrived at Nordstrom stores nationwide, so yesterday I hustled my booty on down to my fave Nordstrom Chanel counter to take a look.

Behold!

A few swatches, ooh la la!

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Jesus (pronounced hey-zoos), my Chanel counter homie, worked a little magic on me with this quick eye look using the Oasis Quad, Khaki Soft Touch Eyeshadow, Vert Bronze Waterproof Eyeliner and Emeraude Waterproof Mascara.
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The collection evokes sophisticated safari, with the kinds of colors you’d wear with a crisp, khaki dress, gold jewelry, snake skin strappy sandles and, of course, bronzed skin. Speaking of bronze, the collection includes a plethora of bronzers — five powder and one cream — along with an assortment of shadows, polishes, liners and lipsticks.

FACE
Soleil Tan de Chanel Moisturizing Bronzing Powder ($48) – A powder bronzer compact in five colors: Desert Coral, Terre Epice, Terre Ambre, Desert Bronze and Sable D’Or
Bronze Universel de Chanel Sun Illuminator ($45) – A shimmery liquid bronzer
Limited-Edition Collection Essentielle de Chanel ($85) – A multi-use makeup palette for eyes, lips and cheeks

EYES
Ombre Essentielle Soft Touch Eyeshadow ($27.50) – Single pan eyeshadows in four colors: Tigre (bronze), Nomade (pink rose), Khaki (khaki green) and Safari (stone brown)
LumiÃ¨res Facettes Eyeshadow Oasis Quad ($55) – A four color eyeshadow quad called Oasis contains khaki, bronze, coral and pink shimmer shadows
Ombre D’Eau Fluid Eyeshadow in Atoll ($30) – A golden sand colored liquid shadow golden sand
Stylo Yeaux Waterproof Eyeliner ($26.50) – A mechanical pencil colored liner in two colors, Vert Bronze (green bronze) and Espresso (dark brown)
Inimitable Waterproof Mascara in Emaraude ($27.50) – A jade green waterproof mascara

LIPS
Glossimer Lip Gloss ($26) – Gazelle, a new release, is a very hot praline pink with sparkle; I predict this one will sell out very quickly, so grab a tube or two or five (I’m buying two, LOL). The other two colors, Pinup (frosted golden peach) and Seashell (soft, shimmery pink), are also members of the Glossimer collection.
Rouge Hydrabase Cream Lipstick ($26) – Available in Leopard (golden coral) and Rose Flamingo (bright pink)
Rouge Allure Satin Lip Color ($30) – Available in in Naive (pink nude) and Curious (nude brown)
Aqualumiere Sheer Lipshine ($26) – Available in Zanzibar (soft peach) and Mauritius (bronzed coral)

NAILS
Le Vernis — Nail Colors ($19) – Available in Antelope (frosted golden brown) and Flamingo (bright bubblegum pink)

Get thee to Nordstrom ASAP to check ’em out!

Whatcha think? Are you feelin’ these?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

If you liked this entry, try your luck with my random post generator. Before you leave, click for a totally random post.🙂

A Salute to St. Patrick’s Day: Green Chanel Garden Party Eye

March 17th, 2008 by Karen 44 Comments

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Are you wearing green? All my green tops were in need of washing (go figure), so to meet my green quota for the day I busted out Chanel’s Garden Party Quad and worked this mint green and pink eye. Gotta thwart those St. Patty’s Day pinches, ya know!

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Do you have plans for tonight? Any green beer in your schedule? I can’t go out (BOO) because I have a big work project due on Thursday. I’m sort of freaking out today because the deadline is looming, but makeup always cheers me up.

Here’s the real face of the day:
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LOL! You know how it goes sometimes! 🙂

A few close ups of the eyes…

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To get this look, I used products from Chanel, Laura Mercier, Clinique, MAC, Dior and Rimmel.

Lid
– MAC Rollickin’ Paint Pot
– Light green shadow from the Chanel Garden Party Quad

Crease
– MAC Perky Paint Pot
– MAC Soft Brown Matte Eyeshadow
– Pink shadow from the Chanel Garden Party Quad on outer half of crease (layered on top of Soft Brown Matte)
– Peach shadow from the Chanel Garden Party Quad on inner half of crease (also layered on top of Soft Brown Matte)

Browbone
– MAC Perky Paint Pot
– Peach shadow from the Chanel Garden Party Quad

Brows
– MAC Concrete Eyeshdaow

Lashes
– MAC Zoom Lash mascara in Zoomblack (upper and lower)

Lower lash line
– Rimmel Jungle Green Soft Kajal Eye Pencil
– Dark green shadow from the Chanel Garden Party Quad
– Peach shadow from the Chanel Garden Party Quad on inner half of crease

Undereye circles
– Dior Long-Wearing Moisturizing Concealer in 430
– Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder #2

Face
– Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer in Almond
– Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder

Cheeks
– Clinique Fresh Bloom Allover Colour in Peony

Lips
– MAC Sublime Culture Cremestick Liner
– Chanel Glossimer in Pink Crystal

It’s official! Dior concealer rocks when it comes to covering dark circles. Before I applied my makeup today I had some serious dark circles. I stayed up late last night, partying with the neighbor’s cat while watching Keeping Up with the Kardashians, my latest guilty reality TV pleasure. In the pics above, can you see the purple in the inner corners of my eyes (and believe me, they are pretty dark today)? LOVE. YOU. DIOR.

How’s your day been so far? Catch any leprechauns? My coffee is finally kicking in (thank jeebus!) and I’m off to work. Lemme know if you have big plans for tonight.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Laura Mercier’s Creme Eye Duo: Pink Has a New Friend

March 16th, 2008 by Karen 24 Comments

For many, Sunday is a day of rest. Let me just say that those people are lucky bastards. Except for a few brief beauty breaks, my booty has been planted in the chair at my computer desk all afternoon.

On one of my breaks I snuck away from the keyboard to play with yesterday’s Laura Mercier loot. I took a few snapshots of a shimmery eye done using Laura Mercier’s Fairytale Creme Eye Duo, a combination of two cream eyeshadows, one pink and one violet. Both produce a near-transparent wash of color.

[Continue reading…]

Makeup and Beauty Blog: 2008 Marketing Survey

March 16th, 2008 by Karen 25 Comments

Makeup and Beauty Blog Marketing Survey

Hey, ya’ll. Would you help your girl out by taking a couple minutes to answer this marketing survey? I’m trying to find new ways to advertise besides Google because I’m kinda tired of seeing random ads on the blog for pink compost toilets and Asian brides.

It’s just 12 questions and won’t take very long. Thanks for your help. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Laura Mercier Haulin’, and Info on Gold Digger

March 15th, 2008 by Karen 41 Comments

Your girl did a lil’ hauling today at the Macy’s Union Square Laura Mercier counter. I picked up some cream shadows from the Dreamy Collection, along with a navy blue cake eyeliner and a flat eyeliner brush.

Here’s a pic of the haul sans camera flash:

I know I’ve moaned and groaned about my one bad incident with a Laura Mercier cream blush brush, but when Frank, a cool makeup artist at the Union Square counter, showed me how to use a flat eyeliner brush to apply Bleu Marine Eye Liner on my waterline (to make my eyes look bigger), I had a moment. [Continue reading…]