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

New Skin Care From Urban Decay

April 20th, 2017 by Karen 6 Comments

urban decay rehab makeup prep — New skin care from Urban Decay

I would have been a poor product prognosticator because I never — never! — expected to see an Urban Decay skin care line. No, a career as a fortune teller is clearly not in my immediate future.

A skin care line from Urban Decay. That is NOT what I expected, but it’s kinda cool, because when I think of UD, I think of color, glitter and crazy lipstick. I picture putting everything and the kitchen sink on my face, and sure, they also have the Naked palettes, but when I think of Urban Decay at its core, I think of bold, bad-@ss makeup.

Even though skin care seemed a little out of left field to me at first, it doesn’t anymore after seeing the products. There are seven in all, ranging from $15-28 each, and they’re divided into two groups — 1) products to prepare your skin for makeup, and 2) another group of products to remove your makeup.

And the products really are true to UD’s makeup roots, because they’re focused on preparing skin for face paint and helping it look its best. And then also on helping you remove everything you just put on.

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Makeup Shortcuts: Smoke Out Your Lids With Liner, and Avoid Having to Clean Up Fallout [Featuring Chanel Summer 2017]

April 20th, 2017 by Karen 8 Comments

Cleaning up fallout is one of my least favorite things in this universe, right up there with ill-fitting underwear. I LOATHE having to clean up powder under my eyes. I just have better things to do with my life, ya know?

I recently stumbled on this technique where you smoke out the outer corners using an eyeliner, and it’s the Best. Thing. Ever. Because no fallout. 🙂 Basically, all you need is a pencil liner, your favorite blending brush and your best resting b*tch face.

Ha! I kid, I kid! The RBF is totally optional.

Step 1: Start with your (nearly) completed makeup look

But seriously, what you will need is a nearly completed makeup look, so let’s start with that, OK?

Since you won’t have to worry about cleaning up any fallout (YAY!), you can already have your eyes, base, cheeks and lips done.

Here I’m wearing a few things from Chanel Summer 2017, and I’ll list everything down at the bottom of the post.

Step 2: Apply a dark liner to the outer corner

Grab a dark liner that will complement your look, and reach for something that’s either off-black, gray or dark brown — something that isn’t too dark but will still add that smokiness to the outer corners.

I mean, you could use a true black liner instead, but then you’d have to do more blending.

Also, you’ll want your liner to be somewhat smudgy in a formula that doesn’t set super quickly. That way you can easily push it around with a brush.

I’m using a greenish black to go with the warm bronze and pink tones I’m wearing.

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What’s the Longest You’ve Ever Spent on a Makeup Look?

April 20th, 2017 by Karen 10 Comments

I can’t believe I used to spend 2-3 hours on my makeup ALL THE TIME.

For that matter, I can’t believe I used to have 2-3 uninterrupted hours to spend on my makeup, LOL! That’s what I was doing a few years ago, putting in a few hours for every look, but I was in a hardcore learning mode, and I was taking pics of everything I did and learned for MBB. And whenever a camera gets involved, my makeup always takes longer, because I’m trying to be extra careful that everything is symmetrical and that my lighting is right. Plus, I usually use a remote control with the camera, and sometimes it’s a struggle to get a decent pic where I’m not blinking, fidgeting or cringing.

Hmm… The longest I’ve ever spent was probably about three hours (!). I know that I’ve spent most of an entire afternoon before, but it was half learning, half playing.

These days, though, an hour is my max, and that’s usually when the Coywolf is sleeping. Most days, I spent 20 minutes.

But I totally miss doing the uber-glam stuff! I miss having extra time to play and paint my face and express myself, and I miss being able to say, “Hey, I did that!”

I really have to remember to schedule some “me time” for one of these weekends coming up so I can lose myself in blending again. Makeup is SO MUCH FUN.

What about you, sweets? What’s the longest you’ve ever spent on a makeup look?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

What I Wore Wednesday, Vol. 9: Purple Wings and Lips

April 19th, 2017 by Karen 41 Comments

It’s been a minute since I’ve worn this much color! It felt SO good though. I was inspired by a picture I saw of model Ruby Rose on Urban Decay’s website wearing purple winged liner with matching sparkly purple lips.

So I took the idea and ran with it. I’m wearing a lot of Urban Decay in this look, including their Afterdark Eyeshadow Palette.

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New From Hourglass for Summer 2017: The Ambient Strobe Lighting Blushes and Two New Shades of Ambient Lighting Bronzer

April 19th, 2017 by Karen 18 Comments

hourglass ambient strobe lighting blush bronzer — There’s a new line of Hourglass single pan blushes for summer and two new shades of Hourglass bronzer (available now online and coming soon to stores)

I think we should start a petition to promote ice cream ? as a legitimate dinner option. Because why not? It’s got protein and…calcium. It’s totally real food.

Thanks, Hourglass, for giving me an ice cream ? craving. All I can see when I look at these new bronzers and blushes from Hourglass is ribbons of caramel in rich chocolate. Mmm…

A new line of Hourglass blushes and two new shades of bronzer

Hourglass has some new things for summer, yay! This is epic news for me because they’re one of my all-time favorite high-end brands. Their products are pricey, but they work amazingly well, and they’re BEAUTIFUL. The brand carries things that you just can’t find anywhere else (like the Ambient Lighting Blushes and their Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Sticks).

Now there’s a new line of super shimmery blushes (although we have seen them in a palette before) called the Ambient Strobe Lighting Blushes, which are $38 each and available in four shades, and two new $50 shades of Ambient Lighting Bronzer, bringing the new total up to four.

Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting Blush in Incandescent Electra (left) and Euphoric Fusion (right)

hourglass iridescent flash brilliant nude strobe lighting blush — Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting Blushes in Iridescent Flash (left) and Brilliant Nude (right)

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Makeup Shortcuts: Save Time by Using Blush as Eyeshadow

April 19th, 2017 by Karen 12 Comments

mac hard to get blush top — See the blush on my cheeks? I’m also wearing it on my lids!

Sometimes I don’t want to think too hard about what makeup colors I’m wearing, so I’ll wear my cheek color (the same color I’m wearing) on my lids as a shadow. It’s just one of those things that saves a little brain power, and here’s whatcha do…

It’s a lazy girl’s guide to using your blush as eyeshadow.

Step 1: Apply an eyeshadow base

You can use whatever you want — a potted cream shadow, stick shadow, what have you. I’m actually wearing an eyeliner here (MAC Costa Riche) as my base. You just want to make sure that whatever you choose will work in concert/harmony with the blush you plan to wear.

Step 2: Load an eye brush with your chosen blush

And after you load it, you have a choice to make. Do you keep the brush head dry and apply it like that? Or do you wet it with a makeup setting spray (like MAC Fix+) to intensify the color?

Up to you.

mac hard to get blush — MAC Extra Dimension Blush in Hard to Get with a MAC 217 Domed Eyeshadow Brush

Step 3: Blend that blush…on your lids

Sweep and pat to blend your blush on top of your eyeshadow base, and the higher up you take it, the more dramatic it’ll look.
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The Lust List, Vol. 5: Stuff I Kinda Want

April 18th, 2017 by Karen 19 Comments

EHRMAHGAWD.

So, there’s an obnoxious amount of stuff in my Sephora.com cart at the moment (two words: VIB SALE!), and this week’s Lust List may or may not represent a tiny fraction of what’s actually in there.

Not that I intend to pull the trigger on everything. This is just how I work. I put everything and the kitchen sink into my cart, then slowly pare it down.

Alright! Here’s what’s making my heart beat like a hummingbird’s.

Hourglass Illusion Hyaluronic Skin Tint ($56) — Been wanting to try this for ages! This moisturizing medium-to-full coverage foundation is supposed to plump and tighten while filling in deep wrinkles for a smoother, youthful-looking complexion. It also has SPF 15 and comes in a bunch of shades and different undertones.
Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Wheat and Peach ($28 each) — Two more morsels I wanna try. They’re water-resistant, semi-matte shadow primers.
Drunk Elephant T.L.C Sukari Babyfacial ($80) — Dude, I’m hoping this bottle can get my cheeks to look like Connor’s (baby cheeks are AMAZING). It’s a 25% AHA, 2% BHA mask (they call it an at-home facial that “effectively yet gently resurfaces skin and exfoliates the pore lining”), and I’ve heard nothing but great things about it.
Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum ($90) — Again with the Drunk ? Elephant. I just started using the Day Serum, and now I want to try the Night Serum too (it has 12% AHA and BHA!).
Marc Jacobs Beauty Dew Drops Coconut Gel Highlighter ($44) — I dew love the idea of a gel highlighter with golden peachy shimmer.
Christina Louboutin Lash Amplifying Lacquer ($70) — I mean, a $70 mascara is effing CRAZY, but my inner curious kitty can’t help but wonder if it’s epic. At this price, it better be lash crack!
Sephora Collection Sprinkle Me With Kisses The Voyager ($20) — How cute is this?! Not that I need another makeup bag…but this one has lipsticks and ice cream with red kisses! Could you ask for anything more? I think not.
Pinrose Lil’ Dipper and Sun Saint Fragrances ($65 each) — Another case of wanting a perfume (or two) because of the packaging and the name. These are SO PRETTY. Plus, I’ve always believed the Little Dipper deserves more love.
Viseart Neutral Matte Eyeshadow Palette ($80) — I’ve talked about lusting after this palette before, but now that it finally goes on sale, WAH! It’s out of stock on the Sephora website… 🙁
I really hope they have it at the Novato store.
Yves Saint Laurent Volupte Tint-in-Balm ($34) — So cute with the lip print in the tube! These sheer tinted balms are supposed to be mega moisturizing, but one thing’s for sure — I like the fancy packaging.
Shiseido Eyelash Curler ($20) — My Shu Uemura curler has been on its last legs since 2016… Basically, I need a new curler, and this one gets amazing reviews from ladies with stick straight lashes like mine.
RMS Beauty Eye Polish in Seduce ($16) — Leave it to me to be seduced by a satiny brown cream shadow named seduce.
You know I love me some brown cream shadow, LOL. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup Shortcuts: Save Time by Using Eyeliner as Eyeshadow

April 18th, 2017 by Karen 15 Comments

mac costa riche top — Using eyeliner as eyeshadow

Sometimes you wanna get lost in the moment, forget your cares, and blend your eye makeup to your heart’s ? delight…and sometimes you don’t.

Next time you don’t, try using an eyeliner as eyeshadow. You can whip out a quick look in minutes.

It’s usually easier if you use a soft liner because you can scoot it around with a brush, and liners that don’t dry immediately and stay pliable longer will give you more time to blend them out. I’m wearing MAC Costa Riche Eye Kohl in these pics.

Step 1: Get to linin’

Start by lining your lash and water lines with the eyeliner, then apply it your lids and just barely into the crease.

Note: you don’t have to be neat here at all. In fact, if you look in the mirror and see a crazy person starting back at you, you’re doing it right, LOL! 🙂

Step 2: Buff with a fluffy brush

Buff and smooth out the liner doing tight little circles and sweeping motions with your brush until it looks sufficiently buffed and even. FYI, you can coax it up and out as far as you’d like.

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