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

Why You Need to Try Curling Your Lashes and Applying a Thin Coat of Mascara BEFORE Doing Your Eyeshadow, ASAP

April 7th, 2017 by Karen 11 Comments

Here’s an eye makeup tip to try! Before applying your eyeshadow, curl your eyelashes first, then apply the thinnest layer of your favorite mascara. Now, with your eyes wide open, look straight into a mirror, and notice where the tips of your upper lashes are.

Now here’s the tip: Take your eyeshadow up that far, up to the tips of your lashes.

Voila!

I’ve been doing this the whole week, and it’s been a game changer for me because I tend to take my eyeshadow up really high (like, seriously, almost to my brows!), but when I use my curled lashes as a guide, it’s easy to tell how far up to take my crease colors.

And this tip helps even more if you have hooded eyes or otherwise don’t have a lot of lid space (like moi).

Lastly, when you’re finished applying your eyeshadow, apply a second coat of mascara to cover up any eyeshadow that may have gotten on your lashes.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!!!!!! 🙂

MAC Lipglass Swatches: All 57 Shades in the Permanent Line, SWATCHED!

April 6th, 2017 by Karen 31 Comments

There are 57 (!) MAC Lipglasses in the permanent collection now ($17 each), and all of them just got new packaging/outfits.

Here are some fun facts you may or may not know about them…

None of them start with the letter “F.”
Two of them start with the word “love.” (Love Child and Love Nectar)
Three of them start with the word “pink.” (Pink Lemonade, Pink Nouveau and Pinkarat)
One of them is named after an insect. (Yellow Jacket)
There are three “Rs” (not two) in Prrr.
Several of them have color counterparts, like Russian Red (also a Lipstick), Impassioned (Lipstick) and Soar (a Lip Pencil).
Even though it’s not in the permanent collection, once upon a time there was a shade called Evolution Revolution. ?

In addition to their even shinier outfits, ~~they also got a little bigger~~ (update: the new tubes hold 0.10 ounces, and the old Lipglass tubes held 0.17 ounces).

You’ll recognize your old faves among them, like Nymphette, Spite and Lychee Luxe…

Oh, wait! Those are my old faves. 🙂 The glosses themselves haven’t changed (same patent-leather shine and hella sticky vanilla-scented formula). They’re just wearing new outfits.

1. Angel

2. Baby’s a Vamp

mac babys a vamp lipglass — Baby’s a Vamp

3. Beaux

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Super Important Question (Not Really): How Do You Feel About Scrunchies?

April 6th, 2017 by Karen 14 Comments

I LOVE THEM! I like that they don’t hurt my hair OR my head, LOL! Because you know how sometimes when you put your ponytail up and you get a headache? That happens to me all the time, EXCEPT WHEN I WEAR SCRUNCHIES.

They also don’t leave that weird bend in my hair… You know what I’m talking about — that dent you get in the crown from a ponytail.

I’ve been thinking about them lately because I was looking around the Urban Outfitters website, and they’ve got a TON of scrunchies on there for sale.

Like, what the hell, dude? I need to crawl out from under my rock, because I had no idea it became socially acceptable for hip youngsters to don scrunchies again.

Free People even has sequin scrunchies!

Anywho, I’ve been wearing them for years, and it’s funny, but you know you’ve hit a certain point in your life when you’ve lived through trends that were totally in style, then fell out of style, and are now back in style again.

How do you feel about scrunchies? They seem to be one of those things that people either love or loathe.

#TEAMSCRUNCHIE! 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

What I Wore Wednesday, Vol. 7: Glossy, Beachy Casual With the NARS Charlotte Gainsbourg for Summer 2017 Collection

April 5th, 2017 by Karen 12 Comments

There’s a 100% chance that I’m wearing pajamas in these pics. ?

Today I’m wearing a glowy, glossy, beachy casual look with the new NARS Charlotte Gainsbourg collection (thanks to Leelee for the suggestion!).

What’s in the mix

Eyes: MAC Cream Colour Base in Hush (all over lids from lash line to brow bone), NARS Charlotte Gainsbourg Old Church Street Velvet Eyeshadow Duo (champagne shade in the inner portion of lids and blue on the upper lash line), NARS Charlotte Gainsbourg Kohliner in Nuit D’Encre (tight line), NARS Blondie Eyeshadow (outer portion of crease and lower lash line), NARS Audacious Mascara (lashes), MAC Brun Eyeshadow and Benefit Ready Set Brows (brows)

Cheeks: NARS Sun Wash Bronzer in Laguna, NARS Charlotte Gainsbourg Multiple Tints in Jo and Alice (mixed together and applied on apples), MAC Cream Colour Base in Hush (upper cheekbones)

Face: Make Up For Ever Smoothing Primer (on my cheeks, nose, forehead and around my mouth), NARS Hydrating Glow Tint in Medium mixed with a few drops of Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Concealer in Y41 (all over my face), Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Concealers in Y31 and Y41 (underneath my eyes), NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder (to set under eye concealer), MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Golden (on my forehead, sides of my nose, around my mouth and chin)

Lips: NARS Multiple Tint in Jo mixed with NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in London Clinic (applied with a MAC 217 brush)

nars charlotte gainsbourg old church street — I’m wearing this on my lids

Dude, I wish I was actually going to the beach today! I’m just about to leave for the dentist. Wish me luck…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Have You Ever Cut Your Own Bangs?

April 5th, 2017 by Karen 15 Comments

Well, there was a time back in my hair-bear days, around 14 and 15, when I would take any old pair of scissors and just, like, trim my bangs willy-nilly.

I purposefully cut them choppy and at different lengths because I wanted “a layered look” (seriously, Karen?!), even though I really didn’t understand what that meant…

The front looked crazy, dude! But I didn’t care. As long as those bangs were high and lacquered such that not even a category 5 hurricane could fell them, I was happy. 🙂

But I’d never attempt it now. I think I’ve gotten progressively less coordinated over the years. I probably shouldn’t be manipulating scissors anywhere near my face.

I don’t know… I can see myself trimming off an eyebrow or a big chunk of my lashes by accident. Or poking an eyeball, OMG!

Bangs! Have you ever cut yours? (I’m hoping that your story ends on a positive note.)

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

NARS Charlotte Gainsbourg Collection for Summer 2017: Swatches and First Impressions

April 4th, 2017 by Karen 27 Comments

nars charlotte gainsbourg summer 2017 — The NARS Charlotte Gainsbourg Collection for Summer 2017, coming to NARS counters April 15th

Oh, my gosh!!! I’ve been painstakingly growing out my bangs for the last… How long’s it been? A month and a half? But now I’m this close to throwing in the proverbial hair towel and chopping them off because of Charlotte Gainsbourg.

I’ve been looking at pictures of her and listening to her music all day long because, hello — gotta set the mood for the new NARS Charlotte Gainsbourg Collection, and this woman works some fierce bangs action. Charlotte, girl, you’re giving me so much hair inspo right meow. 🙂

And makeup inspiration, too! Charlotte’s new collab with NARS is kind of incredible. It completely contravenes the whole more-is-more thing happening in makeup, like an anti-Instagram/heavy contouring/blinding highlight kryptonite, with sheer coverage, sheer skin, sheer cheeks, sheer lips and barely-there color on the eyes.

It’s fresh, easy, approachable, and very evocative of Charlotte’s makeup style (and mine right now).

In most of the pictures I’ve seen of her, Charlotte’s skin looks real! She’s wearing very minimal coverage (most of the time, it doesn’t look like she’s wearing any foundation or concealer at all, but I think she probably is), maybe with a pink or dark lip, barely-there color on her cheeks, and lashes and liner. Or she’ll do a subtle smoky eye with neutral lips, which seems like a very French aesthetic to me.

Charlotte is half French, half English and the daughter of two famous people, English singer Jane Birkin and French actor/songwriter Serge Gainsbourg, and she’s starred in more than three dozen movies, many of them in the UK and France. Her experience with movie and stage makeup inspired this launch.

The collection encompasses 18 LE pieces and arrives on April 15th with lots of exciting new formulas, including things we’ve never seen from NARS before, like the Hydrating Glow Tints, Lip Tints and Velvet Duo Eyeshadows.

There are also three new shades of the Multiple Tints (which are still relatively new) and the snazzy Au Poil Brush Roll, which is — wait for it — $175 (!).

SAY WHAT?! Yeah.

nars charlotte gainsbourg collection swatches 2 — Swatches from the top: Multiple Tints in Alice, Jo and Jeanette; Velvet Matte Lip Pencils in London Clinic and Blindfold; Lip Tints in Double Decker, Ephelide and Promise

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Paint Chips, Vol. 1: Smith & Cult Exit the Void

April 4th, 2017 by Karen 8 Comments

smith cult exit the void day 1 — Smith & Cult Exit the Void: Day 1

How long will it last? THAT’S the question. Let’s find out! 🙂 Paint Chips is a series where I paint my paws with two coats of polish, a base coast and a top coat, and see how long it lasts.

Even if you aren’t a hardcore makeup collector — even if you’re just a part-time product enthusiast — you probably remember at least one product that turned a casual interest into a full-blown brand obsession. For me, one such product was Smith & Cult Exit the Void.

I’d worn a couple of shades from Smith & Cult before, but oh, my goodness… When I discovered this creamy periwinkle blue (came out with their spring 2017 collection), it took my eyeballs by surprise!

It looks like a perfect spring sky — that dreamy, rich blue that rocks your world after so many months of dreary, wintry gray. It brings a smile to my face whenever I see it on my nails. 🙂

What makes me REALLY happy, though, is how pigmented it is (one coat is like three coats of any other brand) and how freaking long it lasts.

And dude, I beat the crap out of my nails. I’m serious, these poor hands. I put them through a lot. Lots of typing, baby handling, kitty handling, chores, and even some weightlifting and burpies (which are the devil’s work). My nail polish, to paraphrase Rihanna, needs to work, work, work, work, work, work.

Exit the Void, when I wore it with a Sally Hansen Green Tea + Bamboo base coat and OPI Top Coat (they’re my current faves), looked perfect for five days. Then, about halfway through the fifth day, the first chips started to appear.

But that’s great for me! I left it on to see how long it could go before it passed the absolute point of no return.

smith cult exit the void day 5a — Smith & Cult Exit the Void after five days

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The Lust List, Vol. 3: Stuff I Kinda Want

April 4th, 2017 by Karen 40 Comments

Girl, I’m an equal opportunity lust-er.

Ha ha ha! I don’t even know if that makes sense… In addition to makeup and hair products and skin care and nail polish and everything else that you can shove into your basket at Sephora, I lust after clothes, and the urge is particularly strong at the beginning of a new season, because I’m thinking, “Oh, the weather’s changing! I need to update my wardrobe.” 🙂

I mean, “need” in this case is totally in air quotes, because I’m not walking around in my birthday suit or anything, but ya know, I’d like a few updates, because I’m kind of tired of wearing the same shirts over and over again. Ever since I KonMari’d my closet, which happened shortly before I got pregnant with Connor, the same five shirts and two pairs of pants that I’ve been able to shoehorn myself into have been in steady rotation, and I’m feeling the itch to switch things up ASAP.

The Lust List, Vol. 3: Stuff I Kinda Want

Madewell Fleet Jacket ($118) — I’m lusting after this Madewell jacket so hard! I have something similar that I got from Loft a few years ago, but it’s a little too big for me, so I look like a kid dressing up in her mother’s clothes when I wear it.
And in your 40s, that’s not a good look.

The Madewell version looks a bit shorter, more streamlined, and I really like the zippered pocket in the front.
Madewell Stripe Recycled Cotton Ringer Tee ($32) — This striped tee is also from Madewell. I have two black-and-white striped shirts from Loft that I got 50% off a couple seasons ago, but both of them have holes already, gah.
I want this as a replacement shirt… I like the black detailing around the neck and sleeves.

Do you have any Madewell tees in your closet? Are they, in fact, made well?
Athleta Knot Zephyr Tank ($49) — I’ve been spending a lot of time lately on the Athleta website, and gosh, they have a lot of cute (but reeeeeeally expensive) workout clothes.
I’m crushing on this mint green tank top. It’s from their line of super soft clothing, and I’m into super soft. I like how it drapes (I don’t like tight workout tops), and THE KNOT ON THE FRONT IS SO CUTE.
Athleta Estuary Aqualuxe Swim Dress ($79) — They also have swim dresses. Who knew? You can actually swim in ’em (I think you have to add your own bottoms, though).
I’d like this dress for actually wearing as a dress, but I can’t say that I’m averse to the idea of being able to jump into a body of water in it at a moment’s notice.
Aerin Mediterranean Honeysuckle and Lilac Path Eau de Parfums ($115 each) — So, I know that it seems #basic to wear floral fragrances at the beginning of spring, but I don’t care, because Aerin does awesome florals. Her scents remind me of Tocca in that they’re light and pretty and not too in your face. Mediterranean Honeysuckle and Lilac Path sound like lovely spring updates, don’t you think?
Sephora Mixology Eyeshadow Palette ($34) — I mostly like this palette from Sephora because of the design, LOL!
Stila Magnificent Metals ($24 each) — I swatched some Stila Magnificent Metals on the back of my hand while wandering around Ulta a couple weeks ago, and I haven’t been able to get them off my mind.
So glittery! So sparkly! I wouldn’t be crushed if one or two found their way into my life…
Urban Decay Meltdown Makeup Remove Lip Oil Stick ($18) — Does one really need a separate makeup remover just to take off long-wearing lipstick?
Naw, but this one from Urban Decay is clear! I don’t know why, but I find this endlessly fascinating.

What’s on your lust list, babe? Clothes, makeup, shoes, books, technology, accessories, pet accessories?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen