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

Ready for This Jelly? A Quickie Tutorial With the Too Faced Peanut Butter Palette

May 3rd, 2016 by Anna Oh 13 Comments

too faced peanut butter on eyes — Peanut Butter Jelly Time!

The first time I heard about the Too Faced Peanut Butter and Jelly eye shadow palette ($36), I thought it was a joke. Like, a really good “Man, that would be so amazing!”-type joke.

But then I found out that it’s real!

I’ve been testing it out this past week, and there is nothing funny about how good this palette is. For lovers of warm sienna eyeshadows, it’s irresistable.

I kind of love that little peanut butter face with purple lips on the cover… She’s my muse!

At first I thought some of the colors might be too warm (like Nuts About You), but I decided to just go for it. I think the results are flattering and a little more interesting than a run-of-the-mill neutral eye look.

I call this look “Just Like Honey,” and it uses the warmest colors in the palette with lots of blending. Since it’s a monotone look, there’s room to play with the lip colors, but I highly recommend a purple or a bright pink matte lipstick. I’m wearing Too Faced La Matte Color Drenched Matte Lipstick in Pitch Perfect ($22).

Here’s a quick picture tutorial…

too faced peanut butter palette on eyes — Peanut Butter Palette on the lids and Too Faced La Matte Color Drenched Matte Lipstick in Pitch Perfect

And swatches…

too faced peanut butter swatches — Too Faced Peanut Butter and Jelly Eye Shadow Collection swatches

There really are no true duds in this palette. Jammin’ and Spread the Love aren’t quite as strong as the others and feel harder in their pans, but they’re still completely workable and show up nicely on the lids. The rest of the shades all feel buttery and smooth and make this palette an overall winner.

Ingredients:
Does not contain peanuts. Extra Creamy INGREDIENTS : Talc, Mica, Zinc Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sodium Saccharin Water/Aqua/Eau, Benzyl Alcohol, Fragrance/Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, PTFE, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, Theobroma Cacao Fruit Powder, Vanillin. May Contain/Peut Contenir (+/-): Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Manganese Violet (CI77742), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891). Jammin’ INGREDIENTS : Mica, Theobroma Cacao Fruit Powder, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Zinc Stearate, Sodium Saccharin, Water/Aqua/Eau, Benzyl Alcohol, Fragrance/Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, PTFE, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, Vanillin. May Contain/Peut Contenir (+/-): Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77499), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891). Jelly INGREDIENTS: Mica, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Talc, Zinc Stearate, Sodium Saccharin, Water/Aqua/Eau, Benzyl Alcohol, Fragrance/Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, PTFE, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, Tin Oxide, Carmine (CI 75470). May Contain/Peut Contenir (+/-): Ultramarines (CI 77007), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891). Nuts About U, Spread the Love INGREDIENTS: Mica, Talc, Zinc Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sodium Saccharin, Water/Aqua/Eau, Benzyl Alcohol, Fragrance/Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, PTFE, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, Theobroma Cacao Fruit Powder, Vanillin, Carmine (CI 75470). May Contain/Peut Contenir (+/-): Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Ultramarines (CI 77007), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Manganges Violet (CI 77742), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891). Peanut Brittle INGREDIENTS: Mica, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Talc, Zinc Stearate, Sodium Saccharin, Water/Aqua/Eau, Benzyl Alcohol, Fragrance/Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, PTFE, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, Theobroma Cacao Fruit Powder, Vanillin. May Contain/Peut Contenir (+/-): Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891). Peanut Butter INGREDIENTS: Talc, Mica, Zinc Stearate, Sodium Saccharin, Water/Aqua/Eau, Benzyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Fragrance/Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, PTFE, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, Theobroma Cacao Fruit Powder, Vanillin. May Contain/Peut Contenir (+/-): Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI77499), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891). Peanut Butter Cup INGREDIENTS: Mica, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Theobroma Cacao Fruit Powder, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, PTFE, Zinc Stearate, Sodium Saccharin, Water/Aqua/Eau, Benzyl Alcohol, Fragrance/Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, Tin Oxide, Vanillin. May Contain/Peut Contenir (+/-): Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).

Hope you enjoyed this look and quickie tutorial! Let me know if you have this palette and have a look to recommend. Unfortunately, as of right now, it looks it’s already sold out on Too Faced, Sephora, and Ulta. But don’t let that stop you from using a comparable palette, like the permanent collection Semi-Sweet.

See you in the next,

Anna

Anna Oh

Anna is an illustrator and designer from Atlanta, GA. Her work focuses on fashion, beauty, and awesome women. A former tomboy, Anna now happily embraces all things pink, glittery, and floral scented. You can see her illustration work at www.helloannaoh.com and on Instagram.

A Spring 2016 Diane Von Furstenberg-Inspired Face of the Day Feat. the Urban Decay Electric Palette

May 3rd, 2016 by Carolina Braina 24 Comments

Every day is a good day for a turquoise and green eyeshadow look! 😉

Raise your hand if you’re a proud owner of the Urban Decay Electric palette or a similar bright eyeshadow palette!

OK, now, raise your hand if you don’t use it as much as you wish you did!

HA, I see quite a lot of you have raised your hands both times, just like I have…

But frankly, the UD Electric is too beautiful a palette to just gather dust in my makeup drawer, and I’ve decided I want to change that!

So I’m thinking this is the perfect time to finally try the turquoise and green color combination I fell in love with last fall, when I saw the gorgeous look Pat McGrath had created for Diane Von Furstenberg at NYFW Spring 2016.

And if you, too, want to show your brights some much-deserved love, why don’t you get ready with me today? 😉

After applying primer all over the lids, pack a vibrant green shadow on the mobile lids with a firm brush, and blend it out just above the crease using a tiny bit of the same shadow on a fluffier brush, creating an elongated shape in the outer corners. Then prime your lower lash lines, apply the same green, and blend out the edges really well – we don’t want any harsh lines.

Now, wet a shader brush and use it to line the upper lashes with a turquoise shadow. Then blend the edge between green and turquoise so that the two colors merge together.

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Are the MAC Brooke Candy Eye Glosses Your Cup o’ Tea?

May 3rd, 2016 by Jen Clark 17 Comments

Eye look using MAC Brooke Candy White-Yin Eye Gloss ($23)

The lion’s share of the MAC Brooke Candy collection are definitely the amazing lippies, but the other items that sparked my interest were the eye glosses. I’d never used an eye gloss before, but I’d seen them floating around the YouTube-o-sphere, and they always looked so interesting to me.

There are two in this collection — White-Yin and Black-Yang.

Brooke Candy MAC Eye Gloss — White-Yin MAC Eye Gloss ($23; a clear gloss with multicolored micro-shimmer)

MAC Brooke Candy Eye Gloss in Black Yang — Black-Yang MAC Eye Gloss ($23; a black/blue gloss with red and blue micro-shimmer)

Not gonna lie, I’m not quite sure what to think of these… I think they’re made for a very specific kind of look and a very specific kind of person.

I love what Jessica did with some of the other MAC Eye Glosses to create a cool, editiorial, grunge-y look, but no matter what you do, you’ll end up with creased, oily-looking eye makeup, which, obviously, isn’t everyone’s cup o’ tea.

They are also crazy sticky, which I guess makes sense for what they are, but they feel so weird on my eyelids. I just can’t deal with it. As you open your eyes and blink, things just stick together.

White-Yin MAC Eye Gloss (a clear gloss with multi colored micro-shimmer) — White-Yin MAC Eye Gloss ($23; a clear gloss with multicolored micro-shimmer)

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Mother’s Day Gift Ideas: 5 Fantastic Fragrances

May 3rd, 2016 by Karen 15 Comments

From the left: Gucci Bamboo, Tom Ford Neroli Portofino Acqua, Clean Reserve Velvet Flora, Maison Martin Margiela Replica Lipstick On and Tocca Emelia

There’s something so comforting about hugging mom and getting a good whiff of her scent.

Why is that? Maybe it’s some primal leftover from childhood that never quite leaves you? Hmm, deep thoughts…

Mother’s Day is this weekend! If you’re looking for a gift, here are a few of my favorite mom-friendly scents.

For the sophisticated mom — Gucci Bamboo

Gucci Bamboo is like a perfect pair of nude pumps or a tan trench that goes with everything. For moms with a classic style.

Official notes: Italian bergamot, Casablanca lily, ylang ylang and Comoros sandalwood.

Unofficial notes: A great day at a job you love, cocktails with good friends after a long week, and looking at yourself in the mirror and totally feelin’ your current outfit.

$92 for a 1.6-oz. bottle, available now at Sephora.

For the fun-lovin’ mom — Tom Ford Neroli Portofino Acqua

This playful perfume smells like summers on the beach. If your mom’s a water baby, I bet she’ll love it.

Official notes: Citrus and amber

Unofficial notes: Sand between your toes, saltwater on your skin and endless summer days that lead to sultry summer nights…

$150 for a 1.7-oz. bottle, available at Sephora.

For the no-nosense mom — Reserve Velvet Flora, by Clean

For moms who like their scents on the not-so-sweet side, Reserve Velvet Flora could almost pass for a men’s cologne.

Official notes: Green bergamot, jasmine lily, saffron flower, cedarwood, moss, musk, amber and patchouli.

Unofficial notes: Old books, Sunday brunch on a crisp spring morning, and standing next to your current boy crush and catching a whiff of his cologne.

$90 for a 3.4-oz. bottle, available at Sephora.

For the flirty mom — Lipstick On, by Maison Martin Margiela

A girly-girl scent for moms who never leave home without a tube of red lipstick.

Official notes: Bergamot oil, heliotrope accord, neroli oil, orange flower absolute, orris concrete, galbanum oil, tonka bean absolute, vanilla bourbon extract and patchouli oil.

Unofficial notes: Matte red lips, black cat eyeliner and a single strand of pearls. *meow*

$125 for a 3.4-oz. bottle, available at Sephora.

For the easygoing mom — Tocca Emelia

I think this is a scent for almost anyone of any age. You’ll be tempted to “borrow” this fresh, easygoing scent from mom to wear it for yourself.

Official notes: Watery clementine, loquat fruit, bucchu leaves, fig leaf, geranium coeur, magnolia tree leaf, amaryllis, Kadota fig, maté absolute Paraguay, bison gross, florentine orris, praline, ambrette seed absolute and coconut water.

Unofficial notes: Chatting on the phone with your best friend and laughing at all of your inside jokes, long walks in the afternoon on a sunny spring day, and your favorite maxi dress.

$68 for a 1.7-oz. bottle, available now at Sephora.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy Tuesday, friend. 🙂

Brush Up on Bright With the New Sonia Kashuk Brush Couture Brush Set

May 3rd, 2016 by Adia Goss 13 Comments

Now, I thought the Zoeva Complete Brush Set brushes were/are gorgeous, but I was floored by the brushes in the Sonia Kashuk Brush Couture Brush Set ($21.99)!

The brushes in this four-piece set all have colorful floral-print handles and coordinating bristles, and they’re a sight to behold, but looks are nothing when it comes to brushes. What I want to know is how do they work? Do they make it easier to apply my makeup? Does my makeup look better when I use them? Let’s see…

The Sonia Kashuk Brush Couture Brush Set comes with a domed powder/blush brush (purple), synthetic contour/buffing brush (orange), tapered powder/highlight brush (pink) and a duo fiber foundation/concealer brush (yellow), and I think we can all agree that these are some super cute brushes.

Are they as good as they look?

Well, the domed powder/blush brush works nicely as a blush brush. It’s a little smaller and more dense than what I typically reach for, but it picks up pigment nicely and is very, very smooth.

Here’s a comparison of it to other blush brushes in my collection:

The Sonia Kashuk domed powder/blush brush is larger than the Zoeva Luxe Highlight Brush but smaller than the Zoeva Luxe Cheek Finish Brush, so it’s on the small size for a blush brush. That being said, it does a fine job of applying my blush.

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Look Fresh and Organically Juicy With Juice Beauty Spring 2016

May 2nd, 2016 by Jessica Revitte 11 Comments

juice-beauty-spring-2016-liquid-lip--gwyneth — Rocking the organic look with Juice Beauty Cream Shadow Stick in Cove, and Satin Lip Cream in Cabernet as a base topped with Liquid Lip in Gwyneth

Although the day will have long since passed by the time you read this post, I started writing it on Earth Day (long story), and while I’m not exactly the world’s foremost expert on green beauty, I love it, and I love seeing what the brands that specialize in organic beauty products have to offer.

Juice Beauty is a well-respected brand in the world of organic, earth-friendly makeup, and they call themselves “the organic solution.” They incorporate a host of plant based ingredients into their products and make it clear that they want you to look at the list of common cosmetic industry ingredients that their products are formulated without.

Juice Beauty Spring 2016 — New juicy treats from Juice Beauty!

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My Favorite Nude Lipsticks for Every Occasion and Budget

May 2nd, 2016 by Anna Oh 22 Comments

ysl rouge volupte 3 beige ultimate maybelline nude lust — An old favorite nude lipstick, and a new favorite nude lipstick: YSL Rouge Volupte, and Maybelline Color Sensational

I’m going to guess that you’re like me and LOVE peeking into someone else’s makeup bag. Well, no need to ask, because today I’m going to share my go-to nude lipsticks. I always have these on hand. They’re my good luck charms, like my Tide to Go (because I’m too lazy to reapply dark lip colors after eating), and these will work for beauty lovers of every budget, yay!

Marcella will also be sharing her nude lipstick favorites in another post, and I can’t wait to see what she picks for hers.

For work: YSL Rouge Volupte “3 Beige Ultimate”

So this one is actually a good luck charm for me. I’ve worn this to every job interview, and so far I’ve had a 100% success rate with it!

I’m half-kidding because I haven’t had THAT many full-time job interviews, but I usually wear a long fitted black blazer with some smart pleated pants with this beauty of a lipstick in my pocket. It’s the YSL Rouge Volupte Silky Sensual Radiant Lipstick in Beige Ultimate ($37). Even at that price point, I don’t think this lipstick disappoints. Heavy golden metal, not-too-sweet-watermelon scent, and amazing pigmentation in one swipe.

Infused with oils, it sits comfortably on my lips, and I barely notice I’m wearing it while talking to friends and interviewers alike. YSL wins the award for my top luxury lip choice.

For play: Maybelline The Buffs “Nude Lust”

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 421

May 2nd, 2016 by Karen 21 Comments

You might be wondering, “So what in tarnation is this Monday Poll thing anyway!?”

Well, it isn’t exactly a poll. It’s more of a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past eight (!) years. (It’s like a kickstart for your brain.) I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

What’s the most creative thing you’ve done lately?
I’ve really started getting into hand lettering! El Hub got me these cool watercolor brush pens by Tombow (they have a fine point tip on one end a bigger, softer brush-y tip on the other), and I’ve been doodling with them every day and thinking up little phrases. I like that it uses a different creative part of my brain!

The first beauty product I used today was _____.
Beauty-wise, the first thing I do every morning is wash my face, so it was Neogen Dermalogy Green Tea Real Fresh Foam Cleanser.

It’s been on my bathroom shelf since February, and I’m still into it (minor miracle)! It comes out of the bottle in a soft, soothing foam, and it leaves my skin feeling clean without stripping it bone dry. Two paws up.

If you could wish for one thing to happen today, it would be ______.
To win the lottery, LOL! But en lieu of that happening…I’d happily settle for being able to cross everything off of my to-do list in a timely manner.

Where do you find joy?
In my daughter’s smile and my tabby’s purrs. Every time I see or hear either one, happiness fills my heart.

If you could add one hour to your day today, what would you do?
Believe it or not, this time I wouldn’t sleep! 🙂 Connor’s been sleeping for longer stretches at night of 4-5 hours, so I’m starting to function somewhat more normally…somewhat…during the daylight waking hours, so I’d take that extra hour to exercise.

I’ve missed getting my sweat on!

Your turn. 🙂 Just copy and paste the following questions into a comment with your answers. I look forward to reading ’em!

1. What’s the most creative thing you’ve done recently?
2. The first beauty product I used today was ____.
3. If you could wish for one thing to happen today, it would be ______.
4. Where do you find joy?
5. If you could add one hour to your day today, what would you do?

Mmm…peanut butter on toast. Quickie breakfast today because I’m taking Connor to the pediatrician for her two-month visit. It’s supposed to be a warm one here in Northern California. I hope it’s nice where you are, too. If you need a little sunshine, I’ll send it to ya.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen