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

What Are 5 of Your Favorite Face/Cheek Products of All Time, and Why Do You Love Them?

January 7th, 2015 by Karen 38 Comments

In no particular order…

Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blush in Malice ($45)

Malice, with her barely-there golden shimmer, is my idea of a purrfect peachy pink blush. If glittery golden wild child NARS Orgasm were sent to finishing school for a year, she’d come back wearing pearls instead of a leather jacket and call herself Chanel Malice.

MAC Extra Dimension Bronzer in Delphic ($27.50)

Delphic bronzer was in last year’s limited edition Alluring Aquatic collection, and I will cry a raging river of black mascara-streaked tears when I finish it.

I feel like it makes me look like I just spent an afternoon soaking up the sun with friends. Ahh…

MAC Mineralize Blush in Warm Soul ($27)

I mean, really, how many times can I gush about this golden beige blush!?

Apparently, at least one more. 🙂

It’s just so effortlessly awesome.

MAC Warm Soul Mineralize Blush — Wearing MAC Warm Soul on my cheeks

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10 Things I Love About Rouge Bunny Rouge

January 6th, 2015 by Karen 29 Comments

1. Satin Eyeliner in Blue Roan

Don’t get me wrong, I love me some black liquid liner. It’s timeless and classic, never goes out of style, yada-yada-yada-yada, but wearing it day in/day out starts to get repetitive. At least for me it does. This deep blue…sigh! It’s gorgeously rich, with no weird green undertones, and it’s a fun way to switch things up and get out of a black liner rut. Plus, it’s smooth and easy to use. $28, and available now at Rouge Bunny Rouge counters and online.

Rouge Bunny Rouge Blue Roan — Wearing my newest liquid liner love, Rouge Bunny Rouge Satin Eyeliner in Blue Roan ($28)

2. The exclusivity

I kind of love that you can’t just roll up to any ol’ Macy’s and find RBR in the cosmetics department. There’s an air of exclusivity about it that I dig. It’s the same feeling I get whenever I wear Byredo Parfum’s Gypsy Water fragrance…like I’m in on a secret that only the cool girls know about.

3. Speaking of perfume…

Rouge Bunny Rouge has some really interesting and complex scents that aren’t your run-of-the-mill candy-coated pop star sh*t that someone slapped a glittery label on and dropped on a shelf at Sephora. Their scents surprise me all the time, but aren’t so far out and artsy that I can’t relate to them. Tenera ($129) is one of my faves when I’m in the mood for something kinda spicy and cozy (has notes of black pepper, heliotrope, vanilla pod), and Allegria’s my go-to when I want something more feminine and soft (grapefruit, mint, basil and tonka bean).

4. The extra touches

I like that the brand does fun little extras, like jewelry trays and tiny ceramic flower room fresheners that you can spritz your favorite RBR fragrances onto, every once in a while when you order from their website.

5. Long-Lasting Eye Shadow in Rufous-Tailed Weaver

ERHMAYGOODNESS. Don’t even get me started on Rouge Bunny Rouge’s powder eyeshadows because we will be here for DAYS. Their complex, long-lasting, interesting colors and finishes are such a joy to blend. They really do make it SO easy.
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What Are Your 5 Favorite Makeup Brushes Right Now?

January 6th, 2015 by Karen 30 Comments

Happy Tuesday, beautiful brush lover. 🙂 What are your five favorite makeup brushes right meow? Here are mine…

1. NARS #42 Blending Brush

Last year NARS completely revamped their brush line, and this brush, the NARS #42, is already one my favorite brushes of all time. I love it even more than my beloved MAC 224 (I KNOW!)…

I mean, I still love the 224 (both brushes have similarly shaped heads), but the 42’s bristles are wider and fuller, and I think it actually is better at diffusing and blending color, especially in the crease.

It’s my go-to brush for blending transition colors together, and if I ever reach for it and find that it’s dirty because I forgot to clean it, I freak out a little…

OK, I freak out A LOT. Available now for $32 at NARS counters and online.

2. NARS #47 Angled Eyeliner Brush

I don’t think I could, or at least would want to, line my eyes with anything other than this brush. The NARS #47 draws crisp, precise edges and defined cat eye flicks like an architect draws plans, and it deftly handles lines of varying width, from thin to thick to semi-skinny — whatev.

You get supreme control over whatever product you’re using it with, and it also diffuses pencil, gel and eye powders perfectly. Works great as a brow filler, too. Available now for $28 at NARS counters and online.

3. Laura Mercier Pony Tail Brush

I am trying very hard to write about this brush without quoting that Ginuwine Pony song right now.

It’s so hard, though!

Ride it, my pony…

Anyways, Laura’s Pony Tail Brush is another fantastic transition shade/crease tool. Like the NARS #42, which has a slightly shorter brush head and a less tapered tip, it’s fluffy and full, so any powders you’re scooting around with it in your crease or on your lids blend together beautifully.

I like Laura’s version better for applying transition colors in the lower part of the crease, and I also use it all the time for buffing out under-eye concealer because the tapered tip allows me to really get into those hard-to-reach areas in the inner corners and lower lash line. Available now for $29 at Laura Mercier counters and online.

4. Sephora Pro Angled Shadow Brush #13

On one hand, I feel like I really need to stop stress-shopping at Sephora…but on the other I’m like, “How else would I find gems like the Pro Angled Shadow Brush?”

Dude! What a great stress-shopping find. It’s so easy to perfectly place shadow into the outer corners and lower crease thanks to this brush’s angled shape. At the same time, it doesn’t lay down so much product that I end up having to spend forever and a day buffing. Available now for $20 at Sephora and online.

5. Sonia Kashuk Lash & Brow Comb

For me, the largest measure of success for this brow/lash comb combo is the fact that I have yet to poke my eye out with it.

Knocks on wood! 🙂

Seriously, though, this collapsable contraption is great. It’s kinda like a pocketknife, which makes it nice and portable, but most importantly it gets the job done right. Plus, it costs less than a fancy cup of coffee. Available now for $4.99 at Target and online.

How about you, babe? What are your five favorite makeup brushes right meow?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

More of a Rebellion Than a Revolution, the New Urban Decay Sheer Revolution Lipsticks Still Pack Some Pigment Firepower

January 5th, 2015 by Karen 27 Comments

The brand new Urban Decay Sheer Revolution Lipsticks ($20 each), new for spring 2015

A lot of makeup lines have been doing the sheer lip thing for a while, so really, the idea is NOT that revolutionary anymore.

Like Clinique Black Honey? That’s one of the O.G. sheer lipsticks from the back in the day, so at this point, we can safely assume that a new line of sheer lipsticks will probably not leave you slack-jawed at your desk with drool dribbling from the left corner of your mouth and a mind so completely blown that you may cease to exist on this plane because you’ve been transported to a magical makeup alternate reality…

Let’s face it. The idea has been done before.

That said, Urban Decay’s new Sheer Revolution Lipsticks ($20 each, coming spring 2015) are different in one major way: they’re significantly more pigmented than many sheer lipsticks in the same price range (for instance, the $22 Too Faced La Cremes and $19 Benefit Tinted Tinted Lip Balms), particularly the brighter colors, like hot pink Sheer Anarchy and berry Sheer Shame.

Unfortunately, the nudes in the collection all start to look the same after a while on my pigmented lips…but that’s not unusual for me when it comes to sheer lipsticks and balms.

Urban Decay Sheer Revolution Lipsticks from the top to the bottom: Sheer Ladyflower, Sheer Streak, Sheer F-Bomb, Sheer Liar, Sheer Rapture, Sheer Anarchy, Sheer SHame, Sheer Slowburn, Sheer Obsessed and Sheer Walk of Shame — From top to bottom: Sheer Ladyflower, Sheer Streak, Sheer F-Bomb, Sheer Liar, Sheer Rapture, Sheer Anarchy, Sheer Shame, Sheer Slowburn, Sheer Obsessed and Sheer Walk of Shame

A completely new line of lipsticks en route to the permanent line, these are similar to UD’s current Revolution Lipsticks (same moderately thick, creamy texture), only they’re sheer, or sheerer — maybe about half as pigmented — but all 10 shades are still more pigmented than average for sheer lipsticks from other brands.

Because of the sheer-ish formula, though, if I had to pick just one, I’d choose one of the brighter shades, like fuchsia Sheer Anarchy or berry Sheer Walk of Shame.

I also dig red Sheer F-Bomb and orangey red Sheer Slowburn, but most of the time when I feel like wearing red on my lips, I want to go all out, like with opaque coverage, lip liner — the whole shebang.

These particular reds are like starter reds, and might be good for someone who wants to wear red on their lips, but isn’t ready for MAC Ruby Woo.

Urban Decay Sheer Revolution Lipstick Swatches from the left: Sheer Ladyflower, Sheer Streak, Sheer F-Bomb, Sheer Liar and Sheer Rapture — Swatches from the left: Sheer Ladyflower, Sheer Streak, Sheer F-Bomb, Sheer Liar and Sheer Rapture

From the left: Sheer Anarchy, Sheer Shame, Sheer Slowburn, Sheer Obsessed and Sheer Walk of Shame — Sheer Anarchy, Sheer Shame, Sheer Slowburn, Sheer Obsessed and Sheer Walk of Shame

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 354

January 5th, 2015 by Karen 33 Comments

The Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll for January 5, 2015

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 seven 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.

Have you ever traveled out of the country for work?
A couple times, I have. Occasionally I’ll travel for blog-related things, but they’re always super fast turnarounds, like you know, literally fly in and fly out, so I don’t get to spend a lot of time doing vacation-y things, but it’s always exciting.

Like a few years ago I went to Milan for fashion week and covered the Dolce & Gabbana show. I was the shortest person in the room backstage with Pat McGrath!

I also went to Toronto to visit the Estée Lauder can’t-remember-the-name research labs, and that was super cool.

Capes: a do or a don’t?
Maybe I just haven’t found the right cape…but for me, I feel like they’re a don’t, because I’m barely 5’1″ tall, and capes make me look like I’m drowning in material.

But if I ever found “the right cape,” I’d consider it.

Who’s the person you text the most?
Strangely enough, it’s my old work friend Neiman, and it’s always nonsensical stuff, usually pictures of food. Like yesterday I sent him a picture of a broccoli and potato frittata that I made.

I guess it’s because we used to be food/diet buddies when we worked together in San Francisco, and we’d talk about exercising and eating salads, so now we just send each other pictures of food.

How is your skin doing so far this winter?
It’s been super fussy, but it was fine until Christmas, when we left the Bay Area for a few days and went north to Redding near the Oregon border. It’s freakishly dry there, so I started breaking out.

I think it’s also because I’ve been eating stuff I don’t usually eat, like a lot more fried food and sugary foods.

So now my skin’s hella dry, and I’ve got a little breakout, but it’ll be fine in a month or so if I’m good about watching what I eat and start exercising again.

What’s the most surprising thing you learned about makeup last year?
Probably that I don’t have to put a ton of stuff in my brows to make them look as lush and big and bushy as I like.

I look back on my brows and how I used to do them a year ago, when I would pack a lot of powder in them because I felt like I had to, but now I just use two things: a brow pencil and a brow gel, and that’s it for the same lush look.

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

1. Have you ever traveled out of the country for work?
2. Capes: a do or a don’t?
3. Who’s the person you text the most?
4. How is your skin doing so far this winter?
5. What’s the most surprising thing you learned about makeup last year?

How’s it going, my friend? I hope your week got off to a good start. I went out at the crack of dawn this morning for a quick cup of coffee and a breakfast sandwich from Panera, and there was lots of traffic again, so it looks like the holidays are officially over…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 328

January 4th, 2015 by Karen 12 Comments

Today, in a very special exclusive interview with MBB, Tabs the cat, the biggest (no, literally) name in Northern California kitty super-modeling, answers your most pressing questions about love, lizards and fashion.

Prepare to have your mind blown in 3-2-1…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. MOAR QUESTIONS! Please leave your questions for Tabs in the comments, and I’ll try to ask them in our next interview. His favorite topics include fashion, food (specifically gravy), his marbled sides and pantaloons, kitty modeling, lurvies, birdwatching, dealing with fame, and getting the most out of your professional pet assistants. 🙂

7 Ways to Win a $50 eGift Card From Sephora! (Ends Monday)

January 3rd, 2015 by Karen 381 Comments

Oh. My. Gosh!

Do you ever start watching a movie that you think is going to go in one direction, and you think you’re gonna like it, but then it detours in a completely uncool way and you end up barking and growling at the screen?

Yeah, that has been my Netflix existence over the past week… This girl is desperately seeking movie recs if you have any.

In other news, happy caturday! It’s 2015 and I still can’t believe it. It’s also absolutely, positively freaking cold here in Northern California today. I mean, I admit that I’m a California weather wuss, but it’s 34 degrees outside! I don’t know if my poor citrus tree is going to make it. I think it needs a cute Chanel jacket. 🙂

Good luck in the giveaway this weekend. Your nephew says “meow!”

One (1) Sephora eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (international readers, you may opt to receive $50 sent by PayPal instead).

Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
Open to U.S. and international readers.
You must be 18 or older to enter (or otherwise an adult based on your local laws).
Your comment can be about anything at all, but here are some ideas if you’re stuck:
- If you were a cat, what would you look like? Tell me about yourself.
- Where do you think you got your love for makeup? Was it from a family member, a friend, or was it something that just developed on its own?
- Aliens land on Earth and make first contact. How does it go? Are they friendly?
- What was your first purchase of 2015 (of any kind)? Mine was dinner at a Creole restaurant called Fenix.
- What’s your favorite glossy magazine?
- What’s for breakfast?
You can enter in up to seven ways to boost your chances of winning.
The giveaway ends on Monday, January 5, 2015 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time). 🙂
Full terms and conditions are available in the widget.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The Tarte Park Ave Princess Contour Palette: Tiara, Prince Charming, Ball Gown, Glass Carriage and Ponies Not Included

January 2nd, 2015 by Karen 17 Comments

I feel that if the Park Ave Princess Contour Palette by Tarte ($34) came with a tiara, it would be that much more legit, because what’s a princess without a tiara?! A frickin’ travesty, that’s what it is.

Even though I like this palette, which comes with three powder products — a bronzer, blush and highlighter — I think it would be even more awesome if it came in a few different versions, like one for light skin tones, another for medium skin tones, and a third one for darker skin tones.

This would be the one for lighter lasses. The bronzer has a matte finish, which is what I usually use for doing deep cheek contouring, but this one doesn’t do squat for me as a contour color. It’s just not quite dark enough for an effective chisel. As a true contour color, it would prolly work better for pale princesses.

For medium mavens and darker divas, I do think it’s OK for a subtle overall bronzing effect, though.

Tarte Park Ave Princess Contour Palette Swatches — From the left: Bronzer, Blush and Highlighter

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