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

Dolce & Gabbana’s New Bronzer Duo Asks, “Are You a Natural Bronze?”

August 19th, 2014 by Karen 7 Comments

Dolce Gabbana Bronzer Duo Natural Bronze (1)

Smokey eyes, red lips, jet black nails (mmm, Dior Bar)…

I’m sitting here in my office right now wearing a sweater and long pants. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear it was November.

That’s just craziness…

Scientists are saying that the odds of an El Niño happening this year are dropping, but maybe they forgot to tell Northern California because it already feels like fall!

Weather-wise, I’m not ready for it yet. Makeup-wise, it doesn’t really matter, especially when it comes to bronzers.

Because i’m always down for bronzers. 🙂 Bronzers like the Bronzer Duo in Natural Bronze ($66) by Dolce & Gabbana. The finely milled powder practically melts into the skin.

The compact houses two pans of bronzer — one lighter than the other — which sort of share a beauty bunk bed, with one on top of the other. You can use the shades individually, or mix them together.

Both bronzers have warm golden reddish undertones and delicate sheens. I like ’em more for adding light veils of warmth all over my face than for sculpting and contouring, since the reddish tones can look a little muddy and funky when I concentrate them below my olive cheekbones.

If, however, your skin has prominent reddish undertones, you should be able to use both of these for adding warmth and/or for contouring, and it would probably look effortless and natural (and who doesn’t want that?).

If you’re interested, say ciao to the Bronzer Duo next time you see it. It’s available now online and at Dolce & Gabbana counters.

Unsung Makeup Heroes: theBalm Cindy-Lou Manizer

August 19th, 2014 by Karen 10 Comments

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Anna — Wearing theBalm’s Cindy-Lou Manizer on my upper cheekbones

Quick! Grab my hand! Guuuuurl, we’re making a prison break. I’m busting you out of this shimmer-free solitary confinement, Shawshank-style, with theBalm’s Cindy-Lou Manizer ($24).

Super shiny highlights without the drama of a finicky frost

theBalm Cindy-Lou Manizer — It’s theBalm…

With peachy pink Cindy-Lou, theBalm got it totally right. You can wear this powder as a highlighter, an eyeshadow or a blush. The fabulous finish is unconditionally Unsung Heroes worthy.

The otherworldly opalescent sheen lifts dull skin, making your mug look fresh, bright and alive. The effect is like a Broadway spotlight manned by the best lighting guy in the biz — dramatic, but still soft and flattering, and without the harshness of a high-shine frost.

A little goes a loooong way…

It’s important to use just a smidgen, though. A little definitely goes a long way with this.

I like to load a skinny tapered eyeshadow brush like the MAC 224 by running it lightly across the pan. Then I’ll gently buff that on my upper cheekbones, down the bridge of my nose and on my Cupid’s bow, where it lasts from 8-9 hours (without touchups) on my combination dry/oily skin.

I’ve been wearing it a ton lately for “KA-POW!” highlights on my upper cheekbones, and the best thing about it? — it doesn’t settle into my fine lines or embiggen my pores.

Teams up well with matte foundation

[Continue reading…]

What Are Your Three Biggest Tips for Faster Makeup Application?

August 19th, 2014 by Karen 18 Comments

Here are my three…

1. It’s timer time

Use a timer, and place it right within your line of sight (where you can’t possibly ignore it).

I use the timer on my iPhone (and I disable the screen lock feature, so the display doesn’t go to sleep), but a good old-fashioned kitchen egg timer works, too. Anything with a countdown timer or an unmistakeable alarm… Just watching the clock doesn’t work for me. I guess it’s too easy to ignore, LOL!

2. As Spock would say, “Organization is logical.”

Keep all of your most important makeup essentials together, organized and accessible, in a way that makes sense to you.

I keep my most-used products in a clear tray with different compartments. That way I’m not wasting time rutting around in different bags and drawers trying to find my everyday essentials like primer, foundation, concealer, etc.

3. Let’s keep it clean, people

Clean your brushes after every use so they’re in good shape when you need them.

Seriously, I don’t even want to think about how much time I used to waste looking for clean brushes while getting ready. Now, whenever I’m done doing my makeup — if not right then, then later that night — I thoroughly clean my brushes (or at least give them a quick once-over with Wet Ones Wipes).

Your turn! What are your three biggest tips for faster makeup application? Time-strapped minds want to know…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

WARNING: The Dior 5-Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette in Pied De Poule Could Trigger Full-On Fall Makeup Madness

August 18th, 2014 by Karen 20 Comments

Between all the lusciously dark NARS Audacious Lipsticks and this sumptuously smokey Dior 5-Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette in Pied De Poule ($60), I think I’m starting to seriously entertain the notion of leaving behind minimal summer makeup, and embracing full-on fall makeup madness.

BRING ON THE SMOKEY EYES! 😀

Who’s with me?

What Was the Last DIY or Homemade Hair, Makeup or Beauty Product You Made and Used?

August 18th, 2014 by Karen 19 Comments

Remember how I said my lips were painfully windburned and chapped from that four-hour marathon kayaking mis-adventure on Lake Tahoe a little over a week ago? Well, I made a homemade sugar and olive oil lip scrub for them last weekend, and yay! — now they’re almost back to normal.

I mixed a little olive oil and some granulated sugar into a thick paste. (I didn’t really pay attention to how much I used of each. I pretty much just eyeballed it.) Then I rubbed that on my lips.

Sometimes when I do this I use an old toothbrush to buff the paste on my lips like an exfoliator.

But this time I just used my fingers…

It works great! And it’s super cheap, too. Plus, if you want to, you can lick the leftovers off your lips instead of rinsing, LOL!

I’m just sayin… 🙂

How about you? What was the last DIY or homemade hair, makeup or beauty product you made and used? (I would not turn down any recipes if you have them.)

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Cat Lady Mystery Novels: Yes, It’s a Thing

August 18th, 2014 by Karen 16 Comments

QUESTION: What do you get when you combine cats and mystery novels?

ANSWER: A friggin’ boatload of awesome.

I was at Barnes & Noble last Saturday perusing the magazines and young adult sections when I saw a familiar greenish yellow glint out of the corner of my eye.

Cat eyes.

There were probably dozens upon dozens of mystery novels with cats on their covers. I learned that there’s an entire sub-genre of mystery-solving cats. MEOW-ZA!

Did you know about this? I had no idea.

I have so many new books on my wish list now…

The New NARS Audacious Lipstick Collection: The Wines and Browns

August 18th, 2014 by Karen 37 Comments

That’s the new NARS Audacious Lipstick in Ingrid ($32; one of 40 shades) on my lips

BOOYAH! Who’s down with the brown?

How about the wine?

I’m always down with the wine…

I’m actually talking about lipsticks right now. 🙂

Yes, I have a soft spot for the colors in this last batch of new NARS Audacious Lipsticks (the wines and browns) because I spent my college days wearing these colors.

That was back in the ’90s, which appear to be having a resurgence… You know, what’s old is new again, and all that.

Now, if we were talking about the return of lacy plastic chokers, I would not be able to deal, but I’m totally down with ’90s-style brown and wine lipsticks staging a comeback, particularly ones with an interesting twist, like these seven shades here…

NARS Audacious Lipsticks from the left: Charlotte, Leslie, Olivia, Bette, Sandra, Deborah and Ingrid — From the left: Charlotte, Leslie, Olivia, Bette, Sandra, Deborah and Ingrid ($32 each)

Instead of a flat matte ’90s-style finish, these NARS Audacious wines and browns have a dreamy, creamy finish, a super smooth texture and tons of pigment, making them 100% worthy of toting around in your little black satin backpack.

First, the browns…

The Browns: Leslie, Sandra and Deborah

Leslie, Sandra and Deborah are quintessential ’90s colors.

Deborah, a chestnut, seems like the closest one to a straight-up ’90s brown. Just add spaghetti strap dress and white baby tee to complete the ensemble.

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Deborah — Deborah

Meanwhile, Sandra and Leslie may look like they’re twinning, but upon closer inspection, they do have their differences. Reach for Leslie if you want something redder, and Sandra for something deeper and richer.

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Sandra — Sandra (Barneys New York exclusive)

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Leslie — Leslie

If you’re unsure what to wear with your brown lipsticks, you could go with brown eyeshadow, for sure, but when I wear brown on my eyes and my lips, I feel like it can look a little monotone/one note, so with brown lips, I’ll usually opt for reddish browns, purples, bronzes or coppery colors on my eyes, like here in these pics (that’s Tom Ford’s Cognac Sable Eye Quad and MAC Costa Riche Eye Kohl).

The Wines: Olivia, Charlotte, Bette and Ingrid

Olivia, a garnet wine, and Charlotte, a burgundy, are the lighter options. If you can’t decide between the two, I suggest Olivia if you like warmer colors, and Charlotte if you like cooler color temps on your kisser.

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Olivia — Olivia

[Continue reading…]

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 334

August 18th, 2014 by Karen 37 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 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.

Spam (as in the canned “meat”): love it or leave it?
Ugh…as much as I hate to admit this, I kind of love it. 🙂 Not gonna lie. Even though I’m not a big meat eater anymore, sometimes I crave eggs over easy, fried Spam, rice and ketchup. I grew up eating that kind of thing for breakfast (it’s a Filipino thing), and occasionally I’ll still get a hankering for it.

Love smells like [FILL IN THE BLANK].
- Freshly baked chocolate chip cookies
- El Hub right after he gets out of the shower and gives me a big bear hug
- My parents’ house at Christmas
- Tabby’s stinky kitty breath first thing in the morning
Have you ever had really terrible bangs?
Well, I was a tween in the late ’80s, so yes, I have. And they were TERRIBLE! They looked like a Brillo pad that someone had just used to clean a BBQ, LOL!

No matter how hard I tried, I could never get them to look the way I wanted them to — like the big haired bangs all the cool girls had at my school.

Not my best hair years, that’s for sure.

When you take selfies, do you ever make those kissy/fish faces?
I’ve tried a few times, but I must be doing something wrong with my kissy fish face looks because, yeah, not cute.

Do you ever see wild animals where you live?
OOH! Wild animals… Sounds so primeval. No, no lions, tigers, bears and that sort of thing, but we do see coyotes, raccoons, squirrels, foxes, turkeys, deer and the occasional bunny rabbit.

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

1. Spam (as in the canned meat): love it or leave it?
2. Love smells like [FILL IN THE BLANK].
3. Have you ever had really terrible bangs?
4. When you take selfies, do you ever make those kissy/fish faces?
5. Do you ever see wild animals where you live?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. It’s back-to-school week, isn’t it? If you’re currently in school, what are you studying? I was sort of a confused academic soul. I studied two totally different things, English and Biology.

My folks wanted me to be a scientist or doctor, but I was more into artsy stuff… Go figure. 🙂