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

Beauty Confessions: Sometimes I Pick My Perfume by Color…

August 14th, 2014 by Karen 9 Comments

Sometimes on Sunday nights I gather up a bunch of perfume bottles based on color, set them all on my bathroom shelf, and then I wear a different one each day of the week.

This week was all about blue…

Cartier Declaration L’Eau Eau de Toilette: Technically, it’s a men’s fragrance, but I dig it, so why the heck not? Spicy woods, cedar accords, pink peppercorn and grapefruit. $93.
Clean Fresh Laundry: When I can’t be bothered to take a real shower (it happens), I like crisp, fresh scents like this. Brazilian orange, Mexican lime, fresh mown (mowed?) grass, cyclamen, rose otto, night blooming white jasmine petals, heliotrope and musk. $38.
Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Dreaming in Portofino Eau de Toilette: This was a limited edition Light Blue flanker from 2012 that I like to wear in the summer. Citrus accord, pink pepper, geranium, amber and patchouli. $50.
Dolce & Gabba Le Bateleur No 1: A limited edition unisex fragrance from 2009’s D&G Anthology that I “borrowed” (permanently, also known as “stole”) from El Hub. 🙂 Unfortunately, it’s hard to find now. Notes of juniper berries, cardamom, birch, water, coriander, olivanum (frankincense), cedar and vetiver. $69.
MAC Turquatic: An oldie but a goody! The bottle shown here is the old-school version. It has flashier packaging now (I prefer this older style, though). Anemone (say that five times fast, LOL!), lotus, orris and cedar. $30.
L’Occitane Mer & Mistral: Another refreshing aquatic scent. This one works for gals and guys. Pine, cypress and rosemary. $75.
Issey Miyake L’Eau D’Issey Summer: This one is a little sweet for my taste, but I wear it because I love the beachy bottle (um, is that cray?). Lychee, vanilla, lotus, cyclamen, freesia, carnation, white lily, amberseed and musk. $74.

The MAC A Novel Romance Quad Is Like Many Real Life Relationships, Both Hot and Cold

August 14th, 2014 by Karen 16 Comments

Fabio, dahling, take me now! — to the computer, so that I may satisfy this hunger burning deep within my soul.

Yup, the new MAC A Novel Romance collection launched online today, and it’s huge.

HUGE!

Huge both in terms of the fact that it’s the brand’s big release for fall, and huge just in terms of the number of products, especially the eyeshadows.

Overwhelmed much? I am. If you’re looking for a place to start, steer your lusty makeup-lovin’ loins toward one of my favorite quads in the collection, the aptly named A Novel Romance ($40).

MAC A Novel Romance Quad Swatches — From the left: My Fantasy, Fall in Lust, Dance in the Dark and Rising Passions

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The New NARS Audacious Lipstick Collection: The Nudes

August 14th, 2014 by Karen 23 Comments

New NARS Audacious Lipstick in Anita ($32)

Am I the only one out there who thinks this is funny?

Full-coverage nude lipsticks?

I dunno… I think it’s kinda funny. 🙂

A completely opaque lipstick in a shade that’s supposed to make it look like you’re not wearing any lipstick at all?

That’s funny! Granted, I am easily amused…

So, opaque nude lipsticks, specifically the ones in the new NARS Audacious Lipstick collection. There are nine nude shades ($32 each) nestled among the radiant reds, courageous corals, awesome oranges, punchy pinks and bold berries in the release, and they aren’t your everyday nudes.

No, these are like nude comic book characters (Chris Evans, perhaps?)! — able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, and hop the hurdles that lesser nude lipsticks often fail to overcome.

NARS Audacious Lipsticks from the left: Jane, Julie, Anna, Barbara, Anita, Raquel, Brigitte and Vanessa (Barneys New York Exclusive) — From the left: Jane, Julie, Anna, Barbara, Anita, Raquel, Brigitte and Vanessa (Barneys New York Exclusive)

First, these NARS Audacious nudes are completely full coverage, so even if your lips are pigmented like mine, these nudes appear rich on the lips. No layering needed. All it takes is a single swipe.

Second, none of the nine make me look like a washed-out Nicki Minaj impersonator, a rare feat in these complicated times.

Like the other Audacious Lipsticks I’ve tried, the nudes are potently pigmented and extra smooth; however, I think they’re also slightly more challenging to wear than their more vibrant counterparts.

I don’t know if it’s because they’re nude, or because of something else, but they seem to exacerbate the funky issues I’m having with my lips — in my case now, dryness and flakes — to a greater degree than the bolder shades do.

Weird…

When my kayak-damaged lips fully heal and return to normal, it won’t be a big whoop, but if your pout is perpetually parched, you might want to incorporate the use of a rich lip balm (I’m lovin’ Osmnia Organics Honey-Myrrh Lip Repair right now), and lather up your lips like butter on a slice of toast.

OK, that’s enough background. Now let’s get nude. 🙂 #pantsareoverrated

The neutral pinkish browns: Raquel and Barbara

For a traditional nude lip, check out Raquel and Barbara. For pinkish browns, I think they’re excellent options, flattering on both warm and cool skin tones.

Raquel, the lighter, brighter option, is a pinkish beige.

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Raquel — Raquel

Barbara is a tad deeper and contains a touch more tan.

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Barbara — Barbara

I think both are extremely flattering and among my overall favorites of the whole bunch because of how they accent without overpowering anything on my lids.

Either would be great as an everyday lipstick, or as something to pair with smokey eyes.

The cooler-toned rose and mauve nudes: Anna, Vanessa and Anita

Alas, the lady cannot live on nude neutral pinkish browns alone… When you’re looking for a cooler-toned rose or mauve to wear with your purply taupes or gunmetal grays, consider Anna, Vanessa and Anita.

Anna, a smokey rose, is the deepest of the three, and on me it reveals a hint of violet, which I dig.

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For Pictures, Do You Feel Like You Have a “Good Side”?

August 14th, 2014 by Karen 15 Comments

Oh, yes. Definitely.

I think I photograph better from the right — so the right side of my face.

From the left, I swear, I look like a linebacker! Like I could run you over in a hot second and chew you up afterwards. But from the right, I’m a normal girl. It’s the weirdest thing.

To me, in the pics where I’m facing left, something always looks wonky (for lack of a better word)…

I guess I should’ve paid closer attention to Tyra’s modeling advice on America’s Next Top Model…

But seriously, when I actually started thinking about where/how to position myself in front of the camera (like, by turning my body slightly so that I wasn’t facing directly at the lens, tilting my chin, that kinda thing), taking pictures that I liked got a whole lot easier.

How about you? For pictures, do you feel like you have a “good side”?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Since we’re on the topic of taking pics, here are some other posts you might like… 🙂

A Mish-Mash Midnight Mani With the New FABY Italian Nail Couture Line

August 13th, 2014 by Karen 8 Comments

Considering that I did this bizarro mish-mash of a manicure tired in a dark room late at night…it didn’t turn out half bad! 🙂

Even the darker shades, like the creamy black and burgundy, turned out pretty well, especially around the edges.

These are just a bunch of different shades from FABY, a cruelty-free Italian nail line now available in the U.S.

From the left, that’s Faby’s Red (a creamy red), A Perfect Day (a glittery rose gold), Hollywood Party (a creamy pink), Black is Black (a creamy black), Winter Garden (a shimmery dark teal), The Most Beautiful in the Realm (a shimmery red; and I love this name!), Metropolis (a creamy gray), Not Another Pink (a creamy, peachy pink), Pepper & Cloves (a shimmery burgundy) and Footprints on the Beach (a creamy tan; another great name).

There’s so much potential here. The full 400-bristle brush cuts a crisp edge around the nail, and the formula applies very smoothly. Reminds me of OPI.

The collection covers — get this — 175 shades (!), plus a complete nail care treatment line.

They’re available now for $18 each at high-end salons, boutiques and fabyusa.com.

OK…I just figured out that it would cost $3,150 for all 175 shades.

Wow. I actually think that’s more than my car is worth, LOL!

Who Wore It Better? — The Kristin Perry Audrey Necklace

August 13th, 2014 by Karen 14 Comments

“B*tch stole my look.”

–Tabs the Cat

Behold! — the Kristin Perry Audrey Necklace.

If I actually win this poll, I would not be surprised to see pigs flying outside my window, because really, you don’t go head to head with a cat wearing bling and actually expect to come out on top.

There’s just no way… 🙂

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P.S. I really, REALLY want to win. Tabs gets too much attention as it is.

Intensify Your Gaze With New Black Ecstasy Mascara by Giorgio Armani Beauty

August 13th, 2014 by Karen 12 Comments

Giorgio Armani Beauty Black Ecstasy Mascara — New ‘Black Ecstasy’ Mascara by Giorgio Armani in Obsidian Black ($32)

Yup, someone’s been watching re-runs of The Hills lately. 🙂

My Tivo recorded a massive 45-episode marathon last week.

To quote El Hub when he saw them in the menu, “Holy sh*t!”

I wore Giorgio Armani Beauty’s new Black Ecstasy Mascara in Obsidian Black ($32; one of four shades) during an epic 8-hour binge this week.

A recent addition to the brand’s permanent line (available now in three shades exclusively at Nordstrom, but coming to Giorgio Armani Beauty counters and giorgioarmanibeauty.com this September in four shades), ‘Black Ecstasy’ Mascara is designed to create longer, denser, thicker lashes to allow you to deliver intense gazes…

That intensity came in handy while I re-watched season two of The Hills and repeatedly shot disapproving glares at Spencer Pratt.

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The New NARS Audacious Lipstick Collection: The Reds

August 13th, 2014 by Karen 21 Comments

Mmmwaah! Smile by new NARS Audacious Lipstick in Annabella ($32)

It wouldn’t be a big NARS lipstick launch if there weren’t some bad-@ss reds up in the mix.

Oh! NARS does some ah-may-zing reds, don’t they? And there are lots of scintillating scarlets in the new NARS Audacious Lipstick collection ($32 each; 40 shades; available starting September 1).

NARS Audacious Lipsticks from the left: Rita, Jeanne, Lana, Marlene, Carmen (Barneys New York Exclusive), Audrey and Annabella — Red, she said! From the left, that’s Rita, Jeanne, Lana, Marlene, Carmen (a Barneys New York Exclusive), Audrey and Annabella

Yesterday when we were looking at the corals and hot pinks I mentioned how I felt that NARS did a really good job making each of the colors in this collection distinct, despite some of them appearing very similar at first. Look closely, and you see the subtle differences among them. They don’t all just blur together into a hazy fog of reddish pink…

So, if you’re one of those unstoppable makeup fanatics (like myself) who, like the Terminator, WILL NOT STOP until you find your personal red lipstick version of Sarah Connor (for me, it’s a super warm tomato red with strong orange undertones), chances are you’ll find it among the reds in this launch.

Quickly, though, before we get to the reds, have I mentioned that my lips have been dry lately?

I think I have…but it wouldn’t be a Wednesday unless I mentioned it at least 26 more times, LOL! 🙂

So yeah, my lips have been very dry, which is what happens when you kayak on a windy lake for four hours. Of course, after doing this batch of swatches — which you know, took a while — they were in even worse shape.

But despite the currently critical lip sitch, I still think these lipsticks look smooth, which is yet another testament to the audaciously smooth Audacious Lipstick formula.

Now, on to the reds!