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

Get Me an Orange Soda, Stat! Or, theBalm Lip Gloss in Pop

July 30th, 2014 by Karen 10 Comments

theBalm Read My Lips Lip Gloss in Pop (1)

Like Fanta, there’s something fizzy and bubbly and refreshing about POP!, this orange lip gloss from theBalm.

It’s called Read My Lips Lip Gloss in Pop ($15), and it makes lips look like they’ve been painted with a Popsicle, and then coated with a high-shine lacquer.

It’s not too late to try the orange lip trend, my friend. If you’ve been wanting to but haven’t, Pop is a sweet, and not full-on frightening orange, way to try the look.

Pop is moderately pigmented and also has a healthy dose of peach in it as well, so it’s not straight-up orange.

I’d say it’s actually less like orange soda, and more like an effervescent mimosa.

Mmm, mimosas…

Shape of My Heart

July 30th, 2014 by Karen 8 Comments

It’s like something from a Robert Jordan book! There were dragons in front of The Cheesecake Factory!

Actually, these delightful creatures aren’t winged reptiles. They’re some flowers I saw living in planters right in front of the restaurant last Sunday, and look! — the one at the top forms the shape of a heart.

See, babe, love is everywhere. Even in the drought-resistant succulents at the mall. 🙂

Now Testing Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide Foundation: Will It Blur the Line Between Real Skin and Makeup?

July 30th, 2014 by Karen 25 Comments

I’m busting’ out the air quotes for this one.

“Natural-looking finish.”

“Liquid-light formula.”

“Blurs the line between real skin and makeup.”

Seriously, there was no conceivable way I was going to be able to walk away from this display in Sephora yesterday for the new Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide foundation ($48 for a 1-oz. tube) without taking one of them with me.

I mean, I tried. I told myself, “Step away, Karen. Just slowly step back, and then turn to the left and walk.”

But it didn’t happen. I guess it wasn’t in the cards.

I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this (of course I have), but I’ve been a little obsessed lately with finding a new foundation. I want one that gets me as close as possible to flawless, natural-looking coverage that doesn’t look heavy on my skin…or like I dunked my face into a wedding cake.

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Honey, Let Your Lips Do the Popping With the Pigmented Marc Jacobs Beauty Kiss Pop Lip Color Sticks

July 30th, 2014 by Karen 10 Comments

Marc Jacobs Kiss Pop Color Sticks — The Marc Jacobs Kiss Pop Lip Color Sticks, $28 each

Well I’ll be a tabby’s uncle… Chrome crayons.

Why didn’t I think of that!?

Seeing these Marc Jacobs Beauty Kiss Pop Lip Color Sticks ($28 each), it’s as if my Terminator-lovin’ makeup dreams have come true.

If Skynet ever asks to use my likeness for a fashionable T-1001 model, you better believe robot Karen will have at least one of these on her person-like chassis at all times.

How awesome are these?? See the colorful tips? Each ones goes with its respective lip color.

Essentially, these Kiss Pop Color Sticks are long-wearing lipsticks with a pencil tip. New to the Marc Jacobs Beauty permanent line, they’re $28 each.

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At the Intersection of Makeup and Microprocessors, the Sephora + Pantone Color IQ Foundation System Promises To Help You Find a Better Foundation Match

July 30th, 2014 by Karen 37 Comments

The Sephora Color IQ Foundation System — The Sephora + Pantone Color IQ Foundation System. Goooooo science!

Ah, technology… It’s not just for sending obnoxious text messages to your best friend about how you really feel about capri pants anymore.

At Sephora tech is also helping women (and makeup-lovin’ dudes) get a better foundation match.

At the intersection of makeup and microprocessors, the Sephora + Pantone Color IQ system promises to put processor cycles to work to help you find an exact foundation shade match.

At least that’s the idea.

“Color IQ is the first and only beauty service to scan the surface of your skin, assign it a Color IQ number, and then find your scientifically precise foundation match from over 1,500 options.”

— sephora.com

How does it work?

I’m glad you asked! 🙂

A Sephora makeup artist places the Color IQ device, which basically looks like a hybrid handheld camera/Star Trek tricorder, against your skin in three places to take color readings.

You can match to either your face or neck. I opted to go with my neck, because my face is much redder (I use a lot of exfoliating products).

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My Fine Lines Like Tarte’s New Colored Clay CC Undereye Corrector a Little Too Much

July 29th, 2014 by Karen 14 Comments

Tarte Colored Clay CC Undereye Corrector (1)

Maybe if I sleep for 18 hours one day and wake up feeling like a brand new girl, I might be able to wear Tarte’s Colored Clay CC Undereye Corrector ($24) and get a lot out of it, but since that probably will not be happening (#teamnosleep), I don’t think I can pull it off.

Tarte calls this new creamy under-eye concealer full coverage, but I dunno… On me it’s pretty sheer. Plus, it settles into my fine lines (boo!) and makes my under-eye area look dry (grrr).

It comes in two shades, Light-Medium and Medium-Tan; both are available now at Tarte counters and online.

Tarte Colored Clay CC Undereye Corrector in Light-Medium

Adventures in Cheesecake Factory-osity

July 29th, 2014 by Karen 19 Comments

I wish I could take credit for this beautiful plate of spaghetti and meatballs (OMG! The fried basil on top!), but alas, to quote Shaggy, it wasn’t me.

The dream makers at The Cheesecake Factory are responsible for this dish, which El Hub enthusiastically consumed.

Yup, I went back again last weekend for the grilled salmon. 🙂

I brought most of it home because I was already kind of full after the avocado egg roll appetizer. (“Avocado, Sun-Dried Tomato, Red Onion and Cilantro Fried in a Crisp Wrapper. Served with a Tamarind-Cashew Dipping Sauce.”)

I don’t even want to know how much sweat equity I’m going to have to put in after that meal, but man! — that ish was great.

You know what I just realized? I don’t remember the last time I actually had cheesecake at The Cheesecake Factory… I’m always too full by the end of the meal to get dessert.

Urban Decay’s Perversion False Lashes in Trap Might Lure You Into Thinking That You Could Wear Them To Buy Cat Food

July 29th, 2014 by Karen 7 Comments

Urban Decay Perversion False Lashes in Trap

If you think you’re going to wear Urban Decay’s new Perversion Lashes in Trap ($15) to Target to buy cat food without having people really, really stare at you, you are mistaken. Because these lashes look completely cra-zay-zy in real life.

I mean, they look great in pics! They’re definitely dramatic…which makes sense; that is what the new Perversion Lash line is all about.

If you’re going out clubbing or have a big night on the town or if you just landed that job as a full-time dominatrix (*cracks whip), then yeah. Awesome lashes.

But for, like, real life kind of stuff, nuh-uh. I look downright insane with these on, like I should be hanging out with Britney when she shaved her head, and attacking cars with an umbrella.

Trap is one of three new $15 Perversion Lash styles, all permanent members of the UD line.

It’s weird… Whenever I wear Trap and post pics, I usually get some nice comments, and I think it’s because of the length of the lashes, especially the bundles around the center.

I think they make my eyes look wider, like that doe-eyed thing to the Nth degree, which I like. Too bad they’re about as comfortable as a pair of six-inch pointy high heels a half size too small.

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