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

Calling Mrs. Mia Wallace! The Urban Decay Pulp Fiction Palette Marries Dark Themes With Dark Neutral Eyeshadows

July 17th, 2014 by Karen 17 Comments

If…

You like carrying on entire conversations with friends and family via Pulp Fiction movie quotes (“Bring out the gimp!” “I love you, Honey Bunny.” “All right, everybody be cool. This is a robbery!”).
Your Urban Decay cup runneth over, and yet despite owning all three Naked palettes, you still want more, more, MORE!
You dream of wearing brown, black and/or beige eyeshadow while doing the twist with John Travolta at a 1950s diner.
You don’t mind a little fallout.

Then you might want to say “What happened to my Honda?”

Wait — that’s from the movie. 🙂

Let’s try that again…

You might want to say “I do” to the new $34 Urban Decay Pulp Fiction Palette.

Inspired by Mrs. Mia Wallace herself, Uma Thurman’s character from the movie, this five-piece (three new shadows and two re-promotes) limited edition palette, which is part of UD’s fall collection, is all about the Mrs. and recreating her look.

Urban Decay Pulp Fiction Collection Palette — Inside the palette…

I’ve found that when I wear the shadows in this palette — Righteous (a matte light cream), Tyranny (a matte warm brown), Vengeance (a deep, satiny matte taupe-brown), Furious (a satiny white) and Anger (a satiny black with a slight sparkle) — things get very dark, very quickly, just like they do in the movie.

Urban Decay Pulp Fiction Palette Swatches — Swatches…

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Seducing You Away From the World of Minimal Makeup, One Fallout-Free Sweep at a Time, the New Laura Mercier Sensual Reflections Satin Matte Eye Colours

July 17th, 2014 by Karen 11 Comments

Laura Mercier Sensual Reflections Collection Fall 2014 Satin Matte Eye Colour k — Wearing Laura Mercier’s Satin Matte Eye Colours in Gold Seduction and Plum Allure from the new fall 2014 Sensual Reflections collection

Seriously, if there’s anything capable of seducing me away from the World of Single Cream Eyeshadows Applied With a Finger (also known as My Current Love Affair With 5-Minute Makeup, also known as Mr. Minimal Eye Makeup for Summer), and back to the Land of Four Shadows All Up in Yo’ Crease, it’s going to be these Laura Mercier Satin Matte Eye Colours ($24 each).

Laura Mercier Sensual Reflections Collection Fall 2014 Satin Matte Eye Colours in Tempting Green, Gold Seduction, Sensual Pink and Plum Allure — From the left, that’s Satin Matte Eye Colours in Tempting Green, Gold Seduction, Sensual Pink and Plum Allure

These should carry a warning that says, “Do not operate heavy machinery while wearing these or gaze too long at your own reflection; otherwise, you might totally forget to eat!”

OK…we all know that’ll never happen (because this girlfriend is HONGRAY), but if I were to ever forget my lunch, you’d be wise to suspect this eyeshadow’s impeccable formula.

Laura Mercier Sensual Reflections Collection Fall 2014 Satin Matte Eye Colours in Gold Seduction and Plum Allure — Also wearing Laura Mercier’s Cheek Mélange in Sensual Reflections on my cheeks and theBalm Read My Lips Lip Gloss in Snap on my lips

New and limited edition, these $24 Satin Matte Eye Colours are part of the new Sensual Reflections fall collection, which is all about smoldering, seductive eyes in shades of gold, plum, green and pink, and I don’t recall ever seeing anything quite like these in Laura’s line before.

The formula is D-O-P-E! Feeling almost like a cream, but one that doesn’t feel wet, these powder eyeshadows don’t feel as grainy as many other powder shadows do to me, nor do they exhibit the same fallout I often notice.

They’re almost like a gel, but not quite.

If you’re familiar with the MAC Extra Dimension Eyeshadows, I think these are similarly easy to blend and also packed with pigment, but the shine is more nuanced (and, yay! — forgiving) on the lids.

And then there’s the wear time and lack of fallout. Once you get them on your lids (with the help of a good primer), they stay put. No fading, no budging, no creasing — none of that business — all day long.

To make a long story short (or a short story long, depending on your P.O.V.), these are easy like Sunday mornings and last a really long time. No need for touch-ups.

The colors are also surprisingly complex. Each one has something to set it apart — some special twist or flash of color, and when I’m wearing them and blink or turn my head a certain way, there it is. It makes them seem more special than run-of-the-mill flat, monochromatic colors.

Laura Mercier Satin Matte Eye Colour in Gold Seduction — Satin Matte Eye Colour in Gold Seduction

Gold Seduction: Ah… This one is SO my jam and a must-have for gals and guys with warm skin tones. A deep brassy, bronzed gold (almost like MAC Powersurge Eye Kohl in eyeshadow form), it glows when it catches the light just right. It also manages to do this without aiming a bullhorn that says, “This way to Karen’s fine lines!!!”

I’m thinking about grabbing a spare (or two or 12).

Wear it on your lids with a warm matte orangey bronze in the crease, and you’ll feel like you’ve arrived in eye makeup heaven (*cue angels singing!*).

Laura Mercier Satin Matte Eye Colour in Plum Allure — Satin Matte Eye Colour in Plum Allure

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If You Have Sensitive Eyes, Can You Recommend Any Eye Makeup Removers, Eyeliners and/or Eyeshadows That Don’t Sting or Make Your Eyes Tear Up?

July 17th, 2014 by Karen 59 Comments

Trish McEvoy Long-Wear Face and Eye Makeup Remover; Clinique Take The Day Off Makeup Remover For Lids, Lashes & Lips; Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeliners and MAC Smolder Eye Kohl

Thank you for all the AWESOME suggestions you left in the comments! I’m bookmarking this post so I can refer to it in the future as a resource. 🙂

My eyes are so sensitive — they get so teary — that you’d think I was watching The Notebook 24 hours a day.

So yes, I have a few things I use and love, but I’m always looking for more, so if you know of any good things, let me know. These are the products I’ve been using and loving for the past six months or so (during which time my eyes seem to have gotten much more sensitive).

For eyeliners, just good ol’ MAC Smolder Eye Kohl. It’s been around forever. It’s kind of like your basic creamy black eye kohl. It’s super dark, super smudgy, super soft, and it stays on your water lines and lash lines. And it doesn’t, for whatever reason, irritate my eyes. I can tolerate it.

Also, the Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeliners — I feel like I keep talking about these — but they’re so great, even though they’re kind of expensive. They stay on, they’re twist-up, and they’ve got that skinny point, so you can really get in between the roots of your lashes, and they come in lots of wonderful, really wearable, pretty colors.

For eye makeup removers, I’ve been using two different ones — actually three. The first is DHC Deep Cleansing Oil, which works great. It doesn’t sting my eyes, and it takes off mascara really quickly.

If I’m wearing waterproof or long-wearing makeup and the DHC stuff doesn’t remove it, then I’ll use either Trish McEvoy Long-Wear Face and Eye Makeup Remover or Clinique Take The Day Off Makeup Remover For Lids, Lashes & Lips. Both of those remove everything, and they don’t sting my eyes or irritate that sensitive eye area.

Eyeshadows for me — it seems like certain colors tend to aggravate my eyes more than others, like purplish colors, especially. And stuff with glitter.

How about you? If you have sensitive eyes, can you recommend any eye makeup removers, eyeliners and/or eyeshadows that don’t sting or make your eyes tear up?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Get the Kate Spade Look for Less

July 16th, 2014 by Karen 14 Comments

I made a vow on my birthday that I would officially stop shopping in the juniors department (I’m 39; it’s time), but I may have to “bend” that vow for this necklace I saw at Nordstrom today.

It looks kind of like the $76 Kate Spade Graceful Floral Graduated Necklace I’ve been coveting but more bling-y (OH, YEEEEEEAH!), and it’s only $24.

It also comes in cream, which I think looks even more Kate Spade-y.

We’ll see how long I can hold out…

Quest for Cats: Bringing You Cat-Themed Cuteness Since 2007

July 16th, 2014 by Karen 11 Comments

Have I mentioned that I like cats?

I can’t remember if I’ve ever mentioned that before, that I like cats. Have I…?

Well, I do. I really, really, REALLY like cats. 🙂

Just a peek into my brain and the things that catch my attention around town…

Loved & Loyal Dishtowel, $18, anthropologie.com

Crazy Cat Lady Mug, $12, urbanoutfitters.com

Cat Nap Flight Aid Kit, $16, urbanoutfitters.com

Meow Pint Glass, $8, urbanoutfitters.com

Cat Sup Spiral Notebook, $8, urbanoutfitters.com

Cat Notebook, $8, Urban Outfitters

Smitten With Kittens tiny gift book/stocking stuffer, $5.95, Barnes & Noble

Neon Cats Sock, $8, urbanoutfitters.com

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5 Minimalist Makeup Marvels You Might Want To Try

July 16th, 2014 by Karen 15 Comments

Minimalism!

It’s not just for Smurfs anymore.

This time of year it also describes my appetite for makeup, as in not wanting to wear a ton of it on my face, and if your makeup cravings are also leaning toward the minimal side, here are five of my current favorite minimalist makeup products.

These are all in active minimalist makeup rotation right now.

1. The marvelous MAC Paints! ($20 each)

These $20 cream shadows dry to a powder finish and come in five natural-looking neutral shades.

If you don’t blend them out perfectly, no worries, because the colors are all pretty low contrast, so you can’t really mess up — or, rather, if you do, you can’t really tell.

Perfect for people who are frequently running behind (she said, raising her hand in the air while saying, “Ooh! Ooh! Like me.”).

All five shades also have a hint of a sheen to ’em (it’s very subtle and nothing dramatic like a frost), which makes them quite forgiving of fine lines — something I greatly appreciate.

MAC Paint Swatches from the left: Bamboom, Stilife, Untitled, Sublime Nature and Bare Canvas — MAC Paint swatches from the left in Bamboom, Stilife, Untitled, Sublime Nature and Bare Canvas

Beyond all of that, they’re also just straight-up easy to use. Creamier and more viscous than many other cream shadows like the MAC Paint Pots, they’re a breeze to spread and blend.

Just squeeze a small amount from the tube, and pat and blend that on your lids with your fingers. You can even skip primer with them if you want. I usually do (saves time).

My favorite color? Golden beige Bamboom.

I also love that name (although Bare Canvas is also pretty cool).

2. The Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks ($28 each)

No, these sticks do not contain caviar (as far as I can tell). If the MAC Paints are for work, then Laura’s Caviar Sticks are for fun. 🙂

These cream shadow sticks come in a wide range of colors and finishes, from mellow mattes to shimmering jewels.

Like the MAC Paints, brushes are totally optional. I usually just swipe one of the shades (Rosegold is my personal fave) directly on my lids, and then blend out the edges with a finger.

Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks Swatches from the left: Cocoa, Moonlight, Rosegold, Copper and Burnished Bronze — A handful of Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks from the left in Cocoa, Moonlight, Rosegold, Copper and Burnished Bronze

Because they glide on the skin and contain oodles of pigment, one layer is usually enough. You can literally be done with your eyeshadow in less than a minute.

3. Yves Saint Laurent Kiss & Blush Volupte Lips & Cheek Color ($40 each)

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Messy Hair Don’t Care

July 16th, 2014 by Karen 9 Comments

Messy Hair Don't Care Ten Sixty Sherman tank, $22, Nordstrom

It’s like the shirt understands me.

Sometimes, you just don’t want to do much with your mop except wash it (maybe) and let it do its thang.

That’s what I’ve been doing lately, and to quote JT, “I’m lovin’ it!”

What’s Your Current Brow Routine?

July 16th, 2014 by Karen 17 Comments

Wearing Tom Ford Brow Sculptor in Espresso in my fuzzy li’l caterpillars…

Right now I’m not doing much to them. I just brush them through, and fill in the middle and outer tail end with a brow pencil.

That’s it.

No brow gels or concealer along the edges — basically, no frills right now.

That’s compared to the brow routine I was following back in winter and spring, which usually amounted to some combination of eyeshadows, brushes, brow gels and concealer (I’d run the concealer along the edges and blend it in to define the shape).

But you know, since it’s summer, I’ve been paring down… You know how it is.

How about you? Tell me about your brows, babe. What have you been doing with them lately? And out of curiosity, when it comes to your brows, does the season have anything to do with your routine?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Blerg, guess who has a dentist appointment this morning.

No, not Tabs. 🙂 I do.

It’s just a cleaning, but still…I’m not what I’d call “enthused” about it. I told myself that I can swing by the mall when it’s done as a reward for not stabbing anyone. If I just do a quick circuit through Nordstrom, the Kate Spade store and Anthropologie, I’m sure I’ll feel better.

P.P.S. Happy hump day. I hope you’re having a good week so far.