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

The New Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow: The Neutrals

July 10th, 2014 by Karen 11 Comments

Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow Neutrals

Bella Eyes — super new from Milani. It’s a new line of gel powder eyeshadows available in 30 colors, $3.99 each.

Of course I had to check out the neutrals first. 🙂

Doesn’t the gold packaging look extra pretty?

In the top row, from the left to the right, that’s Bella Gold, Bella Copper, Bella Espresso and Bella Taupe.

Starting from the left in the middle row are Bella Bronze, Bella Cappuccino, Bella Caffe and Bella Sand.

Last, but not least, in the bottom row, that’s Bella Ivory and Bella Champagne.

You can find these and the rest of the Bella Eyes gel powder eyeshadow shades now at drugstores and online.

Defeat Dark Days With Bobbi Brown’s Brightening Blushes in Pink and Bronze

July 10th, 2014 by Karen 9 Comments

With the two new Bobbi Brown Brightening Blushes from the new Surf & Sand summer collection — With the two new Bobbi Brown Brightening Blushes ($45 each) from the new Surf & Sand summer collection

Order! Order! People, please, settle down. I know we’re all upset, but let’s approach this like adults.

OK…I call this meeting of the I Heart Ryan Gosling Support Group to order.

As most of you probably know, my name is Karen, and I’m the current president of the Northern California chapter. I called this emergency meeting in response to the tragic news yesterday about Ryan.

We’ve received more calls to the counseling line over the past 24 hours than we have in the prior two years. Clearly, many of us are upset.

There’s no two ways about it — this is a catastrophe, so we’re officially in disaster recovery mode.

But as bad as things seem, we have to get it together, people. Come on! If I have to listen to another person cry on the phone for 45 minutes about she-who-will-not-be-named, I will lose my sh*t.

Focus. Quit listening to Adele, get your butt off the couch, and change out of your pajamas. Pull yourselves together! Ryan needs us now more than ever.

In situations like this, I can’t recommend makeup enough. It always makes me feel a little better. In fact, blush is a personal favorite of mine.

Bobbi Brown Brightening Blush in Pink 2 — Brightening Blush in Pink 2

Bobbi Brown Brightening Blush in Bronze 1 — Brightening Blush in Bronze 1

Why, before I applied these new Bobbi Brown Brightening Blushes this afternoon, I felt like this…

Bobbi Brown Brightening Blush Pink — Bummer, dude

But now I feel like this…

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The Four New NARS Night Series Eyeliners and a Heartbreaking Call From Ryan Gosling

July 10th, 2014 by Karen 17 Comments

**RING! RING!**

KAREN: What up?

RYGOS: ‘What up?’ Are you serious? Why can’t you say hello like a normal person?

KAREN: Why can’t you stop being the subject of countless Internet memes?

RYGOS: Touché…

KAREN: Mm-hmm.

RYGOS: Can you talk for a second?

KAREN: Well, now that you ask, I’m in the middle of a review for the new NARS Night Series Eyeliners —

RYGOS: Cool. Hey, so —

KAREN: You just interrupted me.

RYGOS: Did I?

KAREN: Yeah.

RYGOS: Sorry.

KAREN: It’s OK…

RYGOS: So do you like them?

KAREN: What?

RYGOS: The liners.

KAREN: I do. They’re these new glittery ones based on the NARS Night Series eyeshadows. They’re smooth and pigmented and last a long time, even on bare lids without primer. Only thing is, I can’t use them on my water lines.

RYGOS: Why’s that?

KAREN: The glitter. My eyes are really sensitive, and any time I get glitter up on my water lines, they freak out. And as a general rule, you usually don’t want glitter anywhere it could scratch your eyes.

Wait a second — I know you didn’t call to talk about eyeliner and glitter, so what’s up?

RYGOS: I have some news…

KAREN: Oh, yeah? Is this legit news or the start of some BS joke on my behalf?

RYGOS: I don’t do that.

KAREN: Oh, yes you do! Remember that one about the new line of luxury cat accessories you were working on with Chanel, and you were sending me and Tabs diamond-studded necklaces and collars to wear?

RYGOS: Oh…

KAREN: Yeah, I harassed the FedEx guy for weeks. Weeks!

RYGOS: Hahaha! Sucker.

KAREN: I learned my lesson.

RYGOS: But I really do have news.

KAREN: OK, what’s this news? The suspense is killing me.

RYGOS: Well…it’s about me and Eva. We’re having a baby.

NARS Night Series Eyeliners from the left: Night Bird, Night Clubbing, Night Porter and Night Flight — The NARS Night Series Eyeliners from the left in Night Bird, Night Clubbing, Night Porter and Night Flight

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If You Aren’t Ready To Say So Long to Rose Gold, There’s New Pastorale Nail Polish by NARS

July 10th, 2014 by Karen 42 Comments

NARS Pastorale Nail Polish Swatch — Wearing the new NARS Nail Polish in Pastorale ($20) on my paws

Um…rose gold?

Yes, rose gold. Still. In all its rosy golden glory.

OK, now, I realize that rose gold is sooo 2013, and depending on where you stand on the subject, it may or may not have peaked, makeup-wise, with last year’s Naked3 palette from Urban Decay or the Rose Gold Shimmering Skin Perfector from BECCA.

You know what, though?

I kind of don’t care. 🙂

I’m going to continue clinging to rose gold with my polished claws and paws because, dagnabbit, I love it, particularly when paired with warmer skin tones.

Today, to keep the Carlos Santana Tone Wedge Sandals I’m wearing company, I painted my nails with Pastorale, a new rose gold nail polish from NARS.

It’s from the recent relaunch of the brand’s nail polish line and arrives with the other shades July 15 at NARS boutiques and narscosmetics.com, and August 1 at Sephora stores and department store NARS counters.

NARS Pastorale Swatch — Rose gold radness

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The Poverty Flats by Rian Perforated Satchel Strikes Again!

July 9th, 2014 by Karen 9 Comments

Poverty Flats by Rian Perforated Satchel (1)

Last summer I found the most awesome goes-with-anything-and-fits-a-ton purse at DSW — the lightweight Poverty Flats by Rian Perforated Satchel, and I saw it again while cruising DSW today! This time in gray, and on major sale.

Originally $80, it was on sale for $49.95 when I got it in light cream and tan last year. The gray one here is deeply discounted right now to $34.95 (they also have it online in navy blue for the same price).

OK, so this is one of those purses that looks much more expensive than it actually is. Whenever I’m out and about with it, someone usually stops to ask me where I got it, and I’m like, “GUUUUURL! DSW on SALE!” 🙂

LOL! I’m so my mother’s daughter…

I Put on My Podiatric Prospector Cap Today and Mined for Gold Summer Sandals at DSW

July 9th, 2014 by Karen 17 Comments

Just call me a footwear forty-niner, babe, ’cause I struck gold today at DSW. 😀

I’d heard tell of a goldmine of golden sandal goodness there, so I staked my claim and walked into the store hoping to find a pair of comfy gold sandals I’d be able to dress up or down.

Eureka!

I found that and more. Here are 21 golden summer sandals available now at DSW.

1. Kelly & Katie Phyllis Flat Sandal, $39.95

2. Vince Camuto Sandals, $49.94 (and on sale for an additional 50% off)

3. Nine West Bledel, $34.94 (on sale for an additional 40% off)

4. Kelly & Katie Madeline Wedge, $49.95

5. Steve Madden Starly Flat Sandal, $44.95

6. Seychelles Fill Me In Flat Sandal, $29.94

7. Crown Vintage Santa Clara Flat Sandal, $29.95

8. Unisa Leeahh Multi Band Sling, $34.95

9. Carlos Santana Tandy, $44.95

10. Steve Madden Kaceyy Metallic Flat Sandal, $39.95

11. Franco Sarto Geisha Gladiator Sandal, $49.95

12. Unisa Lola Wedge, $44.95

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The Monkey Flower Group

July 9th, 2014 by Karen 3 Comments

Peach, Pink and orange flowers from The Monkey Flower Group in Napa (1)

After our anniversary dinner up in Napa the other night, El Hub and I walked around the Oxbow Public Market, which is like a fancy Wine Country food court and gift shopping area, where I saw this lovely little flower cart by The Monkey Flower Group.

It was in the evening around 8, so the cart was unmanned (no monkeys either), but the flowers were still on display.

Now I know who to call for cute floral arrangements in Napa if I ever need them. I’ll call The Monkey Flower Group. 🙂

Outfit of the Day: The Fake It Till You Make It Edition With the Kate Spade Terri Dress

July 9th, 2014 by Karen 14 Comments

On days when I look like this…

…inside, I usually feel like this:

LOL! You know what they say. Fake it till you make it.

So, today my main driving focus has been Designer Shoe Warehouse.

I really, really want to go look at sandals, so I sort of scheduled my entire afternoon around it.

And because it’s DSW, and I love DSW with a burning hot passion, I want to wear something with a little flair (woman cannot live on stretchy skinny jeans and cat t-shirts alone).

The Kate Spade Riviera Garden Triple Strand Necklace and two layers of NARS Shameless Red Nail Polish

You can’t take yourself too seriously when you’re wearing a bright, fun color like this.

I mean, you could…but it would be difficult. Reddish coral, which I love wearing in the summer with a tan, isn’t exactly compatible with “fussy.”

Kate Spade white purse — Kate Spade purse and Anne Klein Watch

Although I like how these shoes look with the outfit, my feet are utterly killing me in these pics — hence, part of the reason I want to go to DSW today.

I’d love a pair of comfy gold sandals to wear with this dress (my birthday present from El Hub), and I don’t currently have any comfy gold sandals that I can actually walk in.

I’m hoping to find a pair I can dress up with this dress, and dress down with dark denim.

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