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

I’m Inspired by Muse: The New Hourglass Extreme Sheen High Shine Lip Gloss in Muse

May 2nd, 2014 by Karen 11 Comments

Oh, happy day!

Hourglass Cosmetics recently added three new shades to their Extreme Sheen High Shine Lip Gloss line — coral Muse, dusty rose Canvas and vibrant pink Ballet. Muse in its lipstick form has been one of my favorite Hourglass products for a while, so yay! Happy dance. 🙂

I’ve been deeply enamored with the Extreme Sheens and their bomb-dot-com, hella moisturizing formula. Not only do they shine like diamonds, but they also smell like cupcakes!

That’s like a triple rainbow all the way across the sky.

Pink guava Origami and warm coral Nectar have been my go-to purse gloss jams this spring, but now they face serious competition from Muse…

A potently pigmented coral, Muse is essentially the glossy version of the brand’s Femme Rouge Lipstick and Opaque Liquid Lipstick of the same name.

BAM! — it jumps right out at you.

Muse in Extreme Sheen Lip Gloss form begins bright and bold, slowly fading to a matte reddish pink stain over the course of 2-3 hours.

Very pretty. 🙂

Because Muse packs a lot of pigment, keeping it inside my natural lip line can be a challenge when applying, especially if I’m rushing, so I like to prep my pout first with a lip liner to keep it corralled.

With a steady hand and some patience, though, you could probably skip the liner. Just know that it’ll take some time to apply, because the color’s REALLY INTENSE.

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The Waterproof Brow Collection by MAC Will Cure Brows of Aquaphobia and Whip Them Into Shape

May 2nd, 2014 by Karen 13 Comments

MAC Waterproof Brow collection — The new MAC Pro Longwear Waterproof Brow Set ($16 each), from the new MAC The Waterproof Brow collection

Sweating in the name of makeup love!

This morning, to see how the new $16 MAC Pro Longwear Waterproof Brow Set and $16 Fluidline Brow Gelcremes would handle smudging and sweating, I slogged and panted through 30 grueling minutes on the treadmill (grueling because I just wasn’t feelin’ it).

Both are bound for the permanent line and hail from MAC’s new The Waterproof Brow collection, coming May 15 to maccosmetics.com and North American stores and counters May 22 (internationally, some time this month).

The MAC Fluidline Brow Gelcremes

You may recall the Fluidline Brow Gelcreme brow fillers in Redhead, Dirty Blonde and Deep Dark Brunette when they showed up for a limited time back in January 2013.

Like the Fluidline gel eyeliners, they come in a pot, but formula-wise feel slightly fluffier than the eyeliners do to me. I think the Gelcremes are also less intense, which makes them easy to manipulate when I run them through my brows.

First, I like to use the MAC 266 with Deep Dark Brunette to fill, lengthen and shape my brows, mostly just in the outer tail area to sharpen, define and lengthen at the ends, and then I’ll run the brush lightly along the entire length of the bottom of the brow for some soft definition.

As for the treadmill test this morning, Deep Dark Brunette passed. 🙂 I was sweating buckets by the end of my run, but the Gelcreme stayed put. Methinks it would be great for fitness fiends, cheerleaders, the tropics or gals/guys who perform under hot stage lights — pretty much anyone who needs waterproof makeup.

MAC Pro Longwear Waterproof Brow Set

Pigmented brow gels for tinting and holding brow hairs in place, the MAC Pro Longwear Waterproof Brow Sets ($16 each) have a fluffy, mousse-like formula and dry to a matte finish (don’t they kind of look like mascara wands?).

They’ll whip yo’ fuzzy little caterpillars into shape like brow drill sergeants! Use them to groom, define, shape and shade, and depending on how you work them, you can either go natural or dramatic.

MAC-Pro-Longwear Waterproof Brow Set from the left: Emphatically Blonde, Toasted Blonde, Red Chestnut, Quiet Brunette, Bold Brunette and Brown Ebony — Pro-Longwear Waterproof Brow Sets from the left in Emphatically Blonde, Toasted Blonde, Red Chestnut, Quiet Brunette, Bold Brunette and Brown Ebony ($16 each)

I use Quiet Brunette in the inner portion of my brows and Bold Brunette in the center ’cause I’m all about that ombre brow life! 🙂

To apply, I like to brush the wand directly through the hairs using an upward motion.

The Brow Sets leave my brows looking full (it’s a softer look than the Fluidline Brow Gelcremes) and groomed, with the brow hairs nicely combed, and they don’t feel crunchy.

They don’t have the hold of, say, Anastasia’s Brow Gel, but they have enough muscle to keep those bad boys from flapping in the wind.

Like the Fluidline Brow Gelcremes, the Pro Longwear Waterproof Brow Sets handle the treadmill test like champs! They don’t get patchy or look weird, even when my brows are swimming in sweat.

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The MAC Alluring Aquatic Collection Extra Dimension Bronzers and Blushes Are Making Waves With Me

May 2nd, 2014 by Karen 20 Comments

Contrary to popular belief, mermaids aren’t always able to rely on sunshine and brisk sea breezes for bronzed skin and beautifully sun-kissed cheeks.

I mean, have you seen the beaches here in Nor Cal?

Holy crap, man! Most of the time they’re freezing cold and the skies are overcast.

But that’s where blush and bronzer come in, because even if you’re a mermaid, selkie or siren, you will find a way to get some color on your face and cheeks, high tides, cloudy skies and rough seas be damned!

The new MAC Alluring Aquatic collection, which crashes on shores this month, makes it easy to look like you’ve been lounging in a seaside sun-drenched seashell all day, thanks to its two Bronzing Powders ($27.50 each), two Extra Dimension Bronzers ($33 each) and two Extra Dimension Blushes ($27.50 each).

The release splashes ashore May 15 at maccosmetics.com and May 22 at North American MAC counters (internationally some time in May).

I’ve been wearing the Extra Dimension Bronzer in Delphic and Extra Dimension Blushes in Sea Me Hear Me and Seduced at Sea this week, and as a part-time mermaid (my regular job as Tabs the Cat’s personal assistant prohibits me from making the jump to full-time), I can say that all three have made a big splash with me.

MAC Extra Dimension Bronzer in Delphic — Extra Dimension Bronzer in Delphic

Starting with Delphic Extra Dimension Bronzer, I can’t recall ever seeing MAC release a bronzer version, so I’m beyond thrilled to see this soft brick tan with its touch of barely-there golden shimmer.

I’ve been using it to add all-over warmth to my skin by sweeping it beneath my cheekbones, around the edges of my face and across my forehead, where it deposits just the perfect amount of color to the skin without that heavy, obvious, powdery look that some powder bronzers leave behind.

The new-ish Extra Dimension formula, which is sort of a combination of a cream, liquid and powder in the same pan, feels soft to the touch — almost creamy — and I really, really love it, not only because it blends easily and looks natural (the bronzer doesn’t sit on my skin like some powder bronzers do), but it’s also long-wearing. I get from 8-10 hours.

Delphic has a finish that’s just about perfect, and I’m crushing hard on this one, big time. It looks matte at first, but when you look closely you can see a slight sheen. The fine shimmer also gives it even more depth.

And then there are the two blushes in beige pink Sea Me Hear Me and neutral plum Seduced at Sea.

MAC Extra Dimension Blushes in Sea Me, Hear Me (left) and Seduced at Sea (right) — Extra Dimension Blushes in Sea Me, Hear Me (left) and Seduced at Sea (right)

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Like Something Out of a Dream…

May 1st, 2014 by Karen 7 Comments

Don’t these flowers look kind of surreal?

I saw them on a walk a few days ago and had to stop and take a picture. I love the way the grayish brown branches contrast with the hot pink flowers.

Note to self: try a gray/brown eye soon, and pair it with a hot pink lip. 🙂

30 Days of NARS: Tasmania Lip Gloss, Day 20

May 1st, 2014 by Karen 3 Comments

Tasmania Lip Gloss ($26) is one of the seven brand-spanking-new shades in the recently reformulated NARS Lip Gloss line available now.

It’s a sheer creamy pink cantaloupe that looks awfully pretty layered on top of nude lipsticks.

Mmm… Pink cantaloupe. 🙂

The 30 Days of NARS series features a different NARS Lip Gloss every day

The MAC Alluring Aquatic Lipsticks, Lipglasses and Lip Pencils Are off the Port Bow

May 1st, 2014 by Karen 23 Comments

Dear MAC Makeup Sirens of Alluring Aquatic…

Hey, ladies! I know y’all are busy reclining on the rocks and beguiling sailors with your songs and whatnot, but when you have a spare minute, ideally some time before your new 32-piece Alluring Aquatic summer collection arrives on May 15, can we schedule a quick conference call?

I’d like to discuss a major issue I have with the five Lipsticks, five Lipglasses and two Lip Pencils in the collection — specifically, I wish I could wear each and every one of them, like, all at the same time.

Four of the five MAC Alluring Aquatic Lipsticks

Frankly, I am jealous of the hydra, your mythical multi-headed pal, because he doesn’t have to choose among the pearly nudes, neutral pinks, plummy bronzes and vibrant violets. It’s totally not fair!

I, being a mere human (sigh), am relegated to wearing a single lip look at a time. ‘Tis a Greek tragedy of epic proportions.

But it’s not my fault! I have a weakness for nude lips, particularly in smokey eye looks using eyeshadows in unexpected colors, like the shimmery blue, green and plum Extra Dimension Eye Shadows from the MAC Alluring Aquatic collection.

I love the femme fatale look of glistening eyes and glossy nude lips, and I can totally get that by lining my lips with light nude What Comes Naturally Lip Pencil before filling them in with Lustre Lipstick in Siren Song (a pale sheer beige) or Frost Lipstick in Pet Me, Please (a light shimmering mauve).

A layer of either the seductively sparkly Clear Water or creamy nude Peachstock Lipglasses on top, and I, too, feel like a magical creature of the sea.

Oh! — and the pinks in this collection? Both neutral pink Matte Lipstick in Enchanted One and creamy rose Cremesheen Lipstick in Mystical are neutral enough to work with both warm and cool skin tones and perfect for a day at the office, whether you spend said days on sea cliffs singing enchanting songs or pushing paper at your desk (damn those TPS reports!).

MAC Alluring Aquatic Lip Pencils in Half-Red (left) and What Comes Naturally (right) — Lip Pencils in Half-Red (left) and What Comes Naturally (right)

I like both of the lippies worn either by themselves or with a touch of light bronzy pink Water Deities Lipglass or plummy bronze Seducing Sound Lipglass on top, which makes them even more alluring.

And how about those big parties at the Parthenon? Well, when I need enough drama to party with Zeus and Athena, vibrant violet Cremsheen Lipstick in Goddess of the Sea, deep violet Lipglass in Modern Lure and soft burgundy Lip Pencil in Half-Red perfectly accompany shimmery statement eyeshadows.

Yes, MAC Makeup Sirens, I believe that you gals know where to find me, since I can hear you singing your songs of makeup seduction practically every single day. Have your people call my people, and let’s set up a time to talk.

Sooner than later, yeah?

MAC Siren Song Lustre Lipstick — Siren Song Lustre Lipstick

MAC Mystical Cremesheen Lipstick — Mystical Cremesheen Lipstick

MAC Pet Me PleaseFrost Lipstick — Pet Me Please Frost Lipstick

MAC Enchanted One Matte Lipstick — Enchanted One Matte Lipstick

MAC Modern Lure Lipglass — Modern Lure Lipglass

MAC Clear Water Lipglass — Clear Water Lipglass

MAC Peachstock Lipglass — Peachstock Lipglass

MAC Water Deities Lipglass — Water Deities Lipglass

MAC Seducing Sound Lipglass — Seducing Sound Lipglass

MAC Alluring Aquatic Lipstick swatches from the left: Siren Song, Mystical, Pet Me Please Me and Enchanted One — Lipstick swatches from the left: Siren Song, Mystical, Pet Me Please Me and Enchanted One

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The MAC Alluring Aquatic Collection Extra Dimension Eye Shadows and Pearlglide Intense Eye Liners Are off the Starboard Bow

May 1st, 2014 by Karen 32 Comments

Wait.

Quiet, now.

Do you hear that?

That song…?

It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard.

Oh, my goodness! I think I know what it is. That’s the siren song of the new MAC Alluring Aquatic collection.

Gah! Lure me in, why don’t ya? — with your lustrous teal packaging, Neptunian theme and the inviting Extra Dimension formula that makes me want to dive into your shimmery waters without fear or hesitation.

Yeah…this stuff sings to me.

MAC Alluring Aquatic Collection — The MAC Alluring Aquatic collection

The release splashes ashore May 15 at maccosmetics.com and May 22 at North American MAC counters (internationally some time in May).

The packaging…I lurves it. Shimmery, shiny and teal, and the little water droplets make it unlike anything I’ve seen before, at least that I can remember.

The ship sets sail with 32 pieces — a good many of them lipsticks and lipglosses — with a couple of lip pencils and plenty of beautiful pieces with MAC’s Extra Dimension formula (eyeshadows, bronzers and blushes). There are also a couple of liners, nail polishes, regular powder brushes, a makeup bag and a few other tidbits (full list down below).

Soft, shimmery eyes, chrome nails and glistening skin characterize the collection. Think cheeks with a soft, satiny sheen. Harsh is not the operative word.

The lips vary widely from warm nudes to neutral pinks, deep violets, bronzes and plums, giving a MAC Alluring Aquatic siren a lot of lip choices.

MAC Alluring Aquatic Extra Dimension Eye Shadows — Alluring Aquatic Extra Dimension Eye Shadows

I love it when MAC includes Extra Dimension products in their collections because of how well those blasted things blend, and how amazingly long they last.

Don’t be scurred of the shine and frost you see here, even if you’re afraid of shimmer, because in these looks I’m wearing the shadows rather intensely. Overall, I think they’re quite wearable.

I packed them on with the MAC 233 Split Fibre Eye Shadow Brush from the collection, but a MAC 217, with its fluffier domed shape, would deliver a lighter wash of soft, shimmery color.

I’ve been playing with four of the six Extra Dimension Eye Shadows this morning, and here some quick thoughts…

Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Lorelei

MAC Lorelei Extra Dimension Eye Shadow, a golden beige — Lorelei Extra Dimension Eye Shadow

Lorelei is otherworldly! What a lovely golden beige and a great everyday color. I think it also has hints of peach in it…

I love it just buffed all over the lids. I know that it looks a little frosty in the swatch, but that’s partly due to the flash. It’s not quite as shiny in person (more of a subtle sheen), and I think it looks gorgeous with peaches and golds, like — ooh! — Indianwood Paint Pot or Woodwinked. You could do Woodwinked on the lid, Lorelei in the inner corners and lower lash lines and Soft Brown in the crease.

Yeah, awesome.

Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Legendary Lure

MAC Legendary Lure Extra Dimension Eye Shadow — Legendary Lure Extra Dimension Eye Shadow

MAC calls Legendary Lure Extra Dimension Eye Shadow a deep cerulean…

I love that word — cerulean. 🙂

On my NC42 skin, it reminds me of a simpler MAC Club without Club’s flash of reddish brown, so basically a tantalizing teal-ish gray.

I love those peacock feather colors, ya know? I can’t wait to wear this one with a deeper green, maybe something like MAC Tarnished Eye Kohl.

Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Fathoms Deep

MAC Fathoms Deep Extra Dimension Eye Shadow — Fathoms Deep Extra Dimension Eye Shadow

Fathoms Deep, which is technically a deep blue, interestingly enough looks more like a dark gunmetal periwinkle on me (Lots of blue shades often lean purple on my skin tone… Weird!).

Since I’m a sucka for smokey eyes, all I want to do with this one is smudge a black liner all over my lash lines and smoke it out on top.

I’m looking forward to trying it with the nude lip shades from the collection, like Peachstock Lipglass, for a summery smokey eye.

Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Soul Serenade

MAC Soul Serenade Extra Dimension Eye Shadow — Soul Serenade Extra Dimension Eye Shadow

As for deep plummy brown Soul Serenade Extra Dimension Eye Shadow, it’s also sure to lure smokey eye fans.

With these shadows, because they are quite shiny, I like to add a matte shadow up in the mix. For me, whenever I wear shiny shades like these, I like to have something matte or satin to balance everything out, like I actually took one of the Extra Dimension Bronzers from the collection and put it in the crease.

That’s not a rule, mind you. If you like the full-on shine, girlfriend, go for it. Sometimes I do too.

Pearlglide Intense Eye Liners in Black LIne and Black Swan

MAC Alluring Aquatic Pearglide Intense Eye Liner in Black Line (left) and Black Swan (right) — Pearglide Intense Eye Liner in Black Line (left) and Black Swan (right)

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The MAC Maleficent Collection Conjures Crimson Kisses and Chiseled Cheeks

May 1st, 2014 by Karen 49 Comments

Sorcery is a brutal business. Between the handsome princes hell bent on thwarting your dastardly plans and the difficulty in procuring eye of newt and other essential ingredients, there’s the whole time-consuming nature of conjuring and the plotting of evil deeds.

A successful villainess doesn’t even have time to touch up her lips these days, what with all the demand for demon summonings and whatnot.

Can you imagine the mighty Maleficent, star of Disney’s upcoming movie and MAC’s latest collaboration, pausing in the middle of a curse to grab a lip brush to reapply her red lipstick?

Please. It makes perfect sense that MAC, in working with the dark sorceress herself, would populate the new MAC Maleficent collection with lip products that last a supernaturally long time.

I’m no sorceress, obviously (well, not yet, but who knows what the future holds!?), but I’ve been wearing the True Love’s Kiss Lipstick, Anthurium Pro Longwear Lipglass and Kiss Me Quick Lip Pencil from the release this week, and all of them last a solid 6-7 hours — more than enough time to cast a fireball spell, cook a big batch of witch’s brew and/or frighten some local villagers.

Of the 14-pieces in the release, many of which are re-promotes from the MAC permanent line, the lip products conjure up some seriously stunning red lip magic for me. Total musts for crimson lip lovers.

MAC Maleficent Lipstick in True Love's Kiss, Pro Longwear Lipglass in Anthurium and Pro Longwear Lip Pencil in Kiss Me Quick — Lipstick in True Love’s Kiss, Pro Longwear Lipglass in Anthurium and Pro Longwear Lip Pencil in Kiss Me Quick

In Disney’s Maleficent, which comes out this summer, Angelina Jolie plays the allegedly devilish Disney sorceress of Sleeping Beauty fame, who may or may not have been the villainess she was once portrayed to be. The film chronicles Maleficent’s “true” rise to power.

Yes, MAC totally has a thing for the bad gals (remember Venomous Villains?).

The Maleficent collection has a vastly different color story than the Maleficent portion of Venomous Villains did. Where VV’s cool-toned purples, blues and greens drew upon Maleficent’s skin and wardrobe from Disney’s original Sleeping Beauty, the new collection evokes Maleficent’s evil elegance, with bold neutrals for eyes and cheeks and, of course, that intense red lip.

In the Maleficent movie posters I’ve seen, Angie has a whole scary/cool thing going on — super contoured cheeks, bold red lips, striking eyes in neutral tones. No green skin like the original Disney character, but more of a chilling gray…

She kind of looks like a witchy version of one of Robert Palmer’s Addicted to Love video girls from the ’80s, which I think is pretty damn fabulous!

MAC Maleficent Collection Sculpting Powder in Sculpt and Beauty Powder in Natural — Sculpting Powder in Sculpt to contour and Beauty Powder in Natural to highlight

With the exception of the grayish skin (really, though, would ya want that, anyways?), the look could be recreated with the 14 products in the MAC Maleficent collection — if you wanted to, that is.

But here’s the kicker that will probably peeve more than a few MAC fans: most of the pieces are re-promotes with limited edition packaging, and MAC does charge a little bit more for them.

Yes, you’re mostly paying for the packaging here, unless you don’t have some of these products.

And I sure do like the packaging! Like that logo, which looks like black wings, and the wings look like crows (Maleficent has a thing for corvids), which also form the shape of the letter “M.”

It’s on the main pieces — the quad, lip products, the cheek/face powder and the polishes.

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