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

Milani Rose Powder Blush in Coral Cove: Now That’s a Cute Pan

March 20th, 2014 by Karen 14 Comments

Coral blush cuteness served on a pan of rosy cuteness with a side of cuteness on the side!

Talk about a cute pan. 🙂

That pretty much summarizes the way I felt about Milani’s gorgeous Rose Powder Blush in Coral Cove ($7.99) the first time I saw it. One word: cute.

One of four recently released limited edition matte Rose Powder Blushes from the brand (with the others being red Lady Rouge, dark rose Love Potion and light rose Tea Rose), it immediately caught my eye. I thought I’d be able to wear it with orange lips and give one of this spring’s trendy looks a try.

Buuuuut, unfortunately, I haven’t been able to make it work…

It looks so intense in the pan, but it applies rather sheer, patchy and powdery on my cheeks.

The apples of my cheeks are always somewhat dry, and Coral Cove doesn’t really adhere to my skin unless I prep the area first with a rich moisturizer.

Which I’ll do, ya know, but it’s an extra step… If you have oilier skin than mine, it probably won’t be an issue.

For some reason, too, I don’t think the color looks very natural on my cheeks, perhaps because of the amount of red in it. Maybe I’ll like it more in a couple months when I (hopefully) have a tan and more reddish undertones in my skin.

Still cute, though… I think I’ll put it on a shelf to admire the pretty pan. 🙂

You’ll find Coral Cove and the other Rose Powder Blushes at drugstores and online now ($7.99 a pan).

The Urban Decay Summer 2014 Collection Puts on the Glitz With Majorly Blinged-Out Loose Glitter

March 20th, 2014 by Karen 34 Comments

If I can’t come back in my next life as Wonder Woman, I’m sure as hell coming back as a Vegas showgirl. ‘Cause it ain’t happening in this lifetime, that’s for damned sure. I’ve got the flexibility of a concrete pretzel and a high kick that barely clears the height of a footstool.

But you know what? Even though I will (probably) never don a big feathered headdress and dance around in a sparkly outfit on a Vegas stage, at least I can say that in this life, in the summer of 2014, I will have glittered and sparkled, and for that, I gotta give big ups to Urban Decay.

The Heavy Metal Loose Glitters in their new summer collection are so bling, so BAM! — that you sparkle all day and night LIKE YOU FRICKIN’ MEAN IT, MAN, when you wear them on your eyes.

They’re coming soon to UD counters but glittering now online with the rest of the summer collection.

Lots of fun things to play with here. Along with the six loose glitters, there’s also a weightless liquid glitter glue (to keep your glitter in place), a crop of several new liners for smokey eye looks and two new polishes (there’s also a small polish kit not shown here).

Are you ready for a quick tour? Here, take my hand… 🙂

Heavy Metal Loose Glitters ($12 each)

The new Urban Decay Heavy Metal Loose Glitters ($12 each)

These are my favorite things in the launch! Even if you don’t fancy yourself as a glitter gal/guy, you still may want to boogie down with these.

They’re just so fun and sparkly! — and guaranteed to put a smile on your face. 🙂

The flecks of glitter are bigger than the flecks in Urban Decay’s Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliners, so I’m warning you — brace yourself for major glitz.

Here’s the idea: you’re supposed to apply a small amount of Urban Decay’s clear Bondage makeup adhesive ($14) to your lids (or wherever else you’d like to wear loose glitter) first, and then pack your choice of glitters on top.

Once the glue dries, that glitter isn’t going anywhere.

I appreciate the sifter caps, too, which make it easy to regulate how much glitter I’m using. Don’t forget to remove the tape that covers the holes the first time you open it, though, because I didn’t see it at first and kept wondering, “Hmm… Why isn’t the glitter coming out?” I was just about to bite the sifter when I noticed the tape, haha! #schoolforthegifted

Also, if you plan to line your eyes with one of the new liners in the launch, you may want to do your liner before applying your glitter.

Why? Oh, because I think it’s just a really, REALLY big pain to apply liner on top of glitter. I’m just sayin’… Save yourself the drama by lining first.

Urban Decay Catfight Heavy Metal Loose Glitter — Urban Decay’s pink Catfight Heavy Metal Loose Glitter ($12)

Urban Decay Goldmine Heavy Metal Glitter, a yellow gold glitter ($12)

Urban Decay ACDC Heavy Metal Loose Glitter, a bright purple ($12)

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Today Only, Get 30% Off Everything Site-Wide at nyxcosmetics.com

March 20th, 2014 by Karen 7 Comments

Friends, makeup fiends, bargain hunters, lend me your bunny ears! How does this sound: 30% off everything at nyxcosmetics.com?

It’s one day only, though (the rest of today), good on everything site-wide.

That’s everything, as in evvrthang.

Not sure where to start?

May I recommend the new Infinite Shadow Sticks?

Regularly $9 a pop, they’re only $6.30 each during the sale.

These convenient and oh-so-lovely sticks of waterproof, smudge-proof cream shadow goodness came out with the spring collection a couple months back. I think they’re wonderful all by themselves, or as bases for powder shadows.

Almond, the shimmery taupe, is my favorite one. I’ll grab it sometimes when I’m totally running behind for something, and apply it all over my lids, concentrating the color along my lash lines. Then, I blend out the edges, and pat MAC’s golden taupe Patina Eye Shadow on top.

Together, they’re taupe-rific! (Yes, I’m on a kick inventing words.)

Oh, I also like shimmery white Crystal. I use it as a base for brights — like greens, blues and purples — where it brightens and intensifies products layered on top.

One thing, though, you have to work quickly with these, as they dry in a minute or two.

Happy shopping! Let me know if you get yourself a treat.

NYX Infinite Shadow Sticks from the left: Sweet Pink, Crystal, Almond and Chocolate

NYX Infinite Shadow Stick Swatches from the left: Crystal, Sweet Pink, Almond and Chocolate — Ingredients

What Are Your Staples for a Natural Makeup Look?

March 20th, 2014 by Karen 28 Comments

MAC Warm Soul Mineralize Blush — What, this? Oh, I’m not wearing any makeup at all… (yeah, right!)

My bare bones basics for natural makeup looks are devoted to evening out my skin tone, covering up dark circles, filling in my brows, adding a little color to my cheeks and lips, and then doing whatever extra I can to brighten and open my eyes, which usually means incorporating a curl-holding mascara and a shimmery shadow on my lids and in the inner corners.

Yeah…I guess that’s quite a bit of makeup for an allegedly “natural look.” (“Air quotes.”) 🙂

Not everything here is necessary, of course. I switch things up all the time, depending on the clock and how far behind it I am, and how I’m feeling that day, but this is my general list. I can’t wait to read yours!

Basics for a “natural makeup look”

SKIN: MAC Prep + Prime Natural Radiance, MAC Face and Body Foundation, NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer
DARK CIRCLES: MAC Prep + Prime Highlighter in Bright Forecast, MAC Pro Longwear Concealer and YSL Touche Eclat
BROWS: Hourglass Arch, MAC Brun and Cork Eye Shadows
COLOR FOR CHEEKS: MAC Give Me Sun Mineralize Skinfinish Natural, MAC Warm Soul Blush, MAC Cantaloupe Blush
LIPS: MAC Subculture Lip Liner, and whatever nude gloss happens to be in my purse at the moment. 🙂
EYES: Clarins Be Long Mascara (curl hold like WHOA), MAC Ricepaper Eye Shadow and MAC Woodwinked Eye Shadow

How about you? What are your staples/go-to bare minimum requirements for a natural makeup look?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy Thursday!

NYX Control Freak Eyebrow Gel Orders Brows Around, But Do They Listen?

March 19th, 2014 by Karen 13 Comments

This clear NYX eyebrow gel and I have a lot in common… Like, both of us enjoy long walks on the beach, drinking piña coladas and getting caught in the rain.

OK, that, and we’re both also Control Freaks. 🙂

Released a bit ago with the rest of the NYX spring collection, Control Freak works like most brow gels. Just brush the wand through your brows after you fill them in, and the clear gel is supposed to hold the hairs in place — you know, keep them under control?

Get it? Control?

It’s $6 and available now at drugstores, Ulta stores and nyxcosmetics.com.

Performance-wise, I think it’s OK. It doesn’t have the hold of my ride-or-die Anastasia Clear Brow Gel, but c’est la vie. After a few hours wearing Control Freak, the longer hairs at the tail end of my brows start moving, shifting and flappin’ in the breeze.

Not what I’m usually going for…

I guess my brows are just too much jelly for this, LOL! But if you only need light hold, it should do you just fine.

At least it’s only $6. Gotta love that.

It’s Makeup, Precisely! The New NARS Artistry Face and Cheek Brushes

March 19th, 2014 by Karen 27 Comments

The new NARS Face and Cheek Artistry Brushes

I’ve painted several rooms over the years, but each and every time I swear to myself I’m never doing it again.

That’s because painting rooms frickin’ sucks, man, and every room subtracts at least a year off your life, you know, if you take those Real Age online tests, I swear…

Now, painting faces!? That’s totally different. Painting faces is awesome sauce to the Nth degree.

Enter the new 16-piece NARS Artistry Brush line, arriving at NARS boutiques and online April 1, with four face brushes, two cheek brushes, nine eye brushes and one lip brush, all specially crafted for precision makeup application.

These things are pumping me up to paint my mug. 🙂

First, the face and cheek brushes, which I’ve been using and enjoying very much. I’ll have more to say about the eye and lip brushes soon (target: tomorrow), but for now…

The face brushes…

Powder Brush #10 ($52)

Designed, according to NARS, to buff, blend and diffuse loose powder to a lustrous finish, it also works pretty dang well for pressed powders. I tried it with both and like the results equally. It lays down a fine, even veil of product.

The brush head is slightly narrower than typical powder/fluffy face brushes, but I kind of like that, too. Even though it doesn’t cover as much surface area as your run-of-the-mill fluffy powder brush, I think it’s easier to control and, when using it, difficult to over-apply, and I’m digging on that.

Only thing is…it’s a tad scratchy. Not terribly scratchy, but still.

I’m not sure about the bristles on this one, but based on the way they feel, I’m guessing the fibers are natural, and not synthetic.

Bronzing Powder Brush #11 ($52)

If you’re a bonafide bronzing buff, you may want to seriously consider Bronzing Powder Brush #11 and its dense, domed head (looks almost like a regular kabuki brush).

No matter where I place it on my face — under my cheekbones, at the edge of my hair line, or anywhere else I apply bronzer — it just fits. And it lays down a perfect amount of product.

I have also yet to see the soft natural-fiber brush head shed one hair in the few times I’ve used it.

Like the Powder Brush #10, the one’s head is a little smaller than usual for its ilk, making it quite precise. It lays down smooth, even color. Love.

Cream Blending Brush #12 ($28)

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Chisel Those Cheeks! Contouring Made Easy With the New NARS Contour Blushes

March 19th, 2014 by Karen 47 Comments

Wearing (and holding) the new NARS Contour Blush in Paloma

I don’t want to divulge too much, because I like being mysterious, and I want RyGos to continue thinking that I wake up with these chiseled cheekbones (Haha! Not). Better to have him believe they were sculpted by Michelangelo than have him know they were actually contoured by NARS.

I mean, you already know so many of my secrets — what’s one more? Like, you know that I hide a Mini Babybel Cheese in my purse (because you never know when the urge to eat a small cheese wheel will hit you. #imjustsaying). You know that I love Bravo. You know that I am obsessed with makeup, Trader Joe’s and cats. You also know that one of my legs is slightly longer than the other.

Wait — you didn’t know that? Oops, I thought you did. 🙂

I guess what I’m trying to say is this: being as how you already know so much about me, what’s a little covert contouring talk between friends?

The secret to the chiseled cheeks I’m currently sporting is the new NARS Contour Blush in Paloma, one of three $42 contouring powder blush duos recently added to the permanent line.

Babybel Cheese, yo! — Um…is that cheese in your purse?

Each of the duos has — no surprise here — two shades, one darker than the other. The darker shade is used to define and add depth to the face, while the lighter shades is used for highlights.

Paloma, the one I wear, is the middle-of-the-road option.

Olympia, the lightest of the three duos, has an ivory and a rose; Paloma, a pinkish beige and a deep rose; and Gienah, the darkest duo, houses a honey and an amber.