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

Be a Doll, and Hand Me One of Those Seven Recently Revamped Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliners

January 22nd, 2014 by Karen 20 Comments

The recently revamped Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliners

Next time you watch Project Runway (if you watch Project Runway), keep an eye on Heidi Klum’s lower water lines… She uses a trick with white liner to make her eyes look brighter, and it works!

I’ve been looking for a white gel liner to wear on mine for what feels like centuries. I’ve tried MAC’s Fascinating Eye Kohl, off and on, but have never really been happy with the wear time, and on me, unfortunately, it smudges.

All this is to say that I have soaringly high hopes for these recently revamped Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliners — in particular, one of them, a white matte shade called Yang. I’m crossing my fingers that it won’t wiggle or scoot shortly after I get it on my water lines.

Yang is one of seven shades in the line. Napoleon nixed the parabens, which had been in the formula before, and added four new shades to the line in golden Double Happiness, navy Dynasty, blackened gold Forbidden City and pewter Lotus.

These are designed to be worn on lash lines, water lines, as cream shadows, or as bases for powder shadows, and they’re billed as long-wearing and smudge-proof.

We shall see (she said, rolling her hands together conspiratorially). I’m gonna try Yang on my water lines tomorrow. Bright eyes, here I come! 🙂

All seven China Doll Gel Eyeliners are available now at Napoleon Perdis stores, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and online at napoleonperdis.com for $25 each.

Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliner in Double Happiness — Double Happiness

Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliner in Lotus — Lotus

Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliner in Yin — Yin

Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliner in Dynasty — Dynasty

Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliner in Tao — Tao

Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliner in Yang — Yang

Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliner in Forbidden City — Forbidden City

Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliner Pots

Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliner Swatches from the left: Yin, Yang, Tao, Double Happiness and Dynasty — Swatches from the left: Yin, Yang, Tao, Double Happiness and Dynasty

Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliner Swatches from the left: Lotus and Forbidden City — Swatches from the left: Lotus and Forbidden City

Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliner Boxes — The gold boxes

Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliner Ingredients — Ingredients

Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliner Line and Define — Line and Define

Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliner Pro Tip — Pro Tip

Dry Lips Will Love Le Metier de Beaute’s Drought Defying Hydra-Creme Lipsticks

January 22nd, 2014 by Karen 14 Comments

Le Metier de Beaute Hydra-Creme Lipstick in Butterfield 8 — Le Metier de Beaute’s Hydra-Creme Lipstick in Butterfield 8

I am so hungry right now…

Frickin’ PMS. It’s turned my tummy into a bottomless pit [INSERT RUMBLING TUMMY SOUND HERE]. Right now, I could easily eat an entire pizza, and a half, and then have dinner.

LOL! The only thing stopping me — well, I mean, the main thing — is makeup.

Surprise! 🙂 I’m wearing Le Metier de Beaute Hydra-Creme Lipstick tonight, and every time I smack my lips and mush them together while thinking about the aforementioned pizzas, with their gooey, cheesy goodness, yummy tomato sauce and crust (OH, THE CRUST!), I’m temporarily distracted by how great my lips feel, and momentarily forget about my hunger.

Two of the 25 Le Metier de Beaute Hydra-Creme Lipsticks

So, these Hydra-Cremes launched in the fall, but I didn’t truly appreciated them until recently, as a result of my lips being incredibly dry.

Ugh… Winter.

I haven’t been able to tolerate any lip products lately that aren’t highly moisturizing, and these are like reservoirs!

Le Metier de Beaute Hydra-Creme Lipsticks in Grenadine (left) and Butterfield 8 (right) — Hydra-Creme Lipsticks in Grenadine (left) and Butterfield 8 (right)

They slide across lips, leaving behind a lightweight layer of medium-coverage color with a soft shine.

Totally reminds me of the MAC Lustres but, like, hella fancy. No flavor or scent.

Le Metier de Beaute Hydra-Creme Lipstick Swatches in Butterfield 8 (left) and Grenadine (right) — Butterfield 8 (left) and Grenadine (right)

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The Fab 5, Vol. 5: Hourglass Cosmetics

January 22nd, 2014 by Karen 18 Comments

Hourglass may not be a gargantuanly huge brand, but they’re one of my faves (yes, I know, I have many faves).

The luxe little line hails from down the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway), in sunny Southern California.

I like a lot of their products, but here are five of my “must-haves” from the line. Next time you’re cruising the aisles at Sephora, check ’em out! If you decide to give one (or more) of these Fab 5 a try, let me know how it goes. I hope you like them as much as I do.

Products mentioned in this video…

Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light ($45)
Oxygen Foundation Mineral Powder ($46)
Visionaire Eye Shadow Duo in Prism ($38)
Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Ballet ($28)
Foundation/Blush Brush No. 2 ($58)
Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil ($32)

Thank you very much for watching, and if you enjoyed this video and want me to keep doing them, please give this one a thumbs up on YouTube and subscribe. Because when you get fired up, it fires me up to do more! 🙂

Thank you, as always.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

These New $19 DHC Premium Lipsticks Look and Feel Like $50 Lippies

January 22nd, 2014 by Karen 14 Comments

More makeup morsels from DHC!

Next month the Japanese brand releases a new line of six smooth, creamy lipsticks, like kisses being blown from Japan (mwah!)… They’ll be available here in the States through the company’s catalogue and online through their website at dhccare.com.

The Premium Lipstick GEs, as they’re called, cost $19 each and aim to prettify your pout while simultaneously turning back time…

“Lips look more youthful with Premium Lipstick GE, the latest cosmetic innovation from DHC USA. This brilliantly pigmented lipstick comes in six sophisticated hues and features Pure Color Technology with micronized pigments for a smooth, completely even surface. No clumping, just satiny color with light-diffusing pearls for a c-D plumping effect. Lips get a kiss of emollient moisture from macadamia, olive and rice bran oils. Collagen and sodium hyaluronate help lips hang onto hydration. Oat kernel extract minimizes the look of lines. Vitamin A and germanium encourage revitalization.”
— DHC PR

These smooth, gloriously pigmented products do a helluva job staying out of the vertical lines that grace my lips, and I only need one layer for opaque coverage. My dry lips (it’s flake city, yo!) also appreciate the amount of moisture they contain.

I really like these… Guerlain’s $50 Rouge G’s ain’t got nothin’ on ’em.

DHC Premium Lipstick GE tubes — Ooh, fancy…

DHC Premium Lipstick GE in Bold Persimmon — Bold Persimmon

DHC Premium Lipstick GE in Petal Pink — Petal Pink

DHC Premium Lipstick GE in Velvety Red — Velvety Red

DHC Premium Lipstick GE in Rose Gold — Rose Gold

DHC Premium Lipstick GE in Rich Raspberry — Rich Raspberry

DHC Premium Lipstick GE in First Blush — First Blush

DHC Premium Lipstick GE swatches from the left: Swatches from the left: Rose Gold, Bold Persimmon, Petal Pink, Velvety Red, First Blush and Rich Raspberry — Swatches from the left: Rose Gold, Bold Persimmon, Petal Pink, Velvety Red, First Blush and Rich Raspberry

Blossoming Soon: Two New MAC Collections for Spring 2014, Namely MAC A Fantasy of Flowers and Prep + Prime CC Colour Correct

January 22nd, 2014 by Karen 22 Comments

MAC A Fantasy of Flowers Spring 2014 Collection — New from MAC for spring 2014: A Fantasy of Flowers

G’mornin’, glory. 🙂

So, PR pics aren’t usually my thing (I’ll take my Canon and a pile of products any day, son!), but with these two new collections from MAC, I had to share.

MAC A Fantasy of Flowers

My inner (wannabe) botanist is super stoked about A Fantasy of Flowers. Its 34 pieces of prettiness arrive online January 30 and at counters February 6 in North America (international babes, it hits your shores in March at all locations except Japan).

The release looks like a veritable botanical garden of gorgeous Mineralize Eye Shadows, Blushes, Skinfinishes, and floral-themed Lipsticks, Cremehsheens and Nail Lacquers, too.

And the blooming doesn’t stop there. The release also features three brushes and a pair of mascaras…but really, you know I’m drooling over the pretty, pretty colors, LOL!

MAC A Fantasy of Flowers Lipsticks from the left: Fleur D'Coral, Naked Bud, Dreaming Dahlia, Rose Lily, Snapdragon and Heavenly Hybrid — Lipsticks from the left: Fleur D’Coral, Naked Bud, Dreaming Dahlia, Rose Lily, Snapdragon and Heavenly Hybrid

We’ll see six petal-perfect Lipsticks in MAC’s Lustre finish, namely pale creamy peach Fleur d’Coral, neutral sheer nude Naked Bud, sheer reddish-coral Dreaming Dahlia, sheer pastel pink Rose Lily, mid-tone blueish pink Snapdragon and mid-tone berry Heavenly Hybrid ($15 each US, $18 CDN).

MAC A Fantasy of Flowers Cremesheen Glasses from the left: Nectarsweet, Flare for Fantasy, Pagoda, Playful Petal, Star Quality and Galaxy Rose — Cremesheen Glasses from the left: Nectarsweet, Flare for Fantasy, Pagoda, Playful Petal, Star Quality and Galaxy Rose

And for a finish that shines like morning dew, take a gander at the six gleaming Cremsheens ($20 each US, $23 CDN). Choose from soft pinkish-peach Nectarsweet, mid-tone pinkish beige Flare for Fantasy, frosted cool pink Pagoda, electric magenta Playful Petal, bright orange-coral Star Quality and mid-tone violet pink Galaxy Rose.

But what about eyes and cheeks?

Well, how ’bout a bouquet of shimmer with a bevy of Mineralize Skinfinishes, Pigments and Fluidlines…

Mineralize Eye Shadow ($21 each US, $25 CDN)

In the Meadow, an icy shimmering white, dirty olive green, golden mint green and pale yellow (frost)
Pink Sensibilities, a pinkish brown, chocolate brown, yellow pink and icy blue pink (frost)
Golden Hours, a copper bronze, golden brown, soft golden peach and pale yellow gold (frost)
Great Beyond, a deep blue violet, dusky plum, icy white lilac and soft mauve violet (frost)

Pigments ($21 each US, $25 CDN)

Lily White, a pale buttery yellow shimmer
Chartreuse Bouquet, a shimmering acid green
Violet, a vivid bright violet purple
Pink Pearl, a shimmery lavender-pink

Fluidlines ($16 each US, $19 CDN)

Sassy Moss, a vivid green
Phlox Garden, q vivid violet

Haute & Naughty Lash in Black ($21 each US, $25 CDN)

Mineralize Skinfinishes ($30 each US, $35 CDN)
Perfect Topping, a pale pearlized pink
Stereo Rose, a copper bronze

Mineralize Blushes ($25 each US, $29.50 CDN)

Azalea in the Afternoon, a mid-tone cool pink
Petal Power, a coral pink with gold shimmer

MAC A Fantasy of Flowers Mineralize Eye Shadows in Golden Hours (left) and Great Beyond (right) — Golden Hours (left) and Great Beyond (right)

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The Tarte Cheek Stains Don Snazzy New Outfits, Shrink Down Several Sizes…

January 21st, 2014 by Karen 23 Comments

Cheeks, by Tarte. LOL! Sounds like a fancy fragrance commercial. But seriously, I’m wearing the new Tarte Cheek Stain in Fearless ($30)

I sure do like the new packaging for these Tarte Cheek Stains. So, so pretty…but I loved the old-school packaging, too.

I get it, though. It’s good to switch things up every once in a while. Heck, I’m a firm believer in frequent wardrobe changes. El Hub makes fun of me all the time because, seriously, I bring along at least two extra pairs of shoes (and sometimes jackets) whenever we leave the house. I mean, you just never know when you’ll need a different pair of shoes.

Right…?

No? Is that just me?

Oh, well. 🙂

The newly repackaged Tarte Cheek Stains, $30 each

Importantly, these eight gel- and cream-based blushes work just as well as the originals. Two swipes on my cheeks, either atop bare skin, tinted moisturizer or foundation, then some quick blending with my fingers, and I’m flushed and blushed for the day.

Fab-ooo for quick, natural-looking cheeks, and each of the shades has a corresponding color in Tarte’s new LipSurgence Power Pigment pencil line — ya know, if I want to get all matchy-matchy (I must admit, sometimes, I do).

But…sad face time. 🙁 Why are these so small? I mean, I like minis as much as the next makeup lover, but these are half as big as the originals (0.5 ounces versus 1), and yet cost the same amount.

What gives?

I’ve been loving and wearing Tarte’s Cheek Stains for a good 7+ years and have always felt that, sure, even though they’re $30 each, because they lasted such a long time, they still seemed like a great deal.

Now? Not so sure.

Tarte Cheek Stains from the left: Blissful, Blushing Bride and Exposed — From the left: Blissful, Blushing Bride and Exposed

Tarte Cheek Stains from the left: Fearless, Flushed and Natural Beauty — From the left: Fearless, Flushed and Natural Beauty

Tarte Cheek Stains from the left: Tipsy and True Love — Tipsy and True Love

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Introducing the New DHC Face Color Palettes… How Very Paul & Joe!

January 21st, 2014 by Karen 10 Comments

Do you DHC?

It’s a Japanese skincare brand (famous for their bestselling Deep Cleansing Oil).

Next month the brand releases several new makeup products for lips, faces and cheeks.

I’m really feelin’ the new blush duos… There’s something very Paul & Joe about them, don’t you think?

DHC Face Color Palette EX in Glowing Rose — Glowing Rose

DHC Face Color Palette EX in Radiant Ruby — Radiant Ruby

Just use the darker shade to tintify (my word) the apples of your cheeks, followed by the lighter shade to highlight your upper cheekbones. Or, mix both shades together for something completely new. Either way, cheeks get a sheer, natural-looking glow.

If you dig the no-makeup makeup look, these could be right up your alley.

One thing to consider: the three pinkish/rosy shades are quite similar. In fact, I can hardly tell them apart in their pans or on my skin.

The blush duos, which contain sodium hyaluronate, jojoba and olive oils, and hydrating ceramides to help them blend like butter on the skin, are available in four shades — Glowing Rose, Radiant Ruby, Pearly PInk and Sunny Bronze.

If you’re interest is piqued, make a note in your calendar for February 1, which is when they’re available through DHC’s catalog (you can sign up to receive it here), or snag them online at DHCcare.com for $20 each.

DHC Face Color Palette EX in Pearly Pink — Pearly Pink

DHC Face Color Palette EX in Sunny Bronze — Sunny Bronze

DHC Face Color Palettes Swatches: Glowing Rose (two swatches on the left) and Radiant Ruby (swatches on the right) — Glowing Rose (two swatches on the left) and Radiant Ruby (swatches on the right)

DHC Face Color Palettes Swatches: Pearly Pink (two swatches on the left) and Sunny Bronze (swatches on the right) — Pearly Pink (two swatches on the left) and Sunny Bronze (swatches on the right)

For Potent Pigments in Petite Pencil Packaging, There’s the New LipSurgence Power Pigments by Tarte

January 21st, 2014 by Karen 16 Comments

Tarte Fearless — Wearing the new Tarte LipSurgence Power Pigment in Fearless on my lips

I shop in the petites section, I collect mini perfumes, and I have a reoccurring dream where I’m opening my front door, and there on the ground before me is a basket of baby munchkin kittens looking for a nice lady to adopt them.

I guess what I’m trying to say is this: I do believe that good things come in small packages. 🙂

Cute! The new Tarte LipSurgence Power Pigments, $24 each

Like these sleek LipSurgence Power Pigment pencils by Tarte. They’re new for spring, streamlined and skinny (unlike my favorite tabby), and being added to the permanent line.

Compared to Tarte’s existing 0.10-ounce LipSurgence pencils, these diminutive 0.04-ounce ones, which are supposed to be more pigmented, are so petite that I almost mistook them for travel minis. The bigger versions look downright gargantuan by comparison!

Tarte LipSurgence Power Pigment comparison — The O.G. larger pencils on the left and the new Power Pigments on the right

What’s the skinny on Tarte’s tiny LipSurgence Power Pigments?

They’re available in eight vibrant, look-brightening shades.
The antioxidant-rich formula has a refreshing hint o’ peppermint (both flavor and scent).
According to Tarte, the tiny tubes make precise application easier, while minimizing waste and the size of your carbon footprint (uh…).
They also contain vitamin E, an antioxidant, as well as a natural anti-inflammatory and preservative; shea butter, which is supposed to help skin maintain its elasticity; and carnauba wax for smoooove application.

Each of the eight shades is also designed to perfectly pair with one of Tarte’s new recently repackaged Cheek Stains (review coming soon).

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