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

Everything’s a Little Brighter With New Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder for Face and Body

September 12th, 2013 by Karen 22 Comments

When I picture no-makeup makeup, as in makeup that looks “au naturale,” Urban Decay isn’t the first brand that springs to mind. I mean…the have an entire sparkly rainbow of glitter eyeliners living in their permanent collection (and they’re great!).

Lately, though, with new additions to UD’s Naked Skin product line, they seem bound and determined to get makeup lovahs thinking about them in that way.

But based on my first swatch of the new Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder for Face and Body ($29) on the back of my hand, I did not expect subtle. In the swatch I saw a silvery beige powder so frosty, so sparkly, that I pictured roller skating rinks and knee-high socks.

We’re talking disco ball territory.

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When Are Two Vices Better Than One? When It’s a Face of the Day With the Urban Decay Vice 2 Palette

September 12th, 2013 by Karen 33 Comments

In the not-too-distant future, the headquarters of Tabs the Cat Industries, LLC, also known as my condo, has been classified as a historical site — one of the must-see stops on the way to Wine Country — with a placard on the front door that reads, “Here lived Tabs the Cat at the height of his fame/infamy.”

But visitors, of which there will be many, will be sorely disappointed to learn that the world’s first plus-size kitty supermodel’s assistant was actually really, really boring.

Many of them will expect that a historical figure as influential as Tabs would have had a wildly eccentric, fascinating right-hand woman with bizarre yet endearing habits and vices.

Sadly, my biggest vice is porcelain cats…

Because I own many of them.

I suppose that one could also call my weakness for well-stocked palettes, like the new Vice 2 palette from Urban Decay, another vice…

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Do You Apply Your Eyeliner or Mascara With Your Mouth Open or Closed?

September 12th, 2013 by Karen 39 Comments

Wearing Urban Decay's new Anarchy Face Case — Applying the new Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion, from the new Anarchy Face Case, on my water line

Uh…this is gonna sound a little weird, but isn’t it hard to apply your eyeliner or mascara with your mouth closed?

Seriously, what’s up with that? I must be so deep in thought that my lower jaw just, ghhhlgl, drifts down…

It’s the weirdest thing! But I don’t think it’s just me. I’ve seen other people do it, too, both guys and gals, even in YouTube videos.

How about you? Are you an open-mouthed eye liner or closed? Do you apply your eyeliner or mascara with your mouth open or shut? Inquiring minds want to know! 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

A (Very Brief) Snapshot of Vegas

September 12th, 2013 by Karen 12 Comments

A view of the lovely Aria Hotel in Las Vegas from a glass catwalk (seriously, a catwalk connects the hotel to street level)

Tabs has been keeping me busy since I got home from Vegas last Friday, so only just now got around to looking through my pictures from the trip.

I didn’t really spend a lot of time on the town. I mostly stayed at Mandalay Bay, where the conference was held, but I did explore the Vegas strip one night for a couple hours…to get some bottled water from a CVS and go to Pinkberry (of course).

Here are just some random pics from the trip…

Another view of the gorgeous Aria Hotel. I just love the colorful lights that run up the sides of the building.

View of the strip from inside the Pinkberry…

Good to the last drop! I ordered my usual — an Original with strawberries and blueberries

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A Face of the Day With the New Urban Decay Anarchy Face Case, and a Not-So-Rebellious Yell

September 11th, 2013 by Karen 19 Comments

After delving into Anarchy, one of Urban Decay’s two new Face Cases, I kind of expected to feel the urge to kick garbage cans over, growl at strangers and swing chains over my head…

Urban Decay Anarchy Face Case 3 — The Urban Decay Face Case in Anarchy

Ooh! — or a mace, like from Game of Thrones, but only if I were in the mood to really do some damage.

Alas, no. I didn’t feel that rebellious at all after applying the eye, lip and cheek colors from UD’s latest holiday palette. Instead, I had a fruit salad and took a nap.

But it was a glorious nap fit for a king! 🙂

I look at Anarchy as the more bad-@ss of the two new Face Cases. Where Shattered is sweet, Anarchy is sassy, with sparklier eye colors, more vibrant blushes (so vibrant that I had to buff my cheeks down after my first try because I looked totally crazypants) and a more man-eater-esque lip color.

If you want a palette that parties, call Anarchy.

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MAC Pro Longwear Eye Liner in Powerline Endows Your Cat Eyeliner Looks With More Meow!

September 11th, 2013 by Karen 26 Comments

Lower lash liner by MAC Powerline; cat lady sweater by Target

The sweater? What, this old thing? You like? Yeah, it’s from Target, and no, one does not have to be feline obsessed to wear it with cat eyeliner. In fact, if you are a cat lady makeup lover, it really helps drive home the point. 🙂

I have a special place in my heart for cat eyeliner (and cat sweaters)…

This pretty much sums up our entire relationship

A big part of this cat liner look, obvs, is the liner flick action on the upper lash lines, but what about the lower lash lines? What should we do there?

I suppose we could leave ’em bare, but where’s the fun in that?

One way to infuse your lower lash and water lines with more meow is to line them with gold liner. Lately, to wear with my cat eye liner looks, I’ve been loving on MAC’s Pro Longwear Eye Liner in Powerline ($19.50). It adds just a little oomph without overpowering the whole look (I mean, because you don’t want to take away from that sweater, you know?).

MAC Pro Longwear Liner Swatches from the left: Definitely Black Devotion, Strong Willed and Powerline

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Prep for Parties in a Pinch With the Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliners

September 11th, 2013 by Karen 18 Comments

Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner in ACDC — Wearing Urban Decay’s Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner in ACDC on my lower lash lines and Face Case in Shattered on my lids, cheeks and lips

I know it’s not even technically fall, but before you know it, that aisle at Target dedicated to floaty inner tubes and swimming pool toys will disappear, only to be replaced by the aisle overloaded with candy corn and snack-size Snickers bars (DAMN THOSE THINGS).

I’ll be thinking less and less about frozen yogurt and shave ice and more and more about turkey, side dishes and pie (I’m all about the pecan). And then, invariably, I’ll have to encase myself in a pair of sausage-y Spanx just to be able to fit into those form-fitting party dresses I can’t breathe in, but like to wear anyway, because they make me feel like I’ve still got it (she said, snapping in a Z formation).

My point, and I do have one, is that party season is almost upon us. 🙂

For some events, you’ll want to go all out with your makeup and really enjoy the whole process of getting ready. Those times are nice…

Other times, you’ll need to get ready NOW.

And it’s those times that Urban Decay’s Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliners really help.

The Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliners

UD recently relaunched this line of sparkly eyeliners, perhaps with parties in mind, because they’re absolutely fabulous for getting gussied up in a flash.

Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner swatches — From the left: Junkshow, Midnight Owboy, Amp, Spandex, ACDC, Glamrock and Distortion

They come in seven fun colors, too, that once set, don’t budge for nothin’, so you can dance to Katy Perry all night long without worrying about your liner melting.

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A Face of the Day with the Urban Decay Shattered Face Case

September 10th, 2013 by Karen 35 Comments

Today was the first day in a really long time that I wore a sweater and long pants…

Bluh.

On the one hand, I’m gonna miss the hell out of summer. On the other hand, it’s nice when your office isn’t hotter than a sweat lodge.

I kid you not, yesterday it was so hot in hurrrrr that I had hallucinations! — including one with Tabs meowing to the tune of R. Kelly’s Ignition.

One of the coolest things about the cooling weather, though, is that it means holiday makeup isn’t too far away.

Yeah, boo. H-O-L-I-D-A-Y.

If you’re the type to pre-plan your Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Year’s makeup months ahead of time, 1) you’re much more organized than I am, and 2) you might really dig the new $44 Urban Decay Shattered Face Case.

It’s one of a dynamic duo of recently released Face Cases from Urban Decay (now available on urbandecay.com and coming soon to stores and counters), with a mix of wearable cool-toned beige, gray and purple eyeshadows, and slightly warmer peaches and pinks for cheeks and lips.

When my neighborhood Fed Ex guy, who likes to joke around with me, noticed my makeup today, he said he’s seen me look “much crazier.”

I’m pretty sure it was a compliment. 🙂

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