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

3 Ways to Update Your Fall Makeup Bag for $20 or Less

August 28th, 2013 by Karen 5 Comments

Fall makeup is like the Super Bowl of beauty, far as I’m concerned. The boldest and best makeup for eyes, lips, cheeks, skin, brows and lashes take the field…or rather, the tops of makeup counters, all coming together for a major makeup event.

OH, GAWD, I LOVE IT ALL!!

Best thing about it is you don’t have to make it rain to switch up your fall makeup game. These 3 updates — each one $20 or less — will get your makeup bag in fighting shape for the new season.

Head on over to Gloss Daily, the Ladies’ Home Journal beauty blog, to read the rest of 3 Ways to Update Your Fall Makeup Bag for $20 or Less.

And if you feel like it, hit one of the buttons beneath the title to show some love. I’d really appreciate it!

Every time you like/tweet/comment, a husky tabby’s low-hanging tummy sways in the wind… 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The Fabulously Disco Divalicious MAC Antonio Lopez Collection’s Eye and Face Palettes Will Draw You In

August 27th, 2013 by Karen 42 Comments

MAC Antonio Lopez: 6 Eyes/Bronze and Face/Coral — Wearing the new MAC Antonio Lopez 6 Eyes palette in Teal on my eyes and Face palette in Coral on my cheeks

I am a girl. I am a girl with dreams.

Makeup dreams.

BIG, BOLD makeup dreams. Dreams of getting all dolled up exactly like the gal on this new MAC Antonio Lopez 6 Eyes palette, and then going to Petco to buy kitty litter.

SO FABULOUSLY DISCO DIVALICIOUS.

Let’s see… I think I have a blue scarf around here somewhere, and some black earrings, and I’m thinking I could probably imitate the hair. Maybe.

Oh, but that crazy-@ss earring?! I’ll definitely have to improv that, since something tells me I probably wouldn’t be able to find it (easily) at Claire’s.

The makeup, though, I’ve got that covered, boo-boo, thanks to the MAC Antonio Lopez collection’s mix of eye, lip and cheek palettes.

The MAC Antonio Lopez collection

The new collection struts into North American MAC stores, onto counters and online September 12, and arrives at international locales the same month (international babes, you might want to swing by your local counter to ask your fave MAC artist for a firm date).

Soooo…who IS this dude?

Fashion illustrator Antonio Lopez — From left: Eija Vehka Aho, Juan Ramos, Jacques de Bascher, Karl Lagerfeld and Antonio Lopez. Photo credit: The estate of Antonio Lopez & Juan Ramos, via Rizzoli, nytimes.com

First thing I thought when I saw these palettes was, “Oh, hell yes!” The second thing was, “Who is Antonio Lopez?”

Antonio Lopez (February 11, 1943 — March 17, 1987) was a world-renowned fashion illustrator who’s work appeared in many top-tier glossies like Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and Elle, as well as the style pages of papers like The New York Times. In addition to his artwork, he’s known for discovering many famous models, too, including Grace Jones and Jerry Hall.

The new MAC Antonio Lopez collection features some of his drawings, with each of the palettes decorated with one of his muses (MAC calls the ladies “Antonio’s Girls”).

An afternoon with Antonio

This afternoon I told Tabs that I could only work a half day because I had a prior engagement with three eyeshadow palettes and the two face palettes. He grumbled and bit my nose. 🙂

Then, I crossed my fingers, did a disco dance (the Hustle, IF you must know), and hoped to find just as much beauty inside these palettes as out.

MAC Antonio Lopez: 6 Eyes Palettes in Bronze, Violet and Teal ($43.50 each US and $52 CDN)

The MAC Antonio Lopez 6 Eyes Palettes clockwise from the left: Violet, Teal and Bronze — The 6 Eyes Palettes clockwise from the left: Violet, Teal and Bronze

What did I find?

Well, the one eye palette I felt kind of “eh” about at first, Teal, turned out to be much more interesting than I thought.

MAC Antonio Lopez 6 Eyes/Teal Palette — 6 Eyes/Teal Palette

The first time I saw its colors, they didn’t quite make sense to me, but after I started buffing and blending, the mix of bright blue and green played well with the smokier olive, black, gray and light violet shades.

Now if I could only get rid of the fallout… Thank goodness, there’s only a little. If I were forced, cruelly, to choose just one of these three eye palettes to get down with, I’d choose Teal quicker than you could say “boogie-oogie-oogie.”
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+/A-

As for fallout issues with the other two eye palettes, Violet and Bronze, nope. None.

MAC Antonio Lopez 6 Eyes/Bronze Palette — 6 Eyes/Violet Palette

Violet’s pink and purple give it a foxy ’80s vibe, and I think that bottom row of gray, silver and black should satisfy my lust for smokey eyes (kind of reminds me of Prism by Hourglass). The cream shade in the upper right-hand corner, though? Not that inspiring, but I appreciate the contrast.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+

[Continue reading…]

Mixed Arare (Fried Rice Paste) and Other Local Snacks

August 27th, 2013 by Karen 25 Comments

Have you ever had mixed arare? In Hawaii they also call it kakimochi or mochi crunch. It’s a really popular local snack. Every grocery store or Long’s Drugs on all of the islands has at least one entire aisle dedicated to local snacks, including arare (usually with nori/seaweed flakes, or the pieces are wrapped in nori), and there are dozens of snack-licious varieties — small bags of dried cuttlefish, red coconut balls (YUM!), shoyu peanuts (roasted peanuts covered with fried rice paste and a soy sauce glaze), red ginger (salted, candied ginger that’s very hot/spicy), li hing mui (salty dried plums), lemon peel (salted dried lemon peels, which are actually surprisingly delish), shredded ika (dried squid, also known as cuttlefish), and the list goes on and on…

El Hub grew up in Hawaii, so he loves it all. Since the islands are home to so many different people from all over the world, there are lots of different influences in their cuisine. Some of the snacks I mentioned above have Japanese roots, others Chinese, and others…well, I don’t even know.

The mixed arare is super crunchy, like crunchier than pure crunch, so they’re dangerously addictive, and like popcorn or potato chips, you can’t eat just one. No way. It’s impossible. It’s easy to go through an entire bag in one sitting.

They’re lower in calories than potato chips, but not by much. One of the 8-ounce bags in the top pic has about 900 calories, pure carbs, zero fat (since they’re mostly just rice and soy sauce).

If you ever visit the islands, make a mental note to grab a bag, and give it a try. I bet you’ll like it.

Kauai coffee — They even grow coffee on Kauai. I haven’t had any yet… I can’t wait to find out if it’s as tasty as Kona coffee!

Taro chips — These are so dang delicious! I finished an entire bag in one sitting…

Hawaiian Sun Lilikoi Jelly, and Hawaiian Kukui brand Guava Strawberry Jam in the background

[Continue reading…]

Once Upon a Time, a Vintage Orange Lipstick: Paul & Joe’s Limited Edition Lipstick in Once Upon a Time 081 From the Autumn 2013 Collection

August 27th, 2013 by Karen 20 Comments

Paul & Joe Autumn 2013: Lipstick in Once Upon a Time 081

Once upon a time there lived a handsome husky tabby cat with a nose for gravy and a penchant for posing on runways and catwalks.

“Meow,” he told his assistant one day. I’m leaving home. “Mrrow-row-wow.” I’m moving to Novato to pursue my dream of becoming a world-class plus-size kitty model.

Like Tabs, I’ve always liked Paul & Joe’s products for their artistic touches, like the cute detailing on their lipsticks. Sometimes, it’s cats wearing top hats (YES!); other times, it’s chrysanthemums, like the ones gracing tubes of Once Upon a Time 081 from the Paul & Joe BeautÃ© Fall 2013 Fairytale Collection.

Once Upon a Time is a refill — one of three new lipstick refills from the new launch — so you may need a $5 case if you don’t already have one. There are three limited edition refillable lipstick cases in the collection, just in case.

Like most Paul & Joe packaging, the cases are made of paper, and consequently they aren’t indestructible. I wouldn’t leave one on the bathroom sink, if you catch my drift.

As for this story here, Once Upon a Time, I like the color, and you might, too, if you dig warm, pumpkin orange lipsticks with creamy finishes.

More details…

The formula smells and tastes like roses.
It has a 2-3 hour wear time.
It feels more like a balm than a lipstick to me.
The coverage is sheer.

Once Upon a Time tells the tale of a vintage orange lipstick living in the world of today. 🙂 Really fun to wear with black cat liner and false lashes!

Follow the story now on Paul & Joe BeautÃ© counters and online.

Paul & Joe Autumn 2013: Lipstick Case CS 009 ($5) and Lipstick in Once Upon a Time 081 Refill ($17) on the right — Lipstick Case CS 009 ($5) and Lipstick in Once Upon a Time 081 Refill ($17) on the right

Paul & Joe Autumn 2013: Lipstick in Once Upon a Time 081 Swatch — A warm orange with a creamy finish

[Continue reading…]

12 Pans of Shimmer Shine in the Sonia Kashuk Limited Edition “Jewel of an Eye” Eye Couture Palette

August 27th, 2013 by Karen 55 Comments

Sonia Kashuk Jewel of an Eye — The current apple o’ my eye: the $19.99 Eye Couture Palette in Jewel of an Eye from Sonia Kashuk

With autumn about to make its big debut, what’s one way to stay on trend without breaking the bank?

The Sonia Kashuk Limited Edition “Jewel of an Eye” Eye Couture Palette

Perhaps you’ve already stocked up on fall staples over the summer — a chic red lipstick, a black liquid liner, a deep plum (and) or berry gloss — and are saying to yourself, “Whee!” and asking, “What else can we put in there?”

Throw some jewel-toned shadows into the mix

Ya know, for emerald, amber, amethyst and sapphire smokey eyes. All are so, SO apropos with knee-high boots, tweed blazers and snuggly, chunky knits.

Ah… I can almost hear the leaves crunching beneath my feet and Tabs whining because of how chilly it is outside (too chilly to go for his daily walk). Maybe we should get matching turtlenecks — my cat and I — because that’s what I really need — to give my neighbors another reason to think I’m a crazy cat lady. 🙂

As far as fall makeup, I suppose we could hunt and peck for jewel-toned duos and trios, or spend an arm and a leg searching for “the perfect combo,” but who has time for all that?

Try this: tell your hubby/honey/Ryan Gosling that you’ll be back in 10 minutes, because we’re going to Target to check out Sonia Kashuk’s new “Jewel of an Eye” Eye Couture Palette ($19.99).

Okay…make that 30 minutes. We both know that Target is a time warp. We’ll never get out of there in less than 15.

12 pans of shimmer

This 12-pan palette of intense, shimmery shadows pulsates with possibilities for trendy jewel-toned looks, and it’s RAD.

[Continue reading…]

Why Stop and Smell the Roses When the New Clarins Graphic Expression Face & Blush Powder Palette Smells This Divine?

August 26th, 2013 by Karen 41 Comments

A texture finer than cake flour and a fresh, unforced healthy glow? Lovely traits to have in/get from a powder blush, but I crave more from my pans (says the girl whose husband routinely catches her in the bathroom cooing at a Chanel Joues Constraste blush).

Ya know, like a nice scent. 🙂

Known for their Laissez-faire approach to cheek color, Clarins has kindly obliged.

Their brand new $35 Graphic Expression Face & Blush Powder Palette smells ah-may-zing! Evocative of something from a more expensive line like Chanel. When I open the pan and take a whiff, it’s as if a bouquet of freesias appears on my desk beside a tin of violet hard candies as I’m hugged by someone who loves me — all in one sniff!

But the scent isn’t the only reason I heart this multi-colored palette of matte peach, rose and tan. Whether worn separately or mixed together, the shades look like they were made for fall smokey eyes and/or bold lips.

Clarins Graphic Expression Face & Blush Powder Swatch — Two layers of Graphic Expression

[Continue reading…]

Christmas Comes Early in California With the New NARS Loves Los Angeles Gift Set

August 26th, 2013 by Karen 23 Comments

Please tell me I’m not the one of us who has imaginary conversations with her makeup, ’cause I can hear my tinted moisturizer practically scream with joy whenever I take out the new limited edition NARS Loves Los Angeles Gift Set ($75).

When I hold one of the three pieces up to my ear like a conch, instead of the sound of the sea, I hear a voice say, “Guuuurl, YES. NARS is a frickin’ genius! You’ve need something like this for all those LA rooftop pool parties you never go to, when you only have, like, five minutes to do your makeup. Now all we need is that maxi dress and those Tory Burch knockoff slippers we saw the other day, and we’ll be good to go. Hurry up! Time’s a-waistin’!”

This is what happens when you spend hours talking to a cat and your makeup collection every day…

Anyhizzle, the new $75 three-piece limited edition gift set is coming to select NARS counters September 1, with a palette containing four eyeshadows, a powder blush and a bronzer; a full-size lipgloss and a nail polish — all in some of the brand’s bestselling shades in Los Angeles.

[Continue reading…]

Today’s Purse and Shoes

August 26th, 2013 by Karen 11 Comments

Today I’m carrying a Poverty Flats Perforated Satchel in nude and black and wearing black patent BCBG Zuma flats.

When I don’t want to think too hard and need to wear comfy shoes (read: most of the time), this combo comes out. It’s versatile; I like that I can wear it with skinny jeans, or even with a little black dress.

Oh, and random, but while I was outside taking these pics, I noticed that the fruit on my citrus tree is growing by leaps and bounds!

Totally can’t wait to eat these bad boys. 🙂

What purse and shoes are you wearing?