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

Ask MBB: How Do You Handle Criticism/Pressure About the Size of Your Makeup Collection?

August 9th, 2013 by Karen 34 Comments

Earlier this week I got a really interesting email from a reader (Hi, Aimee!) about something I’ve thought about many times myself…

Hi Karen,

Greetings from a long-time reader, first-time commenter/emailer! I discovered your blog when I first started using makeup during my undergrad a few years ago. Virtually none of the women in my life are into makeup, so you’re like the makeup-loving aunt that I wish I had 🙂 I love that you make cosmetics something very fun, and I’ve also learned a ton along the way.

I’ve got one small problem/dilemma though, and I’m wondering if you could help me with it/offer some advice? I’ve now got…a sizeable collection (not by blogger standards, but more than most girls have, I’d say), and I’ve also discovered the value in investing in higher-end/more expensive products that will really deliver, or that just make me happy. Unfortunately, I feel a little ashamed of my (relatively) huge stash. It’s also composed of far more higher-end/expensive items (to put this in context, one of my best friends feels that MAC is absurdly priced, while I’ve definitely got a fair amount from NARS, MUFE, Benefit, etc.).

I guess what I’m saying is: how do you handle any pressure/judgment you get/feel from others about your makeup stash — its size, how expensive/high-end its contents are, etc. I love makeup for its creative side, and as a tool to empower me…but am afraid to ever show my full stash to the ladies in my life for fear of judgment. And as embarrassing as it is, this is kind of affecting my life (I never leave anything out on my counter, most of my makeup is hidden in drawers which makes accessing it a pain, and if someone wants to come into my room, I make sure I’ve got my stuff tucked away first).

I’m sure part of this has to come from me, but if you have any words of advice at all, I’d appreciate it a ton. This is the one thorn in my makeup-loving side.

Thanks for reading, I know you must get a ton of messages!

Much love,

Aimee

Hi Aimee,

Greetings right back ‘atcha from sunny (today) Marin County, California! Thank you for visiting the blog and being a reader all these years. It means a lot to me, and I am honored to be the makeup-loving aunt you never had. 🙂

You pose a fascinating question. I know exactly how you feel. Not that El Hub gets (very) cranky about my collection, except when he’s tripping over boxes or sitting on makeup pans. Sometimes I’ll hear a creative string of curses coming from the shower after a loud crash as 15 bottles of shampoo and conditioner rain down on top of him (haha!), or he’ll ask, “Babe, do you REALLY need another pink lipstick?” when he sees me with that rabid look in my eyes at a MAC counter, but other than little things like that, he couldn’t care less.

But I do experience what you described sometimes with friends. Like sometimes when my pal Cindy (who’s anti-makeup and recoils whenever I threaten her with lip gloss) comes over, she’ll say something mildly snarky like, “I’ll never understand why you need so many eyeshadows,” or “Why does it take you SO LONG to get ready?” or “Wow…that’s a lot of brushes.”

[Continue reading…]

Guerlain’s New Rouge G de Guerlain Lipstick in Madame Batifole, and Fun With the Letter “G”

August 8th, 2013 by Karen 26 Comments

Guerlain Madame Batifole Rouge G — That’s Guerlain’s new Rouge G de Guerlain Lipstick in Madame Batifole ($49.50) on my lips, one of three new limited edition Rouge G’s available now in the fall 2013 Voilette de Madame collection

“G” is for…

Giggle, as in “with delight,” which is what you’ll probably do the first time you see Guerlain’s new Rouge G de Guerlain Lipstick in vibrant fuchsia Batifole on your lips.

Gasp! — which you’re also liable to do when you hold the limited edition packaging in yo’ paws (and realize that it costs $49.50, holy crap!).

Generous, which is what Guerlain was with the amount of pigment they squeezed into this tube. One swipe of the super smooth formula covers my lips completely — like crazy opaque.

Glamorous, which is how you’ll feel whenever you take a peek at your reflection in Rouge G’s mirrored cap, or when you catch a whiff of its classic rosy lipstick scent (has the same flavor, too).

[Continue reading…]

With the New Guerlain Ecrin 2 Couleurs Eyeshadow Duo in Two Stylish, Mermaid Magic Is a Mere Two Pans Away

August 8th, 2013 by Karen 23 Comments

Wearing the new Guerlain Two Stylish Ecrin 2 Couleurs Eyeshadow Duo on my eyes

Awards I Have a Legitimate Chance of Actually Winning Someday…

Craziest Cat Lady in Northern Marin County (in the 30-40 age division)
Most Likely to Drop a Makeup or Beauty Product on Her Foot (Happens at least once a day. This morning I dropped my giant pan of Guerlain Terra Nerolia on my left foot. The pan was fine, but my foot is still throbbing.)
Least Likely to Say “No” When Offered Ice Cream for Dessert (seriously)

I think I’d also have a shot at the “Best Dressed Landlocked Mermaid Award,” but only if I were wearing the new Guerlain Ecrin 2 Couleurs Eyeshadow Duo in 02 Two Stylish ($44).

All I have to say is “mermaid eyes!” This duo (one of eight new permanent collection duos bobbing up on Guerlain counters this month) sings a sea siren’s song with a silky semi-matte deep blue, and a softly shimmering metallic gray.

It’s glowy, gorgeous and guaranteed to make you weak in the knees (or your tail fin area) if you bold blue eye looks.

Just like the brown shade in the Two Spicy palette, both of these shadows are Dolce & Gabbana/Armani-caliber creamy; they practically melt on lids like butter on hot bread.

And gosh, that blue!

You know how some blues can be really hard to blend? Two Stylish buffs out so smoothly that it’s as if it yearns to blend. Gradients couldn’t be a whole lot easier to create, and there’s barely any fallout at all.

Guerlain Two Stylish Swatches: Matte blue on the left and shimmery silver on the right — Matte blue on the left and shimmery silver on the right

[Continue reading…]

A Berry With SPF? Yes, Miracle Skin Transformer Lip Rewind Advanced Peptide Lip Treatment in Berry

August 8th, 2013 by Karen 9 Comments

Miracle Skin Transformer Lip Rewind in Berry

A lightly tinted lip treatment poised to plump, moisturize and protect lips against the potent power of the sun…!

The formula contains broad-spectrum SPF 20, but does not contain parabens, sulfates or phthalates.

I’ve been testing Berry, one of the five $24 shades available now at Sephora stores and sephora.com.

“Plump your pout and take care of your lip needs in one comfortable, tinted formula. White rose moss and powerful peptides inject your lips with hyaluronic acid, boosting collagen and helping eliminate the appearance of lip lines. Antioxidant-rich butters condition and soothe for maximum moisture, and broad-spectrum sun protection helps prevent premature aging. The silky, gel texture smooths, softens, and evens the appearance of the skintone for a gorgeous, healthy finish.”

— Sephora.com

What you should know…

It feels tingly upon application — not painfully — but the feeling only lasts about a minute or so.
Despite the tingly feeling, I don’t really see a big difference in the size/plumpness of my lips. Maybe a little… It’s hard to tell.
The color is super sheer, almost like wearing a clear shade.
The formula smells and tastes like mint, which in this case I like, and both fade within a few minutes.
It does seem fairly moisturizing. My lips haven’t complained, but I wouldn’t say it’s as moisturizing as a balm.

So, is Miracle Skin Transformer’s Lip Rewind more of an Autobot or a Decepticon?

Well, I like the inclusion of SPF 20, but I wish the formula conveyed more color. I can see this being more of a last-minute “why not?” shade you grab before bolting out the door than the sole reason for making a trip to Sehora.

Ingredients and marketing fancy talk…

Portulaca Pilosa Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide: Beneficial blend that injects double the amount of hyaluronic acid into skin, stimulating the dermal matrix.

Hyaluronic Acid Filling Spheres: Deeply penetrate, absorb moisture, rehydrate, and plump skin to minimize lip lines, refine, define, and smooth your smile.

Soybean Extract, Ceramide-3: Smooths, softens, evens skintone, and stimulates collagen production.

Vitamin E Acetate: Moisturizes and prevents free radical damage; prevents premature aging.

Polybutene, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Silica Silylate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Polyethylene, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Butter, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Gardenia Tahitensis Flower Extract, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract, Portulaca Pilosa Extract, Ceramide 3, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sucrose Cocoate, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Menthol, Vanillin, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Water, Alcohol, Red 7 Lake, Titanium Dioxide, Yellow 5 Lake, Iron Oxides.

Don’t be Scurred! With the Right Brush, This Blush Is Fantastic: Chanel Le Blush Creme De Chanel in Fantastic

August 8th, 2013 by Karen 23 Comments

Bwah!

Oh, sorry… It’s just that this burgundy cream blush startled me in its pan.

But then I saw it on my cheeks and thought, “downright fantastic!” With the right brush (I like it with a flat-top duo fibre brush like the MAC 188) and a light touch, I think it’s fantastic, like the name implies.

Fantastic dries to a powder finish that I bet’ll look particularly fetching on darker skin tones.

It’s limited edition, so if you’re feeling the urge to get Fantastic, better stop by your favorite Chanel counter or point your browser toward chanel.com soon.

Plot a Course for Adventure, Your Lips and Tips on a New Romance With the New NARS 413 BLKR Lipstick and Nail Polish

August 8th, 2013 by Karen 35 Comments

Wearing the new NARS 413 BLKR Lipstick and Nail Polish

Where are we heading today, babe? I’ll drive if you navigate. (Please excuse my messy Mazda! I really need to clean it…)

I know you need to swing by Petco to get your cat her gravy, and we both want to visit DSW to look at shoes…but can we also stop by 413 BLKR to see what’s happening at NARS?

Silly goose! Of course I’m not suggesting that we drive from San Francisco to the company’s flagship boutique in New York, although I give you mad makeup props for remembering the address of the store (it’s on 413 Bleecker Street). I’m referring to the NARS 413 BLKR collection.

Early this month, NARS added two new pieces to the fam — 413 Lipstick ($26), a stunning rosy brown, and moody blue BLKR Nail Polish ($19).

Check it…

NARS 413 BLKR Nail Polish Lipstick — The new NARS 413 BLKR Nail Polish on the left and 413 BLKR Lipstick on the right

NARS 413 BLKR Lipstick is a deep rosy brown with a semi-matte finish ($26)

NARS 413 BLKR Nail Polish Swatch — Three layers of 413 BLKR Nail Polish, a midnight blue ($19)

NARS 413 BLKR Lipstick Swatch — 413 BLKR Lipstick…

[Continue reading…]

Bonjour, Madame! The Guerlain Gloss d’Enfer Maxi Shines in Madame Batifole, Madame Flirte and Madame Fascine Have Arrived

August 7th, 2013 by Karen 11 Comments

Guerlain 861 Madame Flirte Gloss d'Enfer Maxi Shine — Wearing Guerlain 861 Madame Flirte Gloss d’Enfer Maxi Shine ($30), one of three new limited edition shades in the Voilette de Madame Fall 2013 Collection

Once certain lines get crossed, there’s just no turning back.

Like when you try the ultra soft toilet paper for the first time or make the jump from average pet owner to Crazy Cat Lady.

Or when strangers stop calling you “miss” and start calling you “ma’am.”

Yup…I’m a ma’am now.

It’s okay, I guess, but I think I like “madame” better… Sounds more chic. 🙂

Case in point: the three new Gloss d’Enfer Maxi Shines from the Guerlain Voilette de Madame Fall 2013 Collection ($30).

Guerlain Gloss d'Enfer Maxi Shines in 861 Madame Flirte, 860 Madame Batifole and 863 Madame Fascine — Gloss d’Enfer Maxi Shines in 861 Madame Flirte (a sparkling red), 860 Madame Batifole (a sparkling fuchsia) and 863 Madame Fascine (a sparkling deep purple)

All of them madames with regal, refined names, they definitely don’t sound like their apartments are furnished with castaway pieces bought secondhand from stoner grad students on Craigslist (been there, done that). No, these madames probably own complete sets of Le Creuset pots and pans.

Guerlain Gloss d'Enfer Maxi Shine Swatches in 861 Madame Flirte, 860 Madame Batifole and 863 Madame Fascine — Swatches from the left: 861 Madame Flirte, 860 Madame Batifole and 863 Madame Fascine

And these three limited edition lipglosses have more in common than their names. All of them also tint lips with sheer, shiny color.

Fuchsia 860 Madame Batifole, sparkling red 861 Madame Flirte and deep purple 863 Madame Fascine look dark and intimidating in their tubes, but they’re completely drama-free. Each one applies as a gentle wash of color, no mirror necessary, either.

What else should you know?

Lightweight, smooth and non-sticky, these feel a lot like Chanel Aqualumiere glosses to me (which is great!).
The flocked doe-foot applicator makes precise application easy.
The rose flavor and scent lingers as long as the formula lasts on my lips, which is about two hours.
These look super sparkly in their tubes, but the shimmer isn’t very noticeable on my lips until I walk outside, where they really sparkle in full sunlight.
I like that these are sheer enough that I can still see my natural lip color peeking through, yet they’re also pigmented enough to each look distinct on my lips.
If I had to pick a fave, I’d choose red Madame Flirte. Of the three, I think it brightens my face the most.

Guerlain 860 Madame Batifole Gloss d'Enfer Maxi Shine — 860 Madame Batifole

Guerlain 863 Madame Fascine Gloss d'Enfer Maxi Shine — 863 Madame Fascine

[Continue reading…]

Guerlain’s Got the Flava, and It’s Way Two Spicy: The New Ecrin 2 Couleurs Eye Shadow Duo in Two Spicy

August 7th, 2013 by Karen 8 Comments

That’s Two Spicy… (Guerlain Two Spicy, that is)

Was it a shout-out to ’90s pop music girl bands (SIDE NOTE: I like to think of myself as a hybrid, half Sporty, half Posh) or a reaction to a habaÃ±ero pepper?

Was it a love poem hidden between bottles of paprika and nutmeg in the back of a medieval pantry, perhaps?

The world may never know…

Truth is, we may never know how Guerlain’s new Two Spicy Ecrin 2 Couleurs duo acquired its name, but you know what?

Who cares? 🙂

I’m just glad somebody cooked it up, because I kid you not, I’m tired of bland. All I’ve had to eat this week are tuna fish sandwiches on sourdough bread (well, mostly), and the only thing spicing up my life right now is this eyeshadow duo, one of eight new permanent shades in Guerlain’s Violette de Madame fall collection.

Guerlain Two Spicy pouch — And it comes with a tiny sleeping bag!

Inside each of these luxurious, trim treats (the gold packaging’s killer!) live two powder shadows — one, an intense matte, and the other, either a metallic or glitter. Wear them separately, or layer them on top of one another for a more intense look.

Guerlain Two Spicy pan closeup — A closeup of the pan, live and in 3D! The matte shade’s on the left, and the glitter’s on the right.

[Continue reading…]