Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup
A beauty blog blooming with fresh makeup reviews, swatches and beauty tips from your friendly neighborhood beauty addict
A few bits and bobs from the new Illamasqua Theater of the Nameless collection.
Um…how cra-zay-zay is that purple lipstick? Not sure I’d ever wear that, but it looks great in the tube.
In other news, Illamasqua is currently offering free international shipping on all orders over £40 ($63 U.S.) from now through September 18 with code AW40 at checkout. 🙂
L’Occitane’s Pivoine Flora Color Cream in Abricot on cheeks
I couldn’t demi plié my way out of a paper bag, but one thing I can do is hoard cream blushes like these Pivoine Flora Color Creams from L’Occitane ($16 each).
Even after six months of ballet lessons back when I was in my 20s, I never looked half as graceful as the dancers on this packaging. These delicate dames look like they land leaps that make less sound than a sigh. I, on the other hand, usually land my leaps off balance, and frequently with a loud thud.
I turn to cream blushes a lot when I’m in a hurry to get out the door. They’re just so blasted easy to apply, even with fingers (apply to cheeks, blend and go).
Each of the limited edition L’Occitane Pivoine Flora Color Cream duos comes with a blendable matte blush AND a shimmery highlighter, so you get your cheek color and glow going from a single, pretty package.
I’ve been playing with two of the three duos, Abricot (a sheer coral-ish peach blush with a pale peach sheen highlighter) and Rose (a reddish pink blush with a glittery pink highlighter). Both of the blushes feel smooth and dry with a texture that reminds me of Smashbox’s Photofinish Primer. I’m not crazy about it, but it’s easy to blend and seems to layer well without looking too heavy on my skin.
Abricot
Rose
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It’s weird, but in the kitty modeling world, right after the Academy Awards, there’s always a lull that lasts about a week. Apparently, after all of the red carpet coverage and after parties, many of the top photographers in the biz take a few days off to recoup. It makes sense, I guess. But things are starting to pick up again, and Tabs had a few new jobs this week.
As a matter of fact, here’s a look at his portfolio of recent work. Oh — and if you think of any cool campaigns you think he should do, let him know in the comments. There’s a lot of competition out there, but he can pretty much get any job that he wants. 🙂
Who is Tabs the Cat? About three years ago I befriended a stray, flea-bitten tabby cat with a bad case of worms. I could see he’d fallen on hard times, but his profound knowledge of high fashion and department store cosmetics led me to believe that he was more than meets the eye. We became fast friends, and now he’s actually my boss (and a successful kitty model).
It’s a stormy day here in Kaneohe (pronounced khan-ay-oh-hey), but no one told the birds clamoring up a storm outside. Strangely, the neighborhood chickens have been relatively quiet this morning. I guess they don’t go in for singing in the rain like the other birds do.
Waking up to the pouring rain and birds singing outside are some of my favorite things about staying here at my in-laws’. Both are daily occurrences here in the jungle and make the giant mosquitos that much easier to bear.
Here’s what it sounds like during a break in the storm…
I really appreciate the extra guest posts submitted by Sam, Olga, Audrey and everyone else lately. Haven’t they been great? Seriously, this week I learned a new technique for matching my foundation, read some good ideas for ways to store my fragrances at home, found out about the Sally Beauty earth tone shadows, found out about a few interesting makeup sets recommended by a talented makeup artist and bunch of other cool stuff too.
I think the guest posts have been so great, in fact, that I’ve taken a little extra time for myself and my family on this trip, spending less time on the computer than I usually do. Once I got past the first few painful days of Internet withdrawal (I had the shakes real bad, LOL!), it got a lot easier.
How are things in your end of the jungle? Any peacock sightings or awesome new makeup to report?
A big congrats to Nancy for winning the bedazzled iPod Touch giveaway this week, and a thank you to Visine for sponsoring the prize. Stay tuned for more giveaways over the coming days, and be sure to enter any ongoing ones if you haven’t already. Good luck! 🙂
YES TO CUCUMBERS
FACIAL TOWELETTES
I experienced what can only be described as a euphoric scent-sory experience the other day with a Yes to Cucumbers Facial Towelette ($6 for a pack of 30). El Hub walked in on me while I was holding one of them up to my nose and breathing deeply (smells like those cucumber water drinks you get at a fancy shamncy spas). I must have looked like Gollum from Middle Earth, cradling my little precious…
These softer-than-soft wipes are the latest additions to the Yes To ______ line of organic eco-friendly skin and hair products.
I think the company’s pretty cool, especially when they release something I really like.
The biodegradable cloths say “yes to” removing face and eye makeup without the need for water, but with the help of skin softening cucumber, aloe vera and exfoliating minerals collected from the Dead Sea. Read more…
A $10 MAKEUP LOOK
TAUPE, BROWN & VIOLET EYES
How low can you go? (Sing it!) How lo-oh can you go? Okay, so I had a lot of fun last week trying to put together a makeup look for less than $10, and I think I did an okay job. The whole shebang came to a whopping $9.85, but I think I can do better.
I gave it another go, this time shooting for something 1) cheaper and 2) more dramatic. I paired smokey taupe/brown/violet eyes with lilac lips. Again, the products are all from N.Y.C New York Color because, obvs, they’re really inexpensive, cruelty-free, and altogether not half bad.
Since the eyes AND lips are pretty colorful in this look, I kept the cheeks bare (don’t want to overwhelm passers by, LOL!), but a nice blush probably wouldn’t have hurt.
If you decide to give something like this a try but feel that the lilac lips are way too much, you could swap ‘em out for something a little quieter, like perhaps a light peach gloss (maybe the $6 Sally Hansen Diamond 12-Hour Lip Treatment in Flawless?).
First, the eyes. Start by applying N.Y.C. New York Color Brow/Eye Liner Pencil in Jet Black ($1.14) on the lids and the crease as an eyeshadow base. Use a finger or a brush to smooth out the edges before patting the shimmery mauve eyeshadow from the Metro Quartet Eye Shadow in Chelsea Chic ($3.99) on the lid. Read more…
THE CLINIQUE
REDNESS SOLUTIONS LINE
Having suffered from mild rosacea for a few years, I am always on the lookout for products to conceal the redness on my face without making it look like it has been dipped in pancake mix. This time that search led me to two makeup products from the Redness Solutions line by Clinique: the Targeted Corrector and the Instant Relief Mineral Powder.
Despite the way these two are advertized (helps skin “keep its cool” and reduces redness on contact) they do not reduce redness (at least, not on my skin); they merely conceal it. Good enough for me, so let’s get on with the review.
This is a yellow concealer pen with a thick, pasty consistency. It’s pretty dry, so I would avoid using it on the undereye area (luckily, this is the only part of my face that never gets red and bumpy like the rest!). The best part about this corrector is the great coverage it provides — I have tried it both with and without foundation, and the redness was covered up pretty much completely in both cases. Read more…
THREE FUN MAKEUP
SETS FOR CHRISTMAS
I have such a weakness for makeup sets. They usually suck me in with cute packaging and then seal the deal by offering a good price.
During a recent visit to Sephora (ahem, purely for educational purposes), I discovered a bunch of fun makeup sets that tickled my fancy. Did I need any of them? No. But did I want them? Of course! And guess what? It’s that perfect time of year for frivolous expenses!
To help you write your letter to Santa (or be a gift-giving Santa yourself!), here are my top three favorite makeup kits this holiday season: Read more…
THE SALLY GIRL
EYE SHADOW CONNECTING COMPACTS – THE EARTH TONES
With the nude face being one of Fall 2010’s hottest trends, it would be easy for you to just turn to your favorite shimmery champagne shadow, swipe a bit over your lid, and run out of the house. Skin glowing and cheeks instantly tinted red by the late-autumn chill, you’re the image of ultimate chic. But if you feel the look is too plain — too bare — and you’re tempted to reach for that black liquid liner and slap on a thick cat eye, why not turn to your earth tones instead?
On one of my monthly trips to Sally’s a while back, I had just finished my hair product shopping and was waiting for my father to pick me up. Having already examined the aisles twice (I’m always convinced I’ve missed some new, revolutionary product that’s been quietly tucked in between the Cholesterol Masques and the clarifying shampoo), the only display left was the makeup.
I’ll admit it. I’m a makeup snob. Seeing price tags of $5.99, $2.99, and, it pains me to say, $0.99, I was more than skeptical of these modestly packaged beauty items. I reluctantly bowed my head down towards the bare-bones rack. Read more…
THE JOUER TRAIN CASE
MAKEUP ESSENTIALS KIT
Can’t get enough of NARS Orgasm? Do MAC Nymphette Lipglass and Power Surge Eye Kohl give you heart palpitations? If so, you may suffer from warm shade lust-alaria.
Don’t worry. It’s a treatable, albeit sometimes expensive condition, and one possible cure could be the new Jouer Train Case Makeup Essentials Kit ($200).
Jouer, an indie makeup line known for natural colors and their chic girl-about-town packaging, leans more toward the Clinique/Bobbi Brown end of the spectrum than the MAC/Illamasqua side, and it’s a very pretty place to be.
This adorable pink zip-up train case comes with makeup for your eyes, lips and cheeks, and a mini- blush brush.
In addition to the case and the brush you get Powder Eyeshadow in Caramel (a shimmery warm peachy gold), Eye Definer in Chocolat (a shimmery golden bronz), Powder Blush in Rose (a matte warm pink), Highlighter in Champagne (a shimmery peachy gold), Lipstick in Kiki (a shimmery peachy pink), Lipgloss in Glisten (a sheer, shimmery light peach with multi-colored glitter), Lip Definer in Rose Pale (a matte peachy pink)… Read more…
CHANTECAILLE LIP CHIC
IN TEA ROSE
Before you write off Chantecaille Lip Chic in Tea Rose because of its $30 price tag, take a moment to scroll…down.
Okay, yes, it’s very expensive, and, yes, the whole gloss/lipstick hybrid thing’s been totally done to death (see: Jemma Kidd Hi-Shine Glossticks, Avon Glazewears, MAC Slimshines, the Prescriptives LipShines, etc.), but OH, NELLY! It sure feels great on my cold-burned lips.
Tea Rose is one of 14 permanent shades in Chantecaille’s Lip Chics line of lipsticks designed to smooth, firm and plump puckers.
This shimmery rose has just a hint of red and buildable light-to-medium coverage with a shiny finish. Read more…
WHERE SHOULD YOU
MATCH YOUR FOUNDATION?
Ah, the age-old question: “Do I match my foundation to my neck, my jawline, my inner wrist, my…” Ok, stop right there.
There are many reasons why all of the above are less than ideal, so let’s go through some of them before we explore an even better way to match.
If you match to your…
Neck — Because of the shadow your face casts down upon your neck, it only makes sense that your neck is going to be one of the palest parts of your skin. It receives the least amount of sun, and contains much lower levels of pigment than many other parts of your skin. Match your foundation to your neck, and you run the risk of a washed-out, sickly looking face. Read more…
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Jouer Powder Eyeshadow in Caramel and Eye Definer in Chocolat on eyes; Powder Blush in Rose and Highlighter in Champagne on cheeks; Lipstick in Kiki, Lipgloss in Glisten and Lip Definer in Rose Pale on lips
Can’t get enough of NARS Orgasm? Do MAC Nymphette Lipglass and Power Surge Eye Kohl give you heart palpitations? If so, you may suffer from warm shade lust-alaria.
Don’t worry. It’s a treatable, albeit sometimes expensive condition, and one possible cure could be the new Jouer Train Case Makeup Essentials Kit ($200).
Jouer, an indie makeup line known for natural colors and their chic girl-about-town packaging, leans more toward the Clinique/Bobbi Brown end of the spectrum than the MAC/Illamasqua side, and it’s a very pretty place to be.
This adorable pink zip-up train case comes with makeup for your eyes, lips and cheeks, and a mini- blush brush.
In addition to the case and the brush you get…
…and a big $200 bill (ouch).
Doctor Fealgud, it’s a Code Brown! The patient needs a cup of coffee, stat! She’s going into a decaffeinated stupor!
With cream and sugar, doctor! WITH CREAM AND SUGAR!
Howzit, ladies? Ye olde mental motor blew a head gasket this morning because I was up late last night watching the new Harry Potter movie.
I won’t post any spoilers (outside of the comments) today, but I will say that this one scared me more than the other ones did. If you’ve seen it, let me what you thought in the comments. I didn’t read the book, and I’d also like to hear what someone who read it has to say. I’ve read some mixed reviews.
Weird… You wouldn’t think that sitting relatively still in a movie theater for a few hours could be as tiring as it appears to have been, judging by my dark circles this morning, but it gives me an excuse, like so many things do, to try new makeup.
I’ve been trying to find a good drugstore concealer, and I picked up this one by Almay last week called Smart Shade with SPF 20 ($9) in Medium. It’s the darkest of the three shades it comes in.
The company claims these change color to match your skin tone when they’re applied. The Medium shade definitely does darken as you work it in, but I can’t tell if it’s just darkening as it dries, or actually responding to my skin tone… Either way, it sure is neat to see it change color on the skin.
After using it a few times this week, I think it’s time to set it aside and get back to shopping. I mean, it’s easy to blend, and I like the color changing aspect, but the Medium shade is lighter than I expected and has pinkish beige undertones that lend a gray cast to my skin. Plus, the coverage is just way too sheer for this brown girl.
If you get real deal Holyfield dark circles, you’ll probably need something more opaque, but if you have good luck with beige/pink face products and only need mild coverage, it’s probably worth a try.
Before you Tom Cruise outta here, we can’t let those good waves go to waste. Are you up for a little Saturday Surfing with me?
Via Milo Minousky’s Munchkinland
Have fun today. 🙂 Tabs says hi.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Photo by Eye of Einstein
Good morning, girl. Can I run something by you? I’m working on a new song called Water Makes the Cats Go Cray-Cray, and it goes a little something like this (HIT IT!):
Rain been fallin’ all week long
Been stuck inside ever so long
Yearnin’ for a change
Turkeys walkin’ past my window
My assistant doesn’t get my lingo
It’s time for me to bust a move
And break out of this funky groove
Cats like me don’t like the rain
But not because it’s such a pain
We just need more to entertain
Our minds before we go insane
Sing it with me now!
Meow, meow, meow, meow
Meow, meow, meow
Meow, meow, meow, meow
Meow, meow, meow
No kidding, Tabs has gone full-on crazy! The rain’s turned my sweet tabby into a 15-pound terror. He runs around the condo like he’s being chased by invisible dogs and chirps at the windows incessantly as if he’s talking to the clouds.
I know he wants outside, but when we have gone out, he won’t walk because everything’s so wet. He’s caught in a kitty catch-22.
Speaking of things bugging Tabs, I was sure he’d like the creepy crawly scarab beetle decorating these products from Illamasqua’s new 15-piece Art of Darkness collection, but I was wrong. I think the packaging totally works, but Tabs disagrees. What do you think?
Clockwise from bottom left: Pure Pigment in Ore, Pure Pigment in Alluvium, Intense Lipgloss in Hermetic, False Lashes No. 23, Lipstick in Disciple, Liquid Metal in Resolute
Lipstick in Disciple
Swatches from left: Pure Pigment in Ore, Pure Pigment in Alluvium, Liquid Metal in Resolute
Liquid Metal in Resolute, Intense Lipgloss in Hermetic, Lipstick in Disciple
I’m not sure what to make of the blue lipstick… Would you wear it? Wait — before you answer, there’s a break in the storm! Care to catch some e-waves with me? I gotta get my cardio while I can. 😉
Have a great day today! Hope you find some time to just relax. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Burberry Beauty Soft Satin Lipstick in Nude Beige,
Pip pip, cheerio! Put down the coffee, love 
, and bring out the tea, because the British are coming! — coming soon (later this month) to Nordstrom, that is. 🙂
British fashion biz Burberry is expanding its horizons, adding a line of makeup to its beautiful portfolio. The new Burberry Beauty line is now available for pre-order at nordstrom.com, and from what I’ve seen so far, the packaging is TO DIE!
The company, of course, isn’t new to beauty. They’ve produced beautiful clothing for years, and even in the beauty niche they’ve released perfumes (LOVE Brit Sheer).
The distinctive Burberry check pattern and textured trench coat themes weave their way into the new products for eyes, lips, cheeks and face; to my eye, the gunmetal packaging, embossed lipstick bullets/powder pans and textured boxes feel elegant, luxe and true to the spirit of the brand.
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