I like big cats and I cannot lie!
By the way, if you sang those words to yourself with the melody from “Baby Got Back,” PROPS.
Big cats, specifically black jaguars and cougars, decorate the newest fall eyeshadow palettes by Chantecaille. As a feline enthusiast, all I have to say is MEOW!
I’m intrigued by the blue and bronze shadows in the Black Jaguar palette ($75). I’ve been into luminous lids lately, and the colors and finishes seem purr-fect for glowing lids with a soft swish of liner.
The neutrals in the Cougar collection palette (also $75) look so chic, though. I know I’d reach for it often, although I’m not sure how the shades would translate on tan skin — might be a touch too light.
If you had to choose between the two, which one would you take home? I’m going to put both in my cart, along with a jar of Future Skin which I’ve wanted for ages, just for fun.
There are also four gorgeous new Lip Chics, too. I think I would like either of the shades from the Cougar Collection. Both Prairie Smoke (a mocha nude) and Yarrow (a peachy nude), look like colors I would love.
Side note, it’s cray how makeup pricing has increased with the times. Back in 2010 a Lip Chic was $30! Now it’s $48.
On another beauty note, I read a story about the rise of “Instagram Face” in the “New Yorker” this morning, and it bummed me out.
Apparently the accessibility of fillers combined with little-to-no recovery time plus the Instagram algorithm are changing how women want to look, and there’s a movement toward everyone looking like the same “sexy baby tiger” on social media.
How do you feel about this?
I want to be diplomatic about it because hey, if it’s what you like and you have the means, do your thang, right?
But I can’t help but feel sad reading this story because I can also see myself as a young, impressionable preteen or teen, and I know this relentless messaging would make me feel bad about myself.
I realize wearing makeup, changing you hair color, getting a perm or shaving your legs is also altering one’s appearance to fit into a certain idea, but filling in your brows with a pencil to enhance them doesn’t seem as extreme as spending thousands on filler to look like every other Kim K. clone on Insta.
Anywho, these are the beauty-related things that are on my mind right now.
Unrelated, but I didn’t realize it was Thursday until, like, 8 in the morning! Been a crazy week. Connor already caught her first cold of the school year and nobody in our house has been sleeping well.
I’m off to buy chicken soup and Vicks (the Filipino mom’s cure for everything).
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Since my husband is 25 years younger than me I know ALL the cougar jokes so I want the cougar palette. I agree on the whole Instagram Look. I left flying to get my doctorate and go into law enforcement (Dr. type, more like “stop or I’ll throw this electron microscope” than what you see on TV). But I can’t tell you how many “missing” young women I see alerts for and they are virtually unrecognizable from all the filters and photoshop. No help at all in identifying what they actually look like.
Three things: first, go you for a husband 25 years younger!
Second: I’m 52–very much that cougar age–do you think the brand put any thought into calling it the Cougar Collection or just wanted that “wild and free” association with the big cat?
Also, great point about the missing young women photos.
They probably went for “wild and free” to appeal to all ages. I tell people I married my husband “because of Windows 8”. They get that (he seriously is my IT guru when I’m teleworking and my admin assistant Carlos is in another facility). Love your lemon blackberry cake recipe – SO going to make that!
I’m sorry about Connor’s cold and all of your lack of sleep (the worst!). I did chuckle about your Vicks comment, though. There is something comforting about the smell and the warmth, if nothing else. 🙂
Social media is not my jam, so I’m definitely out of the loop with the latest looks and trends. I agree with your comments, though. I would think cosmetic surgery (even fillers, etc) is not within the reach of most teens, but feeling bad about the way you look is, sadly, equal opportunity.
There is a joke in the Filipino community that moms and grandmas will try to heal everything with Vicks. Got a tummy ache? Rub Vicks on your belly. Got a rash? Cracked heels? Bad attitude? PUT SOME VICKS ON IT.
Oh, and apparently there is now a Vicks with lavender? I haven’t tried it, but it’s supposed to be the jam.
How are things going with you? Are the boys back in school?
Oh, my gosh – I am laughing about the “put VICKS on it”, but I don’t know how to feel about the lavender. The burning skin and stinging eyes are what makes the Vicks experience! HAHA!
The boys are back in school. My homeboy started this past Monday and my away boy started on the 22nd. He’s in an apartment off campus this year with a couple of friends. What could go wrong? Cherish Connor and this magical age! 🙂
I want both those Chantecaille palettes. I just saw them this morning and immediately wanted both. I love the bronze in the jaguar palette, not sure how I’d wear either the blue or the black. Being fair skinned I think the cougar palette will work better for me. Also hooded lids, so no lid real estate to do multi-color complicated looks.
At my age I’m able to ignore the Instagram/YouTube/TikTok looks. Not sure if I had a young daughter how I would feel. Dear Daughter is a nerd so she basically ignores social media unless they’re talking about climate change or economics.
I hope Connor isn’t feeling too under the weather. Hope it’s really a cold and not covid. Hope the rest of the family avoids it too. Nothing worse than catching something your kid brings home from school and still having to take of the whole family.
Be well.
Oh, BTW, have you seen the Chanel Tweed shadow palettes that are coming out soon?
YARGH, I want both of the palettes, too. Re: the black and blue shades, you could do a very thin line of soft liner on the upper lash line with a thin angled brush. There are tutorials on the website with the new palettes, and in one the artist placed a very thin line of shadow on the outer third of the upper lash line. It looked very subtle and chic!
I went back to the site and put a sh*t ton of stuff in my cart for fun, including a blush, some perfume, THAT MASCARA…
Connor is feeling a little better compared to yesterday. I’m hoping it’s one of those colds that goes quickly through her system! Last night when I was getting her bed ready I made sure to do ALL. THE. THINGS. I put beach towels on top of her fitted sheet and pillow (because you know when you skip this step, it’s guaranteed a child will throw up in bed!), pulled out an extra set of pajamas and extra blankets just in case she threw up, got out the humidifier, doused her in Vicks, prepped a bottle of water in case she got thirsty — seriously, all the things. Thankfully Thursdays are a half day so she didn’t miss a ton of school.
I did see the Chanel Tweed shadows! Of course I want the one with the brown tones. LOL. Are you planning to pick one up?
It’s like an umbrella, if you don’t bring one, it rains. If you don’t do all the prep the child (at least MY child) would throw up in bed. Or in the back seat of the brand new car. Yup, both of them, years apart. I found a waterproof mattress cover/pad that didn’t make crinkling noise from Garnet Hill. Wasn’t cheap, but it basically saved the mattress several times.
My Polish mom and grandmother used Vicks for everything, too.
I’m thinking if I get the Jaguar palette and can’t make it work, Dear Daughter will happily take it off my hands.
Eyeing the No.1 (golden) and No.4 (more brown/pink) Chanel Tweed palettes.
I got a duo of the Chantecaille Faux Cils Longest Mascara during the Nordstrom sale. And after a month, I’m not really loving it. I like it, but not loving it. I haven’t opened the second tube. If you would like it, I am more than happy to send it to you.
Oh the waterproof covers are great! I bought one years ago, and yes, it’s a lifesaver. I never thought I’d ever be the person who would be prepared to handle unexpected projection of bodily fluids at 2 a.m., but here we are. One thing they don’t tell you at the baby shower is how nothing is gross anymore after you have kids. Like, seriously. Nothing.
BTW, re: Vicks. There’s a new Vicks with lavender, and it’s supposed to be amazing. Did I really just type that? LOL.
You can totally make the Jaguar palette work! And if it doesn’t and you end up giving it to your daughter, send her that extra tube of mascara too (thank you for offering it; that is very kind).
Oh about the Future Skin foundation. I really love it. I have older, drier skin. Well at least it’s not oily any more like when I was in my 20’s. Haha, gotta love old age. The Chantecaille website says it’s medium to full coverage. Not sure if it’s the way I apply foundation, but I find it to be a medium-light to medium coverage at best. It also looks good sheered out to light. I’m probably on my 3rd or 4th jar. The only thing I don’t like is the start of each jar. It has a plastic inner lid you’re supposed to keep so the foundation doesn’t dry out. I find if you set it upright and tap it on the counter so most of the foundation settles, then carefully scrape it across the lip of the jar as you’re removing it, it cuts down on the mess and loss of foundation. Also have lots of cotton swabs to clean up the edges of the lid. Messy at first, but have I mentioned I love this foundation?
I’m debating between two shades; I really want to try it! I just looked up their counter locator and the nearest one is in SF. There used to be two places in Marin where I could buy Chantecaille and now they’re both gone. YARGH! Anywho, everyone I know who’s tried that foundation loves it. Maybe I will be the next one to join the cult.
Appearances are part of human and animal nature I suppose. I read this and am always reminded (now in my 60’s) that my weight fluctuated here and there as an adult woman. Was a size 6 ok? How about a 14? XXL or S pants ? I’m not sure I struggled, but this certainly reminded me of how we can not always but there seems to be a standard for looks and weight and I think it’s all tricky business. I do.
I adore cougars and as I am of cougar age myself, I love the idea of purchasing the palette, but I don’t think I’d get enough use out of the colors to justify it, I wear pretty much all neutrals these days on my eyes.
As someone that hires young people I find the increased similarity in looks a little distressing. Two weeks ago I was doing video interviews and by the end of the eight there were, I was really happy I had kept notes as it was almost impossible for me to tell them apart by their pictures. Both men and women looked so much alike!
I’m sorry (and weird) to say about the Chantecaille collection: TOO SOON (after MAC’s Fabulous Felines *sob*). I can’t move on! 😭
Lavender Vicks??? I dunno about that one…. Vicks on the eyelids as a cruel way to impose a nap. Filipinos came up with all crazy ways to use Vicks but I still associate it with being sick and comforted by mom rubbing it on my chest.