Tabs has built-in smokey eyes — so not fair!
For the rest of us, there’s the Benefit Smokin’ Eyes Palette for eyes and brows ($36).
You Can’t Hide Your Smokey Eyes
Set Sail for the Isle of Sheer Cheeks and Lips with the New Bobbi Brown Nautical Collection
Bobbi Brown plans to deck you out this summer with her new Nautical Collection.
The new line includes blushes, glosses and a mascara in a variety of sheer colors. The look itself features flushed cheeks, shiny lips with a hint of color and a clean, defined eye. It’s a breezy, simple summer look oozing classic Bobbi style — understated, natural and elegant.
The entire batch of Sheer Color Cheek Tints
Bobbi stoked the 11-piece collection with six Sheer Color Cheek Tints ($22 each), four Sheer Color Lipglosses ($20 each) and a new mascara called Perfectly Defined Mascara ($22).
The blushes and mascara are permanent additions to the line, but the glosses are limited edition.
All of the Sheer Color Lipglosses
Perfectly Defined Mascara
I’ve been road testing four of the Nautical Collection products…
1. Sheer Color Cheek Tint in Sheer Coral
2. Sheer Color Cheek Tint in Sheer Pink
3. Sheer Color Lip Gloss in Popsicle
Sonia Kashuk’s $13 Coral Reef Highlighter Brush
Sonia Kashuk is frickin’ *bringing* it in the brush department this spring. Just like the travel brushes in her Hidden Treasures Brush Set ($20), her limited edition Coral Reef Highlighter Brush ($13) performs like a champ and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
When I want a veil of sheer, shimmery powder or bronzer, Coral Reef handles the job perfectly.
The domed brush head resembles the head on a kabuki brush. It’s a little different than a regular kabuki, though, because the bristles (sooo soft!) are less densely packed, and the brush head feels fluffier.
It lays down sheer layers of color evenly on my skin. I’ve used the brush to apply highlighting powder, bronzer and blush, and it works well with all three types of products. This doll’s a multi-tasking monster.
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Jennifer Garner: Her Best Hair?
Anyone else planning to watch Jennifer Garner’s new movie, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (with Matthew McConaughey)? It comes out this weekend.
I know she probably won’t do any butt-kicking in the movie like she did as CIA agent Sydney Bristow in Alias, but I wish she would. Homegirl’s beat downs were freaking inspiring. That show had some *fab* fight choreography.
Born April 17, 1972 in Houston, Texas, Jennifer Anne Garner majored in chemistry before changing to drama. Maybe that’s why she lit up the screen with Michael Vartan in Alias.
Now she’s got a long list of film credits, including a couple with hubby Ben Affleck (Daredevil and Pearl Harbor).
With the exception of the crazy wigs she wore in Alias, she’ll usually stick to classic, feminine hairstyles, but she’ll still cut loose from time to time.
Loading ...Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Whenever I’m Near the Water
I feel at peace.
Let’s Take A Trip
A MAC Trip, that is.
(The 4 Classic Eye & Cheek Palette from the MAC Trip Collection)
MAC Fix+ Rose Romanced My Dry Skin
I’ve had an itchy trigger finger with my new bottle of MAC Fix+ Rose ($17). The stuff’s so great I haven’t been able to keep my hands off it!
MAC took spring and rose waters and infused them with minerals, and the resulting face spray feels about as refreshing on my skin as anything I could imagine.
Too bad it’s limited edition…
It was released with the A Rose Romance collection, so it won’t be around forever.
I think MAC’s original Fix+ Spray ($17) pales in comparison. Fix+ Rose just feels more hydrating to me and doesn’t leave the same heavy film I seem to get with Fix+ Spray.
As for the fragrance?
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What Makeup Do You Wear to Look Professional?
Girls, can I get a woot? I love it when we share our collective makeup knowledge to help each other out. Reader Jess could use a little of our makeup TLC.
Hi Karen,
I always read your blog and love how interactive you are with your posts.
I had a question. Do you have any advice on what type of makeup to wear to graduate school? I am a vet student and have to look professional and not done up since I will probably be doing some nongraceful work with animals.
Also nothing too smudgeable… wrangling cats is harder than it appears. I need to do something new with my makeup routine, which now consists of powder, mascara and chapstick.
Thank you,
Jess
Hey there, Jess! Congrats on grad school. Even though Tabs detests trips to the vet, I appreciate everything they do to keep him healthy and happy.
How Tabs looks when I tell him he’s going to the vet…
When it comes to conservative, workplace-friendly makeup, my rule of thumb is to stick to subtle colors, finishes and textures — nothing too bright, glittery or glossy. The idea is to look pulled together (as opposed to flashy) and to wear makeup that lasts.
Here are a couple quick ideas…
Face
Powder to cut down the shine. You mentioned that you already wear powder. That’s great. If your skin’s in good shape, and you’re happy with your powder, then stick with it. Powder evens out your skin tone and cuts down on shine.
Now, if you have any red patches on your skin and would like something you can also wear to dinners or professional events, consider picking up a tube of tinted moisturizer to wear beneath your powder.
I really like Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer ($42) because it provides light-to-medium coverage and builds easily. Stila’s Sheer Tinted Moisturizer With SPF 30 ($36) and Becca Luminous Skin Colour ($42) are good, too.
Eyes
First, add some color. Clinique makes a fab long-wearing cream shadow called Quick Eyes Cream Shadow ($15) that’s easy to apply and lasts all day long. I’m a big fan.
From top to bottom: Sparkling Nude, Lucky Penny
I like Sparkling Nude (a shimmery pinkish champagne) and Lucky Penny (a shimmery bronze). Both can brighten up tired eyes in a pinch.
The ladies love Heather!
Other cream shadows I like: Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow in Heather ($22) and Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Birthday Suit ($19).
Next, define your eyes with a long-wearing gel eyeliner. When I need liner that lasts, I turn to MAC Fluidline ($15) and Laura Mercier’s Flat Eye Liner brush ($25).
Fluidline can look intimidating in her pot, but she’s actually really easy to use once you get the hang of it.
For work, I like either Blacktrack (a matte black) or Dip Down (a matte brown) in either a crisp line along the upper lash line or smudged around both the upper and lower lashes.
Finally, curl and add mascara. Consider splurging for the legendary Shu Uemura Lash Curler ($15). I think it really is worth all the hype it gets.
One last thing — get your brows in gear. Good brows can make a huge difference by helping to frame your face. Consider getting them waxed or plucked by a professional, or have a trusted friend help out.
Fill in the sparse parts with a powder shadow like MAC Concrete, Cork or Omega using a MAC 266 Small Angled Brush ($18.50).
Cheeks
Color your cheeks with cream blush. I love The Multiple Orgasm ($37; I know… The name is totally funny) cream blush by NARS.
It’s a shimmery peachy pink that many people consider universally flattering. I like to apply it with the Sonia Kashuk Flat Top Blush Brush ($15), but fingers work great, too.
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