Karen

What’s the Craziest, Most Outrageous Look You’ve Ever Done With Your Makeup?

March 6th, 2015 by Karen 26 Comments

It’s probably not crazy compared to those transformative looks people do where they turn themselves into mountain lions or green aliens from two galaxies away, but for me it was pretty crazy.

A few years ago I did a Halloween look — I think I was supposed to be a disco diva — with sparkly eyes and super shiny lips.

It was A LOT of look.

But it was made extra cray by the fact that the day I did it, I had painters coming over to paint my kitchen, and so it was me, these two gruff dudes and, like, all this glitter and crazy lipgloss, and I was wearing a black sequined capri-length jumpsuit.

I looked completely insane, and the entire time I’m trying to be cool. I’m like, “Please leave the ceiling color. We’re very happy with that,” and “No need to paint the trim. If you could please just paint the room that flat matte.”

But the whole time I’m dressed like this disco diva crazy person. 🙂

How about you? What’s the craziest, most outrageous look you’ve ever done with your makeup?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S.

More Pics and Swatches of the MAC Bao Bao Wan Collection Beauty Powder and Lipsticks

March 5th, 2015 by Karen 16 Comments

I keep wanting to say “MAC Bao Bao wow!” because of Forbidden Sunrise, the head-turning, heartbreaking, traffic-stopping bright orange lipstick that basically has all the good stuff I like in a bold lipstick.

Lavender Jade is no slouch, either. Powerfully pigmented and oh, so purple.

Here are more pics and swatches of the MAC Bao Bao Wan collection Lipsticks ($17.50 each; here are three of the four in the collection) and Beauty Powder ($28), which are available now on the MAC website, at MAC counters and in stores Bao Bao now.

Bao Bao WOW!

MAC Matte Lipstick in Forbidden Sunrise — Matte Lipstick in Forbidden Sunrise

MAC Lustre Lipstick in Romantic Breakdown — Lustre Lipstick in Romantic Breakdown (I’ve had my share of romantic breakdowns, haha…)

MAC Bao Bao Wan Lipsticks — From the left: Forbidden Sunrise, Lavender Jade and Romantic Breakdown

MAC Beauty Powder in Summer Opal — Beauty Powder in Summer Opal

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The MAC Julia Petit Collection: Flexible, Fabulous Colors for Everyone

March 5th, 2015 by Karen 28 Comments

If all makeup collections tell a story, then for me, the new MAC Julia Petit collection starts in a colorful cafe somewhere in the heart of São Paulo.

Our heroine, uber-famous Brazilian lifestyle blogger Julia Petit, is sitting at a table outside with a girlfriend e uma xícara de café. They’re chatting about makeup and cats and laughing and having fun.

Over the course of a couple hours, more friends trickle in, taking seats around the table and ordering coffee and snacks, until every square inch of table space is packed.

Some pieces from the new MAC Julia Petit collection — Eight of 11 pieces in the new MAC Julia Petit collection

That’s how this collection feels like to me. It’s like, all the girls are there, and everyone’s enjoying themselves, and absolutely nobody feels left out.

In the time I’ve spent with the collection so far, I get a strong sense of inclusiveness, like Julia wanted flexible colors that would suit everyone.

From the neutrals in the eyeshadow duos to the blush and the lipsticks, all of them seem very accessible to me, which is to say that there aren’t any crazy-pants blackened forest green eye glosses here (although those certainly have their time and place!).

From the matte browns in the eyeshadow duos, the red lipstick (always a classic), the soft pinkish peach lipstick (do neutral lips ever go out of style? HELL NAW!) and the peachy pinkish bronze powder blush (which should look AMAZEBALLS with or without a tan), I’m also getting a trend-defying ladylike vibe.

That said, there’s still room for bad-girl black eyeliner and a pair of @ss-kicker motorcycle boots. The deep violet matte lipstick adds just enough rebelliousness for gals who like their makeup with an edge.

MAC Julia Petit Lipsticks from the left: Boca, Petite Red and Acai — Lipsticks from the left in Boca, Petite Red and Acai

All three of these lipsticks are wish list worthy. Satiny soft pinkish nude Boca, matte strawberry cream Petite Red and matte deep violet Acai are a saturated symphony of smoothness that would make Fred and Ginger proud.

MAC Julia Petit Lipstick in Boca — Lipstick in Boca

MAC Julia Petit Lipstick in Petite Red — Lipstick in Petite Red

MAC Julia Petit Lipstick in Acai — Lipstick in Acai

Same goes for the soft pinkish brown Powder Blush in Linda. Super pigmented, and it lasts all day long on my cheeks (for reference, I have combo dry/oily skin). As for the finish? Swoon city.

MAC Julia Petit Powder Blush in Linda — Powder Blush in Linda

At first glance, I think it totally looks like a matte on my skin (so there’s no drama involving my pores, YAY!), but when I look closer…I see a lovely, subtle sheen.

Perfect, because I love the look of glowing skin and cheeks. I think Linda will definitely help in that pursuit.

I’m Team Glowing Skin all the way!

Then there are the eyeshadow duos, which get two paws up from me for their smooth matte finishes and wearability. They’re a good place to start if you’re completely new to eye makeup.

MAC Julia Petit Eye Shadow X 2 in Morganite — Eye Shadow X 2 in Morganite

MAC Julia Petit Eye Shadow X 2 in Sagu — Petit Eye Shadow X 2 in Sagu

MAC Julia Petit Eye Shadow X 2 in Moving Sand — Eye Shadow X 2 in Moving Sand

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A Quick Look at the MAC Bao Bao Wan Collection Beauty Powder and Lipsticks [VIDEO]

March 5th, 2015 by Karen 19 Comments

If this Forbidden Sunrise Lipstick were actually forbidden…I’d break that rule. I mean look at it! — bright orange. WOW.

It’s like the color that your tongue turns after you’ve eaten some obnoxiously orange candy, and yes, I like it.

Just a quick look at the new MAC Bao Bao Wan collection Beauty Powder and Lipsticks (available now online and in stores March 5 – April 2, 2015). If you’ve ever wished that you could stand under a deluge of glitter, the Beauty Powder — you wants it.

As always, thank you for watching. I’ll be posting more pics and swatches soon.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

What Are You Wearing on Your Nails?

March 5th, 2015 by Karen 23 Comments

Messy reverse french braid

I’m wearing Julep Nail Color in Bette ($14), a bright, creamy purple.

I was kinda hoping it would turn out to be a slightly darker, slightler more red dupe for Tom Ford African Violet, my numero uno purple polish love, but alas… Not quite.

Almost, though. I still like it.

How about poo, bear? What are you wearing on your nails right meow?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Guess who’s workin’ in the dark ages today? Yep, mah Internets are down! I have Comcast out here, and it went offline early this morning, so I’m using my iPhone and a little side keyboard to type.

I’m also realizing that this might be a good opportunity to finish the tabby command center.

Actually…it’s done! 🙂 His royal highness has even completed his initial walkthrough, and we’ve passed all of the official government inspections, so things are looking good.

Curb Cakey Concealer With Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer

March 4th, 2015 by Karen 25 Comments

Sometimes when I hold this tube in my hand, I feel the need to pinch myself.

Is it real? I wonder, giddy with excitement, or is it a makeup mirage?

Perhaps that’s being overdramatic (what, me overdramatic??), but seriously, dude, it feels like I’ve been searching for this little pink tube FOREVER.

Or, you know, like two months.

It’s just that every single time I’ve looked for it at Ulta or Sephora, it’s never been in stock. The shelf where neat little boxes of Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer should have been, has always been as empty as a ghost town.

[Cue tumbleweeds rolling by]

I know I could’ve tried to order it online, but tracking it down in a store actually became a weird personal mission of mine. I wanted the instant gratification…even if it took me a year to get.

LOL! 🙂

I’ve also been wondering, though…who are these ladies (or gents) that are hoarding this sh*t so hard that I can’t ever find a tube? Is the love for this under-eye primer so intense that people have literally cleared it off every makeup store shelf within a 20-mile radius?

Well, last week my luck turned. Miracle of all makeup miracles, I finally found one lonely box when I went to Sephora, and I grabbed that last box with a quickness usually reserved for chocolate, doughnuts, and chocolate doughnuts.

I’ve been a user now for about a week, and my, oh my — I’m on the fast-track to becoming one of those ladies who are probably responsible for this stuff never being in stock. I already want to get a backup.

Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer hoarding is a legit thing!

So, what is this stuff, and why is it (almost) better than a bag of Baked Cheetos?

Basically, it’s a brightening, moisturizing under-eye primer that you apply before concealer. Anything you layer on top of it — concealer, powder, whatever — ends up looking smoother, more natural and more like real skin.

And I think the difference when I use it is night and day, especially when you see it in person. Whenever I take the time to apply this first, I think my concealer looks much less obvious.

I also still get the full coverage that I like, but without my under-eye area looking cakey like cake batter (which happens sometimes with opaque concealers).

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MAC Julia Petit Collection: First Impressions [VIDEO]

March 4th, 2015 by Karen 22 Comments

Olá! Tudo bom? Não fall Português… But I wish I did, ’cause then maybe I could kick it with MAC’s latest collaborator, Brazilian lifestyle blogger Julia Petit.

She seems cool, and not just because homegirl has cat pics on her Instagram (for which she gets major cat lady points!).

Anyway, her gorgeous new limited edition makeup collection, MAC Julia Petit, is launching March 12 online at maccosmetics.com and coming to stores March 18 through April 15. I’ll be posting more detailed pictures and swatches soon, but for now, here are some first impressions.