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MAC and Second Acts, Where Opposites Attract: The RiRi Hearts MAC Summer Collection Makes a Reservation Online, Party of Five

June 17th, 2013 by Karen 43 Comments

MAC Heux Lipstick — MAC Heaux Lipstick, a matte berry from the new RiRi Hearts MAC Summer collection

What it do, RiRi Woo? The lipstick MAC remixed for Rihanna is back for a second act, and she brought along a few friends.

If you wanted (but missed) RiRi Woo the first time around, you’ll get a second chance to scoop it up, along with the rest of the five-piece limited edition RiRi Hearts MAC Summer collection, online starting tomorrow, June 18.

I had a play date with the collection this morning and had magnetic field day…

By magnetic, I mean opposites that attract, because for me, opposites permeate these products. Intense lip colors contrast with the sheer blush on cheeks, and the matte lipsticks and blush sit in stark contrast to the shimmery, sparkly highlighter.

I like it. The whole dang idea.

Sure, the collection is short and sweet, but you get a lot of juxtaposition here. The look doesn’t seem flat at all, which can be an issue with some collections that feature this much matte.

Maybe it’s just a flashback to my English Major days, but I also like to think that MAC and Rihanna intended for the opposing elements to be symbolic of RiRi, whose stage persona seems both raw and vulnerable at the same time.

That, or perhaps I’ve listened to Stay one too many times…

Lipsticks in RiRi Woo, RiRi Boy and Heaux ($15 each)

MAC Riri Hearts MAC Lipsticks Drops — From the left: Heaux, RiRi Boy, RiRi Woo and Lustre Drops in Barbados Girl

Far and away, I think the most popular pieces from this collection are going to be the lipsticks ($15 each). The core girls/guys on Team MAC love intense color, and red RiRi Woo, lavender RiRi Boy and berry Heaux deliver it in droves.

But gosh, these sure feel dry… They tug at my skin and feel like I’m wearing a thick layer of cornstarch on my lips.

That said, the mega matte way these look is still pretty bangin’. They’re chic and oh! — photograph very well.

I like these for their looks, because they’re definitely not the most comfortable lip products or the easiest to apply. If you don’t mind suffering for your fashion, you’re in luck. These are like 5-inch spiked heels in lipstick clothing. Plus, the whole matte thing is so hella ’90s, which I love.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+

Powder Blush Duo in Hibiscus Kiss ($26)

MAC Hibiscus Kiss — Hibiscus Kiss Powder Blush

Cheek this out, babe!

I flipped a sprocket when I saw the neutral bronze and coral in this Hibiscus Kiss Powder Blush Duo ($26), but my fever waned when I swatched it for the first time.

The blasted thing feels hard to the touch and applies very sheer.

It shows up a little better on my skin when I apply it with the brush (which, unfortunately, also takes longer), but still — not by much. I have to really build this up in layers to get a look I like. Sorry, no intense flushes here, but this might light your fire if you like super sheer cheeks.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B-

Lustre Drops Liquid Highlighter in Barbados Girl ($20)

What a nice surprise! From the Lustre Drops in Barbados Girl, I expected a clone of Pink Rebel, but it’s actually a different deal. This liquid highlighter contains more bronze, and there are tiny flecks of glitter swimming around in it.

The effect’s flashy enough to notice from a few feet away, but it’s not gonna hit anyone over the head and say, “LOOK AT ME!!”

I’d call this perfect if it wasn’t so easy to over-apply. The glitter can get a little goopy if you use too much (yep, like I did at first).
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A-

MAC Hibiscus Kiss Lustre Drops Swatch — Swatches of Hibiscus Kiss Powder Blush on the left and Lustre Drops on the right (unblended and blended)

MAC Riri Boy Riri Woo Heux Swatches — Lipstick swatches from the left: Riri Boy, Riri Woo and Heaux

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The Essie Naughty Nautical Collection Sets Sail for Backyard Barbecues

June 3rd, 2013 by Karen 24 Comments

Essie’s new Naughty Nautical summer collection seems about as naughty to me as sipping a Shirley Temple while wearing flannel pajamas and watching a Murder She Wrote marathon.

In other words, not very naughty.

But that hasn’t stopped me from liking it. 🙂

I guess I just expected something…naughtier. Where I expected 50 Shades of Grey, these colors seem more like party shades to me, and no, I don’t mean naughty party. I’m thinking more along the lines of Pier 1 Imports and backyard barbecues in July.

Essie Naughty Nautical Summer 2013 — The Naughty Nauticals being naughty in my Pier 1 chair…

Not that I’m complaining (at all), because I frickin’ love Pier 1! — and I’m digging this new limited edition six-piece summer collection, too.

It’s like the outdoor patio section at a Pier 1 exploded on a beauty shelf, and I mean that in the best possible way.

Every year around this time, Pier 1 stores go bat sh*t cray with color — corals, purples, greens, blues and teals — the same fiesta family of colors I’m seeing here.

Looking at these colors on my nails, I feel like I should be barefoot at a big barbecue with a margarita in my hand while I wait for my veggie hot dog to cook on the grill.

The six shades contain varying amounts of shimmer (from none to some), with two of them, the quieter pastels, balancing out the brighter colors.

Sunday Funday

Like a redder version of Chanel Lilis with silver shimmer, Sunday Funday almost looks like a cream from a few feet away, but then when I see it up close in full sunlight, BAM! — shimmer.

Naughty Nautical

After Essie weaned itself off of Ballet Slippers, they went off the hook with greens and teals (see: Where’s My Chauffer).

Naughty Nautical is another shade in that vein — like floating around in warm emerald waters — and I think it gets the shimmer just right.

Essie The More The Merrier — Two coats of The More The Merrier, a juicy lime green

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The New 100% Juicy MAC All About Orange Collection (Not From Concentrate)

May 30th, 2013 by Karen 31 Comments

Sometimes…

Sometimes it’s not about words (because it’s all about orange).

The vibrant MAC All About Orange collection sizzles on counters June 6, but it’s already heating up maccosmetics.com.

Reviews and orange-flavored looks coming soon. For now, eye candy. 🙂

MAC All About Orange all — MAC All About Orange

MAC All About Orange Lipsticks from the left: Razzledazzler, Sweet & Sour, Tangerine Dream, Flamingo, Sushi Kiss, Tart & Trendy, Neon Orange — From the left: Razzledazzler, Sweet & Sour, Tangerine Dream, Flamingo, Sushi Kiss, Tart & Trendy, Neon Orange

MAC Razzledazzler Lipstick — Razzledazzler Lipstick, $15

MAC Sweet & Sour Lipstick — Sweet & Sour Lipstick, $15

MAC Tangerine Dream Lipstick — Tangerine Dream Lipstick, $15

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Come Here, First Timer! The Flirty Essie Resort 2013 Collection Invites You to Show Off Your Under Where In The Cab-ana

May 22nd, 2013 by Karen 28 Comments

You know, I was just thinkin’…

Things could be a whole lot worse right now. I’ve got a roof over my head, a tabby in my life, gloss in my purse, and if I had to — in the event that Z-Day or an alien invasion occurs — I could probably hobble at least 10 miles to safety.

Truth be told, I can’t complain.

That’s not to say that I want a vacation. I do. I’d love one.

Heck, I’d love to spend a week hanging out by the pool at a five-star resort. Maaaan, that sounds good!

I’d want to bring Tabs and El Hub along, of course. 🙂 And definitely the four Essie Resort 2013 polishes, too.

Essie Resort 2013 Collection — From the left: First Timer, Under Where, Come Here and In The Cab-ana

I can see it now… Me, you, two of those inflatable mattresses in an infinity pool, and the Resort collection’s four creamy polishes on our tips and toes.

I think that’s exactly what Essie had in mind when they gave Mint green First Timer, aqua In the Cab-ana, purple orchid Under Where and reddish coral Come Here an intense, mirror-like shine.

Summer, summer, summertime!

essie First Timer swatch — Two layers of First Timer

essie In The Cab-ana — Two layers of In The Cab-ana

essie Come Here swatch — Two layers of Come Here

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Satin Breathes Life Into These MAC Nudes From the New MAC Nudes & Metallics Collection

April 24th, 2013 by Karen 18 Comments

MAC Nudes & Metallics: Wholesome Lipstick — Wearing the Nude shades from the new MAC Nudes & Metallics collection

First things first: I have accidentally typed the words, “MAC Nudes & Metallica,” one too many times this afternoon.

Second thing: get your butt back in that chair! I know, I know… Another neutral collection for eyes, lips and cheeks?!

But check it. There’s an Olivia Pope-esque elegance to the nine pieces in the MAC Nudes sub-collection, so don’t whip your ponytail just yet. These are the kinds of neutrals I’d wear to a corner office gig if I had a Prada and Gucci budget.

Nudes, the quieter neutral half of the new MAC Nudes & ~~Metallica~~ Metallics collection, is available now exclusively at MAC Pro stores.

The blush and the four splendid, expensive-looking eye shadows feel soft, like tracing fingers across silk sheets, and the satin finish breathes life into the sheer pink and tan shadow shades, each of which comes in a warm and cool tone.

As for the four creamy Lipsticks, MAC’s Amplified finish gives them a slight sheen that’s sure to garner some attention (although if your lips are very pigmented like mine, you might want to blank them out first with concealer to accentuate the nuances among the colors).

Are you ready? Let’s get Nude…

MAC Nudes & Metallics: Bare Minimum Eye Shadow — Bare Minimum Eye Shadow, a soft and sheer pinkish nude with pearl and a satin finish ($15)

MAC Nudes & Metallics: Body Conscious Eye Shadow — Body Conscious Eye Shadow, a warm and sheer mid-toned nude with a satin finish ($15)

MAC Nudes & Metallics: Exposed Eye Shadow — Exposed Eye Shadow, a sheer, neutral, mid-toned warm nude with a satin finish ($15)

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Sink Your Fangs Into the Metallics From the New MAC Nudes & Metallics Collection

April 24th, 2013 by Karen 29 Comments

MAC Nudes & Metallics: Subverted Lipstick — MAC Subverted Lipstick…

Late last night, outside in a field under the light of the full moon (or was it the lamp on the nightstand by my bed?), I brought a frosted, deep plum lipstick from the MAC Nudes & Metallics collection up to my lips and thought, “On my list of favorite supernatural things…turning into a vampire ranks way down near the bottom.”

There’s the whole blood thing, the vampire politics, the aversions to garlic and ultraviolet light, the blood…

It just seems so very, very depressing.

But I guess if I weren’t given a choice in the matter and suddenly found myself turned into a vampire, I wouldn’t be taking my style cues from the squeaky clean Cullens up in Forks. Hell, no! I’d go the Underworld route (mostly because of the interesting makeup potential).

Picture it: dark eyes, dark lips and chiseled cheeks. Frosted deep reds, browns, berries and purples.

Seductive meets sumptuous meets scary, like the nine pieces from the MAC Metallics collection, one of two sub-collections from the limited edition Nudes & Metallics release, available now exclusively at MAC Pro stores.

Clad in any mix of Metallic’s four lipsticks, four eye shadows and its solitary blush, you’ll be so ready to pursue your prey. As you confronted him/her/them (whatevs, you’re hungry!) in a dark alley, they wouldn’t know whether they should attempt to run away, try to make out with you, or ask you what you’re wearing on your eyes, cheeks and lips.

Here’s a quick look at eight of the nine pieces…

MAC Nudes & Metallics: Brazenly Eye Shadow — Brazenly Eye Shadow, a deep metallic purple with a Veluxe Pearl finish ($15)

MAC Nudes & Metallics: Crimson Tryst Eye Shadow — Crimson Tryst Eye Shadow, a deep metallic dirty berry with a Veluxe Pearl Finish ($15)

MAC Nudes & Metallics: Deep Fixation Eye Shadow — Deep Fixation Eye Shadow, a metallic brown with a Veluxe Pearl finish ($15)

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All You Need Is (the Summer of Lip) Love: Coming at You From San Francisco, the New Marvelous Moxie Lipsticks, Lipglosses and Lipliners by bareMinerals

April 18th, 2013 by Karen 54 Comments

bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipstick, Lipgloss and Lipliners — The new bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipstick in Never Say Never ($18)

Go ahead, poke fun at me for saying “hella” all you want, babe, but I’ll always, always own that sh*t.

It’s just something I picked up growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area.

I also learned not to wear shorts with a tank top when I visit SF in July (because it can get downright cold!), and I automatically drop my “the’s” when referring to BART trains and MUNI. (SF Lingo 101: we say, “I took BART,” or “I took MUNI,” instead of saying, “I took the BART.”)

Yep, I’m a Bay Area girl through and through. 🙂

We may not host the headquarters of as many makeup lines as Paris and New York, but we’ve got some pretty bangin’ beauty brands reppin’ the Bay, like San Francisco-based bareMinerals.

bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipliners, Lipsticks and Lipglosses — Cheeseball!

And just like San Franciscans did back in the day, fans of bareMinerals this year can look forward to another summer of (lip) love, with a massive new launch of Marvelous Moxie Lipsticks, Lipliners and Lipglosses.

Next month, the brand is adding a total of 46 new permanent collection lip products, all priced from $15-18 each.

I KNOW!

Seeing as how I change my lip color, oh, about every five seconds, I’m really excited. 🙂

This afternoon I made out with nine of the new products, and based on that, we have some pretty playful pigments and creamy textures to look forward to, and coverages varying from super saturated to soft and sheer.

Here we go! Bring on the summer of lips…

bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipsticks in Light It Up, Never Say Never and Speak Your Mind

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The NARS Pierre Hardy Nail Duos Pump Up the Pigment

April 16th, 2013 by Karen 14 Comments

If I ever procure my dream shoe closet (one so vast that you can’t see how far back it goes, and the walls are lined with shelf upon shelf of heels from floor to ceiling), it’ll have one entire row dedicated to the six new Pierre Hardy for NARS Nail Duos.

A collaboration with famed French footwear and accessories designer Pierre Hardy, the new limited edition summer line, inspired by high heels, pits six pairs of polishes together like shoes.

Note: you do not have to wear heels to strut your stuff in these six $29 duos (but you might want to anyway). Your toes would look just as cute if you wore them in flip-flips. 🙂

I’ve never put on a pair of Pierre Hardy shoes, but based on the nail polishes and blushes in his collection with NARS, I want to.

Apparently, homeboy likes pigment! — because NARS pumped a ton of it into these polishes, and with the exception of the light yellow shade, Sharks Left, they deliver pretty good coverage from one or two layers.

To keep the fairly thick formula, which dries to high gloss finish in less than 10 minutes, from getting gooey on my nails, I empty as much as I can first from the brush before applying.

NARS Pierre Hardy Easy Walking Nail Polish Duo: Easy Walking Left (a shimmery golden bronze) and Easy Walking Right (a creamy yellowish tan)

NARS Pierre Hardy Sharplines Nail Polish Duo: Sharplines Left (a creamy peach) and Sharplines Right (a creamy dark brown)

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