Makeup

The New Bobbi Brown Surf & Sand Sheer Lip Colors, and Other Current Summer Obsessions…

July 8th, 2014 by Karen 12 Comments

Bobbi Brown 21 Pink Taffy — The new limited edition Bobbi Brown Sheer Lip Color in 21 Pink Taffy (one of my current summer obsessions), from the Surf & Sand summer collection

Just a few of the things I’m currently obsessing over/lusting after…

1. This straw fedora

Even though I firmly believe that Justin Timberlake should be the only person wearing a fedora, I can’t quit this hat. I got it at Target a couple years ago for a trip to Kauai, but since then it has become one of my summer staples.

2. Three Twins ice cream

I will happily blow my daily calories on this ice cream.

It’s just so flavorful and rich and dense… I could seriously eat this stuff every day.

Mmm…lemon cookie.

3. Bobbi Brown’s new Sheer Lip Colors from the Surf & Sand collection

Bobbi Brown Bobbi Brown Sheer Lip Color in 18 Sunlit Pink, a mid-toned bronze

Sometimes you feel like opaque lips, and sometimes you don’t. For those latter days, there are the four new limited edition Sheer Lip Color ($26 each) shades in the Bobbi Brown Surf & Sand collection — Sunlit Pink, Summer Nude, Peach Sorbet and Pink Taffy.

I like these, because even though they’re technically (“air quotes”) sheer, they’re still pigmented enough to show up on my lips. That, and they’re smooth, slick and moisturizing.

They remind me a lot of the Chanel Rouge Allure Coco Shines.

All four are available now at Bobbi Brown counters and online.

Bobbi Brown Sheer Lip Color in 19 Summer Nude, a light beige

Sheer Lip Color in 20 Peach Sorbet — 20 Peach Sorbet, a nude peach

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Local Surfer Girl Gang Now Seeking Applicants: Must Be Willing To Rock the Bobbi Brown Surf Eye Palette

July 8th, 2014 by Karen 14 Comments

Wearing the new Bobbi Brown Surf Palette ($65) on my eyes

Hey, surfer girl, hey.

Sure, have a seat next to me on the towel. You can put your board over there by the Surf Palette — yeah, that one with the linen packaging and the four glittery shadows, three shimmer shadows and beige matte shadow inside.

It’s cute, yeah? All of us in the group have one… You should totally get one, too!

Cat lady surfer says what meow?[/caption]

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Just a Friendly Call From You-Know-Who About the New NARS Mondore Satin Lip Pencil

July 7th, 2014 by Karen 15 Comments

**RING! RING!**

KAREN: Tabs the Cat Industries, LLC, Office of the President, Karen speaking. How may I help you?

RYGOS: Ryan Gosling Incorporated, Office of My Living Room, Ryan speaking.

KAREN: Ryan, you’re hella dumb!

RYGOS: Excuse me, what was that? Who says “hella”?

KAREN: Only the cool kids say hella… So you’re excluded, haha!

RYGOS: Oh, she has jokes.

KAREN: Yeah, yeah…

Dude, I’m kind of busy, so I can’t really chat right now. What’s up?

RYGOS: Oh, I’m sorry. You’re busy. Because you’re so important that you can’t make time for your old friend Ryan anymore.

KAREN: Ah, poor Ryan… It’s so hard to find somebody to talk to when you’re a famous actor.

RYGOS: Hey, now.

KAREN: Don’t worry. You’re still my number one favorite shirtless actor. I’m actually just trying to get out of here because I have dinner plans with El Hub tonight. It’s our eighth wedding anniversary.

RYGOS: Wow, eight already? Are you finally gonna give El Hub that medal?

KAREN: What medal?

RYGOS: You know, that medal for putting up with you. 🙂

KAREN: (…) What do you want, Ryan?

RYGOS: I need to get my sister a present.

KAREN: Go on. I like where this is headed.

RYGOS: She said she wanted a red lipstick from NARS, but of course I have no idea which one to get, so I thought I’d call my favorite crazy cat lady/friendly neighborhood beauty addict.

KAREN: Aw, flattery will get you everywhere.

RYGOS: Really? I’ve never heard that.

KAREN: OK, here’s what you do. Wait until July 15th, because that’s when the new NARS Night Caller fall collection comes out.

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Late-Night Callers and the New NARS Unlawful Blush

July 7th, 2014 by Karen 14 Comments

**RING! RING!**

KAREN: Hello?

MYSTERY CALLER: Hey, girl.

KAREN: Hey… (?)

MYSTERY CALLER: What are you doing?

KAREN: Um…well, I have a wicked bout of insomnia right now, but what else is new?

MYSTERY CALLER: Damn, that sucks.

KAREN: And despite the fact that it’s closer to dawn than dusk, I’m playing with some new fall makeup from NARS.

MYSTERY CALLER: Fun!

KAREN: I know! I actually just applied a new blush of theirs called Unlawful — wait, who is this, and why are you calling me in the middle of the night?

MYSTERY CALLER: Well, that’s for me to know and for you to find out.

KAREN: OK, that was creepy…

MYSTERY CALLER: Wait, don’t hang up on me. Trust me, you’re a fan.

KAREN: Alright… OK, well, this is totally weird, though, but what the heck. It’s the middle of the night, and I’ve obviously got insomnia, so I might as well just go with it.

MYSTERY CALLER: Yes! Now, about that blush… I want to hear all about it.

KAREN: Uh, huh… Have I mentioned how TOTALLY WEIRD this is?

MYSTERY CALLER: You have.

KAREN: Right… But I’m not one to pass up an opportunity to talk about makeup, even if it is with a mystery caller in the middle of the night.

So, Unlawful. It’s a real showstopper — a warm-toned opalescent bronzed amber pink packed with tiny flecks of silver glitter, and it’s very pigmented, too.

That NARS decided to add silver glitter to it seems kind of unusual, because as warm as it is, I would have expected NARS to go with gold instead.

But the silver works. There’s just a lot of it.

OK, a ton.

You can’t really tell in pics, but you get up close and it’s a total glitter-fest.

I mean, the flecks are almost microscopic. They’re really tiny, which keeps the shade from delving into tacky territory, but it’s great. With this, you really don’t even need a highlighter.

Ultimately, it depends on how you feel about glitter. It’s all really subtle in pics, but it’s like, “Hey, how YOU doin’?” in real life.

MYSTERY CALLER: A friend of mine told me that Unlawful is from the new fall Night Caller collection? Is that right?

KAREN: It is. I always look forward to the NARS fall — wait, can you hold on a second? My cat just walked into the room, and if I don’t pick him up and show him some attention he’ll throw a fit.

Come here, Tabs.

MYSTERY CALLER: Take your time…

KAREN: Anyway, the fall collection is dope! Ten pieces. Along with the blush, there are a couple of eyeshadow duos, two Satin Lip Pencils, a new multiple and, oh! — a new line of glittery eyeliners based on the NARS Night Series eyeshadows.

Do you know those?

MYSTERY CALLER: Actually, no. Frankly, I know more about acting than I know about eyeshadow.

NARS Unlawful Blush Swatch — Unlawful Blush

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For a Chic Twist on a Neutral Look, Try Pairing Dark Blue Eyeshadow With Dark Blue Nails, and Use the Shadow as a Liner

July 1st, 2014 by Karen 29 Comments

Blue liner and nails with NARS Giove and Chanel Orage — Here I’m doing a Vulcan mind meld on myself… Kidding. I’m wearing Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow in Giove as a liner on my lash lines and Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in Orage on my claws.

QUESTION: Why use a blue eyeshadow instead of a blue liner?

ANSWER: Why not?

Picture it: dark blue liner coupled with super deep, dark, almost black nails, only, instead of using a pencil, gel or liquid liner, you use a powder eyeshadow.

NARS Giove and Chanel Orage — Incidentally, that’s Dolce & Gabbana Classic Cream Lipstick in Petal on my lips.

Do you ever just get stuck in a rut and feel like you’re wearing nothing but brown and beige? Feel like trying something different but don’t want to go over the top?

I’m always looking for ways to keep things interesting for myself, especially when it comes to wearable makeup looks — ideally chic and wearable, but not totally snooze-worthy, if you catch my drift.

One day I decided to pair dark blue liner with dark blue claws, and the first thing I thought when I finished was, “Why haven’t I done this before?”

Seriously, though, why use a blue eyeshadow as a liner instead of an actual blue liner?

NARS Duo-Intensity Eyeshadow in Giove — Ciao, NARS Giove!

Using a dark blue eyeshadow as a liner, instead of a dark blue pencil, gel or liquid eyeliner, creates a more diffused edge, so the overall effect looks softer.

I’ve done it with lots of different liner styles, too, like spicy cat eye looks, and even soft washes of color, where the liner is smudged along my upper and lower lash lines.

Sometimes I’m just in the mood for a blurred edge (and the accompanying less attention to detail).

Just for fun: add dark blue nails

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in Orage, $27

I like seeing the flash of dark blue on my fingers whenever I tuck my bangs behind my ears or push my (nerdy Gamma Ray computer glasses) up.

And it think it sort of reinforces the blue liner, too. You know, more blue.

I also like how the softer liner contrasts with the harder edge of the dark blue nails, so you also have that contrasty thing going.

I call this liner look the Tabby T-1000 (after the liquid metal Terminator from T2)

For this cat liner look, I applied metallic dark blue NARS Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow in Giove ($29) with an angled brush.

First, I applied it dry to create the shape of the cat eye and get that softer edge. Then I wet the brush head, dipped it back into the pan, and applied the shadow on my lash line close to the lashes, to sort of intensify the metallic finish and crete a subtle gradient.

You could definitely keep it simpler by picking one — just wet or just dry — but ya know. I’m just saying.

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Oh, Stop, Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blush in Innocence! You’re Making Me (MAC) Blush, Baby

June 30th, 2014 by Karen 18 Comments

Wearing the new Chanel Innocence Joues Contraste Powder Blush from the Chanel États Poétiques fall 2014 collection

“Oh, what’s this?” said the girl, plucking the blush from atop the makeup counter. From the pretty packaging, she could see it was a Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blush. “I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”

“That’s Innocence,” said the smiling sales associate behind the counter. “Go ahead, check it out.”

“Innocence ($45),” the girl repeated, feeling the smooth packaging in her hand. “Ooh, I love the Contraste Powder Blushes.”

When she pried open the compact, she couldn’t believe her eyes!

The blush staring back at her looked like MAC Blushbaby, one of her favorite MAC blushes of all time.

“What the what!?” 🙂

Chanel Innocence and MAC Blushbaby: Are they exact dupes?

I freakin’ love Chanel Innocence, in part because it looks so much like Blushbaby, but it isn’t an exact dupe, which makes me like it even more. Innocence has just a tad more pink — Blushbaby a tad more beige — but I think both of them are totally worthy of your everyday makeup bag.

Chanel Joues Contraste Blush in Innocence, $45 — Joues Contraste Blush in Innocence, $45

Chic cheeks and sophisticated pink

Just like MAC Blushbaby, Innocence brightens and lifts cheeks in a sophisticated way. It’s pink, but not a Barbie pink, or an overly obvious pink you might see on a doll’s cheeks.

It’s a chic cheek (sorry, lame, but I had to go there!) you could wear all the time, and to almost any occasion — work, book signing, pool party.

Chanel Innocence Joues Contraste Powder Blush (left) and MAC Blushbaby (right) — Chanel Innocence (left) and MAC Blushbaby (right)

What do I love about Innocence?

Everything. 🙂

Well…sort of, except the price, but that’s the way it is with Chanel.

It’s everything I love about Chanel’s Joues Contraste Blushes. It applies smoothly, without any patchiness, and it couldn’t be easier to blend, build up or sheer down.

Chanel Innocence Joues Contraste Powder Blush Swatch — Innocence

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Long Live Hot Pink Lips! Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Viva, From the États Poétiques Fall 2014 Collection

June 26th, 2014 by Karen 15 Comments

Chanel Viva Rouge Coco Shine Viva — Wearing Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Hydrating Sheer Lipshine in 95 Viva ($35)

¡Ay, caramba! ¡Este color está en fuego! (Thank you, Efrain!)

This hot pink shade from Chanel’s fall collection totally lights my fire. The brightest of the four Rouge Coco Shine Hydrating Sheer Lipshines released with the États Poétiques fall 2014 collection, Viva ($35) is neither shy nor serious, unlike the dainty pale pinks and deep berry shades in the launch. It’s just bright and lovin’ life. 🙂

¡Viva la Viva!

Chanel Rouge Allure Coco Shine in Viva — Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in 95 Viva ($35)

Depending on the individual color, the Rouge Coco Shines range from sheer to medium coverage, but even when they’re sheer, you can still see the colors on your lips (and they don’t all look alike).

I love that Viva, despite being a bright hot pink, isn’t fully opaque, so I can put it on without a lip brush.

A lovely pink stain

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A Summery Reddish Orange Lip With Dolce & Gabbana’s Classic Cream Lipstick in Fire

June 25th, 2014 by Karen 17 Comments

Wearing Dolce & Gabbana Classic Cream Lipstick in Fire ($33)

OK, so my next door neighbor has these flowers in her front yard, and there’s this orangey red one. Every single time I walk by it I have to stop and stare for a few seconds because it’s so vibrant and eye-catching.

Reddish orange flower from my neighbor's front yard — Hello, beautiful!

I was under its spell yesterday and thought, “I need to find a lipstick like that…”

Then I thought, “And I need to wear that lipstick…”

Then I pictured dream Karen throwing her arms up in the air, twirling around in circles and screaming, “It’s summer, world! HAAAAAAY!”

OK, that last part didn’t happen. 🙂 But maybe if I’d had a glass of wine first…

Anyways! The flower looked exactly like Fire, one of the reformulated Dolce & Gabbana Classic Cream Lipsticks I mentioned yesterday.

An opaque electric orangey red, Fire sometimes borders on coral, depending on what I’m wearing (it’s kind of a chameleon), like this reddish coral shift dress I’m wearing today.

Today I think Fire looks more coral, but when I wear a black or white shirt, I think it looks more red.

Now, about the formula, my lips aren’t in the best shape right now. They’ve been very dry lately (I think they got wind burned in Redding), and there’s some flaking along the edges, but not when they’re on Fire!

LOL! Sorry, bad pun. I just wanted to write “…not when they’re on Fire!”

I meant, not when I’m wearing Fire. 🙂

It applies smoothly and incredibly opaque, and here I’m only wearing one layer.

YEAH!

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