Makeup

MAC Unsung Heroes: Style Blush

February 26th, 2014 by Karen 16 Comments

Wearing a single layer of MAC Powder Blush in Style ($21) on my cheeks

I’ve had to do rapid-fire makeup to get out the door and catch appointments two days this week. From start to finish, I’m talkin’ 10, 15 minutes tops.

This pressure cooker of time has led me to MAC Style, a shimmery golden coral Powder Blush in the MAC permanent line.

I picked it up a while back during a stress shopping session (girl, you do it too!) but set it aside when I became totally infatuated with MAC Cantaloupe.

I guess I was just feeling more like matte cheeks and full-on wintery makeup looks for a while there, and Cantaloupe fit the bill. I had a blast layering different highlighters and shimmer products with it, too, but that was when I had enough time to play…

When my schedule doesn’t allow for that and I have to leave the house in a hurry, extra little makeup touches like highlighter usually get cut.

Which is where MAC Style comes in…

A lovely soft coral powder blush with a delicate golden sheen, I think it’s great for getting out the door in a flash. Its moderately pigmented coral base has just enough color to give a nice flush to my cheeks.

It’s not so intense that I have to spend precious breakfast time buffing and blending everything out if I inadvertently over-apply, and it’s easy to control. No exaggeration, but I can get it on my cheeks and be done with blush in less than a minute.

MAC Style Blush Swatch on NC42 Skin — Style Blush on my NC42 skin

But that’s not my favorite thing about Style. That distinction goes to its fine golden sheen.

Swoon!

While delicate and subtle, it totally takes this blush to the next level for me, transforming it into a hybrid blush/highlighting butterfly, and I smile every time I see a flash of its pearly golden glow.

Not only is Style dynamic, it also shaves a couple steps off my makeup routine.

MAC Style Blush Swatch on NW25 Skin — Style Blush on a good samaritan’s NW25 skin

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A Friday Face of the Day With the New NARS Matte Multiples

February 21st, 2014 by Karen 28 Comments

Wearing the new NARS Laos and Cappadoce Matte Multiples on my cheeks — Those are the new NARS Laos and Cappadoce Matte Multiples on my cheeks.

I took a couple of the new NARS Matte Multiples out for a spin today. 🙂

I wanted to see if they’d work on top of NARS Radiant Cream Compact Foundation, and they did! They buffed and blended easily, and now it’s just a question of seeing how well they wear over the next few hours…

Cappadoce, the golden bronze, I’m wearing as a bronzer, and I’m wearing Laos, the rosy coral, as a blush.

Um…yes, I am wearing warm coppery bronze colors on my eyes, again, this time via Tom Ford’s eye quad in Cognac Sable. Apparently, I’m going through a phase, LOL!

Tom Ford Cognac Sable Quad — Tom Ford Cognac Sable on my lids, MAC Superslick Liquid Liner in Definitely Feline on my upper lash lines and MAC Costa Riche on my water lines

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Is the New Clarins Opalescence Face & Blush Powder Out of This World?

February 21st, 2014 by Karen 19 Comments

Took me a while to say goodbye to this gorgeous design. I didn’t want to mess up the pretty pan.

Is it just me (probably), but doesn’t it look a little astronomical/sci-fi?

Whoa! Did you see that? I thought I saw a satellite fly by… 🙂

I actually don’t think it’s supposed to be interstellar. I think Clarins was going for graphic design.

I like it — the contrasting lines and circles. Very artsy-fartsy, isn’t it?

Clarins Opalescence Face & Blush Powder — Face & Blush Powder is one of 14 products in the new Clarins Opalescence Spring 2014 collection

I must say…kudos to Clarins for being so consistent with their limited edition blushes. I can pretty much always count on them to 1) never leave me looking like a deranged clown, 2) smell great (this one smells like jasmine) and 3) be really easy to use.

Opalescence Face & Blush Powder ($40) is no exception.

Technically, it’s designed to be used as an all-over face powder, a contour powder and a blush. Just dust the matte pinkish beige on your shiny spots, sculpt your cheekbones with the matte tan, and add a little color to the apples of your cheeks with the matte coral. (The shimmery gold, by the way, is an overspray and disappears after the first few swipes.)

Clarins Opalescence Face & Blush Powder Swatch — All three of Opalescence’s shades blended together

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Next Time You’re at the Mall and Need Makeup in a Pinch, There’s the New Forever 21 Premium Cosmetics Line

February 20th, 2014 by Karen 28 Comments

Forever 21 Premium Cosmetics Review — Wearing a few things from the new Forever 21 Premium Cosmetics line

Have you heard the mall word? Forever 21 has a new Premium Cosmetics makeup line, and errr-thing in it is $18 or less.

Packaging for the new Forever 21 Premium Cosmetics line…

Exciting stuff, right? But after trying a few things from the line, I gotta say…I feel the same way about most of these pieces as I do when I see cute clothes in Forever 21 stores. I’m drawn in by the prices and how cute the clothes look from afar, but then I try some things on, and I’m like, “Eh, OK.”

Not to say that I haven’t found some winners in the new line. I have. I mean, if I ever lost my makeup bag on a trip and walked by a Forever 21 store at the mall, I know I’d be able to find something in there to get through the day.

I just don’t know if I’d seek out a Forever 21 store specifically for these new products — at least the few I’ve tried.

Here are some thoughts on five pieces from the line…

Forever 21 Premium Cosmetics Baked Bronzer ($4.80)

Like Goldilocks said when she tried the first bowl of porridge, “this one’s too hot!”

Or something like that. Too shimmery, in this case. I feel like this peachy golden bronze is a little too shimmery to use as a traditional bronzer. For contouring and adding warmth, I think it’s a tad too shiny, at least for me, but as a highlighter on the upper cheekbones, it’s, to quote Tony the Tiger, “Greaaaat!”

A little like a MAC MSF but harder, and not as silky smooth, it has very fine micro-shimmer, and the powder sits nicely on the skin.

Frosted Eye Shadow in Sapphire ($7.80)

This blackened blue shimmery shadow avoids drama. Soft and silky, it easily buffs and blends, and the tiny flecks of glitter make it look muy expensive. I like…

Gel Eyeliner in Black ($8.80)

More like a grayish black than a true midnight, at least on my NC42 skin. I need several layers (from 4-5) to reach full opacity.

That’s kind of a pain…but the liner doesn’t smear or transfer into my crease, which is a plus.

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These New Katy Perry Lashes in Feline Fierce Are Fanning the Fringes of Feline Ferocity

February 20th, 2014 by Karen 18 Comments

I’m feline pretty fierce in these new false lashes by Katy Perry.

What…? Too pun-ny?

Sorry, couldn’t resist. I had to go there. 🙂

Truth be told, I wanted to try these mostly because K.P. is one my favorite cat ladies, and I think she and Tabs would get along swimmingly.

As far as cats go, he’s quite the charmer…

I wonder if Feline Fierce, one of four new styles recently released in Katy Perry’s Eylure Lash line, was a shout-out to like-minded kitty enthusiasts like me.

Whatever it was, it worked! It definitely captivated this particular CCL.

Katy Perry Lashes Feline Fierce — Here kitty, kitty…

For starters, I like how the outer sections of lashes are longer and denser than the inner ones. I think it makes my eyes look a little longer and more lifted and mmmmrrrooow! that much more feline. 🙂 Especially when worn with jazzier eyeshadow looks.

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The Cool New Hues in the Clarins Vibrant Light Eye Quartet Mineral Palette Love Warm Skin Tones, Too

February 19th, 2014 by Karen 26 Comments

Well, well. Quelle surprise!

I really did not expect the cool-toned plum, pink, gray and white shadows in the new Clarins Vibrant Light Eye Quartet Mineral Palette to get along at all with warm-toned skin like mine, but then what do I know? I also didn’t think that watching Bravo every day for a month would turn my brain to curdled cheese, which it has, haha!

I guess if there’s a lesson here, it’s that you just never know when it comes to eye quads or reality television.

That is, unless we’re talking about The Millionaire Matchmaker, in which case you pretty much do know what’s going to go down, but you (I) keep watching anyway because you (I) can’t look away. 🙂

(Incidentally, does anyone else miss Dustin and Rachel? I think the show is pretty lame without them…)

Vibrant Light. One of 14 pieces in the new Opalescent spring 2014 collection. Cool-toned, fo’ sho’, but surprisingly wearable, even on warm-toned skin.

Par for the Clarins course, these shadows perform exceptionally well, blending without a hitch and lasting a full 8-hour day without exhibiting any fallout, and only the slightest fading. They can be worn wet or dry, too (I’m wearing them dry).

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Clarins Opalescence Spring 2014 Gloss Prodige Lip Gloss and Joli Rouge Brilliant Lipstick Swatches and Pics

February 18th, 2014 by Karen 19 Comments

Wearing the new Clarins Joli Rouge Brilliant Lipstick in Tropical Pink from the new Opalescence Spring 2014 collection

Some pics of the lip products from the new 14-piece Clarins Opalescence Spring 2014 collection in action to warm you up on this chilly Tuesday night (assuming it’s not summer or the tropics where you are). 🙂

The two Gloss Prodige Lip Glosses ($23 each) and three Joli Rouge Brilliant Lipsticks ($27 each) are available on Clarins counters now and clarinsusa.com.

Clarins Opalescence Spring 2014 collection lip products from the left: Gloss Prodige Lip Glosses in Coral Tulip and Crystal ($23 each); Joli Rouge Brilliant Lipsticks in Tropical Pink, Coral Tulip and Pink Orchid ($27 each)

Clarins Opalescence Spring 2014 collection swatches from the left: Gloss Prodige Lip Gloss in Coral Tulip and Crystal; Joli Rouge Brilliant Lipsticks in Tropical Pink, Coral Tulip and Pink Orchid — Swatches from the left: Gloss Prodige Lip Gloss in Coral Tulip and Crystal; Joli Rouge Brilliant Lipsticks in Tropical Pink, Coral Tulip and Pink Orchid

Clarins Joli Rouge Brilliant Lipstick in Coral Tulip — Joli Rouge Brilliant Lipstick in Coral Tulip

Clarins Joli Rouge Brilliant Lipstick in Pink Orchid — Joli Rouge Brilliant Lipstick in Pink Orchid

Clarins Gloss Prodige Lip Gloss in Coral Tulip — Gloss Prodige Lip Gloss in Coral Tulip

Clarins Gloss Prodige Lip Gloss in Crystal — Gloss Prodige Lip Gloss in Crystal

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. House of Cards! Last night I watched up through episode 9, which Jodie Foster directed. What a great episode! I know I’ve already asked, but are you watching House of Cards? Isn’t it great?

How To Use the New MAC Prep + Prime CC Colour Correct Line: Tips From MAC Senior Artist Victor Cembellin

February 14th, 2014 by Karen 21 Comments

The new MAC Prep Prime CC Colour Correct collection — The new MAC Prep + Prime CC Colour Correct line, available now

GUUUURL, don’t even get me started about brighting products ’cause we’ll be here for days.

DAYS, I tell ya. Possibly even years.

I’m actually never not looking for something — anything — to give me an extra brightening lift. It’s one of my ongoing personal makeup missions. 🙂

When MAC’s new Prep + Prime CC Colour Correct line came out last week, I was intrigued! — but admittedly confused.

I wasn’t sure where to start… I mean, lavender powder? Yellow face lotion?

What gives? And what are they for?

I asked MAC Senior Artist Victor Cembellin, who I’ve known for a few years, about the new products, what they do, and the best ways to use ’em.

Hi, Victor! What can you tell me about these new Prep + Prime CC Colour Correct products? Should I be intrigued?

OK, so, essentially, what’s kind of awesome about these is that products like this have been on the market for many years, but what I like is that we’ve sort of re-worked them into something entirely new.

MAC Prep + Prime Colour Correcting SPF 30 — Prep + Prime Colour Correcting SPF 30, $30 each

Obviously, these are for adjusting skin tones. The CC is for “color correct,” but what’s exciting about them is that whereas in the past, there was this sort of mentality from the consumer of, like, if I grab this green cream and put it on top my red cheeks, everything’s going to be gone and Photoshopped and all that.

MAC Prep + Prime CC Colour Correcting Products in Adjust — Adjust, a sheer apricot

I think what’s exciting about these particular products is how delicately we used the technology to our advantage to make them really workable, user friendly, and into something that actually does what it claims to do, which is to color correct the actual tones and the idiosyncrasies of the skin.

MAC Prep + Prime CC Colour Correcting Products in Recharge — Recharge, a sheer apricot

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