Makeup

With Provocative Pink Pairings for Cheeks and Lips, the NARS Final Cut Collection Arrives in Time for Valentine’s Day

January 10th, 2014 by Karen 29 Comments

NARS Descanso Satin Lip Pencil — Wearing the new NARS Final Cut collection on my cheeks and lips

Right now, the only thing that sounds better to me than biscuits, mashed potatoes and buttered corn (I love KFC’s sides!) and my booty on the couch is the NARS Final Cut collection.

Key words: pink, blushes, lip pencils and illuminators. And pink.

NARS Final Cut Collection — Eight of the 9 pieces in the new NARS Final Cut collection

Grabby hands! I haz them. 😀

In Final Cut, a limited edition release coming arriving next month, NARS re-imagines pink lips and cheeks with modern femininity. Like @ss-kicker boots worn below a frilly lace dress, the colors are edgy and fierce.

Nice.

The collection includes four Blushes, four Satin Lip Pencils (my favorite formula in the NARS lip product line) and one shimmery liquid Illuminator. And yes, pink.

Lots and lots of pink.

The nine-piece NARS Final Cut collection…

Sex Fantasy Blush: a pale lavender pink ($29)
New Attitude Blush: a cherry blossom pink ($29)
Final Cut Blush: a peachy coral ($29)
Love Blush: a tea rose ($29)
Adelaide Illuminator: a shimmering lavender pink ($30)
Stourhead Satin Lip Pencil: a pale lavender pink ($25)
Villa Lante Satin Lip Pencil: a cherry blossom pink($25)
Torres del Paine Satin Lip Pencil: a peachy coral ($25)
Descanso Satin Lip Pencil: a tea rose ($25)

Each of the blushes has a matching lip pencil, with the idea being that you can wear matching sets of coordinating colors together — a lip pencil with its matching blush. Or, of course, you can mix things up and wear any of the colors together. The liquid highlighter goes with everything.

Here are pics and impressions on eight of the nine pieces (I’ll post my thoughts on the fourth blush, Final Cut, soon). In a word: beautiful. In two words: absolutely beautiful. And four more words for good luck: super wearable, super flattering.

NARS Sex Fantasy Blush — Sex Fantasy Blush

NARS New Attitude Blush — New Attitude Blush

NARS Adelaide Illuminator — Adelaide Illuminator

NARS FInal Cut Satin Lip Pencils — The FInal Cut Satin Lip Pencils

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Anchored in Bold, Bright Shades, the NARS Spring 2014 High Seize Collection Sets Sail for Spring

January 9th, 2014 by Karen 41 Comments

Anchors aweigh, NARS fans! This is your captain speaking. Before we cast off, I’d like to thank you for choosing Tabs the Cat Tours (a division of Tabs the Cat Industries, LLC) for your travel needs.

It should be smoooove sailing up the coast this afternoon, and as we cruise into spring, you should see plenty of shimmery finishes, metallic moments and splashes of sheer color off the starboard bow.

I’d like to remind you to please wear your life jacket at all times. It is of the utmost importance, as we may experience sweeping moments of makeup ecstasy.

Our destination: the dreamy plums, turquoises, golds, pinks, greens and peaches in the nine-piece NARS spring 2014 collection. Hold on to your makeup brushes, because we’re heading into High Seize!

NARS Spring 2014 Collection High Seize — Set sail for High Sieze with the nine-piece NARS spring 2014 collection

The entire NARS Spring 2014 High Seize collection includes…

CHINA SEAS DUO EYESHADOW ($34): An iridescent turquoise with gold infusion and an iridescent plum
KAUAI DUO EYESHADOW ($34): A gold lamé and an iridescent smokey orchid
KHAO SAN ROAD LARGER THAN LIFE LONG-WEAR EYELINER ($24): A metallic aquamarine
PUERTA DEL SOL LARGER THAN LIFE LONG-WEAR EYELINER ($24): A parrot green with shimmer
ANNÉES FOLLES LARGER THAN LIFE LIP GLOSS ($26): A sheer violet
BIMINI LARGER THAN LIFE LIP GLOSS ($26): A sheer pink guava
TIMANFAYA SATIN LIP PENCIL ($25): A mandarin red
NĀ PALI COAST MULTIPLE ($39): A shimmering rosy peach
WIND DANCER NAIL POLISH ($19): A cantaloupe

NARS China Seas Duo Eyeshadow ($34)

Please direct your gaze to the starboard side, as we plunge into the life aquatic with China Seas, the first of two eyeshadow duos in the collection.

Submerge your lids under its shimmery iridescent turquoise. Then, take a dip in its sparkling, iridescent reddish plum…

Both of the shadows in this duo will lap your lids with a soft sheen. I like how they blend seamlessly into each other — but please, do be careful of the fallout. A bit of powder finds its way onto my cheeks whenever I forget to tap off my brush before applying, but it’s not enough to need a life preserver.

MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+

NARS China Seas Swatch — China Seas Swatch

NARS Kauai Duo Eyeshadow ($34)

Hold on to the railing, friends, because we’re heading into some exciting big waves courtesy of the thrilling Kauai Duo Eyeshadow, which makes a splash with its mirror-like shine and bold pigment.

This duo is the flashier of the two. Every time I see that shimmery metallic yellow gold and iridescent smokey orchid sparkling on my lids, my breath catches, and I feel so alive! — like the time I paddled into a six-foot wave and actually surfed the damned thing (I even dropped in, OMG!).

Grab this one if you want to focus attention on your eyes, but more mature NARS fans might want to go easy on it by wearing these shadows close to their lids or lash lines, since the high-shine finish just loooooves to point out fine lines.

MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A

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These Milani Power Lip Lasting & Moisturizing Gloss Stains Pack a Powerfully Pigmented Punch

January 9th, 2014 by Karen 22 Comments

Milani Power Lip Mango Tango — Wearing the new Milani Power Lip Lasting & Moisturizing Gloss in Mango Tango

Yeah, I’m turning into *that* girl — the one who applies a glossy lip stain right before bed just to see if it’ll still be there in the morning.

I did it the other night with one of Milani’s new Power Lip Lasting & Moisturizing Gloss Stains, and El Hub was like, “Why are you wearing lipstick to bed? Got a hot date?”

Milani Spring 2014 — The Milani Power Lips collection, new for spring 2014

“First,” I replied, “it’s not a lipstick. It’s a stain. And second, yes, babe, Tabs and I are going as soon as you fall asleep.”

LOL! As if. Tabs is a total night owl, whereas I’ve usually zonked out by 11. I could never hang…but if I could, I’m sure any of these eight stains could hang with me.

These glossy lip stains are DOPE! They cling to lips like I cling to outdated ’90s references. 🙂

Milani Power Lip Swatches from the left: 01 Red Control, 02 Cabaret Blend, 03 Raspberry Tart, 04 Pink Lemonade, 05 Macaroon, 06 Strawberry Sugar, 07 Mango Tango and 08 Creamy Cafe — Swatches from the left: 01 Red Control, 02 Cabaret Blend, 03 Raspberry Tart, 04 Pink Lemonade, 05 Macaroon, 06 Strawberry Sugar, 07 Mango Tango and 08 Creamy Cafe

So, back to that bedtime test I was talking about, the following morning, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the coffee pot and saw the stain from the shade I’d applied before bed (07 Mango Tango).

That’s an 8-hour wear time! — assuming you’re just dreaming about RyGos and mumbling in your sleep. Add munchies and meals to the mix, however, and the wear time drops to 4-6.

Still not bad at all, considering that each tube is only $6.49.

I like these. They remind me of YSL Glossy Stains, only not…

I mean, they’re the same idea — they look and feel like shiny glosses but eventually wear down to satin lip stains — big come in totally different packaging.

The YSL Glossy Stains come in a tube with a doe-foot applicator, while the Milani products come in a click pen tube with a brush applicator.

I don’t mind the click pen, in this case, but I’m not exactly crazy about it. I think it’s a little more challenging to use, like to line the edges of my lips, than YSL’s doe foot, in part because it’s difficult to control how much product it applies. I can’t, for example, imagine using it in the passenger seat as we’re driving to the movies.

Milani Power Lip in 01 Red Control — 01 Red Control

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The New Milani Lip Intense Liquid Colors Are More Intense Than Daniel Craig’s Eyes and Prettier Than a Posy

January 8th, 2014 by Karen 19 Comments

Makeup Math Word Problem No. 1

QUESTION: At noon a train leaves St. Louis for Chicago. On that train sits a cat lady obsessed with her tubby tabby. Quantify the intensity of her obsession, which, as you know, is quite intense, and double it. Now, multiply that by 20, and add 10. What do you get?

ANSWER: LOL! I have no idea. 🙂 But whatever the answer is, it approximates the intensity of the pigments in these new Milani Lip Intense Liquid Colors.

These pigments are insane! To quote Joey Lawrence from Blossom, “WHOA!”

Milani Lip Intense Liquid Color swatches from the left: 01 Red Extreme, 02 Pink Rave, 03 Fiery Coral and 04 Violet Addict — From the left: 01 Red Extreme, 02 Pink Rave, 03 Fiery Coral and 04 Violet Addict

I’m having a hard time believing these are less than $7 each ($6.49 to be exact). If these four full-coverage liquid lipsticks played dress-up in fancier packaging, I think they could hang with Chanel.

Milani Lip Intense Liquid Color wands from the left: 01 Red Extreme, 02 Pink Rave, 03 Fiery Coral and 04 Violet Addict — Wands from the left: 01 Red Extreme, 02 Pink Rave, 03 Fiery Coral and 04 Violet Addict

They feel so good on my lips — like thin, non-sticky glosses — and last a good, long while (I get about 6 hours), almost like they’re long-wearing liquid lipsticks.

YES!

I do, however, have to watch out for that white line that appears on my bottom lip… You know the one I’m talking about. With these I see it after about three hours of wear. No biggie. When it shows up, I just wipe it off with a makeup wipe or Q-Tip.

As for flavors and scents, well, I’d probably love this one if I wasn’t trying to get back in shape (uh…someone had a A LOT of chocolate over the holidays). These taste and smell like butterscotch.

Mmm…butterscotch.

Milani Lip Intense Liquid Color in 04 Violet Addict — 04 Violet Addict

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MAC Unsung Heroes: Shaping Powder in Lightsweep

January 7th, 2014 by Karen 16 Comments

Lightsweep.

No, it’s not the name of a Transformer or an evil supervillain (far as I know), but it is a very appropriate name for this highlighting face powder.

Whenever I wear Lightsweep (I don’t know why, but that name cracks me up!), I do kind of feel like I’m being illuminated by soft beams of light.

Really flattering light — not hard or harsh streaks of noonday desert sun.

MAC Shaping Powder in Lightsweep — Shaping Powder in Lightsweep (MAC Pro)

I’ve been wearing it as a highlighter and an under-eye concealer a lot over the past month, all thanks to Mr. White…which is to say that I’ve been marathoning Breaking Bad lately, and Lightsweep has saved me after quite a few late nights (seriously, Mr. White could REALLY use a life coach!).

After waking up bleary-eyed, I’d put on my face paint and use Lightsweep to set my concealer. Then it’s, “Hello, bright eyes!” Just like a Jetoy Choo Choo Cat (my latest obsession).

Lightsweep, like the fictitious supervillain I just invented, is one of those secret squirrel MAC products that can be tough to find, but it’s SO worth tracking down.

Like the other Shaping Powders ($16.50 each), it’s a MAC Pro product, so it isn’t carried at regular MAC counters. It lives at MAC Pro Stores and online.

So what is it exactly?

This: a warm-toned, finely-milled face powder with a whisper of barely-there shimmer. It highlights skin with a delicate sheen — none of that greasy or oily-looking business you get with some highlighting powders. You can also use to set under-eye concealer, and brighten the under-eye area without going over the top.

At first glance in its pan, you might be like, “Wha? Really now, Karen? I don’t get it,” and your heart may not be thumping like it does when RyGos wears a striped tank top.

I feel ya…but wait! Pat it under your eyes, on top of your regular concealer (I usually pair it with MAC Pro Longwear), and I think you’ll understand.

I like to take into the “triangle” area…

No, not the one by Bermuda. 🙂 I’m referring to the triangle area under my lashes that runs along the side of my nose, from the tip of one nostril out to the outer corner of the eye on the same side.

Give that a try, and then step back from the mirror. Take a good look, and you should see a soft, diffused, natural-looking highlight under your eyes. Oh, so glowy.

As if that wasn’t enough, Lightsweep doesn’t settle into my fine lines or appear heavy or caked-on (the grains are very fine), and it doesn’t dry out my combination skin. Once applied, it stays put, too. No need to touch up for the rest the day.

If you have dark under-eye circles or more mature skin and are looking for brightening products that don’t emphasize pores or fine lines, Lightsweep is a fantastic product to have in your makeup bag.

By the way, the Shaping Powders come in other shades, too, if you’re interested. If your skin is lighter than NC42, check out Emphasize and Accentuate, and if you’re a darker diva, peep Warm Light and Soft Focus.

MAC Shaping Powders in Lightsweep (left) and Accentuate (right) — Shaping Powders in Lightsweep (left) and Accentuate (right)

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7 Ways to Win a $100 Gift Card From Ulta Beauty and $29.97 in Products From the COVERGIRL Bombshell Collection! (Ends Monday, Jan. 13)

January 3rd, 2014 by Karen 420 Comments

You know how in every group of gal pals, each gal kinda has her own role? You’ve got the mother hen, the braniac, the tomboy, etc.

Me? I usually fall into the role of “the funny one,” or “the weirdo writer.”

I always thought it would’ve been fun to be the one all the boys flocked to, aka “the sexy one,” but alas, seduction was never my forte.

I seriously could not seduce my way out of a paper bag. (Remind me to tell you about the time I dove into the ocean without my glasses or contacts on and swam away from a cute guy…who ended up being El Hub.)

Even though I’m not a seductive siren by nature, I still think it’s fun to role-play, especially with makeup. It’s like stepping into someone else’s shoes for a while or playing a character for a day.

Covergirl Bombshell Collection — A few things from the new Covergirl Bombshell collection…

Characters like “The Bombshell.”

Enter COVERGIRL. This spring, COVERGIRL is channeling bombshell beauty with their vampy new Bombshell collection of cream shadows, liquid liners, mascaras, lipsticks and nail polishes in colors designed to tempt and seduce.

Which brings me to this…

You know what I’m about to say, right? 🙂

IT’S GIVEAWAY TIME!!

And mini-tutorial time, too. I’ve joined forces with Ulta Beauty and COVERGIRL this week to bring you a bodacious bombshell giveaway and a sneak-peak at a makeup tutorial I’ve been working on using products from the new Bombshell collection.

To go along with this, I’ll be posting a step-by-step coppery golden eye makeup tutorial to YouTube next week.

By the way, if any of the COVERGIRL makeup in these pictures catches your eye, all COVERGIRL products will be buy one, get one 50% off at Ulta Beauty stores and online at ulta.com from January 5-25, 2014. #ULTABombshelling

A coppery golden eye look with cat eyeliner using the COVERGIRL Bombshell collection…

Applying COVERGIRL Bombshell Shineshadow in Gold Goddess ($8.99)

Applying COVERGIRL Bombshell Shineshadow in Copper Fling ($8.99) — Blending COVERGIRL Bombshell Shineshadow in Copper Fling ($8.99) in the crease

Applying COVERGIRL Cheekers Bronzer in Copper Radiance ($4.99) — Sweeping COVERGIRL Cheekers Bronzer in Copper Radiance ($4.99) into my outer crease ($8.99)

Covergirl Bombshell Intensity Liner in Pitch Black ($8.99) — Lining my upper lash lash lines with COVERGIRL Bombshell Intensity Liner in Pitch Black ($8.99); by the way, I’m also wearing COVERGIRL Outlast Stay Brilliant Glossy Nail Color in Bombshell ($5.99) on my nails

Lining my lower lash line with COVERGIRL Bombshell Shineshadow in Gold Goddess ($8.99)

Coating my lashes with COVERGIRL Bombshell Mascara in Very Black ($11.99)

Applying COVERGIRL Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in Cherry Twist ($8.99) on my lips for a daytime look

Switching to COVERGIRL Lip Perfection Lipcolor in Bombshell ($6.99) to turn up the intensity

Now, on to the giveaway!

Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. You can read the full terms and conditions there, but here’s the gist of it: the giveaway is open to U.S. readers 18 and up (you must be an adult according to your local laws) and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, January 13, 2014.

One lucky lady or gent will win…

A $100 Ulta Beauty gift card
COVERGIRL Bombshell Shadowshine Eyeshadow ($8.99, color TBD)
COVERGIRL Intensity Liquid Liner ($8.99, color TBD)
COVERGIRL Bombshell Intensity Mascara ($11.99, color TBD)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

10 Terrific Makeup and Beauty Products I Lurved in 2013

December 31st, 2013 by Karen 30 Comments

Oh, 2013! You were such a lovely year…

Rose gold reigned supreme, blossoming on beauty counters as far as the eye could see, and then, as if by magic, you bloomed into an almost perfect eye palette at Urban Decay. Meanwhile, Chanel painted tips and toes with an out-of-this-world purple polish, and a golden highlighting lotion at MAC made long-time Strobe Lotion fans (like me) swoon.

Because it’s the time of year for looking back with lists, here are 10 of the most terrific makeup and beauty products I wholeheartedly lurved in 2013.

10 of the products I lurved the most in 2013

1. Clarins Be Long Mascara

Raise your paw if you want long, separated, luscious lashes with sky-high curl! My naturally unimpressive lashes need major help, like the kind Clarins Be Long Mascara provides.

Available now at Clarins counters and also online.

2. Chanel Le Volume Mascara in Noir

chanel le volume de chanel mascara noir — Chanel Le Volume de Chanel Mascara in Noir

Through the first half of the year (up until I found Clarins Be Long), I wore Chanel Le Volume Mascara almost daily.

SO GREAT if you’re unafraid of drama and big, bold lashes.

Available now at Chanel counters and also online.

3. Chanel Taboo Le Vernish Nail Polish

Chanel’s shimmery purple Taboo stuns with dynamic flecks of galactic glitter, and it totally rocked my world.

Seriously, I could wear Taboo on my fingertips every. damned. day, and I’d never, ever tire of it.

Available now at Chanel counters and also online.

4. BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone

Becca Moonstone Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed — Moonstone is one of three Shimmering Skin Perfectors available now exclusively at Sephora for $38 each

Ah… Perfection in a pan.

BECCA’s golden Moonstone highlighter whispers “soft glow here,” and pores needn’t worry about being made the center of attention.

I think it looks fan-frickin’-tastic on all skin types, but it rocks the house on gals 30 and up.

Available now at BECCA counters and also online.

5. NARS Satin Lip Pencil

Love the satin finish (goes with everything), lengthy wear time and easy, effortless application of these NARS Satin Lip Pencils. My go-to shades are coral Lodhi, watermelon red Luxembourg, fuchsia Jardin Des Plantes and hot pink Yu.

Like with Chanel Taboo, I could wear these every day and be a happy, happy girl. 🙂

Available now at NARS counters and also online.

6. Sonia Kashuk Roll Up Valet

Sonia Kashuk’s Roll Up Valet bag changed my life.

BOOM! There, I said it.

My mobile makeup life experience a big organizational upgrade because of this bag, and now I never travel without it.

Available now at Target stores and also online.

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The Six-Piece Showstopper Set by Marc Jacobs Beauty

December 30th, 2013 by Karen 13 Comments

Wearing the Marc Jacobs Beauty The Showstopper Set on my eyes and lips

Aaaaand, STOP!

As in The Showstopper Set, by Marc Jacobs Beauty.

Super quick pics and swatches here. I had to jam through these and only had 10 minutes to jot down some thoughts before heading out to meet my family for my mom’s bday celebration, so if this seems kind of rushed…it was!

Sorry. But Tabs was kind enough to give me the evening off, and I’m not passing that up. 🙂

So, what is The Showstopper?

Well, I’m glad you asked! It’s Marc’s six-piece limited edition holiday set — $135 (listed as a $216 value) — and it comes with makeup for eyes and lips, a makeup bag, a mirror and a tiny bee-sized bottle of Marc’s Honey perfume.

First impressions

The lipgloss: I like. It’s my favorite thing in the set. It has a medium-weight, non-drying formula — slightly sticky, but still comfortable — and it’s neither scented nor flavored.

Color-wise, it reminds me of MAC Lychee Luxe Lipglass (here’s my review from way back in 2010), and it’s sheerer than it looks in this swatch. As far as wear time, we’re talkin’ 3-4 hours.

Now, the liquid liner gave me some trouble. I like the color — it’s a true black without any blue undertones — and shine, but I find the felt tip pen difficult to control (the edges of my lines are jagged).

The mascara holds its own with good length, separation and color (also true black); curl hold isn’t bad at all, and I don’t see any clumps, flaking or smudging. I think the sweet spot’s around one or two coats. Any more than that, and my lashes start sticking together.

Lastly, the eyeshadows, and the first word that comes to mind is “SHINE!” Just like that, in all caps. 🙂

I like ’em. Today I patted them on with a flat eyeshadow brush, but I wasn’t too crazy about the shadows when I buffed them out or applied them with a fluffy brush. With a fluffy (brush, haha!), I thought they were tough to blend and buff out, and I did observe some fallout.

This set used to be available on the Sephora website, but wouldn’t ya know it? I’m not seeing it there now. You might want to check in stores if you’re interested. I did spot it online at a shop called CosPro on amazon.com, but I’ve never purchased anything from them before. Amazon has a pretty good return policy, but I don’t know specifically about this store (like the universe, it’s a mystery…).

Marc Jacobs Beauty The Showstopper Set Style Eye-Con Plush Eyeshadow No. 3 in The Star (114, limited edition) — Style Eye-Con Plush Eyeshadow No. 3 in The Star (114, limited edition) and the Showstopper Makeup Bag (limited edition)

Marc Jacobs Beauty From the left: Lust for Lacquer Lip Vinyl in Kiss This (314, limited edition), The Showstopper Set Lash Lifter in Blacquer Gel Volume Mascara (20) and Style Eye-Con No. 3 In the Star — Lust for Lacquer Lip Vinyl in Kiss This (314, limited edition), Lash Lifter in Blacquer Gel Volume Mascara (20) and Style Eye-Con No. 3 Plus Eyeshadow In the Star

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