Makeup

That’s Right — I’m Singing About These New Treats From Chanel: The Chanel Les Delices de Chanel Aqualumieres in French Toffee and Friandise

July 3rd, 2013 by Karen 14 Comments

Chanel Friandise Aqualumiere — Limited edition Chanel Aqualumiere Gloss in 82 Friandise ($27) from the Les Delices de Chanel collection

Sung to the tune of the chorus in Katy Perry’s California Girls…

Aw-qua-lumieres
You’re unforgettable

When you left town
It broke my heart

Now that you’re back
Any-thing is possible

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!

I feel like singin’. Every time I wear the Chanel Aqualumieres in French Toffee and Friandise, I see the world in a slightly better light. For the briefest of moments, the world seems less cruel, and I no longer feel the urge to shake my fist at the sky and roar, “WHY!? WHY CAN’T EVERY GIRL EXPERIENCE THE WONDERS OF CANDY GLOW!?”

Now that these limited edition glosses, which had been part of the permanent line but subsequently disappeared for a while, have returned to the Chanel line via the Les Delices de Chanel collection, I have hope again. Hope that no more makeup hearts will fall broken and shattered on glittery sidewalks. Perhaps Chanel will even bring back more of the colors, either permanently or in future limited edition releases like this one.

Chanel Les Delices de Chanel Collection Aqualumieres in 83 French Toffee and 82 Friandise — Aqualumieres in 83 French Toffee (left) and 82 Friandise (right)

They’re just as wonderful as the ones I remember from Chanel’s permanent line. Mmm… They feel so good on my lips. Not sticky at all, and they’re bursting with moisture. They also have a barely there vanilla flavor and scent.

Gals who prefer long-wearing glosses might not like the limited two-hour wear time, but at least they feel great.

If you like the look of a nude lip but don’t want intense pink or peach tones, there’s shimmery sheer beige French Toffee, which should look really pretty with something like MAC Cork, or a golden brown nude lip pencil.

Chanel French Toffee Aqualumiere — Aqualumiere Gloss in 83 French Toffee (limited edition), $27

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A MAC Tropical Taboo Face of the Day and a Katy Cat Moment

July 2nd, 2013 by Karen 25 Comments

My makeup today features pieces from MAC Tropical Taboo (with a smattering of products from MAC’s permanent collection)

I know I’m a few years late on this train, but I am super obsessed with Katy Perry at the moment.

I mean, I’ve always liked her music, and she seems pretty cool (girl loves cats!). I can’t even begin to guess how many miles I’ve logged listening to Teenage Dream on the treadmill, and how can you not like someone with blue hair who rocks out on stage next to a giant, person-sized cat??

But last weekend I Netflixed a documentary about her called Katy Perry: Part of Me that follows her 2011 Teenage Dream tour (and her breakup with Russell Brand), and that sort of tipped the scales for me from casual fan to full-blown obsession.

First of all, she’s a crazy cat lady, and you know I’m feelin’ that. 🙂 Throughout the movie, I kept thinking, “Awww, I bet she misses her kitties!”

Then there’s her music. Before the movie, I’d only heard her hits on the radio, but she performs a bunch of her other songs in the documentary (and her hits), and I liked them all. I think it’s cool that she writes her own music! How many pop stars actually do that these days? I ended up buying the rest of the Teenage Dream album after the movie.

Some of her songs are sugary cotton candy, like Peacock, which I was listening to when I got the idea to do this iridescent gold/brown/purple eye with the new MAC Tropical Taboo collection…

I wanna see yo’ Peacock!

MAC Tropical Taboo FOTD eye with Mineralize Eye Shadows in Bossa Blue, Cha-Cha-Cha and Dare to Bare — Mineralize Eye Shadows in Bossa Blue (lower lash line), Cha-Cha-Cha (lid) and Dare to Bare (inner corner and brow bone); MAC Eye Shadows in Texture (crease) and Honey Lust (crease)

MAC Tropical Taboo FOTD — MAC Kohl Power Eye Pencils in Feline (water line) and Orpheus (upper lash line and outer corner); MAC Extended Play Gigablack Mascara (lashes); MAC Veluxe Brow Liner in Deep Dark Brunette (brows)

Mineralize Blush in Simmer (cheeks), Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle (upper cheekbones); Lip Pencil in Have to Have It (lips), Mineralize Rich Lipstick in Glamour Era (lips), MAC Plushglass in Big Baby (lips)

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Don’t Risque Your Lashes to Just Any Old Mascara When You Can Treat Them to New Better Than Sex Mascara From Too Faced Cosmetics

July 1st, 2013 by Karen 30 Comments

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara — Wearing three coats of the new Better Than Sex Mascara ($23) from Too Faced Cosmetics

If “just because it’s [INSERT ANY DAY OF THE WEEK]” is a good enough reason for you to wear sequins and four-inch heels, allow me to introduce you to your next mascara, the new Better Than Sex Mascara from Too Faced Cosmetics.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara tube — The pink tube, HEART (nice typography, too)

Yeah, I giggle whenever I say the name, like my mom just asked me what mascara I’m wearing and all I can do is grin from ear to ear, giggle maniacally and hold up the pink tube. “Uh-huh-huh-huh-huh-huh…” 🙂

Seriously, the last time I said the word “sex” to my mother was in sixth grade, when I had to get her to sign my permission slip for sex ed, and I still have not recovered from that trauma.

What you need to know

Contains a film-forming polymer for smudge-proof, all-day wear

Includes acacia senegal tree extract to nourish, thicken and lock curls into position

Contains carbon black pigments and peptides for the deepest, most intense black possible

Too Faced says it took them two years to perfect the formula

Specializes in adding lash length and separation

Takes some babying to maintain the curl

Inspired by Marilyn Monroe’s bombshell curves

Speaking of bombshells, that’s how this mascara makes me feel, but conveying that in pics is easier said than done. Sh*t ain’t easy when you’re trying to channel yo’ sexy and trigger a remote control camera shutter at the same time. Get the timing wrong, and this is what happens…

But the mascara, it does a great job, thanks in large part to its cool, curvy brush.

It’s kind of the business.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara wand — An hourglass-shaped brush, va-va-va-voom!

See how the bristles are longer at the ends than they are in the middle? Like an hourglass?

Little in the middle but she got much back!

Sorry… I really need to stop quoting Baby Got Back in casual conversation.

So, the brush, it hugs the curve of your lid, separating, coating and curling each lash for an absolutely lovely, unique lash look. I’ve been wearing 2-3 coats.

Can you see how my lashes in the middle look a little longer than the ones on the sides?

Neat, yeah? I’m pretty sure it’s the brush.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara box — Cute box

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Lust in Translation: A Scandal Lust Journey of Glitter, Shimmer and MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lust

July 1st, 2013 by Karen 9 Comments

MAC Lust Mineralize Skin Finish — Looking more girl next door than lusty, despite wearing MAC’s $30 Mineralize Skin Finish in Lust

Lusty, lusty, lusty.

Don’t even think about wearing MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lust just to sit in your cube and fill out TPS reports.

Bo-ring!

Save this pink cheek powder for a fun-filled Saturday night instead. Pour yourself into that skintight dress and those frack-me pumps you can barely walk in (but dayum, you know they look good! *snaps*).

As you and your crush sip martinis and get cozy in a quiet booth, he (or she) won’t be able to keep his eyes off of your glistening cheeks, or your smile, which hints at where the night could lead if he plays his cards right.

While we’re at it, let’s assume that your skin is on its best behavior in this scenario, with mellow pores and no dry patches to speak of, since Lust’s mirror-like shine can highlight imperfections. Of course, you don’t have to have skin as smooth as porcelain while you’re getting your swerve on, but to be honest, with Lust, it helps. It’s totally and completely unforgiving, like wearing a rhinestone-encrusted spandex unitard (which is actually quite a feat if you can pull it off).

Lust shines like Ryan Gosling’s eyes in the moonlight… Subtle, it’s not, especially compared to the other MSFs I’ve tried so far from MAC’s Tropical Taboo collection (Adored and Rio), but I think that’s what MAC was going for with Lust. They created a showcase shade.

MAC Lust Mineralize Skinfinish Swatch — Lust on my NC 42 skin

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For a Light Coral Flush You’ll Adore, Try MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Adored

June 28th, 2013 by Karen 11 Comments

Abso-friggin’-lutely gorgeous. That’s how I feel about the way MAC Adored Mineralize Skinfinish looks as a highlighter or as an all-over face powder, but if you’re going to try wearing it either of those ways, steer clear of flash photography. The pearl in this makes my skin look crazy shiny when I use a direct flash in pics (I turned the flash off for the pic up top).

It’s also a good-looking blush (try buffing one or two layers on the apples of your cheeks), but no matter how you wear it, layering coaxes out more of the coral, so you get a natural-looking flush — not too bright — with a soft-focus effect from the luminous beige pearl.

You’ll look like an angel with it on, or like you got all creative and mixed Benefit’s Coralista Blush with MAC Ricepaper Eyeshadow, liked what you saw, and put the mixture on your cheeks before you left the house.

Yesterday Adored stayed on my cheeks for a full nine hours… NINE HOURS! Think of all the candy you could eat in that time, or the neighborhood kitties you could pet (it’s a lot).

Charlize, the tabby who lives down the street, sends her regards and best wishes for a good weekend…

Pale princesses and light-skinned gents, Adored should look divine on you! I love it on my NC42 skin, but I get the feeling I’ll be wearing it more often as a highlighter than a blush as I tan over the summer.

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A Magical Potion of Pink, Bronze, Pizza, Shimmer, Matte and a Highlighter/Blush: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Rio

June 28th, 2013 by Karen 24 Comments

MAC Rio Mineralize Skinfinish — Cheeks, meet MAC’s Rio Mineralize Skinfinish ($30)

LET THIS PROCLAMATION SHOW THAT MAC RIO MINERALIZE SKINFINISH SHALL HENCEFORTH BE KNOWN AS THE OFFICIAL CHEEK POWDER OF PIZZA AND WINE WEDNESDAYS FOR THE REMAINDER OF SUMMER, SO HELP ME GAWD!

Oh, snap! Please pardon my overuse of caps. My pinky got stuck on the CAPS LOCK button (no, it didn’t), so I decided to just roll with it, since it pretty much also summarizes how I really feel about MAC Rio.

We fell in love! — when I wore it a couple days ago out to dinner with El Hub. That day it got hot in hurrr. I mean, it was like over 90 degrees, and I didn’t want to cook, so we went to this Italian place nearby called Tavola for dinner.

Who knew that mixing wine, pizza and MAC Rio on a hot summer night could add up to something so cool?

Pizza from Tavola restaurant in Novato, CA — The Neopolitana pizza from Tavola restaurant in Novato

I don’t know what laws of physics were involved, but there was something magical about biting into a hot slice, washing it down with a sip of chilled white wine and wearing MAC Rio… It electrified all of the pleasure pathways in my brain. Perhaps it was just a convergence of so many awesome things at once — carbs, cheese, wine and a bright, opalescent bronzed pink highlighter/blush. 🙂

Yeah, blush! You could wear Rio as a highlighter (tops of your cheekbones, down the bridge of your nose, your Cupid’s bow and chin), but my favorite way to wear it’s as a blush.

Say we bumped into each other at a MAC counter today and you said, “But, K-Dawg, all I want from a blush is that it’s easy like Sunday morning,” I’d steer you away from Tropical Taboo’s blushes, and point you in Rio’s direction. “Let’s do this, babes,” I’d tell you. “Trust.”

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Available Now, the New Senna Cosmetics Sunglow Collection for Summer 2013

June 27th, 2013 by Karen 9 Comments

It’s a Sunglow summer. The new 11-piece Sunglow summer collection from Senna Cosmetics mixes sparkling bronzes with orange, green and pink for eyes, face, lips and cheeks.

I’ve only used a few Senna products before, and I like ’em, but I’m still pretty new to the brand. Pics and Sunglow swatches down below. Let me know if you see anything you like. 🙂

Senna Dawn Brilliant Bronze from the Sungold Color Collection — Dawn Brilliant Bronze Baked Mineral Bronzer & Highlighter, a light bronze and a seashell pink highlighter ($42)

Senna Sunset Brilliant Bronze from the Sungold Color Collection — Sunset Brilliant Bronze Baked Mineral Bronzer & Highlighter, a deep bronze and golden highlighter, $42

Senna Emerald Eye Color from the Sungold Color Collection — Emerald Eye Color, a jeweled green ($18)

Senna Rose Gold Eye Color from the Sungold Color Collection — Senna Rose Gold Eye Color, a golden pink ($18)

Senna Down to Earth Cream Lipstick from the Sungold Color Collection — Down to Earth Cream Lipstick, a warm golden chocolate ($20)

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I Dare You to Look Less Tired With MAC’s Dare to Bare Mineralize Eye Shadow

June 27th, 2013 by Karen 21 Comments

MAC Dare to Bare Mineralize Eye Shadow from the Tropical Taboo collection — That’s MAC Dare to Bare Mineralize Eye Shadow on my eyes ($21, from the Tropical Taboo collection)

If you were wondering why I love pale, shimmery golden shadows like MAC’s Dare to Bare Mineralize Eye Shadow (and I don’t know why you would), lemme break it down for you.

They never make me feel bloated or sausage-y (unlike my skinny jeans). They never bite me (unlike my moody tabby cat). They never show up unannounced, seemingly out of nowhere (unlike those annoyingly stiff chin hairs that always crop up when I’m driving).

All they want to do is love. 🙂 My favorite ones, like Dare to Bare, get my day started right, because they’re potent fatigue fighters, meaning that they help me look less tired.

And I sure needed the help today. My noisy new neighbors (the Finch Family) are early risers (you know, tryin’ to get that worm), and boy! — they’re loud.

I mean, I get it. Every new day is a reason to celebrate, but can’t we wait until 6:30-ish or 7? Come on, guys, cut a girl some slack.

Thankfully, I Dared to Bare this morning. It’s from the MAC Tropical Taboo collection, which landed on counters today. There are six Mineralize Eye Shadows in the release, but this one’s gorgeous mix of cream, violet and gold caught my eye first.

MAC Dare to Bare Mineralize Eye Shadow — Dare to Bare Mineralize Eye Shadow, $21

I want to decorate my bedroom in these colors… I think that’d be so soothing and conducive to good sleep.

When you mix Dare to Bare’s colors together with a wet brush (I use a 217 spritzed with Fix+) and buff that on lids, the colors melt together in a cool way. On my lids, I get a shimmery, peachy pale gold with violet accents that I can see sometimes out of the corner of my eye when I turn my head or blink.

MAC Dare to Bare applied with a 217 wet with Fix+… kinda hard to see the subtle purple flash in pics, I tried though!

Really, really pretty, and I think that it’s that subtle violet that distinguishes it from similar MAC standards like Ricepaper.

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