Makeup

Dry Lips Say Haaay to These Moisturizing MAC Tropical Taboo Cremesheen Glasses

June 27th, 2013 by Karen 38 Comments

MAC Narcissus Cremesheen Glass from the Tropical Taboo collection — That’s MAC’s Narcissus Cremesheen Glass from the Tropical Taboo collection on my lips…

I don’t care that I look a little pervy when I rub my lips back and forth and mutter, “Mmmm…” under my breath after applying these MAC Cremesheen Glass lip glosses. I don’t care that my big toe throbs because I’m always dropping the tubes, which, by the way, are bigger and heavier than MAC Plushglasses and Lipglasses, on my foot (hurts like a mother!). I don’t care that I must spend half my day digging around in my purse looking for ’em, either, since I have to reapply them every couple hours.

The MAC Cremesheen Glasses are some of the most comfortable, most moisturizing glosses I’ve used, and my dry lips love ’em, which is why I always make room for them in my makeup bag.

The four creamy $20 shades in the Tropical Taboo collection are available online now, in stores and on counters.

There’s not a lot of big, flashy glitter in pale peach Calypso Beat, coral Fever Isle, pale pink Japanese Spring or eggplant Narcissus, and yet they shine. I think they pair perfectly with the Mineralize Rich Lipsticks, too, and contrast well with Tropical Taboo’s shimmery eyes and cheeks.

MAC Calypso Beat Cremesheen Glass — Calypso Beat Cremesheen Glass, a pale neutral peach

MAC Calypso Beat Cremesheen Glass wand — The Calypso Beat Cremesheen Glass wand

MAC Fever Isle Cremesheen Glass — Fever Isle Cremesheen Glass, a bright reddish coral

MAC Fever Isle Cremesheen Glass wand — The Fever Isle Cremesheen Glass wand

MAC Japanese Spring Cremesheen Glass — Japanese Spring Cremesheen Glass, a pale dirty pink

[Continue reading…]

Like Slipping on a Pair of Stretchy Pants, the New MAC Mineralize Rich Lipsticks From the Tropical Taboo Collection Feel Good

June 26th, 2013 by Karen 15 Comments

MAC Lady at Play Mineralize Rich Lipstick from the Tropical Taboo collection — A picture of a Lady at Play… MAC’s Lady at Play Mineralize Rich Lipstick from the Tropical Taboo collection.

As a card-carrying member of MAC’s Mineralize Rich Lipstick Club, I suspected the five shades in the new Tropical Taboo collection would be the business, and MAC did not let me down.

Smoother than Ryan Gosling on roller stakes, more satisfying than unbuttoning my skinny jeans after a big meal (or taking off my bra after a long day) and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound! — these moisturizing, lightweight lippies are super fab.

MAC Divine Choice Mineralize Rich Lipstick — Divine Choice Mineralize Rich Lipstick, $22

MAC Glamour Era Mineralize Rich Lipstick — Glamour Era Mineralize Rich Lipstick, $22

Lightweight and loaded with moisture, they feel like a balm on my lips, but they’re also packed with full-coverage, easy-to-control color. I can wear ’em without a lip liner and don’t need a lip brush to apply, even with the more intense colors like Midnight Mambo and Lady at Play.

MAC Lady At Play Mineralize Rich Lipstick — Lady At Play Mineralize Rich Lipstick, $22

I get so fired up just talking about some of these, like Lady at Play (so bright), Glamour Era (looks a little like Twig) and Divine Choice, that I have to fan myself! Those are the three that raise my temperature the most. All three easily transition from day to night (yay for flexibility!).

MAC Midnight Mambo Mineralize Rich Lipstick — Midnight Mambo Mineralize Rich Lipstick, $22

[Continue reading…]

You’ll Look Like You’ve Been Dancing All Night Long Wearing One of the Three Bright New MAC Tropical Taboo Mineralize Blushes in Exotic Ember, Simmer and Sweet Samba

June 26th, 2013 by Karen 11 Comments

MAC Simmer Mineralize Blush from the Tropical Taboo Collection — Simmer Mineralize Blush from the MAC Tropical Taboo collection

Guess who just got cast in a new reality TV show!?

I know! It’s called So You Think You Can’t Dance, and it’s still pretty new, so it only has a small following of just one husky tabby cat.

For now. But I’m sure it’s going to catch on soon. It has a winning formula.

The season premiere was last night…in my living room. Yeah, it aired while El Hub and I were watching So You Think You Can Dance, when after every one of the show’s dance routines, we danced around our living room, hootin’, hollerin’ and twirling around like reject ninjas.

“Okay,” one of us would say in complete seriousness, “now it’s time for our contemporary routine!” Then, no matter what type of dance we were supposed to be doing, El Hub would end up doing the robot, and I’d do the cha-cha.

Being the only contestants on the show, the odds of us winning this season are good. 🙂

It’s fun, but I really just want to practice my Latin dance moves so that I could keep up with the three new $25 MAC Tropical Taboo Mineralize Blushes…

MAC Exotic Ember Mineralize Blush — Exotic Ember Mineralize Blush, an orange with bronze pearl

Exotic Ember, Simmer and Sweet Samba shimmy onto MAC shelves and into hearts and stores tomorrow (but they’re available online now!), and they’re ready to lead MAC girls (and guys) through a glamorous and tropic-themed routine on the dance floor.

Just don’t be surprised if they try to hog the spotlight, because they’re hella pigmented.

MAC Simmer Mineralize Blush — Simmer Mineralize Blush, a burnt rose with peach and gold pearl

Hips grind, skirts twirl, heels spin and skin glistens as you work yourself into a frenzy on the dance floor. These blushes are a flurry of intense pigment and luminous, opalescent shimmer, and with any of them on your cheeks, you’ll look like you’ve been shaking what your mama gave you all night long.

MAC Sweet Samba Mineralize Blush — Sweet Samba Mineralize Blush, a dark pink with tan pearl

With MAC’s Mineralize Blush formula, there’s always the chance you’ll run into a shade with chunky glitter that flies all over the place or an uber-frosty finish that acts like a foghorn for your pores (WE’RE KAREN’S PORES! CHECK US OUT, Y’ALL!!), but that hasn’t been the case for me with any of these shades.

All three have a shiny finish, which is typical of the Mineralize Blushes, but their shine comes from fine pearl particles that create flushed, bright cheeks that catch the light without appearing metallic or frosty.

MAC Tropical Taboo Swatches Mineralize Blush — Mineralize Blush from the left: Exotic Ember, Simmer and Sweet Samba

These blushes are also pigmented, so if you want very dramatic, flushed cheeks for, say, a stage performance (which I think these would be awesome for!), then a regular ol’ blush brush should suffice, but for everyday looks, I’d opt for a fan brush.

MAC Sweet Samba Mineralize Blush from the Tropical Taboo Collection — Sweet Samba

[Continue reading…]

Should You Bring the Paul & Joe Beaute Eye Liner WP & Eye Crayon Duo in Saint Tropez 001 to the Beach, Baby?

June 25th, 2013 by Karen 29 Comments

Few years ago I got to talking with a friend of mine who lived in Hawaii for some years. She said that while she lived there, she never once went in the ocean.

Paul Joe Eyeliner from Saint Tropez 001 Duo — Eyeliner from Saint Tropez 001 Duo Eye Crayon on the left and Eye Liner on the right

It kind of blew my mind. As a bonafide beach baby, I couldn’t fathom living in a place with warm, tropical water and not once stepping into it while you’re there. It’s everywhere around you, after all!

I know, different strokes for different folks, but if I could, I’d go swimming or surfing in that ocean every day…or at least every other day (everyone seems to say that, though, don’t they?).

Maybe that’s why Paul & Joe Beaute’s Beach Baby collection speaks to me…

Paul Joe Eye Crayon from Saint Tropez 001 Duo — The Eye Crayon from the Saint Tropez 001 Duo…

[Continue reading…]

Unsung Makeup Heroes: Too Faced Sweet Pink Full Bloom Ultra Flush Blush

June 24th, 2013 by Karen 15 Comments

Now that’s a sweet pink! Too Faced Sweet Pink Ultra Flush Powder Blush ($19)

Chances are, you will not want to start a riot or cut a b*tch while wearing Too Faced Sweet Pink Full Bloom Ultra Flush Blush ($19).

You could, however, roll with a motorcycle gang…but only if your Harley and your helmet are completely covered in Hello Kitty stickers. 🙂

Might as well leave your tough girl boots at home tonight because this blush really is sweet.

A sweet neutral pink with a golden shimmer, to be exact, and it’s that shimmer that makes it a star. The soft glow it imparts, which is much subtler than shiny metallics, is very forgiving of my Lake Superior-sized pores.

It’s a little like layering a matte pink blush on top of a shimmery golden highlighter.

Have you ever tried that? It’s really cool. You can see the shimmer peeking through the blush, and it gives the look more life.

With Sweet Pink, you get the effect with one pan for $19.

It’s perfect for streamlined makeup bags. 🙂

The long-running Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorite permanent collection products from a variety of bodacious beauty brands.

Oh, and I love wearing it with matte lipsticks in bright berries, fuchsias and hot pinks. Hells, yeah!

I’m a sucker for looks with subtly shiny cheeks and matte lips. I think it’s very flattering. Give it a try if you have MAC Heaux or Impassioned around. Both look really great with Sweet Pink.

[Continue reading…]

Urban Decay’s New Skincare-Themed B6 Vitamin-Infused Complexion Prep Spray and Eyeshadow Primer Potion Anti-Aging Aim to Bring the Noise to Your Beauty Routine

June 24th, 2013 by Karen 27 Comments

Urban Decay B6 Vitamin-Infused Complexion Prep Spray and Eyeshadow Primer Potion Anti-Aging — Urban Decay’s new B6 Vitamin-Infused Complexion Prep Spray ($33) and Eyeshadow Primer Potion Anti-Aging ($24)

“BOOM!”

Something exploded off in the distance across the Bay. “What was that?” my brother said, jumping an inch off the ground.

“Holy sh*t!” exclaimed El Hub.

Three three of us were just strolling along the water in downtown Sausalito last Saturday when it happened — a loud boom that rang out across the Bay.

I was wearing two new skin-lovin’ Urban Decay products at the time, B6 Vitamin-Infused Complexion Prep Spray ($33) and their Eyeshadow Primer Potion Anti-Aging ($24). “If this is the end,” I said, “we should probably go rescue Tabs before the traffic [on Highway 101] gets too bad.”

Then the mental calculations started… How long would I be able to stretch out the makeup I had with me in my purse if this was, in fact, the start of something big (World War Z sprang to mind)? A week? Two weeks? A month?

Luckily, I was testing both of the new antioxidant products from Urban Decay and had them in my bag, a spray and a wrinkle-fighting primer, so it definitely could have been worse.

Priorities. #tmoney #makeup

We never figured out what caused the loud sound, but El Hub said that he thought it was a canon…

Don’t ask me why a canon would be firing in the San Francisco Bay, but strange things do happen here from time to time. 🙂

Urban Decay’s two newcomers come bearing skincare benefits to add extra BOOM! to your makeup routine.

B6 Vitamin-Infused Complexion Prep Spray ($33)

The first, the B6 Vitamin-Infused Complexion Prep Spray, is the latest recruit on UD’s team of Setting Sprays.

Instead of applying it after you’re done doing your makeup and getting everything set in place, you’re supposed to apply it on your bare skin before you start, although you can also spray it on throughout the day to freshen up without messing up your makeup, or at night before your regular skincare routine.

[Continue reading…]

Eye Gloss, Lip Gloss, We All Gloss for This Gloss: Paul & Joe’s Eye Gloss & Lip Gloss Duo in Nice

June 21st, 2013 by Karen 7 Comments

So darned cute that heart-shaped bubbles and blue-eyed white kittens may trail behind you when you wear it. 🙂

Paul & Joe’s sweet dual-ended stick has a cream shadow (the Eye Gloss) on one end and a lip gloss on the other. Nice ($34), from the Beach Baby summer collection, is nice!

1. Adorable overload…

Paul & Joe Beach Baby Collection 2 — From the left: the Eye Liner and Eye Crayon from the Eyeliner WP & Eye Crayon Duo in Saint Tropez 001; the Gloss and Eye Gloss from the Eye Gloss & Lip Gloss Duo in Nice 02; and Bermuda Nail Enamel

OOH! Look at the scripty font and chrysanthemum flowers.

Paul & Joe Eye Gloss from the Eye Gloss & Lip Gloss Duo in Nice — The Eye Gloss from the Eye Gloss & Lip Gloss Duo in Nice

Paul & Joe Gloss from the Eye Gloss & Lip Gloss Duo in Nice — The Gloss from the Eye Gloss & Lip Gloss Duo in Nice

2. Put your powder shadows on pause

Paul & Joe's Eye Gloss & Lip Gloss Duo in Nice Eye Gloss Swatch — A swatch of the Eye Gloss

[Continue reading…]

Smoother Than a Smoothie, and They Won’t Give You Brain Freeze! The Lightweight and Moisturizing Papaya Slushie, Watermelon Ice and Mocha Freeze Sweet Sun Shines Lip Glosses by Too Faced Cosmetics

June 20th, 2013 by Karen 15 Comments

Too Faced Watermelon Ice — Wearing Sweet Sun Shines Gloss in Watermelon Ice ($16), by Too Faced Cosmetics

Nope, I don’t get brain freeze. Never had it. Not once!

And, at the rate I’m going, with all the hours of brain-liquifying Bravo television I watch, I probably never will (because there won’t be anything left up there to freeze!).

Haha.

This actually works out in my benefit today because these Too Faced Sweet Sun Shines Glosses make me want to hightale it down to the closest smoothie shop to slurp everything on the menu.

Too-Faced-Sun-Shines-Lip-GlossToo Faced Sun Shines Lip Glosses from top to bottom: Mocha Freeze, Papaya Slushie and Watermelon Ice — From top to bottom: Mocha Freeze, Papaya Slushie and Watermelon Ice

They even have yummy names that sound like smoothies — Papaya Slushie (a shimmery orange), Watermelon Ice (a frosty hot pink) and Mocha Freeze (a shimmery, nude bronze) — and, thankfully, should not cause brain freeze (seeing as they’re glosses).

You may want to watch out for unconsciously drooling, though, when you see them because they do look pretty delectable.

Too Faced Sun Shines Lip Glosses from the left: Mocha Freeze, Papaya Slushie and Watermelon Ice — From the left: Mocha Freeze, Papaya Slushie and Watermelon Ice

I absolutely love, LOVE how smooth, slick and comfy these feel on my lips. The lightweight, non-sticky gel formula is also hella moisturizing.

Sometimes I don’t want to work around my gloss, ya know? And these are great for days like that, when all I want to do is swipe a doe-foot across my lips, pet my cat and get back to my Bravo. 🙂

[Continue reading…]