Makeup

These Meteors Shower Skin With Iridescent Pink and Gold: Guerlain’s MÃ©tÃ©orites Perles Les Ors Primer

April 24th, 2013 by Karen 33 Comments

Guerlain Meteorites Perles Les Ors Primer Review — The new limited edition Guerlain MÃ©tÃ©orites Perles Les Ors Primer ($71)

Snow globes.

You know snow globes?

That’s what Guerlain’s new $71 MÃ©tÃ©orites Perles Les Ors Primer reminds me of — a snow globe. And meteoric pearls.

Sometimes I just tip the bottle up and down, back and forth, to watch the shimmery pink, white and gold highlighting beads slink through the clear gel…

Fascinating.

Guerlain’s good about sumptuous details and design, aren’t they? I think it’s just neat, like makeup eye candy. Amazingly to me, the fragile little beads don’t break down in the gel. I guess they’re just waiting to be loved.

The limited edition face primer bursts through Earth’s atmosphere with the Terra Ora collection next month. They’re designed to extend the wear time of face makeup when worn underneath it (handy in hot weather!), or to be worn alone on bare skin to impart a pinkish golden iridescence while making pores appear to softly fade away into the background…

The bottle comes with a pump. Pressing it magically mixes the pearls with the clear base, and out comes an oil-controlling shimmery pinkish golden gel.

I think it works okay as a primer — maybe as a “diet primer” or “primer light.” It feels nice and light on my skin, which I like, but it is awfully expensive.

You can definitely find other primers that soften the appearance of your pores and control oil more effectively for less, and I feel like it’s almost a shame to cover its iridescent pink and gold with foundation…

I prefer to use MÃ©tÃ©orites Perles Les Ors more to spotlight bare skin. The primer smooths and softens my pores and fine lines just enough — just shy of mannequin skin — and the pink and golden tones look breathtaking with just the faintest bit of bronzer dusted on top.

Guerlain Meteorites Perles Les Ors Primer Swatch — Guerlain Meteorites Perles Les Ors Primer unblended on the left and blended on the right (see the luminous hint of pink, yellow and gold?)

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Well, Khol Me Kajal! It’s Smooth Sailing When It Comes to Guerlain’s Latest Luxury Liner

April 23rd, 2013 by Karen 21 Comments

Guerlain Khol Me Kajal — Guerlain’s Khol Me Kajal

“May your hair reach the highest of heights, may your heart be filled with love and laughter, and may your eyes remain richly rimmed with black liner, forever and eternity.”

I’m seriously thinking about making that my new standard goodbye…like a makeup nerd’s version of “live long and prosper.”

Way better than a boring old “see ya!” or “peace out,” right? 🙂

Speaking for myself, I’d love to get a greeting like that. I mean, black liner well wishes? I’ll take that.

Black liner’s one of those things that I hope never goes out of style. If it’s good enough for cats and Cleopatra, then hell! — it’s good enough for me. And it deserves a spot in my makeup bag.

Guerlain Khol Me Kajal Packaging — The pretty packaging

These days, Guerlain’s new deep, rich matte black $37 Khol Me Kajal pencil in Noir Volcanique (“Black Volcano”), from the brand’s Terra Ora summer collection, has been keeping me company, both as a liner and an eye shadow (it doubles as both).

The crayon-shaped tip is fixed — doesn’t twist up or down — so you just use it down to a nub.

You probably could try sharpening the tip, but I wouldn’t recommend it (I actually tried and mangled the tip).

The pencil formula itself feels hard to me, and yet, surprisingly, the liner glides along my skin, almost like a gel.

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Guerlain’s New Terra Nerolia Face and Body Bronzer Stuns with Striking Design and Tantalizing Tiare Flower Scent

April 23rd, 2013 by Karen 51 Comments

And the ref counts, “…seven…eight…nine…10!” Ding-ding-ding-ding-ding!

That’s it, folks. It’s over. The new $69 Guerlain Terra Nerolia is a knockout!

But seriously, in what world is $69 reasonable for a bronzer? My accountant mother certainly wouldn’t approve. She likes to walk places because of the stray coins she finds along the way (love you, Mom!).

Of course, she isn’t obsessed with bronzer, either, so there’s also that…

To even consider Guerlain’s new Terra Nerolia, you should probably love bronzer (like, you wear it every single day and feel naked without it) and have a debilitating weakness for luxe brands.

Because sh*t’s really, really expensive…so you’re going to want to love it on every single level.

And that’s exactly what Guerlain wants.

They started with the presentation and Terra Nerolia’s sunburst pattern. The first time I opened the over-sized 0.67-ounce pan and saw that gold, peach and bronze, I thought two words: Ancient Mayans.

Guerlain Terra Nerolia swatch — Guerlain Terra Nerolia from the left: both shades blended and applied with a blush brush, the tan powder, and then the peach powder on the right

Then I caught a whiff of the tiare flower scent and thought, “Hawaiian vacation.” 🙂

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Now You See It, Now You Don’t: The Peek-a-Boo Shimmer in Guerlain’s $72 Terra Ora Could Make This Face and Body Bronzer Worthy of a Splurge

April 23rd, 2013 by Karen 46 Comments

What they don’t tell you — and they should! — at the makeup counter the day you pick up that first burnished pan is that bronzer will ruin you for life.

They could post a sign or offer a quick verbal warning, at least. A quick aside before they let you swipe that deliciously sun-kissed powder on your skin, something akin to, “I must warn you now, and this is a federal regulation, from this day forward, you won’t feel quite right unless you’re wearing bronzer.”

Seriously, I can’t even remember the last time I left the house without bronzer.

And what about options?? Imagine only having one bronzer to choose from…

Banish the thought.

I want options, options, options! — like the new $72 (GASP!) limited edition Terra Ora face and body bronzer from Guerlain.

As you can probably tell, I’ve got a thang for bronzer, and if you do too, you probably already know about Guerlain’s reputation for producing pricey, well-regarded luxury bronzers.

There’s no getting around it: their stuff costs an arm and a leg. Good thing it’s usually great.

Every single Guerlain bronzer I’ve ever tried has melted into my skin like butter on warm popcorn and never, ever looks heavy, muddy or forced.

Guerlain Terra Ora Bronzer Swatches — Guerlain Terra Ora Bronzer from the left: Matte tan beige, pearly white gold and a mix of both shades

Terra Ora follows the lead set by its bronzed Guerlain predecessors. When I swirl its mix of matte tan beige and pearly white gold together and dust that on my face, neck and decollete, I think I definitely do look more like the girl next door than the housemates on the Jersey Shore.

Most of all, I love this bronzer’s “secret shimmer.”

You know how some Chanel polishes look like basic creams, but then when you get them in direct sunlight, they sparkle, seemingly out of nowhere? Terra Ora does that, too.

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Unsung Makeup Heroes: Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick

April 22nd, 2013 by Karen 19 Comments

Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick Review — Dear Bobbi Brown, your Foundation Stick totally rocks. Heart you! -Karen

A girl’s gotta have options, ya know?

Well, I do. I like having ’em — that’s for sure.

I’m the gal who shows up for a flight at the airport with a suitcase dedicated to black shoes (and yet when it comes to purses, why do I try to fit everything into one?).

Guess I like being prepared…

And when I find single products that provide me with options, they’re like beauty gold! — or beauty pirate treasure, as in the case of Bobbi Brown’s Foundation Sticks.

When it comes to foundation, I also like options. The more the merrier. Options for different occasions, like tinted moisturizer for casual days, medium-coverage liquid foundations for weekdays, full-coverage stuff for pictures — and don’t even get me started about finishes and textures; we’ll be here ’til the next season of The Walking Dead.

Since I found Bobbi Brown’s $43 Foundation Stick in Honey (my shade, and one of 20 available now in Bobbi’s permanent line on counters and online), I haven’t wanted to use anything else.

I’ve worn it every day this month because, in a nutshell, it rocks. 🙂

Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick in Honey (a good equivalent to MAC NC42)

One of Bobbi’s top makeup artists, Marc Reagan, introduced me to it at the Saks Fifth Avenue Bobbi Brown Master class a few weeks back, referring to it as “one thing every woman needs in her makeup bag.”

Homeboy was SO RIGHT! I’m this close to sending him a fruit basket with a note that reads, “Thank you for changing my life!”

First of all, it’s like Mr. Fantastic (read: flexible). Because it’s able to go from sheer to full coverage in the blink of an eye, it’s basically like getting a bunch of different face products in a single creamy stick.

Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick in Honey, $42

Say I want a sheer look like a tinted moisturizer — very light coverage. I’ll just load a fan brush with product directly from the stick. And when I want a more polished look for pics or events — medium to full coverage — I’ll use a flat foundation brush instead.

Oh, and it even doubles as concealer! To disguise the little darkened, post-acne spots I have on my chin, I swipe a synthetic sponge across the tip, which I then pat wherever I need extra coverage. If I need a touch-up later in the day, I just reapply on top of whatever else I happen to be wearing, since it layers like a boss on top of cream and powder products.

I almost can’t trick the stuff. No matter how I wear it, I think it looks like real, skin because it has one of those matte finishes with a bit life to it. It’s not completely flat.

It also never, ever feels heavy or like it’s suffocating my pores, and it doesn’t oxidize. It lasts on my combination dry/oily skin all day long, but I’m not sure how it would fare on super oily skin types… I have a feeling the creamy formula might scoot away.

Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick Honey Swatch — Swatch out! It’s Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick in Honey…

Seriously, I have no idea how I made it through my days without this (well, I do, but you know what I mean). I love it.

Cat lady things, part 3,623

Thought you might appreciate this book my cat lady friend Heidi gave me as a gift last week.

(I started reading it to Tabs, but he wasn’t amused…) 🙂

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Dior Bird of Paradise Collection Peacock 5-Couleurs Eye Palette: A Friday Date Night Face of the Day

April 19th, 2013 by Karen 34 Comments

Dior Peacock 5-Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette — J’adore Dior…and showboating birds, like the new Peacock 5-Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette from the Bird of Paradise collection for summer 2013]

Hey, babe. I just finished my makeup for date night with El Hub. 🙂

We’re gonna go see Oblivion, the new sci-fi flick with Tom Cruise. Looks pretty neat from the previews. We’ll see (sci-fi-wise, this is what I’m really looking forward to).

I wonder if El Hub will notice the blending I did on my lids with the new Dior Peacock 5-Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette. Hmm… Survey says, probably not. LOL!

I’ll save some kettle corn for ya. Before I dart, some quick pics and swatches of Dior’s new bird…

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Gold and Copper Lids Cozy Up to Chanel’s New Le Volume De Chanel Mascara in Prune

April 19th, 2013 by Karen 18 Comments

Chanel Le Volume de Chanel Prune Mascara

I love summer makeup. Love it, love it, LOVE IT!

Dewy, bronzed skin; lids luxuriating with shimmery golds and other precious metals; slick, shiny corals on my lips…

I feel like Meg Ryan in that scene from When Harry Met Sally — “I’ll have what she’s having” — except that I’m, um, totally not faking it.

I really, really love summer makeup. 🙂

The beauty brands are laying down their beach towels on the warm, sandy beaches of Makeup Land right now with their summer makeup collections…

I recently added some new Chanel to my summer collection sandcastle, and I’m loving it so far. It’s Chanel’s new $30 Le Volume de Chanel Mascara in Prune, a do-it-all mascara in a blackish burgundy shade that lengthens, thickens and separates.

Basically, the whole shebang, and no flaking or smudging.

Chanel Le Volume de Chanel Prune Mascara eye closeup — Look into my eye…

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All You Need Is (the Summer of Lip) Love: Coming at You From San Francisco, the New Marvelous Moxie Lipsticks, Lipglosses and Lipliners by bareMinerals

April 18th, 2013 by Karen 54 Comments

bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipstick, Lipgloss and Lipliners — The new bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipstick in Never Say Never ($18)

Go ahead, poke fun at me for saying “hella” all you want, babe, but I’ll always, always own that sh*t.

It’s just something I picked up growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area.

I also learned not to wear shorts with a tank top when I visit SF in July (because it can get downright cold!), and I automatically drop my “the’s” when referring to BART trains and MUNI. (SF Lingo 101: we say, “I took BART,” or “I took MUNI,” instead of saying, “I took the BART.”)

Yep, I’m a Bay Area girl through and through. 🙂

We may not host the headquarters of as many makeup lines as Paris and New York, but we’ve got some pretty bangin’ beauty brands reppin’ the Bay, like San Francisco-based bareMinerals.

bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipliners, Lipsticks and Lipglosses — Cheeseball!

And just like San Franciscans did back in the day, fans of bareMinerals this year can look forward to another summer of (lip) love, with a massive new launch of Marvelous Moxie Lipsticks, Lipliners and Lipglosses.

Next month, the brand is adding a total of 46 new permanent collection lip products, all priced from $15-18 each.

I KNOW!

Seeing as how I change my lip color, oh, about every five seconds, I’m really excited. 🙂

This afternoon I made out with nine of the new products, and based on that, we have some pretty playful pigments and creamy textures to look forward to, and coverages varying from super saturated to soft and sheer.

Here we go! Bring on the summer of lips…

bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipsticks in Light It Up, Never Say Never and Speak Your Mind

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