Makeup

Make Up For Ever and the Pantone Spring 2012 Fashion Color Report

February 29th, 2012 by Karen 26 Comments

make up for ever spring 2012 pantone color report

Tangerine Tango

Solar Power

Bellflower

Cabaret

Sodalite Blue

Sweet Lilac

Margarita

Cockatoo

Driftwood

Starfish

Over the past two years, Pantone, makers of those pretty color sample books that designers and other creative pros have used for decades to standardize colors, has been surveying insiders at New York Fashion Week and summarizing seasonal color trends into their highly-anticipated spring and fall Fashion Color Reports.

The spring 2012 edition identifies 10 shades currently climbing up the color popularity charts. They range from natural tones to pastels, and all the way to bold brights.

Make Up For Ever can help color lovers stay on the cutting edge and implement the trendy shades in Pantone’s latest Color Report. All of the pieces here are part of the brand’s permanent line, and available now at Sephora stores and also online.

make up for ever cabaret solar power
For Solar Power and Cabaret, try Eyeshadow in #71 (left) and Eye Shadow in #58 (right), $19 each

make up for ever bellflower
For Bellflower, try Rouge Artist Intense in #15, $19
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An Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess Has Been Spotted in Capri: The New Bronze Goddess Capri Collection, Coming in March

February 28th, 2012 by Karen 31 Comments

estee lauder bronze goddess capri

It’s never good when you get a text from your boss that starts with the words, “Uh, oh.”

There I was, sitting at my desk, minding my own business and surfing the Lonely Planet website on my break for summertime surf destinations, when I hear the familiar sound of my iPhone signaling a new text message. I look down at the screen and see the words, “Uh, oh.”

Long story short, because Tabs booked back-to-back kitty modeling jobs for every week this summer, I don’t get to take any vacation time through September.

Not one day.

“Uh, oh,” he says. “All booked up for summer. No vacations for either of us.”

Either of us, he says. As if! He’s not the one stuck in Novato. He gets to see the world, stay at four-star hotels, eat at the best restaurants, and never has to pay a thing, while I’m eating grilled-cheese sandwiches at home and having Mango Bars for dessert.

Sometimes, it’s just not fair…

Seriously, his idea of slumming it is having to stay at the Four Seasons on The Big Island, instead of Maui.

I know, I know — Tabs is the talent; I’m just the assistant. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have a right to get angry.

Oh, well… Hopefully these new pieces from the limited edition Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess Capri Collection can cheer me up.

The summer 2012 release coasts on to counters stores next month (it’s currently available now online) and comes with two summery fragrances and 13 bronzed bits, some new and some re-promoted, in sun-kissed shades of gold, brown, turquoise and white.

Reviews coming just as soon as I finish transcribing Tabs’ manuscript.

Oh, yeah — didn’t I mention? He’s writing his autobiography right now. It begins, “Meow, mrow, meow-meow.”

What a diva, right? Cat’s got some nerve… 🙂

Here’s a quick look at seven pieces from the release. Have a look, and let me know what you think.

estee lauder bronze goddess capri bronze sands
Pure Color Five Color Gelee Powder EyeShadow Palette in Bronze Sands

estee lauder bronze goddess capri shimmering sands
Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelee in Shimmering Sands

estee lauder bronze goddess capri molten lava
Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Molten Lava
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With the Four-Piece Las Vegas de Chanel Collection, Coco Is Gambling on Gold

February 27th, 2012 by Karen 36 Comments

las vegas de chanel collection

It’s Vegas, baby! 🙂

One of the things I’m trying to pull together this year is a trip to Vegas with my childhood friends.

The mission? — to eat at some of Sin City’s yummiest restaurants and visit a fancy spa (or two), because a well-fed Karen plus deep-tissue massage equals one happy camper.

While I’m there, I’m also hoping to stop by the newly remodeled Chanel boutique at the Bellagio hotel.

To build some buzz around the new store, which opened earlier this year, Chanel recently released a four-piece collection of mostly golden baubles for lips, eyes, nails and cheeks called Las Vegas de Chanel, and this afternoon I tried my luck with three of the four pieces from the release.

las vegas de chanel lucky stripes
Lucky Stripes Iridescent Powders for Eyes and Cheeks

las vegas de chanel gold fingers
Le Vernis in Gold Fingers

las vegas de chanel vegas gold
Le Crayon Levres in Vegas Gold
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The Estee Lauder Mad Men Collection, and a Letter to Don Draper

February 27th, 2012 by Karen 64 Comments

estee lauder mad men collection

Dear Mr. Draper,

Thank you so much for your kind note! It’s always so nice to hear from you.

As you know, I’ve served as head of West Coast operations here at Tabs the Cat Industries, LLC, for five years now, and while I currently love what I do, I feel it soon may be time for a change. Your recruiter couldn’t have picked a better time to contact me.

I’m so flattered that you and your team believe that I should be the person to take the new International Pet Modeling/Gravy Division at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce to the next level.

I had my lawyer skim through the contract you sent over, and I have a couple of quick questions.

First of all, how flexible are you on the requirement that all employees drink during the day? I understand if it’s part of the corporate culture, but I’m something of a teetotaler and have a difficult time functioning even after a small glass of wine. If possible, I’d like to remove that clause.

Also, I must insist on having my own office and assistant. I was informed that Ms. Olson’s desk is located near the employee break room. I do not know how Peggy feels about that, but such an arrangement would not work for me.

If I do accept the position, I would also like to be able to invite friends of mine to the office from time to time, like Cherry and Evening Rose. Both are part of the new Estee Lauder Mad Men collection. Not only are they very familiar with your work, but I would go so far as to call them admirers of yours…

estee lauder mad men collection boxes

estee lauder collection cherry lipstick creme rouge pouches

estee lauder mad men collection creme rouge in evening rose and lipstick in cherry
Lipstick in Cherry on the left and Creme Rouge in Evening Rose on the right

estee lauder mad men collection creme rouge in evening rose
Creme Rouge in Evening Rose
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L’Oreal Infallible 8 HR Le Glosses Make One Heck of a Claim

February 26th, 2012 by Karen 13 Comments

L’Oreal Infallible 8 HR Le Gloss in Glistening Berry

Now, when a gloss makes a Herculean claim and says that it lasts eight hours, that’s gonna attract some attention, and the first question many people are probably going to have is, “Does it actually last eight hours?”

Let’s find out. 🙂 The new L’Oreal Infallible 8 HR Le Glosses (about $10 each) are so confident in their stamina that they advertise it right on the tube.

Overlooking the possibility for a moment, however remote, that L’Oreal had something other than wear time in mind when they emblazoned these tubes (like eight home runs, eight happy remoras, or eight hungry rabbits), I tried two of the 20 shades available now at drugstores.

The first thing I noticed about Glistening Berry and Pink Topaz was how the texture changed on my lips over time. Both glosses started out feeling thin and smooth but thickened within the first few minutes into a thick, sticky film.

I took that as a positive sign, since sticky glosses tend to last longer for me than glosses with thin textures and consistencies.

And texture wasn’t the only change I noticed. These glosses also start out with a lot of pigment and high shine, but they settle down to a soft, sheer sheen over the first 15 minutes. Long term, I think it makes them more wearable and less intimidating, which I like.

As for the way I think they taste and smell, it’s a little strange… Like minty grape juice — or a magic, wear-time enhancing potion, perhaps? — but it dissipates after about 10 minutes.

Then there’s the million-dollar question: how long do these actually last on lips?

Glistening Berry on the left and Pink Topaz on the right
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It’s a Sheer Thing With the Jouer SPF 15 Lip Sheers

February 25th, 2012 by Karen 14 Comments

jouer lip sheer (3)
Wearing Positano on my lips

Next on the itinerary: Capri, St. Tropez, St. Barths and Positano. But these aren’t our upcoming destinations (I wish!). They’re the four smooth and moisturizing SPF 15 Lip Sheers from Jouer ($22 each).

Sans a scent or flavor, these radiant lipsticks do more for lips than meets the eye. Not only do they impart sheer color and a light touch of shine, they also soften lips and lock in moisture, thanks to vitamin E and aloe vera.

I’m always struggling with dry lips and fighting flakes, so I appreciate the fancy formula.

Would have been even cooler if I didn’t have to reapply it every couple of hours…but things could be worse. After all, it could be drying. 🙂

jouer lip sheer (2)
Capri, St. Tropez, Positano and St. Barths

jouer lip sheer (1)
From the left: St. Tropez, Capri, Positano and St. Barths

jouer lip sheer (4)
Capri
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The Bobbi Brown Brightening Nudes Collection Looks Luminous From Here

February 25th, 2012 by Karen 19 Comments

Bobbi Brown Brightening Nudes Collection

One of these days, some intrepid explorer is going to emerge from a remote rainforest somewhere with 1) directions to the Fountain of Youth (“It’s before the pyramid but past the big banyan tree…”) and 2) an as-yet undiscovered flower, that when eaten, really does give you that lit-from-within glow.

Until then, we’ll have to make due with makeup like the Bobbi Brown Brightening Nudes collection.

Available now at Bobbi Brown counters and also online, this limited edition nine-piece release for eyes, lips and cheeks is designed to bestow a lit-from-within glow to cheeks, while making eyes sparkle and lips look luscious.

Here’s a quick look at the collection along with swatches. Reviews coming soon! 🙂

Bobbi Brown Brightening Nudes Collection

Bobbi Brown Brightening Lip Gloss Pink Lilac Pink Opal Lilac Pearl
From the left: Brightening Lip Gloss in Pink Lilac, Pink Opal and Lilac Pearl ($23 each)

Bobbi Brown Brightening Finishing Powder
Brightening Finishing Powder ($50)
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Hone Your Tough Girl Edge With Dolce & Gabbana’s Intense Khol Eye Crayons

February 24th, 2012 by Karen 13 Comments

dolce & gabbana khol collection

The sweet pastel colors currently cavorting across makeup counters had better make room. Dolce & Gabbana’s new $29 Intense Khol Eye Crayons recently roared into town, and they are not messing around.

In a season of soft pinks, peaches and greens, these mostly jewel-toned eyeliners, part of Dolce & Gabbana’s new Khol collection, might as well be wearing motorcycle jackets and riding Harleys way too fast, because for spring, that’s how edgy and rebellious they look.

Add one of these rich, intensely pigmented pencils into your spring makeup mix and BAM! — you’re born to be wild. 🙂

All five fierce shades are swimming in pigment — a nice offset for the hefty price — with some of the strongest colors I’ve ever seen from the brand.

And the texture? Oh, the texture… Smoother than a tub of organic cream cheese.

Mmm… bagels and cream cheese.

I’m sorry, where was I? Oh, yeah! — the texture. Absolutely no tugging whatsoever.

Yesterday, I felt like trying something a little different, so I wore all five shades in a single look. I slipped the liners along my lash and water lines in the morning, and 10 hours later, they were still going strong, with nary a smudge and very little fading.

dolce & gabbana khol collection

dolce gabbana khol collection liner swatches
Intense Khol Eye Crayon swatches from the left to the right: Peacock, True Black, True White, Chocolate and Dahlia
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