Makeup

For Minimal Coverage in This Universe and Others: Hourglass Hidden Corrective Concealer

January 31st, 2012 by Karen 20 Comments

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I like to think that right now in an alternate universe “Alternate Universe Karen” is sitting and typing at her desk with a cup of Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies next to her keyboard.

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And, also on that parallel plane, Alternate Universe Karen is having a kick-@ss hair day, and she does NOT have a chocolate stain on the left thigh of her stretchy pants. While we’re at it, let’s dial down the intensity of her dark circles a few notches, ya know? Just because we can. 🙂

Here in this universe, however, earlier today, I did have a cup of Annie’s bunnies next to my keyboard. In fact, I planned to eat them after finishing this post, but then a cat (let’s call him Tabs) covertly consumed most of them before I could intervene.

Here in this universe today, my hair is also frizzy, and I do have a chocolate stain on my stretchy pants. Thankfully, it’s from See’s, and not some nasty, two-bit, bottom-of-the-barrel chocolate, because if I’m gonna be walking around the house with chocolate on my pants, at the very least it should be good.

Oh, and per usual, my dark under-eye circles are the deep hue of a ripe eggplant.

Alternate Universe Karen has had it much better today…

She eats her cup of Cheddar Bunnies and whips her Victoria’s Secret hair while her well-behaved cat marvels at her pristine, chocolate-free pants.

And since her dark circles only require minimal coverage, she uses Hourglass Hidden Corrective Concealer ($32) and sees spectacular results.

Previously only available in three shades, Hourglass recently added three more for spring (in Fair, Natural and Tan).

Alternate Universe Karen wears the one called Sand.

Swatch of Sand
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LORAC TANtalizer Should Tantalize Paler Pretties and Sweeties With Medium Skin Tones

January 31st, 2012 by Karen 18 Comments

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If you and your brushes like having lots of room to play in, it’s time to get tantalized. 🙂 This over-sized TANtalizer pan from LORAC ($32) is downright HUGE!

It combines a bronzer and highlighter in one gargantuan compact, which I went a little overboard with the first time I used, swiping my brush back and forth, back and forth, whee!

I assumed I was picking up too much product, based on how pigmented the shimmery champagne pink highlighter and warm matte brown bronzer look in the pan, but when I swept the highlighter along my upper cheekbones and along my jawline, what I saw was a nice surprise.

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Unexpected Encounters and the LORAC Unzipped Palette

January 30th, 2012 by Karen 42 Comments

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It must’ve been my second or third year in college. I was studying at the library one afternoon and went to take a bathroom break.

When I walked into the ladies’ room, I saw a girl crying at the sink. And these weren’t dainty little sniffles, either. They were primal, hit-you-in-the-gut kind of sobs that happen when your future has taken an unexpectedly sh*tty detour.

She looked at me, and I remembered that I had some tissue in my purse, so I took them out and offered them to her.

And then we hugged.

She clutched me tightly and cried in my arms for 10 minutes, barely saying a word. I just held onto her, and over and over again told her that she was going to be okay.

When she finished crying, I wet some paper towels with cold water to make an improv compress for her eyes, which was something my mom used to do when I was little.

As she began to regain her composure, we hugged again, and even though I didn’t know her name or what had happened, I tried to comfort her, to reassure her that she was strong enough, and she was going to get through it. And then I left to give her some privacy.

I never saw her after that, and to this day I wonder what happened to her, and if things turned out alright.

That was many years ago, but something about the LORAC Unzipped palette ($40) brought the memory back.

Some people will probably see this palette of 10 powder shadows and think of Urban Decay Naked, Naked 2 and the many spinoffs they inspired.

I can certainly see why, but — maybe it’s because of shade names like Unconditional, Uncensored and Unspoken — this palette also reminds me of that day, and days like it, when strangers unexpectedly walk in to find us emotionally stripped, unzipped and raw.

If I should ever find myself sobbing at the sink in a public restroom, I wonder if anyone out there would offer me a shoulder to cry on and maybe a few comforting words.

I hope so…

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Swatches from the left: Undercover, Unbelievable, Unattainable, Unconditional and Unbridled
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Have No Hot Pink Fear, Laura Mercier’s Gel Lip Colour in Dollface Is Here

January 30th, 2012 by Karen 32 Comments

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The scenario: weekend brunch with the girls. After a short stack of banana pancakes, three cups of coffee and two solid hours spent laughing, chatting and catching up, it’s time for a quick touch-up before heading out. If you happen to pull hot pink Laura Mercier Gel Lip Colour in Dollface ($22) from your purse, what happens next could sound a lot like this…

BFF: “Ooh!”

You: “I know, right? It’s Laura Mercier’s Dollface lipstick.”

BFF: “LOVE the color, but I dunno… Do you think I could ever wear something that bright?”

You: “Oh, yes! For sure! It’s way more bark than bite. It looks super bright in the tube and goes on like a really sheer, shiny hot pink, but when it mellows out it looks like a lip stain.

“I like it… I don’t like having to reapply it every hour or so — that’s kind of a pain — but it’s very hydrating, and my lips are dry, so it’s great for that. Oh, and it tastes and smells a little like vanilla, which I like.

“Here, wanna try? I promise I don’t have cooties. 🙂 Wipe the tip on that napkin over there… And use my mirror.”

Next thing you know, grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s after brunch gets put on the back burner, and you and your girls are making a beeline for the nearest Laura counter so they can pick up Dollface, too.

Yes, I speak from experience.

Beyond its uncanny ability to inspire sudden changes in plans, Dollface also possesses the power to seduce wearers into thinking that it, and the rest of Laura’s Gel Lip Colours, are among the slickest, lightest weight, most comfortable lipsticks you and your lips have ever kissed.

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Dollface doesn’t just feel smooth. It feels smoove…like that time you “accidentally” ate that bowl of buttercream frosting you were supposed to use for the cake you baked and then, as you licked the smooth, rich frosting from your lips, realized that — holy wow! — there was a ton of butter in that.

Again, I speak from experience. 🙂

And maybe I’ve watched way too much Masterpiece Theater lately, but I think there’s also something very Downton Abbey about Dollface, especially after about 20 minutes, when it settles down and the shine gives way to a soft, pink stain with a careless whisper — wait, did I just say “careless whisper?” — of sheen. I can totally see the Crawley girls wearing it whilst sipping tea, or perhaps while touring the gardens on a hazy spring day.

Seriously, does the sun ever come out on that show?

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Tarte Maracuja Blush & Glow Could Use a Dash More Blush and a Tad Less Glow

January 29th, 2012 by Karen 19 Comments

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Wearing Tarte Maracuja Blush & Glow in Sunlight on my cheeks

Aha! I knew I’d seen this unusual suspect before…

Tarte’s new Maracuja Blush & Glow line of tint and highlighter duos has been giving me major dÃ©jÃ vu. They look and feel awfully similar to a couple of my tried-and-true loves from NARS, namely the Multiples ($39) and Illuminators ($29).

Available now at Sephora stores and online for $32, each Blush & Glow comes with a Tarte Tint at the tip and a Luminizer in the tube.

MaracujÃ¡ oil comes from passion fruit seeds, and Tarte added it to the Maracuja Blush & Glows. They say it delivers a high dose of essential fatty acids and vitamin C to the skin when applied.

As similar as I think these are to the Multiples and Illuminators, I wouldn’t call them dupes. Their counterparts over at NARS do seem to pack a little more pigment and feel a tad smoother to me, but after giving all three Blush & Glow shades a try, I will say this: they’ve got game.

The Tint tip performs like a cream blush on bare skin or atop foundation, while the illuminating Luminizer, aka a liquid highlighter, bestows a shimmery glow to the tops of cheekbones, along brow bones or when added to foundation.

Shimmery champagne Candlelight appears to be the neutral babe in the bunch; cool-toned shimmery pink Moonlight should work well for gals who like the way they look in cool-toned pinks; and Sunlight, a warm shimmery peach, is just begging to play with warmer skin tones and tans.

I gave each of them a try on bare skin and then atop foundation, and I thought they did much better with foundation. On bare skin, the colors skipped town after about an hour, but they held their grown for 5 hours on top of foundation.

Part of me loves natural-looking cheeks, and that’s the part that adores the subtle glow I get from these duos. I also like how I can apply and blend them with my fingers. It’s just nice not having to use a brush, and it saves time for more important things, like emergency trips to See’s Candy, Target, Trader Joe’s and Petco (Tabs has been all about dried catnip lately) — or other times when I need to look presentable in a rush.

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Tarte Maracuja Blush & Glow from the left: Sunlight, Candlelight and Moonlight

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From the left: Sunlight, Candlelight and Moonlight
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When You Look at The Bright Side, Tarte’s New Double-Ended Eye Brightener Has Some Pretty Good Ingredients

January 28th, 2012 by Karen 11 Comments

Tarte had a bright idea when they thought they’d combine two powder shadows on the same brightener, but is the total package worth the time it takes to use? I hope so! — because I can always use the help when it comes my dark circles.

When I heard about Tarte’s new twin-tipped eye brightener, I thought, heck, let’s look at The Bright Side ($20). 🙂

The Bright Side has a powder shadow on each end — a shimmery champagne called Day on one and a shimmery pink called Night on the other.

To open up and brighten the eyes, Tarte recommends applying Day at the outer corners and under the brow. Then, to really make the eyes pop, they suggest applying Night at the inner corners.

My expectations may have been set a little too high when I gave The Bright Side a try. I mean, the name — The Bright Side? That’s a setup right there. 🙂 I had high hopes, but the product’s not as easy as I hoped it would be to use.

Day / Night: Ingredients

Shimmering Pink: Mica, C12-15 Alkyl Ethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Triethylhexanoin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Myristyl Lactate, Ceresin, Silica, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Methicone, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Carbonate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Hexylene Glycol, Propolis Extract, Kaolin, Carmine (CI 75470), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491).

Shimmering Champagne: Mica, C-12-15 Alkyl Ethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Triethylhexanoin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Myristyl Lactate, Ceresin, Silica, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Methicone, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Carbonate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Hexylene Glycol, Propolis Extract, Kaolin, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).

The sponge tip applicators at both ends apply each shadow unevenly, so I have to spend a few extra minutes patting and blending them in, which wouldn’t be a bother if I didn’t also have to apply about four layers to see the colors on my NC 42 skin (lighter lovelies should be able to get away with one or two).

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Is Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation a Miracle for Oily Skin?

January 28th, 2012 by Karen 62 Comments

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It’s a miracle! Luxury line Hourglass Cosmetics claims to have photographic evidence of a “miracle makeup for oily skin,” and it’s called Immaculate Powder Foundation.

What is it?

The new liquid-to-powder face product ($55 for a 1-ounce bottle) for guys and gals with oily, combination and acne-prone skin promises to polish skin tone with a lightweight formula and a natural-looking, long-lasting matte finish designed to last all day, and it’s not supposed to need a setting powder applied on top.

Since my skin is oily on my forehead, dry on my cheeks and prone to pimples around my chin, I say “Sign me up!” Let’s put this potential prizefighter to the test. 🙂

First things first, Immaculate’s bonafides look great on paper. The oil-free, water-resistant formula contains interesting botanicals like Phytostem Edelweiss, a Himalayan plant said to help heal cell damage, and Lavandox, an extract of Spanish lavender, which Hourglass claims helps to reduce the appearance of wrinkles by inhibiting muscle contractions. And it doesn’t contain parabens, phthalates, synthetic dyes, GMOs, synthetic fragrances or nanoparticles.

According to Hourglass, Immaculate doesn’t stop at evening out skin tone. It’s also designed to soften the look of fine lines, pores and imperfections, all while showing some love to skin.

LOL! I was mostly interested in this because I liked the idea of being able to skip powder. Anything to save a little time, ya know?

Limited selection of shades

Of the eight available shades (and more on that in a few)…

Porcelain
Shell
Ivory
Nude
Light Beige
Sand
Beige
Warm Beige

…Beige comes closest to my skin tone (I’m an NC 42 in MAC), but it’s not an exact match, as it does have a lot of, um, beige in it.

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It can look a little ashy on me if I wear too much, but as long as I only apply a couple of thin layers, it’s close enough. A lemony beige with an extra dose of yellow in it would probably have been a closer match.

Finding a perfect match among Immaculate’s eight shades could be a challenge, especially if you have a deep tan or a darker skin tone. It seems like many of these shades cater to ladies with lighter and medium skin, and if you’re darker than I am, Warm Beige is the only shade here that might be a match.

And it’s a shame, too, because the formula, which applies as a liquid but dries to a powder, took Hourglass a year to perfect. It’s just so neat! As you work the liquid into your skin, it dries to a very fine powder.

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The coverage

For coverage like the kind I’d wear with casual jeans and a t-shirt — just to even out my skin tone and disguise any little pimples on my chin — I use half a pump applied with my fingers or something like the Hourglass No. 2 Foundation Brush ($58).

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But for dressier events, say, for skin to go with a cocktail dress and heels, I’ll use a second half a pump on my cheeks and chin for nearly opaque coverage.

Either way, I think Immaculate looks great. My initial reaction the first time I saw myself in the mirror with it on was “Wow!”

Matte foundations don’t always look like this. Some look heavy, like a mask, but Immaculate still looks very natural natural to me. Dare I say it? 🙂 Almost like I’m not wearing anything at all, LOL!

I think the difference is the finish. It just has a lot of life in it, a slight sheen that keeps it from looking dull and flat.
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LORAC’s New Lipgloss Combines the Benefits of a Lipstick and Gloss: LORAC Lips With Benefits

January 27th, 2012 by Karen 28 Comments

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Wearing LORAC Lips With Benefits in Josh

How’s about a creamy hybrid lipstick/gloss with the texture of a $27 Dior CrÃ¨me de Gloss and a price like a MAC Cremesheen Glass ($18.50)?

And then, what if we take 50 cents off the price and make it an even $18?

Tada! Say hello to LORAC’s new Lips With Benefits, a line of shiny, non-sticky lipglosses that feel like heaven on my lips. They combine the medium-coverage lipstick look of a Dior CrÃ¨me De Gloss with the feel of a non-stick gloss, all wrapped up in zebra stripes (so cute!).

LORAC even infused them with antioxidants, namely aÃ§aÃ berry, pomegranate extract, and vitamins C and E, and added a strong brown sugar scent that I like. Officially, it’s described as a sweet crÃ¨me brÃ»lÃ©e. Not too sweet or artificial, the scent lingers on my lips for a good 20 minutes.

So far I’ve played with two of the colors from the line, fresh pink Josh and rosy brown Chuck, and this is kinda weird: earlier tonight I saw that Sephora.com only lists four colors total — Josh, Nick (a light pink shimmer), Alex (a berry) and Mark (a neutral peach). Chuck is not one of them.

Hmm… I’m not sure why, but I’m hoping that Chuck makes an appearance soon because I think he’s a fabulous “your lips but better” shade.

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LORAC Lips With Benefits in Chuck (top) and Josh (bottom)