Makeup

Essence Multi-Colour Blush Is Wearing Stripes To the Party But Can’t Stay for Long

July 6th, 2011 by Karen 45 Comments

If something has stripes, I’m usually totally into it…

But when it comes to these $2.49 Essence Multi-Colour Blushes, well, let’s just say that their cute stripes and great price are just about the best things they have going for ’em.

I give the two available shades, pale pink Fashionista and pale peach How Cute Is That, major points for looking cute on a budget, but their knees buckle beside the performance of rock stars from the Essence line, like the fantastic Gel Eyeliners.

Fashionista (left) and How Cute Is That (right)

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For the Price, These $3.49 Essence Gel Eyeliners Have MAC Fluidline Whipped

July 5th, 2011 by Karen 86 Comments

essence gel eyeliner

Essence continues to rock me like a hurricane (and take the drugstore makeup world by storm). What fab, little steals these pigmented, long-wearing Gel Eyeliners are! They come in three shades — matte black Midnight in Paris, shimmery taupe London Baby and shimmery purple Berlin Rocks — and cost a mere $3.49 each.

The fluffy texture of this shoestring wedding of whipped mousse and $15 MAC Fluidline doesn’t hold these back at all. In fact, with the Sonia Kashuk bent brush, I find them surprisingly easy to apply, and since they’re also quick drying — like, in less than a minute — I finish lining with them in less time than it takes to say, “Ben McKenzie is hot!”

Well, ya know. 🙂

And even without the help of my trusty NARS Pro Prime Smudge Eyeshadow Base, they stay put all day long without creasing or fading.

essence gel eyeliner

essence gel eyeliner
Midnight in Paris on the left; London Baby on the right
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I Really Want to Care for These $1.99 Essence Caring Lip Balms (Really, I Do)

July 2nd, 2011 by Karen 17 Comments

I really wanted to be Loving, Laughing, Hoping and Dreaming about the four $1.99 Essence Caring Lip Balms, because they have so much promise to be cool.

Four of them for less than $8? Incredible! Just look at them in their adorable duds.

Each of them has a different color and scent, and the two I tried — Loving, a clear vanilla-scented balm with subtle glitter; and Dreaming, a sheer peach that smells faintly of fruit punch — feel soft, non-sticky and smooth.

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Tarte for True Blood Natural Cheek Stain: Y’all Red-y for This?

July 1st, 2011 by Karen 45 Comments

tarte for true blood

Remember the True Blood episode last season when Pam busted out the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil? I turned to El Hub on the couch and was like, “ZOMG! Did you see Pam with her NARS!? AAAHHHH!”

He just stared at me like I’d lost my mind…

Don’t you just love it when you recognize makeup on your favorite TV shows? I wonder if the new Tarte for True Blood Natural Cheek Stain ($30) will make an appearance on TV this year.

It’s an intensely pigmented red gel blush, recently launched with two other pieces in the new limited edition Tarte for True Blood collection, and it’s loaded with golden glitter.

I can see it now, gracing some of True Blood’s malevolent and benevolent characters like…

Lafayette, clad in a see-through mesh top and camo capri pants. He’s getting ready in the bathroom at Merlotte’s for a rollicking night with the wiccans. He applies a single layer directly onto the apples of his cheeks, then blends out the edges with his fingers. The sheer red stain hides on his dark skin, just barely showing through, but the gobs of golden glitter sparkle like vampire fangs in the moonlight.

Or pale, beautiful Jessica, with her everlasting red hair. She’s sprucing up before a dinner date with Hoyt, her human beau (and her favorite meal). On her porcelain skin, the stain looks much more intense than it does on Lafayette, but Jessica isn’t afraid to make a statement with her looks. As a matter of fact, she loves the attention.

Whether the stain was designed with supernatural beings in mind, mere mortals can rock ’em, too. A single layer gives me a deep red flush and enough golden glitter to last a few lifetimes.

Did I mention that it’s sparkly? Very, very sparkly? I loves me some glitter, but dayum — borderline obnoxious, y’all.

tarte for true blood

tarte for true blood
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Tame House Tabby or Jungle Cat? The Dolce & Gabbana Animalier Bronzer

June 30th, 2011 by Karen 32 Comments

Card carrying members of Team Cat Lady, whether you’re a a tame house tabby or a certified jungle cat, chances are you WILL meow when you see the leopard print on Dolce & Gabbana’s limited edition Animalier Bronzer ($50).

Isn’t it just the coolest thing since leopard-print heels? Too bad the pattern’s an overspray and not actually etched into the pan — or maybe that’s for the best. The first few times it’s used, as the colors in the overspray are mixed together, the product applies super dark (like a chocolate golden sheen), and it would probably make a fantastic eyeshadow totally perfect for sexy, smokey eyes.

But once the overspray gets worn away, out comes a sheer, orangey brown bronzer with tiny flecks of golden glitter. Mrow! It’s sheer, though. Too sheer for me as an NC42; on me it delivers a subtle warmth, yet while I sheer do like the glitter and how smooth it feels, there’s something a little off about how the color works with my skin, like some of the darker tones from the overspray are still milling about…

“Muddy” is the word that comes to mind, and I was actually hoping for sun-lit.

Bronzer (left) and overspray (right)

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Why, Yes, I’m Having a Summer Romance with the Illusions D’Ombres De Chanel Collection for Fall 2011

June 30th, 2011 by Karen 31 Comments

Fall makeup always makes me think of doing fall-ish things, like sipping hot cider (or maybe a little eggnog) by the fireplace or the wood-burning stove, carving pumpkins (which I’ve only done once or twice), or skipping down suburban sidewalks past huge piles of orange and yellow leaves, and kicking ’em up (SWOOSH!) every once in a while with the tips of my thigh-high suede boots. 🙂

Since summer’s only just begun, however, I’ll have to wait a while before the eggnog shows up at Trader Joe’s, but I won’t have to wait to wear fall makeup, not with so many lines launching their limited edition fall stuff early. Seriously, next year we’ll be celebrating Christmas in July!

To blur the lines between the seasons, and to ease our transition from summer makeup to fall, a couple of the lines have been sprinkling fall pieces into their collections that also look great right now, like Chanel did with the new Illusions D’Ombres De Chanel.

The launch is ripe with fall-ish smokey shades and dark metallics (NOM!), but there’s also a handful of products I could easily see myself wearing with a slip dress and sandals, like, now.

Take these here, for example…

Illusion D’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Fantasme

Illusion D’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Fantasme ($36) I love how that silver glitter shimmers in direct sun, and could it be any easier to apply? One or two layers on my lids with a fingertip — that’s all there is to it. I swear it even makes me look less tired because of how it lightens up the dark area at the inner corners of my eyes. There’s been some chatter out there about fallout from the glitter, and I see some of it, too, right beneath my eyes and sometimes on my upper cheekbones. That’s probably the biggest mark against Fantasme, but I think it all depends on how you feel about glitter and where it does and doesn’t belong. This may sound strange, but I actually like the way this glitter gets around (to a point). It just seems to fall in all the right places — almost like I’ve also applied a shimmery highlighter.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+

Le Crayon Yeux Precision Eye Definer in Khaki Platine

Le Crayon Yeux Precision Eye Definer in Khaki Platine ($29) Remember Rose Platine, that killer taupey beige liner from Chanel Spring 2011? Khaki is like her golden green, taupey sister. Wait — hear me out! 🙂 I know it sounds unusual, but like Rose, this creamy pencil liner gives eyes a subtle glow. A dash along my upper and lower lash lines, a quick curl from a lash curler, maybe a little mascara for good luck, and I swear I look like all glowy and well rested. Paired with summery coral cheeks and lips, it’s perfection. No joke.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A

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It’s No Illusion; This Sparkle Is Real: Illusions D’Ombres De Chanel Collection for Fall

June 29th, 2011 by Karen 65 Comments

Chanel Fall 2011 swatches

Metallics rule the new 21-piece Illusions D’Ombres De Chanel collection for fall flaunting eye-catching, shimmery finishes, but a solitary matte blush threatens to steal the crown!

Ooh! It’s like Game of Thrones up in here. 🙂

Well met, lords and ladies. Heya! How’s your hump day been? Mine got epically better this afternoon when I ran into the new Chanel Fall 2011 collection at Nordies after lunch. The limited edition release for eyes, lips and cheeks is available now at Chanel counters and also online, and if you like your makeup with major bling, feast your eyes upon this…

Swatches on NC42 skin

chanel fall 2011 swatches
From the left: Illusion D’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadows in EmerveillÃ©, Fantasme, Ebloui, Illusoire, Epatant and Mirifique ($36 each); Le Crayon Yeux Precision Eye Definer in Khaki Platine ($29, far right)

chanel fall 2011 swatches
From the left: Joues Contraste Powder Blush in Rose Ecrin ($43, first swatch); Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow in Prelude ($57, second through fifth swatches)

chanel fall 2011 swatches
From the left: Levres Scintillantes Glossimer in Braise and Pampille ($28.50 each); Rouge Double Intensite Ultra Wear Lip Colour in Rose Morganite ($34); Rouge Coco in Plumetis and Etole ($32 each); Le Crayon Levres Precision Lip Definer in Coralline and Rose Cuivre ($29 each); Lip products swatches from fall 2011 not pictured: Glossimer in Giggle ($28.50) and Rouge Double Intensite in Rose Quartz ($34)
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NARS Fall 2011: I’m Anything But Neutral on These Latest Lip Colors from FranÃ§ois Nars

June 29th, 2011 by Karen 61 Comments

We’re taking a page from Vanessa Williams today by saving the best for last. 🙂 The new nine-piece NARS Fall 2011 collection is getting all dolled up backstage, preparing for its big debut (on counters “soon,” which usually means any day now, and online July 15). Lips feature prominently in the release, making up more than half of the collection, with five different pieces in varieties of pink, red, rose and violet.

When I think of fall makeup, visions of dark, opaque matte lips cross my mental runway. There are a couple of those kinds of colors here, but NARS spiced things up by varying the finishes and levels of coverage, which range from the sheer Pago Pago to the full-coverage Train Bleu, Montego Bay and Mascate.

While overall I think the lip colors, like the other pieces in the collection, lean cool, making these colors potential paramours for gals with cooler skin tones, a few of them approach neutral, which also gives ladies with warmer skin tones (like moi) reason to smile.

It’s like there’s a little something for everyone this time around.

nars pago pago
Pago Pago Lipstick

Pago Pago Lipstick ($24) If you’re looking for a neutral pink lip, Pago Pago is a South Pacific kick in the pants! The silver sparkles in this sheer petal pink, which is named after the capital of American Samoa, make it something special to behold. A single layer produces a light wash of shiny color; two deliver about the same coverage as a MAC Lustre. But one layer or two, I think it looks like destiny opposite the bright blue NARS Outremer Eyeshadow Single. MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A+

nars oasis
Oasis Lip Gloss

Oasis Lip Gloss ($24) NARS describes it beautifully as a sparkling pink champagne, and, sure, I’ll take a glass of that. 🙂 On me, I characterize it as a pinkish berry sprinkled with flecks of golden glitter. I think FranÃ§ois totally nailed the pigmentation here, giving Oasis just enough color to make a statement without taking over the entire show. Sure, it comes with that ~~notorious~~ trademark plasticky NARS gloss scent, but it’s super easy to wear, and I bet it looks fabulous on a wide range of skin tones. MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A

nars train bleu
Train Bleu Velvet Matte Lip Pencil

Train Bleu Velvet matte Lip Pencil ($24) Okay, now doesn’t this deep, dark purple remind you of an eggplant? Dramatic and goth, I think it looks amazing in pictures. I never expected to like this pencil as much as I do, and I almost didn’t give it a chance. For a modern look, try it with soft, shimmery eyeshadows like the shades in the NARS Delphes Trio. MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A

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