Makeup

Take a Bite Out of the Tarte for True Blood Collection

June 22nd, 2011 by Karen 39 Comments

That’s right, fangbangers. Tarte is getting ready to release a True Blood-themed collection, and it’s timed perfectly for the start of the new season this Sunday (can’t wait!).

Insert various vampire jokes here…

“I’m dying to try it!”

“Can’t wait to sink my teeth into it!”

“I hope it doesn’t suck!”

“I’d give blood to get my mitts on that cheek stain!”

Haha!

The three-piece limited edition release includes an Eye Palette with 17 powder shadows, a gel liner, mascara and primer ($52), as well as a Cheek Stain ($30) and a Natural Lip Tint ($24).

Now the big question: is the eyeliner Lafayette approved? Because homeboy’s tightlining is BEYOND fierce.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Stay With Me, Essence Longlasting Lipgloss

June 21st, 2011 by Karen 60 Comments

essence stay with me longlasting lipgloss

Today, the first official day of summer, has been the hottest day of the year so far, yet shortly after it topped 92 Â°F this afternoon (33 Â°C) I exclaimed, “cool!”

Thanks to the shine-preventing power of powder (in this case MAC Blot), you may not be able to tell from these pics that my air conditioner is busted. I considered retreating with my water noodle to a pool, but then I would have had to wait before telling you about these bargain basement glosses from Essence.

Dang, right? Today has been all about the glosses. 🙂

The Essence line, an import from Germany, is still new to U.S. shores. Price-wise, it fits nicely next to other drugstore lines like NYC New York Color and Wet n Wild, and can be found at Ulta stores and also online.

essence stay with me longlasting lipgloss
From the left: Me & My Ice Cream, I Like Cotton Candy, Candy Bar, Trendsetter, Kiss Kiss Kiss and Berry Me

Although I felt just so-so about Essence’s $2 eyeshadows, their Stay With Me Longlasting Lipglosses ($2.29) are in a whole different league. If I hadn’t known better, I would have pegged these as $18 glosses from a high-end brand.

Why do I like Essence Longlasting Lipgloss?

Pigment like whoa! — These are some of the boldest, richest drugstore lipglosses I’ve seen in a really long time, and kudos for their creamy finish. For sheerer coverage, all it takes is a few dots dabbed on the lips.
That feels good — I feel like cheering, “These feel good, oh, they feel so good, UH!” 🙂 Non-sticky and smooth, they’re like slightly thicker MAC Cremesheen Glasses, and moisturizing as all heck.
You’re sweet — I’m not often a fan of candy-flavored lip products, but these, I like. They taste and smell faintly of red gummy bears (fades after about 10 minutes), which takes me back to the fights I used to have over those with my brother back in the day.

I like all six of the colors, but I purplish pink I Like Cotton Candy (a dead ringer for Benefit’s discontinued Kiss Me Gloss) and Candy Bar, a pinkish coral that looks great with summery golds and teals.

essence stay with me longlasting lipgloss wands

essence stay with me longlasting lipgloss swatches
Swatches from the left: Me & My Ice Cream, I Like Cotton Candy, Candy Bar, Trendsetter, Kiss Kiss Kiss and Berry Me
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Jouer Serves Up Cool Pink Lips and Sheer Bronzed Skin for Summer 2011

June 20th, 2011 by Karen 61 Comments

I’ve heard about days like today — sunny days in San Francisco — but always thought they were myths or legends. 🙂 Just kidding, of course. San Francisco does get sunny days, despite the many postcard pics of the Golden Gate Bridge shrouded in fog, and today was one of them. It was so sunny and hot, in fact, that I probably could have fried a petrified dragon egg on the sidewalk (yes, I’m obsessed with Game of Thrones).

Not a cloud in the sky!

Not expecting it to be as warm as it was today, I did a full face of makeup for my meeting in the city, with foundation, concealer, powder, blush, eyeshadow, mascara, eye primer — the whole nine yards. Then, after the meeting, I started sweating on the short walk back to the car. The tiny trickle o’ perspiration that tickled its way down the side of my face got me thinking about simple summer makeup, and I couldn’t wait to get home so I could slip into some Jouer.

The high-end indie brand recently launched two new pieces for sweltering summer days, a Moisturizing Lip Gloss in Peony ($20) and an Oil-Free Sheer Bronzing Tint with SPF 15 ($32), both of them designed to be worn together for a simple yet polished summertime look.

When it’s really hot out, the last thing I want to feel is makeup melting on my skin. With these two lightweight products, that’s not a problem at all.

Moisturizing Lip Gloss in Peony ($20) — Jouer modeled the color of this cool and creamy pink gloss after their Mineral Powder Blush in Peony, a cult fave from the line. Smooth and non-sticky with a faint vanilla flavor and scent, it feels lighter than butterfly kisses and lasts about three hours on me. When it’s not out having fun, this cool-toned pink hangs out at Henri Bendel stores, but it can also be found online. MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A

Oil-Free Sheer Bronzing Tint, SPF 15 ($32) — I like the subtle warmth this sheer golden brown tint gives to my skin. The product is easy to layer, but it never looks cakey or streaky, and my pores still feel like they can breath when I have it on. As much as I like it, however, I would love to see it made available in more colors for pale pretties and darker damsels. Like the Lip Gloss in Peony, it isn’t the easiest product to find; it lives at Henri Bendel stores, but it can also be found online. MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+

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NARS Unsung Heroes: Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base

June 20th, 2011 by Karen 37 Comments

When I finished my first tube of lightweight, colorless NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base ($24), the thought of not being able to reach for what I’d come to consider the best eye makeup primer currently on the market almost triggered a minor panic attack.

We’d been inseparable since we met last November, thanks to the Troublemaker Gift Set, and I was impressed from the start. Pro-Prime intensifies the color of products applied on top of it and extends wear time, too. It grips cream and powder shadows, eyeliners and brow pencils tighter than teeth on a night guard.

When I start with Pro-Prime in the morning, my eye makeup still looks fresh and crease-free at dinner, even on hot, muggy days.

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Givenchy Acid Summer Swatches and Sunday Food Coma

June 19th, 2011 by Karen 33 Comments

givenchy acid summer swatches

Among the many stipulations in Tabs’ employment contract is a rule in Section 47 that states, “There must always be at least one unopened (i.e. spare) 5-pound bag of Science Diet Optimal Care on the premises.”

So today, to ensure my continued compliance with the agreement, I zipped over to my nearby Petco…which also happens to be right next door to a Sephora.

I only popped in for minute to “look around” (please don’t tell Tabs because I was still on the clock).

It’s not easy to swatch while holding a hefty bag of cat food, but it can be done. 🙂 Today the bright, sparkly tubes and pans of the new Givenchy Acid Summer collection caught my eye.

Givenchy equipped the release with 12 lipglosses, two lip stains, a lip/cheek balm and a palette with nine eyeshadows. Since Tabs is a stickler when it comes to punctuality (but not as it pertains to him), I didn’t have time to try anything on, but from what I felt, saw and swatched in the store, most of the lipglosses looked sheer, and the brights in the eyeshadow palette were a lot tamer than I expected them to be.

givenchy acid summer swatches
Gelee D’Interdit ($26.50) from the left: 1. Tempting Rouge; 2. Celestial Black; 3. Transparent Shine; 4. Vibrant Fuchsia; 5. Explosive Raspberry; and 6. Frozen Rose; 7. Magic Lip & Cheek Balm Moisturizing Rosy Glow ($30)

givenchy acid summer swatches 2
Gelee D’Interdit ($26.50) from the left: 8. Blooming Pink; 9. Electric Purple; 10. Neon Orange; 11. Icy Peach; 12. Sparkling Petal; and 13. Elegant Nude; 14. Printed Lips ($24.50) in Pink Impression; and 15. Rose Impression
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NARS Unsung Heroes: Amour Blush

June 18th, 2011 by Karen 41 Comments

NARS Amour blush

You know what they say: you never forget your first NARS blush (well, I’m sure someone says that).

I remember mine like it was yesterday… I’d just gotten my first paid freelance writing gig, an interview for a small magazine that paid a whopping $25. Man, I was all kinds of nervous, but I got through it without making a terrible fool out of myself, and at the end I felt such relief that I decided to treat myself with makeup.

I made a beeline for Sephora, setting my mind on finding something pretty to wear with NARS Dolce Vita Lipstick, which I was wearing at the time.

I asked a friendly sales associate at the store for ideas, and his eyes lit up immediately. He knew just the thing and pulled out a pan of matte peachy pink NARS Amour Blush ($27).

He beckoned me to come closer. I did, and he swept a layer of Amour on my cheeks, and then gestured toward a mirror. “Pretty!” I exclaimed when I saw the combo with Dolce Vita. It was amour at first sight. 🙂

Ever since then I’ve thought of Amour blush as my interview blush/power tie. It’s one of the products I reach for when I want a polished, confident cheek flush that doesn’t overpower my eye or lip makeup.

If the $27 price tag ties your stomach in knots (a perfectly understandable reaction), keep this in mind: it packs off-the-chart pigment, which means you probably won’t have to use a lot. I’ve had mine for years, and despite using it about once a week, I still haven’t made much of a dent in the pan.

Amour is sometimes referred to as a matte NARS Orgasm, but I find it noticeably redder that that, with less peach. The color seems to vary widely on different skin tones, sometimes appearing more coral, other times more pink or red. One thing it almost always does, however, is look natural, and I think it looks particularly great on gals with golden undertones on skin that pulls to the warmer side of the spectrum.

NARS Amour blush

NARS Amour blush
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Life Is Sweet with NARS Lipstick in Dolce Vita

June 18th, 2011 by Karen 45 Comments

Written by Jenny

Pack your bags, signorina! We’re going on a Roman holiday with a lipstick as sweet as gelato. Blogger Jenny shares why she loves this classic lippie in today’s guest post.

NARS Dolce Vita Lipstick

I’ve been a NARS devotee for a long time and have always loved their lipsticks, so I’m not entirely sure why it took me so long to discover one of their cult favorite lip products for myself. I’m glad I finally did though, because Dolce Vita is a beauty!

It’s one of those little black dresses of the lipstick world — incredibly versatile — and imminently capable of making you look polished and chic.

Colour and texture

Dolce Vita is a sheer, my-lips-but-better dusty rose that flatters a wide range of skin tones, in my opinion, although on pigmented lips it can appear a tad too sheer to show up well.

NARS Dolce Vita Lipstick Lips Closeup

As a moisturising, balmy lipstick, it’s one of my favourites when my lips are feeling dry. Wear time is fairly modest at around 2 hours on me, which is about average for a sheer lipstick.

I think it looks great with…

MAC Subculture lip liner (a medium nude), MAC Dervish (a medium rose nude) lip liner, both available at maccosmetics.com, look amazing with Dolce Vita.

NARS Dolce Vita Lipstick Swatch
Dolce Vita on the left; Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Boy on the right
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Two-Buck Chic: Have You Tried $2 Essence Eyeshadows Before?

June 16th, 2011 by Karen 57 Comments

And here I thought the most fun I could have for $2 would come from a bottle of Two-Buck Chuck. 🙂

Oh, but that was before I met these Essence Eyeshadows. They come in 18 colors across three different finishes (matte, shimmer and holographic), and each will set you back a mere $2.

The different finishes have varying levels of pigmentation, with the shimmer and holographic shades generally depositing more color than the mattes.

Here’s a quick look at six of them. Right now I’m on the fence about these, but I’m really interested to hear what you think.

Back to Khaki

Mystic Purple
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