Makeup

According to Sonia Kashuk, When It Comes to Eyes, What Glitters Glows

December 14th, 2010 by Karen 38 Comments

sonia kashuk what glitters glows eye palette on karen of makeup and beauty blog

OMG! Have you heard about the party at Target?! Well, not at Target. It’s more inside Target, down by the cosmetics aisle, right in front of the Sonia Kashuk display.

Just look for the disco ball…packaging for Sonia’s limited edition What Glitters Glows Eye Palette ($15).

If it looks familiar… If it looks familiar (dÃ©jÃ vu!), you may be recalling last year’s Starry Eyes Palette, which also had big pans of shadow like these and came in similar packaging. Oh, and it had the same price ($15).

Sonia Kashuk What Glitters Glows Eye Palette

For this palette, Sonia swapped out the three cool-toned, smooth and pigmented mattes from Starry Eyes with three dynamic, neutral-toned shadows with a fascinating combination of matte/glitter finish.

I can’t believe the gray, black and brown shadows in the bottom row are available at Target, because they seem like higher end department store material to me. They come in a matte base that’s pigmented, yet still soft and easy to blend, and they’re infused with subtle flecks of sophisticated black-tie glitter (as opposed to 1996 rave glitter), which reminds me: did you ever dance with a glow stick at a rave? Yup, good times…

So I think it you like your glitter on the subtle side, like glitter good for understated holiday party looks, the shadows in the bottom row might appeal to you.

Sonia Kashuk What Glitters Glows Eye Palette
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Level Up, Wizard, with Mascara Magic 101

December 13th, 2010 by Karen 24 Comments

Written by Sam

Freelance makeup artist and blogger Sam shows that anyone can wield a mascara wand like a true makeup magician if they find the right technique.

Mascara Magic 101

It’s 6:30 in the morning. You just barely saved your white blouse from a nice warm coffee demise, and all you’ve left to do is throw on some mascara. Do you…

A. Close your eyes, wiggle the wand randomly in the vicinity of your lashes, and hope for the best?

B. Look straight into the mirror, and take a few seconds slowly sweeping the bristled brush from base to tip, possibly allowing time for a second coat?

C. Stop, take a deep breath, and with your disposable sponge, gently lift your eyelid while you wiggle your brush at the roots, sweeping them quickly outward and upward, turning the brush vertically to add a bit of length at the corner, and wiggling it over the lower lashes?

Hopefully, you picked (C), as you may have guessed that in this case, the most complicated answer is the right one.

Mascara is one of those magic products that can completely transform your look, even if you’re not wearing another stitch of makeup. But, like trying a new hair color, not all transformations work out well. Some methods of application could leave you with spindly lashes, clumpy lashes, flakes of black on your cheeks, little freckles dotted over your meticulous eyeshadow or bare lids… You get the idea.
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Concealer Comparison: MAC Select Moisture Cover and Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer

December 11th, 2010 by Karen 32 Comments

Written by Jessica

It’s a battle of epic proportions! Blogger Jessica pits two powerhouses of the beauty world together in today’s guest post. Dark circles better hide!

I can’t remember a time when I didn’t suffer from dark circles, yet I only recently discovered the wonders of a nice concealer. I’m an avid viewer of Pixiwoo on YouTube and noticed that both Sam and Nic use different products to deal with their under-eye circles. I purchased MAC Select Moisture Cover Concealer after watching one of Nic’s videos, and I instantly fell in love. Then, later, I found Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer, and now I love both of them so much that I decided to do a product comparison.

I began by taking a photo of myself not wearing any makeup. AHHHH! I know. Shameless. Well, I wanted you to be able to see the unevenness of my skin. I have pretty heavy dark circles that are very noticeable if I don’t wear concealer, and I also have large cheeks which cast a shadow on my dark circles, making them appear even worse!

Not wearing any makeup
Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer on the left, MAC Select Moisture Cover on the right

I proceeded to do all of my makeup without using concealer. As you can see, I get quite dark near my tear ducts, and my cheeks, again, cast a nice shadow over my dark circles! 🙁

Makeup without concealer

Then, I put the two products on each of my eyes, Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer on the left and MAC Select Moisture Cover on the right.

Unblended concealer
Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer on the left, MAC Select Moisture Cover on the right

After blending, I took several photos to show the differences. The left side is Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer in Sand, the right is MAC Select Moisture Cover in NW25. As you can see, the Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer covers a little bit better. It’s also a bit thicker in consistency, which I believe is why it conceals my circles so well. MAC Select is more of a liquid. Although the shades look really different before they’ve been blended, both of them actually blend quite well into my skin. I also like how they each reflect the light, and both of them have nice finishes.

The two blended concealers
Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer on the left, MAC Select Moisture Cover on the right

I think the difference is the most obvious in this photo. The left eye (Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer) shows less of the purple/brown color that’s usually present in my under-eye circles. Unfortunately, the MAC Select Moisture Cover on the right side looks sad.

Looking down
Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer on the left, MAC Select Moisture Cover on the right

THE OVERALL WINNER: Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer in Sand!!! Although I originally believed it might settle into the fine lines under my eyes, it held up quite well. Creamy, easy to blend, smooth and good coverage — I would definitely repurchase this concealer again. 🙂

To see a comparison of Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer vs. Laura Mercier Secrete Camouflage Undercover Pot, click here.

Written by Jessica

I’m a little bit like Batman — a law student by day, and a makeup enthusiast/beauty product hoarder by night! I started my website, BellaLibertÃ©, to trade beauty tips and info on the best sales, and to make sure my stash of beauty products wouldn’t go to waste. Whether you’re a beauty aficionado or brand new to makeup, come say hi.

Chanel Rouge Allure Goes Extrait de Gloss

December 10th, 2010 by Karen 39 Comments

Chanel Insolence Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss Swatch on Karen of Makeup and Beauty Blog
Chanel Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss in Insolence

Form doesn’t exactly follow function in the Chanel Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss line. Half the time I can’t tell the colors apart by looking at the tubes. But I really don’t care, because even the tubes look great. 🙂

Chanel Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss Review

Coco (or rather Karl) did sneak in a practical touch (the least they could do for $32 a pop). The paddle-like applicator, which Chanel refers to as flocked, takes precision to the next level. I feel like it provides more control than good ol’ doe-foot applicators.

Launched last fall, the relatively new line of glosses comes in nine shiny shades that, according to the Chanel makeup artist I spoke with, are replacing the Aqualumieres [INSERT SINGLE TEAR ROLLING DOWN CHEEK], which are being — you might want to sit down for this — phased out.

I’ll probably lose sleep over losing the Aqualumieres, especially Candy Glow, but these new kids have game, including a four-hour wear time, and a thick, non-sticky texture (unscented and unflavored). I’ll always love the Aqualumiers, but I think they’re thinner, sheerer, slicker, and don’t last quite as long as these.
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Bask in the Glow of the Urban Decay Afterglow Glide-On Cheek Tints

December 10th, 2010 by Karen 34 Comments

urban decay afterglow glide on cheek tint on karen of makeup and beauty blog
Urban Decay Afterglow Glide-On Cheek Tint in Quickie on cheeks and Crush on lips

Urban Decay thinks they found a way to package post-workout cheeks, so now we can get that lit-from-within glow without having to step foot on a treadmill (YEA!).

There is, of course, another, more enjoyable way to get the same effect, but James Franco isn’t returning my calls.

That second way to glow is probably what Urban Decay was thinking when they gave the seven new Afterglow Glide-On Cheek Tints ($24) their sassy names. And to help you and your partner cover all your bases, they even work on lips.

Fans of coral and peach blushes might like reddish Bang, and/or Indecent, an apricot with golden pearl. Pink ladies should check out hot pink Crush, bubblegum pink Quickie (my fave!), and golden pink Score. And berry lovin’ babes might want to get Greedy (a blackberry) with Fetish, a shimmery mauve.

These have a thin texture and literally melt into my skin. It makes blending a snap, and that makes them great for tight schedules. I’ve just been using clean fingers to lightly dab them onto the plumpest part of my cheeks, aka the apples.

After that, I use the remaining product on my fingers along my cheekbones, fading up and out. At this point, I will reach for a brush, a clean powder brush, and run it over my cheeks to blend everything together, and finish with a few taps on my kisser.

Center: Crush. Clockwise from pink shade lower left: Score, Greedy, Quickie, Indecent, Bang and Fetish
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What’s Different About the New Benefit Full-Finish Lipsticks?

December 9th, 2010 by Karen 55 Comments

benefit wanna full finish lipstick on karen of makeup and beauty blog
Wearing Benefit Full-Finish Lipstick in Wanna

Benefit’s boxed blushes aren’t the only girls getting new outfits for spring. In January the company’s Full-Finish Lipsticks ($18 each) are also getting gussied up, with thicker bullets and shorter tubes.

Benefit is ~~phasing out all but one of the existing shades~~ (UPDATE: I just received info from Benefit saying that they will not be phasing out all the existing shades of Full-Finish. Instead, they’ll be adding these 12 new shades to the current line. Some of the colors in the current line will remain and be repackaged into the new tubes. I’ll update you once I get word of which shades will be staying and which ones will be going.) Fame Game (from the It Girl Collection, Fall 2009), and introducing 11 new ones. But all 12 of them have the exact same moisturizing, creamy formula Full-Finish fans like us know and love.

The (NEW) Benefit Full-Finish Lipsticks…

Pillow Talk: a hot pink

Wanna: a raspberry

Espionage: a black cherry

Pinking of You: a pop of pink

Rumor: a rose quartz

Slow Zone: a tropical coral

Shy: a ballet slipper

Saucy: a sparkling tangerine

Fame Game: a dusty rose

I Tink I Love You: a bronze rose

Mod Squad: a shelly pink

Oh Currant: a berry wine

Don’t tell El Hub, but tonight I made out with Wanna, Shy, Espionage, Slow Zone, Pinking of You and Fame Game.

Benefit full finish lipstick review swatches photos spring 2011 closeup
Benefit Full-Finish Lipsticks from the left front: Slow Zone and Wanna; Back: Espionage, Pinking of You and Shy
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I Flipped My Lid Over the New Benefit Bella Bamba Face Powder

December 9th, 2010 by Karen 101 Comments

benefit bella bamba review swatches photos

Bus riding babes and y’all on-the-go lovelies, feast your eyes on this: the new Benefit Bella Bamba Face Powder ($28) promises to change the face of quick touchups this spring.

You know how Benefit’s boxed blushes have that unattached lid (see: Sugarbomb and Coralista)? Well, as much as I love the colors, I’m always afraid they’ll open in my bag. Once, while I was applying blush on the train to work, one of the lids got away from me and shot straight up in the air, OOPS! Luckily it landed in a cute boy’s lap, but I digress…

benefit bella bamba review swatches photos

Bella Bamba comes with new improved flip-top cap that uses a magnet to stay shut. And that’s not all. It even has a mirror inside, so you can stare at your sassy self while you’re sweeping on this shimmery golden pink.

Benefit’s old-school lids are going, going gone. They’re phasing them out, so the seven other shades in the Face Powder line will also be wearing the new flip-top packaging soon.

Benefit calls Bella Bamba a 3D, multi-dimensional pink face powder (what is this, Tron? LOL!), and it’s designed to brighten, sculpt and define.

I don’t know much about 3D, but I do like using this as a blush. 🙂
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The Chanel Collection Essentielle De Chanel Paris-L.A. Palette Goes Great Without a Tan

December 9th, 2010 by Karen 20 Comments

Chanel Collection Essentielle De Chanel Paris-LA Palette top

Before my hair appointment yesterday (I’ll post pics soon. 🙂 But here’s a hint: Vanessa Hudgens!), I swung by the Chanel counter to check out the Chanel Collection Essentielle De Chanel Paris-L.A. Palette ($85) in person.

I saw it the other day on The Non-Blonde and haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since.

With the limited edition holiday palette for eyes, cheeks and lips, Chanel says they were shooting for something hip like LA yet elegant like Paris. It comes with two lip glosses, one a shimmery plum and the other a shimmery reddish plum; one shimmery plum lipstick; three powder eyeshadows in matte beige, matte taupe and matte plum; a shimmery, peachy pink cream blush with a hint of gold; and two creamy yellow-based concealers. That’s nine bits ‘o Chanel for $85…which is just about as close to a fire sale on Chanel as we’re ever likely to see.
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