Makeup

Take Center Stage with Benefit Scene Queen

June 21st, 2010 by Karen 84 Comments

benefit scene queen

So there I was, minding my own beeswax, when I caught Tabs staring at his reflection in the big @ss mirror that comes with the new Benefit Scene Queen The Annie Collection palette ($38). I think he might have been checking his eyeliner (cat’s got wicked tightlining skillz) or plotting makeup larceny…

I swear, Benefit must have a soothsayer on staff because they always know what I’m craving. The particular mix of dramatic neutrals in this stash of goodies for eyes, lips, face and cheeks is, again, right up my alley. The second of two new limited edition Sephora exclusives from Benefit Trend Makeup Artists Annie and Maggie (peep the other palette, Sunday Funday, here), Scene Queen’s big drama is designed to steal scenes (and the limelight).

benefit scene queen
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Benefit Sunday Funday Palette Looks Pretty Any Day of the Week

June 21st, 2010 by Karen 82 Comments

The situation: The My So-Called Life marathon you hosted last night was a BIG success, but it went all night long, and now you have just 10 minutes to do your makeup before you meet your Jordon Catalano lookalike for brunch. What to do! what to do!

Yes, it’s totally unfair that dudes get to just pull on a plaid shirt and call themselves “date ready.” Life is cruel that way, but thank goodness for palettes that facilitate fast makeup like the new Benefit Sunday Funday The Maggie Collection palette for eyes, lips, face and cheeks ($38).

This cutie pie (isn’t the packaging to die?) comes with a nice mix of neutrals and breezy pops of color perfect for easy, natural-looking makeup looks in almost no time flat.
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You Just Might Fall in Love with Kat Von D’s True Romance Palette in Ludwig

June 19th, 2010 by Karen 14 Comments

Written by Ashwini

Today the enchanting Ashwini of Clearly Beautiful shares her hard rock love affair with Kat Von D’s True Romance Palette in Ludwig.

Of all the eyeshadow palettes in my makeup collection, there’s one I regularly reach for, whether I’m getting ready for a night out or a professional conference. This versatile gem’s the Kat Von D True Romance Eyeshadow Palette in Ludwig ($34).

I adore the darkly romantic rose pattern on the top of the packaging, and the palette itself is slim enough to always bring along on trips.

For $36, you get eight well-chosen colors that are unique in their own right, but also complementary at the same time. It’s mixing and matching for dummies! — and as you can see my palette’s been well-loved:

Whether I’m creating a sultry smokey look, a daytime soft brown, or dabbing a last minute swipe of highlighter on my browbones, I’m never disappointed by maestro Ludwig!

Each of the colors is velvety smooth and richly pigmented. Plus, they don’t leave any fallout behind, and with a base like Urban Decay Primer Potion, the shades stay put on my lids all day long without any creasing or migrating at all.

Below are swatches of the first four colors, which I can see combining for a dramatic green smokey eye:
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What Do You Think of Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencils?

June 18th, 2010 by Karen 31 Comments

nyx jumbo eye pencils review
The new Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencil summer shades! From left: Purple Velvet, Pure Gold, Rocky Mountain Green, Electric Blue

The weekend is just around the corner, huzzah! I’m so looking forward to just vegging out on the couch, re-watching season two of True Blood and playing with makeup. Do you have any plans yet? Whatever you end up doing, I hope it also involves a fun look or two. 😉

Speaking o’ beauty bits, what do ya think of the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils ($4)? Have you seen them before?

These four particular colors are new for summer, but the pencils themselves have been around for a while. Drugstore makeup line Nyx designed them to double as eyeliners or eyeshadows. The chubby pencils have quite a cult following these days, thanks to their smooth formula and technicolor pigmentation; with the addition of these four new shades — Pure Gold, Electric Blue, Purple Velvet and Rocky Mountain Green — they come in 28 total colors.

They’re available now in drugstores and online at nyxcosmetics.com.

Swatches from left to right on NC35 skin: Pure Gold, Rocky Mountain Green, Electric Blue and Purple Velvet
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Smashbox Limitless Liner Won’t Leave You in the Lurch

June 17th, 2010 by Karen 58 Comments

smashbox limitless eye liner

When eyeliner disappears, where exactly does it go? Do mischievous makeup angels charm it away with magic erasers while I’m drooling over pics of Jake Gyllenhaal’s muscled bod and manscaping?

Seriously, I can’t be the only person plauged by the plight of the disappearing eyeliner.

Thank ye gods for long-wearing liner formulas like the new Smashbox Limitless Eyeliner ($19). Released for summer, these creamy, long-wearing liners apply with intense color and come with the promise of eight-hour wear time, which makes the hours I’ve whittled away watching people dancing solo to Ginuwine’s Pony a little easier to bear. 🙂

Ready to rock you in shades of Black, Dark Brown, Teal, Deep Navy and Deep Purple, their creamy, easy-to-apply formula also resists water (more on that in a few) and helps protect the skin around those precious peepers with jojoba oil and vitamin E.
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Are You Glistening? The Bobbi Brown Beach Shimmer Brick Has Something to Say

June 16th, 2010 by Karen 29 Comments

bobbi brown beach shimmer brick review

Glistening like the stars of MTV’s Jersey Shore — wait, did I just write that?? For a post about a product from Bobbi Brown?

Sorry, let me try this again. 🙂

Glistening like glittery Waikiki Beach (that’s better), the Bobbi Brown Beach Club Shimmer Brick ($38) comes with a combo of five warm-toned highlighter bricks in shades from brown to beige to peach and gold.

Released earlier this month with the Long-Wearing Eyeshadows in Bobbi’s Beach Club collection, this brick is full of surprises.

Swirl ’em together for an easy shimmer pop, or apply each shade separately for five different looks.
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NARS Pure Sheer SPF Lip Treatment for a Soft, Sheer Look

June 15th, 2010 by Karen 32 Comments

nars pure sheer spf lip treatment review

With summer approaching, it’s perfectly natural to love lips kissed with NARS Pure Sheer SPF Lip Treatment ($25). The new line of six sheer little lovelies delivers natural-looking color (for that coveted “nude” lip look), subtle shine and sun protection just in time for summer.

NARS didn’t just add SPF 15 to these and call it a day. They also made them hydrating by adding wild mango butter, Acai oil and Vitamin E.

I’ve been wearing Aurore, a light pink nude, practically nonstop for a few days because I love how creamy it feels on my lips. I’d also like to thank NARS for not loading it up with any funky flavors or scents. When I see a product for the first time, I usually make assumptions about how it might taste or smell, ya know? Don’t some products just look like they’re destined to have a fragrance? In this case, the moment I saw Aurore, I thought, “Please don’t smell like strawberries.” And it doesn’t, so yay! 🙂
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NARS Multiple Tint: Invading a Makeup Dream Near You

June 15th, 2010 by Karen 54 Comments

nars multiple tint review

Last night I had a makeup dream, except that in this dream there was an ice cream truck, and instead of ice cream it sold the new NARS Multiple Tints ($38 each). 🙂

Okay, now here’s where it gets REALLY weird. Instead of applying the sheer, buildable tints to my cheeks and lips, I gobbled ’em up like they were sweet, creamy treats!

Available in three eye-popping shades — Beverly Hills (a bright red tint), Cadaques (a bright fuchsia tint) and Turks & Caicos (a bright orange tint) — these do look a lot like desserts, don’t they? Kinda like Push Up Pops, yum!

But don’t be fooled by their vibrant shades. Each adds just a whisper of highly wearable color.

I’ve been playing with Beverly Hills, the red shade, on my cheeks (NOTE: I also tried it on my lips but didn’t like the flavor…like an odd mix of concentrated Hawaiian Punch and Sour Patch Kids) this week, and, impressively, it lasts for a good 6-8 hours! — even without a primer.
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