Makeup

A Cult Classic Goes Mainstream: The Clinique Bamboo Pink Collection

June 25th, 2009 by Karen 30 Comments

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What’s up, my fellow makeup lovahs? Have I mentioned that Clinique’s Bamboo Pink is one of my favorite lip colors, ever?

When I heard Clinique was doing an entire release based on it I went nuts!

The color itself is a cool, silvery pink — a cult favorite — and I was stoked to see that a lot of you are just as hyped about the news as I am.

Who could blame us, right? The limited edition summer release for cheeks, eyes and lips (available now) includes a color palette of cool pinks, bronzes and taupes that work together beautifully.

So far, I’ve played with five items from the 11-piece collection.

Colour Surge Eye Shadow Quad in Bamboo Pink, $25

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The Bamboo Pink Eye Shadow Quad comes packed with four perfectly coordinated shades of shimmery light pink, shimmery copper, shimmery taupe and shimmery rose-pink.

All apply on the cool side, so I’m guessing cool-beauties will be able to TURN THIS MUTHA OUT.

No doubt, the shades are shimmery, but they aren’t overly frosty, which I think makes them pretty easy to wear. Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A

Cream Shaper for Eyes Duo in Chocolate Lustre/Cocoa Shimmer, $15

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Okay, I’ll come clean — at first glance this dual-tipped pencil didn’t give me lusty makeup thoughts. I thought Cream Shaper for Eyes Duo in Chocolate Lustre/Cocoa Shimmer looked kinda ho-hum on the outside, but inside it’s a gem. The pencils are super creamy and glide on without skipping. They’re also water-resistant and don’t smudge for nuthin’.

I like how well both Chocolate Lustre (a shimmery brown) and Cocoa Shimmer (a shimmer taupe) work as eyeshadow bases layered beneath the colors in the Bamboo Pink Quad, yes! Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A+
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How To Be “That Gal” with Benefit That Gal Brightening Face Primer

June 25th, 2009 by Karen 26 Comments

Today makeup artist Johnie of The Beauty Junkie blog talks up the benefits of Benefit’s That Gal brightening face primer.

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I’ve always wanted to be “that gal,” and now I can thanks to Benefit’s pretty and pink That Gal ($28) brightening primer.

It’s one of those magic Holy Grail products I’m recommending all the time, and I cannot say enough good things about it!

I’d tried many primers before Benefit blessed the world with That Gal…

I know everyone loves the Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer ($36), but I could never get it to work for me. It felt greasy to me and didn’t seem to make a big difference. I know everyone in the makeup world will probably hang me for saying this, but I just feel like it’s overrated.

Not like That Gal.

It’s a silky pink primer with light reflecting pigments to brighten the complexion, and it comes in an interesting glue-stick like container. You click the base, dispensing the product out of the vent at the top. A few clicks is enough to do my entire face.

Why I like it

I see a huge difference when I use this stuff. It…

visibly brightens my skin,
makes my complexion appear more even and smooth,
helps keep my skin hydrated throughout the day,
helps my makeup stay put, and
makes my foundation go on a lot smoother.

I cannot go a day without using it and keep a backup at all times.

One small downside

The only downside I’ve found is that I can’t tell when I’m about to run out. It’s not clear how much product remains in the tube until it’s empty (click click click), which is why I keep a backup. That was a lesson I learned the hard way.

Application tips

One way to apply it is after your moisturizer but before your foundation; that’s for a smoother application.

Another way is to apply throughout the day on top of makeup to re-brighten the complexion.

It also works when worn alone, like on one of those “no makeup days” to keep the complexion from looking too dull and to help the skin look more even-toned. That’s how I’ll wear it sometimes, when I’m going to the gym or going out to run quick errands.

Also, I would like to add that my skin is more on the dry side, but I’ve used That Gal on dry, combo, and oily skin types and find it works for all of them. If, however, you’re crazy oil slick oily, then I might give it a test run before committing to a purchase.

It retails for $28 (0.37 fl. oz. tube), which I find lasts me about 3 months, but I use it every single day; a few clicks goes a long way.

As Benefit puts it, “It’s That Gal perfection for a happy complexion!” — so find your happy complexion today. 🙂

This post was written by Johnie, makeup artist and beauty blogger behind The Beauty Junkie blog.

Urban Decay Ammo Palette Swatches and Wednesday Shenanigans

June 24th, 2009 by Karen 46 Comments

pocky

Heya, homeskillets. How was your Wednesday? I really wanted to get a lot done today, but productivity just wasn’t in the cards. I went off course somewhere between the time I took a look at the new Clinique Bamboo Pink Collection and the moment I opened a box of chocolate Pocky.

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After I came down from the Pocky, I took these pictures and swatches of the Urban Decay Ammo Palette ($36).

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A friend gave me Ammo for my birthday…

I know it’s been out for a while, but now I can totally see why so many people love it.

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The palette’s 10 shimmery, highly pigmented shadows range from work-friendly colors to party-like-a-rock-star shades, resulting in enough variety to create zillions of different looks.

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LOVE the black packaging, too, and the white and purple swirls. It’s girly but fierce, like OG Joan Jett or Miss J from America’s Next Top Model.

miss j is too fierce

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I wish I knew why I had such a hard time concentrating today…

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What’s Your Favorite Mascara?

June 24th, 2009 by Karen 79 Comments

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G’morning, ladies. Last night on my evening run I got to thinking about things I just can’t get enough of, like…

…friends who *really* listen, good sports bras, well-written books, and, well, mascara. 🙂

Mascara may have been on my mind because earlier yesterday I received this email from Lindsay:

Maybe you’ve done this at some point, but I was wondering if you could do a post about your favorite mascaras. I have really oily eyelids so I have a hard time finding mascaras that stay put.

I don’t want to just go in blind and end up losing $20 on a tube I’ll never use. That happens too often than I care to mention! …Though my friends seem to love it because they get all the barely-used hand-me-downs for free. Maybe I should find some new friends? Help! (With the mascara dilemma, not the friends.)

Lindsay

Hi Lindsay,

Here are some of my favorite mascaras. I’m partial to ones able to handle hot days, workouts and oily eyelids without melting away, and many of them are classified as either waterproof or water-resistant.

I go through mascara phases, sometimes preferring waterproof varieties (my current phase), sometimes tinted, and sometimes I just want uber-dramatic, long and full!

Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash Mascara ($22) — “Most thickening mascaras will clump into little mascara globules, but not Smoky Lash. It applies smoothly, even after multiple layers, almost like it’s seducing my lashes. It’s the James Bond of mascaras â€” smooth but deadly hot.”
Tarte Lash Hugger ($18) — “Lash Hugger may not pump up the volume, but I think it’s still a good performer â€” and really excellent when you consider its eco-friendly nature. It delivers longer lashes, won’t clump and keeps a curl for hours. If you’re looking for an environmentally responsible mascara, look for its purty purple tube on your next trip to Sephora.”
Elizabeth Arden Ceramide ($20) — “A single coat of Ceramide mascara thickens my lashes without leaving them looking fake or unnatural, and two coats produces long, fat, defined, party-like-a-rockstar lashes.”
Stila Lash Visor ($12.50) — “I wore one coat of Lash Visor to the gym last night, and after my sweaty struggle with the stair stepper, my lashes still held the curl and showed good thickness and length, with very little smudging, too.”
Shu Uemura Precise Volume Mascara ($23) — “If you crave long, can’t-miss-me lashes like I do, get thee a tube of Shu Uemura’s Precise Volume Mascara ($23)! Using it lately I’ve achieved some of the longest, most defined lashes I’ve seen on myself in a while.”
Tarte Bottoms Up Mascara ($14) — “It’s a water-resistant (not quite waterproof) black, and even though I’ve only been using it for a week, I’m already hooked. *I LOVE* how this mascara makes my eyes look bigger and more alert, like I’m actually awake, even when I’m dog tired.”
Urban Decay Skyscarper Mascara ($22) — “I’ve been looking for a deep black mascara with a matte finish, and Skyscraper Multi-Benefit fits the bill. Three coats equal deep black, visibly enhanced lashes that still feel soft to the touch.”

Ladies, what’s your favorite mascara? Are you partial to basic black and waterproof, or do you yearn for something more? 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Illamasqua, I Think I’ve Met My Matte

June 23rd, 2009 by Karen 35 Comments

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Illamasqua Powder Eyeshadow in Lestat

After several years dominating makeup counters, shimmery eyeshadows are letting mattes (viva MAC Matte2!) have the limelight for a while.

UK freshman Illamasqua has even gone so far as to make most of their Powder Eyeshadow singles ($23 USD before shipping) mattes.

I bet that pleases a lot of professional makeup artists who do work for photography; that’s somewhere I see mattes getting lots of use.

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Illamasqua Powder Eyeshadow in Goddess

I think Illamasqua’s decision to make mattes their priority is a bold decision on the consumer end. Seriously, ladies love their shimmer shadows, so I can’t help but wonder: will Illamasqua’s gamble pay off?

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Last weekend I sank my teeth into two of their matte shadows, Lestat (a chocolaty black) and Goddess (a turquoise blue).

Both were full of surprises. 🙂

Lestat

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Lestat pays homage to his namesake, Anne Rice’s character from Interview with a Vampire. It’s a dark black with a pinch of warm, chocolate brown, and with all the talk about Twilight and Edward Cullen, it comforts my vampire-lurvin’ heart to know that the folks at Illamasqua have an appreciation for old school fang fiction. 🙂

Surprise: Lestat applies semi-sheer, which I didn’t expect at all. The other Illamasqua products I’ve tried applied with soooo much pigment, so I expected Lestat would, too.

My bad.

At first it put me off, but after playing with the shadow for a few minutes, I changed my tune.

For me, heavily pigmented deep black mattes can be tough to use. All it takes is one wrong swipe with an overloaded brush and that subtle smokey eye turns into an epic fail, so I love Lestat’s sheer color.

It allows me to build color slowly, maintaining control the entire time. Plus, because it is so sheer, I don’t feel like I’m wasting a lot of eyeshadow diluting it before application.

In terms of texture, Lestat feels soft and fine to me, like MAC Matte2 eyeshadows.

All that, and it’s super easy to blend, layers quickly and doesn’t irritate my eyes. Love this! Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A
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What Makeup Do You Use to Cover Up a Red Nose?

June 23rd, 2009 by Karen 33 Comments

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Hola, muchachas bonitas. I barely speak a lick of Spanish, but I’ve decided it would be REALLY FRICKIN’ COOL to teach SeÃ±or Tabs (aka El Gato) some EspaÃ±ol.

So far he only seems to understand two phrases — “Friskies, muy bien!” and “DÃ³nde estÃ¡ Fancy Feast?” — but he’s been a fast learner for a cat.

After our Spanish lessons this morning, Tabs and I went through some e-mail. Here’s a note from Christine, who asked about a makeup ish I’m guessing many of us have had to deal with at one time or another.

Help…I have redness on my cheeks and nose. I’m able to cover my cheeks pretty well, I use Laura Mercier’s Secret Camoflauge mixed with a little bit of moisturizer (my skin is dry) and then pat on Bare Escentuals Bare Minerals on top…I do this to my nose as well but by the time I arrive at work in the morning, I look like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer! What can I do to keep my nose red-free? Is my application of the makeup wrong?

Hi Christine,

Girl, when my nose is pulling a Rudolph I try to remember two things: 1) that Rudolph is awesome (he leads the sleigh!) and 2) that there are quite a few products out there designed to help red-nosed ladies like us.

I’ll often start by incorporating a makeup primer with a green tint (to offset the redness on my nose) into my routine; if you’ve never used a makeup primer before, then you’re in for a treat. Makeup primers provide a surface upon which foundation or concealer adhere, extending the wear time of many products and creating a smoother appearance. When used to conceal redness, I’ll apply it only where the redness occurs.

A new one I’ve heard good things about is Make Up For Ever HD Microperfecting Primer ($32) in Green. I haven’t tried it yet, but I’m a fan of the Make Up For Ever line, and I think the product looks really promising for fellow members of Club Rudolph.

Other green primers to consider:

If you’re not sure which one to try, a Sephora sales associate may be able to provide you with a few samples to help you decide (sometimes this doesn’t work, but if you live near a Sephora it could be worth a try).

My fellow rosy-nosed girls, do you have any tips/tricks/product suggestions to help hide a red nose? Let’s give Christine a helping hand.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Illamasqua Lip Look: Thinking Outside the Box

June 20th, 2009 by Karen 31 Comments

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KAPOW!

Illamasqua’s Lipstick in Box ($23 USD before shipping) hits like a heavyweight champ, and it may even give MAC Russian Red a run for its money.

Both are creamy bluish reds, but Box’s teensy touch of orange adds a warmth not present in Russian Red.

If you wanted to knock ’em out with Russian Red but found it too cool for your skin tone, don’t forget about Box.

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Named after Illamasqua co-founder Alex Box, it applies with opaque, rich color and lasts all day long without feathering.

I think I’m in lurve. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

MAC Cosmetics Meets Star Trek in This Face of the Day

June 20th, 2009 by Karen 13 Comments

Guest blogging from Argentina, MBB reader Marcela shares her take on a Star Trek inspired face of the day using some of her favorite products from MAC Cosmetics.

Star Trek inspired makeup

Hi, everyone!

My name is Marcela. I’m no trekkie, having never watched any movies beginning with “Star” (Star Wars, anyone?), but hey, there are a couple (or a lot) of you out there who DO like sci-fi movies, so this FOTD is for you.

Now, this look is a sultry and dark, smoky black and gold eye — maybe a bit over the top, but you can tone it down (or switch it up!).

I don’t know why, but I didn’t line my bottom lash line with black. I’m sure that would have given the look a bit more va va voom!

The long winged liner was inspired by Spock’s upturned eyebrows, and the colors by — wait for it — a starry night!

Very original indeed… 🙂

Anyway, I liked how it turned out. I hope you do, too.

Here are the products I used:

Face

Foundation: La Roche Posay Toleraine (applied with a sponge wedge)
Powder: MAC Mineralized Skinfinish in Medium Dark (applied all over)
Blush: A shimmery golden bronze blush
Contour: MAC Mineralized Skinfinish in Dark
Highlight: The shimmery side of the MAC Mineralized Skinfinish Duo in Dark

Eyes

Primer: Too Faced Shadow Insurance
Eyelid base: Any black cream shadow (applied to the outer 2/3 of the lid)
Eyelid inner corner: A mix of MAC Eye Shadow in Sumptuous Olive and MAC Flip (or any other bright gold shadow)
Eyelid: MAC Solar Bits in Black Ore (applied with MAC Mixing Medium over a black cream shadow)
Crease: MAC Eye Shadow in Carbon
Brow Highlight: MAC Eye Shadow in Modest Tone
Tearduct: MAC Eye Shadow in Solar White
Liner, Upper: MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack
Liner, Lower: MAC Eye Shadow in Flip
Mascara: Givenchy Eye Fly

Lips

Lipstick: A flesh-tone lipstick like MAC Lipstick in Myth
Lipgloss: The peachy bronze gloss from Tarte’s Purse Your Lips Clutch applied under MAC Lipglass in Pink Grapefruit
Finish: A dab of a peachy gold pigment in the middle of the bottom lip
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