Makeup

Nars Shrinagar Lipstick: Berry Sexy!

February 13th, 2009 by Karen 18 Comments

Nars loves to go off the grid when it comes to their seasonal lip colors, breaking with tradition like it ain’t nothing but a thang. While lines like Chanel, Estee Lauder and Lancome are featuring full coverage pink and red lipsticks in their spring collections, Nars says “check it” with Shrinagar ($24), a semi-sheer berry that whispers sweet nothings to my soul.

Shrinagar is the only lipstick color in Nars’ spring release, a sheer wash of color much like fall’s Canaille lipstick.

But unlike Canaille’s bookish mahogany, which looked so quiet that I almost forgot it was there, Shirinagar turns up the heat.

It may not be as rich as the average spring lip color, but this deep, glossy raspberry with microscopic flecks of silver simply cannot be missed. It seems complex, even flashing purple at certain angles.

Picture hot librarians in nerdy chic glasses.

Texture-wise, Shrinigar feels like velvet on my lips, applying with a thin, creamy consistency that’s also moisturizing. Like other Nars lipsticks I’ve tried, it’s taste- and fragrance-free.

Nars Shrinagar Lipstick

Price: $24
Use: An unusual, semi-sheer berry lipstick for spring
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A+

I usually associate berry lip colors with fall, but that’s why I found this such a pleasant surprise. I want to try pairing it with Nars’ Hula Hula eyeshadow duo when the weather warms up a little.

I can’t wait to wear it with some dark jeans, a white tank top and pink cardigan… and I think I have a pair of librarian glasses around here somewhere. 🙂
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Nars Says Aloha with the Hula Hula Eyeshadow Duo

February 12th, 2009 by Karen 37 Comments

This afternoon I tried to come up a clever rhyme befitting the NARS Hula Hula Eyeshadow Duo ($32), but the closest I came were “Spend that moolah on Nars Hula Hula” and “I start to drool-a when I see Nars Hula Hula.”

FYI: Not many words rhyme with hula. 🙂

My rhymes may not weave a sonnet, but this shimmery eyeshadow duo feels like poetry on my eyes.

One of two eyeshadow duos in the Nars spring 2009 collection, Hula Hula comes with two cool-toned eyeshadows, the first in shimmery strawberry pink and the other in gold.

Swatch of Hula Hula without flash

To all my glitter girls, take note. Both colors in the duo have bangin’ flakes of glitter — huge chunks like the glitter in Nars’ Super Orgasm Blush, BAM!

I usually equate big glitter with drag show makeup (which has its time and place, I might add), but for some reason it works for me in Hula Hula, I’m guessing because both the colors apply semi-sheer. The finish reminds me of the sheer MAC Beauty Powder blushes. The glitter adds a touch of glam that just stops short of gaudy.

With flash

I think if either of the shadows in this duo applied with the rich, shimmery pigmentation of something like a Shu Uemura eyeshadow or MAC Pigment, then the glitter in them would have taken these shadows on a three-hour tour to tranny-ville. Instead, they hit the glitter nail on the head.
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14 Pink Lip Colors for Valentine’s Day

February 12th, 2009 by Karen 32 Comments

There’s something about wearing pink lips on Valentine’s Day that just feels *right*!

If you’re looking for the perfect pink for your pout, consider one of these 14 pink lipsticks and glosses. 🙂

Bright pinks

Sometimes a bold, bright pink lip is the only way to go. Pair any of these dramatic lips with thick black cat eyeliner and some false lashes for a show-stopping look.

One of my favorites is MAC Hello Kitty Lipglass in Sweet Strawberry ($14), pictured above. Sweet and sexy at the same time!

Or, if you’re in the mood for something less shiny, how about Milani Velvet Lipstick Creamy Lipcolor in Royale ($5)?

For those who want to bring the bling, consider N.Y.C. New York Color Ultra Last Lip Wear in Blue Rose ($2).

Rosy pinks

Okay, so maybe a bold pink lip isn’t your thang; think about rose shades for a more conservative spin. I dig ’em with shimmery browns or pink shadows and blushes.

Budget lovin’ beauties might love Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy Comfort Lip Color in Pink Blossom($10)…

…or Sally Hansen Moist & Matte Liquid Color in Taffeta ($8).

If you’re in the mood to splurge, Givenchy Rouge Interdit in Maharani Rose ($27) could tickle you pink…

…as could Yves Saint Laurent Pur Gloss in Pure Fuschia ($29)!

Cool pinks

Perhaps you’re thinking about wearing something cool on your eyes. How about one of these cool pinks?

Clarins Joil Rouge Perfect Shine Sheer Lipstick in Pink Sugar($24) would look fab with gray smokey eyes or pale shimmery greens or blues.

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Go Crazy Bold with Make Up For Ever Faux Lashes

February 10th, 2009 by Karen 21 Comments

Don’t pull any punches this Valentine’s Day, and GO FOR THE BOLD! Try on a pair of crazy bold false lashes like Make Up For Ever’s Alexandra Faux Lash ($15). Her thick black fringe and dramatic length demand your full attention.

I did this look with Alexandra yesterday, pairing her with demure pink cheeks and a strong red lip.

If you’re hitting the clubs with friends on The Big V, this could be a fun look to wear. It’s playful and says to the world, “Hey, ya’ll! You can’t stop this love machine!”

The key to the look is the lashes — the bigger the better. Here I’m wearing Make Up For Ever, but you might also look at falsies from other brands like Shu Uemura, Revlon or Ardell.

Aqua Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil in #0L, $17: matte black eyeliner
Smoky Lash Mascara, $22: black mascara
Faux Lash Alexandra #110, $15: dramatic false lashes with lash glue
Sculpting Blush #8, $24: matte, bright pink blush
Aqua Lip Pencil in #8, $17: true red lip liner
Lipstick #205, $18: bluish red lipstick
Mist & Fix Make-Up Fixer Mist, $27: makeup fixing spray

Eyes: Not to steal anything away from the lashes, I kept the eyes simple, starting by lining my upper and lower lash lines with (1) Aqua Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil in #0L. Then, I curled my lashes and applied two coats of (2) Smoky Lash Mascara. Finally, I glued (3) Faux Lash Alexandra lashes on my upper lash line, aligning the shorter end of the lashes with the inner corner (the side closest to my nose).
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Clinque Fresh Bloom: At First Blush, No Surprises

February 9th, 2009 by Karen 20 Comments

The model for Clinique’s First Blush collection looks so fresh and dreamy, doesn’t she? I can totes see her running through dewy fields barefoot on a spring morning.

So those of us at home can get the eye look (sans dewy field), Clinique gives us four Fresh Bloom Eye Shadow pans ($16.50) with First Blush, each with two shimmery pastel colors: Cherry Blossom (a light and dark pink), Tiger Lily (a light and dark copper), Maple Blossom (a light and dark taupe) and Apple Blossom (a light and dark green).

I’m a sucker for embossed flower patterns… That gets me every time.

I did the eye look using each of the four shadow combinations, placing the lighter color from each on the lid and brow bone, and the darker shade in the crease.

After applying the shadows for each of the four looks, I added two coats of Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara on the top lash line and lined the lower lash line with the darker shade from Maple Blossom.

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A Smashing Giveaway: Enter to Win $80 in Smashbox for Valentine’s Day

February 8th, 2009 by Karen 331 Comments

Update: The giveaway is closed! I’ll be contacting the winner shortly. Thank you for entering!

When I was a kid, Valentine’s Day always stressed me out.

I liked to give out V-Day cards to my classmates, but before I’d sign the cards I’d separate them into two piles. The first contained the “lovey dovey” cards — the ones reserved for the boys who were less yucky than average — and the other pile contained the “strictly platonic” cards.

Smashbox O-Gloss Intuitive Lip Gloss ($22) gives me grade school V-Day flashbacks.

Almost like magic, it turns a different shade of pink based on the wearer’s skin chemistry (think Hypercolor for lips!).

There was a time when the thought of kissing a boy totally and completely grossed me out, but taste- and scent-free O-Gloss turns my lips a shade of rose I like to call, “I’ve been making out with ~~C. Bale~~ El Hub for hours!”

Take O-Gloss home for Valentine’s Day!

I think it’s time for a giveaway! 🙂

The Prize

Thanks to Smashbox Cosmetics, one luck winner will take home a tube of Smashbox O-Gloss and a set of Smashbox eyeshadow duos and brushes, just in time for Valentine’s Day ($81 value).

Smashbox O-Gloss Intuitive Lip Gloss: It turns a different shade of pink based on the wearer’s skin chemistry ($22).
Rapture Eye Shadow and Brush Set: A limited edition set with 16 eyeshadow colors and two full-size eye brushes ($59).

How to Enter

There are two ways to enter, and you can do both to double your chances to win!

If you haven’t already signed up to receive Makeup and Beauty Blog daily email updates, then enter your email in the pink box below (or click this link).
You may also enter by completing the following sentence and leaving it in the comments section at the bottom of this post (be sure to use a valid email address):

This Valentine’s Day I plan to kiss _______.

A few examples to spark your imagination…

This Valentine’s Day I plan to kiss the hot guy who sits three cubicles down from me at work.
This Valentine’s Day I plan to kiss my cat.
This Valentine’s Day I plan to kiss Detective Stabler.
This Valentine’s Day I plan to kiss my pillow … because kissing frogs is totally played out, yo!

I’ll choose the winner at random from among the people who enter by 11:59 PM PST on Tuesday, February 10. The giveaway is open to all US and international readers. Good luck!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Paint Your Pout Pink and Red with Smashbox Cosmetics for Valentine’s Day

February 7th, 2009 by Karen 32 Comments

I still haven’t made plans for Valentine’s Day… The closest I came to thinking about it was last week, when my classmate interviewed me for a Valentine’s Day story he was writing for the school newspaper.

Classmate: What’s your idea of the perfect Valentine’s Day date?
Karen: The perfect date would start with my husband cleaning the house without me having to ask him to!
Classmate: Really?
Karen: Yeah, really. Then we’d go to a restaurant that served really garlic-y food. I’d order shrimp scampi with hella garlic and then ask him to make out with me as a test of his devotion. Ideally, he’d say yes.

This morning, to get myself in the Valentine’s spirit, I ate a few candy hearts for breakfast (Mmm) and tried on these pink and red Photo Finish Lipsticks ($22) and Lip Enhancing Glosses ($18) from Smashbox Cosmetics.

Valentine’s Day Lip Looks by Smashbox

If you want to shine for your V-Date, consider a shimmery lip look using Electrify (pictured up top), a hot pink with silver sparkles.

Scoop’s a subtle pink with shimmer and has a casual feel to me, like something I’d wear with browns and taupes on a lunch date.

Pop, a creamy, peachy pink, looks like something I’d wear with smokey eyes to dinner.

If you and your date plan to hit the red carpet, give Starlit (a shimmery deep red) try.
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Freida Pinto’s Blue and Brown SAG Eye Look, Version 1

February 6th, 2009 by Karen 49 Comments

Good morning, girls! Happy Friday. 🙂

It’s raining cats and dogs this morning! I’m just sitting here twiddling my thumbs while the coffee brews… I need it desperately this morning because Tabs went totally apesh*t last night, jumping on top of furniture, pawing at the walls and meowing at himself in the dark. I dunno. He gets like this when it rains. First, he meows to go out; then meows to come back in. Over and over, all through the night, ack!

Despite only getting two seconds of sleep, I’m in a pretty good mood. Not only is it Friday, but my attempt to re-create the blue and brown eye Freida Pinto wore to the SAG awards didn’t turn out half bad.

In the picture up top, Freida’s wearing a warm brown in the crease and a bluish gray shadow on the lid. I don’t know the exact products used for her look, but for my version I layered L’Oreal HiP Duo in Magnetic Fields on top of MAC Jadeye Fluidline.