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Chanel Mystic Eyes Face of the Day: Pink and Brown Eyes for Work (or School!)

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Since I’m headin’ back to school later this month, I’m playing with a few different looks for class.

Here’s the pink and brown eye I wore yesterday using products from Chanel’s spring 2009 Bohemian Fantasy collection.

Eyes

I started the look with Chanel Fluid Iridescent Eyeshadow in Sand, placing it over the entire eyelid (1) with a fingertip.

Then, I applied the light brown shade from the Mystic Eyes quad on the lid (2) and, with a MAC 252 Large Shader Brush, applied the pink shade from the same quad on the browbone (3). Since that produced a few harsh lines, I blended them away with a MAC 224 Tapered Blending Brush.

Next up — I lined the lower lash line with Chanel Precision Eye Definer Crayon in Brun (4) and smudged the dark brown shade from the Mystic Eyes quad directly on top of liner (5) with a MAC 219 pencil brush.

With a MAC 228 Mini Shader Brush, I applied the same product (the dark brown) to the outer corner of the lid and lightly patted the silvery taupe eyeshadow from the Mystic Eyes quad into the inner corner of the eye (6).

To finish the eyes, I filled in my brows, curled my lashes with a Shu Uemura lash curler and applied two coats of Chanel Exceptionnel Mascara.
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Chanel Spring 2009: Mystic Eyes Quad Swatches and More!

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Leave it to Chanel to elevate brown eyeshadow into something extraordinary. I wasn’t sure if the brown, plum and taupe eye shades from this year’s Bohemian Fantasy collection would be able to top last spring’s ultra hot Aurora Blues, but after swatching ’em I think they have.

These colors are earthy, but they aren’t boring at all. There’s a good mix of cool and warm tones, too, so nobody gets left out, yay!

From left to right:

  • Sand Fluid Iridescent Eyeshadow: warm shimmery taupe
  • Delta Fluid Iridescent Eyeshadow: cool yellow gold
  • Brown shade from Mystic Eyes Quadra Eyeshadow: neutral deep brown with gold flecks
  • Pink shade from Mystic Eyes: cool, shimmery light pink
  • Silvery gray shade from Mystic Eyes: neutral, shimmery gray taupe
  • Light brown shade from Mystic Eyes: warm, shimmery gold brown
  • Magic Night Soft Touch Eyeshadow: shimmery plum brown
  • Brun Precision Eye Definer Crayon: dark, shimmery gold brown

The only thing from this release hasn’t really rocked my boat has been Liberty Soft Touch Eyeshadow (a shimmery beige). It sure looks a lot like MAC Shroom…

A few days ago I did a soft and smokey plum brown eye with a wash of Delta over my entire eye, lining the upper and lower lash lines with Brun liner, and then smudging Magic Night eyeshadow on top of the liner.

I paired it with Fandango blush and Aqualumiere lipstick in Malta to complete the look.


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Chanel Spring 2009 Hydrabase Lipsticks: Red, Coral and Pink Bold Lips

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Toot-toot! All aboard the Chanel Spring 2009 Bohemian Fantasy Rouge Hydrabase Lipstick train (what a mouthful!). It’s a non-stop ride straight to the land of decadent reds, corals and pinks.

Are you ready to roll?

The six colors released for the spring collection offer the same trademark creamy coverage that characterizes other Chanel Hydrabase lipsticks ($27).

My favorites are the boldest colors pictured above from left to right — Euphoria, Fuego, Rose Rebelle and Gipsy Scarlett.

Two more subtle colors — Fiesta (left) and Beige Desire (right) — were also included in the release.

Bold but wearable

The colors are bold but not in a harsh way. I think these are bright and cheerful, not moody or dark. There are no vampire lips here, LOL!


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9 Blue Posts: A Homage to Blue Eyeshadow

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It’s winter, ladies, which means cold linoleum and gray days. I’m longing for warm seas and sunny skies, but until spring I’ll have to get my silver linings in other ways. Maybe these 9 blue eye makeup looks can help.

MAC Red She Said Face of the Day: Navy Blue, Bronze and Brown Smokey Eye


“I tried this brown, bronze and navy blue smokey eye. When I was done with the look, I walked around the room by myself, pretending I was contemplating impressionist paintings in a fancy art gallery.”

MAC Blue Zone Face of the Day


“I hate having a lot of errands and household chores to do over the weekend, but sometimes that’s just how it goes. I did this blue and purple eye while I whined my way through five loads of laundry.”

A Copper, Tan and Blue Eye with Cargo Color Palette in Vienna


“I knew today would be a rough day and wanted to wear something colorful (while still safe for the office) and upbeat. It’s a shimmery copper and tan eye with blue accents and features a few different holiday and fall products, including the new Cargo Color Palette in Vienna ($28).”

A Blue, Pink and Silver Eye with Clarins So Sublime Quartet


“I didn’t think I’d be able to use the colors in the So Sublime quad when I first saw them a few weeks ago because they seemed too bright, but playing with them today changed my mind. I like the results. I think I’ll include this eye in my regular rotation of work friendly (yet colorful) looks.”

MAC Cult of Cherry Face of the Day Using the Shadowy Lady Quad


“A few days ago, reader Lexi asked to see a face of the day with the Shadowy (Shady!) Lady quad. That sounded like fun, so here’s the look I wore to work yesterday — a light purple eye with a bright blue liner.

MAC Cosmetics Naughty Nauticals Face of the Day: A Light Purple and Blue Eye

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“I didn’t want to look like a purple drag queen, so I decided on a light purple eye with blue accents using a few colors from the MAC Naughty Nauticals collection.”

Mally City Chick Smokey Eye Kit in Nolita Navy: Makes Blue Eyes Easy


“There was a time when blue eye looks terrified me worse than MJ’s Thriller video scared me as a kid. Nature’s rarest color isn’t always easy to work with, and even the simplest of blue eye looks can quickly devolve into hot blue messes if you don’t know which products to use and where to put them.”

MAC Cosmetics Blue and Green Face of the Day

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“We’ve had a stretch of unseasonably warm weather here in the Bay Area, but this morning started off overcast and gloomy. To brighten up my Monday, I did this blue and green eye with MAC Parrot and Sprout.”

Face of the Day: A Pink and Blue Pastel Eye

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“Pastels aren’t usually my style, but today the makeup gods chose to bestow enough courage upon me to attempt this pink and blue eye, inspired by Shiseido’s spring makeup look.”

Keep warm, and happy hump day!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Dior Lady Dior Spring 2009 Makeup Collection: What Would You Get?

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McLurvely alert! The 2009 Lady Dior spring makeup collection arrives next month, and I’ve been drooling all over the pics.

Earlier today I remembered a game my BFF and I would play when we were kids. It was called What Would You Get?, and whenever one of us would get a catalogue in the mail (hello, no internets), we’d flip through the pages, picking out one thing we’d each get if we could.

Are you ready for WHAT WOULD YOU GET?

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to spend $200 in virtual makeup bucks on the Lady Dior Spring 2009 makeup collection! Let me know what you’d get in the comments. 🙂

I love the $95 cheek and lip palette, with it’s oh-so-cute quilted compact.

Choose from any of the items from the collection…

Eyes

  • 5-Colour Iridescent Eyeshadow in Parisian Lights, $56.00
  • 5-Colour Eyeshadow in Elegante, $56.00
  • 2-Colour Eyeshadow in Nude Look, $35.00
  • Crayon Eyeliner in Elegant Taupe, $26.00

Lips

  • Rouge Dior Lipstick in Rita Beige, $28.00
  • Rouge Dior Lipstick in Actress Chestnut, $28.00
  • Dior Addict High-Shine Lipstick in New Look Beige, $26.00
  • Dior Addict High-Shine Lipstick in Couture Pink, $26.00
  • Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss Reflect in Trenchcoat Beige , $25.50
  • Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss Reflect in Ribbon Beige, $25.50
  • Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss Reflect in Clutch Pink, $25.50
  • Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss Reflect in Satin Pink, $25.50

Nails

  • Dior Vernis in Porcelain, $20.00
  • Dior Vernis in Nude Chic, $20.00

Cheeks

  • Lady Dior Palette in Parisienne Chic or French Chic, a complexion highlighter and a creamy tint for both cheeks and lips, $95.00

Those quints are calling my name…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

$9 L’oreal Bare Naturale Gentle Lip Conditioner Simply Works

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For New Year’s I resolved to get back into shape, so yesterday I headed to the gym at the booty crack of dawn.

I figured a workout sesh would help me accomplish two valuable things: 1) I could burn off the obscene amount of mint chocolate chip ice cream I ate the night before, and 2) I could road test L’oreal Bare Naturale Gentle Lip Conditioner ($9).

L’oreal claims that Gentle Lip Conditioner is “96% of natural origin.” Like you, I’m not entirely sure what that’s supposed to mean (what’s the remaining 4%?), but the product does contain sweet almond oil and vitamin E, and I do know what both of those are, LOL!

It comes in 10 sheer (read: subtle) shades, taste- and fragrance-free, each designed to soften and moisturize lips. I tried Sheer Peach, a nearly transparent, shimmery peach.

I was running late for spinning class, so I slathered on Sheer Peach while going from my car to the gym in the parking lot.

Right away the texture reminded me of Philosophy Kiss Me Lip Balm. It’s a little thinner than MAC lipglass and non-sticky, as well.

At the gym I huffed, puffed and sweated like Whitney Houston circa the Bobby Brown years, and I could feel Gentle Lip Conditioner workin’ its magic on my lips the entire time.

I can usually tell the good from the bad lip conditioners by how my lips feel a few hours after putting one on. In Bare Naturale’s case, my lips felt great — soft and flake-free.

L’oreal Bare Naturale Gentle Lip Conditioner

Price: $9
Use: To soften and moisturize dry, flaky lips (gym approved!)
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A

I’m keeping a tube in my gym bag, fo’ sho!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy: A Smokey Plum Face of the Day

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Yesterday I did a look with smokey plum eyes, rose cheeks and dark lips using a few products from the Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy line.

Carmindy, makeup artist and author of Get Positively Beautiful: The Ultimate Guide to Looking and Feeling Gorgeous, helped develop the line for drugstores nationwide.

With natural-looking eye, lip and cheek products to subtly enhance your favorite features, you won’t find anything too blinged out or find any high fashion crazy colors here.

So far, I really like what I’ve seen, particularly the eye and lip products.

The Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy (say that five times fast!) makeup products used in this look include…

(Note: I couldn’t decide which lip shade to wear with the eyes, so I tried the look with three different lipsticks, LOL).

Smokey Plum Eyes

I start by priming my lids to prevent creasing and to help the eye makeup last longer, dotting and blending Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Wheat with a finger.

Time to add some shadow!

I apply the lid color (shimmery plum) from The Amethyst Eye Palette onto my lids and crease with a MAC 252 Large Shader Brush, and then use the same brush to sweep the highlight color (shimmery light pink) underneath my eyebrow.

For a smokey effect, I use a Sonia Kashuk Synthetic Crease Brush to apply the contour color (shimmery dark purple) to the crease and the outer v.

To finish, I grab a MAC 224 Tapered Blending Brush and sweep it gently along the edges of the colors to remove any harsh lines.

To better define the eyes I line both the upper and lower lash lines with Always Perfect Liquid Eye Liner in Pure Plum using the brush applicator that comes with the product.
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Chanel Rouge Double Intensite Ultra Wear Lip Colour: 5 Application Tips

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While nude lipsticks and lipglosses rule Chanel’s Spring 2009 Bohemian Fantasy Makeup Collection, Coco and company did include a few rich, colorful lip shades for good measure.

Like the new Rouge Double Intensite Ultra Wear Lip Colour lipsticks ($34 each) — both of them deliver long-lasting lip drama.

  • Alexandrite: shimmery brick red
  • Opal Rose: shimmery rose gold

The double-sided wands come with a separate lipstick (base coat) and a clear gloss (top coat) designed to be worn together.

Coco wasn’t kidding about the “long wearing” part

These babies are the Terminators of long wear lipsticks. They last all day and don’t stop for nothin’! One morning I applied a layer of Alexandrite, and six hours and several cups of coffee later, my lips were still a rich brick red.

There’s always a catch…

These have mad pigmenation and staying power, but there’s a catch, or at least there was one for me. They aren’t the easiest lipsticks to apply. My first attempts left me with blotchy, streaky lips. Totally gross.

After a few dreadful attempts, I found a few application techniques that seemed to work.

1. Start with smooth lips

When my lips weren’t completely smooth, these lipsticks settled into the cracked and peeling areas, resulting in uneven color. Applying a lip conditioner or lip balm overnight helped a ton. I slicked on a layer of Philosophy Kiss Me before I went to bed and in the morning my lips looked smooth and felt soft.
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