Daily Beauty

The Ambient Lighting Powders by Hourglass

January 23rd, 2013 by Karen 22 Comments

Hourglass Ambient Powders closeup — The new Hourglass Ambient Powders ($45 each) and Ambient Powder Brush ($35)

The brush and powders just launched on Sephora.com. 🙂

Hourglass Dim Light Ambient Powder — Dim Light, a neutral peach beige ($45)

Hourglass Radiant Light Ambient Powde — Radiant Light, a golden beige ($45)

Hourglass Luminous Light Ambient Powder — Luminous Light, a champagne pearl ($45)

Hourglass Ambient Powder Brush — Ambient Powder Brush ($35)

Chanel’s Rouge Double IntensitÃ© in Rose Pearl

January 18th, 2013 by Karen 17 Comments

Chanel Rouge Double Intensite in Rose Pearl

Chanel’s Rouge Double IntensitÃ© in Rose Pearl ($34), from the Printemps PrÃ©cieux de Chanel Spring 2013 collection, a lightweight, long-wearing liquid lipstick paired with a high shine clear gloss.

Available now at Chanel counters and chanel.com.

chanel printemps precieux de chanel spring 2013 — 18 of the 22 pieces from the new Chanel Printemps PrÃ©cieux de Chanel Spring 2013 Collection; Rose Pearl is the tube to the lower right of the hot pink nail polish

NARS’ Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in Corcovado

January 16th, 2013 by Karen 18 Comments

A shimmery gold cream eyeshadow that you can wear by itself or as a base for powder eyeshadows.

I dig the color and how it lights up my eyes, but after five minutes it creases like WHOA. It wears a little better if I use only a tiny bit and set it with a powder eyeshadow.

Wish NARS could find a way for it to last longer, because the color’s flattering on warm skin.

nars spring 2013 swatches — Swatches from the left: Bouthan Duo Eyeshadow, Mad Mad World Duo Eyeshadow, Persia Single Eyeshadow and Corcovado Soft Touch Shadow Pencil

PRICE: $24
AVAILABILITY: Available now at NARS counters and narscosmetics.com
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: C

MAC’s Party Parrot Lipstick

January 15th, 2013 by Karen 24 Comments

A vibrant reddish pink, and one of five lipsticks from the new MAC Strength collection.

One layer gives me smooth, full coverage that lasts from 6-7 hours.

What a bright, happy shade. 🙂

If you’re hooked on MAC’s Impassioned Lipstick, you might also sing for Party Parrot.

PRICE: $15
AVAILABILITY: Currently listed as “sold out” on maccosmetics.com, so check your local counter
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A+

Chanel’s Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeliners in Beryl and Santal

January 11th, 2013 by Karen 15 Comments

chanel stylo yeux waterproof santal beryl big

chanel stylo yeux waterproof santal beryl small — Chanel’s Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeliners in Santal on the left and Beryl on the right ($30 each), two of three liners from the Printemps PrÃ©cieux de Chanel spring 2013 collection

Both have a soft, smooth texture, and the shades work perfectly with the rest of the spring collection (especially the Raffinement quad), but the wear time’s just “eh.” Along the lash lines I get between four and six hours. Water lines, about three.

chanel stylo yeux waterproof santal beryl — Santal on the left and Beryl on the right

PRICE: $30
AVAILABILITY: Available now at Chanel counters and chanel.com
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B-

MAC’s Mineralize Tinted Lip Balm in Pure & Tender

January 10th, 2013 by Karen 4 Comments

mac mineralize tinted lip balm pure tender

Hello, hydration! Non-sticky and comfy, too. I like the sheerness, but it might not be enough pigment for some gals/guys.

PRICE: $19.50
AVAILABILITY: Available now at MAC counters, stores and maccosmetics.com
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A- (some may want more pigment)

MAC’s Brow Duos in Blonde, Brunette and Redhead

January 9th, 2013 by Karen 15 Comments

mac brow duos small — MAC Brow Duos from the left: Blonde, Brunette and Rehead ($27.50 each)

Three new brow duos, each with two shades of powder eyeshadow from MAC’s permanent line. The idea is to mix and match to create your own personal shade.

The shadows look light in the swatches but go on darker when applied with a stiff brush (I like the 214 Short Shader or the 266 Small Angle).

For me, these are the easiest, fastest and most natural-looking brow products from MAC’s Stylish Brow collection.

mac brow duos swatches — From the left: Blonde (Soba and Omega), Brunette (Coquette and Brun) and Redhead (Cork and Espresso)

mac-slightly-nude-tinted-lip-balm-k2 — Wearing the darker shade from the Brunette duo in my brows

PRICE: $27.50
AVAILABILITY: Available now at MAC counters, stores and maccosmetics.com
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A- (where’s Concrete?)