Eyes

Glittery, Peachy and Prepared to Go the Distance, MAC’s Paint Pot in Vintage Selection Is a Top Pick for Dinners and Dates

February 8th, 2013 by Karen 10 Comments

MAC Vintage Selection Pro Longwear Paint Pot — Wearing MAC’s Vintage Selection ($18.50), one of eight new Pro Longwear Paint Pots available now at MAC counters, stores and maccosmetics.com

Last night I met a friend of mine, Joanie, for dinner in the city (Delarosa restaurant). She’s also a ~~makeup nerd~~ makeup enthusiast, so I wanted to go buck wild with a coral and green eye look using the new Guerlain Coup de Foudre palette and some false lashes, because I knew she’d “get it,” if you know what I mean (LOL, do you ever do that with your makeup buds!?), but per usual, time got away from me, and I ended up having to bolt out of the house at the last minute with what I was already wearing — a simple eye look with liner, mascara and MAC’s shimmery, silvery peach Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Vintage Selection ($18.50).

Wouldn’t ya know it? Even in the dim lighting of the restaurant, halfway through a convo about red smokey eyes, Joanie asked me about the glitter glittering on me.

“Ooh, girl,” I replied between bites of polenta smothered in gooey cheese and tomato sauce. “That’s MAC’s new Vintage Selection Pro Longwear Paint Pot! Lemme tell ya about it…”

It’s a cream eye shadow, comes in a pot, and it’s one of those Jekyll and Hyde shades that looks deceptively mellow when you open it, but get it on your lids, and it’s, “Wow! Sparkly glitter-o-rama!”

My favorite thing about it? — other than the shimmery specks and how well it layers? With or without a primer, it lasts on my lids for hours! I can put it on at 10 in the morning, and it’s still going strong, with no fading and only the faintest creasing, at 8 o’clock at night.

MAC Vintage Selection Pro Longwear Paint Pot Small — Vintage Selection ($18.50)

MAC Vintage Selection Pro Longwear Paint Pot Swatch — A frosty peach with tiny pieces of silver glitter

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Big Snakes on a Blog! Or, the New MAC Year of the Snake Large Eye Shadows in Once Upon a Time, Altered State, Carbon and Aztec Brick

February 5th, 2013 by Karen 52 Comments

MAC Year of the Snake Large Eyeshadows in Altered State and Carbon — Here I’m wearing the new $21 MAC Year of the Snake collection Large Eye Shadows (available now exclusively online) in Altered State on my lids and in my creases, and Carbon in the outer corners and along my lower lash lines

Here’s to hoping that these four new Large Eye Shadows from MAC are the closest I ever come to having snakes on top of my eyes!

Not that I have anything against snakes (of the reptilian variety). My aversion to slithering creatures doesn’t extend to snakes. It’s more of an anti-worm policy (they’re so slimy and squiggly, YUCK!). I’m definitely not anti-snake.

I actually think they’re pretty cool and inspiring, really. All sleek, graceful and frightening at the same time, kind of like Grace Jones in Conan The Destroyer.

And speaking of Conan, these snake-patterned 0.10-ounce pans are also pretty huge (twice the size of MAC’s regular 0.05-ounce pans).

MAC Once Upon a Time Large Eye Shadow from the Year of the Snake Collection — Once Upon a Time, a metallic vanilla with a veluxe pearl finish

MAC Aztec Brick Large Eye Shadow — Aztec Brick, a frosted copper with a veluxe pearl finish

MAC Carbon Large Eye Shadow — Carbon, an intense black with a matte finish

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I’m Drawn to the New Dior Diorshow Art Pen

February 4th, 2013 by Karen 25 Comments

Dior Diorshow Art Pen in Catwalk Black — Wearing the new Diorshow Art Pen in Catwalk Black ($30), coming March to Dior counters and Dior.com

I guess you could spend the entire eight hours that Dior’s new quick-drying, long-wearing Diorshow Art Pen ($30) lasts on lids stomping on catwalks and smiling with your eyes. 🙂

Or, you could spend that same amount of time…

Watching the last three episodes of Homeland, Season 2, while wondering whether it’s too late and/or unrealistic to consider a career as a television writer (I’d love to work on something like 30 Rock).
Finishing four loads of laundry and shaking your fists in fury after you find your very furry, very misbehaved cat rolling around on top of a freshly washed load of light-colored laundry like it’s his job.
Writing several long lists, like “Things to do before my birthday,” “Where I want to be in 5 years,” and “Ways to make the world a better place.”
Watching the entire Super Bowl from start to finish, and then having a “Hallelujah!” moment when you realize that you were actually able to follow what was going on, thanks to your husband’s patient football tutelage.
Watching the Puppy Bowl, while mumbling about how cats always seem to get the short end of the stick when it comes to prime-time TV coverage…
Coming close to tears TWICE during the commercial breaks (the Clydesdale horse one and the gorgeous imagery in “God Made a Farmer”)… Freakin’ PMS!!

I really like this liner. It’s available in a single shade, Catwalk Black, a rich, true black without any blue tones that dries quickly to a high-gloss finish. One swipe delivers intense pigment, so I can quickly line my eyes without having to keep adding layers.

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Laura Mercier’s Caviar Stick Eye Colours Have Me Singing Easy Eye Makeup’s Praises

January 31st, 2013 by Karen 30 Comments

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour Sand Glow — Here I’m wearing Laura Mercier’s $24 Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Sand Glow, one of 18 available shades

Cream shadow sticks! Now, if you’re thinkin’, “Been there, done that (*snaps*),” and wondering why you should spend a hot second contemplating another cream shadow stick, well, GURL, when I walked up on Laura Mercier’s new $24 Caviar Stick Eye Colours at Sephora a couple weeks ago, I suddenly heard this Lionel Richie song…

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour seashell swatch — Laura’s Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Seashell

Okay, not really, but I did achieve makeup nirvana…

I love these things so much that I just got a great idea! — you, me, all of us, mojitos (and Shirley Temples) and a HUGE karaoke bar.

And criss-cut fries. 🙂

We’ll all wear different shades of Laura’s Caviar Sticks on our eyes and take the stage by storm!

For the record, these sticks aren’t new, but Laura’s adding six spring shades to go with the 12 shades currently in her permanent collection (here are swatches).

I wish I knew why it took me so long to notice these, and now I’m kicking myself in the butt for that…

It’s not that we haven’t seen shadow sticks before. At one point in time, MAC had something similar, the Shadesticks, that are now discontinued, and Bobbi Brown recently released something very similar for spring.

So, shadow sticks, what are they, exactly? Generally, they’re cream eyeshadows that come in twist-up packaging.

You take one, draw directly on your skin, blend out the edges, and BAM! — you’re wearing eyeshadow.

Simple, and really, really easy.

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour closeup — From the left: Seashell, Grey Pearl and Sand Glow

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour swatches — Swatches from the left: Seashell, Grey Pearl and Sand Glow

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Holy Smokes, Is That Strut? Benefit’s New Creaseless Cream Shadow in Holy Smokes Plays Dale to Strut’s Brennan

January 28th, 2013 by Karen 20 Comments

The new Benefit Holy Smokes Creaseless Cream Shadow ($19)

For the Bene-babes dabbing daintily at glittery tears while clutching embroidered hankies and waiving a slow, sad farewell as their favorite Creaseless Creme Shadows sail away to the Island of Dr. Moreaus’s Discontinued Beauty Favorites, I have some potentially good news. 🙂

At least one of the colors, Strut, will live on in the newly repackaged Creaseless Cream Shadow line launching this spring.

Remember Strut? The dark shimmery gray has long been a perfect partner in crime for smokey eyes, and it’s not going anywhere, although it has been slightly tweaked with a blink of taupe and given a new moniker: Holy Smokes.

A few days ago, I wore Holy Smokes on one eye and Strut on the other, with Laura Mercier’s Stormy Grey along my water lines (they go together like peanut butter and jelly), and really, I couldn’t tell the difference between them on my lids (unless I looked really close).

Benefit Swatches of Holy Smokes, Strut and Skinny Jeans — Swatches from the left: Holy Smokes, Strut and Skinny Jeans

Benefit Holy Smokes — Wearing Holy Smokes on the eye on the right of the screen and Strut on the eye on the left

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Try Laura Mercier’s New Long-Wearing, Waterproof Creme Eye Liners for Cat Eyes That Last

January 28th, 2013 by Karen 34 Comments

The New Laura Mercier Creme Eye Liners — Wearing Laura Mercier’s new $22 Creme Eye Liner in Violet, applied with the new Angled Eye Liner Brush ($20)

Remember when you tossed those jeans with the word, “Poison,” airbrushed on them and shouted, “I wish I had a pair of skinnies that said, ‘I Laura Mercier Stormy Grey!!’ on the butt”?

No…?

Oops! Sorry, my bad. That was me.

If you love Laura’s liners so much that you quote The Notebook whenever you clutch Antique Jade or Black Gold in your hands (“…everyday we are together is the greatest day of my life. I will always be yours.”), then 1) no judgment, and 2) you may want to check out Laura’s new $22 Creme Eye Liners.

This spring Laura unveils them in six long-wearing, waterproof cream liner shades designed to accent eyes with smooth, precise color and a semi-matte finish.

They’re designed for quick, easy application, especially when applied with a single swipe from Laura’s new $20 Angled Eye Liner Brush.

Laura Mercier Creme Eye Liner Jars — From the left: Indigo, Violet and Noir ($22 each), three of the six new Creme Liners

Yesterday, while snarfing a post-treadmill workout banana and texting my friend Jen about going out dancing for the first time in years, I swiped Noir along my right lash line and Violet along my left. I used the new brush, too (like a fancy version of Sonia’s Bent Brush; ideal for delivering smooth, crisp edges and flawless flicks).

I was in a frantic rush to get ready and out the door to meet my little brother, who was on his way across the Bay from the city on the Larkspur Ferry, and even though I was rushed and distracted, I still managed a cat eye liner look that Tabs himself could not find fault with. 🙂

As for how waterproof they are, I’m not sure… I’m waiting for Ryan Gosling to declare his unrequited love for me while standing in the rain (in other words, I’ll let you know).

I can already attest to their durability, though. Both Noir and Violet lasted me through a leisurely lunch Off the Grid with my bro, where we spotted a man I’m 99.9% sure was Sammy Hagar…

…through a long hike in the hills of Novato’s Indian Valley nature preserve…

…through a two-hour movie…

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The New MAC Spoiled Rich Eye Shadow X4 Palette Emboldens Your Inner Veronica

January 24th, 2013 by Karen 21 Comments

Would I recommend the new MAC Eye Shadow X4 palette in Spoiled Rich, also known as “the Veronica palette,” to my mom, my friend Jen, or any of the other women in my life who only casually dabble in cosmetics (as opposed to following it fanatically)? Probably not. That’s what the Betty palette is for.

With its non-stop party purples, charcoal black and navy blue, Spoiled Rich, one of two palettes in MAC’s new Archie’s Girls collection, has it in for long-time, deeply entrenched members of the MAC cult.

Put another way, if you can work out a dark charcoal gray and purple eye using a handheld mirror and a pair of children’s toy paintbrushes while hanging upside-down, chances are, this is the palette for you. If you feel like the world is your runway, and you want the audience focused on your lids, chances are, this is the palette for you.

Seriously, these are the kinds of colors you wear when you’re comfortable blending the sh*t out of your eye makeup.

Ron Ron Run and Gravel Eye Shadows

Girls/guys who can describe the differences between the 217, 224 and 239 off the top of their head may adore the two colors on the right — navy blue Ron Ron Run and charcoal Gravel. Both require barely a butterfly kiss from a brush head for maximum pigment, and blend like buttercream frosting.

Not only that — they last on my lids all day long with minimal fallout.

MAC Eye Shadow X4 in Spoiled Rich Swatches in Pink-Up Purple, Spoiled Rich, Ron Ron Run and Gravel — Eye Shadow X4 in Spoiled Rich ($44): Pink-Up Purple, Spoiled Rich, Ron Ron Run and Gravel

Pin-Up Purple Eye Shadow

As for the purples on the left, I happen to dig the lighter one, Pin-Up Purple, even though it might disappoint MAC divas who demand vibrant, punchy purples. It reminds me of the violet I see when I watch the sunrise through my office window, and when I wear it as a wash on my lids, BAM! — I look a lot less tired than I feel. 🙂

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The New MAC Caramel Sundae Eye Shadow X4 Palette Satisfies Sweet Teeth and Appetites for Interesting Neutral Palettes

January 24th, 2013 by Karen 25 Comments

MAC Eye Shadow X4 Palette in Caramel Sundae Review — Wearing the new MAC Archie’s Girls Eye Shadow X4 Palette in Caramel Sundae ($44)

Like a life raft to rescue us from the ocean of apartment wall beige eyeshadows and school uniform browns that have flooded makeup counters and store shelves since urban Decay released the Naked palette, the new MAC Archie’s Girls Eye Shadow X4 Palette in Caramel Sundae, or what I like to call, “The Betty Palette,” reminds me of bounding through a beauty department and noticing the looks the makeup artists are wearing, how they emphasize some features while toning down others (like chromatic cherry lips paired with a wash of cocoa powder brown on the lids).

I think that’s the idea behind MAC’s new $44 Caramel Sundae, the counterpoint to Veronica’s Spoiled Rich palette, from the new Archie’s Girls collection (coming Jan. 30 to cyberspace, and to stores and counters Feb. 7).

MAC Archie's Girls Eye Shadow X4 — Eye Shadow X4 ($44)

While the purples in Veronica’s palette powerfully take the stage! — strutting into the room with stilettos clacking, Betty’s Caramel Sundae glides…her Chuck Taylors padding softly on the hardwood floor.

You might even overlook her at first, until you realize, smiling and laughing, that she weaved your favorite quotes from Step Brothers into a conversation about Shake Weights.

Wait — what?

My point is this: Betty’s Caramel Sundae channels sweetness and light, and that warmth you feel in your heart on your very best days.

MAC Caramel Sundae Eye Shadow X4 — Eye Shadow X4 in Caramel Sundae ($44); eyeshadows from the left: Cheryl Chic (a light coral pink), Dreammaker (a pale, frosty yellow), Caramel Sundae (a mid-toned, warm tan) and Showstopper (a dark, cool-toned brown matte)

MAC Caramel Sundae Eye Shadow X4 Swatches — Caramel Sundae Eye Shadow X4 in Cheryl Chic, Dreammaker, Caramel Sundae and Showstopper

MAC Archie's Girls Caramel Sundae Palette review — Not sure what’s going on here, but this pic cracks me up…

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