Eyes

Unexpected Encounters and the LORAC Unzipped Palette

January 30th, 2012 by Karen 42 Comments

lorac unzipped palette (5)

It must’ve been my second or third year in college. I was studying at the library one afternoon and went to take a bathroom break.

When I walked into the ladies’ room, I saw a girl crying at the sink. And these weren’t dainty little sniffles, either. They were primal, hit-you-in-the-gut kind of sobs that happen when your future has taken an unexpectedly sh*tty detour.

She looked at me, and I remembered that I had some tissue in my purse, so I took them out and offered them to her.

And then we hugged.

She clutched me tightly and cried in my arms for 10 minutes, barely saying a word. I just held onto her, and over and over again told her that she was going to be okay.

When she finished crying, I wet some paper towels with cold water to make an improv compress for her eyes, which was something my mom used to do when I was little.

As she began to regain her composure, we hugged again, and even though I didn’t know her name or what had happened, I tried to comfort her, to reassure her that she was strong enough, and she was going to get through it. And then I left to give her some privacy.

I never saw her after that, and to this day I wonder what happened to her, and if things turned out alright.

That was many years ago, but something about the LORAC Unzipped palette ($40) brought the memory back.

Some people will probably see this palette of 10 powder shadows and think of Urban Decay Naked, Naked 2 and the many spinoffs they inspired.

I can certainly see why, but — maybe it’s because of shade names like Unconditional, Uncensored and Unspoken — this palette also reminds me of that day, and days like it, when strangers unexpectedly walk in to find us emotionally stripped, unzipped and raw.

If I should ever find myself sobbing at the sink in a public restroom, I wonder if anyone out there would offer me a shoulder to cry on and maybe a few comforting words.

I hope so…

lorac unzipped palette (4)

lorac unzipped palette (2)
Swatches from the left: Undercover, Unbelievable, Unattainable, Unconditional and Unbridled
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When You Look at The Bright Side, Tarte’s New Double-Ended Eye Brightener Has Some Pretty Good Ingredients

January 28th, 2012 by Karen 11 Comments

Tarte had a bright idea when they thought they’d combine two powder shadows on the same brightener, but is the total package worth the time it takes to use? I hope so! — because I can always use the help when it comes my dark circles.

When I heard about Tarte’s new twin-tipped eye brightener, I thought, heck, let’s look at The Bright Side ($20). 🙂

The Bright Side has a powder shadow on each end — a shimmery champagne called Day on one and a shimmery pink called Night on the other.

To open up and brighten the eyes, Tarte recommends applying Day at the outer corners and under the brow. Then, to really make the eyes pop, they suggest applying Night at the inner corners.

My expectations may have been set a little too high when I gave The Bright Side a try. I mean, the name — The Bright Side? That’s a setup right there. 🙂 I had high hopes, but the product’s not as easy as I hoped it would be to use.

Day / Night: Ingredients

Shimmering Pink: Mica, C12-15 Alkyl Ethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Triethylhexanoin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Myristyl Lactate, Ceresin, Silica, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Methicone, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Carbonate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Hexylene Glycol, Propolis Extract, Kaolin, Carmine (CI 75470), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491).

Shimmering Champagne: Mica, C-12-15 Alkyl Ethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Triethylhexanoin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Myristyl Lactate, Ceresin, Silica, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Methicone, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Carbonate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Hexylene Glycol, Propolis Extract, Kaolin, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).

The sponge tip applicators at both ends apply each shadow unevenly, so I have to spend a few extra minutes patting and blending them in, which wouldn’t be a bother if I didn’t also have to apply about four layers to see the colors on my NC 42 skin (lighter lovelies should be able to get away with one or two).

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The MAC Metal-X Eyeshadows Say to Powder Eyeshadows, “Let’s Work Together”

January 27th, 2012 by Karen 19 Comments

mac metal x (3)

What’s that saying about peeling back the layers of an onion?

Wait — is there a saying about peeling back the layers of an onion? I could have sworn…

Doesn’t matter. All I’m trying to say is that I love layers. 🙂 Layered hair (the only way I can handle my thick, wavy mop), layered clothing (a habit I picked up living in San Francisco) and layer cake (the food, not the film, although I did think Daniel Craig was wicked hot in it).

I also love layering my eye makeup, and I’ve been doing it a lot lately using these MAC Metal-X Eyeshadows ($20 each).

The nine soft, limited edition cream shadows, which recently launched at MAC stores, on counters and online, intensify the color of powder shadows worn on top of them and create a high-shine metallic effect.

I’ve also noticed that they seem to make powder shadows a little easier to blend…

Now, I think these work just fine by themselves, without powder shadows, but they might need some extra babysitting when worn that way. I tried several of colors a couple of different ways, both on bare lids and atop NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base, and every time I wore them alone, without shadow, I kept having to reapply. After about 2 hours on my lids, they begin to crease.

And that’s where the powder shadow comes in.

When I apply them on top of eye primer and then pat a great powder shadow on top, the resulting look stays rich and shiny all day long. There may be a tiny bit of creasing after a few hours, but I don’t think it’s bad.

When I apply a Metal-X shadow with my fingers or a firm eyeshadow brush like the MAC 239, I seem to get my best results and the richest, most intense pigments.

mac metal x (1)

mac cyber
Cyber

mac virgin silver
Virgin Silver
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The Story of Burberry Beauty Pale Barley Eyeshadow No. 22

January 24th, 2012 by Karen 48 Comments

Their love was forbidden, but they could no longer deny their passion.

By day, they sat across counters from one another, so close but yet so far, sneaking glances here and there whenever no one was looking. But at night, after the store lights dimmed and while the other eyeshadows slept peacefully in their pans, MAC Pro Longwear Eyeshadow in Sweet Satisfaction would sneak over to the NARS counter to meet Cyprus Eyeshadow, her one true love.

It was a clandestine affair, and it continued until Sweet Satisfaction started showing signs of a telltale bump…

Knowing that their families would never accept their cross-counter love, they boldly left the worlds they knew and sought refuge in a place called Burberry Beauty.

Burberry Beauty’s family had only settled the region in July of 2010. They did not yet have a competitive wall like the older, more established lines, but they greeted Sweet Satisfaction and Cyprus with open arms, making them feel at home.

Several months passed, and then, in the spring of 2012, Sweet Satisfaction gave birth.

She and Cyprus decided to raise the lovechild as a member of the Burberry Beauty clan, dressing the little one in Burberry Beauty’s distinctive family garb — a gunmetal case with a check pattern — and when they asked the Burberry elders to christen her, they agreed.

They named her Sheer Eye Shadow in Pale Barley No. 22 ($29) and added her to the spring/summer 2012 collection.

burberry beauty spring 2012 (3)
Burberry Beauty Sheer Eye Shadow in Barley No. 22, a new shade from the spring/summer 2012 collection

From the left: MAC Sweet Satisfaction, Burberry Beauty Pale Barley and NARS Cyprus

Swatches from the left: MAC Sweet Satisfaction, Burberry Beauty Pale Barley and NARS Cyprus
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Easy Does It With NARS Makeup Removing Water

January 24th, 2012 by Karen 22 Comments

Ahhh… If my dry skin could talk, that’s what it would say about new NARS Makeup Removing Water ($29).

Gentle. That’s the figurative word here and what I like most about the product, thanks to soothing botanical ingredients like cucumber, chamomile and hyaluronic acid. It works without any soaps, oils, fragrances or alcohol to remove makeup while, according to NARS, toning and moisturizing the skin.

And, even better, it’s supposed to work without scrubbing/rubbing.

MAC Cleanse Off Oil/Tranquil and I have been in a hot-and-heavy relationship for a while now, but when I heard that FranÃ§ois was releasing a new makeup remover that wouldn’t require rubbing, I was intrigued…

When I turned 36, fine lines seemed to crop up overnight! — so things like being able to remove my makeup without having to tug at my skin are suddenly a lot more important to me now.

And to remove long-wearing eye makeup, like waterproof mascaras, eyeliners and highly-pigmented eyeshadows, there’s NARS $25 Eye Makeup Remover. Described as a “high-performance, extremely mild makeup remover that removes all types of makeup, including waterproof,” the non-greasy, oil-in-water formula glides across skin, leaving a silky, smooth feeling without leaving a residue behind, and it contains soothing natural ingredients like aloe and cucumber to calm sensitive skin.

When I’m out running errands and wearing a moderate amount of makeup — maybe a primer, a little bit of tinted moisturizer, powder, eyeshadow, blush, gloss and mascara — I’ll soak one cotton round with Makeup Removing Water, and that’s enough to do the job (without my having to scrub/tug) in between 1-2 minutes.
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I See Vampires In the Sun With Twilight Falls and the MAC, Naturally Mineralize Eye Shadows!

January 21st, 2012 by Karen 12 Comments

I’m starting to see vampire references everywhere I look! — now even in the new MAC, Naturally collection.

Two of the five MAC Mineralize Shadows from the release are called In the Sun and Twilight Falls ($20 each)…

In the Sun? And Twilight Falls? Total vampire plugs, right?

Alright, maybe not, but Twilight Falls is my new smokey shadow crush. MAC describes it as a cool brown with bronze veining…

Veining? Vampires? No?

Okay, I’ll stop. 🙂

Twilight Falls

On me, Twilight Falls is a shimmery cool-toned brownish taupe — hardly any fallout — and I love the way it looks when I apply it on my lids with a firm brush like the MAC 239 and then diffuse the edges with something like the 217 for sultry smokey eyes in snap.

I think it’s also super pretty when applied wet. If you remember Earthly Riches from 2007’s Antiquitease, I think Twilight Falls looks like a version of that with more brown.
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A+

In the Sun

MAC describes In the Sun as a gold with violet veining (vampire much?). On my skin, I see a reddish bronze, and it’s my least favorite of the two on account of its texture and moderate fallout.

I do like how it shimmers… Shimmer always makes me go, “Ooh! It sparkles!” But when I wear it, I can see big grains of powder sitting on top of my skin.

I should also say that I tend to have trouble pulling off bronzy reds because I think many of them they can make me look like I’m ill, but if you can work ’em, more power to ya.
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: C+

Swatches of Twilight Falls on the left and In the Sun on the right
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Who Makes the Mineralize Skinfinishes in Blonde and Redhead? It’s MAC, Naturally

January 20th, 2012 by Karen 17 Comments

Based on the both of the Mineralize Skinfinish powders released with the 21-piece MAC, Naturally collection, Blondes AND Redheads have more fun.

MAC Naturally Mineralize Skinfinishes And that’s good news for brunettes! Blonde and Redhead ($28 each) are my favorite pieces from the collection, which launched a few weeks back, and I mustn’t be their only fan. Both powders are currently sold out on the MAC website, but you should be able to track them down in stores and on counters (and online at nordstrom.com).

Elder MAC mavens might remember both shades from 2009’s Brunette Blonde Redhead (GREAT collection!). MAC moppets seeing these striped beauties for the first time are in for a treat.

To say the MAC Mineralize Skinfinishes have a cult following is like saying Tabs likes gravy (a BIG understatement). Many MAC fans, myself included, look forward to these powdered pretties and stalk our local makeup counters on the dates of their release, and it’s not uncommon for the limited edition ones like Blonde and Redhead to sell out early.

So, what makes ’em so special? Darned if I know — but it must be something magic. They’re powders that can be used as highlighters, blushes and also as powders for the entire face, and they’re softer than a tabby’s tum and give a glow like whoa to the skin. 🙂

Blonde (a soft pink to rose gradient) and Redhead (a gold to salmon gradient) also show the MSFs at their best. They deposit intense pigments with nearly blinding shimmer that I think makes them marvelous for, among other things, bold, highlighted cheeks.

Swatches of Blonde (left) and Redhead (right)

Wearing Redhead on my cheeks
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Give Your Brows a Light Lift With New Benefit High Brow Glow

January 19th, 2012 by Karen 58 Comments

Windows work both ways, and when you’re singing Careless Whisper in your car at the top of your lungs, PEOPLE CAN SEE YOU!

I don’t know what it is about that cheesy song, but I’m physically incapable of sitting still when I hear it. It’s like some kind of druidic Wham spell that makes every cell in my body emote, especially when I’m driving and George really gets going.

“Tonight the music seems so loud. I wish that we could lose this crowd. Maybe…it’s better this way; we hurt each other with the things we wanted to say. We could’ve been so good together; we could’ve danced this dance forever, but nowwwwww I’ve blown that chance awaaaaay… PLEASE STAY!”

Long story short, I was on my way to Trader Joe’s this afternoon and waiting at a stoplight when Careless Whisper started playing on KOIT (Light Rock, Less Talk). So I was getting into it and started doing this American Idol face/Mariah Carey thing with my hands when I saw the guy in the car next to me hella cracking up.

Almost the same thing happened a couple weeks ago at home with the neighbor, so I appear to have this recurring issue with windows…

I don’t know if the laughing dude noticed how fierce and exceptionally lifted my brows looked today on account of how hard he was laughing, but if he did, new Benefit High Brow Glow ($20) gets all the credit.

This little tiger lives to accent arches, and if it’s giving you dÃ©jÃ vu, you’re probably recalling Benefit’s O.G. pale matte pink High Brow Pencil. When drawn and blended beneath the apex in the arch of your brow, it creates the illusion of a higher arch. I’ve been using it for years, but I’ve never been able to pull it off in spring and summer because it tends to look ashy on me once I have a tan.
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