Eyes

The Waterproof Brow Collection by MAC Will Cure Brows of Aquaphobia and Whip Them Into Shape

May 2nd, 2014 by Karen 13 Comments

MAC Waterproof Brow collection — The new MAC Pro Longwear Waterproof Brow Set ($16 each), from the new MAC The Waterproof Brow collection

Sweating in the name of makeup love!

This morning, to see how the new $16 MAC Pro Longwear Waterproof Brow Set and $16 Fluidline Brow Gelcremes would handle smudging and sweating, I slogged and panted through 30 grueling minutes on the treadmill (grueling because I just wasn’t feelin’ it).

Both are bound for the permanent line and hail from MAC’s new The Waterproof Brow collection, coming May 15 to maccosmetics.com and North American stores and counters May 22 (internationally, some time this month).

The MAC Fluidline Brow Gelcremes

You may recall the Fluidline Brow Gelcreme brow fillers in Redhead, Dirty Blonde and Deep Dark Brunette when they showed up for a limited time back in January 2013.

Like the Fluidline gel eyeliners, they come in a pot, but formula-wise feel slightly fluffier than the eyeliners do to me. I think the Gelcremes are also less intense, which makes them easy to manipulate when I run them through my brows.

First, I like to use the MAC 266 with Deep Dark Brunette to fill, lengthen and shape my brows, mostly just in the outer tail area to sharpen, define and lengthen at the ends, and then I’ll run the brush lightly along the entire length of the bottom of the brow for some soft definition.

As for the treadmill test this morning, Deep Dark Brunette passed. 🙂 I was sweating buckets by the end of my run, but the Gelcreme stayed put. Methinks it would be great for fitness fiends, cheerleaders, the tropics or gals/guys who perform under hot stage lights — pretty much anyone who needs waterproof makeup.

MAC Pro Longwear Waterproof Brow Set

Pigmented brow gels for tinting and holding brow hairs in place, the MAC Pro Longwear Waterproof Brow Sets ($16 each) have a fluffy, mousse-like formula and dry to a matte finish (don’t they kind of look like mascara wands?).

They’ll whip yo’ fuzzy little caterpillars into shape like brow drill sergeants! Use them to groom, define, shape and shade, and depending on how you work them, you can either go natural or dramatic.

MAC-Pro-Longwear Waterproof Brow Set from the left: Emphatically Blonde, Toasted Blonde, Red Chestnut, Quiet Brunette, Bold Brunette and Brown Ebony — Pro-Longwear Waterproof Brow Sets from the left in Emphatically Blonde, Toasted Blonde, Red Chestnut, Quiet Brunette, Bold Brunette and Brown Ebony ($16 each)

I use Quiet Brunette in the inner portion of my brows and Bold Brunette in the center ’cause I’m all about that ombre brow life! 🙂

To apply, I like to brush the wand directly through the hairs using an upward motion.

The Brow Sets leave my brows looking full (it’s a softer look than the Fluidline Brow Gelcremes) and groomed, with the brow hairs nicely combed, and they don’t feel crunchy.

They don’t have the hold of, say, Anastasia’s Brow Gel, but they have enough muscle to keep those bad boys from flapping in the wind.

Like the Fluidline Brow Gelcremes, the Pro Longwear Waterproof Brow Sets handle the treadmill test like champs! They don’t get patchy or look weird, even when my brows are swimming in sweat.

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A Monday Face of the Day With the New Tom Ford Unabashed Eye and Cheek Compact

April 28th, 2014 by Karen 35 Comments

Tom Ford Unabashed Eye and Cheek Palette — Wearing Tom Ford’s new $95 Unabashed Eye and Cheek compact

The bright matte blue eyeshadow chilling in the corner of Tom Ford’s new summer eye and cheek compact is, well, unabashedly blue and comes, ironically, out of the blue, or so it seems to me.

Then again, maybe that was the point. The compact is called Unabashed, after all, and with a name like that, I guess it makes sense to have at least one outrageous color, methinks.

The bold electric blue looks like it wandered over from the Urban Decay counter and decided to kick it with TF for the summer, and it’s not one of those bait-and-switch blue eyeshadows, either — you know, the kind that scream from their pans, “Haaaay, look at me, playa!” only to apply all shy and sheer.

No way, this blue’s bright and bangin’ — perfect for bold blue eye looks, if you feel so inclined.

When I see blues like this one, my gut usually tells me to do a neutral lid and smudge the blue along my lower lash lines, or perhaps do a soft blue cat eye, but this morning my gut told me something else. It said, “Um, Karen, let the blue play with the other colors in the compact, OK?”

And I said, “Sure.” 🙂

The compact also includes a matte taupe eyeshadow, which looks a little like the taupe from She Wolf, only lighter; a glittery taupe; a shimmery golden peach blush; and a shimmery golden tan bronzer/highlighter.

I found out that if you layer the matte blue on top of the golden bronzer, it summons a dark and beautiful peacock feather teal.

COOL!

For my eyes…

Apply the bronzer/highlighter in the crease.
Sweep the matte blue into the lower crease.
Pat the matte taupe on the lids, then layer the glittery taupe on top (which I’ve applied here with a wet eyeshadow brush to intensify the glittery effect).
Line the upper lash line with Tom Ford’s Eye Defining Pen in Deeper.
Line the upper and lower water lines with Guerlain’s Black Jack Eye Pencil.
Smudge the matte taupe along the lower lash line.
Apply Katy Perry false lashes to my upper lashes.
And coat my lower lashes with Clinique Lash Power Feathering Mascara.

For the rest of the look, I swept the golden peach blush from the compact on my cheeks and applied the highlighter/bronzer on my upper cheekbones, down the bridge of my nose and on my Cupid’s bow.

I finished by applying a single layer of Tom Ford’s sumptuous Sable Smoke Lipstick (THE BEST high-end nude lippie, EVAH!) and topped it with a little NARS Striptease Lip Gloss.

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Yummy Mimosas and MAC Studio Sculpt Shade and Line in Apricot Blend

April 22nd, 2014 by Karen 12 Comments

MAC Apricot Blend Studio Sculpt Shade and Line — Wearing the new MAC Studio Sculpt Shade and Line in Apricot Blend

I love mimosas… Last weekend I had a very nice Apricot Blend.

Oh — you thought those two things were related? No, I meant to say, “I like mimosas, and last weekend I wore Apricot Blend.” 🙂

It’s one of the eight recently released MAC Studio Sculpt Shade and Line trios — $21 eye makeup trios with two coordinating eyeshadows and one powder liner in each.

You can wear them wet or dry (wet makes the colors more intense), and each of the pans has coordinating colors — some matte and some shimmer, depending on the pan.

Apricot Blend has a matte orangey brown (like MAC Bamboo), a shimmery beige (like MAC Shroom) and a matte reddish brown liner (which is basically like MAC Costa Riche Eye Kohl in powder liner form).

On me they last about 8-10 hours when I wear them with an eyeshadow primer, which is pretty great wear time. They’re available now at MAC counters, stores and online.

MAC Apricot Blend, a champagne beige/dirty berry brown/warm coral peach (pearl/matte) — Apricot Blend, a champagne beige/dirty berry brown/warm coral peach (pearl/matte)

I wore this one, Apricot Blend, a lot last weekend to hang out with ye olde parents, 1) because I didn’t think sparkly glitter was appropriate for Easter brunch and din-din with the folks, and 2) because Apricot Blend caught my eye earlier in the week and looked fairly wearable and neutral. I decided to give it a try, after which I pretty much wore it all weekend long.

I call this my “warm orangey matte brown in the crease, with a shimmery, peachy beige on the lid, along my brow bone and in the inner corner; and a soft reddish brown liner mixed with black eyeshadow on the upper lash line with a warm reddish brown powder liner smudged along my lower lash line” look.

Yes, that’s a very long name… 🙂

The look is very similar to something I do all the time with other MAC products, but this time I used Apricot Blend.

What else am I wearing?

On my eyes: Katy Perry Lashes, MAC Costa Riche Eye Kohl (lower water line), Guerlain Blackjack Liner (upper water line) and MAC Carbon (mixed with the darker brown from Apricot Blend and applied along the upper lash line).
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At the MAC Studio Sculpt Shade and Line Cafe, You’ll Find the Perfect Color Blend

April 21st, 2014 by Karen 12 Comments

MAC Olive Blend Studio Sculpt Shade and Line — Wearing the new MAC Studio Sculpt Shade and Line in Olive Blend ($21) on my eyes

BETTY THE BEAUTY BARISTA: Hi, welcome to the MAC Studio Sculpt Shade and Line Cafe, where we serve fresh eye makeup blends, all day, every day. My name is Betty, and I’ll be your Beauty Barista this morning. Can I get you one of our trios?

KAREN: Hi, Betty. I’m not sure what I want yet… This is my first time here, and your menu is HUGE!

BETTY THE BEAUTY BARISTA: No problem at all. Take your time. If you have any questions, just let me know. Each of our Studio Sculpt Shade and Line products comes with two powder eyeshadows and a powder eyeliner, which you can wear wet or dry, so the number of potential color combinations can be a little daunting. But that’s what I’m here for.

All eight of the new limited edition MAC Studio Sculpt Shade and Lines ($21 each), available now at MAC stores, counters and maccosmetics.com

KAREN: I’m so excited! Let’s see… I can’t figure out where to start, Betty. Halp!

BETTY THE BEAUTY BARISTA: OK, well, how about we start by taking a quick look at the eight blends we have here in our display case? Do any of these catch your eye?

KAREN: Hmm…

Well, I think I like this pan [she points at the one with khaki and rose gold colors]. Is that a good one?

MAC Olive Blend, a rich rose-gold/deep olive green/ dirty olive (pearl/matte) — Olive Blend has a rich rose-gold, a deep olive green and a dirty olive (pearl/matte)

BETTY THE BEAUTY BARISTA: That’s Olive Blend! Excellent choice. It’s one of my top three.

KAREN: So pretty…

BETTY THE BEAUTY BARISTA: It is! Yup, it’s really great if you want something subtle, neutral and shimmery with a little more oomph than a basic brown or beige.

KAREN: It’s an interesting combination of colors. Kind of unusual.

BETTY THE BEAUTY BARISTA: I know, right? Khaki and rose gold? But they go together like peanut butter and jelly.

[She holds it up in her hand.] I just wore it last weekend. I did, like, a smokey, sultry look with the khaki eyeshadow in the crease, the rose gold on my lids and the darker khaki smudged out on my lower lash lines. Then I applied the darker khaki again on my upper lash lines using a wet brush, popped on some false lashes, and I was good to go.

KAREN: I would totally do that!

BETTY THE BEAUTY BARISTA: I used a MAC 224 and 217 to apply. Yeah, it looked like the kind of eye look that takes forever to buff and blend, but because the Studio Sculpt Shade and Line shadows are so soft and creamy and don’t have any fallout, I barely had to do anything at all.

KAREN: GURL, that’s music to my ears. You don’t even know. How’s the wear time on this cutie? My boss has me working these crazy-@ss long hours, so I need my eye makeup to last, and I don’t really like to mess with touchups…

BETTY THE BEAUTY BARISTA: If you use a good primer, you won’t have to worry about touching up at all! — another reason why I love these so much. Whenever I wear one with an eyeshadow primer, they last for, like, 8-10 hours with hardly any fallout, creasing or fading.
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Try Essence of Eye-Opening Energy for Sleepy Afternoons: Essence Crystal Eyeliner Is a Perfect Pick-Me-Up

April 18th, 2014 by Karen 9 Comments

Some people use coffee or tea for an afternoon pick-me-up.

Me? I like glitter liner because 1) it doesn’t give me the shakes or keep me up at night, and 2) it works almost as well as caffeine.

A little glitter on my lids or along my lower lash lines is a fantastic pick-me-up.

After lunch this afternoon (homemade tuna salad on rice cakes, which, OK, may sound weird, but it’s actually really good), I started feeling run down. I was getting the afternoon sleepies, so I thought, “needs glitter.”

I busted out Gold Rush and Twinkly Starlight, two of the five new glitter liners by Essence.

They’re $2.99 each and new additions to the Essence line. They’re on the creamy side, too, because they have a gel base, so they’re a little easier to work with than your run-of-the-mill liquid glitter liner.

Because the flecks of glitter are different shapes and sizes, the formula looks bumpier and more textured on lids than, say, something like the Heavy Metal Glitter Liners by Urban Decay, which have tiny flecks of uniformly shaped glitter.

Twinkly Starlight (left) and Gold Rush (right)

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Party-Ready Eyes for Just $2.99: The Essence Metal Glam Eyeshadows

April 18th, 2014 by Karen 13 Comments

So much metallic, glittery, shimmery goodness for just $2.99! I almost can’t believe it’s true, because sometimes, when you add glitter, metallics and discount together, the formula equals “something sketchy.”

But in this case the formula equals fun.

You know how I feel about sci-fi… LOVE IT! And that might be one of the reasons I like these new $2.99 Essence Metal Glam Eyeshadows. Pressed metallic shadows with a glittery overspray, their shiny, shimmery metallic finish looks kinda like Terminator-esque liquid metal/chrome.

Essence Metal Glam Eyeshadow in Jewel Up the Ocean — Jewel Up the Ocean

You can wear them wet or dry, but I prefer wet because it turns up the intensity of the metallic effect (metallic-ness?). And I figure that if you’re going to wear metallics on your lids, you might as well go all out.

For me, they were a little tricky to apply at first, but once you get the hang of ’em, I think you get a lot of bang for your buck.

I mean, shoot, they’re only $2.99.

Essence Metal Glam Eyeshadow in Coffee to Glow — Coffee to Glow

The trick is figuring out how to keep the fallout under control. Use a fluffy brush like the MAC 217 or 224, and you could very well end up with sheer shimmer on your lids and glitter all over your cheeks.

Now, if that’s what you want, it’s all good.

Essence Metal Glam Eyeshadow in Frosted Apple — Frosted Apple

But I like to just use a clean wet finger. It gets the job done and eliminates fallout. Plus, because the finger’s wet, it cranks up the intensity of the pigments and shine.

I’ll wet a finger with MAC Fix+, swipe it across the pan a few times to pick up some product, and apply on my lids.

BOOM! — dramatic metal.

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Clinique Black Honey All About Shadow Super Shimmer, and a Message From the Future…

April 17th, 2014 by Karen 27 Comments

1994 KAREN: Hello?

2014 KAREN: Hi, is this Karen?

1994 KAREN: Yes, it is.

2014 KAREN: This is going to sound totally weird, but, um…this is your future self, Karen. From 2014.

1994 KAREN: Shut the front door! What? Who is this? Jen, is that you?

2014 KAREN: No, really. It’s me, Karen. I mean, I’m also Karen. I’m calling you from 20 years in the future.

1994 KAREN: You sound… Dude, how’s that even possible? Who is this!? Someone’s pulling my leg. Are you that guy from the bus stop the other day? The Terminator one?

2014 KAREN: Nope, not that guy. Although I do remember him. Tall, in the green plaid shirt —

1994 KAREN: No way! How do you know that?

2014 KAREN: He was a physics major. Really cute and funny. I think he wanted to ask us out, now that I think about it.

Anyway, I only have a few minutes here, so that’s enough about boys. I have something very important to discuss with you.

1994 KAREN: Man, this is blowing my mind! If you’re really from 20 years in the future… I need more proof. Tell me something else only you — I mean we? — would know.

2014 KAREN: OK. Well, right now you’re probably wearing Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick.

1994 KAREN: NO WAY!!!

2014 KAREN: You’re struggling in chem and, truth be told, college has been a lot lonelier than you thought it would be. You also really miss Mom, Dad and Al, but you’d never admit that to them.

1994 KAREN: OK, I am officially freaked out right now. This is incredibly freaky…

Well, then I guess I should ask why you’re calling. Is it something bad? It’s something bad, isn’t it?

Clinique Black Honey Swatch — Black Honey Swatch

2014 KAREN: No, no, not at all. I just really wanted to say hi and — I know this sounds weird — remind you that you’re stronger than you think.

1994 was a hard year, but you’re gonna be OK. It might not seem like it now, but everything’s going to work out.

1994 KAREN: Really??

2014 KAREN: Yes, really.

I wish I could say more…but the contract I signed forbids me from disclosing anything specific that could alter the course of our life.

1994 KAREN: Gotta be vague… I get it. I totally get it. I’ve seen the Terminator —

2014 KAREN: — 500 times, haha!

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Letters to Coco and Reflections on a Chanel Summer, Part 3: Bronze BFFs Forever! Mirage Illusion D’Ombre, Long-Lasting Eyeliner in Ambre Dore, and Tutti Frutti Le Vernis Nail Colour

April 11th, 2014 by Karen 15 Comments

Chanel Reflets D'Ete De Chanel — Wearing the new Chanel Reflets D’Ete De Chanel summer collection

Letters to Coco

What follows is the final installment of a three-part series of posts titled “Letters to Coco,” a series of letters written in the summer of 2014 from me to my best friend (in my head), Coco Chanel. In this third letter, which features summer collection standouts Mirage Illusion D’Ombre, Long-Lasting Eyeliner in Ambre Dor and Le Vernis Nail Colour in Tutti Frutti, it’s the end of the summer, a few weeks after our trip. 🙂

My dearest Coco,

You know what they say. Tans fade, but friendships last forever. And you, my friend, are my girl for life.

4-LIFE!

I can’t believe the summer is almost over. It’s seems like just yesterday we were boarding the plane to the Maldives.

Ah, the Maldives…

I can’t even think about that trip without smiling!

The beach, the waves… Thank you for being such a good sport and getting up at the crack of dawn to go surfing with me. Oh, and uh, also thank you for not telling anybody that I lost my bikini top when I dropped in on that wave.

Whoops! Half-naked surfing. Everyone’s gotta do it at least once in their life, haha.

Geez, barely two weeks back from vacation, and I feel like I need another one. It’s been super stressful (but what else is new?). Tabs is already gearing up for fall — fall! — and I’ve been working cray-cray long hours, but whenever I’m about to lose my sh*t, I just close my eyes and pretend we’re back on the beach with our towels, digging our toes into the sand.

Chanel Mirage and Ambre Dore — Mirage and Ambre Dore

You’re probably going to laugh this, but I’m still wearing your summer collection. In August! I know!

By this time of year, I’m usually hitting up the Trader Joe’s in matte berry lips and full-on smokey eyes.

Chanel Mirage — Illusion D’Ombre Loong Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Mirage, a bronze ($36)

But I’m just not ready to say goodbye to summer yet.

NO! I still have a tan from our trip (tears!), so I’ve been wearing your bronze cream eyeshadow, Illusion D’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Mirage; and your shimmery gold liner, Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeliner in Ambre Dore, in an attempt to cling to my memories of our best summer ever.

Chanel Ambre Dore — Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeliner in Ambre Dore, a shimmery gold ($32)

You know, sometimes, Coco, I feel like you just get me. You get my makeup style. Especially with this cream eyeshadow.

My goodness! It’s like the most perfect shimmery bronze I’ve ever worn — or rather, the most perfect buttery bronze, because I think it’s different than a regular orangey bronze, and I love how it works with my caramel coloring.

And the finish? It’s off the hook, girl! Did you make it this way — so soft and satiny and scintillating — because of that time I complained about how frosty eyeshadows settle into my fine lines? Because the way this catches the light is absolutely perfect.

I’ve been wearing Mirage all over my lids with Ambre Dore Eyeliner on my lower lash and water lines. The warm, shimmery golden tones in Ambre Dore play off the bronze in Mirage really well — no clashing of metallics here!

I’d go so far as to call the Mirage + Ambre Dore combo the best metallic summer eye look of 2014. It’s easy, elegant and I swear to gawd, makes me look 10 years younger.

So, of course, this would not be one of my trademark rambling letters without a nail update. Well, I’ve been wearing Tutti Fruitt Le Vernis Nail Colour, also from your summer collection, to go with my shimmery bronze and gold eyes.

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in Tutti Frutti, a soft coral ($27) — Le Vernis Nail Colour in Tutti Frutti, a soft coral ($27)

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