Eyes

Guerlain Aced Black Jack Eye Pencil

August 7th, 2013 by Karen 14 Comments

The new Guerlain Black Jack Eye Pencil ($30)

You know I’ll always be your wing-woman, right? When you need a second opinion on that pair of bedazzled purple pumps (THE ANSWER IS YES!), or if you’re just in the mood to shoot the sh*t online from a Starbucks?

There’s just one thing: gambling. If you’re looking for a partner to play anything involving cards or dice, I’mma have to peace-the-eff-out, because I’m absolutely, positively the worst gambling buddy ever.

I was at a Blackjack table in Vegas a few years ago with my friend Jen when I noticed Jen’s cards, which she was holding secretly, and blurted out, “OOooh! That’s a really good hand, right?! YAY!!!”

I don’t even know if that was a faux pas or not, but everyone at the table suddenly stopped and glared at me. 🙂

Now, whenever we go to a casino together and Jen wants to play a card game, she parks me in front of Kitty Glitter and says me she’ll be back in half an hour…

So, cards aren’t my thing, but I’m glad I still took a chance on Guerlain’s Black Jack retractable Eye Pencil.

Why?

Because it’s all that and a bag of (Trader Joe’s Baked Potato) chips! Granted, it’s $30…but man! — it’s a contender for Best Eye Pencil of the Year. Like, you might unintentionally let out a pervy, “Oooooh!” when you see the deep, dark black swatch on the back of your hand.

Black Jack is one of five new retractable Eye Pencils in the new 21-piece Guerlain Voilette de Madame fall collection, which introduces new eyeshadow duos and eyeliners to the permanent line, along with new limited edition lip, cheek and nail products.

The formula is water-resistant and lasts for hours (from 8-10), even on my water lines, and it glides across my skin as if its sole purpose in life is to refrain from skipping.

I can’t handle liners that tug, and Black Jack doesn’t. It’s just so, so smooth…

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5 Things I’ve Been Loving Lately, Beauty and Otherwise

August 6th, 2013 by Karen 19 Comments

I heart all five of these bad boys!

1. Ouidad Wave Create Sea Spray ($23)

Have you ever had coconut Lifesavers before? I don’t know if they still are, but they used to be in the Tropical fruit packs.

Dang, I sure loved those things…

I’d always eat the other flavors first and save the coconuts for last, and then devour them all one after another like Cookie Monster eats Chips Ahoys! until I reached a state of sugar-fueled ecstasy.

I haven’t had one in years, which makes me a little sad because I looked them up online today, and apparently the Tropical Lifesavers are going the way of the dinosaurs… (*tears*)

Oh, well. At least I’ll still have Ouidad’s new Wave Create Sea Spray. Stuff smells EXACTLY like coconut-flavored Tropical Lifesavers.

And it’s not just the scent I like. When I spray it on my wavy hair while it’s wet and let my hair air dry, I get perfectly tousled tresses, well-defined waves and lots of great volume — a little messy, but not too messy, which I like. None of that annoying crunchy business, either, you sometimes get with other beach wave sprays, blech! And my hair still looks pretty good on the second day.

Ouidad Wave Create Sea Spray — What it contains

The 6.4-ounce bottle sells for $23 at Ulta stores and ouidad.com.

2. Lollia At Last White Petals & Rice Flower Handcreme ($25 for a 4-ounce tube)

This has been my favorite hand cream for a while because of the majorly moisturizing shea butter formula and the powdery rice flower, mimosa and magnolia scent.

I love the refreshing fragrance, so I like that it lingers throughout the day, and because the cream absorbs quickly into my skin, my fingers don’t feel slimy or greasy…so I can keep typing away at Tabs’ memoirs without skipping a beat. 🙂

I keep the big, cheerful 4-ounce tube at my desk right where I’m bound to see it, and it can remind me to moisturize during the day.

It’s available now at Neiman Marcus and neimanmarcus.com.

There’s also a smaller 0.33-ounce tiny tube for $7.50.

3. Mr. Bob Harris

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Wear Golden MAC Woodwinked Eye Shadow and Your Favorite Purple for a Pretty Party Eye

August 6th, 2013 by Karen 21 Comments

MAC Woodwinked on my lids and Becca Cabrera along the lower lash line — MAC Woodwinked + your fave purple liner = magic!

This is not a post about the marvelous MAC Woodwinked Eye Shadow, although it could be. In Jack Kerouac On the Road-style, I could scribe a novel on a single scroll of paper about its many marvelous traits and why you need it in your life.

More accurately, this is a post about the magic MAC Woodwinked makes when you pair it with a purple liner or eyeshadow. When shimmery golden Woodwinked meets a violet, the combo creates more magic than Harry Potter!

They’re one of my favorite dinner party pairings, perfect when I want to up my eye game but don’t want to spend all night getting ready.

Why MAC Woodwinked?

Well, why not? It’s freaking beautiful! 🙂 But if you’re unfamiliar with this warm, shimmery gold…

It looks amazing with brown, green, hazel, gray and blue eyes.
It’s softer than a tabby’s tum, pigmented and blends like a breeze.
It goes well with just about every beige or brown I’ve ever seen.
I love it so much that I haven’t taken a trip without it in at least five years.
It’s freaking beautiful!

Whenever I wear the combo above, I usually apply Woodwinked on my lids and a purple along my lower lash and water lines, but wearing purple on the upper lash and water lines totally works, too.

If I’m feeling fancy and/or have a little extra time, then I’ll do some thick cat liner on my upper lash lines, and put on a pair of false lashes like the MAC 33s.

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MAC In Extreme Dimension 3D Black Lash Mascara: One for the Girls With Natural Lash Curls

August 5th, 2013 by Karen 12 Comments

Is the new MAC In Extreme Dimension 3D Black Lash mascara right for you?

Well, if you happen to be blessed with Zac Efron-like lashes, all super curly and bee-yoo-ti-ful, then perhaps, yes. In Extreme Dimension could be the best thing since pizza-scented Febreze.

(Actually, there’s no such thing as pizza-scented Febreze, but doesn’t it sound great?)

MAC In Extreme Dimension 3D Black Lash Tube — Cute curvy tube

That’s because its one weakness is holding curls, but if you’ve already got ’em, you’re golden.

Other than wimpy curl hold, it delivers lots of bells and whistles for girls/guys who love dramatic black lash looks — no clumps, no flakes or smudges, and you get lots of really lovely length, separation and volume (just shy of the epic Le Volume de Chanel).

Plus, it doesn’t make my lashes feel crunchy or weighed down, and removing it before bed is a snap.

MAC In Extreme Dimension 3D Black Lash Stubby Brush — The stubby brush is a cinch to use

But DAMN! What’s up with the curl? Immediately after I apply the first coat, the curl from my Shu starts relaxing. In no time flat, my naturally straight lashes are back to being straight, sans any curl or lift.

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Shimmery, Sparkly and Just Plain Fun, the Latest Limited Edition MAC Pressed Pigments Are Purrfect Pick-Me-Ups After a Long Week

August 2nd, 2013 by Karen 10 Comments

And they’re also quite handy when your fussy feline employer sends you the following office text: “I will fire your @ss if you don’t start wearing more glitter.”

Yes, sir! 🙂

The 12 new $21 limited edition MAC Pressed Pigment shades are…

Vanilla Diamond, warm yellow beige with a frost finish
Sweet Acting, a mid-tone pink with a frost finish
Summer Honey, a pastel coral with a frost finish
Lime Ice, a seafoam green with a frost finish
Rock Candy, a mid-tone fuchsia with a frost finish
Pink Pepper, a deep coral with golden pearl and a frost finish
Enlightening, a deep silver with a frost finish
Moth, a mauve with silver pearl and a frost finish
Black Grape, a deep aubergine with multicolored pearl and a frost finish
Jet Couture, a charcoal black with a frost finish
Damson, a deep brown with golden pearl and a frost finish
Midnight, a vibrant deep blue with a frost finish

MAC Summer Honey Presed Pigment, a pastel coral with a frost finish — Summer Honey Pressed Pigment, a pastel coral with a frost finish

MAC Lime Ice Pressed Pigment, a seafoam green with a frost finish — Lime Ice Pressed Pigment, a seafoam green with a frost finish

MAC Rock Candy Pressed Pigment, a mid-tone fuchsia with a frost finish — Rock Candy Pressed Pigment, a mid-tone fuchsia with a frost finish

MAC Pink Pepper Pressed Pigment, a deep coral with golden pearl and a frost finish — Pink Pepper Pressed Pigment, a deep coral with golden pearl and a frost finish

MAC Moth Pressed Pigment, a mauve with silver pearl and a frost finish — Moth Pressed Pigment, a mauve with silver pearl and a frost finish

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She’s a Pretty Rebel: The Too Faced Pretty Rebel Palette

July 30th, 2013 by Karen 20 Comments

I’m about as naturally rebellious as a miniature pony at a 5-year-old’s birthday party, which is to say not very rebellious at all.

My idea of shaking things up is playing Katy Perry a little loudly in my office (shout-out to my next-door neighbors, who’ve heard me sing Teenage Dream at the top of my lungs many times).

But the winds, they are a-changin’. 🙂 I am a bona fide rebel now — a Pretty Rebel, that is, thanks to Too Faced Cosmetics, and all I have to say is, “Welcome to the Thunderdome, b*tches! Sh*t just got real!”

WARNING: You may find yourself pumping your fists randomly toward strangers when you wear this limited-edition eyeshadow palette. I did when I opened the door this morning to say hi to our FedEx guy.

He was like, “Hi. Why are you doing that? I like your eye makeup. You’re making me a little nervous.”

Pretty Rebel is the star attraction in the Too Faced Cosmetics Fall 2013 makeup collection. Inside the gold, black and pink packaging reside 10 powder eyeshadows, all of which are new shades.

You’ll find mostly saturated, shimmery colors and jewel-toned metallics here, with a sprinkling of mattes and glitters — the kinds of colors I’d be more inclined to wear on a Friday night, as opposed to a Sunday brunch with the fam.

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Chanel Khaki Bronze Le Volume de Chanel Mascara: Heralding the Start of a New Bronze Age

July 30th, 2013 by Karen 15 Comments

Chanel Khaki Bronze Mascara — Wearing limited edition Chanel Khaki Bronze Le Volume de Chanel Mascara ($30)

There was a time when I felt that mascaras in colors other than black were incredibly depressing. Having naturally black lashes, I felt that attempting to overpower their natural pigment with anything other than black seemed like (yawn) a waste o’ precious time. I mean, there are only so many hours in the day in which one can work on important projects like tracking down new shirtless pictures of RyGos.

Ya feel me?

Chanel Khaki Bronze Le Volume de Chanel Mascara, $30 — Khaki Bronze Le Volume de Chanel Mascara, $30

That changed when I discovered fun fringe pigments like blue and plum and their ability to create eye-catching effects on different colored irises.

Plums often look amazing with blue, hazel, brown, green and gray eyes, and blues deepen and enrich brown, green and hazel eyes, among other eye colors.

It was a little weird at first seeing my lashes coated in Chanel’s latest adventure into the world o’ colorful mascaras, Le Volume de Chanel in Khaki Bronze ($30). Much as I love Le Volume (my favorite high-end mascara when it comes to dramatic lift, curl and thickness), I didn’t fall for Khaki Bronze immediately because it lightens the look of my lashes a shade or two, an effect that grew on me over time.

I was on the fence about it the first couple of tries, but I changed my tune when I saw how it looked in pics.

The name describes it perfectly — Khaki Bronze.

If you wear warm bronze, gold or dark khaki shadows often, I think you’ll want to treat your lashes to Khaki Bronze. It creates beautiful music with each of those shadow shades, bringing out their various tones and nuances. I’m wearing it here with the dark golden khaki color in the new Chanel Mystere quad as a liner and with bronze and gold shadows on my lids (MAC Bronze and Woodwinked), and I think they complement each other perfectly.

The Le Volume mascaras are all about drama, so if you like your mascaras quiet (shh…), then you may want to unload much of the product from the brush before applying.

Me, I lurves me some Beyonce/Mariah/Diva-licious lashes, so I go full-on, all-out with two, or sometimes three (or four!) coats.

I exercised a little restraint for these pics… For these I’m only wearing two. 🙂

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How Does Chanel’s Mystere Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow Last as Long as It Does? It’s a Mystery…

July 29th, 2013 by Karen 19 Comments

Chanel Mystere Quad — It’s a mystery… Or is it? Perhaps I’m wearing Chanel’s Mystere Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow ($59) from the Chanel Fall 2013 collection

Current mysteries plaguing my life…

Why does Tabs meow, desperately, for food when his food bowl is still halfway filled? I know you’re always hungry, Tabs, but you can’t be THAT hungry. Is it out of worry/concern? You just don’t want to take any chances?
If Fifty Shades of Grey were made into a movie, how awkward would it be to have to sit through it with my parents? (I’m guessing pretty awkward.)
I want an app like Siri that I can tell all of my problems to, and it answers every one of them with a perfect solution…because my Magic 8 Ball just isn’t cutting it anymore.
Why is binging on television so satisfying? I’ve watched half of the entire first season of House of Cards on Netflix in two days and man! — it’s almost as satisfying as eating an entire tub of HÃ¤agen-Dazs.
Is there, in fact, a mystery behind the Chanel Mystere Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow quad? Did Karl have to, like, go incognito or something to track down the secret ingredients? For some reason, I can see him working crazy wigs and disguises, a la Sydney Bristow in Alias.

And now, Chanel Mystere…

I wore it when I visited my in-laws in Redding last week, and I’ll say this right now: when I layer Mystere on top of my good ol’ NARS Pro-Prime, it’s the sh*t in terms of wear time, because Redding is hella hot, like 150 degrees in the shade, yo, like “Oh, mah gerd! I’m stuck in a microwave oven!”

And even though it felt like the heat was doing a number on my makeup, Mystere didn’t fade or crease from dawn till dusk.

Wear time? BOMB.

I like this quad, especially the way it looks on cool-toned gals who dig grays. On me, I think it seems a little awkward by itself, and I have to use some tricks to make it work, like by starting with a yellowish base like MAC Ochre Paint Pot and then mixing in a warm orangey brown like MAC Soft Brown into my crease.

When I do both of those things, which I did in these pics, the warmer colors transition into the cool grays and taupes, making them appear less harsh on my warm tan, but when I don’t, the gray/taupe undertones — of which there are plenty here, as even the light gold has a hint of gray in it — look chalky.

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