Eyes

Whether You’re Standing in Front of a Mirror or in Front of a Camera Lens, the Six Neutral Shades in the Smashbox Softbox II Photo Op Eye Shadow Palette Just Click

March 11th, 2013 by Karen 26 Comments

Wearing the new Smashbox Softbox II Photo Op Eye Shadow Palette ($39) on my eyes

There I stood, surrounded by piles of jeans, my feet planted shoulder-width apart, as I looked at myself in the three-way mirror of my tiny dressing room doing squats, while the stylist helping me watched from the doorway.

Two, three, four…

I paused, noting 1) the status of my muffin top in the pair of stretchy skinnies I’d just shimmied into, and 2) how the neutrals from new Smashbox Softbox II Photo Op Eye Shadow Palette were holding up (I’d already been wearing them for six hours, and still no signs of creasing or fading, yay!).

“I dunno…” I said, thinking about the jeans. “I feel a lot of muffin going on.”

“Keep going,” the stylist replied, referring to the squats. “Trust me. These start really tight, but they’ll stretch. They’ll be perfect in 10 minutes.”

Five, six, seven…

“The squats speed things along.”

Halfway through my eighth rep, I silently thanked the makeup gods for creating the Photo Op Palette.

Looking for a new pair of jeans is not one of my favorite tasks in the world. I’ll go so far as to say that it’s almost as stressful as shopping for a new swimsuit (first world problems, I know), but it’s always easier when I’m wearing eye makeup that helps me feel pretty.

Smashbox Photo Op Eye Shadow Palette Softbox II small — Smashbox Photo Op Eye Shadow Palette Softbox II

Smashbox Photo Op Eye Shadow Palette Softbox II

Which this palette does. 🙂

Smashbox Softbox II Photo Op Eye Shadow Palette swatches from the left: Russet, Truffle, Bare, Juniper, Sandstone and Sumatra

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Are You a Eye Shadow Palette Purist?

March 5th, 2013 by Karen 30 Comments

EstÃ©e Lauder's New Pure Color GelÃ©e Powder EyeShadow Palette in Batik Sun — Wearing EstÃ©e Lauder’s Pure Color GelÃ©e Powder EyeShadow Palette in Batik Sun (from the new Bronze Goddess collection) on my eyes

When I was getting ready this morning, I grabbed my eye shadow palette crush o’ the moment, EstÃ©e Lauder’s Pure Color GelÃ©e Powder EyeShadow Palette in Batik Sun from the new Bronze Goddess summer (!) collection, and I wondered about how other makeup lovers like to wear eye palettes.

Par exemple, when you grab a palette, do you usually stick to the shadows in that palette, or do you like to mix and match them with other shades?

I’m not really strict about sticking to the colors in a single palette; it’s mostly about proximity, LOL! If something’s close by and will work with the palette I want to wear, then I’ll add it into the mix. But if I’m traveling and only have room in my bag for a single eye palette, then I’ll just stick to those colors.

A few of my favorite spring and summer palettes…

EstÃ©e Lauder Pure Color Gelee Powder EyeShadow Palette in Batik Sun small — EstÃ©e Lauder Pure Color Gelee Powder EyeShadow Palette in Batik Sun ($48)

Too Faced Summer Eyes Summer Sexy Shadow Collection 11 — Too Faced Summer Eyes Summer Sexy Shadow Collection ($36)

Chanel Pearl River Ombres Matelassees Eyeshadow Palette Picture — Chanel Ombres MatelassÃ©es Eyeshadow Palette in Pearl River ($80)

Guerlain Coup de Foudre — Guerlain Ã‰crin 4 Couleurs in Coup de Foudre ($59)

What about you? When you wear an eye shadow palette, do you tend to stick to just those colors? Are you an eye shadow palette purist, or do you like to mix it up?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Hello, Sunshine! Too Faced Welcomes Bronzers and a Beach Theme in the New Hello Sunshine Collection for Summer 2013

March 1st, 2013 by Karen 37 Comments

Too Faced Hello Sunshine Collection Summer 2013 1 — Too Faced Sweetheart Beads Radiant Glow Face Powder ($32), one of four pieces from the new Hello Sunshine collection for summer 2013, coming soon to Too Faced counters and online

Pack your swimsuit, friend, because you and I are heading to the beach this summer with Too Faced Cosmetics.

Too Faced Hello Sunshine Collection Summer 2013 — Too Faced Hello Sunshine Collection for Summer 2013

Their four-piece Hello Sunshine collection will be surfing onto counters and our lovely faces soon. Take a peek at these pics and swatches, and let me know what you think.

Too Faced Sweetheart Beads Radiant Glow Face Powder, $32

Too Faced Sweetheart Beads Radiant Glow Face Powder 2 — Too Faced Sweetheart Beads Radiant Glow Face Powder

Too Faced Sweetheart Beads Radiant Glow Face Powder 4 — Too Faced Sweetheart Beads Radiant Glow Face Powder

Too Faced Sweetheart Beads Radiant Glow Face Powder 5 — Too Faced Sweetheart Beads Radiant Glow Face Powder

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For No-Makeup Makeup Lash Looks That Go the Extra Mile, Try New Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara

February 25th, 2013 by Karen 7 Comments

Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara Review — Wearing two coats of the new Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara in Carbon Black ($8.49), one of three shades available now at drugstores and online

If you’re into no-makeup makeup looks that go the extra mile, don’t forget your lashes. Swing by the Neutrogena section at your favorite drugstore the next time you cruise the beauty aisle (Can I come with?? We can get Thrifty brand ice cream after), and peep the new $9 Healthy Lengths Mascara.

Supposedly able to make lashes look 100% longer — or twice as long — it’s also designed to strengthen lashes over time from the inside out with vitamin E and olive oil.

Hmm… I’ll pretend that by “100% longer,” Neutrogena meant to say, “slightly longer.” LOL! Because 100% might be a bit of a stretch.

Two coats and my lashes appear lifted, curled, separated and just ever-so-slightly thicker and longer…for the ultimate in no-makeup makeup lash looks. 🙂

Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara Review, Swatches and Photos — No mascara on the left, and two coats of Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara on my upper and lower lashes on the right

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Panama Is Hella Cool! The New Dior Diorshow Mono Wet & Dry Backstage Eyesahdow in Panama

February 22nd, 2013 by Karen 16 Comments

Dior Panama Diorshow Mono 1 — The Dior Panama Diorshow Mono, one of eight $29 shades available now on Dior counters and online

It’s like, BB creams are the new Naked palettes, and Naked palettes were the new vibrating mascaras, and vibrating mascaras were the new flashlight LED lip glosses/mascaras (remember those?!).

I feel like I can’t whip my hair around without my ponytail striking another new makeup/beauty must-have product.

But there are those things that withstand the test of time, ya know, like black liners, red lipsticks and brown eye shadows, to name a few.

And speaking of brown shadows, here’s one that may be worthy of your affections, especially if you like a little with your shadow.

It’s Dior’s cool, new $29 Diorshow Mono in Panama (haha, I almost typed “Panem,” Hunger Games moment!). 🙂

No, really, it’s cool, color temperature-wise. A satiny brown with microscopic flecks of secret shimmer that glimmer in direct sunlight, it’s also cool in that when you apply it and buff for a bit, the blackened base shows through.

I like the way it looks on its own. Great for chocolaty daytime smokey eyes, but add a soft pink, ladylike lipstick and blush, and it turns into pure perfection!

Dior Panama Diorshow Mono Picture — The Diorshow Monos are designed to be applied dry or with a wet brush for extra drama

Dior Diorshow Panama Swatch — Panama applied dry on the left and wet on the right (see how much more it shimmers when applied wet?)

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The Chanel Pearl River Ombres MatelassÃ©es Eyeshadow Palette From the Hong Kong Collection: A Pearl River in a Gilded Land of Quilted Pans, Coral Fans and Golden Tans

February 21st, 2013 by Karen 20 Comments

Chanel Pearl River Ombres Matelassees Eyeshadow Palette — Wearing the Chanel Ombres MatelassÃ©es Eyeshadow Palette in Pearl River ($80) from the new three-piece Hong Kong collection for eyes and nails, available now online

Chanel and gold eye shadow. Gold eye shadow and Chanel. The two go together like…short-sleeve t-shirts shirts and Jeremy Renner’s arms, high heels and pencil skirts, breakfast and Tiffany’s, perfume and pajamas…

In other words, things that go together well. 🙂

Add a pinch of peach and a drizzling of dark chocolate brown, and you get a veritable dream team palette to accompany those springy coral cheeks and lips you’ve been — okay, I’ve been — obsessed with lately.

There’s no real way to get around the fact that Chanel’s $80 Pearl River Ombres MatelassÃ©es Eyeshadow Palette demands an arm, a leg, a low-hanging tabby tum AND a twitchy tail. Chanel ain’t exactly budget, if you know what I mean.

But oh! — the extras you get, like the quilting on the pans and Chanel’s trademark black velvet storage pouch (it looks like a tiny makeup sleeping bag!). It’s the little touches that make it so easy to stay on Team Chanel.

As for the palette itself? Picture this: five (a shout-out to Mademoiselle’s lucky number, perhaps?) powder eye shadow shades based on the luminous reflection of Hong Kong shimmering in the South China Sea.

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The Aerin Beauty A Garden at Dusk Face Palette: Sunset in a Garden of Gorgeous, Subtle Colors

February 20th, 2013 by Karen 20 Comments

Botany enthusiasts/luxury makeup lovers who like late afternoon gardening and subtle colors will love Aerin Beauty’s new A Garden at Dusk Face Palette.

Um…yeah, that’s a very targeted market. 🙂

The second of two $70 limited edition eye and cheek palettes in Aerin Beauty’s spring line (A Garden in Bloom is the first) shares many traits in common with its equally expensive sibling, like pretty packaging; subtle, cool-toned, sheer shades; and easy-to-blend powders.

Aerin Beauty A Garden at Dusk Palette Swatches — Blush on the far left, eye shadow on the right

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New Easy, Everyday NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer Puts Purple Circles Out to Pasture

February 19th, 2013 by Karen 41 Comments

Remember when dark circles were something that only happened to other people? Back when you had no clue that you yourself would someday be visited by those evil purple half-moon monsters at the crack of dawn?

Yup. Good times…

If you get as nostalgic as I do for those days of yore, let me get straight to the point. Dark circles are a serious business, and we have no time to waste. The new NARS Radiant Cream Concealers ($28) will cover those bad boys brilliantly.

Like a knight’s vorpal sword, they’re designed to vanquish! — only in their case, they vanquish the darkest of dark circles, as opposed to more traditional enemies. 🙂

The new line of under-eye concealers has a thick mousse formula that dries to a satin finish, and NARS says these will disguise imperfections all day long, without creasing, by diffusing light and applying a soft focus filter to fine lines.

The shades from lightest to darkest, according to the official PR:

Chantilly: A true ivory for the fairest complexions

Vanilla: A slight pink cast for fair complexions

Honey: A warm peach tone for light and medium complexions

Ginger: A golden undertone for medium complexions

Biscuit: A medium dark shade with a natural balance of pink and yellow undertones

Caramel: A medium dark yellow with golden undertones

Amande: A medium dark shade with golden undertones

Cafe: A dark shade with warm red undertones

Cacao: A dark shade with deep golden brown undertones

One swipe — just one, because a little goes a long way — of Ginger with the doe-foot applicator, followed by some brief blending with a MAC 224 Tapered Blending Brush, and my under-eye area appears noticeably brighter, which in turn makes me feel considerably better/less grumpy.

Sh*t covers EVERYTHING! — yet still looks like real skin. Not heavy or cakey, even with multiple layers. Plus, it stays put and photographs well.

You can use it anywhere on your face, too, like for blemishes and skin discolorations, but it really excels under eyes.

Um…I think it’s kind of amazing, really, and when I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror with it on, I’m like, “Who’s that!?” That girl looks almost like the 23-year-old Karen who stayed up all night before graduation and took pics the following day without any under-eye concealer.

Ah, those were the days…

Of course, there is one catch (isn’t there always?).

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer Pictures Small — From the left: Chantilly, Vanilla, Honey, Custard, Ginger, Biscuit, Caramel, Amande, Cafe and Cacao

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer Pictures Wands — From the left: Chantilly, Vanilla, Honey, Custard, Ginger, Biscuit, Caramel, Amande, Cafe and Cacao

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