Face

Hourglass Cosmetics Summer 2015: Introducing the New Ambient Lighting Bronzers and a Full-Sized Incandescent Electra Ambient Blush

April 14th, 2015 by Karen 13 Comments

The Hourglass Summer 2015 Collection, available now at Hourglass counters and online

Fellow Hourglass fanatic and probable feline porcelain figurine lover, go grab your biggest, fluffiest, pouffiest (wait — I don’t think that’s even a word) powder brush, and hurry back.

You’re going to need that brush when you work with these new Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzers.

YAAAAAAS GIRL! 🙂 Hourglass totally went there. First, they gave us the glorious Ambient Lighting Powders, then the awesome Ambient Blushes, and now these! — the new Ambient Lighting Bronzers (available in two shades, $50 each).

hourglass cosmetics summer 2015 — From the left: the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzers in Luminous Bronze Light and Radiant Bronze Light, and Incandescent Electra Blush

Both bronzers, as well as a new full-sized version of Ambient Lighting Blush in Incandescent Electra (Remember Electra from the the Ambient Blush palette? I’m a fan.), are new for summer 2015. They’re also being added to the permanent line (available now at Hourglass counters and online).

Notice how the bronzer pans are comprised of two shades, one lighter than the other? Those lighter areas are veins of Radiant Light and Luminous Light Ambient Lighting Powder running through the Bronzer.

Hourglass recommends the Luminous Bronze Light one for fair-skinned/lighter lovelies, and Radiant Bronze Light for medium/deeper-toned divas.

Now, the darker areas within each of the pans is the actual bronzer. Hourgless figured out a way to combine warm, golden orange bronzers with cooler, ashier-toned taupes.

Interestingly, though, the warm orangey bronzer is what shows up in swatches, and also when I apply these on my face, which I do with a big fluffy powder blush, which creates that whole sun-kissed, golden bronzed effect I like.

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Urban Decay Summer 2015 Collection: Afterglow 8-Hour Powder Blush Has Boomchickawawa Written All Over It

April 7th, 2015 by Karen 41 Comments

Afterglow.

Like boomchickawawa!

In a pan.

But without the sweat and potentially awkward conversation.

And/or nakedness. 🙂

Yes! — Urban Decay’s new line of powder blush singles joins the permanent line on April 15 with the rest of the Urban Decay Summer 2015 Collection. The brand does already have a line of blush trios (which are called Naked Flushed), but these represent their first foray into The Land of Blush Singles in a while.

They’re $26 each and available in 12 shades, with the idea being that you put one of them on, and boom! — you look like you’ve been boomchickawawa-ing all day long, which would certainly burn a lot of calories, but I digress…

There are some neutrals here, as well as some crazy colors, but I think they’ll all be fairly wearable by beginners and full-on makeup divas with a capital “D.” And even the brighter colors, like bright purple Bittersweet and reddish orange Bang, are easy to blend out on my cheeks.

Unfortunately, there is a catch… They kick up a lot of powder, because the formula is super soft and airy, and very light. When I run a brush across one of the pan, the brush picks up and scoots around a lot of powder — more than when I use denser blushes by MAC or NARS.

So, on the one hand, you might make a little mess with these while you’re applying ’em, but on the other hand, they’re easy to blend. There are some things you can do to minimize the messiness factor, too, like, after swirling my brush in the pan, I’ll tap, tap, tap it firmly against the edge of the compact to unload every ounce of excess, and if that still isn’t enough, I’ll lightly blow on the brush head before bringing it to my cheeks.

urban decay afterglow blush — Urban Decay Afterglow 8-Hour Powder Blush ($26 each)

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Summer Is Al Fresco Time at Tarte With the Poppy Picnic Amazonian Clay Eye & Cheek Palette

April 3rd, 2015 by Karen 15 Comments

tarte summer 2015 poppy picnic — Tarte Summer 2015 Poppy Picnic Amazonian Clay Eye & Cheek Palette ($38, available now)

I live for picnics…

The fun in the sun, the food, the friends, the family, the food…

Did I already mention the food? 🙂

I might actually love picnic fare more than I love brunch, and you know how much I love brunch.

(A lot.)

It’s because of the sides, man! I’m all about the sides. The potato salad, macaroni salad, fruit salad, that weird Jello salad that one of my aunties usually makes which looks totally gross but tastes hella delicious.

Oh! — and the corn on the freaking cob?

I wants it… I wants it all.

Speaking of picnics (how’s that for a lazy transition, ha!), there’s one happening now at Tarte, and it’s new for summer 2015.

Say “Please pass the potato chips!” to the Tarte Poppy Picnic Amazonian Clay Eye & Cheek Palette ($38)

The Tarte Poppy Picnic Amazonian Clay Eye & Cheek Palette: A Quick FAQ/Rundown

What is it?
A $38 limited edition eye & cheek palette (available now) containing six new powder eyeshadows and one re-promoted powder blush (it’s called Glisten) containing Tarte’s jam, otherwise known as Amazonian clay, which is supposed to soak up any oily bits while simultaneously balancing moisture levels in your skin.

Are there any limited edition shades?
Yes, ma’am, there are. The eyeshadows in Summer Breeze (a matte cream), Sweet Tea (a matte tan), Ice Cream Cone (a matte chocolate), Barefoot in the Grass (a matte light tan), Peach Poppy (a matte peach) and Picnic Basket (a matte deep brown) are all limited edition.

What size are the pans?
Shimmery golden pink Glisten Blush is a 0.20-ounce full-size pan, and the eyeshadows are smaller at 0.06 ounces each.

What can you tell me about the texture of the eyeshadows?
Well, I can tell ya that they kick up a lot of powder, so it helps to tap off your brush before applying them; otherwise, you get a little fallout.

Beyond that, though, they feel smooth to me, and they’re easy to blend.

Are the eyeshadows pigmented or sheer?
I’d say that the lighter tan and peach shades are sheer to medium, while the two darkest shades are medium (I built them up for the swatches to make ’em nice and dark), and none of them look heavy on the skin.

How about the texture of the blush?
Slightly grainy…which is probably because of the pretty big flecks of golden glitter in it.

How pigmented is the blush?
Moderately pigmented, but not crazy town/crazy clown pigmented. I only need a single layer.
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Paul & Joe Protecting Pressed Powder Blush in 0401: Meowza to the Max

April 1st, 2015 by Karen 32 Comments

As an official member of the International Consortium of Cat Ladies, I have to say that this cat on Paul & Joe’s new Protecting Pressed Powder Blush in 0401 (coming later this month to Paul & Joe counters and beautyhabit.com) is the most handsome tabby ever known to cat lady kind, and I’ve seen some handsome tabbies in my day.

But the International Cat Lady Consortium has spoken, and it’s unanimous. This cat is the handsomest cat ever. Of all time. 🙂

About the blush now, can we just talk? This blush: amazeballs. It’s a peachy pink powder blush, which, I know, you’re rolling your eyes thinking, “Karen, OMG, b*tch! You’ve worn so many peachy pink powder blushes,” but this one — gurl, this one is a peachy pink powder blush with neutral undertones, and it is so hard to find one with truly neutral undertones.

I don’t care what your skin tone is. You could be the palest princess, you could be the most bronzed bahama babe, you could be a freaking green-@ss alien from Mars, and this blush will look great.

OK, one, it puts the universal in universally flattering, and two, it’s like a magical makeup eraser that removes all of the pores on your cheeks. Once I put this on — and I only need one layer — my cheeks look straight-up like a baby’s butt, and not a dirty-@ss baby’s butt, because that’s not how I roll. This is a clean-@ss, smooth baby butt, like from one of those commercials, and it smells good, too. It smells like Paul & Joe’s standard yummy floral chrysanthemum/jelly beans/all-kinds-of-goodness-in-a-pan scent.

It also lasts a really long time, and I don’t just mean a really long time. I conducted a very scientific test yesterday. I put it on in the morning, worked all day, then ran errands in the afternoon, and when I got home, I took a hardcore nap on the couch, like, so hardcore, dog. So hardcore. Put the blanket on top me and everything.

paul joe powder — Swatch of Paul & Joe Protecting Pressed Powder Blush in 0401

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Paul & Joe Protecting Pressed Powder Prepares Pet Assistant Cheeks for Busy Schedules

March 30th, 2015 by Karen 17 Comments

The following guest post was written by Tabs…

You can forget about opening this compact with your paws because, sadly, it is made for human hands only.

Paul & Joe’s new spring 2015 Protecting Pressed Powder is not for powdering tabby noses. It is for human faces, both female and male. (For the record, I’m Team Man Makeup all the way.)

Pressed powders are an essential component of a professional pet assistant’s appearance. This one comes in a beige compact with a sassy tabby on the front smoking a pipe and wearing a jaunty captain’s hat.

Paul & Joe Protecting Pressed Powder

PRICE: $45
AVAILABILITY: Coming in two shades (pale pink 001 and multi-beige 002) this April to Paul & Joe counters and beautyhabit.com.

When you open the compact, there’s a big mirror inside, into which you may stare at yourself if/when your greedy assistant decides to share.

There’s also an embossed — I’m not sure if that’s the right word; I have to look it up in my kitty dictionary — flower design on the pan. I think it’s a chrysanthemum, but I must ask my botanist cat friend about it.

The pressed powder can be worn either on top of bare fur — haha, just kidding — bare skin, or used to set liquid foundations so that they don’t move over the course of a busy assistant’s day.

I’ve observed the product in action on my assistant. When she used it to set her foundation and concealer this morning, she smiled.

Well, before she smiled, she stuck her nose in the pan and said, “Mmm! Smells like flowers, Tabs!”

Honestly, though, I don’t know what she meant by that. Half the time she’s mumbling about lord knows what, and I’ve just learned to tune her out.

Anyway, I do appreciate that her skin looks smoother and less oily than usual. I presume it is due to this powder’s oil-absorbing powers and its ability to blur pores.

Of course, we are cats, and not all of us are carrying American Express Black Cards, so you’re probably wondering if this powder is a good value for the price. It is $45, after all.

Paul & Joe Protecting Pressed Powder: Ingredients and benefits

Crystalline cellulose — Absorbs sebum

Jojoba seed oil — Emollient

Orange flower water — Moisturizer

Rosemary extract — Emollient

Sunflower seed oil — Emollient

White lily extract — Moisturizer, prevents irritation

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Current Foundation Love: Diorskin Nude Air Serum Foundation [VIDEO]

March 27th, 2015 by Karen 18 Comments

Gurl, I can’t even… This foundation!? It is SO good that I haven’t even touched my previous holy grail, Laura Mercier Flawless Fluide in Chai, in weeks.

And before finding this, I was all about that Chai. I’m talking months of Karen + Chai. We were inseparable.

Aww! Now I’m actually starting to feel a little bad about it. Poor Chai, all neglected and lonely, abandoned like an old toy. 🙁

LOL! But I do kind of feel like we’ve broken up, and that I should do the things that broken up couples do, like go to over to Chai’s house to get my CDs, clothes and pizza pie pans.

We’re just on a break though. I still ❤ Chai.

Anywho…

Dior. Foundation. Amazing-ness. I go into it more in this video, but here are the main points: finish, formula and pores. Nude Air has a velvety finish and medium coverage, but you can build it up to just shy of full. It’s not a flat matte, and I’m loving that about it, because these days my primary objective is obtaining natural-looking, radiant skin.

Available in eight shades (I wear the one called Honey Beige)

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P.S. I Love You, MAC Casual Colour Cream Blush in P.S. I Like You (From the New MAC Mia Moretti Collection)

March 24th, 2015 by Karen 17 Comments

The new Casual Colour in PS I Like You from the new MAC Mia Moretti collection — The new MAC Casual Colour cream blush in P.S. I Like You ($21), from the MAC Mia Moretti collection

P.S. I love you…P.S. I Like You.

OK, that wasn’t confusing or anything! 🙂

I keep wanting to call this new Casual Colour cream blush by a different name. Officially, it’s called P.S. I Like You, but, well, I love it.

I really, REALLY love it, and its epic 8-hour wear time is just the icing on the cake/tip of the tabby’s tail/start of the DJ’s set.

So I’m gonna start calling it P.S. I Love You instead.

MAC PS I Like You swatch — A swatch of P.S. I Like You; for reference, I’m an NC42 in MAC.

DJ says what now…?

Yeah, this one is from MAC’s new collaboration with DJ Mia Moretti, who, I just learned (I think I read it in this month’s Glamour…or was it Allure?) was the inspiration for Katy Perry’s song, International Smile (you learn something new every day!).

Anywho, that’s one of my favorite Katy Perry songs.

The epic wear time is just the beginning, too, for this lovely carnation pink blush. It’s also smoother than John Legend’s voice. I don’t notice any problems with patchiness on my cheeks, not even on the dry areas, and it’s very kind to my pores. I barely have to do any blending at all.

And don’t even get me started on the finish.

The finish!

It’s dewy and glossy at the same time (and stays that way all day long), but not to the “point of no return chicken grease” shiny. I feel like it makes my cheeks look glowing and healthy and all that good stuff.

I know that spring has barely sprung, but I’m already thinking about my summer makeup bag (and spending lazy days next to the pool). This will definitely have a place in it.

I like to wear it on bare skin, or layer it on top of a sheer foundation, tinted moisturizer or BB cream.

Because it’s quite pigmented and bright, a tiny dab should do ya.

Wearing PS I Like You on my cheeks and lips — Wearing MAC P.S. I Like You on my cheeks and lips…

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Let This Pearl Blossom on Your Cheeks: MAC Beauty Powder in Pearl Blossom From the MAC Is Beauty Collection

March 20th, 2015 by Karen 22 Comments

Magic in a pan.

And I’m not just saying that because of my strong emotional ties to this Beauty Powder.

Barbie Loves MAC! — also known as “my gateway MAC collection.” I remember that Pearl Blossom was one of the pieces I bought in my little MAC Barbie haul (this was back in 2007), and even though it’s a re-promote in the new MAC Is Beauty collection, I still get fired up about it.

Because it’s just so versatile. There are so many things you can do with MAC’s Beauty Powders (which are basically like the Hourglass Ambient Powders, from before the time there were Hourglass Ambient Powders), especially light pink Pearl Blossom, which also has silvery pearl. You can wear it as a blush, or a highlighter, or if you have lighter, cool-toned skin, lightly dusted all over your face as a brightening powder.

I love Pearl Blossom’s finish because it isn’t overly frosty. I use it mostly as a highlighter, targeting the soft, subtle iridescent sheen on the tops of my cheekbones, down the bridge of my nose, in the inner corners of my eyes, and above and just below the arch in my brows.

MAC Pearl Blossom Beauty Powder — MAC Beauty Powder in Pearl Blossom

MAC Pearl Blossom Beauty Powder Swatch — For reference, I’m an NC42 in MAC

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