Face

Benefit’s New Lavender Pink Lollitint Cheek and Lip Tint Is Pretty Sweet!

November 27th, 2013 by Karen 18 Comments

I’ve been wearing Benefit’s cheek and lip stains off and on for the better part of, oh, the past 13 years (give or take).

In my early 20s, Benetint was TOTALLY my jam, and I wore it all the time. In fact, I traveled the country spreading the gospel of its wonders to the makeup masses!

OK, not really. 🙂 But I do remember driving across Washington state with my ex-boyfriend and his two teenage nieces in 1999 to see a concert at The Gorge.

It was the first time I saw Beyonce in concert (*tears*), and as I was putting on my makeup in the car, one of the girls asked me about the bottle of Benetint in my makeup bag. I was thrilled by her interest and did two impromptu makeovers right there.

Part of me wishes I’d taken that as a sign to pursue a job in beauty, but alas, it was a hint I totally ignored at the time. I mean, when you feel compelled to help two teens discover the wonders of lip and cheek stains in a cramped Subaru, it’s gotta be a sign.

Anywho, even though we all had vastly different skin tones, Benetint looked great on all of us, and I think that’s one of the reasons Benefit’s tints are so appealing — the colors seem to work well on everyone!

I’m hoping (and betting) that’ll also be the case with Lollitint, the newest member of the Benefit tint family.

Benefit Lollitint — Sweet tooth says what now??

Worn sheer on me, Lollitint looks like a very sweet lavender pink, but build it up with multiple layers, and you get a brighter, intensely purple-pink fuchsia.

Very cool.

Now, I know that the thought of wearing violet on your face might seem a little scary at first, especially if you’ve always stuck to traditional pinks and peaches, but please give it a chance. This one’s surprisingly wearable — shockingly so on cheeks.

Like Benefit’s other tints, Lollitint works best on me when I apply it on bare skin. For some reason, the liquid formula lasts longer when there aren’t a lot of other face products up in the mix. If it’s just Lollitint on top of bare cheeks, I get a good 8-9 hours of wear.

That said, Lollitint does do pretty well on top of BB creams and tinted moisturizes, as long as I only use very little. Too much of either, and Lollitint starts acting difficult, refusing to absorb as evenly as it does when I wear it by itself.

How about wearing it with liquid foundations? Well, I think I’ve found a way…

If I swipe a few strokes of Lollitint on the back of my hand first, and then take a dense synthetic foundation brush (I’m using one from last year’s Sephora Collection IZAK Brush Set), press and swirl the brush head into the liquid to help the bristles pick up as much of the product as possible, and then press the brush on the apples of my cheeks using a tapping motion and a moderate amount of pressure, it works well! — and I get the blush on there nice and even without messing up the foundation underneath.

Benefit Lollitint Swatch — Swatches of Lollitint unblended (left) and blended (right)

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These $12 Blushes From the Sigma Beauty Enlight Collection Will Leave You Feeling Serene, Mellow and Peaceful

November 21st, 2013 by Karen 9 Comments

Sigma Peaceful Blush — Wearing the new Sigma Beauty Blushes in Serene on the apples of my cheeks and Peaceful on my upper cheekbones ($12 each)

So you know when you’re just driving along and flipping through the radio stations and every song that comes on sounds like an obnoxious video game or, like, somebody is shouting at you because they’re either in love, falling out of love or about to get cray-cray in da club with Grey Goose and strippers?

Then, when you can’t take it anymore, you turn to the easy listening station and ah… Everything is peaceful, mellow and serene again. 🙂

That’s how I feel about these three blushes from the Sigma Enlight collection — the cheek color equivalents of a sleepy Norah Jones ballad.

And that is not a bad thing. Nope, not at all.

I mean, sure, when I see a bold, bright red pan, assuming I’m in the right mood, BRING IT. But I don’t always like being challenged by my blushes, and on those days, these neutrals should do the trick.

This is my first time wearing Sigma’s blushes, and I like ’em. Like MAC’s, they go on with very little patchiness, and they barely need a flick of the wrist to blend.

All three are supposed to warm and calm your hectic makeup routine…

OK, I can get down with that. Like “Ommmmm” for my cheeks!

Sigma Blush - Peaceful, $12 — Blush — Peaceful ($12)

Peaceful, a shimmery, peachy beige, is the lightest of the three and looks more like a highlighter on me, so I wear it on my upper cheekbones. I think this one could look really pretty on pale skin.

Sigma Blush - Mellow, $12 — Blush — Mellow ($12)

And I have a feeling that Mellow, a medium pinkish beige with a sheen finish, will be the most universally flattering.

Sigma Blush - Serene, $12 — Blush — Serene ($12)

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Giorgio Armani’s 4-in-1 Multicolor Eccentrico Illuminator Face Palette Is Full of Surprises

November 6th, 2013 by Karen 11 Comments

Wearing the new limited edition $88 Giorgio Armani Eccentrico Face Palette

Oh, boy. I’ve been procrastinating for the past 45 minutes. I don’t even know how it’s 6:45 right now. It’s like, I took these goofy-@ss pictures, watched 15 minutes of Flowers in the Attic on Netflix (so bad it’s good), played with the new MAC Masterclass Brushes for a second, did some swatching, and now it’s almost 7, and I have absolutely nothing written except for a bunch of crazy talk.

Whatever. We’ll just call this phase of the blog, “The ramblings of a crazy cat lady,” or “The eccentric ramblings, and occasional blush reviews, of a formerly somewhat sane woman with a penchant for felines.”

Anyway. This palette. Giorgio Armani. Holiday. “Eccentrico.”

I feel like that’s a metaphor for my life right now.

I walk around looking relatively normal…

But I feel like this inside…

Yeah.

This looks like a pretty standard peachy pink highlighter when you open it. I expected something, I dunno, more like MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle, or a warm rosy gold like the new BECCA highlighter.

But then I brushed off the top layer, a very pretty golden overspray with a warm golden sheen finish, and all hell broke loose.

Which reminds me, I watched four episodes of My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding yesterday, and the words “bling” or “bling-tastic” were spoken at least 15 times. I loved it. And those cray-cray dresses, OMG!

But enough about that. Back to the pan…

When I brushed off the overspray, I actually went, “SHUT UP!” Things got really, really interesting.

Was it $88 interesting? I don’t know, but stuff was hiding under that overspray — beautiful sections of bright, beautiful hot pink, white, orange and lavender, like totally frickin’ rad street art or something.

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Get a Flattering Nude Glow That You Don’t Have To Get Naked for With Bobbi Brown’s New Nude Glow Shimmer Brick

November 4th, 2013 by Karen 31 Comments

Wearing the new limited edition Bobbi Brown Nude Glow Shimmer Brick ($45)

This is the look I wore on my lady date with Jen and Cindy yesterday, although really, I didn’t expect either of them to notice because 1) the Bobbi Brown Nude Glow Shimmer Brick I’m wearing wasn’t designed to stand out like that, and 2) neither of them are hard-core makeup people. In fact, the day Cindy turns to me and says, “OOH! I like how you blended that highlighter into your blush!” is the day I expect to see pigs flying and RyGos ceasing to be frickin’ adorable.

With Nude Glow, that’s exactly what you get — a nude glow, like kind of shine your skin takes on after a really good facial…or an entire day spent chillin’ at a spa (and not doing a damn thing for anyone).

This is one of those highlighters with a super forgiving sheen, and I think that’s why a lot of women — especially mature gals — are going to dig it.

I’ve worn the Shimmer Bricks in Bobbi’s permanent line and have also tried a few of her limited edition ones from previous collections, but this one, with its exceptionally fine powders, seems to be a step above the others.

Bobbi Brown Nude Glow Shimmer Brick pan closeup — A closer look at the pan…

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A Memo From Management, and a Bronzey, Smokey Cat Eye of the Day With the MAC Stroke of Midnight and Nocturnal Holiday Collections

October 30th, 2013 by Karen 32 Comments

MAC Stroke of Midnight Eyes Warm — Wearing products from the MAC Stroke of Midnight and Nocturnal holiday collections on my eyes and lips

To all current and future employees of Tabs the Cat Industries, LLC:

It has recently come to the attention of management that several employees celebrated National Cat Day yesterday, October 29.

While the formal acknowledgement of the fabulousness of felines is always encouraged, we would like to take this time to remind you that, here at Tabs the Cat Industries, every day is Cat Day.

Purr the management, please advise your teams that kitty-themed clothing and makeup are mandatory components of the company dress code.

Please direct all inquiries regarding this memo, or eye makeup looks, like this bronze and brown smokey cat eye using products from the new MAC Stroke of Midnight and Noctural holiday collections, to Karen in the executive offices, care of Tabs the Cat. Karen would be happy to purr-vide you with further details.

The MAC Stroke of Midnight and Nocturnal holiday collection products I’m wearing in this look

MAC Stroke of Midnight Eyes — The Stroke of Midnight Eye Shadow X 5 compacts

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Dolce Vita Takes Center Stage in the NARS Splendor in the Grass Cheek Palette

October 29th, 2013 by Karen 27 Comments

It’s hard to say what’s more splendid about the new NARS Splendor in the Grass Cheek Palette ($49) — the fact that it comes with one of my favorite NARS Blushes, Dolce Vita…

…or the fact that it doesn’t come with Orgasm.

Don’t get me wrong — I love NARS Orgasm, but sometimes it’s like the Kardashian sister of the NARS Blush family. It’s everywhere! And you just can’t escape it no matter how hard you try. (SIDE NOTE: anyone else out there convinced that Kris Jenner is a Svengali marketing genius?)

As the largest pan in the palette, dark rosy pink Dolce Vita takes Orgasm’s place on center stage, but truth be told, I can see how it might look a little dark and scary at first glance.

Give it a chance, though, ’cause it’s all kinds of awesome. When my default blush, MAC Blushbaby, is out of reach, I’ll often grab Dolce Vita.

It’s easy to blend, I barely have to use any of it at all, and it works with almost every eye and lip color combination.

And I think the other two blushes in the palette — Sex Appeal, a subtle, appealing peach matte and Angelika, a sheer pink with golden glitter — are just as fab.

Oh, and psst! You can blend them with each other and Dolce Vita to create custom cheek colors.

Last (but not least), the highlighter, golden Albatross. If you’ve ever felt like you’re just not a prime candidate to wear highlighter because of how shimmery they are, sweep this one on your upper cheekbones and down the bridge of your nose. It just might change your mind.

NARS Splendor in the Grass swatches from the left: Sex Appeal, Angelika, Dolce Vita and Albatross — From the left: Sex Appeal, Angelika, Dolce Vita and Albatross

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Ready, Set, Contour! The Nifty $19 NP Set Contour & Highlight Palette

October 18th, 2013 by Karen 20 Comments

OK, I know it’s almost $20, which puts NP Set’s new Contour & Highlight Palette firmly on the high end of the budget/drugstore makeup spectrum, but please don’t let that sway you from giving it some thought, because it’s a close cousin of one of my favorite products from the Hourglass Cosmetics line.

NP Set Contour Highlight Palette closeup — From the left: a golden beige highlighter, bronzer, peach blush and a pink highlighter

It has it all! — almost. Everything you need to sculpt and brighten your skin, like a warm, golden coppery bronzer similar to NARS Laguna, but with a satin finish; a peach blush with a sheen finish; and two highlighters, one, a neutral light pink, and the other, a warm golden beige.

If you’re angling for sun-kissed California girl skin, the bronzer and blush do it to it, babe. I’d probably use the bronzer more to add overall warmth, though, than to do any heavy-duty cheek chiseling, but overall warmth is exactly what I want when I’m rushing to get out the door.

NP Set Contour Highlight Palette in hand for size — With paw for scale…

So that’s the bronzer — a solid performer — but it’s not my favorite thing about this palette…

That distinction goes to the highlighters. 🙂

Are you familiar with the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders? Well, these are like those, but they cost less than half as much ($22 versus $45, unless we’re talking about this holiday set).

Similar sheen, buttery texture and gentle brightening effect. The lighter shade on the far left of the palette resembles Dim Light, while the pink shade on the opposite end channels Mood Light.

NP Set Contour Highlight Palette swatches — Swatches from the left: the golden beige highlighter, bronzer, blush and pink highlighter

I wouldn’t say they’re exact dupes, though, as I think the NP Set highlighters create a more muted glow than the slightly more radiant effect created by the Hourglass Ambients.