Face

Radiant, Peachy Pink Cheeks Are Easy With the Right Blush: MAC Glamour Daze Powder Blush in Easy Manner

November 1st, 2012 by Karen 38 Comments

mac easy manner blush — Wearing MAC Powder Blush in Easy Manner

It’s like the shy boy you met in front of a bookstore, or the brazen street cat who boldly strutted into your apartment one random afternoon (“From this day forward, YOU ARE MY HUMAN!”).

Big change has a funny way of finding us when we least expect it. One minute we’re eating roasted almonds on the couch; the next minute we’re cleaning up cat barf on the living room floor.

BOOM!

That’s how it was for me and $22 MAC Glamour Daze Powder Blush in Easy Manner, one of the happiest accidents I’ve had in weeks.

MAC Glamour Daze Easy Manner — MAC Glamour Daze Powder Blush in Easy Manner, $22

I was thrilled the first time I saw this sateen, slightly pinkish peach radiantly glowing on my cheeks…

Just like I was on my first date with that shy boy from the bookstore (who turned out to be El Hub). 🙂 Or the first time that brazen kitty purred in my lap.

And the best thing about Easy Manner’s understated but electrifying thrill? — it’s easy to repeat. Just sweep or swirl a couple layers on the apples of your cheeks.
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60-Second Review: MAC All For Glamour Touch Up Kit in Medium Dark

October 30th, 2012 by Karen 31 Comments

If the new MAC All For Glamour Touch Up Kit in Medium Dark ($39.50) were any cuter, I’d pinch its puffy satin cover and start speaking baby talk to it…

Who’s dat cute widdle kit?! Who’s dat cute widdle kit?! Wid da pwush widdle cubuh?! Is it you? Is it you?! YES, it’s you! You’re da cute widdle kit!! 🙂

The two products it protects, a colorless Blot Pressed Powder in Medium Dark and a pinkish neutral beige Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Bare Again, are products I would normally reach for any day of the week…

MAC All For Glamour Touch Up Kit Medium Dark — All For Glamour Touch Up Kit Medium Dark, $39.50

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What Is the Nature of Your Beauty Emergency? Dial Fine-One-One for Benefit’s Latest Cheek and Lip Trio

October 29th, 2012 by Karen 39 Comments

benefit fine one one review, swatches and photos — Wearing the new Benefit Fine-One-One on my cheeks and lips

This is Benefit Fine-One-One. What is the nature of your beauty emergency?

(Mumbling) Uh…

Hello? Miss, you’re gonna have to speak up.

(Whispering) I can’t. My guy is sound asleep in the other room, and I don’t want to wake him.

Okay…what is the emergency?

Well, I’m kinda sorta panicking because it’s the morning after our first sleepover, and I forgot my makeup bag.

Seriously?

Yeah, he hasn’t seen me without my war paint on yet, and I’d like to maintain the illusion that I just wake up with great hair and makeup, ya know?

…

OHMIGOSH! I think I’m hyperventilating!!

Alright, first of all, I need you to remain calm. Can you do that for me?

Yes…okay. I think so.

Good. Now I’m going to dispatch our Emergency Glam Squad to your location and a stick of Benefit’s new Fine-One-One.

Ooh, what’s that?! I’ve never heard of it before.

It’s a new brightening cheek and lip stick — a trio of creams perfect for situations like these. They can be used separately, or together, whenever you need a sheer flush in a flash.

How do I use it? What do I do when it arrives?

First, remove the cap, and twist the dial at the bottom. The stick, which has a shimmery pink champagne color, a matter watermelon and a matte coral, pops up like a tube of deodorant.

Swipe it directly on your cheeks…

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I’m Getting a Pretty Big Thrill From the Blushes in Tarte’s Big Thrill Palette

October 23rd, 2012 by Karen 28 Comments

Pics of the new $48 Tarte The Big Thrill Palette, available now at Ulta.

The palette — which is more like a set — includes 16 of Tarte’s signature square eyeshadows infused with Amazonian clay, three of Tarte’s Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blushes in three brand new shades, one Bronzer, and three Vitamin Lip Glosses neatly tucked away inside a tiny drawer.

Hmm… $48 for 23 pieces? That’s not bad. Not bad at all.

I’m looking forward to getting my cheeks on those blushes…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Unsung Heroes: Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation

October 18th, 2012 by Karen 41 Comments

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation Review — Wearing Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation in 12

What’s lightweight, covers imperfections like a master painter’s brush and flatters faces with a flawless, natural-looking matte finish?

Is it A) your beloved Jason Voorhees mask from Friday the 13th, B) Tabs the cat or C) the $42 Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation?

If you answered C, yay! 🙂 Count yourself among the lucky crew of Skin Base fanatics.

I just recently discovered this full-coverage, hydrating foundation, and dang if it’s not all kinds of awesome, blossom.

I’ve been wearing it off and on for the past few weeks, both in pics here on the blog and out and about (Trader Joe’s pumpkin madness, y’all!), and I’m finding myself reaching for it more and more often when it comes time to put on my warpaint.

Illamasqua refers to Skin Base as “the ultimate foundation” and claims the moisturizing, matte formula smooths skin, controls shine and creates a skin-matched finish that still looks natural. Heck, they say it’s even undetectable in HD footage (ooh, I wanna give that a try…)!

Sounds like a lot of hype, right? Well, you know what? I’m a believer.

illamasqua skin base foundation swatches — Swatches of Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation in 12 (one of 17 shades) unblended on the left and blended on the right

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I’m Sweet On Illamasqua’s New Powder Blusher Duo in Hussy and Lover

October 17th, 2012 by Karen 46 Comments

illamasqua powder blusher duo hussy — Wearing Illamasqua Powder Blusher Duo in Hussy

Can a Hussy be sweet and kinda innocent? Sure, why the hell not? 🙂

Hussy and Lover, the two blushes basking in Illamasqua’s new Powder Blusher Duo ($41), probably sound more scandalous than they are. A lot less dramatic than scheming harlots and vengeful tarts, the look itself reminds me of sock-hop dances, candy necklaces, ruffled dresses and high ponytails with satin ribbons tied into neat bows.

worlds-biggest-candy-necklace — Allegedly (according to the package), the world’s biggest candy necklace!

Illamsqua’s funny that way, and ironic, and it’s one of the things I adore about the brand… Gotta love a colorful makeup line with a sense of humor and a flair for the dramatic.

The new duo, one of nine limited edition kits and sets available now online, and coming soon to cosmetics counters and stores, is part of Illamasqua’s holiday 2012 release; it also happens to be the brand’s first powder blush duo, ever.

As a certified makeup hoarder (I should get a stamp to prove it…like a notary, haha!), I find this very exciting. Even though both colors can also be found in Illamasqua’s permanent line, the duo itself still seems like a special collector’s item.

Additional makeup worn in this look

Laura Mercier Metallic Creme Eye Colour in Copper (lids)

Prunella Eye Kohl (water lines)

MAC Lipsticks in Crosswires and Sandy B topped with MAC Viva Glam Nicki Lipglass (pink lip in the top pic)

MAC Lipstick in Scarlet Ibis (red lip in bottom pics)

I love the way these matte blushes look with bright, saturated lips — namely hot pinks, reds, coral and fuchsia. I think they get along swimmingly, making bright lip looks appear even more intense.

I get my best, most natural, polished-looking results with these when I apply one or two layers using a circular motion, really buffing and working them into the skin with my brush. That way, I can get the colors to combine with my foundation and face powder; otherwise, the blushes, being as pigmented as they are, can appear a little stark and obvious.

Oh! And I think these have no qualms about layering. For a dynamic effect, I’ll buff Hussy all over the apples of my cheeks, swirl a bit of Lover on the very bottoms of my cheeks with a tapered eyeshadow brush, and run a clean blush brush all over my cheeks to blend the colors together.

illamasqua powder blusher duo compact lover hussy — Hussy on the left and Lover on the right

illamasqua powder blusher duo swatches — Swatches from the left: Lover, Hussy, and Lover and Hussy mixed together

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Treat Your Lids and Lashes to Luxury With the Dior Celebration Collection Makeup Palette For the Eyes

October 17th, 2012 by Karen 36 Comments

Played out.

That was my first reaction when I heard about Dior’s new brown-themed eye palette, the $65 Celebration Collection Makeup Palette for the Eyes.

For real though, doesn’t it seem like everyone and their mama has done a brown-themed eye palette by now?? Ever since UD Naked took the world by storm?

Considering the colors and the price, I was about to dismiss this new one from Dior, but I’m so glad I didn’t, because I think it takes well-trodden territory to elegant new heights.

The Celebration Collection Makeup Palette For the Eyes won’t win the Oscar for Flashiest Palette From Dior, at least not this holiday season, but dagnabbit if it’s not classy with a capital C.

Who’s that girl with the quilted velvet pouch? My, isn’t she fancy? 🙂

Oh, look! The pouch houses a sleek navy compact with buttery, easy-to-blend powder eyeshadows and a midnight black New Look Mascara for long, separated lashes, le wow!

Yes, Dior, you’re hitting all the right notes, and if this palette were comprised of just these pieces alone, with the price dropped accordingly, I’d be seriously tempted to gift it to my girlfriends.

But (isn’t there always a but?)…

dior celebration collection makeup palette for the eyes swatches — Swatches from the left: Serum Primer, Brow Liner, matte brown eyeshadow, shimmery brown eyeshadow, shimmer beige eyeshadow Mini Crayon Eyeliner and New Look Mascara

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Believe in the Magic of Unicorns, Makeup and a Cute-as-all-Heck Clutch Purse: The Paul & Joe Make Up Collection 2012 Holiday Kit

October 16th, 2012 by Karen 32 Comments

Deep thoughts on unicorns and the new Paul & Joe Make Up Collection 2012 Holiday Kit…

Question: why are unicorns called unicorns when they’re rarely seen around, or eating, corn? Wouldn’t “uni-horns” make more sense? Granted, it doesn’t sound as pretty, but it would be more accurate, don’t you think?

Question: if one were to spend a lot of time hanging out with unicorns, how often would accidental horn injuries occur? The phrase, “you could put an eye out,” seems particularly apt.

Question: what magic did Paul & Joe employ to make one of my favorite mythical beasts, one that I’ve loved since the age of 6 (You should’ve seen my unicorn sticker collection! It was epic!! The stuff of little girl dreams!), seem even cuter and cooler in their new limited edition $60 three-piece set?

As ~~an accessories ho~~ a purse enthusiast, I can’t decide what I like more about this set, one of three prancing onto shelves for the holidays — the sweet satin purse with its golden detailing and purple inner liner, the makeup that comes with it or the unicorn with purple flowers weaved into its mane.

It’s like a treasure you’d find on a dusty shelf in a vintage store behind a row of empty perfume bottles and silver combs (I love finding things like that). 🙂

The clutch also comes with a couple pieces of pretty great cosmetics, like a shimmery, peachy pink blush with tiny flecks of gold and silver glitter (NOTE: the snowflake pattern is just an overspray that disappears after the first use).

Healthy, glowing skin a la Charlize Theron can be found here.

Paul & Joe Creamy Cheek Powder in 002 on the left and Face Powder in 001 on the right

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