Kits and Sets

The New NARS Modern Future Set Has a Cinematic Past

October 16th, 2014 by Karen 31 Comments

It seemed like the right thing to do.

Yesterday afternoon I watched Roman Holiday (for, oh, I dunno, the ninth or tenth time) while painting my nails with NARS Roman Holiday Nail Polish from the new $49 Modern Future set.

I was also wearing Roman Holiday Blush and Roman Holiday Lipstick (also from the same set) on my cheeks and lips.

It just made sense. I mean, I could have watched Breakfast at Tiffany’s or Sabrina instead, but that would have been totally weird… Watching Roman Holiday seemed like the right thing to do. 🙂

Which reminds me, please, PLEASE tell me you’ve seen this movie. Breakfast at Tiffany’s seems to get more love, but Roman Holiday gets my vote for best Audrey Hepburn movie, ever. She even earned a Best Actress Academy Award for it.

If you haven’t seen it, do it! Audrey plays a princess who goes rogue by taking an unsanctioned, impromptu vacation from her life as a royal public figure. During her adventure she hangs out with an American newspaper reporter, played by Gregory Peck. The sets, the clothes, the dialogue, the ending — SO GOOD. Just watch it already!

And if you can, watch it while you’re wearing NARS Roman Holiday Blush, Lipstick and Nail Polish. It’s, like, extra poetic that way.

NARS Roman Holiday Lipstick — Roman Holiday Lipstick

NARS Roman Holiday Nail Polish — Roman Holiday Nail Polish

Roman Holiday is a cool pastel pink with slight purple undertones…but don’t let that description scare you! — because it’s actually really pretty and wearable.

Originally, the color only came as a lipstick, but NARS turned it into a blush and a nail polish for this LE holiday set.

Roman Holiday Lipstick

When I’m in the mood for a smooth, easy-to-wear cool-toned pink that doesn’t shimmer and isn’t too shiny, Roman Holiday Lipstick’s sheer pink wash rules. I can literally (well…) throw it on without having to use a mirror. I also like that it’s a build-able sheer, so you can intensify it by adding another layer. I also think it looks super pretty with NARS Angelika or Easy Lover Lipgloss on top.

The set includes a full-size 0.12-oz. tube.

NARS Roman Holiday Lipstick and Blush — Wearing Roman Holiday Lipstick and Blush

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For Your Viewing Pleasure, the New MAC Keepsakes Nude Lip Bag and Kristin Perry Jewel Saturation Necklace

October 14th, 2014 by Karen 18 Comments

First, for your viewing pleasure, Tabs in a rhinestone necklace…

“Day. Officially. Made.” says the woman who lives for chunky kitties in statement jewelry. 🙂

The bling, by the way, is the $68 Jewel Saturation Necklace by Kristin Perry, which Tabs likes because the Art Deco-ness of it makes him feel like he’s in The Great Gatsby.

Next, also for your viewing pleasure, there’s the new limited edition Keepsakes Nude Lip Bag from the MAC Keepsakes holiday collection ($39.50 US, $47.50 CAD).

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Nothing Says “I Love Shimmer!” Like the New MAC Objects of Affection Pink and Rose Pigments and Glitter Set

October 14th, 2014 by Karen 8 Comments

MAC Objects of Affection Pink + Rose Pigments + Glitter — The $35 MAC Objects of Affection Pink and Rose Pigments and Glitter Set

Should I dab a little on my lids or in the inner corners? How about above or below my brow bone? On top of my upper cheekbones? My Cupid’s bow? Maybe I should mix a little in with my body lotion to sparkle-fy my shoulders and legs. Or, should I just pour the entire jar over myself like I’m a bad girl in a Billy Idol video? (Note to self: Do not stick out your tongue if you do this, because that would be a bad idea.)

Ah…just think of all the shimmery, sparkly things you could do with the new MAC Objects of Affection Pink and Rose Pigments and Glitter Set. Great for girls who like choices. 🙂

The $35 set ($42 CAD), one of four MAC Pigments and Glitter sets coming October 27 to maccosmetics.com and November 6 to stores, includes five little bottles (0.09 ounces each), four of them loose MAC Pigments and the other a MAC Glitter.

Two of the Pigments — pinkish brown Tan (which looks great on lids with Saddle and Soft Brown in the crease) and plummy brown Heritage Rouge — are favorites of mine, but I like the entire selection. Good choices for colors to wear with fall’s rich burgundies, purples and coppers.
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This Hot Pink C.P. Yu From the $49 NARS Digital World Set Made Me Feel a Million Megabytes Better

October 9th, 2014 by Karen 13 Comments

I'm Wearing NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Yu from the Digital World Kit — Wearing NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Yu, from the $49 Digital World set

Memory is a funny thing, isn’t it? So many times I read the same tips over and over again — tips that have helped me before, but then I forget that they exist until I read them again, and it’s like, “Well I’ll be damned. That would totally work!”

Here’s one I know I’ve heard before, but I recently read it again: sometimes when you aren’t feeling great first thing in the morning, it can help to spend a little extra time getting ready.

Like, say goodbye to the sweats, and put something on that makes you feel cute. You know, fix your hair, do your makeup — that kind of thing — even if you totally aren’t in the mood.

To the first person who figured that out, wherever you are, thank you. You saved my butt this morning.

I woke up exhausted after an orange alert meltdown last night. It’s my fault, because I haven’t been taking my breaks throughout the day, which slowly turns me into a crazy person.

On top of that, I’ve been riding a PMS-fueled hormonal tidal wave, and everything has been getting on my last nerve. I’m serious, that one nerve is RAW.

Ha! OK, but seriously, I turned into a rabid cat in my office yesterday, and my poor computer chair… I kicked the living crap out of that thing, and then I cried non-stop for 45 minutes.

I felt much better this morning, but nowhere near my usual self. Without really thinking about it, I grabbed a pair of stretchy pants and a wrinkled tee shirt and planned to put my hair up in a bun and skip my makeup.

But then I remembered that tip about spending a little extra time getting ready when you feel blue…

After a long shower, during which I did a hair mask, a body scrub and even shaved my toes (yay!), I put on one of my favorite dresses, spritzed some Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Perfume, and slicked a hot pink lipstick on my lips.

Never underestimate the power of hot pink lipstick, my friend. It’s even better than chicken soup.

Today I haven’t once felt the urge to punch any office furniture. 🙂 Cupcakes for everyone!

NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Yu, the hot pink I’m wearing in these pics, couldn’t be easier to apply (unless it applied itself…which would be scary and weird). It’s from the new Digital World holiday set. One of the things I like about it, in addition to the color, is that I can line and fill in my lips with the same pencil.

Yu is one of five Lip Pencils in the $49 Digital World set (coming November 1 exclusively to Sephora), which also includes the Satin Lip Pencils in tea rose Descanso and peachy coral Torres Del Paine, and the Velvet Matte Lip Pencils in scarlet Cruella and warm orange Iberico.

NARS Digital World Lip Pencils from the left: Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella, Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Iberico, Satin Lip Pencil in Descanso and Satin Lip Pencil in Torres Del Paine — From the left: Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella, Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Iberico, Satin Lip Pencil in Descanso and Satin Lip Pencil in Torres Del Paine

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The MAC Keepsakes Holiday Collection Brush Kits: In Extra Dimension, Studio and Mineralize

October 7th, 2014 by Karen 10 Comments

For the most part, the MAC limited edition brushes I’ve tried feel scratchier, for lack of a better word, than their counterparts in the permanent line, and just don’t last as long. I’ve had brushes literally fall apart on me in less than a year — like, where the ferrule comes unglued from the handle when I’m in the middle of putting on my makeup.

So, as cute as they are (and they’re usually so. damn. cute.), I approach them with a dash of skepticism.

I’m still surprised sometimes, though. I had great experiences with a couple of the limited edition brushes from the Alluring Aquatic collection, so you never can tell. Reason enough to have high hopes for the new brushes in the Keepsakes Brush Kits, each of which comes with a cute bag and four or five brushes.

The MAC Keepsakes In Extra Dimension Brush Kit

This one contains…

127SE Split Fibre Face Brush
128SE Split Fibre Cheek Brush
234SE Split Fibre Eye Blending Brush
235SE Split Fibre All Over Eye Brush

I’ve been using these brushes a lot over the past few days — these and the ones in the other Keepsakes collection kits — and I have to say, the brushes in two of the bags, the Mineralize one and In Extra Dimension — seem a little better built than usual for MAC’s holiday fare. The bristles feel pretty soft.

The MAC Keepsakes Mineralize Brush Kit

MAC Keepsakes Mineralize Brush Kit, $52.50 US/$63 CAD

And this one…

187SE Duo Fibre Face Brush
130SE Short Duo Fibre Brush
286SE Duo Fibre Tapered Blending Brush
287SE Duo Fibre Eye Shadow Brush

The Mineralize Brushes, in particular, feel just as good as some of my favorites in MAC’s permanent line. All four of them apply powder and cream products like pros, and if I were to recommend one of these brush kits over all the others, this would definitely be the one.
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The $28 Too Faced Under the Mistletoe Set: Three Bestselling La Creme Lipstick Shades to Make Lips Shimmer for the Holidays

September 26th, 2014 by Karen 17 Comments

Other than El Hub getting his share, I’ll be saving my mistletoe kisses for the three La Creme Lipsticks in the new Under the Mistletoe set by cruelty-free carolers Too Faced Cosmetics.

The $28 limited edition set comes with three full-size, shimmery versions of a few La Creme Lipstick bestsellers, including my favorite, Spice Spice Baby, and to keep them safe and sound, tuck them in at night in the included glittery pink lip bag.

Note to self: Ask Santa for a glittery pink sleeping bag. 🙂

Too Faced Under the Mistletoe La Cremes from the left: Shimmering Marshmallow Bunny, Shimmering Spice Spice Baby and Shimmering Naked Dolly

Too Faced Under the Mistletoe Shimmering Marshmallow Bunny — Shimmering Marshmallow Bunny

Too Faced Under the Mistletoe Shimmering Spice Spice Baby — Shimmering Spice Spice Baby

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There Isn’t Any Room Left in This New Holiday Set Because It Already Includes Everything Nice: The New $56 Too Faced Cosmetics Everything Nice Set, a Holiday Sephora Exclusive

September 25th, 2014 by Karen 19 Comments

Question: What do you get when you mix a dash of sugar, a pinch of spice and heaping handfuls of everything nice?

Answer: The new $56 Everything Nice Set by Too Faced Cosmetics.

From under the glittery pink Christmas tree at Too Faced headquarters comes this limited edition holiday Sephora exclusive — the big blockbuster kit from the Too Faced Christmas collection — and it sparkles with a hot pink makeup bag, three tiny Cruelty-Free Teddy Bear Hair brushes (two eye brushes and one for bronzing/blush), a step-by-step Glamour Guide with directions for a number of looks, a deluxe sample-sized tube (translation: slightly bigger than a regular sample size) of Better Than Sex Mascara, and a festive, feminine palette filled with 20 eyeshadows, two blushes, a bronzer and highlighter.

In total, a $450 value.

Too Faced Everything Nice Set Eyeshadows — The Too Faced Everything Nice Set eyeshadows…

Too Faced Everything Nice Set blushes, bronzer, highlighter, brushes and mascara — Blushes, bronzer, highlighter, brushes and mascara…

Everything to me, from the hand-drawn artwork on the palette’s cover, to the disco glam pink makeup bag, to the makeup color choices, seems true to the Too Faced brand. Girly, glam and totally wearable…with a little extra sass thrown in for good measure (because one never knows when one will get the urge to start trouble).

The 20 eyeshadows? Dude, you could do so many different eye looks with this palette! Roughly three quarters of them are neutrals…but not the kind of neutrals that make me want to hit the snooze button. Among them are mattes, metallics and glitters in a range of warm and cool tones.

And just to keep things interesting, there are also splashes of pink, mauve, taupe and gold.

Too Faced Everything Nice Set Swatches from the left: Turtle Dove, Dream On, After Hours, Fawned of You and Knockout — Swatches from the left: Turtle Dove, Dream On, After Hours, Fawned of You and Knockout

Too Faced Everything Nice Set swatches from the left: Paper Roses, Kindness Is Free, Mauvelous, Be You and Secret Lovers — Paper Roses, Kindness Is Free, Mauvelous, Be You and Secret Lovers

Too Faced Everything Nice Set swatches from the left: Heaven, Shiny Happy, Honey Pot, Don't Settle and Girly — Heaven, Shiny Happy, Honey Pot, Don’t Settle and Girly

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The Urban Decay Black Magic 24/7 Glide-On Double Ended Eye Pencil Set: Urban Decay Sacrificed Newness To Create This Magical Binding

September 17th, 2014 by Karen 10 Comments

Of the many valuable lessons I’ve learned watching Game of Thrones, including 1) that dragons can’t really be tamed, 2) always bring a weapon to a wedding, and 3) stay away from places called King’s Landing, the most valuable lesson by far has been this: just say no to blood magic.

Because it never turns out right! I just think as a general policy, it’s wise to avoid it.

Thanks for the sage advice, George R.R. Martin. 🙂

While we’re at it, it’s probably also a good idea to avoid black magic. I mean, I may have been expelled from Hogwarts after one semester (my parents were so bummed!), but even I know that.

Urban Decay Black Magic Double-Ended Eye Pencil Set Packaging with a MAC Lipglass for scale — Beside a MAC Lipglass for scale…

Of course, black magic as it pertains to makeup? — that’s a different story. By all means, feel free to allow Urban Decay’s new pigmented, silky smooth Black Magic 24/7 Glide-On Double-Ended Eye Pencil Set ($39) to cast its spell on yo’ lash lines.

This captivating kit comes with four dual-ended pencil liners. Each one comes with one of UD’s signature black liners (black cream Zero, smokey black Black Velvet, charcoal satiny black Black Market or blackest black matte Perversion) on one end and a different intense, colorful shade (deep brown matte Demolition, deep gray matte Smoke, dark eggplant Tornado or bright turquoise LSD) on the other.

This time, there are no new shades up in the mix. Zero, Black Velvet, Perversion, Demolition, Smoke and LSD are re-promotes from the permanent line, while Black Market and Tornado are re-promotes that previously appeared in other sets.

Urban Decay Black Magic swatches from the left: Zero, Black Velvet, Black Market and Perversion — Swatches from the left: Zero, Black Velvet, Black Market and Perversion

Urban Decay Black Magic swatches from the left: Demolition, Smoke, Tornado and LSD — Demolition, Smoke, Tornado and LSD

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