Product Reviews

Master Makeup Sculptors Might Love BECCA Shadow & Light Bronze/Contour Perfector

August 1st, 2014 by Karen 11 Comments

I feel conflicted about BECCA’s Shadow & Light Bronzer/Contour Perfector…

Released earlier this summer, it’s a split pan powder bronzer ($49). The darker side is for sculpting and shading, the lighter golden side for highlighting and adding dimension.

Initially, it piqued my interest because it uses black undertones to simulate the appearance of shadows on the skin.

I thought that sounded neat.

BECCA Shadow Light Bronze Contour Perfector before and after — Before (left) and after (right)

After trying it out, yeah, in some ways, I do think it’s awesome. Like, it makes it easy to go from regular chubby-cheeked Karen to ’80s Duran Duran video vixen because it carves out cheekbones quicker than you can say “Cheese and sour cream, son!” in line at Chipotle, and it does it in dramatic fashion.

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The MAC A Novel Romance Collection Lipsticks: Yield to Love, Good Kisser!

July 31st, 2014 by Karen 23 Comments

MAC Lustre Lipstick in Myself, a soft shimmery nude beige — MAC Lustre Lipstick in Myself, a soft, shimmery nude beige

I’m kinda getting into this whole romance novel thing (maybe I’ll actually read the one I got the other day!), like, by lustily posing for pics and tussling my hair.

My pout likes it, too. It got to try the six lipsticks from the MAC A Novel Romance collection yesterday.

The four pink and rose shades, which look like something you might find in a MAC late winter/early spring launch (see: MAC A Rose Romance… So old school!), and two deeper, more traditional fall matte shades in plum and deep red, almost seem like they belong in different collections.

My first impression? They seemed worlds apart, like the protagonists in an epic love story.

Of course, one of them has to be from the wrong side of the tracks, and their relationship is forbidden (it always has to be forbidden), and just when it seems like they’ll never be together, BAM! — somehow things work out.

MAC Lustre Lipstick in Myself, Cremesheen Lipstick in A Novel Romance, Matte Lipstick in Good Kisser, Matte Lipstick in Hearts Aflame, Matte Lipstick in Lingering Kiss and Cremeshee Lipstick Yield to Love (online exclusive) — From the left, that’s Lustre Lipstick in Myself, Cremesheen Lipstick in A Novel Romance, Matte Lipstick in Good Kisser, Matte Lipstick in Hearts Aflame, Matte Lipstick in Lingering Kiss and Cremesheen Lipstick Yield to Love (the one online exclusive).

Like our intrepid lovers, something also brings these six lipsticks together, and that something is the quads.

Seriously, it’s actually kind of neat. I feel like you can wear any of the lipsticks from this collection with any of quads, and they’ll look great. They mix and match perfectly.

You already heard how I want to ride off into the sunset on a chestnut-colored mare with the rosy shade, Yield to Love, and the bright pink shade, Good Kisser, so let’s move on to the other characters in our story… 🙂

MAC Cremesheen Lipstick Yield to Love (online exclusive) — MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Yield to Love (the online exclusive)

MAC Cremesheen Lipstick Yield to Love (online exclusive), a mid-tone rose — Cremesheen Lipstick in Yield to Love (the online exclusive), a mid-tone rose

MAC Matte Lipstick in Good Kisser — Matte Lipstick in Good Kisser

MAC Matte Lipstick in Good Kisser, a mid-tone fuchsia — Matte Lipstick in Good Kisser, a mid-tone fuchsia

Hearts Aflame and Lingering Kiss are the two rather traditional fall shades. Technically, both have a matte finish, but they don’t look flat, at least to my eye. I see them as flirty with a kiss of shine that makes them interesting and gives them dimension.

MAC Matte Lipstick in Hearts Aflame, a mid-tone brick red — Matte Lipstick in Hearts Aflame, a mid-tone brick red

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Urban Decay’s Perversion False Lashes in Trap Might Lure You Into Thinking That You Could Wear Them To Buy Cat Food

July 29th, 2014 by Karen 7 Comments

Urban Decay Perversion False Lashes in Trap

If you think you’re going to wear Urban Decay’s new Perversion Lashes in Trap ($15) to Target to buy cat food without having people really, really stare at you, you are mistaken. Because these lashes look completely cra-zay-zy in real life.

I mean, they look great in pics! They’re definitely dramatic…which makes sense; that is what the new Perversion Lash line is all about.

If you’re going out clubbing or have a big night on the town or if you just landed that job as a full-time dominatrix (*cracks whip), then yeah. Awesome lashes.

But for, like, real life kind of stuff, nuh-uh. I look downright insane with these on, like I should be hanging out with Britney when she shaved her head, and attacking cars with an umbrella.

Trap is one of three new $15 Perversion Lash styles, all permanent members of the UD line.

It’s weird… Whenever I wear Trap and post pics, I usually get some nice comments, and I think it’s because of the length of the lashes, especially the bundles around the center.

I think they make my eyes look wider, like that doe-eyed thing to the Nth degree, which I like. Too bad they’re about as comfortable as a pair of six-inch pointy high heels a half size too small.

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Giving Thanks for an Epic Summer Glow With the Dolce & Gabbana Smooth Eye Colour Quad in Tangier

July 29th, 2014 by Karen 10 Comments

Dolce Gabbana Tangier Eyeshadow Quad — Wearing the new $60 Dolce & Gabbana’s new Smooth Eye Colour Quad in Tangier and dreaming about corn…

Mashed potatoes, gravy, biscuits, buttered corn…

CORN! Mmm, corn.

I’m trying to get a grip on myself, but my body is acting of its own accord (*tummy rumbles*). Every time I open the new Dolce & Gabbana Smooth Eye Color Quad in Tangier, I immediately think “Happy Thanksgiving!”

It’s not my fault. It’s the orange, man. Seeing it there next to that brown and gold, and I momentarily forget that it’s not fall. I feel like busting out my boots with the fur (with the fur) and jumping into a pile of autumn leaves.

Funny thing is, it’s not a fall quad. Tangier is one of two limited edition quads in the new Dolce & Gabbana Summer Glow collection, available now at counters and online.

With its rich amber and gold, it’s perfect for sexy screen siren looks, whether now in the summer, or later in the fall.

Sixty bones is a lot for an eyeshadow quad, but at least this one is remarkably easy to use. I’ve been wearing it for the past few days, and I’m surprised. I can’t believe how easy it’s been to incorporate into casual and dressy looks — even that cray-cray matte orange.

For these first pics I tried to think outside the box, so I’m wearing it in the crease with a hazy orange smokey eye.

Only semi-cray. 😉

But I’ve also used the quad in more causal ways. Like, the other day I buffed the light peach, which has just the perfect amount of sheen so it isn’t too shimmery, from my lash line up to my brow bone, blended the matte brown into the crease, and then lightly dusted the shimmery gold in the inner corners, before finishing with a bit of black liner and mascara.

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Looking for a Polished Party Quad? Chanel Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eyeshadow in Tissé Vénitien Fits the Bill

July 28th, 2014 by Karen 32 Comments

Fact: Chanel’s new Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eyeshadow in Tissé Vénitien ($61) will not be tardy for the party.

No way. She’ll be right on time.

Chanel Quadra Les 4 Ombres Eyeshadow in Tissé Vénitien — Tissé Vénitien, from the new Chanel Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eyeshadow Collection

This quad dazzles with shimmering greens — one of which, the metallic light greenish platinum on the left, is the star of the show for me — and a quiet dash of pink.

The greenish platinum sparkles like the desert sky at midnight during a new moon, yet amazingly, it isn’t obnoxious. For a party ready look in mere seconds, I like to use my finger to apply it to the center of my lids.

Tissé Vénitien is one of the new Chanel tweed-inspired quads with the baked formula.

Like the others, it’s supposed to cover all the bases for an eye look from start to finish, but with that, I have to disagree. I feel like you also need at least one matte up in the mix to contour with, and also to contrast with all of the shimmer here; otherwise, it’s sparkle overload.

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Experience Unknown Pleasures (Like Whiter Teeth) When You Wear the New Fall/Winter 2014 Lip Tars From Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics

July 28th, 2014 by Karen 36 Comments

Through some weird illusionary makeup magic/trick of light, blue lip products are supposed to make your teeth look whiter, but I dunno… Do my teeth look whiter in these pics? I’m wearing OCC’s new Lip Tar in Vain.

I seriously cannot tell; all I see are those blue lips.

They’re just so…blue.

OCC explores the boundaries between light and shadow in their fall/winter 2014 Unknown Pleasures collection. Vain is one of the six new $18 Lip Tars in the release.

OCC Unknown Pleasures Collection Lip Tars f rom the left: Covet, Lament, Manhunger, Technopagan, Vain and Pagan — OCC Unknown Pleasures Collection Lip Tars from the left in Covet, Lament, Manhunter, Technopagan, Vain and Pagan

Most of the time when liquid lipsticks dry down, they form an impermeable film on my lips, which is usually long-wearing (yay!), but also very drying (boo!).

Unlike run-of-the-mill liquid lipsticks, which tend to bleed my lips of every milliliter of moisture like Edward Cullen on a bender, the Lip Tars stay wet from start to finish, so they don’t form a drying film.

But the wet texture also leads these to scoot beyond my natural lip line, so it helps to be mindful of rubbing your lips together, especially with the darker shades.

OCC Lip Tar in Lament — Lip Tar in Lament

OCC Lip Tar in Technopagan — Lip Tar in Technopagan

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Urban Decay’s Fast Easy Sexy Partial False Lashes Are Exactly What Their Name Implies

July 25th, 2014 by Karen 12 Comments

Urban Decay Instaflare — Wearing Urban Decay’s new Fast Easy Sexy Partial False Lashes in Instalure ($15) on the outer corners of my upper lash line

I’m keeping Urban Decay’s new Fast Easy Sexy Partial False Lashes ($15) on metaphorical makeup speed dial for the next Monday morning when I’m feeling blah and need an easy pick-me-up. These will definitely hit the spot, since they’re so quick to use and easy to apply.

When you and/or your lashes need a lift, and you either don’t have, or don’t want to spend, the time dealing with the drama that often accompanies false lashes, partials like Fast Easy Sexy are great.

I’m a big fan. 🙂

I call them starter falsies, since the shorter band makes them much easier to manipulate and control.

Perfect for fledgling false lash aficionados, or anyone who wants an easier fancy fringe.

These three new styles from Urban Decay are like lightning in a bottle. I can apply any one of them in less than a minute.

Because they’re not as wide as full-size false lashes, I don’t have to trim them at all to fit, and ’cause they already have a blackened band, I can also skip the extra step of having to darken the band with liner.

Urban Decay Instalure Falsies — Instalure

And I think they just dramatic enough to get the job done.

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Like a Good Pair of Kicks, Tarte Colored Clay Tinted Brow Gel Offers Major Arch Support

July 25th, 2014 by Karen 11 Comments

Tarte Amazonian Clay Tinted Brow Gel in Taupe — Tarte Colored Clay Tinted Brow Gel in Taupe

Tarte’s new cruelty-free Colored Clay Tinted Brow Gel ($21) comes in three shades, and the one we’re looking at today, Taupe, is actually nowhere near my natural brow color. It’s the lightest of the three shades, and the one best suited for blondes.

Buuut, I thought I might be able to use it for the inner part of my brows to do that whole ombre brow thing, or when I just feel like wearing my Lil’ Kim/Nicki Minaj wig to scare the UPS guy.

Good times, my friend… Good times. 🙂

Just to see how it would look, I also pulled the color all the way through my brown to the outer tail, and HOLY WOW MAMA! — this stuff is unbelievably pigmented.

Despite it being way too light for me to use as my primary brow gel, Taupe still completely covers Raul, also known as “the bald spot in my left brow.”

Taupe also keeps my stray hairs from flapping in the wind and has so much pigment that it even lightens the overall color of my dark brunette brows by several shades (only while I wear it, of course).

Kind of shocking, considering that the tiny brush, which doesn’t look like much, has bristles so small that they look like they wouldn’t be able to hold much product at all.

“No frickin’ way,” I thought the first time I saw it, but it works, both the brush and the gel. Together, they fill in all the sparse spots, lay down plenty of color (on the hairs and the skin), and corral those wayward hairs into place.

Tarte Colored Clay Tinted Brow Gel in Taupe — Taupe

It’s a firm, yet manageable hold, and I can still run a brush through my brows when the gel dries down if I want to, so the hold isn’t as firm or stiff as, say, Anastasia’s Clear Brow Gel, which could hold those hairs down through a category 5 storm, I kid you not.

But it is firm enough to hold the hairs in place when I dance in front of my Beyonce fan. #truestory #dontjudge 🙂

Tarte Colored Clay Tinted Brow Gel in Taupe, before (left) and after (right) — Before (left) and after (right) Tarte Amazonian Clay Tinted Brow Gel in Taupe

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