Product Reviews

The $7.50 NYX Adorable Shadow Palette Is Darling, Dahhhling

February 12th, 2014 by Karen 18 Comments

Cray-cray adorbs! The new NYX Adorable Palette.

“This palette is just darling, dahhhhling.”

Why, yes, I have been watching too much Bravo.

What gave it away? Was it the way I said “dahhhling” like Lisa Vanderpump from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills? Because that’s how this new spring eyeshadow palette makes me feel.

With its cute crop of neutral browns, beiges and a dreamy pinkish peach, this palette has adorable written all over it.

No, really, it does. Right there on the front of the packaging. “Adorable.” Says it right there. 🙂

Anywho, don’t these six powder shadows look great together? I can see them working in a bunch of neutral looks.

Like this here pinkish brown smokey eye I’m sporting today…

That’s Bobbi Brown’s Illuminating Bronzing Powder in Antigua on the apples of my cheeks and Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Mood Light on my upper cheekbones.

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Milani’s New Delizio Pink and Bella Rosa Baked Blushes Arrive Just in Time for Valentine’s Day

February 7th, 2014 by Karen 21 Comments

Wearing the new Milani Baked Blush in Delizio Pink on my cheeks, and MAC Shock Value Pro Longwear Lip Pencil and MAC Cremesheen Glass in Playful Petal on my lips

I hope El Hub doesn’t get jealous of my Valentine’s Day dates this year.

Yes, girl, “dates,” as in the plural. I’ll be painting the town rosy pink next week with these two new matte Baked Blushes from Milani.

Milani Bella Rosa Baked Blush — Bella Rosa Baked Blush

Both are pretty cool cats, not that El Hub isn’t, but ya know… 🙂 The first one, Delizio Pink, is a cool matte bluish pink, and the second one is matte bluish red Bella Rosa.

These two dudes have the moves!

Milani Delizio Pink Baked Blush — Delizio Pink Baked Blush

They’re smooove, like that guy who orders you a slice of raspberry cheesecake AND a scoop of salted caramel ice cream when you head to the ladies’ loo after dinner because he knows you won’t be able to pick between the two…

Sorry, I’m craving something sweet right now.

Anyway, smoooooove…

With the amount of pigment you get and the soft, fine feel of the powders, I feel like you get a lot of bang for your buck with these. Both of them pack a ton of color yet remain really easy to buff and blend. On top of that, they aren’t patchy or streaky at all. I just use a blush brush and a light hand, and that’s it. Flushed, natural-looking cheeks.

Swatches of Milani's Baked Blushes in Bella Rosa (left) and Delizio Pink (right) — Swatches of Milani’s Baked Blushes in Bella Rosa (left) and Delizio Pink (right)

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Gardening With MAC A Fantasy of Flowers: Today I Grew a Look With Pink Lips and Green Eyes

February 6th, 2014 by Karen 19 Comments

It’s raining here today, which normally would leave me feeling rather blah (I get the blues when the sun goes away), but today? Not so much.

First, it’s been a dry winter, and we need the rain. Second, the construction guys can’t work when it’s wet…so it’s been gloriously quiet this afternoon. 🙂

All I can hear are raindrops on my window, which is a very soothing sound.

Funny thing is, when it’s sunny outside and the workmen are working (we’re having our siding repaired), I put on my biggest headphones and listen to YouTube videos of ambient rain to drown out the noise, haha! Oh, the irony…

So, because today is kind of cold and gray, I felt like doing something a little springy and colorful. I went with a bright green cat eye with golden coral cheeks and a pink lip using makeup from the new MAC A Fantasy of Flowers collection.

If you ever feel like wearing bright green liner or shadow but aren’t quite sure what to do with it and don’t want anything too over the top, try a green cat eye.

No, seriously. Dude, you can do it!

I like this eye look because there’s a bright pop of color and minimal blending, and sometimes when I’m even lazier than I was today, I’ll skip everything else and just do a single swipe of green on my upper lash lines instead.

With bright green liner like this, I’ll usually tightline my upper lashes with a black liner or eyeshadow (here I’m using MAC’s Carbon Eye Shadow) to give more depth to my eyes and create the illusion of thicker lashes (since mine are naturally wimpy).

Just adds a little somethin’ somethin’…

The green liner I’m wearing here is MAC’s new Sassy Moss from A Fantasy of Flowers, by the way, and woo-hoo! — do I feel like a sassy-pants when I wear it. 🙂

It’s just so vibrant, and all it takes is a couple layers. Very cool. In a way, it reminds me of one of my old-school favorite MAC Fluidlines, Jadeye, but less teal and more green. Similar pop on the skin.

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Get Chanel Style for $5 With Milani High Speed Fast Dry Nail Lacquer in Sangria Rush

January 28th, 2014 by Karen 11 Comments

Oh, gosh. For some reason my rambling is, like, extra rambling-y in this video.

I just realized that I never quite finished the story about the brothers and the double date with my friend Jen.

Sorry about that…

I blame it on the construction racket outside. I can’t even hear myself think. One moment I’m telling a silly story, then there’s a loud bang outside and I’m wondering, “Ooh! That was loud. What the heck was that?”

So, yeah…I guess it would’ve made more sense if I’d actually finished the story.

What I was going to say, was that during that double date, I sat on my hands throughout pretty much the entire musical, but the brother who was my date wanted to hold hands… He just couldn’t because I was sitting on mine. 🙂 Haha! Apparently, it was a “thing,” because later he told the other brother (Jen’s date), who in turn told Jen, who then told me.

Also, it never occurred to me and Jen at the time that if we did, in fact, marry the brothers…our kids would be cousins.

Clearly, this was a life plan that hadn’t been properly vetted…

Anywho, if you’re reading this and thinking, “This makes absolutely no sense,” well, the rest of the story is in the video, between talk of my new favorite polish, Milani High Speed Fast Dry One Coat Nail Lacquer in Sangria Rush, which you might remember from my nails in the BECCA Fab 5 video, and further rambling…

This polish is THE BUSINESS! It’s like $5 Chanel. Keep a look out for it next month when it arrives in drugstores and at milanicosmetics.com.

Thank you for watching and putting up with my random stories, LOL! 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Natural, Yet Complex, Is the Glow I Get From These New Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes

January 27th, 2014 by Karen 60 Comments

Wearing the new Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Diffused Heat ($35) on my cheeks

Opportunities abound for clever wordplay with the name of these new Ambient Lighting Blushes by Hourglass.

Think about it…

You [Ambient Lighting Blush] light up my life.

These Ambient Lighting Blushes are turning me on!

Stealing the spotlight this spring? These six new Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes, yea!

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush compact — The sleek compacts…

Unfortunately, however, because 1) my brain cells are moving at the speed of belly button lint today, and 2) I feel slightly less creative than an amoeba, I am unable to partake of said wordplay.

Instead, this is the best I can do: issue a grave warning…

DO NOT get within five feet of these things — don’t do it! — unless you plan to bring at least one of them home right then and there, because these things are more charming than the Borg, and by that I mean that resistance is futile.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes in Radiant Magenta (left) and Diffused Heat (right), $35 each US and $41 CDN

Because only half of my neurons are firing today (if that), I was going to say that these blushes melt into my skin like butter, but then I thought, “Good grief, Karen! Is that the best you can do?”

No, I think not.

Picture this: your work crush grabs you by the shoulders when no one is looking, presses you up against a file cabinet, kisses you squarely on the mouth, and then quietly, nonchalantly, walks away without saying a word.

That — that right there. That natural flush on your cheeks? That’s the kind of flush these Ambient Lighting Blushes can create.

Hourglass Radiant Magenta Ambient Lighting Blush — Radiant Magenta, so pretty!

So, what are they, and how do they work?

Well, I’m glad you asked. 🙂

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Eyeko Eye Do Liquid Eyeliner: Purrfect for Cat Ladies and Crying Insomniacs

January 27th, 2014 by Karen 10 Comments

Oh, black cat eyeliner, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways…

One…

Wait — I’d much rather talk about this in a video review. Here’s a look at a new liquid liner I’ve been using a lot lately, $19 Eye Do Liquid Eyeliner by Eyeko.

This jet-black collaboration between Eyeko and British it-gal Alexa Chung is designed to be worn on lash and/or water lines.

Press play to hear how it fares throughout the day, and if Eye Do sounds like something you’d like to try, it’s available now at Sephora and online.

Thank you, as always, for watching. 🙂

In other news, how’s your Monday coming along? I’m hanging in there, but I feel like my brain only half turned on today. Don’t you hate it when that happens? I’m working at about 50% brain efficiency right now.

Words. Difficult. String. Together.

Big sigh… It happens sometimes (often on Mondays), and when it does, I just try to go with the flow. I mean, what else can you do?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Dry Lips Will Love Le Metier de Beaute’s Drought Defying Hydra-Creme Lipsticks

January 22nd, 2014 by Karen 14 Comments

Le Metier de Beaute Hydra-Creme Lipstick in Butterfield 8 — Le Metier de Beaute’s Hydra-Creme Lipstick in Butterfield 8

I am so hungry right now…

Frickin’ PMS. It’s turned my tummy into a bottomless pit [INSERT RUMBLING TUMMY SOUND HERE]. Right now, I could easily eat an entire pizza, and a half, and then have dinner.

LOL! The only thing stopping me — well, I mean, the main thing — is makeup.

Surprise! 🙂 I’m wearing Le Metier de Beaute Hydra-Creme Lipstick tonight, and every time I smack my lips and mush them together while thinking about the aforementioned pizzas, with their gooey, cheesy goodness, yummy tomato sauce and crust (OH, THE CRUST!), I’m temporarily distracted by how great my lips feel, and momentarily forget about my hunger.

Two of the 25 Le Metier de Beaute Hydra-Creme Lipsticks

So, these Hydra-Cremes launched in the fall, but I didn’t truly appreciated them until recently, as a result of my lips being incredibly dry.

Ugh… Winter.

I haven’t been able to tolerate any lip products lately that aren’t highly moisturizing, and these are like reservoirs!

Le Metier de Beaute Hydra-Creme Lipsticks in Grenadine (left) and Butterfield 8 (right) — Hydra-Creme Lipsticks in Grenadine (left) and Butterfield 8 (right)

They slide across lips, leaving behind a lightweight layer of medium-coverage color with a soft shine.

Totally reminds me of the MAC Lustres but, like, hella fancy. No flavor or scent.

Le Metier de Beaute Hydra-Creme Lipstick Swatches in Butterfield 8 (left) and Grenadine (right) — Butterfield 8 (left) and Grenadine (right)

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The Tarte Cheek Stains Don Snazzy New Outfits, Shrink Down Several Sizes…

January 21st, 2014 by Karen 23 Comments

Cheeks, by Tarte. LOL! Sounds like a fancy fragrance commercial. But seriously, I’m wearing the new Tarte Cheek Stain in Fearless ($30)

I sure do like the new packaging for these Tarte Cheek Stains. So, so pretty…but I loved the old-school packaging, too.

I get it, though. It’s good to switch things up every once in a while. Heck, I’m a firm believer in frequent wardrobe changes. El Hub makes fun of me all the time because, seriously, I bring along at least two extra pairs of shoes (and sometimes jackets) whenever we leave the house. I mean, you just never know when you’ll need a different pair of shoes.

Right…?

No? Is that just me?

Oh, well. 🙂

The newly repackaged Tarte Cheek Stains, $30 each

Importantly, these eight gel- and cream-based blushes work just as well as the originals. Two swipes on my cheeks, either atop bare skin, tinted moisturizer or foundation, then some quick blending with my fingers, and I’m flushed and blushed for the day.

Fab-ooo for quick, natural-looking cheeks, and each of the shades has a corresponding color in Tarte’s new LipSurgence Power Pigment pencil line — ya know, if I want to get all matchy-matchy (I must admit, sometimes, I do).

But…sad face time. 🙁 Why are these so small? I mean, I like minis as much as the next makeup lover, but these are half as big as the originals (0.5 ounces versus 1), and yet cost the same amount.

What gives?

I’ve been loving and wearing Tarte’s Cheek Stains for a good 7+ years and have always felt that, sure, even though they’re $30 each, because they lasted such a long time, they still seemed like a great deal.

Now? Not so sure.

Tarte Cheek Stains from the left: Blissful, Blushing Bride and Exposed — From the left: Blissful, Blushing Bride and Exposed

Tarte Cheek Stains from the left: Fearless, Flushed and Natural Beauty — From the left: Fearless, Flushed and Natural Beauty

Tarte Cheek Stains from the left: Tipsy and True Love — Tipsy and True Love

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