Product Reviews

The Laura Mercier Artist’s Palette for Eyes Turns Super-Blended Eye Looks Into Works of Art

October 17th, 2013 by Karen 50 Comments

Laura Mercier Artist's Palette 2013 — Laura Mercier’s new Artist’s Palette for Eyes ($48)

Some artists wield pencils. Others command paint, clay, pen or pastels.

My medium of choice: cat fur.

Gurl, you don’t even know! My cat is one hairy beast. In fact, he’s so hairy that a sculptor could fashion a different life-size model of him out of stray tabby hairs and fur balls every week.

My second favorite artistic medium would have to be eyeshadow, I think, mostly because there are just so many different things you can do with it, and this new palette by Laura Mercier is unlocking my inner artiste, big time.

The $48 Artist’s Palette for Eyes (a Sephora exclusive) will have you itching to break out your makeup brushes. The six warm neutrals, and six cool pinks and purples, practically beg to be swept, blended and patted on lids in any number of enticing holiday eye looks.

Come to mama, smokey eyes!

Don’t even worry about busting your wrist while blending these eyeshadows. They’re pigmented, but the soft, finely-milled powders blend ridiculously well.

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The Tarte Off the Cuff Holiday Blush and Bronzer Palette Prompts Impromptu Compliments Like, “What Are You Wearing on Your Cheeks?”

October 14th, 2013 by Karen 26 Comments

Three reasons to freak out when you open the Tarte new $42 Off the Cuff holiday blush and bronzer palette for the first time…

1) The bracelet totally looks like something by Kate Spade.

Tarte Off the Cuff Packaging — That cuff there in the middle detaches so you can wear it as a bracelet.

NOTE: The included cuff isn’t one of those cheesy throwaway pieces that come with some holiday sets. It’s actually really cute and looks kind of expensive.

Love it!

2) The blushes are off the hook.

Honestly, YES! I’ve been waiting for what feels like eons for Tarte to release a blush palette like this because the only thing more fabulous than a single pan of Amazonian Clay Blush is a palette filled with five of them.

Well…technically, four blushes and a bronzer.

When the Amazonian Clay Blushes came out a couple years ago, they set my blush world on fye-yah .

There have been times when I’ve applied them before the crack of dawn, and through some probably ancient, long-lost magic they look just as natural (not at all like they’re just sitting on top of the skin) and fresh 14 hours later, with nary a hint of fading and zero patchiness whatsoever.

I’m still not entirely sold on the whole Amazonian clay angle — like whether it’s actually responsible for how how well I think these blushes perform — but I have to say, the pieces in this kit are spot-on fantastic.

Who knows? Maybe it is the clay… It’s supposed to give your skin exactly what it needs, when it needs it, adjusting to your needs at any given moment, be it extra moisture on your dry patches or oil absorption on your shiny spots, and it seems to do just that.

Tarte Off the-Cuff Swatches — Swatches on my NC42 forearm…

With the palette, you get a bright matte rose blush, a shimmery plum, a matte nude melon and a matte bright pink. The bronzer, the shade on the far right, is a medium golden brown.

All of them, the blushes and bronzer, should go well with most any eye look. Plus, they’re easy to blend and smooth like John Legend.

3) The whole kit and caboodle’s a pretty fantastic deal.

A full-sized 0.2-ounce Amazonian Clay Blush regularly goes for $26, so five of them would set you back $130.

With this kit, though, you get five 0.15-ounce pans — so, yeah, a little smaller than normal — for what works out to $8.40 each.

That’s a lot of choices and variety for $42.

Tarte Off the Cuff Blush — That’s the bronzer, and the bright pink blush (second from the right in the palette) on my cheeks

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A Closer Look at the Lovely NARS Guy Bourdin Holiday Collection

October 10th, 2013 by Karen 35 Comments

NARS Exhibit A Blush — Wearing Exhibit A Blush, Mississippi Cinematic Eyeshadow and Goodbye Emmanuelle Cinematic Lipstick from the new NARS Guy Bourdin collection

Earlier this week, the day after I posted a quick look at this collection, I learned that the release, specifically the tie-in to Guy Bourdin’s sometimes dark, disturbing photography, sparked a controversy. I’ve decided to cover the collection because I see this as an issue of art, personal preference and freedom of expression. As someone who was in an abusive relationship, I could say more, but I don’t intend to say anything further about it in public.

The Blushes ($29 each)

The first products I ever fell in love with from NARS were their blushes (can I get a what-what for Amour?!), and the blushes in this release reminded me of that. The brand has some of the best blushes around. In classic NARS fashion, the three here in the Guy Bourdin collection last all day long, look natural, and I don’t have to load a dozen layers on my cheeks to see them.

NARS Exhibit A — Blush in Exhibit A, a matte vivid red

First, there’s Exhibit A, a re-promote from the permanent line. It’s a vivid red with a matte finish…

NARS Coeur Battant — Blush in Coeur Battant, a magenta

Then, there’s Coeur Battant, also a matte, but this one’s an intense magenta.

NARS Day Dream — Blush in Day Dream, a peachy pink

Lastly, there’s Day Dream, a peachy pink with an opalescent, almost angelic shimmer.

The big theme here? Pigment. One or two swipes across each of these pans is all it takes for bright color on both cheeks. For reals! Even Day Dream, which I thought I’d have to layer, only requires a couple swipes.

But because these blushes lay down lots of color, they can be very tricky to use. Even with a light touch, it’s easy to go overboard with them (at least for me). If you’ve never worn blush before, you might want to go for something sheerer. There are lots of great beginner’s blushes out there, but I don’t think these three are among them.

If, on the other hand, you’re already comfortable with blush (or if you’re just an adventurous beginner), you should be totally fine.

And yeah, I know you’ve got mad blush skills, yo! — but still, I’d opt for either a skunk brush or a fan brush, instead of a regular blush brush, to avoid over-applying. Might as well make it easier on yourself, ya know?

MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A

NARS Day Dream Blush — Blush in Day Dream

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The New Joy to the Girls Palette by Too Faced Cosmetics Sings Songs of Girly Glam for the Holidays

October 8th, 2013 by Karen 18 Comments

Too Faced Joy to the Girls — Wearing the Joy to the Girls palette on my eyes, new from Too Faced Cosmetics ($46)

Hark! The herald beauty angels sing…

Joy to the girls, it’s time to play!
Let eyes receive shadow! 🙂

I do believe that Too Faced Cosmetics is on to something with the name of their new holiday palette, Joy to the Girls.

Makeup-themed Christmas carols.

BOOM!

Too Faced Joy to the Girls Box — So cute, right? The packaging was designed by celebrity decorator Mary McDonald.

Picture it — you, Tabs and I standing on the neighbor’s doorstep in matching chunky knit sweaters with matching caps (because Team Tabs is all about accessories), while we sing about our love of cat eyeliner and blending brushes.

(I’m an alto, BTW, so you and Tabs will have to cover the high parts.)

On our eyes, Joy to the Girls.

Recently released for the holidays, it comes equipped for yuletide fun with 15 pans of powder eyeshadow in matte, shimmer and glitter finishes. There’s also a full-sized LashGASM Mascara, and three sets of step-by-step instructions for different looks.

Too Faced Joy to the Girls Eyeshadows — A closer look at the eyeshadows…

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A Few of My Favorite Things Sing in This New Holiday Makeup Set From Too Faced Cosmetics

October 7th, 2013 by Karen 31 Comments

Too Faced A Few of My Favorite Things — Wearing the new A Few of My Favorite Things palette from Too Faced ($56 US and $64 CDN)

You know what would totally take Too Faced Cosmetics’ new A Few of My Favorite Things holiday set to the next level??

If Fraulein Maria, and the whole gang of von Trapp children on bicycles, showed up at my doorstep with play clothes made out of curtains.

If you actually got that reference, then paws up for being a fellow Sound of Music super fan. 😀

Inspired by one of my favorite musicals of all time, the new palette makes me feel like singing A Few of My Favorite Things at the top of my lungs!

But you don’t have to be a Sound of Music nerd to love it. Not at all. If you merely have an appreciation for wearable brights and neutrals for eyes, lips and cheeks, you’ll probably like it, too.

Too Faced A Few of My Favorite Things: The rundown

The set comes with colors hand-picked by Jerrod Blandino, co-founder and creative director of Too Faced Cosmetics.
It includes 20 powder eyeshadows
2 powder blushes
2 bronzers
A full-sized Lip Injection Color Bomb in Bee Sting
A deluxe-sized Better Than Sex Mascara
A zip-up pink and gold case to use as a purse, or to just store your goodies in (CUTE!)
The set arrives soon, exclusively to Sephora stores and sephora.com.
It includes a balanced blend of neutral and bright products. I think the blushes, bronzers and mascara are perfect! — but I do wish the glittery and shimmer shadows exhibited less fallout. I also wish the lip color was brighter.

Too Faced A Few of My Favorite Things eyeshadows — How cute are the names?

Too Faced A Few of My Favorite Things blushes bronzer — Blushes, bronzers and Lip Injection Color Bomb in Bee Sting

Too Faced A Few of My Favorite Things booklet — A few looks to try…

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The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette: Like a Portable Photograhy Lighting Kit That Fits in a Purse

October 4th, 2013 by Karen 38 Comments

Just when I thought there was absolutely no way Hourglass could improve upon the perfection of their Ambient Lighting Powders, they go and release a stunning new Ambient palette and effectively knock my cat lady socks off.

(No, seriously, I wear cat lady socks.)

New for the holidays, the $58 limited edition trio ($67 CDN) comes with three Ambient Light Powders and a travel-sized bottle of Veil Primer.

Be warned — when you open the palette and gaze upon Dim Light, Radiant light, and the new limited edition Incandescent Light, you may experience beauty vertigo and feel the need to sit down, so take care to open it within reach of your fainting couch. 🙂

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette Dim Light — Dim Light

If you haven’t partaken of these Ambients before, you’re in for a treat. The line of universally flattering pressed powders was designed to sort of simulate different lighting effects, like candlelight, by diffusing, softening and tinting light on the skin.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette Incandescent Light — Incandescent Light

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Chanel Goes for the Glitter on Lashes and Lids in the New Collection Nuit Infinie de Chanel for Holiday 2013

October 3rd, 2013 by Karen 19 Comments

Chanel Collection Nuit Infine de Chanel Collection for Holiday 2013 — Wearing makeup from the new Chanel Collection Nuit Infinie de Chanel Collection, new for holiday 2013

Assuming Tabs the naughty ninja kitty doesn’t knock the tree over again, my Christmas is going to have some major competition — and not from the glittering, diamond-encrusted Beyonce-themed ornaments (I WISH). Chanel’s holiday collection is officially in the house, and it’s ready to glimmer and glisten, big time, on lids and lashes.

Chanel Collection Nuit Infinie De Chanelfor Holiday 2013 — 9 of the 14 pieces from the new Collection Nuit Infinie De Chanel

From what I’ve seen of the collection so far, it’s a full-on glitter parade, especially on eyes. I mean, it’s so glittery that I’m pretty sure that if holiday tinsel could talk, it would yell “BISH STOLE MY LOOK!” at the top of its lungs.

Hey, I’m not complaining! I love me some glitter. I just wish it showed up more readily in these pics. In all of the shots I took today, the glitter appears much more subdued than it does in real life.

I tried, le sigh.

It’s too bad that it’s so hard to get security clearance here at Tabs the Cat Industries, LLC, because I would love to see your eyes twinkle when you saw how these eyeshadows, mascara and liner radiate in person.

I guess we’ll have to just settle for the next best thing, which is you and me hanging out on opposite ends of the keyboard. 🙂

Ready to get to it? Glitter in three, two, one…

Illusion D’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Initiation ($36)

Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Initiation — Illusion D’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Initiation

A sheer, glittery platinum bronze
One of two Illusion D’Ombre cream eyeshadows in the collection
Can wear alone or as a base for other shadows
Soft, bouncy texture
Apply with fingers or a brush
I apply with a flat eyeshadow brush (easier for me to control the product).
Non-creasing, long wearing
This particular pot might be old since it seems to have dried up (the shadow should touch the edges of the jar)
Experienced some fallout because of the glitter, but it’s not crazy.
Camera has a hard time picking up the sparkle; appears much more glittery in real life
Prefer this one over the second shade, Fatal, because it’s easier to wear on warm skin
Love the color, love the sparkle, wish it didn’t exhibit fallout (shouldn’t for the price)

MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+

Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Initiation on my eyes — Illusion D’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Initiation on my lids

Illusion D’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Fatal ($36)

Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Fatal — Illusion D’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Fatal

A shimmery, silvery purple with red undertones
Second cream shadow from the collection
Reddish purples make me look like I’ve been crying, so I have a hard time pulling this off
Not as glittery as Initiation, but still very shimmery (borders on a frost)
Texture’s slightly smoother, more bouncy
Easier to apply and blend
No fallout
Loved the texture and application, not so crazy about the color
Better for cool-toned gals/guys who can carry purplish reds well

MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B

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Provocative Pinks and Purples Play Atop Lips and Tips in Guerlain’s Crazy Paris Holiday Collection

October 2nd, 2013 by Karen 15 Comments

Guerlain Crazy 68 Rouge G de Guerlain in 863 Provocative — Crazy for Guerlain’s Crazy 68 Rouge G de Guerlain in 863 Provocative ($49.50)

The “crazy” in Guerlain’s latest limited edition expedition, Crazy Paris, really seems to come through in the lipsticks and nail polishes, and to that I say, HAWT DAMN, PEOPLE! Bring on the crazy!

Crazy 68 Rouge G de Guerlain in 863 Provocative ($49.50)

With its crazy long name, Crazy 68 Rouge G de Guerlain in 863 Provocative is 50 cents shy of 50 bucks, and that hurts, but if you’ve fallen in love with the idea of this creamy opaque hot pink but aren’t ready to throw down $49.50 for it, perhaps MAC Impassioned could (at least temporarily) quell that urge.

Buuuuut if you are ready to trade in that Camry for a BMW, Guerlain’s Rouge Gs are like the luxury cars of the lipstick world…and if that makes any sense at all (it doesn’t), 863 is the model that makes your boy toy jealous. We’re talking moonroof, heated leather seats and satellite navigation.

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