Product Reviews

Laying Out the Welcome Matte for Glitter: This Fall, Two Pure Matte Lipsticks Sparkle at NARS

July 8th, 2013 by Karen 27 Comments

NARS Pure Matte Lipsticks in La Paz — Keeping the peace with La Paz, one of two new NARS Pure Matte Lipsticks ($26), on my lips

Don’t be fooled. Just because they call deep purple La Paz and coppery pink Peloponnese “Pure Matte Lipsticks” doesn’t mean they aren’t perfectly capable of powering you through a psychedelic Care Bears-themed rave or a princess party.

Both lipsticks, the only two in the new NARS fall 2013 collection, contain a fair amount of glitter — you know, just in case you need to party.

NARS La Paz Pure Matte Lipstick, an orchid ($26, limited edition) — Orchid La Paz Pure Matte Lipstick, ($26, limited edition)

NARS Peloponnese Pure Matte Lipstick, a ginger pink ($26) — Ginger pink Peloponnese Pure Matte Lipstick ($26, permanent collection)

Leave it to FranÃ§ois to bedazzle two matte lipsticks with the crushed silver bits of a broken disco ball!

It’s just so unexpected and really, really cool. The medium-sized flecks of silver glitter sparkle in a matte base.

NARS Pure Matte Lipsticks in La Paz (left) and Peloponnese (right) — The Pure Matte Lipsticks in La Paz (left) and Peloponnese (right)

It’s just too bad that neither of these — La Paz nor Peloponnese — feel as good as they look, at least not on my dry lips, which is strange, as I usually think of the NARS Pure Mattes as being on the more comfortable end of the matte lipsticks spectrum.

These, though, seem surprisingly tight and drying…

The only explanation I can come up with is the glitter — not that it’s gritty or anything, but I think it might be throwing a wrench into the texture/finish ratio.

NARS Pure Matte Lipsticks in Peloponnese — Pure Matte Lipsticks in Peloponnese

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Elevate Your Fuzzy Little Caterpillars to Golden Arches With the New NARS Brow Gel and Brow Perfector

July 8th, 2013 by Karen 18 Comments

Wearing the NARS Brow Perfectors in Kalamata and Suriname; Brow Gel Kinshasha, new for fall 2013 — Wearing the new NARS Brow Perfectors in Kalamata and Suriname, and the Brow Gel in Kinshasha

I like big brows, and I cannot lie.
You other brothas can’t deny.
When a girl walks in,
With her bushy brows,
And those arches on her face, I get sprung.

BABY GOT BROWS! I just misquoted Sir Mix-a-lot, what?

Guess who’s got big brows on her mind, babes. They’re kind of a thing for fall, which is probably why brands like NARS are rolling out the red carpet for big brows with products like their new fall Brow Gels and Brow Perfectors ($22 each).

NARS Brow Perfectors on the left and Brow Gels on the right — The Brow Perfectors on the left and Brow Gels on the right

I’ve been trying to grow out my fuzzy little caterpillars for a while, but it hasn’t been easy, thanks to the aftereffects of the era of pencil-thin brows known as the ’90s.

Mine naturally also sort of fade away around the middle mark, and then there’s the issue of Raul…the really annoying bald spot on my left brow. It’s like a no-man’s land up in that spot! Absolutely nothing grows there.

Yeah, thank goodness for side-swept bangs…and these new NARS Brow Perfector pencils and brush-on Brow Gels, both been of which have been helping me fulfill my dreams of Brooke Shields brows circa 1982.

The NARS Brow Perfector ($22)

FranÃ§ois and friends designed the NARS Brow Perfector, which comes in four shades, each with a natural matte finish, to fill, shape and define brows, and they made the twist-up pencil oval to differentiate it from the pack of similar products.

The oval shape is supposed to make it easier to control, helping you get the exact brow shape, angle and size you want.

There’s Salzbourg (a light brown), Caucase (a medium brown), Kalamata (a medium brownish taupe) and Suriname (a black)…

I’ve been using a combination of the two darker colors, Kalamata and Suriname (a very stark, dark black), because I feel like there’s a wide gap between them. Neither one by itself matches my natural brow color. Something between the two shades would be perfect for we lasses with dark brown locks.

NARS Brow Perfector Brow Gel tips — Oval shape of the Brow Perfector tip on the left and the Brow Gel’s tapered brush on the right

First thing I noticed about these was the texture. They’re hard — like polar opposites of soft, waxy brow pencils like Benefit’s Instant Brows.

But I don’t think that’s a problem at all. In fact, many of the harder brow pencils I’ve tried stay put longer, at least for me, and this one does, too. When I draw mine in at the crack of dawn, they still look prim and proper 12-14 hours later.

Interestingly, all of these Brow Perfector colors appear to contain gray undertones, and a couple of them remind me of some of my MAC brow filling favorites, except in pencil costume. Salzbourg makes me think of MAC Omega, and Kalamata reminds me of MAC Concrete.

These pencils apply very sheer, so I have to build them up when I want darker brows. Perfect, because I’ve been known to go overboard with darker pencils anyway — something that’s pretty hard to do with these. They may take a little longer to use, but I’ll take that trade-off for the added control these provide.

As for the twist-up tip, we have a love/hate relationship… On the one hand, I love the ease of use — no need to sharpen! — but the oval shape hasn’t been the best for fine detail work.

Even so, I like these. With a matte finish that looks natural, and epic staying power, the only change I might suggest is an easy way to sharpen them.

MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+

The Brow Gels ($22)

Dude, these are DOPE! Much better than the MAC and Anastasia brow gels I’ve been alternating between for the past couple months.

They come in four shades — three pigmented and one colorless — with the pigmented shades actually being pigmented enough to see on your skin and brows.

Cool. 🙂

NARS swatches from the left: Brow Perfector in Caucase, Kalmata, Salzbourg and Suriname; Brow Gels in Athens, Kinshasa, Oural and Piraeus — From the left: Brow Perfector in Caucase, Kalmata, Salzbourg and Suriname; Brow Gels in Athens, Kinshasa, Oural and Piraeus

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2-Minute Review: Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Hydrating Sheer Lipshine in 76 Gourmandise

July 6th, 2013 by Karen 11 Comments

Wearing Chanel Gourmandise Rouge Coco Shine ($32.50) on my lips

In less time than it takes to open a can of gravy for Tabs, or buy roundtrip tickets to Paris, or try on a pair of Jimmy Choos, or buy the entire Chanel Fall 2013 makeup collection on chanel.com, you can also find out if Chanel’s new 76 Gourmandise Rouge Coco Shine is right for you.

Ready for a 2-minute review?

WHAT IT IS: A shiny, peachy pink limited edition lippie from Chanel’s Les DÃ©lices de Chanel collection, Rouge Coco Shine Hydrating Sheer Lipshine in 76 Gourmandise ($32.50) lives to soften, hydrate and plump lips for a fuller, healthier appearance.

Chanel Les Delices de Chanel Collection Rouge Coco Shine in 76 Gourmandise — Rouge Coco Shine Hydrating Lipshine in 76 Gourmandise, $32.50

WHAT IT DOES:

Rose flavor and scent (yum)
Packed with tiny flecks of silver glitter (cute)
Very, very sheer on my pigmented lips (almost like wearing a balm), but I can see this still being a flattering “my lips but better” color for gals with lips lighter and more pink than mine
Extremely hydrating
Smooth, non-sticky, lightweight and comfy
Can’t really tell if it makes my lips look plumper, but it’s not one of those plumpers that tingles or stings
1-hour wear time

“The next chapter in the brilliant ROUGE COCO SHINE story: ROUGE COCO SHINE Hydrating Colour Lipshine, an innovative formula with intensified pigments to take colour and sheen to a new level of vibrancy. Sheer, shiny, colour-rich shades are effortlessly chic, infinitely wearable. Hydratendre Complex softens and plumps lips for a healthier, fuller appearance.”

— chanel.com

THE VERDICT: Highly moisturizing, and the bits of glitter give it a little something extra, but unless you’re a die-hard Chanel fan, Gourmandise may seem like little more than a fancy, expensive lip balm. You can probably find something similar for less than $32.50 (but it wouldn’t be Chanel).

PRICE: $32.50
AVAILABILITY: Limited edition, and available now at select Chanel counters and chanel.com
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

2-Minute Review: Getting to Know Chanel Purple Berry Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeliner

July 5th, 2013 by Karen 15 Comments

Chanel Les Delices De Chanel Collection Stylo Yeux Waterproof in Purple Berry — Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeliner in Purple Berry ($30) from the Les Delices De Chanel collection

Got time for a 2-minute review?

Before you answer that, it’s Chanel. 🙂

WHAT IT IS: Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeliner in Purple Berry, a limited-edition twist-up purple pencil liner from the Les Delices De Chanel collection.

WHAT IT DOES:

The texture’s on the hard side, but it’s actually relatively smooth for a hard pencil…if that makes any sense, and it doesn’t skip, which is great.
The pencil itself is very thin, which makes it easy to apply right at the roots of my lashes and water line.
This particular purple color doesn’t have heavy red undertones, which I like, because sometimes the reddish tones in purple liners give me zombie eyes.
The finish has a subtle, elegant sheen to it that reminds me a little of Becca’s Cabrera.
This thing’s like Michael Phelps in the water! It’s extremely waterproof, especially along lash lines. I wore it to the pool yesterday, and it didn’t flinch after 10 cannonballs. 🙂
For a deep purple color that lasts all day long, I apply 2-3 layers along my lash lines.
I know that for a lot of women the Chanel Stylos perform well along their water lines, but I haven’t been so lucky. For me they’re just okay. Along my water lines, I have to apply 4-5 layers to really see the color, and then it lasts about 5 hours, tops.
It’s isn’t really a smudgy kind of liner. It’s actually pretty tough to blend the edges.

Chanel Purple Berry — Additional Chanel makeup worn in this look: Convoitise Illusion D’Ombre Eyeshadow, Le Volume de Chanel Mascara in Prune, Fresque Joues Contrastes Powder Blush and L’Eclatante Rouge Allure Velvet lipstick

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Early Mornings, Late Nights and Crazy Cats Don’t Stand a Chance Against the Brightening Power of Chanel’s Convoitise Illusion D’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow

July 4th, 2013 by Karen 12 Comments

Wearing Chanel Convoitise Illusion D’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow ($36) on my eyes

Raising. The. Roof. Late ’90s style, for this shimmery pale golden cream, which I particularly enjoy on summer mornings when my cat wakes me up at 5 by using my boobs as his own personal obstacle course.

I think it’s the heat… It fires him up more than usual.

“Your body is a wonderland.” — Tabs the Cat

Chanel Convoitise Illusion D’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow… Now that’s a mouthful.

It has a soft, almost bouncy texture — less dense than a MAC Paint Pot, but more solid than a Cream Color from Tom Ford — and lasts about 8-9 hours for me. With the littlest flecks of golden glitter, the reflective finish is definitely shiny, but it stops short of full-on metallic.

Chanel Les Delices de Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in Convoitise — Illusion D’Ombre in Convoitise ($36)

The first time I tried it was after a rough night when it was so hot in my bedroom that I spent most of the evening trying to make the backs of my knees stop sweating through sheer force of will (didn’t work). I must’ve gotten three, or maybe four, hours of sleep, and I looked broken down and wasted the next morning.

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When Your Eyes Could Use a Little Fairy Magic, Give Them the Chanel DÃ©licatesse Ombres Fleuries Quadra Eye Shadow Palette

July 4th, 2013 by Karen 11 Comments

Chanel Delicatese Ombres Fleuries Quadra Eye Shadow — From the Land of Fey by way of Coco’s castle, the new $60 Chanel DÃ©licatesse Ombres Fleuries Quadra Eye Shadow palette

Mermaids, elven archer girls and fairy princesses might not need the new Chanel DÃ©licatesse Ombres Fleuries Quadra Eye Shadow palette because their immortal eyes already shimmer in sunlight, but mortal mavens looking for a luminous quad to fake their way into the Land of Fey could do a lot worse than this $60 quad.

The pink and plum shadows have an almost ethereal effect, like sunlight filtering through fairy wings, while the jade and mint green (yep, that white pan actually appears minty on my skin!) bring to mind images of water droplets glistening on a mermaid’s tail.

Part of the limited edition Chanel Les Delices de Chanel collection, Ombres DÃ©licatesse Fleuries Quadra Eye Shadow isn’t only about spritely eyes, soft spring-like colors and delicate shimmer. It’s also about the Benjamins, as in it costs $60!

Chanel Les Delices de Chanel Ombres Fleuries Quadra Eye Shadow — Ombres Fleuries Quadra Eye Shadow ($60)

Containing colors with medium coverage, it’s one of those quads where you can pile on the layers like sediments in the Grand Canyon and never look like you’re wearing too much makeup.

If you struggle with blending sometimes, this could be a good quad to consider, because even if you accidentally apply too much, you can just buff it out and be fine. It’s kind of magical that way.

Chanel Delicatese Quad swatches — Swatches

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That’s Right — I’m Singing About These New Treats From Chanel: The Chanel Les Delices de Chanel Aqualumieres in French Toffee and Friandise

July 3rd, 2013 by Karen 14 Comments

Chanel Friandise Aqualumiere — Limited edition Chanel Aqualumiere Gloss in 82 Friandise ($27) from the Les Delices de Chanel collection

Sung to the tune of the chorus in Katy Perry’s California Girls…

Aw-qua-lumieres
You’re unforgettable

When you left town
It broke my heart

Now that you’re back
Any-thing is possible

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!

I feel like singin’. Every time I wear the Chanel Aqualumieres in French Toffee and Friandise, I see the world in a slightly better light. For the briefest of moments, the world seems less cruel, and I no longer feel the urge to shake my fist at the sky and roar, “WHY!? WHY CAN’T EVERY GIRL EXPERIENCE THE WONDERS OF CANDY GLOW!?”

Now that these limited edition glosses, which had been part of the permanent line but subsequently disappeared for a while, have returned to the Chanel line via the Les Delices de Chanel collection, I have hope again. Hope that no more makeup hearts will fall broken and shattered on glittery sidewalks. Perhaps Chanel will even bring back more of the colors, either permanently or in future limited edition releases like this one.

Chanel Les Delices de Chanel Collection Aqualumieres in 83 French Toffee and 82 Friandise — Aqualumieres in 83 French Toffee (left) and 82 Friandise (right)

They’re just as wonderful as the ones I remember from Chanel’s permanent line. Mmm… They feel so good on my lips. Not sticky at all, and they’re bursting with moisture. They also have a barely there vanilla flavor and scent.

Gals who prefer long-wearing glosses might not like the limited two-hour wear time, but at least they feel great.

If you like the look of a nude lip but don’t want intense pink or peach tones, there’s shimmery sheer beige French Toffee, which should look really pretty with something like MAC Cork, or a golden brown nude lip pencil.

Chanel French Toffee Aqualumiere — Aqualumiere Gloss in 83 French Toffee (limited edition), $27

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Lust in Translation: A Scandal Lust Journey of Glitter, Shimmer and MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lust

July 1st, 2013 by Karen 9 Comments

MAC Lust Mineralize Skin Finish — Looking more girl next door than lusty, despite wearing MAC’s $30 Mineralize Skin Finish in Lust

Lusty, lusty, lusty.

Don’t even think about wearing MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lust just to sit in your cube and fill out TPS reports.

Bo-ring!

Save this pink cheek powder for a fun-filled Saturday night instead. Pour yourself into that skintight dress and those frack-me pumps you can barely walk in (but dayum, you know they look good! *snaps*).

As you and your crush sip martinis and get cozy in a quiet booth, he (or she) won’t be able to keep his eyes off of your glistening cheeks, or your smile, which hints at where the night could lead if he plays his cards right.

While we’re at it, let’s assume that your skin is on its best behavior in this scenario, with mellow pores and no dry patches to speak of, since Lust’s mirror-like shine can highlight imperfections. Of course, you don’t have to have skin as smooth as porcelain while you’re getting your swerve on, but to be honest, with Lust, it helps. It’s totally and completely unforgiving, like wearing a rhinestone-encrusted spandex unitard (which is actually quite a feat if you can pull it off).

Lust shines like Ryan Gosling’s eyes in the moonlight… Subtle, it’s not, especially compared to the other MSFs I’ve tried so far from MAC’s Tropical Taboo collection (Adored and Rio), but I think that’s what MAC was going for with Lust. They created a showcase shade.

MAC Lust Mineralize Skinfinish Swatch — Lust on my NC 42 skin

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