Product Reviews

The Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen in No. 6 True Teal Must Have Been Made With a Magic Potion of Smoothness

May 28th, 2013 by Karen 20 Comments

Could nixies, fairies and sprites be responsible for Pixi True Teal’s enchantingly smooth formula, which flitters across skin like butterfly wings?

Are nymphs gathered around a tiny table somewhere behind a magical dimension door in the back of a nondescript Chinese restaurant somewhere, plotting ways to lure more beauty lovers into falling in love with True Teal’s supernatural pigments?

Or have I simply endured one too many conversations with El Hub about Dungeons & Dragons?

Either way, I’ve been looking for a new teal liner to wear this summer, and Pixi’s $15 Endless Silky Eye Pen in No. 6 True Teal is the frontrunner.

Just look at that color! And it’s so smooth and pigmented…

It has some of the same fairy magic that Chanel Azure does in the way it appears to change color from teal to a dark ocean blue in the light.

More magic…

It’s waterproof, and therefore mermaid approved
Wasn’t tested on animals
It doesn’t contain any parabens or mineral oils
It’s one of 10 shades in Pixi’s Endless Silky Eye Pencil line
Dries in about a minute, so you better work quickly if you want to smudge

One swish along my lash lines, and I’m set for the day. The formula doesn’t even find its way into my creases, which I really appreciate. 🙂

It performs fantastically on lash lines, but I don’t think it likes the water as much as Bobbi Brown Jet. I like the job Jet does better along my water lines.

True Teal along my lower lash lines; for a full breakdown of this look, check out Brighten Up: 3 Bold Summer Makeup Looks, Step-By-Step

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9 Disco-Driven Things You Might Want To Do When You Wear the Products in Benefit’s New The Rich Is Back Set

May 24th, 2013 by Karen 17 Comments

Benefit The Rich Is Back — Turn the beat around with Benefit’s The Rich Is Back ($34)

9 Disco-Driven Things You Might Want To Do When You Wear the Products in Benefit’s New The Rich Is Back Set

Strike a pose on a flashing disco dance floor, Staying Alive-style, while wearing the new disco-inspired limited edition Rich Is Back set, available now exclusively at Sephora stores and sephora.com.
Track down a mirrored, multi-faceted disco ball for your condo, and contemplate how you’re going to talk your boyfriend/boo into hanging it from the ceiling in the dining room for you…
Read up on English fashion designer Matthew Williamson’s career, and then visit matthewwilliamson.com, and add a redonkulous amount of stuff to your cart (without necessarily checking out).
Do the hustle! — as you daydream about the tiny tube of They’re Real Mascara in the set (so cute!)
Listen to Donna Summer’s Last Dance while you bang out a gold, beige, brown and teal eye with the set’s four powder shadows, which range from moderately to highly pigmented, and nod to yourself in approval at the absence of fallout.
Awww freak out! — when you can’t find your box of Hoola, which you feel like you need to wear with the frosty pinkish peach blush that comes with the set (if you feel like it makes your pores look like lunar craters, go easy on this one).
Belt out “Burn, baby, burn…DISCO INFERNO!” at your cat right after you slick sheer red Inferno Gloss on your lips, and then laugh maniacally as he darts away in disgust. 🙂
The first time you finish your makeup with this set, turn a fan on high, stand right in front of it, start playing Super Freak, and dance like you’re on Soul Train!
Wonder if you could have held your own with the party people at Studio 54 way back when, and then realize, “Yeah, probably not. I’m too much of a square,” but then think, “Who cares? With Benefit’s The Rich Is Back, I’ll just pretend…”

The set includes…

One 0.14-ounce tube of They’re Real Mascara
One 0.22-ounce tube of Lip Gloss in Inferno
One 0.07-ounce Gimme Fever Cheek Powder
Four 0.03-ounce Eyeshadows in Solid Gold, Get Down Brown, Disco Dust and Feel So Teal
One miniature cheek brush
One step-by-step tutorial booklet

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Pretty Hot Bag: The MAC Temperature Rising Makeup Bag

May 23rd, 2013 by Karen 12 Comments

Recently added to the rapidly growing list of ways I’m turning into my mother (a list that also includes hits like “#25: Washing bars of soap so they look nice and clean in the soap dish” and “#18: Writing lists for everything”) — “#37: Putting bags within bags.”

My mother is notorious for doing this. 🙂

At any given moment, there are at least five or six smaller bags inside her purse, each dedicated to storing something different, like medication, snacks, office supplies, first aid, gadgets…

And wouldn’t ya know it? Slowly but surely, I’m going that route.

Never mind that the roomy Poverty Flats Perforated Satchel I’ve been toting around already has three deep pockets on the sides (what is it with me and deep pockets lately??), I’m also putting other bags inside it…

…like the new $34 MAC Temperature Rising Makeup Bag, which has been holding some of my beauty booty essentials.

This slim zippered bag looks deceptively small, but it actually fits a ton of stuff.

Things I need quick access to go in the front pocket — iPhone, tubes of gloss, stuff like that.

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10 Things You May Find Yourself Doing After Trying the MAC 109 Small Contour Brush for the Very First Time

May 23rd, 2013 by Karen 17 Comments

Standing in the spotlight on a massive stage in front of thousands of adoring fans, with your cheekbones contoured like WHOA! — as confetti, balloons and glitter rain down upon your glorious form
Wondering how you ever lived without it
Marveling at how perfectly the diminutive, rounded brush head fits into pans of MAC Eye Shadow singles and the hollows of your cheeks
Contemplating how strange it is for you to want different 109s for bronzer, blush, another one for powders, highlighters, two more for foundations (one for liquids and another for creams, both of which it easily applies) and another one strictly for buffing…
Considering time travel, specifically going back in time 10 years to gift yourself with a 109 and a pan of MAC Refined Golden, and while you’re there, reassuring yourself that you’re doing just fine, so keep up the good work
Singing Debbie Gibson’s Only in My Dreams at the top of your lungs in the shower (using a bottle of shampoo as your microphone, of course) and yelling, “That was for you, 109!!” at the end of the song
Blurting out, “Whoa there, cowgirl!” to no one in particular after you get a look at how many bristles it leaves on your face, because it sheds A LOT — more than any other MAC brush you’ve ever tried
Questioning your sanity after spending $35 on a makeup brush, good or not, that sheds as much as the 109…
Sighing with relief after washing and drying it for the first time, which dramatically cuts down on the future shedding
Gushing to all your girlfriends and makeup-lovin’ guy friends about how great the 109 is, but also warning them about the shedding and suggesting that they give it a good washing beforehand

MAC 109 Small Contour Brush with 116 129 — From the left for size: 109 Small Contour Brush, 116 Blush Brush and 129 Powder/Blush Brush

MAC 109 Small Contour Brush with shadow — The brush head perfectly fits into pans of MAC Eye Shadow singles as if it were designed for ’em

PRICE: $35
AVAILABILITY: A permanent collection product available now at MAC counters, stores and also online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+ (an A if it didn’t shed so much at first)

Pretty stoked about…

This purple cauliflower. 🙂

Stopped by the farmers’ market yesterday and picked it up on a whim.

Have you ever tasted one of these before? I haven’t, but I’m going to steam it and toss it in some lemon vinaigrette and capers tonight.

It’s supposed to be sweeter than regular cauliflower… We shall see!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Golden Bronze on Board! MAC Nude On Board Pro Longwear Bronzer Sets Sail to the Land of Lazy Bronzing

May 23rd, 2013 by Karen 19 Comments

While I’m willing to give up some things in the interest of streamlining — spare toothbrushes (do you really need more than one of them?), clothes that no longer fit me and that fourth half-empty jar of Tiger Balm — I refuse to relinquish any all-important necessities like shoes, handbags, earrings, jeans, lipsticks and, in the summer months, bronzer because, I mean, you just never know, right?

You just never know…

You just never know when a freak cold front will blow through town in the middle of August (well…), and you’ll want to warm up with MAC’s Nude on Board Pro Longwear Bronzing Powder.

It’s perfect for times when I need a little extra warmth and contouring — but less than full-on “tiara and feather boa” levels.

A golden tan powder, Nude on Board leaves my skin lightly toasted, and like MAC’s Refined Golden Bronzer (from the same Temperature Rising collection), its micro-fine flecks of golden glitter, much finer than grains of sand, give skin that extra something-something.

It’s a subtle effect, but I think that’s the beauty of it.

To apply, first find a fainting couch… Then, leisurely lower yourself down onto it, and languidly apply the satiny smooth powder just below your cheekbones.

It won’t take much muscle at all, as the application is darned-near effortless.

Yeah, it brings out yo’ lazy like that! 🙂

MAC Nude on Board Pro Longwear Bronzer swatch — Nude on Board Pro Longwear Bronzer on NC42 skin

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LORAC Tantalizes With a Six-Piece Golden Bronze Summer Set That’s Good to Glow: The LORAC TANtalizer Glow to Go Collection

May 22nd, 2013 by Karen 11 Comments

My propensity to wait until the last minute has again left me without any fabulous Memorial Day plans…

Unless Jay-Z and Bey call or I win that Mega Millions jackpot, in which case you’ll find me in the Maldives in one of those luxury huts on the water, I’m pretty much stuck at home, puttering away.

Putt, putt, putt…

Of course, Tabs loves the fact that I’m not going anywhere because it means he’ll have his assistant to kick around and assault with his 20 pounds of brute force whenever he wants.

I suppose I should be happy that he doesn’t weigh 25…

Even though I’m staying local, I’m not letting that stop me from at least looking like I went away.

I want a relaxed glow, dagnabbit!

LORAC’s new TANtalizer Glow to Go Collection couldn’t have come at a better time.

This $36 six-piece limited edition summer set covers the bases for a classic golden bronze summer glow for your eyes, cheeks and lips.

LORAC TANtalizer Glow to Go Collection Tahitian Sand Eye Shadow — Tahitian Sand Eye Shadow, a shimmery light gold

Warm-toned gals from light to dark of differing makeup ability can all WERK Glow to Go.

LORAC TANtalizer Glow to Go Collection Barbados Bronze Eye Shadow — Barbados Bronze Eye Shadow, a shimmery bronze

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Come Here, First Timer! The Flirty Essie Resort 2013 Collection Invites You to Show Off Your Under Where In The Cab-ana

May 22nd, 2013 by Karen 28 Comments

You know, I was just thinkin’…

Things could be a whole lot worse right now. I’ve got a roof over my head, a tabby in my life, gloss in my purse, and if I had to — in the event that Z-Day or an alien invasion occurs — I could probably hobble at least 10 miles to safety.

Truth be told, I can’t complain.

That’s not to say that I want a vacation. I do. I’d love one.

Heck, I’d love to spend a week hanging out by the pool at a five-star resort. Maaaan, that sounds good!

I’d want to bring Tabs and El Hub along, of course. 🙂 And definitely the four Essie Resort 2013 polishes, too.

Essie Resort 2013 Collection — From the left: First Timer, Under Where, Come Here and In The Cab-ana

I can see it now… Me, you, two of those inflatable mattresses in an infinity pool, and the Resort collection’s four creamy polishes on our tips and toes.

I think that’s exactly what Essie had in mind when they gave Mint green First Timer, aqua In the Cab-ana, purple orchid Under Where and reddish coral Come Here an intense, mirror-like shine.

Summer, summer, summertime!

essie First Timer swatch — Two layers of First Timer

essie In The Cab-ana — Two layers of In The Cab-ana

essie Come Here swatch — Two layers of Come Here

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The LORAC Mint Edition Palette Plays It Cool

May 21st, 2013 by Karen 20 Comments

Not that I need another clutch…but if someone were to build one based on LORAC’s Mint Edition Eye/Cheek Palette, I would not be averse to the idea.

I’m just sayin’.

How cute is this!?

With the silver and black accents?

I used to rock a pair of mint green Bongo Jeans in the exact same color about a zillion years back (it had zippers and bows around the ankles), and now I suddenly have the urge to put my hair up in a side ponytail with a scrunchie and peg my pants…

Mint — it’s EVERYWHERE!

What year is this again? Did we just go back in time?

Wait — I don’t think so, but LORAC looks like they did for the retro design. This eye, cheek and lip set launched earlier this spring, but it looks like it could have been released a few decades before that.

Regardless of the palette’s release date, mint is having a moment — I’m seeing it on purses, shoes, nails, makeup — and Mint Edition is riding the wave…

A complete look

LORAC included all of the basics for a minty fresh look in this $42 set (a $160 value) — eight eye shadows (four mattes and four shimmers), a powder highlighter, a powder blush and a full-sized liquid lipstick.

LORAC Mint Edition Palette Swatches — Liquid Lipstick in Retro

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