Product Reviews

Guerlain’s New Cils d’Enfer Maxi Lash Mascara Gets Lashes One Step Closer to Zac Efron

January 16th, 2013 by Karen 30 Comments

Guerlain Cils d'Enfer Maxi Lash Mascara — Wearing the new $30 Guerlain Cils d’Enfer Maxi Lash Mascara…

How would I characterize my current mascara philosophy? Three words: Zac Efron’s lashes.

Allow me to explain… 🙂

Last weekend I watched a (SUPER cheesy) movie starring Zac that I thoroughly enjoyed called The Lucky One.

In it, Zac plays a marine who falls in love with a woman whose picture he finds one fateful day on the battlefield.

There it is, on the ground among the rubble.

He has no idea who she is or where she’s from, but he promises himself that day to find her if he survives.

Anywho, I spent the entire movie dazzled by this boy’s long and luscious, curly lashes.

They are, simply put, perfection, and really, really glossy!

Homeboy hit the genetic jackpot in the lash department, and it’s so not fair.

Like, if Zac’s sad face was in a tight closeup shot on the screen, and a tear was slowly rolling down his left cheek, I wouldn’t even notice the tear because I’d be too busy staring at his long, wet, glossy lashes.

So to make a short story long…those are the kind of lashes I’m obsessed with at the moment, and I’ve been on a mission this week to find a mascara able to give me that Zac Efron lash look.

As luck would have it, I think I may have found it (or, I’m getting close to finding it) in Guerlain’s new Cils d’Enfer Maxi Lash Mascara.

It’s $30, new for spring and currently available on counters now (it launched earlier this month), and it’s designed to deliver full lash looks by doing a bit of everything — lengthening, thickening, holding the curl and separating each of your lovely lashes.

It comes in two shades, Violet and Black — whoops! I meant, Violet and Noir.

Noir…

That reminds me of high school French. My parents would always say, “Why are you taking French? You’re never going to need it!”

Oh yeah, Mom? Well, look at that! BAM! Now I can translate the French words used by beauty brands. 🙂

Sorry, where was I…?

Ah, yes! — Guerlain’s new mascara. It’s designed to do a bit of everything, and it’s supposed to do it all quickly, without any clumps.

Perfect, because that’s what I want from a mascara. I haven’t been wanting to deal with any lash drama lately. I just want things to be easy.

So, does Cils d’Enfer Maxi Lash Mascara deliver?

You know what? I think it does. If nothing else, it gets me a lot closer to Zac’s lashes in a number of ways.

First, it really is easy to use, which I love. I find that I don’t have to follow it up with a lash comb, thanks to the smooth, non-clumping formula.

And I don’t have to pull off any trickery with the brush, either. The bristles just naturally deposit the right amount of product.

Occasionally, it will overload, which leaves me with some slight smudging along my lower lash line, but that’s pretty rare.

It lengthens like a champ, keeps the curl curly and separates well, too (especially at the roots).

Oh, and get this! When you pull out the wand, it smells like roses. 🙂

Nice touch.

Guerlain Cils d'Enfer Maxi Lash Mascara before and after — Before (left) and after one coat (after)

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The NARS Mad Mad World Eyeshadow Duo Dials Up the Blue and Green Pigment

January 16th, 2013 by Karen 21 Comments

Wearing the new $34 NARS Mad Mad World Duo Eyeshadow from the spring 2013 collection

Sure, brown and beige eyeshadows are always there when you need ’em. They’re dependable, like Ford trucks. But sometimes, ya know, I just wanna play with color. 🙂

And if my experiments with color don’t work out, so what? It’s only makeup, right? I can always wash it off (unlike that tattoo of Tabs’ face on my arm…kidding).

Following that train of thought, there’s the new NARS Mad Mad World Eyeshadow Duo ($34).

It’s that eye-catching blue and green beauty from the new spring 2013 collection…

Pigment much?

With that much color at your disposal, you could go all out by loading one (or both) of the shades on your lids for an intense look, or do something much subtler, like a faint blue whisper similar to what NARS did with model Stella Tennant for the spring 2013 campaign.

Check out her lower lash line. See that blue smudged softly into the black liner? That’s how I’ve been wearing Mad Mad World (minus the pink on my lids…which is a little much for me, but if you can pull if off, more power to ya!).

I think it’s an easy, rock ‘n’ roll-ish spring twist on a basic black liner look.

nars mad mad world — Mad Mad World Duo Eyeshadow ($34)

nars spring 2013 swatches — Swatches from the left: Bouthan Duo Eyeshadow, Mad Mad World Duo Eyeshadow, Persia Single Eyeshadow and Corcovado Soft Touch Shadow Pencil

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Princely Persia Eyeshadow Takes Lids for a Walk on the Orange Side: NARS Persia Single Eyeshadow

January 15th, 2013 by Karen 17 Comments

Oh, NARS Persia…why do you make me think of goofy Jake Gyllenhaal running around the desert half-naked with greasy hair? Or remind me of the kitty who hawks boxes of grilled Fancy Feast?

(Ever notice how Persian cats get most of the best gigs for wet food ads?)

Now, I know why you remind me of MAC Brown Script, a matte, super soft and pigmented reddish, orangey brown.

Brown Script is one of my favorite eyeshadow colors, evah! I love wearing it in the crease, and Persia, a single from the new NARS spring 2013 collection, is like an orangey version.

Hella intense, like several of its siblings from the launch, Persia first struck me as a crease contouring color best for warm-toned gals (and guys), and yes, I think it’s awesome in that capacity, but it also exhibits brightening powers!

Wait — what?

Yup, like the new Bouthan Duo, even though Persia isn’t what I’d normally think of when I think of “eye-opening colors.”

When I apply it on my lids, draw a small amount up into the crease, and finish with a couple coats of mascara (followed by, perhaps, black eyeliner, if I’m feelin’ it), wow. Not bad. 🙂

I think I do look wider awake…

nars persia — Persia Single Eyeshadow ($24)

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Turning Eyeshadow Lovers Into Pink Ladies, One Brush Stroke at a Time: The New NARS Bouthan Eyeshadow Duo

January 15th, 2013 by Karen 16 Comments

Wearing the new NARS Bouthan Duo Eyeshadow ($34), from the new spring 2013 collection

On a scale of pink eyeshadow zombie-ness, with one being 100% human and 10 being 100% zombie, the NARS Bouthan Eyeshadow Duo gets a solid ONE. Human all the way!

First, it’s pink eyeshadow, and pink isn’t always the easiest color for me to wear on my eyes, especially bright pinks.

I always approach pink eyeshadows cautiously, because some of them can look a little sketchy (i.e., like I’ve been crying, or have been turned into zombie…a crying zombie).

Sometimes, though, when I find the right pink, everything just clicks.

And here’s a duo that falls into that category. 🙂

Maybe it’s because neither of these shades contains a lot of red, and reddish pinks, at least on my lids, enhance the zombie effect. The shadows in Bouthan are further from red and closer to purple on the color wheel.

Oh, and both of them sparkle! The darker purplish pink shade, especially, which looks very striking loaded with so much dense golden glitter.

nars bouthan — Bouthan Duo Eyeshadow ($34)

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More a Slow Burn Than a Blaze, Sheer NARS Disco Inferno Nail Polish

January 15th, 2013 by Karen 21 Comments

How do you feel about sheer nail polishes? If you answered, “Yes! Love ’em. Gimme-gimme-gimme!” I’d like to direct your attention to a Disco Inferno.

NARS Disco Inferno. It’s from their new 2013 spring collection, and I see it as a provocative counterpoint to the makeup it parties with in the release.

“Intense” barely comes close to describing many of the color products in the collection. This spring at NARS has been a full-on pigment party.

But for nails, the brand decided to go a different, sheerer route.

I like it in the context of the rest of the collection — the contrast between the vibrant, 1,000-watt stereo pigment products, and Disco Inferno’s almost whisper of color.

Sure, if you don’t like sheer nail polishes, this won’t light your fire, but if you do, look out!

Like a real fire, Disco Inferno plays with light. It’s constantly changing colors.

It also reminds me of a mermaids tail…

No, not a tale like, “Once upon a time, a lonely mermaid longed to walk along the shore above her underwater world.”

Nope. Tail, as in T-A-I-L.
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The New NARS Cythere Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil Is Like a Kiss From a Golden Rose

January 14th, 2013 by Karen 15 Comments

Greek isle or metallurgical experiment? How about both? Or neither…?

With NARS Cythere Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil, it’s as if NARS melted down a rose gold bracelet and poured the molten metal into a mould the shape of a gloss.

Neat! And like the two most recent products I’ve tried from the spring 2013 collection so far — Dressed to Kill Lipstick and Seduction Blush — Cythere is intense, and yet it’s probably the springier, more wearable of the two lip products from the launch.

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NARS Blush and the Look of Seduction: Bold, Vivid and Vaguely Reminiscent of an Early ’90s Girl Group

January 14th, 2013 by Karen 45 Comments

NARS Blush in Seduction — NARS Seduction Blush and Tabby-san the karate cat…

Tabby-san, your training is almost complete. You have learned to wax on, wax off, and to refrain from sweeping the leg (so not kosher!).

But by far the most important lesson you have learned under my tutelage is your extensive knowledge of useless fun facts, including the names of long-forgotten R&B girl groups and how they relate to makeup.

I sleep soundly at night knowing that you are now prepared to answer crucial questions like, “Which early ’90s trio shares names with the new NARS spring 2013 blush?”

“Meow!”

Yes, Tabby-san! You are correct. The answer is Seduction…

Released with the new Spring 2013 collection, Seduction is not only one of the most intensely pigmented blushes I’ve ever worn, it’s also the name of the girl group trio behind hits like Heartbeat and It Takes Two.

Does Seduction the band have anything to do with Seduction the blush? Well, no…although both of them do make me want to do The Snake.

The blush, a rich, brick red berry with a satiny finish, officially launches tomorrow.

The color’s also a perfect match for Dressed to Kill lipstick, also from the spring collection…just in case you were already thinking about bringing the later home. Hint-hint. 😉

If you fancy yourself as savvy when it comes to vivid blushes like NARS Mounia and MAC Frankly Scarlet, prepare to be seduced by Seduction.

It’s the kind of color that says, “Hey, look at me. JAZZ HANDS!!” But if you decide to take the plunge, keep your fan brush and a tissue handy…

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Whether You’re Couch Surfing or Man Hunting, the Latest NARS Lipstick Comes Dressed to Kill

January 11th, 2013 by Karen 30 Comments

Today my lipstick was dressed to kill, but I was not.

I wore the new NARS Dressed to Kill lipstick ($24, from the spring 2013 collection) on my lips to go with my hot pink capri sweatpants and black hoodie (heart you, Zella Galaxy!!).

So I guess that made me, “Dressed to sit on the couch and watch bad reality TV.” Or, “Dressed to pass out at any given moment.” Or, “Dressed to sit drooling on the couch while completely covered in cat hair.”

Clearly, I missed the memo, as this rich, plummy brick red, with its golden glitter sprinkles, deserves better than that. It deserved to strut down the street with skintight jeans, over-the-knee black boots and a sassy leather jacket.

It deserves man-eater clothes. And you deserve Dressed to Kill. 🙂

nars dressed to kill — Dressed to Kill Lipstick ($24)

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