Product Reviews

Miss Piggy for MAC: After the Muppets Took Manhattan, They Stopped at MAC in Toronto

November 4th, 2011 by Karen 11 Comments

miss piggy for mac

They say she’s hard to work with…

Miss Piggy, that is. They say she’s a diva, and sure, I can see that — the tantrums on the set, the king-size dressing room, personal trainers and catered food flown in from Paris. I can’t help but wonder if Miss P’s penchant for drama played a role in the new Miss Piggy for MAC collection. Could that be why it only contains three little pieces?

In the comments at the bottom of yesterday’s post with swatches, a few gals said they felt that the release represented a missed opportunity. After playing with the eyeshadow, false lashes and liquid liner today, I’m apt to agree.

miss piggy for mac (1)
The entire Miss Piggy for MAC collection; for more product pics and swatches, click here

The Lash in 36 ($15)

Probably the piece that stands out the most for me, even if they took a while to apply. The thin, comfy lash band doesn’t feel like it’s merely resting on top of my lids, which I like, and the long, wispy lashes feel as light as butterfly kisses. Of course, they weren’t the easiest falsies to apply (it took me two tries), but I’m glad I stuck it out, because I think they’re surprisingly comfortable, as far as dramatic lashes go. Great for a night on the town with the girls.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A

Eyeshadow in Miss Piggy Pink ($15)

The texture of this hella sheer blueish pink feels like hard-packed clay to me, and I have to swirl my brush inside the pan about 15 times to pick up enough color for a single layer (for the three three layers I’m wearing for this look, I must have swirled about 45 times). On the plus side, though, I like how lightweight the product looks and feels, even when I really pack it on. I wouldn’t say that I’m in love with the color, as I think it’s a tad too sheer for me (probably a better match for lighter lovelies).
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B

Penultimate Eye Liner in Rapidblack ($17.50)

A repromote, and my least favorite piece in the release. At least in my hands, the short, stiff tip isn’t conducive to smooth lines. Mine all have jagged edges, so I think I’ll be sticking to LORAC’s Front of the Line Pro.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: C

miss piggy for mac
[Continue reading…]

This Trio of Tiny Tubs Is Catching: The $40 Josie Maran Argan Lip Treatment Trio

November 4th, 2011 by Karen 31 Comments

Wearing Josie Maran Argan Lip Treatment in Kiss Me

I rue the day I watched Contagion, because if it weren’t for that movie, I’d probably feel a lot better about these three jars of Josie Maran Argan Lip Treatment ($40 for the trio).

Josie packed each pot with argan oil, shea butter and beeswax to repair and moisturize dry lips while imparting a light glossy tint.

I’ve been alternating among the three shades this week — Rosey (a deep rosey pink with a pomegranate scent), Kiss Me (a lime-scented light pink) and Heaven (a glittery, sheer peach with a tangerine scent) — and not only have they kept the flakes away, they’ve also made my lips feel smooth and great.

From left to right: Kiss Me, Heaven and Rosey

josie maran argan lip treatment trio
[Continue reading…]

Happy Noses Make for Happy Holidays with the Benefit Crescent Row Limited Edition Set

November 3rd, 2011 by Karen 31 Comments

benefit crescent row set holiday 2011

Benefit’s at it again this year, adding fragrant fuel to the fire that is my current obsession with petite perfume bottles, by taking us down another holiday trip down Crescent Row. Their new $36 Crescent Row Limited Edition Set bundles together four of the line’s 0.43-oz. (they’re small but cute) eau de toilettes.

The official fragrance notes

Laugh with Me Lee Lee — A light blend of citrus, jasmine and lily blossoms
My Place or Yours Gina — An alluring affair of pink pepper (a spice made from dried berries), wild raspberry and patchouli
Garden of Good & Eva — A crisp floral spiked with pear, jasmine and freesia
Ring My Bella — A seductive floral with lily, jasmine and vanilla

benefit crescent row set (1)

benefit crescent row set (3)

More on the Benefit Crescent Row fragrance family…

[Continue reading…]

The Tarte Lip Service Limited-Edition LipSurgence Collection and a Snickers-Fueled Sugar High

November 2nd, 2011 by Karen 66 Comments

tarte lip service swank
Tarte LipSurgence in Swank on mah lips!

Believe it or not, this swatch session for the new Tarte Lip Service Limited-Edition LipSurgence Collection ($29) actually began as something somewhat normal…

tarte perky
LipSurgence in Perky

But then I had two of these tiny Snickers bars (because it’s physically impossible to have just one)…

They don’t call ’em “Fun Size” for nothin’
[Continue reading…]

You’re Destined for Fame (and Fallout) with the Smashbox Be Discovered Holiday Palette

November 2nd, 2011 by Karen 26 Comments

smashbox be discovered for holiday 2011

I doubt Hollywood’s even looking for a short, sassy Filipino chick without any acting experience to star opposite Ryan Gosling in an upcoming romantic comedy, but if, perchance, I’m ever stopped by a famous director at Petco and asked to play the wind beneath Ryan’s wings, you can bet I’m putting down those 20 cans of gravy, girl, because we’re going to Hollywood! 🙂

Logic places the chances of this happening somewhere below 0.000001%, but ya never know… Maybe the new limited edition Smashbox Be Discovered palette (about $60, from the new Snappy Holidays 2011 collection) will improve my odds.

smashbox be discovered box

Maybe…?

Okay, well, a girl’s gotta have dreams, and if yours happen to involve holiday kits brimming with color, Smashbox would like you to consider this: the 66-piece Be Discovered palette, with its four mini-makeup brushes and shades for eyes, cheeks and lips. At $60, it works out to less than $1 per piece.

Not too shabby, tabby.

For more on the Smashbox Snappy Holidays collection, check out…

A Smashbox Holiday 2011 Face of the Day with the Click You’re It Palette

Swatches of the Be Discovered and Click You’re It Kits from the Smashbox Holiday 2011 Collection

With the Smashbox Holiday 2011 Collection, Smashbox Is Making the Holidays Snappy, One Palette at a Time

The bulk of the pieces in the palette consist of products for eyes — 45 powder shadows and nine cream liners, to be exact. That’s more color than a girl could shake a blending brush at!

But (there’s always a but), like the eyeshadows in the company’s Click You’re It palette, also out for holidays, these like being babied. Some of them require lots of layering to show up on my tan skin, and more often than not, I also end up sweeping away a considerable amount of fallout.

A few thoughts on the rest of the kit…

Cheek Products — My favorite pieces in the palette! The Bronzer, Blushes and Soft Lights Highlighters apply smoothly with commendable color, yet despite being packed with pigment, they remain easy to blend.
Cream Eyeliners — I like the soft, dreamy lines I’m able to draw with these, as well as the variety of colors, but some of them migrate when I forget to pat a powder shadow on top.
Lipglosses — Preternatural pigment and a three-hour wear time for the win!
Mini Brushes — They get job done, but I wouldn’t depend on them for everyday use (unless I had a crush on scratchy bristles).

The Smashbox Be Discovered kit: click here to see more product pics, and here to see oodles of swatches
[Continue reading…]

Lush’s Latest Shower Jelly Shows That Jilted Elves Don’t Always Make the Best Shower Buddies

November 2nd, 2011 by Karen 23 Comments

Lush Jilted Elf

Well, Jell-O there! I’ll be right with you… I’m just taking a shower with Lush’s new Jilted Elf.

I can’t tell you how excited I was to wash with (and wiggle) Lush’s latest shower jelly. As a chronic new product junkie, especially when it comes to bath stuff, I knew I had to give this bright green blob a try.

lush the jilted elf

I’ve never used anything quite like it before…at least not as an adult! 🙂 It has a gelatinous consistency, and to use it, you can either jiggle the entire green glob out of the jar (weird!), or dig out goopy globules with your fingers. I chose the later, scooping out a small amount.
[Continue reading…]

With Their Latest Lip Kit, Benefit Asks, “Won’t You Take Me To … Glossytown?”

November 1st, 2011 by Karen 24 Comments

Wearing Benefit Ticket To Glossytown Lipgloss in Foxy Lady

Wait — it’s November already? How the heck did that happen…? Just a few weeks till Turkey Day, and then it’s “Welcome to December!”

This month, I’m gonna do everything in my power to avoid last year’s long lines and last-minute gift crunch at Christmas, so I’m trying to wrap up (haha) my holiday shopping by December 1 (we’ll see…).

No more waiting in uncombed hair and tabby fur-covered pajamas for Target to open before dawn on Christmas Eve; no more wrapping presents on my lap in the car and nearly stabbing my thigh with a scissors.

Not this year!

This year I’m starting with the girls on my list, and I think some of them are getting a Ticket to Glossytown.

I know it’s still too early to declare the greatest holiday hits of 2011, but I’m pretty sure Benefit’s $24 set of six adorable mini glosses will land somewhere in the top 10. It features the company’s line of Ultra Shines, and I love, LOVE these glosses!

Rumor has it that the pharaohs of ancient Egypt liked to be buried with these smooth, shiny, non-sticky lippies — so they could use them in the afterlife, of course. 🙂 They’re loaded with long-lasting pigment (last about four hours on me) and crazy moisturizing, too.

benefit ticket to glossytown (5)

benefit ticket to glossytown (4)
[Continue reading…]

There’s a Snow Fairy Sparkling in This Shower Gel, and My, It’s Lush!

November 1st, 2011 by Karen 39 Comments

Lush Snow Fairy

Yes, add me to the legion of ladies obsessed with Lush Snow Fairy Shower Gel, babe. I brought it into the shower with me after my run this morning and could not stop sniffing my mane!

Officially, Lush refers to the scent of this shower gel, which doubles as both a body wash and a shampoo, as sweet vanilla, but it reminds me of a cool cross between Mr. Bubble bubble bath and bananas.

Weird, but it works for me.

Oh, and the fact that it’s a pretty pink with sparkles doesn’t hurt. 🙂

Like the Lush shower gels I’ve tried in the past, Snow Fairy rinses clean, washes well and doesn’t leave my skin feeling dry or tight.
[Continue reading…]