Product Reviews

When You Open NYX Casting Call, You May Go Gray: The NYX 10 Color Eyeshadow Palette in Casting Call

November 13th, 2010 by Karen 18 Comments

I was really hoping my recent run-in with the NYX Velvet Rope Palette was a harbinger of really rad NYX things to come, but the company’s 10 Color Eyeshadow Palette in Casting Call ($9.75) totally nixed that theory.

With 10 mostly shimmery (there’s one very sheer matte black) powder shadows in shades of gray, silver and one lonely bronze, it’s one of four new palettes recently added to NYX’s “The Runway Collection.”

If you think you’ve seen this palette before…you may have. Are you thinking of the NYX Winter in Moscow Palette ($20)? It had a very similar vibe.

These are colors that would probably look their best on lighter lovelies, with the nuances of the different grays appearing more pronounced than they do on my NC 35 skin. Unfortunately, of the nine shadows I tried on my lids (I didn’t try one of the lighter frosty grays), all of them went on patchy and uneven, so texture may be an issue with these.

I think it was smart of NYX to include a bronze that can work as either a highlighter or a crease color, if for no better reason than to liven up this sea of gray.

NYX Winter in Moscow Palette (left) and Casting Call (right)
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The Urban Decay Black Palette Is Not Just for Bad Girls

November 12th, 2010 by Karen 58 Comments

karen of makeup and beauty blog wearing the urban decay black palette
Urban Decay: The Black Palette (with Toasted from the UD Show Pony Palette) on eyes, UD Hookup Blush on cheeks, UD Lipstick in Naked on lips

Did you ever read those Sweet Valley High books? I loved ’em when I was a kid. There’s like a billion in the series… Okay, not a billion, more like 181, but that’s still A LOT of books. They’re all about the trials and tribulations of two teenage twins, Elizabeth, the perfect little goody-two-shoes, and Jessica, the unscrupulous yet lovable bad girl, who live in the fictional town of Sweet Valley, CA.

I had a Sweet Valley flashback today while swatching Urban Decay: The Black Palette. The $36 set, exclusive to Sephora, came out for fall, but I wasn’t ready for its darker shades until now.

The six powder shadows strike me as shades a Jessica would like — naughty and smokey with a bad-girl edge.

urban decay black palette review swatches photos

She’s the girl who’d steal your boyfriend but then charm her way back into your good graces (without you even realizing it!). Despite how dark and moody they are, the colors are still flexible enough to wear to school or work.

karen of makeup and beauty blog wearing the urban decay black palette eye closeup

The palette, with its five shimmery jewel-toned shades and black-as-night matte, are the stars of the show, but the set also comes with two of Urban Decay’s cult faves, a tiny bottle of Eden Primer Potion and a 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero, all for $36.
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Smell Ya Later, NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Beautiful

November 11th, 2010 by Karen 88 Comments

Oh, Beautiful, why do you tease? Yeah, I’m talking to you NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Beautiful ($5.50).

nyx mega shine lip gloss review swatches photos beautiful

It’s not just the newest of 61 colors in the Mega Shine line; it’s also the first NYX gloss I’ve ever tried.

The line gets raves for texture, color payoff, shade selection and price, and I’ve had great luck with NYX lately, so I had crazy high hopes for their glosses.

Maybe too high.

Don’t get me wrong. I like Beautiful’s color and texture — a subtle shimmery pink on the lips, medium weight texture, not too thick or sticky on the lips — but I just can’t hang with the scent. It’s like a preschool nurse’s office, part cherry cough syrup and plastic with a hint of Play Doh (for warmth and complexity), and it even has a little of the same flavor, too.

I tried to stick it out and leave it on my lips to test for wear time this afternoon, but I gave up after about 10 minutes. I just couldn’t take it anymore.

Still, it sure looks pretty, doesn’t it? I bet it would look killer with smokey eyes… Maybe if I pinch my nose. 🙂

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If You Throw Me a Line, Make It Velvet Rope: New NYX 10 Color Eyeshadow Palette in Velvet Rope

November 11th, 2010 by Karen 42 Comments

karen of makeup and beauty blog wearing the nyx velvet rope palette 2

Oh, my goodness! Look at all that purple. Is this a Prince video or a beauty blog? 🙂

Today I left the thugs to their gangsta’s paradise while I escaped yet again to my purple one. I could go on and on about how much I love purple eyeshadow, but the No. 1 reason why I think every girl (or makeup loving boy, for that matter) should play with purple is because of how great it goes with everything.

Alright, I admit I’m plum biased, but I think purple looks great on almost everyone. Whether brown, green, gray, blue or hazel eyes, the right purple on your lid or lash line can make those peepers

POP! Yeah, I use that word a lot…but you know what I mean.

Now, brace yourself for a plethora of purple, and behold the new NYX Velvet Rope 10 Color Eyeshadow Palette ($9.75)!

nyx velvet rope eyeshadow palette runway collection review swatches photos

It’s one of four newcomers to NYX’s permanent “The Runway Collection” family of slim, trim eye palettes, each of which hold 10 pans of powder eyeshadow in coordinating shades.

You may be thinking, “Did Barney explode in that palette?” Haha! I assure you, he did not.

As you can see, most of the shades are purples, but NYX incorporated a few other colors to spice things up.

For more mulberry mayhem…

Despite being a budget brand, NYX does some things very well, one of them being eyeshadows. I think they’re among the best!

Not knowing these were from NYX, I would have never guessed they were less than $10, not being as smooth as they are with this kind of pigment. I’m beginning to think of NYX as the Marshalls of the eye makeup world — proprietors of great value products.
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The Jouer Mini Tinted Lip Enhancer Collection and Glossy Holiday Weddings

November 11th, 2010 by Karen 24 Comments

Jouer Tinted Lip Enhancer in Shiraz…and I have NO IDEA what’s going on with mah hair!

Jouer’s new Mini Tinted Lip Enhancer Collection ($25) is technically a holiday release, but doesn’t it look more bridal from here?

Jouer Mini Tinted Lip Enhancer Collection

Perhaps Jouer had a Christmas wedding in mind (FUN!)?

The company, a relatively new indie line launched back in 2008, sells a full line of makeup, a handful of brushes and bags, and a small (but lovely) collection of body products.

Their colors, packaging and non-fussy style remind me of a beauty Banana Republic, but they’re nowhere near as widespread. If you can’t find them locally, they are sold online and, while this will be out of the way for anyone outside the New York area, at the Henri Bendel store on Fifth Avenue.

The Mini Tinted Lip Enchancer set comes with three little 0.15-oz. tubes of their sheer gloss in Bellini (peach), Champagne (nude) and Shiraz (berry), as well as a very small gold pouch to store them (not shown).
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Clarins Is Going for Baroque with the Barocco Holiday 2010 Collection

November 10th, 2010 by Karen 92 Comments

karen of makeup and beauty blog wearing the clarins barocco collection from holiday 2010

Ladies, I haven’t felt very glamorous this week… On a scale of 1 to 10, my glamorousness has been hovering around a -3. With scrunchies in my hair and my bum glued to the couch and wrapped in stretchy pants, I’ve watched just about every zombie movie and TV show released since 1969. Has it been educational? Sure, but it hasn’t been great for glamor.

The new Clarins Barocco Holiday Collection couldn’t have come at a better time.

Look at all that fancy… 🙂 It’s like a shot of fabulous straight to the heart!

clarins barocco collection holiday 2010 review swatches photos packaging al

clarins barocco collection holiday 2010 review swatches photos

The floral swirls/filigree designs both inside and out, and the rich berry, gold, black and peach shades seduced the sweat pants right off me (actually, they were raggedy yoga pants). These are products begging to be worn with a shimmery golden gown and dangerously high heels.

Clarins drew their inspiration for the collection from the Baroque style, characterized by dynamic movement, overt emotion and self-confident rhetoric, and prevalent from the late 16th century to the early 18th century in Europe.

The collection itself is limited edition and very small, with just four pieces, but man, oh, man they’re striking!
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Could Orofluido Beauty Elixer Be the Next Big (Hair) Thing?

November 9th, 2010 by Karen 66 Comments

orofluido oil review

When I went to get my bangs trimmed a couple weeks ago my stylist gave me a sample of Orofluido Beauty Elixer (regularly $32 for a 3.38-oz. bottle) and raved on and on about how it was to going to change my life, starting with my hair.

orofluido oil review

I’d never heard of Orofluido before, but it’s a small indie haircare line a little more popular in Europe than here in the States. They only list two products on their website — the Beauty Elixer that my stylist gave me, and something new called Shine Spray.
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The Urban Decay Cowboy Junkie Shadows and Gloss Set Glitters Like a Starry Night

November 9th, 2010 by Karen 84 Comments

karen of makeup and beauty blog reviews the urban decay cowboy junkie set 1 final

Of course, on the ONE DAY I actually need the only cowboy hat I’ve ever owned, I can’t find it. Welcome to the story of my life. Wherever you are, my beloved black straw cowboy hat, I reckon we would’ve made sweet music together today, taking pictures of ourselves covered in glitter with the new Urban Decay Cowboy Junkie Shadows & Gloss Set ($38).

karen of makeup and beauty blog in a cowboy hat and wedding dress
Yee Haw!

The new set rides into town for the holidays, kicking up glitter in its wake with four powder shadows, a liner and one lonesome lip gloss.

urban decay cowboy junkie set review swatches photos makeup and beauty blog palette 1

Three members of the set hail from the Midnight Cowboy eyeshadow gang, known for their eye-catching, dramatic glitter.

karen of makeup and beauty blog reviews the urban decay cowboy junkie set eye

But this glitter is like dust on a desert trail (gets everywhere). Midnight Cowboy (a gritty, glittery peachy pink), Midnight Cowboy Rides Again (a glittery peachy tan) and Midnight Cowgirl (a glittery gold) leave fallout everywhere — beneath my eyes, around my nose and on my cheeks. Shoot, I even found some on Tabs.
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