Product Reviews

What I Wore Wednesday, Vol. 2: Blue, Taupe and Gold Eyes

February 8th, 2017 by Karen 16 Comments

tarte rainforest of the sea volume ii eyeshadow palette k — Today’s makeup look!

I contend that Wednesday is the best day of the week to wear blue eye makeup, because you’re halfway through the week. You made it halfway, which calls for something of a mini celebration. You’re saying to the universe, “You can’t stop me, universe! I’m halfway there, and I’ll be chilling on Saturday watching Magic Mike in my pajamas very, very soon.”

I wore a bit of blue today — blue, purple and taupe (Yes! Taupe is dope.), gold and a smidgen o’ brown on my eyes, along with pink cheeks and lips.

axiology lipstick identity — Axiology Lipstick in Identity

So much shimmer

I’m using the RainForest of the Sea II Skin Twinkle Lighting Palette, which is super shimmery, for some glow. I applied a layer underneath my blush and bronzer, just to tone down the shimmer a bit.

tarte rainforest of the sea volume ii — Clockwise from the upper left: Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Volume II Skin Twinkle Lighting Palette and Tarte Blot Party, Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Volume II Eyeshadow Palette, Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Concealer, Axiology Lipstick in Identity, Tarte Color Your World Color-Correcting Palette, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronze in Luminous Bronze Light and Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Radiant Magenta

tarte rainforest of the sea volume ii lighting palette — Swatches of the Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Volume II Skin Twinkle Lighting Palette

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A Dashing Duo: Benefit They’re Real Shadow Blender in Easy Smokin’, and the Awkward Double Date With the Vanilla Ice Mullet Brothers

February 7th, 2017 by Karen 20 Comments

benefit theyre real easy smokin — I’m wearing Benefit’s They’re Real Duo Shadow Blender in Easy Smokin’ ($24) and They’re Real Double the Lip in Criminally Coral ($20)

So, what do I know about double dates? Well, I know that they’re awkward…(but more on this in a sec), and I know that I thought about them a lot today because of the new $24 Benefit They’re Real Duo Shadow Blender in Easy Smokin’ (one of six new duos available now), which has — not one — but TWO eyeshadows geared to give you bigger, sexier eyes.

I feel like Easy Smokin’ is more elegant than Sexy Smokin’, the duo I wore yesterday. It has a warm, dark bronzed brown coupled with a light and warm shimmery peach, and the powders seem more finely milled. Thank goodness, too, because the shimmery light shade in Sexy Smokin’ was giving me a complex (frost is not kind to my fine lines).

By the way, when you mix the two shades in Easy Smokin’ together, it creates a beautiful bronzed peach, which is how I’m wearing it in these pics. I blended them together, and then I also lined my lash lines with warm bronze MAC Teddy liner (I bet MAC Costa Riche would totally work, too).

benefit theyre real easy smokin swatch — Swatches of Benefit They’re Real Duo Shadow Blender in Easy Smokin’ and They’re Real Double the Lip in Criminally Coral

This reminds me of the time my best friend Jen and I went on a double date together with these two boys who were brothers (we met them in marching band). Basically, it was not the most awesome time in the whole world.

I dated the older brother, who had a Vanilla Ice mullet, and Jen dated the younger one…who also had a Vanilla Ice mullet, and the four of us went to a community theater musical presentation of Camelot.

I can’t remember who’s idea it was… What I can remember is that it was four hours long, and I was starving! I can also remember that because it was a musical, we couldn’t really talk to each other, and I got very antsy about halfway through. I wondered why we didn’t just go to Great America or grab a pizza instead, because at least then we would have been able to talk, but I digress… (Plus, I wouldn’t have been starving to death for four hours!)

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Tom Ford Spring 2017: The Shade and Illuminate Cheeks Cream Blushes in Scintillate and Sublimate

February 7th, 2017 by Karen 28 Comments

tom ford shade illuminate cheeks scintillate k — Wearing new Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Cheeks cream blush in Scintillate ($80)

I like to wear shades (as in sunglasses).

Connor Claire also likes to throw shade, which is cute now, but it may not be in 12 years.

Now, neither of these types forms of shade have anything to do with the two new Shade and Illuminate Cheeks cream blushes in the new Tom Ford Spring 2017 color collection, but that’s OK.

They’re lovely (albeit incredibly expensively).

tom ford shade illuminate cheeks scintillate — Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Cheeks cream blush in Scintillate ($80)

The Tom Ford 2017 spring collection is available now, and my gawd! — can we just take a moment to appreciate the drop-dead gorgeousness of this makeup?

tom ford spring 2017 visual — The Tom Ford Spring 2017 visuals are BANANAS!

The collection includes two cream blush duos and six lip duos that are all about shade and illumination, as in highlighting and contouring — playing with lighter shades to catch the light and darker shades for shading. Through strategically using complementary colors to shade and highlight the cheeks and lips, it creates balance.

tom ford shade illuminate cheeks sublimate — Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Cheeks in Sublimate ($80)

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The MAC Kiesza Collection Is Down With Chocolatey Brown

February 2nd, 2017 by Karen 24 Comments

mac kiesza lipstick dearly beloved — Feeling very ’90s in MAC Dearly Beloved ($17), the one and only matte Lipstick in the MAC Kiesza collection, available Feb. 9th through March 23rd online and at select MAC stores

I feel suddenly compelled to do wind sprints while eating a ? chocolate-chip cookie. Admittedly, I don’t even know if that’s possible…but where there’s a will (and a desire to eat cookies), there’s a way! Thanks, MAC Kiesza collection! 🙂

It just so happens that Kiesza sings one of the songs on my sprinting playlist.

Dude, that song makes me haul @ss!

Her new petite four-piece MAC collaboration comes out next week, and the two standout items are a couple of chocolatey delicious browns. There’s a new Matte Lipstick called Dearly Beloved ($17) and a new Vamplify Lipgloss called Thunder Kiss ($21).

mac kiesza swatches — MAC Kiesza swatches from the top: Matte Lipstick in Dearly Beloved (a warm soft brown), Vamplify Lipgloss in Thunder Kiss (a deep chocolate) and Liquidlast Liner in Point Black (not pictured: Big Brown Pencil in Cork)

There are also two other items in the collection, both of them re-promotes from the permanent line. There’s Big Brow Pencil in Cork ($21) and Liquidlast Liner in Point Black ($21), but eh — you can get those any old time.

Matte Lipstick in Dearly Beloved ($17)

Just when I feel ready to say “I’m Audi 5000” to ’90s-style matte brown lips (hey, I wore them enough to last three lifetimes), MAC comes out with another beautiful one. And it’s beautiful! It’s a warm brown with pink undertones, and it isn’t muddy or patchy looking at all, unlike so many browns.

mac kiesza collection — From the left: MAC Vamplify in Thunder Kiss ($21), Liquidlast Liner in Point Black ($21) and Matte Lipstick in Dearly Beloved ($17)

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MAC Viva Glam by the #numbers With Viva Glam Taraji P. Henson Lipstick and Lipglass

February 2nd, 2017 by Karen 24 Comments

mac viva glam taraji p henson — MAC Viva Glam Taraji P. Henson Lipstick on the left ($17) and Lipglass on the right ($16)

2

The number of Empire stars ⭐⭐ who are now new MAC Viva Glam spokespeople — the fabulous Taraji P. Henson (LOVE HER) and Jussie Smollett.

1,700

The number of pennies it takes to purchase a tube of pretty purplish red matte Viva Glam Taraji P. Henson Lipstick, a fabulously bright fuchsia.

160

The number of dimes it takes to delight your lips with layers of pearly pink fuchsia Viva Glam Taraji P. Henson Lipglass.

0

The number of seconds you’ll have to wait before you can get your paws on these luscious lippies because they’re available right meow online and at MAC counters.

mac viva glam taraji p henson swatches — Swatches of MAC Viva Glam Taraji P. Henson Lipstick (top) and Lipglass (bottom

6

The number of seconds it took me to fall in love with this Lipstick and Lipglass, because they’re bold and bright but still totally wearable.

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The MAC Colour Rocker Collection Swatches and Tempered Two-Toned Lips

February 1st, 2017 by Karen 16 Comments

mac colour rocker carmine rouge breathing fire — Toned-down/tempered lips with the MAC Colour Rocker Collection Lipsticks in Carmine Rouge (my upper lip) and Breathing Fire (bottom lip)

So I was flipping through a magazine last weekend (I think it might’ve been Allure…) and saw a picture of two models wearing two-toned lips.

NEAT!

What are two-toned lips?

It’s where you wear different colors on your top and bottom lip, and if you pick colors that are closely related, it’s an easy way to do subdued, toned-down, but still edgy look.

Here are some examples with shades from the new MAC Colour Rocker Collection of limited edition MAC matte lipsticks that launched last week ($17 each), and there are also some swatches down below.

Two-Toned Lip Tip #1: Choose two shades that are slightly different in intensity and/or color

Here’s the thing: If you want easy, it helps to use two shades that are similar but aren’t exactly the same. If they’re too dissimilar, they go from low-key and edgy to full-on edgy, and then you have to work that into your entire look.

In the pic above I’m wearing MAC Colour Rocker Carmine Rouge (the red shade) with Breathing Fire (the pink), and I think they’re both similarly intense. I mean, if you saw me from across a room, you might not even be able to tell I was wearing two different colors on my lips, but bam! — up close? Whoomp, there it is.

mac colour rocker darling clementine forbidden sunrise — MAC Colour Rocker Lipstick in Darling Clementine (upper lip) and Forbidden Sunrise (bottom lip)

Same thing with Darling Clementine (the darker orange on my top lip) and Forbidden Sunrise (the slightly lighter orange on the bottom). The colors are similar enough to make the whole effect subtle.

Two-Toned Lip Tip #2: Wear the lighter color on the bottom for a plump-looking pout

If you wear the lighter color on the bottom, I think it makes your lips look slightly fuller (don’t ask me why though).

mac colour evening buzz flatter me fierce — MAC Colour Rocker Lipsticks in Evening Buzz (upper lip) and Flatter Me Fierce (bottom lip)

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ALL THE FEELS! The Purple and Pink Urban Decay Vice Liquid Lipsticks, and the Crazy Emotional Ride I Went on Yesterday

January 26th, 2017 by Karen 20 Comments

urban decay zz top pic — PURPLE POWER! (Wearing Urban Decay Vice Liquid Lipstick in ZZ)

If I’d known what I was getting into yesterday before taking Connor to her first official outing involving a large group of babies, I would have done some deep breathing exercises or yoga beforehand.

We went to our first Kindermusik class, which is like a loosely organized music circle for babies. There’s a guitar-playing teacher who leads the troupe through songs and dances and baby sign language lessons and, basically, I lived a lifetime of emotions in the 40 minutes we were there. I got all the feels! Girl, I was a mess.

What does this have to do with these new Urban Decay Vice Liquid Lipsticks? Well, I’m wearing them in this episodic representation of the emotional roller coaster ride I went on in Kindermusik class, LOL!

The Urban Decay Vice Liquid Lipsticks are a new line of lippies from UD. They’re $18 each, and these are the purple and pink shades. (I reviewed the orange and red shades and the nude and brown shades last week.)

These last about four hours on my lips, which is consistent with the other bright shades I’ve tried and OK for a liquid lipstick…although not exceptional. I was hoping they’d last longer, but I do have to say that they feel FABULOUS! The formula isn’t drying at all — another plus for a liquid lipstick — and I think they look great.

They’re available now online and at UD stores and counters.

The first emotion: nervousness, as told by Urban Decay Vice Liquid Lipstick in Twitch

urban decay twitch — Urban Decay Vice Liquid Lipstick in Twitch

I was a little nervous when we walked into the class because, ya know, it was the first time Connor had hung out with a large group of babies. Was she going to scream? Was she going to be quiet and coy? Would she be outgoing? Would the other babies be nice to her? Would she try to meow to everyone like she does to Tabs? I didn’t know!

Turns out she was fine. She was super cautious and reserved when we first sat down, but maybe she was picking up on my energy.

The second emotion: pure joy, as told by Urban Decay Vice Liquid Lipstick in ZZ

urban decay zz — Urban Decay Vice Liquid Lipstick in ZZ

As the music started and everyone began singing and clapping and dancing together, she started to really enjoy herself. She was laughing, smiling and VERY interested in the teacher’s guitar.

The third emotion: togetherness, as told by Urban Decay Vice Liquid Lipstick in Firebird

urban decay firebird — Urban Decay Vice Liquid Lipstick in Firebird

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Put to the Test: Sweat Cosmetics Mineral Foundation SPF 30 and Glow Hard Bronzer

January 26th, 2017 by Karen 8 Comments

sweat cosmetics top pic — Hitting the gym with Sweat Cosmetics Mineral Foundation SPF 30 ($42) and Glow Hard Bronzer ($42)

Entrepreneurial women of the world, will somebody please make my dream come true and start a line of women-owned-and-operated gyms with flattering overhead lighting, because I’m tired… I’m tired of looking at myself in the mirror in my HIIT class and seeing Gollum looking back at me lifting weights and doing lunges.

Until that day comes, there’s always Sweat Cosmetics.

sweat cosmetics k mat — Halfway through class and sweating like a mofo…

“Our goal at Sweat Cosmetics is to develop a line of cosmetics that contain SPF for the modern woman who strives to be physically fit while also embracing a healthy, active lifestyle. We are committed to narrowing the gap between beauty and fitness while prioritizing skin protection.”

–sweatcosmetics.com

They’re a pretty new-ish brand, and now they’re also available at Sephora. They’re all about mineral makeup that you can wear to the gym, or to go jogging, or if you do any other type of physical exercise and you want to look cute (well, cuter than usual). The line was created by a team of women Olympic soccer players ⚽ and professional athletes ? ⛸️?, which I think is awesome.

Their products are mineral-based, which means powder products, not liquid, and they focus on base products like foundation, bronzer and highlighter.

Everything is sheer-to-medium coverage, so they have a no-makeup makeup vibe. You can go to the gym, go to dance class, go to a soccer meet, whatever, and still look like you, just a little more polished. Oh! And they all have SPF.

The $42 face products come with a refillable makeup brush, which you load with one of the powders (they come in a small pot). Then you screw the powder into the base of the brush, tip it over, shake to dispense the powder through the brush bristles, and then apply to your face. There are also less expensive $24 refills available, too.

So…I don’t usually wear makeup when I work out because my biggest fear is that, ya know, I’ll be sweating, and sweaty beads of product will be dripping down my face onto my shirt and chin, because dude, I SWEAT LIKE A MOFO! I’m not one those delicate flowers who always looks perfectly dry and put together at the gym.

Nope!

But the dripping and the beading doesn’t happen with these products, yay! I wore the Mineral Foundation SPF 30 (it comes in five shades; I wear #300) and Glow Hard Bronzer to my HIIT class this morning, and my makeup looked fairly fresh and intact at the end.

sweat cosmetics k mirror after — When you’re trying to be sly about taking a gym selfie…

sweat cosmetics k after close — What’s that above my head?! (I just realized that gym equipment looks very *Fifty Shades of Grey*…)

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