Sephora

3 Fascinating (and Slightly Frightening) New Beauty Tools From Sephora

February 9th, 2015 by Karen 26 Comments

1. Sephora Collection Show Curl XL lash curler ($17)

I’m a dedicated Shu Uemura lash curler girl, and when mine went missing a few years back, I seriously lost my sh*t! Like, I had a full-on ballistic meltdown.

But I’m also a curious kitty who likes to meow new thangs.

This one is designed, first and foremost, for deep-set eyes (which I don’t really have) and incorporates advanced Cyberdyne Systems-like technology, like an “extreme curved band shape” for dramatic lash curls. It’s also extra large and has a long handle to help you get as close as mathematically possible to your lash lines…

Or something like that. More importantly, it comes in three colors (of course my favorite one is the one with the hot pink band), and each one includes two spare replacement pads.

Sephora Collection Show Curl XL (bottom) with a Shu Uemura Lash Curler (top) — The Sephora Collection Show Curl XL (bottom/front) with a Shu Uemura Lash Curler (top/back). See how Show Curl’s band is curved?

“But does it work!?” she cried, clenching her fists by her sides and stomping her feet in a fresh storm puddle.

Yeah…it actually does, but it takes a little getting used to. It’s quite large, and I kept pinching my lashes on my first few tries, which could be partly due to muscle memory, since I’ve spent 10 years using Shu’s curler.

This curler nicely lifts my lashes, though — especially the ones on the ends that are inherently harder to curl — and the effect is pretty dramatic and defined. It’s a good starting point for mascara.

Sephora Collection Show Curl XL (right) with a Shu Uemura Lash Curler (left)

I’m still hooked on Shu’s curler and don’t see myself ever giving it up, but the Sephora Collection Show Curl XL is a worthy contender. It might also be the cat’s meow if you have deep-set eyes.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B/B+

2. Sephora Collection Long Lashing Contoured Eyelash Comb ($14)

HOW SCARY IS THIS CONTRAPTION?

The first time I ran the comb through my lashes, I thought of that chant from the end of A Christmas Story. “You’ll shoot your eye out, kid!”

Thankfully, I have not, yet.

Not as of 2:56 p.m. on February 9, 2015.

Um…so this one’s truly innovative. It’s a lash comb, but the teeth are arranged vertically, so instead of holding the handle parallel to your lash line, you hold it perpendicular.

I think it’s about a million times easier to use than conventional lash combs, like, I don’t have to hold it at weird angles. I just hold the brush above my lashes, and brush down a few times.

That’s it.

It’s way more intuitive and, I guess, ergonomic than old-fashioned lash combs. Definitely easier to manipulate and hold, and it separates lashes well.

Added bonus? The comb folds in half for travel-friendly convenience.

Bravo, Sephora! 🙂
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A+
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Oh, Hello, Cutie! The Hello Kitty “The Red Bow Beauty Diaries” Holiday Set Is a Hello Kitty Fangirl’s Dream

December 3rd, 2014 by Karen 19 Comments

Dear Diary,

I have a confession to make…

I don’t know if the limited edition $25 Hello Kitty “Red Bow Beauty Diaries” holiday kit was made for kids or grownups.

But, uh, I don’t really care.

Is that wrong…?

I love this damned thing! And I don’t give a crap if I’m wearing the same makeup that little Susie is rocking to Brianna’s ninth birthday sleepover because — and here’s the kicker — there’s a bonafide letter from Hello Kitty inside the set!

Yeah, the actual kitty HERSELF.

For real though, I get the feels every time I read it, and I actually think it was written directly to me — Karen from Union City, California.

Or not.

Diary, I think this set was made special for people who grew up loving Hello Kitty, because, truth be told, the makeup isn’t great. I’d say it’s just a step up from the pieces in a little girl’s toy makeup set.

While pigmented, the glitter liners rub off easily, and the lipsticks, gloss and cream eyeshadows are woefully sheer.

As for the pink hair mascara, it feels smooth when I put it on but turns crusty when it dries.

Weird.

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Whether You’re Kissing Cats or Mirrors (or Someone Else), the Sephora Endless Kisses Lip Gloss Set Will Be There For You

November 12th, 2014 by Karen 54 Comments

You know, I realized today while applying one of the lip glosses in the new $28 Endless Kisses Lip Gloss Set by Sephora that I’ve never left a kiss mark on a mirror.

This shocked me, as it’s something that seems like it would be both cute and kinda psycho, which is totally my style. 🙂

Only the universe knows why I haven’t gotten around to it yet…

Should I decide to rectify this situation anytime soon, I’m sure this new lip gloss set would be up for it.

Most of the glosses in it, like the fuchsia, the purple and the golden peachy pink (which is kind of like NARS Orgasm), are so pigmented that they could totally star in their own movie and play liquid lipsticks. I mean, if I were to smooch a mirror with one of these on, yeah, you’d definitely be able to tell that Karen was here.

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The $59 Sephora Favorites Give Me More Lip Set Gives Lips All the Pigment They Can Take

November 4th, 2014 by Karen 17 Comments

Whenever I go shopping at Sephora, there’s a rule I steadfastly adhere to. I tell myself that I can only walk out of the store with what I’m able to carry in my two hands.

No baskets, ever, because the minute a basket gets up in the mix, my credit card starts throbbing with a white hot heat.

Buuuut, you know what they say: where there’s a will, there’s a way. 🙂

With products like the new Sephora Favorites Give Me More Lip Ultimate Lip Sampler Set ($59), I’m able to maximize my self-imposed system of budgetary beauty tyranny. #imjustsayin

The glorious new holiday kit includes 17 (!) sample-sized lip products from 14 makeup brands.

KA-BOOM!

That’s a ton of variety. What’s more, the pieces span a wide range of finishes, textures and coverage levels.

Sephora sorted the products by color family — nudes, berries, pinks and reds — which gives the kit a cohesiveness you don’t always find in limited edition sets.

Sephora Give Me More Lip swatches from the left: Stila Stay All Day Vinyl Lip Gloss in Nude, Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Blush, Fresh Sugar Rose Lip Tint, Too Faced La Creme Lipstick in Naked Dolly, Make Up For Ever Lip LIner in 3C, Tarte LipSurgence in Flush, Too Faced Melted Lipstick in Melted Fuchsia, Benefit Posie Balm and Bite Beauty Luminous Creme Lipstick in Palomino — From the left: Stila Stay All Day Vinyl Lip Gloss in Nude, Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Blush, Fresh Sugar Rose Lip Tint, Too Faced La Creme Lipstick in Naked Dolly, Make Up For Ever Lip Liner in 3C, Tarte LipSurgence in Flush, Too Faced Melted Lipstick in Melted Fuchsia, Benefit Posie Balm and Bite Beauty Luminous Creme Lipstick in Palomino

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At the Intersection of Makeup and Microprocessors, the Sephora + Pantone Color IQ Foundation System Promises To Help You Find a Better Foundation Match

July 30th, 2014 by Karen 37 Comments

The Sephora Color IQ Foundation System — The Sephora + Pantone Color IQ Foundation System. Goooooo science!

Ah, technology… It’s not just for sending obnoxious text messages to your best friend about how you really feel about capri pants anymore.

At Sephora tech is also helping women (and makeup-lovin’ dudes) get a better foundation match.

At the intersection of makeup and microprocessors, the Sephora + Pantone Color IQ system promises to put processor cycles to work to help you find an exact foundation shade match.

At least that’s the idea.

“Color IQ is the first and only beauty service to scan the surface of your skin, assign it a Color IQ number, and then find your scientifically precise foundation match from over 1,500 options.”

— sephora.com

How does it work?

I’m glad you asked! 🙂

A Sephora makeup artist places the Color IQ device, which basically looks like a hybrid handheld camera/Star Trek tricorder, against your skin in three places to take color readings.

You can match to either your face or neck. I opted to go with my neck, because my face is much redder (I use a lot of exfoliating products).

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What the Bite Beauty Matte Creme Lip Crayons Are Really Thinking About at Sephora, Plus New Divergent-Themed Makeup and Givenchy Ombre Couture

April 2nd, 2014 by Karen 21 Comments

The following is an un-redacted transcript of a conversation that occurred among the six $24 limited edition Bite Beauty Matte Creme Lip Crayons at the Novato, California, Sephora store at precisely 9:55 a.m. on Wednesday, April 2, 2014.

KUMQUAT: Wake up, you guys! Show time in five minutes. Chop-chop!

GRAPE: Awwww, come on, man! Just 10 more minutes, please? I’m so sleepy…

KUMQUAT: No way, Grape. Everyone, UP! UP! UP! We need to look perky when the store opens. Remove your caps, back straight, and get in position. Stand proud like the pigmented lipsticks you are!

Bite Beauty Matte Cream Lip Crayons, $24 — Bite Beauty’s $24 Matte Cream Lip Crayons

CLEMENTINE: Geez Louise, Kumquat! — chill! I don’t see why we have to hurry. I mean, who visits a Sephora at 10 o’clock sharp on a Wednesday?

We have time. Let’s have a nice breakfast together as a family for once. I could make those pigment pancakes you like? 🙂

KUMQUAT: Absolutely not. I shouldn’t have to say this, again, but we stand at the front of the store.

The front of the store! Do you have any idea what that means?! We have to look our best every day. It’s…

Wait — shhh! Don’t make a sound. Someone just walked through the door…

IT’S A CUSTOMER!

SATSUMA: Oh, it’s that same girl from the other day again, the one who’s always covered in cat hair.

Why is she always here?! And doesn’t she have one of those pet hair roller things? I mean, come on! This is Sephora, for crying out loud. Sacred ground. People be rollin’ up here in skinny jeans lookin’ like they just fell out of bed two minutes ago.

SWEETY: Be nice, Satsuma. I see her all the time. She’s actually pretty cool. She takes pics and swatches for her friends. I think she’s on YouTube…

BLOOD ORANGE: Oh, really? Pictures, you say? Well, point her my way because I love having my picture taken.

Yoo-hoo! HEY, LADY! OVER HEEERE!

KUMQUAT: Just stop it already! She’s coming over. Remember, the customers can’t know that we talk amongst ourselves. We’re supposed to be inanimate. Stand straight, shut up and sit still. It’s time to go to work!

Bite Beauty Matte Lip Crayon Swatches from the left: Blood Orange, Clementine, Grape, Kumquat, Satsuma and Sweety — Bite Beauty Matte Lip Crayon Swatches from the left in Blood Orange, Clementine, Grape, Kumquat, Satsuma and Sweety

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New Additions to My Never-Ending Sephora Wish List…

March 4th, 2014 by Karen 28 Comments

This will only take a minute, wink-wink! — “This will only take a minute (wink-wink). I’ll be right out.”

Man, there’s like some weird temporal vortex Arthur C. Clarke thing going on inside the Sephora by my house. Today I meant to just run in and get a tube of NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, thinking that I’d be in and out of there in two swishes of a tabby’s tail but, uh, that totally didn’t happen.

I don’t know how long I was in there, but it was long enough to add all of this to my ever-growing makeup wish list…

Marc Jacobs Beauty Enamored Hi-Shine Nail Lacquer in Lux, $18

Laura Mercier Baked Eye Colour, $24 each

Laura Mercier Baked Eye Colour in Aubergine (left) and Smoky Topaz (right), $24 each

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Cleanse, Prime and Shine Your Claws With Sephora’s Formula X “The System”

February 28th, 2014 by Karen 8 Comments

I usually lack the wherewithal for multi-step manis involving a base and top coat when I’m painting my paws (read: I’m too lazy, yo), even though my rational mind fully recognizes the prudence of taking the extra time to extend the life of my polish.

But ever since I started using Sephora’s Formula X “The System” $32 nail kit, I don’t mind going the extra mile at all.

Sephora Formula X the System Nail Cleanser — Nail Cleanser

This is partly due to thinking that the bottles in the kit look kind of sci-fi and cool, like they belong in an Apple store beside the latest iMacs, and also because they just plain work.

Sephora Formula X The System Base Coat — Base Coat

The kit gets high marks from reviewers on sephora.com, and I can see why. I used the Nail Cleanser (a brush-on liquid that helps remove residue from your nails so the products you layer on top bind better), Base Coat and Top Coat with Tom Ford’s Viper Nail Lacquer this week, and my nails have definitely handled the hell I regularly put them through better.

Sephora Formula X The System Top Coat — Top Coat

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