I think the Internet may be giving people, and by “people,” I mean me, this belief that they can do *anything* just by looking it up online, because yesterday I made the most questionable (translation: gross) mocha at home.
What’s an unsung makeup hero? For me, it’s an oftentimes underrated makeup morsel, a permanent collection product that scoots under the radar screen of many makeup lovers but regularly rocks my world. The long-running Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorites.
I had just put on a little MAC Oh My Mocha Eye Shadow ($16) and thought, “I’m gonna drink a mocha while I’m wearing Oh My Mocha,” because the idea seemed kinda poetic, but then I looked outside and saw that a creepy, supernatural fog had descended upon my neighborhood…
It gets foggy here sometimes, especially in the mornings in fall and winter, and when it happens, it’s usually foggy at the crack of dawn but burns off quickly.
Yesterday, though, started out sunny, but then it got horror movie foggy… It was that creepy cemetery fog that appears out of nowhere right before the main character walks into it and disappears forever.
Anyway, I wasn’t brave enough to walk outside in it, but it did make me crave a mocha. 🙂
So I googled a recipe, mixing coffee, milk, cocoa powder and sugar, and then added a boat load of whipped cream on top. Aaand it pretty much tasted like a pair of old Doc Martens with chocolate sauce, BLUH!
Oh, well. At least I think my eyeshadow turned out pretty sweet.
Oh My Mocha is a must for smoky eye-lovin’ ladies. I mean, I’m always into smoky eyes, 24/7 x 365, but they seem extra appropriate this time of year. Right now I’m into the kind where you just plop a little eyeshadow on your lids, whip out a brush to blend out the edges, and then go about your merry way.
Oh My Mocha is a perfect mix of frosty, festive cranberry purple pigment wrapped in a coffee-colored base, so when you lay down a layer, then buff away the edges with your brush, the cranberry/purple part dissipates into a decadent, delicious dark coffee.
The result? Instant smoke.
To kick it up a notch, I like to dip a flat eyeshadow brush into my pan, wet it with MAC Fix+ to ramp up the shimmer, and pat it on my lids. I think it really makes the gold flecks peek through. And did I mention the fallout factor is practically nill?
Oh My Mocha is absolutely delicious in every single way…unlike my at-home mocha, which I ended up tossing. Next time I’m just going to Starbucks, horror movie fog be damned. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
The MAC Unsung Heroes series (a subset of my regular Unsung Makeup Heroes series) features some of my all-time favorite products from MAC’s permanent collection
If you’re looking for permanent collection ideas or inspiration, there are literally hundreds of unsung makeup heroes posts in the MBB archives. These 20 are just the tip of the iceberg.
This shade is gorgeous. I will have to add it to my collection.
I think your mocha would turn out better if you just got some chocolate syrup and added it to your coffee!
I am not a fan of mocha coffee but my bf’s fav Starbucks drink is Mocha Latte with a pump of hazelnut and a pump of toffee nut syrup.
Ah, if only I had some chocolate syrup! Next time I’ll try that.
Your BF’s Starbucks recipe sounds delicious. YUM!
What are you up to today? And how is the substitute teaching going? Are you still doing that?
Unfortunately, I working till 5 today. I am sharing my birthday with my step son today so I am sure we will have some evening celebration after his hockey practice.
I am still doing sub teaching and I love it. For now I can only do it on my days off from interpreting (until I get a driver’s license and a car and then I can teach full time).
I just started and I already had a teacher request me for future days, it made me feel really good.
Happy, happy birthday! 🙂 That’s so special that you guys share the same b-day. It’s like you’re cosmically linked or something! I hope you treat yourself to something special this year.
I’m happy that you’re enjoying the teaching gig. What grades are you teaching?
I teach all grades K-12 but I can basically pick since there is a lot of assignments every day. I try to pick subjects I know I am good at- like Language Arts, English. Yesterday I was subbing for an ESL teacher, which was awesome because that’s what I used to do in Poland. I had 5 students in the class and their first language is Arabic. I will be teaching them tomorrow too.
After I emailed the teacher yesterday to tell her what I managed to do, she said she would love for me to share some ESL activities with her for future use! And she’s an older experienced teacher 🙂
Have fun teaching tomorrow! I’m glad that you found something that you love it do, plus we always need good teachers. 🙂
That IS a good one! I was actually going through my MAC eyeshadow stash earlier today and discovered a pattern of me having LOTS of coppery browns!
Ooh I like the plummy purple edge to this shade – it gives it real dimension compared to a regular dark brown.
Me too! And when you look really closely, the are these tiny little gold flecks that kick it up to the next level! It looks lovely with both cool toned and warm toned browns in the crease.
How are you and baby girl doing today? 🙂
I’m doing ok. I’m 35 weeks now, getting a bit uncomfortable but generally good. Baby girl is punching, kicking & stretching away, and is growing right on target. I’m looking forward to meeting her!
Enjoy these last few weeks with her in your tum. I remember being totally over it at the time, but now I get all weepy whenever I think of Connor growing inside me. Also enjoy the sleep, because it’s gone baby gone once your little one arrives!
I love that color. I’ve kinda had something like that in mind lately but couldn’t find anything that came close….but eureka you’ve found it for me! 🙂
And by the way, must must must have the tea cup and saucer too! Where?
Hi Sharon,
I got it at HomeGood many moons ago (like two years ago). It’s by Roy Kirkham, and the cup says “Cats Whiskers” on the bottom, which I’m guessing is the name of the pattern.
Ooh thanks! Maybe I can find one floating around the internet. Meow!
If you do let me know, because I want a few more. I would love a full set!
It looks great on you! Karen, would you ever do a post on medium and dark brown matte eyeshadows for tan skin? I’m looking to find some great outer v shades.
Looks lovely. I think it would be too cranberry for my medium red complexion, which tends to look “hot” with pink shades (and not in a good way, haha!). But looks great on you. I’m experimenting with smokey eyes with khaki or cool purple undertones.
Have you had chicory root “coffee”? It’s great to mix into cocoa for instant mocha! It goes by a lot of brand names – Prewett’s, Pero, Cafix, Leroux. Kraft also has a wheat-based one called Postum. Just a teaspoon, really good, and naturally decaf!
Hi Amy,
Smoky khaki eye colors are the best. Have you tried Chanel Sumptuous Olive? It’s a gorgeous khaki and great for smoky eyes.
I have tried chicory root coffee and really enjoy it. I’ll keep it in mind next time I attempt another mocha at home. 🙂
Hi Karen! Mocha is too pretty! I’ve been debating to add it to my collection and now I’m convinced I have to! I’m waiting in anticipation for my MAC Mariah Carey collection to arrive today!!! I hadn’t seen any posts or videos with the actual boxing until the other day and omg it has the same sparkle and gold effect!!! FYI I am a true lamb(fan) so I’ll probably pass out when I see all I s glamour in person!!! Lol
Oh yeah! Where did you get that so cute cat tea cup and plate?!!! It would be a purrrrfect Christmas gift for a friend!!!! I always send her the pics of Tabs you post.
Stephanie! I’m so excited about your Mariah Carey items. I hope you love them. By the way, did you know that Mariah Carey has a reality TV show on E?! I’m all over it.
Anywho, I just checked my cup and saucer combo, and it’s by Roy Kirkham. The cup says Cats Whiskers” on the bottom, and I’m guessing that’s the name of the pattern. I found it a while back at HomeGoods and have been looking for matching cups and saucers ever since. If you find any online let me know!
Thank you for the info! I will google this and let you know if anything comes up! Where I live we don’t have a Home Goods only TJ Maxx…sadness. I try to visit one in any city we travel to bc they have way MORE cute stuff to choose from. And your tea cup is proo!
Yes I’m very away about Mariah’s show. Um im not sure how I feel about it yet. Of course I’m excited to get a glimpse of her lavish and surreal lifestyle but at the same time it takes away the mystic and exclusiveness of all her divaness. I may be crazy for thinking I know MC like my sister but she seems different since her divorce…she’s playing to much into all the not so flattering perceptions ppl have of her. However I’m in love with this new collection and I’m looking forwadd to some new music from her!!! My dogs not so much bc they are the ones who have to endure my failed attempts of singing along with her!!! Lol
Aww, your dogs are your backup singers! I keep getting Tabs to meow with me when I blast Without You but no dice, LOL!
Ya know, I’ve always loved Mariah’s over-the-topness. I mean… If you have a dedicated beauty staff to get you ready on any given weekday then you know that’s some serious diva-ness, haha!
Also, I liked her and Nick Cannon together. They were an odd couple but they seemed to work. I was bummed when they split!
Good luck finding the cat cup. 🙂
I need this is my collection. It’s gorgeous! Now I want a mocha lol.
It’s a great fall color to have. Mochas for everyone! 🙂
At the café I worked at our mocha was espresso,sugar, dark chocolate sauce* (like ice cream sauce. Put a tablespoon, more or less according to your taste) and a few drops of French vanilla torani syrup or similar brand flavoring.
You could probably substitute dark chocolate for reg hot fudge sauce if u make it at home? I haven’t tried it though, because…
I make iced caramel coffees at home! I love caramel lattes and I don’t have espresso at home just regular dunkin donuts coffee but it’s awesome. I make the coffee at night (add an extra scoop to make it strong, so if it’s 5 cups water I put 6 scoops coffee) and mix 1-2 teaspoons of sugar per cup of coffee in while it’s hot and put it in a plastic pitcher in the fridge.
In the morning I mix it up with a half teaspoon or so of torani caramel flavor sugar free syrup and a heaping teaspoon of real caramel sauce. And milk and ice.
Add more flavor or caramel to taste or swap real sugar for truvia to save calories.
That’s beautiful, it’s been the first MAC shadow since Alluring Aquatics I’ve been tempted to buy!