Hmm… Being a day late and a dollar short to the show, I should probably stop telling people that I’m watching Breaking Bad. I mentioned it to my brother the other day, and the first thing he said was…
**WARNING** **SPOILER ALERT START** **WARNING** The first thing he said was (STOP HERE IF YOU DON’T WANT ANY SPOILERS!)…
I’m serious! Skip this entire gray box. DON’T READ ANOTHER LINE!
The first thing he said was, “Did you get to the part where Jesse’s girlfriend O.D.s?”
Uh…No, Al. I actually had not gotten to that part. 😕
Then I mentioned it to my mother-in-law, who’s never even seen the show but heard a few things through the grapevine, and she said (MORE SPOILERS!!!), “Isn’t that the show where the guy dies at the end?”
**WARNING** **SPOILER ALERT END** **WARNING**
Yeah… Insert mouth agape [HERE].
I think it’s the universe’s way of telling me that I should stick to talking about other subjects — subjects like makeup, and these five permanent collection products I’ve been loving lately.
1. Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Gloss Stain in 7 Corail Aquatique, $34
So, earlier this week I go to Sephora to get a birthday gift for my mom, and wouldn’t ya know it? Two tubes of Corail Aquatique mysteriously find their way into my basket/heart.
One for Mom, one for me. 🙂
My mom is so funny… I know I’m probably going to have to encourage her to wear this light pinkish coral glossy stain, because whenever I get her anything higher end than drugstore, it usually ends up displayed in the bathroom like a fancy trophy.
She never actually wears it, LOL!
The Pur Couture glosses, which apply as a gloss but wear down to a stain, are part of YSL’s permanent line, and I’ve loved them for a while.
I’ve been putting Corail Aquatique through its paces lately.
No — literally, its paces. I wore it on my walk yesterday. I think it’s a really lovely everyday lip color.
2. MAC Powder Blush in Cantaloupe, $17
OOOH, GURL, don’t even get me started on coral Cantaloupe Blush. As Tabs would say, It’s “purr-fection!”
As a MAC Pro product, warm pinkish coral Cantaloupe is available at Pro Stores and online (but not at regular MAC stores and counters).
Officially, it’s billed as having a Satin finish, but I feel like it looks more Matte in pics… Frankly, I don’t care what they call it, because I just call it awesome and forgiving. Really forgiving, especially when you have pores the size o’ Lake Michigan (like me).
If the Magnetic Nude blushes weren’t always distracting me, I’d probably be wearing Cantaloupe 24/7.
LOVE IT!
3. NARS Coconut Grove, $24
OK, so I’ve had rich dark chocolate Coconut Grove forever, but I only recently fell in lust with it. I’ve been going through something of a brown eyeshadow phase (there are just so many great ones out there, and they’re so versatile!), and I guess I re-discovered it.
It might also have something to do with all of the chocolate I’ve been eating lately…
Anywho, Coconut Grove — bangin’ for brown smokey eyes. It has slightest sheen — barely noticeable — but enough to keep things interesting. It also prevents it from looking like a flat brown matte.
Super pretty layered on top of black or dark brown creamy kohl pencils and cream eyeshadow bases.
4. NARS Galapagos, $24
And then there’s Galapagos, another palpitation-inducing NARS brown.
With Galapagos eyeshadow, it’s all about the golden shimmer, and OHMYGOSH! — it’s so pretty.
Pack it on for high-intensity glitter, or buff it out to a light wash of rich, warm reddish brown with flecks of twinkling gold.
OOH! Try it with warm brown liners like MAC Costa Riche or Teddy. I’m pretty sure you’ll love it.
5. Perricone MD Blue Plasma Orbital Daily Peel, $65
To say I’ve been impressed by this anti-aging eye cream would be an epic understatement.
Designed to simultaneously hydrate while removing dead skin cells, this gentle peel feels like a regular eye cream. I tested it all over my eye area, targeting some tiny white bumps I had for a few months (I’m pretty sure they were pimples, but they just weren’t going away). Within about one month of using it daily, the bumps disappeared, and my overall eye area looks smoother.
I’m thinking about adding this to my list of skincare holy grails…right alongside Skinceuticals C+E Ferulic Serum and Kate Somerville’s Anti-Bac Clearing Lotion.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Please please please do a post on your gorgeous hair!! I’m dying of envy
i second that, rochelle! 🙂
Ooooh! I’m loving the “love” posts! I did some damage at the MAC store (Masterclass Oval 6!!!!) a few days ago. And I’m on a “no spending on myself/household decoration wants” bender for the month of January. So reading your blog is kind of a tease for me. Hahahha
I must visit Sephora to check some of these things out! I’ve been interested in the cream shadows from Benefit or UD, rather than the powders shadows. I’m still scared of blending and eyeshadow, so I figure cream will be easier to work with.
Oh, and the white spots might be milia. I have them once in a while and I’m tempted to pick at them. I forgot what helps make them go away (salicylic acid, maybe? hmmm). It’s one of the lovely traits I inherited from my mom. :/
And it took me a month to figure out the ending of Breaking Bad. I saw articles about certain things, and it didn’t click until a month later. My bro-in-law has the last few episodes on the DVR, and I want to watch them to find out what happened, but The Man said to wait until Netflix catches up.
*sigh* the anticipation!!!!!!
Keep the “loves” posts coming! I want to pick up the Sonia Kashuk roll up bag, but I’m hoping she comes out with a spring design that I’ll like better. Maybe I should just buy one in case she decides to take a break with that style of bag. Ugh, choices!
LOVE the YSL gloss/stain!! I just got 9, and it’s the *perfect* red. Absolutely adore it.
However… it does tend to bleed out a bit past my lip line, after several hours (like, 5-6 hours after I’ve started wearing it, when I’ve reapplied once, usually after eating). Any tips to help keep that from happening? I was thinking maybe a reverse lip liner…
I love all your picks. That YSL gloss looks particularly tempting. You look stunning in the pictures but no surprise there.
I’m trying to talk my hubby into starting watching Breaking Bad. I have heard so many good reviews about this show.
I got my Mac Magnetic Nude order. The It’s Physical Fluidline is breathtaking. I can’t stop staring at it.
Hi Karen,
Your hair looks divine here! NARS Coconut Grove is one of my must-haves too. I’ve been meaning to try Galapagos for some time — perhaps I should make it a priority!
Just say: Nars & I am IN ! I love everything he makes ! However, I do like my blush to have a sparkle ; I am funny like that. That is why I stay with “orgasm”!
Michele
Hey Karen, nice post! You’re going to enjoy Breaking Bad, don’t let anyone spoil it for you..just keep watching. You’re going to love Jesse, I promise. 😉
Thanks to you I’m loving everything Nars.
I’ve been all about the brown eyeshadows too…with a bronze base and either a nude or a soft plum lip. I wore Galapagos today but now you have me itching to put on Coconut Grove tomorrow. Have you ever tried applying Galapagos wet? Super pretty. Another brown-ish (okay, taupe) NARS love lately is Bali. Killer brow shade.
Officially lusting after that mac blush. And hurrah for YSL glossy stain in my favorite shade! I also read your BB spoilers even though I don’t watch because… can’t help it 😡
Have faith in sonia kashuk. She always has cute new stuff so I’d hold out for a pattern you love. Or just shoot her an email begging for a sneak peek at her spring line since you’re practically bffs after that interview, right? :3
Karen – do you have an issue with the scent of the Skinceuticals serum? I tried it and wanted SO BADLY to love it, but couldn’t take smelling like a hot dog. I mean right off the roller grill at the ball game hot dog smell. I read about potential oxidation but tried two separate bottles and both were way to eau de frankfurter for me. 🙁
Oh my!! Love ’em all
Karen, I’m loving your “fave” posts! I need to hit up a Nars counter – stat. And those little white bumps you mentioned… Could they be milia? I had some of those pesky little guys and that’s what my derm called them. Glad you found something that zaps them!
I would love to try NARS Galapagos someday! And Outremer! Outremer makes me hyperventialte when I see it 😛
I’ve been dying to try NARS eye shadow, and reading your blog makes me think that I should, asap! The only reason I haven’t tried it yet is the price, but I’m thinking I should just suck it up and give it a go since I’ve loved all of the NARS products I’ve tried so far.
Always love reading your blog, Karen! Hope you have a fantastic day!
Nice! I’m checking out the Dr. P eye cream soon! I’ve loved his products from day one. That blush is gorgeous and I adore Nars eyeshadows!
I’m so happy to see someone else talk about Cantaloupe. That is one of my favorite MAC blushes!
The Galapagos eyeshadow was my first Nars purchase. It is my go to eyeshadow when I’m unsure what to wear. I pair it with Mekong eyeshadow and go out the door. I would like to get Coconut Grove to add to my stash. Mac’s Cantaloupe blush is pretty. I wear its cousin, Mac’s Melba, a lot in the summer.
Hi Karen-
I’m a little late on this post, but those little white bumps around your eyes were probably milia (I get ’em too!). They’re pretty common, especially around the eyes. In my experience they will eventually go away on their own but it usually takes a looooong time (I’m talking months). That peel probably helped by removing the layers of skin covering the white bump. Hope that helps!:)
Love your new gloss! the shade is great but the price tage isn’t, boo hoo. But I love the MAC Cantaloupe blush, and that may be a possibility for me. Both Nars shadow are gorgeous, and since I’m doing matte these days Coconut Grove is worth checking out for me 🙂
You hear this all the time, I know…but your skin is flawless in the photos here. What was used, skin acare and makeup, if you don’t mind? Thank ya pretty lady!
Sounds like those white bumps might be Milia!
Whadya know…Glossy Stain Corail Aquatique is my fave too!! Galpagos looks like a beautiful colour. If only NARS was available in India 🙁
Noooooo I read the spoilers. LOL I don’t know why, but when people say “spoiler alert” I just can’t stop reading. Like a moth to a flame! Oh well!
I am using MAC mineral skinfinish as blush on, they are nice but does not last long.