The brownish bronze with golden pearl shade from the MAC Surf Baby Summer Stash Crushed Metallic Pigment set ($32.50 for four shades).
MAC Surf Baby: Summer Stash Crushed Metallic Pigment
WARNING: High Voltage Dior Electric Tropics Swatches Follow
From one of our first looks at Dior Electric back in March
Do you remember checking out the limited edition Nude Healthy Glow Powder in Sunset #002 ($46) from the Dior Electric collection with me earlier this year? The entire collection is out on counters now, and I did a little swatching on a recent excursion to the mall.
Makeup worn in the picture at the top…
- Nude Healthy Glow Powder in Sunset #002 from the Dior Electric Collection for Summer 2011
- Dior 5-Colour Eyeshadow in Golds 569
- MAC Eye Kohl in Powersurge
- LORAC Front of the Line Pro Liner
- NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
- MAC Pro Longwear Concealer
- Smashbox Photo Op Under Eye Brightener
- Becca Ultimate Mascara
- Benefit Brows A-Go-Go on my eyes
- MAC Lipglass in Lychee Luxe on my lips
Sweet basket weave pattern on those bronzer pans. Yum, I like that a lot.
Dior 5-Colour Eyeshadow in Rosy Tan #754 ($58)
Dior 5-Colour Eyeshadow in Rosy Nude #534 (not carried at Sephora, $58)
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How Well Does Sally Hansen Microwaveable Eyebrow, Face & Lip Wax Work?
I have to admit, I enjoy playing with makeup, but I also enjoy sleep. In the past, I chose to stay in bed as long as possible before getting up for work, and I generally didn’t leave enough time for proper makeup application.
However, all that changed last year when I moved to the U.S. and was unemployed for an extended period of time. I started to make an effort to “do my face” in the morning, and in doing so noticed a patch above my nose where plucking just wasn’t working. My makeup seemed to cling to the hairs, and after much thought I decided that I would be brave and wax.
My dirty little secret: I’ve been bleaching my upper lip for years, but I’d never waxed anything on my face before. While contemplating this foray into facial waxing, I noticed a product at my local supermarket that looked like interesting. Sally Hansen Microwaveable Eyebrow, Face & Lip Wax ($5.99) sounded perfect for me — no strips needed, and with results that last up to 8 weeks. I liked the sound of that because it reminded me of something my ex-beautician used on a rather more painful region. I thought, “This could be what I’ve been looking for!”
It’s supposed to be simple to use. Just heat based on the directions. Spread the wax using the spatula it comes with (apply in the same direction the hair grows). Then, let the wax cool for about 10-15 seconds. Using your fingers, peel up one edge, and quickly pull the whole section away, along with all of the hair it captured.
Having used it a few times now, here are my thoughts…
The positives
- Well, it’s wax. It does what it’s supposed to do.
- I do think it’s more convenient than wax that requires the use of strips.
Two Ways to Win a $50 eGift Card from Sephora!
- WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Melissa! Congratulations, Melissa! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂
Rise and shine, morning glory. It’s going to be a beautiful day. 🙂 And if it isn’t, well, I have it on good authority that tomorrow will be better (I know people who know people, and they talk).
Did you do anything fun last night? El Hub and I grabbed dinner at a Puerto Rican place we really like not far from here in San Rafael and then came home where I proceeded to watch 27 Dresses for the umpteenth time.
Speaking of Puerto Rican cuisine, I saw what must have been the World’s Largest Plantain at the restaurant. It was sitting on a shelf with a couple of other gigantic specimens, but it was clearly the alpha male. I’m not kidding — it could have been a small canoe. I could have crawled inside the thing and worn it like a banana suit, B-A-N-A-N-A-S!
I can’t believe I forgot to take a picture. That’s totally unlike me. I feel like I missed my Big Foot opportunity.
Oh, well. Maybe I’ll see it again one of these days stalking prey in the hills of Novato… It’ll become a bedtime story that the older neighborhood wild turkeys tell their young. “If you ever come across El Banana, little one, you must freeze in your tracks! The creature has no eyes, but it hunts by sound!”
Okay, sorry. I don’t think I’m totally awake yet. I feel a little loopy, LOL! While I get properly caffeinated, let’s have some fun. You know what time it is, right?
It’s…
- One (1) Sephora eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (or $50 sent by PayPal instead).
- There are two ways to enter, and you can do both of them for two chances to win. First, you can enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post, a comment about anything at all, like, what’s your favorite type of fruit? Do you do anything artistic (draw, paint, photography, music)? Describe your favorite outfit. How many languages do you speak? — you get the idea.
- Second, you can enter by following me on
Twitter @karenmbb and retweeting (RT) the following message:
- Follow @karenmbb and RT to Win a $50 eGift Card from Sephora! http://bit.ly/lKQZjY
- The deadline to enter is Sunday, May 15, 2011 at 11:59PM (PT).
- Entrants must enter using a valid email address and/or Twitter account to win.
- A maximum of two (2) entries per person — one within the comments at the bottom of this post, and a second entry via Twitter addressed to me @karenmbb.
- Contest is open to individuals of any country who have reached the age of majority according to their local laws (18 in the United States with these exceptions: Alabama and Nebraska, 19; Mississippi, 21).
- Sephora eGift Certificates can only be redeemed online and are not valid in stores or available for purchase or redemption in Canada. The winner may opt to substitute the Sephora eGift card prize for $50 sent directly to their email address by PayPal.
- Tabs and I (heretofore referred to as “T-Money and K-Dawg”) will select one (1) winner at random from the entries either left in the comments at the bottom of this blog post or addressed to @karenmbb on Twitter.
- The winner will be announced here within 48 hours of the deadline.
- Void where prohibited by law.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
- WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Melissa! Congratulations, Melissa! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂
Tarte LipSurgence Natural Matte Lip Tint
The Tarte LipSurgence Natural Matte Lip Tints, $24 each.
Available now at Sephora and also online.
Burberry Beauty Lip Mist
The new Burberry Beauty Lip Mist Natural Sheer Lipsticks ($30 each) in No. 206 Blueberry (left) and No. 209 Feather Pink (right).
Available now exclusively at select Nordstrom stores and online.
The Burberry Beauty Lip Mist range includes…
- No. 201 Cinnamon
- No. 202 Copper
- No. 203 Brown Sugar
- No. 204 Chestnut
- No. 205 Rosy Red
- No. 206 Blueberry
- No. 207 Camelia Pink
- No. 208 Stormy Pink
- No. 209 Feather Pink
Water Makes the New Yves Saint Laurent Metal Eyes Pure Chromatics Go Buck Wild
For the life of me, I could not concentrate at all this afternoon. So I stopped trying to and ran away to Nordie’s instead. 🙂 Nothin’ like a little retail therapy to clear the mind, or at least to distract it long enough to forget whatever it was having a hard time trying to process.
While I navigated the makeup department with a chai latte for companionship I bumped into these pretty cool eyeshadow quads over at Yves Saint Laurent. They’re called the Pure Chromatics Wet & Dry Eyeshadows ($48 each).
Have you seen these up close and personal before?
Top row from left to right: YSL Metal Eyes Pure Chromatics quads in 1, 2 and 3; Bottom row: 4, 5 and 6
The six of them, all powder eyeshadow quads, were released earlier this spring with the Metal Eyes Collection, a 35-piece release that included some waterproof liners and mascaras along with the quads.
A placard on the counter says that YSL used “a new water-processed technology” to manufacture these that supposedly produces more intense pigments. More intense than what, I’m not sure, but these absolutely do look intense to me, and that metal finish is off the hook!
“Water does not dilute, but enhances color pigments in Pure Chromatics. When used wet, the water rehydrates the eye shadows and gives full intensity to their pigments. The effect is the satiny powder transforms into a luxurious cream while pearls shine with a metallic finish.”
I think it’s kinda funny to hear how revolutionary YSL characterizes the application of shadows with a wet brush, like they just came up with it at lunch. “Jill, you’ve gotta give this a try! Apply the shadows wet!” 🙂 Seriously, guys, I don’t mean to burst any bubbles over there, but we’ve been doing that for years. That said, I do dig how rich and metallic these look when they’re applied wet. They shine like my favorite husky tabby’s eyes shine in the dark.
Swatching these, I couldn’t help but also notice how the soft, smooth texture glides across the skin. Straight up, they feel as good as they look.
Top row: Pure Chromatics in 1 (left) and 2 (right) dry; Bottom row: Pure Chromatics in 1 (left) and 2 (right) wet
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MAC Unsung Heroes: Clear Lipglass
Kissed by the same shining light that blessed that pair of Manolo Blahnik patent-leather Mary Jane heels you’ve been coveting since forever, MAC Clear Lipglass ($14.50) makes other clear glosses question their line of work. 🙂
With wear time I can only characterize as supernatural, MAC Clear Lipglass outlasts them all. I applied it once before a marathon shopping day at a four-level mall (I was looking for a new bikini… Lipgloss always seems to ease the pain of seeing myself jiggling from all angles in the fitting room), and six hours later it was still going strong. When it comes to longevity, this is one lipgloss that does not mess around.
It even feels serious on my lips (even through MAC’s trademark light vanilla taste and scent), like it came to throw down. The thick, sticky texture gives it great wear time, but it’s a turnoff for some (I kinda love it though).
MAC Clear Lipglass is my favorite clear gloss, and just like a pair of black patent-leather pumps, it works in so many ways…
- For a simple, subtle sheen — The way I usually wear it. All it takes is just a tiny drop on the lips distributed with a lip brush (or just by rubbing/moving your lips around).
- For lips that go va-va-va-voom! — When I’m in the mood for big, juicy lips with mirror-like shine, I’ll swipe a lip brush across the slanted tip of the tube, and apply a layer either directly to bare lips, or atop a lipstick or lip pencil.
- All mixed up — MAC also suggests mixing Clear Lipglass with pigments and applying anywhere except for the eye area. NOTE: If you plan to apply a mixture containing pigments to your lips, double check with your nearby MAC store first to confirm that the pigments you plan to use are safe for use on the lips, because not all of them are.
