Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup

The Sephora Formula X #ColorCurators Edition Nail Polishes for 2016

January 13th, 2016 by Karen 13 Comments

How fun would it be to get a call from someone at MAC, Benefit, Urban Decay or Sephora today saying, “Hi, [insert your name here]! We love what you’ve been doing on your blog and YouTube channel, and we want, in the paraphrased words of Queen Madge, to help you express yo’self!”?

Beauty collaborations. Talk about fun! Seriously, who wouldn’t want to work with one of their fave brands to create their very own lipstick (Lipglass), quad or color?

Sephora’s new Formula X #ColorCurators program is Sephora’s latest beauty collaboration. Each month Sephora will release three limited edition nail polish shades either created or curated by a different mover/shaker in the online beauty, lifestyle or fashion space.

To get the program off to a good start are three people you may have heard of before — fashion blogger Aimee Song of Song of Style, beauty vlogger Patrick Starrr (I watch him on the ‘Tube, and all I have to say is “Slaaaaaaay!” LOL! Patrick cracks me up.) and blogger and author Emily Schuman of Cupcakes and Cashmere.

Aimee’s shades just launched for January, Patrick’s colors arrive in February, and Emily’s shades debut in March.

sephora formula x nude for you — Nude For You, by Aimee Song of Song of Style

sephora formula x sephora formula x patrick she better werk — She Better Werk, by Patrick Starrr

sephora formula x girls best friend — Girl’s Best Friend, by Aimee Song of Song of Style

So, Formula X. Let’s talk about that. First, the line has been around a while and, if you’ve spent any time at Sephora in the recent past (which, I imagine you have, if you’re on MBB, LOL!), chances are their display of jaw-dropping nail colors and nail doodads has caught your eye. It may have also distracted you from buying dry shampoo, mascara or whatever else you originally intended to buy when you entered the store…

It’s OK. It happens to me too. 🙂

sephora formula x latte run — Latte Run, by Emily Schuman of Cupcakes and Cashmere

I’ve tried quite a few of these and other Formula X colors, and I like them, particularly their levels of pigment, their drying time (about 10-15 minutes, which is reasonably quick) and wear time, but that last one comes with a catch… I think you really have to pair them with the Formula X accoutrements, namely their base and top coats, to get the most wear time out of them.

sephora formula x peach tea — Peach Tea, by Emily Schuman of Cupcakes and Cashmere

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A MAC Viva Glam Ariana Grande Lipstick Face of the Day

January 13th, 2016 by Karen 39 Comments

This is the most makeup I’ve worn in weeks.

OK…two months.

I KNOW! For someone who lives, breathes and dreams about this stuff, I haven’t been doing too well in the actual “putting on makeup” department.

It’s just a phase, which happens sometimes, and I’ll get through it. Maybe my makeup today will be the first step. I’ll start with this warm reddish smoky eye and MAC Viva Glam Ariana Grande dark plum lips, then build up to false lashes tomorrow. Then, on Friday, it’s global makeup domination! Er…or something like that.

Lips

Even though El Hub says that this lipstick makes me look “vampiric,” I love it. If you’ve had your eye on this one (and, seriously, it’s so gorgeously matte and darkly plummy, how could you not?), it just arrived on counters and the MAC website today with its cute cohort, MAC Viva Glam Ariana Grande Lipglass ($15).

mac viva glam ariana grande — MAC Viva Glam Ariana Grande Lipstick ($17)

I’m wearing the Lipstick here, by the way, with MAC Cyber World Lip Pencil, because, for the life of me, I just can’t do this color directly from the bullet. It’s too dang hard, homie! Something like MAC Nightmoth Lip Pencil would totally also work if you happen to have it around.

Eyes, Cheeks and Skin

I swear, one of these days I’ll swap out the Tartelette In Bloom Palette that’s been chillin’ in my makeup bag for the past two months, but it’s still up in the mix for now…
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Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Concealer

January 12th, 2016 by Karen 29 Comments

Let me tell you what happens when you’re addicted to sugar, and all of a sudden you can’t have it in the morning, and you’re hella pregnant.

You get fixated on things, like eating a plate of beignets and drinking a latte, and that becomes all you want in the world, and you can’t stop thinking about it.

And then there are the hallucinations, which are real and legit, I swear! Everywhere I look, I see sugary delights, even in the nifty tip on this new Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Concealer ($27).

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#Pregnantladythangs: Tum, Bum and Bust Maintenance With Clarins

January 12th, 2016 by Karen 14 Comments

In the eight (!) months that Baby Girl has been officially “in da house,” I wager that I’ve spent an average of 30 minutes per day moisturizing my bod.

I know, even I’m rolling my eyes at the moment, ’cause that’s A LOT of time to be spending rubbing lotions and potions on yourself.

It’s true though. And it took a lot less time earlier in the process when I could move around more easily than I can now, because, ya know…I could touch my toes and whatnot, but now I have to do all kinds of creative things and maneuvers to get to the places I can’t reach.

It’s been a moisturizing adventure; that’s for sure!

Anywho, I just finished a bunch of products from the Mustela Maternity Skincare line. I used every last drop of the body oil, the stretch mark cream and the balm, and I liked all three, but, because I have a notoriously short attention span for beauty products…I’ve already started a new routine with Clarins!

You know, just to see. 🙂

I’ve been using Clarins products on my face for years (and their body care products off and on throughout that time), and I’ve always loved them. Sometimes their products are pricy, but they generally always work well with my skin.

Actually, very early on in my pregnancy, during the scary time in the first trimester before El Hub and I broke the news to our families, I bought and ended up finishing an entire tube of their Stretch Mark Minimizer because I knew I’d probably like it, and I did. Finished it down to the last drop.

So now I’m doing a whole five-piece pregnancy beauty system Clarins calls “Beautiful Beginnings,” which has a body scrub, stretch mark cream, body oil, a gel for firming zeh bust, and they also recommend using their cult classic Beauty Flash Balm on your face, which is supposed to help you look better rested, although, I dunno…I feel like that’s going to require three solid weeks of sleep (I’m so not kidding).

The Beautiful Beginnings process is designed to take care of pregnant skin and keep it looking beautiful. It includes…

Beauty Flash Balm ($46), a smoothing, tightening face treatment. Clarins recommends layering it under makeup to help your products last longer.
Smoothing Body Scrub ($37), an everyday body scrub with bamboo powder for all over zeh body. Clarins says that you should concentrate it wherever you expect possible stretch marks, like the tummy and bust.
Stretch Mark Minimizer ($52), an unscented body lotion with olive extracts. It’s designed to reduce that tight skin feeling and prevent stretch marks.
Tonic Body Treatment ($56), a body oil made from 100% plant extracts (oils of rosemary, geranium, mint and hazelnut) to prevent dryness and keep skin hydrated.
Bust Beauty Firming Lotion ($59), a lotion specifically for the breasts; Clarins says it helps to tone and restore firmness.

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Urban Decay UD Gwen Stefani Collection Blush Palette, Lipsticks, Lip Pencils and Brow Box: Review and Observations

January 11th, 2016 by Karen 18 Comments

Wearing the UD Gwen Stefani Wonderland Lip Pencil and Lipstick, and the Blush Palette — Wearing the UD Gwen Stefani collection Blush Palette and Wonderland Lip Pencil and Lipstick

I could go on and on about my super fangirl crush on Gwen Stefani, but I think you and I have already done that dance before, haven’t we?

Yes, I love her — love her look, love her music, love her makeup, LOVE HER. (Note to self: consider dressing up Baby Girl as Gwen Stefani next Halloween, and try to find some red plaid baby pants, ASAP.)

Part two of the Urban Decay UD Gwen Stefani collection drops online tomorrow, and very soon at stores and counters, so grab your L.A.M.B. stilettos (the ones you can barely walk in but love anyways), and let’s do this. 🙂

Like she did with the eyeshadow palette from part one of the release, Gwen put together a selection of shades that she said she’d want to have with her in her makeup bag. I’ve been wearing the lipsticks and blush palette for the past few days, including that two-day birthing class I think I mentioned, and I think the stunt baby was impressed…

Chillin' with the scary stunt baby — Chillin’ with the scary stunt baby

Er, well…maybe not.

So which of these are worth your time?

UD Gwen Stefani Collection Blush Palette ($45)

ud gwen stefani blush palette — The UD Gwen Stefani Blush Palette

How cool is that packaging for the Blush Palette? I definitely think this one is worth considering, but ideally for lighter lords and ladies.

In the palette you get two powder blushes (a shimmery cool pink and a shimmery golden plum), three powder highlighters (a shimmery golden beige, shimmery peachy beige and an opalescent peachy pink) and a warm matte orangey brown powder bronzer, and while I like how soft the powders feel and how they last all day long, a couple of the colors look — how should I say this? — a tad wonky.

ud gwen stefani blush palette packaging — Packaging for the UD Gwen Stefani Blush Palette

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 356

January 11th, 2016 by Karen 35 Comments

You might be wondering, “So what in tarnation is this Monday Poll thing anyway!?”

Well, it isn’t exactly a poll. It’s more of a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past seven years. (It’s like a kickstart for your brain.) I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

One of my current life goals is to…
…get a full night’s sleep! I can’t even remember the last time that happened.

I think it was about two months ago…

I think.

I’m not sure though…

See! That’s what chronic sleep deprivation can do to you. It wreaks havoc on your short-term memory, let me tell ya, but I know, I know! — it’s gonna get worse when Baby Girl arrives.

Other than your wallet, keys and/or phone, what’s one thing you always have in your purse?
A pen. Yup, I’m the person who always keeps a pen in her purse, because you never know when you’ll have to sign something, like a receipt, and there won’t be any working pens at the counter or wherever.

I’ve had this happen to me many times before, and all I have to say is “WHY?” Can someone please change the dang pens already!?

Pens are also handy when you’re sitting on the toilet in a public restroom, and there’s a note or a sign on the stall door that needs a comma…and you just can’t let it go.

Neon nails or glitter nails?
Oh, glitter nails for sure (even though they’re a pain to remove).

Gimme dat glitter!

Beachy waves or a sleek blowout?
My hair is naturally wavy, so I can do the beachy waves already. So I’ll pick the sleek blowout and, ideally, somebody else will be doing it for me, haha!
Do you have any artistic talents?
I like to think so, a little. Like, I think I’m OK at writing, taking pics and dressing up tomcat tabbies in bedazzled statement necklaces. 🙂

And in a past life, I was a musician who could sing and dance on occasion.

Your turn. 🙂 Just copy and paste the following questions into a comment with your answers. I look forward to reading ’em!

1. One of my current life goals is to…
2. Other than your wallet, keys and/or phone, what’s one thing you always have in your purse?
3. Neon nails or glitter nails?
4. Beachy waves or a sleek blowout?
5. Do you have any artistic talents?

Here’s something I’ve had on my mind lately: if a few good days turn into a good week, and a few good weeks turn into a good month, and a few good months turn into a good year, then all it takes to have a good year is starting with a few good days.

Isn’t that right? I really hope that today is the start of a few good days for you. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen