A Typical Sunday Morning…
TABS: “Meow, meow, meow, meow!”
KAREN: “I’m up, I’m up!”
TABS: “Mrrrrrrow…”
KAREN: “But if it’s morning, why’s it still so dark outside?”
TABS: “Mrow.”
KAREN: “Well that’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”
TABS: “…”
KAREN: “Okay, sorry. I take it back.”
TABS: [Purrrrr]
KAREN: “Yeah, yeah. You’re lucky you’re so dang cute.”
Heya, ladies. Good morning. How long have you been up? It’s just after 7 here and so foggy outside that I can’t even tell if the sun has come up.
What did you do yesterday? El Hub and I drove up to a town called Yountville for lunch. It’s one of the little places along Highway 29 in wine country about an hour north of here. We were sort of chasing the sun, but it was just as cold and overcast up there as it was down here. Still, it was nice to get out of dodge for a few hours.
Other than that, my Saturday was blissfully uneventful. 🙂 A trip to Target (nothing beauty related jumped out at me), I cleaned the kitchen, watched Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing & Charm School on Netflix (not bad, stars Marisa Tomei, whom I like; picked it because I liked the name), and went to bed around midnight.
So did you have any beauty highlights this week or try any new looks you’d like to share? Mine was probably this one here, although it’s not really new for me. I like how summery it felt despite the weather outside.
In case you missed anything, here’s one last look at some of the things we talked about this week on the blog. Whatever you’ve got going on today, I hope there’s room for fun.
The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed
THE DIOR MONTAIGNE SPRING 2011
SOFT PINK DESIGN QUINT
Expect a downpour at Dior this spring when the new Montaigne Collection comes to town, but you won’t need your umbrella for this storm. That’s because it’ll be pouring pearls when the 13-piece release for eyes, lips, cheeks and drips on Dior counters, in Dior stores and at Sephora in the next few weeks.
Named after the Paris address where the first Dior boutique opened back in 1946, the palette of pearly grays and baby pinks suggests spring soirees in the City of Lights, and to these soirees you’re wearing pearls. It’s a soft, sophisticated, natural look, and passersby won’t be able to miss your subtly shimmering glow.
To my eye, the Soft Pink Design Quint ($58), one of two for eyes in the release, characterizes the collection’s vibe with its nuanced pinks and grays. It comes with (almost) everything a girl would need to live the eye portion of the look — an eyeshadow base, a liner, two shimmer shadows and one glitter shadow. The only thing missing: mascara. Read more…
THE DIOR MONTAIGNE SOFT
PINK DESIGN ALL IN ONE ARTISTRY PALETTE
Today I took the brand spankin’ new Dior Soft Pink Design All-In-One Artistry Palette ($58) from the Dior Montaigne spring 2011 collection out for a spin using the little tutorial that comes with the palette as a guide.
I love it when products come with those things (sending positive reinforcement to all the companies out there) because they make looks as easy as 1-2-3.
It’s too blasted expensive, so it loses big points for that, but I find this quint extremely easy to work with. I love the textures and didn’t expect there to be as much pigment as I found. If you can get past the price and want to get an early start on spring with an eye palette in soft pink, gray and mauve, consider Dior’s sassy Soft Pink Design. Read more…
TARTE EMPHASEYES AQUA GEL
EYELINER IN SHIMMERING INDIGO
This may sound a little selfish, but I sure hope Tarte adds their new emphasEYES Aqua Gel Eyeliner in Shimmering Indigo to their permanent line, because I love the way it looks with brown eyes.
The pigmented purplish blue gel liner, a QVC exclusive shade (you get not one, but TWO for $25), comes in a twist-up pencil, making it more convenient than most gel liners.
According to Tarte, half of the product consists of water — with minerals, as well as vitamin E, cucumber and aloe suspended within it — and judging by how creamy and moist the liner feels along my lash line, I believe it.
It also shimmers on my eyes in a way that makes it look to me like late afternoon light reflecting on the surface of a pond, ah… Read more…
TARTE SMOOTH OPERATOR
AMAZONIAN CLAY EYE BASE
To quote (and then paraphrase) the great Sade, “No need to ask, he’s [she’s] a smooth operator.” Except her charms aren’t working on me. 🙁
The new Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Eye Base ($22) may be a touch too light for this brown girl, but lighter lasses, listen up. This pretty pink primer just might shine for you.
The warm yellow undertones in my skin don’t agree with Smooth Operator (it turns gray on me), but that shouldn’t happen if you like the way you look in shades of cool-toned pink.
Released as a QVC (yep, that QVC) exclusive last December, Smooth Operator Eye Base looks to me like a hybrid of two other products, Benefit Eye Bright Pencils and Urban Decay Primer Potion. It combines the light pink color of Eye Bright with UDPP’s fluffy, smooth texture. Read more…
IS CHINA GLAZE SEA SPRAY
A $5 DUPE FOR CHANEL RIVA?
If price made your pretty nails pass on Chanel’s breathtaking but budget busting resort collection Riva ($27, ouch!), Anchors Away!
One of 12 nautical shades in the new China Glaze Anchors Away Collection for spring goes by the name of Sea Spray (about $5).
With a familiar marine-like blue vibe and similarly subtle micro glitter, both could be cousins, judging by the way they look in their bottles.
But how do they look beside each other on nails? Well, they aren’t twins, but they come fairly close. Sea Spray looks a little darker than Riva does and isn’t as creamy. And its micro glitter is silver, while Chanel’s is teal. Read more…
IS MAC DELFT A DUPE FOR
MAC SIAHI FLUIDLINE?
Oh, Delft is one of my all-time favorite MAC Paint Pots! I picked it up a few years ago when it was part of the permanent collection, but it seems to have gone MIA since then (at least online).
It’s a shimmery teal with a hint of gold, and it, like the rest of the Paint Pots, feels softer and slightly fluffier than the Fluidlines do to me.
I usually wear the Paint Pots as cream shadows and/or eyeshadow bases, although they’ll double as liners, too.
About Delft, it’s like Siahi’s lighter, greener cousin; however, they both have very different shimmers. Siahi’s looks rather teal to me, while Delft’s is more of a straight up gold.
While I was rutting around in my stash for Delft, I also noticed that teal blue Korres Eyeliner Pencil in Blue Petrol looks a little like Siahi as well, except that it’s darker, with a matte finish. Read more…
THE DOLCE & GABBANA SECRET
GARDEN COLLECTION FOR SPRING 2011
I wonder what Lewis Carroll would have thought about the secret garden of pink Post-It notes that decorate my desk and my notebook. Of course, the note are totally unnecessary, because there’s no way I’m going to forget about the new 12-piece Dolce & Gabbana Secret Garden collection for eyes, nails, face and lips. When it hops into town this spring, I’ll need a fainting couch to catch me when I fall (in love). 🙂
The colors look so bright and authentically springy that I can almost smell fresh-cut grass and sunshine when I look at them (I swear I can smell the sunshine).
But the story behind the collection, according to Dolce, is one of mystery. Read more…
IS CHANEL ARAGONITE A DUPE OF
NARS MOON FLEET?
Yesterday I almost judged a book by its cover. After reader Mahnaz asked how Aragonite, one of the new Glossimers from the Chanel Les Perles de Chanel spring collection, compared to NARS Moon Fleet, my initial reaction was, “Uh oh! Chanel must have copied NARS.”
But then I pulled out both colors and gave the question more thought. Both shades are related, but NARS Moon Fleet, a permanent color from the line, is a sheer and shimmery yellow gold, and I think it looks much darker and yellower than Aragonite does.
What about other possible Aragonite dupes? Hmm… How about Chanel Glossimer in Galactic (circa 2007)? Read more…
THE CHINA GLAZE ANCHORS
AWAY COLLECTION
Ahoy, matey! The new China Glaze Anchors Away Collection for spring 2011 just docked onto my doorstep, so I thought you’d want to see some swatches.
Do these colors make you wanna hoist your sails or walk the plank?
The limited edition polishes, each around $5, will be available at select beauty stores this spring. Read more…
THE NARS SPRING 2011
COLLECTION
Since I have a weak spot for NARS blushes that’s right up there with my weak spot for Häagen-Dazs dulce de leche ice cream, I was shocked, and a wee bit disappointed, to hear that Francois left the blushes out of his collection for fall.
But I wiped away my tears today when I saw these pics for the small 11-piece collection for eyes, lips and nails. The shimmery earth tones with metallic finishes; the sheer, sparkly cool purples and pinks; and even a couple of unexpected greens and blues? NARS started with safe neutrals but sprinkled them with just enough brights to keep a girl on her toes, and what he came up with looks to be a lot of fun.
Plus, almost all of the colors are new (two of the lip glosses are repromotes). Read more…
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Meredith says
I love that you have a ‘summary’…..I did miss a couple of posts!
Chris25 says
Me too! I love the weekly summary post!
Glosslizard says
Wow, what a lot of great posts this week! Good job! 🙂 I love the beauty blogger hand, that really does sum it right up!
Most years the spring collections don’t really appeal to me, but this year, somehow, they’ve really got my number! I love the Nars, Dior, Chanel, D & G…. I’m in so much trouble….!
Silva says
I read them all 😀 The beginning was hilarious XD
Erin says
My cat woke me up in the middle of the night last night, running around like a maniac. Cats…. lucky they’re so cute!
Nika says
Hahaha I super love your Beauty Blogger Hand picture. 🙂
Cindy (Prime Beauty) says
Love the beauty blogger hand!! I discovered a nice little makeup and skincare boutique right here in my own teeny tiny town–Eureka!!!!!!!
dementia says
I LOL’d at the Beauty Blogger Hand photo. I love it!
LauraA says
HA HA I love the conversation w/Tabs. We have a similar conversation in the mornings with our dog (minus the meowing, of course). Pets are great. 🙂
Completely unrelated, am hoping to pick up Sea Spray later this week. It’s been hard to find a good, light-blue opaque, and it looks fantastic.
Nina says
anja woke me up as usual … we fed the kitteehs and the single dog and went back to sleep.
no beauty related purchase other than siahi and ivy fluidlines … 🙂
DalaLuz says
Hihi, your hand picture is really so funny 🙂
Stephanie says
Haha.. I’ve missed a lot blog last week!
Stephanie says
Karen,
The next time you and El Hubs make a trip to Yountville, you have to grab dinner at Redd Restaurant! It is right across from the Villagio Hotel and Spa and down the street from Bouchon Bakery. Redd has the most amazing tasting menu, it’s perfect for foodies! I hope you guys had a great time in wine country!
Makeup Morsels says
heheh I love your neatly labelled diagram 🙂
Instant Karma (formerly L) says
Ooh, my beauty highlights of the week were the eye looks I did Friday and Saturday night! I have you to thank for really introducing me to eye makeup. When I started reading this blog back in 2008, all I ever did was wear mascara at night and eyeliner a few times a year. Starting in 2009, I started to wear eyeshadow and eyeliner more often, but I would usually just wear one color (usually Benefit’s Creaseless Cream in Birthday Suit, which I bought on your recommendation, or RSVP). Now, I’ve worked up to using many products in one look and blending them seamlessly!
On Friday, I had MUFE Aqua Eyes 23L on my lower waterline, UD Zero on my upper waterline, MAC Feline as liner (while I love its name, if I put Feline on my waterline, in a few hours I end up looking like a panda with a deficient amount of fur, lol…luckily, my UD 15th anniversary set should be arriving tomorrow so I can use Perversion instead), UD Hustle beyond that along the lash line, Sidecar on my lid, Sin in the crease, and Virgin under the brow and on the tear duct. My UD Naked kit was probably my favorite makeup purchase of the year (followed shortly by Stila’s Illuminating Liquid Foundation, which is more useful but not quite as fun as eyeshadow).
Last night, I had UD Zero on my upper waterline, Sephora Nano in Golden Beige on my lower waterline (it’s gorgeous, it doesn’t run, and it’s only $5), MAC Siahi as liner, Benefit’s Creaseless Cream in Tidal Rave on my lid, UD’s Half Baked in the crease, and Benefit’s Velvet Eyeshadow in Bikini Line under the brow and on the tear duct. I’ve been experimenting with new ways to use dark eyeshadow: I have deep set eyes, so if my eyeshadow is too dark, I look like a made up Neanderthal, lol. I discovered recently that if I can pull of darker looks if I keep the dark color near the lash line and blend it into a lighter shimmery color. I’m excited that I get to play around more with my eyeshadow! On the down side, though, I feel the urge to spend more money on products…
Instant Karma (formerly L) says
Bah, I meant pull off, not “pull of.” I’m tired tonight, lol.
Paintthetownscarlet.wordpress.com says
Once again some fab beauty advice! Particularly love MAC’s Delft colour palette – great for creating a blue alternative to the classic smoky eye.
makeupaddict says
Love the beauty blogger hand. Also, loving the eyeshadow colors that you used for the photo!! I always go to your blog daily to see what new wonderful things are out there calling my name 🙂