Windows work both ways, and when you’re singing Careless Whisper in your car at the top of your lungs, PEOPLE CAN SEE YOU!
I don’t know what it is about that cheesy song, but I’m physically incapable of sitting still when I hear it. It’s like some kind of druidic Wham spell that makes every cell in my body emote, especially when I’m driving and George really gets going.
“Tonight the music seems so loud. I wish that we could lose this crowd. Maybe…it’s better this way; we hurt each other with the things we wanted to say. We could’ve been so good together; we could’ve danced this dance forever, but nowwwwww I’ve blown that chance awaaaaay… PLEASE STAY!”
Long story short, I was on my way to Trader Joe’s this afternoon and waiting at a stoplight when Careless Whisper started playing on KOIT (Light Rock, Less Talk). So I was getting into it and started doing this American Idol face/Mariah Carey thing with my hands when I saw the guy in the car next to me hella cracking up.
Almost the same thing happened a couple weeks ago at home with the neighbor, so I appear to have this recurring issue with windows…
I don’t know if the laughing dude noticed how fierce and exceptionally lifted my brows looked today on account of how hard he was laughing, but if he did, new Benefit High Brow Glow ($20) gets all the credit.
This little tiger lives to accent arches, and if it’s giving you déjà vu, you’re probably recalling Benefit’s O.G. pale matte pink High Brow Pencil. When drawn and blended beneath the apex in the arch of your brow, it creates the illusion of a higher arch. I’ve been using it for years, but I’ve never been able to pull it off in spring and summer because it tends to look ashy on me once I have a tan.
This new version, High Brow Glow, is a champagne pink with a soft sheen that seems to suit darker and warmer skin tones better.
Brows, BAM!
Glow’s lifting effect is pretty nuanced, so people outside our circle of makeup nerds may not be able to put their finger on exactly what’s different about your look, but they’ll know something’s up.
PRICE: $20
AVAILABILITY: Coming soon to Benefit boutiques, counters and online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Hope you had a lovely Thursday. Before I peace out to watch the new Justified and snarf this carrot cupcake, let me leave you with these words: somewhere out there, a door is opening. Be brave and step through it. 🙂
CrystalCandy says
It looks great on you, now I want it! I think we have the same skintone so it should work for me too. 🙂
Karen says
I hope you love it, CrystalCandy!
Nikki B. says
Lmao! I completely know what you are talking about with the windows & the singing aloud. I even had some guy compliment me on my voice when I was singing along to a Beyonce song while waiting at a stop light. But I always do that so you’re not alone – it usually brings a smile to others’ faces so that makes me happy at the expense of my pride lol. On to the product it looks nice & I’m really feeling a lot of Benefit’s products but I’m not quite sure I need the pencil when I use a shadow in a light enough/shimmery shade to do the same. But I’ll definitely have to give it a whirl when I randomly wander into Sephora or Ulta one of these days… Keep singing btw. Thnx for doing such an awesome job on these posts 🙂
Karen says
Thank you for this note, Nikki. 🙂 BIG HUGS!
Nikki B. says
Hugs to you and Tabs!!! I hope you all have a marvelous weekend!!!! Btw have you heard Tamia’s version of “Careless Whisper”? Hers was the first version I heard (cuz I wasn’t even thought of in 1984 when G.M.’s was released) and it gave me chills. But nothing really ever beats the original. 🙂
Rica says
LOL… I’ve seen that happened! One time I was on the bus and saw some guy driving in his two door Mercedes and singing his heart out… HILARIOUS! So I am so glad that my windows are tinted… but up close, people can still see you so I don’t move like a jagger when I stop at the lights lol
Back to the product! It looks amazing! I think I need it in my life. I can’t wait to see it in store!
x Rica
Karen says
LOL, I’m also guilty of dancing in my car. It’s not just a means of getting from point A to B… it is a club on wheels!!!
Quinctia says
Psh, my car is a better place to sing than my shower. I love having the windows down whenever I can get away with it, so hopefully I sing as well as I think I do!
Hmm…I like the color of the product, but a) my arches don’t need to get any higher and b) I multi-task with an eyeshadow like UD’s Virgin if I want a highlight up there.
Karen says
LOL, I love both singing venues. Sometimes I prefer the shower… for some reason the acoustics make it easier to hit those high notes.
Marina (Makeup4all) says
This SERIOUSLY looks amazing, that small detail that makes it perfect. Gives the right amount of glow without being over the top.
I have Gilded and like it, so I guess will like this one, too.
Karen says
Hi Marina,
Guess what? They’re discontinuing Gilded. 🙁 If it’s a staple, you might want to stock up.
Sunny says
I also find High Brow a bit “off” on me, so perhaps this would work better! At the moment I’m really loving Bobbi Brown Bone (matte) for the job though. It lifts my brows invisibly!
Karen says
That’s an oldie but a goodie! 🙂
heidi says
How similiar is this to the nyx jumbo pencil in yogurt? Seems like they both could get the job done but could do it with money to spare
Karen says
Hi Heidi,
It’s slightly more pink. I find the NYX jumbos really creamy — so much so that they slip off my lids easily. This pencil’s a little harder and seems to stick more to my skin.
Angelic Mariposa Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ says
I can still see him in my head singing and all blonde…I was in LOVE!!! You can’t help but belt that out!! Love the brush mic diva pose!! My question about this product is how does it stand up to sharpening?
Karen says
Haha, me too! Remember Faith? I still have the tape (!) around here somewhere.
As for sharpening, it’s good. Not too hard, not too squishy.
steph b says
I do that all the time! I figure giving some random stranger an exceptionally good laugh is my good deed for the day.
Karen says
Ahh, glad to know I’m not alone!
Melissa says
….And the award for best way to turn a funny story into a advertisement for makeup goes to….KAREN!! This whole post had me laughing. What a great way to start out my Friday 🙂 Thanks Karen! (Great writing! – let me know when you finally write a book).
Karen says
Will do! One of these days… it’s on my bucket list! Maybe I’ll call it The Life and Times of a Cat Lady. LOL!
Nina says
i love fierce brows. 😀
Karen says
Me too! I feel naked without them!
Happy Friday!
Nina says
i hear ya! im always up for products that will emphasize my brows so this one is awesome!
Karen says
Me too. I’ve been really into the look for bold brows lately. Thank goodness for MAC Concrete and the 266 brush.
What brow products are you using these days?
Happy Friday!
Nina says
im using mac’s impeccable brow pencil in taupe. i still havent found a great alternative for it.
im so happy its friday. 🙂
Karen says
Me too! The weather’s going to be yucky here all weekend long, but I’m looking forward to sleeping in, working out and watching a few movies. 🙂 What are you guys up to?
Nina says
staying in too … just some chinese food tomorrow and the grocery store!
i have a craving for persimmons!
Chelsea says
I sing with my windows down too, no shame! People laugh at me, but I can’t not sing to Eye of the Tiger.
This looks gorgeous. I’m close to white, so I’d probably try the original.
Karen says
That’s a good one too. Ooh — how about Journey? Don’t Stop Believing gets me every time.
As for the pencil, sounds like you might love the original one. Have you worn a lot of Benefit? I know a lot of my pale friends love 10, Hoola and Georgia.
Chelsea says
I like Benefit. I just got a sample of Hoola in one of my last Sephora orders – I’m not normally a bronzer person, but it’s not so dark that it looks ridiculous! It makes a good contour on me.
Karen says
OOh, what did you get at Sephora? I need to put in an order soon… I’m itching for some Edward Bess.
Chelsea says
My most recent purchases were cologne for my fiance (Jean-Paul Gaultier, Le Male Terrible) and UDPP (I think I prefer the Nars primer, even though I prefer the packaging of UDPP)
Katie says
This looks beautiful– I’ll definitely be picking it up. And I’m so stoked Justified is back!!
Karen says
Me too! Did you watch the season premiere?
Chris25 says
You just made my morning with that “Careless Whisper” anecdote! LMAO!
I love Benefit eye makeup! I’m definitely checking this out!
Karen says
I know you have it stuck in your head now.
“I’m never gonna dance again…”
Shannon says
Bah! Benefit is seducing me yet again! I have the sneaking suspicion that the additions to my stash in the next couple months will ALL end up being from Benefit. I just wish a storefront in Missoula would carry their products….
m says
LOL I LOVE when I catch people doind that, I think it’ss awesome & it totally makes my day! 🙂
Bea says
I adore gilded and was so disappointed to hear its being discontinued but this looks gorgeous so I definitely need to keep an eye for it 🙂
The description of it as a champagne pink makes me think of the ud shadow pencil in Sin, is it at all similar?
jenn s. says
Confession time: when a great song comes on in traffic, I grab my cell phone, put it to my ear, and siiiiiiinnnnnggggggg away, LOL. Lots of people, myself included, are very animated with their hands when they talk, so people who see me thru the car window just assume I’m having a very animated conversation on my phone! Give it a try sometime! 😉
Karen says
That’s a great idea, Jenn! 😀
onegreatsmile says
Karen I think this is one of the funniest posts I’ve ever read from you, simply because you paint such a great mental picture. I love the fact that you are so UNselfconscious about singing near a window!
As for the high brow glow, I tend to avoid any highlighters on my upper lid. I even wear matte (or satin, at most) eye shadows in that area because I have such droopy lids. The last thing I want to do is bring ANYTHING up there “forward”. I was a candidate for having my lids done by the time I was 30, but that’s never gonna happen, so I camouflage the best I can with mid-to darker tones.
Sigh. Sounds awesome, though!
Karen says
Hi Onegreatsmile,
Aw, thanks for that! I love hearing that MBB brings some laughter to your day!
I also love the look of a matte or satin brow bone. Gotta keep it switched up, you know? What are your go-to colors? Brule from MAC is one of my tried and true colors, along with Bamboo and Arena.
onegreatsmile says
I really like stila eden. For most people, its just a tan myskinbutbetter color, but for me, it pushes back Juuuust enough to get rid of my ‘puffy upper lid’ effect. I sometimes add a teeensy bit of stila sun, but like I said, try to stay away from anything super-bouncy. That shade is so pretty though!
I tried ricepaper (one of your MAC unsung heroes) but mainly reserve that for my lid. Shroom is a better go-to for me, because it’s so sheer and not so frosty.
Maria says
Karen you are too funny and your hand looks really big in that pic – not fat, just long and thin – random, I know!
Karen says
I have unusually long fingers, so I totally know what you mean, LOL!
Betony says
Totally with you on singing aloud to some Mr. George Michael. It’s the most fun thing in the world to rock star it out to some George, especially on a road trip!
Sophie says
“Guilty feet have got no rhythm.” If only I’d realized that earlier in life. Karen & Tabs, you both look superb today despite the lousy weather. Looking forward to the pics of your next leash walk!
Noelle says
LMAO I am DYING! this post made my day I am cracking up!
ps says
I went to utube to listen! My fav. is FREEDOM!!!!!
India says
Lol! Careless Whisper is one of my favorite songs of all time. 😀
Barbara says
I love your blog so much! The combination of hilarious, real-life stories with awesome makeup and skin care info is the BEST. Thank you. And keep singing!
The Blossom Shed Beauty Blog says
Wow – that looks so fantastic, I think I will definitely be picking up one of these for myself soon! I’ve finally figured out that even though I’m quite pale, I have warm undertones – this should be perfect!
Do you think it would be good as an inner eye highlighter, or too shimmery? I’m still looking for the perfect pencil that doesn’t feel or look dry, but stays put.
angie says
i may have missed it, but how long did it last when you wore it?
Diana says
Karen, you crack me up! Maybe it’s because I sing like nobody’s watching in my car too. I was totally singing along when I was looking the Careless Whisper lyrics. Oh to be a child of the late 80s and early 90s. **sigh**
bardotchick says
just happened upon your blog as i was searching for swatches and you’re hilarious! luv ur kitty–i have 2 myself! keep up the good work!
christy v. says
hey karen! aren’t the lyrics “but now who’s gonna dance with me. please stay”
i only know this because careless whisper is one of my favorite songs ever! 😀
thanks for the funny story, i never know what to do after getting caught singing… like omg, light please turn green!