Paul & Joe

Paul & Joe Makeup Collection “A”

August 24th, 2016 by Karen 13 Comments

Believe it or not, I do NOT own a bejeweled pimp cup.

Shocker, I know. 🙂

But if I did, I would raise it high and proudly to Paul & Joe for giving us 20 years of cat lady cosmetics catnip.

That’s 20 years of CCL domination, y’all!

paul joe makeup collection a all — The $100 Paul & Joe Beaute Makeup Collection A

To celebrate this meow-worthy occasion, the purveyors of kitty makeup purr-fection curated the Paul & Joe Beaute Makeup Collection A (a $100 set).

It’s a limited edition box containing their bestselling makeup products…but I’m most excited about the tote it comes with because it FOLDS INTO A CAT HEAD.

I mean, I JUST CAN’T EVEN. WITH THE EARS!?

paul joe makeup collection a cat tote 1 — The kitty tote!?

It’s big, too, and has more than enough room for all kinds of cat lady shinanigans and those tubes of Paul & Joe lipstick with the cat heads that you just can’t bear to use because they’re so darned cute.

paul joe makeup collection a cat tote 2 — The kitty tote, unfolded

Oh, and yeah, there’s also makeup in the collection, like a powder blush (a light coral pink with a silver sheen), a cream lipstick (a creamy, semi-sheer pink) and a pressed powder compact (a light beige powder and a shimmery beige highlighter).

Everything is full size and, because we’re talking about Paul & Joe here, adorable.

Paul & Joe Face Color A in Cheerful Tulip (39) from the new Makeup Collection A — Paul & Joe Face Color A in Cheerful Tulip (39) from the Paul & Joe Makeup Collection A

But are they, ya know, good?

Yes, I think so. Pretty good. Keep in mind, though, that Paul & Joe is geared toward the casual makeup enthusiast — at least that’s always been my perception — so if you’re a stickler for the finer technical aspects of professional makeup performance, then these products might not live up to those expectations.

Take the blush, for instance. I like how sheer and natural it looks on my cheeks, especially in natural light and in pics, but when I wear it and see myself in flourescent lighting, I think my pores look kinda big… Perhaps due to the sheen (it could be a touch finer), but then again, I could also just chill-the-eff out. 🙂 Like, if I didn’t know anything about blush, I’d probably just think it looked pretty and I’d like it.

paul joe makeup collection a bag — The bag…

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The Paul & Joe Spring 2016 Collection: Sometimes Versatility Comes in Small, Lovely Packaging

March 24th, 2016 by Marcella Yakalis 11 Comments

My makeup looks tend to be simple. As I don’t often wear a full face of makeup, I opt for what I know, and what I find suits my lifestyle, as I’m sure most of us do.

What I’m talking about, I guess, is convenience, and convenience is just one of the many things that makes these few products from the Paul & Joe Spring 2016 Collection special.

Launched as a cosmetics line in 2002, and named after owner Sophie Mechaly’s two sons, feline-fabulous brand Paul & Joe has been a French staple since 1995, when it began as a menswear company before expanding into womenswear and children’s fashion.

Now available in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia, the line has expanded significantly since its start.

Their philosophy says it all:

“Thoroughly enjoying life, valuing every moment- that is the philosophy of Parisians and Sophie Melachy herself. PAUL & JOE BEAUTE projects a lifestyle that brims over with a sense of happiness and well-being.”

Happiness is a present element when it comes to the packaging of these gorgeous spring products. This week I got my hands on the beautiful #11 compact, as well the #101 face and eye color combo, the #2 cream blush, and the #7 powder blush.

The compact itself is sold separately, and the products, such as the blushes, are designed to be interchangeable with the compact. This packaging is incredibly convenient for touchups throughout the day.

The Face and Eye Color Palette, the largest of the four products shown here, is also my favorite.

It’s stunning! And although I’m really not a fan of perfumed cosmetics, I can’t help myself. I like it here (it’s faintly citrusy with a hint of lily).

Paul & Joe Spring 2016 Face and Eye Color Palette — One of the few French words I can actually remember is the word for butterfly (*papillon*)

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Paul & Joe Holiday 2015 Makeup Collection in Le Bal Masque 002

November 19th, 2015 by Karen 9 Comments

paul joe holiday 2015 makeup collection lebal masque — Paul & Joe Beaute Holiday 2015 Makeup Collection in Le Bal Masque 002 ($42, one of two nine-piece holiday kitteh-themed sets)

I have so many burning questions for Paul & Joe about the cat mask-wearing woman on some of the pieces in the new Paul & Joe Le Bal Masque Holiday 2015 Makeup Collection.

Like, where is she going? Is she going to a Thanksgiving masquerade ball, or does homegirl run errands around town wearing her cat mask like that? Because that’s something I’d totally do, which reminds me — why doesn’t this collection come with that mask? It seems like a missed opportunity…

Also, assuming that our masked maven is also a cat lady (it’s a safe bet), how many cats does she have?

One cat? Two? Four cats? Seventeen?? In other words, is she living the cat lady dream, and does she get as excited as I do when Paul & Joe goes buck wild with a new cat-themed collection? 🙂

Meow known as the go-to makeup line for CCLs (translation: Crazy Cat Ladies), Paul & Joe has it all figured out. Whenever they go all the way with a new cat-themed release, like they have here with Le Bal Masque, my tail automatically twitches with interest.

There are cats all over the place in this collection! — as there should be. There’s the masked lady on the makeup bag, who also makes an appearance on the Rose Balm tin (which you can use on your skin and/or hair); the kitties on the eyeshadows; the cream blush; and even the eyeliner.

SO MANY KITTIES!

It’s a beautiful thing…

Le Bal Masque is one of two new limited edition $42 holiday makeup sets from Paul & Joe this year, one of them warmer toned than the other. Le Bal Masque is the warmer option. The other one, Oh Carnaval 001, comes with cooler-toned pastels.

Both sets are covered in cats and available meow at Paul & Joe counters and online. Each one comes with nine pieces (like nine lives!!) — the cat lady bag, five Eye Color L Powder Eyeshadows, one Creamy Cheek Color L Blush, one Waterproof Eyeliner and a tin of Rose Treatment Balm.

Le Bal Masque, the set I’ve been wearing and loving lately, is the warmer of the two. First of all, the cat lady on the bag is totally talking to me…

Not literally, of course (that would be trippy!), but I feel like she and I have a certain kitty connection. I would also wear that outfit of hers with the mask any day of the week…assuming they had a maternity version.

Check out the eyeshadows…

Interesting packaging, yeah? It’s not often that you see powder shadows packaged in flat paper packaging with a plastic cover.
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Two Lovely Limited Edition Paul & Joe Luxurious Bath & Body Collection Gift Sets to Help You (or a Lucky Recipient) Unwind

November 13th, 2015 by Karen 6 Comments

In our little household solar system of quantum mechanics, my upstairs bathroom is like a black hole, because I disappear into it every night for what seems like hours.

Actually, it is more than an hour sometimes.

Honestly, though, I feel like I earn it because I’m always rushing and trying to finish one thing or another during the workday, so at the end of the night, I can damned well take my sweet old time showering and getting ready for bed.

I’m sure that will change when Baby Girl arrives in March (heck, I’ll be lucky if I ever take a shower), but I’m gonna enjoy it while I can. 🙂

My nightly get-ready-for-bed ritual has been even more enjoyable than usual lately thanks to the $50 Paul & Joe Luxurious Bath & Body Collection Columbine set in 001.

One of two gift sets available now at Paul & Joe counters and online, it’s a lovely, lavish way to treat and clean yo’self at the end of a long day.

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5 Ways to Make Your Eyes Look Bigger

August 4th, 2015 by Karen 29 Comments

#makeupgoals — to make my eyes look SO big that even good-natured, wide-eyed anime characters start talking mad smack…with jealously, of course!

TURBO THE GLITTERY RAINBOW PEGASUS: “Did you see Karen’s eyes today? GURL, I don’t even know. I like big eyes, but hers are HUGE.”

CHICI THE COTTON CANDY KITTY: “I know, right!? I mean, where does she get off making her eyes look bigger than ours? We’re professional anime characters, for crying out loud! We’re supposed to freakin’ dominate that doe-eyed sh*t!”

Haha! Craziness…

It’s true, though.

Making my eyes look as large as possible is one of my top makeup priorities, because I feel like I look spunkier, younger (at least that’s the idea) and generally more alert and awake when my eyes appear bigger.

It’s all an illusion, of course, but illusions can be cool, and this one is easy to create. 🙂

Here are five things you can do on their own (or together) to make your eyes look bigger.

1. “Tightline” your upper water line

how to make your eyes look bigger — Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof Eyeliner in 88 Noir Intense

Darkening your upper water line by placing a dark eyeliner along the base of, and between, your lashes, also known as “tightlining,” makes the line look thicker, which appears to lift, brighten and enlarge your eyes.

The key is to really get down there with liner (waterproof works best for me) as close as possible to the base of your lashes. Just run it along your upper water lines, really getting in between the lashes at the roots, and repeat until you’re happy with the line.

2. Curl your lashes

If your lashes naturally stick out straight or point slightly downward, they might cast a slight shadow under your eyes, which can make them look a little smaller (my lashes do this!). If this happens to you, steal your cat’s favorite lash curler. 🙂

But seriously, curled, lifted lashes don’t cast the same annoying shadow under your eyes, and they draw attention up, up and away!

Curled lashes can also appear to sort of fold over on themselves, which can make your lash lines look thicker, which also enhances the whole “tightlining” effect.

3. Apply mascara to your top AND bottom lashes

By darkening, thickening and lengthening lashes, especially curled lashes, mascara can also make your eyes look bigger.

To really maximize the doe-eyed effect, look for a mascara that lengthens AND thickens, especially at the roots, and apply it to both your upper and lower lashes.
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