Chanel

Blue Kitten Flicks, Lessons From My Cat, and Chanel (Because It’s the Right Thing to Do)

May 2nd, 2019 by Karen 46 Comments

Tabs: “Don’t you do it. Don’t cry.”

Me: *sniffs* “But what if this is our last photo shoot together?”

Tabs: “Then you should probably wear Chanel. It’s the right thing to do.”

Me: “I’m really trying not to cry but…”

Tabs: “No buts, lady. Think about all of the pics we’ve taken together over the years. How many have there been? Thousands? Tens of thousands? Think about how lucky we’ve — no, how lucky you’ve been to have me in all those pics, because, quite frankly, your poses are hella boring. You’re kind of a hot mess…”

Me: “Oh, man. I’m gonna miss you so much.”

Tabs: “Will you promise me something?”

Me: “Anything.”

Tabs: “Promise me you won’t let grief consume you. Because I know you. I KNOW YOU. And you can’t let that happen. Under any circumstances.”

Me: “I can’t guarantee that, my love.”

Tabs: “You’re going to have to be brave. When I’m gone, you’re going to get out of bed in the morning, comb your fur, get out of your pajamas, and maybe put on a little makeup. Every single day. Most importantly, I want you to smile.”

Me: “People will judge me for grieving too much or too little, for sharing too much or too little, for being weird…”

Tabs: “Kid, I thought you were tougher than that.”

Me: “Apparently, I’m not.”

Tabs: *sigh* “Look, here’s the deal: I’m leaving soon, and I’m sorry but that’s the reality. You’re going to have to keep going, and I want you to do it with love in your heart. If there’s anything I’ve taught you, I hope it’s that. Radiate love, and send your joy out into the world.”

Me: “I’ll do my best…”

Tabs: “That’s all any of us can do. Now, will you smile for me? Let’s play some music, take pictures and enjoy the day.”

Me: “That sounds like a good idea.”

I think this song perfectly captures his spirit/cattitude, and it’s the one we listened to while we took these pics. Now it will always remind me of him.

Makeup I’m wearing in these pics…

Chanel Les Beiges Water Fresh Tint in Medium Plus

Wander Beauty Nude Illusion Liquid Foundation in Golden Tan

Chanel Natural Finish Loose Powder in Translucent 3

bareMinerals Endless Summer Bronzer in Warmth

bareMinerals Endless Glow Highlighter in Fierce

MAC Sheertone Blush in Gingerly

Wander Beauty Mile High Club Mascara

Chantecaille Mermaid Eye Matte in Bee

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Chaos

MAC Cicero Full Face Kit (blue eyeshadow)

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict(s),

Karen and Tabs

The 2019 Chanel Cruise Makeup Collection in Action: A Few First Impressions

April 16th, 2019 by Karen 16 Comments

chanel cruise makeup collection 2019 — A few pretties from the Chanel Cruise 2019 collection

Despite my obsession with The Love Boat as a child, I’ve never taken a cruise…because HELLO, CLAUSTROPHOBIA! But I might consider one if the destination were Chanel. LOL! “Hello, ladies and gentleman!” announces the captain over the ship’s intercom system. “Next stop: Chanel, a.k.a. ‘Your Makeup paradise.’ Please watch your step as you disembark the vessel.”

Who’s comin’ with me? 🚢😁

The new Chanel Cruise collection arrives in port next month, and judging by the pieces I wore today, Lucia Pica was going for a subtle look, as in sheer, luminous highlights on the high points of the face; soft, subtle contours on eyes and cheeks; a rosy brown lip; and a soft glossy glow on the lids.

I like it. Of course, I’ve been really into non-crazy makeup lately.

A few first impressions…

DUO BRONZE ET LUMIÈRE EXCLUSIVE CREATION BRONZER AND HIGHLIGHTER DUO IN CLAIR ($70): This subtle powder highlighter duo, which is the lighter of the two duos in the release, has a light peach matte on one side and a luminous pinkish peach on the other. The lightweight, finely-milled powder feels almost creamy, like the NARS Dual Intensity Blushes, and it’s very elegant and smooth… It’s definitely NOT appropriate for bling-bling highlights.

DUO BRONZE ET LUMIÈRE EXCLUSIVE CREATION BRONZER AND HIGHLIGHTER DUO IN MÉDIUM ($70): This one feels just as light as Clair, but it has a matte neutral chocolate bronzer on one side and a rosy gold highlighter on the other.

Note: It is VERY, VERY sheer, which I don’t mind, because it makes the product easy to control.

It should suit lighter lasses and medium-toned mavens particularly well.

Also noteworthy: The bronzer doesn’t have warm orange tones, so it’s a straight-up brown. If I apply it too heavily, I look like I have dirty stripes on my face…which is why I think you’re forced to wear it sheer.

(Works great as an eyeshadow duo, too.)

ROUGE COCO FLASH IN HYDRATING VIBRANT SHINE LIP COLOUR IN CONTRASTE ($38): This silky, moisturizing rosy brown lipstick looks a tad frightening in the bullet, but I think it’s totally wearable, comfy and oh, so shiny.

The formula smells and tastes a little like roses, and the color lasts about two hours for me.

I’m low-key addicted to this formula… Can I haz all teh colors, plz?

OMBRE PREMIÈRE GLOSSTOP COAT EYESHADOW IN LUNAIRE ($36): No glitter. Just pure silvery gloss.

Wear time is quite limited at about an hour. This is lighter than a MAC eye gloss, but not as light as the NARS one, which, overall, I like better because it lasts longer.

LE VERNIS LONGWEAR NAIL COLOUR IN AFTERGLOW AND PURPLE RAY ($28 EACH): Ooh! Pastel nails! I like that these aren’t simply pink or peach pastels. Afterglow is a grayish beige with a subtle golden pearl, and Purple Ray is a lavender cream with a subtle gray undertone.

I’ll be taking these for a spin after my current Sally Hansen mani disappears (or I remove it, whichever comes first).

chanel cruise makeup collection 2019 k — I’m wearing the bronzer/highlighter duos in Clair and Medium on my eyes and cheeks. There’s also a touch of the silver eye gloss in the inner corners and the center of my lids. On my lips is Rouge Coco Flash in Contraste, and I’m also wearing blush in this pi (I felt naked without it!). It’s Chanel Joues Contraste in Rose Bronze.

chanel cruise makeup collection 2019 swatches — I’m an NC42 in MAC.

The best thing I’ve tried from the collection so far is Rouge Coco Flash, and it’s gorgeous and effortless! I think I just found my new everyday lipstick.

It’s pricey…but you can wear it down to the nub.

I also like the face duos, but they might be too sheer for some peeps, especially considering the $70 price. You really have to appreciate the subtlety of the look Chanel was going for in order to “go there,” because there are similar products out there that will cost you a lot less.
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A Whole Lotta Lip Swatches

November 28th, 2018 by Karen 10 Comments

mac sweet assortment retro matte shiny pretty things — MAC Sweet Assortment: Retro Matte/Shiny Pretty Things holiday set

Heya, friend. How’s it going? I miss you. Hope you’re doing well. I’m chugging along…albeit slowly and not very productively. I’m in the midst of a midweek malaise, perhaps tied to the fact that it’s cloudy and drizzling. 🙁

It’s as if I’ve completely forgotten how to function normally or something!

I hope to regain the gift of gab again soon, but while I continue to quietly work through it, please enjoy this bevy o’ lip swatches…

MAC Sweet Assortment: Retro Matte/Shiny Pretty Things (a $69.50 limited edition holiday set)

This is a limited edition holiday set (one of many) available at MAC right now. I like it because all of the Retro Mattes are full size.

mac oh lady swatch — MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour in Oh Lady

mac dance with me swatch — MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour in High Drama

mac burnt spice swatch — MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour in Burnt Spice

mac fashion legacy swatch — MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour in Fashion Legacy

mac so me swatch — MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour in So Me

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Makeup of the Day // Shades of Blue Liner

November 20th, 2018 by Karen 17 Comments

chanel splendeur et audace palette k 2 — Feeling blue

I got the idea for this metallic blue eyeliner look from a look Kristin Stewart wore to Cannes earlier this year, and I’ve been wanting to wear it ever since. Obviously, I’m no Beau Nelson (I WISH), but I tried.

#kristenstewart in Cannes hair by @bridgetbragerhair styling @taraswennen makeup and Photo by me @beau_nelson #beaunelsonstudio

A post shared by Beau Nelson (@beau_nelson) on May 10, 2018 at 12:31pm PDT

There are so many things I love about this makeup look, but the main things are 1) how vibrant and metallic the liner is, and 2) how the liner morphs from bright metallic teal in the inner corner, to green in the middle (it isn’t obvious, but it’s there, methinks) and a dark blue in the corner, and that’s just along the upper lash line! The lower lash line has these small, subtle blocks of dark blue interspersed with teal… It’s colorful but not cray-cray.

I would totally wear this out to run errands. In fact, I did, out to get groceries, and I almost said “WASSSSUP” to the older woman who straight-up stared at me in the bread aisle as if I were a visitor from another planet.

Some thoughts on the key products

The most complicated thing in this look is the liner, but you can make it as easy or as complicated as you want. If you want to go a simpler route, you can use a couple of bright metallic blue pencils and a black liner on your water line, but I did a combination of eyeliner, cream shadow and powder shadow… Basically, I was in the mood to play. 🙂

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Electric: A metallic teal with silver glitter, available in the permanent line. It’s super bright and intense, but don’t get it anywhere close to your water line because your eyes will tear up if they’re sensitive.

Chanel Stylo Ombre Et Contour in Contour Graphique ($34): I used this dark matte navy as a base for the darker blue parts of the liner. It’s creamy, smudgy and intensely pigmented. It also takes about 5 minutes to fully dry down, so you’ll have lots of time to play with it.

Chanel Splendeur et Audace Quad ($61): I layered the black and blue shades on top of the dark matte navy liner. It’s shiny but less intensely metallic than similar shadows from Urban Decay and MAC… Eh, it’s alright.

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Put a Cat on It!

November 13th, 2018 by Karen 16 Comments

chanel holiday 2018 eyeshadows top final — CHANEL

‘Cause if you liked it then you should have put a cat on it.

If you liked it, then you shoulda put a cat in it.

Don’t be mad once you see the tabby’s paw on it.

‘Cause if you liked it, then you shoulda put a cat on it.

Oh, oh, oh (oh, oh, oh) oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.

Oh, oh, oh (oh, oh, oh) oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.

When you and I finally discover the mythical doorway to the alternate universe ruled by cat ladies and cross the threshold together, you’ll see. There will be cats on everything. Every piece of makeup. EVERYTHING! Because cats on makeup is the key to life!

Well, maybe not the key to life…but it makes things better. ?

Paul and Joe does it, Chantecaille did it with big cats, and now Chanel went there with ? lions. They put leonine heads on their holiday eyeshadows and holiday highlighter.

I’ve been wanting to use these shadows, but I couldn’t bring myself to sully the kitty cat designs on them. I’ve been surgically removing tiny amounts of the shadows from the sides of the pan (right next to the lion’s bushy mane) with the diminutive NARS 45 smudge brush, so as to protect the meow-velous design.