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Clarins

New Clarins Smoky Plum Ombre Minérale Mono Eye Shadow Ignites Hotter Smokey Eyes

February 26th, 2014 by Karen 29 Comments

Clarins Smoky Plum
Wearing Clarins Smoky Plum Ombre Minérale Mono Eye Shadow ($21) from the Opalescence spring collection on my eyes…

Critics are calling Smoky Plum “The sleeper hit of spring shadows!”

Well, not really… I have no idea what they’re calling it, but I’m calling it ohmygoshLURVE! 🙂

Watch out! — or this shadow will steal your heart (like it stole mine).

I mean, I love Clarins and all, but when I think of sultry, pulse-quickening smokey shadows, Clarins doesn’t usually spring to mind. Most of the time I head over to NARS, MAC, Chanel or Tom Ford for that.

Clarins Smoky Plum Ombre Minérale Mono Eye Shadow
Clarins Smoky Plum Ombre Minérale Mono Eye Shadow, $21

But Smoky Plum, one of 14 pieces in the new Opalescence spring collection, could confidently hold its own with the smokiest of the smokey. Surprisingly complex, I think it’s definitely worth considering if you’re on the prowl for your next great smokey shadow.

Clarins Smoky Plum Ombre Minérale Mono Eye Shadow
Smoky Plum is one of 14 pieces in the new Opalescence spring collection

A shimmery bronzed purple with taupe tendencies, it’s designed to be worn wet or dry, which just means that applying it with a wet brush head coaxes out more of the pigment and enhances the metallic finish.

Clarins Smoky Plum swatches on NC42 skin dry (left) and wet (right)
Smoky Plum swatches on NC42 skin dry (left) and wet (right)

Either way, applied wet or dry, I think Smoky Plum is pretty damned hot, and I used a combination of wet and dry applications for my makeup in these pics to get those light-to-dark gradients I love when I wear smokey eyes (incidentally, I like to spell smokey with an ‘e’ before the ‘y,’ while Clarins spells it without one).

A swatch of Smoky Plum swatch on NW25 skin
Swatches of Smoky Plum swatch on NW25 skin dry (left) and wet (right)

Wait ’til you get this purple puppy on your lids. Smoky Plum swatches beautifully on the back of a hand, but I think it’s infinitely prettier on eyes.

The first time I applied it, I remember looking in the mirror with the finished look and blinking incredulously a few times. Suddenly, tiny little flecks of silvery glitter appeared out of nowhere!

Clarins Smoky Plum
A closer look at Smoky Plum…

[Continue reading…]

There are 29 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Clarins, Eyes, Makeup, Product Reviews

Is the New Clarins Opalescence Face & Blush Powder Out of This World?

February 21st, 2014 by Karen 19 Comments

The new Clarins Opalescence Face & Blush Powder
The new Clarins Opalescence Face & Blush Powder ($40)

Took me a while to say goodbye to this gorgeous design. I didn’t want to mess up the pretty pan.

Is it just me (probably), but doesn’t it look a little astronomical/sci-fi?

Whoa! Did you see that? I thought I saw a satellite fly by… 🙂

I actually don’t think it’s supposed to be interstellar. I think Clarins was going for graphic design.

I like it — the contrasting lines and circles. Very artsy-fartsy, isn’t it?

Clarins Opalescence Face & Blush Powder
Face & Blush Powder is one of 14 products in the new Clarins Opalescence Spring 2014 collection

I must say…kudos to Clarins for being so consistent with their limited edition blushes. I can pretty much always count on them to 1) never leave me looking like a deranged clown, 2) smell great (this one smells like jasmine) and 3) be really easy to use.

Opalescence Face & Blush Powder ($40) is no exception.

Technically, it’s designed to be used as an all-over face powder, a contour powder and a blush. Just dust the matte pinkish beige on your shiny spots, sculpt your cheekbones with the matte tan, and add a little color to the apples of your cheeks with the matte coral. (The shimmery gold, by the way, is an overspray and disappears after the first few swipes.)

Clarins Opalescence Face & Blush Powder Swatch
All three of Opalescence’s shades blended together

[Continue reading…]

There are 19 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Clarins, Face, Makeup, Product Reviews

The Cool New Hues in the Clarins Vibrant Light Eye Quartet Mineral Palette Love Warm Skin Tones, Too

February 19th, 2014 by Karen 26 Comments

Clarins Vibrant Light Eye Quartet Mineral Palette
Wearing the new limited edition Clarins Vibrant Light Eye Quartet Mineral Palette ($42) on my lids

Well, well. Quelle surprise!

I really did not expect the cool-toned plum, pink, gray and white shadows in the new Clarins Vibrant Light Eye Quartet Mineral Palette to get along at all with warm-toned skin like mine, but then what do I know? I also didn’t think that watching Bravo every day for a month would turn my brain to curdled cheese, which it has, haha!

I guess if there’s a lesson here, it’s that you just never know when it comes to eye quads or reality television.

That is, unless we’re talking about The Millionaire Matchmaker, in which case you pretty much do know what’s going to go down, but you (I) keep watching anyway because you (I) can’t look away. 🙂

(Incidentally, does anyone else miss Dustin and Rachel? I think the show is pretty lame without them…)

Clarins Vibrant Light Eye Quartet Mineral Palette
The Clarins Vibrant Light Eye Quartet Mineral Palette ($42)
Clarins Vibrant Light Eye Quartet Mineral Palette
Vibrant Light Eye Quartet Mineral Palette is one of 14 pieces from the new Opalescence spring 2014 collection

Vibrant Light. One of 14 pieces in the new Opalescent spring 2014 collection. Cool-toned, fo’ sho’, but surprisingly wearable, even on warm-toned skin.

Clarins Vibrant Light Eye Quartet Mineral Palette
On my lashes I’m wearing Katy Perry by Eylure Lashes in Feline Fierce

Par for the Clarins course, these shadows perform exceptionally well, blending without a hitch and lasting a full 8-hour day without exhibiting any fallout, and only the slightest fading. They can be worn wet or dry, too (I’m wearing them dry).

Clarins Vibrant Light Eye Quartet Mineral Palette
I’m also wearing the Clarins Multi-Blush Cream Blushes in Peach and Grenadine on my cheeks, and Clarins Joli Rouge Lipstick in Tropical Pink and Lip Gloss in Coral Tulips on my lips, all of which are part of the new Opalescence spring 2014 collection

[Continue reading…]

There are 26 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Clarins, Eyes, Makeup, Palettes, Product Reviews

Clarins Opalescence Spring 2014 Gloss Prodige Lip Gloss and Joli Rouge Brilliant Lipstick Swatches and Pics

February 18th, 2014 by Karen 19 Comments

Clarins Joli Rouge Brilliant Lipstick in Tropical Pink
Wearing the new Clarins Joli Rouge Brilliant Lipstick in Tropical Pink from the new Opalescence Spring 2014 collection

Some pics of the lip products from the new 14-piece Clarins Opalescence Spring 2014 collection in action to warm you up on this chilly Tuesday night (assuming it’s not summer or the tropics where you are). 🙂

The two Gloss Prodige Lip Glosses ($23 each) and three Joli Rouge Brilliant Lipsticks ($27 each) are available on Clarins counters now and clarinsusa.com.

Clarins Opalescence Spring 2014 collection lip products from the left: Gloss Prodige Lip Glosses in Coral Tulip and Crystal ($23 each); Joli Rouge Brilliant Lipsticks in Tropical Pink, Coral Tulip and Pink Orchid ($27 each)
Clarins Opalescence Spring 2014 collection lip products from the left: Gloss Prodige Lip Glosses in Coral Tulip and Crystal ($23 each); Joli Rouge Brilliant Lipsticks in Tropical Pink, Coral Tulip and Pink Orchid ($27 each)
Clarins Opalescence Spring 2014 collection swatches from the left: Gloss Prodige Lip Gloss in Coral Tulip and Crystal; Joli Rouge Brilliant Lipsticks in Tropical Pink, Coral Tulip and Pink Orchid
Swatches from the left: Gloss Prodige Lip Gloss in Coral Tulip and Crystal; Joli Rouge Brilliant Lipsticks in Tropical Pink, Coral Tulip and Pink Orchid
Clarins Joli Rouge Brilliant Lipstick in Tropical Pink
Joli Rouge Brilliant Lipstick in Tropical Pink
Clarins Joli Rouge Brilliant Lipstick in Coral Tulip
Joli Rouge Brilliant Lipstick in Coral Tulip
Clarins Joli Rouge Brilliant Lipstick in Pink Orchid
Joli Rouge Brilliant Lipstick in Pink Orchid
Clarins Gloss Prodige Lip Gloss in Coral Tulip
Gloss Prodige Lip Gloss in Coral Tulip
Clarins Gloss Prodige Lip Gloss in Crystal
Gloss Prodige Lip Gloss in Crystal

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. House of Cards! Last night I watched up through episode 9, which Jodie Foster directed. What a great episode! I know I’ve already asked, but are you watching House of Cards? Isn’t it great?

There are 19 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Clarins, Lips, Makeup

A Gift That Really Does Keep Giving: The Essentials Eye Palette by Clarins

November 5th, 2013 by Karen 17 Comments

Clarins Essentials Eye Palette
Wearing the new $45 limited edition The Essentials Eye Palette by Clarins

True, there are many lovely holiday gifts out there now for the beauty junkies in your life (and that includes yourself!), but not all of them offer the added bonus of simultaneously helping others.

Clarins Essentials Eye Palette
Stripes = Tabs approved

Chances are your resident makeup loving do-gooder pal will love the assortment of 10 wearable beige, brown and taupe mineral eyeshadows in the new $45 Clarins The Essentials Palette, and when she hears about how Clarins partnered with the PurProject organization to help preserve the Kuntanawa culture and ecosystem in Brazil, she’ll appreciate the gift even more.

Clarins Essentials Eye Palette
A handy-dandy guide with eye looks for inspiration

According to PurPuroject and Clarins, the Kuntanawa people of the Amazon basin in Brazil heavily depend on the forest for their livelihood, and today they struggle to maintain their culture as deforestation threatens their environment.

Clarins The Essentials Eye Palette
Neutrals, neutrals, everywhere!

Clarins has vowed to plant 10,000 trees to preserve the Kuntanawa culture and ecosystem, with a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this limited edition palette going to support the initiative.

Clarins The Essentials Eye Palette swatches
Swatches of the darker shades…

[Continue reading…]

There are 17 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Clarins, Eyes, Makeup, Palettes, Product Reviews

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About Makeup and Beauty Blog

Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog
Hi there! I’m Karen, your friendly neighborhood beauty addict, and I’m a Bay Area girl who hoards brown eyeshadow and covets coral lipstick. Every morning, I wake up and say, “I’m going to do something other than a smoky eye today.” Then…I end up doing a smoky eye anyway (most days). When I’m not putting on makeup, taking pictures of makeup or writing about makeup, which I’ve been doing daily since 2007 (!), you’ll find me hanging out with my hubby (“El Hub”), my four-year-old daughter (Connor Claire) and my torbie girl cat (Pretty Girl Rosie, a.k.a. PGR).

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