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Bada-Bing! The Urban Decay Naked Cherry Collection Is Out Now

October 9th, 2018 by Karen 21 Comments

urban decay naked cherry palette — The new $49 Urban Decay Naked Cherry collection eyeshadow palette

Clearly, UD has a thing for Bing…cherries. Based on the packaging for new Naked Cherry collection, Bing is bomb, and I can appreciate that. I mean, I get it. I see the connection. A deep, dark, purplish Bing makes sense for a makeup collection, but I still like Rainiers more. They’re sweeter, man! And I love that red and yellow ombre action #importantfruitopinions.

(Quick makeup query: Years ago MAC also released a cherry-inspired collection. Can you remember what it was called?)

No reds, but plenty of pink and plum

Surprise! — there’s not a lot of red in UD’s new Naked Cherry collection.

LIKE NONE.

Red eyeshadow is on trend right now, but if you were hoping for seductive scarlets, vampy vermilions and ruby reds in this release, sorry.

The collection, which has been out about a week now, includes an eyeshadow palette ($49), a blush/highlighting trio ($34), two eyeliners ($21), three lipsticks ($34), and a cherry-scented setting spray ($15).

Judging by the name — Naked Cherry — you may have quite naturally expected there to be copious quantities of crimson in this collection, but these pretties are predominantly pink, rose, purple and mauve. Even more shockingly, no orange-y browns in the eye palette!

I know; am I still in the normal reality?? When was the last time UD released a palette without an orange-brown?

Quick take: shockingly wearable

If you’re craving something kind of different that isn’t filled with typical browns, AND you like wearing purples, AND you can see yourself venturing into the Land of Mauve and Rosy Tones, the Naked Cherry palette is worth a look. I like it.

The Naked palettes are Urban’s take on neutrals, and Naked Cherry still seems, well…neutral. I thought I would have a hard time with it because whenever I wear red, or reddish eyeshadows, I look sick and/or tired, but that’s not a problem for this palette, since these shades do not have red undertones. There are just plenty of wearable purples, plums, burgundies, roses and mauves.

Oh, and kisses of copper, beige and peach to break things up a little.

urban decay naked cherry k — Wearing the eye palette, cheek palette and Devilish Lipstick

The palette appears to be similar to Backtalk (which caused a minor uproar among people who were expecting a straight-up red eye palette when it was recently launched), but… Anyway, you could stick the eyeshadows from Naked Cherry into the the Balktalk palette, and they’d appear to fit right in, but they are quite different (see the swatches below). These colors are more than different enough to stand on their own.

urban decay naked cherry collection swatches — From the top: the eyeshadows, the blush and highlighter, lipsticks and the liners

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Kiss ‘n’ Telling on the New MAC Powder Kiss Lipsticks

October 2nd, 2018 by Karen 28 Comments

I just want your extra time and your mwah-mwah-mwah-mwah-mwah, KISS!

New Powder Kiss Lipsticks from MAC! These mattes feel just like the luscious Chanel Rouge Allure Velvets — lightweight, so more like a lip balm than a lipstick — but even creamier. So there’s little-to-no chance of cat butt lips. (I can hear you sighing from relief.) And, dare I say it, they’re kinda moisturizing? Just a little.

Must apply on dry lips (NON NEGOTIABLE!); otherwise, patchy
Taste and smell like vanilla, so classic MAC
Will move outside your natural lip line if you rub your lips together a lot
Special matte packaging (did you catch that?)
Pigment levels — between medium and just shy of full, depending on color
Less pigmented than MAC Matte lipsticks
Fade after a meal or a cup of coffee
Wear time is about an hour — two, tops
Watch out for vertical lip lines with the paler beige colors and pinks (they will highlight them if you apply too much).
Stand-outs: Mull It Over (a dirty peach) for everyday wear, and Fall in Love (a bright creamy fuchsia) for special occasions
~~I’m still tracking down prices, but it’s safe to assume they’ll be priced similar to regular MAC lipsticks, so about $18.50.~~ Each lippie is $19, and they’re all permanent

Final take? These are a’ight… They feel really smooth and lightweight, and the hazy matte finish is trés “I’m rock ‘n’ roll and too cool to care,” but the formula scoots around a lot and doesn’t last long on my lips. If you’re going for this type of soft matte look, the Chanel Velvets look very similar, and while they’re more expensive at $37, I think they’re user-friendlier because they don’t move around as much. Plus, they last longer.

If you’re curious, you can smooch the 16 MAC Powder Kiss Lipsticks starting October 11th, which is when they arrive at select MAC counters and the MAC website. 🙂

mac powder kiss lipstick swatches — I’m an NC 42, in case you’re wondering.

Well this FINALLY happened

I broke my personal vow to only read books I can check out out from the library (don’t ask me why I do these things; I just do!) and bought Crazy Rich Asians because I still couldn’t find the book at the library for like the 20th time. I just couldn’t take it anymore, LOL!

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The Urban Decay Aphrodisiac Collection (Swatches and First Look)

August 3rd, 2018 by Karen 10 Comments

urban decay aphrodisiac collection k — Wearing the Urban Decay Aphrodisiac collection

Like any good love ? potion, the new Urban Decay Aphrodisiac collection is mysterious and hard to find…

No, literally. It is. The collection doesn’t appear to have officially launched yet, and details are scarce, but what I do know is this: it’s new for fall 2018, and the palette and three glosses are new (the two liners, Rockstar and Zero, are re-promotes).

Urban Decay Aphrodisiac

Release date: TBD

Aphrodisiac Eyeshadow Palette (estimated price, $29, since it’s the same size/shape as Naked Petite Heat)

Hi Fi-Shine Ultra Cushion Lipglosses in Aphrodisiac, Ghosted and Tongue Tied ($20 each)

24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils in Zero and Rockstar ($21 each)

urban decay aphrodisiac collection 2 — New for fall 2018: Urban Decay Aphrodisiac

urban decay aphrodisiac eyeshadow palette — Aphrodisiac Eyeshadow Palette

urban decay aphrodisiac collection lipgloss — Hi Fi-Shine Ultra Cushion Lipglosses in Aphrodisiac, Ghosted and Tongue Tied

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The NARS Fall 2018 Collection! (First Look and Swatches)

August 2nd, 2018 by Karen 8 Comments

nars 7 deadly sins — New NARS Fall 2018 collection

You guys, I am shooketh, and shooketh am I, for there is no blush to be found in the NARS fall 2018 collection.

LIKE NONE.

Perhaps François is assuming that your cheeks will naturally flush when you wear (and perhaps commit) some of the lippies in the 7 Deadly Sin Audacious Lipstick Palette?

Along with the lip palette, there are also two eyeshadow palettes, an eye and cheek palette, and a new line of brow pencils, so there’s lots of newness to fawn over, for sure.

Still…it’s hard for me to imagine a fall without a new NARS blush.

Can you?

Guess I’ll just have to continue my love affair with NARS Deep Throat for a little longer.

The NARS Fall 2018 collection is available now and includes…

7 Deadly Sin Audacious Lipstick Palette, $52

Atomic Blonde Eye and Cheek Palette, $59

Quad Eyeshadows in Singapore and Mojave, $52 each

Brow Perfectors in Calimyra, Goma, Makassar, Moanda, Komo, Naia, Lava and Atacama, $25 each

nars fall 2018 swatches 7 deadly sins — 7 Deadly Sins Palette: Pride, Disobedience, Idolatry, Foolishness, Greed, Wrath and Sloth

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More From the Mally Beauty Mallywood Collection: Mallywood Eyeshadow Palette, Mallywood Wazza Wazzup! Ombré Highlighting Trio, and Mallywood Highlighting Blush

July 30th, 2018 by Karen 7 Comments

mallywood highlighting blush — When second grade #goals come true…

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was second grade.”

I think that’s how that quote goes…

Second grade was the year Jen and I (along with most of the little girls in our class) were in love with the same boy in our homeroom.

Lee. ?

In the spring, I fainted in the middle of art class, and my face conveniently landed on the edge of Lee’s chair, splitting my lip open. There was blood. IT WAS EVERYWHERE. To everyone else, it was grossly fascinating, but to me, it was destiny… Clearly, Lee and I were gonna get married and raise 12 calico cats.

Second grade was also the year hot pink and gold glitter ruled, and everything pink and glittery gold was a hot commodity on the playground — stickers, beaded hair accessories, pens, friendship bracelets and those weird braided plastic keychains that everyone had — and shortly after the fainting incident, Lee shyly handed me a pink and gold glitter cat sticker.

We never spoke of it.

The pink and gold packaging in the Mallywood makeup collection by Mally Beauty brings back all the feels, and second grade Karen… Shoot, she would’ve traded her pesky little brother for the palettes and the mascara in a hot second (“Here, take him. Just feed him hot dogs, rice and ketchup every day, and he’ll be fine”). Sure, I wouldn’t know what to do with anything, but who cares? PINK AND GOLD GLITTER.

Mally Roncal is the cutest.

The best thing from this launch for me is the Smoky Mama Mascara, and I’m hoping that Mally will find a way to add it to the permanent line (oh please, oh please, oh please) because it’s THAT great.

As for the three other pieces, I think they have their moments…

Mallywood Eyeshadow Palette ($29)

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