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It’s MAC Electric Wonder Swatches: That’s Watt’s Up

June 7th, 2019 by Karen 17 Comments

mac electric wonder collection swatches — ZAP!

Ponder, if you would, how much fun it would be to have an electricity-themed dance party.

Question: How much fun would it be?

Answer: Shockingly fun. 😂

Of course, all of the song titles would have to include a reference to electricity. I suggest we start with the following…

Speaking of shocking developments (ha ha), I just realized that it’s a LOT harder to draw a thunderbolt on your arm than you might think. Seriously.

Below are swatches of the new MAC Electric Wonder Summer 2019 collection, errrrthing on my NC42 skin. Overview pics first, followed by closeups.

As you might expect from such a highly charged topic…there’s lots of glimmer, shimmer and glitter!

The collection is available now in stores and on the MAC website.

Overview swatches

mac natural vice — Eye Shadow X 12 in Natural Vice ($48)

mac desert lightning — Eye Shadow X 12 in Desert Lightning ($48)

mac ignite wonder face palette — Ignite Wonder Face Palette ($42.50)

mac iridescent powder next to nothing — Electric Wonder Iridescent Powder ($36) and Next to Nothing Bronzing Powder

mac electric wonder lipstick — Lipsticks ($19.50 each)

mac electric wonder lipglass — Lipglasses ($18.50 each)

Closeup swatches

mac desert lightning swatch 1 — Eye Shadow X 12 in Desert Lightning

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MAC Aladdin Collection Swatches

May 28th, 2019 by Karen 14 Comments

Even though I’ve had very little real-life experience with magic lamps, I do know this much: Your wish, no matter what it is, will always end up a little wonky.

OK, usually a lot wonky.

HELLA WONKS, if you will.

Like, if you wish for a million dollars, you’ll get a million dollars…but it’ll be in shredded $5 bills that have been stuffed into random prickly cactus plants spread out across the Mojave Desert.

Those genies, man. They’re tricky.

I may not be a genie, but if you wish to see swatches of the new MAC Alladin collection on NC42 skin, I can make that come true, no strings attached!

Below are swatches of the entire collection — the first three are overview swatch pics, and closeups with the product names come after.

FYI, the eye quad and black liner are sold out (but the black liner is just a re-promote of Technakohl in Graphblack, which you can still get in the permanent collection in the regular packaging), but everything else is still available.

Overview swatch pics

mac aladdin lipsticks — The Lipsticks ($20 each)

mac aladdin lipglass — The Lipglasses ($19 each)

mac aladdin princess jasmine — Eye Shadow X 9: Princess Jasmine ($35), Technakohl Liner in Graphblack ($20) and Pigment in Rose ($24)

mac aladdin powder blush — Powder Blushes ($35 each) and Crystal Glaze Gloss ($24)

Detailed swatches

mac aladdin friend like me princess incognito — Lipstick in Friend Like Me and Princess Incognito

mac aladdin rajah whole new world — Lipsticks in Rajah and Whole New World

mac aladdin jewels on jewels diamond in the rough — Lipglass in Jewels on Jewels and Diamond in the Rough

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NARS Summer 2019: Satin Lip Pencil, Velvet Matte Lip Pencil Swatches

May 2nd, 2019 by Karen 14 Comments

This morning Tabs turned to me and said, “You know, it’s a funny thing… Legacy.”

“How so?” I replied.

He paused, slowly poured himself a second cup of catnip tea and plucked a chamomile cookie from his favorite white porcelain dish. “I just… I hope you didn’t mind taking care of me all these years. You really have been the best pet assistant and friend I ever dreamed of.”

I sighed. “Oh, Tabs,” I said, scratching him between his ears, “you’ve made me the happiest, luckiest girl in the world. When you sauntered over to me that day in Mill Valley, everything changed for me. I feel blessed to have met you and worked with you all these years.”

“Me too,” he said, slow blinking.

“My sweet boy,” I said, gently wrapping my arms around him and pulling him close for a cheek-to-whiskers hug, “You’ve been such a good boy. I hope you know how much I love you.” ❤️

“I do,” he whispered into my ear, purring. “I love you too.”

Good morning, my friend. Here are some swatches of the Satin and Velvet Matte Lip Pencils from the NARS 2019 Summer Collection.

Yes, more swatches…

I know.

They’ve been a shelter, so to speak, in the storm.

nars balboa — Satin Lip Pencil in Balboa

nars exbury — Satin Lip Pencil in Exbury

nars giusti — Satin Lip Pencil in Giusti

nars golden gate — Satin Lip Pencil in Golden Gate

nars dance fever — Velvet Lip Pencil in Dance Fever

nars take me home — Velvet Lip Pencil in Take Me Home

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More MAC Strip Down

May 1st, 2019 by Karen 14 Comments

mac strip down lipsticks — A few of the MAC Strip Down Collection Lipsticks, $18.50 each

Tabs slept in my office and provided supervisory support while I did these lip swatches. These are from the MAC Strip Down Collection of nude lipsticks and glosses.

More from MAC Strip Down…

Spellbound by MAC Strip Down: Mehr Matte Lipstick

Spellbound by MAC Strip Down: Whirl Matte Lipstick

Spellbound by MAC Strip Down: Twig Satin Lipstick

mac brick o la lipstick — Amplified Lipstick in Brick-O-La

mac smoked almond lipstick — Amplified Lipstick in Smoked Almond

mac soar lipstick — Matte Lipstick in Soar

mac del rio lipstick — Satin Lipstick in Del Rio

mac good form lipstick — Lustre Lipstick in Good Form

mac bad n bare lipstick — Satin Lipstick in Bad ‘N’ Bare

mac feeling myself lipstick — Amplified Lipstick in Feeling Myself

mac s sexy lipstick — Amplified Lipstick in S’Sexy

mac move your body lipstick — Amplified in move Your Body

mac double fudge lipstick — Matte Lipstick in Double Fudge

mac creme cup lipstick — Cremesheen Lipstick in Creme Cup

mac pink power lipstick — Frost Lipstick in Pink Power

mac leave me breathless lipstick — Amplified Lipstick in Leave Me Breathless

mac act natural lipstick — Matte Lipstick in Act Natural

Tabs isn’t working anymore, but that hasn’t stopped him from giving me side eye for not doing my hair or putting on makeup.

It was also sunny and warm here, and Tabs felt like doing some relaxing catnip gardening on the back deck.

You know, a lot of people don’t know this, but in addition to being a world-renowned kitty modeling mogul, former professional feline football player, entrepreneur, chef and Cat Academy Award-winning movie star, Tabs is also a gifted landscape architect. 😊

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The bareMinerals Clean Glow Collection: Swatches and First Impressions

April 26th, 2019 by Karen 5 Comments

bareminerals clean glow collection summer 2019 1 — New highlighters, bronzers, brushes and a setting spay from bareMinerals

It’s been a minute since I’ve “bareMineralled it up,” but, lest my eyes deceive me, they took a beachy BECCA-esque approach to their summer makeup this year, and I’m all for it. Their new Clean Glow Collection is out now with brand new bronzers, highlighters (powder and liquid) and a dewy makeup setting mist (YASSS!).

bareminerals glow collection swatches — From the left: BarePro Glow Bronzers (Warmth, Faux Tan), Endless Summer Bronzers (Warmth, Faux Tan), Endless Glow Highlighters (Zen, Whimsy, Joy, Free and Fierce)

The Endless Summer Bronzer is a pressed powder bronzer with a matte finish. bareMinerals recommends sun-kissed bronze Faux Tan for medium-toned mavens and terracotta Warmth for medium-to-deep skin. Both are $29 each.

If you love your multitasking products (and who doesn’t?), the BAREPRO GLOW Bronzer is a liquid bronzer that you can wear by itself, or mixed with foundation, tinted moisturizer or even your daily moisturizer. It’s also available in Faux Tan (for medium skin) and Warmth (medium-to-deep skin) for $29 each.

The Endless Glow Highlighter is a luminous, non-glittery powder highlighter with pore-blurring powers. Available in Free (a champagne), Fierce (a bronzed gold), Joy (a peachy pink) and Whimsy (a holographic shade that shifts from pink to purple) for $29 each.

There’s also a liquid version… BAREPRO GLOW Highlighter is a multitasking opalescent liquid highlighter that doesn’t contain any glitter and also comes in Free, Fierce, Joy and Whimsy, also for $29.

And then to set your bronzed, dewy glow, there’s the new moisturizing $28 Dew Mist Setting Spray.

More deets…

Cruelty-free
No Parabens, Phthalates, Formaldehyde, Chemical Sunscreens, Triclosan, Triclocarban, Propylene Glycol, Mineral Oil, Coal Tar and Microbeads
Available now at Ulta, Sephora, Macy’s, Nordstrom, QVC and bareminerals.com

“Get glowing—fast. Customize your levels of color and illumination in three simple steps using the NEW Clean Glow Collection from bareMinerals. Bronze, highlight and set with clean formulas that build a lasting, good-for-skin glow. bareMinerals Global Makeup Artist, Nikki DeRoest, uses this collection to impart her signature lit-from-within look on clients. “Together, these products blur the look of pores and give the most beautiful luminosity to the skin,” says DeRoest. “I love how fresh and glowy skin looks after application.” Made for all skin tones and types, these formulas are non-comedogenic, non-acnegenic and dermatologist-tested.”

— bareMinerals PR