Makeup

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

Simple Acts of Bravery (And MAC Viva Glam I, II and III Lipstick Swatches)

May 1st, 2019 by Karen 14 Comments

mac viva glam 25 anniversary — Celebrating 25 years!

The renowned photographer Man Ray once said that “Lipstick is the red badge of courage.”

For me, today, this quote means that even if you’re wounded in some way (emotionally or physically), doing a few simple, mundane tasks like brushing your teeth, putting on pants, doing your hair, or putting on your makeup — and just showing up to face the world, even when you don’t think you can — all add up to a major act of bravery.

You may be grieving, off balance, confused, out of whack, but then you put on your lipstick (and hopefully also your pants), and you keep going.

Since I’ve been blogging every day for millennia (since 2007), and I would normally be blogging on a day like today, doing this post right now as if today were any old day is giving me some comfort.

Who knew that swatching lipsticks could be emotionally soothing?

More than the lipsticks, though…something tells me that it’s more about the familiar routine — talking to you, setting up the camera, checking the lights, swiping the bullet across my lips, taking the pics, glancing over at Tabs as he watches me, etc.

Because no matter how much some things change, other things, like sharing lip swatches, stay the same.

I did these swatches of the MAC Viva Glam I, II and III Lipsticks ($18.50 each) today, and I laughed a little when I remembered this…

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the debut of Viva Glam, the initiative MAC started back in 1994 to help men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS. Every dollar raised from the sale of Viva Glam celebrity-promoted products since then has gone to support the cause.

viva glam I — Matte Lipstick in Viva Glam I, an intense brownish blue-red

Matte Lipstick in Viva Glam III, a muted brownish plum

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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

bareminerals clean glow collection summer 2019 2 — For your summery, bronzed glow…

Have you used bareMinerals before? What’s your overall favorite beachy vibe makeup brand?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Tea, gee, eye, eff.

The NARS Summer 2019 Collection: Swatches and First Impressions

April 25th, 2019 by Karen 7 Comments

SURPRISE!

Guess what? NARS just did a traditionally summery summer collection.

Wha!?

Yup, NARS has been all about artsy, edgy non-summery summer collections for a few years (last year’s looked more like a fall or holiday release to me), but the Summer 2019 collection is the most summery collection I’ve seen from them in a really long time.

Technically, the “Summer 2019” collection is one a few summer season NARS collections, and it’s the one actually called Summer. The items are all limited edition and available now on the NARS website. There are two $59 face palettes, each with four eyeshadows, one highlighter and a bronzer; four new $27 Satin Lip Pencils; and four new $27 Velvet Matte Lip Pencils.

First impressions…

The eyeshadows: Sumptuously silken, they feel softer than satin sheets. These are powders, but they could almost pass for creams. They’re the closest things I’ve found to Chantecaille’s awesome Mermaid Matte Cream Shadows, which practically meld into lids and blend crazy well. I can’t even tell where these shadows begin and end.
The highlighter and bronzer: Also powders, and also creamy like the eyeshadows. I’m REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THESE! (Although I’m mystified as to why NARS omitted a blush?)
The Velvet Matte Lip Pencils: Is it weird that I’m shocked that all of these lip colors are so summery and wearable? I’ve tried Good Times and Take Me Home so far, and like the other Satins and Velvet Mattes, they’re on the drier side…similar to a MAC Matte Lipstick, but they’re still very smooth, which is convenient because they’re also super opaque.
The Satin Lip Pencils: Um…one is called “Golden Gate.” Holla! BAY AREA ❤️ LOVE.

nars summer lights face palette — Summer Lights Face Palette ($59)

nars summer 2019 satin lip pencil velvet matte lip pencil — From the left: Satin Lip Pencils in Balboa, Exbury, Giusti and Golden Gate; Velvet Matte Lip Pencils in Dance Fever, Good Times, Promiscuous and Take Me Home

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Product Spotlight: Estée Lauder Double Wear Instant Fix Concealer 24H Concealer + Hydra Prep

April 22nd, 2019 by Karen 5 Comments

estee lauder double wear instant fix concealer — Hydration and coverage from Estée Lauder

As you know, I am solidly, steadfastly Estée Lauder #teamdoublewear (their Double Wear Light and O.G, Double Wear Foundation are iconic!), and this latest addition to the Double Wear fam has been one of my go-to under-eye concealers as of late.

Estée Lauder Double Wear Instant Fix Concealer 24H Concealer + Hydra Prep ($28, available in 22 shades) is a dual-ended situation with a brush-on moisturizer on one end and a medium-coverage liquid concealer on the other, and it’s made for dry skin with fine lines… HELLO, YOU TALKING TO ME?! LOL.

I like it because the moisturizer smooths everything out and plumps the skin. It’s kinda slippery and silicone-y feeling, and similar to MAC Fast Response Eye Cream, which is famous for under-eye concealer prep.

The concealer chills on top where it hides shadows and dark areas, and it does this without looking leathery after a few hours (again, very similar to another MAC Product — their old-school Select Moisturecover Concealer).

No likey ‘ze crepe-y concealer? This concealer combo is your dawg.

estee lauder double wear instant fix concealer before after — I’m wearing Medium Deep (Warm) in the after pic.

I do feel like the 24HR claim is a stretch, because it fades a little by the end of the day, but eh — I’d rather have a little bit of fading than a little caking and heavy concealer all up in my experience lines.

I think this product is best for peeps who like sheerer concealer coverage and have dry skin and fine lines. If you prefer Tarte Shape Tape levels of concealment, however, then something like Maybelline’s concealer would be a better fit (it hides everything!).

Also, if your under-eye area is oily, again, probably not the best fit.
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