Dior

A Tarte-Ful Tuesday Face of the Day With the New Tarte Double Duty Beauty Collection, Makeup Revolution, Dior and More…

April 5th, 2016 by Nicole Fraser-Herron 18 Comments

Today was one of those days when I sat down to get ready, and I wanted to switch things up but still keep it casual.

Enter: navy blue.

I’ve got a red-orange earthy palette happening naturally, and I really like how navy blue brings out the brightness in my eyes.

Maybe my jumper inspired it; maybe I just like to be two-toned. We may never know! 🙂

So right now we need to talk about the new foundations in the Tarte Double Duty Beauty collection at Ulta. I recently tried the Empowered Hybrid Gel Foundation ($39), a medium-to-full coverage foundation that promises to smooth, plump, blur, and moisturize for up to 12 hours. Recommended application is with this Double Duty Beauty Foundation Brush & Spatula ($30).

Tarte Double Duty Beauty Empowered Hybrid Gel Foundation (available in 10 shades) with the Double Duty Beauty Foundation Brush & Spatula

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Dior Holiday 2015 “State of Gold” Collection | First Impressions

September 29th, 2015 by Karen 30 Comments

dior holiday 2015 blazing gold — Center stage: the Dior 5 Couleurs State of Gold Eyeshadow Palette in Blazing Gold #866 ($63, available now at dior.com and coming to Dior stores and counters this November)

Despite its official moniker, “State of Gold,” Dior’s holiday 2015 collection could have been called “State of Gold and Gray,” because gray makes a memorable appearance. Dior played with the concept of mixed metals in this release, and even though gray is not a color that usually pops into my head when I think, “Yay! Holiday collections!” I think it really works here.

I’ve been wearing five of the 13 pieces in the release, which is available now at dior.com and coming to Dior stores and counters this November, and I’m impressed by the way Dior handles these mixed metals.

But first! — why gray and gold? Well, both are iconic, signature colors at the House of Dior, much like beige and black are over at Chanel.

dior holiday 2015 blazing gold 886 — The Dior 5-Couleurs State of Gold Eyeshadow Palette in Blazing Gold #866 ($63)

But with this collection, Dior handles the two colors in what I think are unconventional ways, like what they’ve done here with the eyeshadow palette I’ve been wearing, Blazing Gold. There’s a cool gold in the center next to a gray shade, but the gray isn’t just one of those blasé run-of-the-mill grays. No, it’s a breathtaking shimmery taupe-ish gray with flecks of cool golden micro glitter.

Seriously, it’s so beautiful that I almost can’t take it! — and when you wet it and wear it as an eye liner? Great Caesar’s ghost, it sparkles like 100 Leonid meteor showers. Gimme dat sparkly gold and gray! 🙂

dior holiday 2015 gris or passion — The Diorific Vernis in Gris-Or #227 and Passion #951 Nail Lacquers ($28 each)

I love funky combos and interesting ideas like that, and Dior does it again with the Gris-Or Nail Lacquer, where they combined gold and gray in the nail polish. I never would have expected it to work — a mix of metallic gold and metallic platinum? — but I think it totally does.

I’ve worn two of the four lacquers in the collection — gold and platinum Gris-Or and creamy, classic red Passion — and I like them both.

And can we just talk about Dior’s nail polish brush for a second? Isn’t it the best thing ever?! Flat and wide, it covers my entire nail from base to tip in a single swipe, and that brush tip is a beast. I love the crescent moon shape; it perfectly fits along the base of my nails, creating crisp, clean lines every time. It never leaves a mess, either, by getting polish on my cuticles.

dior holiday 2015 radieuse fascinate — Diorific Mat Velvet Colour Lipstick in Radieuse #430 and Fascinate #580 ($38 each)

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End of Summer Shimmery Mermaid Makeup Tutorial

August 27th, 2015 by Karen 40 Comments

There is absolutely no freakin’ way that matte-heavy eyeshadow looks are even remotely acceptable among members of the makeup-loving mermaid community, and I know this for a fact.

Actually, I don’t really know that for a fact, since I haven’t kicked it with any of my mermaid friends lately, but if I had, they would DEFINITELY be rollin’ with shimmer.

So…why am I talking about mermaids??

Excellent question.

Well, because it’s late August, and even though I’m excited about fall, I’m still sad to see summer go. *sad tabby face* 🙁

I was thinking about the beach this morning (I haven’t been once this year!), and that led me to think about mermaids, and about mermaid water babies basking on the rocks with their shimmery tails swishing in the crystal clear waters and their subtle blue and green eye makeup sparkling in the sun…

So that’s what I was going for here.

For the record, this look is also appropriate for landlubbers, so you don’t need to have a mermaid tail to wear it, although that would be pretty rad.

I think this is a good look for late summer parties and barbecues, or maybe a back-to-school party where everyone gets kinda dressed up. Or, if you’re heading someplace fabulous that just so happens to have lively nightlife and be located near a warm body of water. Or, if you just want something shimmery to wear while you walk your cat around your neighborhood.

It’s a good look for multiple occasions. 🙂

Now, honey, if you just scrolled down, I know this look might seem impossible based on the number of steps, but you can do it! — even if you’re a straight-up beginner.

If you’ve never attempted anything like this before, though, cut yourself some slack. It’s OK and perfectly normal if it looks like shimmery poo the first few times, and it probably will, unless you’re a makeup wunderkind. But so what? Rome wasn’t built in a day.

OK, enough gabbing… Let’s do this.

1. Apply foundation, concealer and powder

Get yo’ base on that face, because we’re not about to leave the house without a little something-something. For this shimmery mermaid look, I like a full-coverage base because I think it balances out the bold eyes and false lashes.

Go with your fullest coverage foundation, concealer and powder, if you need to. Doing a goofy face while you do this is completely optional but highly encouraged. 🙂
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Dior Diorshow Brow Styler Brush-On Brow Gel Has a Brush for Bushy Brows

July 16th, 2015 by Karen 13 Comments

dior brow styler gel review — The new Dior Brow Styler Gel in #003 Brown ($29)

Check out the tapered tip at the end of the brush on Dior’s new Diorshow Brow Styler Gel ($29). I’ve never seen a brow gel like this before.

The whole design is very futuristic. It has a click brush applicator, and when you twist the bottom of the pen, the brow gel comes out from the sides. Then you just run the brush through your brows to shape, tame and polish them.

It’s so very Bladerunner! Of course, in the not-too-distant future when we have robots for mundane tasks like filling in our brows, things like this will be rendered irrelevant…so we must get our brow thrills while we can. 🙂

So I was thrilled to try this doohickey on Raul (also known as “the bald spot in my left brow”).

dior brow styler gel — Wearing Dior Brow Styler Gel in #003 Brown

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The New Dior 5 Couleurs Designer Eyeshadow All-In-One Professional Eye Palettes in Amber Design and Taupe Design: Why, Yes, Darling, These Palettes Are Designer

July 16th, 2015 by Karen 23 Comments

dior 5 couleurs designer eyeshadow 1 — Two of the new Dior 5 Couleurs Designer Eyeshadow All-In-One Professional Eye Palettes in Amber Design and Taupe Design ($62 each)

My posh feline pal/employer is currently going through a “shoo-shoo frou-frou” phase today where he insists that everything — and I mean everything! — within his kitty line of sight be high end, from the Dior ribbons he exercises with to the Dior 5-Couleurs Designer Eyeshadow I’m wearing.

He’s so fancy!

"I only play with Dior ribbons." — “Dior makes the best training ribbons.” -Tabs the cat

Since I know better than to protest (the consequences are always dire), all I can do is put up my paws in surrender, submit to his demands, paint my lids with one of these new $62 (!) palettes, and go on my merry way.

Amber Design and Taupe Design are two of Dior’s six recently revamped Dior 5-Couleurs Designer All-In-One Professional Eye Palettes available now online and at Dior counters.

If you’re into pearly, shimmery shadows and don’t mind the price, these might interest you.