Lancome

For Long, Lush, Lifted Lashes, Try the Funky Brush: New Lancome Grandiose Mascara

September 18th, 2014 by Karen 16 Comments

Yo, is Cyberdyne Systems engineering mascaras now? Because everything about Lancome’s new Grandiose Mascara ($32, available in one shade, Noir) says, “BEHOLD! I am from the future, primitive bipedal creature, and I am here to rewrite mascara history as we know it! I mean…as you know it, because I already know it, of course, so I’m referring to you. As YOU know it… That’s what I meant to say. Oh, never mind!”

The wonderfully weird curved neck and tapered tube, the black rose silhouetted on the side — it’s as if an advanced artificial intelligence developed what we humans were too daft to figure out.

It’s all very sci-fi, if you ask me. 🙂

The purpose of this mascara’s programming is pretty obvs. The funky brush. Lancome says they spent three years developing a brush that could grab every last lash — even the hard-to-reach buggers that hide in the inner and outer corners — and coupling it with a formula for a dramatic, fanned lash look with lots of length, volume and curl.

Inside the box, there’s even a fairly detailed schematic demonstrating wand positions and brush flips, which may or may not leave you feeling as though you’re about to attempt brain surgery (or build a cabinet from Ikea).

Lancome Grandiose Mascara instructions — Umm…

[Continue reading…]

With Lancome’s Azur Chic Color Design Eyeshadow Palette, Summer Is Time To Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

May 13th, 2014 by Karen 15 Comments

Wearing the new Lancome Azur Chic Color Design Palette ($51)

El Hub asked me if I wanted to go get a slice of pizza with him for lunch today, and I said…

LOL! Sometimes you just really need a slice of pizza.

On the way to the pizza joint he noticed some glitter on my cheeks.

“It’s like Miley Cyrus,” I said, referring to the glitter. “Can’t stop, won’t stop.” 🙂

Between the MAC 3D Glitters I was wearing earlier and the Lancome eyeshadow I’m wearing now, the theme for today is definitely looking like glitter.

Which is all up in the mix, by the way, in Lancome’s new $51 six-pan Azur Chic Color Design eyeshadow palette.

But it’s cool. As long as I don’t forget to tap my brush to unload some of it before applying, very little of it ends up on my cheeks.

A few flecks do make their way down there, though, especially with one or two of the shades, particularly the deep bronze I’m wearing here on my lash lines and in the crease.

Its teensy, tiny flecks of gold glitter don’t really show up in swatches, but they do show up on my lids when I buff things out.

And, uh, because of the amount of sparkle we’re talking about here, you might want to throw one of the matte shades from your collection into the mix for contrast. For the bronzy gold look I’m wearing here, I used warm reddish brown MAC Texture in the crease to balance out the shimmer.

[Continue reading…]

A Glammed Up Face of the Day With Lancôme’s Color Design Shadow & Liner Palette in Dancing Rose

February 27th, 2014 by Karen 26 Comments

First thing this morning I told myself, “Karen, take note of the little things today,” and I’ve taken note of some wonderful little tidbits throughout the course of my day (a hot cup tea, seeing a rainbow, catching Tabs looking extra cute), but I have to say…

Even though I didn’t really plan to go anywhere fancy today, I thought it might be fun to glam it up a little — ya know, for Tabs, and because it’s Thursday.

Lancome Dancing Rose Color Design Palette — Lancôme Dancing Rose Color Design Palette

It all started with the Lancôme Color Design Shadow & Liner Palette in Dancing Rose ($50) from the French Ballerine spring collection. One glance at that deep, plummy reddish purple in the middle, and I just had to get it on my lids, ASAP!

I used the sparkly light purple as a base all over my eyes, patted the pink shade on my lids, swept the plummy shade in my crease (creases?), and then highlighted underneath my brow bones with the light opalescent pinkish beige.

Then, I added a fatty-bo-batty wing on my upper lash line with the deep blackish plum, woo hoo!

Katy Perry Eylure Lashes in Banging Beauty

Glam eyeshadow deserves glam lashes, so I brought out the big guns, Katy Perry Lashes in Banging Beauty ($6.99). These falsies are cray, yo! I could barely lift my eyes because they were so big and so over the top. Definitely not for the faint o’ heart.

Since the eyes were so shimmery, so purple, so BAM! — I tried to keep my cheeks and lips soft to balance things out.

[Continue reading…]

This Spring, Get the Look of Love at LancÃ´me With Sheer Shades of Pink and Peach: LancÃ´me’s New Blush in Love in Pommettes D’Amour and Baume In Love in Urban Ballet

January 29th, 2013 by Karen 12 Comments

Lancome Blush in Love in Pommettes D'Amour — Lancome’s $49 Blush in Love in Pommettes D’Amour from the new In Love spring 2013 makeup collection

Remember back when you’d ask your friend if she liked a boy, or if she liked the boy? LOL!

Don’t laugh! There was a big difference. 🙂

I get that same idea from LancÃ´me’s two new $49 Blush in Love Powders. Why didn’t they call ’em Blush in Lust, or Blush in Like? Would the products have been different?

Semantics aside, with these, I get the feeling LancÃ´me had hot cheeks in mind — the heat that surges to the surface of your skin when he leans in close, exhaling loudly, and peers into your eyes, flashing that cocky half-smile. Suddenly, you realize that your seemingly innocent drink after work isn’t just brews with a bud.

LancÃ´me created two versions of Blush in Love, a light coral for paler pretties and a bright rose for darker damsels. A floral design and Blush in Love logo blooms on them both, and each one contains two shades designed to caress cheeks with spring color.

I’ve been wearing the bright rose, which is called 20 Pommettes D’Amour. In it, a sheer hot pink with a matte finish encircles a square of matte peach in the center, and while it radiates like a neon sign in its pan, 20 Pommettes D’Amour applies more like a misty morning drizzle…

For a peachy pink cheek flush like I sprinted to my car through a warm spring rain, I swirl my blush brush in the pan, mixing both colors in the pan, and blend 2-3 layers on my cheeks.

Then, in a step I wish I could skip considering the price (almost $50!), to dispense with the larger grains of powder the product leaves behind, I buff them down with a kabuki brush.

Even with that little annoyance, I have to say — I think this stuff looks pretty phenomenal in pics, all luminous and sunny, like an unexpected warm spell in the middle of winter.

Lancome Baume in Love in Urban Ballet small — LancÃ´me Baume in Love in Urban Ballet ($26)

If you happened to wonder what I was wearing on my cheeks in this week’s Laura Mercier Creme Liner review, yup, it was Pommette D’Amour. 🙂

I do wish the limited edition packaging felt sturdier… I mean, I dig the design, and I think the paper gives it a certain Paul & Joe-ish charm, but again, for almost $50? I want champagne in a fancy fluted glass, ya know (versus boxed wine in a clear plastic cup)?

Oh, do you remember that sheer neon pink tinted lip balm we looked at, $26 Baume in Love in Urban Ballet? It hails from the very same collection.

Lancome Baume in Love in Urban Ballet and Blush in Love in Pommettes D'Amour — LancÃ´me’s Baume in Love in Urban Ballet ($26) on the left and Blush in Love in Pommettes D’Amour ($49) on the right

[Continue reading…]

According to LancÃ´me, Hypnose Star Holds the Secret to Betty Boop’s Glamorous Lashes

January 3rd, 2013 by Karen 11 Comments

Years ago, I made a pact with myself to grow into one of those stylin’ 80-something-year-old women who wear Chanel suits.

It’s my ultimate goal — to be a tiny elderly lady in tweed clutching a quilted Chanel bag as I shuffle around the beauty department telling stories that start with, “Back in my day…” 🙂

I’m serious! — but I’d gleefully ditch that goal to be able to rock a miniskirt half as well as Miss Betty Boop does at her age. I mean, she’s 83 years young!

Fun fact: Betty made her first appearance in 1930 in the cartoon, Dizzy Dishes. Although silent movie-era actress Clara Bow and singer Helen Kane are often regarded as being the inspirations for Betty, the character was originally created as an anthropomorphic French poodle.

Wow, right? ‘Cause Betty keeps it tight! Just look at those legs and that black sequined dress! Not many octogenarians can pull off that look, for real.

So I happened upon this LancÃ´me display for the new Star Collection on my trip to Nordstrom a couple days ago, and that pic of Betty caught my eye.

It definitely got me to check out the makeup (to the marketing team: mission accomplished!). I spied a red lipstick, three sparkly eyeshadows, a liquid liner, a lash curler and a jet-black mascara for volume (“…the secret to Betty’s glamorous lashes”) — everything in the seven-piece release.

Judging by the level of pigment, this one’s for the girls who love dramatic eyes and lips.

[Continue reading…]

Lancome

For Long, Lush, Lifted Lashes, Try the Funky Brush: New Lancome Grandiose Mascara

With Lancome’s Azur Chic Color Design Eyeshadow Palette, Summer Is Time To Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

A Glammed Up Face of the Day With Lancôme’s Color Design Shadow & Liner Palette in Dancing Rose

This Spring, Get the Look of Love at LancÃ´me With Sheer Shades of Pink and Peach: LancÃ´me’s New Blush in Love in Pommettes D’Amour and Baume In Love in Urban Ballet

According to LancÃ´me, Hypnose Star Holds the Secret to Betty Boop’s Glamorous Lashes

Long Live Lipstick Tee 💄

Blush Is My Crush Tee

Mascara & Kitties Tee

Thank You For Being a Friend Tee

You Hair Me Tee