Product Reviews

Friday Chit-Chat (Makeup and Otherwise): Being Out of Practice, and Entering New Phases in Life

August 17th, 2018 by Karen 23 Comments

wander beauty wanderess fever palette — Feelin’ this

Heya, hot pocket! 😸🔥❤️ First, I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to my lids for the “cruel summer” they’ve endured thus far. It’s been a particularly “taupe” season, which I guess in the grand scheme of traumatic makeup horrors isn’t Armageddon-caliber, because at least I had the wherewithal to line my lash lines and incorporate one or two matte browns, but ya know…when you’re bonding with a dental hygienist at a new dentist’s office and she asks what you do for a living, and you say, “I write about makeup!” you know better than to wear taupe for three months straight.

So I’m trying to get back in the game a little… But, dude, I feel so outta practice!

Has this ever happened to you?

You practice and practice and browse blogs and watch hours of YouTube videos until you finally get to where you start to feel like you’re getting good at doing your eyes, but then life happens and you stop practicing or wearing makeup as much as you had been. Then, when you get the urge to get back into makeup again after your hiatus, the looks you had been able to do seem almost impossible?!

wander beauty wanderess palette — On ‘ze lids today: the Wandress Fever eye and cheek palette by Wander Beauty

That’s exactly how I felt today

This bronze eye wasn’t complicated as far eye looks go, but I’ve embraced streamlined eye makeup over the last couple years, so wearing an eyeshadow base and three different shadows is now akin to performing NASA-level math for me, like E = MC-what-the-hell-am-I-doing-with-this-satiny-purple-in-the-outer-corner.

chanel impulsion — And the eye look without any blush — just MAC Hyper Real Foundation in Bronze FX used as a highlighter

mac hyper real foundation — These are cool. —> They’re like liquid versions of Strobe Cream in different colors.

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Does New NARS Climax Mascara Take Lashes to the Peak of Perfection?

August 16th, 2018 by Karen 15 Comments

This being NARS we’re talking about (because even my glam granny knows that NARS has a thing for naughtily named makeup), I’m pretty sure the new NARS Climax Mascara was named after the big “O,” but can we pretend François was inspired by Klymaxx’s Meeting in the Ladies Room?

I’ll be back real soon…

Now, after you’re done dancing in your chair to the song (because you know you’re feeling it), please do actually meet me in the ladies room, because that’s where you’ll find me applying another coat of this easy-to-layer mascara, because it builds like WHOA!

NARS Climax Mascara ($24)

First Hourglass Caution; now NARS Climax. I’m really liking this trend of featherweight, flexible mascaras you can endlessly layer without clumping.

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Try the New MAC Dazzleshadow Liquids for Glittery, Glossy Lids and Long-Lasting Shimmer and Shine

August 15th, 2018 by Karen 12 Comments

mac dazzleshadow liquid rayon rays every day is sunshine — Glossy, glittery goodness

Is it a glitter, or is it a super shiny eye gloss? Quelle suprise! ‘Tis both.

The MAC Dazzleshadow Liquid Eyeshadows ($22 each)

The sparkling new MAC Dazzleshadow Liquid eyeshadows come in 10 shades in every color you’d want to wear to schmexy time, to preschool library story time (IT ME), or any time, really.

“Get lost in eyes that tantalize, mesmerize and glamorize. Introducing the irresistible twinkle of our all-new daze-inducing Dazzleshadow Liquid. Available in a range of beaming finishes – from glaring glitter to subtle sparkle and cool chrome – this ultra-shiny liquid eye shadow glides across lids for a wash of brilliant colour that keeps its splendour for up to 8 hours. Its lightweight cooling formula sets quickly for the ultimate second-skin texture that feels ultra-soft on lids.”

— maccosmetics.com

Seriously, they’re such a find. You’ll never have to deal with renegade glitter bits cascading down your cheeks or under your eyes (or, in my case, up in my brows, and why or how glitter manages to get up there, I’ll never know) again.

And because of the reflective finish, you can also get the high-fashion look of magazine-style glossy eyes without that sticky, gooey, gross feeling on your lids. Dab some on the back of your hand with the doe-foot applicator, pick up the littlest amount with a tapered blending brush (THIS IS KEY! DON’T USE TOO MUCH!), blend on your lids, and it won’t budge all day long. (Watch the clock, though, because you’ll only have about two minutes to buff before the formula completely sets.)

mac dazzleshadow liquid rayon rays every day is sunshine 2 — That’s Liquid Lip Suede Matte Lipstick in Nude Blush by Civilized Cosmetics on my lips.

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Estée Lauder Double Wear Deep Dive: Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup

August 14th, 2018 by Karen 10 Comments

estee lauder double wear stay in place honey bronze — I’m wearing your new favorite matte liquid foundation.

What is Deep Dive? I’m glad you asked! It’s a new series in which I’m reviewing a bunch of Estée Lauder Double Wear products from their permanent collection. Let’s find out what’s good! 😁

Double Wear Fan Girl Badge 🕹️👾💛 unlocked!

The original Double Wear Stay-in Place liquid foundation is an O.G. cult classic, and it’s gotten mad love in gazillions of reviews. Basically, you can’t turn a corner without someone practically warbling a ’90s love song about it.

All my life, I’ve waited for ~~someone like you~~ a foundation like Double Wear

That’s why I waited a hot second to put it through its paces and make sure I wasn’t just falling for the hype.

Now that I’ve been using it a few times per week for a couple months…ya know what?

I totally get it now. It’s really THAT good.

Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup ($42 for a 0.1-oz. glass bottle)

But before we even get into how perfectly it sits on different skin types (mine is a HELLA fussy combo of oily, dry and normal areas with a sprinkle of acne-prone spots along my jawline, and my skin loves it), this foundation is already a winner-winner-chicken-dinner for me. It’s oil-free, truly transfer-proof (so no makeup on your favorite Price tee, hooray!), fragrance-free, and — get this — available in a staggering 56 shades.

By comparison, Fenty has only 40.

“Only,” she says, ha! Remember when the biggest department store lines had maybe 14 at the most? How things have changed!

From the Sephora website…

What it is
A 24-hour-wear liquid makeup with a flawless, natural, matte finish that unifies uneven skin tone and covers imperfections with buildable medium to full coverage.

What it does
Double Wear makeup gives you 24-hour staying power for a flawless, natural matte finish. This foundation unifies uneven skin tone and covers imperfections with buildable medium-to-full coverage. The makeup feels lightweight and so comfortable, you won’t believe it is super long wear. The non-acnegenic formula won’t clog pores, which may help avert breakouts, and helps control shine. It’s waterproof, won’t run, rub off, or smudge and lasts in hot and humid weather.

Double Wear comes in Cool, Neutral and Warm undertones with shades that have been blended so they won’t look grey on deeper skintones.

What else you need to know
This product is fragrance-free and has been dermatologist tested. It is oil-free, mattifying, transfer-resistant, dermatologist-tested, non-acnegenic, and fragrance-free.

My shade is Honey Bronze, which is a smidgen warm for my (MAC NC42) skin at the moment, but it’s darn close, and even though it isn’t spot on, I’m OK with that because it doesn’t oxidize, which has always been my biggest issue with this type of base. It’s really hard for me to find a matte liquid foundation that doesn’t darken as the day goes on, and this one stays true to the original color.

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[The Shower Files] Get Fresh Life Body Oil and Body Lotion Into Your Shower Right Meow

August 13th, 2018 by Karen 2 Comments

fresh fresh life body oil — I *just* sniffed my arm, and it smelled absolutely delicious.

Obvs, Fresh is a skin care line, first and foremost, but I have extra gravy-caliber love in my cat lady heart for their fragrances.

Fresh Life is my favorite of them all, but Sugar Lemon runs a close second.

Then Hesperides Grapefruit.

And Sugar Lychee.

Bah, who am I kidding? I love them all…but Fresh Life is the one I wear the most. It’s airy, refreshing, girly and doesn’t get up in your grill. It’s like a lighter cross between Chloe and Byredo Gypsy Water. I think if you like either of those — or if you just love lemony or sugary scents, or grapefruit, or lilac and/or magnolia — you’ll love this too.

I wore the Eau de Parfum through spring and summer, but I just realized that there’s also a bunch of other Fresh Life products, like lotion, oil and soap…

SAY WHA!?

Rock that I’ve been hiding under, meet my beauty bestie. Beauty bestie, meet the rock I’ve been hiding under FOR YEARS.

Dear, Fresh Life Body Lotion ($23 for 10.1 oz.) and Fresh Life Body Oil ($48 for 3.3 oz.), thank you leveling up my after-shower scent game.

WARNING: The bright lemon and toasty brown sugar notes may tempt you or anyone in your immediate vicinity to nibble on your forearm (side note: neither of these are classified as edible). Yes, that sounds Hannibal Lecter-y, but hopefully nobody will cannibalize your limbs.

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