Product Reviews

The New Hourglass Unreal High Shine Volumizing Lip Gloss: Swatches of Canvas, Child, Provoke, Prose, Fever and Horizon

May 3rd, 2019 by Karen 8 Comments

hourglass unreal high shine volumizing lip gloss 2 — Five of 18 new Hourglass Unreal Volumizing Lip Glosses ($30)

Quick take

I’m not completely sold on the plumping…because I don’t really see it, but if you don’t mind the $30, check out these new glosses. I think they’re pretty. They’re also borderline moisturizing, highly pigmented, super smooth and easy to apply. Canvas is my favorite. It’s the perfect “just throw it in your purse and forget about it” color. You can see them all now at Sephora and the Hourglass website.

Even though Tabs will always be “the people’s cat” — that scrappy ragamuffin who strutted and clawed his way off the mean streets of Mill Valley — I’ll always remember his edgy fashion sense and impeccable style.

The fashion gods didn’t simply sculpt his glorious tum-tum from Carrera marble. They also imbued him with the gift of sight and the ability to recognize quality high-end makeup, like these tubes of Hourglass plumping gloss.

They’re from the new Hourglass Unreal High Shine Volumizing Lip Gloss line, which just launched today.

Thoughts and first impressions…

Not to worry. If you’re a fan of the Hourglass Extreme Sheen glosses, I believe Hourglass is still keeping them around. I don’t think they’re being phased out (which is always my first thought when new things are released).
Some of the Unreal High Shine shades are similar to the Extreme Sheens (Child, Canvas, Ignite and Icon).
The medium-weight formula doesn’t feel sticky. The texture reminds me a lot of the Chanel Glossimers.
I feel a slight (not painful) tingle when I apply them, but the tingle disappears within a few minutes.
They taste and smells faintly of mint for about five minutes.
They are CRAZY, STUPID OPAQUE (!), which you might think would make them tricky to apply, since full-on glosses will often slip beyond your natural natural lip lines, but these are actually easy to apply. They go on smoothly (the paddle-shaped applicator is fool-proof) without settling into vertical lip lines or breaking the boundary around my lips.
Wear time is from 2-3 hours.
Also, I don’t find these drying at all. I’d almost call them moisturizing!
Are they volumizing? Eh…I can’t tell. Maybe a little. Regardless, I like the way they look.

hourglass unreal high shine volumizing lip gloss — The paddle-shaped applicator makes it easy to hug corners.

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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 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)

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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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