Unsung Heroes

MAC Unsung Heroes: Mineralize Skinfinish in Global Glow

September 13th, 2018 by Karen 7 Comments

mac global glow mineralize skinfinish — This unsung hero is a fall favorite.

Cat ladies, it’s really starting to cool off here, and last night, for the first time in months, I had to turn on the heater before bed.

After a summer that the backs of my knees can attest to being one of the stickiest in recent memory, I can’t even begin to tell you what a relief it is to wear long sleeves and socks again! — and I’m more than a little excited about the prospect of putting on makeup without it completely slipping off my sweaty face. 😀

Which brings me to this total gem: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Global Glow, a $34 neutral golden tan highlighter. If you want the most delicately divine sheen, look no further.

I wore it yesterday when my parents came over to visit me Connor (Who am I fooling? They’re all about the baby!), and my mom, a self-professed non-makeup person, was like, “Mi hija. I need to have whatever is glowing on your face!”

That’s how much pull Global Glow has, man. It turns a woman who previously thought that highlighters are only those neon markers they sell at Office Depot into a maquillage believer.

Global Glow is one of my all-time favorite highlighters to wear year round, but it’s especially FIYAH 🔥 as the summer winds down and fall kicks in because, if you’re anything like me, this is the time of year when you’re still carrying a little bit of summer color on your face, and Global Glow’s golden tan really complements skin tones from NC20 and up.

mac global glow swatch — Yup, still an NC42

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Unsung Makeup Heroes: NARS Dolce Vita Blush

September 6th, 2018 by Karen 12 Comments

What’s an unsung makeup hero? For me, it’s an oftentimes underrated makeup morsel, a permanent collection product that scoots under the radar screen of many makeup lovers but regularly rocks my world. The long-running Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorites.

Anyone who’s ever rocked a fall berry or red lip *and meant it* should own NARS Dolce Vita Blush. I started wearing it years ago to go with Dolce Vita Lipstick (that classic NARS reddish brown pink), but along the way I found out that it also ROCKS the heck out of other opaque, intense fall lipsticks, especially berries and brownish reds (but also chocolate browns and plums, too).

One swipe — literally, just one! — across the pan, and then buffed gently on my cheeks, and I look MUCH more awake. It also perfectly balances with whatever matte or satiny fall color I have on my lips without competing with whatever I have on the rest of my face (yup, even smoky eyes).

Plus, you can skip highlighter with it if you want, since Dolce Vita has a touch of sheen. Just a touch, though, so tell your pores to chill. They’ll be alright. 😉

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Unsung (Household) Heroes: The TubShroom Strainer/Hair Catcher

July 20th, 2018 by Karen 9 Comments

tubshroom review — The most magical mushroom of all

These are mushrooms…

And this is a magical 🍄 mushroom…

But this is the most magical mushroom of all…

It’s called the TubShroom, and it’s one of those genius “as seen on TV” doohickeys that’ll have you wishing you were the person who invented it, because if you’ve got hair, and that hair clogs the tub drain, this thing will revolutionize your life.

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Unsung Makeup Heroes: Chanel Rouge Allure Ink in Créatif

July 16th, 2018 by Karen 9 Comments

chanel creatif swatch — Chanel Rouge Allure Ink Matte Liquid Lip Colour in Créatif

What’s an unsung makeup hero? For me, it’s an oftentimes underrated makeup morsel, a permanent collection product that scoots under the radar screen of many makeup lovers but regularly rocks my world. The long-running Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorites.

I’m always down for a summery coral lippie, and Chanel Rouge Allure Ink in Créatif ($37) is THE ONE.

Well…the one for this week, ha ha ha! 😂 Hello, have we met? My name is Karen, and I have a new coral crush every other day.

But that’s neither here nor there.

This one’s a matte liquid lipstick, but it’s unlike your typical dry and heavy/hello horizontal lip lines/cat butt liquid lippie sitch. It’s on the thinner side, like the NARS Powermattes, so you can’t feel it sitting on your lips, and it lasts about the same amount of time (~5 hours), but it’s much, much easier to control as it glides across your lips.

chanel creatif — I’m hoping that wearing Créatif will spark some creativity…

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Unsung Makeup Heroes: Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter Customizable Complexion Booster

July 11th, 2018 by Karen 12 Comments

charlotte tilbury hollywood flawless filter 5 tan — Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless

What’s an unsung makeup hero? For me, it’s an oftentimes underrated makeup morsel, a permanent collection product that scoots under the radar screen of many makeup lovers but regularly rocks my world. The long-running Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorites.

For some people, hairy spiders, public speaking, or accidentally farting loudly in tiny windowless rooms during important work meetings are the stuff of their worst nightmares.

My nightmare scenario? Life without ALL. THE. FOUNDATIONS.

Yes, I know, life will (probably) go on if we didn’t have hella options for glowing skin, but — and I ask mean this in all sincerity — what would be the point?? Where’s the fun in that? 🙂

My latest “Is she or isn’t she wearing makeup?” love is Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter Customizable Complexion Booster, and when I wear it I feel like I’m in a living, breathing, real-life version of Instagram, because sh*t blurs EVERYTHING. Seriously, WHAT PORES?

“Discover a brand new REVOLUTIONARY category in face makeup with the Hollywood Flawless Filter. This MUST-HAVE customisable complexion booster has the versatility of a face primer, with the mega-watt glow of a highlighter and the perfecting properties of your favourite digital filter. Choose your level of GLOW with filter makeup to illuminate your skin just where you want it for a radiant complexion.”

— charlottetilbury.com

The barely-there coverage is also — as the kids say — on point, and the glistening, opalescent glow looks literally LIT.

OK, I’ll stop…

It’s a dramatically dewy finish — even dewier than MAC Face & Body or L’Oreal True Match Lumi — and some may call it borderline sweaty.

But I like it.

Sometimes I will matte it down a tad with a light dusting of MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural or MAC Mineralize Loose, and you can also matte it down even more by mixing it with your favorite matte liquid foundation or matte tinted moisturizer (’cause it’s good at that, too).

charlotte tilbury hollywood flawless filter 5 tan flash — With a flash!

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