Yesterday marked the first official day of spring here in the northern hemisphere, a fact not lost on Tabs. He was up early this morning, perched up high on his cat tower by the windows, to watch the birds outside.
On our walk around the neighborhood today, we saw that the branches of one of our favorite trees, which sits at the bottom of our hill, are now dressed in coat of beautiful pink blooms.
My spring allergies are already kicking in (thank goodness for Zyrtec!), but I wouldn’t trade this time of year for anything. Early spring is like getting a post card from a friend who’s coming to visit. You know there’s something fun right around the corner, but you’re not quite there yet. You know that if if you can be patient a little longer, the fun will start soon enough. 🙂
Sonia Kashuk’s new limited edition Spring Awakenings Palette ($19.99) feels like early spring to me. The palette of neutrals for eyes, lips and cheeks doesn’t hit you over the head with obvious spring pastels. Instead, its brown, coral and rose colors whisper promises of warmer days ahead.
The four powder eyeshadows — a cool-toned mix of browns in matte, shimmer and glittery finishes — and dark chocolate powder eyeliner are the stars of this show. With the exception of the glitter shadow, which is more like a translucent base with champagne flecks, all of the items apply with dense, rich color that looks like the color you get from products considerably more expensive than typical drugstore eyeshadows.
I wasn’t expecting to be moved by the glosses (that they’re located so close to the powder products is kind of a pain), but they’re actually quite nice. Non-sticky and pigmented with a light vanilla scent and flavor, they’re like kissing cousins of the MAC Cremesheen Glasses.
See the rosey one in the middle? That’s my fave of the crew for the natural kiss of color it gives to my lips.
Swatches from the left, top row: eyeshadows (swatches one through four) and eye definer (fifth swatch); bottom row: blush (first swatch) and lipglosses (swatches two through four)
Oh, the shimmery coral blush and I didn’t hit it off. I tried to use it a few different times last weekend, and every single attempt left me with patchy, uneven color on my cheeks. I spent a while buffing it down with a kabuki brush to even it out, so that’s something to keep in mind if you’re often in a hurry.
All in all, I still think Spring Awakening is nifty little palette. SK packed it with lots of wearable shades for naturally pretty looks. I can see most of the products working well for busy college students, on-the-go moms, or even seasoned makeup junkies looking for a streamlined palette to take on vacay. And it might be a good one to keep in your emergency makeup stash at work..
PRICE: $19.99
AVAILABILITY: Available now at select Target stores and also online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+ (would’ve been an A if it weren’t for the blush)
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Hope your Monday hasn’t been like this…
larie says
March 21st, 2011 at 4:09 pmCute hair! And omgosh, Tabs suddenly become very scary!
larie recently posted … Zoya Dove Zoya Dannii
Karen says
March 21st, 2011 at 5:51 pmThanks! I’ve been in the mood to wear it straight lately. 🙂
And LOL… that pic of him is too much. He hates it!
Camikatze says
March 21st, 2011 at 4:10 pmTabs looks amazingly beautiful 😀
Camikatze recently posted … Chanel – Le Vernis Nail Colour Graphite
Karen says
March 21st, 2011 at 5:52 pmI’ll let him know. 😉 He’s sitting on my lap as I type this with his girth draped over my right arm. It makes it a little hard to work the keyboard, LOL!
Instant Karma (formerly L) says
March 21st, 2011 at 4:21 pmAMAZING Tabs photo! 🙂
Karen says
March 21st, 2011 at 5:55 pm🙂 I like that you can see his little row of top teeth in that pic!
Nina says
March 21st, 2011 at 4:22 pmi almost bought that yesterday. self control prevailed but taht is going on my boitday wishlist! 🙂
i am having the same patchiness issues w/ the Physician’s Formula Mood Boosting blush. im not sure if its the shimmer or something else causing the patchiness. luckily, i got it on sale and w/ a coupon so i dont feel so bad w/ it not working out.
Tabs is soooo adorable! 🙂
Karen says
March 21st, 2011 at 5:56 pmHey Nina!
When is your boithday? I’ll have to send you a virtual cupcake. 🙂
Good to know about the Physician’s Formula blush. I was just looking at the display this afternoon (yes, I was at Target!) and admiring a few items.
Nina says
March 21st, 2011 at 6:09 pmnot for quite a while (sometime after easter) 🙂
i wanted to go to Target at lunch to get new cat food bowls. Linus broke another one of those glass bowls we use for their wet food. ended up having the Hubs buy the bowls instead!
i was actually going for some life saver gummies of the easter candy variety. omg sooooo goooddd! 🙂
yeah … im just glad i got the blush for 4 bucks and change. its super cute on the pan … i need to figure out what brush to use so it doesnt look patchy!
Karen says
March 21st, 2011 at 6:17 pmOh, Linus! What the heck is he doing to break his bowls? I guess he’s eating with “enthusiasm.” 🙂
You know I love me some Life Saver Gummies. What are the easter ones like? They don’t have a funky candy coating or anything do they?
Nina says
March 21st, 2011 at 6:27 pmLinus is a very, very, very enthusiastic eater! LOL! he likes to eat in the 2nd tier of his perch. im guessing he or napoleon tipped it over while fighting for the last dregs!
no candy coating — theyre just gummies in pastel colors and bunny and easter egg/basket shapes. theres orange. melon, watermelon and lemon flavors! yum!
Karen says
March 22nd, 2011 at 6:01 pmSo is Tabs. His food bowls (yes, multiple bowls) are on the floor, so he can’t knock ’em over. He does like to drag his dry food bowl across sometimes when he’s mad at us… it’s his way of acting out.
Okay, I need those candies in my life like NOW!
Cassy says
March 21st, 2011 at 4:24 pmUm, Tabs needs to stop being scary. I really jumped a little lol! j/k Tabs, I know you’re not a meanie face.
Cassy recently posted … Review – Sugarpill
Karen says
March 21st, 2011 at 5:57 pmHe’s pretty salty about that pic going up on the site, haha! You know how he is — all protective of his image and whatnot!
Jessi (Lacquered, Painted, Polished) says
March 21st, 2011 at 4:24 pmI’ve never tried any Sonia Kashuk makeup. I probably won’t start with this because I HATE having lip products packaged with powders. I am super clumsy and and most of the powder ends up caked up in the glosses. I want to try that Sonia Kashuk bush you reviewed the other day, though!
P.S. Tabs you are the manliest, most beautiful creature i have ever seen!
Jessi (Lacquered, Painted, Polished) recently posted … Zoya Loredana and Savita
Karen says
March 21st, 2011 at 5:58 pmThe brushes are a great place to start. Along with the flat top you also might want to check out the Bent Liner Brush. It’s AMAZING! Here’s a review just in case you want to read about it:
https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/product-reviews/im-hooked-on-sonia-kashuks-6-bent-eyeliner-brush/
Jessi (Lacquered, Painted, Polished) says
March 22nd, 2011 at 9:44 amWow, thank Karen, I’ve really been needing something like this! 6 bucks seems like a good price too!
Jessi (Lacquered, Painted, Polished) recently posted … Zoya Loredana and Savita
Karen says
March 22nd, 2011 at 5:56 pmIt’s a fantastic little brush. And the price is so right. 🙂
Lily says
March 21st, 2011 at 4:35 pmI luurve the color of the blush! Will get this palette for the blush alone, I’ll just apply it with a light hand 🙂
Karen says
March 21st, 2011 at 6:01 pmGood idea, Lily. Do you have a fan brush? Those are great at laying down sheer color on the cheeks.
Lily says
March 21st, 2011 at 7:41 pmI have a gorgio armani blush brush with a tapered and thinned out head ( like how hairdressers hold the scissor vertically and thin out the end of ur hair, which i hate, btw). Anyway, this brush picks up the right amt of blush, and you cant be heavy handed cuz its thinned out , hopefully ill get it to work.
You could print out tgat photo of tabs as a “beware! Angry cat” warning sign hihi
Karen says
March 22nd, 2011 at 6:00 pmHAHA! That’s a good idea. I can post it up on the fence to warn potential criminals.
Ana says
March 21st, 2011 at 4:41 pmThat is too bad the blush gave you a hard time becauase that was the first thing I noticed about you in the photo. The color looks gorgeous on you!
Karen says
March 21st, 2011 at 6:01 pmThanks, Ana! It took a little while to buff it in but once it’s all mellow I like it too.
Do you think you might pick this up?
Ana says
March 22nd, 2011 at 8:25 amI don’t know if I will be picking this palette up but I definitely did get the LE SK Brush you blogged about just a bit ago!
Karen says
March 22nd, 2011 at 5:56 pmI hope you can find it, Ana! I was just at Target and they were already out of stock.
Alice says
March 21st, 2011 at 4:52 pmOh, this getting bought. So bought. It’s just too pretty a package to pass up.
Karen says
March 21st, 2011 at 6:02 pmAwesome, Alice! I hope you love it. 🙂
Shannon B. says
March 21st, 2011 at 5:21 pmHmmm. I can’t figure out anything exceptional in this palette. Was hoping for more bright, spring colors.
P.S. Your hair is looking sexy!
Karen says
March 21st, 2011 at 6:03 pmThanks, Shannon!
If you want bright colors, maybe check out SK’s new spring polishes. 🙂
Sarah says
March 21st, 2011 at 5:23 pmThey only had one at my Target and the lip glosses were all falling out. Even as it sat on the shelf so that was enough to talk me out of it. But my Tarte finishing powder and brush and the Smashbox masquerade palette came today so I’m happy.
Karen says
March 21st, 2011 at 6:03 pmYay for new makeup goodies! Have you had the chance to open them up and try them yet?
JJ says
March 21st, 2011 at 6:31 pmKaren, you always look gawjus, and I’m not sure how much this palette had a hand in it. That said, I kinda have these colors already. I guess at some point in one’s makeup collecting everything starts looking the same… Though, this is a very comprehensive palette for makeup beginners 🙂
Karen says
March 22nd, 2011 at 6:00 pmThanks, JJ. 🙂
That’s a good point — this would be great for a newbie!
Kate & Zena says
March 21st, 2011 at 7:54 pmAin’t that such a purdy picture of Tabs? Zena can look pretty scary in some photos too!
Somehow I’m feeling the itch for darker colors! My fingers and brain don’t seem to follow the seasons. I’m wearing a navy smokey eye today for heaven’s sake! Tomorrow it’ll be my new standard neutral eye for school a la Naked Palette. Seriously, my brain needs to get in tune with the seasons!
It’s a pity that the blush didn’t work out!
Karen says
March 22nd, 2011 at 5:59 pmThe trick is to catch ’em mid-yawn!
Fieran says
March 22nd, 2011 at 4:21 amThis palette looks really good on you. I really like the eyeshadow neutral shades.
Fieran recently posted … Silence and Noise
Karen says
March 22nd, 2011 at 5:59 pmThanks, Fieran. I’m feeling the neutral shades too.
Kim says
March 22nd, 2011 at 4:52 amThe case is really cute and the colors definitely look wearable. Unfortunately, I know I’d have everything mixed together in a gooey mess after using it twice. 🙂
Tabs is prepping for his guest spot on True Blood, isn’t he? I think he’s nailing it! Btw, did he ever return your Shu? Oh, I mean, did you ever find your Shu? 🙂
Karen says
March 22nd, 2011 at 5:59 pmIt’s still MIA. I’m 99% sure that he’s behind the whole Shu disappearance because last night I caught him messing around with my makeup (I keep my staples in a box on my desk). Bad Tabby!
Kim says
March 23rd, 2011 at 5:43 amOh, I sense a gravy-for-Shu ransom letter coming on! HAHA!
Meghan says
March 22nd, 2011 at 11:19 amI WANT THIS! Lol!
Meghan recently posted … Sigma Makeup Brush Set Review
Karen says
March 22nd, 2011 at 5:55 pmDo it!
Stacy says
March 22nd, 2011 at 11:23 amOMG Tabs! Please don’t yell at your assistant.
Karen says
March 22nd, 2011 at 5:55 pmI second this, LOL!
Jen says
March 22nd, 2011 at 11:27 amEeek scary Tabs! *hides* lol!
I saw this in Target over the weekend. I got the limited brush set. Love me some neutral but I wasn’t moved. However that might change lol! Looks good on ya!
Karen says
March 22nd, 2011 at 5:55 pmThanks! Did you see the nail polishes while you were there? They’re pretty cute too!
Yuki says
March 22nd, 2011 at 7:37 pmTabs, you’re acting like Garfield on a Monday.
CJ Wright says
March 22nd, 2011 at 8:25 pmDo they have it in other colors besides the neutral/browns shades? I will be hitting Target on Thursday God willing!!! It’s a really good one in St. Petersburg Florida. Tell your kitty I really like
him a lot!!! Does he have God parents? Thanks.
Lizzard says
March 23rd, 2011 at 6:02 amthis is soo pretty! and what a natural look 🙂 I like seeing brown tones for spring
Lizzard recently posted … bareMinerals mineral veil
Chloe says
March 23rd, 2011 at 5:55 pmHow bad was the blush?… I just got the last one from target today… patchy? does it have good staying power?