Karen

These Ladybugs Are Studs! The Kristin Perry Ladybug Stud Earrings

October 7th, 2014 by Karen 16 Comments

Ladybugs are good luck! I’ve believed that ever since I was a kid.

And if one lands on you, it’s extra good luck (time to buy a lottery ticket).

Even though these 18k gold-plated Kristin Perry Ladybug Studs didn’t lightly land on my arm, I still hope they bring me good luck. 🙂

From afar, they look like standard stud earrings, but up close you see the ladybug detailing.

That’s the kind of thing I love about Kristin’s jewelry. Her whimsy. Everything’s so fun and unique!

This pair is $34 and available now online.

MAC Keepsakes Smoky Eye and Red Lip — Makeup from the new MAC Keepsakes holiday collection

The MAC Keepsakes Holiday Collection Brush Kits: In Extra Dimension, Studio and Mineralize

October 7th, 2014 by Karen 10 Comments

For the most part, the MAC limited edition brushes I’ve tried feel scratchier, for lack of a better word, than their counterparts in the permanent line, and just don’t last as long. I’ve had brushes literally fall apart on me in less than a year — like, where the ferrule comes unglued from the handle when I’m in the middle of putting on my makeup.

So, as cute as they are (and they’re usually so. damn. cute.), I approach them with a dash of skepticism.

I’m still surprised sometimes, though. I had great experiences with a couple of the limited edition brushes from the Alluring Aquatic collection, so you never can tell. Reason enough to have high hopes for the new brushes in the Keepsakes Brush Kits, each of which comes with a cute bag and four or five brushes.

The MAC Keepsakes In Extra Dimension Brush Kit

This one contains…

127SE Split Fibre Face Brush
128SE Split Fibre Cheek Brush
234SE Split Fibre Eye Blending Brush
235SE Split Fibre All Over Eye Brush

I’ve been using these brushes a lot over the past few days — these and the ones in the other Keepsakes collection kits — and I have to say, the brushes in two of the bags, the Mineralize one and In Extra Dimension — seem a little better built than usual for MAC’s holiday fare. The bristles feel pretty soft.

The MAC Keepsakes Mineralize Brush Kit

MAC Keepsakes Mineralize Brush Kit, $52.50 US/$63 CAD

And this one…

187SE Duo Fibre Face Brush
130SE Short Duo Fibre Brush
286SE Duo Fibre Tapered Blending Brush
287SE Duo Fibre Eye Shadow Brush

The Mineralize Brushes, in particular, feel just as good as some of my favorites in MAC’s permanent line. All four of them apply powder and cream products like pros, and if I were to recommend one of these brush kits over all the others, this would definitely be the one.
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Today’s Makeup: MAC Ruby Woo, I’m Into You! The MAC Keepsakes Red Lip Bag and MAC Keepsakes Smoky Eye Bag

October 7th, 2014 by Karen 21 Comments

I got Ruby Woo’d today, man! I had an early morning meeting, so no glitter or falsies. Just a reliable, classic combo of cat eyes and red lips using the contents of the new MAC Keepsakes Smoky Eye Bag ($39.50/$47.50 CAD) and Keepsakes Red Lip Bag ($39.50 US/$47.50 CAD).

Red lips and cat eyes — it’s hard to go wrong with that combo. There are endless ways to tweak and work it.

I usually use a gel or liquid liner for my feline eyes, but I was running late today. (No way! That never happens, haha.) I couldn’t risk getting into a Greco-Roman wrestling match with my eyeliner, so I went with a softer, smokier version by lining my upper lash lines with a black eye pencil, and then smoking out the edges with a shimmery, blackish gray eyeshadow to create the cat eye shape.

Sometimes I prefer the softer, less formal look I can get with the eye pencil-eyeshadow combo…and sometimes it’s just quicker and easier than trying to control a gel or liquid liner.

It being the season and all, I paired the eyes with a red lip, reaching into the MAC Keepsakes Red Lip Bag for MAC Ruby Woo Lip Liner, Ruby Woo Matte Lipstick and Ruby Woo Lipglass.

Oh! If you haven’t danced with bluish red Ruby Woo yet, you MUST. It’s one of those MAC reds you have to try at least once, ideally when you’re going someplace fun (no, not a work meeting…although that would also work).

The MAC Keepsakes Red Lip Bag and Smoky Eye Bag arrive online with the rest of the Keepsakes collection October 19, before showing up at North American MAC stores and counters October 23 through December 18 (and at all international MAC locations this November).

MAC Keepsakes Red Lip Bag Swatches — Keepsakes Red Lip Bag Swatches

MAC Keepsakes Smoky Eye Bag — Keepsakes Smoky Eye Bag

MAC Keepsakes Smoky Eye Bag swatches — Keepsakes Smoky Eye Bag swatches

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What Are You Wearing On Your Nails?

October 7th, 2014 by Karen 37 Comments

I’m wearing deep, creamy red Dolce & Gabbana Nail Lacquer in Fiamma. It’s an LE lacquer in D&G’s new fall collection.

These pics are circa two days ago, with two layers of Fiamma sandwiched between Guerlain base and top coats. I see a little bit of slight, barely noticeable chipping and fletching at the tips now, but it’s held up well so far!

Deep reds like this usually show every bit of wear and tear, but Faimma has already held up to probably 10 solid hours of typing and half a dozen dish washing sessions (not to mention the opening of at least 10 cans of gravy). 🙂

It’s $25 and available now with the rest of the fall collection from Dolce & Gabbana.

Oh, and public service announcement based on personal experience: if you buy one of those cute pie pumpkins from Trader Joe’s with the intention of baking an actual pie with it, you might not want to name it.

Because I did. I named it Hal, and then when I got ready to make the pie, I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

I looked at the knife…then at Hal…then at the knife…then at Hal.

Couldn’t do it. So no pie for me.

Especially not with Marguerite watching. She’s Hal’s small, spunky friend. 🙂

What are you wearing on your nails?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Carbon Makes a Cameo in the MAC Keepsakes Holiday Collection Smoky Face Palette

October 6th, 2014 by Karen 9 Comments

MAC Keepsakes Face Palette in Smoky Face Palette

The new MAC Face Palette in Smoky ($49.50 US/$59.50 CAD), one of two new Face Palettes in the MAC Keepsakes holiday collection, gives good smoke. Each of the palettes contains a mix of seven eye, face and lip products for a different themed look.

Rrraow! Some good-looking colors and finishes here, and I love that LE pearl packaging with the cameo design.

I see a lot of smokey (or smoky) eyes in my immediate future. 🙂

Both Smoky and Natural, the second Face Palette in the Keepsakes collection, will be available on the MAC website starting October 19, at North American MAC stores and counters October 23 through December 18, and at all international MAC locations some time this November.

The Smoky Face Palette includes…

LUSTRE EYE SHADOW IN FILAMENT, a platinum silver
FROST EYE SHADOW IN ARISTOCRATIC AURA, a dirty blue gray with silver pearl
MATTE EYE SHADOW IN CARBON, an intense black
IRIDESCENT PRESSED POWDER IN BORN TO DAZZLE, a white gold champagne with pearl
CREAM COLOUR BASE IN PEARL, a pale gold with icy shimmer
AMPLIFIED LIPSTICK IN PETULANCE, a mauvey mid-tone nude
AMPLIFIED LIPSTICK IN EVENING POSH, a clean bright red

Give a Makeup Memento With the MAC Keepsakes Eyes Palettes in Plum, Beige and Smoky

October 6th, 2014 by Karen 15 Comments

Just in case you’ve started looking for pretty eyeshadow palettes to stuff into stockings. 🙂

Every year MAC gets into the seasonal holiday collection spirit by releasing a number of limited edition eye palettes, face palettes, makeup kits and sets, usually with an overarching theme and special packaging.

This year’s theme: keepsakes.

Each of the three Keepsakes Eyes palettes — Beige, Smoky and Plum — house eight powder eyeshadows in a mix of re-promoted and brand new shades, and they’re all coming to the MAC website starting October 19, then to North American MAC stores and counters October 23 through December 18, and to all international locations sometime in November.

Isn’t the packaging pretty? I like it, but I’m a little worried about the plastic pearl fringing around the edge… It has a little wiggle to it, and I’m afraid it might break.

Awfully pretty, though.

Beige Eyes, $39.50 US/$47.50 CAD

The Beige Eyes palette includes…

HER MISTRESS, a soft pastel egg with a Matte finish
SWEET SOVEREIGN, a frosty gold champagne with a Lustre finish
QUINTESSENTIAL, a dirty olive with a Frost finish
MYSTERY, a muted plum brown with a Satin finish
OMEGA, a soft muted beige taupe with a Matte finish
TEMPTING, a sinfully rich coco with a Lustre finish
FAIRE MAIDEN, a bright coppery gold with a Lustre finish
NIGHT WHISPER, a rich blackened brown with a Veluxe Pearl finish

Smoky Eyes, $39.50 US/$47.50 CAD

The Smoky Eyes palette includes…

FANCY DRESS, a chalky white beige with a Matte finish
KID, a soft beige with a Veluxe Pearl finish
SATIN TAUPE, a taupe with silver shimmer and a Frost finish
NOBLE SPIRIT, a warm blackened brown with a Satin finish
FORGERY, a sterling silver with a Lustre finish
HONEY LUST, a bronze dipped peach with a Lustre finish
DIVINE RULE, a frosty gray mauve with silver pearl and a Lustre finish
CARBON, an intense black with a Matte finish

Plum Eyes, $39.50 US/$47.50 CAD

The Plum Eyes palette includes…

SENSIBILITY, a pale frosty pink with a Frost finish
PLUM GRAND, a dirty frosty lavender with a Veluxe Pearl finish
TAUPELESS, an icy pink with silver sparkle and a Lustre finish
MAGIC MOOR, a rich blackened plum with pearl and a Veluxe Pearl finish
SUBTLY ELEGANT, a light grayish lilac with a Matte finish
FASHION BEAT, a dirty violet gray with a Lustre finish
NOCTURNELLE, a pinked-up chrome purple with a Frost finish
SHADOWY LADY, a blackened plum with a matte finish

The MAC Heirloom Mix Collection: For the Cool, Glitter-Loving Ladies of the Royal Court

October 6th, 2014 by Karen 24 Comments

Here’s a breakdown of the above look…
On my eyes I’m wearing the MAC Pressed Pigments in Victorian Plum (lower crease, inner lid, outer V and lower lash lines), Nostalgic (center of the lid), Nobel Descent (upper crease) and Regal Affair (inner corner); MAC Kohl Power Eye Pencil in Feline on my water lines, and upper and lower lash lines; MAC Fluidline in Dark Majesty on my upper lash lines; Eylure No 080 False lashes and the Tom Ford Brow Sculptor in Espresso.

In my brows, that’s Anastasia Clear Brow Gel.

On my cheeks, I’m wearing MAC Mineralize Blush in Modest Blush on the apples, MAC Sheer Mystery Powder in Deep Dark just beneath the apples to contour, and the Hourglass Ambient Powders in Radiant Light and Incandescent Light (from the Ambient Lighting Palette) mixed together to highlight my upper cheekbones.

Lips are MAC Matte Lipstick in Salon Rouge.

And on my face, I’m wearing Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Pore Minimizing Foundation Primer, Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Flawless Fluid in Chai, Dior Diorskin Nude Concealer in 003 Sable/Sand and YSL Touche Eclat in 4.5.

Necklace is by H&M, and the earrings are the Climbing Vines Earrings by Kristin Perry.

Last weekend my brother came to visit and stayed the night, and, of course, as usual, I was the couch commando (also known as remote hog). I was flipping through Netflix with the remote in my hand when I asked, “Who wants to watch The Duchess?”

Dead silence.

None of the boys — El Hub, my bro or Tabs — were into watching Keira Knightley, who plays the Duchess of Devonshire, parade around in a huge wig. Big shock.

I actually really dig regal movies. Anything with royal intrigue and stylish ladies of the court — the kind who wear wigs so tall that they touch the candles in the chandeliers and catch fire (’cause you know I’m all about the big hair! And flames!), and the painted moles, and the big dresses. 🙂

If I were a royal, you better believe I’d be the gal with the tallest, biggest, most flaming wig (assuming someone quickly put it out), because then my hair would sparkle like the MAC Heirloom Mix collection.

If you’ve been following MAC for a while, you probably know how much they like to go big when it comes to flashy finishes in holiday collections, and true to form, there’s a lot of sparkle and frost in Heirloom Mix. Glitter is practically everywhere in the 30-piece limited edition collection.

MAC Heirloom Mix: My 2-minute overview

Cool-toned colors — Color temp-wise, this collection leans cool, and it’s heavy on cool-toned grays, blues and violets.
Glitter and frost — SO MUCH OF THIS. It comes through strong in the Pressed Pigments (ooh gurl…we got drama!!), the Loose Glitters, Cremesheeen Glasses and one of the Nail Lacquers. When I was doing the look for the top pic, I felt like I had more glitter on my face than a Johnny Weir ice skating costume (remember his holiday collection with MAC? Good times!). For serious, while I love glitter, I’m a little cranky about the Pressed Pigments, but I’ll get to that in a minute…
Lipstick love — If you’re only planning to take one thing home form the collection, let it be one of the bright, bold lipsticks in red, berry, plum or pink (the vibe I’m getting: MAC Rocky Horror Picture Show, Part II). They’re my favorite part of the collection.

OK, so, the Pressed Pigment drama…

MAC Heirloom Mix Pressed Pigments clockwise from the lower left: Regal Affair, Nostalgic, Noble Descent, Victorian Plum, Enchantment, Modern Majesty, Noblesse Oblige and Prim and Proper — Clockwise from the lower left: Regal Affair, Nostalgic, Noble Descent, Victorian Plum, Enchantment, Modern Majesty, Noblesse Oblige and Prim and Proper

For the pics in this post I’m wearing a few of the eight Pressed Pigments from the collection. They were the first pieces in the release that caught my eye.

MAC Heirloom Mix Pressed Pigments clockwise from the lower left: Regal Affair, Nostalgic, Noble Descent and Victorian Plum — Pressed Pigments clockwise from the lower left: Regal Affair, Nostalgic, Noble Descent and Victorian Plum

Now, I’ve used Pressed Pigments before, and I’ve liked them. The others I used were glittery and fun and a pretty good deal, too. You got a big 0.1-oz. pan for $21 — double the size of a regular MAC Eye Shadow.

MAC Heirloom Mix Pressed Pigments clockwise from the left: Enchantment; Modern Majesty; Noblesse Oblige; and Prim and Proper — Pressed Pigments clockwise from the left: Enchantment, Modern Majesty, Noblesse Oblige, and Prim and Proper

But the Pressed Pigments in Heirloom Mix are teeny, tiny. They cost $19.50 each for 0.04 ounces, which is about 20 percent smaller than a regular MAC Eye Shadow and less than half the size of the other Pressed Pigments I’ve used, which hold 0.1 ounces of Pressed goodness each.

Can’t say I’m a fan of brands charging the same price or more for less product, but I’ve been seeing a lot of that lately. *grinds teeth*

Lipstick love

MAC Heirloom Mix Lipsticks from the left: Tribalist, No Faux Pas, Sparks of Romance, Rebel and Salon Rouge — Lipsticks from the left: Tribalist, No Faux Pas, Sparks of Romance, Rebel and Salon Rouge

As for the lipsticks, I like. 🙂 Whether you have cool- or warm-toned skin, these should do ya. No sparkle here. Just rich, intense shades of berry, pink, red and plum. Your classic holiday colors.

I really dig No Faux Pas, the hot pink (big surprise). It’s a refreshing pop of color among the darker reds and berries we see a lot in holiday collections.

And then there’s Sparks of Romance, the red Matte. It’s a vintage, classic red that neither leans blue nor yellow. This one, I think, will look great on just about everyone.

The overall collection: is it fit for a royal?

Well, sure, for a lady of the court who wears cool tones well. I think there are some lovely lipsticks here, but, truth be told, about the entire collection, my warm-toned heart isn’t fluttering.

MAC Heirloom Mix Cremesheen Glasses from the left: Ceremonial, Seeking Adoration, Social Season, Romantic Overture and Courting Chic — Cremesheen Glasses from the left: Ceremonial, Seeking Adoration, Social Season, Romantic Overture and Courting Chic

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 341

October 6th, 2014 by Karen 29 Comments

The Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll for October 6, 2014

You might be wondering, “So what in tarnation is this Monday Poll thing anyway!?”

Well, it isn’t exactly a poll. It’s more of a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past seven years. (It’s like a kickstart for your brain.) I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

I’d characterize my style as ________.
Hawaii surfer chic meets quirky cat lady with Chanel and Kate Spade taste on a Pasta Pomodoro budget.

When I see someone wearing socks with sandals, my first thought is _______.
OH HELL TO THE NO.

But I’d do it too if I were cold enough and had no other options for toe warmth…or if the socks were toe socks. For some reason, I feel like toe socks with sandals are slightly more stylish.

Sock stipulations: I haz them!

Off-duty days call for __________.
Scrunchies, clothes with copious amounts of Spandex, my couch, a Netflix marathon (right now I’m watching Gilmore Girls), a stack of books and magazines. delicious snack foods (both healthy and, um, not so healthy) prepared by someone other than myself, and bras that don’t have under wires.

Everything changed for me when ______.
I realized that I had a ride-or-die partner by my side. Someone who was truly there for me. For most of my dating life, even when I was in committed relationships, I’d always felt like, if the sh*t ever hit the fan, ultimately, I’d have to handle everything on my own, and I was OK with that.

But when I met El Hub, who was El Boyfriend for five years before we got married, I no longer felt like I had to carry the weight of everything on my shoulders all the time.
The last event or thing that inspired me was ______.
The Mary Blair exhibit at the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco’s Presidio.

Your turn. 🙂 Just copy and paste the following questions into a comment with your answers. I look forward to reading ’em!

1. I’d characterize my style as ________.
2. When I see someone wearing socks with sandals, my first thought is _______.
3. Off-duty days call for __________.
4. Everything changed for me when _________.
5. The last event or thing that inspired me was _________.

Good morning, my friend!

You WILL have a happy Monday today. It’s 100% guaranteed.

In other news, I keep trying to not be so obsessed with Karl Lagerfeld, but it’s really freaking hard. I feel like he gets me, man.

Case in point, your Karl quote for the week…

“I love to be creative all the time… If not, I would be bored and boredom is a crime.”

— Karl Lagerfeld

If Karl ever asked me to cat sit for him, I would not say no.

Um…please don’t tell Tabs that. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen