Karen

Eyes Go Au Naturel With the Bare Necessities in Sonia Kashuk’s New Eyeshadow Palette

August 20th, 2014 by Karen 14 Comments

Sonia Kashuk Bare Necessities Eyeshadow Palette (1)

Sometimes you run into an eyeshadow palette that you just know you’re going to be all over like a plus-size tabby on an open can of gravy.

That’s how I am about Sonia Kashuk’s new Eyeshadow Palette in Bare Necessities ($14.29).

It houses six nude powder eyeshadows, and get this — there are a couple of mattes, too, so it’s not just shimmer town as far as the eye can see.

I really like the color temps here. None of the colors are too warm or cool, so most gals (and dudes) should be able to rock ’em.

Oh, and the palette? It’s only $14.29.

HOLLA! 🙂

Look for it at Target stores.

My Mind Keeps Telling Me No…

August 20th, 2014 by Karen 15 Comments

But the two maneki-neko cats that live on the windowsill in my office keep telling me, “Do it! You need the Kate Spade Hello Tokyo Cat Purse, Jimi Flats and Cat iPhone 5 Case.”

I’ve had my eye on these for a while…

I’m not sure how much longer I can resist that purse, man. The cuteness is clawing at my soul.

For the record, I’m going to file this under “Crazy Cat Lady Problems.”

Maneki Neko (3) — “Meow! We need a new friend, Karen. NEED!”

Maneki Neko (4) — “Three maneki-neko cats are better than two… We’re just sayin’.”

Turn on Your Eye High Beams With the Giorgio Armani Beauty Fall 2014 Fade to Grey Eyeshadow Palette

August 20th, 2014 by Karen 19 Comments

Wearing the new Giorgio Armani Fall 2014 Fade to Grey Eyeshadow Palette, $88 (!)

Words one does not expect to hear at a Giorgio Armani Beauty counter: “Where’s, like, the dollar menu?”

Because everything is pricey! — like this new $88 eye palette from Giorgio Armani’s Fade to Grey fall 2014 collection.

That’s a lot of glow, yo.

The sleek, stylish black packaging houses two absolutely beautiful eye luminous shimmer shadows, side by side — one, a warm, shimmery golden peach, and the other a purply taupe-ish grey.

On lids, these shadows are like Buzz Lightyear, reflecting light to infinity and beyond. The super shiny finish makes my eyes look BIG, doe-eyed and bright, and the effect is even more pronounced when I incorporate a dramatic mascara, like Armani’s new Black Ecstasy, which I’m wearing here.

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For a Plush Pout, Call 1-800-NARS Velvet Lip Liner

August 20th, 2014 by Karen 18 Comments

NARS Nihiwatu Velvet Lip Liner — Wearing the new NARS Velvet Lip Liner in Nihiwatu ($24)

Ooh! shiny…

But not shiny like the sparkling mega twinkle of Ryan Gosling’s smile. More like the shiny finish of a classic Chanel flap bag — ideally one in black leather with gold hardware (that’s a hint, El Hub, in case we win the $160 million Mega Millions jackpot this week).

Um…please excuse my crazy hair and lack of makeup today, LOL! I literally put this face on in five minutes before snapping these pics (it’s a long story, but it has to do with tomorrow and a certain long-running American cartoon).

NARS Velvet Lip Liners from the left: Lanikai, Belle Mare, El Agua, Costa Smeralda, Nihiwatu, Playa Dorado, Anse Soleil, Waimea, Patong Beach, Medano Beach, Mirihi Island Beach and Karekare

Thanks to a slight sheen, these new $24 NARS Velvet Lip Liners (which are awesomely named after beaches!) pop in a way that matte lip liners don’t. The velvety finish reflects just enough light to be eye-catching. Because of it, you could probably even wear them alone and skip lipstick altogether if you wanted a long-wearing lip color that you didn’t have to touch up throughout the day.

NARS Velvet Lip Liner Swatches from the left: Lanikai, Belle Mare, El Agua, Costa Smeralda, Nihiwatu and Playa Dorado — Swatches from the left: Lanikai, Belle Mare, El Agua, Costa Smeralda, Nihiwatu and Playa Dorado

NARS Velvet Lip Liner Swatches from the left: Anse Soleil, Waimea, Patong Beach, Medano Beach, Mirihi Island Beach and Karekare — Anse Soleil, Waimea, Patong Beach, Medano Beach, Mirihi Island Beach and Karekare

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Answer This: What’s the Secret to Gorgeous Hair?

August 20th, 2014 by Karen 28 Comments

MAC Patentpolish Lip Pencil in Fearless, a deep bluish pink

Ah, the age-old questions…

What’s the meaning of life?

What’s my purpose in this world?

Who built the pyramids?

Why do cats barf so much?

What’s the secret to gorgeous hair?

To me, all of the above remain mysteries, but I do think there are some things you can do to gorgeous-ify your hair and make it worthy of a Pantene commercial, like, not washing it every day, which I know sounds really gross, but it totally helps retain your color, if your hair is color-treated like mine.

When it comes to hair, genetics plays a part, but I think its significance is often overstated. I’ve seen so many hair makeovers where the person upgraded their coif quality by leaps and bounds, and the before and after pics look like totally different people. Depending on your hair health, there’s usually a lot you can do with your hair.

Avoiding heat styling as much as possible, at least for me, is probably the biggest hair booster. I limit myself to once, maybe twice a week because it seems like the less I mess with blowdryers, flat irons and hot rollers, the better off my hair is in general. It’s not as dry, better behaved and less unruly, and I get fewer split ends.

I think it also really helps to scour the universe until you find a stylist who completely understands your hair and its texture. Somewhere out there is the perfect someone for your hair. It’s a question of tracking them down.

What do you think? What’s the secret to gorgeous hair?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

I’m Really Lichen Golden Mossy Maybelline Color Tattoo Pure Pigments Eyeshadow in Forest Fatale

August 19th, 2014 by Karen 11 Comments

Maybelline’s Color Tattoo Pure Pigments Eyeshadow in Forest Fatale (1)

Next to Downtown Brown, which I love for its practicality, Forest Fatale is my second favorite Maybelline Color Tattoo Pure Pigments Eyeshadow shade.

An ethereal, almost mystical golden mossy color, it’s a beauty all on its own. It doesn’t need any help.

Forest Fatale is like waking up on a bed of leaves in an enchanted forest, and looking up to see sunlight filtering through the branches of the trees above you.

I simply lurve it, but it has a darker side…

Ooh! Mysterious. Don’t worry, though — it’s a good darker side.

Layer it on top of a black base like MAC Smolder Eye Kohl, and jello, drama! Forest Fatale transforms into a total @ss-kicker color worthy of cute brass knuckles and a kickin’ moto jacket (complete with skull and crossbones).

Yes, I said cute brass knuckles…because you know I’m not about to roll with a pair of fugly ones. 🙂

Fashionable Forest Fatale is also an affordable $7, and you can find it now at Ulta stores and online.

Unsung Makeup Heroes: Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder

August 19th, 2014 by Karen 10 Comments

By no means is Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder sexy or exciting.

It’s a loose face powder with a single talent, but it’s a talent I quite appreciate.

It sets under-eye concealer — and it’s not flashy, but it does its job well. If dark under-eye circles are a bane of your existence, as they are mine, Secret Brightening Powder is freaking fantastic.

I’m serious! — it belongs on the periodic table of elements. That’s how special I think it is. The light-as-air setting powder has white pigments in it that create a subtle brightening effect and help to cancel out dark shadows.

I’ve been using this stuff with concealer on my dark circles off and on for years, and it never looks caked-on or riddled with creases. It keeps my concealer from scooting around and also increases wear time. Perfect for when you’re hardly getting any sleep, and/or you’ve been recently bitten by a zombie, and you’re this close to turning.

Because, clearly…when one is losing their last vestiges of humanity, dark under-eye circles are still a concern. #priorities 🙂

Anywho! I’ve had this one jar for, like, seven years. Yeah…it lasts a long time. It only takes a tiny amount to set your concealer.

The long-running Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorite permanent collection products from a variety of bodacious beauty brands.

To apply, I load a small amount (you don’t want to apply too much; otherwise, it looks obvious) on a fluffy eyeshadow brush like the MAC 217, and layer that directly on top of my under-eye concealer using a patting motion, rather than a swiping motion.

(You don’t want to swipe, lest you can accidentally swipe away your concealer and end up looking MORE tired. No me gusta.)

Once applied, Secret Brightening locks down your concealer, where it should behave for the rest of the day.

It comes in two shades, too. The first, #1, is for fair and medium skin tones, while #2 is for medium, tan and darker skin tones. A 0.14-ounce jar will set you back $24, and you can find it now at Laura Mercier counters and online.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Dolce & Gabbana’s New Bronzer Duo Asks, “Are You a Natural Bronze?”

August 19th, 2014 by Karen 7 Comments

Dolce Gabbana Bronzer Duo Natural Bronze (1)

Smokey eyes, red lips, jet black nails (mmm, Dior Bar)…

I’m sitting here in my office right now wearing a sweater and long pants. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear it was November.

That’s just craziness…

Scientists are saying that the odds of an El Niño happening this year are dropping, but maybe they forgot to tell Northern California because it already feels like fall!

Weather-wise, I’m not ready for it yet. Makeup-wise, it doesn’t really matter, especially when it comes to bronzers.

Because i’m always down for bronzers. 🙂 Bronzers like the Bronzer Duo in Natural Bronze ($66) by Dolce & Gabbana. The finely milled powder practically melts into the skin.

The compact houses two pans of bronzer — one lighter than the other — which sort of share a beauty bunk bed, with one on top of the other. You can use the shades individually, or mix them together.

Both bronzers have warm golden reddish undertones and delicate sheens. I like ’em more for adding light veils of warmth all over my face than for sculpting and contouring, since the reddish tones can look a little muddy and funky when I concentrate them below my olive cheekbones.

If, however, your skin has prominent reddish undertones, you should be able to use both of these for adding warmth and/or for contouring, and it would probably look effortless and natural (and who doesn’t want that?).

If you’re interested, say ciao to the Bronzer Duo next time you see it. It’s available now online and at Dolce & Gabbana counters.