Karen

A Summery Reddish Orange Lip With Dolce & Gabbana’s Classic Cream Lipstick in Fire

June 25th, 2014 by Karen 17 Comments

Wearing Dolce & Gabbana Classic Cream Lipstick in Fire ($33)

OK, so my next door neighbor has these flowers in her front yard, and there’s this orangey red one. Every single time I walk by it I have to stop and stare for a few seconds because it’s so vibrant and eye-catching.

Reddish orange flower from my neighbor's front yard — Hello, beautiful!

I was under its spell yesterday and thought, “I need to find a lipstick like that…”

Then I thought, “And I need to wear that lipstick…”

Then I pictured dream Karen throwing her arms up in the air, twirling around in circles and screaming, “It’s summer, world! HAAAAAAY!”

OK, that last part didn’t happen. 🙂 But maybe if I’d had a glass of wine first…

Anyways! The flower looked exactly like Fire, one of the reformulated Dolce & Gabbana Classic Cream Lipsticks I mentioned yesterday.

An opaque electric orangey red, Fire sometimes borders on coral, depending on what I’m wearing (it’s kind of a chameleon), like this reddish coral shift dress I’m wearing today.

Today I think Fire looks more coral, but when I wear a black or white shirt, I think it looks more red.

Now, about the formula, my lips aren’t in the best shape right now. They’ve been very dry lately (I think they got wind burned in Redding), and there’s some flaking along the edges, but not when they’re on Fire!

LOL! Sorry, bad pun. I just wanted to write “…not when they’re on Fire!”

I meant, not when I’m wearing Fire. 🙂

It applies smoothly and incredibly opaque, and here I’m only wearing one layer.

YEAH!

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Chanel Ecriture De Chanel Eyeliner Pen in Noir Is All-Caps FABULOUS!

June 25th, 2014 by Karen 12 Comments

Lots of bad-@ssery happening around this li’l pen. 🙂

Picture Jeremy Renner doing one-armed pushups, Ryan Gosling petting kittens, and James Bond, aka Daniel Craig, in a tuxedo feeding you Oreos dipped in real milk.

BAM!

Yeah, as much as I like almond milk, it’s total bullsh*t with Oreos, but I digress…

Back to the bad-@ssery I mentioned, I guess it shouldn’t come as a big surprise considering the cost of this particular pen, the Chanel Ecriture De Chanel liquid eyeliner pen in Noir. It’s $35 (!). But in this case, I think you get what you pay for.

One of two liquid pen liners in Chanel’s new fall collection (there’s also one called Brun, a brown, and a gray called Anthracite, which is part of the permanent collection), Noir has some good things going for it.

Pigment, dry time and longevity

Like midnight in the middle of the earth, Noir is dark! The color is true black, deep and intense, without any blue or green undertones, and you won’t be spending hella years waiting for it to dry. One pass leaves a full, solid line of dark color.

It’s also super shiny — almost as shiny as the MAC Superslicks — and lasts 8-12 hours, during which time it does not move, even on unprimed, naked lids.

Yeah, that’s sturdy.

Only thing, it’s not waterproof, so don’t go jumping on the treadmill when you wear it. If you perspire half as much as I do, you’ll end up with two panda eyes.

I’m just sayin’.

Also, with some liquid liners, I have to let them dry for a while with my eyes closed so they don’t transfer up into the crease, but not with Noir. It dries that fast.

The felt tip!

OK, now, I know we’re not talking about reinventing the wheel here. It’s just a black liner — a pretty basic staple — but I sure love this one’s felt tip.

For me, felt tips usually fall into one of two categories.

They’re either super skinny and flexible, like Dior’s and LORAC’s, which I like because I find them pretty easy to use. I can get those really sharp edges with them and control the thickness of the line.
Or, they’re thick and kind of stiff, like the MAC Penultimate and Superslick liners.
Not a lot of bend…

Chanel Ecriture’s tip is a hybrid of the two. It’s a little stiff, but still has some flex.

You still get that sort of wiggly glide you get from thin, uber-flexible liners, but at the same time the tip is stiff enough to really get between the roots of your lashes, especially those teeny, tiny hairs (I usually have to switch to a pencil liner to reach, but I can reach them with this liner).

An application tip…

Weirdly, the first time I touched this tip, I was like, “Yeah, no dice. There’s no frickin’ way.” Because it felt a little stiff, and I usually have a hard time with that, but this one I can actually use.

Mind you, there is a learning curve (well there was for me). I like to look down into a mirror, and holding the tip parallel to my lash line (along the edge, not the tippy-tip), press once in the inner corner, then again in the center, and then again in the outer corner to complete the line across.

One, two, three — Tabs, stop meowing! Tabs is meowing in the background right now. He’s driving me a little crazy. I think it’s because I’m talking about black liner and he’s like, “Haha! I have built-in liner, and mine is always perfect!”

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How Deliberate and Thoughtful Are You About New Makeup Purchases?

June 25th, 2014 by Karen 44 Comments

I’d like to say that I carry a cheat sheet with me everywhere I go with a laminated matrix of makeup cross-referenced and sorted, with ratings for finish, formula, wear time, pigment and perceived value…

Wait — no I don’t. I’m not that cray! 🙂 Most of the time I just go with my gut.

Assuming that I don’t barf a little or curse when I see the price, if I see a product and swatch it and get that fluttery feeling in my tum, nine times out of 10 I’ll make my way to the cashier (after first checking the store’s return policy).

I think I’m easy prey for savvy sales associates and makeup artists. When they see me, they’re probably thinking, “Oh, boy. Here’s another one. It’s like shooting fish in a barrel today!”

“Let me just try this on you,” they’ll say, and my gut will respond, “OK! Yeah! It looks gorgeous! Gotta have it!” 😀

So, yeah, when it comes to new makeup purchases, my gut usually drives the decision-making process.

Not exactly the scientific method, but it works for me.

How about you? How deliberate and thoughtful are you about new makeup purchases?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The Recently Reformulated Dolce & Gabbana Classic Cream Lipstick Line

June 24th, 2014 by Karen 13 Comments

Dolce & Gabbana Lipsticks from the left: Petal, Devil, Dahlia, Fire and Mandorla

Upgrade! 🙂

Oh, as if anyone could actually improve upon the perfection that is the Dolce & Gabbana Classic Cream Lipsticks. They were/are some of my favorite high-end lipsticks around, in large part due to their categorically creamy and righteously rich formula (sorry, adverb overload).

They’re everything I could ever want in an expensive lipstick…except a lower price, ba-dum-tss!

But seriously, they’re packed with pigment, last a really long time, and they’re smoother than a tabby’s tum. Plus, there’s that gorgeous golden tube… I always feel fancy when I take one out of my purse.

But, apparently, Team Dolce & Gabbana did think there was room for improvement, because they recently reformulated and revamped the entire Classic Cream Lipstick line. They also added 20 brand new shades, bringing the new total to 42 (!), divided into six categories — reds, oranges, purples, corals, pinks and nudes.

The five here are just a smattering from the line, but I’m wondering — would you like to see more? I wore Petal the other day, but if you’d like to see more of the others, holla at yo’ girl.

They’re $33 each and available now at Dolce & Gabbana counters at Saks Fifth Avenue stores, Macy’s, Nordies, Sephora and online at saksfifthavenue.com and sephora.com.

Dolce & Gabbana Lipsticks Swatches from the left: Petal, Devil, Dahlia, Fire and Mandorla — Swatches from the left: Petal, Devil, Dahlia, Fire and Mandorla

The 42 Dolce & Gabbana Classic Cream Lipstick shades



Amethyst
Ballerina (NEW)* 
Bellissima (NEW)* 
Black Magic (NEW)
Bonbon (NEW)
Cashmere
Chic (NEW)
Coral
Cosmopolitan
Dahlia
Daring (NEW)
Delicious
Delight (NEW)*
Devil
Dreamy (NEW)*
Fire
Glam
Goddess
Gorgeous (NEW)
Guilty (NEW)*
Honey (NEW)
Iconic
Immaculate (NEW)*
Luscious (NEW)
Mandorla
Nude
Petal
Plum Sapphire
Princess (NEW)
Purple Pearl
Red
Ruby (NEW)*
Sassy (NEW)
Scarlett
Seduction
Shocking
Star (NEW)*
Tease (NEW)
Tender (NEW)*
Traviata (NEW)*
Ultra
Venere

* Exclusive to Saks Fifth Avenue and saksfifthavenue.com.

There are 13 comments on this post. Leave yours. Categories: Daily Beauty

`Got a Beauty Hangover? The New Too Faced Hangover Face Primer Could Be the Cure`


June 24th, 2014 by Karen 19 Comments


  Wearing the new Too Faced Hangover Primer ($32) underneath BECCA Matte Skin Shine Proof Foundation and loving life
Ooh, gurl, have you heard the chismis?
(Chismis is Tagalog for “gossip.”)
Apparently, and you didn’t hear this from me, but Too Faced Hangover Primer is making MAC Prep + Prime Natural Radiance totally jealous with a capital J-E-L.
See, MAC Prep + Prime Natural Radiance and I — we roll deep. I’ve been using it almost daily for years. 
The stuff works great, and I also love how it feels like a lotion going on. Plus, it doesn’t give me breakouts, for which it gets extra credit from me because almost everything gives my combo skin fits. 
I can’t stand it when face primers feel heavy, you know, like they’re sitting in lounge chairs on my face. 
Ugh! It gives me the willies just thinking about it…
Thankfully, MAC Prep + Prime doesn’t do that. It feels light and wonderful to me, and my skin looks like real skin when I wear it! 
Well, like real skin…only more radiant and smoother. 🙂
Like I said, Prep + Prime and I have been buds for years, but lately I’ve been hanging out with this new Too Faced primer called Hangover, and after only two weeks, we’re already like this (you can’t see me, but I’m crossing my fingers here).
I’ve actually been reaching for Hangover’s silicone-free formula more than my bottle of Prep + Prime. 
JEALOUSY!
So what is it supposed to do?
A 1.35-oz pump tube is $32
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There are 19 comments on this post. Leave yours. Categories: Face, Makeup, Product Reviews, Skin Care, Too Faced

`Other People’s Flowers`


June 24th, 2014 by Karen 8 Comments






  
	  
                    
  
When I walked out my front door the other day I saw these beautiful flowers in my neighbor’s yard. 
I was like, “Oh, look!” I’m being greeted by flowers. 
That’s the thing about other people’s flowers… We’re allowed to enjoy them too. 🙂 
Do you have any neighbors who have a lot of flowers?


There are 8 comments on this post. Leave yours. Categories: Daily Photo

`The Rock N Roll Palette by Too Faced Cosmetics: These Tough and Tender Jewel Tones Rock`


June 24th, 2014 by Karen 19 Comments


  Wearing the new Too Faced Rock N Roll Palette while doing my best impression of a vixen in an ’80s Billy Idol video
I’m about as rock ‘n’ roll as a porcelain cat figurine sitting on a lace doily, but I’m not gonna let that stop me from releasing my inner headbanger! 
Rock, rock, rock, ROCK!
No, really. ’80s Billy Idol would totally hate me. He’d, like, sneer at me because I’d want to go home early because “I have to be in bed by 10.” 
Actually 9:30. OK, 9. 
But maybe he’d hate me less if I were wearing the new Too Faced Rock N Roll Palette ($36)…
Rock N Roll: what’s it all about?
The new Too Faced Rock N Roll Palette, $36
One of three palettes in the Too Faced Smitten Kitten collection for fall 2014 (the others are Country and Cat Eyes), Rock N Roll has a couple things in common with its siblings. Like the others, it houses nine eyeshadows in three rows, with each of the rows corresponding to a different makeup look — day, classic and fashion. 
With a focus on jewel tones, Rock N Roll’s shadows are richer and more intense than the others, so if you like the way you look in jewels, and particularly if you have a medium or darker skin tone and don’t want to spend eternity packing on shadows to get them to show up on you, this one is definitely swatch worthy.
Someone’s been channeling Urban Decay
I’m thinking it. You’re thinking it. We’re all thinking it. So let’s just come out and say it. 🙂 
These are some very UD-like colors — a deep green, a dark blue, an intense purple, and glitter for days. 
That said, there are far worse things in life than channeling Urban Decay. 
So, does it rock?
Rock N Roll’s colors have a harder edge to ’em, but at the same time, I think they’re still very girly. It’s glam meets pretty — something I think Too Faced does exceptionally well. Perfect for a Too Faced Cosmetics girl going to a Metallica concert with her metalhead boyfriend, ya feel me?
[INSERT SIGN OF THE BEAST HERE, AND TRY NOT TO CONFUSE IT WITH “I LOVE YOU” WHEN YOU’RE IN HEAD-BANGING MODE.]
Rock on!
Think tough with a little tenderness to it. Even with the more intense shades, the darkest you get is navy blue Heavy Metal, deep green Punk and dark brown Ska, which, by the way, is like a shimmery version of MAC Brun (LOVE!). I’m wearing it in the crease in these pics. 
Even then, the colors aren’t too harsh or dark. 
What about wear time?
Let me put it this way: these shadows easily last through the encore. Same goes for the other fall palettes. With Rock N Roll, I get 8-10 hours with just a bit of fading starting around hour 8. 
The right tools for the job
That’s Rockabilly along my brow bones, Ska in the crease, New Romantic on the inner half of my lids, Punk on my upper lash lines, Heavy Metal on my lower lash lines, and Rap in the inner corners
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There are 19 comments on this post. Leave yours. Categories: Eyes, Makeup, Palettes, Product Reviews, Too Faced

`What Beauty Issues Are Currently Besieging Your Mind?`


June 24th, 2014 by Karen 67 Comments


  
Well, besieging is maybe a tad overdramatic…
Naw, it’s fine. 🙂 
Let’s see… Other than finding new ways to stuff even more lipsticks and glosses into my bag (#truth), the beauty issues currently besieging my mind are…
Finding skin care products that actually work on my fine lines and wrinkles
First, I’m totally cool with looking my age. I’ve been through a lot in my 39 years, and I like I’m OK that it shows on my face. 
But I wouldn’t say no to a new kick-@ss anti-aging eye cream!
I’ve been using a non-acidic daily peel, Pericone MD’s Blue Plasma Orbital, at night for the past few months, and it does a good job on the tiny bumps on the skin around my eyes, but my fine lines are still just as fine as can be! 
The stuff also dries out quickly in the jar once it’s opened, and it’s not cheap ($65 for 0.5 ounces). 
Brows, brows, brows!
Ha! Sounds like a chant from a Dr. Seuss book.
Even though I’m satisfied with the current state of my brows (they’ve taken FOREVER to grow out) and have fully accepted that the bald spot in my left brow, aka Raul, will never leave me, I feel like I’m always looking for the next best way to get them looking full, yet natural. 
It’s a never-ending story, but a great pair of brows sets the stage for your makeup.
Covering up dark circles, aka finding the ultimate under-eye concealer
I want one that does it all! — the One True Concealer. One that brightens, covers completely, lasts all day long, looks and feels lightweight and doesn’t crease or settle into my fine lines.
I’ve been using MAC Pro Longwear Concealer for years, and it gets the job done, but there’s always room for something better, ya know? 
Witchy woman
Probably TMI, but I have these really annoying stiff hairs on my chin, and there’s like a whole gang of them, too. Not just one.  
I would love to find a way to vanquish them permanently, because I am hella tired of plucking them.
How about you? What are your most important and/or urgent beauty issues? In other words, what beauty issues are currently besieging your mind?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
There are 67 comments on this post. Leave yours. Categories: Just For Fun