Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup
A beauty blog blooming with fresh makeup reviews, swatches and beauty tips from your friendly neighborhood beauty addict
The name of this powder blush from the RiRi Hearts MAC fall collection is a play on Rihanna’s song, Good Girl Gone Bad, but for real though, when I wear it, I feel much more like “Good Girl Gone Goofy.”
There’s just something about this satiny copper! It makes me giddy in the best possible way. 🙂
Sometimes drawing that lil’ flick at the end of my cat eyeliner can be a pain, but that’s so not the case with Pointblack Liquidlast Liner from MAC’s new RiRi Hearts MAC Fall collection.
The skinny, flexible brush that comes with this liquid liner draws thin, precise lines, making cat eyes and cat eye flicks super easy to do.
Bust out your umbrella-ella-ella, because it’s raining more Rihanna-themed makeup this fall over at MAC.
The songstress and MAC take the stage later this month for an encore to her RiRi Hearts MAC summer collection with the new 20-piece RiRi Hearts MAC fall collection for eyes, cheeks and lips.
You known I love me my warm neutrals, so of course, the Her Cocoa Eye Shadow X 4 ($44 US, $52.50 CDN) caught my eye first. 😀
Consider Tom Ford’s Eye Defining Pen in Deeper if…
At $55, this bad boy requires serious beauty budget wiggle room.
Yep, you read that right — $55 for a black liquid liner.
Deep breaths. I know, it’s effing outrageous, but it’s typical of Tom “Too Expensive” Ford.
For that many tacos, it better perform.
So does it? Will it blow your highlighted ombre hair back?
In the event you were wondering how it feels to wear green lipstick late on a Monday afternoon…
Emerald, one of four new Classic Cream Lipsticks in the eight-piece Dolce & Gabbana Sicilian Jewels holiday collection, is one of those colors that can look edgy and cute if you’re a teen or in your early 20s…but fast-forward a decade or two and it’s “Hello, Helena Bonham Crazy!”
The four jewel-toned lipsticks in the release ($35 each) are joined by four matching nail polishes, so yeah, while you’re sporting your funky green lip, you can also rock green claws/paws.
I think Emerald’s the most fashion-forward lippie in the collection by far (I’ve yet to see the nail polishes up close and personal), and to truly pull it off, you either have to be a villain from the Harry Potter movies or a 6-foot-tall model stomping down a runway in Milan.
Or something like that.
Who cares though? It’s still fun. 🙂
The other lipsticks seem pretty tame by comparison. Red Ruby, purple Amethyst and amber Topaz take a more classic route.
Heart pounding in her chest, she moved silently, low to the ground, her predatory senses extending out around her in search of her prey…
The alpha female had dreamt of this moment for days while she tracked her target, visualizing the attack and playing it over and over in her mind. Closing her eyes, she could almost feel her fangs crunching down in that first intoxicating bite…
As she rounded a corner, the hair on the back of her neck bristled. It was time. She locked eyes with a lanky, Bieber-haired teen behind the counter and growled, “One medium popcorn, please. Hold the butter.”
Wait — what?
Oh, yeah! I wore Tom Ford’s Ombre Eye Color in She Wolf ($60) to the movies last Friday (saw Riddick), and yes, I felt like a predator on the prowl… Never mind that I was hunting popcorn. 🙂
I can’t be sure if it was due to the delicious, salty popcorn or the grayish taupe on my eyes, but in the middle of the movie theater, the urge to stand up and howl was strong.
Thankfully, I resisted.
This new trio from Tom’s fall collection takes the idea of “three” in an interesting direction, with three powder shadows in three similar shades and three different finishes. Worn together, the shadows create a complex ombre effect that transitions from one shade to the next.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from these shadows or how they’d work with my warm skin tone. The trio includes a matte grayish brown (the darkest color), a grayish taupe with a light sheen (the middle shade) and a sheer, glittery silvery gray (the lightest of the three).
Gorgeous! There isn’t a throwaway in the bunch, and while the colors really do look like a gray wolf’s fur, I think they’re probably best suited to light-skinned lady humanoids and cool skin tones.
Not that they shouldn’t also work well on warm skin tones. They actually do, which I didn’t expect at all. She Wolf just might be one of those rare wolves that gets along well with almost everyone.
Kind of makes up a little for the $60 price tag (that’s Tom Ford for ya!)…
Each of this palette’s shadows can stand on its own, but She Wolf’s true power comes to bear when you wear all three of them together to create that awesome ombre effect. By themselves, the colors are cubs, but together they’re a wolf pack. 🙂
I like patting the darkest color in the outer corners of my eyes, the mid-toned one in the center of my lids and the glitter on the inner side for a gradient that moves from dark to light, and from matte to sheen to sparkling glitter.
Tré cool.
Another thing? The palette loves layering. Try applying the glitter first as a base all over your lids, and then pat either the medium or darkest shade (or a mix of both) right on top. The glitter will peek through the other colors, but slightly toned down.
Just another fun way to wear it.
You might be wondering, “So what the heck is this Monday Poll thing anyway?”
Well, it isn’t much of a poll. It’s more just a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past five years. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.
But at least they’re neatly stacked piles, haha!
No, really, that’s what it’s called, and it was actually REALLY good! Even El Hub thought so. Every time he had to get up for something he’d hurry back and ask, “What did I miss??”
If I’m still on schedule after that, I hop on the treadmill for 20-25 minutes, because I find that when I don’t exercise early in the morning, it just doesn’t get done at all. Work starts and time flies, and by the late afternoon I’m tired.
After working out, I quickly clean up, get dressed, and start writing my posts for the day doing Tabs’ bidding.
I use them in virtually every look. They’re the most practical makeup brushes I own.
My skin hasn’t been this smooth in years! — and the stuff has really helped with my chin acne.
It’s definitely chipping…
Now it’s your turn. Just copy and paste the following questions into a comment with your answers. I look forward to reading ’em! 🙂1. Is your desk neat or messy?
2. One fun thing you did over the weekend?
3. What book(s) are you reading?
4. Something you keep meaning to do but don’t?
5. What’s a typical morning for you?
6. Three of the makeup brushes you use most often?
7. What’s one of your best eye makeup tips?
8. Something you’ve been loving lately?
9. Any life-changing beauty products lately?
10. Are you wearing any polish on your toes, and if you are, what shade?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. I have it on very good authority that you are going to have an excellent week. Don’t ask me how I know. I just do. 🙂
Dear Tabby is written by Tabs the Cat, commonly regarded as “the world’s first plus-size kitty supermodel.” Founded in mid 2012, it has quickly become the most widely syndicated cat advice column on earth — known for its fresh, feline perspective on lifestyle, fashion and style issues affecting cats and humans.
DEAR TABBY: One of my roommate cats, Fluffy, has started going gray. She’s developing patches of salt-and-pepper fur, but the thing is, she’s only four years old!
The other day we were outside looking for lizards together when a tomcat walked by. He gestured toward Fluffy and asked, “mrow?” Is she your mommy cat?
Um…I flipped out. Tabby, Fluffy is only six months older than me.
Fluffy didn’t seem to mind, but I suggested that she dye her fur. I’ve seen some really trendy styles (I love lion cuts) and dye jobs online.
I’ve been toying with the idea of surprising her with a free trip to the kitty salon, but what do you think, Tabby? Would it be an appropriate gift?
— Helpful in Houston
DEAR HELPFUL: Unless you want a big surprise of your own (in the shape of sharp claws and a really angry cat), don’t do it.
I know that in today’s kitten-obessed culture, going gray early isn’t always viewed in a positive light, but it should be. Most cats don’t mind, and some even sport the look on purpose, believing it makes them look more distinguished.
My advice: learn to accept and appreciate your roommate for the kitty she is.
DEAR TABBY: My co-worker, Buttons, is always asking to borrow money for gravy and catnip, and I usually say yes. But it makes me uncomfortable. We work together at the same kitty modeling agency and see each other every day.
Yesterday at Petco Buttons asked me for 69 cents to buy a can of Fancy Feast. I lied and told him that I didn’t have any money on me, but when I went up to the register to get my gravy with my VISA debit card, Buttons pranced over and told the cashier to also ring up his can on my card.
I was shocked! The nerve…
I work hard for my gravy, Tabby, but I wouldn’t mind so much if Buttons reciprocated. Of course, he never does. What should I do? I’m saving up for grad school right now (I just got accepted into UC Davis’ Catnip Cultivation program), so I need every penny.
— Ticked in Tampa
DEAR TICKED: That is annoying! Way I see it, you can handle it in one of two ways.
You could take the cat by the claws and assertively tell Buttons to knock it off, or you can bide your time until you leave for school.
Whatever you decide, don’t feel bad. You’re not in the wrong. Buttons is taking advantage.
DEAR TABBY: What are your thoughts on inter-office romances? Specifically, I’m referring to two assistants dating.
My executive assistant, Charlene, whom I’ve worked with since I was a kitten, has been spending a great deal of time at another assistant’s office.
The assistant’s name is Bob, and he lives in the apartment next door.
Bob moved in about six months ago, and I recognized his potential shortly after he arrived. He’s friendly, professional, attentive, and gifted in kitty massage. Tabby, he has all the makings of an exemplary executive assistant.
Charlene must have noticed it, too, because she and Bob have been getting along swimmingly. Either she’s at his office, or he’s at ours.
In a way, I have access to two assistants — which I love! I can send Bob out to get gravy while Charlene brushes my fur.
It’s fantastic!
But I’m worried…
What if their relationship sours? I don’t want to have to choose sides.
— Living Large in Los Angeles
DEAR LIVING LARGE: This may sound old-fashioned, but I’m not a huge fan of inter-office romances.
I know they’re common nowadays, but they can be bad news if things don’t work out. And that kind of distraction could be bad for business.
With that said, you’re in a tough spot. It sounds like you have access to two great assistants.
Now, I know another cat who was in a similar situation, and he tried to sabotage the relationship by shredding the office furniture and kicking kitty litter onto the floor.
It did not go well. Both assistants ended up treating him like the villain.
In this case, I think your only option is to go with the flow. Neither you nor I can predict the future, but there is a lesson here. Next time, make sure your company has a policy against inter-office fraternization.
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