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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

Karen

I’m Sweet On Illamasqua’s New Powder Blusher Duo in Hussy and Lover

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illamasqua powder blusher duo hussy
Wearing Illamasqua Powder Blusher Duo in Hussy

Can a Hussy be sweet and kinda innocent? Sure, why the hell not? 🙂

Hussy and Lover, the two blushes basking in Illamasqua’s new Powder Blusher Duo ($41), probably sound more scandalous than they are. A lot less dramatic than scheming harlots and vengeful tarts, the look itself reminds me of sock-hop dances, candy necklaces, ruffled dresses and high ponytails with satin ribbons tied into neat bows.

Allegedly (according to the package), the world’s biggest candy necklace!

Illamsqua’s funny that way, and ironic, and it’s one of the things I adore about the brand… Gotta love a colorful makeup line with a sense of humor and a flair for the dramatic.

The new duo, one of nine limited edition kits and sets available now online, and coming soon to cosmetics counters and stores, is part of Illamasqua’s holiday 2012 release; it also happens to be the brand’s first powder blush duo, ever.

As a certified makeup hoarder (I should get a stamp to prove it…like a notary, haha!), I find this very exciting. Even though both colors can also be found in Illamasqua’s permanent line, the duo itself still seems like a special collector’s item.

Additional makeup worn in this look

I love the way these matte blushes look with bright, saturated lips — namely hot pinks, reds, coral and fuchsia. I think they get along swimmingly, making bright lip looks appear even more intense.

I get my best, most natural, polished-looking results with these when I apply one or two layers using a circular motion, really buffing and working them into the skin with my brush. That way, I can get the colors to combine with my foundation and face powder; otherwise, the blushes, being as pigmented as they are, can appear a little stark and obvious.

Oh! And I think these have no qualms about layering. For a dynamic effect, I’ll buff Hussy all over the apples of my cheeks, swirl a bit of Lover on the very bottoms of my cheeks with a tapered eyeshadow brush, and run a clean blush brush all over my cheeks to blend the colors together.

illamasqua powder blusher duo compact lover hussy
Hussy on the left and Lover on the right

illamasqua powder blusher duo swatches
Swatches from the left: Lover, Hussy, and Lover and Hussy mixed together

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MAC Pro Products to Become Available on Maccosmetics.com

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Exciting news, MAC-aholics! Starting tomorrow, October 18, MAC Pro products will be available on maccosmetics.com. You don’t need a special MAC Pro card or anything, either — anyone can buy.

A big YAY to no longer having to make the trek into SF to get my MAC Pro fix on! 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Treat Your Lids and Lashes to Luxury With the Dior Celebration Collection Makeup Palette For the Eyes

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Dior Celebration Collection Makeup Palette for the eye
Wearing the new Dior Celebration Collection Makeup Palette for the eye

Played out.

That was my first reaction when I heard about Dior’s new brown-themed eye palette, the $65 Celebration Collection Makeup Palette for the Eyes.

For real though, doesn’t it seem like everyone and their mama has done a brown-themed eye palette by now?? Ever since UD Naked took the world by storm?

Considering the colors and the price, I was about to dismiss this new one from Dior, but I’m so glad I didn’t, because I think it takes well-trodden territory to elegant new heights.

The Celebration Collection Makeup Palette For the Eyes won’t win the Oscar for Flashiest Palette From Dior, at least not this holiday season, but dagnabbit if it’s not classy with a capital C.

Who’s that girl with the quilted velvet pouch? My, isn’t she fancy? 🙂

Oh, look! The pouch houses a sleek navy compact with buttery, easy-to-blend powder eyeshadows and a midnight black New Look Mascara for long, separated lashes, le wow!

Yes, Dior, you’re hitting all the right notes, and if this palette were comprised of just these pieces alone, with the price dropped accordingly, I’d be seriously tempted to gift it to my girlfriends.

But (isn’t there always a but?)…

Dior Holiday 2012

dior celebration collection makeup palette for the eyes swatches
Swatches from the left: Serum Primer, Brow Liner, matte brown eyeshadow, shimmery brown eyeshadow, shimmer beige eyeshadow Mini Crayon Eyeliner and New Look Mascara

dior expert eye palette
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Tired of Your Lip Look? Try a Two-Toned Matte Lip Twist on Brights

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Wearing Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Raven on my top lip and Ballet on my bottom lip
Wearing Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Raven on my top lip and Ballet on my bottom

Two-toned lips?I saw this really cool two-toned lip look on Pinterest the other day with a bright, glossy red on the upper lip and a fuchsia on the bottom.

So, so cool! (But totally impractical.)

Well…I guess if I walked around all day long with my mouth half open, LOL!

Imagine forgetting that you’re wearing it and accidentally smacking your lips together…

Oops! Hello, hot mess! 🙂

I wanted to try something similar, but more practical and wearable, yesterday, so I rutted around in my makeup drawer for ideas…

I thought that a creamy lipstick would migrate and move too much, but what about a bright long-wearing lippie like the Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipsticks? They’re super saturated liquid lipsticks with a matte finish, and they absolutely refuse to budge.

Ding-ding-ding! Winner, winner, chicken dinner! An idea started to form…

I applied the bright red shade, Raven, to my top lip with a lip brush, following it up (after Raven dried), and using a different lip brush (a clean one), with hot pink Ballet applied to my bottom lip.

What do ya think?

I know it’s not for everyone…but I think it’s pretty neat, especially if you’re feeling adventurous.

You could try a subtler version, keeping the red on your upper lip, but swapping the hot pink for a reddish coral like Hourglass Opaque Rouge Lipstick in Muse on the bottom…

Wearing Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Raven on my top lip and Muse on my bottom lip
Wearing Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Raven on my top lip and Muse on my bottom lip

The effect’s not quite as obvious, but if you look closely, you can see the two different shades.

Eh, it’s worth a try, right?
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Believe in the Magic of Unicorns, Makeup and a Cute-as-all-Heck Clutch Purse: The Paul & Joe Make Up Collection 2012 Holiday Kit

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Paul & Joe Holiday 2012

Deep thoughts on unicorns and the new Paul & Joe Make Up Collection 2012 Holiday Kit…

Question: why are unicorns called unicorns when they’re rarely seen around, or eating, corn? Wouldn’t “uni-horns” make more sense? Granted, it doesn’t sound as pretty, but it would be more accurate, don’t you think?

Question: if one were to spend a lot of time hanging out with unicorns, how often would accidental horn injuries occur? The phrase, “you could put an eye out,” seems particularly apt.

Question: what magic did Paul & Joe employ to make one of my favorite mythical beasts, one that I’ve loved since the age of 6 (You should’ve seen my unicorn sticker collection! It was epic!! The stuff of little girl dreams!), seem even cuter and cooler in their new limited edition $60 three-piece set?

Paul & Joe Holiday 2012 unicorn clutch purse

As an accessories ho a purse enthusiast, I can’t decide what I like more about this set, one of three prancing onto shelves for the holidays — the sweet satin purse with its golden detailing and purple inner liner, the makeup that comes with it or the unicorn with purple flowers weaved into its mane.

It’s like a treasure you’d find on a dusty shelf in a vintage store behind a row of empty perfume bottles and silver combs (I love finding things like that). 🙂

The clutch also comes with a couple pieces of pretty great cosmetics, like a shimmery, peachy pink blush with tiny flecks of gold and silver glitter (NOTE: the snowflake pattern is just an overspray that disappears after the first use).

Healthy, glowing skin a la Charlize Theron can be found here.

Paul & Joe Creamy Cheek Powder in 002 on the left and Face Powder in 001 on the right
Paul & Joe Creamy Cheek Powder in 002 on the left and Face Powder in 001 on the right

Paul & Joe Face Powder in 001
Paul & Joe Face Powder in 001

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Share a Tip Tuesdays: Be a Beauty Jane Bond With Your Hot Hairdryer

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Shoot, I use mine all the time to soften hard eyeliners, eyeshadow pencils and lip liners. I’ll set the dryer on its lowest setting, aim it right up close at the tip of the pencil, and hold it there about 30 seconds…

BAM! Smooth, creamy (melted) liner that applies like pastel paint.

It’s pretty hard to over-melt most makeup products, but you do have to be a little cautious about the temperature of the products you use this trick with before they touch the sensitive skin on your face. I always temp test them first on the back of my hand, just a tiny amount, to make sure they’re not too hot!

Welcome to another fact- and fun-filled installment of Share a Tip Tuesdays! 🙂 Thanks for the fabulous money-saving eye makeup tips you left in the comments on last week’s edition. Here are/were some of my favorites from last week…

I love Wet N Wild shadows and the little Sally Girl ones from Sally Beauty. They’re both super cheap but still good quality, so they’re a great way to test out a color that you may or may not like before dropping the big bucks on a high end brand.
–ESTHER

I love the MAC 239, Sigma E25, and my Sonika Kashuk bent eyeliner brush — can’t live without ‘em! As far as shadows, I think I take my Naked (or Naked 2!) palette every time I travel somewhere — can cover anything from day to night! As far as cost friendly shadows I love WnW’s Comfort Zone Palette and Maybelline’s color tattoos.
–MELISSA

I just tried Rimmel London’s Glam Eyes HD eyeshadow palette — the one that looks like the Union Jack — in English Rose. I haven’t tried any other Glam Eyes color combos and I’ve never tried any of Rimmel’s eyeshadow quads or singles so I can’t speak for their eye shadows in general, but the Glam Eyes HD is like BUTTER! I mean, it’s got a texture like Shu’s ME-silver — fantastic. The color payoff is great and the staying power is all day with a good primer, with no “muddying” of the colors. Definitely worth a try.
–JCZ

I mostly use synthetic brushes because animal fur ones make my skin itch. I love the CVS Essence of Beauty crease brushes (I own a couple sets). My favorite blending brush is an ELF brush I got on clearance at Target, and it’s covered in purple plastic gems, lol.
–CHELSEA

Absolute favorite eyeshadow: wet n wild 8 pan palette in comfort zone. no matter what the occasion is, these dont disappoint. can go from day to night. can be subtle or bold, wether you have a zillion fancy brushes to apply or just use their applicator — it turns out beautifully!
–YELENA

My fav shadow is Maybelline Color Tattoo. I only have one (Tough as taupe) but I WILL have these jewel toned LE colors: “Fuchsia Fever” (deep fuchsia), “Ready, Set, Green” (medium jade green), “Blue on By” (bright royal blue), and “Test my Teal” (darkened blue-green). I swear they look like the powder shadows MAC did with Eve. I mean a cream version of Bang on Blue? Gimme!
–TANIA

Merci beaucoup! 🙂

Now, since eyes got our love last week, let’s see what we can come up with for lips! Here are a few topical ideas, but feel free to improvise (with beauty tips, one can never have too many)…

  1. Do you know of any drugstore or otherwise bargain lip products that look more expensive than they are?

  2. What are your everyday lipstick, gloss and/or liner workhorses (the products you turn to the most)?

  3. What’s the one lip product you’ve recommended more than any other in your life?

  4. Your top five lip products of all time?

  5. Do you have any unorthodox application tips or techniques (things that most people may not know about or do)?

You can either leave your tips/tricks/suggestions here in the comments, or tweet ’em to me on Twitter @karenmbb using the hashtag #shareatiptuesday.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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