You can’t go wrong with either, really.
Pearls and Chanel
Heads Up! Get Chanel Style for $7 With the Sephora Collection Gold Chain Headband
When I strolled into Sephora last Saturday allegedly to just “look around,” I thought I might succumb to one or two of my usual impulse buys — maybe an eyeliner, makeup remover or a bottle of nail polish.
What happened, instead, was the last thing I expected…
I had a hair epiphany.
I’ve been going about my days happy as a long-haired lark with Goody’s Headwraps for a few months, blissfully slicking my bangs back with them almost every day. I like not having to fuss with my hair, and headbands are great for that, but lately I’ve had the urge to try something new. Maybe something more chic and sophisticated that I could wear with a cute dress and high heels.
Thing is, I have the hardest time finding good headbands, and by good I mean headbands that stay put and don’t squeeze my head like a vice.
I don’t know what it is… Maybe something happened that time I fell off the monkey bars and landed on my head. 😮
So at Sephora last week, as I rifled through the sale bin, I didn’t expect what I found. I saw gold, black and leather, and snatched it lightning fast. “OOH!” I thought, hypnotized. “Looks kinda like a Chanel bag…”
It was just $7, so I decided to get it. I figured, heck, if it gives me a headache, I’ll wear it as a bracelet instead (or let Tabs have it for his accessories drawer).
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The Weirdly Wearable Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in Opulent Shines in Person (But Not So Much in Pics)
I can’t decide if I like the new Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in Opulent ($20) more because it’s weird, or because it’s wearable. A bit of both, I suppose.
In its tube, this blend of beige, gray and taupe could have fooled me. If I hadn’t known better, I would have guessed it was an eyeshadow. The complex color, the undercurrent of golden pearl, and the way it flashes purple and pink when the light hits it just right remind me more of traits I’d find in an eye product than something I’d slick on my lips.
Not that I’m complaining (at all).
I like it, but weird colors are always a risk… Some tend to sit unused at the bottom of my makeup bag like shipwrecks lost at sea (hear what I’m sayin’, Apocalips?).
But this time — hallelujah! — Illamasqua figured out how to combine weird and easy to wear.
The trick: they made it surprisingly sheer. When I’m standing in the shade, it’s a clear pinky beige on my lips, and not at all like the storm cloud of color it resembles in the tube. But then, when I step into full sunlight? — that’s when the real fun begins.
Wearing Opulent’s flecks of pink, gold and purple glitter, my kisser sparkles like Vampire Edward’s lips!
I tried to capture the effect in these pics, but I think it’s a little too subtle, except for some of the arm swatches, perhaps. In person, though, BAM!
MAC Unsung Heroes: Careblends Pressed Powder
Every time I hear the word, “Careblends,” it reminds me of something else…
It’s hard to explain, really, because that something is a little strange. I can’t quite call it a person, but he/she was very caring and nice.
They had a TV show that was quite popular when I was a kid. Can’t seem to recall the name of the show right now, but I remember caring for it a great deal…
LOL!
I can’t believe I haven’t given MAC Careblends Pressed Powders the Unsung Heroes treatment before. I realized this morning that I’ve hit the pan not once, but twice on a Careblends before, and considering how often I change products, that says something about how much I love this stuff.
I know I’ve raved about them before. They come in eight shades and live in MAC’s permanent line, although they occasionally make appearances as limited edition colors in collections like the Surfbaby launch.
So what exactly is a Careblends Pressed Powder? Is it a cuddly technicolor bear with an identifying icon on its tum?
No, no, it’s not. 🙂 It’s a $24 sheer-to-medium coverage tinted pressed powder with a finish a hint glossier than matte. Worn on either on bare skin or atop foundation, the Careblends look naturally flawless to me, like real skin, and I can’t remember seeing one ever look chalky.
My combination dry/oily skin also loves the way they feel — lightweight, smooth, almost like nothing at all — and they love the camera, too. They photograph really well, especially combined with MAC Face and Body, my current foundation crush.
Who might want to give them a try? Guys and girls with dry or combination skin types who like more natural looks might want to give ’em a try. Shoot, even if you have hyperactive sebaceous glands, I think they’re still worth a try. You just might want to mix them with an oil absorbing powder to help the keep shine at bay. Try a 50/50 blend of Careblends and Blot. That’s what I do when my t-zone resembles an oil slick.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. TGIF!
Tabs on Houndstooth
“I hate it.”
— Tabs
(Side note: doesn’t he look extra husky in these pics, like I’m carrying a miniature puma or something?!)
I Think It’s Time…
…for another round of Raider Nation nails!
That’s the new Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Creator($14), by the way.
What do ya think?
Is It Real, or a Chanel Blue Illusion? The Chanel Blue Illusion de Chanel Collection
KAREN: “Ya know, Tabs, I don’t see why you’re so cranky. I mean, you were the one who orchestrated this whole thing. You said, ‘I want a photo shoot!’ and I said, ‘Fine, you’re the boss.’ And — let me just pull up the text you sent on my phone here — it says, ‘Model some of the new Blue Illusion de Chanel collection eye makeup for me, and make it snappy! I don’t have all day.'”
TABS: “I don’t think I appreciate your attitude. I bet Naomi’s assistant doesn’t give her grief like this.”
KAREN: “Right, that’s because she’s too busy ducking all the phones being thrown at her…”
TABS: “Oh, very funny. You’re just lucky I hurt my paw playing football, otherwise I’d show you what a phone feels like.”
KAREN: “Listen, Tabs, this thing between us right now, this tension, it has to stop. You have a job to do, but so do I, and I need you to respect that. We both know that you’re the talent here, but I’m important, too, Tabs. I’m not your scratching post or your crinkly toy.”
TABS: “I know that! You don’t think I know that? You’re my assistant, so why don’t you do some assisting for a change and make me some gravy?”
KAREN: “Make it yourself. I’m on hiatus until you tell me what’s wrong.”
TABS: “I told you…I don’t want to talk about it.”
KAREN: “Well that’s too bad. Look — I’m just gonna come out and say it. Does this have something to do with Choupette?” 
TABS: “I’m sorry but I don’t know anyone by that name…”
KAREN: “Choupette? Choupette Lagerfeld? I know you know who I’m talking about.”
TABS: “Okay, maybe.”
KAREN: “Tabs, just because Choupette prances around all day in her Chanel cat castle with Karl doesn’t mean you should feel threatened. Everyone who’s anyone in the kitty modeling industry knows that you’re the cat’s meow.”
TABS: “Really…? You’re not just saying that?”
KAREN: “Absolutely! I mean, sure, Choupette is cute. I’ll give her that, but she can’t command a room like you do. She doesn’t have the girth or the attitude, and I bet you even know more about Chanel than she does.”
TABS: “True. She wouldn’t know Riva from Jeans or Aurora.”
KAREN: “Exactly. So you see what I’m saying? You’re in a completely different league, Tabs. You have nothing to worry about. Now, if you’re feeling better, can I give you my report on the Blue Illusion pieces you asked me about?”
TABS: “Sure. You’re right. Let’s do that.”
KAREN: “Great. Well, the two $36 potted cream shadows, Illusion D’Ombres in Apparition and Destination, have a metallic, high-shine finish and blend beautifully on my lids. Unfortunately, if I don’t set them with a powder shadow on top, they also crease a ton within one or two hours.”
TABS: “Go on…”
KAREN: “The $29 Le Crayon Yeux Precision Eye Definer in Blue Aerien? — just okay. I think it’s super pretty on the lash line, especially on brown eyes, but it leaps off my water lines like a frog off a lilly pad. Plus, it feels a little hard… I wanted it to glide.”
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At the Barneys New York Love Yourself Beauty Event on Sept. 20-22, Get a Sweet Bag of Samples From Chantecaille, Sunday Riley, Deborah Lippmann, Tocca and More
Okay, here it is: you, me, Tabs — we blow off the rest of the afternoon, drive into the city, hit an ice cream shoppe, and then go cruising for makeup.
What do ya say? Come on! You know you want to. 🙂
I need a break… Tabs has been working my paws to the bone! This morning, we had a “gravy emergency.” I won’t go into it now, but needless to say, I’m pooped.
I could really do with a few hours of meow time right now.
Let’s see… We could start with fresh-squeezed lemonade and semi-sweet chocolate chip cookies at Specialty’s (yep, that’s really how it’s spelled), do a little shopping at Union Square, maybe stop by Nordstrom to see Dick Page work his magic at the Shiseido counter.
And after, a trip to the Barneys New York beauty department where they carry one of my favorite under-the-radar makeup lines, Sunday Riley, and niche perfumes you can’t really sniff anywhere else (hello, Frederic Malle Geranium!).
And right now they’ve got a pretty sweet gift with purchase set.
It’s to celebrate their Love Yourself Beauty Event, going on now ’til September 22. Spend $200 on any combo of makeup, skin care and/or perfume, and get a blue and tan makeup bag bursting with fancy beauty samples like…
- Hourglass No. 28 Primer Serum
- Sunday Riley The Influencer Extra Volume Glossy Mascara
- Deborah Lippmann Nail Lacquer in Money Now Sleep Later
- Koh Gen Do Makeup Color Base in Lavender Pink
- Sue Devitt Defining Eyeliner in Oslo
- Radical Skincare Age-Defying Exfoliating Pads
- Giorgio Armani Regenessence Multi-Corrective Rejuvenating Cream
- By Terry Creme De Rose Nutri-Lift Comfort Cream
- Malin+ Goetz Vitamin E Face Moisturizer
- Chantecaille Rice and Geranium Foaming Cleanser
- 3Lab The Cream
- Ren Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask
- NARS Skin Double Refining Exfoliator
- YSL Forever Youth Liberator Serum
- L’Artisan Parfumeur Paris Eau de Toilette in Batucada
- Costume National Deau de Parfum
- Tocca Violette Eau de Parfum
- Kai Fragrance
The offer also includes men’s grooming products, so you could snag something for yourself and/or your woman/man. In my case, I’m not so sure about that… El Hub acts like face moisturizer and eye cream are the devil’s work!
If you can’t make it to Barneys, the offer also applies to online barneys.com beauty purchases, too. No coupon code necessary. Just fill your cart, and the goody bag automatically pops up when you hit the $200 barrier.
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