Sunday 31 July 2016

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 408

tabs-cat-gardening-1

The first thing Tabs always does when he goes outside to inspect the garden on the deck is walk straight up to either the one zucchini squash plant or one of the tomato plants and take a big chomp out of the biggest leaf.

Maybe it’s how he samples the merchandise, and every time I say, “No, Tabs!” I think he takes it as a polite suggestion, like he’ll take it under advisement.

He loves gardening, but mostly in a supervisory capacity. Most of the time he doesn’t actually like to get his paws dirty.

He also likes to rub his cheeks against the corners of the pots and planters after inspecting them. It’s his official stamp of quality control approval. “Inspected by Tabs.” And he also has to do his weekly 360-degree inspection of every square inch of the entire garden, where he checks behind the plants, in between them and even on top of the planters. It’s something to see a 20-pound tabby squeezing into a potted plant.

Next year his plans are to create a larger container area strictly planted with cat grass, sort of like a portable lawn that he can stretch out on without his girth hanging over the sides. It will be an engineering marvel akin to one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Tabs is doing the landscape design, but the project lead will be El Hub. 🙂

tabs-cat-gardening-2

tabs-cat-gardening-3

tabs-cat-gardening-4

And just like he always has after a long day of gardening, Tabs still likes to unwind with a few minutes of meow time in a cardboard box.

As far as relaxing activities, he highly recommends it.

tabs-cat-gardening-cardboard-boxes-5

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addicts,

Karen and Tabs


The post, “Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 408,” first appeared on Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup.

from Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup http://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/just-for-fun/sundays-tabs-cat-makeup-beauty-blog-mascot-vol-408/
Alt Source: Startifacts Nose Hair Trimmer

from
http://startifacts.tumblr.com/post/148260169984

Saturday 30 July 2016

The Day in Beauty Vol. 25: Chanel’s New No. 5, and a Hello From Redding, California!

chanel no 5 leau

The new Chanel No. 5 L’Eau

L’eau, the places, we’ll go! I’d love to take you to Paris or Hawaii, my friend…but for now, how about Redding, California? 🙂 That’s where I’m writing you from today.

Confession: I love me some Chanel, but I’m not really a Chanel No. 5 sort of girl. I’ve worn it many times over the years in the hopes that I’d fall in love with it because of its storied history and iconic past and, you know, because it’s Chanel, but it always felt like a pair of shoes that never quite fit me as perfectly as I’d like. Scent is such a personal thing, and No. 5 always seemed a little too serious for me.

I remember going to Filipino parties when I was young and being forced to hug aunties that I didn’t know, and they would always be wearing Chanel No. 5, and noisy jewelry, and they always had big hair, and when I hugged them, it would tickle my nose (the big hair AND Chanel No. 5).

No. 5 L’Eau is a new version coming to Chanel counters this fall — a reimagining of the scent — that will sit alongside the original, and I LOVE it.

With L’Eau, you definitely get the sense that you’re wearing No. 5, but it’s noticeably different. It still carries many of the original’s same notes, like May rose, but in a lighter elixir that seems more delicate and, dare I say, more fun.

Lemon, mandarin and orange stand front and center. To my nose, L’Eau seems airier than the original No. 5 and almost weightless, like a brush of tulle against naked skin.

Look for it this fall at Chanel counters. The 3.4-oz. bottle shown here is $132.

Enjoy the rest of your Saturday, babes. It will be a hot one here in Redding, as it always is this time of year (over 110 degrees!), so my big plan for the day will involve finding the coolest spot in an air conditioned room.

I checked in with Tabs this morning over Skype, and he and his favorite petsitter haven’t thrown any ragers yet. Let’s hope they don’t.

What do you have going on this weekend?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen


The post, “The Day in Beauty Vol. 25: Chanel’s New No. 5, and a Hello From Redding, California!,” first appeared on Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup.

from Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup http://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/product-reviews/chanel-no-5/
Alt Source: Startifacts Nose Hair Trimmer

from
http://startifacts.tumblr.com/post/148201653899

Friday 29 July 2016

The Tarte Kiss & Blush Cream Cheek & Lip Palette

tarte kiss and blush

The new Tarte Kiss & Blush Cream Cheek & Lip Palette ($42)

Oh, OK… I get it.

I was wondering why Tarte decorated their new Kiss & Blush Cream Cheek & Lip Palette with sand dollars, since I usually associate those with summer and beaches, and the palette is out for fall, but check it: when you open the palette, the six pans are arranged in a star shape, like the shape in the center of a sand dollar.

See it?

Kinda cute, right?

tarte kiss and blush

The five outer pans are creams that you can wear on your lips and cheeks, and the smaller pan in the middle is an opalescent highlighter (also a cream) — all built around the theme of a natural, everyday look, which is another unusual move for Tarte, since fall is typically a time, at least in makeup marketing, for more serious, full-on makeup.

tarte-kiss-and-blush-swatches

The colors are designed to play well with all skin tones, and the creamy formula, which is easy to blend on top of foundation or bare skin, is mega moisturizing (it contains vitamins C and E).

Speaking of sand dollars, I have a few of them that I’ve found over the years. Have you ever found a sand dollar at the beach?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen


The post, “The Tarte Kiss & Blush Cream Cheek & Lip Palette,” first appeared on Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup.

from Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup http://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/product-reviews/tarte-kiss-blush-cream-cheek-lip-palette/
Alt Source: Startifacts Nose Hair Trimmer

from
http://startifacts.tumblr.com/post/148173890169

Make Up For Ever Redid The Artist Rouge Lipsticks, AND THEY’RE FABULOUS

make up for ever artist rouge lipstick

The Make Up For Ever Artist Rouge Lipsticks are getting a sequel next month

First things first, my friend — happy National Lipstick Day! 🙂

(As if we needed another reason to love lipstick.)

Second, that mint green, though…

We live in extraordinary times. Not only can we roll up to a Sephora and buy a magnificent mint green lipstick like the one in the newly reformulated, repackaged (but still extensive at 45 shades) Make Up For Ever Artist Rouge Lipstick line, but today’s lipsticks just keep getting better and better.

Shout-out to the cosmetics chemists out there doing the damn thing to bring beauty lovers like you and me lipsticks that, not only last longer on our lips, but also pack more pigment into a creamier, more comfortable formula than their predecessors.

That’s the case with the Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Lipstick line, which relaunched online this month (and arrives at Sephora stores in August) with a new formula and a new outfit.

The line of 14 mattes (not including a couple of limited edition shades) and 31 creams encompases a rainbow of colors — 45 shades in all — from reds, pinks, berries and nudes to edgier offerings like blue, lilac, black and, yes, cray-cray green.

make up for ever artist rouge lipstick swatches

make up for ever artist rouge lipstick swatches

make up for ever artist rouge lipstick swatches

I’ve been a longtime fan of many of the O.G. Rouge Artist Lipsticks, including my beloved orangey coral #39, and I wondered how in the world MUFE could improve upon what I think is basically a pitch-perfect pigmented formula…but by Great Gatsby’s ghost, they FREAKIN’ DID IT.

The new formula is smoother, more moisturizing (they contain macadamia nut and mallow oils, fancy!) and longer-lasting. Even the new pointier bullet tip is easier to get into the corners and my Cupid’s bow.

Asking me to choose my favorite from among all 45 shades is like asking me to choose between Biggie and Tupac! — but that mint shade, C601, is absolutely bananas.

Please note: if you happen to wear it around a four-month-old baby girl, she may start screaming (OUT OF FEAR! FROM DELIGHT!) when she sees you.

I also really like the bad-@ss-ness of dark blue C603, a limited edition shade from a collaboration between MUFE and the group Icona Pop.

And from among the more traditional shades, matte nude M101 gets me through the day with a smile (as does matte hot pink M202).

M101 — that’s the one I’ll wear today. 🙂

What are you wearing for National Lipstick Day?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen


The post, “Make Up For Ever Redid The Artist Rouge Lipsticks, AND THEY’RE FABULOUS,” first appeared on Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup.

from Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup http://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/product-reviews/makeupforever-artist-rouge-lipstick-review/
Alt Source: Startifacts Nose Hair Trimmer

from
http://startifacts.tumblr.com/post/148150806749

Thursday 28 July 2016

The Tarte Naughty Nudes Blushes Are Taking Me Back to the ’90s

tarte naughty nudes amazonian clay

Badly behaved blushes, FTW!

Let’s get into some mischief with the new Fall 2016 Tarte Naughty Nudes blushes, shall we? Because, c’mon, if they’d been named the “Well-Behaved Nudes,” it would have sounded like a snooze-fest. Plus, what’s the point of being nude if you can’t also be naughty, hello?!

I swear on my plaid pleated mini skirt, my favorite flannel, my Timbs *and* my hoop earring with the key dangling from it that these four new fall shades of Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush ($28) are channeling so much ’90s realness!

Throughout much of that decade, I wore matte blushes in similar colors to these subtle shades of peach and pink.

tarte naughty nudes amazonian clay

The $28 Tarte Fall 2016 Naughty Nudes Amazonian Clay Blushes (the four shades on the far left), and a new $28 Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Highlighter (far right)

Nude pink Exposed, golden nude Sensual, rosy nude Seduce and peachy nude Risque remind me of the color of bare lips when they don’t have any product on them…except captured and placed in a pan.

I like wearing them with a sheer tinted moisturizer for a no-makeup makeup look, and my favorite one is Seduce because it matches the color of my bare lips.

For some reason, matching bare lips with a nude blush really seems to work…

Anywho, I like that it’s sheer and takes zero effort to blend. I also like that the Amazonian clay formula hangs in there for about 10 hours on my combo skin.

tarte naughty nude blush swatches

Tarte Naughty Nudes from the left in Seduce, Risque, Sensual and Exposed

tarte exposed highlight swatch

Tarte Exposed Highlight

Oh, and because we’re living in a world currently obsessed with highlighting and contouring, there’s also a fall 2016 highlighter up in the mix. Tarte Amazonian Clay Highlighter in Exposed Highlight is a fabulously soft, beautiful beige with a hint of pink.

The finish is a frosty high-shine shimmer…which isn’t very ’90s (unless you’re wearing it on your lips as a lipstick with a dark plum pencil liner, oy!), but it’s lovely. I’ll take it.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen


The post, “The Tarte Naughty Nudes Blushes Are Taking Me Back to the ’90s,” first appeared on Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup.

from Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup http://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/product-reviews/tarte-naughty-nudes/
Alt Source: Startifacts Nose Hair Trimmer

from
http://startifacts.tumblr.com/post/148128014994

My Favorite Face Products From The Estée Edit for Quick, Cute and Casual Makeup

estee edit flash illuminator

Keeping it casual with The Estée Edit Flash Illuminators ($28)

Five-minute makeup with The Estée Edit? Heck, yeah!

I love a carved out cat eye, and ooh! — sparkles. I also love sparkles, but I don’t feel like wearing them every day.

Some days, like today, barely-there five-minute makeup just hits the spot. It’s barely 9 a.m. here, and it’s already above 80. I’m sitting in front of my Beyoncé fan, and I still feel hot.

When it’s hot like this, I’m not gonna wear a ton of makeup, and I won’t spend a lot of time on it either, but I still want to look like I’m trying, you know what I’m saying?

Easy, fast and casual makeup today with products from The Estee Edit

Quick and casual makeup today with products from The Estée Edit

The still fairly new Estée Edit line (available at Sephora) is a good fit for how I’m currently feeling. It has that unfussy, fresh and youthful “just throw on your favorite white tee, jeans shorts and Chucks” vibe to it.

If Connor were of age and wanted to start wearing makeup like this, I could get behind it. It’s sheer and casual — stuff that you can put on with your fingers and don’t have to fuss much with.

Here are four of my favorite cute and casual products from the The Estée Edit line…

The Estée Edit Rescue Balm for Face and Body ($50)

estee edit rescue balm beam team

The Estée Edit Rescue Balm ($50) and Beam Team ($42)

My dry skin loves The Estée Edit Rescue Balm. It’s a super rich (and, unfortunately, also pricey) moisturizing balm — first and foremost, a moisturizer — and I apply it all over my face to prep the skin before applying the Skin Glowing Balm.

I think it also works kind of like a primer because it does help my makeup last longer, even though they don’t claim that it’s supposed to do that.

The Estée Edit Beam Team ($42)

estee edit rescue balm beam team 2

The Estée Edit Rescue Balm ($50) and Beam Team ($42)

The Estée Edit Beam Team is a two-for-one with a golden liquid illuminator in the tube and a creamy golden illuminator in the cap. Wear them underneath tinted moisturizer or atop your favorite face products.

It reminds me a lot of MAC Golden Elixir Strobe Lotion, which is a golden version of their cult classic Strobe Cream.

I think it looks absolutely gorgeous on bare skin. Great for an instant skin pick-me-up!

The Estée Edit Skin Glowing Balm ($36)

estee edit skin glowing balm

Get glowing with The Estée Edit Skin Glowing Balms ($36)

The Estée Edit Skin Glowing Balms are uber-sheer, minimal-coverage tinted moisturizers with the faintest hint of opalescent pearl. Super lightweight and very natural looking.

If you’re desperately seeking coverage, you’ll need an additional concealer (I’ve been loving Sephora Bright Future Gel Serum as of late), but if you just want to even out your skin tone a touch, these balms are great. They’re $36 each and available in 12 shades.

I do two pumps of Chai to cover my face and rub it in with my fingers.

The Estée Edit Flash Illuminator ($28)

These liquid highlighters remind me a little of quieter BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfectors with more nuanced pearl and pigments.

You can use any of them (they’re $28 each and available in five shades) as straight-up highlighters, but some of the shades, like 03 Sun Light and 04 Daylight, can also work as a blush (I’m wearing 04 Daylight today as my blush).

Oh, and 05 Nightlight works as a bronzer, too.

estee edit skin glowing balm swatches 1

The Estée Edit Skin Glowing Balm swatches

estee edit skin glowing balm swatches 2

The Estée Edit Skin Glowing Balm swatches

estee edit flash illuminator swatches

The Estée Edit Flash Illuminator swatches in 01 Spotlight, 03 Sunlight, 04 Daylight and 05 Nightlight

estee edit beam team swatch

The Estée Edit Beam Team Hydrate + Glow

I can totally appreciate going full-on glam sometimes, but I think there’s also beauty in low-maintenance looks.

Some days it’s just fun to keep it casual. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen


The post, “My Favorite Face Products From The Estée Edit for Quick, Cute and Casual Makeup,” first appeared on Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup.

from Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup http://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/product-reviews/the-estee-edit-face-products/
Alt Source: Startifacts Nose Hair Trimmer

from
http://startifacts.tumblr.com/post/148105742749

Wednesday 27 July 2016

The New Tarte Tartiest Naughty Nudes Creamy Matte Lip Paint Line, and Things I Did in the ’90s While Wearing Brown Lipstick

Things I seemed to always be doing in the ’90s while wearing brown lipstick…

  • Running to the bus stop (I was always *that close* to missing the bus).
  • Standing awkwardly in the corner of the room at house parties with a red cup in my hand.
  • Checking my pager, which I kept in the front pocket of the jeans I got using my employee discount at Miller’s Outpost (OMG). And I thought I was hot sh*t because my pager was white, LOL!
  • Falling asleep in the library with my head in an open chemistry book and waking up covered in drool.
  • Going to Tower Records (but never actually buying anything).

I’m getting all the ’90s feels from the new liquid lippies in the Tarte Tartiest Creamy Matte Lip Paint Naughty Nudes line ($20 each, available in five shades).

These vegan full-coverage mattes glide across lips with an unscented, unflavored, cruelty-free formula, and they feel like soft mousse. Plus, unlike many of the liquid lipsticks out there now, they stay wet and maleable while you wear them, so they don’t dry all the way down.

The five comfy, creamy, moisturizing shades even have ’90s-inspired names. There’s Choker (a warm brown), Rave (a greige), Grunge (a dark brown), Crop Top (a mauve brown) and Brownie (a brown).

I know they look kinda shiny in these swatches (I think it’s due to the flash), but I swear on my favorite Biggie Smalls mixtape that they’re full-on mattes.

tarte tariest lip paint naught nudes swtaches

The Tarte Tartiest Lip Paint Naughty Nudes swatches from the left in Rave, Choker, Brownie, Crop Top and Grunge

Overall, I think these are fetch! The only thing is, they do tend to move, so be careful, or they’ll smudge outside your natural lip lines.

What were you always doing (or doing a lot) in the ’90s while you were wearing brown lipstick?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Not a day goes by when I don’t thank the stars above for the non-existence of social media when I was a teen, partly because I was a hot mess, and partly because of my questionable fashion sense.

Have ever seen the movie Fear with Reese Witherspoon?

I dressed exactly like her character. 🙂

90s-style-2


The post, “The New Tarte Tartiest Naughty Nudes Creamy Matte Lip Paint Line, and Things I Did in the ’90s While Wearing Brown Lipstick,” first appeared on Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup.

from Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup http://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/product-reviews/tarte-tartiest-creamy-matte-lip-paint-naughty-nudes/
Alt Source: Startifacts Nose Hair Trimmer

from
http://startifacts.tumblr.com/post/148075079629

The Day in Beauty Vol. 24: The Best Black Liquid Liner and a Makeup Tip for Late Nights

I Love the ’90s…

That was the name of the concert I went to last Saturday night — I Love the ’90s — with my friend Marisol, and it was the first time I stayed out late since…

Shoot, I can’t even remember, but it’s been a looong time. I’ve been serving hard time in baby jail for almost five months now, and even before Connor arrived, back when I was still pregnant, I wasn’t going out a lot because I was ginormous, always tired and constantly uncomfortable.

Anywho, like I was saying, I hadn’t been out since forever, and when we were driving back home in the middle of the night from Jackson, California, which is a small town — I’m sorry, Jacksonites — out in the middle of nowhere, I suddenly got the feeling that I was wearing 20 layers of makeup on my face.

I wasn’t wearing a ton, though. Just, like, NARS tinted moisturizer, some powder, a little bit of cat eye makeup, so nothing too cray, but after being out and about in the summer sun for a few hours and perspiring at the concert, that drive home was rough.

I couldn’t wait to get home and wash my face, and Marisol said the same thing.

Has that ever happened to you? — where you get the sudden urge to wash your face in the car on a long drive home in the middle of the night? I mean, Marisol and I can’t be the only two people.

Oh! — I just thought of a genius (if I do say so myself) idea for the next time I’m out and about in the wee hours (whenever that may be). I’ll bring along a pack of makeup wipes to keep in the car! 🙂

That way I can remove my makeup, wipe down my face, and let my skin breathe. Then when I get home, I can just fall right into bed, ah…

By the way, these new Clinique Take the Day Off Micellar Cleansing Towelettes are SO BOMB.

Clinique Take the Day Off Micellar Cleansing Towelettes for Face & Eyes ($14 for 50 wipes)

Clinique Take the Day Off Micellar Cleansing Towelettes for Face & Eyes ($14 for a pack of 50 wipes)

So what’s this micellar business about? Apparently, they’re ambitious little oil molecules suspended in water, and they attract oil, dirt and makeup.

These gentle wipes remove just about everything (including waterproof makeup), and they’re soft and don’t dry out my skin. Plus, you don’t have to rinse with water after using them because they don’t leave behind a sticky residue. They’re also fragrance free.

Speaking of Clinique…I was chatting with Chelsea (hey, girl, haaay!) in the comments on my cat eye post yesterday about Clinique Pretty Easy Liquid Liner ($19.50), and I HAVE to give it an extra shout-out.

I actually started using it a few months ago but then got distracted by something else (can’t remember what it was), and I liked it back then, but now I love it.

LOVE IT.

clinique pretty easy liquid liner

Clinique Pretty Easy Liquid Eyelining Pen ($19.50)

It’s a fabulous liquid pen liner with a felt tip, and it’s available in black and brown (I wear black). The felt tip flexes, so it has some give to it, but it draws sharp, crisp lines of deep, intense color, and it doesn’t budge.

It doesn’t make my eyes water, either. Give it a try if you’re looking for a new liquid liner, because it’s SO good.

essie pre show jitters swatch

Essie Gel Couture in Pre-Show Jitters ($11.50)

One last thing — the nail polish I’m wearing? That’s Essie Gel Couture in Pre-Show Jitters ($11.50). It looks like a stark white at first glance, but there’s a hint of pink in it. It’s my new fave shade!

Have you discovered (or rediscovered) any beauty faves lately?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy hump day. 🙂


The post, “The Day in Beauty Vol. 24: The Best Black Liquid Liner and a Makeup Tip for Late Nights,” first appeared on Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup.

from Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup http://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/product-reviews/best-black-liquid-liner/
Alt Source: Startifacts Nose Hair Trimmer

from
http://startifacts.tumblr.com/post/148058168639

Tuesday 26 July 2016

It’s Just The Barest Blush by The Estée Edit

estee edit barest blush coy coral

Wearing The Estée Edit Barest Blush in Coy Coral ($28, one of four shades)

I really hope I don’t drop one of these blushes by The Estée Edit because…

  1. I have a penchant for dropping things. I don’t know why, but when I’m applying makeup, gravity always gets involved, and something usually lands on my foot (P.S., it usually hurts).
  2. And I also have a feeling that if I were to drop one of these compacts, the precious pan inside it would break, triggering a loud WAHHH!

These silver sweethearts are called The Barest Blushes by The Estée Edit. They’re $28 each and available in four shades.

The packaging may look sturdy, but really, it’s not. It’s lightweight plastic and, truth be told, feels fairly flimsy. I fear these won’t be able to handle the rigors of my butterfinger life.

(Seriously, every single piece of makeup I own? — on the floor at least 20 times a day. Totally not kidding.)

Even so, what lives within these delicate darlings is pure gold, and that’s why I keep wearing ’em.

These aptly named blushes came out with the rest of The Estée Edit line earlier this year. The two shades I’ve been wearing the most — Coy Coral and Ember Glow — look completely natural. I’m talking about that heat-rushing-to-your cheeks kind of flush, and they’re totally spot-on if you like a natural cheek look.

estee edit barest blush coy coral

The Estée Edit Barest Blush in Coy Coral

Yes, if I were ever in a position where all of my goodies were hanging out and all eyes were on me (also known as “my nightmare”), my cheeks would probably turn a shade similar to Coy Coral. 😊

These have a fine shimmery golden overspray on them that disappears after you’ve used them a few times and, not gonna lie, I don’t mind that they disappear, because I’ve been into matte, and low-level shine, cheeks lately.

estee edit barest blush ember glow

The Estée Edit Barest Blush in Ember Glow

estee edit barest blush ember glow

Wearing The Estée Edit Barest Blush in Ember Glow

estee edit blush swatches

Coy Coral (left) and Ember Glow (right)

The soft, silky powder formula reminds me of BECCA blushes, and these also have that same easy-to-use vibe, which I’m into.

Yeah, dude…I’m into that easy blush life. Like, I don’t mind being challenged when I’m reading or working or assisting my husky tabby, but I don’t want to be challenged by my cheek color, ya know? Nope, not gonna do it.

I want to be able to tap a little on, erase any edges with a few swooshes of my brush, and get on with my life. And that’s how it is to use these beautiful blushes.

I don’t see myself quitting these anytime soon, not even with the packaging woes.

I just hope I don’t drop them, oy!

If you want to see them in person, you can find them now at Sephora for $28 each.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen


The post, “It’s Just The Barest Blush by The Estée Edit,” first appeared on Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup.

from Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup http://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/product-reviews/estee-edit-blush-review/
Alt Source: Startifacts Nose Hair Trimmer

from
http://startifacts.tumblr.com/post/148017794429

Have You Ever Done Makeup for Cosplay?

Live long and prosper!

Live long and prosper!

Nope, I haven’t, but it looks like fun. One of these days, if I can ever make it down to San Diego Comic-Con, I’d go as Khaleesi from Game of Thrones…but only if I had a legit wig (she has the best hair) *and* a dragon.

This Star Trek costume with hair and makeup is probably the closest I’ve come, and I’m not even sure if that counts, LOL!

How about you? Have you ever done makeup for yourself or someone else for cosplay before?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen


The post, “Have You Ever Done Makeup for Cosplay?,” first appeared on Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup.

from Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup http://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/just-for-fun/ever-done-makeup-cosplay/
Alt Source: Startifacts Nose Hair Trimmer

from
http://startifacts.tumblr.com/post/148004778544

Monday 25 July 2016

10 Cat Eye Tips to Easily Add Impact To Your Look (Featuring the MAC Star Trek Collection)

mac star trek

Wearing products from the new MAC Star Trek collection: MAC Pressed Pigment in To Boldly Go on my Lids, MAC Lipstick in LLAP on my lips, Trip the Light Fantastic Powder in Highly Illogical on my cheeks and Nocturnal Liquid Liner to accent my cat eye flicks

Cat eyes.

Seems like they should be easy, right?

Like, how hard can it be to draw a line along your upper lash line with a little flick at the end?

Um…yeah. I wish I was that girl — the one who can effortlessly draw flawless cat eye flicks in a single swoop, but that’s sooo not me.

mac star trek packaging

The MAC Star Trek collection is Starfleet approved

Still, I have figured out a few secret space squirrel tricks over the light years that really do help with your cat eye flicks, and here are 10 of them. I’m using a bunch of products, by the way, from the new 25-piece MAC Star Trek collection, because, as you know, I’m a sci-fi nerd. 🙂 The collection arrives this September.

“Star Trek is an iconic pop culture phenomena whose storylines pushed gender and racial boundaries. For its 50th anniversary, we celebrate each of Star Trek’s powerful women in a transcending, transformational makeup collection.”

— MAC Senior Vice President/Group Creative Director James Gager

1. For big, bright eyes, line just a portion of your upper lash line

Nowadays when doing cat eyes, rather than lining my entire lash line, which I think makes my eyes look smaller, I like to start lining from about a centimer in from the side closest to my nose. So I’m lining about three fourths of the entire length of the lash line, and then drawing the cat eye flick out at the end.

There’s just something about lining the entire lash line that makes the eye look a little smaller, so this way keeps the inner quarter of the lash line unlined.

three-fourths

2. Use different liner formulas together in layers

I’m a big fan of layering different liners together and sketching out the shape of my cat eye before committing to it.

I like to draw the basic shape of my cat eye with a pencil liner first, because they’re easiest to control, and if I make a mistake, pencil formulas are usually easy to correct.

First, I tightline my upper lash lines with the pencil. Then I draw a thin line along the upper lash line and build up the product a bit toward the outer end of the line out to where the flick will begin.

pencil-outline

Next, using an angled brush (because the angle fits the curve of the lid, and I think they’re easier to use than a pencil brush for this) to create the basic shape of my flick and set the angle, I drag the product out that I built up with the pencil in the outer side of my upper lash line in the previous step.

liquid-liner

Then I layer a liquid liner on top of the pencil liner to intensify it.

trace-with-angled-brush

After that, if there are any jagged areas along the edge of the line that need to be smoothed, I load my same angled brush with a gel liner (or a black eyeshadow, and then I spritz the brush with setting spray) and run it along the edge of the liner line, including the flick, to smooth the line.

3. Get thee a NARS 47

The holy grail of angled brushes, I swear! I can’t do a cat eye look without the NARS 47 brush.

It has stiff bristles, but it isn’t scratchy, and it draws perfect, precise lines that aren’t too thick or thin. I absolutely swear by the NARS 47 for cat eyes.

4. Try different line widths with your liner to find what works for you

There are all kinds of cat eyes, like dainty kitten eyes with thin lines and tiny flicks, or full-blown, dramatic cat eyes with thick lines, but you have to find what works best for you. Some people suggest always doing thick lines, but try a cat eye with a skinny line one day and a fatty-bo-batty thick line the next. Play with them, and you’ll figure out the most flattering shape for your eye.

I think thinner lines work best for me. I don’t have a ton of lid space on my eyes, so when I draw very thick liner lines, especially when I use black liner (because it’s so stark), it makes my eyes look smaller. The thinner I can get that liner along my upper lash line, the bigger my eyes seem, and I’m all about getting those BIG, bright eyes!

MAC Star Trek Collection

5. You don’t have to start your flick at the very end of your lash line

Have you ever noticed how some gals (and guys) line their upper lash line all the way to very outer corner? I tried it a few times, but it always made my eyes look sleepy.

With the shape of my eyes, it doesn’t work for me because my upper lash line curves down slightly below my lower lash line, so if I line all the way to the end, my eye looks a bit droopy.

I like to stop my liner line, and start my flick going up and out, a tad before it reaches end of my natural lash line because I think it gives a little lift to my cat eye look.

6. Play with the angles of your flick

One rule I’ve read time and time again for getting a purr-fect angle for your cat eye flicks is to visualize an invisible line that extends in the same direction up and out from the outer corner of your lower lash line, extending at the same natural curve.

I think that works for a lot of people, but it doesn’t work for everyone, and I know it definitely doesn’t work for me. It never looks quite right when I do it.

If you’re the same way, try varying the angle of your flick. I flatten mine out so they aren’t as steep (I lower the angle), which elongates my eyes and makes them look more feline, MRRROW!

The point here is to play. Experiment with different angles.

mac star trek

Lipglass in Khaaannnn!

7. Don’t forget to also clean up the tops of your flicks (not just the bottoms)

Speaking of flicks, if you’re playing with your flick and you don’t like where it’s going — like if it seems too long or too curved or too steep or isn’t steep enough — you can clean it up with a pointy Q-tip soaked in makeup remover. Don’t forget to fix both the top and the bottom of the flick, because some people suggest just fixing them from the bottom.

You’ll often see people clean up their flicks from the bottom to fix a wonky angle, but sometimes the top of the flick can look wonky, too. Sometimes mine turn out too thick or curved.

Yeah, when I started also correcting the tops of my flicks, it was a whole new world for me!

Oh! — you can also use a soaked pointy Q-tip to thin out your upper lash line liner if you accidentally make it too thick.

8. Liner first, eyeshadow second

Most of the time when I rock cat eyes I’ll do my liner before my eyeshadow because then I can use the liner as a guide to help me place my shadow exactly where I want it. And if some of your eyeshadow ends up on your liner, just re-trace your liner to darken it.

When I apply my eyeshadow before my liner, I usually discover that I didn’t take the shadow out far enough or high enough, and I have to do a lot more adjusting.

9. Sometimes, skip lining your upper lash line entirely and just tightline and add a flick instead

Cat eyeliner can be tricky if you have hooded lids. With hooded eyes, you don’t have a lot of lid space to work with, and your line can seem to just disappear up into your hood.

Try tightlining your upper lash line with black liner, instead of lining your upper lash line with it — much like you’d see in a regular cat eye, but without using any lid space. Then add your flick at the outer corner.

10. Liven up your cat eye look with a metallic liner

metallic-liner

Black cat eyes are timeless, but sometimes I like to switch things up, so I’ll incorporate a metallic liner along with my black liner.

Sometimes I’ll draw a line of metallic liner just along my lower lash line, or I’ll trace along the edge of the flick, or sometimes along my upper lash line. If you’re feeling extra frisky, you can even draw stars or hearts or dots.

mac star trek

mac star trek highly illogical

MAC Star Trek Trip the Light Fantastic Powder in Highly Illogical

mac star trek warp speed ahead khan

MAC Lipglasses in Warp Speed (left) and Khaaannnn! (right)

mac star trek llap enemy within

MAC Star Trek Frost Lipstick in LLAP (left) and The Enemy Within (right)

mac star trek midnight

MAC Star Trek Pressed Pigment in Midnight

mac star trek to boldly go

MAC Star Trek Pressed Pigment in To Boldly Go

mac star trek enterprise

MAC Star Trek Studio Nail Lacquer in Enterprise

mac star trek boxes

MAC Star Trek packaging

mac star trek highly illogical swatch

Highly Illogical Trip The Light Fantastic Powder

mac star trek midnight boldly go swatch

Midnight and To Boldly Go Pressed Pigments

mac star trek khan warp speed ahead swatch

Khaaannnn! and The Enemy Within Lipglasses

mac star trek llap enemy within swatches

LLAP and The Enemy Within Lipsticks

mac star trek nocturnal swatch

Nocturnal

When was the last time you rocked a cat eye? They never go out of style.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen


The post, “10 Cat Eye Tips to Easily Add Impact To Your Look (Featuring the MAC Star Trek Collection),” first appeared on Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup.

from Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup http://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/mac-makeup/mac-star-trek/
Alt Source: Startifacts Nose Hair Trimmer

from
http://startifacts.tumblr.com/post/147979359019