Can You Name the Neutral Palettes?

Stop it! Homegirl doesn’t want to hear it…and I’m not listening when you say, “Karen! The last thing you need on this earth is another brown eyeshadow.” *plugs ears and closes eyes* LA-LA-LA-LA-LAAAAA!

I emptied out my neutral palette drawer yesterday (for the heck of it), and this is what I found.

See anything that looks familiar? How many of them do you recognize?

If you can name them all, then BOW DOWN! You’re the mac daddy/daddy mac of the neutral palette universe.

How many do you recognize?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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The post, “Can You Name the Neutral Palettes?,” first appeared on Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup.

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The Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics Eyeshadow Palette

Wearing the new Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics Eyeshadow Palette

Meanwhile, eight eyeshadows later…

I don’t even know how this happened.

OMG!

I started with two neutral browns from the new $55 Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics Palette, which is a new holiday palette from UD (you can sign up to find out when it’ll be available), but then 45 minutes had gone by and I’d burned through almost the entire greatest hits album from The Cure.

The $55 Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics Eyeshadow Palette

I fell into the Eye Makeup Black Hole, which happens to me periodically…and by “periodically,” I mean all the damned time.

But isn’t that always the way it is with these Urban Decay Naked Palettes? You go in fully intending to do a simple look with just two of the shadows, but lo and behold — POOF! — there went half the day.

Or is that just something I do? A lot?

The Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics Palette

It’s been six years since the original Naked Palette dropped like the bikinis and briefs on a nude beach, and UD is still playing with the brown/beige/taupe theme. This one’s all about those neutral matte powder shadows.

Well…most of them are matte. There is one highlighting shadow that does have some very subtle shimmer (which was a brilliant addition, BTW!).

A closer look at the eyeshadows…

The Naked Ultimate Basics Palette is like the lovechild of the matte Naked Basics Palettes and that very first Naked Palette from UD, but before we discuss the pink elephant in the room, here are the basic details…

• It’s $55 and arrives in mid-September (you can sign up to be alerted when it drops).
• It’s part of the permanent collection.
• It comes with a dual-ended brush and a nice, big mirror in the palette.
• The packaging is similar to the Urban Decay Naked On the Run Palette but smaller and thinner.
• It comes with 12 all-new shades that are exclusive to the palette, including…
• • Blow — a light nude demi-matte
  • Nudie — a soft pinkish nude matte
  • Commando — a light taupe-brown matte
  • Tempted — a pale brown matte
  • Instinct — a medium pink-taupe matte
  • Lethal — a reddish brown matte
  • Pre-Game — a pale yellow matte
  • Extra Bitter — a burnt orange matte
  • Faith — a medium warm brown matte
  • Lockout — a rich netural brown matte
  • Magnet — a smoky gray matte
  • Blackjack — a warm black matte
• The shades are very neutral, with the exception of burnt matte orange Extra Bitter, which is kinda similar to MAC Saddle and leans pretty warm on me. But sometimes I like a touch of warmth in the crease and on my lower lash line, especially when I’m wearing bronzer.

  Something like Extra Bitter would tie a look together in a neat bow.

• They feel gloriously soft.
• The shades are more pigmented then I expected them to be based on how light they look in the pans.
• They have great staying power and last 10-12 hours for me.

Pretty enticing, right? Whenever I see neutral palettes like this one I get the same feeling that I get when I look out my window and see a cat. Something primal takes over, and I’m overcome with the need to pet them and play with them and just get on that sh*t.

I can’t stop myself! I NEED to befriend them all.

But I guess the big question is this (a.k.a. the pink elephant in the room): with all of the neutral palettes out there in Makeup Candy Land, is this one worth your hard-earned tacos?

Here I’m wearing Blow, Nudie, Commando, Pre-Game, Extra Bitter, Faith, Lockout and Blackjack

I think so. I’ve used this palette five days in row, and it’s well on its way to earning a prized place in the drawer where I keep my makeup must-haves.

You have to really like mattes, though…but I do. I think they get along well with mature skin and don’t call out fine lines as LOUDLY as most shimmers do.

Also, if you don’t have a deep crease (hooded eyes), neutral mattes like theses are great for creating what looks like shadows and an illusion of deeper set eyes.

They’re handy, is what I’m saying, and I wear them often.

I gotta say, though, I didn’t expect the browns to show up well on my skin because of how light they look in the pans, but surprise! — they look darker once you buff and blend.

I really like these browns, and GIRL, I can wear me some browns. They are all closely related enough that you can use them to create nice transitions from dark to light. They make it easy to bang out brown smokey eyes with smooth gradients (my favorite!).

And the other colors in the palette — like the beige, gray and black — complement the brown shades perfectly.

I also think it was clever of Urban Decay to add Blow, the demi-matte nude with a little shimmer, because, well, let’s face it… It saves me from having to dig through my bag to find an inner corner highlight shade.

It has an interesting finish that’s reflective but subtle, and it’s definitely NOT so shiny that I’d call it a full-blown shimmer.

If UD made an entire palette of demi-mattes like this one, I’d be all over it like Drake on Rihanna in every video.

And then there’s the wear time! These shadows do not crease on my dry lids at all. I tried them with a number of bases (NARS Pro-Prime, a few MAC Paint Pots and various other cream stick shadows), and these hug and won’t let go.

It does really help if you unload your brush before applying them to your lids because, purr usual for UD shadows, there tends to be more fallout with these than most eyeshadows, but I’m willing to put up with it.

If you’re a fiend for browns and have hooded eyes and/or mature skin, this one’s a handy palette of long-lasting shadows to have around.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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The post, “The Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics Eyeshadow 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/urban-decay-naked-ultimate-basics-eyeshadow-palette/
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On Average, How Many Eyeshadows Do You Use in a Typical Makeup Look?

The new Urban Decay Ultimate Naked Basics Palette for Holiday 2016 (YES…HOLIDAY!)

How many shades do you use on average in a typical look?

One? Two? Twelve? Six? Seven? More?

I’m desperately trying to power my way through this “just a little liner” phase I still find myself trapped in, and we’ll see if the new Urban Decay Ultimate Naked Basics palette (coming soon…in 18 days!) helps.

It could… I’ve been playing with it, and I really like the wear time. Been putting in some looong days lately, and the shadows last at least 8-10 hours on my lids without any creasing.

The shades are all mattes, and they seem to apply darker on the skin than they appear in their pans.

For the past few months or so — really, for the past year, if I’m being completely honest — I haven’t had the patience to put on a lot eye makeup, so I’ve been wearing one or two shadows, tops. Like, I’ll do a single brown matte all over my lids, then line my upper lash line with a darker matte shade, usually a dark gray or black.

But I’m working my way out of that and growing more interested in wearing more shades day by day. With this palette, I’ve been wearing from four to six of the shades at a time, so that’s a big step.

How about you? How many eyeshadows do you wear in a typical look? Also, feel free to include any creamy base eyeshadows you wear.

Talk to you soon!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. I’ve been listening to a lot of The Pretenders lately, and this one is currently on repeat this morning…

P.P.S. Have a terrific Tuesday!

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Introducing CONNORCLAIRE.COM!

But first, coffee…

Huzzah! Today is a big day! The secret squirrel project I’ve been talking about is finally open.

If you like makeup, kitties and playful patterns as much as I do, have a look around.

I put my heart and soul into this project, and I hope you like it. Follow us (us = me, Tabs and the original Connor Claire) on Instagram @msconnorclaire, and tag #msconnorclaire to be featured.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 438

OK, it’s meow time.

You might be wondering, “So what in tarnation is this Monday Poll thing anyway!?”

Well, it isn’t exactly a poll. It’s more of a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past NINE (!) years. (It’s like a kickstart for your brain.) I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

1. What’s the first thing you do at the sink every morning?
   I wash my hands…because the very first thing I do when I get up is use the loo, LOL!

   Oh, did I tell you yet that I found the absolute best hand soap?? Yeah, it’s the Foaming Hand Soap by Michel Design Works, and my mother-in-law got me hooked on their stuff a while ago.

   They come in a great selection of interesting scents like Green Meadow and Hyacinth Iris, and they’re SUPER foamy. They also don’t make the skin on my hands dry.

   I’ve seen them on Amazon for about $10, but I get mine at Marshalls for $5.99. When I see them in the beauty section I stock up.

   No joke, last time I bought, like, six of them in one fell swoop. A lady standing next to me in line asked if they were any good, and I was like, “Honey! Let me tell you about these soaps…” and I talked her ear off.

   Anywho!

2. A type of junk food you’ll do almost anything to keep from having to give up?
   There is absolutely no way I’ll ever give up ice cream…without a fight, because a world without ice cream would be like a world without kittens.

   It would be a very sad and depressing place.

3. Just generally speaking, what kind of beauty products do you like?
   Um…all of them? But seriously, I like products that make my life easier somehow, whether that’s a no-brainer lipstick that I know will go with every eye and cheek color under the sun, or a tool or accessory that saves me time when I’m getting ready.

   I also like products that make me feel like I’m indulging myself or being pampered, even if it’s just an otherwise ordinary day, like perfumes, body lotions, face masks or scrubs.

   Oh, and products that help me look less tired are primo! Really, I could talk about that forever…

4. Fill in the blanks: “If you want _____ you have to _____.”
   If you want to succeed you have to work your @ss off. If you want cats you have to carry cat treats (not really, but they help). If you want pizza you have to call me because I want some too.
5. What’s the best sweat-proof makeup?
   I have to go with good ol’ MAC Blot.
6. Do you have a lucky charm?
   Does my cat count?

Your turn. Just copy and paste the following questions into a comment with your answers. I look forward to reading ’em!

1. What’s the first thing you do at the sink in the morning?
2. A type of junk food you’ll do almost anything to keep from having to give up?
3. Generally speaking, what kind of beauty products do you like?
4. Fill in the blanks: “If you want _____ you have to _____.”
5. What’s the best sweat-proof makeup?
6. Do you have a lucky charm?

OK…how is it Monday already? And the end of August? Wow, how’d that happen?

Rise and shine, babe! How was your weekend? Mine was busy but good. I was finishing up that secret squirrel project (which reminds me, guess what) so I didn’t really do anything, but that gives me an excuse to treat myself to Starbucks this morning (hello, pink drink!).

How are you doing? I hope there’s a smile on your face. You’re gonna have a great week, BTW. I just know it.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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The post, “Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 438,” first appeared on Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup.

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Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 412

Tabs loves the ladies…

And the ladybugs.

They’re all over the place right now because we got some from a lawn and garden store to go to town on the aphids in the official Tabs the Cat Industries LLC employee deck garden, and they’re doing a GREAT job, but Tabs doesn’t exactly know what to think of them…

He gets up really close to check ’em out, and then watches them do their work, but he leaves them be. He mostly just watches…

Even when he has lunch at the corporate salad bar, he nibbles the grass all around where the ladybugs are, but he lets them have their space.

I think it’s because he can tell that they’re industrious, and he has mad respect for hard work.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addicts,

Karen and Tabs

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The post, “Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 412,” first appeared on Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup.

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The MAC Taraji P. Henson Collection

Someone in the makeup world finally came to their senses and did a collab with Taraji P. Henson.

Good morning, glory! Happy Caturday. I hope you slept well.

So, honey. HUH-KNEE. I haven’t watched Empire in ages (I dunno what happened… I think it just got too redonk for me, and I had to peace-the-heck out), but that show will be forever ingrained in my mind as the magical, mystical place where the world discovered the hurricane of fierce that is Taraji P. Henson.

If I could only channel a tenth of Cookie’s sass and attitude into my fingertips, I could rule the world! (Or at least get a handle on my condo.)

I think Taraji’s awesome. Yeah, she’s gorgeous (those cheekbones and lips, WOW), but I also read that she didn’t get her big acting break until later in life. She just kept working and reaching for the stars.

And now she has her own MAC collection.

Yes, someone somewhere is doing the cabbage patch.

Oh, wait — that someone is me, and it’s happening right here in my office chair, RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT!

With six pieces, half of them new and half of them re-promotes from the permanent line, the collection is on the smaller side…

I know, I would’ve preferred a 20-piece Taraji collection with all new things instead, but let’s see what we’ve got…

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural in Highlight the Truth ($33)

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural in Taraji Glow ($33)

Among the new pieces, it’s all about the two Mineralize Skinfinishes ($33 each) in Taraji Glow and Highlight the Truth for me.

On my NC42 skin, Highlight the Truth looks like a peachy coral with golden shimmer, and Taraji Glow looks like a peachy coral with pink shimmer.

Wearing Highlight the Truth, Taraji Glow and Strip Me Down Lipstick

I don’t know if it’s just a weird trick of the light in my house, but both of them appear pretty similar in swatches side by side… When I apply them on my cheeks, though, Taraji Glow POPS more than Highlight the Truth, and I bet it’s because of the former’s pinkish pearl.

Taraji Glow’s finish looks shinier and more pronounced to me, so it seems more dramatic. If you’re looking for a bolder highlight from something in the collection, that’s the way to go.

Both are super pretty, though. It’s hard to choose which one I like better…but I’d probably go with Taraji Glow, because with the pink in the mix, it could double as a highlighter and a blush.

MAC Taraji P. Henson Matte Lipstick in Strip Me Down ($17)

Strip Me Down Lipstick is NOT playin’. It’s a deep matte beige with, like, a ’90s-style matte finish, so it’s very flat and doesn’t reflect any light whatsoever. It should look lovely as a nude on medium and dark skin tones, but the formula is unforgiving… It’s on the drier side, and after wearing it for about 45 minutes, my vertical lip lines take center stage at Coachella.

Hrmph.

MAC Taraji P. Henson swatches from the left: Highlight the Truth, Taraji Glow and Strip Me Down

Look for the MAC Taraji P. Henson collection on the MAC website starting September 6 and at select MAC stores and counters September 8.

September…

Can you believe it’s already September? Where’d the summer go?!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Taraji, if you’re reading this, let’s kick it sometime. I feel like you’d get my jokes.

Granted, most of them are super corny, but I think you’d totally get the refs. My door’s always open if you want to split a bottle of rosé and watch Gilmore Girls.

I’m just sayin’.

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The post, “The MAC Taraji P. Henson Collection,” first appeared on Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup.

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Finding Great Cards for Great Grandparents This Grandparents Day #sponsored

As a participant in the Hallmark at Wallgreens Card for the Ages campaign, I received compensation in exchange for writing this review. Although this post is sponsored, all opinions are my own. @walgreens #HallmarkAtWalgreens #CardForThe Ages #sponsored

Guess who met her great-grandmother a few days ago! Yup, Connor Claire met my glam granny — her great-grandmother — last weekend at my parents’ house in Union City.

What a trip! It brought back so many memories of my childhood with my glam granny and made me realize how lucky Connor is to have both sets of her grandparents (hi, Nana and Grandpa El Hub!) AND a great-grandparent in her life. I can’t wait for her to make her own memories.

When I was a kid, my glam grandma was the only grandparent in my life. She came to the United States from the Philippines in the early ’80s a few years after my parents did and lived not far from us in the same town.

Up until she retired, she worked doing laundry at the local Holiday Inn. Every morning on her way to work she drove me to school in her red Ford Tempo — which she loved because it matched her glamorous hair, which she dyed red — and every day she said, “I love you!” when I got out of the car.

I remember one summer she took me and my younger brother on a day trip to Lake Elizabeth, where people have picnics and parties, in the nearby town of Fremont, but first we stopped at a pizza place and grabbed a pepperoni pizza.

We brought it out to the lake and dined al fresco, and while we were eating, granny noticed that some people were tooling around the lake on paddle boats (the kind you power with your feet). She asked me and my brother if we’d ever done it before, and when we said no, she took us over to the dock and rented one for us.

We spent the rest of the afternoon paddling back and forth across that lake and having a grand old time.

Come to think about it, Grandma was always pretty outdoorsy. She loved going for long walks and also loved riding her huge blue three-wheeled bike, which was essentially a tricycle for grownups, all over town.

Granny’s bike had a big silver basket in the back for carrying groceries and whatnot, and when I was very young, she let me climb into the basket. Then she’d ride around the neighborhood for exercise.

It must’ve been a hoot to see a glamorous older Filipino lady on an oversized tricycle with her tiny little grandchild in the back, LOL!

From two Christmases ago — my granny touching up her red lipgloss!

Yeah, my granny was always glamorous, even when she exercised. She always had her nails painted, her hair dyed her favorite color (red) and always carried a tube of Revlon lipstick.

It was a green tube — I remember — and the color was Orange Flip. I always wanted to try it but was too shy to ask.

As far as I know, she’s always been into makeup and beauty. Back when she was a young woman in the Philippines just before World War II, she competed in beauty pageants, which is where I’m guessing she learned how to pose, because she’s always been so photogenic (I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen her take a bad picture), and she still is today, even at 88 years young.

She even went to cosmetology school here in the U.S. to learn how to do hair and makeup.

In fact, after she learned how to do perms one day she came home and practiced on me and my Mom…but that’s another story for another time, LOL!

I still have a business card she gave me years ago, and right below her name and number it says “Cosmetologist” in a scripty font.

I have a lot of great memories of growing up with my grandma, and now it’s time for Connor Claire to make some of her own with her grandparents.

This September 11 will be her first Grandparents Day, and her first time giving Grandparents Day cards, so I went to Walgreens this week to (help her) pick out her cards.

And for my grandma I looked for a card with a sweet message that also had her favorite color in it — red. This one with flowers was perfect.

Since Connor can’t pick out her own cards yet (she is a baby, after all!), I picked out these cute ones with animals for her.

They seem like something she’d like.

The Walgreens I go to has a huge selection of cards, so there was a lot to choose from, and shh! — while I was there, I may or may not have also picked up some beauty goodies for myself.

Hey, my grandma is a beauty girl! I’m pretty sure she would have approved.

Happy early Grandparents Day to all of the wonderful grandparents (and future grandparents) out there. Thank you for being you.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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The post, “Finding Great Cards for Great Grandparents This Grandparents Day #sponsored,” first appeared on Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup.

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