Makeup and Beauty Blog: Makeup Reviews, Beauty Tips and Drugstore Beauty Finds

The MAC Originals collection eyeshadows have a little somethin’-somethin’ for every girl (or makeup loving boy).

For the neutral lurvin’ ladies and gents…

And here’s some cool shades for the cool kids…

Last, but not least, a few fun shades for your party side!

Are you feeling these? I was really anticipating the eyeshadows in this collection, and so far I have not been disappointed. My faves have been Ochre Style, Frisco, A Little Folie, Clue and Parrot. I thought I’d fall in love with Daisychain, but, honestly, if you already have Shroom or Ricepaper you don’t really need it. I’ll be doing looks featuring these colors in the next few days, and I’ll provide more detailed reviews then.

Naughty or Nice?

Are ya’ll ready for Santa? I’m going to leave out some cookies and milk; hopefully he leaves me some Chanel.

El Hub and I are heading out to the East Bay (beast in pig latin, yo) to hang with my family. Time for some food, fun and karaoke!

Whatever you’re doing tonight, I hope your heart is filled with joy and love. Merry Christmas!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Green is good

Oh, oh, oh! Ever since MAC Parrot eyeshadow entered my life I’ve been a little obsessed with greens, and I’m not talking collards or peas, girl. Behold my current green shadow crushes, from the left to the right: Maybelline Antique Jade Expert Wear Eye Shadow, Lancome Ombre-Eclair in Emerald and L’Oreal’s Pure Pigment Shadow Stick in Mesmerizing.

If you’re still green-shy, then consider Maybelline Antique Jade Expert Wear Eye Shadow (about $3.50), a very pretty true green with no blue undertones. Its soft, pearl finish gives it a subtle shimmer, and in my experience shimmer shadows are easier to blend than mattes and more forgiving.

Because the shadow isn’t as pigmented as MAC or Shu Uemura eyeshadows, you have lots of room for error. I like lining both my upper and lower lashlines with a creamy liner like MAC Technakohl, and then applying Antique Jade to “set” it in much the same way that loose powder sets foundation. Layering the shadow on top of your eyeliner gives eyes a different texture and color than using eyeshadow or eyeliner alone.

Didja ever make chalk drawings on the sidewalk when you were a kid? I dig L’Oreal’s Pure Pigment Shadow Stick in Mesmerizing ($9.99), an olive-green shadow that comes in a stick, not only ’cause it looks like chalk, but also for its flexibility. My lazy beast self likes to use it when I’m in a hurry because it leaves out the middle man, aka the brush. I apply the stick color directly on my lid along the upper lash line, and then smooth out the edges with my fingers for a sheer, shimmery green lid. Two coats of mascara and I’m done!

If I want a bolder look I run the stick briefly under water. Wetting it intensifies the color, turning it into a metallic gold-green. Don’t you love having options?

Last but not least there’s Lancome’s Ombre-Eclair eyeshadow pencil in Emerald ($20.00), a bold green shadow with color punch that comes in an easy-to-use pencil. Soft and creamy, it glides onto my lids without any tugging; just one swipe over my top lid leaves a bright, shiny burst of color.

Be warned: because the formula is smooth like buttah, it does have a tendency to migrate into the crease, so I use it with an industrial strength lid primer like Urban Decay Potion Primer on my top lid. I usually don’t like Potion Primer because it makes shadows hard to blend, but if I’m only going to use one swipe of color it’s fine.

Another option is to layer a dry powder shadow like Antique Jade or MAC Vex on top to prevent color from migrating and create lotsa different effects.

Are ya ready to go green?

Here I go again on my own, going down the only road I’ve ever known…

I don’t have to go to work tomorrow, so it doesn’t feel like Sunday at all! Not having the gnawing feeling of “Here I goooooo again!” in the pit of my stomach sure helps my mental health.

Mega super props if you can name 1.) the video this pic is from and 2.) the woman who made gymnastics on automobiles an art form

Today I did a *ton* of cleaning and then went for a looooong run in the cold (LOL, it’s 55 degrees here in Northern California. I know that’s practically tropical compared to most parts of the country). Now, El Hub and I are off to the movies to elevate our minds with the fine feature film, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. Marcello Mastroianni it ain’t, but I need a good mindless flick from time to time!

Are your stockings stuffed? What are you hoping Santa will bring you this Christmas? I’m really wishing for a vat of peppermint ice cream from Baskin Robbins.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Your weekend isn’t complete without the weekend round up of the best posts from the Beauty Blog Network!

I know you didn’t miss Bag Balm Udderly Fantastic
Continue Reading…

Hey ya’ll,

Been busy running around doing last-minute Christmas shopping for the past two days. I still have to wrap and write out cards and prep some food … oy, there’s so much to get done. Someone pour me an egg nog!

Just wanted to say HI and to let you know I’m still here and that all is well.

Will be back in full force when all these presents get wrapped.
Anyhoo, I hope your weekend is going well so far and that you’re feeling the holiday spirit. What’ve you been up to today?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

MAC Parrot rocks down to Electric Avenue

Face of the Day with MAC Parrot

This is a really easy face of the day that I wore to work today. It took just five minutes to do my eyes.

To get this look I used:

Eyes
Brows - MAC Concrete
Brow bone - MAC Ricepaper eyeshadow
Crease - MAC Woodwinked eyeshadow
From lashline and then barely into crease, with the color most concentrated on lashline - MAC Parrot eyeshadow
Outer V - MAC Club eyeshadow
Top lashline and on waterline - MAC Jadeye Fluidline eyeliner
Inner corner - MAC Vex eyeshadow
Lower lashline - MAC Woodwinked eyeshadow
Underneath eyes and on lids - MAC Select Moisturecover Concealer in NW 25
Upper and lower lashes - Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Mascara in black

Cheeks
NARS Torrid blush

Lips
MAC Princely lipstick
MAC Enchantress lipgloss

Other ways to modify this look:

- Line top lashline and/or waterline with Blacktrack Fluidline liner, and then liner bottom lashline with Jadeye Fluidline.
- Line top lashline and/or waterline with Blacktrack and leave lower lashline bare!
- Line top or bottom lashline with Uppity Fluidline.
- Use Jadeye Fluidline as a base on from lashline into crease instead of Select Moisturecover concealer to intensify Parrot’s color.
- Using a wet 266 brush, apply Club (the color, not the weapon) onto bottom lash line.
- Make the look smokier using Club in the crease.

Yup, it’s official. Me likes the MAC Parrot.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

And if you enjoyed this post, give this one here a try: MAC Makeup - MAC Russian Red Lipglass Face of the Day