I really shouldn’t be writing this. I have three other posts in the works: my long-postponed review of Illamasqua Zygomatic blush, my even longer-postponed musings on British vs. American beauty practices, and a contribution to the wave of introspection that has been sweeping the beauty blogosphere in recent weeks. I was all set to write… Read More A Creamsicle for the Summer Solstice: Revlon Matte Balm in Mischievous
Namely, two nail lacquers–Clique, a chartreuse creme (£5) and Brazil, a rainbow glitter topcoat (£6)–and the new Chameleon Glow in Wax + Wane (£8). Are ampersands no longer cool, Topshop? First up is the Chameleon Glow, which Topshop describes as an “[a]mazing dual pigmented, multi-use powder; can be used as an eyeshadow or a facial… Read More Beauty Abroad, Part 8: A Taste of Topshop
I’m back in the land of decent coffee and 97% humidity! No, that figure isn’t an exaggeration. The summer humidity in this part of the Mid-Atlantic is out of control. Early June isn’t all that hot, but I can’t spend five minutes outside without feeling moisture pool in my scalp and eyebrows and the space… Read More Beauty Abroad, Part 7: Rimmel ScandalEyes Eyeshadow Stick in Blamed Blue
I can’t believe how quickly these five weeks have passed, but today was my last full day in the UK. Though I still have several new products to review on the blog for my Beauty Abroad series, I thought I’d use this post for a brief roundup of all the makeup I’ve bought here. First,… Read More Beauty Abroad, Part 6: The Reckoning
Or, more properly: Kiko Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow in 16 (£6.90) and Infinity Eyeshadows in 270 and 251 (£5.90 each). The fact that the number 251 is attached to lavender is playing havoc with my synesthesia, but 6 is purple and 7 is green in my mental bouquet of numbers, so 16 and 270 are… Read More Beauty Abroad, Part 5: Intro to Kiko (Eyeshadow Swatches and First Impressions)
Since I photographed Flushed two days ago, think of this post as an addendum, with swatches and a couple of looks. And more than a couple of goslings. In the States, it’s almost impossible to find a high-quality matte blush in the drugstore. Most decent American drugstore blushes have some degree of shimmer or frost,… Read More Beauty Abroad, Part 4.5: Sleek Blush in Flushed (Plus Baby Birds)
As a result of moving to San Francisco at the age of seven and feeling deprived of “real seasons” for the next decade, I’m very faithful to the idea of seasonal colors. So long as there’s snow on the ground, I’m going to cling to my burgundy lipsticks and plum nail polishes. And when I… Read More Beauty Abroad, Part 4: Back to Burgundy with Sleek and Rimmel
Apologies for both my Beirut allusion and my ten-day absence from this blog. I was writing my second conference paper of the month, and then I was in Venice, drinking Campari and soda. I’ll probably never like Campari, even if I drink it while sitting in a Venetian campo watching little Italian boys kick a… Read More Postcards from Italy
Two weeks after I arrived in England, I finally set foot in the huge mall near my boyfriend’s apartment. It’s a ten-minute walk away, so I’m not sure what was holding me back except my congenital fear of spending money. I needn’t have worried, because I wandered for three and a half hours and still… Read More Beauty Abroad, Part 3: Guerrilla Swatches from Topshop, Rimmel, and Illamasqua
My face has emerged from the shadows! My previous post on theBalm’s Nude ‘Tude palette was devoted to swatches and mini-reviews of the colors. As promised, this post features four looks I’ve concocted since then, plus an alternate use that isn’t a look per se. I began by pushing myself to focus on the shades… Read More Experiments with theBalm’s Nude ‘Tude Palette (Part 2: Looks and Field Notes)
Auxiliary Beauty 