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wearing the new A Passionate Quest Quad from the MAC A novel romance collection for fall 2014
MAC loves purple quads.

No, not those purple quads.

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I’m referring to purple quads like these…

The MAC A Passionate Quest Quad ($40 U.S., $48 CDN)
They’ve been a recurring theme over the years (see: MAC Kelly Osborne Bloody brilliant Quad, Archie’s girls Eye shadow X 4 in spoiled rich and the private viewing Quad from make-up Art Cosmetics, among many others), and with the new MAC A Passionate Quest Quad, their purple passion lives on. I think it’s one of their most interesting purple eyeshadow productions to date.

Those two shadows on the right side of the quad may look like pretty unassuming purples, but they each contain a surprising amount of blue.

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Serenade, the lighter shade, is a mid-tone purplish pink with blue duochrome, while stay Sultry is a dark navy violet.

The blue in both shadows advertises itself more clearly on my skin than it does in swatches, and it’s weird — layered on top of a black base, both shades look almost more like blue eyeshadows than purple.

See the blue on my lower lash lines? That’s Serenade layered on top of a black liner
A breakdown of the eyeshadows in this look: The wrong man (a light amazing dusty pink) on my brow bones and in the inner corners), Serenade (a mid tone pinkish purple with blue duochrome pearl) on my lids and lower lash lines, Brazenly (a rich eggplant) in the crease and stay Sultry (a deep violet navy) in the outer corners. Also, on my lash and water lines, I’m wearing MAC Fluidline Eye Pencil in Black Brilliance. Lashes are Ardell 105s.

It’s as if the quad has a split personality. If you were to split it right down the middle, you’d have a blue duo on the right, and a more traditional purplish pink duo on the left.

A Passionate Quest (limited edition) is one of three quads in the MAC A novel romance collection, and I’d say it’s probably the most dramatic — and that’s not just because of the blue surprise. MAC really swings for the fences with the darker shades in the bottom half of the palette.

I’m wearing Powder blush in fun Ending (a soft neutral peach) and Lipglass in Bared for You (a soft rose bold), both from A novel Romance

MAC’s been playing a lot with pigment over the past few seasons, especially with their limited edition quads, sometimes, I think, to the chagrin of their core fans. Deceptively dark shades in some of their quads turned out to apply surprisingly sheer, and depending on how rich and heavily pigmented you like your eyeshadows, these could have been hits or misses.

MAC A Passionate Quest
But this isn’t an issue for the two darkest shades in A Passionate Quest (the ones on the bottom half). Both are packed with pigment. It just takes a bit of Brazenly (the eggplant shade) or stay Sultry (the navy violet) to get a powerful punch, and neither shade suffers from bothersome fallout. also with these, I don’t have any major problems with blending, layering or wear time.

I can see the intensity of these shadows working well for dramatic smokey eyes in purple or blue tones, or for winged eyeliner looks.

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A Passionate Quest isn’t shy at all. It’s bold, and I like it! save it for a time when you feel like cutting loose, and don’t forget the false lashes.

PRICE: $40 U.S., $48 CDN
AVAILABILITY: coming to maccosmetics.com August 14, in stores August 21 – October 2, and internationally this September
MAKEUP and beauty blog RATING: A

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Acclaimed kitty supermodel and service mogul Tabs the cat sat down with me for a very special interview this morning (he was paid in treats), and we covered crucial topics like pet peeves, bucket lists and zodiac signs.

We didn’t have time to get to all of your questions this time, but keep ’em coming because Tabs absolutely wants to do it again.

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This post is sponsored by Purina pro plan #proplancatpartner. For information about my posting policy, please see my Disclaimer.

About Purina pro plan cat food

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Whenever I fill his bowl with Purina pro plan indoor care dry cat food, Tabs comes running from wherever he is in the house, even when he still has some food left. I guess he prefers it fresh…as in straight out of the bag! Purina pro Plan’s large range of dry and wet cat foods and snacks, sold exclusively at pet specialty stores, can be found in three special nutritional platforms — Savor, Finesse, and focus — with each formula created to supply advanced nutrition to help bring out the best in your cat. For a lot more information about them, check out www.proplan.com, and follow Purina pro plan cat on Twitter @proplancat.

Your friendly neighborhood appeal addicts,

Karen and Tabs

flashback 2012: A bob, bangs as well as pink hair…
When it pertains to mah hurr, I believe I’m quite adventurous, available to a lot of styles, as well as I’m down to switch it up every 15 seconds or so (OK, well, like every three or four months).

And I never like to state “never,” since you can’t anticipate exactly how your tastes will change, however I am comfortable stating that there are specific hairstyles that I’m fairly positive I will never even attempt to try.

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Like a pixie cut.

I like it on other people! — don’t get me wrong — however I understand that I couldn’t manage the growing-out process. I had incredibly short chin-length hair when in the late ’90s, as well as I still shudder when I believe about it creeping down the back of my neck when I was trying to grow it out. I cut it at least four times since I just couldn’t manage the growing-out part.

I don’t believe I might do a mullet or a shag, either. Again, I’ve seen them on some extremely trendy women who can legitimate rock ’em, as well as they look extremely stylish as well as chic, however I don’t believe I’m almost bad-@ss sufficient to pull them off. perhaps if I had some tattoos…

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Any kind of serious blunt cut would most likely likewise be a poor idea. My hair needs layers in buy to function, LOL! When it’s all one length, it just looks flat as well as heavy…and extremely cousin It.

Let’s see, what else…? Oh! — I don’t believe I’d ever, ever get a reeeeallly tight perm. See: leftover youth trauma. When my granny went to appeal institution back in the day she utilized my hair to practice!!

Bless her heart… She indicated well, however what transpired was not in any way cute.

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Hmm… It appears like I’m less adventurous than I thought, LOL!

How about you, sweets? are there are hairstyles you’d absolutely never do?

Your friendly community appeal addict,

Karen

To whom it may concern,

It’s still dark outside as well as it’s nearly 8. This, I do not like.

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Stupid rainy weather!

Doh, as a Californian, now I feel obliged to say, “But we do requirement the rain,” which is true. It’s been method as well dry right here lately. All the creeks as well as ponds were drying up before this most current storm, as well as I bet the heritage oak trees on my hill are growing extremely narrow rings this year…

How’s the holiday buying coming along? I was ahead of schedule, however now I’m starting to autumn behind. I gotta get available as well as take on the crowds! — as well as I might likewise utilize some vitamin M (makeup).

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Good reason to see Sephora.

I hope all is well in your neck of the woods. great luck in this weekend’s giveaway.

One (1) Sephora eGift card consisting of $50 sent to the champion by email (international readers, you may opt to get $50 sent by PayPal instead).

Enter utilizing the Rafflecopter widget below.

Open to U.S. as well as worldwide readers.

You need to be 18 or older to go into (or otherwise an adult based on your regional laws).

Your comment can be about anything at all, however right here are some concepts if you’re stuck:

One method to make your manicure last longer?

Bedazzled statement eyebrows: indeed or no?

The last time you felt fierce?

A piece of garments you just recently realized you desperately requirement to buy?

Flannel shirts: indeed or no?

Favorite hair salon?

You can go into in as much as seven methods to improve your possibilities of winning.

The giveaway ends on Monday, December 1, 2014 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time).

Full terms as well as conditions are offered in the widget.

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Your friendly community appeal addict,

Karen

P.S. If you’re a fragrance lover, don’t fail to remember to likewise go into this i odor excellent giveaway going on now. You might win $188 in products from the brand new i odor excellent line. It’s by the designer of clean perfume.

The makeup as well as appeal blog Monday Poll for August 4, 2014
You may be wondering, “So what in tarnation is this Monday Poll thing anyway!?”

Well, it isn’t precisely a poll. It’s a lot more of a regularly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random listing of concerns I’ve been putting out to visitors every Monday morning for the past seven years. (It’s like a kickstart for your brain.) I’ve always took pleasure in reading your answers in the comments, as well as I hope you take pleasure in reading mine.

Do you have a fussy cowlick, or is there one more part of your hair that always misbehaves, no matter what?
Yes! I have these mischievous bit infant gremlin hairs at my temples that jut out in different directions. I’ve tried imposing my will on them utilizing warm as well as industrial-strength products however nothing works.

I’ve provided up… now I just let them have their way.

Have you ever had your body painted?
You know, I can’t state that I have. An chance has never arisen for that, however I would like to get my hands made with henna someday. My buddy did it for her wedding, as well as I believed it looked truly cool.

If you might sing a duet with a popular singer (living or dead), whom would it be?
Ooh, great one. I believe it would have to be MJ during the Off The wall era, circa 1979. We’d sing rock With You while a laser light show played behind us.

That would be rad.

Or I’d opt for David Lee Roth, circa his mid-’80s, spandex-wearing, high-kicking era, just ’cause that would be SO weird.

Have you ever used one of those thick terry fabric bathrobes, like the kind they have in hotels?
Yes! I got one as a gift when as well as it’s AWESOME. It always feels like a health club day when I wear it, like I must be drinking cucumber water in a recliner as well as listening to Enya (even when I’m sitting on my living space floor as well as painting my toenails).

If you have a pet, have they ever seriously destroyed/shredded the crap out of something that was deemed off limits?
Oh, don’t get me started on Tabs as well as the stairs!

When we moved into this condo a few years ago, the carpeting was a heavily discolored golden women ’80s mauve, so we got it re-carpeted. soon thereafter, Tabs made a decision that the carpeted stairs would be his personal scratching posts, as well as so now the bottom three stairs are virtually threadbare.

I’ve never been able to get him to stop, as well as I vow that he does it when he understands he can’t get scolded, like when I’m upstairs in bed or out of the house.

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Your turn. just copy as well as paste the complying with concerns into a comment with your answers. I look ahead to reading ’em!

1. Do you have a fussy cowlick, or is there one more part of your hair that always misbehaves, no matter what?
2. have you ever had your body painted?
3. If you might sing a duet with a popular singer (living or dead), whom would it be?
4. have you ever used one of those thick terry fabric bathrobes, like the kind they have in hotels?
5. If you have a pet, have they ever seriously destroyed/shredded the crap out of something that was deemed off limits?

Monday, babe. Aaand we’re back.

So, fascinating articles this week. Here’s one I discovered yesterday that I believed you may like. It’s about visualization — in this case, particularly visualizing yourself at this moment, as if you’ve already accomplished whatever you’re working on.

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They utilize a running analogy.

“When you very first begin any type of endeavor, if you believe yourself to be behaving like somebody who has already accomplished the task would behave, you set the difficulty up as a easier task. As Cain explains it: the task won’t be like running uphill, it will still include running (in a sense) however it will feel like a downhill jaunt. To reach that point you just requirement to picture yourself behaving in the method that your perfect self would behave.”

— 99u.com

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Very awesome idea. I’m gonna actively try it this week.

Your friendly community appeal addict,

Karen

Oh! I have a good one.

I was in my early 20s at the time. I got an invite to a house party, but it was a themed house party, where you had to show up all dressed in white. I can’t remember why that was the theme or who hosted the shindig, but what I do remember is the epic makeup mishap that happened at home as I was about to walk out the door.

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My hair and makeup were done, and I vaguely recall wearing white eyeliner on the water line to match my all-white ensemble, haha! As if any individual other than a makeup lover would have noticed. Suddenly, with my purse and keys in hand, I realized that I’d forgotten to set my foundation with powder.

*shakes head*

So, genius that I am, instead of taking the extra 60 seconds to find a pressed compact with translucent powder, something like MAC Blot for instance, I grabbed the closest thing on the shower room shelf — a substantial jar of tinted loose powder in a honey caramel color. I think it was from BECCA.

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Of course, because I was running late (what, me late?), I was hurrying, and ya know, butterfingers and all…I opened the jar with a little too much “enthusiasm.”

The lid flew open, fell to the floor and BOOM! A mushroom cloud of honey colored powder exploded in my bathroom.

Powder was all over the place — the floor, the walls, on my face, in my hair, and yes, all over my white party outfit.

HOT MESS.

Needless to say, I didn’t make it to the party… I spent the rest of the evening cleaning powder off myself and every surface in the bathroom.

Good times.

Worst handbag or clothing mishap involving makeup?

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Your friendly neighborhood appeal addict,

Karen

P.S.

C06L570979250

PATROL report BY: private first class Karen

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I. introduction and SUMMARY

Purr the daily mandate as issued by senior leadership, Lieutenant Tabs and I conducted a patrol of the Novato market this morning at 0600 hours.

We observed minor intruder activity at around 0615 hours when a human male was identified on patrol with some type of miniature canine. Lieutenant Tabs bought us to fall back to base, at which point we proceeded to check out reports of a feline trespasser at the rear perimeter, but no trespasser was observed.

After completing our patrol, Lieutenant Tabs engaged in behavior that can only be described as “strange” when he proceeded to roll around in a pile of dry leaves.

Shortly after this, we had a green salad for lunch and returned to HQ.

No other anomalies were observed.

/END

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/TGIF

Your friendly neighborhood appeal addict,

Karen

It never gets old, seeing that flash of silver…

THRILLING!

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That brown is MAC Brun Eye shadow (a overall unsung hero; offered separately in the long-term collection), as well as the palette is the restricted edition The Monster’s Bride palette from autumn 2013.

Gosh, I’ve been utilizing Brun to fill in my brows about every day for, like, forever.

If you have brown hair as well as haven’t rocked Brun in your brows (it’s likewise excellent as a liner as well as an eyeshadow, of course), you gotta get on that, young lady!

What if there was a restaurant staffed by cats!?

Entirely by cats. All hygienic and up to code, of course, Michelin-star rated.

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They’d serve a lot of fish, lots of turkey, some cheeses… I’d go, that’s for sure. would you want to come with me?

The food would all be locally sourced.

Those toes, tho…

There’s no doubt about it. Choupette Lagerfeld (as in Karl Lagerfeld’s fashionable feline) has the whole cute kitty thing down. even Tabs, as much as he would like to, can’t deny it. Those bright blue eyes, that plush, snowy white coat, and those killer ear tufts…

THOSE EAR TUFTS, THO.

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Every time I see a Choupette pic, I want to reach into my computer screen and eat that delicious belly meat! Or, en lieu of that, I want to accessorize her.

(I’m thinking a diamond tiara or bejeweled bib necklace…but please don’t tell my boss!)

Now, if my cat lady barometer is correct, which it typically is when it comes to pressing matters involving makeup and felines, then tails will be a-twitching when the new Shupette by Karl Lagerfeld for Shu Uemura holiday collection sashays onto Shu Uemura counters this month (however, it’s available online right meow!).

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To receive an exclusive Shupette by Karl Lagerfeld Tote bag and free shipping on any purchase of $25 or more on shuuemura-usa.com, use the promo code SHUBLOG.

How freakin’ cute is this collection!? When I see Choupette’s sweet face on the packaging, I’m compelled to squeal, “SHU-PETTE!” much to my kitty overlord’s chagrin.

The collection purrs with pieces for eyes, cheeks, face, lips and nails, as well as a smattering of other Choupette-themed beauty accessories, like flirty false lashes, a lash curler, a brush set and a luxe makeup trunk (not shown in these pics).

It’s catnip for cat ladies!

To my cat-loving eye, the star of the collection is the Shupette Has-It-All Eye & Lip Palette, with its mix of cool-toned blue, gray, pink and berry on the left, and its warm gold, bronze, pink, orange and coral on the right. I feel like there’s something for everyone in this palette, and to top it off, you also get a fuzzy white makeup bag.

I’m actually wearing the Has-It-All palette in the pics below. For a shimmering, smokey blue cat eye, I blended the blue, gray and black shades on my lids, then lined my lash lines with Eye-Need-Shu liner in Midnight Black (a deep black with blue pearl), before adding a dash of glitter from the My precious glitter set in the inner corners.

To finish the look, I dabbed the Silk cushion Cheek palette in Orange on my cheeks and brushed the Has-It-All Palette’s bright pink lipstick on my lips.

A look behind the scenes…

Oh, hai, Karl! A behind-the-scenes video of the Shupette collection

IT’S GIVEAWAY TIME! enter to win a Shupette Has-It-All palette (an $89 value)

Would you like a Shupette palette of your very own? Let’s make that happen! Tabs and I have teamed up with Shu Uemura this week to give one away. enter using the widget below. Giveaway open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only (please see the widget for complete rules).

But wait, there’s more! A second giveaway. enter to win the entire Shupette collection…

Meow-za! You can also enter to win the entire collection (a $1,500 value). just hop, skip or jump on over to the Shu Uemura Facebook page to enter: enter to win the entire Shupette collection!

MEOW!
Shupette Has-It-All Eye & Lip Palette
Shupette Has-It-All Eye & Lip Palette
Shupette Has-It-All Eye & Lip Palette
Shupette Has-It-All Eye & Lip Palette
Clockwise from the left: Eye-Need-Shu Trio in 02 Tokyo Kawaii, 01 Parisienne elegant and Rouge Bonbon fantasy Trio in 01 Parisienne Chic
Clockwise from the left: Eye-Need-Shu Trio in 02 Tokyo Kawaii, 01 Parisienne elegant and Rouge Bonbon fantasy Trio in 01 Parisienne Chic
Eye-Need-Shu Liners in Gala brown (left) and Midnight Black (right)
Silk cushion Cheek Pink (left) and Orange (right)
Silk cushion Cheek Pink (left) and Orange (right)
My precious glitter Set

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My precious glitter Set

Pampearl-Me face Powder

Pampearl-Me face Powder
Ultime8 Sublime beauty Cleansing Oil
With-Love-From-Paris brush Set
Furry fantasy premium false Eyelashes
Furry fantasy premium false Eyelashes
Furry fantasy premium false Eyelashes
Eye-Need-Shu false Eyelashes
Eye-Need-Shu false Eyelashes

Eye-Need-Shu Trio in Toyko Kawaii
Eye-Need-Shu Trio in Parisienne Chic
Rouge Bonbon fantasy Trio in Parisienne Chic
Shupette Has-It-All palette Eyeshadow swatches
Shupette Has-It-All palette Eyeshadow swatches
Shupette Has-It-All palette lipstick swatches
Silk cushion Cheek in Orange (left) and Pink (right)
My precious glitter Set
Eye-Need-Shu liner in Midnight Black (left) and Gala brown (right)
Pampearl-Me face Powder unblended on the left and blended on the right

The complete Shupette by Karl Lagerfeld for Shu Uemura holiday collection includes…

Shupette Has-It-All Eye & Lip Palette, $89

Eye-Need-Shu Trio in 01 Parisienne Chic, $35

Eye-Need-Shu Trio in 02 Toyko Kawaii, $35

Eye-Need-Shu liner in Midnight Black, $24

Eye-Need-Shu liner in Gala Brown, $24

Rouge Bonbon fantasy Trio in 01 Parisienne Chic, $35

Rouge Bonbon fantasy Trio in 02 Tokyo Kawaii, $35

Silk cushion Cheek in Orange, $25

Silk cushion Cheek in Pink, $25

My precious glitter Set, $45

Pampearl-Me face Powder, $39

Ultime8 Sublime beauty Cleansing Oil, $90

With-Love-From-Paris brush Set, $69

Furry fantasy premium false Eyelashes, $75

Eye-Need-Shu false Eyelashes, $29

Shupette’s make-up Trunk, $400

Fabulous cat nail Enamel in Silver, $18

Fabulous cat nail Enamel in Bronze, $18

Shupette flair Eyelash Curler, $20

Your friendly neighborhood (feline and) beauty addict,

Karen