Archives for December 2007

Makeup and Beauty Blog Looks Back on 2007

December 31st, 2007 by Karen 29 Comments

Ahhh, the last day of 2007. I always get a little sad when I know something is coming to an end; I guess it’s the thought of a part of my life ending and knowing I’ll never be able to go back (unless I drop $10 million for those time travel plans on eBay).

When I started this blog, I never imagined how much fun it would be. This year has been, to quote my eighth grade East Bay self circa 1989, “hella cool.”

Dita Von Teese – Interviewing MAC Viva Glam spokesperson Dita Von Teese at the Macy’s Passport fashion show was a trip. She was so stunningly beautiful and I was so nervous. The other day, I listened to the audio recording of the interview and laughed because I even SOUNDED sweaty.

Paris Hilton – The Dita experience really helped, though, when the time came to interview Paris Hilton for the release of Can Can, her new perfume. It was a level of celebrity that I’d never experienced before — body guards, press folks, rabid fans foaming at the mouth. It was the first time I’d interviewed a really high profile celebrity AND the first time I had to do it in a room filled with people watching me. What a learning experience.

SF Fashion Week – But my favorite event of the year was hanging out with MAC backstage at SF Fashion Week. I fell in love with a few products, learned a lot and met other beauty bloggers, like Erika and Christine.

Laura Mercier – There was plenty of Laura Mercier love last spring.

Tokidoki bag – The Tokidoki bag fit all my stuff AND rocked my world.

Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash – Unfortunately, I experienced getting pimples on my butt for the first time. Fortunately, Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash saved my ass (pardon the pun).

43 makeup things – Thanksgiving was an excuse to eat turkey, wear stretchy pants and think about the 43 makeup things I’m thankful for.

43 non-makeup things – Thanksgiving also provided an opportunity to give thanks for everything else.

Chanel Glossimers – I became a fiend for Chanel Glossimers.

Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple – And Purity Made Simple simply rocked my world.

Chanel Garden Party Quad – Chanel’s National Artist John Fussell helped me fall in love with the Chanel Garden Party Quad, and now there’s no turning back!

Smashbox’s Lori Taylor – Smashbox’s Lori Taylor gave some backstage tips from L.A. Fashion Week.

Billy B. – I met and interviewed one of the nicest guys in the beauty biz.

MAC’s awesome Louise Zizzo – Louise Zizzo saved me from myself when the MAC Mattene collection came out.

Celebrity makeup artist Bruce Grayson – Bruce Grayson’s makeup tips from the Emmy’s red carpet.

Dear Makeup and Beauty Blog – I heard from Shy in Chi-town.

Guide to Smart Clubbing – You asked for tough love, and in the Guide to Smart Clubbing I gave it to ya (hey, I’ve had a lot of practice).

Curiositease – And my number one makeup love, MAC, didn’t let me down.

Pigments and Glitters – Remember when I was grouchy about Pigments and Glitters?

MAC Loose Beauty Powder – I fell in love.

Smoke Signals – It rocked my world.

MAC Mad Libs – We had a lil’ fun together.

MAC Mattene lipsticks – Where’s my plaid shirt and my Pearl Jam CD? MAC Mattene lipsticks took me back to the 90s.

A quick smokey eye with MAC shadow – Oh, this is old school.

But the best thing that happened to me this year was meeting all of you. It’s been fun getting to know you and learning about your lives. You’d think that it would be hard to make a connection behind a computer screen, but sometimes I feel like we’re all just having a cup of coffee together and gabbing about makeup.

I hope you make the most of this fantastic last day of the year!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

New Year, New You: What Are Your New Year’s Resolutions?

December 30th, 2007 by Karen 20 Comments

We need a resolution

I’ve heard that 80 percent of people give up their New Year’s resolutions within a few months. Seriously? I know it’s easy to fall back into bad habits, but I suspect someone in marketing invented that statistic. They make us feel bad about ourselves so they can sell us things we don’t want or need. I know plenty of women who set and achieve their goals.

A still shot of singer Aaliyah from the We Need a Resolution video. I love the song and the makeup in this video (check the blue on the lower lashline). I miss her and wonder what her New Year’s resolutions would have been if she were still alive.

When you think about it — big goals are really just little goals stitched together. You can say that you want to learn how to do an uber-hot smokey eye this year, but it ain’t gonna happen if all you do is buy a pot of black eye shadow and use your pinky finger and some spit. You’ve got to figure out where to apply the color, what brushes to use, how to use those brushes, how to blend the colors without overblending … you get the picture. You have to put the time and effort into the little steps.

So, this year, even though I’m going to focus on the end game, I also plan to devote 110% to all the small goals along the way, ’cause a bunch of well executed little goals result in a big goal achieved in the end.

I’ve also felt a real urgency to make things happen, moreso than I did when I was younger. I don’t just want to pass through this life without making my mark, ya know?

Anyway, have you thought about your New Year’s resolutions? Here are mine:

1. To work on my fitness.

In 2005 I started lifting weights and watching what I ate. Initially, all I wanted to do was lose weight for my wedding, but weight lifting and eating right changed my life forever. It wasn’t just a matter of dropping a few dress sizes. As I started building muscle and getting stronger, I stood taller, felt tougher, and gained more confidence in myself. It’s weird, but the day I was finally able to bench press my body weight on the Smith Machine, I felt truly beautiful.

Unfortunately, my schedule’s been crazy lately, and I haven’t been disciplined about lifting weights or eating well. I’m looking forward to getting back into fighting shape again. Yes, it’ll be nice to fit into my skinny jeans again, but what I really miss is how both my body and my mind felt balanced when I was taking better care of myself.

Oh, and if one of your goals is to get into shape this year, let me know! I would love to be your cheerleader. It always helps to have a friend remind you that you *can* do this!

2. To get to appointments early.

There are things I know I do well, like sarcasm, leg waxing and detecting B.S. from a mile away. There are also many things I know I don’t do well, like estimating travel time. I can never seem to get where I need to be on time! I used to believe that a gypsy cursed me to be at least 15 minutes late for anything, but deep down inside I know it’s because I don’t manage my time efficiently. Face it, Karen, it takes more than five minutes to do a complicated smokey eye.

So, this year I’m going to make the effort to get to my appointments 15 minutes early. Granted, for most people, showing up early is not as hard as running a marathon or becoming an astronaut, but for your girl it will be.

3. To learn a few new things.

On my list so far: how to play acoustic guitar, learning a martial art and digital photography.

4. To not let what haters think/say/do bother me.

I’ve always admired people who can just let all the bad stuff roll off them like water off a duck’s back. I know learning how to “just let it go” will take some time, but one thing I’ve started doing lately is asking myself, “Will this same thing bother me in one year?” It helps to put things in perspective.

5. To push myself creatively as a writer.

Write hard, die free. ‘Nuff said.

What are your New Year’s resolutions? I can’t wait to hear ’em.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

MAC Cosmetics Originals Lipstick Swatches

December 30th, 2007 by Karen 15 Comments

The 10 lipsticks ($14 each) in the MAC Originals collection sure are pretty!

From left to right:
Rozz Revival, Chintz on Chintz, Utter Pervette, Back to Del Rio, and Nouveau-Frou

From left to right:
Retrofluid, Supersequin, Twig-Twig, Sandy B, and Russian Red

Don’t miss Twig-Twig, Sandy B, Supersequin, and Rozz Revival! If you don’t have Russian Red Lipglass, then snag the lipstick version, fo’ sho. I know it looks a little scary in the swatch, but I’ve seen it on lots of women and it always looks good.

Did ya snag any of these lippies?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Your weekend isn’t over yet! Here are the best of 2007 from the ladies at Splendicity![Continue reading…]

1-800-Confess

December 29th, 2007 by Karen 29 Comments

fussy-tabby-true-confessions-final

Confession #1: I had my first makeup nightmare last night.

I stayed up really late last night to write the Chanel Aurora Blues Spring 2008 review. I went to bed at 2 a.m., only to have a Chanel makeup nightmare in the hours that followed.

In the dream, I was running around and caught within a swarm of people and getting really upset because no one would listen to me. I kept yelling, “The dark blue in the outer V! We’ve got to use the dark blue in the outer V!” But it was like I was invisible.

I considered the symbolism. Was the dream a window into my current psyche? That, or I guess it could’ve been indigestion (I ate a bag of caramel corn around midnight). Hmmm….

Confession #2: I’m wearing stretchy pants right now.

I had to bust out the stretchy pants before I sat down tonight to write this post ’cause I’m stuffed to maximum capacity.

I spent the day driving and eating all over the Bay Area. I went to San Jose for brunch with friends, and then to Berkeley for my mom’s birthday dinner. Now, I’m home and tired. Why is the repetitive lifting of my fork to shovel food into my gullet so exhausting? I don’t know.

Confession #3: I’m in fight mode.

I recently watched a show on TV where a professional BMX biker talked about what makes a person a champion. He said that when most people feel like they’ve hit their maximum limit — whether it be in sports, academics, or whatever — they give up. Champions are the few who hit that limit but have the will to push past the challenges and pain to achieve more than they thought they could.

It’s kinda been a challenging few weeks (I’ve had writer’s block the size of ALASKA), so one thing that’s been helping me is listening to music that helps me push past the pain.

No, I’m not listening to Eye of the Tiger.

Several Kanye West songs are on heavy rotation, like Touch the Sky, Stronger and Champion.

This is the story of a champion
runners on their mark and they pop their guns
Stand up stand up here he comes
Tell me what it takes to be number one
Tell me what it takes to be number one

An awesome video of a live version from the VMA’s of Kanye West’s Champion

After I listen to that song I feel like telling the world to FEAR MY WRATH!

Do you have a favorite fight mode song?

Hope your Saturday was chill (and that your pants fit, oy!).

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Chanel Aurora Blues Spring 2008 Makeup Swatches and Face of the Day

December 28th, 2007 by Karen 44 Comments

Girl, it’s hella cold in the Bay Area right now! I suppose I could do some jumping jacks or put on an extra fleece to stay warm, but screw that. I’d rather use Chanel makeup to get me through these long winter nights.

Chanel Winter Nights Quad
chanel-cosmetics-quadra-eyeshadow-winter-nights

Okay, so maybe an eyeshadow quad doesn’t have the warming power of a down comforter. Yes, I may be partially frozen and unable to feel my toes, but at least my eye makeup looks hot.

I gotta give you gals that live in places with freezing temps mega-props for being able to handle a real winter, ’cause when it drops into the 40s here I’m barely functional. It’s so cold that I don’t even want to shower, and, believe me, my will to be clean is VERY STRONG.

My stinky self has resorted to layering and various Jedi mind tricks to keep warm. A good friend from Eastern Europe told me that a trick to surviving cold weather is to walk around thinking hot thoughts, so for the last half hour I’ve been pacing around my living room thinking about Hawaii, Christian Bale and Chanel’s Spring Aurora Blues collection. Three words: hot, hot and HOT!

Remember a few months ago when we got the heads up on what was in store for Chanel’s Spring 2008 color line? Well, the Aurora Blues collection is finally here and available both online at Chanel.com and in person at your nearby Nordstrom Chanel counter.

Here are a few goodies to melt away your cold-weather blues.

Chanel Quadra Eyeshadow in Bleu Celestes (navy and pale tones), $55
chanel-cosmetics-quadra-eyeshadow-bleu-celestes

Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blush in Enchanteresse (brown rose), $40
chanel-cosmetics-joues-contraste-powder-blush-enchanteresse

Chanel Rouge Allure Lipstick in Exquise (shimmering peach), $30
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The limited edition Fleurs de Chanel eyeshadow quad is really cute, but I passed because I don’t really see myself wearing these pale colors. Plus, I couldn’t bear to ruin the beautiful camilla flower design, and I sure as heck am not going to throw down $65 bucks for a quad that I’m only going to admire from afar.

chanel-spring-2008-fleurs-de-chanel-eyes-quad

I love the beauty shot for this collection. Isn’t she pretty?

For some weird reason I’m digging those big, Brooke Shields-esque brows, too.

Face of the Day

The model in the pic above inspired this face o’ the day.

chanel-spring-2008-bleu-celestes-quad-fotd-eye-closeup

All the makeup I used here was by Chanel.

Eyes:
From the Bleu Celestes Quad:
Browbone – white shadow
Crease – grey shadow
Inner lid – light blue shadow
Upper and lower lash line – dark blue shadow
Lashes – two coats of Inimitable Mascara

Cheeks:
Joues Contraste blush in Enchanteresse

Face:
Matte Reflecting Powder Makeup in Honey

Lips:
Rouge Allure in Exquise

To get the bright, bold blue at the lashline, apply the shadow with a wet, flat brush like the MAC 239 or 252. When applied wet, it’s exactly the same color as the Precision Eyeliner in Blue Jean ($27.50), so save yourself some money (is that even possible with Chanel?) and get more bang for your buck by purchasing the Bleu Celestes quad instead.

The chimera of the lip product world

Last but not least is this cutie pie from the Spring 2008 collection, Creme Gloss Lumiere in Petit Four ($32), a creme pink lipstick/lipgloss hybrid that comes in a brush pen.

chanel-creme-gloss-lumiere-petit-four-product-shot

Creme Gloss Lumiere blends the best of both worlds by combining the texture of a lipstick with the high shine of a lipgloss. I like the light texture and the color. Even though I wish the brush pen was a little bit stiffer, it’s still easy to use and perfect for when I don’t have time to apply lipstick with a lipbrush.

chanel-creme-gloss-lumiere-petit-four

Swatch it good. Swatch it real good.

And, yes, I couldn’t forget the swatches. 🙂

From left to right:

1. Creme Gloss Lumiere in Petit Four
2. Rouge Allure Lipstick in Exquise
3-6. Quadra Eyeshadow in Bleu Celestes
7. Joues Contraste Powder Blush in Enchanteresse

Somebody make me some tea! It’s FREEZING!

Stay warm, ladies.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

MAC Cosmetics Originals Glitter Swatches

December 27th, 2007 by Karen 19 Comments

Ahhh, glitter. I couldn’t get enough of you circa 1998, when all I ever needed in my makeup life was a heavy spackling of you in various obnoxious colors around my eyes.

Back then we’d spend every Saturday night together. Underneath the shimmer of a disco ball and colored lights, I’d be drenched in your sparkle as I danced ’til the wee hours in the club in my knee-high go-go boots.

But times change; sometimes I feel too old to wear you. I’m not the same care-free club girl I was then, and even though in many ways I’m glad I’m not her anymore (she was a lot of fun, but often unfocused) I miss having a lil’ glitter in my life.

Glitter, I thought I was ready to let go of you, but MAC’s Glitter, from the Originals collection ($16.50 a jar), rekindled my love.

mac-cosmetics-makeup-reflects-blackened-red-very-pin-transparent-teal-antique-gold-swatches

mac-cosmetics-makeup-reflects-transparent-teal

I’ve been feeling the glittery spirit lately, so I’ve been using Reflects Antique Gold on top of a matte peach blush to highlight my cheeks. Note: I’m not looking to resemble a Vegas showgirl on roller skates, so there is a method to the madness.
[Continue reading…]

MAC Cosmetics Originals Pigment Swatches

December 27th, 2007 by Karen 16 Comments

The skinny

Snag it – Kitschmas, Melon, Golden Olive and Violet Pigments from the MAC Cosmetics Originals Collection.
Yes – Vibrant, wearable brights that even hapless color clumsies (ahem, like yours truly) can use with ease.
Texture – Finely milled color with soft shimmer.
Bang for your buck – You barely need to use any for excellent color payoff, and, at $19.50 each, one huge jar will last a long time.

Skip it – Steel Blue.
No – I was very turned off by the grainy texture; it doesn’t apply as smoothly as the other pigments.
Texture – Thick, with big granules and too-obvious shimmer.
Bang for your buck – Nada. I don’t wear a lot of blues, so I probably won’t reach for this often.

Swatches for your viewing pleasure

mac-cosmetics-makeup-pigment-originals-kitschmas-violet-melon-golden-olive-steel-blue

mac-cosmetics-makeup-pigment-kitschmas
mac-cosmetics-makeup-pigment-violet
mac-cosmetics-makeup-pigment-melon
mac-cosmetics-makeup-pigment-golden-olive
mac-cosmetics-makeup-pigment-steel-blue

Whatcha thinking? Are you gonna snag any pigments?

I’m off to the gym (story of my life) but will be back later this afternoon with the MAC Glitter swatches from the Originals collection. See ya soon!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Perfume, How I Love Thee

December 26th, 2007 by Karen 44 Comments

Happy Boxing Day, cuties! I hope you’re recovering from your holiday festivities. El hub and I spent yesterday hanging out with my family; dysfunction was kept to a minimum, thank ye gods. Do you ever think your family, while adorable, is just plain weird? Well, you don’t know what weird is until your parents fire up the karaoke machine at midnight on Christmas Eve, get their drink on and start singing REALLY LOUDLY (and off key) to Abba’s Dancing Queen.

I guess I managed to score more nice points than naughty in the high court of Santa, ’cause he left your girl some kick-ass goodies, including this fantabulous Coco Mademoiselle fragrance gift set from Chanel.

I lose all self control when I see those interlocking C’s!

About the fragrance

In 2001, Coco Mademoiselle creator Jacques Polge envisioned the fragrance as something Coco would wear if she were turning 21 at the dawn of the 21st century. It’s a floral oriental with notes of bergamot (a sour citrus), orange, jasmine, rose and vetiver (like lemon grass). The gift set comes with a bottle of Coco Mademoiselle eau de parfum, Fresh Bath Gel, Fresh Body Lotion and a black carrying case accented with signature Chanel-tweed piping.

Oriental fragrances like Coco Madmoiselle and Guerlain’s Shalimar are rich and smell “perfume-y,” but Coco Madmoiselle is lighter and fresher than Shalimar. You won’t catch me rocking Coco Mademoiselle at the beach in July, though. Like most oriental perfumes, it’s a little heavy, so I would probably only wear it in winter.

Even though Coco Mademoiselle is in the oriental fragrance family, it doesn’t smell stuffy or old-lady at all. It’s youthful and sophisticated. You won’t smell like an old lady who lunches and totes small terrier dogs in Burberry outfits. You will smell like a confident young woman strutting down the street in a classic black suit.

Last night I used both the bath gel and the body lotion and then spritzed some eau de parfum just for fun. The bath gel is my least favorite product in the set. While it lathers nicely, it’s runny and not moisturizing enough for my dry winter skin. Even though it’s scented with Coco Mademoiselle, for some weird reason my basset hound-esque nose detects a strong synthetic, plastic scent that reminds me of new Tupperware. Bleh.

The Fresh Body Lotion, on the other hand, is another story. It smells fantastic! It has a fresher, more citrusy scent that complements the perfume.

If you have dry skin like I do, don’t count on using this lotion to moisturize. It’s watery and doesn’t moisturize well, so it’s not going to replace my Elizabeth Arden 8-Hour Cream anytime soon. I like the smell and think it adds another layer of intensity to the perfume, but I don’t know if I’d buy it again.

The set’s crowning glory is the eau de parfum. I love, love, love it! The bottle is simple, yet classic. Wearing it makes me feel beautiful and sophisticated, like I’m walking down the streets of Paris in a beret, even though, really, I’m just walking across the street to Safeway to buy bananas. Not only does the eau de parfum smell amazing, but it also lasts a long time. Just one spritz in the morning, and I’m set for the entire day.

Where to get it

Unfortunately, the set is sold out on the Chanel site, but check out the Coco Mademoiselle Modern Interpretations set on the Nordstrom Web site. It’s a similar gift set (no black bag, though) for $105.

What lovely gifts did Santa bring you? I can’t wait to hear about ’em!

I’m hungry — it’s time to eat some Christmas leftovers! Turkey, cake, pancit (a Filipino noodle dish), here I come!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen