Archives for May 2008

Take Back Your Sanity! Lipstick Storage Only $1.79 Away

May 19th, 2008 by Karen 42 Comments

Try as I might, I can’t avoid the siren call of The Container Store. Sure, it irks me that a store can survive on the premise of selling you new crap to store all your present crap, but desperate times call for desperate measures!

I reached critical mass last weekend. My lipstick disorganization finally crossed the line. For the past few months, tubes just kept disappearing and reappearing in the strangest places (How does a tube of lipstick find its way into a kitchen soap dish?).

Luckily, my sanity was only $1.79 away. The Container Store sells these clear accessory boxes designed for belts and jewelry, but they’re also the perfect height to store tubes of lipstick.
[Continue reading…]

Afternoon Reading, Makeup-Related and Otherwise

May 18th, 2008 by Karen 33 Comments

I don’t think there’s anything better than spending a Sunday afternoon reading and drinking tea.

BellaSugar

I am totally hooked on Bella’s blog for its witty, helpful posts and her fun contests. I just took the Sex and the City quiz, which entered me into a contest to attend an exclusive pre-screening of the Sex and the City movie. To enter the contest, log on to the site and take the SATC quiz — you have until 11:59 pm tonight. Don’t worry if you’re rusty on your SATC trivia; no matter how you score on the quiz, you’re still entered to win.

The Host, by Stephanie Meyer

I’m a big fan of Stephanie Meyer, the woman behind the Twilight series of novels. So, they’re young adult books … but I love young adult books. Twilight’s a love story about a teenage girl and her vampire boyfriend. The Host, Meyer’s first book for actual grownups, deals with an alien invasion on earth. Do you suppose alien invaders care about dark circles? I guess I’ll find out!

Allure’s June 2008 issue

I’m looking forward to reading Allure’s Secret Beauty Finds story, which supposedly discusses where the hair and makeup pros shop. I’ll let you know if I find out anything good! I also really liked Jessica’s cover look with purple shadow. I’m going to attempt to recreate it this week. Oh! And did you know Allure.com has a beauty blog called the Daily Beauty Reporter?

I am always curious about what other people like to read, and I can never resist checking out the bookshelves and magazine racks in the homes of people I know, LOL.

What’s on your current reading list? Is it a steamy romance, an O-chem book (*snooze*) or an issue of US Weekly?

Do you ever get the blues on Sunday? I’m not at all ready for Monday, ya’ll. I sure could use five more days of weekend.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen
[Continue reading…]

11 Luscious Lash Tips

May 17th, 2008 by Karen 31 Comments

luscious lashes

Wiggle, Wiggle

Mascara belongs on your lashes, not the brush. When applying, gently wiggle the brush from side to side (instead of up and down) as you work your way from root to tip. The extra movement provides a thicker coat.

Aim High

For a larger-than-life, wide-eyed look, apply mascara to the top lashes only.

Natural Curl

For a natural looking curl with an eyelash curler, give a couple good squeezes, once close to the eyelid, and then a second squeeze closer toward the tip.

Thick and Luxurious

For thick, luxurious lashes, apply two coats of MAC Prep + Prime Lash. For best results, allow it to dry between each coat.

Great Separation

For great separation with a light touch, try applying mascara with a MAC 204 Lash Brush. It’s a great tool for the job.

[Continue reading…]

Tweens and Makeup: How Young Is too Young?

May 17th, 2008 by Karen 45 Comments

makeup-and-beauty-blog-051708

Women’s Wear Daily (subscription only) and The NPD Group recently looked at the spending habits of young girls and found that tweens — girls between the ages of 8-12 — are spending $500 million a year annually on beauty products, with body sprays being the most popular items among girls of that age.

Holy crap, that’s a lot of allowance money!

“Also popular among tweens are body washes, cleansers and gels, as well
as lip products such as glosses and balms. Skin care is second to
fragrance in terms of usage among tweens, with more than 50 percent of
tweens having used skin care products, according to NPD, which added
that nearly 40 percent of tweens say they have used color cosmetics.”

I was about 13 when I started getting interested in beauty products, but Mom wouldn’t let me wear makeup until I turned 14. I didn’t get an allowance, but once when I tried to negotiate a $5 fee for cleaning my room my mom replied, “Can I start charging you for cooking your food, doing your laundry and tucking you in?” Ouch! Denied!

[Continue reading…]

10 Beauty Bargains Under $10

May 16th, 2008 by Karen 26 Comments

Victoria’s Secret Beauty is having a downright fantastic clearance sale on several high-end makeup brands, some as much as 75 percent off! My little black heart fluttered when I spotted all the products by Anna Sui.

The sale lasts until items run out of stock; when I checked a minute ago there were still lots of different product colors available.

Exercise your right to haul!

Anna Sui Eye Color, $5.99 (originally $12) – I’ve been a bit more adventurous with my powder eyeshadow colors lately. I might pick up a few bold shades.

anna-sui-eyeshadow-1

Very Sexy Makeup Long-Wear Eye Cream, $5.99 (originally $12) – I like layering cream eyeshadows beneath powder shadows to amplify color and add dimension. The shade I’ve really got my eye on is Stay Up, a turquoise blue.

very-sexy-long-wear-eye-cream

Vincent Longo La Dolce Vita Lash Tips, $5.99 (originally $14) – One of my goals this summer is to get better at applying false lashes. I love that these look glamorous without going over the top.

vincent-longo-la-dolce-vita-lashes-1

The Balm Stainiac, $5.99 (originally $14) – This multitasking, water-based gel doubles as a light cheek and lip stain. Beauty Queen, a bright hot pink, has my name written all over it. 🙂

the-balm-stainiac

[Continue reading…]

Clinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Bar for Face and Body: Bacne Be Gone!

May 16th, 2008 by Karen 35 Comments

clinique-acne-solutions-cleansing-bar-for-face-and-body
I should probably file this under “too much information,” but beauty isn’t always a pretty subject. Ladies, I’m in the midst of a breakout on my back (aka “bacne”), and it has been totally suck-tacular 1) because the pimples are big and painful, and 2) because I’ve had to skip on all the pretty backless summer tops I’ve wanted to wear during the recent heat wave here in the Bay Area.

Making matters worse — as if that’s even possible — one crop of zits took roost smack dab in the middle of my upper back, at the base of my neck between my shoulder blades, which means they’re within reach and easily scratch-able. I know that scratching ’em constitutes a big, gross no-no, and I’ve resisted the temptation so far, but it hasn’t been easy.

Because I’ve gotten great results from Clinique skin care products in the recent past, I decided to try Clinique’s Acne Solutions Cleansing Bar ($12.50) in place of my go-to back breakout product, Neutrogena’s Body Clear Body Wash. Clinique’s mild cleansing soap bar contains salicylic acid, a popular active ingredient used to prevent and treat breakouts on both the face and body.
[Continue reading…]

Face of the Day: Wonder Mint Teal Lashes

May 15th, 2008 by Karen 57 Comments

clarins-wonder-mint-masara-fotd-eye-4

Hi, cuties. I have tomorrow off, woot! To celebrate the end of my regular work week (not counting blog hours, of course), I went all out with my lashes today, applying four layers of Clarins Wonder Mint mascara.

clarins-wonder-mint-masara-fotd-karen-2

The reason my hair looks all windblown here is because I’m sitting in front of a fan. It was downright volcanic in Marin County today — just absolutely unbearably hot. I tried not to venture outside the reach of the fans at home. Out of desperation, I did get up for some ice cream and to grab the TV remote, but I almost melted on my way to the kitchen.

Because the weather out here has been hotter than Christian Bale in a Speedo, I wanted to keep my look light and perspiration-proof. To maintain the emphasis on my lashes, I went with a slice of light violet on the lid.

Too Faced Shadow Insurance primer over the entire eye
Clinique Quick Eyes Cream Shadow in Rock Violet on the lid and barely into the crease
Shu Uemura eyeshadow in Spring Breeze all over the lid and barely into the crease
Prescriptives Kohl Eye Pencil in Blue Grotto on the upper and lower waterline (Side note: This pencil is fantastic! Look out for the review in the next few days)
Four coats of Clarins Wonder Mint mascara on the upper lashes only

clarins-wonder-mint-masara-fotd-eye-3
[Continue reading…]

Victoria’s Secret Beauty Lipglosses: I Heard a Rumor, and Her Name Was Chanel

May 15th, 2008 by Karen 23 Comments

victoria-secret-beauty-lipgloss-rumor

Have we met before, Rumor lipgloss?? I feel like we have — perhaps at a party, or a makeup counter, or a party at a makeup counter?

The words “Very Sexy” appear stamped upon your sleek black cap. They tell me you belong to Victoria’s Secret Beauty’s lipgloss line, but, Rumor, I feel like I know you from someplace else…

Where, Rumor…? Where have I seen you before?

I know!

Chanel Candy Glow, right? You’re her long lost twin!

When I first held both Victoria’s Secret Rumor lipgloss and Chanel’s Candy Glow together in my hand, I thought I was seeing double. From a short distance away, both coral pink shades look almost identical, but up close I can see that Candy Glow has just a bit more gold sparkle than her twin does.

And the similarities don’t stop at the colors. Rumor even feels, tastes and wears liked Candy Glow does on my lips — same shiny finish, same non-gooey feel and same two-hour staying power.

victorias-secret-beauty-lipgloss-rumor

Of course, there is one huge difference between the two: *price*. At $12, Victoria’s Secret Beauty’s lipglosses cost less than half as much as Chanel’s Aqualumiere glosses do ($25)!

If you’ve been lusting after a tube of Aqualumiere but haven’t wanted to throw down those dolla-dolla-bills-ya’ll, then check out Victoria’s Secret Beauty’s Very Sexy lipglosses. They have “great bargain” written all over them.

Very Sexy comes in 20 shades. Look at all the pink!
[Continue reading…]