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Archives for September 2008

A Blue, Pink and Silver Eye with Clarins So Sublime Quartet

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Have you seen the fall makeup look e-book on the Clarins website? I downloaded it earlier today (14 pages long, 22.6MB Adobe PDF) and couldn’t believe my eyes!

The book showcases five dazzling looks featuring makeup from the company’s new Jazzy Colours fall collection. Each look is accompanied by how-to instructions, and every other page features art by Margot Mace. I’d never heard of her before, but I think her work really fits the tone of the different looks.


The art of Margot Mace

I drooled over the pages for a while and then busted out the So Sublime Quartet ($40) to try the Trendy Makeup look (page 12).

The book’s reference pictures help with proper placement of the shadows and made this blue, silver and pink eye look really easy to do. I hope Clarins continues to release these books with their future collections.

I didn’t think I’d be able to use the colors in the So Sublime quad when I first saw them a few weeks ago because they seemed too bright, but playing with them today changed my mind. I like the results. I think I’ll include this eye in my regular rotation of work friendly (yet colorful) looks. Yes, Virginia, you too can wear hot pink eye shadow!

Other stuff up in this mix…

That’s Chanel Jouse Contraste Powder Blush in Rose Dust on my cheeks and Creme Gloss Lumiere in Petit Four on my lips.

What do you think of this look? Too bright or just right for work?

Wow! I can’t believe it’s already 10:30. After going for a run when I got home from work tonight I browsed the web for a little while. It’s been an uneventful night. I think I’ll do a little chilling and reading before bed.

We’re almost to Friday, woot!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Don’t rush off before seeing the Benefit Cosmetics Holiday 2008 Sneak Peek! 🙂

Neutrogena Age Shield Hand Cream Saves Hands AND a Few Bucks

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I’d fight a hungry runway model for my tube of $6 Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Age Shield Hand Cream.

Lightly scented (like flowers and soap), this drugstore steal-of-a-deal will sure come in handy this fall and winter when my paws are crazy dry.

Despite how rich it feels, it doesn’t leave a greasy film, for which it earns big props from me — there are few things I hate more than hand creams that leave a slippery residue.

Neutrogena also outfitted Age Shield Hand Cream with full-spectrum SPF 30 sun protection.

A dime-sized dollop thoroughly treats both of my hands and cuticles. The cream absorbs quickly, too, perfect for quick applications when you’re out and about. This isn’t one of those creams you’ll have to spend 10 minutes massaging into your hands, looking like a criminal mastermind plotting world domination!

I’ve been using this on my hands for about week now, and even in that brief time I think my hands look less rough than they did. The fines lines in the creases between my fingers are less noticeable than they were. I can’t comment on the cream’s ability to treat age spots, though, because I don’t have any on my hands.

Neutrogena Age Shield Hand Cream provides long-lasting protection from both UVA and UVB rays, those responsible for up to 90% of the signs of premature aging. According to Neutrogena, it’s clinically shown to improve the overall age impression of hands in just four weeks (I noticed a difference in one).

Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Age Shield Hand Cream improves what ages the look of hands most — roughness, age spots and fine lines.

I’m officially sold on Neutrogena Age Shield Hand Cream and ceremoniously plopped a tube into my big ole’ purse.

One thing I would change about the product is the screw-on cap. I wish it had a twist cap like Lippman’s Rich Girl Hand Cream. I get the feeling I might lose the screw cap in my bottomless purse.
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What Do You Think of Victoria Beckham’s New Short Hair?

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Lately, I’ve been feeling the urge to cut my hair. I like it long, but I’m itching for a change, maybe something drastic. The only thing holding me back — and I recognize how silly it sounds — is that I’ll probably want all the fur I can get to keep warm in the winter, LOL.

And I’m not the only woman hearing the siren call of the scissors. On Monday at the Marc Jacobs Spring 2009 show at NY Fashion Week, the posh Mrs. Victoria Beckam revealed a new ‘do. It’s very Halle Berry-esque, yah?

I think V. Becks has the right ‘tude to pull it off and looks great. I don’t know if I’d ever have the guts to go this short, but ya never know.

How are you wearing your hair these days? Are you happy with it, or are you feeling the urge to get a new cut?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

New York Fashion Week Spring 2009, MAC Cosmetics Runway Looks from Day 5

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Here are a few more MAC makeup face charts from New York Fashion Week. These reflect some of the looks seen in yesterday’s shows. I really like the James Kaliardos chart for Rodarte. What do you think of the OJ “C” shape in the outer corner of the eye?

Read the rest of this post…

Benefit Cosmetics Holiday 2008 Sneak Peek

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Sleigh bells ring, are ya listening? In the lane, snow is glistening…

While the leaves on the trees outside my window haven’t yet changed colors for fall, I’m already excited about the holidays. Halloween and Thanksgiving are just around the corner, and makeup lines have started releasing their limited edition holiday goodies (yay)!

Here’s an early look at one such release by a favorite brand of mine: Benefit Cosmetics.

Available online now and on counters this November, the Peace Love & Glossiness lipgloss set ($26) and the Primpcess eye kits ($34) are sure to warm a crisp fall night.

I love the packaging. It’s not too stuffy or serious, and the purple and gold add a regal feel to the fun designs.

Peace, Love & Glossiness

Does m’lday like to keep her options open? If so, the set provides a lot of options. Two of the six shades in Peace Love & Glossiness are a purple and a gold, and each of the three double ended gloss sticks come with two coordinating glosses, to be worn by themselves or mixed together.

Gloss Stick One
My People, Your People: sheer, shimmery pink
Kiss You: sheer fuschia

Gloss Stick Two
Magic: creamy taupe-plum
Who Does Your Work: creamy wine

Gloss Stick Three
24K: shimmery gold
Talk to My agent: shimmery mauve


Swatches from left to right: My People, Your People; Kiss You; Magic; Who Does Your Work; 24K; Talk to My Agent

The glosses are taste-free, but they do emit a fruit punch scent, which fades after about 5 minutes.

I think the thin, non-sticky texture feels kinda like MAC Lipgelee Lipgass. Not only is it moisturizing, but the sheer color payoff makes them easy to apply.

A good holiday kit or set should be a bargain, right? Well, the full set saves a bundle over the cost to purchase all of these shades separately. Separately, they’d cost about $100. Bought with the set, the cost of each mini-gloss breaks down to $4.30!

The price makes the set a pretty fab way to get several different Benefit shades in one fell swoop!

And because the colors are sheer, easy to apply, and not garish or overly-sexy, I’d feel comfortable giving the kit as a gift to a younger cousin or someone just starting to wear makeup.

My People, Your People


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Inspire, by Christina Aguilera: Attack of the Fruity Floral Celebrity Perfumes Part 12

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As sure as the sun rises, we can count on celebrities to release self-branded fragrances. When I first heard that singer Christina Aguilera was coming out with a fruity floral called Inspire, I couldn’t help but shrug. I’m a fan of Christina’s, but seeing Inspire’s pretty pink bottle triggered flashbacks of my trip to the fragrance counter when I first sniffed Gwen Stefani’s syrupy sweet Harajuku Lovers. Would Inspire smell dirrrrty … or would I want to put this genie back in its bottle?

The scent itself might actually be what a girl wants; what a girl needs. Like so many other celebrity fragrances, Inspire fits into the fruity floral category, with notes of freesia, mango, rose and gardenia, but on my skin it smells a little more floral than fruity, with the rose and freesia dominating the other notes.

Not to take anything away from Xtina, but both the bottle and the scent bear resemblances to one of my standby fragrances, J’adore by Dior.

That said, I like Inspire. It may not be the most original fragrance in town, but there are worse things in life than smelling like J’adore.

Inspire, by Christina Aguilera

Top notes: mango, citrus and freesia
Middle notes: tuberose, rose and gardenia
Base notes: orange flower, sandal wood, musk

The 1.7 oz. bottle pictured above will run ya $49. There’s also a shower gel ($20) and body lotion ($25).

I really like that Christina and her marketing people are making samples available online. While supplies last, you can order a sample from the Inspire website by filling out this form.

Christina Aguilera Inspire Eau de Parfum Spray

Price: $49 for a 1.7 fl oz. bottle
Use: A light fruity floral
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B-

I actually don’t hate this. The mango is kept to a minimum, and the white florals are fresh — not stuffy or old lady at all. I can see myself wearing Inspire to work or on the weekends.

Ode to Inspire

You are beautiful, no matter what they say,
Words can’t bring you down,
You are beautiful, in every single way,
Yes, words can’t bring you down,
Don’t you bring me down today…

How was your Tuesday? Mine wasn’t bad. I had to work a little later than usual at the office, but when I got home El Hub had burritos waiting from the Mexican place down the street. Right now I’m getting ready to watch a little TV before bed. Tabs is here on the floor beside me, but he’s upset because I’m not paying him enough attention.

Onward to Wednesday!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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