Archives for October 2008

Summer Sendoff: 12 September Posts You May Have Missed

October 4th, 2008 by Karen 9 Comments

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

“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!” Read more…

2. How To: A Purple Smokey Eye with Stila Convertible Eye Color in Violet

“I hate going to work completely tow’ up, but it seems like I’m always running late. What I need are makeup tools and tips to help me save time when I’m getting ready for work, and I think I found one: Stila Convertible Eye Color ($20). ” Read more…

3. The Chanel Smoky Eye Quad Seduction

“She arrived dressed to thrill in a sleek black compact — four sophisticated shadows born to seduce and built to weaken knees. Crafted to create the ultimate smoky eye, she prepared to do her dance of makeup seduction. Even before I opened the Chanel Smoky Eye Quad ($56), I could hear her siren song.” Read more…

4. Looking for Cheap, Stylish Ways to Organize Your Makeup?

“Your local art store may have just the thing you need to keep your growing makeup stash organized. Most arts and crafts stores stock unvarnished wooden boxes in assorted shapes and sizes. They make perfect (and affordable) makeup storage containers. I spied these boxes, each ranging from a whopping $1.50 to a staggering $3, at my local Ben Franklin Craft Store this afternoon. They’re perfect for storing eye shadows, blushes, glosses or whatever your makeup-lurving heart desires.” Read more…

5. MAC Cosmetics Cremesheen Product Pictures and Swatches

“A new kid’s in town, and her name is Cremesheen — MAC Cremesheen. The collection joins two other major MAC releases that arrived on counters nationwide today: Suite Array, and Gold Fever (exclusive to Nordstrom stores). Say hello to Cremesheen’s 14 new lipstick colors.” Read more…

6. Diorshow Iconic Mascara Lengthens, Curls and Defines Lashes with Ease

“Some products are so good in certain ways that their strengths totally outweigh their weaknesses. For me, Diorshow Iconic Mascara ($27) is one of those products. The newest member of Dior’s lash arsenal doesn’t produce the thickest lashes I’ve ever seen. It doesn’t thicken as well as, say, Chanel Exceptionnel does, but it lengthens, curls and defines lashes so amazingly well that I don’t mind at all.” Read more…
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YOU MUST CHOOSE: The Big Hands Edition

October 3rd, 2008 by Karen 33 Comments

1. Big Hands or Big Feet?

If you had to pick one, would you rather have huge feet (at least you’ll never need to rent snorkel flippers) OR oversized hands?
YOU MUST CHOOSE!

2. Red Eyes or Green Tongue?

Bright red eyes OR neon green tongue?
YOU MUST CHOOSE!

3. $1 Million Tattoo: Misspelled Quote or Screech from Saved by the Bell?

A wealthy, eccentric billionaire with a twisted sense of humor offers you $1 million if you get a tattoo for him — either your favorite quote on the side of your neck (unfortunately, weirdo billionaire demands that half the words be spelled incorrectly) OR a lifelike rendition of Screech from Saved by the Bell on your left boob. The contract stipulates that you can’t remove or attempt to conceal either tattoo with makeup for the rest of your life.
YOU MUST CHOOSE!

4. Eyebrow Issues or Hairy Back?

Would you rather have out-of-control, bushy eyebrows (which you can’t trim or modify) and a smooth, hairless back, OR really nice brows but out-of-control, bushy hair on your back (which you can’t wax or shave)?
YOU MUST CHOOSE!

5. Unwashed Hair or Makeup-Free?

Which would be less offensive: not being able to wash your hair for two months OR not being allowed to wear any makeup for two months?
YOU MUST CHOOSE!

6. Choose Your Curse

Your ex is hella bitter and bestows a curse upon you. Would you rather be cursed with embarrassing dance moves in public (you’re compelled to dance to every song — even slow ones — with both your arms raised up in the air; wave ’em round like you just don’t care), OR would you rather be doomed to having every pair of socks you wear constantly slip down your legs?
YOU MUST CHOOSE!

7. Which of Your Ex’s as Friends?

Speaking of ex’s, which one of yours would you wish you were still friends with (initials are perfectly fine for this answer) and why?
YOU MUST CHOOSE!

To play You Must Choose, just copy the list below and paste it with your answers in the comments. 🙂

1. Big hands or big feet?
2. Red eyes or green tongue?
3. $1 Million tattoo: misspelled quote or Screech?
4. Eyebrow issues or hairy back?
5. Unwashed hair or makeup-free for two months?
6. Cursed with bad dance moves or slipping socks?
7. Which of your ex’s as friends?

TGIF! It was one of those crazy weeks at work, and I’m so glad it’s Friday. I was really hoping to go for a run today, but the sky is an ominous shade of gray. I think it might rain. I don’t run in the rain anymore, not since the Bay to Breakers race a few years ago, when it rained the entire time. I was sopping wet and freezing with squishy socks for seven miles. No thank you! Talk about traumatizing, LOL!

Time for another cup of coffee. 🙂

Having a good Friday so far?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

MAC Emanuel Ungaro Product Pictures, Swatches and First Impressions

October 2nd, 2008 by Karen 39 Comments

MAC’s highly anticipated collaboration with designer Emanuel Ungaro arrived on counters nationwide today, and it reminds me of stargazer lilies — like a dreamy watercolor painting, with pops of bright but sheer magenta accenting its palette of soft pastels.

As a collection, Emanuel Ungaro is delicate, feminine and youthful, like dewy morning flowers and gossamer gowns. I’d say it’s more youthful than both Cremesheen and Cult of Cherry.

The entire MAC Emanuel Ungaro collection includes…
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Blogging for Breast Cancer – Site of the Day

October 2nd, 2008 by Karen 10 Comments

It won’t take long for the ribbons and pink din of Breast Cancer Awareness Month to fade into the background of our busy lives, so we’ve got to strike while the iron’s hot.

Breast cancer awareness and supporting groups like the BCRF (Breast Cancer Research Fund) and Susan G. Komen for the Cure are very personal causes for many.

Last night, Nancy from Beauty411 sent out an email to members of the Beauty Blog Network explaining why she was participating in Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I asked her if I could reproduce it here…

I’m blogging pink in honor of my mom, who passed away from breast cancer. This is also why I am so committed to the Estee Lauder brand and am so grateful for their partnership in October with the BBN [Beauty Blog Network].

My mom was seeing an oncologist at the Mayo Clinic and had received many different cancer treatments, as she was participating in clinical trials. She was so brave. I had read that there was a center within the Mayo Clinic where you could go and beauticians were on hand to fit you with a wig. I convinced my mom that we should at least check it out.

When we went there, the staff couldn’t have been more supportive. They fitted my mom with a wig (she had lost much of her hair, and although she was self conscious, she was too proud to admit that she “needed” one). They also came out with a box of cosmetics — all Estee Lauder brands. The first thing my mom did was pick up a lipstick and apply it. My eyes met hers in the mirror and she said “I think it’s going to be ok, now.”

That box of cosmetics got my mom through a very difficult day and through many more. I wish I knew the person at their Corporate office that I could thank and tell them how much that meant to me and my mom. That’s why the BCRF is so important to me, also. That’s why I blog pink in October.

Nancy
~Beauty411

Throughout October, Nancy will feature pink products on her blog, many of them Estee Lauder brands. In the left sidebar, she’s running a ChipIn widget for donations to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and will also hold a contest at the end of the month.

Nancy has put a lot of work into breast cancer awareness this month. Let’s show her some love and leave her some comments. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Estee Lauder Pink Ribbon Collection Products for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October 1st, 2008 by Karen 11 Comments

I stopped by the mall tonight after work to window shop for shoes (my Adidas Shell Toes are on their last legs), but, alas, *forces* drove me toward the mighty cosmetics department.

At the EstÃ©e Lauder counter I stared hypnotically at this pink mountain of awesome limited edition Pink Ribbon products for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Half a million dollars in proceeds from the sale of World Pink products this month will go to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The girl working behind the counter warned me that the Elizabeth Hurley Lip Color Collection ($16) is selling fast.

Check out the jeweled pink ribbon pin ($12.50), bling!

I was tempted by the lip sets. The first one, called the Evelyn Lauder Lip Collection ($22), comes with three full-sized lipsticks in some of Evelyn Lauder’s fave shades (pinks and berries). The second set, the Elizabeth Hurley one, includes three sheer and shiny High Gloss lipglosses in Pink, Rose and Pearl.

Estee Lauder High Gloss Lipgloss in Pink

Estee Lauder High Gloss Lipgloss in Pearl

Estee Lauder High Gloss Lipgloss in Rose

I hope you had a fab day today. Your kindness and response to the Breast Cancer Awareness Month post this morning blew me away. It looks like we’ll reach (and hopefully exceed) the $100 goal ($200 with matching) for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, so you deserve a big hug for that. Great job. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Face of the Day: Chanel Smoky Eye Quad

October 1st, 2008 by Karen 44 Comments

Heya, ladies! I had a couple extra minutes to get ready for work this morning (meaning I didn’t wait until the last minute) and tried this look with the Chanel Smoky Eye Quad.

The more I use this quad, the more I fall in love. It’s probably one of the most user-friendly (user-friendliest?) smokey eye sets I’ve seen in ages.

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Blogging for Breast Cancer – Will You Join Me?

October 1st, 2008 by Karen 27 Comments

What Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month?

My college friend Mary Anne was barely 30 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was 2006. She wasn’t long out of dental school when her doctor, during a routine exam, found a lump on her breast.

A lump — words no woman wants to hear and no 30 year old ever expects to.

Today, Mary Anne is doing great. She was lucky, and her treatment went well. But when her doctor found the lump that day in 2006, she’d had no idea it was there. She hadn’t experienced any symptoms, and if it hadn’t been found during that exam, there’s no telling how much longer it may have gone undetected.

Every October, women around the world take time to remember friends and family and to increase awareness of the disease. They promote the importance of early detection, help to raise funds for research and treatment and offer information and support to those affected by breast cancer.

For us, there is no more worthy cause than this one. Breast cancer targets us (women) at a rate 100 times greater than men.

Here’s a statistic that shocked me when I read it, but one in every eight US women will develop breast cancer… That means some of us, here.

So, what are we going to do about it?

Answer: we’re going to stick together.

There are many ways to help and many worthy organizations. No one can possibly support them all, but I would still like to see if we here can raise $100 by the end of the month.

I’ll match your donations (up to $100), which means that if there’s $100 on the ChipIn widget in the banner below here or at the top of the home page, then we’ll have raised $200 for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the organization I’m choosing for the donation.

About Susan G. Komen

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever.

In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find a cure. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure, the group has invested nearly $1 billion to fulfill Nancy’s promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world.

How to Give?

How Much to Give?

Every dollar gets us closer to that $100, but there are other ways to give. One way is by commenting on participating blogs within The Beauty Blog Network as part of comments4acure. Last October, the event raised more than $3,000 for cancer charities, one comment at a time.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen