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Archives for September 2009

Lovely Luxuries: Bliss Ingrown Eliminating Pads

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bliss-ingrown-eliminating-pads

Grab your favorite razor, girls, and skip with me down to the land of smooth, bump-free skin. Say hola to Bliss Ingrown Eliminating Pads ($38 for 50 pads).

It’s hard to believe how fast time flies, but ’round these parts Labor Day means we’ve reached the unofficial end of summer, and THAT means ye olde swimsuit will soon be retired. 🙁

Of course, just because the two-piece goes into hibernation for a while doesn’t mean I won’t want to shave and/or wax.

That’s where Bliss Ingrown Eliminating Pads come into play. They help treat and prevent the ingrown hairs and razor bumps that can result from shaving and waxing.

Ingrown hairs begone!

The geniuses at Bliss soak these disposable round pads (they’re about the size of my palm) with exfoliating salicylic and glycolic acids and pack them with oat extract, witch hazel and lavender oil to soothe freshly groomed parts.
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Eva Mendes: Her Best Hair?

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Eva Mendes: Her Best Hair?

If you’ve ever seen the 1998 direct-to-video classic smash hit Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror, you may have shouted at the TV, “Great Caesar’s ghost! That’s Eva Mendes!”

Born in Miami, Florida to Cuban parents on March 5, 1974, Eva was raised in Los Angeles by her mother after her parents divorced. One day, around the time she was in college unhappily studying marketing, she caught the eye of an agent who convinced her to pursue a career in acting.

From there it was on to music videos like Will Smith’s Miami, the Pet Shop Boys’ That’s the Way Life Is and Aerosmith’s Hole in My Soul, until her big-screen big break in 2001’s Training Day, with Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke, which led to appearances in Hitch, We Own the Night and The Spirit. source

As for her look, I love what she does with her hair. She isn’t afraid to add volume, and she doesn’t shy away from sexy styles.

Which of Eva's hairstyles do you like best?

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Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

How to Treat Post-Acne Scarring?

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clinique even better

Earlier this summer I broke out somethin’ fierce. Eventually my skin cleared up, but many of the pimples left discolored post-acne scars, boo!

Then I got this email from reader Katie:

“Hey Karen,

I was wondering if you’ve tried any products to reduce or get rid of existing acne scars. I have a couple of acne scars that still look like pimples, and I would really like to reduce the look of them… Could you help a girl out???!

-Katie W.”

Hi Katie,

It’s kind of a cruel joke, isn’t it? Mother Nature, not content to merely dish out the pimples, follows suit by leaving behind a discolored mark or divot that can linger for months or even years. Talk about unwanted reminders!

Depending on your skin color and the severity of your scarring, the discolorations, called Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH), can be pink, red, purple, brown or black, and can take anywhere from three to 24 months to disappear.

PIH is a common occurrence among acne sufferers, but there are a slew of over-the-counter treatments on the market to help.

Many times they’re referred to as “brightening” or “skin tone correcting products” that very often contain AHAs, BHAs, retinoids or hydroquinone.

Clinique Even BetterTo diminish the appearance of my summer breakout scars, I’ve been using a product with AHA (salicylic acid) from Clinique called Even Better Skin Tone Corrector ($40), an unscented, invisible serum.

I’ve been using it for about six weeks now, twice a day, applying after toning and moisturizing but before sunscreen.

Clinique claims Even Better works to correct uneven skin tone by removing dark patches, age spots and the darkening often caused by breakouts.

The product’s been out for about a year now, but I didn’t think to try it until my skin trubs this summer.

Whenever I get a pimple, I’m pretty much guaranteed a lingering dark spot on my skin. They usually take from two to three months to fade, but Clinique Even Better, applied twice per day, seems to cut that down by half.

It’s now a permanent member of my skin care arsenal. 🙂 Straight up, this stuff WORKS!

OF NOTE: Salicylic acid has been shown to help diminish the appearance of minor acne scarring, but it can also make skin more sensitive to sunlight and the dark spots common to it (photo aging). If you decide to give Even Better a try, sunscreen is an absolute must (I like Shiseido 55+).

If your scars are more along the lines of deeper skin indentations or pockmarks, you might want to ask your dermatologist about some of these treatments:

For more information on acne scars and PIH, check out this page on About.com or this page.

Chicas, I’m putting this out there to you. Do you have any suggestions or product recommendations for our girl Katie? Have you ever dealt with acne scarring or hyperpigmentation?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

How to Fake False Lashes with Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara

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lancome hypnose drama mascara review

I love the look of dramatic false eyelashes, but they aren’t the most practical things for everyday use. Momentarily overlooking how much a good pair can cost (WTF?!), I don’t always have the time, patience or coordination, either.

Enter Lancome’s new Hypnose Drama ($24.50, comes in just one shade called Excessive Black) mascara. It’s like the imitation crab of the eyelash world, delivering most of the flava of the fake real thing at a fraction of the cost.

It makes my naturally thin, short and sparse (read: sad) lashes appear thicker, longer and generally more fab.

But (there’s always a but) this false lash fabulosity comes at a price, and I’m not talking about the $24.50.

First, the pros

With even a single layer of Hypnose Drama, I’m convinced my lashes look longer, thicker, fuller and better defined, showcasing the most delicious shade of glossy black, and curled lashes hold all day long (although it’s not waterproof) without any noticeable flaking or smudging at all (YES!).

The product would be an all-around great performer if it weren’t for one thing…
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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Sept. 7

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makeup-and-beauty-blog-monday-poll-092908

  1. Mood:

    2. Chill. With long weekends I feel like I actually get some time to relax.

  2. The chores you dislike the most?

    3. Laundry! And cleaning the toilet.

  3. What color are your eyes?

    4. Brown, but if you look really closely there’s a navy blue ring around the edge of the iris.

  4. Are you ticklish?

    5. Ugh, yes. El Hub knows it’s my Achilles’ heel!

  5. Eyes/lips/cheeks:

    6. I didn’t go buck wild today. Eyes: Tarte Lifted Natural Eye Primer on the lids, Lancome Hypnose Drama in Excessive Black on the lashes. Lips: Philosophy Supernatural Superglossy Lip Gloss SPF 15 in Live in the Moment. Cheeks: Philosophy You Make Me Blush Mineral Bloush Duo in Sunny/Bright.

  6. What’s your favorite holiday?

    7. Halloween! I have a crazy sweet tooth, and I’ll take any and every excuse to wear a costume.

  7. Have you ever cried at work?

    8. Many times, but never in front of a coworker. When I worked as a legal assistant a few years back I was always frustrated and angry about my job. Whenever I had to cry, I’d go to a seldom-used bathroom off the beaten workplace path.

  8. Would you survive a zombie invasion?

    9. I’d stand a chance if I had on my running shoes.

  9. Outfit:

    10. It’s a chill at home day, so I’m sporting my orange terry cloth shorts and a black t-shirt.

  10. Weekly goals:

    11. Hopefully (please!), resolve the condo purchase (supposed to close this Friday, *knock on wood*), do at least a few minutes of exercise each day, call a friend whom I haven’t spoken to in a while, do five hours of reading, and keep a positive attitude no matter what.

Today is the real Labor Day, chicas. Yesterday was just a warm up. 🙂 I wish three-day weekends were mandatory for everyone.

Let me know how you’re doing. You know the drill. Copy the empty Monday Poll list down below here, and paste it with your answers in the comments.

Le list

1. Mood:
2. Chores you dislike the most?
3. What color are your eyes?
4. Are you ticklish?
5. Eyes/lips/cheeks:
6. Your favorite holiday?
7. Have you ever cried at work?
8. Would you survive a zombie invasion?
9. Outfit:
10. Weekly goals:

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Sep. 6

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MISSING: Husky striped gray, black and tan tabby (some call him big boned). Distinguishing features: low-hanging belly, soulful eyes, extra long whiskers. Last seen at the Nordstrom Chanel counter in Corte Madera, California, on Sunday.

Please use the map below to help Tabs find his way home. 🙂

Can you help Tabs find his way home?
Click here to see the solution…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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