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Archives for October 2009

Bloggerati Spotlight

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The Beauty Bloggerati

Rise and shine, morning glories! It’s a waterlogged, wind-battered Tuesday over here in Northern California. They’re predicting 4 inches of rain by tomorrow. At this very moment, the sky here is this color.

I hope the weather is fairer where you are. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Bobbi Brown Earth Metal Lip and Eye Palette Swatches, Part 1

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Bobbi Brown Earth Metal Palette Swatches pan-2
Bobbi Brown Earth Metal Lip and Eye Palette Shadows from left to right: Black Spruce, Sunset Gold and Antique Gold

Hi, gals. A few of you asked about the Bobbi Brown Earth Metal Lip and Eye Palette ($60, part of the Holiday collection) and demanded some swatches. 🙂

Here are the six eyeshadows; the lippies will be coming soon.

Bobbi Brown Earth Metal Palette Swatches pan-1
Bobbi Brown Earth Metal Lip and Eye Palette Shadows from left to right: Golden Leaf Shimmer, Earth Metal Metallic and Zinc Metal

Bobbi Brown Earth Metal Palette Swatches-2
Swatches from left to right: Black Spruce, Sunset Gold and Antique Gold

Bobbi Brown Earth Metal Palette Swatches shadows-swatches-1
Swatches from left to right: Golden Leaf Shimmer, Earth Metal Metallic and Zinc Metal
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Splurge or Steal: MAC Volcanic Ash Exfoliator Versus Aveeno Positively Ageless Warming Scrub

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aveeno-positively-ageless-warming-scrub-and-mac-volcanic-ash-1

My skin adores MAC’s gentle Volcanic Ash Exfoliator. It makes my face and neck feel softer than a feather boa and smells yummy, too (like brown sugar and honey).

But the stuff ain’t cheap, that’s for sure… The tubes cost $20 a pop!

To put the price in perspective, that’s enough to get 13 Wet ‘n’ Wild 666 Brandywine lip pencils, yo!

Why exfoliate?

It removes dead cells dulling the surface of the skin while smoothing and brightening, and if you’re prone to pimples it can also reduce the frequency and severity of breakouts.

A drugstore option?

I love MAC’s Volcanic Ash but also want a cheaper alternative, so I’ve been haunting/hunting drugstore aisles up in my neck of the woods.

I think I may have found one — Aveeno’s $8 Positively Ageless Warming Scrub.

How it stacks up against MAC Volcanic Ash

It’s a fairly new exfoliating scrub for the face and neck that contains Shitake mushroom complex instead of volcanic ash. The company claims it promotes younger-looking skin.

NOTE: Positively Ageless Scrub’s packaging isn’t very specific about what “younger-looking” skin means. Typically, the phrasing refers to products designed to reduce the appearance of age spots, fine lines and wrinkles.

After using it for two weeks, I haven’t seen a notable change in my spots or fine lines — maybe after I’ve used it longer — but I still really like the product as a skin exfoliator.

Like the name implies, Positively Ageless gently warms when I rub it against my skin.

Performance?

It’s mostly a tossup. I consider my combo-oily/dry skin to be sensitive and have to be careful about abrasive scratching.

Like MAC Volcanic Ash Exfoliator, Positively Ageless Scrub’s exfoliating grains are finer than sand, and both leave my face and neck feeling soft and hydrated, versus dry or taut.
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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Oct. 12

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Urban Decay Book of Shadows Vol. II

  1. Mood:

    2. Whee! The coffee’s kicking in… I feel pretty good, but my to-do list is staring at me with those scary Geico eyes. I have lots to do before heading to Vegas for a conference (Blog World Expo) on Wednesday.

  2. Do you read or study with the TV or music playing in the background?

    3. I wish I could, but I need the sound of silence. I love music, but if I’m listening while reading I can’t concentrate worth squat.

  3. Do you wear glasses?

    4. Yup! I used to only wear them for distance, but the interwebz and computer screens have ruined my vision. Pretty soon I’ll need spectacles in my sleep!

  4. Outfit:

    5. Stretchaaaay clothes are my BFF. Black cropped yoga pants, a gray sweatshirt and a long-sleeve pink/white striped top.

  5. Cold weather — love it or hate it?

    6. Bluh, hate it!

  6. Eyes/Lips/Cheeks:

    7. Urban Decay Book of Shadows Vol. II/MAC Suntint SPF 20 Liquid Lip Balm in Lilt of Lily/NARS Orgasm/Laguna Duo

  7. What was the last nice thing to happen to you?

    8. Tabs just jumped up on my desk, plopped his kitty bum directly in front of me on the keyboard and gently set his paws on my shoulder.

  8. Something you’d like to remind yourself of today:

    9. Even if you never win a race, always run with style and dignity.

  9. Guys who carry man purses — yes or no?

    10. YES, PLEASE. My purse is not built to carry your cameras, comic books, Powerbars, your 10 pounds of loose change, your Swiss Army Knife or your Swingers DVD, etc. etc. 🙂

  10. Weekly goals:

    11. Go for a walk after work to scope out the new neighborhood, figure out what to do with the curtains (it’s official, I’m useless in all matters of home decor) and get to bed early on Tuesday night (gotta get up at 3 a.m. Wed morning to catch a flight).

Happy Monday, tabby cats.

Two more things I wish I could do: 1) I wish I could eat mountains of cheese without worrying about the calories going directly to my butt, and 2) I wish I could figure out how to extend the weekends and delay the inevitable start of the workweek.

Before you dive into your to-do list, take a second to check in? It’s quick and painless — less so than waxing a ‘stash. 🙂

To play, just copy the list below and stick it in the comments with your answers.

Le list

1. Mood:
2. Do you read or study with the TV or music playing in the background?
3. Do you wear glasses?
4. Outfit:
5. Cold weather — love it or hate it?
6. Eyes/Lips/Cheeks:
7. What was the last nice thing to happen to you?
8. Something you’d like to remind yourself of today:
9. Guys who carry man purses — yes or no?
10. Weekly goals:

Have a good one today!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

What Were Your Best and Worst Beauty Experiences of the Week?

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Your best and worst beauty experiences of the week?

MY BEST:

The purple and blue smokey eye I did on Friday was the most glamorous I’ve felt in weeks… I wore it to get my flu shot and then to Costco for toothpaste, ha!

MY WORST:

During and after the move. Frizzy hair and shaggy legs (can’t find my Venus razor!), the nasty breakout on my forehead, the layers of sweaty dust and grime on my skin — with the exception of Friday, it was a rough week for beauty up in here.

What were your best and worst beauty experiences of the week? Do dish in the comments.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. OMIGOD! I just found My So-Called Life on Hulu. Remember that show? Now I know how I’m spending my evening. 🙂

Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 57

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On the cover of Tabbies' Home Journal

Gah! I’m not ready for Monday, ladies, and neither is Tabs. Instead of having fun at the movies, I wasted spent the better part of the afternoon at Target, wracking my brain over toilet paper roll holders and bath mats.

Tabs must have been waiting for me to return home because he was sitting in the hallway staring up at the door when I opened it. There was a word spelled out on the floor in kitty litter. It said, “haunted.”

I think he thinks the washing machine is alive. Every time it turns on he darn near has a heart attack.

Target Soap & GloryWhile I was at Target I stumbled upon those Soap & Glory beauty products they’ve had for a while. I still haven’t given ’em a try. Have you? I think the packaging’s pretty cute. It reminds me of Benefit, but a reader mentioned to me that the person who created Bliss also made Soap & Glory. Interesting…

How was your weekend?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Drew Barrymore: Her Best Hair?

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drew-barrymore-hair-poll

I’m speeding through my chores (vacuuming and unpacking some boxes in the kitchen) so I can play hooky this afternoon and catch Whip It at the movies.

It’s Drew Barrymore’s (born Drew Blyth Barrymore on February 22, 1975) directorial debut.

Who knew Gertie (remember E.T.?) would come so far? It wasn’t easy, though (two stints in rehab before 15), but she’s carved out successful careers in acting, film producing, and, now, directing. Homegirl’s like the Jill of all Hollywood trades!

When it comes to her hair, Drew often changes the color, length and texture. It has a girl-next-door vibe and never looks overly lacquered or perfect. I like that it looks like the kinda hair I could do myself, ya know?

Which of Drew's hairstyles do you like best?

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Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Subscribe to Makeup and Beauty Blog: Nice Way to Start Your Day

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Makeup, makeup everywhere!

Imagine it’s Monday morning; the weekend’s over, and you’re not 100% enthusiastic about work.

Why not ease your way into the workweek with some makeup and beauty? 🙂

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Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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