Archives for May 2010

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, May 10

May 10th, 2010 by Karen 43 Comments

Mood:

I’m okay. Lately on Mondays I’ve been feeling this sense of dread about the upcoming week ahead (I call it “the Monday blues”). You know when you have the weight on your shoulders of too much to do and not enough time to get it all done? I was feeling it this morning, but then I saw the picture above, and it motivated me to try some new changes to make things better.

What’s one thing that always cheers you up after a bad day?

Taking a long, hot shower, putting on some comfy clothes and curling up on the couch to watch Breakfast at Tiffany’s on DVD.

What’s your favorite healthy snack?

Any sort of sliced fruit, with a spoonful of Nutella.

Who is (or are) the people in your life who can make you laugh so hard you cry?

Al (my brother), Cindy (BFF), Jen (other BFF) and Naaman (my BFF from my old job).

Who’s your shoulder to cry on?

El Hub and Tabs (when he lets me).

Eyes/lips/cheeks:

Super simple for now, but it may change later in the day: YSL Faux Cils Mascara, MAC Powersurge Eye Kohl/Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Plump Perfect Lipstick in Perfect Blossom/Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Cream Blush in Nectar

What’s the last nice thing you did for someone else?

I took my mum out for brunch yesterday.

What’s one thing on your to-do list for today?

Relax (LOL, really!).

Outfit:

I’m all about comfort today: jeans, black t-shirt, pink sweatshirt and flip flops.

Weekly goals:

Try adding a few small changes to make my work life better, run five miles at least three times, remember to take my allergy meds, try NOT to multitask (still working on this one), explore new coffee shops/bookstores.

Hello, ladies. Can you believe it’s Monday already? As usual, the weekend flew by way too fast. Hopefully things aren’t too crazy on your end and that you’re getting a chance to ease into your day.

Before you dive head-on into the week, take a second to check in and give me the skinny on what’s new ’round your way. Grab the list below, scribble in your answers and then add it to the comments. 🙂

Le list

1. Mood:
2. What’s one thing that always cheers you up after a bad day?
3. What’s your favorite healthy snack?
4. Who is (or who are the people) in your life that can make you laugh so hard tears come out your eyes?
5. Who is your shoulder to cry on?
6. Eyes/lips/cheeks:
7. What’s the last nice thing you did for someone else?
8. What’s one thing on your to-do list for today?
9. Outfit:
10. Weekly goals:

Maybe we can all cheer each other on this week… there’s nothing like a collective group of friends crossing the finish line together, yes?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 86

May 9th, 2010 by Karen 41 Comments

Your Makeup and Beauty Blog Horoscope
Disclaimer: Tabs is NOT a certified astrologer…but he does read Susan Miller, a lot.

May 2010

Aries (March 21- April 19)
Bust out your biggest, baddest, flirtiest false lashes, Aries, and start batting those Betty Davis eyes. Mars is in Leo this month, and your social life is about to take off!

Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Happy birthday, lovely Taurus! Don’t forget to pack your favorite travel makeup and beauty goodies later this month when an exciting travel opportunity presents itself. Also, make a note to buy a lottery ticket around May 27… The full moon could herald an unexpected influx of cash.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Itching for new highlights, Gemini? Longing to chop those locks? Wait until May 13-18 to make any big changes in your appearance. You’ll want to start summer with a bang.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Dig out your favorite flavored gloss and your most seductive scent because love is in the air! The week of May 14-22 stands out as an ideal time for romance and fun.

Leo (July 23-August 22)
Circle May 17, Leo! It could be a golden day for you; Jupiter will be sending good vibes to your homeboy the sun, so keep your keen ears open for good news about money… It might also be a good time to finally pick up that Dior palette you’ve wanted!

Virgo (August 23-September 22)
Brush up your resume, Virgo, and dry clean your favorite suit. It’s time to practice your “interview” makeup look because a headhunter, broker or agent might reach out from May 17-20.

Libra (September 23-October 22)
Your social calendar will be stacked this month with Mars in Leo, so prepare for those late nights with two packages of makeup removal wipes. Keep one next to your couch, and the other next to your nightstand; you know better than to fall asleep with your makeup on, young lady.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21)
Invest in a few new eyeshadow colors and makeup brushes because your creativity will be at an all-time high this month! Who knows what crazy, off-the-hook combos you’ll come up with?

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)
If you’ve been wanting to get in shape, then bust out the waterproof mascara this month, Sagittarius. With the new moon in your fitness sector on May 13, it’ll be a good time for you to start a new fitness regimen.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)
Book a spa treatment for May 27, or thereabouts, Capricorn; you might need it to recharge your batteries!

Aquarius (January 20-February 18)
Find a pretty on-the-go makeup palette, Aquarius, and have it with you on May 20 (just in case). The day should be a great one for travel, so keep your options open!

Pisces (February 19-March 20)
Dress and do your makeup for success on May 27, Pisces, because an amazing career opportunity, or great news at your current job, could suddenly hit with the full moon.

May the stars be with you,

P.S. Should Tabs do makeup and beauty horoscopes on a regular basis? Let him know if you like the idea in the comments. 🙂

Take a Tea Break in the Open Thread

May 9th, 2010 by Karen 92 Comments

makeup and beauty blog open thread

Hi, ladies. How’ve you been doing today? Question for you: have you ever had a beignet before? It’s like a light-ish donut hole type thing (DELICIOUS!), and I had ~~one of them~~ a few of them for the first time this morning at brunch with my mom in the East Bay.

YUM!!!

Then when we got home we fired up “the Skype” to wish a very Happy Mother’s Day to El Hub’s mom in the Islands.

Skype is so amazing, isn’t it? It’s hard to believe that less than 100 years ago most people kept in touch by writing letters, by hand!

To share obsessions, like the ones I daydreamed about in the car today on the drive home, they would have reached for their favorite pencil or quill pen (when were ballpoints invented?), grabbed a piece of paper and started writing. Now we use Twitter, Facebook and blogs to share our obsessions like…

1. These earrings from H&M

They’re my new favorite pair because they go with everything, and they were cheap, too (five bucks)!

2. Trader Joe’s Soft Bit Mini Chocolate Hazelnut Biscotti

One word: divine. They’re not as hard as regular biscotti (which tear up the roof of my mouth), and as long as I only eat a couple of them they’re a pretty low-calorie chocolate fix.

3. Betty White on Saturday Night Live

Um, I love the Golden Girls… Seriously. 🙂 I was counting down the days until this week’s episode of SNL because actress Betty White was hosting the show last night, but then I ended up falling asleep early on the couch, so I think I’m going to watch it tonight.

Have you been obsessed with anything lately? Let me know in the Open Thread.

If you’re a new reader, the Open Thread is basically just a post where we can talk about subject in the comments, be it makeup, movies, careers, school, relationships, pets — you name it.

Talk to you soon!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

This Week’s Top Posts

May 9th, 2010 by Karen 6 Comments

This Week on Makeup and Beauty Blog

Good morning, fair lady. 🙂 Happy Mother’s Day to all you hot mommas out there. Tabs, as expected, didn’t even get me a card or flowers. Oh, well…

Ha! I think that’s enough crazy cat lady for one Sunday. Back to beauty — did you have a favorite product this week? I really enjoyed hearing about Rosebud Salve. I’ve used it before, but it drifted off my radar screen until Julianne’s guest post this week. Time to grab a tin and get reacquainted, methinks.

Have a great morning! Talk to you soon.

Tokidoki Perfetto Eyeliner in Donutella, and One Way to Wear Pink

“Um… pink liner? Yup, it ain’t your average basic brown or black, but that’s no reason to fear, because Donutella is here! This cutie’s actually downright wearable. Here’s one subtle way to wear it that’s pretty doable for daytime. I used a mix of products from MAC, Tokidoki and Rimmel.”

The $14 Urban Decay Face Case

“They say good things come in small packages, and in the matter of Urban Decay’s Face Case, it’s true. Well… mostly. The small price for this cutie pie initially caught my eye — a mere $14 for a complete makeup palette for eyes, lips and cheeks! Gotta love a steal of a deal!”

Bobbi Brown Made Treatment Lip Shine a Lippie Triple Threat

“Each tube’s a sheer (unflavored and unscented) lipstick, moisturizing treatment and sunblock rolled into one. I’ve been rotating among Pink Glisten, Raspberry Pink and Moonlight Rose. Each one shines softly with a consistently thin, non-sticky texture, three-hour wear time and semi-transparent opacity. Great for casual, summery lips.”

The Highlighting Power of Rosebud Salve

“We all know the famous Smith’s Rosebud Salve, the famed multi-purpose medicating machine in the pretty tin can. You can use it on your lips, on your skin, and on your diaper rash. It’s always sold right by the cashiers at Sephora with all of the other beauty musts, like the Shu Uemura eyelash curler. It’s an American classic.â€¨”

Maximize Your Flirty Fringe with Rimmel The Max Volume Flash Mascara

“Available in Black and Extreme Black, Max Volume Flash latches on to lashes like they’re going out of style, separating and defining every last one of ’em (even the small stumpy ones). Two to three coats create a full, feathery lash look Mr. Snuffleupagus would envy.”

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Molton Brown: Because You’re Worth It!

May 8th, 2010 by Karen 5 Comments

Written by Annabella

Today UK beauty blogger Annabella of Skin Scrubs shares a few choice goodies from one of her favorite skin and body care lines.

Several years ago when I lived in London I took my new flatmate Kiesha shopping on the world famous Oxford Street. She had just arrived from Barbados and wanted to see what all the fuss was about. We walked out of the clothes shops empty-handed after perusing racks of clothes that were only ever going to fit a five year old and made our way to South Molton Street, so we could visit Molton Brown.

Keisha and I ended up staying for ages, smelling shower gels, playing with make-up and spraying perfume. She turned to me at one point and said, “You know what I love about shopping here — no matter how big or small I am, everything fits.”
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What Are You Wearing on Your Nails?

May 8th, 2010 by Karen 67 Comments

ysl solaris ultra orange

Yup, it’s official — I’m going through an orange polish phase. 🙂 Today I wore Yves Saint Laurent’s Ultra Orange ($20, from the YSL Summer 2010 collection).

It’s another bright reddish orange like last week’s Milani Awesome Orange, but more opaque, and with a thicker formula that dries to a glossier finish.

ysl solaris ultra orange

How about you? What are you wearing on your tips and toes?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

What’s Write about Clarins Instant Sun Light Click & Gloss?

May 8th, 2010 by Karen 19 Comments

Clarins Instant Sun Light Click & Gloss SPF 6
Steno stores are so much fun, aren’t they? I can spend hours shopping for themed notebooks, mechanical pencils, art pen sets, fancy letterhead, scented erasers and Hello Kitty pencil sharpeners…

Maybe that’s why I’m a sucker for makeup in pen form. When I hear those words, “makeup in pen form,” something comes over me (no, it’s not Justin Bieber Fever!).

Have you given the new Clarins Instant Sun Light Click & Gloss SPF 6 lipglosses a try? Part of the Instant Sun Light Summer Make-Up Collection, they’re $18 each — an exorbitant price for steno, yes, but not totally out of line for a gloss. 🙂

They come with a cool click pen brush applicator in three sheer, shimmery shades.

Clarins Instant Sun Light Click & Gloss SPF 6
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Saturday Surfing

May 8th, 2010 by Karen 34 Comments

Morning, homies! How was Friday night? Did it involve any makeup, music, dancing, boys, or dancing boys who wear makeup?

I’m not awake fully awake yet…which explains my big cup of coffee and zombie-like stare, and I feel like starting the day with simple tasks and two easily digestible comfort foods: 1) a warm caffeinated beverage and 2) an hour of web surfing. Would you like to join me?