Archives for May 2010

I Took a Shine to Illamasqua Sheer Lipgloss in Electrify

May 25th, 2010 by Karen 39 Comments

illamasqua electrify lipgloss review

Perhaps you survived Monday without losing any teeth; maybe you made it out of the door this morning wearing two matching shoes, or you managed to avoid flashing anyone in the grocery store — no matter how small the accomplishment, I believe with the utmost conviction that a tube of pretty pink lipgloss always, ALWAYS makes a fine reward.

Allow me to introduce Illamasqua Sheer Lipgloss in Electrify ($19). 🙂

One of 10 colors in the company’s permanent line, Electrify kisses lips with just a hint of cool baby pink color.

Unlike some sheer glosses that shall remain nameless (ahem, Benefit Lipgloss!), it doesn’t disappear in a flash. It’s sheer, but not so sheer that it’s invisible. As for the shine? Oh, the shine… Mr. Clean wishes his bald head was HALF as shiny as Electrify.
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New in Beauty, May 25: Josie Maran Blushes, DuWop Perks Up

May 25th, 2010 by Karen 6 Comments

New in Beauty

Last night I lulled myself to sleep web surfing some of my favorite beauty destinations (Zzzzz…). Here are some of the beauty news, previews and occasional reviews that crossed my e-path.

Oh, you flatter me! All three of you new Josie Maran blushes ($20) are just plain pretty.
Better than a cup of coffee!? Blasphemy! Just because it contains caffeine doesn’t mean the DuWop Flight Stick ($28) is more potent than java, but DuWop does say the product hydrates, protects and perks up skin.
The $21 Anastasia Cooling Eye Brightener is a creamy serum that allegedly cools, tones, softens and de-puffs the delicate skin around your eyes.
For $250, the pink No!No! Hair 8800 better remove every bit of body and facial hair PAINLESSLY. That’s all I’m sayin’…
How cute does this Green & Spring Relaxing Travel Set ($38) look??
DuWop says their blue-ish Clear Revolution Shimmering Self-Tanner ($30) will make you glow overnight.
T3 reporting for duty, sir! The $99 T3 Volumize Short Hair Styler is under direct orders to add volume to short hairstyles.
Estee Lauder says their Advanced Night Repair Eye ($50) uses something called “chronolux technology” to repair the skin around the eye area
Anti-aging lip balm? Tell me more… Kinerase Ultimate Volume Lip Conditioner SPF 20 ($28) supposedly hydrates and plumps puckers for glossy-full, youthful lips
Chantecaille Protection Naturelle ($65) contains a combination of natural sunscreens that shouldn’t leave a chalky residue.
Like warm cocoa, Philosophy’s The Big Skinny Exfoliating Scrub ($20) smells…like warm cocoa! 🙂
MAC To The Beach is now available online

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

MBBTV #13: Key Brushes for Your Makeup Arsenal and What They Can Do for You

May 24th, 2010 by Karen 13 Comments

Ever had a brush with makeup brush confusion? If you’re not sure which brushes to begin your collection with or want to pare down your current makeup brush stash into a subset of useful essentials, here’s a video that might help. 🙂

Products mentioned in the video…

MAC 129 Powder/Blush Brush, $34
Sonia Kashuk Blusher Brush, about $18
MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush, about $25
Sonia Kashuk Large Eye Shadow Brush, about $13
MAC Small Angle Brush, about $20
Sonia Kashuk Bent Eye Liner Brush, $6

Enjoy the rest of your night. I’m just about about ready to hop into bed, where I plan to read the June issue of Real Simple, ahh…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. If you’re looking for more makeup and beauty to watch, please visit my channels on Vimeo and YouTube.

Illamasqua Promise Cream Blush

May 24th, 2010 by Karen 10 Comments

Illamasqua Promise Cream Blush, $23.

What say you about the color? Do you like? Don’t like?

Hard Candy Take Me Out Liner: Crazy Colors, Crazy Good Price

May 24th, 2010 by Karen 55 Comments

HARD CANDY take me out liner review

Killer eyeliner looks come naturally to Tabs. Me? It takes more work.

HARD CANDY take me out liner review

But sexy kitteh liner looks just got that much easier — and tres affordable — thanks to Hard Candy Take Me Out Liner ($5, and part of their permanent line).

For lords and ladies who love creamy, smooth textures and vibrant shades, these pencil liners glide on and stay put for hours with nary a budge.

Available in 20 colors that also cover a variety of finishes from subtle shimmers to metallics to glitter-heavy shades, these liners have a little something-something for almost anyone.

HARD CANDY take me out liner review
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MAC To The Beach: Outtakes, Vol. 2

May 24th, 2010 by Karen 15 Comments

Did you know Tabs also works as a part-time hand/paw model? He’s a cat of many talents!

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, May 24

May 24th, 2010 by Karen 124 Comments

Sunrise over Diamond Head Crater, Oahu, Hawaii

Mood:

Pretty good! I got eight hours o’ glorious sleep last night and feel rested and recharged. 🙂

Three things that bring a smile to your face?

1) Kittens, 2) finding something great on sale and 3) the smell of freshly brewed coffee

What do you wear to sleep?

Now, mostly workout clothes — tank tops, t-shirts and yoga pants. That way, I’m already dressed to exercise first thing in the morning if the rhythm hits me. Oh, and if a fire breaks out sometime in the night and I have to make a mad dash outside, I’ll be dressed for it… Don’t want my goods hanging out for all the neighbors to see.

Your favorite pair of shoes?

You may already know this one — the yellow platform sandals I got on sale at Aerosoles a few years ago.

Eyes/lips/cheeks:

I’m in product testing mode today and wearing a bunch of random but promising things: Hard Candy 1,000 Lashes Fiberized Mascara in Mermaid Teal/Illamasqua Sheer Lipgoss in Electrify/Illamasqua Cream Blusher in Promise

Your latest food/snack obsession?

Last weekend I re-discovered my love for Jamba Juice’s Orange Dream Machine.

Are you double jointed ?

Nope, but I do have astonishing toe control. I can hold a pen and write with ’em!

What’s one beauty product that everyone else raves about yet doesn’t rock your boat?

Rosebud Salve… I like the way it smells and feels, but my lips need more moisture. And (yep, I know it’s weird), I don’t like dipping my fingers in the tin.

Outfit:

Ha! The layered workout ensemble I wore to bed last night — a gray hoodie over a brown tank top over a brown t-shirt. I’m getting ready to change into jeans and a white tank top here in a minute. Yep, I’m all about tank tops today.

Weekly goals:

Adhere to a stricter freelance writing and blogging schedule (I’ve been known to spend 100 hours/week on blogging), avoid junk food, exercise at least three times, and finally deal with the mountain of cardboard boxes in the dining room.

What’s shakin’, turkey bacon? Wouldn’t it be nice if we could grab a cup of coffee in the break room this morning and gab about the weekend (le sigh!)?

For now, I guess the Monday Poll will have to do.

To participate (and I hope you do), use your mouse to copy the following list, and paste if with your answers in the comments at the bottom of this post.

Le list

1. Mood:
2. Three things that bring a smile to your face?
3. What do you wear to sleep?
4. Your favorite pair of shoes?
5. Eyes/lips/cheeks:
6. Your latest food/snack obsession?
7. Are you double jointed?
8. What’s one beauty product that everyone else raves about yet doesn’t rock your boat?
9. Outfit:
10. Your weekly goals:

Now say it with me! — “I’m having a great week!” 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 88

May 23rd, 2010 by Karen 13 Comments

Tabs comic volume 2

Congratulations, graduates! Today was a lot of fun. I spent a big part of it cheering for the class of 2010 at San Francisco State University. My brother’s girlfriend’s graduation ceremony was pretty cool. I’ll post some pictures soon, but the grads went all out. They even had dance routines and musical numbers. What a trip!

Right now I’m just surfing the web on my laptop and watching Drop Dead Diva on Lifetime. Ahh… it’s nice to relax.

How was your weekend? What was the highlight? I think mine is unfolding right now on the couch, ha! 🙂

Tonight Tabs presents the long-overdue second issue of his Makeup and Beauty Blog comic book, titled On Location: Paris, and he promises not to take another four months to do the third one (sorry!). Here are both of the first two issues, back to back.

Enjoy the rest of your night. Tabs says, “Have a good one, fearless reader!”

Vol. 1

Tabs in Vol.1 of a Makeup and Beauty Blog comic

Vol. 2

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