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Archives for April 2011

Chips, Ahoy! It’s Estee Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer, Matey

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estee lauder pure color nail lacquer
Estee lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer shades clockwise from the purple bottle on the left: Violet Diva, Fuchsia Flame, Purple Passion and Hot Coral

I try to treat my nails well. I really do. But the constant clacking away at the keyboard, coupled with the opening of countless cans of gravy, take a toll. That’s why I’m looking for nail polishes that do more than merely look good. They also need to stand up to the everyday drama/trauma I put my nails through.

I was hoping to find such a polish when I tried the new Estee Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquers ($19 each). Last month the brand launched a newly reformulated line, adding eight bold, pigmented shades to their permanent collection (Frozen Fantasy, Rosa Rosa, Hot Coral, Pure Red, Enchanted Garnet, Fuchsia Flame, Purple Passion and Ultra Violet), as well as eight limited edition shades bound exclusively for Nordstrom stores (Sizzling taupe, Oyster Cult, Perfect Storm, Chocolate Crave, Mega Fuchsia, Violet Diva, Wicked Green and Wild Blue).

I’ve long loved EL’s polishes and really hoped these new ones would be just as great as their predecessors.

By all appearances, they are. The new shades sure look gorgeous on nails, don’t they? Vibrant, un-ignorable colors with a finish so shiny that it could cause temporary blindness? Hello!

Last week, along with my usual base and top coats, I wore two coats of Hot Coral on my fingers and Fuchsia Flame on my toes. From the get-go, things looked good; they applied just as smoothly as I hoped they would.

estee lauder pure color nail lacquer
Fuchsia Flame (left) and Hot Coral (right)

estee lauder pure color nail lacquer
Violet Diva (left) and Purple Passion (right)
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Ready, Set, Glow! The New Urban Decay Urban Defense Tinted Moisturizers with SPF 20

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Urban Decay Urban Defense Tinted Moisturizer

Dang, I like how my skin looks with this stuff on. As far as natural-looking finishes, the new Urban Decay Urban Defense Tinted Moisturizers with SPF 20 have got it on lock. Two layers applied with my fingers right after I cleanse and tone, and my skin looks fresh like morning dew (and not in a sequins and disco-ball sorta way).

I don’t usually think of subtle when I think of Urban Decay. The way these tinted moisturizers glow is so refined and quiet that I would have guessed they were from Bobbi or Laura. What a really nice surprise.

Just in time for warmer spring and summer weather, the new line comes in four shades: Halo (a sheer alabaster for fair skin tones), Bodyguard (a sheer nude for fair and medium skin tones), Bulletproof (a sheer sand for medium skin tones) and Forcefield (a sheer fawn for medium and dark skin tones). I think my tan NC35 skin falls somewhere between Bulletproof and Forcefield, so I’ve been mixing the two.

Urban Decay Urban Defense Tinted Moisturizer swatches with the flash
Swatches from left with the flash: Halo, Bodyguard, Bulletproof and Forcefield

Urban Decay Urban Defense Tinted Moisturizer swatches without the flash
Swatches without the flash
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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, April 11

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  • You might be wondering, “So what the heck is this Monday Poll thing anyway?”
    Well, it isn’t much of a poll. It’s more just a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past three years, which I guess makes this somewhere around Vol. 165. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.
  1. Mood:

    2. Excited! I have a feeling this is going to be a great week. 🙂

  2. Food you’re craving *right now*?

    3. (Even though it’s morning) Spinach lasagna, garlic bread and a green salad. I’ve been running a lot and my body’s craving carbs like crazy!

  3. Favorite eye cream and why?

    4. Korres Quercetin and Oak Eye Cream. I started using it last summer and am already on my third bottle. It absorbs quickly, keeps my hella dry skin hydrated, and layers well beneath makeup. I can’t really tell if it’s helped the fine line situation, but I don’t think they look any worse.

  4. Ballet flats: yea or nay?

    5. Nay way. They hurt and make me feel even shorter (I need at least a two-inch heel to feel comfy).

  5. Which of your makeup brushes do you use least often?

    6. The MAC 219 Pencil Brush. Originally, I got it to apply and smudge shadows along my lower my lash lines, but it’s kinda scratchy and tends to over-apply product. The only thing I ever really use it for now is to add a little shadow at the inner corners of my eyes.

  6. What’s your favorite eyeliner and why?

    7. MAC Powersurge Eye Kohl is MY JAM! When I’m running behind and need to get out the door in a hurry, I add a little Powersurge along my upper and lower lashes. It gives my look a little something without me looking like I’m trying too hard.

  7. Would you rather spend your Friday night alone or with others?

    8. It depends on what kind if week I’ve had. When I’m really, really beat, I prefer to be alone.

  8. What colors would I see most if I looked in your closet?

    9. Different shades of blue, some green, a little bit of pink, orange and A LOT of black. LOL! I just realized the colors I wear resemble a bruise…

  9. Can you ride a bike while wearing a dress?

    10. Oh, hell no. That’s a recipe for certain doom!

  10. Weekly goals:

    11. Just one this week. Enjoy the process.

Okay, so this is totally weird and I hope you can forgive me for it, but last night, for the first time, I had a nightmare about pimple popping. I dreamt I had a pimple on my cheek, and when I popped it, a frickin’ rubber ducky emerged from the pore. It was a small one, but still… Yes, I believe I should stop eating right before bedtime.

I hope you’re feeling rested and ready to start the week. If you have a moment, come say hi in the Monday poll.

  • To complete the Monday Poll, just copy the following list, and paste it with your answers in the comments.



1. Mood:
2. Food you’re craving *right now*?
3. Favorite eye cream and why?
4. Ballet flats – yea or nay?
5. Which of your makeup brushes do you use least often?
6. What’s favorite eyeliner and why?
7. Would you rather spend your Friday night alone or with others?
8. What colors would I see if I looked in your closet?
9. Can you ride a bike while wearing a dress?
10. Weekly goals:

You and I are going to have a great week, young lady. I can feel it in my bones!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 134

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Tabs was inspired by my recent Nordstrom Personal Stylist visit and demanded asked that I pull some outfits for his upcoming trip to Paris.

He wants to freshen his spring wardrobe with some new accessories and described the look he’s going for as “elegant and edgy” (his words).

I dug around and came up with a few possibilities, but I’m having trouble narrowing them down. Because this is Tabs we’re talking about here (one word: diva), I only want to suggest the cream of the crop. Which of these ensembles do you think suits Tabs the best?

Who is Tabs the Cat? About three years ago I befriended a stray, flea-bitten tabby cat with a bad case of worms. I could see he’d fallen on hard times, but his profound knowledge of high fashion and department store cosmetics led me to believe that he was more than meets the eye. We became fast friends, and now he’s actually my boss (and a successful kitty model). 🙂

1. Shark Cat Sweater

$34, available now online at the YouthDiaspora Etsy shop.

2. Strawberry Beret and White Round Collar with Bow Tie

$20 for the beret and $17 for the bow tie, available now online at the CatAtelier Etsy shop.

3. Devil Hat

$30, available now online at the xmoonbloom Etsy shop.

4. Skulls ‘n’ Roses Tie

$9, available now online at the SnoopCattyCatt Etsy shop.


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Make It Your Time to Shine with Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick: Available Now

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chanel rouge coco shine swatches

Usually when someone says, “I’ve been dying for…” it’s a figure of speech, but perhaps not when it comes to Chanel. 🙂 I think I actually was dying a little bit every day waiting for the new Chanel Rouge Coco Shine lipsticks ($32 each) to arrive, and WOOHOO! They’re finally here!

Remember when you and I took an early look at one of the first shades to be released, Boy, back in February? Well, now all 18 shades are available at Chanel boutiques, counters and also online.

These luscious, shiny ladies are like Rouge Coco’s wilder, more impulsive younger sister. They feel smoother, lighter and thinner on my lips than the RCs do — similar to the MAC Slim Shines — and last about two hours on me.

For more on the Chanel Rouge Coco Shines, check out…

The colors are arranged into four groups — Roses/Pinks, Violets/Berries, Reds/Corals and Neutrals/Browns. Here are some hand swatches, with lip swatches (and requisite gushing, as I can already see some that I know I’ll like) coming in the days ahead. Holla at me in the comments if you see something you like.

Roses/Pinks

chanel rouge coco shine swatches roses pinks
Swatches from left to right: Chance (a powder pink), Romance (a bright pink), Aventure (a shimmering pink), Evasion (a sheer rose) and Boy (a natural rose)

Violets/Berries

chanel rouge coco shine swatches violets berries
Fetiche (a rose), Elise (a berry rose), Unique (a sparkling plum), Bonheur (a berry plum)

Reds/Corals

chanel rouge coco shine swatches reds corals
Liberte (a sheer apricot), Sari D’Eau (a coral shimmer), Rebelle (an orange red) and Monte-Carlo (a pink red)
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