Archives for November 2012

Sonia Kashuk’s Hosting a Formal Affair in a Posh, New Holiday Palette

November 27th, 2012 by Karen 17 Comments

sonia kashuk formal affair — Wearing the new $19.99 Sonia Kashuk Formal Affair Palette on my eyes and cheeks

Wait — are you kidding me?! You two haven’t met yet? Well, we need to fix that immediately.

Babe, this is Sonia Kashuk’s new Formal Affair Palette; Formal Affair, this is one of my beauty besties.

I think you two will hit it off. Formal Affair here is quite a bargain at $19.99. She may spend her days in drugstores, but at heart, she’s 100% department store-caliber makeup.

It’s as if Sonia said, “I’m going to make the perfect powder palette, and it’s going to contain two blushes, one bronzer and four eyeshadows for girls who want to look like they’re wearing NARS, Bobbi Brown and Urban Decay but don’t want to spend that much.”

Is that the NARS Orgasm/Laguna duo??

Don’t the golden brown powder bronzer and shimmery, golden peachy pink blush on Formal Affair’s far right look inspired by the NARS Orgasm/Laguna duo? Except that Sonia’s bronzer is sheerer than NARS Laguna, with slightlier grittier grains of golden glitter, and the golden pearl within the blush looks less pronounced to me than NARS Orgasm (maybe they’re just kissing cousins).

Look who’s getting Naked2

Okay, although I feel kinda lame getting excited about a brown eyeshadow (with so many great flashy colors out there and all!), Formal Affair’s brown is just so chocolaty…so shimmery…and so Mmmm! — buttery smooth.

It reminds me of Snakebite from the Urban Decay Naked2 palette.

It’s just so blendable, and I love how easy it is to wear sheer or build up in layers.

Sparkle like Bobbi Brown’ Sparkle Eyeshadows

The tan and black glittery shadows in Formal Affair would fit right in with Bobbi Brown’s Sparkle Eyeshadows. Like those shadows from Bobbi, they’re loaded with gobs of medium-sized glitter, but Sonia takes things a step further by using an intensely pigmented base. Patting either shade on the brown shade from Formal Affair is a quick way to dress up a look. I do have to be mindful, though, of the fallout, which is slight, but still. At least it’s easy enough to clean up, especially if I do my eyes first.

sonia kashuk formal affair swatches — Sonia Kashuk Formal Affair Swatches from the left: pink blush, bronzer, peachy pink blush, shimmery white eyeshadow, glittery tan eyeshadow, shimmery brown eyeshadow and glittery black eyeshadow

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Like We Did This Morning, Laura Mercier’s Easy-to-Use Illuminating Eye Colour in Gilded Bronze Rises and Shines

November 27th, 2012 by Karen 25 Comments

Wearing the new Laura Mercier Illuminating Eye Colour in Gilded Bronze ($24)

What if my eyelids naturally shimmered, and all I had to do was be awake? I’d probably stumble out of bed as usual, with my crazy-@ss hair and (sometimes) crusty drool around the corners of my mouth, and shamble to the bathroom.

But then! — then I’d gaze upon my reflection in the mirror and be almost blinded by my shimmery eyes. Wham, glam, thank you, ma’am!

Of course, that’s just a fantasy… Real people don’t have eyelids that naturally shimmer (le sigh), but I think I may have found the next best thing, Laura Mercier’s $24 Illuminating Eye Colour in Gilded Bronze, one of four shades in the new Art Deco Muse collection.

Illuminating Eye Colour in Gilded Bronze ($24)

These eyeshadows have a luminous, pearlescent finish and a soft, almost bouncy texture similar to the MAC Extra Dimensions (which I love!), and they shower eyelids with shimmer and pigment.

Gilded Bronze, an easy-to-use neutral bronze with taupe tendencies, is my favorite of the bunch. I have a feeling it’ll get along swimmingly with skin tones on both ends of the color temperature spectrum.

For the kind of shine I can comfortably wear to daytime events, I just pat a miniscule amount directly on my lids (I think you can get away with using less on darker skin) with a firm, flat eyeshadow brush like Laura’s All Over Eye Colour Brush, and buff out the edges with a tapered blending brush like Laura’s Pony Tail.

Then, I curl my lashes, treat them to Chanel Le Volume Mascara, swipe a smidgen of Laura’s stunning Lip Lacquer in Laque Rouge gloss on my lips, and “Why, yes, I am ready for my closeup, Mr. Deville.” 🙂

Alternately, for a bolder, high-shine metallic shimmer, I’ll simply add a second layer.

More to adore about Glided Bronze…

When the medium-sized flecks of shimmer catch the light, they demand attention! This is definitely not a shadow for shimmer shy wallflowers.
The buttery smooth formula blends easily into other shadows.
I don’t detect any fallout at all.
When I layer it on top of my NARS primer, it resists fading and settling into those annoying little lines on my lids…

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This Pixi’s an Early Bird

November 27th, 2012 by Karen 17 Comments

Did I tell ya that I’m trying this new thing where I wake up at 4:30 in the morning?! I’m going to see if I can turn myself into an early bird. I’m definitely NOT a morning person, but I love the idea of getting lots of stuff done before sunrise. We’ll see how long it lasts…

Maybe I should wear the new Pixi Early Bird Kit ($34) to commemorate this new experiment. 🙂

You can find the Early Bird Kit at Target, target.com and pixibeauty.com.

The Legend of Zella and the Quest for the Gathered Tote

November 26th, 2012 by Karen 24 Comments

Gather ’round the campfire, girls, and lend me your ears. The tale you’re about to hear is no meager yarn or fable, no children’s fairytale. No, it’s one of the greatest adventure stories of the modern era and antiquity. Why? Because it’s true! — as true as the North Star!

Sit close, steel your nerves, and open your mind. Behold! Now begins the Legend of Zella and the Quest for the Gathered Tote…

CHAPTER ONE

Once upon a time (around 2007), in a place far, far away, there lived a pint-sized beauty lover named Karen.

Despite her best intentions, every time Karen left the house, she brought along everything but the kitchen sink.

Along with her regular cat lady accoutrements — her wallet, phone, keys, snacks, cat treats, 12 tubes of gloss, a pair of backup shoes, a spare bra (because you never know…) and extra socks — she also brought her cameras, lenses and laptop with her a lot of the time.

The villagers in her small town didn’t understand. “Dude,” they’d whisper to one another and point as she passed, “what’s that chick’s deal? Why does she need three bags? Who carries that much stuff?”

“I don’t know,” another would say. “I heard that she keeps a cat in one of them and a fully cooked turkey in the other!”

Then, one day, everything changed. Karen discovered the $68 Zella Gathered Tote at a local merchant’s shoppe, also known as Nordstrom (it’s also online at nordstrom.com).

Right away, Karen saw its potential. “Hmm…” she wondered. “Although technically a gym bag, this thing will serve me well. It’s slim-fitting and deep, yet still lightweight. It’s also big enough for a laptop, two cameras, a medium-sized travel makeup bag and my gym clothes. Or, I could just use it as a casual tote, or maybe even a diaper bag someday.

“I don’t think El Hub would mind carrying it, either, because it’s black and not too girly at all.”

Karen slung the main strap across her body and happily skipped all the way home; she also delighted in the knowledge that she could have carried it by the padded, comfy double handles as well.

zella gathered tote review — The two double handles feel comfortable on my shoulder and sit at just the right spot (not too high, not too low)

zella gathered tote side pocket with phone — Two deep zippered side pockets keep my phone and keys readily available

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What’s the Matte-er With Public Nudity? According to Urban Decay, Absolutely Nothing, Thanks to the Mattes in the New Naked Basics Palette

November 26th, 2012 by Karen 29 Comments

urban naked basics palette — Wearing the new $27 Urban Decay Naked Basics palette on my eyes, with Crave on my lids and lash lines, Faint in the crease and Venus along my brow bone

NOVATO (MBB) — Makeup mavens predict a dramatic rise in public nakedness over the holidays this year as legions of Urban Decay fans don the all-matte shades in the new $27 Naked Basics Palette.

Many plan to go to work naked, spend time naked in their living rooms, at clubs, and even at local eateries and shopping centers.

“Yesterday I got naked at Trader Joe’s,” said Karen, editor and co-founder of Makeup and Beauty Blog, “and with these six neutral shades, none of which are too cool nor warm, just about anyone can get naked anywhere they please.”

urban decay naked basics palette — Swatches from the left: Venus, Foxy, Walk of Shame, Naked2, Faint and Crave

Honk if you love mattes! I think it’s always a great idea to have some mattes around for adding contrast, depth and dimension to eye makeup looks, and Naked Basics comes complete with six useful shades — four beiges, one medium brown and a dark brownish black.

Urban Decay, the brand that sparked a neutral eyeshadow resurgence/revolution with their Naked and Naked2 palettes, imagined that the mattes in Naked Basics could work as companion colors to the company’s other neutral shades.

Stay tuned, because Naked Basics bares all on Sephora and Ulta counters, and in select Macy’s stores soon, and online at urbandecay.com November 29.
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Walking Buddy

November 26th, 2012 by Karen 15 Comments

Guess who I saw on my walk today? Charlize, the dainty tabby girl who lives down the hill. I haven’t seen her in a few months, so it was nice to spend some time with her.

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 247

November 26th, 2012 by Karen 67 Comments

the makeup and beauty blog monday poll for november 26, 2012 — Currently obsessed with bunnies…

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 four years. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

Mood:
Excellent! 🙂 I love the holidays, even though it’s technically not even December yet.

Do you wear workout clothing when you’re aren’t working out?
I didn’t used to, but then I found Zella, which is like Nordstrom’s in-house, less expensive version of Lululemon.

They make some pretty fashionable stretchy pants and shirts. I mean, they still look like workout clothes, sure, but their little design details and colors make it look like you’re at least trying and haven’t completely given up, LOL!

If you were a pilot, what would be your call sign (like Starbuck, Boomer and Apollo from Battlestar Galactica)?
I’d be 9 Lives, and Tabs would be Big Boy. 🙂

Can you imagine Tabs in the cockpit of a fighter jet with his little helmet on?? It would need cutouts for his ears.

Gawd, I’m such a cat lady…

Are you doing any shopping for Cyber Monday?
I haven’t yet, but if a tube of NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer accidentally falls into my cart during the NARS Friends and Family sale (through Tuesday, get 20% off all orders at narscosmetics.com with code NARSFF2012 at checkout), I wouldn’t take it out.
What are three things you’re loving in your makeup bag now?
Chanel Le Volume Mascara (life changing, babe!), Laura Mercier Creme
Metallic Eye Colour in Gold and Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone.

I’ve been into that wide-eyed, glowing, dewy skin look lately, and these three have been helping me get there.

Have you done any decorating around the house for the holidays yet?
Not yet, but I can’t wait! I want to get the tree and window lights up by next weekend.

Do you like it when it snows?
It doesn’t snow here in the Bay Area, but I live within driving distance of places that get a lot of snow every winter and don’t feel the urge to visit those places because of the white stuff…

I’m not really big on being cold and wet.

Did you Skype anyone over Thanksgiving?
Nope, not this time. I’ve had to in the past because we’d spend the day with either El Hub’s family in Hawaii or my family here. This time, though, both sets of parents came to our house to celebrate. It was nice having everyone under one roof.

Any plans to go ice skating over the holidays?
Heck, yeah! I may not be into snow, but get me on a pair of skates, and I’m happy as a clam (on skates).

I think I’m that one one annoying person who likes to zip around everyone else at top speed! — because I still haven’t figured out how to stop without running into people or walls.

Weekly goals:
Be mindful of the time I spend on different tasks (seriously, this is one of my biggest challenges week after week), keep the living room from falling into disarray again after it was all straightened out for Thanksgiving, start my Christmas shopping, and try to not be so fearful of change (I’m going to try getting up earlier in the morning to help with my schedule).

Hello, my friend. Happy Monday! 🙂

Okay, kinda random, but you know how I’m a fan of Battlestar Galactica, right? Well, they’ve got this new series of 10-minute webisodes on Youtube right now called Blood & Chrome, which follows a young William Adama, fresh out of flight school, on his first mission in the Cylon War.

I think you’ll like it if you enjoyed the Sci-Fi Channel version of the series that was on a few years ago.

Sorry! Sidetrack over. Let’s get back to the Monday Poll, shall we? 🙂

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

Le List

1. Mood:
2. Do you wear workout clothing when you’re aren’t working out?
3. If you were a pilot, what would be your call sign (like Starbuck, Boomer and Apollo from Battlestar Galactica)?
4. Are you doing any shopping for Cyber Monday?
5. What are three things you’re loving in your makeup bag now?
6. Have you done any decorating around the house for the holidays yet?
7. Do you like it when it snows?
8. Did you Skype anyone over Thanksgiving?
9. Any plans to go ice skating over the holidays?
10. Weekly goals:

It’s the last week of November, so let’s wrap up the month with a bang! 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen