Archives for May 2013

Hi, Refined Golden! Can I Get a Lift From the Flecks of Golden Glitter in Your Gorgeous Golden Bronzer? Yes, Yes I Can

May 21st, 2013 by Karen 20 Comments

Here I’m wearing MAC Refined Golden Bronzing Powder just below my cheekbones…

Like Tabs the Cat, star of screen, stage and glossy magazines, MAC’s $25 Refined Golden Bronzing Powder does it all, deepening tans, thereby allowing me to live out my bronzed beach surfer babe dreams (irrespective of the fact that I spend most of my time with my butt in front of a computer), and sculpting cheekbones like Michelangelo sculpted marble and clay. We’re talkin’ real-deal contouring here.

To my eye, it’s the darkest and most intense of the Temperature Rising collection’s four powder bronzers, making it ideal for skin tones NC42-ish and darker.

Flecks of golden glitter spice up this pan of deep golden tan, which I probably would have liked even without the glitter for the color itself, which never looks muddy, ruddy or dirty on my skin, perhaps due to the golden undertones.

Did you say, “hrmpf!” when I said, “glitter?” Not to worry. MAC didn’t go overboard with this glitter (not that there’s anything inherently wrong with going overboard on glitter). This isn’t Bollywood-caliber shimmer, which I also like.

MAC Refined Golden Swatch — MAC Refined Golden on NC42 Skin

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Tiny Chanel Perfume Bottles

May 21st, 2013 by Karen 19 Comments

So dainty and cute! I love teeny, tiny versions of Chanel anythings. They’re a weakness…

A Belated Mother’s Day Lunch

May 21st, 2013 by Karen 28 Comments

Buco Con Seta, Halo-Halo (a Filipino dessert that’s kinda like Hawaiian shave ice) served in a fresh, young coconut with ice cream

Just a few pics from my mom’s belated Mother’s Day lunch last Sunday at Patio Filipino restaurant in San Bruno.

OMG, the food was SO GOOD. I was too busy eating to take pictures of everything, which says a lot. I did manage to capture a few shots when I wasn’t busy shoveling food in my mouth, LOL!

Highly recommended for grubbing Filipino eats.

Sizzling Bangus Sisig, boneless shredded milkfish topped with spices

Adobong Kangkong, kangkong (water spinach) leaves blanched in viegar, soy sauce and garlic

Tilapia Crunch, crispy tilapia topped with diced tomatoes and green onions

GLO Get Me a Doctor! The New $20 LORAC GLOgetter Eyeshadow Palette Is Giving Me a LORAC Attack This Summer

May 20th, 2013 by Karen 30 Comments

The LORAC GLOgetter Palette — Wearing the $20 LORAC GLOgetter Palette on my eyes

With its classic summer colors, LORAC’s GLOgetter eye shadow palette was probably meant for fun-filled beach boardwalks, fair food and cruising down the coast with the windows rolled down…but I feel like a beauty bandit when I think of the price — only $20! — like I should be wearing black from head to toe and a mask like a cat burglar.

I can’t believe this 10-pan limited edition palette is only $20 at Ulta. At that price, it’s almost like stealing!

These easy-to-blend powder shadows are consumate summer colors — the kind that look great with a tan — and when I wear them with primer, they last from 8-10 hours on my dry lids before I notice much creasing. No fallout, either.

I bet you could totally BeyoncÃ© it out with these and bang out some intense looks with loads of blending and layering, but I really like GLOgetter for simple looks with one or two shades.

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Unsung Makeup Heroes: Bobbi Brown Peach Corrector

May 20th, 2013 by Karen 25 Comments

I’ve been having one of those Mondays where everything’s been going…great!

Don’t you just love those?

They’re few and far between, let me tell ya, but I’ll take it. Some Mondays I don’t feel ready for the weekend to end or for the workweek to start, but I’ve been in in a pretty good groove so far today.

I don’t know, maybe it’s the heat… It’s almost 90 degrees Fahrenheit in Novato right now!

Seriously, I think it’s making me loopy because I’m smiling from ear to ear… 🙂

I was watching a mama bird feed one of her little ones in the oak tree by my window this morning as I applied under-eye concealer and randomly started singing, “The hills are aliiiiive, with the sound of musiiiiiic!”

The concealer was Bobbi Brown’s bad@ss Peach Corrector. My dark under-eye situation has been triple-rainbow intense lately. I’m officially in my (gulp) late thirties now, and the purplish, bluish dark circles under my eyes have become something of a mainstay of my looks, haha.

Shoot, last night I even got 10 hours of sleep — 10 GLORIOUS HOURS! — and I still woke up with dark circles.

Thank goodness for Bobbi’s $23 miracle working Peach Corrector…

A creamy, opaque color-correcting concealer designed to be layered beneath your go-to under-eye concealer, it’s great if you get those real deal, Uncle Fester-caliber dark circles like moi. I use Peach, one of 16 shades in the line.

SHAZAM! It’s like waving a magic wand over my face. When I add it to my mix, I think I definitely look refreshed and considerably less tired, and that whole under-eye sitch looks brighter.

Most of the time I just wear it on its own with powder dusted on top (versus underneath another concealer), and it neutralizes the purple action. Heck, when I use it I think I even look a little younger (says the girl turning 38 in a few weeks, le sigh!).

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 272

May 20th, 2013 by Karen 79 Comments

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.

Mint green: love it or leave it?
Absolutely love it. Mint green clothes, makeup, accessories… Mint green for me, please.

What’s the one thing that you feel makes the biggest difference in your makeup look?
Filling in my brows, for sure. They sort of fade away at the halfway point on each side, and I feel like filling in the sparse parts strengthens my look and draws more attention to my eyes.

What was the last really sugary, brainless, cheesy book you read?
Sugar and Spice, the latest book in Lauren Conrad’s L.A. Candy series. Brainless, yes. Fun, absolutely!

Something you did last weekend?
Watched the new Star Trek with El Hub.

Eh…I liked it. Didn’t love it, but I liked it. It was loud! Full throttle, action-packed the whole time. I kind of felt like I was being yelled at by the screen and left the theater totally exhausted, but there’s always great styling and makeup in Star Trek. I’d go just for that.

Have you ever been lost in the woods?
Thankfully, NO! What a nightmare.

Favorite comic strip?
The Far Side! Always loved Gary Larson’s weird sense of humor…

Something currently missing from your summer wardrobe?
Sunglasses and shorts. I’m super picky about both!

High-waisted pants: yea or nay?
Nay! But thank you for asking.

What’s one beauty product every gal needs?
A fantastic black mascara. Right now for me that’s Chanel Le Volume de Chanel.

Do you have a favorite place to nap?
I’m not picky when it comes to napping. I can practically sleep standing up, but I’ve gotta go with the living room couch.

Sometimes on sunny Sunday afternoons I’ll also catch a few “Z’s” in my hanging patio chair on the back deck.

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

Le List

1. Mint green: love it or leave it?
2. What’s the one thing that you feel makes the biggest difference in your makeup look?
3. What was the last really sugary, brainless, cheesy book you read?
4. Something you did last weekend?
5. Have you ever been lost in the woods?
6. Favorite comic strip?
7. Something currently missing from your summer wardrobe?
8. High-waisted pants: yea or nay?
9. What’s one beauty product every gal needs?
10. Do you have a favorite place to nap?

What time is it where you are? What are you up to now?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 244

May 19th, 2013 by Karen 9 Comments

In this business, reputation is everything. Word of mouth is the best marketing. Being known as the cat who gets the job done is priceless.

That’s Tabs. He’s the cat who always gets the job done — the fixer of the kitty modeling community, if you will. When a big brand like Dolce & Gabbana comes out with a new cream blush that no one’s ever seen before and they have no idea how to sell it, whom do they call?

They call Tabs.

Why?

Because there are no excuses. No whining. No complaining (unless they run out of gravy on the set). Just stunning good looks, a powerful purr machine and a tum powered by gravy. In other words, the complete package.

This week Tabs modeled for a bunch of big beauty brands, and here’s a quick look at his portfolio. 🙂

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Dolce & Gabbana Lilac Nail Lacquer

May 19th, 2013 by Karen 10 Comments