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Archives for 2013

9 Pastels, a Panini Press and the Butter London Spring 2013 Sweetie and Starkers Collections

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Butter London Sweetie and Starkers Spring 2013 Collections
The nine-piece Butter London Spring 2013 Collection ($15 each bottle), available now online and at Butter London counters and Nordstrom

Today my brain politely offered me two options. One, I could spend the afternoon experimenting with my new Sunbeam Panini Press (and eating said food experiments)…or two, I could catch up on spring nail polish swatches.

Panini Press Madness!
The Sunbeam Panini Press, my new BFF

Tough decision…

But technically, the panini press isn’t new. I’ve had it since Christmas (of 2010!) and just kind of forgot about it.

Whoops!

Over the past few days, I’ve made a couple of grilled cheese sandwiches with it, a delicious grilled shrimp burrito (!) and a quesadilla with brie and pear.

But again, it’s not new, so I opted for the swatches…in part due to my muffin top, which has been feeling extra muffin-y lately…

I’ve also been going through a pastel nails phase, and the colors in the Butter London Spring 2013 Collection are scratching the itch. 🙂

This year, Butter London divided their spring launch into two parts — the six-piece Sweetie Shop collection and three-piece Starkers collection. Each bottle goes for $15 a pop.

The Sweetie Shop sub-collection

Butter London Fruit Machine Swatch
Butter London Fruit Machine, an opaque caramel creme (three coats)

Butter London Kerfuffle Swatch
Butter London Kerfuffle, an opaque, pinkish orange creme (three coats)

Butter London Jasper Swatch
Butter London Jasper, an opaque, pastel yellow creme (three coats)

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Aerin Beauty Lip Gloss in Casis Is Giving My Lips a Case of Smooth Pink Lip Gloss Love

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Aerin Beauty Casis Lip Gloss Review Swatches Pictures
Wearing the new limited edition Aerin Beauty Lip Gloss in Casis ($30), available now at Aerin Beauty counters and online

I feel like the greatest pink glosses — the epic ones you dream about, and about which you say in casual conversation with other makeup nerds things like, “Remember that one pink gloss from the spring 2007 collection? Gawd, I loved that color!” — are major threats to most of the products I carry in my makeup bag.

With an epic pink gloss that gets the shade just right, one that I feel illuminates my entire face, I’m tempted to just wear it and almost nothing else.

And when I see one of those pink glosses basking at the bottom of my makeup bag, it’s as if it says to me, “C’mon, Karen, forget about primer, foundation and all that extra stuff. As long as we have each other, a little under-eye concealer, mascara and brow powder, we’ll be fine.”

For me, Aerin Beauty’s new spring 2013 collection Lip Gloss in Casis ($30) is totally one of those pinks.

What I love most about this rosy, almost full-coverage neutral pink, other than the ease with which it adds dazzling color to my face, is how smooth it looks on my lips.

Casis doesn’t settle into my fine lip lines or highlight any dips and crevices. Instead, it creates a seamless, glassy block of opaque color that looks almost like I stretched a piece of pink vinyl across my pout.

Aerin Beauty Casis Lip Gloss Picture
Aerin Beauty Casis Lip Gloss also has a doe-foot applicator

Aerin Beauty Casis Lip Gloss Picture Swatch
Aerin Beauty Casis Lip Gloss on my lips

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For No-Makeup Makeup Lash Looks That Go the Extra Mile, Try New Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara

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Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara Review
Wearing two coats of the new Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara in Carbon Black ($8.49), one of three shades available now at drugstores and online

If you’re into no-makeup makeup looks that go the extra mile, don’t forget your lashes. Swing by the Neutrogena section at your favorite drugstore the next time you cruise the beauty aisle (Can I come with?? We can get Thrifty brand ice cream after), and peep the new $9 Healthy Lengths Mascara.

Supposedly able to make lashes look 100% longer — or twice as long — it’s also designed to strengthen lashes over time from the inside out with vitamin E and olive oil.

Hmm… I’ll pretend that by “100% longer,” Neutrogena meant to say, “slightly longer.” LOL! Because 100% might be a bit of a stretch.

Two coats and my lashes appear lifted, curled, separated and just ever-so-slightly thicker and longer…for the ultimate in no-makeup makeup lash looks. 🙂

Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara Review, Swatches and Photos
No mascara on the left, and two coats of Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara on my upper and lower lashes on the right

Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara Review, Swatches and Photos
Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara tube

Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara Review, Swatches and Photos
The Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara brush

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Dior Says Oui to Greenish Gold Micro Shimmer: The New Dior Addict Gloss in Nuit Boréale

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Dior Addict Gloss in Nuit Boreale Picture Swatch
Wearing the Dior’s new Addict Gloss in Nuit Boréale ($29.50) on my lips, one of 24 new Addict Gloss shades coming in March to Dior counters and dior.com

Channing Tatum says what now…? You’re telling me there’s another green lip gloss worthy of a spring obsession?

Unlike Illamasqua’s Shoot, and the audience’s loud shrieks when Chan-Tate starts dancing to Pony, this one is quiet. Very, very quiet… The shimmery greenish golden pearl in Dior’s new Addict Gloss in Nuit Boréale is so quiet that you have to look closely to even see it (so no Hulk lips here).

Nuit Boréale (“polar night” in French, according to Google Translate) is one of 24 shades in the recently revamped Dior Addict Gloss line, and like the other Addict Glosses, it’s all about shine.

Or rather, reflection. While most glosses refract light, bouncing it in different directions, Dior says the new Addict formula’s glass micro-beads and crystalline micro-particles line up to reflect light more evenly.

And they say that’s why it also makes lips appear so plump and shiny.

I do think my lips look a little plumper when I’m wearing Nuit Boréale… Not Angelina Jolie-levels of larger-than-life lusciousness, mind you. Just a tad.

And sure, the chrome shine grabs attention, but I think it’s the color that really sets this particular tube apart.

Dior Addict Gloss in Nuit Boreale Picture
Dior Addict Gloss in Nuit Boréale

Dior Addict Gloss Nuit Boreale Swatch
Dior Addict Gloss in Nuit Boréale swatch on NC42 skin

Dior Addict Gloss Nuit Boreale Swatch
Dior Addict Gloss in Nuit Boréale and goofy face!

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 260

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The Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll for February 25, 2013
Taking a break from hiking at the Indian Valley Open Space Preserve in Novato, California

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.

  1. What’s a makeup brand you’ve been into lately?
    Hourglass!

  2. Dresses, skirts or pants?
    Dresses when it’s warm, pants when it’s cold.

  3. Do you like pastel nails?
    I do. 🙂 Shiny, opaque pastel nails, please.

  4. Describe one of your typical makeup looks for work?
    Typical? That’s not exactly the word I’d use to describe what I usually wear to work. As I work from home, my neighbors have seen quite a few interesting things through my office window over the years — Wonder Woman, Marge Simpson, Katy Perry, Katniss Everdeen and a whole ton of stuff involving a chubby tabby cat.

    I always seem to get caught/noticed when I’m testing multiple products at the same time, which I do a lot, I’ll be sitting at my desk with, say, cat eyes and a bright cheek on one side of my face and smokey eyes and bronzer on the other.

    If I had a nickel for every time the postman saw me looking completely insane (I’d have a LOT of nickels)…

  5. Rainbow suspenders?
    Um, no. Not unless I’m starring in Office Space, and they’re holding my 25 pieces of flair.

  6. What was the highlight of your weekend?
    Sunday, from start to finish. Sunday was an A+ day. I slept in, made breakfast (pancakes, and eggs over easy), and then El Hub and I went for a long hike around the Indian Valley Open Space Preserve here in Novato.

    It was so sunny and warm and just felt great to be outside.

  7. If you had to make a major life change, would you prefer to ease your way into it and take baby steps, or dive in all at once?
    All at once. I’d rather just get it over with.

  8. Where were you in 1999?
    I was in my early 20s, living in San Francisco and working as a legal assistant at a law firm.

    Not one of my favorite years… I felt like I was in constant upheaval, starting with the move to the city, living with roommates I didn’t know before moving in with them, working at a job I didn’t particularly like. Bluh.

  9. What’s something you’re grateful for today?
    Sunshine! It makes everything better.

  10. Write yourself an nice note.
    Karen, “Remember, one thing at a time. Don’t give up. You can do it.” 🙂

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

Le List

1. What’s a makeup brand you’ve been into lately?
2. Dresses, skirts or pants?
3. Do you like pastel nails?
4. Describe one of your typical makeup looks for work?
5. Rainbow suspenders?
6. Highlight of your weekend?
7. Do you prefer taking baby steps or diving in all at once?
8. Where were you in 1999?
9. Something you’re grateful for today?
10. Write yourself a nice note.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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