Archives for December 2014

Dear Benetint, I Don’t Think You’re Ready for This Less Expensive Jelly: Topshop’s $14 Cheek Jelly in Reign

December 8th, 2014 by Karen 14 Comments

Topshop’s $14 Cheek Jelly in Reign looks like a budget-friendlier ($14 vs. $30) Benefit Benetint doppelgänger on my cheeks — same sheer, rosy red color, but I think it’s way easier to use.

The gel formula, which feels wet and slick like a MAC Casual Colour, isn’t as runny as Benetint’s liquid formula, making it easier to blend on cheeks.

I usually use my fingers or a skunk brush to stipple it on my cheeks, where it looks quite natural, especially on bare skin, but you can also build it up for a bolder flush of color.

I have combination dry/oily cheeks (read: generally fussy and unpredictable), and it lasts from 4-6 hours for me.

Cheek Jelly in Reign, one of five $14 Cheek Jelly shades (there’s also a coral called Phenomenon a plum called Sibling, a burgundy called Museum and another red called Beep), is available now online and at Topshop stores.

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 350

December 8th, 2014 by Karen 48 Comments

The Monday Poll for Monday, December 8, 2014

You might be wondering, “So what in tarnation is this Monday Poll thing anyway!?”

Well, it isn’t exactly a poll. It’s more of a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past seven years. (It’s like a kickstart for your brain.) I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

If there’s one thing I can do in this life, it’s __________
…befriend stray cats. 🙂

They can sense the cat lady-ness radiating off me in waves… Either that, or they smell the treats in my pocket, haha!

Also, I’m like a shoe-shopping savant. I’m the girl to call when you want/need a shoe enabler.

What product in your makeup bag/toolkit do you wear more than any other?
Over the past few months, it’s been Laura Mercier Flawless Fluide Foundation, but more immediately, over the past few weeks, the Hourglass Ambient Blush palette, and the past few days, NARS Pure Radiant Concealer.

How has your life changed this year?
Definitely for the better with my daily working workflow, thanks to a couple of tweaks.

I used to start my days at the behind-crack of dawn and have my butt glued to my computer for, literally, 12-14 hours, often without breaks.

Now, I force myself, hook or crook, to get out of my chair by 4 p.m. (and I usually start working at 7:30 a.m.)

Sometimes it’s hard. Very hard. Because I don’t nave a naturally super fine-tuned concept of time (read: I’m always running late), and I’m the kind of person who always like to do a little extra, sneak in a little extra something into her work.

But now I’m a much happier person overall, so I guess that would be the biggest change for me this year.

One of your greatest indulgences?
Ooh… Sleeping in on Saturday mornings and just waking up when my body feels like it, instead of waking up with an alarm, and then just having a leisurely day.

I like to prep the Saturday morning giveaway over coffee (as you know), and either watch some (hopefully brainless) TV or read and nom on something that, ideally, I didn’t have to make, like a croissant from a local bakery.

What beauty products are on your nightstand right now?
A tube of Hourglass No. 28 Lip Oil, which I put on every night before bed.

And a big bottle of Amlactin lotion, which I got at Costco.

Your turn. 🙂 Just copy and paste the following questions into a comment with your answers. I look forward to reading ’em!

1. If there’s one thing I can do in this life, it’s ____________.
2. What product in your makeup bag/toolkit do you wear more than any other?
3. How has your life changed this year?
4. One of your greatest indulgences?
5. What beauty products are on your nightstand right now?

Happy Monday to ya, sweetpea. How was your weekend?

Mine was nice. El Hub and I drove up to Redding to visit his parents and see their new house, while Tabs held down Fort MBB with his favorite sergeant/petsitter.

Just a laid back weekend, really, but I’m a BIG fan of those. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 325

December 7th, 2014 by Karen 10 Comments

Tabs puts a lot of time and effort into his kitty modeling shoots, but he doesn’t usually get into the mechanics of them in public very often (he likes to think of himself as modest). Still, it’s interesting to see what really goes on behind the scenes. Some of these shoots can be quite complicated.

Earlier this week he and I sat down briefly to discuss some of his favorite kitty modeling shoots of the year.

Here are his 10 favorite kitty modeling shoots of 2014, complete with the behind-the-scenes commentary. 🙂

American Shorthair Hustle

TABS: “We had to go through dozens of hairpieces to settle on the caramel brown I wore for this shot. The costume department had me try on — I think it was more than a 100 — 70s-style wigs. Eventually, we narrowed it down to a rich obsidian black, a strawberry blonde and this caramel brown, which made the final cut because of how the color played off the gold glints in my eyes. I think it was the right choice.”

CATEX Claw and Nosetint

TABS: “Betcha thought this was me for a second, didn’t you? Nope, this is actually my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather cat, Franklin, one of the original trendsetters in the first feline print ads for cosmetics in the 1930s and ’40s. I must admit — the resemblance is uncanny. Even I’m surprised sometimes by the depth of kitty modeling talent in my family.”

Covercat Fur Illuminator in Main Attraction

TABS: “I trained with Cirque du Soleil for two months in preparation for this shoot, which required precise timing and a keen sense of body awareness. If I’d been off a single inch, the entire shot would have been ruined. The photographer anticipated that we’d need at least 50 frames to get a usable amount of material, but I nailed it on the first shot.”

The Illamasqua Arctic Artist Palette

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7 Ways to Win a $50 eGift Card From Sephora! (Ends Monday)

December 6th, 2014 by Karen 318 Comments

Rise and shine, morning glory! It’s a beautiful day!

Well…actually, I don’t really know what kind of day it is outside because I haven’t looked (it was raining cats and dogs and frogs last night!), but I’m sure it’ll be a beautiful day regardless of the weather.

I’m sitting in my father-in-law’s quiet office in Redding right now with my laptop on the floor and typing to poo. 🙂 Yup, we drove up to Redding last night to see their new house (they recently moved), and I think I’m the only one awake.

I’m wondering if it snowed in the night… We shall see.

Good luck in the giveaway, and have a wonderful weekend, whatever you’re up to. I’m gonna see if I can find a place online now that sells doughnuts…

Not sells them online, online. I mean, find a place on the web that sells doughnuts in the area.

Never mind…

One (1) Sephora eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (international readers, you may opt to receive $50 sent by PayPal instead).

Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
Open to U.S. and international readers.
You must be 18 or older to enter (or otherwise an adult based on your local laws).
Your comment can be about anything at all, but here are some ideas if you’re stuck:
- A gift you’ve already gotten someone for Christmas?
- Have you ever left the house liking your outfit but then freaked out about it later at work?
- Your favorite bra and why?
- Best teen movie of all time?
- Do you ever wear lipstick on your cheeks or eyes?
- How do you feel about warm reddish-brown Marsala, Pantone’s 2015 color of the year?
You can enter in up to seven ways to boost your chances of winning.
The giveaway ends on Monday, December 8, 2014 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time). 🙂
Full terms and conditions are available in the widget.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Dolce & Gabbana The Illuminator in Eva From the Holiday 2014 Collection

December 5th, 2014 by Karen 18 Comments

Dolce & Gabbana Illuminator in Eva — Wearing Dolce & Gabbana’s The Illuminator in Eva on my upper cheekbones, and MAC Satin Lipstick in Toxic Tale from the MAC Red, Red, Red Collection on my lips

To think that once upon a time, many, many moons ago, gorgeously glowing skin was just something that happened sometimes on one of Mother Nature’s whims.

“Ooh! My cheeks are a little oilier than usual today? Woot! That means my skin will glow like Sheila’s, the cave-girl who lives down the way.”

Well, OK, that’s probably not exactly how it went down back in prehistoric days…but throw a girl a bone here please! I had awful insomnia last night (stayed up too late watching TV), so it’s the best I can do under the circumstances.

I did have a point though…

Now that we’re modern women living in modern times, we have access to a much wider range of illuminators than ever before, from frosty highlighters that leave your cheekbones lookin’ like Rihanna’s in a video (shine bright like a diamond!), to shimmers so soft that you can barely see their candlelit glow on your skin, and everything in between.

Dolce & Gabbana’s new six-piece holiday 2014 collection has a very interesting illuminator named Eva ($51, called The Illuminator in Eva; there’s also a bronzer in the collection called Desert), a creamy beige face powder blended with tiny flecks of gold glitter. It has a soft, sheen-like finish that reminds me of the Hourglass Ambient Powders, only the sparkly flecks seem finer…

They create a slightly different effect that’s flat-out gorgeous.

Available now in a limited edition holiday version with a pretty design on the pan (but also available in the permanent line) online and at Dolce & Gabbana counters.

Dolce & Gabbana Holiday 2014 — Three of six pieces in the Dolce & Gabbana holiday 2014 makeup collection

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A MAC Red, Red, Red Collection Cardinal Concoction of Cosmetological Creativity (aka Face of the Day)

December 5th, 2014 by Karen 18 Comments

Like the hulking, crazy-eyed dog next door that barks and pulls at its leash when it crosses your path, or the mean girl bully in second grade who corners you in the girl’s bathroom at recess, red eyeshadow can sense your fear…

Today I fully intended to put MAC’s Strike While Haute matte red eyeshadow from the Red Red Red collection to good use, but then I chickened out…

It’s just so dang red, homie!

Eventually, I think I’ll be able to psych myself up to try it. I just need a couple more days to build up the courage. I keep hearing that it can look amazing on lids when done right…

Of course, it’s that last part — “when done right” — that has me a little nervous, LOL!

Instead, for my makeup today, I ended up using some other pieces from MAC’s new crimson collection — pearlescent pink champagne Lustre Eye Shadow in Give Me Fire (watch out for the fallout with this one ’cause it’s kinda fluffy) and reddish copper Red Alert (beautifully pigmented and looks great with warmer browns like MAC Texture). Then, I added a flashy pair of falsies with longer lashes at the outer corners for extra lift. Eyelure’s No. 121s.

For cheeks and lips, I went with soft pink tones — soft rose Casual Color in Red Obsessed, which I stippled on the apples of my cheeks with a skunk brush, and grapefruit pink Lustre Lipstick in See Sheer, topped with Cremesheen Glass in Meteoric. Both are also from the Red Red Red collection, which is available now in-stores and online (through January 15).

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What Are You Wearing on Your Nails?

December 5th, 2014 by Karen 26 Comments

MAC Red, Red, Red Collection Nail Lacquers — The new MAC Red, Red, Red collection Nail Lacquers ($10 each)

I’m undecided at the moment…but I think I’ve narrowed it down to one of the three shades in the new MAC Red, Red, Red collection (available now at Nordstrom for $10 each).

Down below on my nails that’s Rouge Combustion (#1 – the sparkly pinkish red); Red, Red, Red (#2 – the creamy orangey red); and Impassioned (#3 – the warm bright pink).

What do you think?

MAC Red, Red, Red Collection Nail Lacquer Swatches from the left: 1) Rouge Combustion; 2) Red, Red, Red; 3) Impassioned — My “trying to decide what to wear” swatches from my pointer finger down: 1) Rouge Combustion; 2) Red, Red, Red; and 3) Impassioned

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MAC Red, Red, Red Collection Nail Lacquers in Rouge Combustion; Red, Red, Red; and Impassioned — MAC Red, Red, Red Collection Nail Lacquers from my pointer finger down in Rouge Combustion; Red, Red, Red; and Impassioned

How ’bout you, babe? What are you wearing on your nails on this (most likely) cold and wintry morning?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!!!

The $39 Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick Set Comes With Nine Nubbly Novelties/Diminutive Darlings

December 4th, 2014 by Karen 18 Comments

The nine little lipsticks in the $39 Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick Set make me feel like Shrek, man! They’re just so precious and tiny in my paws.

Suddenly, it’s ogre time, which is like Hammer time, except without the backup dancers and shiny parachute pants.

OK, yeah, I’ve got that whole long-fingered E.T. hands thing happening, but really, my hands aren’t that big, and yet they seem like ginormous beast hands when I see myself holding one of these little lipsticks.

I’m starting to develop a complex. 🙂

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Archives for December 2014

American Shorthair Hustle

CATEX Claw and Nosetint

Covercat Fur Illuminator in Main Attraction

The Illamasqua Arctic Artist Palette

What should I wear on mah nails?