Archives for 2014

Topshop Highlighter in Horizon: Available Now at Topshop Stores, Online, and Wherever the Curvature of the Earth Makes Distant Objects Appear to Fall Out of Sight…

December 2nd, 2014 by Karen 35 Comments

Say hello to the dawn of an epic glow as far as the eye can see! — a glow that spans the great expanse of non-glowing-ness from here to eternity. Or the horizon, whichever comes first.

Topshop’s shimmery, bronzy powder highlighter in Horizon ($16) has a mirror-like shine that likes to belt bold tunes in the spotlight, not whisper quietly in the wings… It’s like Celine Dion, except instead of wanting to command the stage, it wants to out-diva whatever else you might be wearing on your cheeks.

And you don’t have to go to the ends of the earth to find it (Get it? Horizon? Sorry…), because it’s available now at Topshop stores and online. 🙂

P.S. Happy Tuesday! It hasn’t stopped raining here in two days… And that’s actually not a terrible thing, although Tabs is none too pleased about it.

Matte Madness: MAC Nouvelle Vogue Matte Lipstick

December 1st, 2014 by Karen 34 Comments

Wearing MAC Nouvelle Vogue Matte Lipstick ($16)

There’s something so playful and happy about MAC’s bluish pink Nouvelle Vogue Matte Lipstick. 🙂

It’s one of those pinks that doesn’t take itself too seriously, ya know? Not like those other pinks that are all, “We are sooo fancy. Look at how fancy we are.”

If you’re a MAC Satin Taupe eyeshadow fan, get Nouvelle Vogue in yo’ life ASAP! The two of them make lovely music together.

Don’t expect Nouvelle Vogue to stick around much longer. It’s set to bid adieu December 4. Until then, it’s available at MAC counters, stores and online.

The Matte Madness series features some of my favorite matte products as of late

So Sweet, You’ll Want to Keep These Treats for Yourself: The Fresh Sugar Holiday Sets

December 1st, 2014 by Karen 31 Comments

“Sugar, above all else!”

If I were to leave my mark and carve my mantra above a doorway with a blunt object and my bare hands, that would be it, because as far as I’m concerned, sugar dominates — sugar kills it, bro! — over the salty, the sour and everything else.

Since I’m a girl who can devour a pecan pie all by herself in less that 48 hours (hey, at least when I ate those two slices for breakfast, I had the “restraint” to skip the whipped cream), I’m all about the sweet stuff, and that includes these sugar-themed holiday sets by Fresh, a brand I’ve been kind of obsessed with lately (I totally blame it all on their Black Tea Toner and Fresh Life fragrance, which will forever be my Fresh gateway items).

This year the brand has several sugar-themed holiday sets for the pecan pie-eating, doughnut-print-loving sweet tooth in yo’ life.

Fresh Sugar Legends set ($55, a $79 value)

The tints in this seven-piece set are sheer enough to quality as “easy to wear” but colorful enough to stand on their own, which should make them a good gift option for just about anyone with a pronounced sweet tooth…because they’re also sugary scented and flavored. One taste and you’ll be smackin’ your lips for more…MORE!

Fresh Sugar Legends Set — One for every day of the week

[Continue reading…]

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 349

December 1st, 2014 by Karen 43 Comments

The Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll for December 1, 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.

What’s one keepsake you absolutely treasure?
I have this groovy dress that my mom used to wear back in the ’70s. It’s an a-line mini in a beige lace material with an oversized ’70s-style collar, pearl buttons and sheer sleeves.

She gave it to me when I was in high school, and I’ve kept it with me all these years, through 10+ moves.

I’m not normally very sentimental about my clothes, like it’s easy for me to say goodbye to clothes and pass them along to others to love, but I love this dress. My mom designed it for herself and took the design to a seamstress to have it made when she still lived in the Philippines.

I can see her now, my mom, a newly married young woman in the ’70s, tooling about town in her groovy mini dress. Maybe in some wedge heels! 🙂

Who’s the most generous person you know?
El Hub. That man would give you the shirt off his back, even if it meant he would freeze to death.

We’re having PB&J sandwiches for lunch! What kind of jelly would you like?
Raspberry for me! — or strawberry, if we’re out of raspberry, and if we don’t have either one, marmalade will do.

Just please, no grape jelly. I’m NOT feelin’ that with my PB&J.

Which would you rather do — spend an afternoon putting together a complicated piece of Ikea furniture with 500 screws, or spend an afternoon cleaning out boxes in a dirty, dusty garage filled with cobwebs, spiders and lizards?
Uh…both sound pretty miserable to me, but I guess cleaning out the garage? It would be dirtier, yes, but less mentally taxing.

Something you feel passionate about?
Writing about makeup (obvs), and talking about it, and wearing it, and shopping for it, and taking pictures of it. After almost eight years of talking about makeup on a daily basis, I still enjoy it.

I’m also passionate about adopting strays and shelter animals. Every one of the animals I’ve been lucky enough to assist over the years has been a former stray.

There are so many great cats and dogs out there waiting to be loved!

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

1. What’s one keepsake you absolutely treasure?
2. Who’s the most generous person you know?
3. We’re having PB&J sandwiches for lunch. What kind of jelly would you like?
4. Which would you rather do — spend an afternoon putting together a piece of complicated Ikea furniture with 500 screws, or spend an afternoon cleaning out boxes in a dirty, dusty garage filled with cobwebs, spiders and lizards?
5. Something you’re passionate about?

December…

I KNOW! It’s like it silently moonwalked into the room when I was looking the other way.

Have you put your tree up yet? I did go to Target last weekend and got some new ornaments, stockings and lights, but no tree yet. Hopefully, tonight or tomorrow. That’s what we’ve been talking about.

The new Christmas tree balls I got are allegedly shatter-resistant, but we’ll see about that… Tabs is the ultimate durability test.

He always swats at the ornaments and also LOVES to drink water from the tree stand, even though he knows it’s strictly forbidden.

Cats…

Have a good one today, whatever you’re up to. Try to stay warm out there!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 324

November 30th, 2014 by Karen 6 Comments

Dear Tabby is written by Tabs the cat, commonly regarded as “the world’s first plus-size kitty supermodel.” Founded in mid 2012, it has quickly become the most widely syndicated cat advice column on earth — known for its fresh, feline perspective on lifestyle, fashion and style issues affecting cats and humans.

A cat who wants to celebrate without a party

DEAR TABBY: Ten years ago I was a pint-sized, unkempt kitten renting a room at a shelter while interviewing prospective candidates for my forever home. One day a girl walked in and knocked the interview out of the park, so I hired her on the spot, and we’ve been together ever since.

Now our 10-year adoption day anniversary is coming up, and she wants to celebrate with a big blowout, inviting all of our feline-loving friends and some of the neighborhood cats, too.

The thing is, I’m kind of shy.

It’s not that I hate the spotlight. It’s just that I’d rather not put our professional relationship on display.

How do I tell her that while I support the idea of celebrating our anniversary and want to make her happy, I really don’t want a party?

—Private in Peoria

DEAR PRIVATE IN PEORIA: As a cat also in a long-term assistant-feline relationship (eight years going strong!), I’ve learned a thing or two on this crazy ride, and one of those things is compromise.

You want to be honest, but maybe you can both reach a good halfway point. Ask her if you can keep the event to a smaller, more intimate gathering of maybe just your closest friends, and tell her that big parties aren’t your thing.

Or, you could go the more selfless route and make the best of the larger party. After all, this is the assistant you hired all those years ago, and it sounds like you’ve shared a lot of good times together.

A cat who doesn’t like being told what to do

DEAR TABBY: Such a big fan! In fact, you were the cat who inspired me to pursue my lifelong dream of kitty modeling.

So, I’ve been getting steady gigs over the past six months, and to treat myself I decided to take my kitty modeling earnings and invest in some fancy and expensive accessories, namely collars from Burberry and Chanel.

The thing is, my feline partner, who’s also my roommate and an aspiring kitty model, says that I’m wasting my money. He keeps telling me that I should invest in a 401k and save for a rainy day because looks don’t last forever.

I totally understand that, Tabby, but it’s just — this is my thing. I don’t think it’s his place to tell me how I should spend my kitty modeling money, it’s putting a strain on our relationship. What should I do?

—Fancy Collars

Be stylish, but set aside a little something for a rainy day

DEAR FANCY COLLARS: You’re right. How you spend your own kitty modeling money is your business, and your business alone, but please keep in mind that what your partner has said does have merit.

He’s right that looks don’t last forever, and kitty modeling is a notoriously fickle business. One minute you’re in, the next you’re out.

I love fancy collars just as much as the next cat, but perhaps you could put a little money away from every paycheck? Because you never know.

It’s always good to have that extra security, and don’t you want to be able to support yourself in your old kitty age without having to rely on other cats?
[Continue reading…]

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

November 29th, 2014 by Karen 310 Comments

To whom it may concern,

It’s still dark outside and it’s almost 8. This, I do not like.

Stupid rainy weather!

Doh, as a Californian, now I feel obliged to say, “But we do need the rain,” which is true. It’s been way too dry here lately. All the creeks and ponds were drying up before this latest storm, and I bet the heritage oak trees on my hill are growing very narrow rings this year…

How’s the holiday shopping coming along? I was ahead of schedule, but now I’m starting to fall behind. I gotta get out there and brave the crowds! — and I could also use some vitamin M (makeup).

Good reason to visit Sephora. 🙂

I hope all is well in your neck of the woods. Good luck in this weekend’s giveaway.

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:
- One way to make your manicure last longer?
- Bedazzled statement eyebrows: yes or no?
- The last time you felt fierce?
- A piece of clothing you recently realized you desperately need to buy?
- Flannel shirts: yes or no?
- Favorite hair salon?
You can enter in up to seven ways to boost your chances of winning.
The giveaway ends on Monday, December 1, 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

P.S. If you’re a fragrance lover, don’t forget to also enter this i smell great giveaway going on now. You could win $188 in products from the brand new i smell great line. It’s by the creator of CLEAN perfume.

I Found You, Ms. New Bootie…

November 28th, 2014 by Karen 16 Comments

If La Maison de Chanel ever starts a biker gang, a la Sons of Anarchy, I feel like these quilted booties by Matisse would be a non-negotiable part of the uniform.

They’re my latest loves from DSW.

Originally $209, but I got ’em on sale last week for $69.

On the DSW website, they’re listed at $99.94, so just FYI. You may want to check your local store.

Oh! And the website also states that the upper part of the shoe is made from synthetic leather, but I’m not so sure about that. The box for my pair says the leather’s real.

I dunno…

They’re super comfy, and I love the quilted pattern. I think it adds a little sweetness to an otherwise @ss-kickin’ shoe.

The heel is also low enough that I could probably run away from zombies in these if I had to (which is always important), and the shaft is well insulated for warmth. 🙂

Clé de Peau Beauté Perfect Lash Mascara: So Close to Perfect That It Almost Makes Up for the Price

November 28th, 2014 by Karen 22 Comments

Clé de Peau Beauté Perfect Lash Mascara, $50 — Clé de Peau Beauté Perfect Lash Mascara in Black ($50)

Clé de Peau Beauté Perfect Lash Mascara may be the most expensive mascara I’ve ever touched.

It’s $50! — a price that makes Guerlain Cils D’Enfer, Chanel Le Volume and YSL Faux Cils look like castoffs in a discount bin.

Logically, I know that it’s completely insane to even consider a mascara that costs as much as two bags of groceries at Trader Joe’s (that’s a lot of Pretzel Slims), but oh, my gosh, it’s the mutha-truckin’ ish.

I don’t have a lot to work with in the lash department naturally, but when I wear Perfect Lash, I look like I got lash extensions in Beverly Hills. My short, wispy lashes look impeccably long, lifted and defined, and I feel like a 1940s screen siren when she bats her eyes.

One layer works well, but I prefer two.

Clé de Peau Beauté Perfect Lash Mascara, Before (top) and after (bottom) two coats — Before (top) and after (bottom) two coats

[Continue reading…]