Archives for 2014

Olympic-Caliber Curling, Just in Time for Sochi, With New Physicians Formula Organic Wear CC Curl + Care Mascara

January 28th, 2014 by Karen 11 Comments

New Physicians Formula Organic Wear CC Curl + Care Mascara ($9.95) locks on to lash curls like I lock on to ’80s references!

It also bestows a lovely glossy finish, while simultaneously separating and volumizing (is that even a word?) like a champ.

It may not get me all the way to YSL Faux Cils territory (it’s a tad shy in terms of length), but few things do, and it’s barely $10! No flaking or smudging, either, and it doesn’t irritate my sensitive eyes.

Its specialty appears to be curling (just in time for the Winter Olympics!). Perfect for those mornings when I need extra help looking awake (curled lashes seem to help).

Physicians Formula Organic Wear CC Curl + Care Mascara

Contains organic aloe and cucumber extracts to moisturize lashes, and organic rice protein to boost volume
Made with 70% organic ingredients (um…is that a lot?)
Not tested on animals
Free of parabens, synthetic colors and preservatives
Available in two shades — Ultra Black and Black

A nice option if you place a premium on lash curls and only need a little help with volume and length.

You can find Physicians Formula Organic Wear CC Curl + Care Mascara now at drugstores and online.

Today Felt Like a Guerlain Spring 2014 Kind of Day

January 28th, 2014 by Karen 30 Comments

When I passed him in the kitchen this morning wearing this look with pieces from Guerlain’s new spring collection, the first thing El Hub said was, “You smell good!”

But I wasn’t wearing any perfume, unless you count the cloud of Eau de Tabby Cat that permeates my clothes…

I’m pretty sure he was picking up the scent of my makeup, despite that fact that he has the worst sense of smell (his nose was broken several times in his martial arts days), because Guerlain’s spring stuff smells amaze-balls! — like plumeria and jasmine. Even their brow powder smells really good.

Having slept well and feeling good, I was in the mood to wear something a little colorful today, so I did this green and taupe eye with pink cheeks and fuchsia lips.

Guerlain Ecrin 4 Eyeshadows in Les Tendres, $63 (limited edition)

Guerlain Meteorites Blush in Cherry, $42 (also limited edition)

Guerlain Météorites Pearls in 03 Medium — Guerlain Météorites Pearls in 02 Clair, $60 (permanent)

Guerlain Meterorites Brush — Meterorites Brush, $42 (permanent)

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What’s Been One of the Best Beauty Decisions of Your Life?

January 28th, 2014 by Karen 47 Comments

Things that make ya go hmm... — Deep thoughts…

Oh, gosh. Well, let’s see…

Deciding to pick up a lash curler for the first time — I think that was a pretty good decision. Or finally getting around to mowing the fuzz on my upper lip — that was another one, because upper lip hair removal wasn’t really a thing when I was growing up, and I didn’t get around to it until college (but better late than never!).

Investing in some top quality eye makeup brushes was another game-changer for me, because while those little sponge applicators can technically get the job done, they can’t hold a candle to a proper set of tools.

More recently, I’m glad I decided to grow out my brows (they frame the face!), eat less dairy (I think I have fewer breakouts now), and take the time to figure out a process to cover the darkest of my dark circles that works pretty well for me.

But I think one of the best beauty decisions I ever made was using the Web to track down a hair stylist who knows what to do with curly/wavy hair, because before that, I’d gotten a lot of “interesting” haircuts from stylists who’d just hack away at my mop because they didn’t really know what else to do with it.

Thanks to the power of the Interwebz (especially Yelp), I haven’t cried over an Edward Scissorhands-ian haircut in about 10 years (she said, repeatedly knocking on wood!), so I feel like that has probably been my best beauty decision overall.

I hope you’re feeling chatty today, babe, because I would love to hear from you. 🙂 What’s been one (or more) of the best beauty decisions of your life? Tell me about ’em in the comments.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. A big parade wave and “hello!” from the land of the living! Guess who actually slept well last night.

Yup, after not sleeping enough at all last week (I get bad insomnia), I actually made it through the night, and it was glorious! El Hub slept well, too, and so we tried to figure out this morning what might have contributed to it.

Do you ever do that? Try to figure out why you slept well the night before so that you can repeat the process?

We think it might have something to do with humidity…

Wait — hear me out. 🙂 We’ve had an unusually dry winter here in Northern California with nary an inch of rain in months, but it was overcast and a little humid yesterday (didn’t rain, though), and we’re wondering if the air pressure or humidity played a role in how we slept.

I’m curious — do you sleep with a humidifier in your room, and do you think it helps you sleep better?

For a Family Fun Day Trip From San Francisco, Visit The Marine Mammal Center in the Marin Headlands

January 27th, 2014 by Karen 11 Comments

With a lIfe-size adult male elephant seal statue in the front of The Marine Mammal Center

Since its start in 1975, the nonprofit Marine Mammal Center, located just north of the Golden Gate Bridge in the Marin Headlands, has rescued, rehabilitated and released thousands of sick and injured marine mammals along 600 miles of California coastline.

Most of the patients at the center’s on-site animal hospital arrive when concerned people call the center’s 24-hour hotline at (415) 289-SEAL to report an animal in distress. Staff and volunteers retrieve the animals, and bring them back to the hospital, where the goal is always to get the animals back on their feet/fins/flippers and released back into the wild.

Local Marine Mammals — Getting to know some of the local marine mammals

Visiting the center is free, but I highly recommend taking a docent-led tour, which is what El Hub and I did. Tour tickets are $9 each for adults, $5 for seniors (ages 65 and up) and students (ages 5 to 17), and free for kids under 4. The proceeds from the tours go toward running the center, which is primarily staffed by volunteers.

Common Patients at The Marine Mammal Center hospital — The most common patients at The Marine Mammal Center hospital…

During the tour, which is about an hour long, you learn about the animals the center sees, the most common injuries and illnesses, and get to see a large part of the huge facility, including the animal hospital itself, the kitchen area where they prepare patient meals, classrooms (they also teach classes for kids and adults) and the enclosures where patients are housed.

Ziggy Star, a current patient at the hospital

Then, on the second and fourth Sundays of every month, the center hosts something called Marine Science Sunday, which is a free hour-long interactive class on a different theme every time, like yesterday’s was on Marine Mammals of the Arctic.

Very interesting. I learned about the narwhal, also known as the unicorn of the sea, an animal I’d never even heard of before.

Marine Science Sundays aren’t just for adults, either. There were a lot of kids there, and they all seemed to be having a blast.

View of Rodeo Becah from The Marine Mammal Center — View of Rodeo Beach from The Marine Mammal Center

Oh, and if you happen to visit on a sunny day, Rodeo Beach is right down the road (2 minutes away). I wish I’d packed a lunch for me and El Hub to enjoy by the water. Next time…

Chillin' wtih a sea otter statue at The Marine Mammal Center — Chillin’ with a sea otter

I plan to go back in April, which is when the Center’s hospital is usually filled with spring pups who’ve been separated from their mothers. They check them out, and get them up to their proper weight before sending them out in the world.

Want to visit The Marine Mammal Center? You can learn more at marinemammalcenter.org.

Natural, Yet Complex, Is the Glow I Get From These New Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes

January 27th, 2014 by Karen 60 Comments

Wearing the new Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Diffused Heat ($35) on my cheeks

Opportunities abound for clever wordplay with the name of these new Ambient Lighting Blushes by Hourglass.

Think about it…

You [Ambient Lighting Blush] light up my life.

These Ambient Lighting Blushes are turning me on!

Stealing the spotlight this spring? These six new Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes, yea!

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush compact — The sleek compacts…

Unfortunately, however, because 1) my brain cells are moving at the speed of belly button lint today, and 2) I feel slightly less creative than an amoeba, I am unable to partake of said wordplay.

Instead, this is the best I can do: issue a grave warning…

DO NOT get within five feet of these things — don’t do it! — unless you plan to bring at least one of them home right then and there, because these things are more charming than the Borg, and by that I mean that resistance is futile.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes in Radiant Magenta (left) and Diffused Heat (right), $35 each US and $41 CDN

Because only half of my neurons are firing today (if that), I was going to say that these blushes melt into my skin like butter, but then I thought, “Good grief, Karen! Is that the best you can do?”

No, I think not.

Picture this: your work crush grabs you by the shoulders when no one is looking, presses you up against a file cabinet, kisses you squarely on the mouth, and then quietly, nonchalantly, walks away without saying a word.

That — that right there. That natural flush on your cheeks? That’s the kind of flush these Ambient Lighting Blushes can create.

Hourglass Radiant Magenta Ambient Lighting Blush — Radiant Magenta, so pretty!

So, what are they, and how do they work?

Well, I’m glad you asked. 🙂

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Eyeko Eye Do Liquid Eyeliner: Purrfect for Cat Ladies and Crying Insomniacs

January 27th, 2014 by Karen 10 Comments

Oh, black cat eyeliner, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways…

One…

Wait — I’d much rather talk about this in a video review. Here’s a look at a new liquid liner I’ve been using a lot lately, $19 Eye Do Liquid Eyeliner by Eyeko.

This jet-black collaboration between Eyeko and British it-gal Alexa Chung is designed to be worn on lash and/or water lines.

Press play to hear how it fares throughout the day, and if Eye Do sounds like something you’d like to try, it’s available now at Sephora and online.

Thank you, as always, for watching. 🙂

In other news, how’s your Monday coming along? I’m hanging in there, but I feel like my brain only half turned on today. Don’t you hate it when that happens? I’m working at about 50% brain efficiency right now.

Words. Difficult. String. Together.

Big sigh… It happens sometimes (often on Mondays), and when it does, I just try to go with the flow. I mean, what else can you do?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

My Lady Date Last Weekend, Complete With Ulta Mini Haul

January 27th, 2014 by Karen 15 Comments

Going on a combination lunch and makeup date with a friend is one of the best ways to recharge ye olde batteries, I must say.

I mean, you’re combining two amazing things — three, actually — food, friends and makeup. That’s a perfect recipe for battery charging fun, right there.

I went on one last weekend with my buddy Marisol. We started at Sol Food in San Rafael for lunch (I had the shrimp po’ boy and fried plantain chips again), and then, full and happy, headed over to a new Ulta store a couple miles away.

Marisol wanted a tube of Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser, but unfortch, they were sold out (she did end up finding a tube later at Target). I executed a three-piece mini haul with Ulta Baked Eyeshadow Trio in Wall Street, Ulta Lip Crayon in Coral Kiss and Maybelline ColorSensational Lipstick in Make Me Pink.

The Maybelline Make Me Pink, I picked up because it was the color Marisol was wearing. I saw it on her lips and thought, “Have to have it!” 🙂

Do you live around here? Have you been to that new Ulta store yet off 101 in San Rafael?

It’s…BIG! And everything’s all shiny and new.

Did you do any makeup shopping at Ulta or anyplace else last weekend? Inquiring minds want to know…

Another shot of Maybelline ColorSensational Lipcolor in Make Me Pink

From the left: Ulta Lip Crayon in Coral Kiss, Ulta Baked Eyeshadow in Wall Street, Maybelline ColorSensation Lipcolor in Make Me Pink — Ulta Lip Crayon in Coral Kiss, Ulta Baked Eyeshadow in Wall Street, Maybelline ColorSensation Lipcolor in Make Me Pink

Swatches of Ulta Lip Crayon in Coral Kiss, Ulta Baked Eyeshadow in Wall Street, Maybelline ColorSensation Lipcolor in Make Me Pink — Swatches of Ulta Baked Eyeshadow in Wall Street (far left), Maybelline ColorSensation Lipcolor in Make Me Pink and Ulta Lip Crayon in Coral Kiss

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 308

January 27th, 2014 by Karen 43 Comments

I took the new Hourglass Ambient Blushes out for a spin last weekend… Review coming soon!

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

Do you sing in the shower?
Sometimes, when the rhythm moves me and I have a song stuck in my head. Aren’t showers the *best* places for improv American Idol auditions? I can definitely hit higher notes in the shower than I can in real life.

Gold or silver jewelry?
How about both? That way I don’t have to choose. 🙂

If you were competing in the Winter Olympics, in what event would you compete?
Snowboarding! Not that I do it very often. At all. But I think it’s probably the event I’d have the most aptitude for (which isn’t saying much).

Too bad I can’t stand the cold or being in the snow! Yup, there’s that.

Would you rather plan a party, or go to a party?
Ya know, I like the idea of being one of those gals who effortlessly organizes fun and interesting dinner parties, but, to be honest, I’d rather just go as a guest, relax and enjoy myself.

Ketchup or mustard?
Ketchup, all the way. And a grilled cheese sandwich to dip into it.

What are you most stressed out about this week?
Well…at the moment, everything, LOL! I’m overwhelmed. I just don’t know how I’m going to finish everything I need to finish, but what’s new? It seems like that comes with the territory on Mondays, doesn’t it?

Would you characterize your weekdays as structured or flexible (or something else)?
Both. I do have tasks, like responding to emails; taking pictures at certain times of day (to chase the sunlight); setting up camera equipment, flashes and light reflectors; keeping batteries recharged; and producing series posts like the Monday Poll and Sundays With Tabs. But I also have a great deal of flexibility over how I choose to handle my posts, like whether I tell a poem or a story, or focus on the pictures, or something else.

I’m at my silliest when…
I’m chillin’ with my boys, El Hub and Tabs.

What did you have for breakfast this morning?
A smoothie made with almond milk, frozen blueberries, a banana, spinach (sounds gross, but I couldn’t really taste when it was all blended in) and vanilla protein powder. It was very fibrous and filling, LOL!

What are three things you always have with you?
My love for cats (and other animals), my wedding ring and a makeup bag filled with lipsticks and glosses. 🙂

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

1. Do you sing in the shower?
2. Gold or silver jewelry?
3. If you were competing in the Winter Olympics, in what event would you compete?
4. Would you rather plan a party or go to a party?
5. Ketchup or mustard?
6. What are you most stressed out about this week?
7. Would you characterize your weekdays as structured or flexible (or something else)?
8. I’m at my silliest when…
9. What did you have for breakfast this morning?
10. What are three things you always have with you?

A grungy hair and sweat pants greeting to you on this lovely Monday morning! 🙂

Please forgive the coffee breath, and yes, I do still have to shower, so you might want to remain an arm’s length away… (Sorry!)

Ever have one of those Monday mornings? Yup, I’m havin’ one.

The neurons aren’t firing the way they’re supposed to, and I’m not sure what to do. Doopdado…

I think this is where a second cup of coffee comes in. Can I get you one? A hot cup of Kona blend? It’s pretty yum.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen