Archives for 2014

The Fab 5, Vol. 4: BECCA Cosmetics

January 20th, 2014 by Karen 23 Comments

Show me a picture of a beautiful beach (ideally, someplace warm), and whisper the words, “elegant makeup, Karen” in my ear, and guaranteed — BECCA is the brand that’s gonna pop in my mind.

I’m so happy to see it at Sephora again!

Ooh, there was a while there — dark, dark days — where BECCA was really hard to find here in the U.S. — like, you had to trek to small, sad counters at Neiman Marcus stores or get lucky and stumble across a Pure Beauty, so I’m glad it’s carried at a major retailer again.

How well do you know BECCA? If you’ve been wanting to get to know them better, have I got a video for you! 🙂

Here are my fave 5 (Fab 5?) products from the brand.

Products mentioned in the video…

Radiant Skin Satin Finish Foundation, $42
Beach Tint in Dragonfruit, $25
Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal, $41
Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed, $38
Mineral Blush, $32

Thank you for watching!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

With Their Green and Purple Wedges, Don’t These New Tarte Colored Clay CC Primers Look Like a Willy Wonka Collaboration?

January 20th, 2014 by Karen 27 Comments

Well color me intrigued… 🙂

These new Tarte Colored Clay CC Primers look really cool. They’re like a primer and a sheer stick foundation in one, with two color correcting wedges in purple and green embedded inside each creamy stick.

This powerful, multi-tasking, skin perfector brightens skin, evens skin tone, blurs imperfections and neutralizes any redness or discolorations. The oil-free, talc-free formula soothes skin as it glides and blends effortlessly for a smooth, even finish. Its “hourglass” applicator design delivers the perfect balance of color correction and coverage to adjust to your skin. Use it before foundation as a color-correcting primer or alone as a light coverage for an all-over flawless look.

— tartecosmetics.com

Tarte… That gang never forgets about us gals on the deeper, darker skin tone side of the beauty swimming pool, and I love them for that. These come in five shades, encompassing most of the beauty bases from Fair, to Light, to Medium, Tan and Deep.

I’m a Medium right now, but I can’t wait to be a Tan this summer! (Because it’ll mean I’ve been getting some much-needed sun.)

My thoughts after playing with them this morning…

LOVE the lightweight, silky formula. They contain dimethicone, and consequently have that tell-tale dimethicone “slip.”
They really couldn’t be a lot easier to use. Just apply directly to the skin, and blend out with your fingers.
I’d describe the coverage as somewhere between sheer and medium. The one I’m using, Medium, does seem to cancel out the redness around my nose, thankfully, but I can definitely still see the freckles on my cheeks…
I think I like wearing best these under powder foundation (looks very natural, and my pores look smaller).
Medium does seem to even out my skin, but it doesn’t create anything like a mask. I’ve yet to try these under liquid foundation, but I want to.

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 307

January 20th, 2014 by Karen 31 Comments

The Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll for January 20, 2014 — May you always see rainbows…

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.

Have you ever owned a Caboodle?
YES, and I still have it, LOL! My grandma bought it for me many moons ago. It’s mint green and pink, and I keep old costume jewelry in it from my teen years that I don’t wear anymore but can’t part with.

Funny thing is…I don’t think I ever kept makeup in it. I’ve always used it for jewelry and knick-knacks.

What’s the first thing you do when you get to work?
Well, the workday here at Tabs the Cat Industries, LLC, starts early. First, I make a pot of coffee, and then clean off my desk, which is ~~usually~~ always a mess from the day before.

What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done?
Hmm… Well, the first thing that comes to mind was when I left a secure job working in the legal department for a big company to pursue freelance writing some years ago.

Thank goodness for El Hub…because without his encouragement, I don’t think I would’ve done that on my own.

How often do you entertain?
Rarely, but not because I don’t want to. I just don’t ever feel like I have enough time to get it together to invite people over, plan a meal, then clean and cook.

What’s one of your mottos?
“Please leave your crazy at the door.”

How many hours of sleep do you get a night?
Around 7-8, which is enough for me to function, but not enough to be my best. I think I do my best when I get — no kidding — 10-12 hours of sleep.

We’re rollin’ up to In-N-Out for lunch! What would you like?
A grilled cheese with grilled onions, tomato and lettuce (cut in half please). Also, fries and a vanilla shake.

I’ll run it all off later (I hope).

What three things never fail to make you smile?
When men hold and coo at babies, watching kittens (especially tabbies) play, seeing something I’ve been wanting to buy go on sale (YES!).

What mascara are you wearing today?
MAC Extended Play Gigablack Lash. We fell out of love for a while, but we’re back together again.

When was the last time you saw a rainbow?
It has been a while, but then we haven’t seen much rain here in California this year…

May 2012, I think?

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. Have you ever owned a Caboodle?
2. What’s the first thing you do when you first get to work?
3. What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done?
4. How often do you entertain?
5. What’s one of your mottos?
6. How many hours of sleep do you get a night?
7. We’re rollin’ up to In-N-Out for lunch! What would you like to order?
8. What three things never fail to make you smile?
9. What mascara are you wearing today?
10. When was the last time you saw a rainbow?

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day, everyone. Are you taking the day off? Things are proceeding as usual here at Tabs the Cat Industries, LLC. Tabs figures that jumping right back into the regular work schedule will help distract us from the heartbreak of the 49ers losing the game yesterday (he doesn’t want to talk about it).

Hope you’re having a nice day so far. I’m about to make a second cup of coffee. Would you like one, too?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 279

January 19th, 2014 by Karen 20 Comments

Tabs wanted to do something a little different for his column this week — share a look into his personal life outside the realm of high-intensity kitty modeling.

You know what they say: all work and no play makes tabby a dull boy. And he’s a firm believer in relaxation/meow time.

Right now he’s on the couch getting ready to watch the big 49ers-Seahawks football game. As you know, he played professionally for the Mill Valley Wildcats before getting into kitty modeling…

Hope you’re having a great weekend so far. Talk to you soon. 🙂

Who is Tabs the Cat? About six years ago I befriended a stray, flea-bitten tabby cat with a bad case of worms. I could see he’d fallen on hard times, but his profound knowledge of high fashion and department store cosmetics led me to believe that he was more than meets the eye. We became fast friends, and now he’s actually my boss (and a successful kitty model). 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. GO NINERS!!

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

January 18th, 2014 by Karen 471 Comments

Mornin’, babe. How’s it going this morning? Happy Caturday. 🙂

Purr usual for me when we meet like this, I’m a sleepy sheepy. I may have mentioned this before, but, as much as I’d like to be, I am not a morning person. My wheels don’t start turning until 10 a.m. or so, depending on how much caffeine I’ve had… Before 10, I just fake it till I make it.

Do anything fun last night? I finally finished watching Breaking Bad (well, through the fifth season) on Netflix. I think there’s still one season left, but it’s not on Netflix yet. I’m fine waiting, though, because, truth be told, I’m a little burnt out on the show. I need a break from Breaking Bad. It only took 50-something episodes in two months, LOL.

Your nephew is…actually, I have no idea where he is right now. He was very naughty last night. He kept grumbling and scratching at the carpet on the stairs, which he’s already pretty much torn to shreds. He gets very fussy and misbehaves when anything interferes with his routines.

He has very strict routines, you see, like, he needs at least 10-15 minutes of high-intensity lurvies first thing every morning and last thing every night. If for any reason he doesn’t get one or the other, he acts out, like by clawing at the stairs in the middle of the night. It’s his way of throwing a temper tantrum.

“Where’s my lurvies, dammit?! Woman, I need my lurvies! Heads are gonna roll, b*tches! You will pay for this insolence!!”

Haha! Seriously, that’s how it is. He turns into a very fussy tabby.

Oh, well. He’ll be fine. Now let’s talk about giveaways, shall we? This weekend’s starts right meow.

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:
- What was the most exciting thing you did this week?
- Favorite ride/attraction at Disneyland?
- Do you wear a watch?
- How do you feel about hats?
- Do you knit or crochet?
- What was your last, best beauty purchase?
You can enter in up to seven ways to boost your chances of winning.
The giveaway ends on Monday, January 20, 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

The Fab 5, Vol. 3: NARS Cosmetics

January 17th, 2014 by Karen 24 Comments

Wow, this was hard…narrowing it down to just 5.

I should have called this one the Fab 15, LOL! I’m almost certainly going to have to do a part 2 version to dig into the eyeshadows, blushes and lip products. Let me know if you think I should.

Um…as for the video, sorry about the awkward pauses that last a couple beats too long. I had planned to edit them out, but then I was stricken by a bout of fatigue and laziness.

Oh, well. Big sigh…

Products mentioned in the video:

NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 ($42)
NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base ($24)
NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer ($28)
NARS Amour Blush ($29)
NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Lodhi ($25)

Thank you, as always, for watching, my friend. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Watch Out, Pores! The New NARS Pro-Prime Instant Line & Pore Perfector Has It In for You

January 17th, 2014 by Karen 23 Comments

Took me a hot second to get around to trying NARS Pro-Prime Instant Line & Pore Perfector, NARS’ newest face product, because, let’s be real, I get REALLY easily distracted by pretty colors (see: High Seize, Final Cut, the NARSissist Eye Palette), and Instant Line & Pore Perfector is un-remarkably colorless.

But, I finally took it out for a spin this week, and I’m glad I did.

The name pretty much says it all: Pro-Prime Instant Line & Pore Perfector. A colorless primer in stick form, you use it target specific areas of the face where you want to smooth out fine lines and pores.

According to NARS, “line and pore-filling microspheres” in the formula, along with hyaluronic acid, smooth skin and gently plump fine lines. The stuff also has something called “spherical line smoothing powder,” which makes wrinkles less visible by a trick of light. They evenly reflect it and brighten up the dark areas within the wrinkles themselves.

The formula feels like a lightweight, non-sticky, non-greasy balm. Just glide the stick on top of wherever you want some smoothing, and then pop your face products on top.

I’ve been using it as a spot “perfector” this week on top of my usual primer, MAC Natural Radiance. After I work a dollop of Natural Radiance into my skin, I swipe Instant Line & Pore Perfector on my cheeks, under my eyes and around my mouth — the places where my pores and fine lines need serious mellowing. Then, I blend it in with my fingers.

[Continue reading…]

Do You Ever Give Unsolicited Advice to People You Bump Into at a Beauty Counter?

January 17th, 2014 by Karen 50 Comments

GURRRRL, you don’t even know. I try to keep my mouth shut — I really do — because, seriously, who wants advice from a rand-o stranger covered in cat hair wearing a scrunchie? I look like a crazy person standing there with a big smile on my face. 🙂

But sometimes I can’t help it, especially when I eavesdrop on a conversation and hear the word, “concealer.” That’s usually when I interrupt.

Sometimes I end up making friends with the people I have these conversations with. Usually (sometimes I think they think I’m just weird).

One time I helped a very nice guy and his boyfriend choose a tinted moisturizer at a MAC counter. “Try both shades,” I suggested, “one on each cheek, and then go outside with a mirror to see them in daylight. Then, choose the color you like best.” Afterward, they took me to coffee (I had a soy latte) and we chatted for a couple hours at Starbucks.

Sometimes, because I get excited when I’m talking about makeup, people assume I work at the counter. We’ll get to talking, having a good time, and then suddenly they’ll say, “Great! Well, that settles it,” and they’ll hand me a credit card.

Ummm…I don’t work here. I’m sorry. I was just passing by… This has actually happened quite a few times at Nordstrom and a Sephora.

Ah, makeup. It brings people together. 🙂

Do you ever give unsolicited advice to people you bump into at a beauty counter?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!