Archives for 2014

What Hair Trends Are You Happy You Skipped?

January 7th, 2014 by Karen 37 Comments

Big hair? Ombre and dip-dye? Perms? Brazilian blowouts? Featherlocks? Or how about the half-shaved head?

Like sands through the hourglass, these are the hair trends of our lives… 🙂

There has to be at least one you’re relieved you didn’t take part in.

For me, I’m thinking about the pixie cut, because there was a time there when almost all the girls I knew chopped their hair into a short pixie ‘do (it was right after Victoria Beckham cut her hair in 2008, if I remember correctly), and while they looked SO CUTE and loved the freedom of not having to fuss with long hair, I’m glad I never took part.

As much I love the look on other people, I don’t think it would have turned out that way for me. My hair is thick and wavy, and it grows like a weed. I would have ended up needing a trim at least once a month, and the growing-out phase would have been a nightmare inside a nightmare inside a horror movie.

Yeah, scary. Because my hair has a mind of its own, and the wavy pattern doesn’t fall gracefully on my head like a Pantene commercial. Instead, my hair haphazardly juts out all over the frickin’ place, and I can only imagine how the in-between phase would’ve looked…

Totally and completely cray.

So, my friend, let’s talk hair today. What hair trends are you happy you skipped?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The Zombie Apocalypse-Approved Sam Edelman Darwin Boot

January 7th, 2014 by Karen 16 Comments

El Hub calls these my @ss-kicker boots. 🙂

He usually hates my shoes, but these have earned the Husband’s Stamp of Approval — a coveted prize — because they have been deemed “practical for the zombie apocalypse,” unlike most of my other footwear.

I got these casual black Sam Edelman Darwin Boots for myself as a Christmas gift and have logged quite a few miles in them over the past couple weeks.

They’re comfy AND versatile.

Ya know, versatile for boots.

They’re also purposefully distressed, so they come with scuffs on the toes and heels, which I know isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s one of the things I like about ’em.

They do run big, so if you try them on, I’d suggest going down a half size. I usually wear a 7 but got these in a 6 1/2, which fits perfectly.

I like the color, too. It’s so totally ’90s! Just add a plaid shirt.

You can find them now at Nordstrom stores and online at nordstrom.com, samedelman.com and zappos.com.

They also come in Ivory (white) and Clay (tan).

Junk in the Trunk

January 6th, 2014 by Karen 15 Comments

Tabs must be very proud of his butt because he is always showing that thing off. Seriously, I spend about 75% of my time shoving it out of my face.

He’s REALLY proud of it! 🙂

5 Steps to Hotter Highlights

January 6th, 2014 by Karen 35 Comments

I cannot believe there was a time in my makeup life when I thought of highlighter as something optional, and a time before that when I didn’t wear it at all.

That is just so crazypants to me, because now, I think of it as an absolute, can’t-live-without-it necessity…like caffeine in the mornings and wearing a bra.

Nowadays, I wear highlighter almost every single day, and I think it makes a huge difference in my overall look. I feel like everything looks livelier, and my face appears just so much brighter when I wear it.

The three MAC Magnetic Nude Extra Dimension Skinfinishes, $30 each US and $35 CAN — A few of my current limited edition highlighting faves — the three Magnetic Nude Extra Dimension Skinfinishes ($30 each US and $35 CAN)

So, I guess you can tell — I’m on Team Highlighter, LOL! 🙂

To share the highlighter love, here are five things you can do to make your highlighter hotter…

1. It’s prime time, baby!

OK, now, I know that adding a face primer into the mix is an extra step, but it’s so, so worth it, especially if you have pores for days (like moi).

You know the deal: primer evens out the surface of your skin, creating a smooth surface upon which to apply products. So, if you apply primer before your foundation, powder, etc., everything you layer on top, including your highlighter, appears that much smoother.

Which is great, because highlighter shimmers, and that shimmer can draw unwanted attention to pores and imperfections, so anything you can do to create a smoother canvas beforehand helps you get you closer to a flawless look.

It’s probably not a big deal in your teens and 20s, but as you get up into your 30s (and beyond), primer can make a bigger difference, especially when you’re wearing shimmer on your cheeks.

As far as brands, I swear by MAC Prep + Prime Natural Radiance. I’ve literally gone through cases of the stuff (OK, bottles), because it does a number on my pores and fine lines. Plus, it layers nicely with skincare products and makeup, and it doesn’t give me breakouts.

2. “T” for tapered (as in tapered eye brush)

I learned this tip from one my favorite MAC Senior Artists, Keri B, who introduced me to the MAC Iridescent/Loose Powders (fantastic for highlighting).

Keri suggested that I apply it with a MAC 224 Tapered Blending Brush, and I did.

Totally changed my life.

I’m particularly fond of using the 224 with high-shine highlighters, like the Iridescent/Loose Powders and MAC Mineralize Skin Finishes. Compared to a bigger blush brush, the smaller, thinner 224 brush head gives me a lot of control over the product I’m applying, and anything that reduces mistakes gets a big win from me.

3. Play with different levels of shimmer

Hourglass Dim Light Ambient Powder — Hourglass Ambient Powder in Dim Light, a neutral peachy beige ($45)

Dramatic, shimmery highlighters look super cool! — but they aren’t the only highlighters around. There are also highlighters designed for toned-down looks with softer sheens, and their glow is just as gorgeous.

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Unsung Makeup Heroes: Yves Saint Laurent Glossy Stain in Pourpre Preview

January 6th, 2014 by Karen 33 Comments

I’M SORRY, WHAT DID YOU SAY!? I CAN’T HEAR YOU!! IT’S SO LOUD IN HERE!! LET ME TURN DOWN THE VOLUME FIRST…

There! That’s much better. I can hear you now. Sorry, but I can’t help it when it comes to The Purple One. Hello, Take Me With You? Kiss? Purple Rain? You know how it is — you gotta turn it up when you’re bumping Prince. 🙂

Speaking of purples that reign (LOL! How’s that for a lazy transition?), I was ferreting through my lipgloss stash last week when I rediscovered one of the greatest purples of all time (IMHO), Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain in Pourpre Preview, or “purple preview” en Francais.

I’ve had purple lipgloss on my mind (and lips) a lot lately…partly because of Pantone’s Color of the Year, Radiant Orchid, making headlines, but it actually goes back much further than that — at least as far back as my twenty-sixth birthday, when my friend Jen got me my very first tube of purple lipgloss (Benefit Kiss Me).

Yves Saint Laurent Pourpre Preview Glossy Stain — Yves Saint Laurent Glossy Stain in Pourpre Preview, $34

Yves Saint Laurent Pourpre Preview Glossy Stain wand — Gotta love the doe foot

So, Pourpre Preview — yeah, it’s $34, but for what it’s worth, with YSL’s Glossy Stains, it’s like you’re getting two lip products for the (pretty high) price of one.

In this case, the color starts as a gorgeous, glossy orchid violet, which then mellows out to a purplish pink stain.

Highlights…

Lasts from 5-6 hours on my lips
Has a moderately moisturizing, slightly sticky formula that feels quite thick when first applied
Unflavored, but it smells a little like green apples to me (yum!)

It’s one of the most wearable purples I’ve ever seen, and that’s what makes it an Unsung Hero to me. It’s just so frickin’ wearable! It looks good on just about anyone.

It’s purple — but not too purple, if that makes any sense — and semi-opaque, so it allows your natural lip color to peek through.

Yves Saint Laurent Pourpre Preview Glossy Stain swatch — Ooh, purple!

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 305

January 6th, 2014 by Karen 43 Comments

The Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll for January 6, 2014

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.

What’s one lipstick you never get tired of?
MAC Impassioned. It still takes my breath away after all these years…

A fear you’d like to conquer?
Honestly, sometimes I feel like I’m afraid of doing things the right way, if that makes any sense at all. I just want to get out of my own way in 2014 and stop with the self-sabotage. No more working so late that I’m wasted and tired the next day, no more procrastinating in the mornings — stuff like that.

How often do you curl your lashes?
Every. Single. Day.

Mine are pin straight!

What’s one thing you’ve been putting off doing?
Going to the optometrist… I desperately need new contacts. I cam hartly see teh keybpard anumore. 🙂

Best celebrity to be trapped on a desert island with?
I’m sure RyGos would be lovely company (and easy on the eyes), but from a survival standpoint, Survivorman’s Les Stroud would probably do more to keep me alive and get me home in (hopefully) one piece.

GO LES!

Something beautiful (anything at all)?
The sound of wind chimes tinkling in the wind, the quiet early mornings in my neighborhood right before the sun climbs over the horizon, El Hub and Tabs napping together peacefully on the couch.

Would you rather wear a dress or pants?
A dress, for sure. But it has to be something comfortable — not binding — with pockets.

Your favorite comfort food?
Grilled cheese sandwiches, preferably with tomato soup on the side.

El Hub is no chef (sorry, babe!), but the man makes a mean grilled cheese.

It’s perfection! I’m telling you, girls (and guys), if you can, marry a man who makes a good grilled cheese sandwich.

What’s a fragrance/scent that reminds you of high school?
Oh, gosh, CK One… In senior year everyone and their mother wore that scent.

What’s one thing you did last weekend?
Rented Don Jon and thought, eh, it was OK. I think it tried to be more profound than it actually was.

It wasn’t the explicit content that bugged me. I just thought a lot of the dialogue fell flat. I liked Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s acting and directing, but the movie didn’t rock my world. In this case, I have to politely disagree with the Rotten Tomatoes rating of 81%.

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. What’s one lipstick you never get tired of?
2. A fear you’d like to conquer?
3. How often do you curl your lashes?
4. What’s one thing you’ve been putting off doing?
5. Best celebrity to be trapped on a desert island with?
6. Something beautiful (anything at all)?
7. Would you rather wear a dress or pants?
8. Your favorite comfort food?
9. What’s a fragrance/scent that reminds you of high school?
10. What’s one thing you did last weekend?

First poll of the year, buddy! I think we should commemorate the occasion with extra coffee. 🙂

A lot more coffee.

I had a tough time falling asleep last night, so I’m a little groggy this morning. The caffeine will help, though, I’m sure.

Have a good one today. Your nephew says, “Mrow.”

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 277

January 5th, 2014 by Karen 12 Comments

Dear Diary:

I swore this weekend that I would get outside and enjoy myself, obligations be damned, and I did! I actually took a little time off today. I went for a wonderful drive through Wine Country this afternoon, and it was pure bliss.

To feel the wind in my fur, smell the cheese in the air, and leave my kitty cares behind — I really need to do things like this more often. My tabby batteries feel recharged.

Yup, it was a great way to start the new year. 🙂

Of course, my assistant was beside herself when I got back to the office. Something about the insurance not covering cat driving? Honestly, I have no idea what she’s talking about half the time…

Anywho, I trust she’ll figure it out. That’s why I hired her, after all.

Oh! — you’ll like this. I had some very interesting kitty modeling jobs last week. It being the holidays and all, the companies I worked with gave me a little more editorial control than usual. I got to plug two of my new business ventures (I’m getting into accessories and personal motivation), and since I’m no fool, I gladly took the free publicity.

As usual, here are some pics from the campaigns. Hope you enjoy them. Meow to you soon.

XOXO,

Tabs

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). 🙂

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

January 4th, 2014 by Karen 610 Comments

Forget Santa’s workshop. I want to visit the Sephora at the North Pole!

And since this is my fantasy we’re talking about, I want the rainbows and unicorns version — the one where the customers are all friendly makeup-loving animals (as opposed to man-eating beasts). 🙂

Rise and shine, morning glory! This being Caturday, I’ve allotted myself an extra cup of coffee.

OOH! Words cannot describe how excited that makes me…

In other news, it’s time for — drumroll, please — another giveaway! I’m working us back into our regular swing of things around here with the weekly Saturday Sephora festivities (I need my routines).

The holidays are behind us, but winter is not (bluh). At least in the run-up to Christmas and New Year’s, even though it’s cold outside, we have something fun to look forward to. Now, for the next couple of wintry months, we’ll have to work together to keep the blahs at bay.

I’m ready if poo are.

Giveaway starts in 3, 2, 1…

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’s your favorite soup?
- What kind of case do you have on your phone?
- Your least favorite beauty trend?
- Do you ever wear mittens or gloves?
- Do you have any pictures or paintings of animals on your walls?
- What’s one tip you could give about something you know well?
You can enter in up to seven ways to boost your chances of winning.
The giveaway ends on Monday, January 6, 2013 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time).
Full terms and conditions are available in the widget.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen