Archives for 2014

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

November 8th, 2014 by Karen 289 Comments

Kaw, kaw! So, Birdman… Seemed like a long movie to me, but I thought it was interesting and different. The whole thing plays out like one long camera shot, so the scenes sort of flow into each other. I’ve seen that effect before, but I liked the way it worked here.

In the movie, Michael Keaton’s character plays an aging, washed-up actor everyone knows as the man who formerly played Birdman, a comic book superhero he stopped playing in movies many years earlier (kind of autobiographical in that way, since Michael played Batman in the late ’80s and early ’90s). Now he’s producing, directing and starring in his own Broadway play, after investing his life savings into it, and most of the movie is about the shenanigans backstage before opening night. Oh, and he’s also losing his mind… Or something like that.

I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite movie of the year so far, but I liked it.

In related news, TWO WEEKS TILL THIS!!!

Your nephew and I are very excited. 🙂

How are things going in your neck of the woods? Do you have any plans this weekend or for Veteran’s Day?

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 dish to order at a restaurant?
- What are your current favorite shoes?
- Are you more sinister, seductive or sweet?
- A makeup look or hair style you’ve been too afraid to try?
- A product you would love much more if it were smaller?
- Does it bother you if your friends don’t like someone you’re dating?
You can enter in up to seven ways to boost your chances of winning.
The giveaway ends on Monday, November 10, 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

Sometimes, Colors Are More Vivid After Dark, Like When They’re Part of the New $20 Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics After Dark Stained Gloss Test Tube x 4 Set

November 7th, 2014 by Karen 15 Comments

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics After Dark Stained Gloss Jealous — Wearing OCC’s Stained Gloss in Jealous, from the new $20 Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics After Dark Stained Gloss Test Tube x 4 Set

A lot can happen after dark…

Vampires can rise, cats can prowl and raccoons can subvert!

Sometimes, vivid, colorful stained glosses can thrill…

That’s right. Vivid, colorful stained glosses After Dark, which is the name of OCC’s new holiday set.

Strange name for such bright colors? Perhaps. But don’t let it stop you from rocking these glossy finishes during daylight hours, or for gifting the set to your favorite makeup-lovin’ vampire.

The Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics After Dark Stained Gloss Test Tube x 4 Set ($20)

Yes, vampires, because with two moody, vampiric shades in the set (the sheer glossy black and the reddish orange), you know I had to go there. It was low-hanging fruit.

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Benefit’s Blushes Lighten Up for the Holidays With the $36 Benefit Cheeky Sweet Spot Box O’ Blushes Holiday Set

November 7th, 2014 by Karen 21 Comments

Behold! In my hand, friends, isn’t just the latest holiday set from Benefit. What we have here is bonafide makeup history!

Yes, years from now, when some intrepid filmmaker/makeup lover makes a Behind the Music-style documentary about Benefit and the Bene-babes who love it, the new $36 Cheeky Sweet Spot Box O’ Blushes will get a mention, for sure, since it’s basically Benefit’s version of the moon landing.

For the first time ever, the brand is releasing a palette filled with their famous Box O’ Blushes (and one rand-o pan of Watt’s Up Illuminator) in a limited edition holiday set.

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Sephora VIB Adventures…

November 7th, 2014 by Karen 46 Comments

Have you hit up the Sephora VIB sale? (It’s ongoing through Nov. 10 for VIB members) When I tried jumping online yesterday morning, I couldn’t get through. I guess the site was overwhelmed, so I ended up driving to the Sephora store down the street here in Novato.

What transpired was probably the least exciting Sephora VIB trip ever recorded in the history of womankind, because all I mostly did was stock up on my staples and the products I use all the time…

I also wanted to pick up another bottle of Laura Mercier Flawless Fluide Foundation in Chai, but they were totally and completely out.

HEARTBREAK!

The splurge for the trip was the T3 BodyWaver 1.75″ Professional Curling Iron, which is designed for loose waves and volume, which I like, but I haven’t tried it yet (it gets mixed reviews, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed). I’ll let you know…

My hair has hit that point where it refuses to cooperate unless I actually, ya know, do stuff to it.

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Rollin’, Rollin’, Rollin’, These Lip Balms Are Rollin’: The eos + Rachel Roy Holiday 2014 Smooth Sphere Lip Balms

November 6th, 2014 by Karen 18 Comments

And the award for Lip Balm Most Likely to Double as a Cat Toy goes to…the eos + Rachel Roy limited edition Smooth Sphere holiday 2014 collection lip balms, yay! 🙂

Tabs loves playing with these things. They look like Easter eggs or bouncy balls, but they’re actually little lip balms. If I leave one sitting out, Tabs will bop it around the condo like it’s a crinkly ball.

Of course, now that I’m telling you this, and I want to take a picture of him playing with them, he has absolutely no interest in doing that whatsoever.

Cats.

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When You Play With the Sheer Plumping Glosses in Buxom’s $59 Lip Gloss Roulette Set, You Will Get Lucky

November 6th, 2014 by Karen 12 Comments

Wearing Buxom Lip Gloss in Jennifer, one of the 15 little Buxom Lip Glosses in the new Lip Gloss Roulette set ($59)

They say the house always wins.

Not so when Buxom’s new $59 Lip Gloss Roulette Set is sitting at your table. You can take a chance with any of its 15 miniature plumping glosses and win! — because every one of them leaves lips looking super shiny and, yes, slightly fuller.

Most of the time I can’t tell a difference when I wear plumping glosses. I just don’t see the plump, but I really do see a little something when I wear these glosses.

It’s not epic. I mean, no one is gonna be mistaking my lips for Angelina Jolie’s today, but I do see something there, a slightly plumper pout, unless I’m hallucinating…which is entirely possible in my current state.

Have I mentioned that I’m completely exhausted?

We’re talking hella tired — so tired that you will probably read some extremely confusing and/or strange phrases in this review (and for that, I apologize).

That’s because I spent most of last night totally and completely freaked out, all because I watched a very scary movie right before bed (side note: you might want to stay far, FAR away from The Taking of Deborah Logan, unless you enjoy being traumatized).

If it wasn’t for the minty tingle from these Buxom plumping glosses, gurrrrl, my head would be using this keyboard as a pillow right now, and there would be a tiny puddle of drool between the letters G and H.

Thank goodness for these glosses. They tickle… It’s not a sting. They don’t hurt or anything, but I definitely feel something. It’s enough to make me sit up in my chair.

OMG STAY AWAKE! Wearing Buxom Lip Gloss in Mudslide

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The $25 BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Spotlight Kit Deserves the Limelight

November 6th, 2014 by Karen 8 Comments

So…Pearl, Opal and Champagne Gold really don’t ring a bell?

Really?

No, no, they aren’t the names of a Kardashian’s newborn triplets, although I tip my hat to you. Bravo. That was a good guess. 🙂

Pearl, Opal and Champagne Gold are the three colors in BECCA’s new $25 Shimmering Skin Perfectors Spotlights Kit, and if you aren’t already a fan of BECCA’s Shimmering Skin Perfectors, oh! — let me break it down for you. By the time I’m finished, you’ll probably want to start carrying one (or two or three) of these liquid highlighters with you at all times.

BECCA’s Shimmering Skin Perfectors are some of the best liquid highlighters I’ve ever seen or used. They have a fine, fairy-like opalescent finish that makes skin glow as if it’s being illuminated from within, and the magical light purposefully ignores pores and fine lines.

BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Spotlight Kit doe foot — Opal, Champagne Gold and Pearl

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The Countdown Is On, But the Price Is Up: The New Benefit Candy-Coated Countdown Advent Calendar

November 6th, 2014 by Karen 17 Comments

I am totally that girl who opens every compartment in an advent calendar in one feel swoop.

Perhaps it’s my ~~impatient~~ curious nature. 🙂

It’s not even December yet, but I couldn’t wait to unlock the hidden treasures in this one from Benefit, the Candy-Coated Countdown Advent Calendar ($99).

You’re “supposed” to open one compartment at a time, one per day, beginning on December first for 24 days.

“Supposed” to.

Tucked within each compartment resides a different beauty treasure…

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