Archives for January 2015

Help for Dry Winter Lips

January 28th, 2015 by Karen 18 Comments

I saw a ChapStick ad this morning before a video on YouTube, and the girl in it said that our skin is thinnest on our lips.

I thought, yeah…maybe that’s why mine hurt so much every winter!

It’s always the same, too, every year. When winter rolls around, so much ouch. My lips get cracked and dry, and it hurts.

It gets worse for a few weeks after we visit my in-laws in Redding, which is a town near the Oregon border.

Weirdly, Oregon gets a ton of rain, but Redding, even though it’s close, does not. I swear, the air there gets drier than the inside of a hot oven.

But time has taught me a few things that help my perpetually parched pout. I hope they help yours too. 🙂

1. Scrub-a-dub-dub

Exfoliate. It’s easier when my lips are soft and damp, like right after I get out of the shower.

Every once in a while I’ll mix a spoonful of sugar with a little honey or olive oil, and gently scrub (more like rub) that on my lips with an old toothbrush after I shower.

The Nimbus Microfine Regulars are awesome for this, by the way. Softest toothbrushes I’ve ever used.

They’re kind of hard to track down in stores… I’m not sure why, but here’s a five-pack on Amazon for $14. Highly recommended.

Brush your teeth (and your lips), kids! (And don’t forget to floss.)

If DIY doesn’t sound good, then you can use a regular lip exfoliator instead. Fresh Sugar Lip Polish ($22.50) is an excellent choice, as is Lush Mint Julips Lip Scrub.

2. A balm before bed

And keep it right on your nightstand, where it’ll be easy to remember (and reach).

I apply a thick layer of balm after I kiss El Hub and Tabs goodnight. It’s become part of my regular bedtime routine — 1) kiss El Hub, 2) kiss Tabs, 3) insert mouth guard, and 4) smear a thick layer of lip balm on my lips. Zzzz…

Nuxe Reve De Miel Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm ($19) is the one on my nightstand now. It’s almost as thick as a paste and tastes and smells like honey.

The big glass jar isn’t super convenient to carry around during the day, but it’s purrfect for bedtime at night.

3. Guzzle water

For real though! Drink a sh*t-ton throughout the day. I notice a HUGE difference when I fall out of the habit of drinking enough water, and it’s not just that my lips get drier. My skin gets worse and less, I dunno…plump?

The difference is crystal clear, especially in winter. When I don’t drink enough water, my lips get tow up.
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10 Things I Love About Tea (and T)

January 28th, 2015 by Karen 23 Comments

1. Trader Joe’s Vanilla and Cinnamon Black Tea

The Trader Joe’s brand teas! — especially the seasonal ones that come out around holidays. Every Xmas I hoard and stockpile a few boxes of the Vanilla and Cinnamon Black Tea and Candy Cane Green Tea (YUM!), and then obsessively ration them.

I believe I shall make a cuppa right now (lol, someone’s been watching BBC lately).

2. Tabbies

I got mad love for all teh kittehs, but due to my current employment situation…husky tabby boys are my faves. 🙂

Tabs contouring with his new Real Techniques Contour Brush — Tabs demonstrating the proper way to contour using the Real Techniques Contour Brush…

3. Organic Raspberry Leaf Tea by Traditional Medicinals

Otherwise known as “PMS Tea” around these parts, it improves my mood when my hormones are acting like irrational toddlers behind the wheel of a tractor trailer truck, if ya know what I mean.

4. Cute tea pots and cups

I have a couple of cute, dainty pots and cups but rarely use them because I’m partial to huge mugs.

Since we’re on the subject, though, did you ever have a toy tea set when you were a kid? I did! And I used to love playtime with tea.

Wish I could remember what happened to that thing…

5. Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford African Violet Nail Lacquer — Tom Ford African Violet Nail Polish, Purse by Reed Krakoff, and bracelet by Na Hoku

“T” for Tom Ford. 🙂 Don’t even get me started on Tom.

African Violet Nail Polish, Cognac Sable Eye Quad, Negligee Lipstick, the Unabashed Palette, and oh! — that crazy expensive, utterly epic brow filler I’ve worn down to the nub.

Oh, Tom…
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How Often Do You Use Cream Eyeshadows, and What Are Your Faves?

January 27th, 2015 by Karen 42 Comments

Just a quick video about these new Giorgio Armani Eye Tints and a question: how often do you use cream eyeshadows, and what are your faves?

As always, thank you for watching. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy Tuesday!

With the Right Brush, Everything’s Coming Up Roses for Milani’s New Rose Powder Blushes

January 26th, 2015 by Karen 21 Comments

Wearing Milani Rose Powder Blush in Tea Rose on my cheeks — That’s $7.99 Milani Rose Powder Blush in Tea Rose on my cheeks

Everything did not come up roses the first time I used Milani’s Rose Powder Blushes…

I made the mistake of using a cheek brush with a small, dense brush head to apply one and ended up with so much color on my cheeks that I looked like a Harlequin clown doll/vaudeville performer.

Milani Rose Powder Blushes from the left: Coral Cove, Tea Rose and Romantic Rose ($7.99 each) — The Milani Rose Powder Blushes from the left in Coral Cove, Tea Rose and Romantic Rose ($7.99 each)

The three available shades are preternaturally pigmented and matte, and therefore forgiving (pore issues, yo!), but they can look scary intense (think painted circles of bright pink) if applied willy-nilly with the wrong brush, i.e. blush brushes with a small, dense head. Same goes for large, fluffy blush brushes.

In case I haven’t stressed it enough, these blushes are VERY pigmented, and I get the best, most natural-looking results when I chill out and use a medium-sized, moderately dense duo fiber brush.

But I think a fan brush would also work well.

The flat finish looks divine in pics, and I dig the colors, which remind me of beloved shades I wear all the time, like MAC Blushbaby (01 Romantic Rose), and Chanel Malice (05 Coral Cove).

If these blushes didn’t have a logo or any branding, I’d assume they were from Sephora or Nordstrom and quite a bit more expensive (they’re $7.99 for a 0.60-oz. pan). There’s also no funny business with the fine powders. They sit on top of my skin, don’t require a lot of buffing, and last all day long.

Romantic Rose is a matte pinkish beige, Tea Rose a matte neutral rosy pink, and Coral Cove a warm poppy.

You might remember Coral Cove from last spring. This new version is more or less the same, but Milani added rose oil (although I don’t detect a scent).

Milani Rose Powder Blush in Romantic Rose — Rose Powder Blush in Romantic Rose

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Get Gorgeous Gradients In No Time With New Giorgio Armani Liquid Eye Tint

January 26th, 2015 by Karen 27 Comments

Wearing Giorgio Armani Eye Tints in 06 Green Iron (lids) and 01 Obsidian (lash lines) on my eyes, Milani Powder Blush in Coral Cove on my cheeks and Chanel Rouge Allure in Insaisissable on my lips — Eyes, courtesy of the new Giorgio Armani Eye Tints in 06 Green Iron (my lids) and 01 Obsidian (lash lines)

There is not a tough row to hoe when it comes to ramping up and using these new Giorgio Armani Eye Tints to create hazy, smoked-out eye looks.

They’re perfect for beginners, and/or lazy people (like moi!), and/or anyone hell bent on rocking a “smoky eye ’til I die” lifestyle. You can get a beautifully buffed cloud of hazy fog around your eyes without having to use a zillion eyeshadows.

Of course, feel free to use a zillion eyeshadows on your lids whenever you want (lord knows I do), but sometimes it’s just nice to know you don’t have to. With these, you can do simplified versions of your favorite foggy eye looks with gorgeous gradients in less time than it takes to get to the front of the line at Starbucks, order a delicious drink covered in caramel and whipped cream, and wink at the barista. 😉

Five of the 12 Giorgio Armani Eye Tints, from the left: 01 Obsidian, 02 Minuit, 05 Onyx, 06 Green Iron and 10 Senso ($38 each) — Five of the 12 Giorgio Armani Eye Tints, from the left in 01 Obsidian, 02 Minuit, 05 Onyx, 06 Green Iron and 10 Senso ($38 each)

Despite the way these look in their tubes, they are not lipglosses (although I can totally see myself pulling one out of my purse at the movies in the dark). They’re actually a brand new line of water-based liquid eyeshadows that can also be used as liners. Interestingly, the formula feels like a cream (they’re thicker than Josie Maran’s Coconut Watercolor Eyeshadows) but dries to a powder finish.

The lightweight, non-sticky formula is supposed to last 16 hours without smudging…

Truth be told, I do not want to be wearing these or any eyeshadows for 16 hours, because that would mean I’m having a very, very long day. I have worn them for stretches of eight hours, though, and yes, they stayed put without scooting around or settling into the crease…but I had to be very careful. The slightest touch lifts them right off your lids.

As for the coverage, it’s quite versatile. For instance, you can easily do a solid block of opaque color using one as a liner, or sheer one out and do a smokey eye.

A few ways to use the new Giorgio Armani Eye Tints…

As eyeliners! Just trace your lash line with the tip of the applicator, and then smudge out the edges with an angled brush.
As straight-up eyeshadows. Smear a bit on your lids, then smoke out the edges with a blending brush.
As a base, upon which you can layer other schtuff.

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 357

January 26th, 2015 by Karen 31 Comments

The Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll for January 26, 2015

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 the most unusual thing in your handbag right now?
Several bags of organic Throat Coat tea.

And I’m not just talking about two bags. I’m talking about seven or eight, and I have no idea why they’re in there or how they got there.

They’re all Throat Coat, too, which is weird.

Oh, and there’s also a pair of dirty underwear…

Wait! Let me explain (I assure you, there’s a completely logical explanation).

It’s because yesterday I put on a pair of skinny jeans that I’d worn earlier in the week. (Whatever, I didn’t want to wash ’em. Don’t judge.) So I put them on, and we were in a hurry because we were going to Cheesecake Factory for lunch, so I’m like, doop-da-doo, I’ll just put on these skinny jeans…

We left the house, drove about 20 minutes to the restaurant, and then we sat down at our table at Cheesecake Factory, I put my napkin down, my hands in my lap, and I felt a weird lump in my left thigh…

Yeah, it was the underwear I’d previously worn with those jeans.

Has that ever happened to anyone else? Anyone??

What qualities have you been looking for in your lip products lately (moisturizing, long wearing, etc.)?
It’s winter here in the U.S., and even though it doesn’t get too cold where I live in Northern California, my lips get super dry, so anything I wear this time of year has to be very moisturizing and very comfortable. Another big plus for me is build-ability and whether I can build the product up if I feel like wearing something bright or sheer it down if I want to wear it like a stain.

What’s a food you’ve come across that you absolutely, positively could not eat?
In local Hawaii-style parlance, it’s called tako poke. It’s a kind of octopus salad, and El Hub loves the stuff. He will eat it from dawn till dusk, but I can’t… I mean, I tried to once, and I came very close to almost getting it in my mouth, but then I saw the little tentacles — uh! I couldn’t do it.

Reading or hearing spoilers before you watch a movie, see a show or read a book?
No spoilers please. I would rather not know what I’m getting into, but my friend Cindy, for her it’s not a big deal.

Now, if I happen to accidentally read a spoiler, it doesn’t completely irritate me, but I try my best to not know what’s going to happen. I like to be surprised.

What was the last beauty product you touched before filling out today’s Monday Poll?
I think it was deodorant. 🙂

It was deodorant, because I just finished running, and I couldn’t even stand the scent of myself, so I put on some deodorant.

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

1. What’s the most unusual thing in your handbag right now?
2. What qualities have you been looking for in your lip products lately (moisturizing, long wearing, etc.)?
3. What’s a food you’ve come across that you absolutely, positively could not eat?
4. Reading or hearing spoilers before you watch a movie, see a show or read a book?
5. What was the last beauty product you touched before filling out today’s Monday Poll?

Hello, my friend! Deep breaths. It’s Monday, but that doesn’t mean we have to be all stressed out about it. My goal this week is to be a mirror…

I’ve been thinking about this a lot. Let me kind of explain — whatever you project outward will reflect back at you, so this week I want to have calm and joyful energy, so that Tabs will hopefully reflect calm and joyful energy right back at me (I doubt this will happen).

Here’s to having a wonderful week! I hope something cool happens to you today.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 331

January 25th, 2015 by Karen 10 Comments

NOVATO, Calif. — This week in an interview with Feline E-News, kitty supermodel Tabs the cat, also known as the Heidi Klum of Project Runway: Novato, discussed his new low-carb wet food lifestyle.

“I want to continue contributing to the world of kitty modeling in my golden years,” says Tabs, “and my personal veterinarian says that a low-carb, high-protein carnivorous lifestyle will keep me sharp.”

According to Tabs, he offered to do all of the hunting himself, but his creative team advised against it due to the demands on his time.

“I’m focussing on wet food,” he says, “and it’s been an easy transition from kibble, although I do miss my crunchy snacks. I feel better though. I haven’t felt this good since I went to Brazil to train with the Gracies [Tabs has a black belt in jiu-jitsu].”

If this week’s crop of kitty modeling pics are any indication, the early results are looking good. 🙂

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

January 24th, 2015 by Karen 377 Comments

Rise and shine, pal o’ mine. Happy caturday. 🙂 Right now I’m watching a small bird hop up and down on a branch on the old oak tree outside my window and listening to it chirp. It sounds like she’s saying, “Hey, everyone! This branch here is the best! You gotta check it out!”

This week sure went by fast… I can’t believe it’s already Saturday. I hope you did something fun last night. I made a kick-@ss TJ’s frozen veggie pizza (added some extra artichoke hearts, tomatoes and broccoli) and rented a Liam Neeson movie (A Walk Among the Tombstones; wasn’t bad).

Now I’m gonna hop on the treadmill, and then? I don’t know what we’ll do today. Maybe drive into the city because it’s supposed to be pretty warm. There’s an awesome crab place at Pier 39 I’ve been thinking/dreaming about.

Good luck in the giveaway. Talk to you soon.

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:
- Close your eyes and tell me about everything you hear and smell…
- What’s the coolest thing you did all week?
- Who makes the best French fries?
- How often do you iron your clothes?
- Something on your nightstand right now?
- Prettiest perfume bottle?
You can enter in up to seven ways to boost your chances of winning.
The giveaway ends on Monday, January 26, 2015 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time). 🙂
Full terms and conditions are available in the widget.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen