Archives for January 2015

Get a Lisa Perry Tote and Estée Lauder Goodness With This Gift-With-Purchase at Neiman Marcus Now

January 20th, 2015 by Karen 12 Comments

Wouldn’t ya know it? The one time this decade that I actually wanted to wear my white vinyl go-go boots (otherwise known as my favorite shoes to wear to da club back in the day), of course I can’t find them.

OF COURSE.

They’d go so well with this tote by Lisa Perry…

This shiny vinyl vixen is part of the Estée Lauder + Lisa Perry gift-with-purchase deal going on now at EL counters inside Neiman Marcus stores and online.

The deal comes with some other goodies too, like a nice-sized eyeshadow and lipstick palette, a separate creamy nude lipstick, a small jar of Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv Ultimate Lift Age-Correcting Creme, another small bottle of Advanced Night Repair, a tiny tube of Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara, and my favorite thing — a sample of Aerin Lilac Path Perfume.

I started crushin’ on Lilac Path with the first spritz.

Picture yourself sleeping in and getting up late on a crisp spring morning. You open your favorite window and take a deep breath, ah… That smell of spring flowers and clean, fresh air? — that’s Aerin Lilac Path Perfume.

Granted, this is imaginary time, because when I open my windows right now, I mostly smell semi-dead rosemary bushes.

The gift-with-purchase deal is available now with your $75 EL purchase, while supplies last, at Estée Lauder counters and online.

Just an FYI in case you had any EL products you needed to stock up on…

The Accent Nail Files: Find Common Ground to Create Unexpected Pairings Like Purple and Burgundy

January 20th, 2015 by Karen 24 Comments

Smith & Cult Check the Rhyme paired with Lo-Fi — Smith & Cult Check the Rhyme nail polish teamed up with Lo-Fi lacquer

ME: “Oh, Magic 8 ball, will my attempt at nail art today turn out to be epically flawless and fabulous and absolutely everything I’ve ever dreamed nail art could be?”

MAGIC 8 BALL: “All signs point to hell naaaaw!”

That particular accent nail combo up top was the result of an epic nail art fail last Sunday.

I’d started out trying to do something involving negative space and jerry-rigged Band-Aid cutouts and… Anyway, it didn’t work out, but it led me to the purple and burgundy combo here, ’cause you know I’m all about that accent nail life. 🙂

After the Band-Aid cutout disaster (long, sad story), I started thinking about creamy purple nails and got this picture in my head of a hand with bright violet nails wrapped around a glass of red wine.

So I dug through my stash and pulled out this vibrant violet shade by Smith & Cult called Check the Rhyme, which I paired with a burgundy called Lo-Fi, also from Smith & Cult.

By the founders of Hard Candy, Smith & Cult is a new line with some really cool colors, packaging and names. They only came out a few months ago. Wear time is OK, like 4-5 days with a base and top coat, so not as sturdy as OPI, but good enough if you like to swap out your polish every few days. The bottles are kind of expensive though at $18 each, but I like a lot of their colors.

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What a Difference a Nude Lip Makes…

January 19th, 2015 by Karen 35 Comments

From the left: Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick in Melted Sugar ($21), Tarte LipSurgence Lip Tint in Glitzy ($24), MAC Toledo Lipglass in Oxblood ($16.50), Tarte Amazonian Butter Lipstick in Ethereal Pink ($16) and Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick in Melted Frosting ($21)

Wearable purple eyeshadow.

Wait, what…?

Hear me out. I think it’s entirely possible to make purple eyeshadow wearable, even bold purple eyeshadow, if you keep everything else in your look toned down.

Here I’m wearing the same purple eye look I wore earlier, but this time paired with different nude lips.

I’m also not wearing a lot of color on my cheeks, which I think makes the whole effect less fashion-y.

There are countless varieties of nude lippies out there, and many of them are not boring.

To make a bold eye look like this one more wearable, you could pair it with a sheer pinkish peach nude lipstick or gloss…

Tarte Amazonian Butter Lipstick in Ethereal Pink

Or, you could do a deeper sort of brownish nude with a little sparkle…

Or, if you’re feeling wildly adventurous (or, in my case, out of your mind, because it’s the end of the day and you’re tired), you could do a pale opaque nude…

Too Faced Melted Liquidfied Liquid Lipstick in Melted Sugar

Too Faced Melted Liquidfied Liquid Lipstick in Melted Frosting

Nude lips can really make a bold eye look more wearable, and with so many gorgeous nudes out there, the possibilities are endless. 🙂

Incidentally, all of these shades are new for spring and listed here…

Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick in Melted Sugar ($21)
Tarte LipSurgence Lip Tint in Glitzy ($24)
MAC Toledo Lipglass in Oxblood ($16.50; coming soon)
Tarte Amazonian Butter Lipstick in Ethereal Pink ($16)
Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick in Melted Frosting ($21)

A Look With Vivacious Violet Eyes and Righteous Red, Glossy Lips Using the New MAC Toledo Collection

January 19th, 2015 by Karen 74 Comments

Wearing the MAC Toledo Violetwink Palette on my eyes, Blush Ombre in Ripe Peach on my cheeks and the Lipstick and Lipglass in Opera on my lips — Wearing the MAC Toledo collection Violetwink Palette on my eyes, Blush Ombre in Ripe Peach on my cheeks and the Lipstick and Lipglass in Opera on my lips

Vivacious violet eyes and righteous red, glossy lips today because, ya know, it’s Monday. Why not? 🙂

This is the flashiest look I’ve flaunted in a while! I’ve been kind of stuck in a neutral eye/nude lip rut, so this is my makeup version of Stella getting her groove back, except instead of me working it out on a tropical island with a hot, young thang, I’m working purple eyeshadow, red gloss and red lipstick…

I’m wearing stuff from the new MAC Toledo collection.

Toledo as in the fashion designers, Isabel and Ruben — not “holy Toledo!” or Toledo, Ohio, in case you were wondering.

MAC is so educational!

Honestly, I hadn’t heard of them before…but I’m also not hip at all, so there’s that.

The eye-catching 31-piece collection comes out next month with limited edition white, black and red packaging.

Wearing the MAC Toledo Violetwink Palette on my eyes, Blush Ombre in Ripe Peach on my cheeks and Lipstick and Lipglass in Opera on my Lips — That’s Pearlglide Intense in Designer Purple along my lower lash lines, also from the collection

I’m most interested in the three six-pan palettes, like the purple one I’m wearing here (there’s also one with green and olive shades, complete with baby-poo green eyeshadow, and I’m so not kidding about that; and another palette that’s blue).

Oh! — and there’s also a lot of red for lips. When I was looking at the packaging this morning, I thought, “Yeah, let’s do red. And purple. Why the heck not?”

The thing is, with bold eye and lip looks like these, I’m trying to strike a delicate balance between dramatic and cra-za-zy. To that end, I follow some basic guidelines…

The first is to chillax on the brows, son, because with a bright purple eye and glossy red lips, there’s already a lot going on, and full, bushy or blocky brows would just be one more thing competing for attention.

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 356

January 19th, 2015 by Karen 43 Comments

The Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll for January 19, 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.

A famous person you’d like to sit next to on a plane?
Honestly, maybe I’ve seen those Taken movies too many times, but I kind of want to sit next to Liam Neeson, because if the sh*t hits the fan, I feel like he’ll know what to do.

How’s your poker face?
It’s lame. What poker face? It’s the worst. I am the first person you want to play poker with because you’ll win every single time.

There’s a pimple on your chin. Do you pop it?
Oh, gawd, no!

At least, that’s what the answer is in theory, because it’s infinitely more difficult to cover a popped pimple than an unpopped pimple, and yes, I know this from experience.

Lots and lots and lots of experience.

But there are those times when I’ll get out of the shower, and it’s right there, and it’s staring at me, and it’s SUPER ripe, and it’s ready to go, and I will not be able to resist. Not gonna lie.

What are five things you’re thankful for today?
Fresh starts, coffee, patience, tabby hugs and concealer. 🙂

What’s one beauty trend you’re completely over?
Well for me, I’m completely over super sharp, hyper-defined eyebrows.

Totally guilty of doing this. I see it on Instagram all the time, and you know, it looks really great on so many women, but on me I feel like it might be a little much. You know, when the brows are super sharp, and you go in there, and you carve them out with your concealer, and the tails could cut glass?

On some people, they look awesome, but on me… I’ve tried it, but I think it’s a little much.

So I’ve been going the “natural” brow look route these days. “Natural” in quotes.

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

1. A famous person you’d like to sit next to on a plane?
2. How’s your poker face?
3. There’s a pimple on your chin. Do you pop it?
4. What are five things you’re thankful for today?
5. What’s one beauty trend you’re completely over?

Rise and shine, pal o’ mine! Happy MLK Day. How are things going out yonder way?

Tabs and I just finished our coffee (well, I did; he supervised), and now we’re getting ready for work, which means I’m about to do my hair and makeup, and he’s climbing his cat tower to take a nap.

Yup, Tabs takes his first nap of the day about 20 minutes after he wakes up, haha. It’s a tough life for a tabby. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 330

January 18th, 2015 by Karen 14 Comments

This was a busy week for Tabs with lots of intense kitty supermodeling. To recharge his batteries, Tabs did some kitty tai chi in the living room this morning while I flipped through pictures of his latest kitty modeling exploits on the company iPad.

I don’t know if you’re into kitty supermodeling…but if you are, here are the latest modeling pics from Tabs (also known as the world’s first plus-size kitty supermodel).

If you have any cool kitty modeling concepts you’d like Tabs to explore, or if there are any products you’d like to see him promote, please let him know in the comments, because he’s always looking for fresh ideas and ways to improve. 🙂

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

January 17th, 2015 by Karen 330 Comments

Morning! Rise and shine, pal o’ mine. 🙂 It’s caturday! A day to celebrate the glorious awesomeness that is (are?) cats.

OK, not officially, but ya know, if you’re into cats…

What’s shakin’? See any good TV shows or movies this week? El Hub and I went to see The Theory of Everything a few days ago and really liked it. I saw yesterday that the main guy and girl got Oscar nominations. Yeah, they deserved ’em.

Boy, so video… I tried to make one this week, a tutorial, and I did some things differently than I have in the past. Anyway, it kind of spiraled out of control, which is why I disappeared for a couple days. I was trying to edit the thing down, but I underestimated how long it would take.

I had to table it for now, but I learned a few things, so hopefully it goes smoother next time. The lesson here is that editing video can take a looong time.

In other news, it’s very wintry here this morning, but I don’t mean stormy. Just gray and cold and blah… I haven’t figured out what’s on my agenda for today, but for now, I don’t really feel like seizing the day. I feel more like asking El Hub to get me Starbucks and having breakfast in bed, lol. 🙂

I don’t know… Maybe a trip to the mall will liven things up. I haven’t been to Nordies in a while.

Whatever you’re up to, I hope you have a wonderful day, and good luck in the giveaway. (Your nephew says, “mrow,” btw.)

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:
- Do you ever see yourself in the mirror, notice your makeup and think, “OMG! When did I do that?”
- An eccentric, anonymous billionaire offers to give you $10,000 if you’ll quit your job today. Do you do it?
- Most incredible tattoo you’ve ever seen in real life?
- A department store/high-end makeup brand that’s totally worth the price?
- You find a $100 bill on the sidewalk this afternoon with a note on it that says, “If found, please call 555-364-1212.” What do you do?
- Have you ever gotten a perm?
You can enter in up to seven ways to boost your chances of winning.
The giveaway ends on Monday, January 19, 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

The New Beautyblender Red Carpet, Coming Exclusively to Sephora (and Why You Need a Beautyblender in Your Life, Like, Yesterday)

January 16th, 2015 by Karen 23 Comments

Who knows? Stranger things have happened.

If I ever get to walk another red carpet, I’m bringing two things with me: 1) the Red Carpet Beautyblender (but only if I can squeeze it into one of those annoyingly tiny purses that ladies carry to gala events and awards shows) and 2) candy.

Handfuls of candy.

I’ll just have to squish the Red Carpet Beautyblender in next to my Mini Snickers, because if I learned anything at the Emmys last year, it’s to bring a sh*t-ton of Mini Snickers, because dammit — it’s absolutely mortifying when your tummy rumbles right as someone’s about to announce the Best Actor.

I’m just sayin’.