Archives for January 2015

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 355

January 12th, 2015 by Karen 22 Comments

The Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll for January 12, 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.

When was the last time you “MacGyvered” a solution to a problem?
Um, like two days ago…or maybe one day ago, or maybe this morning. 🙂

Tabs does this thing where he loves to press his face against mine. He’ll rub his face all over my face, which is cute, I suppose, because it makes it seem like he loves his mom, but really, I think it’s mostly because he’s territorial. I think he’s claiming me, like, “This is MY mommy. This is MY assistant.”

Anyway, it leaves fur all over my face, and it’s incredibly annoying. Sometimes when I’m driving I’ll feel a mystery cat hair that I cannot find!

Drives me crazy.

So what I did was take a pet hair roller that I keep in the car, and I just kind of rolled it all over my face.

And it worked! So that’s my MacGyver solution to removing a pound of cat hair from your face.

Have you ever changed your makeup and/or your hair so much that you didn’t even recognize yourself?
I mean, only at lame times, like after, you know, you break up with somebody, and you’re like, “I’m gonna cut my hair!”

It’s so cliche, but I’ve definitely done it before. Once I think I was 18 or 19, and I had this really long, wavy ’90s hair.

I chopped it all off. Not into a pixie cut — I wasn’t brave enough for that — but I chopped it into a chin-length bob. Granted, it wasn’t the best chin-length bob because it did the whole triangle thing where it puffed out, so my hair was shaped like a triangle, but I thought it was cool at the time.

I think it was in winter, because I remember feeling so cold when the wind hit the back of my neck, but still thrilled at the same time whenever I’d see my face in the mirror because I looked so different.

I’m addicted to…
Netflix, coffee, cat lady anythings. Also coral lipsticks, obviously, and mascara, and stretchy pants, shoes and anything with a leopard print.

That’s all I can think of right now.

I’m really looking forward to…
February, which is when we usually have a spell of warmer weather and the cherry blossoms come out.

I’m also looking forward to sleeping in next weekend (yes, even though it’s only Monday), and I’m looking forward to a time when my house is FINALLY clean and organized (Actually made a little progress last weekend… We hung a big mirror on the wall, huzzah!). I’m also looking forward to getting my roots done again, because even though it’s only been five weeks since the last time, they’re starting to peek through, and it’s super annoying.

The first place I take visitors when they visit my town is…
Sephora, in case they need anything.

Just kidding! I’m kidding. 🙂

Honestly, it depends on how outdoorsy they are. If it’s my parents or my in-laws, and they’re not super outdoorsy, we’ll usually go to a restaurant, and I’ll try to swing us toward someplace I like to eat, like My Thai II in downtown Novato, and then we’ll just walk around.

Downtown Novato is cute. There are some shops, and it’s not totally overwhelming. My parents and in-laws are getting up there in years, so they can’t walk for miles and miles on end.

If, however, the visitors are younger people who like to be outside, I’ll take them to Indian Valley, which is this beautiful nature preserve with hikes and rolling hills and beautiful views.

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

1. When was the last time you “MacGyvered” a solution to a problem?
2. Have you ever changed your makeup and/or your hair so much that you didn’t even recognize yourself?
3. I’m addicted to…
4. I’m really looking forward to…
5. The first place I take visitors when they visit my town is…

Hello, friend. 🙂 Good morning. I know it’s Monday again…but if we’re gonna have a Monday, we might as well have a happy Monday, a fun Monday, a Monday in which we feel good about things.

I’m game to try if you are.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 329

January 11th, 2015 by Karen 11 Comments

You might be wondering, “What does an international cat of modeling and mystery do on his Sunday afternoon?”

Answer: kack at birds, that’s what, because it’s sunny bird weather here today, and the birds are out in force. There are way more birds than usual for this time of year, I guess because of the heavy rains, so more things are blooming and the grasses are going off. There must be lots of stuff for them to eat.

Tabs takes a very official approach when it comes to birds. He sees monitoring the bird situation outside as one of his primary job responsibilities, so he sits on the windowsill in the living room kacking, literally for hours, while El Hub and I watch TV, and the poor guy sounds so concerned… He’s like, “MOM! Do you SEE!? Do you see that bird out there on the hill??”

Yes, buddy, I see.

Poor guy…

This was a busy week for Tabs. After the holiday break, it’s back to business again. There’s a lot of work out there for kitty models right now, and here are some of the latest ad campaigns… 🙂

Those Vans tho! I would just die.

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

January 10th, 2015 by Karen 332 Comments

Black Mirror. OK, damn… I don’t even… Holy! That show… To put it mildly, I am freaked out.

Every. Episode. So far. And I’ve only seen five of the seven so far! — but I can’t stop thinking about them.

My goodness, how cynical and/or twisted does a person have to be to come up with stories like those? Haha! That second episode, with the bicycling and the talent show (Hot Shot!), what a sad, sad world…and yet I can see something like that existing. Brilliant sci-fi in the vein of Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits, only VASTLY, incomparably more jaw-dropping and twisted (I’m warning you!) than anything I ever saw on either of those shows. If you’re interested, it’s up on Netflix now.

In other news, happy caturday, my friend! 🙂 The sun is actually shining here in Novato, and that is so damned awesome! I’m getting outside today, no matter what. I think sun like this calls for a trip to the mall.

Whatever you’re up to, I hope you’re doing great. Good luck in the giveaway, and I’ll 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:
- Which of these two mundane makeup powers would you rather have? 1) Perfect makeup recall, where you can remember every single tool and shade name, finish, formula, detail and application technique you’ve ever seen; or 2) the amazing ability to use your index finger as an airbrush that can shoot pigments (all colors) without ever running out?
- If you were a character in a video game, what would the game be about?
- What’s the most annoying piece of makeup in your collection that you wish you could figure out how to use better?
- Have you downloaded any cool new apps?
- Best thing you’ve seen on YouTube this year (yeah, it’s only the first month of the new year so far, but still)?
- If you had carte blanche total control (all expenses paid) over your day tomorrow and could do anything you want, what would you do?
You can enter in up to seven ways to boost your chances of winning.
The giveaway ends on Monday, January 12, 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

Like a Multi-Tool for Makeup Lovers, the Cheeky Chic Kaleidoscope Blush Palette by Le Metier de Beaute Will Save You From Falling Into the Too-Much-Rouge Trap

January 9th, 2015 by Karen 16 Comments

Le Metier de Beaute Cheeky Chic Kaleidoscope

The Cheeky Chic Kaleidoscope by Le Metier de Beaute, $95

In classic Karen fashion, I brought three blush palettes with me when I went out of town to visit family over the holidays but ended up using just one of them the entire time, the new Cheeky Chic Kaleidoscope by Le Metier de Beaute.

I love the way it looks on my cheeks, but I do NOT love the redonkulous price.

It’s $95.

Yeah…

I could totally wear this palette every single day, and I did over a period of about two weeks.

It’s like a Swiss Army knife. It contains three matte blushes and a golden highlighter that swivel in and out. Nifty idea and awesome for travel.

All three of the blushes look delicate and natural on the skin, and when I top them with the golden highlighter, I feel like a glowing angel in a shampoo commercial… 🙂

The whole effect reminds me of the Ambient Blush Palette by Hourglass.

The Cheeky Chic Kaleidoscope by Le Metier de Beaute ($95)

Comes with three matte blushes (a matte salmon-pink, a neutral pink and a beige nude) and a sheer golden highlighter, which Le Metier refers to as a luminizer.
I like to wear the matte salmon pink or matte neutral pink on the apples of my cheeks (sometimes, I even mix them together) and the golden highlighter, which has a finish that’s more of a sheen than a shimmer, on the tops of my cheekbones.
I don’t mind the nude beige blush, but I think it’ll be better for lighter skin tones than mine. Sometimes I’ll mix it with one or more of the other blushes because, by itself, I can’t even see it until I’ve applied three or four layers.
The blushes and highlighter feel fantastically soft (like the Calvin Klein blanket I got at Costco for $16, yo!). They’re easy to blend, and when I wear them, I never feel like I’m drowning in rouge.
As beautiful as these workhorse colors are, the palette is terribly expensive. You could definitely find similar shades for less, but consider this: the powders work out to about $24 each, which is “cheaper” than a Chanel blush.
Available now at Le Metier de Beaute counters, Neiman Marcus stores and online.

Before blush/highlighter

Before applying the Le Metier Cheeky Chic Kaleidoscope on my cheeks — Before blush/highlighter

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A Fabulous Friday Purple Glittery Eye Look With Urban Decay’s New Moondust Eyeshadow in Ether

January 9th, 2015 by Karen 36 Comments

Chair dancing + Prince + purple glitter = my Friday morning/afternoon.

While, scientifically speaking, one is physically capable of wearing purple glitter on a Monday morning, it just makes better sense on Friday.

Am I right?

Maybe it’s because the end of the workweek feels like victory! — she said, raising her makeup brush like a mithril sword and willing the clouds to part.

The before

And after

Wearing Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Ether — And after!

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One Hella Awesome Hand Cream: L’Occitane Shea Butter Whipped Hand Cream

January 9th, 2015 by Karen 39 Comments

L'Occitane Shea Butter Whipped Hand Cream, $12 for a 1-oz tube — L’Occitane Shea Butter Whipped Hand Cream, $12 for a 1-oz. tube

I sleep right next to a hand cream graveyard…

It’s there on the floor by my bed and in one of the cubbies in my nightstand, both of which are home to half a dozen or more half-empty tubes because I’m kind of a hand cream addict.

But this one by L’Occitane will probably be spared that ignominious outcome because it is SO DANG GREAT.

Where do I start?

First, when the cream comes out of the tube, it’s formed into the shape of a star, and don’t ask me why, but this brings me great joy. 🙂

Second, this stuff is ridiculously moisturizing. With all of the polar vortexing/El Niño-like action so far this winter, it’s been unusually dry and cold — and definitely drier than most years, because we usually have some humidity by the ocean here.

But my hands have been painfully dry, but L’Occitane Shea Butter Whipped Hand Cream relieves them of that. It’s been the only cream in or near “the graveyard” to stop that tight, uncomfortable feeling.

The cream contains 25% shea butter, much to paws’ delight, and now that I’ve been using it regularly, my cuticles are also less raggedy (always a plus).

The formula smells comfortingly like baby powder, which is a little old-fashioned, but I like it. It reminds me of hugging my grandma when I was little.

L’Occitane Shea Butter Whipped Hand Cream is available now at L’Occitane stores, counters and online ($12 for a 1-oz. travel-size tube).

Put your hands up for hand cream, babe! What have your paws been loving lately?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S.

The Neutrogena Nourishing Long Wear Eye Shadow + Built-In Primer Quads in Smoky Steel, Cocoa Mauve and Classic Nude

January 8th, 2015 by Karen 14 Comments

Neutrogena Nourishing Long Wear Eye Shadow + Built-In Primer

Neutrogena Nourishing Long Wear Eye Shadow + Built-In Primer in Smoky Steel 30 — Smoky Steel 30 (no, that is not the name of a superhero or a robot, although it certainly sounds like it could be)

Must play with all the pretties!

Guess what these Neutrogena Nourishing Long Wear Eye Shadow + Built-In Primer quads do?

You guessed it — they combine a primer with a powder eyeshadow for supposedly extra long wear. I tried some of the Cocoa Mauve quad colors on my right eye yesterday, just to see how they looked and blended, and they were good on both counts, but then I took them off. I’ll give them a proper try this weekend.

And I’ll probably still wear ’em with a regular primer underneath anyway, because, you know, some habits are hard to break. 🙂

Overview

There are six different quads/color combinations — Cool Plum, Soft Taupe, Smoky Steel, Cocoa Mauve, Mink Brown and Classic Nude — available now at drugstores and online for $9.49 each.
Pigment ranges from sheer to medium, depending on the color
The Cocoa Mauve and Classic Nude quad shadows have a satiny finish that’s very forgiving of mah fine lines (thank you very much).

Neutrogena Nourishing Long Wear Eye Shadow + Built-In Primer in Cocoa Mauve 40 — Cocoa Mauve 40 (no, also not the name of a robot)

Neutrogena Nourishing Long Wear Eye Shadow + Built-In Primer in Classic Nude 60 — Classic Nude 60

Neutrogena Nourishing Long Wear Eye Shadow swatches from the left: Smoky Steel, Cocoa Mauve and Classic Nude — Swatches from the left of the shadows in the Smoky Steel, Cocoa Mauve and Classic Nude quads

3 Steps to Fuller, Natural-Looking Brows

January 8th, 2015 by Karen 22 Comments

3 Steps To Full, Natural-Looking Brows — 3 steps to full, natural-looking brows

Brows — my sweet, sweet joy and my sweet, sweet pain.

I’ve reluctantly come to grips with the painful reality that I will very likely never be one of those lucky gals/guys who wakes up in the morning with immaculately lush, gorgeous brows, and I’m OK with that.

Because that’s what makeup is for.

Although, truth be told, I’ll always be jealous of my BFF Jen for being one of those naturally big-browed babes…

Let me tell ya, it’s really annoying, LOL!

Back in the ’90s, when everyone was plucking their brows into oblivion, Jen was constantly bemoaning her beautiful brows, saying that they were too damn full and sooo difficult to tame. 🙂

Yeah, what I wouldn’t have given for that problem. I’m always having to fill in mine (freaking Raul!).

On the positive side, at least I’ll probably never run out of new techniques and brow products to try. There’s an endless supply and lots of room to play.

Last year I was really into filling them in with eyeshadow for a full, kinda in-your-face brow look, and sometimes, let me tell ya, those big brows entered a room before I did, haha!

These days I’m more chill about my brows… I still like them big and full, but a little less blocky and more textured, so that they look more natural and real, if that makes any sense. I want brows that look like they just naturally grew out of my head that way.

There are different ways to get a full, but natural brow look, but here’s mine. I use a brow pencil, brow gel, and follow these three simple steps.

First, you’ll need the following…

A brow pencil with a skinny tip. I like Brow Wiz by Anastasia Beverley Hills ($21). It has a twist-up pencil on one end and a brow comb on the other.
A brow comb (if your pencil doesn’t have one; see above)
A clear brow gel, and my favorite of the moment is unsurprisingly called Clear Brow Gel ($22), also by Anastasia. I like it because it dries to a matte finish and has a very strong hold, so those little brow hairs don’t move a muslce once it sets.

Step 1

Begin by filling in your brows with your brow pencil starting at the inner end using short strokes, light pressure, and moving in the same direction that your brow hairs grow, with the goal being to go with the natural flow.
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