Archives for July 2015

Wow, You Can Also Use a BeautyBlender to Apply Eyeshadows and Face Powders? Who Knew?

July 7th, 2015 by Karen 22 Comments

While makeup shopping at Nordstrom the other day I happened upon a beautyblender training class for the makeup artists on the floor and, um…of course you know I had to sneak my way into the group. 🙂 I even asked a whole bunch of obnoxious questions (yes, I was *that* student back in the day).

Like, did you know that you can apply eyeshadow with a beautyblender?

Yeah! Who knew, right?

Using a wet beautyblender Micro Mini (the smallest-sized sponge; a pack of two sells for $18), swirl the larger rounded bottom end of the beautyblender into your powder eyeshadow pan to mix the powder up into something of a temporary cream shadow and to load the sponge. (Applying shadows wet like this will also intensify the colors.) Then, tap that directly on your lids to apply.

Now do the same thing with the smaller pointed end of the beautyblender to apply color in your outer V.

It’s a great way to do simple, single-eyeshadow looks without any fallout so you can get out the door quickly.

Kind of cool, right?

This works with face powder, too! But instead of the mini beautyblender, take a damp regular-sized one, swirl the rounded base into your favorite pressed powder pan, and then tap that on your face wherever you want powder. It’ll apply evenly, without any fallout, and give you full coverage.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

A Fabulously Frugal Fashion Find: The $12 Old Navy Relaxed Slub-Knit Tank

July 6th, 2015 by Karen 17 Comments

Yeah, this green print Relaxed Slub-Knit Tank by Old Navy is only $12! But wait, it gets better. When I saw it at the store yesterday, it was on sale for $4!

I couldn’t say no, so I grabbed two — the print I’m wearing here, and another one in a bright solid orange.

They’re pretty basic relaxed-fit tanks, 60% cotton, 40% modal (which equals 100% soft), but you can jazz them up with some jewelry or other accessories.

They’re also machine washable (YAY!), although I won’t be putting them in the dryer. The material is on the thinner side, and every other thin Old Navy top I’ve stuck in the dryer has always ended up with holes.

So it’s air dry all the way, baby!

Also, if you can, try them on in the store, because these run big, and because you might be able to get a better price than the $12 listed online. I’d size down. Plus, Old Navy’s sizing tends to vary a lot, even among different colors of the same shirt.

Did you hit up any sales over the Fourth of July weekend? Inquiring shopping-loving minds want to know.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencils Get Some New Shades: 1993, Bad Blood, Bittersweet, Blackmail and Stark Naked

July 6th, 2015 by Karen 23 Comments

urban decay glide on lip pencil — The Urban Decay Glide-On Lip Pencils from the left in 1993, Bad Blood, Bittersweet, Blackmail and Stark Naked

The year was 1993… The city was Novato. Makeup police were investigating a case of beauty Blackmail that resulted in Bad Blood between two makeup-loving friends. According to the unofficial report and secondhand eyewitness accounts, the story had a Bittersweet ending involving a crazy woman running Stark Naked through the streets!

See, this is what happens when someone with an overactive imagination plays with these five new Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencils ($20). 🙂

These new matte lip liners match colors from the new Urban Decay Matte Revolution Lipstick line, namely medium brown 1993, deep red Bad Blood, bright purple Bittersweet, deep berry Blackmail and light nude Stark Naked.

Bad Blood, 1993, Bittersweet and Stark Naked get enthusiastic high-fives from me, because they’re super creamy and glide across my skin without skipping a beat (much like typical 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencils), but Blackmail is kind of a mess… It’s dry, patchy and pulls at my skin, bah!

urban decay glide on lip pencil 2 — Urban Decay Glide-On Lip Pencils from the left in 1993, Bad Blood, Bittersweet, Blackmail and Stark Naked

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Before and After New Urban Decay Brow Beater and Brow Tamer

July 6th, 2015 by Karen 24 Comments

My brows and I don’t hold hands and sing songs around the campfire.

My brows and I don’t “hug it out.”

This is because my brows and I have dueling agendas. While they like the sparse spots that appear around their arches, I want brows that are fluffy and full.

While they like looking unfinished and being underwhelming, I want brows that give out high fives and say, “Haaay, GURL, HAAY!” when they enter a room.

This epic, ongoing battle for total and complete brow domination recently led me to try two new brow products coming soon from Urban Decay — one, a new line of Brow Beater pencils ($20 each), and the other a new line of Brow Tamer brow gels (also $20 each).

Both promise to bust out bad@ss submission holds on brows to wrestle them into place.

urban decay brow beater — Urban Decay Brow Beater from the left in Dark, Neutral Brown, Taupe and Warm Brown

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 380

July 6th, 2015 by Karen 68 Comments

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.

Describe your typical weekend makeup look.
Well, it has gotten progressively less fussy over the past few months. It used to involve some combination of brows, lashes, foundation (or tinted moisturizer), concealer, blush AND gloss, but I’ve been keeping it simpler lately.

Like, last Sunday morning El Hub and I ran out to grab a croissant and coffee from our favorite bakery, and I just wore a little tinted balm — that’s it — and even that was only because my lips were hella dry.

I still like getting gussied up and wearing more complicated weekend makeup sometimes, but lately, not so much. I’ve been more into going bare faced.

Have you ever trimmed your nose hair (be honest!)?
LOL! Yeah. Totally. Just my left nostril though. The hairs on the right aren’t as jungly.

Mascara primer: totally necessary or totally overrated?
Totally necessary, but if and only if we’re talking about Estee Lauder’s Little Black Primer.

GURL, one time and you’ll be hooked. It’ll take your favorite mascara to the next level.

Gladiator shoes or espadrilles? (P.S. “Neither” is not an option. You have to choose one.)
Bah! No to the espadrilles, because I had a pair once that totally hurt my feet, so gladiator shoes it is (ideally in a nude shade)! — even though I’ll probably end up with a weird tan on my legs.

5 random things you’re loving right now?
1. Hearing the sound of baby birds chirping outside (there’s a nest in the hanging plant off my deck!)
2. Watermelon (been eating a TON of it lately)
3. Charli XCX’s Sucker album (good running music)
4. These Denco Stainless Steel Nail Clippers. (They have a plastic catcher to catch the nail clippings so they don’t just fly all over the place! Why I derive so much joy from this, I have no idea.)
5. My Roxy leopard-print slip-ons

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

1.Describe your typical weekend makeup look.
2. Have you ever trimmed your nose hair (be honest!)?
3. Mascara primer: totally necessary or totally overrated?
4. Gladiator shoes or espadrilles? (P.S. “Neither” is not an option. You have to choose one.)
5. 5 random things you’re loving right now?

Top o’ the morning to you, kitty cat! My mind’s kind of going in 10 million directions today, but it’s all good. Once the tea kicks in, all will be right with the world. 🙂

How are you doin’? Do you have a minute to touch base in today’s Monday Poll? It’s a time-tested, highly effective way to get into your mental groove.

Talk to ya soon!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 353

July 5th, 2015 by Karen 13 Comments

Dear Tabby is written by Tabs the cat, widely considered “the world’s first plus-size kitty supermodel.” Founded in mid 2012, it has quickly become the most popular cat advice column on earth — known for its fresh, feline perspective on lifestyle, fashion and style issues affecting cats and humans.

A cat wonders if he should conform

‘Tsup Tabby,

Up ’round the NYC they call me DJ Scratches, but my real name is Dorian Gray. My crew and I just relocated from the city to a small town upstate, and I’m having a hard time connecting with the locals. None of the cats here understand my style, and they tease me and whatnot.

The cats here are more preppy, and maybe I am a little bit out there, but I mean, should I change my style to fit in? I respect your opinion, Tabby.

-Out of Place Upstate

DEAR OUT OF PLACE: The beauty of fashion is individuality. Please do not change your style to appease someone else. The world would be a boring place if we didn’t have style rebels and cats with unique points of view like yourself, so keep doing what you’re doing.

May I suggest starting a style blog to bridge the divide and create a place where different styles are celebrated? It might coax other cats in your area into expressing themselves.

There is no “I” in team

Dear Tabby,

I’ve been booking a lot of kitty modeling jobs lately with this guy named Boris because we have fantastic camera chemistry, but behind the scenes we hate each other.

Honestly, I don’t know how much longer I can take it, but the pay is really good. Basically, if I could find a way to get them to fire Boris and hire a replacement, things would be great, but how should I go about doing that?

-Bye Bye Boris

DEAR BYE BYE: Well, you don’t. I hate to break it to you, but in this industry, you have to learn how to work with others. It’s about being professional for the job, and you might as well learn that now, because you can’t be pulling that diva sh*t as a mid-tier kitty model. Once you’ve been on the cover of five or six magazines, then maybe you could be the diva, but for now you have to learn how to play the game. Suck it up.
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Comment to Win a $50 eGift Card From MAC! (Ends Monday)

July 4th, 2015 by Karen 347 Comments

** THE GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED **
This giveaway is closed, and the winner has been contacted (CONGRATULATIONS, KIYANNA!!!), but check back next Saturday for another giveaway.

Happy 4th of July!

Mmm… I can already smell the barbecue (make mine fish and veggies, please).

Rise and shine, pal o’ mine! It’s Independence Day weekend. I hope you have fun plans.

We’ll probably get ready to go here pretty soon to watch the Novato parade. Last year I brought my good camera with me and got some choice pics of celebratory red, white and blue-wearing canine fashion models. I wonder how this year’s talent stacks up…

In other news, Magic Mike XXL: guess who “went there” last night.

GURL, YAAASS! My friend Marisol and I went last night, and it was…oh, my goodness. It was WEIRD. Fo’ reals, though. It’s kind of random (yes, there’s a stripper convention involved) but, you know, the dudes. If you liked the first one, it makes less sense than that, but it doesn’t really matter, if you know what I mean. 🙂

LOL!

OK, I better get moving. Your tabby nephew is completely unhappy with my job performance right now because he hasn’t gone outside yet for his usual morning walk. He just nipped my legs as if to say “WOMAN!” so I’d better go attend to my duties.

Thanks for stopping by, my friend, and have a great weekend.

One (1) MAC eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (international readers, you may opt to receive $50 sent by PayPal instead).

Enter by leaving a comment 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 was the last limited edition makeup collection you went all out for?
- Something you splurged on this week?
- Have you ever helped anyone translate something?
- Have you ever gone back to a salon to ask a stylist to change or fix your hair?
- Favorite barbecue snack or food?
- Biggest makeup mystery? (Something that you just don’t understand or can’t figure out.)
One entry per person.
You must use a valid email address to win.
The giveaway ends on Monday, July 6, 2015 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time). 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Mirror, Mirror on…These Eyeshadow Palettes: The NARS Fall 2015 NARSissist Matte/Shimmer Eyeshadow Palette and Hardwired Eye Kit

July 3rd, 2015 by Karen 18 Comments

Mirror, mirror on the wall…who’s the most beautiful NARSissist of them all?!

I think you already know Tabby’s answer. 🙂

The new limited edition NARSissist fall 2015 eye palettes have mirrors on the packaging so that you may admire yo’ fine self, or so that your kitty cat can admire his floof.

I think it’s pretty convenient and cool, even though it makes these things pick up a sh*t-ton of paw prints whenever I open them.

nars narsissist matte shimmer eyeshadow palette — NARS Matte/Shimmer Eyeshadow Palette

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