Archives for July 2015

Neat and New to Me: MAC Matte Blush in Coppertone

July 21st, 2015 by Karen 20 Comments

mac coppertone blush — MAC Matte Blush in Coppertone ($22)

Neat and New to Me

Unlike my Unsung Heroes series, which features permanent collection products I’ve known and loved a long time, the Neat and New to Me series showcases permanent collection products that slipped under my radar for a while, but then I discovered them! — and now I think they’re neat and new to me.

This peachy brown matte blush’s name reminds me of going to the beach back in the day, back when it seemed like every family had a bottle of good ol’ Coppertone sunscreen with them.

Oh, the way it smelled! — like long sunny days, sand in your toes, salt water in your hair, ham and cheese sandwiches… Or was that just in my family? LOL!

I can’t deny that I was hoping MAC Matte Blush in Coppertone ($22) would smell the same way, but alas, it doesn’t. It has the familiar non-fragrance of a regular blush.

Even so, this Coppertone is anything but regular. It’s similar (but not identical) to MAC Gingerly Blush — like the two of them could be sisters. Coppertone, with her deeper, richer red, would just be the bossier, more outgoing older beach babe sister.

When I wear it on my cheeks, I feel like I’ve just spent an entire day playing in the sand and riding the rides at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (I haven’t done that in YEARS).

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L’Oreal Infallible Makeup Extender Setting Spray: Is This $17 Spray Infallible?

July 20th, 2015 by Karen 27 Comments

You know how when you finish your makeup, and you lightly mist your face with a makeup setting spray, it feels like the confirmation of a job well done?

Like spritz! Thank you! Reward. 🙂

I like that whole experiential angle to makeup setting sprays. The refreshing fragrances and enhanced wear time are just bonuses.

My current favorites are Urban Decay’s $30 All Nighter and MAC Fix+ ($22), but they’re both pretty pricey. I’d love a good drugstore option, which is why I decided to try L’Oreal Infallible Makeup Extender Setting Spray. It’s only $16.99, which is still expensive for drugstore, but less than All Nighter and Fix+.

loreal infallible setting spray — L’Oreal Infallible Setting Spray ($16)

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I’m Getting a Rush From This Coral Flush: It Cosmetics CC+ Radiance Ombre Blush in Coral Flush

July 20th, 2015 by Karen 12 Comments

Add this blush to your list of “Things of the Utmost Importance That Must Be Attended to ASAP,” because we all know that blush is of the utmost importance…and blushes that refuse to sit on top of your skin lookin’ like a heavy, caked-on mess are of the UTMOST utmost importance.

Yes, that’s a lot of utmosts. 🙂

It Cosmetics CC+ Radiance Ombre Blush in Coral Flush takes that time you blushed when you saw your favorite dude from One Direction smile at you from across the street (yes, let’s assume this happened) and injects the essence of that into a reddish coral pan tinged with pink.

The color can also be described as “I’m so excited and I just can’t hide it!” because it burnishes cheeks without shimmer or sparkle. It’s also an epically natural-looking beginner’s blush and a no-longer-hidden gem.

Swatch out for it next time you pounce upon Ulta with your favorite makeup-enabling friend. (Mine is my buddy Marisol… We go there and egg each other on, and it’s a hot, beautiful mess!).

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Peek-a-Boo! I See Yu Wearing the New NARS True NARS Lip Pencil Set This Summer

July 20th, 2015 by Karen 17 Comments

Oh, Yu!

Yu! You know I’ve got nothing but mad love for Yu. I’m so happy to see Yu again! 🙂

Yaaaas, queen, Yu is one of my favorite NARS Satin Lip Pencils of all freakin’ time, and it just so happens to be one of the three full-size pencils in the new $49 NARS True NARS summer gift set.

This year there are three limited edition NARS summer gift sets — two lip sets and one blush palette — and True NARS is the boldest of the two summer lip sets.

Do you feel like the world is a kinder, gentler place when you’re wearing bronzer? Or is the pursuit of toasty, tanned skin one of your ongoing life goals? If you answered yes to either of those questions, then True NARS is the lip set for you, because its vivid pink Satin Lip Pencil in Yu, vivid watermelon Satin Lip Pencil in Luxembourg and matte berry red Velvet Matte Li pencil in Provocative Red were picked and put together for the way they pop when worn with bronzed skin. Wear any of them separately like I’m doing in the swatches here, or combine them to create your own custom splash of spectacular sorry-not-sorry color.

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 382

July 20th, 2015 by Karen 54 Comments

karen and ernie the cat — Happy Monday from me and Ernie the three-legged cat!

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.

Your latest and greatest discovery?
These Organic Corn Chip Dippers from Trader Joe’s. You can get them in the chip/snack section! They’re like the TJ’s version of Fritos, and for some reason, they exceed all normal realms of heavenly awesomeness when you have them with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Also, this Kate Spade Cobble Hill Small Ella Cross Body Purse, which just might be the most perfect purse on the planet (it’s cute, super soft, and can be worn cross-body or hand-held).

Would you ever dye your entire head of hair green?
Uh…probably not.

Nothing against green, because I like the color, and I’m usually adventurous when it comes to my hair and hair color…but I’m having a hard time seeing myself as a green-haired girl.

What’s your standby/fallback snack?
A bowl of sliced fruit drizzled with a little honey, and the fruit depends on the season. Right now I’m all about strawberries and blueberries.

What makes someone beautiful?
Nothing having to do with society. Being comfortable in your own skin and understanding who you are and loving every single part of your personality (even the messy parts) makes someone truly beautiful.

Road trip! You and some friends decide to drive hundreds of miles to a vacation destination. Do you take the direct route (which gets you there faster) or the scenic route?
The direct route on the way there and the scenic route on the way back. That way we get to the fun stuff quicker but have more time to take in the view (and take more pics) on the way back.

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

1. Your latest and greatest discovery?
2. Would you ever dye your entire head of hair green?
3. What’s your standby/fallback snack?
4. What makes someone beautiful?
5. Road trip! Do you take the direct route or the scenic route?

Gooood morning!

*Big yawn and stretch*

Guess who’s really happy about the fact that she went to bed at 9 last night?

Yes, I’m THAT person.

Whatevs, I got nine hours of sleep, and it was glorious. Right now I feel like I could almost conquer the world! Amazing what a little extra sleep can do.

I hope you had a wonderful weekend. What was the highlight? Mine was meeting a three-legged cat named Ernie yesterday at the mall. His assistants (cat people, obviously) brought him along with them to do some shopping, and Ernie was totally cool with it! He was super mellow and even let me hold him.

Ernie, unlike Tabs, enjoys leisurely window shopping. Tabs, on the other paw, always insists that I book him appointments ahead of time at Chanel, Dior, etc. so the stores can pull together outfits for him beforehand.

You know, typical diva behavior.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 355

July 19th, 2015 by Karen 8 Comments

Dear Diary,

Ah, summer… This is my favorite time of year.

Oh! Right as I typed that I realized that I’d forgotten about spring, which I also love because of the great salad, but this is definitely my second favorite time of year.

I’ve been spending a lot of time outside. Between my gardening and trying to secure the perimeter, there’s so much to do. It seems like some cat or another is always trying to infiltrate the property. The cats around here have no respect for boundaries, I tell ya, and I really don’t like it when cats come over uninvited.

The gardens are doing very well. The hibiscus are blooming, and they smell divine. And the tomatoes? They’re going off! I don’t care much about the fleshy fruit, but the leaves taste outstanding. You should try them sometime. They’re fantastic in a salad with a side of sunflower leaves and grass.

You know, I sure do love gardening, and I think I have a green paw for it because everything about it comes naturally.

Except for the watering, of course. I don’t do the watering. I leave that to my landscaper/assistant.

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Comment to Win a $50 eGift Card From MAC! (Ends Monday)

July 18th, 2015 by Karen 441 Comments

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

Good morning, glory! Happy Caturday to ya. 🙂

Do you know where your kitty nephew is?

No, I’m serious, do you know where he is? Because I haven’t seen him in a while, which means he’s probably somewhere up to no good…

How’s it going this morning? Did you do anything fun last night? We just stayed in, had grilled cheese sammies and watched Fear (the SCARY one from the 1996 with Marky Mark and Reese Witherspoon).

Dang, that is a SCARY movie! I hadn’t seen in it years, and I totally forgot about M. Wahlberg’s scary psycho whisper voice…

In other news, this weekend, I don’t know what we’re up to yet. I’d like to start by getting a Meyer lemon croissant and a warm beverage for breakfast. Then I’ll consider my options. 🙂

I hope whatever you’re doing involves fun. Talk to you soon, my friend. Good luck in the giveaway.

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 your favorite piece of makeup this time last year?
- Who makes the best bronzers?
- Your favorite (non-makeup) artist?
- What was the name of your elementary school?
- Have you ever helped with a harvest? What was the crop?
- Can you do any impressions?
One entry per person.
You must use a valid email address to win.
The giveaway ends on Monday, July 20, 2015 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time). 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Say “Bye, Felicia!” to Fine Lines, and “Hello, Gorgeous!” to Naturally Pretty Lids With the It Cosmetics Naturally Pretty Eyeshadow Trios

July 17th, 2015 by Karen 10 Comments

it cosmetics eyeshadow trio — Three of the six It Cosmetics Naturally Pretty Eyeshadow Trios ($24 each)

I like to keep the proverbial door open when it comes to certain aspects of my life — making new friends, learning new things, trying new foods, doing new wackadoo things with makeup, befriending new cats…

But I will happily slam that door shut on the fine lines that keep showing up on my lids. 🙂

I realize that aging is one of those freight trains that can’t really be stopped (or bargained with), so I might as well be cool with it (which I am, mostly). In a way, it’s an opportunity of sorts to track down the best, most forgiving eyeshadows for fine lines, and here’s one possible contender: the $24 Naturally Pretty Eyeshadow Trios by It Cosmetics.

it cosmetics eyeshadow trio 1 — Three of the six It Cosmetics Naturally Pretty Eyeshadow Trios ($24 each)

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