Anastasia

Sephora Sale Shopping

April 18th, 2023 by Karen 11 Comments

I’m really excited about the skin care, makeup and hair goodies I picked up recently at the Sephora sale. 🙂

A couple of standby favorites were in the mix of course; Kate Somerville Anti Bac and Anastasia Brow Wiz in Dark Brown, I’m talking to you!

I also grabbed a few new-to-me things, including this box of Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Peel Pads.

I’m hesitant to add any steps to my already very simple skincare routine, but I’ve been needing some help with hyperpigmentation and heard raves from derms and estheticians about how this product works wonders on acne, uneven tone and fine lines.

You’re supposed to use it the in evenings, two to three times a week, which I can totally handle. Anything more than that, ugh, forget about it.

Have you tried it? I’m excited about it!

And because I’m a sunscreen hoarder, I bought a tube of Innisfree Daily UV Defense. Side note, I write for Innisfree! Anywho, it has chemical filters and is supposed to layer well with makeup. I plan to use it as an everyday sunscreen.

I’ve come to the realization that I really love trying foundations and concealers and can no longer fight the obsession. I couldn’t resist the siren call of Charlotte Tilbury’s Beautiful Skin Foundation and Concealer. I bought 8 Warm in the Foundation and 8 in the Concealer, by the way.

The Foundation is spot on my color, but I’m thinking the Concealer might be a little too light for my under-eye area. Hmm. I’m debating on whether or not I need to exchange it.

Last but not least, I finally gave in and bought a full-size version of Bumble and Bumble’s Hairdressers Invisible Oil. I love this stuff! It’s great for softening and smoothing ends. The trick is, though, to apply a tiny bit, otherwise your hair will feel super greasy.

I’m hoping the bottle will last me forever. LOL!

Anywho, let me know if you’ve tried any of these things. I always love to hear what you like and don’t like.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy Tuesday!

A Mother’s Day Shopping Trip: Self-Care at Ulta

May 12th, 2022 by Karen 7 Comments

Good morning, my friend. I’m raising my cup of coffee to you in a *toast.* Here’s to another beautiful day (it’s a sunny one here in Marin county this morning), and to being tender and gentle with yourself.

I’ve been needing TLC, so last Sunday, I took a Mother’s Day self-care trip to Ulta.

My brows and lashes have been driving me crazy, so I decided to restock some old school favorites in the hopes they’d help.

For my brows, I grabbed the OG of brow fillers, Anastasia Brow Wiz (my shade is Medium Brown) and Clear Brow Gel.

As for mascara, I turned to an old friend, MAC Extended Play Gigablack, which I’ve been wearing on and off since 2013 (!). If you want curl hold, length and separation, this mascara is great.

I’m trying to get back into the habit of painting my nails! Right now I’m using the three-step OPI Infinite Shine system, which combines lacquer and gel technology. I already have a couple of colors and the top coat, so during this trip I bought the base coat and a nude pale pink, Bubble Bath.

Oh, and since Connor was with me, I let her pick out a polish. She close Turn It Up by Orly, a glittery beauty!

My hair… I can’t even. It desperately needs some TLC! I’m scheduled for a cut next Tuesday, thank goodness. I just gotta make it to next week without chopping it all off in the middle of the night.

To tide me over until then, I thought it might be nice to try some new things: a claw clip by Kitsch (I’ve loved everything I’ve tried from them so far), a minty scalp conditioner by Not Your Mother’s Naturals (I’m hoping it will make a good co-wash) and a leave-in by Verb (ended up returning it because the scent was too strong).

You know what? I’ve decided to fully embrace the fact that I’m a lady who loves fancy body lotion. With that in mind, I bought this gorgeous, heavy glass jar of Body Cream by KEYS Soulcare, which is the skin care line by Alicia Keys (yup, the singer).

It’s a shea and cocoa butter body cream, so it’s rich and thick, and it’s scented with a gorgeous warm, herbal mix that smells like sandalwood and sage to my nose. The scent is present enough to notice, but it doesn’t overwhelm my senses. I really love it.

Oh, and random, while I was reading the copy on the box, I noticed that e.l.f. is mentioned as the distributer. Neat!

Last but not least, I bought some cotton pads and a nail polish remover. All in all, a very satisfying self-care trip.

Building those happiness muscles, day two

For the next fourteen days, I’m noting a couple things that I’m grateful for. If you care to join me, please share in the comments.

Anywho, today it’s sliced fruit in my water (strawberries are especially yummy) and mechanical pencils. Both are simple pleasures which make my life so much better.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Use Double-Duty Products to Get Your Busy Booty out the Door Faster

April 14th, 2016 by Jen Clark 16 Comments

If you’re at all like me, most days you don’t even have time to find matching socks and brush your hair, let alone put on makeup, before rushing out the door. Luckily, I have a trick that may help out a little. Several of the products that you probably use when you DO have time to wear makeup can be used for more than one purpose, so they can help you cut down on the time it takes to get ready. Let me show ya!

Concealer/Eye Primer

Concealer is one of those magic products that I always keep close by because it can be used for so many different things. In this case, I’m using it to conceal underneath my eyes and to prime my eyelids for eyeshadow. To cut down on time even further, you can even use it to conceal problem areas instead of using foundation.

One of my favorites at the moment is Revlon Colorstay Concealer.

When using concealer as an eye primer, make sure you only use a tiny amount, and blend it in really well. If you glob it on, that’ll make your shadows crease and move around, and that’s not what you want! Not only is the concealer going to make your shadows look more vibrant and last longer, but it will help to even out any little veins that you have peeking through your lids.

Contour Kit/Eyeshadow

This is a trick I like to use even when I’m not in a hurry, and it’s also great for travel.

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Face of the Day With the Zoeva Warm Spectrum Eyeshadow Palette

April 7th, 2016 by Adia Goss 18 Comments

As promised, I’m back with a face of the day using those Zoeva goodies we talked about.

I did one of my favorite makeup looks — softly, sparkly eyes, glowy skin and pink lips. This is pretty much my go-to makeup look, so I like to keep it interesting by trying out and incorporating new products and formulas.

For my eyes, I used two shades from the Zoeva Warm Spectrum eyeshadow palette (indicated below):

face of the day zoeva — The two shades from the Zoeva Warm Spectrum eyeshadow palette.

Whenever I try new eyeshadows, I don’t use primer for the first time because I like to get a feel for how they blend and wear without any help. I loved how pigmented and easy to blend these shadows were, but they could have used the boost of a primer, because I noticed some fading as the day wore on.

The rest of my eye makeup was pretty simple. I just used my favorite Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara and Dior Diorshow Brow Styler Gel (This is one of my current favorite brow products! You can see it in action in this Date Night Makeup Tutorial).

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This Bargain Holiday Kit Will Have You Singing Songs of Savings: The New Anastasia Kisses on My List Volume 2 Hydrafull Gloss Set

September 13th, 2012 by Karen 31 Comments

anastasia kisses on my list sharona — Wearing the New Anastasia Kisses on My List Volume 2 Hydrafull Gloss in Sharona

Um…like I really needed another excuse to randomly bust out in song today.

Sun’s up? That’s a good reason. Cup of coffee? That’s a good reason. Tabs hasn’t scratched my ankles yet? That’s a good reason. Waiting in line at Trader Joe’s, taking Tabs for a walk, indoor plumbing, having ice cream for dinner, sitting in front of the computer like I am right now? All good enough reasons.

But lately, I’ve been singing aloud with even more gusto than usual, like I’m stuck in an a very special episode of Glee (guest starring Tabs the Cat and Karen of Makeup and Beauty Blog), and I MUST EMOTE! 🙂

I wonder if it has something to do with Anastasia…

I’ve been wearing the new glosses in her latest set a lot this week, and not just because they shine like my tubby tabby’s eyes.

Most of the glosses in the limited edition $30 holiday Kisses on My List Volume 2 Hydrafull Gloss Set of six full-size tubes are named after a different old-school jam.

There’s Lola, a shimmery, cool pink that changes to a deeper hue after a few minutes on the lips (Anastasia calls these Hypercolor glosses); Maggie May, a sheer and creamy nude; Jolene, a shimmery rose (another one of the Hypercolors); Roxanne, a shimmery gold (also a Hypercolor); and Sharona, a sheer and shimmery peach.

The only one I don’t recognize from a song is Moi, a sheer and creamy pink (got any ideas about the name?).

The other day I took out Roxanne and applied a single layer.

No, it did not sting. 🙂 Nor did the police arrive (ba-dum bum!).

But I did feel inspired to pretend the tube was a microphone and belted out, “Rrrrrox-anne! You don’t have to put on the red light!” in the middle of my living room.

anastasia kisses on my list — From the left: Moi, Maggie May, Sharona, Lola, Jolene and Roxanne

anastasia kisses on my list swatches — Swatches from the left: Jolene, Lola, Maggie May, Moi, Roxanne and Sharona

You might be thinking, “K, you so crazy! I love good glosses too, but there’s no way one would make me sing in public or my living room.”

You never know, my friend. Even if you’re the silent type, this set is one heck of a deal. In the set, the glosses work out to just $5 per tube, versus the $18 they usually sell for individually.

anastasia kisses on my list jolene — Jolene

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The New Anastasia Want You to Want Me Holiday Kit Sings Songs of Soft Satin Finishes and Long-Lasting Wear

September 10th, 2012 by Karen 33 Comments

anastasia want you to want me palette

I have an urgent and important question for you, friend!

Are you ready…?

Brace yourself. Here goes: what’s your karaoke song?

LOL!

Okay, so maybe it wasn’t important in the Merriam-Webster sense of the word, but I’m curious.

Me? I have a couple of musical standbys honed by the fires of fifty Filipino family gatherings! Seriously, you can always count on two things at a Filipino party — 1) a redonkulous amount of food and 2) karaoke! 🙂

Myself, I like to warm up with a little Phil Collins…

“She’s an easy lover! She’ll take your heart but you won’t feel it!”

And then really get the crowd going with Cheap Trick…

“I waaaant yoooo to want meeee!”

The later meets the three crucial criteria of a top karaoke song. It’s upbeat, almost everyone knows the words to it (so they can sing along), and it doesn’t require any complex vocal gymnastics, which is good because I reserve that kind of thing for my car or shower.

Next time I hit the mic (hopefully soon — karaoke, anyone?), I’m wearing Anastasia’s new holiday 2012 eye makeup kit, because not only does it pay homage to my go-to karaoke tune, but the colors are just plain pretty!

The $34 limited edition Want You to Want Me kit’s lush velvet case houses enough eye makeup to keep your eyes glowing softly while you rock all night long.

The kit includes…

A gift box with a velvet cover, chain detailing and a magnetic closure (so pretty!)
An eyeshadow palette with nine powder shades in mostly shimmery brown, beige, taupe and purple colors; the palette pops out of the larger velvet box for easy touch-ups on the road
A black liquid eyeliner with a thin brush applicator
A clear brow gel
A small dual-tipped brush

anastasia want you to want me palette