Makeup

Makeup and Beauty Blog Looks Back on 2007

December 31st, 2007 by Karen 29 Comments

Ahhh, the last day of 2007. I always get a little sad when I know something is coming to an end; I guess it’s the thought of a part of my life ending and knowing I’ll never be able to go back (unless I drop $10 million for those time travel plans on eBay).

When I started this blog, I never imagined how much fun it would be. This year has been, to quote my eighth grade East Bay self circa 1989, “hella cool.”

Dita Von Teese – Interviewing MAC Viva Glam spokesperson Dita Von Teese at the Macy’s Passport fashion show was a trip. She was so stunningly beautiful and I was so nervous. The other day, I listened to the audio recording of the interview and laughed because I even SOUNDED sweaty.

Paris Hilton – The Dita experience really helped, though, when the time came to interview Paris Hilton for the release of Can Can, her new perfume. It was a level of celebrity that I’d never experienced before — body guards, press folks, rabid fans foaming at the mouth. It was the first time I’d interviewed a really high profile celebrity AND the first time I had to do it in a room filled with people watching me. What a learning experience.

SF Fashion Week – But my favorite event of the year was hanging out with MAC backstage at SF Fashion Week. I fell in love with a few products, learned a lot and met other beauty bloggers, like Erika and Christine.

Laura Mercier – There was plenty of Laura Mercier love last spring.

Tokidoki bag – The Tokidoki bag fit all my stuff AND rocked my world.

Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash – Unfortunately, I experienced getting pimples on my butt for the first time. Fortunately, Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash saved my ass (pardon the pun).

43 makeup things – Thanksgiving was an excuse to eat turkey, wear stretchy pants and think about the 43 makeup things I’m thankful for.

43 non-makeup things – Thanksgiving also provided an opportunity to give thanks for everything else.

Chanel Glossimers – I became a fiend for Chanel Glossimers.

Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple – And Purity Made Simple simply rocked my world.

Chanel Garden Party Quad – Chanel’s National Artist John Fussell helped me fall in love with the Chanel Garden Party Quad, and now there’s no turning back!

Smashbox’s Lori Taylor – Smashbox’s Lori Taylor gave some backstage tips from L.A. Fashion Week.

Billy B. – I met and interviewed one of the nicest guys in the beauty biz.

MAC’s awesome Louise Zizzo – Louise Zizzo saved me from myself when the MAC Mattene collection came out.

Celebrity makeup artist Bruce Grayson – Bruce Grayson’s makeup tips from the Emmy’s red carpet.

Dear Makeup and Beauty Blog – I heard from Shy in Chi-town.

Guide to Smart Clubbing – You asked for tough love, and in the Guide to Smart Clubbing I gave it to ya (hey, I’ve had a lot of practice).

Curiositease – And my number one makeup love, MAC, didn’t let me down.

Pigments and Glitters – Remember when I was grouchy about Pigments and Glitters?

MAC Loose Beauty Powder – I fell in love.

Smoke Signals – It rocked my world.

MAC Mad Libs – We had a lil’ fun together.

MAC Mattene lipsticks – Where’s my plaid shirt and my Pearl Jam CD? MAC Mattene lipsticks took me back to the 90s.

A quick smokey eye with MAC shadow – Oh, this is old school.

But the best thing that happened to me this year was meeting all of you. It’s been fun getting to know you and learning about your lives. You’d think that it would be hard to make a connection behind a computer screen, but sometimes I feel like we’re all just having a cup of coffee together and gabbing about makeup.

I hope you make the most of this fantastic last day of the year!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Chanel Aurora Blues Spring 2008 Makeup Swatches and Face of the Day

December 28th, 2007 by Karen 44 Comments

Girl, it’s hella cold in the Bay Area right now! I suppose I could do some jumping jacks or put on an extra fleece to stay warm, but screw that. I’d rather use Chanel makeup to get me through these long winter nights.

Chanel Winter Nights Quad
chanel-cosmetics-quadra-eyeshadow-winter-nights

Okay, so maybe an eyeshadow quad doesn’t have the warming power of a down comforter. Yes, I may be partially frozen and unable to feel my toes, but at least my eye makeup looks hot.

I gotta give you gals that live in places with freezing temps mega-props for being able to handle a real winter, ’cause when it drops into the 40s here I’m barely functional. It’s so cold that I don’t even want to shower, and, believe me, my will to be clean is VERY STRONG.

My stinky self has resorted to layering and various Jedi mind tricks to keep warm. A good friend from Eastern Europe told me that a trick to surviving cold weather is to walk around thinking hot thoughts, so for the last half hour I’ve been pacing around my living room thinking about Hawaii, Christian Bale and Chanel’s Spring Aurora Blues collection. Three words: hot, hot and HOT!

Remember a few months ago when we got the heads up on what was in store for Chanel’s Spring 2008 color line? Well, the Aurora Blues collection is finally here and available both online at Chanel.com and in person at your nearby Nordstrom Chanel counter.

Here are a few goodies to melt away your cold-weather blues.

Chanel Quadra Eyeshadow in Bleu Celestes (navy and pale tones), $55
chanel-cosmetics-quadra-eyeshadow-bleu-celestes

Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blush in Enchanteresse (brown rose), $40
chanel-cosmetics-joues-contraste-powder-blush-enchanteresse

Chanel Rouge Allure Lipstick in Exquise (shimmering peach), $30
chanel-cosmetics-rouge-allure-exquise

The limited edition Fleurs de Chanel eyeshadow quad is really cute, but I passed because I don’t really see myself wearing these pale colors. Plus, I couldn’t bear to ruin the beautiful camilla flower design, and I sure as heck am not going to throw down $65 bucks for a quad that I’m only going to admire from afar.

chanel-spring-2008-fleurs-de-chanel-eyes-quad

I love the beauty shot for this collection. Isn’t she pretty?

For some weird reason I’m digging those big, Brooke Shields-esque brows, too.

Face of the Day

The model in the pic above inspired this face o’ the day.

chanel-spring-2008-bleu-celestes-quad-fotd-eye-closeup

All the makeup I used here was by Chanel.

Eyes:
From the Bleu Celestes Quad:
Browbone – white shadow
Crease – grey shadow
Inner lid – light blue shadow
Upper and lower lash line – dark blue shadow
Lashes – two coats of Inimitable Mascara

Cheeks:
Joues Contraste blush in Enchanteresse

Face:
Matte Reflecting Powder Makeup in Honey

Lips:
Rouge Allure in Exquise

To get the bright, bold blue at the lashline, apply the shadow with a wet, flat brush like the MAC 239 or 252. When applied wet, it’s exactly the same color as the Precision Eyeliner in Blue Jean ($27.50), so save yourself some money (is that even possible with Chanel?) and get more bang for your buck by purchasing the Bleu Celestes quad instead.

The chimera of the lip product world

Last but not least is this cutie pie from the Spring 2008 collection, Creme Gloss Lumiere in Petit Four ($32), a creme pink lipstick/lipgloss hybrid that comes in a brush pen.

chanel-creme-gloss-lumiere-petit-four-product-shot

Creme Gloss Lumiere blends the best of both worlds by combining the texture of a lipstick with the high shine of a lipgloss. I like the light texture and the color. Even though I wish the brush pen was a little bit stiffer, it’s still easy to use and perfect for when I don’t have time to apply lipstick with a lipbrush.

chanel-creme-gloss-lumiere-petit-four

Swatch it good. Swatch it real good.

And, yes, I couldn’t forget the swatches. 🙂

From left to right:

1. Creme Gloss Lumiere in Petit Four
2. Rouge Allure Lipstick in Exquise
3-6. Quadra Eyeshadow in Bleu Celestes
7. Joues Contraste Powder Blush in Enchanteresse

Somebody make me some tea! It’s FREEZING!

Stay warm, ladies.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Get Green with L’Oreal, Maybelline and Lancome Eyeshadows

December 23rd, 2007 by Karen 12 Comments

Green is good

Oh, oh, oh! Ever since MAC Parrot eyeshadow entered my life I’ve been a little obsessed with greens, and I’m not talking collards or peas, girl. Behold my current green shadow crushes, from the left to the right: Maybelline Antique Jade Expert Wear Eye Shadow, Lancome Ombre-Eclair in Emerald and L’Oreal’s Pure Pigment Shadow Stick in Mesmerizing.

If you’re still green-shy, then consider Maybelline Antique Jade Expert Wear Eye Shadow (about $3.50), a very pretty true green with no blue undertones. Its soft, pearl finish gives it a subtle shimmer, and in my experience shimmer shadows are easier to blend than mattes and more forgiving.

Because the shadow isn’t as pigmented as MAC or Shu Uemura eyeshadows, you have lots of room for error. I like lining both my upper and lower lashlines with a creamy liner like MAC Technakohl, and then applying Antique Jade to “set” it in much the same way that loose powder sets foundation. Layering the shadow on top of your eyeliner gives eyes a different texture and color than using eyeshadow or eyeliner alone.

Didja ever make chalk drawings on the sidewalk when you were a kid? I dig L’Oreal’s Pure Pigment Shadow Stick in Mesmerizing ($9.99), an olive-green shadow that comes in a stick, not only ’cause it looks like chalk, but also for its flexibility. My lazy beast self likes to use it when I’m in a hurry because it leaves out the middle man, aka the brush. I apply the stick color directly on my lid along the upper lash line, and then smooth out the edges with my fingers for a sheer, shimmery green lid. Two coats of mascara and I’m done!

If I want a bolder look I run the stick briefly under water. Wetting it intensifies the color, turning it into a metallic gold-green. Don’t you love having options?

Last but not least there’s Lancome’s Ombre-Eclair eyeshadow pencil in Emerald ($20.00), a bold green shadow with color punch that comes in an easy-to-use pencil. Soft and creamy, it glides onto my lids without any tugging; just one swipe over my top lid leaves a bright, shiny burst of color.

Be warned: because the formula is smooth like buttah, it does have a tendency to migrate into the crease, so I use it with an industrial strength lid primer like Urban Decay Potion Primer on my top lid. I usually don’t like Potion Primer because it makes shadows hard to blend, but if I’m only going to use one swipe of color it’s fine.

Another option is to layer a dry powder shadow like Antique Jade or MAC Vex on top to prevent color from migrating and create lotsa different effects.

Are ya ready to go green? 😉

Here I go again on my own, going down the only road I’ve ever known…

I don’t have to go to work tomorrow, so it doesn’t feel like Sunday at all! Not having the gnawing feeling of “Here I goooooo again!” in the pit of my stomach sure helps my mental health.

Mega super props if you can name 1.) the video this pic is from and 2.) the woman who made gymnastics on automobiles an art form

Today I did a *ton* of cleaning and then went for a looooong run in the cold (LOL, it’s 55 degrees here in Northern California. I know that’s practically tropical compared to most parts of the country). Now, El Hub and I are off to the movies to elevate our minds with the fine feature film, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. Marcello Mastroianni it ain’t, but I need a good mindless flick from time to time!

Are your stockings stuffed? What are you hoping Santa will bring you this Christmas? I’m really wishing for a vat of peppermint ice cream from Baskin Robbins.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Your weekend isn’t complete without the weekend round up of the best posts from the Beauty Blog Network!

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Makeup Tips: Becca Cosmetics Foundation for Neutral Skin Tones

December 20th, 2007 by Karen 22 Comments

When it comes to finding foundation colors that match my skin tone, I sometimes feel like a brown Goldilocks. Paul & Joe foundation? Too yellow. Maybelline Pure Makeup? Way too pink.

I’ve struggled to find the right in-between shade that doesn’t make my face look ashy or sallow. If you have the same foundation color woes, then you just might dig my two new fave foundations, Becca Luminous Skin Colour tinted moisturizer ($40.00) and Becca Stick Foundation ($39.00). Both create a perfect, natural foundation look for neutral skin tones.

Becca Luminous Skin Colour in the shade Nut, with Becca Stick Foundation in Coffee
becca-cosmetics-luminous-color-stick-foundation

Becca Cosmetics, an Australian line known for its extensive range of foundations and powder shades, can help you achieve a flawless, natural-looking and long-lasting foundation look. But be forewarned, Becca believes you’ve got to use multiple products: primer, tinted moisturizer, stick foundation and powder.

In addition to foundation for neutral skin tones, Becca has a wide range of foundation colors — pink, yellow and warm shades — for other skin tones. If you have skin with a neutral tone like I do, with skin that’s neither pink/red nor yellow/gold dominating your skin color, it can be really hard to find a foundation because so many of them are rarely true neutral.

Combining several $40 products seems like an expensive, time-consuming endeavor. The skeptic in me originally thought this was just clever marketing, but after a few weeks of using both the Luminous Skin Colour tinted moisturizer and the Stick Foundation, I’m really digging this combination because the color matches my skin perfectly. They’re also easy to use and don’t break me out.

How to work it

I’m a total lazy beast, so here’s my quick and dirty guide to how I use Becca foundation. These steps take about four minutes if I’m in a hurry.

1. Prep skin with moisturizer and sunscreen.
2. Blot excess.
3. If I have time, I’ll start by applying a layer of Laura Mercier Oil-Free primer, but I usually skip this step.
4. Apply 1-2 pumps of Becca Luminous Skin Color all over face with fingers.
5. Put a few dabs of Stick Foundation on fingers and rub between fingers to warm up product. Apply only to areas where color needs to be evened out; on me that’s the red patches around my nose, on my cheeks and between my brows. Smooth and blend into skin until obvious lines are covered.
6. Apply Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder all over to set foundation.

When applying foundation, I usually like using the MAC 182 brush, but, with Becca products, fingers work better. The Luminous Skin Colour has a thinner consistency and matches my skin tone more closely than Laura Mericer’s Tinted Moisturizer does. It doesn’t look like it’s sitting on top of my skin the way Laura Mercier’s tinted moisturizer does, and I don’t need to worry as much about blending the product with my 182 brush to create a natural look. The Stick Foundation has a thick and waxy consistency, but, again, the color matches my skin so well that warm fingers are all I need to blend it easily and perfectly into my skin.

Neutral Territory

switzerland-map

For me, the defining difference between the Becca foundations and Laura Mercier’s tinted moisturizer is color. I’ve always known that Laura Mercier’s “Almond” shade was close to my natural skin tone (albeit a touch too pink), but I liked the coverage and just assumed I’d never find anything closer. But Becca’s Stick Foundation in the Coffee shade is truly neutral, with no dominant yellows or pinks, and melts right into my skin.

Other neutral colors in the Becca Stick Foundation line are:

Light to fair
Latte – pink-neutral/light to fair complexions

Fair to medium
Praline – neutral/fair complexions
Banana – neutral/fair to medium complexions
Tahini – neutral/fair to medium complexions

Medium
Macadamia – neutral/medium complexions
Brulee – neutral/medium complexions
Mallow – neutral/medium complexions

Tan
Toffee – neutral/light tan complexions
Coffee – neutral/tan complexions
Honeycomb – neutral/light tan complexions

Golden Brown
Truffle – neutral/golden brown complexions
Chestnut – neutral/warm brown complexions
Almond – neutral/rich warm brown complexions
Chocolate – neutral/deep chocolate brown complexions

Dark Bronze
Molasses – neutral/very dark bronze complexions
Espresso – neutral-warm/very dark bronze complexions

becca-cosmetics-stick-foundation-swatch

You can peep all the Becca shades on Sephora.com, where the massive Becca blowout sale continues.

Side note: Don’t the makeup gods have a sick sense of humor? I finally find foundation that matches my skin perfectly and snag it on sale at a deep discount (SCORE!) on Sephora.com … but, of course, the only reason I get it so cheap is ’cause Sephora’s phasing out their entire Becca inventory. CRAP! I did find a few online sites still carrying the line, though, like Dermstore, and the Becca Web site, so all is not lost.

Stick Foundation: Easy, like Sunday morning

I’ve only used liquid foundations in the past, so I thought a stick foundation would be hard to use. I was wrong. I love that I don’t have to spend a lot of time blending. Another thing that surprised me is how the formula can be so thick yet feel so light on my skin. It doesn’t migrate or streak, and it never cakes. I like sheer to medium coverage, so I don’t use much, but if you like a heavier foundation look you can easily layer the product to achieve more coverage.

Even if you don’t have a neutral skin tone, the Becca foundations are worth checking out. They perform well, have a great color selection and are easy to use. With so many colors, you’re bound to find something that works for you!

Pretty young things, repeat after me, say “Nah, nah, nah nah!”

Why are you staring at this old school pic of MJ?

michael-jackson-old-school-2

Today I have Michael Jackson’s “PYT” stuck in my head:

Now it’s stuck in yours too, isn’t it?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Vending Machines Open for Beauty

December 17th, 2007 by Karen 31 Comments

Ghost in the machine

Beauty vending machines are popping up everywhere. Check out this stalker-ish camera pic of the new ProActiv kiosk at my nearby mall:

proactiv-kiosk

Shoot, I remember when all you could buy from vending machines were cans of Coke and bags of Corn Nuts.

Remember how a few days ago I bemoaned the loss of the Elizabeth Arden counter at Macy’s? Well, I spoke too soon. Now, even Elizabeth Arden has vending machines:

elizabeth-arden-kiosk

I can stock up on Ceramide mascara and Eight Hour Cream when I visit the Westfield Shopping Center in San Francisco, hooray. (Side note: Bay Area girls, there are also vending kiosks in Westfield Oakridge Mall in San Jose and Westfield Valley Fair Mall, Santa Clara.)

Could this be the future of the cosmetics counter?

On the one hand I like that I can just walk in, get what I want and then leave without being stopped by a sales associate. Then again, I also really appreciate getting tips and recommendations from real, live, breathing makeup artists. I also like being able to touch and test products in-store, which you can’t do (legally) using these machines.

How do you feel about this trend? Yay or nay?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Review: Shu Uemura Cosmetics Holiday MUSE Collection

December 16th, 2007 by Karen 31 Comments

All Roads Lead Back to Shu

“So, what are your favorite products?”

I love that question. Everyone has their own list of favorites, but there’s one brand I hear mentioned over and over again. Among people who’ve tried the brand before, almost everyone mentions Shu Uemura. People rave with rabid fanaticism about Shu’s famous eyelash curler (considered an industry standard) or their eyeshadows. Once, a gal even pulled a Shu curler from her purse and offered to curl my lashes in front of the Old Navy on Market Street. I politely declined.

shu-uemura-tree

But that wasn’t my most shocking Shu moment. At brunch with my good friend, Cindy, who never wears makeup, I almost choked on my pancakes when she produced a Shu Uemura eyeliner brush from her purse and proceeded to explain in detail why she loved it so much. The cult of Shu is all around us.

A high-end Japanese luxury line developed by Hollywood makeup artist Shu Uemura, Shu creates clean, no-nonsense skin care products, brushes and makeup. The clear packaging is refreshingly simple, conveying just how serious their products are about getting down to business.

There’s so much hype surrounding the line that when I recently got the chance to play with the new Shu Uemura Holiday Muse collection, I was worried my expectations would be too high to meet.

Unfortunately for my wallet, Shu did not disappoint. Their superior product textures and colors melted my heart faster that butter on hot toast.

shu-uemura-cosmetics-makeup-holiday-2007-1

Inspired by warm gold shades and candlelight, the Muse look is sophisticated and elegant, yet natural. It’s totally my makeup style, and one of my favorite collections of 2007.

shu-uemura-cosmetics-muse-holiday-beauty-shot

Here’s the collection from left to right:
shu-uemura-cosmetics-makeup-holiday-2007-2

Chocolate Brown Nail Enamel – rich, warm brown with metallic effects ($16.00)
Gold Beige Nail Enamel – subtle golden sparkles ($16.00)
Dignified Grace Pressed Eyeshadow Palette – three shadows and one blush ($65.00)
Chocolate Brown Rouge Unlimited Lipstick – rich and elegant brown ($23.00)
Pink Beige Rouge Unlimited Lipstick – soft pink-beige ($23.00)
Gold Beige Rouge Unlimited Lipstick – warm nude-beige ($23.00)
Enchanting Charisma Pressed Eyeshadow Palette – three shadows and one blush ($65.00)

First Impressions of the Shu Uemura Color Line

What grabbed my attention and held it tight were the textures and colors of the eyeshadows and blushes.

You know how chalky eyeshadows and blushes sit on top of your skin and look really obvious? Imagine the opposite of that to the Nth degree. Shu Uemura’s shadows and blushes are so finely milled that they look seamless on my lids and cheeks.

Despite the richness of these colors, they apply evenly in a single layer. It was most obvious with shadows in the Dignified Grace palette. All three color shadows contain extremely fine glitter, and when I swept the colors over my eyelids as a wash the glitter almost magically distributed evenly over the entire lid. Neat, and a little freaky at the same time.

I was fascinated by how the blush and shadow formulas have such a high concentration of color. Highly pigmented products can scare me because when there’s a lot of color there’s less room for error, but despite their pigmentation Shu shadows and blushes still manage to look natural; the color is there, but you don’t look like a crazy lady who can’t lay off the rouge.

Although I liked the three lipsticks, I wasn’t as wowed by them as I was by Shu’s shadows and blushes. They do have a soft, slick texture on my lips and feel hydrating, which I dig, and I appreciate how the earth-toned colors from the Muse collection are easy to wear.

Rouge Unlimited Lipsticks

If you’re a fan of MAC Lustre lipsticks then you’ll love Shu Uemura’s Rouge Unlimited lipsticks, which have a similar lightweight texture.

shu-uemura-cosmetics-makeup-holiday-2007-lipsticks

shu-uemura-cosmetics-rouge-unlimited-lipstick-swatches

There are 65 Rouge Unlimited lipsticks in the Shu Uemura color collection, and each has:
– an exclusive hybrid of pigments
– high color payoff
– rich texture, ultra-smooth application
– a ceramide shield for 8-hour moisture comfort

Can’t decide among the three Muse lippies? If you’re on a budget, then pick up Chocolate Brown, my absolute favorite of the three.

Pressed Eye Shadow Palettes

With three pressed eyeshadows and blush apiece, the two Muse shadow palettes are a great introduction to the Shu Uemura color line.

shu-uemura-cosmetics-makeup-palettes-dignified-grace-enchanting-charisma-eye-shadow-glow-on

shu-uemura-cosmetics-pressed-eye-shadow-palettes-enchanting-charisma-dignified-grace

What’s behind the magic of Shu’s pressed eyeshadows?

– micro-fine powders with two different shapes that adhere firmly to skin for an even, long-lasting finish
– silicone-coated powder, resulting in truest color pay-off and a non-fading finish
– light capturing powders to absorb and reflect light for a multi-dimensional finish

Shu also carries different finishes — Matte (M), Pearl (P), Iridescent (IR) and Metallic (ME) — for each color of shadow. Imagine finding your holy grail eye shadow color and then being able to get it in a variety of different finishes, too! I think this is very cool.

Girl, you need to seriously consider throwing down the cash for the Dignified Grace Palette. I LOVE all of its eyeshadow colors and the peachy-gold blush gives my cheeks that J. Lo glow.

Face of the Day

Here’s the Muse-inspired look I wore today while Christmas shopping.

shu-uemura-cosmetics-muse-holiday-face-of-the-day

shu-uemura-cosmetics-muse-holiday-face-of-the-day-2

That’s the Dignified Grace palette on my eyes and cheeks and a mix of Chocolate Brown and Pink Beige Rouge Unlimited lipstick. Oh, and those lashes are courtesy of Ceramide mascara!

Shu Uemura Online Friends and Family Sale is ON!

Right now there’s a fatty sale on the Shu Uemura Web site. Enter promotion code code HOLIDAY07 at checkout to get 20% off all purchases. That’s a nice chunk of change. Be sure to register when you log onto the site, too, because if you register and spend over $75, shipping is free. Hurry, though, because the sale ends Monday, December 17th.

Are you done with your holiday shopping yet? Maybe you should reward yourself with a few goodies from Shu! 😉

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Mascara Review

December 13th, 2007 by Karen 22 Comments

I’ve been crushing pretty hard on MAC Plush Lash for the past few months, but it looks like there’s a new love in town, Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Lash Extending Treatment Mascara ($20).

elizabeth-arden-ceramide-mascara

Ooh, shiny!
I have this in black, and the best thing about it is the finish. It’s a deep, inky black that gives my lashes gloss and shine.

Hey fatty!
I like a big lash look, but on me it takes some work ’cause my natural lashes are just plain jane average, both in terms of length and thickness.

A single coat of Ceramide mascara thickens my lashes without leaving them looking fake or unnatural, and two coats produces long, fat, defined, party-like-a-rockstar lashes.

Curly girlie!
Another issue I have with my lashes is that they’re stick straight (BOO), so I need a mascara that holds the curl I get from my lash curler. Ceramide mascara holds the curl all day (and night) long, giving me a wide-eyed look ’til the wee hours.

Rawk on!
But wait, there’s more! To top all this gloriousness off, Ceramide doesn’t flake, keeps my lashes soft and doesn’t leave smudge marks, either.

And it’s good for you, too!
Ceramide mascara has a bunch of superstar stuff in it to condition and revitalize your lashes like:
– Ceramide Triple Complex (Ceramides 1, 3 and 6) plus Vitamins A, C and E to help reinforce and restore lashes’ natural protective barrier
– Keravis, a conditioning ingredient known to help strengthen and fortify lashes

If I had a wish…
I’d made this more easily accessible. None of the department stores at my nearby mall carry Elizabeth Arden, so I have to order it online, and while the brush is easy to use, I wish it were a little fatter like the MAC Plush Lash brush.

Celebrate good times, COME ON!

Friday is that much closer, ya’ll. Are you ready?

Tomorrow I’m busting out the Christmas decorations, doing some blogging and hopefully finishing my Christmas shopping. Why is it so hard to shop for boys? ARGH!

Anyway, I hope your day was swell and that you’re feeling good. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Drugstore Foundation Review, Maybelline Pure Makeup

December 13th, 2007 by Karen 20 Comments

I lurves my Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, but truth be told my cheap ass hates having to pay $42.00 for it. There’s got to be a decent drugstore foundation out there that doesn’t cause break-outs. Could the answer be Maybelline’s Pure Makeup foundation?

maybelline-pure-makeup-foundation

The hook behind Maybelline’s Pure Makeup foundation is that instead of it being filled with pore-clogging oils it’s made with water — 50 percent water — allegedly making it better for gals with acne-prone skin like moi.

This oil-free liquid foundation comes in 12 shades, and I’ve tested two of them, honey beige and medium beige. I was really hoping Maybelline Pure Makeup would rock my world because it’s so damn cheap (six bucks, hello!), but I have mixed feelings about it despite its many positives.

Big hearts for:
– Price; a 30ml sized tube for $6.00
– Light-to-medium coverage
– Doesn’t cause me to break out
– Easy to apply and blend
– Texture; it’s more like a tinted moisturizer than a runny liquid foundation
– Tube is travel friendly and hygienic (no dipping of the fingers into a nasty jar)
– Easy to find; I’ve seen it in all the drugstores in my ‘hood including Walgreen’s, Long’s and Rite Aid
– Natural-looking matte finish

I bought the honey beige shade when I still had a tan a few months ago, and it looked good on me despite being a touch too pink. Medium beige has a slightly lighter color, and like the honey beige is just a little too pink on me as well. I’ve always had an issue with foundation color matching though (overly pink shades can look ashy, and overly-yellow shades make me look ill) so this problem isn’t anything new. But the color isn’t the biggest issue for me when it comes to this product. It’s the fact that after a few hours this foundation streaks like a mo’ fo. I’ll put it on evenly in the morning, set it with powder, but by the end of the day I can see the product on my skin in little patches. Big, fat HELL_TO_THE_NO.

However, I don’t think you should dismiss it immediately because it streaked on my skin; I’ve read that it doesn’t happen to everyone, so it might not be an issue for you. Pure Makeup didn’t aggravate my skin at all and is very budget friendly – both huge plusses. If you’ve got acne or sensitive skin issues then check it out, and if you don’t like it you can always return it if you keep your receipt. 🙂

You might heart it if:
– You have acne-prone, sensitive skin
– You need light-to-medium coverage
– You like foundations with pink tones
– You are on a budget
– You use primer underneath your foundation

Do you have a favorite drugstore foundation that you can’t live without? What do you think I should try next?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Before you jet, beauty lover, check out the home page for more makeup reviews. 🙂