Makeup

Your Tarte will Go On and On

November 15th, 2007 by Karen 18 Comments

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With the recent departure of TEAM MIDGET MAC from I Love NY 2, it was only natural that I turn to Tarte’s limited edition Mini Cheek Stain set — another pint-sized cutie — to comfort my broken reality TV heart.

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The skinny on Tarte’s We Wish You Happiness Mini Cheek Stain Set:

This set of three gel-blushes comes in a purple quilted box with gold accents. Inside is a huge mirror so you can admire your bad self!

– $30.00
– three water-based gel blushes
– oil-free and alcohol-free, so the formula doesn’t cause zits or dry out your skin (my two main issues in life!)
– three colors: Merry (sheer candy-pink), Delighted (shimmery rose-gold) and Enchanted (shimmery pale-pink)
– super easy to blend and apply to cheeks; just use your fingers or apply directly from the tube

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I know you’re tempted to keep this one for yourself. I can’t blame you! But if you’re still making your list this would be a great gift for:

Your mom. Is your mom makeup shy like mine? My moms doesn’t really wear anything except lipstick (the apple fell far from the tree in that respect) and doesn’t own any makeup brushes (seriously, waaaaay far from the tree). I think this would be a good way to introduce her to some non-intimidating blushes.

Your mid-day gym bud. If you usually hit the gym in the middle of your work day, sometimes you’ve only got time to do minimal makeup. This set would be a great gift for gym girls who only have five minutes or less to do post-workout primping.

Your lil’ cousin. Got a younger cousin or sister who is just getting into makeup? These blushes are natural and pretty but won’t make her look garish. You can spend some quality time with her by setting up a makeup date to show her how to use them!

Tarte’s got a ton of fantabulous holiday goodies this year! I’ll be doing a thorough review soon, but here’s a sneak peek…

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Ohhh la lovely!

Oy, I’m so itching for the weekend! 🙂 Hope you are having a wonderful Thursday and that your lipgloss is poppin’.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Gilded Glamour: The Best Estee Lauder Holiday 2007 Lipstick Picks

November 14th, 2007 by Karen 32 Comments

The Golden Age, Part One

All month long I’ve been writing about the best makeup and beauty gifts to give your loved ones this holiday season. I know ’tis the season of giving and all that, but sometimes you gotta snag a lil’ something-something for yourself. Shhh — Don’t worry. I won’t tell Santa!

One big holiday theme many of the lines are using this year is gold product packaging. And I love, love, love it! If like me you’re a sucker for elegant packaging, then the one thing that you absolutely must pick up for yourself is a tube of Estee Lauder’s Signature Lipstick ($19.50).

Check out these beauties, along with Estee Lauder’s Limited Edition Platinum Illuminator Loose Shimmer Powder:

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The gold fluted tube looks and feels rich and oh so glam. One cool thing that surprised me was the weight. The lipstick tubes are surprisingly heavy, which makes the packaging feel even more exclusive. Shoot, even El Hub was impressed (“Wow, that’s heavy and kinda pretty”) and he’s a dude that doesn’t know gloss from matte!

Blinding You with Lipstick Science

In addition to the amazing packaging, the lipstick formula is fantastic. It’s soft, light, long-wearing, doesn’t dry my lips out and is SUPER SHINY! I’m talking shinier than the light at the end of the tunnel, ya’ll. When I wear lipstick I usually top it off with gloss because I like a really shiny lip, but with the Signature Lipsticks I skip the gloss entirely because it’s shiny enough on its own.

To get this amazing finish, a lot of technology went into getting the formula just right.

All lipsticks are made from wax, oil and color, and most typically begin with a natural wax base and a yellowy-white baseline color, which is often hard, heavy, and has an inconsistent density and composition.

The Signature Lipsticks have a different texture and performance because of a synthetic wax base, which offers improved emolliency and brighter color.

It’s then combined with gelants for cushion and comfort, esters for slip and luster, and a special emollient paste, which is made up of a blend of oils (previously reserved only for lip glosses) that melts on the lips. This gives the lipstick its shiny finish. Finally, a film form binds these elements together, keeping the ingredients and pigments intact.

Did you know so much technology went into that lil’ tube? I sure didn’t.

Colors for All Ya’ll

There are 24 Signature Lipstick colors that are universally flattering. Here are six of my favorites:

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And here are the color group breakdowns to make your lipstick selection easier:

Pink-Berry: Pink Champagne, Perfect Pink, Lush Rose, Rich Berry, Venetian Rose, Dune Rose, Tender Rose, Cocoa Rose, Woodland Berry
Mauve-Plum: Tender Mauve, Orchid Light, Soft Amethyst, Plum Frost, Rich Currant
Nude-Brown: Burnished Bronze, Toasted Walnut, Copper Glow, Mocha, Chestnut
Coral-Red: Spiced Coral, Apricot Sun, Copper Coral, Rich Red, Black Cherry

If you want to indulge but are on a one-lipstick kinda budget then check out either of my top faves: Rich Currant and Apricot Sun. The colors are so easy to wear and super pretty for both work or an evening out with the girls.

Random Lipstick Fun Facts

– 80% of women wear lipstick.
– Lipstick dates back 5000 years to when the earliest woman wooed the earliest man by staining her lips with red berries. Rock on, cave girl! Go and get your man!

Sparkle, Motion

So, when you hit the Estee Lauder counter to look at the Signature Lipsticks, don’t forget to check out the Limited Edition Platinum Illuminator Loose Shimmer Powder ($32.00). That’s it on the left hand side of the first pic. I tried to swatch it but, honestly, the picture does not do this powder justice. It’s so pretty in real life and for some reason I just can’t get the lighting right in my photo studio (aka my dining room/office) to capture the peachy-gold flecks correctly!

If you like MAC’s Loose Beauty Powders, then you might like this powder too. It’s a multi-tasking shimmer powder, very grown up and sophisticated – no cheesy club glitter here, ladies. You can use it as a highlighter on your face, or you can dust it on your shoulders and decollate for a festive glow. I’ve even mixed it with moisturizer and worn it to my legs! Oh, and the jar is GINORMOUS. There’s enough product to take you into the your next few lifetimes.

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The Platinum Illuminator Loose Shimmer Powder is just one part of Estee Lauder’s Holiday 2007 Into The Night color collection, which is all about sheer, luminous, wearable metallic hues. The look is modern with a mix of classic elegance and cosmopolitan glamour: think tailored suiting, pencil skirts, with sophisticated shades of gold, copper and bronze with hints of rich metallic red.

This color line reminds me of elegant, sophisticated glamour, and makes me want to throw on a scarf, a string of pearls and a pair of black patent high heels. What do you think? Are you feeling this?

T-minus Eight Days ‘Till Turkey Day

Sometimes I’m amazed how fast time flies. It seems to be moving quicker as I get older, too, which seems TOTALLY UNFAIR because now I’ve got exponentially more stuff to do.

Thanksgiving is next week, can you believe it? I love any holiday that is food focused. I like turkey, but I’m all about the side dishes and dessert: corn, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, pumpkin pie! The only downside to this is all the extra time spent at the gym working on my fitness (lol, don’t lie, I know you love that “Fergalicious” song.) El Hub and I will be heading out to the East Bay to hang with my family. What are your plans?

Anyway, ya’ll have a wonderful Wednesday! Keep on keepin’ on ….

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Three Ways to Sparkle this Holiday Season

November 13th, 2007 by Karen 23 Comments

I wish I could get all of my closest friends diamonds for Christmas — they really are a girl’s best friend — but unfortunately I have yet to acquire vast riches and treasure chests of gold.

While makeup may not exactly be equivalent to a platinum pave friendship bracelet, there are several products out this holiday season that have just as much sparkle and shine. Here are three great choices for the best friend who is always there for you.

Make Up For Ever Professional’s Diamonds For Ever Kit

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Sparkle, shine, drama: Make Up For Ever’s limited edition Diamonds For Ever Kit is not only beautiful but also multi-functional!

Every piece in the kit is geared toward creating a look infused with diamonds, and you can use pieces in the kit together or separately to create different looks.

The kit is just $49.00, but you get $110 worth of Make Up For Ever goodies including:

– Aqua Eyes Water Proof Eye Pencil 1L in Star Black
– Diamond Shadow 301 in Diamond White
– Diamond Powder 11 (a loose shimmer powder) in Champagne
– Fascinating Lip Gloss 1 in Pearly Transparent
– Waterproof Lengthening Mascara in 1 Black
– and a cute black vanity tote with a built in mirror and velcro closure to hold all of the goodies!

I know a few weeks ago I was ranting on and on about my glitter issues ,but the Diamonds For Ever set has officially made me one with the glitter.

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I played around with the kit this weekend and totally fell for the Aqua Eyes Water Proof Eye Pencil, Diamond Shadow and Waterproof Lengthening Mascara. The Aqua Eyes is *the* standout product. It doesn’t tug at my lids and is super easy to apply. Once you get it on your eyes, it stays put all day. It performs similarly to MAC Technakohl, so if you are a MAC Technakohl fan then you might want to give Aqua Eyes a try. Methinks I love it even more than my Graphblack!

Here’s a fotd with all the products, along with MAC Dollymix blush on the cheeks and a layer of MAC Composure lipstick underneath a layer of Fascinating lip gloss:

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The obligatory goofy pic…
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Pick this set up for your glitter-lurvin’ best girl.

Givenchy Irresisistible Perfume: For the Girly-girl

I’ve been reviewing a lot of boyfriend-inspired perfumes lately like Covet, so I wanted to find a holiday perfume that would suit the other end of the perfume spectrum.

Feminine, floral, sparkly: Givenchy’s Very Irresistible is unmistakably girly.

(Oh, and in case you are wondering, I did give the new Armani “Diamonds” perfume — an obvious tie-in to this post — a sniff. I liked it but wanted to find something that was super-fem with strong rose notes.)

On me, Very Irresistible smells like a lovely bouquet of roses with hints of fresh, sparkling green notes — think emerald cut diamonds and fresh cut flower stems!

The scent notes include: Centrifolia Rose, Peony Rose, Fantasia Rose, Passion Rose, Emotion Rose, Verbena Leaf and Star Anise. In addition to being an uber-feminine scent, it’s also versatile, and perfect for both a work day and a date night.

Give your best girl the 2.4 Eau du Toilette spray ($69.00). The graceful pink bottle is huge, and like a diamond, will last forever.

Random fragrance fun fact: Givenchy recently celebrated their 50 year fragrance anniversary this year. Givenchy’s first fragrances were Le De and L’Interdit, and Audrey Hepburn (my style hero) posed for the advertising campaign, becoming the first celebrity to be associated with a fragrance launch.

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Olay Definity Eye Illuminator, For Your Make Up Wearing Gym Buddy

What the heck does eye cream have to do with sparkly diamonds? Hear me out, ya’ll!

There’s been constant discussion on this blog about wearing makeup at the gym. If you are one of the lucky few who can brave the gym sans makeup, then props to you for being such a natural beauty! I wish I could get away with no makeup, but I’ve got to put at least some concealer under my eyes, otherwise I look like the living dead. It’s so not cute, especially when you’re watching yourself do bicep curls.

And lately my dark circles have been really bad. To remedy this pressing and slightly stressful issue I’ve been layering Make Up For Ever Lift Concealer on top of Olay Definity, an under eye treatment that helps to lessen darkness and shadows. And wowee wow wow!

I put a few small drops underneath my eyes and then layer concealer on top. It gives the tiniest amount of shimmer, and it makes my under eye area look brighter.

It’s a really subtle brightening effect, so don’t expect your dark circles to disappear in a magical poof of smoke. It’s an eye cream, not a Christmas miracle. However, if you’re uber-conscious like me about your dark circles, then you might find the extra step worth it.

Got a best friend who’s always working on her fitness and/or bemoaning her dark circles? Pop a tube of Olay Definity Eye Illuminator (about $22.00) in her stocking.

Enjoy this wonderfully sunny day, ya’ll!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup Junkies, Don’t Miss the Nordstrom Cosmetics Trend Show!

November 11th, 2007 by Karen 22 Comments

There are only two reasons I’d wake up at 5:00 a.m. on a cold, dreary Saturday morning — if I had to catch a plane to a far off tropical location, OR if I had the chance to see the latest Holiday makeup trends at the Nordstrom Cosmetics Trend Show.

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After two cups of coffee and several layers of concealer (gotta hide those dark circles), your girl hauled her cookies over to Nordstrom Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek to see the best Holiday 2007 makeup and skincare trends from several lines, including Dior, Chanel, Lancome, Clinique, Philosophy and MAC.

I met up with my blogging buddy Christine, who I thought would be the only other person crazy enough to wake up at 5:00 a.m. to go look at makeup. Little did I realize we weren’t the only ones. When we got to the store at 7:30, there was already a line of women waiting out front. You go, ladies!

Hurry up and sit down, ya’ll!
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To attend a Nordstrom Cosmetics Trend Show, visit their Web site for dates and locations near you (listed under their “Store Locations & Events” section). RSVP by phone. There’s a modest $15.00 cover charge, which applies toward any beauty/cosmetics purchases you make on the day of the event.

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If you love cosmetics but are NOT a morning person, then be forewarned: the Trend Show is kinda like a rock concert. There’s loud music, hot models, screaming women (no joke!) and unbridled makeup enthusiasm. Several premier artists from top lines, like Louise Zizzo (MAC), John Fussell (Chanel), Rachel Ito (Clinique) and John Trau (Philosophy) discussed the hottest looks for this season.

Louise Zizzo from MAC works the crowd
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John Fussel from Chanel. Check out the model’s boots!
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Bold Lips and Eyes!

The three trends featured at this show were matte skin, lined eyes and red/burgundy lips.

Matte Skin:

– natural yet flawless extra-matte finish
– new products have lightweight and transparent matte formulas, unlike the heavier mattes of the 90s
– healthier, brighter-looking skin without the shine

Matte skin and flirty lined eyes from Lancome
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Lined eyes:

– dynamically lined eyes for powerful, strong looks
– for a flirty look, try black, slate or grey liner on top lashes
– for an edgy look, try liner on lower lashes only
– to keep focus on black-lined eyes, use natural lip tones

An edgy, chic look from MAC
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Red/burgundy lips:

– colors for fall include scarlet, burgundy or aubergine hues
– top bold colors with gloss, or smooth down with matte pigments
– to draw attention to lips, use a slight touch of color on eyes and mascara only

Estee Lauder featured bold lips
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But wait! There’s more…

Another great reason to sign up for one of these shows is you get free stuff. Everyone at this event received this stylish, roomy, silver train case.

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In addition to the train cases we also got snacks. Honey, you know that the two ways to my heart are through Chanel and through my stomach, so I was super excited to open my little goody box to find it filled with fruit, muffins and other yummy morning snacks.

But the fun didn’t stop there. In one of the show’s many raffles, Christine, who at the start of the show bemoaned how she never wins anything, actually won a bag full of Fusion Beauty products, ha ha ha! Lucky!

Joelle Russo, Nordstrom beauty director and emcee for the show, gets ready to raffle off more goodies
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After the show, attendees headed downstairs to the store’s beauty department to buy more goodies and get makeovers. Several of the lines had special gift-with-purchase offers, free samples, and “best of” product packages for sale.

A Philosophy bag from the trend show filled with of some of the best products in the line. Can you spot my new fave cleanser, Purity Made Simple?
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This special gift from Clinique included Allure magazine favorites from their color and skincare lines
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If you love makeup then I highly recommend checking it out one of these shows. There are two Nordsrom trend shows happening next weekend, November 17, at the Fashion Valley and Valley Fair Nordstrom stores in California. Check out the Nordstrom site for more details.

Oh, and if you do plan on going, don’t let your husband play around with your beauty loot when you get home. I’m just sayin’…

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I hope your weekend has been full of lots of makeup fun!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P. S. Your weekend isn’t over yet. It’s time for the weeks best o’ beauty from The Beauty Blog Network!

I know you didn’t miss Makeup and Beauty Blog’s Best of Clinique’s Holiday 2007 Makeup and Fragrances.[Continue reading…]

Product Review, Makeup: Prescriptives The Illuminator All Over Face Color; Prescriptives Colorscope Creamy Eye Color in Smoking Gun 05

November 9th, 2007 by Karen 19 Comments

More Holiday 2007 Stocking Stuffers

Two of my favorite things about holiday makeup are shimmer and glow!

Creamy shadows, pigments, sparkly highlighters — there are so many choices. Two of my favorites this season are from the Prescriptives line, The Illuminator ($35.00) and Colorscope Creamy Eye Color in Smoking Gun ($18.00).

For the past few weeks I’ve been raving about MAC Natural Flare Beauty Powder, but now my favorite highlighter of the moment is The Illuminator, a limited edition product in the Prescriptives Holiday 2007 line-up.

If you are looking for a multiple-shade, compact highlighter, then you’ve got to pick this up. I love the sleek and clean packaging, especially the cute lil’ chain hanging from the side, which has a tiny charm at the end. Awww, how precious!

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Check out the beauty on the inside:

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The mix of golds and tans — with a touch of peachy pink — give a warm, candlelit glow. On the face of the day below, I popped it on top of a pink cream blush, Laura Mercier’s Oleander. I also applied it down the bridge of my nose, temples and on my chin.

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In addition to using it as a highlighter, you can also use it as a shadow. I’ve picked up the gold color in the middle with a small brush and applied it all over my lids for a sheer wash.

Another not-to-miss shimmer product that’s also been in heavy makeup rotation lately is Colorscope Creamy Eye Color. This long-wearing, cream shadow is a permanent part of the Prescriptives color collection. I like it mostly because (surprise, surprise) it’s super easy to apply and blend; I really like using the MAC 249 brush, a large, flat shader brush with a synthetic brush head.

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I wasn’t initially impressed with the Smoking Gun shade, a metallic gunmetal color, when I first saw it in the pot. When I put it on my lids though — wow! It’s dark grey with subtle glitter flecks, and the contrast against my dark brown eyes really makes them pop.

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In the face of the day below I concentrated most of the color on the lashline and lid and then gradually feathered the color out as I moved it into the crease.

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I also like it as a light wash over the entire lid for a subtle glow!

Is your weekend off to a good start? I hope so! I’m having a mellow night at home because I have to wake up early tomorrow with the chickens. I’m heading on out to Walnut Creek with my girl Christine to attend the Nordstrom Cosmetics Trade Show. Oops, there goes my paycheck! If you’re going too, then stop by and say hi. I’d love to meet ya.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

MAC Makeup, Makeup, Skin Care, Product Reviews: MAC Holiday 2007 Finery Limited Edition Plum Lips, Lola Spellbound Palette, Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream

November 6th, 2007 by Karen 37 Comments

Stocking Stuffers Galore – More Makeup and Beauty Blog’s Holiday Wishlist 2007
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My favorite part of holiday gift giving is getting fun stocking stuffers. Forget practical stuff like socks, underwear and dental floss. BLAH! I want fun makeup. Here are a few choice Holiday 2007 stuffers that the girls (and boys) in your life will dig.

More MAC Finery! Plum Lips – Oh La Lovely

Yesterday I posted some pictures of Coral Lips, my favorite group out of MAC’s Limited Edition Finery sets. Here are a few pics of the Plum Lips set, which comes a close second.

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By far the stand out lippie here is Culture Class, a rich plum frost. I especially love it with a layer of Contessa Lipglass.

If you’re waffling between the two sets then I’d suggest looking at what colors you have missing in your lipstick collection. The Coral Lips set is definitely my favorite, but because I have so many coral colors I’d probably skip the set and go for the Plum.

In addition to being super cute, the lil’ tweed clutch is actually really handy! I put a compact and lipstick in one yesterday and popped it in my purse. Yes, I do see the irony of putting a little purse in a big purse but I was able to find my lipstick THAT much quicker.

Each set is $32.00. Buy a set for yourself and another one for your sister-in-law or best gal pal.

Lola Holiday 2007 Spellbound Palette – For the Glamour Girl

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Lola’s Spellbound Color Clutch ($38.00) is one of the most beautiful palettes this Holiday season. It’s very vintage and 40s looking, with a pretty velvet design and rhinestone accent. You get: a mirror, three lip glosses, two crÃ¨me blushes and 18 shadow shades in coordinating pans.

This palette gives a makeup newbie all she needs for plenty of fun hours of experimentation. Plus, it’s so handy and portable and hello, really super cute. The stand-outs are the crÃ¨me blushes and lipglosses. They wear well and feel great on my cheeks and lips.

Your favorite niece or closest cousin will love it!

Bye, Bye, Dry! Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream RULES

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My skin in the wintertime becomes a mess of alligator-esque, ashy dryness. I just discovered Elizabeth’s Arden’s Eight Hour Cream and THANK JEEBUS! Now I can’t live without it.

I’m not the only one who loves it. The Intensive Moisturizing Body Treatment is so great that it recently won an Allure Beauty award. Unlike lame-o Maybelline Great Lash Mascara (puke!) which wins every year for no good reason, Eight Hour Cream really deserves the title.

It’s thick and rich (I barely have to use any) but it sinks into the skin easily and doesn’t leave an oily film. It has a slightly herbal, unisex smell that you’ll either love it or hate. I don’t mind it so much because the product leaves me completely moisturized, and my skin feels soft all day. No scaly, itchy, or uncomfortable legs, hooray! It’s really all that and a bag of Cheetoes, people!

The Hand Cream is now a staple in my purse. Like the Body Treatment, it’s rich and moisturizing and doesn’t leave your hands feeling slick or oily.

Put this in everybody’s stocking. Your favorite metrosexual will forever be in your debt.

One huge 6.8 oz tube of Eight Hour Cream Intensive Moisturizing Body Treatment is $25.00. The Eight Hour Cream Intensive Moisturizing Hand Treatment is $17.00.

Need a Beauty Book Editor? Services fo’ Hire

Oh gawd! So yesterday I had all these plans to work on the blog but I got distracted by a little thing called sleep. I came home, sat on the couch, and next thing I knew it was eight or nine.

Anyway, I’m so glad that today is sunny. I am going to run a few errands, and then I get to read the manuscript of a beauty book that I’m working on for work. Yay! I’m so excited.

Hope your day has been fun so far! Doing anything exciting?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Product Reviews, Makeup, Fragrance, Face of the Day (FOTD), Just for Fun – Elizabeth Arden Mediterranean Perfume; Clinique Holiday 2007 Happy & Bright Makeup; Weekly Beauty Roundup; Chanel Holiday 2007 Palettes and Glosses

November 4th, 2007 by Karen 26 Comments

More Holiday Wish List 2007 – Elizabeth Arden Mediterranean Perfume

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It’s been months since I’ve gone surfing and I miss being in the ocean. Just looking at the blue packaging and bottle for Elizabeth Arden’s Mediterranean perfume makes me feel like I’m in Hawaii, sitting on my board and waiting for the next wave to come and carry me away.

Aside from the beautiful bottle and packaging, the best part about this perfume is that the scent isn’t too heavy or cloying. Mediterranean is described on the Elizabeth Arden Web site as a “radiant woody floral.” Imagine a hybrid between the best parts of Fresh’s Lemon Sugar perfume and Covet.

When I spray it on I get an initial burst that’s lemony and white floral. It then dries down to a light, black tea scent. On me Mediterranean smells gender neutral and not overly feminine or sweet.

If you have a girlfriend, sister or mom who likes perfumes that aren’t too sweet then she’ll love this. It would also be a great gift for a friend who loves beachy scents but doesn’t like strong “tropical” notes like pikake or tuberose.

The 1.7 fl oz bottle you see in the pic above is $47.50, but for the holidays Elizabeth Arden’s got a special set that includes the 1.7 fl oz Eau de Parfum Spray, Body Lotion and a wee Eau de Parfum replica for $52.00. Don’t you love the extra goodies in gifts sets? I sure do.

A Holiday 2007 Face of the Day with Clinique’s “Happy & Bright” Makeup

Here’s a face of the day I did with Clinique’s Holiday 2007 “Happy & Bright” makeup. What do you think?

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I used the pink shade farthest on the left all over the lid, then the peach shade to highlight the browbone and inner eye. I put the lighter brown shade in the crease and used the darker brown on the far right to line the top and bottom. Then I finished it off with two coats of BECCA The Ultimate Mascara in Black.

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On the cheeks I used the lightest touch of MAC’s Dollymix blush with Clinique Fresh Bloom Allover Colour in Peony layered on top.
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I finished the look off with Raspberry Glace Different Lipstick and Camisole Full Potential Lipglass on the lips.

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I really love these colors. They are buildable and pretty much mistake proof. My next Clinique Holiday 2007 mission: use the Pink Truffle quad to create a gentle smoky eye!

Weekend Reading Just For You

Your weekend isn’t over yet! Here’s the latest beauty buzz from The Beauty Blog Network.

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic – Christine Explains how Antioxidants Work
A Touch of Blusher – All About Japanese Cosmetics
All Lacquered Up – All Lacquered Up Reviews OPI’s Holiday in Hollywood Dazzling Darks & Neutrals
Beauty and Fashion Tech – Beauty and Fashion Tech Looks at the New MAC Holiday Collection and Provides Swatches
Beauty and Personality Grooming – Homemade rich nail cream
Etailers Mall – The Blog – PlumSmoke
Face Candy – Bridal Beauty
Makeup Moxie’s Beauty Blog – Makeup Moxie Reviews Cover Girl Lashblast Mascara
Musings of a Muse – The Muse’s First Look at the Sephora 2007 Catalog
Mystical Beauty’s Musings – How do you feel about your makeup talking to you?
Savvy Skin – Skimpy Thinning Eyebrows
SugarShock – Fragrance Notes: Factory Girl
Temptalia – MAC Curiositease Review, Swatches, and Photos!
Makeup Loves Me – Refreshing Facial at Fresh

And oooh girl, I know you didn’t miss Makeup and Beauty Blog’s MAC Holiday 2007 Curiositease Lip Sets: What to buy, What to pass up!

A Few More Random Thangs Currently Up in My Grill

Because the world is constantly moving toward randomness…here are few tidbits that have crossed my radar in the last few days.

In definance to all the laws of the universe, somehow Christian Bale came SECOND PLACE to Wentworth Miller in Entertainment Weekly’s Ultimate Hottie Poll, BOO!

That’s okay, I’ll comfort you, Chris
bale

I saw this kid dancing on “The Soup” and I laughed for about 10 minutes straight. I kept rewinding and laughing, rewinding and laughing. He’s my hero.

Not that I need any more TV in my life, but Torchwood on BBC is FANTASTIC. Tivo it, yo!

What’s My Motivation?

Today I was in an infinitely better mood then yesterday because last night I slept twelve hours. No joke. Every moment of sleep was like manna from the heavens. Ahhhh!

In between working it out at the gym and watching the Colts and Patriots game (that Tom Brady is HAWT!) I thought of all the stuff I have to get done this week that I just don’t want to do.

tom-brady

“Hmmm,” I thought, “What’s the ultimate form of motivation? What’s gonna make me want to go the extra mile to get all this craptacular crapola done?”

The answer? C to the H to the A to the N to the E to the L.

The reward for finishing my first project…
chanel-gloss

And the second…
chanel-camelias

And the third…
chanel-palette

The moral of this story? A little Chanel bribery goes a long, long way.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Product Reviews, Makeup, Fragrance – Clinique Holiday 2007 Color; Happy Ready-to-Personalize Perfume Spray

November 3rd, 2007 by Karen 16 Comments

The holiday season is just around the corner, which means it’s that time of year again. It’s time to bust out the stretchy pants (â€˜cause I can’t say no to that second helping of mashed potatoes, yo). It’s time to display gourds of various shapes and sizes around the house. It’s also time for makeup junkies across the land to revel in the realm of “Where’d My Paycheck Go?” because of all the limited edition holiday sets that makeup companies roll out during this time.

There are palettes, gift sets and perfumes galore. Can’t decide on what to get for the makeup lover in your life? Don’t worry, girl, I got your back. For the next two weeks I’ll be featuring several drool-worthy palettes, limited edition sets and perfumes in Makeup and Beauty Blog’s Holiday Wishlist 2007. And shhhh…I promise not to tell if you get a lil’ something for yourself.

Clinique-holiday-2007-all

Smile for the Camera, Pretty! Clinique Happy Pefume Custom Photo Bottle Rules

Five things that make me happy:

1. Getting enough sleep.
2. Warm chocolate chip cookies.
3. Having a good writing day when I feel like PURE GENIUS pours forth from my fingertips.
4. The scent of fresh cut flower stems.
5. Clinique’s Happy Perfume Custom Photo Bottle

Hello, awesomeness. Clinique’s got an online service this year where they take your favorite picture and replicate it on a huge bottle of their citrus-y and youthful scent, Happy. Here’s the skinny on how it works.

Find a picture that means something special to you or to the person you are going to give the gift to. I used this picture from my wedding:
clinique-happy-personalized-perfume-spray-original-picture

I wanted a photo that brought up good memories and feelings. And I figured that the orange rose would accent the orange “happy” font on the front of the bottle. You don’t really have to worry about matching the font, but I’m a design freakazoid, so I wanted something that would be in harmony with the overall package.

Another pic with a most excellent orange accent
midget-mac-happy

Log onto the clinique Web site to start your customization process!

You then follow a series of easy-to-follow instructions. When you’re done, you get your personalized bottle in 10 business days. Each is $52.00.

Voila!
clinique-happy-personalized-perfume-spray

Perfume is a really personal gift so I’d buy this for a friend who I knew liked citrus scents. Can’t decide which picture to use? Here are a few cute ideas:

— You and your friend during a special event, like a wedding or vacation you took together.
— A favorite pet or cartoon character.
— Something that reflects your friend’s personal interest or hobbies. Say she’s saving for a trip to France — submit a picture of the Eiffel Tower.
— A picture of her favorite hot guy, heh heh heh!

Never you mind the 20 foot of rope homeboy is carrying
christian-bale-happy

Just make sure that the picture is in jpg format, less than 4.0 MB and be 800 pixels on the shortest side.

If you’re planning on getting hitched then this would be a fantastic bridesmaids gift! Put a picture of you and your â€˜maids on a bottle and give it as a thank you gift on your big day.

Clinique Holiday Looks 2007 – Touches of Golden Elixer
clinique-holiday-2007-touches-golden-elixer-model

Clinique’s two color sets for Holiday 2007 are inspired by their perfumes, Aromatics Elixer and Happy.

The first theme, “Touches of Golden Elixer,” has warm golden and bronze tones. It’s elegant and regal, and reminds me of a golden Greek goddess surrounded by men peeling her grapes and fanning her with feathers.

clinique-holiday-2007-golden-elixer-all

I like the:

Fresh Bloom Allover Colour in Almond Blossom, $29.50. This tawny and nude highlighter is almost too pretty to use. Use it to on cheeks, nose, chin and forehead to get a heavenly glow.
clinique-fresh-bloom-allover-color-closeup

Colour Surge Eye Shadow Quad in Allspice, $25.00. If you collect the Colour Surge Quads then be sure to snatch this up because it’s a limited edition. You get four warm tones that easily mix and match to create the perfect golden look. Some hard core MAC Pigment lovers may find these shadows too sheer, but I actually really like the buildable color and creamy texture. A very beginner-friendly palette!
clinique-holiday-2007-allspice-colour-surge-shadow-quad

Brush–On Cream Liner in Bronze, $14.50. I can’t get enough of gel liners! This limited edition shimmery-bronze is a versatile color you can use for work-friendly day or dramatic night looks.

Colour Surge Lipstick, $14.00. A bronze lippie with lots of intense color. The lazy beast in me likes this because I can just slap it on and go.

clinique-holiday-2007-touches-golden-elixer-swatches

Get this set for your mom or your favorite aunt! She’ll love it.

Happy & Bright – Perfect for Your Baby Sister!

clinique-happy-bright-model

clinique-holiday-2007-happy-bright-all

The second look, Happy & Bright, is young, festive and fresh. The cool-toned colors are fun and perfect for a party!

Get big sis points with:

Colour Surge Eye Shadow Quad in Pink Truffle (Limited Edition), $25.00
Fresh Bloom Allover Colour in Peony, $29.50
Different Lipstick in Raspberry Glace, $14.00
Full Potential Lips Plump and Shine in Camisole, $17.50
clinique-holiday-2007-happy-bright-swatches

So last night I decided to get a little extra boost before my nightly gym weight workout by drinking a cup of coffee at 5. Um, bad idea. I usually don’t drink coffee after 1:00; otherwise I can’t fall asleep. Here’s what I learned last night before I drifted off into dreamland at 4:00 a.m.

1. Weird people go to Safeway late at night on a Friday. Granted I was there, too, which technically would make me weird as well, but hey. If you can’t beat them…

2. There are a lot of blogs out there. There are a lot of crazy people out there. There are a lot of crazy people with blogs. These blogs get really funny at about 2:45 a.m.

3. It’s not a good idea to put on a purifying clay mask at 3:30. Should you perchance fall asleep at 4:00, then you’ll get all kinds of crap on your pillowcase. Not good.

Anyway, I’m going to spend the rest of the day in chill mode. Hope your Saturday has been relaxing and fun so far!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen