Face of the Day (FOTD)

An Easy Everyday Neutral Look With MAC Permanent Products (and Pics of My New ‘Do)

September 23rd, 2013 by Karen 64 Comments

MAC Soft Brown, Sable Brownscript, Texture, Sketch — You can’t go wrong with MAC neutrals…

The new hair!

And the neutral look I wore all weekend. 🙂

First off, the hair. Remember how I couldn’t decide whether to keep the lighter brown and caramel highlights or go darker for fall?

Well, I was still waffling when I sat down in the chair on Saturday morning, but then I showed this pic of Megan Fox to Kelli, one of the fabulous colorists at A-Line salon in Corte Madera (they get five stars on Yelp), and we started brainstorming ideas.

Tom Ford Lipstick in Sable Smoke topped with MAC Big Baby Plushglass — Tom Ford Lipstick in Sable Smoke with MAC Big Baby Plushglass on top…

I came this close to not changing the color at all, but then I asked Kelli, “What would you do if you had free reign?”

She thought about it a minute, looked again at the pic of Megan Fox, and said, why don’t we make your roots closer to your natural color, change the current light brown to a dark chocolate, and darken your highlights? She thought that going dark would frame my face and be a fun look for fall.

Um…SOLD.

MAC Deep Brunette Veluxe Brow Pencil (eyebrows); and Clarins Be Long Mascara (upper and lower lashes) — Brows and lashes: MAC Deep Brunette Veluxe Brow Pencil (on my brows, of course) with Anastasia Brow Gel, and Clarins Be Long Mascara (on my upper and lower lashes)

I feel like a completely different person with dark hair!

And I kindasorta love it…

It’s fun to switch things up, ya know? It’s a really easy way to change your outlook.

Deep thoughts on hair…

If you’re ever feeling hair adventurous, but you can’t figure out what kind of cut/color you want, ask your stylist, “What would you do with my hair if you could do whatever you want?”

You don’t have to go with their suggestion, but it’s a good conversation starter and gets the creative juices flowing. Of course, it always helps when you know and trust your stylist and feel comfortable with them. I don’t know if I’d try this with someone new, but it depends… Sometimes you just know, you know? When there’s a good vibe?

Speaking of changes, I took a break last weekend from the vampire makeup I’ve been rocking lately (smokey eyes, dark lips and catwalk brows) and wore this soft neutral look mostly using MAC permanent collection products.

Dolce & Gabbana Blush in Peach (cheeks), Make Up For Ever Mat Bronze Bronzing Powder in 40 (under my cheekbones to contour) and Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Opal (my upper cheekbones, down the bridge of my nose and my cupid's bow) — Face makeup: Dolce & Gabbana Blush in Peach (cheeks), Make Up For Ever Mat Bronze Bronzing Powder in 40 (again beneath my cheekbones to contour) and Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Opal (my upper cheekbones, down the bridge of my nose and my cupid’s bow)

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A Bronze, Purple and Blue Face of the Day With the MAC Indulge Fall Collection

September 19th, 2013 by Karen 48 Comments

Indulging in the MAC Indulge Collection on my eyes and lips…

Wish I could say I wore this look to someplace fabulous this week, like an exclusive after-hours vampire club (assuming I didn’t get eaten, of course), but alas, no.

No vampire clubs, but I did wear it someplace fun — namely DSW, to look at boots. 🙂

SIDE NOTE: You know you’re a cat lady when you see a pair of boots with a tiny pocket on them, and the first things you think of putting in the pocket are cat treats.

I posted this smokey eye earlier today but neglected to list a breakdown, so hurr goes.

It features bronze smokey eyes with black cat eye liner, purple eyeshadow along the lower lash lines and a flash of blue on the lids. And the eyes are paired with a glossy plum/berry lip for extra drama-for-your-mama.

Since the eyes and lips pack some punch, I kept the cheeks mellow with a bit of contouring, a matte peachy pink blush and a sprinkling of peachy bronze highlighter.

Most of the products I used are from MAC’s fall Indulge collection, which has been available for a hot second. Some of them are sold out on MAC’s site, but you may be able to track them down at macys.com, bloomingdales.com or nordstrom.com.

Or maybe at your nearby MAC counter or MAC Pro store.

As for the breakdown…

Eyes

I love this eye look because it has a surprise. When you see it from straight on, it looks pretty basic, right? Like a basic bronze smokey eye with purple along the lower lash line. But then I close my eyes and SURPRISE! — a flash of blue and cat eye liner.

I love stuff like that. 🙂

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When Are Two Vices Better Than One? When It’s a Face of the Day With the Urban Decay Vice 2 Palette

September 12th, 2013 by Karen 33 Comments

In the not-too-distant future, the headquarters of Tabs the Cat Industries, LLC, also known as my condo, has been classified as a historical site — one of the must-see stops on the way to Wine Country — with a placard on the front door that reads, “Here lived Tabs the Cat at the height of his fame/infamy.”

But visitors, of which there will be many, will be sorely disappointed to learn that the world’s first plus-size kitty supermodel’s assistant was actually really, really boring.

Many of them will expect that a historical figure as influential as Tabs would have had a wildly eccentric, fascinating right-hand woman with bizarre yet endearing habits and vices.

Sadly, my biggest vice is porcelain cats…

Because I own many of them.

I suppose that one could also call my weakness for well-stocked palettes, like the new Vice 2 palette from Urban Decay, another vice…

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A Face of the Day With the New Urban Decay Anarchy Face Case, and a Not-So-Rebellious Yell

September 11th, 2013 by Karen 19 Comments

After delving into Anarchy, one of Urban Decay’s two new Face Cases, I kind of expected to feel the urge to kick garbage cans over, growl at strangers and swing chains over my head…

Urban Decay Anarchy Face Case 3 — The Urban Decay Face Case in Anarchy

Ooh! — or a mace, like from Game of Thrones, but only if I were in the mood to really do some damage.

Alas, no. I didn’t feel that rebellious at all after applying the eye, lip and cheek colors from UD’s latest holiday palette. Instead, I had a fruit salad and took a nap.

But it was a glorious nap fit for a king! 🙂

I look at Anarchy as the more bad-@ss of the two new Face Cases. Where Shattered is sweet, Anarchy is sassy, with sparklier eye colors, more vibrant blushes (so vibrant that I had to buff my cheeks down after my first try because I looked totally crazypants) and a more man-eater-esque lip color.

If you want a palette that parties, call Anarchy.

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A Face of the Day with the Urban Decay Shattered Face Case

September 10th, 2013 by Karen 35 Comments

Today was the first day in a really long time that I wore a sweater and long pants…

Bluh.

On the one hand, I’m gonna miss the hell out of summer. On the other hand, it’s nice when your office isn’t hotter than a sweat lodge.

I kid you not, yesterday it was so hot in hurrrrr that I had hallucinations! — including one with Tabs meowing to the tune of R. Kelly’s Ignition.

One of the coolest things about the cooling weather, though, is that it means holiday makeup isn’t too far away.

Yeah, boo. H-O-L-I-D-A-Y.

If you’re the type to pre-plan your Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Year’s makeup months ahead of time, 1) you’re much more organized than I am, and 2) you might really dig the new $44 Urban Decay Shattered Face Case.

It’s one of a dynamic duo of recently released Face Cases from Urban Decay (now available on urbandecay.com and coming soon to stores and counters), with a mix of wearable cool-toned beige, gray and purple eyeshadows, and slightly warmer peaches and pinks for cheeks and lips.

When my neighborhood Fed Ex guy, who likes to joke around with me, noticed my makeup today, he said he’s seen me look “much crazier.”

I’m pretty sure it was a compliment. 🙂

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Wear Golden MAC Woodwinked Eye Shadow and Your Favorite Purple for a Pretty Party Eye

August 6th, 2013 by Karen 21 Comments

MAC Woodwinked on my lids and Becca Cabrera along the lower lash line — MAC Woodwinked + your fave purple liner = magic!

This is not a post about the marvelous MAC Woodwinked Eye Shadow, although it could be. In Jack Kerouac On the Road-style, I could scribe a novel on a single scroll of paper about its many marvelous traits and why you need it in your life.

More accurately, this is a post about the magic MAC Woodwinked makes when you pair it with a purple liner or eyeshadow. When shimmery golden Woodwinked meets a violet, the combo creates more magic than Harry Potter!

They’re one of my favorite dinner party pairings, perfect when I want to up my eye game but don’t want to spend all night getting ready.

Why MAC Woodwinked?

Well, why not? It’s freaking beautiful! 🙂 But if you’re unfamiliar with this warm, shimmery gold…

It looks amazing with brown, green, hazel, gray and blue eyes.
It’s softer than a tabby’s tum, pigmented and blends like a breeze.
It goes well with just about every beige or brown I’ve ever seen.
I love it so much that I haven’t taken a trip without it in at least five years.
It’s freaking beautiful!

Whenever I wear the combo above, I usually apply Woodwinked on my lids and a purple along my lower lash and water lines, but wearing purple on the upper lash and water lines totally works, too.

If I’m feeling fancy and/or have a little extra time, then I’ll do some thick cat liner on my upper lash lines, and put on a pair of false lashes like the MAC 33s.

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A Beachside Dinner Makeup Look Featuring Neutrogena

July 20th, 2013 by Karen 20 Comments

A Neutrogena face of the day — Wearing mostly Neutrogena in this casual dinner makeup look

Last night Cindy and I met up with some friends for dinner at a beachside restaurant here in La Jolla called Brockton Villa (side note: Hi, Mary and Susan!).

The place was pretty casual, so I figured it wasn’t the time to bust out the glittery smokey eyes and drag queen false lashes. 🙂 Instead I went for beach and natural-looking using products from Neutrogena, since they’re great at that “still you but better” thing, and a few other brands.

FOTD products from neutrogena, Chanel and MAC — Clockwise from the black tube in the lower left: Neutrogena Shine Control Primer, MAC Veluxe Brow in Deep Dark Brunette, Chanel Liner in Santal, Neutrogena Deep Clean Long-Last Shine Control Blotting Sheets, MAC Eye Shadows in Soba and Woodwinked, Neutrogena Healthy Skin Custom Glow Blush & Bronzer in Natural Glow, Neutrogena Healthy Skin Custom Glow Blush & Bronzer in Raisin Glow, Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Stick in Fresh Papaya and Neutrogena MoistureShine Gloss in Healthy Peach

Some notes about the products…

Neutrogena Shine Control Primer ($12.99): I mostly use this on my oily spots — my forehead, nose and chin. It keeps the shine in check without giving my skin conniptions/breakouts. It doesn’t feel like it’s suffocating or clogging up my pores, and it’s also colorless, so it works with every skin tone. You can also use it for a subtle highlighting effect by patting it on the tops of your cheekbones, down the bridge of your nose and along your chin.

Neutrogena Deep Clean Long-Last Shine Control Blotting Sheets ($6.49 for 50): The humidity is pretty high out here next to the water, but I don’t want to keep piling on the powders and primers just to keep down the shine. I like using Neutrogena’s blotting sheets to wipe up the oil, as opposed to just adding more products on my skin. They’re also super affordable at just $6.49.

On my face: Neutrogena Shine Control Primer (all over face), MAC Face & Body Foundation in C4 (forehead, cheeks, nose and chin), Neutrogena Healthy Skin Custom Glow Blush and Bronzer in Raisin Glow (cheeks), Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick (chin and cheeks), MAC Studio Careblends Pressed Powder (face), Neutrogena Healthy Skin Custom Glow Blush and Bronzer in Natural Glow (upper cheekbones to highlight), Bobbi Brown Peach Corrector (under-eye area), Neutrogena Deep Clean Long-Last Shine Control Blotting Sheets (all over face) — On my face: Neutrogena Shine Control Primer (all over face), MAC Face & Body Foundation in C4 (forehead, cheeks, nose and chin), Neutrogena Healthy Skin Custom Glow Blush and Bronzer in Raisin Glow (cheeks), Neutrogena Healthy Skin Custom Glow Blush and Bronzer in Natural Glow (upper cheekbones to highlight), Bobbi Brown Peach Corrector (under-eye area), Neutrogena Deep Clean Long-Last Shine Control Blotting Sheets (all over face)

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Custom Glow Blush & Bronzer ($11.49): I’ve been wearing these duos for years! They give just enough natural color to my cheeks, and they’re very easy to blend. I usually mix the blushes and bronzers to create my own shade. Here I’m wearing Raisin Glow as a blush and Natural Glow as a highlighter.

Neutrogena MoistureShine Color Stick in Fresh Papaya ($8.49): I love how natural this peachy coral looks with a tan. It just barely bumps up the color on my lips without going over the top. Lightweight, smooth and non-sticky, it smells yummy, too (like peach gummies).

Neutrogena dinner makeup look — On my eyes: MAC Eye Shadows in Woodwinked and Soba (lids and lower lash lines), Chanel Le Stylo Yeux Waterproof in Santal (upper and lower water and lash lines), Make Up For Ever Smoky Extravagant Mascara (lashes) and MAC Veluxe Brow in Deep Dark Brunette (brows)

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A MAC Tropical Taboo Face of the Day and a Katy Cat Moment

July 2nd, 2013 by Karen 25 Comments

My makeup today features pieces from MAC Tropical Taboo (with a smattering of products from MAC’s permanent collection)

I know I’m a few years late on this train, but I am super obsessed with Katy Perry at the moment.

I mean, I’ve always liked her music, and she seems pretty cool (girl loves cats!). I can’t even begin to guess how many miles I’ve logged listening to Teenage Dream on the treadmill, and how can you not like someone with blue hair who rocks out on stage next to a giant, person-sized cat??

But last weekend I Netflixed a documentary about her called Katy Perry: Part of Me that follows her 2011 Teenage Dream tour (and her breakup with Russell Brand), and that sort of tipped the scales for me from casual fan to full-blown obsession.

First of all, she’s a crazy cat lady, and you know I’m feelin’ that. 🙂 Throughout the movie, I kept thinking, “Awww, I bet she misses her kitties!”

Then there’s her music. Before the movie, I’d only heard her hits on the radio, but she performs a bunch of her other songs in the documentary (and her hits), and I liked them all. I think it’s cool that she writes her own music! How many pop stars actually do that these days? I ended up buying the rest of the Teenage Dream album after the movie.

Some of her songs are sugary cotton candy, like Peacock, which I was listening to when I got the idea to do this iridescent gold/brown/purple eye with the new MAC Tropical Taboo collection…

I wanna see yo’ Peacock!

MAC Tropical Taboo FOTD eye with Mineralize Eye Shadows in Bossa Blue, Cha-Cha-Cha and Dare to Bare — Mineralize Eye Shadows in Bossa Blue (lower lash line), Cha-Cha-Cha (lid) and Dare to Bare (inner corner and brow bone); MAC Eye Shadows in Texture (crease) and Honey Lust (crease)

MAC Tropical Taboo FOTD — MAC Kohl Power Eye Pencils in Feline (water line) and Orpheus (upper lash line and outer corner); MAC Extended Play Gigablack Mascara (lashes); MAC Veluxe Brow Liner in Deep Dark Brunette (brows)

Mineralize Blush in Simmer (cheeks), Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle (upper cheekbones); Lip Pencil in Have to Have It (lips), Mineralize Rich Lipstick in Glamour Era (lips), MAC Plushglass in Big Baby (lips)

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