Just For Fun

The giveaway is closed now, and I’m contacting the winners by e-mail. Good luck!

As I march closer and closer to my mid-30s, I’ve been thinking about what it means to get older.

In many ways, aging has been pretty cool. I feel comfortable in my own skin and better equipped to cope with unexpected things than I was at 23.

But I can’t lie — I worry about looking older. Call it vain, but it’s true, and things like the gray hair I found in my eyebrow kinda tick me off.

I guess like most women I accept the realities of life, but I’d still like to age gracefully, which is where I think Charla Krupp’s How Not to Look Old beauty book can help.

A former Glamour beauty director and senior editor at InStyle magazine, Charla filled the book with practical skin, hair, makeup and wardrobe tips readers can use to “look 10 years younger.”

To illustrate her tips, one of the things Charla uses are before-and-after pictures of celebrities.

I actually tried one of the hair tips recently and swear it made a noticeable difference. Charla suggests that shorter bangs can help one look a little younger (or at least feel a little younger), and after my recent hair cut, I can’t disagree.

I think it’s a great book, whether you’re 32 or 23. 🙂

Time for a giveaway!

The prize

Five lucky ladies will each win a copy of How Not to Look Old (a $16 value).

How to enter…

There are two ways to enter the giveaway, and you can do both of them for two chances to win.

Just like last time, you can enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post. In your comment, tell me the title of your favorite beauty book or magazine.

I can’t choose a favorite, but the last beauty book I read (and enjoyed) was Living Beauty, by Bobbi Brown.

Second, you can also enter by subscribing to my updates by email (if you haven’t already). They’re once-a-day emails with my daily posts. You’ll get more giveaways like this one, along with makeup tutorials, videos and drugstore beauty finds.
(Note: if you’re already subscribed, you’re automatically entered to win.)

Recap…

1. Enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post, and don’t forget to use a valid email address so I can reach you if you win.
2. Sign up for my updates by email if you haven’t already. Just enter your email address using the form below, or click this link.

Enter your email address:

I’ll pick the five winners at random from among the people who enter by 11:59PM PST Saturday night.

Good luck!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The giveaway is closed now, and I’m contacting the winners by e-mail. Good luck!

The other day a friend of mine asked me what order I apply my makeup in.

Most of the makeup artists I know suggest starting with concealer, foundation and powder, but I prefer to do my eyes *first*. That way, if (when) I make a mess, I haven’t gotten too far into the overall look, and things are still easy to clean up. 😉

After completing my eyes, I’ll finish with face, cheeks and lips.

Here’s my usual order. Really, all of these steps are optional. That’s the thing about makeup. There are more options than colors in a rainbow:

1. Eyeshadow primer
2. Eyeshadow
3. Liner
4. Mascara
5. Brows
6. Concealer
7. Foundation
8. Powder
9. Blush
10. Bronzer
11. Lip liner
12. Lipstick
13. Lipgloss

I wonder if anyone else does it like I do… In what order do you apply your makeup? 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

This giveaway is closed. I’m contacting the winner now; thanks for entering!

It could have been called Drag Queen Lashes in a Tube.

Clinque’s new High Impact Curling Mascara ($14) adds dramatic thickness, crazy length and loads of glossy shine. It takes my ho-hum lashes from blah to KAPOW in a hot second.

Let’s power our way over the midweek hump with the help of a giveaway. 🙂

The prize

One lucky lady will win a tube of Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara in Black.

Brace yourself for lashes even Ru Paul would envy.

How to enter…

There are a couple ways to enter the giveaway, and you can do both of them for two chances to win.

First, enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post. In it, tell me the last person you batted your lashes at.

The last person I batted my lashes at … was my fat-ass tabby cat!

Second, you can also enter by subscribing to my updates by email (if you haven’t already). They’re once-a-day emails with my daily posts. You’ll get more giveaways like this one, makeup tips, drugstore beauty finds and the occasional gross picture of El Hub’s hairy toes!
(Note: if you’re already subscribed, you’re automatically entered to win.)

Recap…

1. Enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post, and don’t forget to use a valid email address so I can reach you if you win.
2. Sign up for my updates by email if you haven’t already. Just enter your email address using the form below, or click this link.

Enter your email address:

I’ll pick the winner at random from among the people who enter by 11:59PM PST Wednesday night (tonight).

Maayong swerte!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Congrats to Xtina for winning last week’s Covergirl giveaway and to Adrian for taking home DKNY.

This giveaway is closed. I’m contacting the winner now; thanks for entering!

1. Mood:

Equal parts sleepy, mellow and happy

2. What’s a quality you like about yourself?

I’m good at making friends.

3. Describe your fashion style:

I’m like a fashion chameleon! 🙂 Mostly, I’m a jeans/tank top kinda girl with a penchant for funky shoes and costume jewelry, but I’m also comfy in preppy clothes, retro ’40s or edgy clothes, too. It really depends.

4. Lips:

Urban Decay Pocket Rocket Lipgloss in Kirk ($19)

5. Hair:

Down, with side-swept bangs and soft waves

6. Outfit:

Skinny jeans, navy blue tank top, silver hoop earrings and black high heel sandals

7. What do you do for a living?

Freelance writer, part-time blogger

8. What do you like about your job/s?

I like that they give me an excuse to talk to strangers and to express my creative side.

9. What don’t you like about your job/s?

I wish the work was more predictable and steady. I can never tell how many freelance assignments I’m going to get in a given month.

10. Weekly goals:

To start working some push-ups into my daily routine, to take a couple 10-minute walking breaks throughout the day, to get to bed by a decent hour every night and to squeeze in a couple cheesy Lifetime movies on TV

What’s up, girls?

What happened to the weekend? I swear it was just Friday night! I’m not quite ready for today…

Let me know how you’re doing. 🙂

Just copy the following empty list, and paste it with your answers to the Monday Poll in the comments.

Le list

Mood:
What’s a quality you like about yourself?
Describe your fashion style:
Lips:
Hair:
Outfit:
What do you do for a living?
What do you like about your job/s?
What don’t you like about your job/s?
Weekly goals:

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen