Makeup Tips/How To

What Are Your Favorite Beauty Hacks, Also Known As Your Secret Beauty Shortcuts?

November 30th, 2011 by Karen 46 Comments

Yesterday’s blowout hair trick got me fired up to find even more beauty hacks, also known as secret beauty shortcuts. As a gal who spends much of her time running behind, every minute counts, and I can always use a new time-saving tip.

Here are a few more that I regularly use…

The peep-toe pedicure

Sometimes, when I’m running ragged and totally pressed for time, I’ll look down at my feet and think, “There’s no way I’d make it through all 10 toes!”

When I don’t have enough time to paint all 10 piggies but still want a little color on my toes, I grab a bottle of polish and a pair of peep-toe shoes.

I’ll just paint the nails, and sometimes the fractions of nails, that peek out from the tips of my shoes. For obvious reasons, this one works best when you’re doing something where you don’t expect to have to remove your shoes; otherwise, awkward! Every observant/nosy person at the party will stop and ask, “Why do you only have three of your toes painted?”

Yes, I speak from experience.

The truck stop shower

An oldie but goodie from my clubbing days! No doubt, it’s not the slickest, classiest beauty trick in the world (oh, that’s putting it mildly), but it works in a pinch.

When I don’t have time to take a full shower, a truck stop shower gets me somewhat presentable, and all it requires is 2-3 minutes and a sink.

Yup, I’ll just wash my face, neck, armpits and chest with water and a body cleanser (or, if it’s all I have access to, hand soap) in the sink. And if I have a washcloth, I’ll also wipe down the backs of my knees, because I hate it when they’re sticky.
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Give Yourself a Glitter Ombre Manicure to Support Your Team on Thanksgiving

November 23rd, 2011 by Karen 25 Comments

I stopped by a UPS Store to mail a package last week and received an unexpected compliment from the guy working the counter. He pointed at my glittery red and gold ombre manicure and said, “Atta girl! You’re wearing 49er colors.”

Go Niners! He said that his wife, a long-time Niners fan, would probably love to wear a mani like that on game day and asked if it was hard to do.

“Not at all,” I replied, and I walked him through the process as he prepped my package.

FYI: Talking nails with a big, burly UPS guy is weirdly entertaining. About halfway through the process, his eyes took on the same glazed, confused look that El Hub gets when I try to explain why it makes perfect sense for me to own 15 pairs of black shoes…

That’s when I suggested that the guy have his wife visit MBB. 🙂

If you’re a sports fan, Thanksgiving also means football! — a fun excuse to 1) paint your nails in support of your team and 2) give everyone around you something sparkly to look at while they heap mashed potatoes on their plate (YUM!).

To match the 49ers, I used red and gold shades from China Glaze and Lippmann.

Polishes from the left: China Glaze Champagne Bubbles, Lippmann Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?, and China Glaze Ring in the Red

So, Mr. UPS guy, this one’s for you and your wife! 🙂

Kickoff and the start of the first quarter

Let’s start by applying a clear base coat to even out the surface of the nail, and then brush on three layers of your background color, in my case golden Champagne Bubbles by China Glaze.

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What Foundation Have You Been Using Lately?

October 20th, 2011 by Karen 57 Comments

Rise and shine, morning glory! Unless we’re talking about foundations…in which case “Rise and glow” might be more appropriate. 🙂

Every few days I’m asked about the foundation I’m wearing, and since it changes from time to time (and I’m always on the market for new suggestions), I thought we could revisit it today.

Hi Karen,

I was wondering what foundation/highlighter you’ve been using lately? We have a similar skin tone, and in your Nars G-Spot review pic you look so glowy and fresh. Please let me know. Thank you.

Brandee

Hi Brandee,

Well, I’m always switching between a couple of different foundations, but for most of my pics lately I’ve been wearing Chanel Mat Lumiere in Soft Honey. It’s $54, so it’s pricey, I know, but I find that I don’t have to use very much. It gives great coverage, yet I think it still looks natural, feels light, takes to flash photography well and doesn’t aggravate my combination oily/dry skin.

But what I really love about it is the finish. It’s just shy of matte, so it doesn’t create that flat, artificial texture that I get from some matte foundations.

Other times, when I want a more satiny finish, I’ll reach for MAC Studio Sculpt in NC42 ($29.50) instead. It delivers easy-to-build, medium-to-full coverage, and lately I’ve been topping it with the MAC Careblends Powders ($23) for a fresh, glowy look. Like Chanel Mat Lumiere, it doesn’t give me breakouts, photographs well and looks great in real life.

MAC Studio Sculpt on the left and Chanel mat Lumiere on the right

There are just so many options out there that I can never stick to one for long. I know a lot of gals who swear by Make Up For Ever, CoverFX and Bare Minerals foundations, too. You might also find some good suggestions in the comments on this post here: What’s Your Favorite Full-Coverage Foundation for a Natural Look?

I hope this helps! If you describe your skin in more detail and let me know which foundations you’ve tried, I might have a few more ideas…

What Foundation Have You Been Using Lately?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Fabulous Fall Skin in a Flash: Look Polished and Put Together with These Beauty Bargains

October 11th, 2011 by Karen 53 Comments

This post is part of a series sponsored by Walgreens.

There I was, just minding my own business in front of the house yesterday, enjoying a brief respite from the recent rains and daydreaming about some of my favorite fall noms, like candy corn, pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes (Mmm… gravy), when it hit me: CRAP! I have a ton of stuff to do this month.

Summer lulled me into a trap, and now I’m paying the price. I spent so much time lounging around, lapping up the sunshine and generally doing everything at a slightly slower pace that now I feel unprepared for fall.

BAM! Now there are cat costumes to find, pumpkins to carve, presents to buy, cards to send and recipes to perfect before Thanksgiving. This fall, if you’re trying to make the most of your budget and your time (while saving up for your cat’s Christmas present), look no further than these beauty bargains for eyes, cheeks and lips.

Eyes

Jordana Easyliner Retractable Eye Liner Pencils ($1.99) — Shave minutes from your morning routine with these creamy, pigmented pencil liners. They’re twist-ups, so no sharpening required. For a quick smokey look that lasts, I’ll line my lash and water lines with my favorite shade, Eggplant (a dark purplish brown), and smudge out the edges with a Q-Tip or brush.

Rimmel Gentle Eye Make Up Remover ($6.99) — Sauron says, “It’s the drugstore eye makeup remover to rule them all!” Rimmel Extra Gentle whisks away makeup like an Olympic sprinter, and it even works without rinsing. I use it all the time to remove excess mascara on my lids (which seems to happen, like, every morning!).

Cheeks

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Custom Glow Blush & Bronzer ($12.99) — I’ve been a huge fan of these powder duos forever! Each of the four pans — Raisin Glow, Posie Glow, Natural Glow and Rosy Glow — comes with an easy-to-blend blush and a bronzer, side by side, so no more having to hunt and peck for your cheek products. I feel like my favorite of the bunch, Rosy Glow, lights up my complexion without looking overdone.

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3 Tips for a Fabulous Face This Fall

October 6th, 2011 by Karen 67 Comments

This post is part of a series sponsored by Walgreens.

The leaves are falling! The leaves are falling! And, oh my — that brisk breeze that leaves cool kisses on your cheeks? Yep, it’s baaack.

Fall, that is. I actually like the idea of the seasons changing and the different colors everywhere and the leaves falling from the trees. But in practice, I just don’t like being anything but warm. 🙂

This “in-between” time is actually one of my favorite times of year. Not yet winter, and just barely into fall. Too bad I know it won’t last. Pretty soon we’ll be freezing our bums off! — but this time we’ll be prepared.

I’ve been conducting extensive “research” into knee-high boots…

…and fine tuning my skin care routine to prepare my face for the chilly days ahead.

To help you put your best face forward this fall, here are a few tips and products that won’t break the bank.

1. Change can be cleansing

Because those dry, biting winds that whip up in late fall always wreak havoc on my combination dry/oily skin, I like to replace my usual facial cleanser with something richer and more moisturizing. I recently started using and loving La Roche-Posay’s creamy Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser ($20). It gently cleanses the skin and removes my makeup (all but the longest-wearing and waterproof stuff), but more importantly, it leaves my face feeling hydrated and soft.

I’ve also heard good things about La Roche-Posay’s Physiological Cleansing Gel (also $20). I haven’t tried it yet, but like Toleriane it’s non-comedogenic and recommended for sensitive skin.

2. Exfoliation nation

Ahh, flakes. They’re not just for cereal anymore. Come fall and winter, I start seeing dry skin flakes on my cheeks and around my nose (not cute). A few months back I asked my dermatologist about it, and she recommended the Buf-Puf Facial Sponge (just $5). So old school, I know, but when used properly (be gentle; your skin is not a greasy frying pan!), it whisks away flakes and brightens dry, dull skin.
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Get a Better Grip on Smokey Eyes with This Easy Brush Trick

September 7th, 2011 by Karen 2 Comments

Hey, babe. Are you as salty as I am about saying so long to summer? I’m dreading the coming drop in temperature, but I am looking forward to wearing heavier looks like smokey eyes this fall.

I’m always on the lookout for new ways to step up my smokey eye game, and lately I’ve been loving a brush trick that I wanted to share.

You know how the shadows in some of the most beautiful smokey eyes transition so smoothly from light to dark or from color to color? Create your own super subtle transitions by varying the pressure on your brush.

In areas where you want your shadows to appear more intense, like maybe around the outer corners of your eyes, apply more pressure with your brush. Then, as you move into areas where you want to deposit less intense color, use a lighter touch.
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Last Days of Summer: Drugstore Beauty to Ring in the Fall

September 4th, 2011 by Karen 8 Comments

Written by Sam

We’re on the cusp of fall, watching summer sail off toward the horizon, but the sun hasn’t abandoned us yet. With the help of these sunny weather drugstore stars, soak up the last few weeks of sunshine safely, and look great without breaking the bank.

Last Days of Summer: Drugstore Beauty

As summer fades into the ethereal fog and smoky incense of autumn, we still have a few weeks of warm weather left (hopefully!). Check out these fantastic, cheap drugstore finds that work a treat for sunbathing on the beach or strolling down city sidewalks under the midday sun.

1. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock ($9.49 for a 3-oz. tube in SPF 55)

You’ve been hearing it for years, so I won’t belabor the point — wear your sunscreen (even when it’s overcast)! There, it’s as simple as that. But it’s understandable why you might not want to with so many bad sunscreens on the market. Most are thick, viscous, and greasy, leaving behind a slick, shiny film that neither feels nor looks good.

Not the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch line. These emollient, creamy lotions (they’re available in a range of SPFs) sink into skin almost immediately, providing ample moisture for all but the driest among us, without that oily residue previously synonymous with “sunscreen.” Its chemical sunscreen provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection, and because it’s a chemical — rather than a physical — sunscreen, you won’t have to worry about looking ghostly in flash photography (like those impromptu shots at the beach bar after dark).

2. Yes to Carrots Conditioning Lip Butter with SPF 15 Pomegranate ($3.47)

Hands down one of my favorite lip balms ever! Unlike many inexpensive lip balms, this one’s neither slick nor waxy. It’s exactly what I think of when I think of good balms. It leaves lips with a satin finish (looks good on both men and women) that lasts for about four hours on me if I don’t eat or drink heavily over that time.

It may not smell exactly like pomegranates, but the faint, unobstrusive berry scent fades quickly, while still making the product taste pretty appealing to me. Most importantly, it contains SPF 15 to keep your lips soft and smooth even after hours in the sun.

3. Neutrogena Wet Skin Sunblock Spray ($10.99 for a 5-oz. bottle in SPF 50)

Neutrogena has this whole sunscreen game down. This one’s for bodies and comes in an aerosol spray can. Just hold it about six inches away from the skin, and depress the tab. The super fine mist leaves a slight sheen on the skin that dries within minutes.

Keep the can moving in tight circles while applying to be sure you don’t miss a spot. You shouldn’t have to retrace your steps or worry about getting sand on your hands (LOVE those accidental exfoliating sand rubs).

And when it comes to reapplying after a couple of hours in the sun or surf, Wet Skin Sunblock makes it a cinch, even while swimming, as it cuts through water and still applies evenly on wet skin. You won’t even have to dry off completely after hopping out of the water to reapply.
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The Urban Decay Midnight Emergency Kit in Action and a Glitter Eyeshadow Application Tip

September 3rd, 2011 by Karen 11 Comments

There’s just something magical about glitter, ya know? Something that reminds me of Tim Burton movies and Danny Elfman songs. And Urban Decay knows it, too. Even though I was dog tired from the day, I had to try on a few of the eyeshadows from the new Urban Decay Midnight Emergency Kit last night because the glitter made me do it. In a way, I didn’t really have a choice.

That’s Midnight Rodeo in my crease, AC/DC on my lids, Midnight Cowboy along my lower lash lines and Lip Junkie Lipgloss in Midnight Cowboy on my lips.

Now, is the glitter in these eyeshadows the kind that gets all over the place? Well, yes. It most certainly is, so I think it helps if you approach these shadows with that in mind. Whenever I use glittery shadows like these, I more or less plan to get glitter on my cheeks, nose and chin. It’s inevitable. Just like you can’t fight city hall, you can’t fight glitter like this, but I think you can do a few things to get along with it better.

Most of the time I’ll start with an eye primer to help the shadows adhere to my lids (a lot of UD fans their Primer Potion; I think NARS makes a really good one, too) and will do my eye makeup first, so I can clean up any fallout before I apply concealer, foundation, powder, blush and anything else.

My new favorite trick with glittery shadows, though, is one I gleaned from Wende Zomnir in the QR code video tutorials available through the new Book of Shadows Volume IV.

When working with super glittery eyeshadows, like Midnight Cowboy and Midnight Rodeo, Wende says she prefers to press them onto the lids with her fingers, rather than trying to do it with a brush.

I gave it a try last night, and I think it really did cut down on the amount of glitter fallout I probably would have seen had I used a brush.

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