News

I Checked My Email and Here’s What I Found

June 27th, 2009 by Karen 25 Comments

I bet this happens to you, too, but I miss so many awesome deals and announcements that come through as e-mails. Sometimes they get mistakenly dumped into my junk mail filter, especially when the titles sound overly advertorial: “Free and Heavily Discounted Makeup! Don’t Miss Your Special Chance!”

Sometimes I’m just not able to get to them before the deals have expired.

This morning, however, I managed to read a couple of the timely ones in time to pass them on. 🙂

Shu!

These are the last few days of Shu Uemura’s Art of Hair Sweepstakes. Click here to enter. The grand prize? A year’s worth of Shu hair products valued at $1,680 smackers! The deadline to enter is 11:59PM ET June 30.

Bobbi B

Looks like Bobbi Brown’s new Nudes Collection is almost here. Here’s a mini-PR snapshot. It looks pretty textbook Bobbi to me, but I respect how she stays true to her style. In her own words, “Nude makeup doesn’t mean monochromatic, barely-there makeup. It means makeup that’s right for your skin.” Expect to see it on counters in July (I’ll post a review soon).

A star is born

This one caught Tabs’ eye! Elle is looking for their next video star. Submit a video of your best/favorite makeup tips, and you might take home $250 in beauty swag. Each week Elle will give $250 to the person (or cat) who submits the most popular video tip of the week. Winners then have a chance at the $3,000 yearly grand prize.

If you submit a video to Elle, LET ME KNOW! We can mention your creation on the blog here and maybe help you become a star.

BEMATTE

In Sephora news, they’ve got a few ongoing deals good both in stores and online using coupon code BEMATTE at checkout. I’m interested in the free 10-day sample of Bare Escentuals’ Matte Foundation (free with any purchase). I might do it for the bonus baby kabuki brush.

Nailed!

I just looked down at my bare fingernails, le sigh… I need something to wear on ’em while I wait for Duri’s Fall/Winter 2009 Rags to Riches Collection of fairy tale colors (click here to visit the Duri site). I haven’t seen any pics yet, but the names are cracking me up: Silver Spoon, Dress to Impress, Social Ladder, Trophy Wife and Formula for Success? LOL! I wonder what Trophy Wife looks like… Each will retail for $5, and the first six arrive this September.

Bon voyage

Lisa Hoffman must know how difficult it is to pack beauty products. She’s got these little travel packets that let you take a little of each product from the line wherever you go, and for the price they aren’t half bad. I like the sound of the 24-Hour Skincare one, but there’s also one for spa baths and another for showers. All three sell for $9.99. I couldn’t find them online, but I’m sure the folks in their customer service department can track ’em down (info@lisahoffmanbeauty.com or toll free at 1-800-231-8311).

How’s it going today? It has been hot out here in Norcal this weekend, and our apartment doesn’t have AC! Even Tabs is uncomfortable. He’s sleeping next to his water bowl.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. I’d like to apologize to those of you who e-mailed asking if there was something I could do to honor the passing of Farrah Fawcett and MJ, both historic style icons, but I was so overwhelmed by the news myself that I couldn’t think of anything worthy of them. I didn’t want to just throw something up and was too shocked to think straight. I may try after some time passes.

From Hollywood Aliens to Wedding Parties: Learn Makeup at The International Makeup Artist Trade Show, Pasadena, June 20-21

June 18th, 2009 by Karen 19 Comments

Vulcan ears rule

Angelenos, are you in the mood for makeup? If you are, you’re *so* in luck.

This weekend’s International Makeup Artist Trade Show (6/20-21) in Pasadena, California is the only show of its kind in the world. Thousands of makeup artists, manufacturers and makeup addicts will convene for the cosmetic world’s biggest brouhaha to discuss, display, discover and collect the best the makeup industry has to offer.

Want to hear how Hollywood made Benjamin’s button? — Attend Greg Cannom’s talk on Sunday at 3:30pm. He won this year’s Oscar for Achievement in Makeup for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Interested in Vulcan eyebrows and ears? — Take notes while members of the new Star Trek movie makeup team break things down Sunday morning at 10:30.

That’s not all!

Learn avant-garde makeup with Nolan Robert, winner of Lifetime TV’s Blush; compete for prizes in beauty student competitions; take a close look at beauty macro photography makeup; get answers to your questions about silicone; learn how to airbrush like a pro and SO MUCH MORE.

Advance tickets are available through today (6/18) at www.makeupartistshow.com. It’s $65 for both days or $35 for either. Tickets can also be purchased at the door on either day for an extra $5.

And the show’s 100% open to the public, meaning that you don’t have to be a makeup artist to attend (check out this video overview of the show).

The event’s being held at the Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green St., Pasadena, CA.

I wish I could go!!!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

10 Skin Care Tips from Dr. Rey

June 13th, 2009 by Karen 28 Comments

dr-rey-3
Dr. Robert Rey, celebrity plastic surgeon and star of E! television’s Dr. 90210, was on hand at the Nordstrom Summer Trend Show in San Francisco this morning to talk about Sensual Solutions, his new line of 13 anti-aging skin care products for face and body (exclusive to Nordstrom).

I stole a few minutes of the handsome doctor’s time to talk about Sensual Solutions, plastic surgery and overall skin care and health.

1. Be religious about sun protection

“Aging today is a choice,” says Dr. Rey. By focussing on preventative measures, like wearing sunscreen, “You’ll age only if you want to…”

2. Support “the girls” at all times, even while you sleep

To keep breasts from sagging, the doctor suggests wearing a bra while you sleep. “At night… your breasts are falling into your armpit, which pulls at the ligaments and causes sagging.”

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3. Consider plastic surgery as a last resort

Dr. Rey calls his Sensual Solutions line “plastic surgery in a bottle.” He designed it for women looking for a non-surgical approach to anti-aging. All 13 products contain an anti-aging complex called AActive6-Exotics, a combination of compounds from the jungles of Brazil (Dr. Rey is Brazilian) and anti-aging ingredients from Western medicine.

A few of his favorites from the line?

Eye Promise ($85): With a hectic schedule — long hours in the operating room and frequent cross-country flights — Dr. Rey depends on his Eye Promise cream to decrease puffiness on the skin around his eyes and reduce the appearance of dark circles.
From Your Lips ($40): A plumping gloss to firm, to increase volume and to smooth creases and lines on lips while simultaneously delivering a glossy, natural tint.
When we first sat down to talk, Dr. Rey reached across the space between us and applied From Your Lips on my pucker. Within about 10 minutes my lips looked and felt noticeably bigger, with a color a few shades darker than usual (but still my natural tone).
Inhibitox ($150): The doc developed Inhibitox — what he calls “Botox in a bottle” — after growing tired of administering Botox (!) on himself before television appearances. The penetrating cream gets deep into the skin to relax the underlying muscles.

sensual-solutions-2

4. Do your research if you decide plastic surgery is right for you

Not all doctors who perform cosmetic procedures are plastic surgeons. Follow these tips to find a good one, and avoid someone who’s merely taken a weekend course:

Look for a doctor trained as a general plastic and reconstructive surgeon.
Make sure the doctor is licensed and in good standing with your state medical board (click here for a list of links to state boards).
Listen to the buzz in your community, and chat with other women to find out which doctors they’re talking about.
Listen to your gut. You shouldn’t have a bad feeling about your doctor. If you walk into an office and the doctor makes you feel uncomfortable or creepy, move on.
Plastic surgeons often have books filled with before and after pictures of their work. The more documentation and pictures they can show you, the better, so look for thick books and stacks of pictures at the office.

5. Stop (or don’t start) smoking

Smoking destroys the skin, and Dr. Rey sees the evidence all the time in his medical practice. When two sisters or twins visit and one of them smokes, it only takes a second to guess which one’s the smoker.

6. Drink lots of water

Drinking water plumps the cells and flushes toxins from the body.

dr-rey-2

7. Give up caffeine

According to Dr. Rey, “It’s the number one cause of cellulite.”

8. Exercise!

It promotes mental and physical well being, and for those reasons and more, it’s a great anti-aging tool.

9. Cut back on stress

Stress is a major ager. Dr. Rey suggests daily meditation and regular exercise to keep stress under control.

10. Nourish your inner beauty

“Your spirit matters. Go to church, go to temple, whatever you do — you’ve got to do something spiritual. Or, simply help out in your community. This builds inner beauty, and beauty really starts there.”

karen-and-dr-rey

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

What Lipstick Index?

June 13th, 2009 by Karen 15 Comments

The makeup unicorn

I’m not sure who coined the phrase, but an economic indicator known as the Lipstick Index has long held that purchases of color cosmetics were inversely correlated to economic health, and that in bad economic times, women skipped big-ticket luxuries in favor of little treats like lipsticks and gloss.

Well, chalk this up as another example of just how bad the global recession is, but the Lipstick Index no longer applies.

In both 2007 and 2008, sales of premium color cosmetics were down in all major markets worldwide, with the exception of Latin America, where overall makeup and beauty sales have done all right. Moreover, the global rate of decline doubled between 2007 and 2008 (from 2-4%).
source

What’s it mean?

Probably that this particular recession, now in its 19th month, is worse than the average downturn, something most people already knew. Since 1854, the US has gone through 32 cycles of economic expansion and contraction, with each period of contraction lasting an average of 17 months. And that’s including the 10-12 years of the Great Depression, which kinda throws the whole curve out of whack.
source

It may also mean more unemployment (and the anxiety that comes with uncertainty in the job market), as businesses continue cutting costs by laying off more workers; more consolidation among companies in the beauty industry; and, hopefully, lower prices.

Do you think makeup and beauty prices are falling? I tried to think of some big lines that have dropped their prices lately and couldn’t come up with a single one.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Just a reminder, but MAC is holding a much-needed Friends & Family Sale June 16-18. It’s online only, and the coupon code is SUMO, which is good for 25% off purchases made through maccosmetics.com (valid in the US and Canada).

Review Roundup: MAC Naked Honey

June 12th, 2009 by Karen 12 Comments

MAC Naked Honey 43%
Consensus: Bronzed beauties may find more to like in Naked Honey than lighter-skinned lovelies. Don’t miss the Skin Salve or Buckwheat Eyeshadows, though; they’re getting rave reviews! 🙂

Makeup and Beauty: Thumbs Up “The color palette features warm and shimmery brown, copper, pink and gold shades that should look gorgeous on warm skin tones and tans. There’s nothing here too out there or arty, nor are the colors apt to induce naps. They’re straight-up pretty (but wearable) products, and I’m a big fan.”

Full Review | Makeupandbeautyblog.com

Makeup and Beauty: Thumbs Down “Anyone who expected very honeyish scents will be a bit dismayed, as most of the scented products are more floral/spicy and less honey. The skin salve is the most honey scented product, but it is still quite floral-honey. I liked several items, but I felt like you could miss this launch and not live to regret it.”

Full Review | Temptalia.com

Makeup and Beauty: Thumbs Down “Over all this launch was not my favourite. Although it did have some winners. If you want to save your money for the next few MAC launches you won’t miss much here. I like the shadows and glosses along with the highlighters, but as far as ‘NEED -MUST- HAVES’ there are only a few…”

Full Review | Pursebuzz.com

Makeup and Beauty: Thumbs Up “I’ve got to tell you, this is undoubtedly the freshest, most exciting collection MAC’s come up with in a looong time. Along with Buzz Lipglass, I’m also kind of addicted to Naked Honey Body Wash ($19.50).”

Full Review | Tiawilliams.net

Makeup and Beauty: Thumbs Down “I dont think I have been excited about The Naked Honey collection since I saw it on Specktra. The shadows in the collection felt like repeats of ones I already have.”

Full Review | Themakeupsnob.com

Makeup and Beauty: Thumbs Up “…if you’ll excuse the pun, I’ve succumbed to all the buzz. The collection is half-makeup, half-body-stuff, and though the makeup portion is small compared to other releases, I think MAC did well with what they created.”

Full Review | Karlasugar.blogspot.com

Makeup and Beauty: Thumbs Down “…there was nothing that stood out enough for me to peel off some greenbacks. I have so many similar colors already that I can’t justify buying anything from NH. I have been lusting over Pollinator e/s for months but it is so much lighter than I thought.”

Full Review | Butterfly08, Longhaircareforum.com

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. I’d like to update this post with as many Naked Honey collection reviews as possible. Let me know if you find any more or if you’ve done one yourself, and I’ll update the score up at the top. 🙂

MAX Factor Says “Peace out, America…”

June 5th, 2009 by Karen 77 Comments

MAX Factor says goodbye to the US market

Procter & Gamble Co. is pulling the plug on the iconic MAX Factor brand early next year, discontinuing US distribution to better focus on the growing CoverGirl line.

End of an era

There would be no makeup without MAX — that is to say he coined the term “makeup,” based on the verb, “to make up” (one’s face).

The company pioneered contemporary cosmetics back in the golden years of film and TV, *inventing* lip gloss in 1930, introducing Liquid Nail Enamel in 1934 (a predecessor of today’s nail enamels), inventing cake makeup in 1937 (called Pan-Cake), Tru-Color Lipstick in 1940 (the first smudge-proof lipstick), the first concealer in 1954 (called Erace), the first waterproof makeup in 1971 and even introduced the principles of Color Harmony, which held that “certain combinations of a woman’s complexion, hair and eye coloring were most effectively complemented by specific makeup shades.”

Wow, right?

Factor dominated Hollywood makeup artistry back in the 1920s-1930s, decorating virtually all of Hollywood’s leading ladies — Jean Harlow, Claudette Colbert, Bette Davis, Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford and Judy Garland. His name appeared on film credits galore.

But time marched on; competition got tougher; the pace of innovation at MAX Factor slowed. The ’90s and early 2000s weren’t kind to the brand in America, and the company lost relevance and market share over time.

Today, the lion’s share of the brand’s $1.2 billion in annual sales comes from international markets like Russia and the UK.

Overseas sales will continue, but if you hail from US shores, it may be time to stock up.

Bittersweet goodbye

I remember wearing their Pan Cake makeup in high school… A girl named Stella sat next to me in class and always looked so elegant applying it from the pan.

And I also remember being really broke in college and finding their 2000 Calorie Mascara at the drugstore. It was one of just a handful of decent drugstore mascaras at the time.

Ah, the memories…

Do you have any stories about the MAX Factor brand? Are you sad or glad to see them go?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

How to Make Your Loose Powder Last

June 4th, 2009 by Karen 41 Comments

loose-powder-with-brush

No matter how hard I try, I’m awful when it comes to controlling how much product I use with my loose powder jars.

It’s not like I’m devoid of muscle control, or like I’m shakin’ the jars like a Polaroid picture.

I don’t know, but every time I gently shake a jar to load the sifter tray, mayhem ensues; powder gets everywhere, and I’m sent down the same product-wastin’ path…

The wastefulness starts with the excess of powder in the tray. It’s why my brush gets overloaded with powder, which I end up blowing off or tapping away when I go to dilute the brush before application.

A lot product gets wasted in the process, and that makes me kind of cranky. 🙁

Makeup McGyver!

I finally found a way to doctor those jars of loose powder to cut back on waste.

It’s a cheap and easy trick that takes less than three minutes to do, and it makes it easier to control the amount of powder that feeds through those built-in sifters, consequently reducing the amount of product that gets lost to the wind.

What you’ll need

benefit-one-hot-minute-sexy-in-seconds-tutorial-1

A jar of loose powder (the kind that comes with a sifter)
Scotch Tape
Q-Tips

Step by step, oh baby…

benefit-one-hot-minute-sexy-in-seconds-tutorial-2

First, create a clean surface for the tape by removing the powder from the holes in the sifter area with a Q-tip.

benefit-one-hot-minute-sexy-in-seconds-tutorial-3

Next, grab a small piece of tape from the dispenser; place it on top of a few of the holes in the sifter.
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Sneak Peek at the New Benefit Lipglosses

May 27th, 2009 by Karen 26 Comments

benefit cosmetics lipgloss almost famous

Brace yourself, but Benefit’s releasing a new line of long-wearing lipglosses.
KABAM!
It’s true. Sometime over the next few months, Benefit will unveil a brand new line of eight lipglosses to replace both of their current lines, The Gloss and Her Glossiness.

benefit cosmetics lipgloss almost famous wand

Say what?!?

The new glosses will feature a new, stickier, long-wearing formula with a shimmery finish, and they’ll come with an oversized applicator wand with a paddle-shaped sponge tip.

The wand has a little bend to it and gives under pressure, helping to maximize comfort when it’s used.

benefit cosmetics lipgloss almost famous 2

I’ve previewed one of the new shades, Almost Famous. It’s a shimmery copper with golden pearl and reminds me of a shinier, thicker version of Benefit’s spring 2009 limited edition lipstick, Thrillin’ Brazilian.

I’m always down for new lipglosses, but I freaked out when I heard that Benefit plans to discontinue The Gloss. I’ve been wearing Kiss Me (a clear fuchsia) for years.

I can’t bear the thought of living without it, LOL! Just kidding, sort of…

Thankfully, Benefit plans to include a new formulation of Kiss Me and versions of two other colors from the current lines in the upcoming collection.

Expect to see Kiss Me (which returns under the name, Kiss You), Life on the A List (a light pink) and Who Are You Wearing (a hot pink) come back for encore presentations.

benefit cosmetics lipgloss almost famous swatch

The new glosses are *so* new that I have yet to see any official information on release dates, prices or purchase locations, but I’ll keep you posted.

Dinner through a straw — classy

I just got back from the dentist, YEA!

Now I’m numbed the EFF OUT! I can’t feel my nose, and when I smile only the left side of my mouth moves. Needless to say, I’m drinking dinner through a straw and mumbling my words.

Good times…

I managed to refrain from crying this time, though. I teared up just a little, and then my dentist encouraged me to visualize something I enjoy (surfing) and guided me through some deep breathing exercises.

I’m such a wuss.

I should say, “Hum thuth a wuth.” 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen