Product Reviews

Will You Adopt a Stila Kitten Today? Stila Smudge Pot in Kitten

October 17th, 2009 by Karen 20 Comments

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I’d been missing Tabs something terrible even BEFORE I saw Stila’s new Smudge Pot in Kitten ($20) at Sephora the other day…

It’s a shimmery cream shadow that doubles as a liner — the cream version of Stila’s cult classic powder eyeshadow in Kitten.

Pale pinks like this really perk up my eyes when I look tired (read: often), and this one applies and builds easily. I use my finger to pat it on my lids, where it stays put for hours.

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Stila Kitten swatch with flash

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Stila Kitten swatch without flash

I like it for quick and casual day looks. I’ll usually wear it as a wash over the lids, with black liner smudged along the upper lash line. 🙂

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I Did It for Soap and Glory! – Soap and Glory Scrub Triangle Set

October 16th, 2009 by Karen 12 Comments

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Before leaving for Vegas, I picked up Soap & Glory’s Scrub Triangle Mini Gift Set ($10) from Target.

I went into the store for kitty litter but left with Soap & Glory, LOL! Soap, Glory & Kitty Litter…

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The three travel-friendly products in the set are targeted toward people with dry skin and come packaged in cute little vintage tubs and bottles.

Here’s what you get

Clean on Me Body Wash: Soap and Glory says it’s like a cleansing lotion. I’ve even used it as a shave cream, and it works great.
Flake Away: A body exfoliator containing sea salt, it leaves my skin smooth and moisturized.
The Righteous Butter: Shea-mm on you! A rich body lotion containing shea butter and aloe to quench thirsty skin.

These have been great out here in Vegas where the climate’s drier than … well, the desert. They’ve kept the skin on my arms, legs and hands (and the heels of my feet) from painfully tightening up.

Pros

Highly moisturizing
Generous sample sizes, so you can try before you buy
$10 for the whole set

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MAC Volcanic Ash Thermal Mask: Erupting with Softer Skin

October 10th, 2009 by Karen 18 Comments

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It took all of two made-for-tv volcano flicks in the ’80s (one about Mount St. Helens and the other about Pompeii) to scar me for life.

Growing up near one of the world’s most geologically active fault lines wasn’t half as scary as the thought of mountains spewing lava and ash, yikes!

But so far the closest I’ve come to anything volcanic has been my brushes with MAC’s Volcanic Ash line of skin care products.

It’s not so much a line as a duo of products, and both are part of the Style Black collection. One of the two, Volcanic Ash Exfoliator ($20), has been released before (see an earlier review), but the second, Volcanic Ash Thermal Mask ($20), is brand new.

I always get a little nervous when I try new skin care products because I can never predict how my combo dry/acne-prone skin will react.

MAC Volcanic Ash Thermal Mask

Sometimes it’s good to be dirty. 🙂 I guess that’s where the mask comes in. It’s loaded with actual volcanic ash and oils like jojoba, lavender, evening primrose and sunflower.

Add water and the paste warms ever so slightly. That’s the thermal part (Kilauea would be proud, LOL!).

MAC recommends using it one to three times per week to deep clean and moisturize the skin (should not be used near the eyes).

Is it really volcanic?

One thing those volcano disaster movies taught me was that volcanic ash can REALLY screw people up.

In dry, powder form it contains particles that can cause serious eye trauma, worsen open wounds and even lead to respiratory problems.

But in clay form — that’s a whole different story.

Throughout history, different cultures have used volcanic ash clays for health and beauty. Even our girl Cleopatra was a fan.

So, does it work?

I know a thing or two about gunk… Last week my acne-prone skin decided to freak out. The stress of moving, excessive junk food and insufficient sleep all joined forces to summon pimples on my forehead.
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Dismiss Dark Circles with Origins GinZing Eye Cream and Concealer

September 23rd, 2009 by Karen 39 Comments

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We tried to work things out, but it just wasn’t meant to be. My dark circles and I have decided to separate.

Truth is, I’ve been seeing someone else…

He’s the GinZing Eye Cream by Origins ($30), and he goes on sale next month.

A fluffy moisturizer for gals who need extra help in the eye brightening department (hello!), it contains ginseng to hydrate and reduce puffiness and shimmery silica and mica illuminators (in light pink) to brighten and minimize the look of dark circles.

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On its own, I think GinZing’s a great hydrating eye cream, but it doesn’t do much for dark circles. Ah, but combine it with under-eye concealer, and it goes from great to extra fantastic!

BACKSTORY: Some under-eye concealers (both liquids and creams) can look heavy and obvious when applied solo. Unfortch, that’s a lesson I learned the hard way.

Thankfully, my eyes were opened when a kind MAC artist taught me a trick: Mix and apply equal parts concealer and eye cream under the eyes.

The concealer/eye cream combo totally removes the cakey look while still covering up dreaded dark areas.

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In terms of eye brightening, GinZing’s shimmery illuminators totally take the concealer/eye cream trick to the next level. I’ve mixed it with both liquid and cream concealers and have really liked the results.

Putting in extra hours at work? Staying up late to study? If you’re ready to leave your dark circles behind, consider giving GinZing a try. Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A+

Positive reinforcement

In trying times, I find that a little makeup motivation (some call it bribery, but whatev) can help. I’ve been running a lot of errands lately, trying to get stuff ready for the move, and there haven’t been enough hours in the day (there never are).

Sometimes I veer off my task list, and I’ll use the promise of makeup to keep my eye on the prize.

Here are some goodies I’ve been thinking about:
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The Chanel Jade Collection: A Softer Alternative to Fall’s Dark Nail Polishes

September 20th, 2009 by Karen 41 Comments

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What’s up, Jade-a-kisses?

Ever since I saw pictures of the Chanel runway models rocking jade green nails earlier this year, I’ve been dying, DYING to get my hands on the Chanel Jade Collection polishes.

This month the two limited edition shades, Jade and Jade Rose ($25 each), finally hit Chanel Makeup Studio and boutiques shelves. I ordered mine online last week from Chanel.com, and both pastel cuties finally arrived on my doorstep last Friday.

Chanel Jade background

Beauty junkies first got a glimpse of the colors in Paris last March during the Chanel Ready-to-Wear Fall 2009-2010 show, when Monsieur Karl sent a collection of black clothes punctuated with pale pink and jade green accents down the runway.

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Oh, Philosophy — Your Duos Make Me Blush!

September 18th, 2009 by Karen 42 Comments

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Smokey eyes? Check. Vampy lips? Check. Along with the return of boots, sweaters and new episodes of some of my favorite TV shows (counting down the days ’til The Mentalist premiere, holla!), fall also heralds the return of bold makeup colors for lips and eyes.

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I’ll gladly climb aboard the drama-for-yo’-mama makeup train, but it’s not hard to overdose on bold color statements that take a look from chic to cheap.

So when I’m wearing a smokey eye or a dark lip, I’ll tend to go with sheer colors on my cheeks (for balance), colors like Philosophy’s new You Make Me Blush Duos ($25) powder blushes.

There are four available — Hugs/Kisses, Happy/Healthy, Honest/True and Happy/Healthy. I have the Happy/Healthy duo, which comes with two matte blushes, one a warm orangey brown and the other a blue-based pink.

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I know, I know! 🙂 The colors look *crazy* bright in the pan, but both apply surprisingly sheer on my skin. Worn separately or together they add just a whisper of sun-kissed color.
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Streamline Your Makeup Bag with NARS Powder Foundation

September 17th, 2009 by Karen 25 Comments

nars powder foundation review

The holidays coming! The holidays are coming!

I can hardly believe it’s mid-September already, and that means the holiday travel season isn’t far away.

One of my biggest travel challenges is packing light. I think I’m naturally predisposed to overpack, as if I biologically need 10 different shades of pink lipgloss; maybe it’s a primitive urge to gather?

But after a traumatic airport incident a few years back (a TSA agent almost confiscated a baggie filled with Chanel and MAC, NOOOO!), I’ve gotten better at streamlining what goes into my makeup bag.

Nowadays, I’m all about bringing products that multitask. When space is limited, the more steps and products I can eliminate, the better.

NARS Powder Foundation ($45), my latest foundation love, totally fits the multitasking bill.

Portable and flexible, with a natural finish

Forget hauling a separate liquid foundation, tinted moisturizer and powder. Housed in a sleek, portable case, this flexible pressed powder foundation does it all, evening out tone and wicking away shine from morning ’till night. It does it, too, without looking too thick or too much like a mask. Added bonus: It contains SPF 12.

I apply it in layers until I reach a level of opacity I’m happy with. If I know I’ll just be chillin’ with the fam, I’ll go with one to two layers applied with a kabuki brush, one like the MAC 182 Buffer ($45). It delivers natural, light-to-medium coverage. For a more opaque look, I’ll smooth it on with the included sponge.

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Wearing two layers of NARS Powder Foundation applied with a Kabuki brush

Whatever the coverage, NARS Foundation Powder always feels lightweight on my skin. It’s so comfy that I sometimes forget I’m wearing it at all!

Tips on choosing a foundation color

With 18 shades to choose from, there should be something for almost everyone. I use Sahara, which the NARS website lists for “medium red-based complexions.”

When choosing a foundation color, I usually enlist the help of a sales associate or makeup artist — someone to serve as a second opinion. If you’re on your own, though, here are two tips to try:
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Cheap Thrills with C Me Shine Lip Gloss from Yes To Carrots

September 16th, 2009 by Karen 41 Comments

yes to carrots c me shine lip gloss review

CHEAP THRILL ALERT!

Hey, now, dirty birdies. Get that mind out of the gutter. I’m not talking ’bout that kind of nasty…

Or this kind for that matter…

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I’m talking about the affordably awesome Yes to Carrots C Me Shine Lip Glosses ($6.50 each and available in six shades).

If it weren’t for their faint mint flavor and fragrance (which dissipates quickly), they’d almost be knockoffs of the MAC Lipgelles, which cost twice as much ($14). They have a similar smooth and shiny, non-stick texture and also broadcast seriously intense color.

And with six shades to choose from — Playful Nude, Rose Bliss, Flirty Pink, Carrot Kiss, Red Hot and Cocoa Loco — there’s a decent degree of variety within the line.

I’ve tried three of the colors:

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Red Hot

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Cocoa Loco
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