Skin Care

Currently Rocking the Bathroom Shelf: Fresh Black Tea Age-Delay Instant Infusion Treatment Toner, Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask and Osmia Organics Honey Myrrh Lip Repair

June 18th, 2014 by Karen 16 Comments

Fresh, Sisley and Osmia Organics — Some current skin care faves on my bathroom shelf…

Have you ever noticed that when you run out of a product, it’s like you run out of everything at the same time?

Like they’re all in cahoots, Toy Story-style.

“Hey, Benetint! It’s a go for tomorrow! We’re all running out at the same time!”

For me it seems to happen a lot with skin care. A few weeks ago everything I’d been using pretty consistently ran out at the same time, so I took it as a sign to get some new things. 🙂

These are three I took with me on my trip to Redding last weekend.

Redding… That place is dry and hot! It’s like a little slice of Death Valley, and it always does a number on my combo skin.

1. Fresh Black Tea Age-Delay Instant Infusion Treatment Toner

The hefty glass bottle isn’t travel friendly, but I had to bring this toner with me to Redding.

Stuff is great! It’s supposed to even out your skin tone and texture, and it’s hella moisturizing.

Plant extracts are all up near the top of the ingredient list, which is usually a good sign, and there are some interesting ingredients, too, like tea, blackberry leaf and lychee seed extracts, and hyaluronic acid to seal in moisture, along with the ubiquitous Vitamins C and E.

Morning and night, after I wash my face, I put a few drops on a cotton pad, and gently sweep it all over my mug.

I’ve been using it for about three weeks now, and I’m a fan. No breakouts so far (knock on wood!), and my skin just laps up the moisture.

I don’t have a ton of experience with the Fresh brand, but I really like the few things I’ve tried. Unfortunately they are pretty expensive.

A 4-ounce bottle of the Black Tea Toner is $48 and available now at Fresh boutiques and online.

2. Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask

[Continue reading…]

Where’ve You Verbena All My Life, Laura Mercier Verbena Infusion Gel Body Moisture?

May 28th, 2014 by Karen 16 Comments

It’s hard to let go of your fears…

Like, for me, the fear of smelling like a cleaning spray, or the clinical term, scentofcleaningspray-a-phobia.

It started innocently enough. One day long ago I was wearing a scent — can’t remember which one it was now — but it had strong notes of verbena.

Doop-da-doo, someone leaned in for a hug but pulled away immediately, as if repelled, and said, “You smell exactly like Pledge.”

It left scars, man.

Scars.

Needless to say, I was a little skeptical at first about Laura Mercier’s new Verbena Infusion Gel Body Moisture, but I figured, it’s Laura, and I’ve pretty much loved all of her scented body products, so I banked on this one working out, too.

And it did! 🙂 No eau de scrubbing bubbles.

“Inspired by the countryside of Provence, Laura captures the crisp freshness of Verbena to invigorate the senses. A sparkling bouquet of green citrus and leafy spearmint infuse beautifully with petals of fresh blossoms and a touch of white amber and cedar wood. Leaving behind a refreshing sensation that rejuvenates the body.”

— lauramercier.com

With the mercury rising here in Northern Marin, I’ve been digging the creamy gel-like texture, which feels almost like a light mousse. It quickly absorbs into my skin and doesn’t leave the backs of my knees feeling sticky, which is a major moisturizer turnoff.

[Continue reading…]

March Instagram Skin Care Faves From Bliss and GlamGlow

March 27th, 2014 by Karen 12 Comments

Have you gotten into Instagram yet (here’s me)? GOLD MINE for cat pics and videos, among other things.

A couple Friday nights ago I was being a homebody with some new skin care products from Bliss and GlamGlow and shared a pic…

Back to Instagram, I think I like it so much because there’s no pressure, camera-wise, because you take the pictures with your phone. There’s no elaborate setups or having to mess with manual modes or checking your f-stops or ISO levels, and you have this one creative space that you can fill with anything you like.

It’s great for inspiration, like with makeup and hair, because you can follow artists and other people you like and see their work, even if they’re doing looks you could never imagine yourself wearing. It’s just a really easy way to get lots of visual food for your brain in one space.

Anywho, I first heard about GlamGlow, ironically, at a Bliss Spa, where the spa technician who gave me a facial was like, “This is the next big thing. You’re gonna love this mask. All of your girlfriends will be talking about it,” and she was so right. I definitely feel like when I use a GlamGlow mask, something is happening.

In this video I talk about a few of the Bliss and GlamGlow skin care products I’ve been using and loving. 🙂

Products mentioned…

Have you found any change-your-life skin care products lately? How about Bliss and GlamGlow? Do you have any faves?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Shower Me With Your Lush: These Luscious Limited Edition Lush Valentine’s Day Products Make Hearts Beat and Bath Time Sweet

January 31st, 2014 by Karen 12 Comments

Lush Love Locket Bath Bomb — Heart ya, Lush!

I doubt it’s appropriate to be writing about Lush bath products while I’m — sorry, TMI — completely filthy. Haven’t showered, still wearing stretchy pants, hair’s up in a scrunchie (a bright neon orange one!), and there’s a fine film of fuzz on my teeth.

Gross, I know.

Tabs, glamorous maven of grooming that he is, does not approve.

It’s been one of those days…but things are looking up! #glasshalffull

Weird as it sounds, I’m getting pretty psyched to hit that shower ’cause of these new limited edition Lush Valentine’s Day treats.

The heart-shaped bath bomb! The pink and red heart soap! PRINCE CHARMING SHOWER GEL! I don’t even know where to start… I kind of want to take everything in the shower all at once and use it in a single bubbly bonanza of cleanliness. I’m going to be really, really clean when I’m done. 🙂

Love Locket Bath Bomb, $10.95

Nobody likes a broken heart (aww), but breaking this heart is apparently a good thing. Lush designed this oversized heart-shaped bath bomb so that you can divvy it up to use in two separate baths. Oh, and hidden inside the big heart is a smaller heart for yet another bath, so it’s a triple threat of bath bombs. Three bath bombs in one.

It’s scented with vanilla, jasmine and neroli oil (yum), and when you drop it in the tub, paper hearts embedded in the bath bomb float up to the surface of the water.

How cool!

Neon Love Soap, $7.85

On second thought, maybe I should start with the Neon Love Soap instead, and save the Bath Bomb for when I need some serious meow time.

Bergamot, rosewood, cinnamon leaf and passion fruit scent this soap, but I think it smells more like having a freshly baked plate of ginger cookies in front of you while you’re drinking a passion fruit smoothie. Mmm…

Lush Prince Charming Shower Gel, $19.95 for 8.4 ounces

Why kiss all of those pesky frogs when you can have Prince Charming in a shower gel instead? 🙂

The pomegranate, grapefruit, marshmallow and vanilla scent is both refreshing and comforting at the same time. I bet if I still had some Lush Celebrate Hand and Body Lotion around (*sniffs*), the citrus notes would work wondrously with this shower gel.

Tender Is the Night Massage Bar, $11.95

Lush Tender Is the Night Massage Bar — Tender Is the Night Massage Bar

Shout-out to F. Scott Fitzgerald! Although I prefer The Great Gatsby, I suppose “The Great Gatsby Massage Bar” doesn’t sound nearly as Valentine-y. This bar melts right into my skin and smells divine — like a bouquet of Jasmine flowers.

To El Hub, on the off chance that he’s reading this, the knots in my lower back and I will be “kneading” your in-house massage tech services soon. I’ll bring the bar; you bring the muscle. 😉

The Kiss Lip Tint, $9.25

Lush the Kiss Lip Tint — The Kiss Lip Tint

Totally not for either the bath or shower, but it’s V-day related, so why not? This tin o’ lip tint is for the gals who like sheer color and non-sticky formulas. It tastes a little like marmalade (the jelly, not the stuffed cat).

You can find these products, along with the rest of Lush’s limited edition Valentien’s Day collection, at Lush stores now and online at lushusa.com.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

I’m Carisa Janes of Hourglass Cosmetics, and This Is My Makeup Life

January 31st, 2014 by Karen 17 Comments

The My Makeup Life series asks beauty biz insiders, bloggers, makeup mavens and artists to share their holy grail products, tricks, tips and favorite beauty tools. Is there anyone you would like to see featured in My Makeup Life or questions you think I should ask? Let me know here.

Name: Carisa Janes
Location: Venice, CA
Day job/current gig: CEO and Founder of Hourglass Cosmetics
Hangouts online: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and hourglasscosmetics.com
Current favorite Product: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Luminous Flush
Beauty inspirations: Creativity in any form, art, architecture, photography, technology, film & design. I’m also inspired by different locations — Venice (CA), Tokyo, Stockholm.
One word that best describes your outlook on beauty: Insatiable

What makeup/beauty products can’t you live without?

Veil Mineral Primer — I forget how important it is until I neglect to use it. Veil Fluid Makeup has been my go-to foundation for many years, and Ambient Lighting Powder is hard to resist. Over the course of a day, I use Dim Light, Radiant Light and Luminous Light, in that order. It’s my personal lighting technician.

The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette ($58), a limited edition item from holiday 2013

When did you start getting into makeup?

All the women in my family, including my grandmother, my mother and my step-mother, were beauty enthusiasts. As a teenager I’ll never forget my mother taking me to the Chanel counter of a department store in California. The fact you could express yourself with makeup has long inspired me. It still does.

Hourglass Extreme Sheen Lip Gloss in Lush (bottom) and Origami (top), $28 each

What’s your best beauty time-saving trick?

I always wear a primer, so that my makeup has longevity. I use multitasking products, such as a foundation with anti-aging ingredients and SPF. And, like most women, I can apply mascara in my car while stopped at a red light.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes in Radiant Magenta (left) and Diffused Heat (right), $35 each US and $41 CDN

[Continue reading…]

I’m Jerrod Blandino of Too Faced Cosmetics, and This Is My Makeup Life

December 13th, 2013 by Karen 27 Comments

Name: Jerrod Blandino
Location: Irvine, California
Day job/current gig: Co-Founder and Creative Director of Too Faced Cosmetics
Hangouts online: Twitter, Facebook and toofaced.com.
Beauty inspirations: First and foremost, it’s the women in my life. My sister growing up. Kind of the idea of being little and seeing my really feminine, fabulous sister, but she was also super kick-@ss. Fashion. Interiors. Wallpapers. Car paint. Cupcakes. Pastries. California. Of course, the beach. It’s such a big part part of who I am. You know, it literally comes from everywhere. I become very obsessed with things. I love anything retro glam, classic. Ya know, I love trends and I love the ’80s and I’m obsessed with, you know, just accessories and fashion. I love stationary and wedding cakes and chocolate and clovers and chihuahuas. I love horses. I don’t know, I’m obsessed with horses all of a sudden…
One word that best describes your outlook on beauty: Joyful!

What makeup/beauty products can’t you live without?

I cannot live without and will never live without my Bulletproof Brows, which is my new product that’s coming out. People will be ADDICTED to it. It will change your life.

Too Faced Bulletproof Brows Universal Brunette — Bulletproof Brows in Universal Brunette (one of two shades; the other one is Universal Taupe), $30

My bronzers, my bronzing wardrobe. I have a different bronzer for every different outfit. Every different time of year, every moment. It depends on where I’m going, what I’m doing. I’ve built a bronzing wardrobe that I’m absolutely addicted to and will never give up.

And I love my Amazing Face Powder Foundation. It’s the quickest way to look like you’ve been completely taking care of your skin and have been getting eight hours of sleep and drinking all the water that you should be drinking.

So, those are my obsessive products that I use every day.

When did you start getting into makeup?

Well, that’s kind of funny that you asked that because it’s kind of weird. I was always an artist growing up. I was that little kid who won art shows and was always drawing, and I was obsessed with The Muppets! I went to art school and actually became an art teacher and taught kids art.

Ya know… Well, really in high school, I remember my friend, Bernadette was amazing, and she would spend three hours in the mirror doing her makeup. It was the late ’80s and early ’90s, and I remember thinking that this was just like another form of art. I clicked into that, and I remember the moment it clicked. I was sitting in her bathroom watching her. She was putting on, like, eight different lipsticks to create whatever look she was doing.

And so, then I went to art school. I went to animation school for Disney and Warner Brothers. It was a sort of school where they’d find talent and furrow them in [and it was there] I discovered makeup on accident. I got a job at Estee Lauder behind the counter at Saks Fifth Avenue — it was all totally an accident, freakishly — and on my very first day behind the counter, it all made sense. My art background, my creative background, my dreaming — the way I looked at the world was very cartoonish, always, growing up. I was always ready for, you know, the stuffed animal to come alive and talk to you. I was that kid. I would wait for the rainbow to come into my background so I could climb it and go into the clouds. That was me.

And when I got my first client in the chair, I saw that this was just a different type of art medium, but it was an art medium that would transform people. It would embed self-esteem into women. I saw the transformation that occurred when I was doing my art on people, not on paper. And I was hooked.

What’s your best beauty time-saving trick?

My best beauty time-saving trick? Okay! Alright, so this is what you’re going to do. You’ve going to wake up, and wash your face. You’re going to apply my tinted BB Creme, my BB Balm, because it’s got every amazing skincare serum that I’ve ever tried in my life embedded into that formula. It’s full of moisture, full of anti-oxidants, full of anti-aging, decongesting, wonderful ingredients but it also gives great coverage. So, instantly, boom — we’ve got your skin covered.

Too Faced Bronzer Boxes — Too Faced Bronzers, $30 each

We’re going to take my Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer that’s full of antioxidants and moisturizing ingredients, and we’re going to spread that around the perimeter around your face, closest to the hairline, around the jaw, and through your cheekbones. Boom! We’ve got you sculpted and you’re ready go.

You’ve got to put on my Better Than Sex Mascara, because it’s so rich, and so thick, and the powered peptides in that thing make it so black that you don’t need eyeliner. So you’re going to wiggle that right along your lash line. After that, a little bit of my Lip Injection Plumping Lip Gloss will get your lips full, pink and luscious, and you’re out the door. You’re ready to go to work, you’re ready to go on a date, you’re ready to meet your kid’s future husband, you’re ready to have sex, whatever you want.

What’s your favorite beauty tool?

Easy. It’s my Teddy Bear Hair Retractable Kabuki Brush. It’s great for bronzers, it’s great for blushes, it’s great for powders. It’s retractable and twists up and down.

If you keep the head twisted down almost so it’s really tight, and you just get a mound, and the bristles are tight, you get a lot of coverage. You could even use it as a quick eyeshadow brush if you wanted. You could use it as a sculptor. When you twist it up all the way and it gets to its fluffiest self, it’s the perfect bronzer, loose powder, powder foundation applicator. And because it’s synthetic hair, you could even apply your liquid foundations with it. So it does everything!

What’s the best beauty advice you ever received?

You’ve gotta smile. You’ve got to feel it. You’ve got to love your life, you have to feel it from the inside. Because you can do anything you want in the world to the outside, and it’s not going to make any difference. The most beautiful people in the world are the people who are happy, who are self-confident, and who love to be alive. Who are joyful, who are kind and full of love. You know?

The new Too Faced Haute Chocolate Spring 2014 collection, available now at toofaced.com

What’s your skincare routine?

Oh sh*t, do you really want to get into that? Honey, we’ll be on this call for eight hours.

[KAREN: Okay…so give me the abbreviated version]

Ooooooh, HONEY. Obsessed with skincare! I have lots of great friends in the industry. No, I’m lucky enough to meet and call friends like Dr. Brandt one of them. I’ve been given too much information so… (Laughs.) But because of that, because I know of this, I’ll tell you what I do. A lot of the things I use and love and depend on are in my makeup. Because I’ve realized how important it is, and how important it is to preserve and take good care of your skin. And with science, nowadays, I can incorporate that into my cosmetics.

I’m going to abbreviate it for you because it gets scary! I use DermaQuest Peptide Mobilizer, and then I use Stem Cell Day Serum, and then I use a skin growth gel, it’s Bio-Serum, it makes your skin grow thicker and stay healthy. I do that. Then, I use an eye serum. And I fluctuate back and forth.

[Continue reading…]

Citrusy Lush Celebrate Hand and Body Lotion Is Hosting a Hydration Holiday Hootenanny

December 12th, 2013 by Karen 15 Comments

I tell you what — I’d have a BIG reason to celebrate if Lush ever decided to make limited edition Celebrate Hand and Body Lotion permanent, because it’s the absolute best scent I’ve ever sniffed from them, hands down.

Citrusy and fresh, like a walk through a grove of blossoming orange trees (or the aroma wafting from a mimosa on Sunday morning), I can’t even begin to describe just how yummy this smells to me… I wish there was a scratch-and-sniff plugin for computer screens.

Oh, and it’s insanely good for dry skin! The shredded carrot cuticles on my toes (sorry, TMI, I know!) disappeared when I started using it on the regular.

Lush Celebrate Hand and Body Lotion — Celebrate!

Being so rich and decadent, Celebrate does leave behind a slightly greasy feel, but for me the scent and how good it makes my skin feel more than make up for it.

If your skin needs heavy-duty hydration, this is the stuff. 🙂

I just might cry the day I hit the bottom of this tub. Oh, if only it were permanent…

[Continue reading…]

I’m Sonia Kashuk of Sonia Kashuk Beauty, and This Is My Makeup Life

December 6th, 2013 by Karen 22 Comments

Name: Sonia Kashuk
Location: New York City
Day job/current gig: You know, it’s funny because I know that I came from being a makeup artist, but now I’m more like a makeup creator, or a beauty creator. It’s funny, I’m all these mini subtitles in the world of beauty. I guess day-to-day, it really is about being a creator.
Hangouts online: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, soniakashuk.com, and target.com for the Sonia Kashuk Beauty line.
Current favorite product: I would have to say, one of my current favorite products, which I think is, like, a makeup bag must-have, is my pro pan, Eye on Neutral Matte Palette.
Beauty inspirations: For me, it’s not about places. It’s words. I think refinement, I think polish, I think confidence. It’s more of that type of thing when I think about beauty than it is, per se, a place.
One word that best describes your outlook on beauty: Polished.

What makeup/beauty products can’t you live without?

I am a huge fan of skincare products, and I have to say, my Foundation. Because to me, if your skin looks good, you’re already more than halfway there. So I think it’s, like, really owning and working to maintain the quality of your skin, and then really embracing that. And I think that a tube of foundation can perfect any imperfections and kind of take the skin to that “wow” factor of, like, “You’ve got beautiful skin!”

When did you start getting into makeup?

I really didn’t fall into doing makeup as a profession until my early 20s. I was kind of floundering through the fashion and display worlds and trying different aspects, but I was always working with color, shape and form. But I didn’t really find my way into beauty until my early 20s.

The truth is, I was actually doing the wardrobe for the Funkytown video, and at the last minute, the makeup artist cancelled. And the songwriter/director said to me, “Sonia, you’re kind of into all that kind of stuff. You need to do the makeup.”

You know, I was a bit, like, “Are you kidding me?” I had no idea. But, it’s like, you kind of get thrown into something, and I had no idea what I was doing, but I loved it. And that was really the transition point that put me into beauty.

What’s your best beauty time-saving trick?

I think, probably, it’s my Illuminating Bronzer that I have, because it’s super fast and makes skin look drop-dead gorgeous.

I think that bronzer now is definitely a year-round product, and it makes you look alive — or at least like you just came back from a recent trip. Like, I’m always getting, “God, Sonia. You’re skin’s so glowy. Were you just in the sun?”, and I’m like, “It’s my bronzer!” So I feel like when someone gives you that kind of compliment…we all strive to look like we just got back from vacation, and I think the Illuminating Bronzer will do that.

I like applying it with a brush. If you want a lighter application, use my Large Duo-Fibre Brush. I start it on the cheek with a little bit under the cheek to give it more of a hint of contour. Then, around the apples, kind of up into the hairline, and then a slight dusting on the cheek and a light dusting on the neck, so it just looks even. And you have this kind of very fresh-faced, bronzed glow.

The thing I love about this bronzer beyond the illuminating factor is that it doesn’t lay down heavy on the skin, so it has this incredible see-through quality.

I think some people still have this thing about bronzer — what bronzer was as opposed to what bronzer is today. It has beautiful texture, and you get just radiant skin. A bronzer is definitely what I think must be in everyone’s bag as well.

What’s your favorite beauty tool?

Eyelash curler.

What’s the best beauty advice you ever received?

You know, this is going to sound a little bit crazy, and I was like, “Do I even say this?” but I’m going to.

Because I am a grown-up — I have to admit, I am a grown-up — I’m not such a fan of fillers, but I am a fan of Botox when used correctly. When not overdone, I think of Botox as an age-maintenance tool.

And, I think that what happens with a lot of things in our society and in our life is that things get blown out of proportion, out of control, people misuse products. And I think Botox got kind of a crazy rap because of the extremes that we have seen from so many women. But, I think when used correctly by the right professional, it can maintain and help preserve the appearance of your own skin and really make a big difference with age maintenance.

When speaking to amazing doctors and plastic surgeons, people that I’ve had conversations with, plastic surgeons that in the past who were doing lots of face lifts are no longer doing that because they feel that when they’re maintaining things correctly, they can get such incredible results with age maintenance [with Botox].

I’m a fan of it when used correctly, and I think,unfortunately, it’s more often than not misused. That’s kind of a tricky thing to get into, but I have to say that it’s an incredible tool, you know, an incredible product, when not overdone.

[Continue reading…]