Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup

The Effects of This Venomous Vixen Wear Off Fast: The Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips in Venom Vixen

October 8th, 2012 by Karen 43 Comments

True, I could give myself a manicure the old-fashioned way, brushing on a base coat, carefully coating each nail with two (or sometimes three) layers of polish and finishing with a clear top coat to seal the deal, all the while hoping that a stray strand of tabby fur doesn’t fall on my handiwork before it dries, but these are modern times.

The future is now! — and in it, I’m wearing nail polish stickers. 🙂

sally hansen venom vixen — Sally Hansen Salon Effects in Venom Vixen

Yup, that’s right. Nail polish stickers, like these Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips. Each $9 (or thereabouts) kit comes with 16 pre-printed strips in various sizes, a cuticle stick and a miniature nail file/buffer — all the fixin’s for a futuristic, laquer-less manicure.

Talk about handy (haha! — sorry, bad pun), and lately, they’ve been saving my butt.

Stylish nails on the go

Before my quick trip down to Southern California last week, I had every intention of painting my nails, but time got away from me, and I had to head to the airport with bare claws.

But I couldn’t bear the thought of interviewing Too Faced Cosmetics Co-Founder and Creative Director Jerrod Blandino with naked nails, so at the last second, right before darting out the door, I dropped a set of Sally’s dark red and black snakeskin nail polish strips (codename: Venom Vixen) into my overnight bag.

It’s one of four snakeskin-inspired sets for fall. There’s also a tan and brown one called Queen Cobra, a black and gray one called Snake Charmer and a green and black one called Hiss-Terical (I love those names!).

sally hansen salon effects fall 2012 — From the left: Queen Cobra, Snake Charmer and Hiss-Terical

Ye olde airport bathroom test

I had some time to spare before my flight and still really, really wanted to paint my nails, but I wasn’t about to attempt that at the airport. I did, however, think I might be able to apply Sally’s nail polish strips.

And I did! Standing at the sink in the ladies’ room! 🙂

At one point, a woman using the sink next to me asked, “What are those? They look pretty cool.”

“They’re nail stickers,” I answered. “You stick ’em on bare nails, and then press them down, and file or just tear off the edge.”

They’re basically like nail polishes in sticker form, and when you’re ready to remove them, you can use regular old nail polish remover.

They took about 10 minutes to apply under less-than-ideal circumstances. Not bad. And the best part? — not having to wait for them to dry.

[Continue reading…]

Unsung Heroes: Laura Mercier Metallic Creme Eye Colour in Copper

October 8th, 2012 by Karen 38 Comments

I’m not saying I’m ready to raise my hands up to the heavens and yell at the top of my lungs, “J.K. Rowling was right! Magic is real!!” but I’m not ruling it out anymore.

It sure looks like there was wizardry at work over at Laura Mercier headquarters, also known as the Hogwarts of the makeup world, when they concocted Metallic Creme Eye Colour in Burnished Copper ($22).

If you’ve ever dreamt of a creamy version of MAC Sable or, perhaps less likely, imagined yourself smearing a magic potion made of melted copper pennies all over your lids, this warm reddish bronze, with its whisper of plummy gold, could be your dreams coming to life.

For years I’ve searched for something I could use as a base to intensify the copper, bronze, plum, gold and brown colors I love to wear in the fall. With Burnished Copper, I think I’ve finally found it.

Smooth and fluffy, it spreads across my combo oily/dry lids without tugging, and the long-lasting formula has incredible fortitude once it sets. It should last all day long on most skin types, with the possible exception of gals/guys with extremely oily lids, who may need the extra help of a primer.

laura mercier burnished copper swatch — Unblended (left) and blended (right)

Remarkably, considering how shiny they are, Laura’s Metallic Cream Eye Colours have always treated my fine lines with dignity and respect. How she manages to make them so shiny without going overboard on the frost is a mystery to me.

I like knowing that I can wear Burnished Copper all by itself, with just a swish of black liner on my upper and lower water and lash lines, without stressing out about it settling into the crinkles that show up when I smile.

Seriously, if that’s not magic, I don’t know what is. 🙂

Where cat ladies like to shop…

Yesterday afternoon, El Hub and I drove down to the mall to grab a burger (his was meat-ful, mine was veg), and after eating, we just sort of tooled around, first to REI to look at camping/zombie apocalypse supplies, like water purification tablets, hatchets and bags of freeze dried food (the Eggs Benedict stays fresh through 2018).

After REI, we walked into Urban Outfitters, where I haven’t been for a while (I feel like I’m too old for most of their clothes, truth be told), but I was really surprised by their big selection of gadgets and gizmos.

They also had a bunch of old-fashioned film cameras and other random tchotchkes and baubles…
[Continue reading…]

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 240

October 8th, 2012 by Karen 105 Comments

You might be wondering, “So what the heck is this Monday Poll thing anyway?”

Well, it isn’t much of a poll. It’s more just a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past four years. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

Mood:
I’m like Tony the Tiger today. I feel grrreatt! This is the first week in months that I haven’t had some little side project or house thingy to do, so I feel pretty good about that.

Oh, and I actually went to bed at a decent hour for a change! — yup, because I finished watching the last episode of Friday Night Lights. In total, I watched all 73 or 74 episodes of that show in three weeks!

Wow, that’s a lot of TV… But it was great TV. I’m serious, what a wonderful show. Highly recommended, even if you only have a tiny bit of interest in football.

Yes, ma’am, today feels like it’s going to be a great day. 🙂

Are there any bedtime rituals or things you do to help yourself fall asleep?
I do. Most importantly, I need at least a couple hours away from the computer, which is actually easier said than done. And not just my main computer, but every little Internet-connected device. Smartphones and tablets (we have a first-gen Kindle Fire) make it so easy to surf the Web from the couch.

Every night, after I put away the gizmos, I make myself a big cup of Sleepytime Tea, which I sip while I watch something brainless on TV. That’s been my main bedtime ritual for years.

I think it also helps, for various reasons, when I get in a workout earlier in the day. Running relieves my lower back pain and makes me feel a little better about myself (like I’ve actually done something productive that day).

What was the last makeup counter you remember visiting?
I think it was the Chanel and Laura Mercier counters at Nordie’s a couple weeks ago. So much fun! There are some really passionate makeup artists at both counters (at the Village in Corte Madera), and the passion they have for their lines always gets me fired up.

Do you ever take pictures with your phone? If you do, what do you like to snap?
Do I ever take pictures with my phone? Um, survey says, YES! I feel naked without some kind of camera with me at all times, and that little camera on the iPhone is surprisingly good (if you hold it very steady).

Most of the pics in my camera roll are of food, felines and other random things that make me laugh (like the pic at the top of this post).

What’s one of the most helpful books you’ve ever read?
Anne Lamott’s Bird By Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. Great, great book. No kidding, but I’ve re-read it at least 20 times! Anne’s so funny and inspiring that I always feel better about myself when I read it. Whenever I start doubting myself or freaking out about something related to writing, that book almost always helps. It’s like medicine for self-sabotaging inner artists.

In it Anne talks a lot about fiction writing, but I recommend it for anyone who writes anything for work, school or even blogging.

Oh, and once, get this: I bumped into Anne Lamott in a movie theater restroom here in Marin County, which is where she’s from, but I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to bother her, so I just gave her a smile. Someone else walked up to her assertively a moment earlier and said that Bird by Bird had changed their life, and Anne looked kind of taken aback/annoyed! I guess she really wanted to get back to her movie.

What’s the secret in your secret sauce?
Two handfuls of tabby cat hair and a dozen cheesy jokes, LOL!

Nah, not really. I guess if there is a secret to…anything, it’s to try to maintain a positive attitude, no matter what.

What are three things you miss about your younger days, and three things you don’t?
I miss sleeping soundly all night, every night. I miss not having to think about grownup things all the time. I miss seeing my family every day.

I don’t miss having to spend 10-20 minutes looking for a place to park my car when I lived in San Francisco. I don’t miss living with strangers who always ate my food in the fridge (food that was clearly marked with my name on it!). And I don’t miss spending all day working in a cubicle and feeling absolutely miserable about myself.

Are you currently enjoying any beauty products on which you recently splurged?
Chanel’s Poudre Universelle Libre Natural Finish Loose Powder in Translucent 3. It was a splurge a couple weeks ago, and I’m really loving it so far. The powder is super fine, and I know it’ll last a while because I find myself having to hardly use any to get a nice, completely matte finish.

What’s your favorite teen movie?
OOH! Tough question. I like so many of them, but the first one that came to mind is Clueless.

You know, I just read in Entertainment Weekly that that movie just turned 17 years old… 17 years old! I still remember seeing it in the theater when I went to school in Davis.

Wow, was it really that long ago? YIKES!

Weekly goals:
Don’t give in to the fear! Don’t do it!

Hey, hey friend! How goes it today? I hope your Monday got off to a smooove start.

If you have a second, let me know how you’re doing today in this week’s Monday Poll. I always like to hear from you at the start of the week (and all throughout the week, of course).

To complete the Monday Poll, just copy the following list, and paste it with your answers in the comments.

Le List

1. Mood:
2. Are there any bedtime rituals or things you do to help yourself fall asleep?
3. What was the last makeup counter you remember visiting?
4. Do you ever take pictures with your phone?
5. What’s one of the most helpful books you’ve ever read?
6. What’s the secret in your secret sauce?
7. What are three things you miss about your younger days, and three things you don’t?
8. Are you currently enjoying any beauty products on which you recently splurged?
9. What’s your favorite teen movie?
10. Weekly goals:

I’m gonna make a quick Starbucks run, and I’ll be right back. Can I interest you in one of their pumpkin spice lattes? ‘Tis the season, and all that. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 212

October 7th, 2012 by Karen 22 Comments

Dear Tabby is written by Tabs the Cat, commonly regarded as “the world’s first plus-size kitty supermodel.” Founded in mid 2012, it has quickly become the most widely syndicated cat advice column on earth — known for its fresh, feline perspective on lifestyle, fashion and style issues affecting cats and humans.

Home wrecker or house cat?

DEAR TABBY: My assistant has been spending a lot of time with the cat next door…

I don’t know if I should be concerned, but I do tend to worry. A lot. About everything. See, I’m a scaredy cat, and being nervous is in my nature.

Her name is Patches — the cat, not my assistant — and we’re actually all close friends. I’ve always assumed that Patches lives in one of the houses in our neighborhood, but I’ve never met her assistant. In fact, I don’t even know if she has one. Patches spends most of her time hiking and exploring the great outdoors.

Sometimes when my assistant — let’s call her Jane — and I go out for a walk, we run into Patches, and everything seems fine. I feel like we’re all friends, but then Jane spends a good 10 minutes petting Patches and scratching behind her ears.

Right in front of me!

This last time, Jane even gave Patches some treats from her pocket! The same treats Jane always gives to me!

I just don’t know what to do. Jane and I have been together for more than six years, and she’s so much more than an employee to me. We’re also best friends.

What do you think, Tabby? I know that you and your assistant (Karen, right?) have also been together for a long time. Should I be concerned, or am I just being a scaredy cat?
— Not Loving My Neighbor

tabs-and-his-assistant — With my long-time assistant, Karen

DEAR NOT LOVING: I feel your pain. The bond between a feline and his/her pet assistant is sacred, and while I think you should be a little concerned, it’s probably too early to bare your claws.

Yes, your assistant’s actions are highly suspicious, but there may be other things going on. Jane may not be doing anything wrong. Sometimes cats like Patches who spend a lot of time on their own get very lonely. Maybe she’s just looking for a little love and attention. I’ve known many outdoor kitties like that.

Until you have all the facts, it’s too early to assume that your assistant is looking for a new job. Keep your eyes and ears open, and if Patches comes home with your assistant one of these days, that’s your cue to overreact.

Three problems with boundaries

DEAR TABBY: I pet assist for three very lovely Siamese kitties, and I love my job. I love working for all three of them, but they have no respect for boundaries. I can’t even take a lunch break without one or more of them strolling into my office unannounced.

I’m not sure what to do…

I could be sitting there at my desk eating a sandwich — so obviously I’m taking a break — but they act totally unaware. They hop up on the desk, walk all over my sandwich and even have the nerve to purr.

Tabby, I take my job very seriously, but by the same token, I also need my breaks. Am I being unreasonable to expect a little courtesy? Isn’t their behavior rude?
— Working Hard for the Money

DEAR WORKING HARD: You must be an amazing pet assistant because it sounds like your three kitty employers really, really love spending time with you.

My personal philosophy? Humans deserve breaks and boundaries, too. But not all felines feel the same way.

I think you need to have a conversation with your employers. Be firm with them, but don’t yell. If you yell, they’ll just run away. Tell them that you love assisting them but need a break during the day. An hour of alone time at lunch shouldn’t be too much to ask.
[Continue reading…]

Two Ways to Win a $50 eGift Card from Sephora!

October 6th, 2012 by Karen 474 Comments

WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner @mousewings! Congratulations, @mousewings! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂

Late start today! Very late start. Right after I crawled out of bed, I came downstairs and tried to figure out a tech thing that I’ve been thinking about, using a camcorder as a web camera for Skype. I had some, I don’t know, fancy idea involving a tripod and a camcorder and — anyway, I couldn’t get it to work.

Yep, nothing eats up the hours like little tech projects. C’est la vie, I guess. Such is life in 2012.

Anywho, it’s good to finally talk to you. I hope you had a nice Friday night. I was so pooped that I turned in around 10, just totally wiped out from my trip down to Southern California, but I feel like a new woman today. 🙂

Good luck in this weekend’s Sephora e-gift card giveaway. I hope you enter, and don’t forget, you can enter twice — once in the comments and once through Twitter. The deets are down below.

Talk to you soon. I think I’m gonna go sneak in a run now on the treadmill.

What folks are saying…

“Hi Karen. Oh my goodness! I can’t believe I won! :O Thank you so much! You, Tabs, and your blog are amazing! Thank you for keeping me updated on all things beauty and more importantly, for keeping me entertained! Keep doing your thing! Thank you again.”
-Jacqueline

“Thanks so much, Karen. Just in case you were wondering what I got with it, I decided to go with the Clarisonic Mia–I’ve been wanting it for years now, but have never purchased it because of the price. Your eCard helped me finally buy it! I look forward to using it. Thanks again!”
-Jane

“Shut the front door! OMG Karen, you have made my day. 🙂 I’m sick in bed with the flu and this has just cheered me up immensely!!!!!!!! BTW, I’m the one that sent you that pic of my pug in a wig a few weeks back LOL! Thanks again, honestly, I’m beyond giddy right now.”
-Angel

“Oh my goodness! Thank you so much Karen (and Tabs, of course)! I really appreciate this! I’d been eyeing the Anastasia brow pencil in Strawburn to match my red hair!”
-Chelsea (and Jiji the kitten and Quincy the bunny)

“Never before have I been so pleased to check my email right before bed!!! Thank you so, so much! I truly enjoy your blog and check it almost daily! Thanks again! This made my night!”
-Melissa, Edmond, OK

“Hi Karen. Thank you so much, I’m so excited, I’ve never won anything before. My name is Hana … I just turned 25 (today is my birthday!) Yay! Thank you.”
-Hana

One (1) Sephora eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (international readers, you may opt to receive $50 sent by PayPal instead).

There are two ways to enter, and you can do both of them for two chances to win. First, you can enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post, a comment about anything at all, like, are you a Mac or a PC? Have you ever used Skype? Have you ever tried one of those virtual makeup or hairstyle websites (like DailyMakeover)? Best movie you’ve seen this year? Would you ever wear white eyeshadow? Favorite magazine? Do you have any empty/stale beauty products that you still keep for sentimental reasons? — you get the idea.
Second, you can enter by following me on Twitter @karenmbb and retweeting (RT) the following message:
- Follow @karenmbb and RT to Win a $50 eGift Card from Sephora! http://bit.ly/SF7cdY

The deadline to enter is Sunday, October 7, 2012 at 11:59PM (PT).
Entrants must enter using a valid email address and/or Twitter account to win.
A maximum of two (2) entries per person — one within the comments at the bottom of this post, and a second entry via Twitter addressed to me @karenmbb.
Contest is open to individuals of any country who have reached the age of majority according to their local laws (18 in the United States with these exceptions: Alabama and Nebraska, 19; Mississippi, 21).
Sephora eGift Certificates can only be redeemed online and are not valid in stores or available for purchase or redemption in Canada. International winners may opt to substitute the Sephora eGift card prize for $50 sent directly to their email address by PayPal instead.
Tabs and I (heretofore referred to as “T-Money and K-Dawg”) will select one (1) winner at random from the entries either left in the comments at the bottom of this blog post or addressed to @karenmbb on Twitter.
The winner will be announced here within 48 hours of the deadline.
Void where prohibited by law.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner @mousewings! Congratulations, @mousewings! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂

Tea and Cupcakes With Jerrod: An Interview With Jerrod Blandino, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Too Faced Cosmetics

October 5th, 2012 by Karen 56 Comments

What a trip! I’m back at home in the Bay now, back to bustling (not) Novato, California. I thought I might get a sneaky-peaky at the Too Faced offices on my overnight excursion down to Southern California last night, but the construction gods had other plans. The Too Faced offices are/were under construction, but that didn’t stop me from having a good time.

Instead of an office tour, the company hosted a tea party for bloggers at the lavish Queen’s Bakery in Costa Mesa to celebrate the new Too Faced Love Sweet Love holiday collection with cucumber sandwiches, cookies and cupcakes.

Before full-on food coma dulled my brain, I sat down with Too Faced Cosmetics Co-Founder and Creative Director Jerrod Blandino for a few minutes to talk about Jerrod’s creative process, the company’s upcoming plans and their delectable holiday release.

Jerrod’s a trip! He’s a BIG personality who talks fast, laughs often and waves his hands in the air when he speaks. While we talked, I couldn’t keep my eyes off the bling on his finger (a sparkly diamond ring) or the bright red loafers on his feet.
[Continue reading…]

This Year’s Benefit Crescent Row Limited Edition Fragrance Set Is Like Having Four Fragrant Friends Over for the Holidays

October 5th, 2012 by Karen 8 Comments

Benefit Crescent Row Limited Edition Set Holiday 2012 — The new Benefit Crescent Row Limited Edition Set for Holiday 2012

Over the holidays this year, love, and your favorite Benefit Eau de Toilettes, will be in the air.

Each of the four tiny 0.34-ounce bottles in the new $36 Benefit Crescent Row fragrance set is small enough to bring in a carry-on bag on your next flight (TSA rules limit liquids to 3.4 ounces or less).

Choose from Laugh With Me Lee Lee (a woody floral), My Place or Yours Gina (a woody oriental), Ring My Bella (a fruity floral) and See & Be Seen Sasha (a captivating floral).

I like my cats big and my perfumes tiny, so every year when Benefit rolls out their little fragrance kits I get really excited! — and then I pop open one of their caps…

[Continue reading…]

Sweet Things

October 5th, 2012 by Karen 11 Comments

A carousel of Too Faced La Creme lipsticks, and some yummy noms…

Would you like a cupcake or a cookie?