A prime example of “smize,” or smiling with your eyes.
(This, my friend, is why Tabs is the world’s number one plus-size kitty supermodel.)
Smile With Your Eyes
Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 190
I don’t know, maybe it’s the warmer weather, but Tabs has been getting ornery lately on our walks outside. Used to be he wouldn’t pull at the end of his leash. He just sort of knew after a while how far he could go (10 feet), and we’d walk around like that, exploring his favorite hill on the side of the house, the garden in the front and the neighbor’s air conditioning unit, which is also home to a bunch of big brown lizards Tabs likes to chase.
But now? Now Tabs regularly tests the end of the leash on practically every walk. I think because it’s been sunny lately, there are tall grasses everywhere, birds fluttering between the trees, and children out playing; there’s just a lot more stimulus outside. More to grab his attention.
Just imagine what it must be like for him on his business trips… I mean, if he finds the hills of Novato exciting, he must think the discotecas in Rio, the sidewalks of Key West, and the resorts in Fiji, Hawaii and Palm Springs are out of sight! 🙂
Speaking of that, here are some highlights from his most recent kitty modeling gigs…
The Summertime de Chanel Glossimers May Be Sheer, But They’re Also Chanel
Sirocco! Calypso! Ah, yes. Gotta love Chanel Glossimers that 1) rhyme and 2) sound like the names of late-’80s pop duos, which reminds me…
…freshman year in high school, I sat next to a girl in algebra class who went to a Milli Vanilli concert one night and then gushed the next day at school about how “They were so amazing live!”
LOL! Live-ish. 🙂
It’s too bad the Glossimers aren’t less expensive. Both of these limited edition shades from the Summertime de Chanel collection are also pretty sheer, and at $29.50 a pop, they aren’t exactly a bargain in terms of pigment per ounce.
Even so, their sheerness is oddly what I like about them.
I can just imagine the summertime adventures I could have with these two. Touring wine country one Sunday with my friends, Jen and Cindy, peachy beige Sirocco on my lips.
The color is a little like MAC C-Thru, only less pigmented and more shimmery. Perfect for an easy nude lip. I’d whip it out for touch-ups between sips of Merlot and the grand revelations that come with being a boozy lightweight/cheap date (“Dude, Madonna’s Bedtime Stories CD was way ahead of its time!”).
Fun facts about “Sirocco”
- It’s also a North African wind that blasts across the Mediterranean to Southern Europe
- The title of a movie staring Humphrey Bogart
- The name of a parrot that once tried to mate with some dude’s hair
The second shade, Calypso, is a reddish coral with golden glitter. More pigmented than Sirocco but less opaque than similar shades like MAC Lychee Luxe, it’s the one I’d wear with friends to Bliss Spa, followed by lunch at the Samovar Tea Lounge (because tea with friends makes everything better).
Sheer and shiny coral lips + spa treatments * tea + good conversation = happiness. Add a bright floral dress, and I’m smiling from ear to ear. 🙂
Calypso (bottom) and Sirocco (top)
Sirocco (left) and Calpyso (right)
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The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed
Supermoon! I’m so stoked. Last night’s supermoon was the first celestial special event I’ve seen in … I can’t remember how long. Whenever I hear about something like a meteor shower or a planet in perfect position to see with the naked eye, I get all excited, plan to stay up late, figure out when/where I’m supposed to be in my neighborhood to get a good look at it, but then I either forget, fall asleep early, or the clouds roll in to block my view!
Not last night though. It was a perfect confluence of astrological and earth-bound factors. The moon was big and bright and hard to miss. So beautiful.
I struggled a bit this week to get back into the swing of things, only because the week started with me having fun in the tropics. I think that means I had a really good time on vacation, because I wasn’t ready for it to end. I’m still doing that thing where you say, “This time last week I was [INSERT VACATION ACTIVITY HERE].” I mean, I like my office, but it’s not the quite the same as swimming in a tropical waterfall.
A few beauty (and otherwise random) posts that caught my eye this week…
- Get yer gradient nails! Here’s a pictorial tutorial — The Nailasaurus
- Trolls better watch out. 500 new fairytales have been discovered in Germany — The Guardian
- Loved this short lesson in perspective — The San Francisco Egotist
- Colorific brows — The Guilty Hyena
- Gotta get me some of this Sk:n Aloe Vera Gel — Let’s MakeYuUp
- This Avenging eye makeup is Marvel-ous — Makeup Your Jangsara
- Journalist and SF writer Cory Doctorow says a hypnotherapist helped him get over writer’s block — AdviceToWriters
- Deathly afraid of snakes, but these pictures are just so COOL! — but does it float
- 24 Best Travel Blogs and Websites — Fathom
- Spec-Tacular Makeup Tips For Eye Glass Wearers — JennySue Makeup
Oh, big news this weekend about recent makeup monster sightings, and a warning to be careful if there’s a fountain in front of your favorite mall…
Prodoctopus
Description: Prodoctopuses mostly lurk in big shopping center fountains and water elements, emerging from their depths during busy weekends, like during Macy’s and Sephora sales, when the crowds are bustling, and unassuming cosmetics shoppers are loaded down with new makeup and beauty products, which prodoctopuses consume for food.
Frequency: Rare
Speed: Medium
Armor Class: 7 (they regrow severed tentacles)
Special Attacks: Able to strike 8 times per round
Special Defenses: Underwater breathing; liquid mascara ink cloud
Intelligence: Medium
Alignment: Evil
Size: Large (20′ long, including tentacles)
Bumble and Bumble and a Boat Called Sea Breeze
MAC Unsung Heroes: Pink Poodle Lipglass
A Beginner’s Guide to the World of Color
7 Steps to a Perfect DIY Manicure
3 Easy Makeup Looks to Streamline Your Summer
Neutrogena Moisture Shine Lip Soothers
5 Wearable Orange Lipsticks for $13 or Less
Kauai, Day 5: Jungle Hikes, Kayaks and Ke’e Beach
This Summer, Tarte Comes Bearing Gifts From the Lipstick Tree
4 Easy DIY Skincare Recipes With Lemon
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Chanel Summertime de Chanel: Sable Beige
The limited edition Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel Luminous Bronzing Powder in Sable Beige, $60. Available now at Chanel counters and online.
Able to Leap Tall Buildings in a Single Bound, It’s Supermoon!
Why yes, the girl standing in the middle of the street in her jammies taking pics of the supermoon was me!
While I took these pics I kept hearing Michael Jackson’s Thriller in my head (“It’s close to midnight, and something evil’s lurking in the dark!”).
Thankfully, I did not encounter any werewolves/werecats/creepy creatures while I was out there… Not this time. 🙂
Taken at f22 with a 30-second shutter
Smashbox Is Showing Shades of Brilliance (and Much Less Fallout) With the Smashbox Shades of Fame Eye Palette
Do you ever wonder what it would be like to be famous? Pretty much, I think it would not be fun. Not being able to run to Target in my jammies for bananas and dental floss, or have lunch at a sidewalk cafe without hearing everyone around you whisper, “It’s that actress from that show with that guy,” or accidentally do something really awkward and ridiculous, like falling on your butt in the rain and cursing, “Dammit all to hell!” without it going viral on YouTube later that night.
No thanks.
The closest I want to get to fame is the new Smashbox Shades of Fame Eye Palette ($48). 🙂 I did a couple of looks with it today following the tutorials from the booklet that come with the kit.
The Test Shoot look
10 Skincare Luxuries for $10 or Less
About the Author
The following guest post was written by Radhika of Weekend Ramblings. You can also find Radhika on Twitter and Facebook.
Shortly after finishing college, I started working a regular job — not an amazing job, but it was enough to allow my beauty habit to go somewhat unchecked for a while. Then, everything changed when life happened, and I quit my job and moved to the U.S.
It took me a while to find another job; my days of carefree shopping sprees were over, and to be honest, I didn’t take to beauty budgeting all that well. If you had called me a pampered brat, I would have had to agree. 😛
But something very good came out of that time. I discovered some excellent wallet-friendly beauty and skincare products, and not just those tempting cute packages strategically placed beside the checkout counter, or the last-minute dollar deals I add to my cart to reach the free shipping threshold (don’t tell me I’m the only one who does that!), but products I’ve consistently purchased over and over, just because I love them.
Here are 10 of my favorite skincare treats, each of them $10 or less, to leave your skin healthy, glowing and fresh, without making your wallet unhappy.
1. Shiseido Facial Cotton ($9.50)
I know, fancy facial cottons might be the last thing on your mind when you’re on a budget, but hear me out. Shiseido’s version is thicker and softer than the average drugstore cotton, and it doesn’t leave behind any stray fibers on my face.
But those aren’t even the reasons it’s on my must-have list. What I recommend using this for is something called “the lotion mask.”
It’s an idea I picked up from a book called the Japanese Skincare Revolution, by Chizu Saeki, and it’s a fabulously simple way to healthier skin. Here’s a video from the author, but to break it down…
Shiseido’s cotton is much thicker than regular drugstore cottons and withstands a little stretching. It also separates easily into thinner layers.
Start by taking one of the cotton pads, soak it in water, and squeeze out most of the water by pressing it between your palms.
Then, pour a few drops of any alcohol-free toner on it (I think rose water works great), stretch the cotton a bit, and separate it into three thinner layers.
Next, place them over your face, and relax for about 10 minutes. When you’re done, even after just one use, your face will feel hydrated, smooth, and have a noticeable glow.
Try it! It could be the best $10 I’ve ever spent, and if you have a Japanese store nearby, you might be able to find an even less expensive version of a similar idea.
2. Olay Daily Facials Cleansing Cloths ($7)
These are carried in most drugstores, and having tried many different cleansing cloths and washes — including some crazy expensive ones — I have yet to find one that leaves my skin in a condition as good as these.
If you’re new to them, here’s how they work: They’re small square towelettes that you wet, and when you rub them against your skin, they work up a lather. Just gently scrub with them to cleanse.
I use them like a washcloth, and then use lukewarm water to rinse off most of the lather from my face, before rinsing any residual cleanser with cooler water.
There’s not a lot to them, but I think these cloths really work only up to their potential if you follow the directions.
Thrifty tip: Half a towelette should be sufficient in most cases (unless your normal day involves mud-wrestling alligators). Just snip them in half and store. The smaller size makes them easier to use, and this way they last longer. Store in any air-tight container, so they stay moisture-free.
3. Lush Toner Tabs ($2)
I’ve tried just about every Lush product out there and have loved most of them. I’m a Lushie. My favorites, though, are their fresh face masks, which are made with natural ingredients. Pair them with one of Lush’s Toner Tabs, and you’ve got yourself a nice relaxing at-home facial, all for less than $10.
First the toner tabs, which look and feel like macro-versions of regular tablets (some have petal bits in them).
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