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The Sonia Kashuk Twist of Fate Brush Set for Holiday 2009: Elegant, But Do They Bring It?

November 10th, 2009 by Karen 72 Comments

sonia kashuk holiday 2009 twist of fate brushes in clutch
Sonia Kashuk Twist of Fate Brush Set, $20

Earlier this decade, Sonia Kashuk reinvented the budget brush market, making drugstore makeup brushes cool. For the holidays this year, she’s taking that budget luxe philosophy another big step forward by introducing a line with twisted faux-sliver handles that won’t break the bank.

But looks aren’t everything, and to find out if Sonia’s new brushes bring the noise, I put ’em to the test.

The six-piece limited edition Twist of Fate Brush Set ($20, on sale now at Target), Sonia’s premium collection of brushes for the holidays, joins five limited edition holiday makeup palettes and accessories (also on sale at Target).

Sonia Kashuk Twist of Fate

With a black clutch purse to carry them in (one that looks like it could cost more than $20 by itself), these six short-handled brushes will be traveling in style.

  • A powder/blush brush
  • A foundation brush
  • A crease brush
  • An eyeshadow brush
  • An eyeliner brush
  • A brow/lash comb

sonia kashuk holiday 2009 twist of fate brush heads

Pros

  • Look expensive
  • Brush heads feel soft against my skin and apply/blend product well
  • Clutch purse fits everything with room to spare
  • Brushes feel lightweight — perfect for girls on the go!
  • Fantastic deal; breaks down to $2.86/per item (including the clutch)

[Continue reading…]

There are 72 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Drugstore Beauty Finds, Makeup Tools, Product Reviews

Tuesday Beauty Tips: 9 Things to Do on Your Next Trip to San Francisco

November 10th, 2009 by Karen 67 Comments

Welcome to San Francisco

Ah, the things we do for Cupid…

After I met and fell in love with El Hub, I wanted to be closer to him, so I left my favorite city of San Francisco and moved the 10 miles north across the Golden Gate Bridge to the suburbs of Marin.

I like it here, but I’m a city girl at heart. I miss SF’s bustling beauty scene, and the city’s diversity, restaurants, museums and clubs.

081609-the-city-at-dusk-small
San Francisco at dusk

Which is why I love to visit. 🙂 If you’re planning a trip to San Francisco and looking for Bay Area adventure, you’ve come to the right place! Here are 9 of my favorite things to do in the city.
[Continue reading…]

There are 67 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Beauty Tips, Just For Fun, Top Posts Keywords: 9things

Are Your House Plants Pet Safe?

November 10th, 2009 by Karen 15 Comments

Since Tabs now lives indoors 24/7, I had to relocate a few of my house plants outside to the deck. Turns out several of the plants I own, like this Elephant Ear, are very poisonous for the kittehs.

Want to know if your house plants are pet safe? The ASPCA’s list of toxic and non-toxic plants is a good place to start.

There are 15 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Photo

What’s the WORST Beauty Decision You Ever Made?

November 10th, 2009 by Karen 53 Comments

111009-worst-beauty-decision

Ah… so many to choose from! But my WORST ones involve bad hair.

Remember Dorothy Hamill?

At the tender age of five, I allowed my grandmother, bless her heart, to perm my hair. She was enrolled in beauty school at the time and got my mom’s permission to practice perming skills on me. Dorthy Hamill bowl cut + too tight perm = hair of horrors!!!

Finals destination

One time back in college I walked into a random $8 haircut chop shop on a whim and told the stylist to do “whatever she wanted” to my shoulder-length black hair. It was during finals; I was broke, sleep-deprived out of my mind, and convinced that my hair was weighing down my brain. I probably should’ve left when it occurred to me that the other people in the waiting area were screaming children and dudes who looked like they never showered, but I was already in the chair. 🙂 Fifteen minutes later, I had my brand new lopsided triangle haircut, way too short and puffed up at the sides, WHEE! It looked horrible and took months to grow out.

Brow beating

Do not — I repeat — DO NOT attempt to wax your eyebrows unless you’re wide awake and alert. I learned this lesson the hard way last summer…

Care to ‘fess up? Come on, don’t be shy. 🙂 What’s the WORST beauty decision you ever made?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 53 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

Givenchy Holiday 2009: Pricey Precious Pearls

November 9th, 2009 by Karen 36 Comments

Givenchy holiday 2009 top

What shimmery pearls of makeup wisdom can we derive from the eight pieces in Givenchy’s new pearl-inspired limited edition Holiday 2009 collection?

How about “less is more”?

These pearlescent shades of gray, pink and beige bring subtle back in a precious gemstone kinda way (read: expensive). I swatched five of the items today, and subtle was definitely *in the house*, particularly when it came to the lip colors.

Givenchy holiday 2009 gloss interdit
Gloss Interdit Ultra-Shiny Color Plumping Effect in 20 Tender Pearl (top) and 21 Elegant Pearl (bottom), each $25

givenchy holiday 2009 gloss interdit pearl shine
Rouge Interdit Shine Lipstick in 24 Pearl Shine, $27

givenchy holiday 2009 rouge interdit shine pearl shine packagaing
[Continue reading…]

There are 36 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Makeup

Urban Decay Show Pony Palette: Decisions, Decisions

November 9th, 2009 by Karen 23 Comments

I’m paralyzed with the possibilities!

Where would you start?

There are 23 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Beauty

New Desk

November 9th, 2009 by Karen 14 Comments

I’ve been needing a new desk for a while now. I found this white one on Overstock (it also comes in red and black); it’s a knock off of West Elm’s Parsons Desk ($300).

This finish isn’t as glossy as West Elm’s, but it doesn’t wiggle (yay) and costs half the price.

There are 14 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Photo

LORAC Silver Screen Palette Warm Look Face of the Day

November 9th, 2009 by Karen 48 Comments

lorac silver screen palette warm look 2

Today I felt like putting the lovely LORAC Silver Screen palette to work, specifically the warm eyeshadows from the first row, the matte rose blush and the Lip Polish, and I even followed the convenient tutorial on the back of the box (with some minor adjustments for added punch). 🙂

To the recipe on the back, I added a base of MAC Paint Pot in Painterly beneath the shadows and black liquid liner on my upper lash line.

lorac silver screen palette warm eye directions

lorac silver screen palette warm look side
[Continue reading…]

There are 48 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Face of the Day (FOTD) Keywords: lorac

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Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog! My name is Karen, and I’m a freelance writer obsessed with makeup.

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