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

Support a Great Cause with MAC Kids Helping Kids Greeting Cards

November 27th, 2007 by Karen 10 Comments

My Christmas confession: I’m guilty of sending out last minute Christmas cards. Last year I ended up buying a pack of cards I found at the bottom of the 75 percent off bin at Walgreen’s three days before Christmas. I highly suggest not doing this as your choices may be limited to boxes of drunken cartoon snowmen telling lame Christmas jokes (Really, I couldn’t make this shizz up).

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This year I intend to avoid the last minute budget card bin because I just picked up a few boxes of Kids Helping Kids Greeting Cards from MAC! These brightly colored cards are designed by kids living with or affected by HIV/AIDS, and sale proceeds go to the MAC AIDS Fund to help support pediatric AIDS organizations around the world.

A pack of six cards with envelopes is $6.00 and features six festive designs. My favorite is the red card with the crayon reindeer drawing.

In addition to greeting cards, MAC also has Kids Helping Kids Gift Cards, smaller versions with the same designs. They’re perfect stocking stuffers. A pack of 12 of the smaller gift cards with envelopes is also $6.00.

Please help support the MAC AIDS Fund and make a difference by picking up some cards during your next MAC counter visit. Got your card bases covered? If you’re lucky enough to live by a MAC store, then you can still help by purchasing a roll of Kids Helping Kids Gift Wrap. There are three different designs, and each roll is $10.00.

I can’t wait to give out these cards! I feel good about sending out my cards on time this year, but I feel even better knowing it’s also supporting a great cause.

How’s your afternoon been? I’m currently craving brownies, chocolate chip cookies and green tea! If only we could go on an afternoon cookie break together! 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

New York’s Makeup – Work Those False Lashes, Girl

November 27th, 2007 by Karen 14 Comments

Monday used to be my favorite night for television, but unfortunately things have taken a dark turn. Seeing New York’s crazy makeup is the only thing I have to look forward to now, since the remaining boys on VH1’s I Love New York 2 are proving to either be REALLY BORING or REALLY FRICKIN’ NUTS.

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Ahhhh, yes. I don’t have solid proof but I’m pretty convinced New York is a MAC girl. Check out her not-to-be-missed lashes. I’d put my money on those bad boys being a set of MAC #37s.

Does anybody else with a pulse find this man alarming?

Why was The Entertainer constantly seeing pictures of devils in those ink blots? I honestly thought I could get behind TEAM ENTERTAINER, ’till I figured out that he’s probably a warlock skilled in the ways of the dark arts.

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I can’t even get myself to join TEAM BUDDHA, ’cause he’s so boring he puts himself to sleep.

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I keep waiting for the guys to get all Lord of the Flies on each other but nooooooo! Even stupid Tailor Made’s been playing nice with everybody.

Somebody please save us all from dying a slow, boring, reality TV death!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Holiday Gifts for Less than $60.00: Lancome Miracle Forever Eau De Parfum Spray

November 27th, 2007 by Karen 11 Comments

The scenario: Hello, stress. You’re meeting your significant other’s family for the first time, and you’ve got to get a gift for his/her mom, OY!

The solution: Score mega mom points with Lancome Miracle Forever, a sophisticated scent. It’s not a cheap, cheesy body splash or a scratch ‘n sniff sticker.

“I want you to meet my mom.”

So, your significant other finally utters the words that simultaneously excite and terrify women all over the globe.

Ohhh, girl, don’t worry. I’m sure she’ll love you! I hope you realize, though, that she’ll probably be the most important arse you’ll be kissing this holiday season, so while I’m positive your smile and sparkling personality will win her over, it never hurts to come to the homestead bearing a little somethin’-somethin’ to grease the wheels a bit.

Hey, I have no shame when it comes to pre-emptive mom bribery! Every bit helps, especially if there’s a chance she’ll make your life heaven or hell should you ever become legally bound to her via marriage.

To earn some sweet mom points, bring her a bouquet of her favorite flowers along with a fantastic gift, like Lancome’s Miracle Forever perfume ($52.00)!

A Universal Scent for All Women

Miracle Forever is one of those universal scents every woman will love, with notes of black currant, star anis (a fruit grown in southern China, who knew?) and almond cream. It’s definitely not stuffy, too “old lady” or too in your face, and will appeal to lots of different fragrance personalities.

The best thing about this perfume is how the notes mix in such a subtle way. I sometimes find food-based perfumes overly sweet, especially when fruit scents are involved, but Miracle Forever mingles the fruit and cream well; one scent never dominates the others. You get just a touch of black currant, not a whole basket up in your grill. The result is warm and chic.

On my skin I get mostly cream notes with just a suggestion of black currant. The perfume has a lot of staying power, too, and as I sniff my wrist throughout the day I really like smelling how the scent evolves. It’s complex enough that it doesn’t smell the same throughout the day.

The single 1.7 fl oz bottle of Miracle Forever pictured above is $52.00, but for the holidays you might want to spend two bucks extra for the Miracle Forever Necessities Set, which includes body lotion and shower gel along with a 1.7 oz bottle for $54.00.

Do you remember your first time meeting your significant other’s mom? What was it like?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

43 Things I’m Thankful For – The Non-Makeup Edition, 2007

November 26th, 2007 by Karen 51 Comments

Yesterday, I did a post on 43 makeup-related things I’m thankful for. As much as I can go on and on about eye liner, there are other things in life that I also cherish. Here’s the non-makeup edition of my list.

43 Things I’m Thankful For

1. My family, especially my brother. We’re not as close as we used to be when we were younger, but we still share the same sense of weird humor and artistic spirit. Here’s a video of him in action at one of his shows. Warning: if you like easy listening music then this clip might be a little too much metal for you.

2. El Hub. I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life, but one thing I did get right was marrying the coolest boy I ever met.

Me and El Hub on our wedding day.
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3. Clear, crisp fall days perfect for an afternoon run.

4. All of the neighborhood dogs who stroll by my window while I’m writing. I love watching them walk by with their people in tow; they look like the happiest creatures on earth.

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5. Showers. It’s strange, but I get my best ideas in the shower. I could just stay in there all day and think of wacky stuff to blog about. Sure, I’d be a waterlogged prune, but hey, creativity comes with a price.

At least I don’t have to cut off my ear.
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6. Friends who make you laugh and who will hold your hand through anything and everything.

One of my best buds, Nblack.
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7. Dancing. Dancing feeds my soul and always makes me feel closer to the powers-that-be. I love it.

8. Modern medicine and dentistry. It’s kind of a weird thing to be thankful for, I know. But last night I watched an episode of the HBO TV show, Rome, and one scene showed an ancient Roman guy getting operated on. The process included straps, a saw and a filthy kitchen table. I have only three words to convey how I feel about ancient medicinal practices: SO NOT COOL.

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9. Sleep. Lots of it.
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10. Opportunity.

11. Being healthy. Sure, I creak a little bit more than I used to, but for the most part everything works as it should. I cherish being able to work out, lift weights and go running, because I know that someday I won’t be able to anymore.

12. Music, especially songs that always make me cry, like Ave Maria.

13. The entire frozen foods section of Trader Joe’s.

14. My rock collection (aka small, portable reminders of happiness). I always keep a rock or two with me in my purse; they’re kind of like security blankets of happiness. On days when something special happens to me, I like to pick up a rock and add it to my rock collection. Right now the rock riding around with me is from Spain. I picked it up off the ground on top of a hill in the dry Spanish countryside on the day El Hub asked me to marry him.

15. Modern bathrooms, plumbing and toilet paper. Nuff’ said.

16. Dental floss.

17. The petite section at Banana Republic.

18. The Internets. Not only can one buy a purse on the Internet, you can also find a husband! Damn, that’s progress. How did people pass the time in their cubes back in the day? I can’t even imagine it.

The Lauren Merkin Bianca bag from Shopbop.com, aka too little sleep plus a coupon code for a hundred bucks off equals UH-OH!
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19. MP3s.

20. The joy of writing. There are many things I can’t do, like calculus, woodworking or the dark arts. But one thing I can always count on is the ability to string a few words together to make myself laugh. I’m gonna ride this one for as long and as far as it will take me.

I wear this pin (by Wm Spear Design) every day.
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21. The desire to learn. On the learning list so far for 2008: a martial art, fashion photography and acoustic guitar.

22. Finally paying off my car. The last payment goes down this Tuesday. It’s paid for, b*tches, WOOT!

23. The miraculous marriage of Tivo and reality television.

Looking for love in all the wrong places.
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24. All of the books that changed my life: The Things They Carried (Tim O’Brien), The Toughest Indian in the World (Sherman Alexie), To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee), The Sun Also Rises (Ernest Hemmingway) …

25. Coffee.

26. Cupcakes.

27. My day job.

28. Having access to clean drinking water.

29. Time.

30. Living relatively close to my parents. They are only an hour away, should they ever need me for an emergency.

31. Being able to appreciate the weird things that people do. Today, I saw two teenage boys at the bus stop dressed up in gorilla suits. It made me strangely happy.

32. The trees that line the street outside my window. I love the sound of their leaves crunching beneath my feet when I walk around outside in the fall.

33. Random acts of kindness.

34. Surfing without a wet suit.

Puta de Mita, Mexico.
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35. Vacations.

36. Shoes that don’t hurt my feet.

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37. Cheesy vampire and sci-fi movies.

38. Workout clothes that wick the sweat right off ya.

39. All things MAC…computers, that is. =)

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40. Good allergy medicine.

41. Strawberry Frosted Pop Tarts.

42. The sound of El Hub’s snoring on a rainy, stormy night — loud, yet comforting.

43. Getting to know all the cool folks who read this blog!

What are you thankful for?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

43 Things I’m Thankful For – The Makeup Edition, 2007

November 25th, 2007 by Karen 19 Comments

Have you heard of 43 Things? It’s a Web site where people make lists of 43 goals they want to achieve — learning French, building a better mouse trap, reading War and Peace, etc. It’s pretty fun to read the different hopes and dreams that people have.

I’ve been in a contemplative mood all weekend. When I haven’t been stuffing myself beyond maximum capacity, I’ve been thinking about all of the things I’m thankful for.

So, what happens when you think about what you’re thankful for while staring at your makeup for too long? Well, the Makeup and Beauty Blog version of 43 Things, of course.

Here’s my list of 43 makeup and beauty things I’m thankful for this year!

43 Things I’m Thankful For – The Makeup Edition

1. The magical power of the MAC 266.
2. Chanel Glossimer lip gloss is almost too sexy for this blog.
3. MAC Mineralize Eye Shadows, aka my newest obsession.
4. Celebrity Perfumes that surprised me: Covet, CAN CAN and Midnight Fantasy.
5. The perfect red lipstick: MAC Dubonnet.
6. Eyeliner for dummies #1: MAC Fluidline.
7. Eyeliner for dummies #2: MAC Technakohl.
8. Eyeliner for dummies #3: Rimmel Jungle Green.
9. The Barbie Loves MAC limited edition collection: WOOT!
10. Foot Petals save my feet from getting TOW UP.
11-14. Finding products that finally helped cure my adult acne: Philosophy Purity Made Simple Cleanser, Clinique Mild Clarifying lotion, DDF Benzoyl Peroxide Gel, and Clinique Moisture On-Line moisturizer.
15. Meeting makeup artist Billy B. was inspiring and fun.
16. MAC Soba never lets me down.
17. Kick-arse pedicures from San Francisco’s Bliss Spa rock my world.
18. Shiseido Face & Body Sunscreen, the only sunscreen that doesn’t leave my neck feeling sticky and gross.
19. Micellar cleansers: feeding my inner lazy beast since October 2007!
20. The Clinique Pink Truffle Quad was love at first sight.
21. MAC Smoke Signals Collection is my favorite MAC collection this year (so far!).
22. Wet Ones Wipes make cleaning my makeup brushes easy.
23. MAC Pink Treat Cremestick Lip Liner doesn’t dry out my lips and goes with everything!
24. Trips to the MAC Pro Store are fun.
25. You never know what you’re gonna get when you’re in the mood for makeup experiments.
26. MAC Viva Glam
27. MAC Lychee Lux Lipglass
28. San Francisco Fashion Week
29. Seche Vite Top Coat RULES.
30. MAC Plushlash makes my lash life so easy.
31. My Chanel obsession started with a lil’ thing called the Garden Party Quad.
32-35. I’d look like a zombie if it weren’t for Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder, MAC Select Moisturecover Concealer, Biotherm Forget It! concealer and Make Up For Ever Lift concealer.
36. I can’t live without Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer.
37. There’s only one word to describe Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream — HALLELUJAH!
38. Just say no to living a life of mustache hell on earth with Sally Hansen Hair Remover Wax Strip Kit.
39. Alberto VO5 Tea Therapy Clarifying Conditioner in Vanilla Mint Tea saves my hair from dry destruction.
40. Because nobody wants Austin Powers teeth —Crest Vivid White Toothpaste.
41. I always have a few DHC Olive Virgin Oil Swabs in my purse.
42. One of my favorite drugstore mascaras: L’Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black!

And last, but certainly not least …

43. Almay Moisturizing Eye Makeup Remover Pads because what goes on must come off.

What makeup products are you thankful for?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Your weekend isn’t over quite yet! Here are the best posts of the week from the lovely ladies of The Beauty Blog Network!

I know you didn’t miss the Makeup and Beauty Blog interviews Paris Hilton ![Continue reading…]

Holiday Gift Ideas for $5.00 or Less – DHC Aroma Oil

November 25th, 2007 by Karen 12 Comments

The scenario: You want to give fun stocking stuffers but need to do it on a budget.

The solution: DHC Aroma Oils, which come in six different scents and cost a mere $3.50 each!

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I love giving unusual, hard-to-find gifts as stocking stuffers. I especially love finding cool stuff for a good price. DHC’s Aroma Oils smell yummy, moisturize well and cost a mere $3.50! You’ll be able to stuff all of those stockings and still have a few rupees left over to snag a bottle for yourself.

These aromatherapy oils come in six scents. The entire set takes you from day into night, starting with perky citrus and ending with relaxing sandalwood.

No. 1, Grapefruit – With scents of grapefruit and lemon
No. 2, Citrus Herb – Bergamot, neroli and thyme
No. 3, Fresh Green – Cypress, peppermint and basil
No. 4, Sensual Floral – Jasmine, rose and ylang-ylang
No. 5, Fruity Floral – Neroli, geranium and marjoram
No. 6, Citrus Floral Woodsy – Sandalwood, neroli and bermagot

My two favorites are No. 1 and 6. I write first thing in the morning, so I keep a bottle of No. 1 near my computer. I am NOT a morning person at all and need all the help I can get, so I put a few citrus-scented drops on my hands to moisturize and get a quick morning mood boost. At night I use No. 6 to help me relax by massaging sandalwood-scented oil onto my hands and feet while I’m watching fine television fare like I Love NY 2.

All of the DHC aroma oils are made from natural soy, olive and jojoba oils. I like that the oils are multi-purpose moisturizers and can be used for your face, body and even in your hair. You can also add them to your bath for a luxurious treat.

Each 0.33 oz bottle comes in a colorful box. The bottles have little pops of color too and would look pretty lined up together for display. Each has a nice plastic stopper to release the oil drop by drop, so it doesn’t doesn’t pour all over the place.

Got a scent hound in your life? Give her the entire set ($21.00) along with a pretty fragrance tray for a really special, affordable gift.

I’m so bummed this long weekend is almost over. I spent the day yesterday doing a whole lotta nothing, and I enjoyed every second of it. What do you have in store for this Sunday? Whatever it is I hope it’s fun!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Holiday Gift Ideas for Under $50 – Nuxe Prodigieuse OR

November 23rd, 2007 by Karen 6 Comments

The scenario: You’ve got to buy a gift for someone you don’t know very well and have no clue what to get.

The solution: Nuxe Prodigieuse OR ($39.00), a golden multi-use dry oil for face, body and hair.

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One thing I love about the holidays is the chance to give someone a gift they would enjoy but probably wouldn’t buy for themselves.

Yes, you could give your sibling’s new girlfriend or your office Kris Kringle person a gift certificate, but honestly, where’s the fun in that? Rather than give her yet another random giftcard to Starbucks — which will probably languish away in a drawer — get her something pretty and useful, like Nuxe’s golden multi-use dry oil, Prodigieuse OR.

The best part about this honey-scented oil is the multi-reflective gold flecks! I love putting it on my legs, arms and shoulders for a glamorous look. And not only is it pretty, but the dry oil also works to nourish, repair and protect skin because it containts a 15 percent concentration of plant oils and vitamin C.

Here are just a few ways to use Huile Prodigieuse OR:

– Add a drop to your foundation, helping it glide on smoothly, and you get a pretty, golden glow.
– Spray some oil into the hollow of your hand and style through hair for a natural look.
– Pour a few drops into your bath water for silky, soft skin.

This would also be a great stocking stuffer or gift for a friend who’s bound for a tropical vacation this winter!

Nuxe is available online at Beautyhabit.com

How was your turkey day? Are you still recovering? I get more excited about the side dishes than the turkey itself, and this year I ate waaaay too many helpings of carby Thanksgiving goodness.

So, now it’s time to pay the piper for all of those slices of pie (*sigh*). I’ll be right back, gotta sneak in a quick run!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

MAC Antiquitease: A Soft, Romantic Look for Date Night

November 22nd, 2007 by Karen 19 Comments

I went to the movies last night with El Hub to watch “No Country for Old Men” and to stuff myself silly with popcorn. Here’s the Antiquitease-inspired look I wore on our pre-Thanksgiving date!

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Antiquitease – A Fantastic Date Night Look

This is my new favorite winter date night look. On the fence about trying it?

It’s easy. This look was easier to do than Gilty Kiss, fo’ sho. On date night I like to take my time doing my makeup, and this look took about 25 minutes.

It’s subtle. For a casual movie date, sometimes bold statement looks, like smoky eyes or glossy red lips, are too much. This look has subtle layers of color – blues, browns, golds – and is very feminine and pretty.

It pairs easily with lots of different outfits. I wore it with a powder blue turtleneck, which really brought out the blues from the Silversmith Mineralize eye shadow. This look would work great with a cream, gold, or grey top, too!

Get the Look

The face chart I used is from the “Antiquitease” look on the MAC Web site. I didn’t have all of the suggested colors, so I had to do some improv.

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MAC face chart: MAC Wedge eye shadow (a soft, muted, golden beige taupe matte) in the inner crease.
Replaced with: A mix of MAC Cork (muted golden brown satin) and MAC Saddle (golden orange brown matte) eye shadows. I think when I do this look again I’ll be leaving out Saddle, ’cause it shows up waaay too orange on my skin.

MAC face chart: Hushabye blush (rich, red, plum sheertone) on the cheeks
Replaced with: MAC Frankly Scarlet blush

MAC face chart: Cream Colour Base Pearl (soft, pale gold with icy shimmer) in center of lid
Replaced with: MAC Bare Canvas Paint (champagne with shimmer)

MAC face chart: Mahogany lip pencil (intense reddish brown)
Replaced with: Nars Amazon lipliner (cool brick red)

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I’m off to the gym to work on my fitness – gotta have that extra scoop of mashed potatoes, oy! Happy Thanksgiving!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen