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

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 576

October 20th, 2019 by Karen 7 Comments

Tabs met Heidi Klum through Tim Gunn, his mentor, and from the moment Tabs met Heidi, they hit it off. Every year she invited him to her annual Halloween party, but with him being a workaholic and all, his schedule just never allowed for him to make it, except for that one year…

Picture it: Los Angeles, 2011. Tabs was booked for a kitty modeling campaign in LA with Dolce & Gabbana, but at the last minute, famed photographer Steven Meow-shell came down with a cold, so the shoot was cancelled. Tabs decided that instead of spending Halloween handing out candy to the local kittens, he’d surprise his good friend Heidi and crash her Halloween party.

And because Tabs was such a good pal, even though he had access to all the top stylists in the fashion world, instead of going for broke with his Halloween costume, he decided to keep it simple and go as a pumpkin so he wouldn’t upstage Heidi.

It wasn’t until halfway through the night that she realized the rotund jack-o’-lantern in the corner was Tabs. At first, she thought it was just Michael Kors, since both of them were the same shade of orange, but nope. It was the world’s premier international kitty supermodel.

After that, they spent the rest of the evening talking modeling shop and schmoozing with Hollywood A-listers and the fashion elite.

That conversation was actually pretty key, because Tabs learned a lot of Halloween party hostess tips from Heidi, and he used all of that info to start a Halloween tradition of his own, hosting one of the most exclusive and iconic annual Halloween fêtes for felines.

The Official Tabs the Cat Guide to Hosting a Fabulous Halloween Party

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Saturday Surfing, October 19th, 2019

October 19th, 2019 by Karen 11 Comments

what is a weekend — Happy Caturday from the Unofficial Queen of Shade, the Dowager Countess.

Who’s down for a Downton Abbey marathon this weekend? Are you? PLEASE SAY YES. I’ve been re-watching the series all week long (currently on Season 4) in preparation for seeing the movie, and seriously, I’ve watched SO MUCH over the past few days that I may start speaking with a hoity-toity aristocratic English accent.

All of this recent Downton-ing has reaffirmed my belief that the Dowager Countess is the Unofficial Queen of Shade. Her lines are the best!

LOVE. HER.

If also you happen to be a fan of Cousin Violet, FYI, you and I need this sticker and shirt in our lives ASAP.

i'm never wrong — You and me both, Cousin Violet.

I think I also need this unofficial Downton Abbey cookbook, too, just so I can cook my way through all the scones recipes in Chapter 8.

On that note, I think I need to swing by the bakery for a scone… While I do that, here’s your reading for the week:

I’ve officially seen it all, because rage yoga — where pigeon pose includes profanity, and warrior one ? comes with a war cry — is now a thing.
A brief guide to Asian restaurants, according to my doppelganger, Ali Wong.
7 male actors, musicians and models embrace some seriously epic makeup looks.
According to funeral director Evie Vargas, applying makeup on the deceased is really not that much different than doing it on the living.
Just in case you have $400k sitting around and you want a makeover from Kim K’s MUA…
Moani Lee, makeup artist to country music mega stars Kacey Musgraves and Miranda Lambert (among others), talks about the skincare and makeup she relies on flawless skin.
Katie Jane Hughes shows you how to do winged liner on hooded eyes.
Photographer Stefan Draschan camps out for days in museums to catch people wearing clothes that match the paintings, and the results are all kinds of fabulous. (The Monet pic is my favorite.)
Did anybody else schedule their college classes so they could be home in time to watch Days of Our Lives? This writer’s college experience in the ’90s rings so true. (Although I have to disagree about babydoll dresses. I loved ’em then, and still love them now.)
Alexx Mayo gets to touch Lizzo’s face (he’s her makeup artist)!
How a Chanel perfume is made…
Did you know that there’s a niche world of perfumes made by car companies?
Birkenstock (yes, the shoe company) is launching a skin care line.
The story behind the music of Downton Abbey.
Found my next vacation!

Welcome to Downton Abbey.

Feelin’ this.

Speaking of the ’90s…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip Cheat and Lipstick Is Smoother Than a Silk Pillowcase

October 18th, 2019 by Karen 29 Comments

Yo, if my pillow could talk, it would probably tell a sordid tale of insomnia and drool, ha ha ha! That’s not nearly as sexy as Charlotte Tilbury’s iconic Pillow Talk Lipstick ($34) and Lip Cheat Lip Liner ($22), I know, but such is the life of a sleep-challenged lady. ?‍♀️

Chances are you’ve heard about Pillow Talk, the nude-pink lipstick and lip liner famous for flattering so many different skin tones, and bumping and plumping lips to bodacious, billowing proportions.

It’s a pricey combo…but if two lip products can get me some juicy Angelina Jolie lips without any needles or pain, sign me up!

Just to be clear, neither the lipstick nor the lip liner are technically lip plumping products. When used alone or together, both are supposed to make your lips look bigger. How? By combining a smoother-than-smooth semi-matte finish and a universally flattering pinkish-brown nude color.

charlotte tilbury pillow talk swatches — So smooth

Whenever a brand calls something “universal flattering”, I think it’s always a good thing to temper your expectations, because let’s face it — one woman’s lip ecstasy is another’s agony.

I’m a MAC NC42, and my lips are fairly pigmented, and on me, both the Pillow Talk lipstick and liner are pinkish brown with a little bit of beige. It skews a little warm, but not so warm that it appears yellow-based. I definitely get a nude vibe, and I like the color, which is like a blend of MAC Velvet Teddy and MAC Half ‘N’ Half.

The lipstick also smells and tastes very similar to MAC’s signature vanilla (the liner has no flavor or scent), and now that I think about it…when I’m wearing both the lipstick and the liner, the combo feels and looks very much like a mashup between a MAC Cremesheen and a MAC Powder Kiss Lipstick. It has the same light and feathery texture, along with a similar hazy, semi-matte finish. Very, very pretty and very comfortable.

Charlotte does take it to the next level, though, because the way both products glide across my skin is absolutely superior. They’re so, so smooth. No skipping, no dragging, no sort of hesitation when you run the tube or the pencil across your lips. And my lips, after the first application, look extremely smooth.

Pillow-y and plump? Not so much, but definitely smoother. And this effect lasts a while. I’m talking four or five hours. But at the tail end of it, my vertical lip lines look more pronounced than I’d like… It’s not like my lips look like a sad prune waiting to be chucked into the garbage, but they do look a little dry.

I’ll finish both the liner and lippie eventually because the color is totally my thing, but I don’t know if I’d freak out like I do when I’m about to finish a MAC Velvet Teddy. While the Pillow Talk lipstick/liner combo is noticeably smoother, I think Velvet Teddy’s similar enough, and if I were chatting with a stranger on the street about lipstick (as one does, LOL!), I’d suggest that they try Pillow Talk once, but I’d also recommend that they give MAC Teddy a go, since it’s a little more affordable ($18.50).

For about the same price as the Pillow Talk lipstick/liner combo, you could also buy three tubes of Velvet Teddy — one to keep at home, one to keep in your purse, and one to perhaps keep as an extra in case one of the others falls in the toilet…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

How Often Do You Wear Perfume to Bed?

October 17th, 2019 by Karen 35 Comments

fragrance friday rihanna — A spritz before slumber?

Saw an article recently in Allure about how mega-influencer Huda Kattan likes to spritz some perfume before she goes to bed.

I’m wondering… Do very many other people do that? Is that a thing here in the United States, or wherever you happen to be in the world? Do you do a spritz before you drift off to slumber?

I do. Wearing perfume to bed has become a habit/tradition I accidentally fell into last summer. It all started with the Great Mosquito Incident of 2019… We had an unusually intense mosquito season ? here in Novato, so every evening when I stepped out of the shower, before I put on my PJs, I doused myself in this Victoria’s Secret body splash because I’d heard it was supposed to be a potent mosquito repellent (I think it worked!).

Because of that, I just kinda got used to smelling nice for bed.

What about you? Do you ever put on perfume before you go to bed? Inquiring minds want to know.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Have You Ever Had an At-Home Hair Dye Mishap?

October 16th, 2019 by Karen 18 Comments

you hair me soft cream mbbb post — Talk to me about hair, babe!

At the time, I probably wouldn’t have described any of my attempts at dyeing my hair at home as “mishaps,” but looking back…every single time I dyed my hair in college could have, in fact, been characterized as a massive mishap. LOL!

Nothing ever looked quite right when I did it myself. Not then, not now. DIY at-home hair dyeing is just not my forte (which is one of the reasons I’m growing out my gray).

I think the worst incident was the time I did my own highlights and wound up with chunky, streaky orange tiger stripes. ? Of course, I didn’t know any better at the time and thought I was the ish… Thank goodness this was before social media was a thing, because I would have been #hashtagging things like #chunkyhighlightsftw and #DIYtigerstripes.

I really hope your answer to this question is “no,” but just in case it isn’t, talk to me. ? Have you ever had an at-home hair dye mishap. If so, what happened?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

3 Important Cat-Related Housekeeping Items of Note…

October 15th, 2019 by Karen 73 Comments

Just a few VIP cat-related news items happenin’ ’round these parts…

1. Charlotte Tilbury has a black liquid liner called “The Feline Flick,” and it’s the cat’s meow.

It’s absolutely worthy of its kitty-inspired name, because this stuff will last you through nine lives and then some.

charlotte tilbury feline flick — Truly worthy of kitten flicks and cat eyes

Much like a napping cat on your lap, THIS STUFF DOES NOT MOVE. I’ve been re-watching Downton Abbey (right now I’m at the end of season two; so scandalous!), and I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, I’ve fallen asleep and smooshed my face on my pillow multiple times, and this liner stays put. However, when I’ve gone to remove my makeup at night, it slips right off!

So weird, yet so cool.

It’s blacker than a black cat, and has a slightly shiny finish, and the flexible felt tip draws lines sharper than kitty claws. It’s $30, and you can find it in Charlotte’s permanent collection.

Second kitty-related item of note…

2. We’ve taken on a new boarder (!)

Her full name is Pretty Girl Rosie, but she also goes by Rosie Posie, or just plain Rosie.

She’s the mama kitty a friend of mine fostered last month, and now that her kittens have grown up and moved on with their lives, she’s decided to start her next adventure in a home with lots of love to give.

Ours. ?

When she isn’t chillin’ on someone’s lap or chasing after her wand toy, Rosie adores styling hair. She’s known for her scalp massages and her tousled, cool-girl aesthetic. ?

And because everyone in our family has to pull their own weight, we’re casually talking about her perhaps opening up her own full-service salon. No pressure, though. She doesn’t have to go into fashion or beauty. She can be an engineer, or work in law enforcement. Whatever her little heart desires.

(I’m keeping my fingers crossed that she’ll pick Connor as her very special human.)

Also in cat-related news…

3. These Chocolate Cat Cookies at Trader Joe’s are the human equivalent of catnip.

low fat chocolately cats cookies for people — I warned you.

Once you start eating them, it’s very, very, VERY hard to stop. They’re super crunchy and chocolaty but not overly sweet. It’s like eating an extra crispy chocolate graham cracker.

So good with tea or coffee…

You may think you’d be able to stop after just a few, but you’d be wrong. ? Before you know it you’ll be scooping out handfuls and shoving them into your mouth like there’s no tomorrow.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Quad Crush! 5 Reasons to Commit to Clinique Going Steady

October 14th, 2019 by Karen 10 Comments

clinique going steady quad — This $32 quad from Clinique is very much loved.

Question: do kids still say, “Will you go with me?” when they want to go steady? I’m asking for a very unhip friend (a.k.a. me).

Hmm… Now that I think about it, I also wonder if this still happens in person. Like, are kids texting to ask if someone wants to be their boyfriend or girlfriend now? Technology is crazy, man!

Anyway, I’m crushing on this $32 taupe eyeshadow palette from Clinique, and here are five reasons why you should be, too.

Fine lines say what? The softly shimmering satin finishes stay outta those fine lines.
A quad for all skin tones. Neither too warm nor too cool (Clinique is REALLY good at this; see their Teddy Quad) means that it works with almost all skin tones.
Taupe is dope. If you’re a MAC Satin Taupe die-hard, you’ll love this, because every shade is like a riff on Satin Taupe.
No panda eyes! Fallout is minimal (but still do your base first).
It’s not going anywhere. Going Steady is part of the Clinique permanent collection, so if it does become a staple, there’s no need to worry about it disappearing anytime soon.

[Continue reading…]

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 596

October 14th, 2019 by Karen 24 Comments

enjoy the little things — Beauty is everywhere, my friend.

So…what is the Monday Poll?

Excellent question! It isn’t, contrary to its name, an actual poll, like with little clicky buttons. It’s just a list of five more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007). I love reading your answers, and it helps me get my week off to a good start.

1. Would you rather wear red lipstick or black lipstick?

Oh, my goodness. Red lipstick please, and if we’re getting specific, red with a matte finish. ?

2. Gel or cream?

Cream!

3. Some advice you’d give your 12-year-old self?

Self, believe it or not, you really do not have to be running around with your arms crossed underneath your boobs when you’re in P.E. ? (I know, they hurt when they bounce up and down like that, and I’m sorry you’ve been doing this for months) Please ask Mom to buy you a bra this weekend, because she won’t be the one to suggest it.

Also, if you’re uncomfortable with the thought of a regular bra, then get a sports bra instead. Not a big deal. ?

4. If you could have any makeup artist from any era do your makeup, whom would you choose and for what?

Kevyn Aucoin, for sure, on my wedding day.

5. What’s the worst Halloween candy?

Licorice (yuck)! But those chewy orange peanuts come a close second.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Question time! Here they are to copy/paste with your answers in a comment. Talk to ya soon!

1. Would you rather wear red lipstick or black lipstick?
2. Gel or cream?
3. Some advice you’d give your 12-year-old self?
4. If you could have any makeup artist from any era do your makeup, whom would you choose and for what?
5. What’s the worst Halloween candy?

P.P.S. I hope you find joy in the little things this week. ?❤️?