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

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 343

October 5th, 2015 by Karen 50 Comments

You might be wondering, “So what in tarnation is this Monday Poll thing anyway!?”

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

What music, audiobooks or podcasts have you been listening to lately?
I’ve been listening to iTunes radio a lot, especially the classical station, and this one station called “On the Floor” with disco and dance music with a ’70s-ish to now tempo.

I was listening to the R&B station, too, but I’d heard all of the songs in the rotation, and it started repeating over and over and over… Got to where if I’d heard Drake moan or groan one more time about how some girl never called him on his cell phone, I was going to open my window and scream at strangers on the street!

What’s the most complicated part of your makeup application process?
Hmm… Well, I’m heavily invested in the “prep” phase, ya know, with the skin care, primers and all that good stuff you put on before the actual face paint, but my process is probably more complicated than most.

After that, probably my eye makeup, although I’ve been paring back quite a bit lately. Ever since that cold. I’m still more into doing eye looks that don’t take a lot of time.

Has your pet ever dressed up for Halloween, and if so, what did he/she wear?
I think you already know the answer to this question, haha! Because Tabs got rave reviews for his shark sweater, he’s thinking about bringing it out again this year.
Can you keep a secret?
Only if you bribe me with sweets and/or threaten my cat.

Just kidding! Yes, I can keep a secret. Yours is safe with me. 🙂

Something you’d like to do today?
All I want to do is have a good day, and I want you to have the same. I’d like to approach every task with a happy heart. That’s my mantra for the day.

Actually, my mantra for the week.

Your turn. 🙂 Just copy and paste the following questions into a comment with your answers. I look forward to reading ’em!

1. What music, audiobooks or podcasts have you been listening to lately?
2. What’s the most complicated part of your makeup application process?
3. Has your pet ever dressed up for Halloween, and if so, what did he/she wear?
4. Can you keep a secret?
5. Something you’d like to do today?

Good morning, my friend! I hope you’re having a good Monday so far. Part of the country is going through some tough weather right now with historically heavy rains, so I hope you’re OK wherever you are.

Tabs is just here supervising me, purr usual. He says, “MROW!” by the way.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 366

October 4th, 2015 by Karen 11 Comments

Dear Diary,

I feel the weight of the world on my little kitty shoulders… Actually, big kitty shoulders. Who am I kidding? I’m almost 20 pounds of brute force husk.

There’s been talk of a new employee coming with a start date of March 2016, and while I can always use a third assistant (there’s so much to be done!), I’m starting to get a bit worried. First of all, the new girl seems to be demanding a lot of attention from both my first and second assistants. I haven’t met her yet, but she’s always being discussed. The current team is constantly talking to her and cooing in that voice that’s usually reserved for me.

I’m also alarmed at the rate at which the new employee is accumulating things, and you know what they say: a cat’s house is his home. I’m starting to feel like the new girl is already taking over. The evidence? This pink — I don’t know what it is. An owl? Some kind of toy to scratch? I tried playing with it once, and my female assistant said, “No, Tabs, no!” in a tone I did not appreciate.

From what I can discern, it’s an object on which you turn a key, and it makes noises of which I am not fond.

On the positive side, because I always try to have a sunny disposition, my bed situation has gotten much better over the past month or so. My female assistant has been sleeping with this alternative pillow setup, which she refers to as “the pregnancy doughnut.” I prefer that she call it “the kitty burrito.” Basically, it’s just four pillows set up in a manner that perfectly holds my body when I’m lounging on my bed. There’s something that just feels right about it, as if I’m being transported back to my kitty mom’s womb. I could sleep there all day long, and in fact, I have.

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Comment to Win a $50 eGift Card From MAC! (Ends Monday)

October 3rd, 2015 by Karen 364 Comments

** THE GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED **
This giveaway is closed, and the winner has been contacted (CONGRATULATIONS, RACHEL!!!), but check back next Saturday for another giveaway.

Rise and shine, pal o’ mine! It’s (MAC) Caturday. 🙂

So how was your Friday night? I spent mine with a Martian…

Good movie! Yes, I’m a sucker for sci-fi, but I really enjoyed it. It’s beautiful, sounds great (both the ambient space sound effects, and it has a cool disco soundtrack), looks amazing (the great vastness of space, the breathtaking Martian landscape), has some complex, interesting characters, and not just the character Matt Damon plays. Jessica Chastain does really well, too.

I did realize while watching it, though, that I am so not cut out for space. I’d be all, “NASA, could you please send up some more Fix+? Mkay thx bye.”

I’m still getting myself situated this morning, so I don’t really have my weekend plans worked out, but whatever you’re up to, I hope you have a rock ’em, sock ’em weekend. I’ll talk to you soon, my friend.

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

Enter by leaving a comment below.
Open to U.S. and international readers.
You must be 18 or older to enter (or otherwise an adult based on your local laws).
Your comment can be about anything at all, but here are some ideas if you’re stuck:
- Do kids trick or treat in your neighborhood?
- What was your best hair/makeup day this week?
- What’s your favorite store at the moment?
- When was the last time you made anything arts and crafty with your hands?
- Have you ever used a bow and arrow?
- If you were to start a blog, what would it be about?
One entry per person.
You must use a valid email address to win.
The giveaway ends on Monday, October 5, 2015 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time). 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

NARS Steven Klein Holiday 2015, Part 1: The Gift Sets

October 2nd, 2015 by Karen 20 Comments

It wouldn’t be the holidays at NARS without a gift set with some man junk…

nars steven klein full service — NARS Steven Klein Full Service Mini Kabuki Brush Set ($95)

And a lady in a Jason Voorhees mask…

So, yeah. It’s pretty much business as usual over at NARS! 🙂

The brand likes to scoot along the razor’s edge with their holiday collections, often doing collaborations with cutting edge artists, and their holiday releases are anything but boring and traditional. Instead of reindeers and candy canes, we get ladies in lingerie wearing sexy aliens masks.

This year’s collab is with fashion photographer Steven Klein, and it’s a big one. I’ve split it into two parts, with this first video covering the gift sets, which arrive on the NARS website and at NARS boutiques October 5, and then in stores November 1.

Here are some swatches and pictures, and there’s a lot more info in the video at the top. I hope you see something you like.

nars steven klein dispair cheek palette — NARS Steven Klein Despair Cheek Palette ($65)

nars steven klein dispair cheek palette 2 — NARS Steven Klein Despair Cheek Palette Blushes in Nico, Savage, Esoteric and Ferocious

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Benefit Holiday 2015 | First Impressions

October 2nd, 2015 by Karen 10 Comments

Why do I suddenly feel the urge to wear neon and listen to Wham!?

Oh, maybe it’s this: the Benefit holiday 2015 collection and its candy-colored, ’80s theme.

My goodness, girlfriend. It just occurred to me that, depending on your age, you may not have heard of Wham! — which is a thought that makes me want to take a long walk off a short pier (dramatic much?).

Seriously, though, they’re one of the quintessential ’80s party bands.

benefit holiday 2015 party poppers — The Benefit Holiday 2015 Party Poppers ($45) Best of Benefit kit, coming to all Benefit counters and stores

benefit holiday 2015 your bright to party party hoppin — The Benefit Holiday 2015 Your B.right! to Party Best of Benefit kit ($49, coming to all Benefit counters and stores) and Party Hoppin’ kit ($39, exclusive to Ulta)

Speaking of parties, this year’s Benefit holiday 2015 collection Best of Benefit kits sure look like they’re having a blast (look at those bright colors!). I’m getting distinct notes of out-of-control New Year’s Eve parties that can’t stop, and won’t stop, until well after dawn.

benefit holiday 2015 party poppers 2 — Benefit Holiday 2015 Party Poppers ($45) Best of Benefit kit, coming to all Benefit counters and stores

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Pregnancy Update, 17 Weeks!

October 2nd, 2015 by Karen 37 Comments

Pickles, prunes and pregnancy, oh my! Your niece is 17 weeks old old now, and she’s doing great. Here’s a quick update.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addicts,

Karen and Baby Girl 🙂

P.S. Anyone else going to see The Martian tonight? I’m really looking forward to it. The previews look great, and I haven’t been to a movie in at least a month, which is a long time for me.

I’ve been going through popcorn withdrawals…

Have You Ever Realized That You Were Doing a Beauty Technique Completely Wrong?

October 2nd, 2015 by Karen 14 Comments

Not that it matters for the sake of the rules, because my only real rule when it comes to beauty is that there are no rules (I totally believe that there are soooo many different ways to get to the same beauty destination), but I have had more than my share of lightbulb “Aha!” moments, when I realized that if I’d been doing a technique differently along the way, it would have made my life easier.

The one that springs to my mind has to do with blending eyeshadows. I used to hold my blending brush way up close to the brush head and the ferrule, which led me to kind of push hard with the brush head against my skin. The bristles would visibly scrunch and bend while I blended.

Yeah… I’ve come to realize that this just made blending so much more difficult for me than it needed to be. It’s like I was trying to jam my eyeshadows into my skin, instead of blending and moving the powders along the surface.

Now I use a gentler touch and hold the brush closer to the back end of the handle, and I pay more attention to how much pressure I’m applying on the brush. If I see the bristles are scrunching and bending, I ease up. Blending’s been a whole lot easier and faster for me this way.

Oh! — I just remembered something else. I used to move the brush v-e-r-y slowly when I blended, because I guess I thought I had more control doing it that way, but it always took forever. Then I saw somewhere (I wish I could remember where) that when you’re blending eyeshadow, it’s better to use a quicker, smoother motion.

Well, I tried it once, and hurray! It was much easier to move the powders around, and they looked smoother. Now when I blend I move the brush quickly and use a light touch.

How about you, my sweet? Have you ever realized that you were doing a beauty technique completely wrong?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S.

New Hair!

October 1st, 2015 by Karen 29 Comments

Um…so why can’t someone come by and do my hair everyday?? I don’t think that’s too much to ask. LOL!

Got my hair done yesterday by my friend Alis over at Fox + Stone salon in Corte Madera, and I feel like a brand new girl. She trimmed my bangs, patched up my roots and dragged dark chocolate brown through the ends. Right now I have a kind of highlighting placement called balayage, which is when the stylist paints the color freehand on big sections of hair so the highlights look more “random,” and you can’t really see a line of demarcation where the regrowth starts and the painted parts begin.

I really like it. I think it looks a little more natural than traditional highlights.

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