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

Use a Nude Lip Pencil First for More Symmetrical Lip Looks

September 8th, 2015 by Karen 10 Comments

I can haz symmetry?? Because I don’t haz it naturally. 🙂

I’ve read somewhere that it’s actually very common to have asymmetrical features, like in my case, one side of my lips is slightly thinner than the other, so when I do my lips, I cheat a little to make that side look just as full as the other.

I notice asymmetry a little more when I wear darker colors than when I wear nudes and neutrals, and I think it’s more obvious in pics than it is in real life.

For example, when I wear darker lip looks, with like dark wines, reds, browns and purples, I’ll start by lining my lips first with a nude lip pencil. I’ll sort of sketch out the shape, following my natural lip line on the fuller side of my lips, and then I’ll slightly overdraw the other side, the side that’s not as full, to make both sides match.

Then, I’ll trace over that nude lip line with a darker lip pencil that matches the dark color that I plan to wear.

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What Do You Look for in a Makeup Artist When You’re Looking for Advice at a Makeup Counter?

September 8th, 2015 by Karen 24 Comments

This may sound strange, but what I look for in a makeup artist when I want advice is kind of like what I might look for in a therapist. Basically, I want somebody that I can tell is really listening to me and isn’t in a big hurry — somebody who will take the time to help. Ideally, this person would also be nice, because it’s always easier to talk to nice people who aren’t dismissive of you, or who look down on you. I mean, that’s never fun. I go to a makeup counter because I want to feel good about myself and learn something new, or perhaps I just need a pick-me-up, and it’s just always nicer talking to somebody sincere who has a good attitude, and somebody friendly who will look you in the eye, you know, and maybe crack a few jokes, but at the same time is very knowledgeable.

Most of the time when I do go to a makeup counter, I go with a specific question in mind, and I’m not shy about it, so I’ll walk up to whomever’s working and be like, “Hello. Who’s the best person to ask for eye makeup advice?” or, “Who here does the most amazing skin??”
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Freshly Painted Purple Paws: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Boho-a-Go-Go

September 8th, 2015 by Karen 12 Comments

My nails did NOT wake up like ‘dis. I went to bed last night with two fresh coats of Essie Bell-Bottom Blues on my fingers (along with a new base and top coat combo I’m trying, Sally Hansen Green Tea + Bamboo Strength and OPI Top Coat), but apparently I didn’t give the whole thing enough time to cook properly, because I woke up this morning to a mess of smudges and scratches.

Honestly, I should’ve known better. It was kind of dark in the living room where I did my mani, and I was bone tired, too. I was ALSO watching the season finale of Mr. Robot, so I wasn’t paying much attention to my nails (are you watching that show, BTW?).

Anywho! First thing this morning I took the whole mess off, then later today at my desk I busted out this here deep purple Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Boho-a-Go-Go.

So, these Miracle Gels, if you haven’t tried them already, are fan-friggin-tastic. The gel formula cures using the ambient light around you, so you paint your paws with a couple coats of whatever Miracle Gel color you’re in the mood for, then pop a layer of Miracle Gel Top Coat on top, then wait about 15 minutes for the whole thing to dry. They last on my claws from 8-10 days, which is nothing short of miraculous (hahaha) for my paws (I put them through a lot).
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For Smoldering Smoky Eyes, Always Conceal and/or Brighten Your Under-Eye Area

September 7th, 2015 by Karen 11 Comments

The last time I left the house wearing eyeshadow, mascara and liner, but WITHOUT under-eye concealer, was probably 1998. Even if you don’t feel like you need concealer because you don’t have dark circles, apply at least a little bit anyway (or an eye brightener, at the very least) when you’re doing smoky eyes, because smokey eyes are one of those looks that can look incomplete without some brightening/concealing under the eyes. It’s one of those little touches that pulls the whole look together.

It’s like getting all gussied up and putting on a cute outfit…but then leaving the house without shoes.

There’s also an annoying side effect of wearing dark colors like gray, black and brown on your lids and lower lash lines. They can make your eyes look just plain tired.

But a brighter under-eye area counteracts the effect, and it also adds some nice contrast. You’ve got the dark eyeshadow contrasting with the brighter concealer under your eyes, and that makes your smoky eyes look even smokier. 🙂

Latest food obsession: The acai bowl

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10-Minute Smoky Eye

September 7th, 2015 by Karen 22 Comments

It is entirely possible to bang out a smoky eye in 10 minutes. Hand on heart, hair to the sky, I’m serious! — it’s totally true. And I know this because of a little something called “the disco nap.”

dis·co nap
/ˈdiskō nap/
informal
noun

Sleeping when ya got something goin’ on later for which you need to get ready.
“I was about to go to the club, but I needed a disco nap to feel refreshed.”

When I’m getting ready to go out with my friends, and I know it’s going to be a loooong night, I have very clear-cut priorities. I devote less time to my makeup so I can devote more time to my disco nap.

I know, sacrilege! — but you gotta do what you gotta do. I know myself well enough. If I can’t squeeze in at least a short nap before leaving the house, I’ll be dozing off in da club by 11, what-what!

So my fallback look for late nights is this 10-minute smoky eye, and what I like most about it (other than the fact that I can crank it out pretty quickly) is that it doesn’t have to be perfect to still look pretty good. You don’t have to be perfectly detail oriented with the blending because it’s purposefully undone. In fact, the messier it is, the more ya look like a bad-@ss rock chick. Plus, if you are going somewhere for dancing, odds are the lights will be low anyway, so nobody’s really going to be able to tell if you’ve got like four colors transitioning into a gradient in your crease.

Save yourself the effort! — and spend less time doing your makeup, so you have more time to disco nap. 🙂 Zzzz…

Now let’s get started, shall we? First things first, gotta get the gear.

What you’ll need…

A brow filler
A matte brown cream shadow
A black kohl pencil
A shimmery black eyeshadow
A matte brown eyeshadow
A shimmery, peachy beige eyeshadow
Under-eye concealer
Mascara

Now for the step-by-step…

1. Fill in your brows

I like to start by doing my brows first because they’re sort of like my roadmap. Once they’re done, I think it’s easier to gauge how far I want to sweep my shadows out.

Also, particularly when doing smoky eyes, and this is doubly true when using black eyeshadow like we’re going to use here, I think it really helps to do your eyes first, then clean up any makeup that drops down under your eyes (because there will be some fallout, especially if you’re working quickly).

So set aside your base makeup for now. We’ll come back to it a little later.
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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 389

September 7th, 2015 by Karen 49 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.

White nail polish or black nail polish?
OK, how about white polish for my fingers, and black nail polish for my toes? 🙂 And while we’re at it, can I just say how awesome it is to have white nail polish as a real option? — because waaaaay back in the day I’d resort to painting my nails with White Out.

Yeah, ew.

Probably wasn’t the healthiest thing to use, and to be honest, it wasn’t very attractive either, but we were kids being kids!

Last beauty buy you made based on a friend’s recommendation?
There’ve been a couple. Yesterday at Ulta with my favorite beauty enabler, Marisol, I grabbed a bottle of Garnier’s Clean + Nourishing Cleansing Oil, which she highly recommended. My cheeks have been crazy dry lately, and she has dry skin too and loves the stuff, so I decided to give it a whirl. I also picked up Sally Hansen’s Nail Nutrition Green Tea + Bamboo Nail Strengthener on her recommendation, because when I mentioned that my nails have been splitting (boo!), she said it helped hers a lot.

Yellow gold, white gold or rose gold?
Yellow gold…with rose gold being a close second.
How often do you wear suits?
These days, never. I think the last time I wore a suit was around 2005 for a job interview. I wore black suits when I worked in a law firm because they were easy and brainless (just add shirt!). I also think that suits helped me look a little older and more mature (and not an intern), which, believe it or not, was a problem I used to have (but these days, that’s soooo not an issue, LOL!).

I still have and wear those same black suit jackets on occasion, like with skinny jeans, a white tee and gold jewelry. I like that combo.

Do you spend more time on your makeup or on your hair?
My makeup, definitely. With my hair, I try to do the bare minimum, which means styling it on the first day after a wash (usually with a curling iron, which takes me about half an hour), and then just brushing it through and using dry shampoo on the roots, which takes less than five minutes, on the days until the next time I wash it.

If I’ll be taking pics or doing a video, my makeup usually takes longer than usual, too, but I can usually do it in 30 minutes if I’m really pressed for time and rushing. It can take an hour or longer for more complicated looks. If I’m just doing makeup to run an errand or meet a friend for coffee, though, that’s usually takes about 15-20 minutes.

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

1. White nail polish or black nail polish?
2. Last beauty buy you made based on a friend’s recommendation?
3. Yellow gold, white gold or rose gold?
4. How often do you wear suits?
5. Do you spend more time on your makeup or on your hair?

Hey, sweet girl! Happy Labor Day to ya. I hope you’re enjoying the long weekend.

I got to sleep in a few minutes this morning, but Tabs has me on the clock today… You know how it is with international kitty supermodels — you’re always on call, LOL!

No, really. I’m trying to finish the few things on my to-do list early because it’s supposed to hit the mid-90s here today, and homegirl needs to be out of her office by 3 p.m. at the latest, lest she melt.

Wish me luck!

You have a magnificent Monday, ‘k?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 362

September 6th, 2015 by Karen 21 Comments

Originally, Tabs and I planned to take a leisurely walk around the neighborhood this morning, but that all went to sh*t when the paparazzi showed up…

They’re relentless! They never leave Tabs alone.

On the one paw, he’s a camera hog who loves attention, but even kitty supermodels need their private time. Tabs thinks up his best work on his daily walks, and they’re when he does his best creative contemplation.

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

September 5th, 2015 by Karen 363 Comments

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

Weird! I just looked up the term “cutie patootie” in the dictionary, and right there on the page was a picture of Zac Efron!

Fo’ reals, though. 🙂

Girl, how come you didn’t tell me to watch 17 Again sooner!? It was such a cute movie! And I love movies like that. I feel like I really dropped the ball on that one by not watching it sooner… LOL!

Rise and shine, morning glory! Judging by the sun streaming through my windows, it’s a beautiful, but eerily quiet, day. I don’t hear a single bird singing right now, which is highly unusual… Most mornings are a cacophony of bird-related activity, but I don’t hear a single tweet or chirp. I wonder what’s going on out there…

Oh! I can’t believe I almost forgot to mention this, but do you ever play fancy card games? El Hub has been getting me into boardgames and card games lately, and he ordered a really fun one from Amazon called Love Letters. It’s so much fun! It’s quick and easy to play, and only about $10, but we have a blast. Highly recommended for couples.

I’m kind of anticipating some power outages this fall and winter due to this whole El Niño thing, so we’re stocking up on a few games to have around just in case.

Good luck in the giveaway this long weekend, my friend! I hope you’re doing something fun for Labor Day. 🙂

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 you bring your foundation up over your ears?
- Are there any books from which you’ve memorized certain passages?
- A highly underrated hair product?
- A special time of day for you?
- Who makes the best popcorn?
- A funny phrase you say often?
One entry per person.
You must use a valid email address to win.
The giveaway ends on Monday, September 7, 2015 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time). 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen