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

Paul & Joe Moisturizing Foundation Primer S: Helpful Hydration With a Heavenly Scent

July 28th, 2015 by Karen 16 Comments

paul joe moisturizing foundation primer s 1 — Paul & Joe Moisturizing Foundation Primer S in 03 Clear ($36)

According to ’80s spelling bee champion/hip-hop group J.J. Fad, the “S” is for super, and the “U” is for unique. The “P” is for perfection, and you know that we are freaks…

It’s that first part — the “S” part for super — that also applies to new $36 Paul & Joe Moisturizing Foundation Primer S, because dang if this stuff doesn’t smell super good!

It’s how I imagine it must be like to open the door to the penthouse suite of the Ritz-Carlton Paris when a cloud of Chanel Coco Mademoiselle mixed with fragrant orange flower shampoo and luxury baby powder wafts out…

Gimme a second because I need to take another sniff, aah! 🙂

paul joe moisturizing foundation primer s — Paul & Joe Moisturizing Foundation Primer S in 03 Clear

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Napping and Noms in Napa

July 27th, 2015 by Karen 21 Comments

What do you do in Napa on a long, lazy weekend?

You take a nap.

Or two.

Or three. You know, #priorities.

My friends Jen and Cindy and I all agreed that the main thing we wanted to do on our girls’ weekend in Napa last weekend had to involve maximum relaxation, and yes, napping was on the agenda. 🙂 At the end of the weekend we tallied up our naps, and here are a few of the places where we collectively napped…

The pool (not inside but near it)
The covered lounge area adjacent to the pool (next to a huge bowl of French fries!)
In the “Serenity Room” at the Meritage Hotel Spa Terra
In the steam room inside the spa area
In the whirlpool lounge inside the spa area
In our hotel room
On the hotel patio

Haha! Who knew that three girls on vacation could sleep so much and in so many places?

Besides napping in Napa, we also had some yummy meals (my favorite was Sunday brunch at a cute bistro called Grace’s Table in downtown Napa), and we did some sightseeing along the waterfront…

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I’m Going Gaga Over Too Faced Born This Way Foundation

July 27th, 2015 by Karen 34 Comments

too faced born this way foundation 1 — Too Faced Born This Way Foundation ($39)

Would Lady Gaga wear Too Faced Born This Way Foundation, and if she would, would she belt out the chorus to Born This Way while she applied it?

I’d like to think she would because I TOTALLY DO THAT, and then Gaga and I could do a duet together, and Tabs could be our backup dancer, and the whole thing would be awesome to the Nth degree…

You know you can see it happening. 🙂

There’s lot of good things to sing/say about this latest liquid foundation from Too Faced, which I’ve been wearing off and on now for about a week. Its medium-to-full coverage demi-matte finish delightfully diffuses pores while disguising imperfections, and the lightweight formula looks almost undetectable on the skin.

It’s maybe not quite as inconspicuous and skin-like as Dior Nudeskin Air Serum, but it’s pretty darned great considering the opacity of the coverage. It’s not uncommon for medium-to-full coverage liquid foundations to look pretty obvious, but this one doesn’t, depending on how I apply it.

And I’ve tried a bunch of different methods. It seems to work best for me and look the most seamless when I use very little (literally, like a small drop or two at a time), pat it on with my fingers and build it up slowly in layers.

Applied any other way — with brushes, a BeautyBlender, etc. — it looks heavier, thicker and more obvious.

So that’s one thing. I wouldn’t call it a catch, but still…

too faced born this way foundation before — Before (not wearing any foundation)…

too faced born this way foundation after — After applying Too Faced Born This Way Foundation in Honey

too faced born this way foundation k — And now wearing Too Faced Born This Way in Honey along with a full face of makeup

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These Limited Edition Paul & Joe Fall 2015 Cheek Color + Compacts Are Smoother Than the Fur on a Kitten’s Fluffy Tum

July 27th, 2015 by Karen 18 Comments

Why should baby cats be the only ones who get to freely roam about looking all smooth and cute and silky? It’s not fair! Blush wearers should also be able to flaunt colorful cheeks with the same silky smoothness as a kitten’s fur, because silky smoothness is a right, not a privilege!

Thankfully, Paul & Joe has addressed this important issue facing the makeup loving cat lady community with their new Limited Edition Fall 2015 Cheek Color + Compacts.

Their new blush duos, which were inspired by French sweet treats, apply color evenly and smoothly to cheeks, and dude! — they’re really good.

paul joe cafe calva — Paul & Joe Fall 2015 Cheek Color in Cafe Calva 003 with the 07 Compact

paul joe glace a la fraise — Paul & Joe Fall 2015 Cheek Color in Glace A La Fraise 002 with the 08 Compact

paul joe cinnamon roast — Paul & Joe Fall 2015 Cheek Color in Cinnamon Roast 001 with the 09 Compact

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 383

July 27th, 2015 by Karen 46 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.

My spirit animal is ______.
A tiger! ?

Because deep down inside I’m really just a big jungle cat who loves the water.

Plus, the stripes, and you know how those never go out of style.

Have you (or an airline) ever lost your luggage on a flight?
Yes, and it was hella stressful, but at least it was on the way back home, and not on my way to the destination.

It happened a few years ago on a quick connecting flight from Italy to Germany. It was one of those tight turnarounds where you have to run through the airport terminal to catch the connecting flight, and I guess my checked bag (which had all of my souvenirs in it, like boxes of Italian chocolate , which I really, REALLY wanted to eat, LOL!) got left behind.

I learned a valuable lesson though. Ever since then I do whatever it takes to avoid from having to check in my bags, especially bags containing makeup and chocolate.

Thankfully, the bag showed up at my doorstep in Novato about a week later (so I got my chocolate, yay!).

Does your family have any summer traditions?
No big ones, really, but El Hub and I do like to spend a weekend in Lake Tahoe. We like to kayak on the lake and hike and go out to dinner, but when we were planning to go a few weeks ago, we had to cancel at the last minute because it was straight-up raining up there, which is kind of weird for July.

I’m hoping we can still make it out there before it gets chilly, maybe next month or early September.

Bronzer makes me feel ______.
ALIVE! ALIIIIIVE!!!

And less like a member of the Army of the Undead.

Lattes: with or without foam?
Without, please.

The foam does absolutely nothing for me. I’d rather have the foam space dedicated to filling up the cup with more latte.

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

1. My spirit animal is ______.
2. Have you (or an airline) ever lost your luggage on a flight?
3. Does your family have any summer traditions?
4. Bronzer makes me feel ______.
5. Lattes: with or without foam?

Hello, sweet pea!

I’m back and oh, so relaxed after spending the weekend with my high school pals Jen and Cindy. It was a belated birthday sleepover involving a whole lotta nothing and the hotel pool.

It’s amazing what a little lounging around can do for your soul. I feel like a reenergized Energizer Bunny Karen.

I hope you were able to get in some relaxing yourself last weekend. How are you doing today? How’s your morning been so far?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 356

July 26th, 2015 by Karen 12 Comments

14 Pictures of Tabs in a Box

All the great kitty supermodels have to earn their chops posing with cardboard, and before they can move into catalog work or runway, they have to demonstrate a certain level of kitty cardboard aptitude.

It isn’t an easy prop to work with, either. It takes some cats years to master the art of acting like they’re completely hidden when just their head is covered, or figuring out how to fit into boxes that are clearly too small for them. Or the most difficult cardboard skill of all — hopping in and out of boxes over and over again for no apparent reason.

But good cardboard box modeling skills are probably the best overall indicator of kitty modeling greatness. Nothing else showcases a kitty model’s full repertoire of modeling moves like cardboard boxes.

Case in point, the following examples from my employer’s portfolio… 🙂

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

July 25th, 2015 by Karen 440 Comments

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

Good morning and happy Caturday! ?

I hope you’re having a great morning so far. I’m just making myself some French toast and a cup of decaf green tea for breakfast while Tabs whines and mewls incessantly around the house.

He’s a very mad/sad tabby right now.

I think his meows roughly translate to, “Caturdays are the WORST, Mom!” Because we sleep in a little, which means that he doesn’t get to go outside at the crack of dawn like he does on the weekdays.

But I’ll take him out right after I have my noms, and after that, I’m heading to Napa for a weekend girls’ trip with my friends Jen and Cindy, just to hang out and relax. We’re gonna do a sleepover at the Meritage Resort & Spa and chill out by the ? pool.

Yes, I am really looking forward to that.

I hope that you have a wonderful Saturday and a great weekend ahead of you. I’d better go attend to Tabs now because he’s FREAKIN’ out. His highness is freakin’ out! Talk to you soon.

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:
- Favorite MAC counter in the whole entire world?
- Have you ever done any freestyle rapping?
- Best casual conversation you had this week?
- Last time you tried something new with your makeup and it turned out great?
- Something other than a picture or a painting hanging on your walls?
- Funniest movie you’ve ever seen?
One entry per person.
You must use a valid email address to win.
The giveaway ends on Monday, July 27, 2015 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time). 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Get Into Character With the OCC Cosplay Collection Lip Tars

July 24th, 2015 by Karen 9 Comments

occ cosplay swatches — The six new OCC Cosplay Collection Lip Tars ($18 each, available now)

I have yet to partake of the costumed creative greatness that is cosplay, but if/when I do, the character I play will HAVE to have crazy-@ss green lips — obviously — because if I’m going to go through the effort to dress up like a fantastical/comic book character, there is no way I’m wearing a soft mid-toned neutral pink on my lips or a hushed neutral beige.

LAME.

Green lips all the way! 🙂

And apparently Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics (also known as OCC) feels me on this.

Their six new $18 Summer 2015 Cosplay Collection Matte Lip Tars (the collection also has six nail polishes) includes a bright, vibrant leafy green appropriately called Cosplay, and no, I haven’t worn it to Trader Joe’s…yet.

occ cosplay cosplay — OCC Cosplay Lip Tar/Matte in Cosplay

Like OCC’s other Lip Tars, these totally tubular liquid lipsticks have a peppermint flavor and scent. Just dab a drop of one on the back of your hand, and then use a lip brush to apply them from there.

occ cosplay belladonna — OCC Cosplay Lip Tar/Matte in Belladonna

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