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

Tom Ford Summer 2015: New Cream and Powder Eye Colors, Bronzers and More

April 14th, 2015 by Karen 38 Comments

I’m looking lovingly at the Tom Ford Summer 2015 Collection and thinking, SWOON! — first, because of the limited edition white and gold packaging (hello!), which looks almost like, I dunno, really expensive jewelry? — and second, TIDE PENS.

OK, I know that was kind of (very) random…but hey, that’s why we hang out. 🙂 You feel the randomness, I feel the randomness, we all feel the randomness to-geh-thurrrrr.

Anywho… Like I was saying: Tide Pens. I always carry one with me whenever I wear white because no matter how hard I try to keep whatever I’m wearing pristine and stain-free, I find a way to get makeup or a pen smudge or cat food all over it.

But I don’t have to worry about that with these beauties from Tom, because even if I do get a little Sheba Chicken and Liver on one of the compacts, they’re easy to clean. All you have to do is wipe.

Yeah…

I have no idea how this train of thought ended up at Cat Food Station, but I apologize for that. Let’s move on, shall we? We have new Tom Ford products to get to. 🙂

The new Tom Ford 2015 Soleil/Summer Collection is available now online and at Tom Ford counters, and it’s a beauty inside and out. I had a full-on “OH, MY GAWD, BECKY!!” meltdown in my living room this afternoon, no kidding. El Hub looked at me like I’d lost my damned mind.

The 16-piece collection is freaking breathtaking from, like, every possible angle. Just looking at the pieces — from the shimmering Eye Colors, to the deliciously golden plummy Eye and Cheek Compact, to the luscious lipsticks and the toasty, sun-drenched bronzers — makes me feel like an eccentric billionaire (you know, the one who promises to fund the fabulous cat lady lifestyle I’m destined to lead, LOL!) is about to treat me to a Tahitian vacation at the Four Seasons, just so that I can sit by the pool. The release exudes summer, gold and rich, like you’re about to make it muthu-f*cking rain wearing just a white bikini, bronzer and five-inch spiked heels.

I mean…Tom Ford, though. He owns that sexy/luxurious makeup thing.

Of course, the products are also expensive enough to trigger panic attacks. For instance, the Eye and Cheek Compact in Pink Glow is $95 (HOLY WOW!), the Cream and Powder Eye Colors are $60, and the Sheer Lipsticks are $50.

Can you feel your heart pounding in your chest? Are beads of sweat forming on your brow? Yeah, we have officially entered CRAZY EXPENSIVE MAKEUP TERRITORY, which is where Tom Ford apparently resides.

Tom Ford Summer 2015 Soleil Collection: Product pictures

tom ford pink glow — Tom Ford Eye and Cheek Compact in Pink Glow, $95

tom ford midnight sea — Tom Ford Cream and Powder Eye Color in Midnight Sea (powder), $60

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Latest HomeGoods Haul

April 13th, 2015 by Karen 23 Comments

We did so much sightseeing this past weekend while my in-laws were visiting that my feet are still sore. It was a lot of fun, though, and the weather was nice, so we hit up all the usual spots in our area — Napa and some of the little towns up there in Wine Country — and some of the towns closer to where we live in Marin County, like Sausalito, Fairfax and Corte Madera. Of course, I couldn’t let them leave town without also taking them to HomeGoods.

LOL! They don’t have one up where they live in Redding, and my mom-in-law loves tchotchkes, so it was necessary. 🙂

The moment she walked through the doors, I swear, her eyes lit up like it was Christmas morning (a feeling I know well)!

And I figured, you know, since we were already there…I’d pick up a few things too — things I “needed” (airquotes). I grabbed a set of three nested mixing bowls by Cuisinart, because the mixing bowl I’ve been using isn’t really a mixing bowl at all; it’s a huge popcorn bowl, and it’s kind of awkward and doesn’t have a spout.

I also grabbed an OXO pantry organizer…

Have you seen these? They’re clear airtight containers that come in different sizes for storing dry goods in your pantry. I got a big one a few weeks ago to store my oatmeal, and now I’m obsessed with the idea of having a completely organized cupboard stocked with them.

Lastly, this indoor gardening globe by Natura! I got it because I recently treated my office to the gift of an air plant, and I think the globe will make a nice home for it.

How about you? Did you do any shopping last weekend? Inquiring minds want to know.

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 368

April 13th, 2015 by Karen 39 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.

I would love it if __________.
…I could wake up every morning to the scent of breakfast. That’s something I really miss about my childhood. Nowadays, I’m the one who usually makes breakfast, but I remember waking up back at home, especially on Sunday mornings, and smelling eggs and pancakes and other yummy food, like, wafting through the doorway, and that would REALLY wake me up.

What’s your stance on emojis as a valid form of communication?

(I’m cool with it.)

Wedges or kitten heels?
Wedges, for sure. Ironically, I have never gotten along with a pair of kitten heels, which is kind of weird, considering how I’m a cat lady and all.

Who makes your favorite chocolate?
This one’s tough because there’s so much good chocolate out there to love!

But I’m a See’s girl. A See’s Candies girl. There’s one conveniently/dangerously down the street from my house, less than five minutes away.

I do also have a soft spot for old-school Cadbury milk chocolate (the bars with the fruit and nuts).

What’s one thing that has brightened your morning so far?
Well, I put on shorts for the first time in months (yay!), and hopefully I’ll be able to walk outside in them. It’s supposed to be really nice out here this week.

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

1. I would love it if __________.
2. What’s your stance on emojis as a valid form of communication?
3. Wedges or kitten heels?
4. Who makes your favorite chocolate?
5. What’s one thing that has brightened your morning so far?

Hello and happy Monday, my friend! You know…sometimes I just don’t know what to say here, because I feel like I’ve kind of said it all before, but the sentiment is always the same. I hope you have a wonderful week and that everything falls into place for you (and for me), and that there’s no drama whatsoever.

And if there is some drama, I hope you are able to handle it gracefully.

Here’s a cup of tea (she said, nudging the cup and saucer toward you), and I’ve got mine too. Have a great Monday and a great week. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 342

April 12th, 2015 by Karen 12 Comments

Dear Tabby is written by Tabs the cat, widely considered “the world’s first plus-size kitty supermodel.” Founded in mid 2012, it has quickly become the most popular cat advice column on earth — known for its fresh, feline perspective on lifestyle, fashion and style issues affecting cats and humans.

To try or not to try? — that is the question

DEAR TABBY: Ever since I was a tiny little kitten, I’ve loved water. As far back as I can remember, I’ve loved drinking it, loved walking through puddles of it, loved swiping at sprinklers and playing in the rain — I just love water, which I know is kind of unusual for a cat.

Like, I love it when my assistant turns on the faucet so I can drink from the spout (LOVE that), and I’ve even tried to jump into her bath water a few times (wow, she yelled at me). I just love the heck out of water. I don’t really know why.

So, I’m writing you today because of our local swim team and a sign I saw outside my window. The team is holding tryouts, and I’m thinking about going.

The thing is…I don’t think there are any other cats on the team, and I’m afraid they’re just going to reject me. Tabby, do you think I should still try?

Sincerely,
Savannah

Cat swimming — You’ll never know unless you try

DEAR SAVANNAH: Where would any of us cats be if we stopped every time somebody told us “No!” or said we couldn’t do something? I’m all for trying new things and breaking boundaries. Heck, I was the world’s first plus-size kitty supermodel.

Just think about that for a moment.

If I, a stray from the mean streets of Mill Valley, can accomplish something like that, you can be your town’s first superstar cat swimmer. No question about it.

First, I suggest that you practice in your tub when you can — back stroke, butterfly, cat paddle — and bring your “a” game to those tryouts. Strut in there with a positive cattitude and your head and tail held high. Give it your all, and if you make it, great! I’ll see you at the Olympics. If not, at least you tried, and you’ll always have that.

Cat looks for a long-lost loved one

DEAR TABBY: I’ve been reading your column for a long time, and let me just say that you’re my favorite cat advice columnist. 🙂

With that out of the way, I have a serious question for you, and I could really use your help.

Tabby, I was adopted by a very loving assistant when I was pretty young. I’m a three-year-old calico now, and I love my current family very much. It’s just that I always think about one of my littermates. Her name was Shoestring, and Shoestring and I were more than littermates. We were also best friends. I protected her — she was the runt of the litter — from our bossy siblings, and a lot of the time, it was just me and Shoestring against the world.

Unfortunately, my assistant could only adopt one kitty, and even though I meowed and meowed and tried to convince her to take Shoestring as well, she could only take me. Ever since then, I’ve been happy in my life, but I’ve missed my little sister so much. Would it be foolish of me to try and find her now, Tabby? What do you think?

Warmest regards,
Pippy

kittenhood bonds — The bonds we form in kittenhood are strong

DEAR PIPPY: I absolutely don’t think it’s foolish at all. In fact, I envy you for having shared such a strong bond with one of your siblings. That’s why I created a new iPhone app called Find Your Littermate. It’s a new service where you can add your information, your approximate birthdate and where you were born, and it’s basically genealogy for cats.

The service is new, and we’re still in beta testing, but it’s pretty user-friendly. I really hope it helps you find Shoestring.
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Comment to Win a $50 eGift Card From Sephora! (Ends Monday)

April 11th, 2015 by Karen 438 Comments

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

Good morning, friend! Happy Saturday (or caturday, if you’re a cat lady). 🙂

I’m still a little sleepy… I’m trying to wake up with a cup of green tea, though, because I need to run, aka “get my sweat on,” and then El Hub and I are going to take his parents out sightseeing (they’re visiting this weekend).

What are you up to today? Doing anything fun? We’re probably just gonna go to Fairfax, which is a cute little town in West Marin County, and then maybe up to Napa if everyone’s up for the drive.

Anywho, you know the drill. It’s Saturday, which means it’s giveaway time. To enter to win a $50 Sephora e-card, all you have to do is leave a quick comment down below.

Good luck, and may you see fuzzy blue-eyed kittens today.

One (1) Sephora 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:
- If your closet could talk, what’s the first thing it would say?
- A shoulder on which you lean?
- Have you ever supported a crowdfunding project on Kickstarter or something like it?
- __________ is a genius.
- A special occasion coming up?
- Three makeup brands you like right now?
One entry per person.
You must use a valid email address to win.
The giveaway ends on Monday, April 13, 2015 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time). 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Just a Cat Lady Friday

April 10th, 2015 by Karen 11 Comments

I have come to accept — nay, embrace — that I am a cat lady through and through. It’s a fact. There’s no denying it.

But sometimes something happens to make me fully realize the true extent of my cat lady-ness, like this afternoon when I was walking around downtown Petaluma with my family taking pics of every cat-related thing I saw.

My in-laws are visiting this weekend, and El Hub and I took them sightseeing around Petaluma, which is a cool rural town about 15 minutes north of here in Sonoma County.

I kept running into cat-related things at different stores downtown, like that framed black and white pic of a lady with a cat on her shoulder (the pic at the top). I saw it in an antique store, and I dunno…it just moved me, maybe because Tabs does the exact same thing — drapes himself over my right shoulder.

I wonder about the lady and her cat. Who were they? They must’ve had a very special bond to arrange for someone to come out and photograph them together, because back in the day it wasn’t like all you had to do was ask your friend to snap a pic with her iPhone. It took work!

I bet this kitty was the woman’s once-in-a-lifetime special cat.

What do you think the cat’s name was? He looks like a Fritz to me for some reason. 🙂

I also found a lot of cat stuff in a thrift shop called Pick of the Litter in Petaluma dedicated to helping local feral cats. Some of these next pics are from there this afternoon.

3-Step Easy Eyeliner

April 10th, 2015 by Karen 13 Comments

This is the face I make when I’m having a bad eyeliner day…

LOL! Yes, having a bad liner day is a real thing (albeit one that doesn’t exactly constitute the definition of “important”), and it’s happened to me on many, many occasions.

It usually happens when I’m rushing (in other words, all the time), or I’ve had too much caffeine and get the shakes, or when I’m just less coordinated than usual for reasons I can’t explain. The resulting uneven lines (referred to as “wonky liner,” as in “My liner is extra wonky today.”), cray-cray bat wings, jagged edges, or combination of the three are extra annoying.

I’m always trying to figure out ways to make lining my eyes easier, and I think I’ve hit upon something that works.

It’s totally easy (important) and fast (also important), too. You just need 1) your favorite long-wearing pencil liner and 2) an angled brush.

Ideally, the pencil liner should be one that gives you enough time to smudge and manipulate before it dries, like the Pearlglide Intense Eye Liners from MAC ($16 each). They’re long-wearing, so they don’t transfer up into my crease as I go about my day, but when I’m working with them, they stay soft for 2-3 minutes, which gives me enough time to tweak, cajole and play.

The shade I’m wearing in these pics is Chanel Stylo Yeux Long-Lasting Eyeliner in Ardoise. It’s a dark gunmetal gray with subtle shimmer. Really, though, use any liner that you like.

Here’s what I do…

STEP ONE

First, I sharpen the pencil, because I really want a precise point. Then I draw a thin line along my upper lash lines, really getting in there at the roots of the lashes with the pencil’s tip.

At this point, it doesn’t really matter if the line is neat because we’ll sharpen the edge in a second. The key is just to make it thin.

STEP TWO

Next, I grab my angled brush (usually the NARS #47 Angled Brush), and use it to smooth out the edge of the line, working from the inner corner out, and subtly thickening the line as I go.

The resulting soft liner defines the eyes but doesn’t look too harsh. It’s also very fast and very easy (yay!).

Sometimes, depending on the clock, I’ll stop at this point, then curl my lashes and add mascara, but if I have a few extra minutes, I move on to step three…
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