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

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 343

October 20th, 2014 by Karen 45 Comments

The Monday Poll for October 20, 2014 — Who’s that happy girl getting her picture taken with a fireman after the SF Nike Women’s Half Marathon yesterday? Hmm, I wonder…

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.

You’d think I was crazy if you saw my __________.
Office, because it looks like a giant makeup-filled piñata exploded in the middle of the room…but there’s a method to the madness, I swear!

Something you’re constantly forgetting to do?
Turn. Off. The. Front. Porch. Light. In. The. Morning.

Gah!

It’s not like I’m trying to remember complex chemistry equations, but you might think it based on how often I forget to do this one simple thing.

So, a few months ago there was an arsonist on the loose in our neighborhood. After a string of brush fires in residential areas and one fire right near someone’s front door, the local police and fire departments went door to door to educate residents and ask them to start leaving their porch lights on at night to discourage more criminal activity. It was a pretty scary time because we live in a high fire risk area with lots of open space with grassy fields and vegetation.

Anyway, I got really good about remembering to turn the light on before bed… Truth be told, El Hub usually does it. 🙂 But I always forget to turn the light off again in the morning, so sometimes it’ll be on for hours and hours during the day.

What have you been reading these days?
Book-wise, I’m reading Daughter of Smokey and Bone, by Laini Taylor, for the second time because I just love the writing.

I’ve also been reading lots of magazines, like Nylon, a beauty and fashion magazine with spunky, down-to-earth writing that isn’t super “magazine-y” or official. I think it’s written more for 20-somethings, which was a while ago for me, but I like the authenticity. They also devote a good chunk of each issue to beauty, which is a big plus!

I also like Entertainment Weekly for the movie, book, music and TV reviews. Gillian Flynn, the author of Gone Girl, also wrote for them for a while, and I remember really liking her articles.

A side of myself I never want to lose?
My playful side. 🙂
Generally, what’s your favorite makeup season (winter/holiday, spring, summer or fall?)?
I want to pick two! Please, please, please? I pick summer and holiday.

I like the extremes, I guess. Summer for easy and casual, and winter for its formal flair.

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

1. You’d think I was crazy if you saw my _____.
2. Something you’re constantly forgetting to do?
3. What have you been reading these days?
4. A side of myself I never want to lose?
5. Generally, what’s your favorite makeup season (winter/holiday, spring, summer or fall?)?

I firmly believe that within every person, even self-proclaimed dog people, resides a cat lady waiting to blossom. Case in point: my homeboy Karl Lagerfeld.

“I never thought I would like cats.”

— Karl Lagerfeld

On that note, Tabs and I would like to wish you a most purr-fect week. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 318

October 19th, 2014 by Karen 9 Comments

Hey, pretty kitties! This cool, crisp fall weather is getting me in the mood to wear autumnal colors like plums and golds. With the holidays approaching, I’ve been starting to wear a little more makeup.

The carpet of autumn leaves covering the hill outside inspired me to whip up this glamorous fall makeup look today as a practice run for Thanksgiving dinner and my other holiday parties. It’s one of those looks that seems like it would be complicated because of the false lashes, but it’s not. You can totally do it! It’s appropriate for all skill levels, even kittens experimenting with makeup for the first time. I hope you give it a try. -Tabs

TOOLS:

Plum eyeshadow — I chose a plum eyeshadow because it flatters so many different eye colors, including green eyes like mine.
Gold cream shadow — You can go as sparkly as you want with this, but I decided to go with a very subtle sheen, since the lashes already provide much of the drama.
Bronzy gold kohl pencil liner — A bronzy gold kohl pencil brightens the eyes and adds a subtle focal point that contrasts with the lashes.
False eyelashes — It’s the holidays! Go for big drama with long, lush lashes that kitties can see from a mile away.
Plum lipstick — Amplify your look with a dark plum lip. I prefer matte finishes myself, which are trendy at the moment and very ’90s.
Gold highlighter — To offset the bold eyes and lips, I skipped blush and went for a softly glowing golden cheek using a powder highlighter.
Flat eyeshadow brush
Domed blending brush
Angled eyeshadow brush
Lip brush
Blush brush

STEPS:

Start by applying the plum eyeshadow all over the lid and crease (if you have one).
Using an angled eyeshadow brush, sweep the same plum eyeshadow along the lower lash line.
With your domed shadow brush, stipple and press the gold cream shadow all over your lid to add dimension and texture to the look.
Apply a bronzy gold liner along your lower water line. This doesn’t have to be very intense. Just enough to open up the eyes.
Apply your false lashes! Do this with gusto and without fear.
Using your lip brush, apply a plum lipstick to your lips.
End with a light dusting of shimmery golden highlighter on your cheeks/whisker pads.

If you try this look, tag me on Instagram! #tabstutorials 🙂 I would love to see it on you!

(NOTE: I know you probably already know this, but please don’t put makeup on your kitty cat. This is just for amusement purposes. No real life cats wore any makeup for this tutorial.)

This post is sponsored by Purina Pro Plan #proplancatpartner. For information about my posting policy, please see my Disclaimer.

About Purina Pro Plan Cat food

Tabs is ravenous for his Purina Pro Plan Focus Indoor Care dry cat food (he actually likes it more than his old treats) and his Pro Plan Savory Bites snacks. Purina Pro Plan’s wide range of dry and wet cat foods and snacks, sold exclusively at pet specialty stores, can be found in three unique nutritional platforms — Savor, Finesse, and Focus — with each formula designed to provide advanced nutrition to help bring out the best in your cat. For more information, visit www.proplan.com/cat.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addicts,

Karen and Tabs

7 Ways to Win a $50 eGift Card From Sephora! (Ends Monday)

October 18th, 2014 by Karen 296 Comments

Heh! Guess who got out of seeing Fury last night. 🙂

Not that I’m totally against seeing it, mind you. I like Mr. Pitt, but I wasn’t in the mood for a heavy movie with a bunch of dudes.

Instead, I experienced the glory that is The Cheesecake Factory Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake Pie. Picture it: a pecan pie with a pumpkin cheesecake layered on top of it and two huge dollops of whipped cream on the side…

YES! YES!!

After that we just came home, and I took a really long shower and did a body scrub and a hair mask. Then we watched some TV before bed.

Today I have half-marathon final details to attend to, like I have to paint my nails and straighten my hair, because I’ve discovered that I like running with straight hair. And I have to finalize my music playlist. I know this: the last three miles will be powered by Bloc Party.

Have a great weekend, my friend, and good luck in the giveaway. Your nephew says “mroww!”

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 using the Rafflecopter widget 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:
- On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being hairless and 10 being full-on Sasquatch, how hairy are you right now?
- Who’s the tallest person you know?
- When was the last time you made a toast, and what was it for?
- What are your initials? (Mine are KTAM.)
- Do you prefer to blend in or stand out?
- What do you want? Like really want?
You can enter in up to seven ways to boost your chances of winning.
The giveaway ends on Monday, October 20, 2014 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time). 🙂
Full terms and conditions are available in the widget.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

A Friday Face of the Day With the New NARS Laser Cut Holiday Palette: Hazy Khaki Eyes, and Rosy Cheeks and Lips

October 17th, 2014 by Karen 20 Comments

Now we shall dance like children of the night!

Or not. 🙂

We can dance around my kitchen though, but only if it’s low impact because I’m still resting up for the race.

What are you doing tonight? I have a feeling El Hub is going to coerce me into watching Fury, that new WWII tank movie with Brad Pitt and the guy who played Shane in The Walking Dead.

Sounds like a hoot!

Oh, well. I’ll get him back in November when the new Hunger Games comes out.

I’m just gonna wear the smokey-light khaki eye look I wore today with the new $59 limited edition NARS Laser Cut holiday palette (available now).

Not that I’m gonna do it, because I feel lazy, but it would be really easy to turn this into an evening/party look by just swapping out the rosy gloss for a more dramatic lip color, like this glossy plum number perhaps…

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Nike Women’s Half Marathon Race-Day Essentials

October 17th, 2014 by Karen 43 Comments

Two more days.

TWO MORE DAYS! Roughly 39 hours (give or take) until I hit the ground running, literally, for the Nike Women’s Half Marathon in San Francisco with Team Neutrogena on Sunday.

I’ve been training for the past six weeks, and I’m actually feeling really good about this. By no means am I a hardcore athlete, but I tried to do everything I could to help myself make it through race day.

That’s in stark contrast to the last time I ran a half marathon about 10 years ago, when I did everything wrong. I was in tears when I crossed the finish line of that race because I was in so much pain (one word: chafing). Plus, I think I was just mentally unprepared for it.

This time, I feel ready! I was careful not to overtrain, which is something else that bit me in the @ss last time. Plus, I added cross-training (pushups and Jillian Michaels DVDs) and ate the food I was supposed to eat when I was supposed to eat it. I also took my rest and recovery days seriously.

So, yeah. I’m excited about Sunday, and not just because there will be San Francisco firemen in tuxedos handing out Tiffany necklaces at the finish line. 🙂

I’ve also been preparing/vetting all of my race-day essentials, which, of course include beauty products, because you know I couldn’t go 13.1 miles without doing a little something-something.

1. Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes

Also known as “my improv shower.” I’m putting a couple of these in a plastic bag and bringing them with me so I can wipe off some of the sweat immediately after the race. I’m also keeping a pack in the car for the drive home, just in case I still feel sticky. $8.99 for a reusable case with a pack of 25 towelettes. Available now at drugstores, Ulta and online.

2. Cle de Peau Perfect Lash Mascara

UGH! — so expensive, but so, so good… If there’s any mascara that can handle 13.1 miles and buckets of sweat, it’s this one. Waterproof, smudge-proof, budge-proof, and it delivers mad crazy length and separation. $50, and available now at Neiman Marcus and neimanmarcus.com.

3. Tom Ford Brow Sculptor in Espresso

Technically, Tom Ford Brow Sculptor in Espresso is not a waterproof product, but it may as well be. I’ve worn it in 105-degree heat, and it didn’t move, so I expect it to withstand the mileage. $44, available now at Tom Ford counters and online.

4. NARS Mini Satin Lip Pencil in Yu

I may live to regret this…but life is short! So what the hell! 🙂 I got it into my head to wear hot pink lipstick during the race because 1) it really does make everything better, and 2) because it matches my CW-X Bra.

Call me crazy.

NARS Mini Satin Lip Pencil in Yu is one of five lip pencils in the $49 NARS Digital World set, coming November 1 to Sephora and sephora.com.

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A Makeup MacGyver Moment, But Without the Mullet: Make an Improv Beauty Blender Sponge

October 17th, 2014 by Karen 29 Comments

Just something I figured out the other day when (surprise, surprise!) I couldn’t find my Beauty Blender. I swear, one of these days I have to finally, FOR GOOD, straighten out my office.

Sigh…

So I’d just finished applying Laura Mercier Flawless Fluide Foundation and needed to blend it out, but no Beauty Blender…so I MacGyver-ed (yes, I just turned that into a verb) an improv Beauty Blender with a kabuki brush and some MAC Fix+.

Here’s what ya do

Take a kabuki brush — and I’m using the Too Faced Retractable Teddy Bear Hair Kabuki Brush here — and spray it three or four times with MAC Fix+.

When I do this, I hold the bottle of Fix+ about eight inches away from the brush so the spray envelops the brush head evenly, and you want to just dampen the bristles, not make them dripping, soaking wet. Next, gently buff and blend your foundation and concealer on the skin using the dampened brush head and a circular motion.
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Here’s a Tip for Working With the New MAC Objects of Affection Pigments and Glitter Sets

October 16th, 2014 by Karen 13 Comments

MAC Objects of Affection Pigments and Glitter Set in Gold and Beige — Butterfingers tested and approved!

The mini jars of MAC Pigment and Glitter in the new MAC Objects of Affection holiday sets are so small (0.09 ounces) that I can barely fit a brush into them. They’re tiny! Butterfingers that I am, I feel like the Abominable Snowman trying to hug Bugs Bunny when I hold these jars, so when I use them, to keep accidental drops and messes to a minimum, I have a little workflow I follow…

First, I place a paper towel down on my work surface. Then, I pour a small amount of whichever product I’m using on the towel, and pick up the product directly from there with my brushes.

Much less mess, and it’s easier to load just the right amount of product on the brushes. 🙂

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The New NARS Nail Polishes in Barents Sea and Algonquin From the Laced With Edge Holiday Collection

October 16th, 2014 by Karen 16 Comments

NARS Nail Polishes in Barents Sea (left) and Algonquin (right)

Oh, the life of the easily amused… I wouldn’t have it any other way!

I get a weird kick out of knowing that underneath my socks and boots I’m wearing two different shades of nail polish.

I couldn’t decide between royal blue Barents Sea and violet Algonquin (both from the NARS Laced with Edge Holiday collection), so I stopped trying to decide and went with both. 🙂 I also wanted to see how long it would take El Hub to notice that I was wearing different colors on each foot…

That man is full of surprises, I tell ya! I thought it would take him at least three days, but he said something within 45 minutes. This from the same person who took two weeks to notice the time I dyed my hair pink!

Smooth and pigmented Barents Sea and Algonquin are limited edition shades from the NARS holiday collection, available now at NARS counters and online for $20 each.

I’m wearing two layers in the pic above, but I could’ve gotten away with one.

I feel like I’ve seen these colors before over at OPI, but I still like ’em. Those limited edition bottles speak to the hardcore collector in me.