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

For Lids That Shimmer From Dusk Til Dawn, the NYX Dream Catcher Dusk Til Dawn Eyeshadow Palette

February 3rd, 2014 by Karen 17 Comments

NYX Dream Catcher Palette Dusk Til Dawn — Wearing the new NYX Dream Catcher Palette in Dusk Til Dawn ($15) on my eyes

Shocker of all shockers (I’m serious, you may want to sit down for this), I was running late yesterday to go to my parents’ house for Super Bowl Sunday. 🙂

I know! — me, running late? Can you imagine? Haha, but seriously, I was running late, so I just threw some makeup into a bag to get ready in the car on the drive over to their house about an hour away.

NYX Dream Catcher Palette in Dusk Til Dawn — The Dream Catcher Palette in Dusk Til Dawn, one of three NYX limited edition palettes available now

One of the things I put into that bag was NYX’s new Dream Catcher Palette in Dusk ‘Til Dawn, one of three $15 limited edition eyeshadow palettes made to be, so says NYX, the answer to your shimmery dreams (assuming, of course, that there’s a lot of shimmering in your dreams).

Well, as far as any dreams I’ve ever had in which I’m putting on my makeup in the car (and there have been a few)…this palette probably would have helped. It does seem ideal for makeup-in-the-car dreams, particularly for ladies (and lords) who like how they look in warm-toned neutrals.

Ten baked shadows in warm shades of gold, brown and beige, along with a sprinkling of purple and black, reside inside. I ended up doing a shimmery gold and brown smokey eye in the car, and I, despite the bobbing of the car as we crossed the Richmond Bridge, I didn’t have to contend with any fallout or battle with my blending.

NYX Dream Catcher Palette in Dusk Til Dawn swatches — Swatches of Dusk Til Dawn on my NC42 skin…

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 309

February 3rd, 2014 by Karen 39 Comments

Homemade veggie burger by Karen! (Sweet potato fries by Trader Joe’s)

You might be wondering, “So what the heck is this Monday Poll thing anyway?”

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

Lately, my wardrobe staples have been ______.
Skinny jeans (ideally, the kind that feel like pajama jeans, like the AG Denim Leggings), a white tee and nude-colored heels. Also, a black long-sleeved mini dress and a black faux-leather jacket.

You can put together a ton of different looks with just those five things.

Crunchy or creamy peanut butter?
Creamy, all the way.

Do you make your bed every morning?
I try to. I want to, because it makes me feel better, or rather, it doesn’t pain me every time I catch a glimpse of a messy bed out of the corner of my eye.

I also get a weird thrill out of seeing the duvet when it’s all fluffy. Unfortunately, that level of fluffiness usually only lasts about five seconds, depending on how long it takes Tabs to notice that the bed, which he sees as his own personal wonderland, has been made.

The best things in life take ______.
Planning, patience, perseverance and…caffeine. (I couldn’t think of a “P” word related to caffeine.)

What’s your favorite healthy food/snack?
Smoothies!

SMOOTHIES!!

Yup, I’m still on a smoothie kick. The one I made this morning had frozen bananas, kale, frozen strawberries, almond milk, chia seeds, acai powder, vanilla protein powder and honey.

I’m salivating right now just thinking about it…

Something unexpected?
That I’d turn into a crazy cat lady.

For real, though! I just always assumed El Hub and I would have a pack of dogs, but then Tabs strolled into our old apartment one fateful day (he was a stray and literally walked right in one day like he owned the place).

What are things you like to do on the weekends?
Sleeping in, going to brunch (brunch, as opposed to breakfast, because of the sleeping in thing), cleaning the house (ugh…but I always feel so much better once it’s done), and relaxing, usually by watching a movie or reading a good book.

What are some things that inspire you?
Tropical beaches; bustling, vibrant cities; sleep (LOL! It’s true, though. It’s much easier for me to make mental connections when I have enough REM time under my belt.); biographies and interviews of people achieving their goals in the face of great adversity; cheesy quotes about positive thinking.

Where do you go when you need to get away someplace quiet?
Usually, my couch, with a warm blanket and a cup of tea (and away from my phone so I can’t futz with it).

Something you’re afraid to do?
Write that damned young adult novel, already. Oh, and attempt a triathlon.

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

1. Lately, my wardrobe staples have been ______.
2. Crunchy or creamy peanut butter?
3. Do you make your bed every morning?
4. The best things in life take ______.
5. What’s your favorite healthy food/snack?
6. Something unexpected?
7. What are things you like to do on the weekends?
8. What are some things that inspire you?
9. Where do you go when you need to get away someplace quiet?
10. Something you’re afraid to do?

Hello, bud. Happy Monday. 🙂

Did you watch the big game yesterday? Dude…all I can say is that was we left my parents’ house one minute into the third quarter.

Yeah, Tabs was pretty bummed about his team losing, but there’s always next year.

Best thing about the entire Super Bowl for me was Bruno Mars (and the Kitten Bowl on Hallmark).

Bruno’s performance was so much fun, and his makeup? — totally on point! His cheekbones looked defined, but not overly so, and his skin looked great. Awesome coverage and smoothness. I’m dying to know what primer, foundation and setting powder his makeup artist used.

Anywho, you have a great Monday, ‘kay? And I’ll try to do the same.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

How to Look Great During Childbirth

February 2nd, 2014 by Karen 64 Comments

This post was written by Kate
Is it possible to birth a baby and still look cute? Kate thinks so, and she shares how in today’s guest post.

When I found out that my due date was May 1st, my first thoughts weren’t of baby blankets and onesies. All I could think about was, how am I going to avoid looking like a wet dish towel in one of those post delivery photos? — the ones that someone always manages to snap at the exact moment when you’re the most sweaty, the most tired, and the least ready to have a remotely flattering picture taken. I’m talking about that moment when after 12 hours of intense labor, the cameras start clicking like crazy!

I never really thought of myself as a particularly vain person, and I know that when the time comes, it’s supposed to be all about the baby, but I was determined to hang on to some shred of my former makeup loving self, and come out of the whole experience glowing, despite the stretch marks and imminent hemorrhoids.

About a month before my due date, I became the lone pregnant lady haunting the aisles of my local Sephora. I rarely took a friend on these occasions, mainly because I could not have any distractions from what I saw as my personal mission. I was determined to put together a look that could withstand whatever curveball Mother Nature decided to throw my way, be it C-section or 24 hours of labor. Whatever happened to be going on below my neck, I was hellbent on keeping what was above it well controlled and looking its best. I needed the makeup equivalent of an Earthquake Prevention Kit.

I decided that my best course of action was to treat my baby’s delivery like a really long and painful spinning class. I knew to expect a lot of huffing and puffing, and most of all, a lot of sweat. That meant that I needed a face that was waterproof and sweatproof. I wanted to strike a balance between no makeup and being a Real Housewife of Beverly Hills. To me, that meant glowy and flushed, not sculpted and painted. Even if I spent whole days in oatmeal splattered pajama pants and my husband’s wife beater remembering the days when I could count on a morning shower, I would feel secure in the knowledge that I didn’t go down without a fight.
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Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 281

February 2nd, 2014 by Karen 14 Comments

It’s game day, and you know what’s up. 🙂

Ya know, a lot of people think of cats as dainty, aloof and too sophisticated for the gritty gridiron, but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, Tabs loves football, loved all the years he played it professionally for the Mill Valley Wildcats, and even in his retirement, he still plays for fun in a summer cat league.

This Super Bowl is a special one for Tabs because it also marks the first one for which he’s released his own limited makeup collection of Super Bowl Cat Paw Quints (available in Seahawk and Bronco). If cats and people like them, he’ll release one for every team next season.

We’ll definitely be watching the game this afternoon. I did end up making some veggie burger patties, too. I’ll let you know how they turn out when we barbecue them later today.

Which team are you rooting for in the game? I think we’re pulling for Denver…mostly because Seattle beat the Niners a couple weeks back (the nerve!).

Oh! Almost forgot… Here are pics from Tabs’ kitty modeling portfolio this week. He believes they turned out well.

Who is Tabs the Cat? About six years ago I befriended a stray, flea-bitten tabby cat with a bad case of worms. I could see he’d fallen on hard times, but his profound knowledge of high fashion and department store cosmetics led me to believe that he was more than meets the eye. We became fast friends, and now he’s actually my boss (and a successful kitty model). 🙂

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

February 1st, 2014 by Karen 502 Comments

Morning time!

Good morning, glory. 🙂 I hope you got good sleeps.

I slept pretty well. Got a tabby up in here, and he’s been extracting extra lurvies from me since I got up. I think he’s a little disheveled from the siding repair over the past few days. His fur isn’t looking as silky as usual, and he’s a little twitchy. The contractors aren’t working this weekend, so it’s blessedly quiet around here, but the racket last week got on his last nerve.

Poor guy…

Yeah, you and me both, tabby, LOL! I’m pretty frazzled, too.

In other news, it’s friggin’ freezing, Mr. Bigglesworth! I didn’t even want to get out of bed, but I left my walkie-talkie downstairs…

Walkie-talkie. El Hub and I use walkie-talkie radios to communicate with each other when one of us is upstairs and the other’s downstairs. Seriously, I’ll radio him things like, “Babe, could you please bring me a cup of coffee. Over.” And he’ll be all, “OK, roger that. I’ll bring it up.”

Haha! For reals…

I don’t know what we’re doing today. Hopefully nothing, but I do have to pick up some things for the Super Bowl tomorrow. We’re barbecuing at my parents’ house, and since I’ll be the only veggie-tarian, I better plan ahead and make sure I have something to eat.

Oh, Tabs picked up some last-minute Super Bowl week kitty modeling work, so that’s pretty cool. Look for his ads here on the blog tomorrow before the game. 🙂

Alright, I’ve been rambling. Enough of that. It’s giveaway time.

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:
- Can you touch type (type without looking at the keys)?
- What’s the longest lasting nail polish?
- Your pick to win the Super Bowl?
- What would you get if you won this $50 gift card?
- Who’s the most fashionable person you know?
- What’s your current favorite YouTube channel and why?
You can enter in up to seven ways to boost your chances of winning.
The giveaway ends on Monday, February 3, 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

P.S. GO DENVER!

Wavy Hair Don’t Care! (And a Couple of New Hair Products From L’Oreal)

January 31st, 2014 by Karen 17 Comments

After trying a couple of new products from L’Oreal and letting ye olde mop (also known as my naturally wavy hair) air dry, this was the result…

First thing I tried was the new L’Oreal Color Vibrancy Instant Shock Treatment ($7). L’Oreal calls it a “lightweight melting mask,” and it’s designed to add shine and moisture to color-treated hair.

It’s pretty neat.

It’s a conditioner, so you use it after shampoo. Here’s the kicker: when you work it through your hair, it doesn’t feel like it’s coating the strands, but instead like it’s melting right into them. Can’t say I’ve ever tried anything quite like it before… Really cool.

After I got out of the shower and towel dried my hair, I applied about four pumps of the new L’Oreal Curve It Curl Taming Creme ($5) to it. It added soft definition to my waves without leaving them crunchy or weighed down. I like how my hair looks with this stuff — slightly wild, but not too wild, LOL! Thumbs up.

Wavy hair don’t care! 🙂

Both products are available now at drugstores, Ulta and ulta.com.

Shower Me With Your Lush: These Luscious Limited Edition Lush Valentine’s Day Products Make Hearts Beat and Bath Time Sweet

January 31st, 2014 by Karen 12 Comments

Lush Love Locket Bath Bomb — Heart ya, Lush!

I doubt it’s appropriate to be writing about Lush bath products while I’m — sorry, TMI — completely filthy. Haven’t showered, still wearing stretchy pants, hair’s up in a scrunchie (a bright neon orange one!), and there’s a fine film of fuzz on my teeth.

Gross, I know.

Tabs, glamorous maven of grooming that he is, does not approve.

It’s been one of those days…but things are looking up! #glasshalffull

Weird as it sounds, I’m getting pretty psyched to hit that shower ’cause of these new limited edition Lush Valentine’s Day treats.

The heart-shaped bath bomb! The pink and red heart soap! PRINCE CHARMING SHOWER GEL! I don’t even know where to start… I kind of want to take everything in the shower all at once and use it in a single bubbly bonanza of cleanliness. I’m going to be really, really clean when I’m done. 🙂

Love Locket Bath Bomb, $10.95

Nobody likes a broken heart (aww), but breaking this heart is apparently a good thing. Lush designed this oversized heart-shaped bath bomb so that you can divvy it up to use in two separate baths. Oh, and hidden inside the big heart is a smaller heart for yet another bath, so it’s a triple threat of bath bombs. Three bath bombs in one.

It’s scented with vanilla, jasmine and neroli oil (yum), and when you drop it in the tub, paper hearts embedded in the bath bomb float up to the surface of the water.

How cool!

Neon Love Soap, $7.85

On second thought, maybe I should start with the Neon Love Soap instead, and save the Bath Bomb for when I need some serious meow time.

Bergamot, rosewood, cinnamon leaf and passion fruit scent this soap, but I think it smells more like having a freshly baked plate of ginger cookies in front of you while you’re drinking a passion fruit smoothie. Mmm…

Lush Prince Charming Shower Gel, $19.95 for 8.4 ounces

Why kiss all of those pesky frogs when you can have Prince Charming in a shower gel instead? 🙂

The pomegranate, grapefruit, marshmallow and vanilla scent is both refreshing and comforting at the same time. I bet if I still had some Lush Celebrate Hand and Body Lotion around (*sniffs*), the citrus notes would work wondrously with this shower gel.

Tender Is the Night Massage Bar, $11.95

Lush Tender Is the Night Massage Bar — Tender Is the Night Massage Bar

Shout-out to F. Scott Fitzgerald! Although I prefer The Great Gatsby, I suppose “The Great Gatsby Massage Bar” doesn’t sound nearly as Valentine-y. This bar melts right into my skin and smells divine — like a bouquet of Jasmine flowers.

To El Hub, on the off chance that he’s reading this, the knots in my lower back and I will be “kneading” your in-house massage tech services soon. I’ll bring the bar; you bring the muscle. 😉

The Kiss Lip Tint, $9.25

Lush the Kiss Lip Tint — The Kiss Lip Tint

Totally not for either the bath or shower, but it’s V-day related, so why not? This tin o’ lip tint is for the gals who like sheer color and non-sticky formulas. It tastes a little like marmalade (the jelly, not the stuffed cat).

You can find these products, along with the rest of Lush’s limited edition Valentien’s Day collection, at Lush stores now and online at lushusa.com.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

I’m Carisa Janes of Hourglass Cosmetics, and This Is My Makeup Life

January 31st, 2014 by Karen 17 Comments

The My Makeup Life series asks beauty biz insiders, bloggers, makeup mavens and artists to share their holy grail products, tricks, tips and favorite beauty tools. Is there anyone you would like to see featured in My Makeup Life or questions you think I should ask? Let me know here.

Name: Carisa Janes
Location: Venice, CA
Day job/current gig: CEO and Founder of Hourglass Cosmetics
Hangouts online: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and hourglasscosmetics.com
Current favorite Product: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Luminous Flush
Beauty inspirations: Creativity in any form, art, architecture, photography, technology, film & design. I’m also inspired by different locations — Venice (CA), Tokyo, Stockholm.
One word that best describes your outlook on beauty: Insatiable

What makeup/beauty products can’t you live without?

Veil Mineral Primer — I forget how important it is until I neglect to use it. Veil Fluid Makeup has been my go-to foundation for many years, and Ambient Lighting Powder is hard to resist. Over the course of a day, I use Dim Light, Radiant Light and Luminous Light, in that order. It’s my personal lighting technician.

The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette ($58), a limited edition item from holiday 2013

When did you start getting into makeup?

All the women in my family, including my grandmother, my mother and my step-mother, were beauty enthusiasts. As a teenager I’ll never forget my mother taking me to the Chanel counter of a department store in California. The fact you could express yourself with makeup has long inspired me. It still does.

Hourglass Extreme Sheen Lip Gloss in Lush (bottom) and Origami (top), $28 each

What’s your best beauty time-saving trick?

I always wear a primer, so that my makeup has longevity. I use multitasking products, such as a foundation with anti-aging ingredients and SPF. And, like most women, I can apply mascara in my car while stopped at a red light.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes in Radiant Magenta (left) and Diffused Heat (right), $35 each US and $41 CDN

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