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

Wonder Twin Powers Activate! Shape of…the New Urban Decay Duo Shade Eyeshadows!

January 29th, 2014 by Karen 18 Comments

Urban Decay Duo Shades — Wearing the new Urban Decay Duo Shade Eyeshadows in X and Half Baked ($18)

So bangin’!

No, I’m not referring to the pounding outside my window (this time), which, El Hub informs me, will be ongoing for two weeks.

Argh.

The new Urban Decay Duo Shades, $18 each

I predict that by the end of the day I’ll be rocking back and forth in the corner and clutching these two new Urban Decay Duo Shade Eyeshadows to my chest like a security blanket while mumbling, “Safe place, safe place…”

Urban Decay Duo Shades swatches: X and Half Baked (far left); Sin and Mushroom (far right) — X and Half Baked (far left); Sin and Mushroom (far right)

The duos, which just launched online at urbandecay.com, are like eyeshadow comfort food. Each one comes with two of UD’s bestselling shades — familiar, much-loved colors that give lurvies to your lids.

Urban Decay Duo Shades in Sin/Mushroom — Sin and Mushroom

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What’s the Craziest Eye Look You’ve Ever Worn?

January 29th, 2014 by Karen 17 Comments

I like to think of myself as pretty adventurous when it comes to eye makeup…especially when I know I’m only going to be modeling something for Tabs (it’s a different story when I’m out and about).

But seriously, I’ll try anything once, although generally, for regular day wear, I like glam eye looks that don’t go totally over the top.

The gloves come off, though, on Halloween! It’s a license to go all out (crazy cat lady says what??).

Well, all out for me, I guess… Plenty of purple, glitter and, of course, cats (because cats make everything better).

I like this one the most because it was also part of an ensemble.

What’s the craziest eye look you’ve ever worn? Tell me about it in the comments. And do you have any pics?? Please share (link them in your comment or email)! I want to see! 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. It’s like Paranormal Activity up in here! I’m serious, my house sounds like a horror movie set right now.

We’re having our siding repaired this week and probably also next, and the noise is deafening. It’s like a cacophony of hammering, guys yelling (“Bring that 2×4 over here!”) and the next door neighbor’s dog barking like Cujo.

I apologize in advance if I sound distracted or type a lot of T699nmk;q5u48pbuiofdj%huibo8u#bg! — nonsense over the next few days. I’ll do my best to make sense, but I can’t guarantee it’s going to work out, LOL!

Latest Drugstore Obsession: $7 Maybelline Make Me Pink ColorSensational Lipcolor

January 28th, 2014 by Karen 26 Comments

It hasn’t even been three days since the first time I saw it, but I’m already full-on obsessed with Make Me Pink ColorSensational Lipcolor by Maybelline.

Um…it’s only $7! I got it last weekend on my lady date with Marisol when we went to Ulta. She happened to be wearing it when we met for lunch.

I’m so glad I picked it up. It’s full coverage but smooth, and it doesn’t feel heavy on my lips. It’s moisturizing, too.

If you like cooler-toned pinks, give it a whirl. 🙂

Maybelline ColorSensational Lipcolor in Make Me Pink

Get Chanel Style for $5 With Milani High Speed Fast Dry Nail Lacquer in Sangria Rush

January 28th, 2014 by Karen 11 Comments

Oh, gosh. For some reason my rambling is, like, extra rambling-y in this video.

I just realized that I never quite finished the story about the brothers and the double date with my friend Jen.

Sorry about that…

I blame it on the construction racket outside. I can’t even hear myself think. One moment I’m telling a silly story, then there’s a loud bang outside and I’m wondering, “Ooh! That was loud. What the heck was that?”

So, yeah…I guess it would’ve made more sense if I’d actually finished the story.

What I was going to say, was that during that double date, I sat on my hands throughout pretty much the entire musical, but the brother who was my date wanted to hold hands… He just couldn’t because I was sitting on mine. 🙂 Haha! Apparently, it was a “thing,” because later he told the other brother (Jen’s date), who in turn told Jen, who then told me.

Also, it never occurred to me and Jen at the time that if we did, in fact, marry the brothers…our kids would be cousins.

Clearly, this was a life plan that hadn’t been properly vetted…

Anywho, if you’re reading this and thinking, “This makes absolutely no sense,” well, the rest of the story is in the video, between talk of my new favorite polish, Milani High Speed Fast Dry One Coat Nail Lacquer in Sangria Rush, which you might remember from my nails in the BECCA Fab 5 video, and further rambling…

This polish is THE BUSINESS! It’s like $5 Chanel. Keep a look out for it next month when it arrives in drugstores and at milanicosmetics.com.

Thank you for watching and putting up with my random stories, LOL! 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Olympic-Caliber Curling, Just in Time for Sochi, With New Physicians Formula Organic Wear CC Curl + Care Mascara

January 28th, 2014 by Karen 11 Comments

New Physicians Formula Organic Wear CC Curl + Care Mascara ($9.95) locks on to lash curls like I lock on to ’80s references!

It also bestows a lovely glossy finish, while simultaneously separating and volumizing (is that even a word?) like a champ.

It may not get me all the way to YSL Faux Cils territory (it’s a tad shy in terms of length), but few things do, and it’s barely $10! No flaking or smudging, either, and it doesn’t irritate my sensitive eyes.

Its specialty appears to be curling (just in time for the Winter Olympics!). Perfect for those mornings when I need extra help looking awake (curled lashes seem to help).

Physicians Formula Organic Wear CC Curl + Care Mascara

Contains organic aloe and cucumber extracts to moisturize lashes, and organic rice protein to boost volume
Made with 70% organic ingredients (um…is that a lot?)
Not tested on animals
Free of parabens, synthetic colors and preservatives
Available in two shades — Ultra Black and Black

A nice option if you place a premium on lash curls and only need a little help with volume and length.

You can find Physicians Formula Organic Wear CC Curl + Care Mascara now at drugstores and online.

Today Felt Like a Guerlain Spring 2014 Kind of Day

January 28th, 2014 by Karen 30 Comments

When I passed him in the kitchen this morning wearing this look with pieces from Guerlain’s new spring collection, the first thing El Hub said was, “You smell good!”

But I wasn’t wearing any perfume, unless you count the cloud of Eau de Tabby Cat that permeates my clothes…

I’m pretty sure he was picking up the scent of my makeup, despite that fact that he has the worst sense of smell (his nose was broken several times in his martial arts days), because Guerlain’s spring stuff smells amaze-balls! — like plumeria and jasmine. Even their brow powder smells really good.

Having slept well and feeling good, I was in the mood to wear something a little colorful today, so I did this green and taupe eye with pink cheeks and fuchsia lips.

Guerlain Ecrin 4 Eyeshadows in Les Tendres, $63 (limited edition)

Guerlain Meteorites Blush in Cherry, $42 (also limited edition)

Guerlain Météorites Pearls in 03 Medium — Guerlain Météorites Pearls in 02 Clair, $60 (permanent)

Guerlain Meterorites Brush — Meterorites Brush, $42 (permanent)

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What’s Been One of the Best Beauty Decisions of Your Life?

January 28th, 2014 by Karen 47 Comments

Things that make ya go hmm... — Deep thoughts…

Oh, gosh. Well, let’s see…

Deciding to pick up a lash curler for the first time — I think that was a pretty good decision. Or finally getting around to mowing the fuzz on my upper lip — that was another one, because upper lip hair removal wasn’t really a thing when I was growing up, and I didn’t get around to it until college (but better late than never!).

Investing in some top quality eye makeup brushes was another game-changer for me, because while those little sponge applicators can technically get the job done, they can’t hold a candle to a proper set of tools.

More recently, I’m glad I decided to grow out my brows (they frame the face!), eat less dairy (I think I have fewer breakouts now), and take the time to figure out a process to cover the darkest of my dark circles that works pretty well for me.

But I think one of the best beauty decisions I ever made was using the Web to track down a hair stylist who knows what to do with curly/wavy hair, because before that, I’d gotten a lot of “interesting” haircuts from stylists who’d just hack away at my mop because they didn’t really know what else to do with it.

Thanks to the power of the Interwebz (especially Yelp), I haven’t cried over an Edward Scissorhands-ian haircut in about 10 years (she said, repeatedly knocking on wood!), so I feel like that has probably been my best beauty decision overall.

I hope you’re feeling chatty today, babe, because I would love to hear from you. 🙂 What’s been one (or more) of the best beauty decisions of your life? Tell me about ’em in the comments.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. A big parade wave and “hello!” from the land of the living! Guess who actually slept well last night.

Yup, after not sleeping enough at all last week (I get bad insomnia), I actually made it through the night, and it was glorious! El Hub slept well, too, and so we tried to figure out this morning what might have contributed to it.

Do you ever do that? Try to figure out why you slept well the night before so that you can repeat the process?

We think it might have something to do with humidity…

Wait — hear me out. 🙂 We’ve had an unusually dry winter here in Northern California with nary an inch of rain in months, but it was overcast and a little humid yesterday (didn’t rain, though), and we’re wondering if the air pressure or humidity played a role in how we slept.

I’m curious — do you sleep with a humidifier in your room, and do you think it helps you sleep better?

For a Family Fun Day Trip From San Francisco, Visit The Marine Mammal Center in the Marin Headlands

January 27th, 2014 by Karen 11 Comments

With a lIfe-size adult male elephant seal statue in the front of The Marine Mammal Center

Since its start in 1975, the nonprofit Marine Mammal Center, located just north of the Golden Gate Bridge in the Marin Headlands, has rescued, rehabilitated and released thousands of sick and injured marine mammals along 600 miles of California coastline.

Most of the patients at the center’s on-site animal hospital arrive when concerned people call the center’s 24-hour hotline at (415) 289-SEAL to report an animal in distress. Staff and volunteers retrieve the animals, and bring them back to the hospital, where the goal is always to get the animals back on their feet/fins/flippers and released back into the wild.

Local Marine Mammals — Getting to know some of the local marine mammals

Visiting the center is free, but I highly recommend taking a docent-led tour, which is what El Hub and I did. Tour tickets are $9 each for adults, $5 for seniors (ages 65 and up) and students (ages 5 to 17), and free for kids under 4. The proceeds from the tours go toward running the center, which is primarily staffed by volunteers.

Common Patients at The Marine Mammal Center hospital — The most common patients at The Marine Mammal Center hospital…

During the tour, which is about an hour long, you learn about the animals the center sees, the most common injuries and illnesses, and get to see a large part of the huge facility, including the animal hospital itself, the kitchen area where they prepare patient meals, classrooms (they also teach classes for kids and adults) and the enclosures where patients are housed.

Ziggy Star, a current patient at the hospital

Then, on the second and fourth Sundays of every month, the center hosts something called Marine Science Sunday, which is a free hour-long interactive class on a different theme every time, like yesterday’s was on Marine Mammals of the Arctic.

Very interesting. I learned about the narwhal, also known as the unicorn of the sea, an animal I’d never even heard of before.

Marine Science Sundays aren’t just for adults, either. There were a lot of kids there, and they all seemed to be having a blast.

View of Rodeo Becah from The Marine Mammal Center — View of Rodeo Beach from The Marine Mammal Center

Oh, and if you happen to visit on a sunny day, Rodeo Beach is right down the road (2 minutes away). I wish I’d packed a lunch for me and El Hub to enjoy by the water. Next time…

Chillin' wtih a sea otter statue at The Marine Mammal Center — Chillin’ with a sea otter

I plan to go back in April, which is when the Center’s hospital is usually filled with spring pups who’ve been separated from their mothers. They check them out, and get them up to their proper weight before sending them out in the world.

Want to visit The Marine Mammal Center? You can learn more at marinemammalcenter.org.