weeklyroundup

So if you had to summarize your entire week in one word, what would it be? Mine would be “exhausting.” Seriously, I’m plum tuckered out, and Top Chef had a lot to do with it. Get this: last night El Hub turned to me in bed all exasperated like and said, “It seems like Top Chef is always on TV in this house.” LOL! He’s right, because even when it’s not on Bravo, I usually have it streaming to my laptop. 🙂 I’m going through a phase…

Did you have a favorite makeup or beauty story this week? I’m pretty stoked about MAC Wonder Woman, but then it appeals to one of my weaknesses (comic books). I know that some of you are on the fence about the release; I feel like the packaging borders on tchotchke, but I think it’s also true to the spirit of the original comic. Judging by the promo artwork, colors and product names, I think MAC gave it some thought, which is pretty cool. I’m looking forward to seeing more.

In case you missed anything, here’s one last look at some of the things we talked about this week on the blog. I hope your day’s been treating you well.

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

THE DIOR MONTAIGNE COLLECTION
SWATCHES AND PICS

I wanted to post some swatches of the new Dior Montaigne spring collection. Here are all the products with the exception of the one lonely Sephora exclusive, Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss in Trianon Silver #707, which I’ll add here as soon as I’ve seen it up close and personal.

Now, brace yourself for a whole lotta pink and gray (aka, my favorite colors in fourth grade, LOL!). The collection’s available now at Nordstrom (both stores and online), and will be making its way to other stores and Dior counters soon. Read more…

THE LORAC MULTIDIMENSIONAL
BEAUTY COLLECTION IN 3D

The only real 3D thing I’ve ever watched was Captain EO, and I really liked it when I was 8. 🙂

The word “gimmicky” springs to mind when I look at LORAC’s new Multidimensional Beauty Collection.

It’s a spring release, but the gobs of glitter, shimmer and dark hues remind me more of fall and winter than spring. Products in the eight-piece release for the eyes, lips and face come in a variety of finishes, including shimmers, mattes and glitters, and some of them (like the shimmers and glitters) seem to fool around with light (hence the 3D). Today I took five of them out for a spin.

Like sugar free YSL Faux Cils, I like how Multiplex 3D Lashes mascara thickens at the base, but I’d love a little better curl hold. Read more…

THE MAC WONDER WOMAN
COLLECTION REPROMOTES

The official promo pics and product list are busting down our doors, my fellow wonder women. The limited edition MAC Wonder Woman Collection is still en route (ETA February 10, 2011 in North American; internationally in March), but we just received an emergency makeup cable from the super-heroine’s invisible jet. It reads, “Start the mission without me, ladies! I’ll be there as soon as I fend off the forces of anti-fabulousness that are attacking my jet!”

Since some of the upcoming products in the collection are repromoted items (like Lipstick in Russian Red, Glitter in Reflects Pearl and Penultimate Eye Liner in Rapidblack), I thought we could take an early look at a few of them today. Read more…

SUNLIT LOOKS AND THE GIVENCHY
NAIVEMENT COLLECTION

You don’t have to love the way you look in sunny shades of warm orange and yellow to like Givenchy’s new Naivement Couture collection, but it certainly helps.

The spring/summer collection beams onto eyes, lips, faces and nails with buttery colors all kissed by the sun. These orange, pink, green, beige and peach shades have me looking forward to window shopping in the springtime and cruising sunny sidewalks with El Hub. 🙂 And even the name, which means “naively couture” in French, seems to fit with that mood (as would a Caffè Americano sipped at an outdoor cafe).

See how the orange eyeshadow extends beyond the model’s eyelids and up into her brows, and how it sweeps below her eyes and melts into the pink blush upon her cheeks? — like rays of sunlight painted on?

It almost looks like it’s radiating heat, which, considering how cold and gray it is here, makes me want to jump through the monitor. Read more…

TAKE A SPRING BREAK
WITH THE LAURA MERCIER SILK ROAD COLLECTION

Yesterday, my journey along the new Laura Mercier Silk Road led me to four items from the collection — the Eye and Cheek Palette, the Kohl Eye Pencil in Stormy Gray, the Lip Plumper in Ruby Glaze and the Stickgloss in Pink Jewel — and it was quite a trip, let me tell ya.

For her latest collection, foundation phenom Laura Mercier went WAY back — almost 3,000 years back — to the ancient Han Dynasty and the trade routes ancient merchants from China, India, Tibet, Persia and the Mediterranean used to sell their silk, satin, perfumes, spices, medicines and jewels.

Available now on Laura Mercier counters and online, the 13-piece Silk Road collection was inspired by the precious gemstones and raw silks that moved along those ancient routes.

All four of the products I used yesterday are JUST. SO. GOOD! As I was applying the new products I kept shouting, “Oh, my gawd!” I’m pretty sure I sounded either like I was 1) seeing a double rainbow or 2) having a bonafied makeup-gasm. Read more…

LAURA MERCIER SILK ROAD
COLLECTION SWATCHES AND PICS

I was surprised and more than a little impressed that for her latest collection, foundation phenom Laura Mercier went WAY back — almost 3,000 years back — to the ancient Han Dynasty and the trade routes ancient merchants from China, India, Tibet, Persia and the Mediterranean used to sell their silk, satin, perfumes, spices, medicines and jewels.

Available now on Laura Mercier counters and online, the 13-piece Silk Road collection was inspired by the precious gemstones and raw silks that moved along those ancient routes, but when I stopped by the counter yesterday to take a look, I found myself asking something I imagine some of those ancient merchants must asked: “Haven’t we been this way before?”

Two of the items, Persian Rose Blush and Gold Thread Liquid Liner, look familiar to me. Luckily, I like them both. 🙂 Persian Rose Blush reminds me of NARS Orgasm, and doesn’t Gold Thread Liquid Liner bear a striking resemblance to MAC Superslick Liquid Liner in Pure Show? Read more…

THE MILLY FOR CLINIQUE
PRETTY IN PRINTS COLLECTION

There really must be a “wrong side of the bed” because I think it’s the side I woke up on this morning. I needed more than mere caffeine to make it through the day today, so I stopped by my favorite chai place, the Nordstrom cafe, because it also happens to be located a few feet from the Nordie’s cosmetics department. 🙂

When I came to the Clinique counter, I almost dropped my drink! With just three pieces, the new Milly for Clinique Pretty in Prints Collection might be one of the littlest releases this spring, but I’m such a total sucker for pretty prints.

The chocolate browns and playful pinks just look so darn foolproof and wearable, don’t they? Sure, the colors themselves aren’t particularly edgy, but these look like the kinds of things I could wear when I want to look polished and professional but don’t want to spend a lot of time doing it. Read more…

5 FANTASTIC MAKEUP AND
BEAUTY PRODUCTS TO HELP WITH OILY SKIN
Is your skin slicker than a used car salesman? Do your pores ooze oil all day and night? If you suffer from oily skin, you’re not the only one. I did for years (and still do at times).

Rule No. 1: Don’t despair. There’s hope. I was constantly struggling with oily skin throughout my 20s. I know it’s all natural, but I’m still a little grossed out by it, that greasy feeling and the relentless shine. I remember back in college when I’d fall asleep in my books. I’d wake up, peel my face away and see oily patches on the page. Awesome!

Now that I’m in my 30s, my skin’s a combination of oily and dry. Some spots are dry, but others are oily, like my forehead and cheeks. I use (and love) several products to keep the oil slicks at bay. Read more…

HOW EASY IS IT TO CHANGE
YOUR AURA WITH THE HOURGLASS AURA COLLECTION?

In the Effortless Makeup category, Hourglass’s new Aura collection ranks among one of my favorites for spring.

It’s like the brand has their fingers on the pulse of lazy girls like moi. The Aura Sheer Cheek Stains and Sheer Lip Stains are designed for ease of use. No brushes are required with Aura’s portable, pen-style applicators. Twisting the bottom of each one dispenses product through the sponge tip applicator at the other end, and it makes these sheer, buildable liquid stains practically foolproof to use.

The Aura Sheer Cheek Stains ($45) and Aura Sheer Lip Stains ($26) sink quickly into my skin, but there’s still a window of drying time (about a minute or so) in which I’m able to blend out any harsh edges with my fingers if I need to. Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

A Typical Sunday Morning…

TABS: “Meow, meow, meow, meow!”
KAREN: “I’m up, I’m up!”
TABS: “Mrrrrrrow…”
KAREN: “But if it’s morning, why’s it still so dark outside?”
TABS: “Mrow.”
KAREN: “Well that’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”
TABS: “…”
KAREN: “Okay, sorry. I take it back.”
TABS: [Purrrrr]
KAREN: “Yeah, yeah. You’re lucky you’re so dang cute.”

Heya, ladies. Good morning. How long have you been up? It’s just after 7 here and so foggy outside that I can’t even tell if the sun has come up.

What did you do yesterday? El Hub and I drove up to a town called Yountville for lunch. It’s one of the little places along Highway 29 in wine country about an hour north of here. We were sort of chasing the sun, but it was just as cold and overcast up there as it was down here. Still, it was nice to get out of dodge for a few hours.

Other than that, my Saturday was blissfully uneventful. 🙂 A trip to Target (nothing beauty related jumped out at me), I cleaned the kitchen, watched Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing & Charm School on Netflix (not bad, stars Marisa Tomei, whom I like; picked it because I liked the name), and went to bed around midnight.

So did you have any beauty highlights this week or try any new looks you’d like to share? Mine was probably this one here, although it’s not really new for me. I like how summery it felt despite the weather outside.

In case you missed anything, here’s one last look at some of the things we talked about this week on the blog. Whatever you’ve got going on today, I hope there’s room for fun.

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

THE DIOR MONTAIGNE SPRING 2011
SOFT PINK DESIGN QUINT

Expect a downpour at Dior this spring when the new Montaigne Collection comes to town, but you won’t need your umbrella for this storm. That’s because it’ll be pouring pearls when the 13-piece release for eyes, lips, cheeks and drips on Dior counters, in Dior stores and at Sephora in the next few weeks.

Named after the Paris address where the first Dior boutique opened back in 1946, the palette of pearly grays and baby pinks suggests spring soirees in the City of Lights, and to these soirees you’re wearing pearls. It’s a soft, sophisticated, natural look, and passersby won’t be able to miss your subtly shimmering glow.

To my eye, the Soft Pink Design Quint ($58), one of two for eyes in the release, characterizes the collection’s vibe with its nuanced pinks and grays. It comes with (almost) everything a girl would need to live the eye portion of the look — an eyeshadow base, a liner, two shimmer shadows and one glitter shadow. The only thing missing: mascara. Read more…

THE DIOR MONTAIGNE SOFT
PINK DESIGN ALL IN ONE ARTISTRY PALETTE

Today I took the brand spankin’ new Dior Soft Pink Design All-In-One Artistry Palette ($58) from the Dior Montaigne spring 2011 collection out for a spin using the little tutorial that comes with the palette as a guide.

I love it when products come with those things (sending positive reinforcement to all the companies out there) because they make looks as easy as 1-2-3.

It’s too blasted expensive, so it loses big points for that, but I find this quint extremely easy to work with. I love the textures and didn’t expect there to be as much pigment as I found. If you can get past the price and want to get an early start on spring with an eye palette in soft pink, gray and mauve, consider Dior’s sassy Soft Pink Design. Read more…

TARTE EMPHASEYES AQUA GEL
EYELINER IN SHIMMERING INDIGO

This may sound a little selfish, but I sure hope Tarte adds their new emphasEYES Aqua Gel Eyeliner in Shimmering Indigo to their permanent line, because I love the way it looks with brown eyes.

The pigmented purplish blue gel liner, a QVC exclusive shade (you get not one, but TWO for $25), comes in a twist-up pencil, making it more convenient than most gel liners.

According to Tarte, half of the product consists of water — with minerals, as well as vitamin E, cucumber and aloe suspended within it — and judging by how creamy and moist the liner feels along my lash line, I believe it.

It also shimmers on my eyes in a way that makes it look to me like late afternoon light reflecting on the surface of a pond, ah… Read more…

TARTE SMOOTH OPERATOR
AMAZONIAN CLAY EYE BASE

To quote (and then paraphrase) the great Sade, “No need to ask, he’s [she’s] a smooth operator.” Except her charms aren’t working on me. 🙁

The new Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Eye Base ($22) may be a touch too light for this brown girl, but lighter lasses, listen up. This pretty pink primer just might shine for you.

The warm yellow undertones in my skin don’t agree with Smooth Operator (it turns gray on me), but that shouldn’t happen if you like the way you look in shades of cool-toned pink.

Released as a QVC (yep, that QVC) exclusive last December, Smooth Operator Eye Base looks to me like a hybrid of two other products, Benefit Eye Bright Pencils and Urban Decay Primer Potion. It combines the light pink color of Eye Bright with UDPP’s fluffy, smooth texture. Read more…

IS CHINA GLAZE SEA SPRAY
A $5 DUPE FOR CHANEL RIVA?

If price made your pretty nails pass on Chanel’s breathtaking but budget busting resort collection Riva ($27, ouch!), Anchors Away!

One of 12 nautical shades in the new China Glaze Anchors Away Collection for spring goes by the name of Sea Spray (about $5).

With a familiar marine-like blue vibe and similarly subtle micro glitter, both could be cousins, judging by the way they look in their bottles.

But how do they look beside each other on nails? Well, they aren’t twins, but they come fairly close. Sea Spray looks a little darker than Riva does and isn’t as creamy. And its micro glitter is silver, while Chanel’s is teal. Read more…

IS MAC DELFT A DUPE FOR
MAC SIAHI FLUIDLINE?

Oh, Delft is one of my all-time favorite MAC Paint Pots! I picked it up a few years ago when it was part of the permanent collection, but it seems to have gone MIA since then (at least online).

It’s a shimmery teal with a hint of gold, and it, like the rest of the Paint Pots, feels softer and slightly fluffier than the Fluidlines do to me.

I usually wear the Paint Pots as cream shadows and/or eyeshadow bases, although they’ll double as liners, too.

About Delft, it’s like Siahi’s lighter, greener cousin; however, they both have very different shimmers. Siahi’s looks rather teal to me, while Delft’s is more of a straight up gold.

While I was rutting around in my stash for Delft, I also noticed that teal blue Korres Eyeliner Pencil in Blue Petrol looks a little like Siahi as well, except that it’s darker, with a matte finish. Read more…

THE DOLCE & GABBANA SECRET
GARDEN COLLECTION FOR SPRING 2011

I wonder what Lewis Carroll would have thought about the secret garden of pink Post-It notes that decorate my desk and my notebook. Of course, the note are totally unnecessary, because there’s no way I’m going to forget about the new 12-piece Dolce & Gabbana Secret Garden collection for eyes, nails, face and lips. When it hops into town this spring, I’ll need a fainting couch to catch me when I fall (in love). 🙂

The colors look so bright and authentically springy that I can almost smell fresh-cut grass and sunshine when I look at them (I swear I can smell the sunshine).

But the story behind the collection, according to Dolce, is one of mystery. Read more…

IS CHANEL ARAGONITE A DUPE OF
NARS MOON FLEET?

Yesterday I almost judged a book by its cover. After reader Mahnaz asked how Aragonite, one of the new Glossimers from the Chanel Les Perles de Chanel spring collection, compared to NARS Moon Fleet, my initial reaction was, “Uh oh! Chanel must have copied NARS.”

But then I pulled out both colors and gave the question more thought. Both shades are related, but NARS Moon Fleet, a permanent color from the line, is a sheer and shimmery yellow gold, and I think it looks much darker and yellower than Aragonite does.

What about other possible Aragonite dupes? Hmm… How about Chanel Glossimer in Galactic (circa 2007)? Read more…

THE CHINA GLAZE ANCHORS
AWAY COLLECTION

Ahoy, matey! The new China Glaze Anchors Away Collection for spring 2011 just docked onto my doorstep, so I thought you’d want to see some swatches.

Do these colors make you wanna hoist your sails or walk the plank?

The limited edition polishes, each around $5, will be available at select beauty stores this spring. Read more…

THE NARS SPRING 2011
COLLECTION

Since I have a weak spot for NARS blushes that’s right up there with my weak spot for Häagen-Dazs dulce de leche ice cream, I was shocked, and a wee bit disappointed, to hear that Francois left the blushes out of his collection for fall.

But I wiped away my tears today when I saw these pics for the small 11-piece collection for eyes, lips and nails. The shimmery earth tones with metallic finishes; the sheer, sparkly cool purples and pinks; and even a couple of unexpected greens and blues? NARS started with safe neutrals but sprinkled them with just enough brights to keep a girl on her toes, and what he came up with looks to be a lot of fun.

Plus, almost all of the colors are new (two of the lip glosses are repromotes). Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Can you believe Christmas has passed? For the last two months I’ve been thinking Christmas, Christmas, Christmas every day, and then BAM! Welcome to December 26.

It’s enough to give a girl holiday whiplash. 🙂

How are you doing? Tabs, El Hub and I are just enjoying a slow day… I think we might try to catch a movie this afternoon. That sounds like fun.

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

CHANEL MAT LUMIERE
SOFT MATTE MAKEUP WITH SPF 15

Who among us hasn’t crossed paths with her share of craptacular liquid foundations? — the runny ones that leave streaks, the heavy pore-suffocating ones, and, oh, how about the ones with the open-mouth bottle…like the one you accidentally spilled on your buddy’s white shag carpet back in school (so sorry, Shell!).

I know it’s asking for a lot, but I would love a great, preferably inexpensive medium-coverage liquid foundation that I can wear every day (something I can throw on before I run out for a chai latte). That said, it’s with great joy, and a little pain, that I type these words: Chanel’s $54 Mat Lumiere Long-Lasting Soft Matte Makeup SPF 15 just might be the best liquid foundation I’ve used in years.

But…it’s $54. Read more…

THE CHANEL QUADRA
EYE SHADOW QUAD IN REGARD PERLE

Every girl remembers her first…Chanel eyeshadow quad. 🙂

Mine was Garden Party. Ah, Garden Party… Just saying the name brings back memories (and a warm, fuzzy feeling) of the first time I laid eyes on that mix of green, peach and pink.

I still love that quad so much that it’s the first thing I thought of when I saw promo pics of the new Chanel Quadra Eye Shadow quad in Regard Perle ($56). I was kindasorta hoping Perle would look more like it in person.

It’s not a Garden Party dupe, but I think it’s very pretty in its own right, particularly if you have a thing for glowy skin.

Each of its four soft powder shadows shine with a mirror-like finish that lights up eyelids when when they’re applied. Chanel channeled pearls this season — or rather the way skin glows when you’re wearing pearls — and here they got it spot on. The chai latte I had last night right before dinner screwed with my sleep, and it was evident all over my face this morning. But a few swipes of Regard Perle today, and my eyes looked visibly brighter and more awake. Read more…

THE LUSH SUGAR
PLUM FAIRY SCRUB

Look, over there — do you see it? The limited edition Sugar Plum Fairy Scrub ($4.95)? Isn’t it cute?

This heavenly creature is mostly made of sugar and spice and everything nice…like sodium bicarbonate (that’s baking soda, babe). It’s an exfoliating scrub scented with ylang-ylang (like a deep custard) and jasmine, and it leaves a light floral fragrance on my skin.

I took it into the shower with me last night, hoping it would smooth my bod — specifically the rough patches on my knees, heels and elbows.

The bar melts on contact with water, foaming into a lather with moderately rough scrubbing grains. I was hoping to get away with using half, or maybe a quarter of the bar, but it wasn’t in the mood for that once it got wet. Perhaps I could/should have broken it in half before the shower, just to be able to use it a second time. Read more…

THE NYX SOHO
GLAM COLLECTION

I was sitting in bed reading Stephen King’s Under the Dome the other night when it hit me. No, not the book, silly. 🙂 It occurred to me that I should get a tattoo of Tabs.

Don’t ask me why, because the book doesn’t have anything to do with cats, tattoos or cat tattoos, but since Tabs is my kitty BFF, and he comforts me whenever I get scared (like when I’m reading a Stephen King book), it makes a kind of weird sense.

I don’t have any tattoos right now, but most of my friends have ‘em. My brother’s covered in tats, but I haven’t gotten any mostly because 1) I’m not into pain, and 2) I’ve never really liked anything enough to permanently inscribe it on my body.

Except for Tabs (and maybe El Hub, but that’s just too cliche, LOL!).

I’m still mulling over the idea, and it’s not official yet. Knowing me I’ll probably chicken out. El Hub’s totally against it. He’s afraid a cat tattoo would only serve as a gateway tat, but not necessarily into more tattoos; he’s afraid my level of crazy cat lady-ness would escalate, and I can’t argue with that logic. Read more…

THE MAC CHAM
PALE COLLECTION

I would like to propose a toast, friends — my very first serious toast ever — and I think there’s something fitting about it being dedicated to makeup. If you’ll bear with me for a moment, please raise your glass, be it filled with bubbly, wine, water, chai latte or anything else, to the MAC Cham Pale collection, one of the most inspiring neutral releases this lass has seen this year.

Launching right after Christmas (Dec. 26), the limited edition collection is a relatively small one for MAC, with just 26 pieces for the face, eyes, cheeks, lips, nails and skin in prices ranging from $14-36.

As much as I love neutral colors like gray, beige and and peach, collections dominated by them run the risk of venturing into snooze territory, especially when the finishes are mostly matte. They may be practical as all getout, but matte beige and gray don’t exactly set the world on fire, ya know? Read more…

THE MAC STYLISHLY
YOURS COLLECTION

You don’t have to be a crazy cat lady (or a rotund tabby cat with a low-hanging belly) to appreciate a strong cat eye liner look with bold lips. It’s an enduring, timeless combination that looks great on almost everyone.

The new 19-piece MAC Stylishly Yours collection, a limited edition release for eyes, lips and face (pieces $14-22 each), embodies this tried-and-true classic in a modernized, 21st century way.

The collection purrs onto MAC counters, stores and maccosmetics.com on December 26 and stays put through January 11, 2011. Tabs, being the ho for brights that he is, can’t wait.

With Stylishly Yours, MAC offers fans fun, fast ways to give makeup looks a shot of dramatic color (without having to think too hard). Eyes in the look are kept simple, clean, and simultaneously dramatic with matte black and burgundy gel liner and mascara. Bright coral, pink, magenta, red and violet leap onto lips and cheeks in lipsticks, cream blushes (they double as lip colors, too!) and loose pigments with creamy and shimmery finishes. But that’s not all — two pink pressed highlighting powders imbue faces with a lovely soft sheen. Read more…

CHANEL BLACK PEARL
PEARL DROP AND PECHE NACREE NAIL POLISHES

Merry Christmas Eve-Eve! Christmas came early! I braved the mall today to peep the new Les Perles de Chanel spring collection up close and personal. Yup, to say “the mall was crowded” would be like saying “I like Chanel.” Duh.

I think the last time I was at a mall two days before Christmas was when my friend Jen and I both worked together at The Limited in 1994 (I hawked a lot of ugly purse wallets, yo). Ah, memories…

I couldn’t wait to see the three new limited edition Le Vernis Nail Colours — Black Pearl, Pearl Drop and Peche Nacree ($23 each). There’s been some serious brouhaha about ‘em, especially Black Pearl (is that Jack Sparrow?!), which has been hyped as Chanel’s next big thing.

Take a look, and let me know if you think they’re worthy of the buzz. 🙂 Read more…

CHANEL EXTRAIT DE
GLOSS IN GENIE

A few days ago I made a wish, and this week it came true. I wished for a new purse gloss, and it appears a genie was listening.

What’s a purse gloss, you ask? It’s a gloss that’s worthy of permanent residence in your purse. You keep it close for touch-ups and other beauty emergencies…like when you randomly run into your ex and his new lady love at the mall (she’s cute, but you’re cuter), or when a TV crew asks you for an impromptu sidewalk interview about hot dog street vendors (yep, that really happened).

With a tube of Chanel Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss in Genie ($32) in your purse, you’ll be tough to catch off guard. One of two Rouge Allure glosses in Chanel’s limited edition Le Perles de Chanel collection for spring 2011, it’s a shiny but wearable coral with golden micro glitter and comes in Chanel’s trademark Extrait de Gloss formula. Non-sticky, luscious, hydrating, and lacking any potentially bothersome scents or flavors, it’s ready for drama AND flexibility. With a four-hour wear time, it’s also designed to laaaast. Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Rise and shine, morning glory. How did you sleep? Pretty well, I hope. I’m still waking up, but this Starbucks chai latte is helping.

Are you done with your Christmas shopping yet? I got a couple things online yesterday (can’t mention them now because the walls have ears/eyes), but I still have to brave the mall at some point today… Traffic’s bad, but I’ll use my rapier wit to hack through the capitalist hordes, grah! 🙂

But before that, I like to start Sunday mornings with 100mg of caffeine a look at some of the things we talked about earlier in the week. Sonia and Coco kicked hella @ss.

If you’ll be doing any driving today, please be careful out there. I’m serious, it’s a yuletide zoo.

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

SONIA KASHUK’S
REACH FOR THE STARS NAIL TRIO

When the goin’ gets tough, the tough paint their nails! Okay, so maybe that’s not exactly how the saying goes, but you know what I mean…

And when a nail polish goes on with near perfect application, like the pretty polishes in the Sonia Kashuk Reach for the Stars Nail Trio ($10), well, ain’t nothin’ gonna break my stride.

The limited edition holiday set comes packed to the gills with glitter in three full-size bottles — a warm peachy gold (looks like a sunset!), a gunmetal gray and a magenta. Sonia filled all three with pounds of pigment and sparkle to spare.

Where’s the party at?! I ask because these festive shades hit all the right notes, but the formula’s what elevates these polishes from good to great. The smooth, thin texture goes on without any streaks (reminds me of OPI’s texture), and because they’re so pigmented, the color is easy to build up with layers. Last week I painted my toes with the gunmetal gray, and it was one of the fastest and easiest at-home pedicures I’ve given myself in ages. Just two coats produced a solid, opaque layer of color. Heck, I probably could have gotten away with one layer if I’d been in hurry. Read more…

CHANEL LES PERLES
DE CHANEL FOR SPRING 2011

Don your best tweed jacket and pearls, ma chérie (and dab No. 5 on your pulse points), because it’s time to say bonsoir to the new Chanel Les Perles de Chanel makeup collection.

There’s plenty of photographic evidence that proves our girl Coco wore a lot of pearls. In point of fact, she practically dripped in them because she believed their delicate glow enhanced a woman’s natural beauty.

Her heirs apparent at Chateau Chanel must agree. Remembering how much Coco loved pearls, they created the Les Perles collection for spring 2011, with its preponderance of pearly finishes destined to impart natural-looking luminosity to cheeks, eyes, lips and nails.

Since he joined the team — nay, the movement! — Chanel Global Creative Director Peter Philips has done a fantastic job (in my opinion) keeping Gabby’s spirit and her iconic style alive, and, with Les Perles de Chanel (just look at those shades of black, gray and white!), he’s done it again.

Les Perles is coming next month to Chanel counters but is available now on chanel.com.

Here’s a brief look at a few items from the collection, with more to follow over the coming days. 🙂

Joues Contraste Powder Blush in Espiegle ($42) — A warm peachy pink blush with a subtle golden sheen. It reminds me a little of NARS Orgasm in the pan but applies lighter, with a less frosty finish, and it gives my cheeks a soft, candlelit glow. Read more…

MASCARA MAGIC 101
HOW TO GET THE MOST FROM YOUR MASCARA

It’s 6:30 in the morning. You just barely saved your white blouse from a nice warm coffee demise, and all you’ve left to do is throw on some mascara. Do you…

A. Close your eyes, wiggle the wand randomly in the vicinity of your lashes, and hope for the best?

B. Look straight into the mirror, and take a few seconds slowly sweeping the bristled brush from base to tip, possibly allowing time for a second coat?

C. Stop, take a deep breath, and with your disposable sponge, gently lift your eyelid while you wiggle your brush at the roots, sweeping them quickly outward and upward, turning the brush vertically to add a bit of length at the corner, and wiggling it over the lower lashes?

Hopefully, you picked (C), as you may have guessed that in this case, the most complicated answer is the right one. Read more…

MAKE UP FOR EVER
ROUGE ARTIST INTENSE LIPSTICKS

Stand tall, my little lipstick soldiers! Paint the clouds with your awesomeness, and shower your pretty pigments down upon the planet like makeup Skittles!

I’ve been meaning to swatch the 10 Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Intense Lipsticks ($19) I received for placing in the Rouge Artist Contest, but I just keep chickening out, unable to bear the thought of disturbing them in their perfect little tubes.

And then it started raining here yesterday. And raining. And raining. And I thought, “Hmm… I remember those Rouge Artist Intense Lipsticks being awfully pretty and colorful.”

I’m kinda glad I waited to swatch these, because with all the rain today today I really needed a pick-me-up.

Available in a monstrously huge selection of 50 unscented, unflavored colors in matte, pearl and satin finishes, the pigmented, full-coverage Rouge Artist Intense Lipsticks are designed to drench puckers in pure, unadulterated color — opaque after just one swipe. They joined the Make Up For Ever permanent line last fall. Read more…

SONIA KASHUK
WHAT GLITTERS GLOWS PALETTE

OMG! Have you heard about the party at Target?! Well, not at Target. It’s more inside Target, down by the cosmetics aisle, right in front of the Sonia Kashuk display.

Just look for the disco ball…packaging for Sonia’s limited edition What Glitters Glows Eye Palette ($15).

If it looks familiar… If it looks familiar (déjà vu!), you may be recalling last year’s Starry Eyes Palette, which also had big pans of shadow like these and came in similar packaging. Oh, and it had the same price ($15).

For this palette, Sonia swapped out the three cool-toned, smooth and pigmented mattes from Starry Eyes with three dynamic, neutral-toned shadows with a fascinating combination of matte/glitter finish.

I can’t believe the gray, black and brown shadows in the bottom row are available at Target, because they seem like higher end department store material to me. They come in a matte base that’s pigmented, yet still soft and easy to blend, and they’re infused with subtle flecks of sophisticated black-tie glitter (as opposed to 1996 rave glitter), which reminds me: did you ever dance with a glow stick at a rave? Yup, good times… Read more…

THE SONIA KASHUK
FACING STARDOM PALETTE

The limited edition Sonia Kashuk Facing Stardom Face Palette ($19.99) is like a spontaneous red carpet moment. One second I’m sitting at my desk in black stretchy pants (you know, the ones with the hole in the butt?), but the second that first swipe of smokey eye and rosy cheek/lip makeup dances onto my face, BAM! I’m strutting my stuff at a Hollywood premiere, waiting for Ryan Reynolds to introduce me as “his close friend, confidante and shoulder to cry on” to the paparazzi.

Looking like a star with this 12-piece holiday palette, which includes two powder eyeliners, six eyeshadows, two lipglosses and two cream blushes, doesn’t require an actual acting career. All you need are brushes and your imagination.

Eyeliners: The matte powder eyeliners can be worn wet or dry along the lash and/or waterlines. They have a little fallout when applied dry, so I keep makeup wipes on standby just in case I need to clean up.

Eyeshadows: Cool-toned and smokey is the name of the game. The glitter shadows (a glittery gray, taupe and purplish taupe) are more pigmented than the ones in the What Glitters Glows Palette, which is a big plus. The three mattes (a gray, purplish taupe and taupe) apply sheer and blend with ease. Read more…

YES TO CUCUMBERS
COLOR CONDITIONER

Tabs has really been riding me lately to find a good cruelty-free drugstore conditioner. He even threatened to swipe my ankles if I didn’t produce something this week worthy of sharing on the blog. I focussed the search on volumizing products designed to cut down on frizz, since those are both hair issues of mine, and I think I may have found something to save my ankles from Tabs. They call it Yes to Cucumbers Color Care Conditioner ($9).

With a mild cucumber scent, this lightweight, moisturizing conditioner is marketed to gals with color-treated hair, which I have, but I’m so impressed by it that I’d wager it would also do wonders for other types of hair (particularly fine, limp hair because it is quite volumizing).

Not only is it cruelty free, but it’s also made from 99.6% natural ingredients, including minerals harvested from the Dead Sea, organic cucumbers, centaurea extract (an extract from a flower that’s supposed to help prevent brassiness) and green tea. Most of the ingredients are also plant extracts, way up on list, and there’s no mention of silicones among the ingredients at all. Read more…

NYX TANGO
BRONZING POWDER

When Tabs was on safari in Tanzania earlier this year, he met a serval who told him the tale of a leopard named Nix (pronounced NYX), who spent every day sunning himself way up high in the branches of a big acacia tree.

Later, when he got back home to Novato, Tabs took the story and turned it into his first book, titled “When Leopard Gets a Tan.”

And that’s where NYX got the idea for Tango With Bronzing Powder in When Leopard Gets a Tan. 🙂

Okay, okay, that’s not true at all. But it sure would have made a great story, right?

When Leopard Gets a tan, one of the new NYX bronzers for fall, reminded me of Too Faced Pink Leopard from the pan, but once applied the color’s more bronzy, less peach and less shimmery — a soft sheen as opposed to Pink Leopard’s frost. Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Rise and shine, morning glory. It’s a beautifully foggy here day in Novato, haaaaay!

So what happened last night? Did you party like a rock star or become one with the couch at home like an overworked student/cog in a wheel? I did the later (watched a couple missed episodes of 30 Rock on my laptop in bed), but Tabs and I DID get a Christmas tree before I conked out. 🙂 A small 4 footer. We haven’t decorated it yet, so it’s just sitting in the stand filled with water, and so far, Tabs has partaken of more of the water than the tree has. I’m not sure if that’s a good idea…

Oh, what was the highlight of your week from a beauty perspective? The very best thing that happened? Was it a new product discovery, a sale on something you love, a fantastic hair/skin/makeup day? Mine was going to the hair salon, because I like how it turned out. And I always learn something new from the stylists (this time, Kerastase hair oil is great, but Orofluido is also great, and cheaper).

Before this week becomes yet another fond (hopefully) memory, here’s a brief look back at some of the things we talked about on the blog…

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

$8 NYX EYE & LIP
MAKEUP REMOVER

Um, why do I feel like rubbing orange slices all over myself? Oh, yeah — I remember. NYX Eye & Lip Makeup Remover ($8), one of the best smelling makeup removers I’ve EVER sniffed.

Fo’ reals! This dual-phase liquid (an oil and water emulsion; it turns a pale blue when shaken) smells fresh and sweet like a yummy (blue?) orange, and it digests le war paint almost as well as the much more expensive Lancome Bi-Facil, also a dual-phase formula.

They say the nose knows. Well, mine stopped paying attention as soon as it caught a whiff of this fragrant potion of orange and papaya extracts. As a matter of fact, I like the smell so much that I’m willing to overlook its few shortcomings, one of which has to do with mascara. It’s not that good at removing it as Bi-Facil (or any number of other eye makeup removers), but nothing’s perfect, right? Except perhaps the way NYX Eye & Lip Makeup Remover smells, LOL! Read more…

URBAN DECAY GREED
PRIMER POTION

Blending powder, cream and pencil eyeshadows on top of the new Urban Decay Greed Eyeshadow Primer Potion ($18) might not be as effortless as it is to blend shadows on top of NARS Pro Prime, arguably one of the best eye primers on the market, but there are times (like these) when beauty trumps ease of use. The newest shade in Urban Decay’s Eyeshadow Primer Potion Line and the most glittery one yet, its striking shimmery gold intensifies eye looks with a long-lasting, water-resistant formula that helps it make up for sub-par blending.

My non-scientific tests involved a swipe on the back of my hand (it lasted through four vigorous washings and only came off with an oil-based makeup remover) and a late night out with the girls (dinner, drinks and then four solid hours of dancing). Greed withstood everything with nary a crease and no fading at all.

Girls who go ga-ga for golden glam looks might love Greed’s flexibility. Not only does it amplify the wear time and vibrancy of shadows when worn beneath them, but I think it even looks great all by itself.

Or how about supersizing your eyes? Use Greed’s light-reflecting golden metallic color to create an eye-widening effect. Pat and blend it into the inner V (the area next to the tear ducts) to cancel out any darkness from the eye and nose area. Then, dab a little under the brow bone to give your eyebrows a lift. Read more…

URBAN DECAY 24/7
GLIDE-ON LIP PENCILS

So who’s ready to go nude with me? Wait — button up those skinny jeans, ya perverts (although I applaud you for your willingness to let it all hang out!); I’m talking about the two newest additions to the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil line ($18 each).

Waterproof, with a matte finish and a creamy texture that’s smoother than my favorite werewolf’s chest, rosy nude Illegal and plummy nude Midnight Cowboy live up to the long-lasting standard set by UD’s pencil liners, staying put for about six to eight hours on my lips.

This morning I slipped into Illegal, and two big @ss bottles of water, a chai tea latte and a bowl of pumpkin soup later it still looked (almost) as good as new.

These also don’t leave my lips flaky or dry like some of the other matte lip liners I’ve tried, perhaps due to the jojoba oil and vitamin E they contain.

Mostly I’ve worn them by themselves — just line, fill and go — but you could easily spruce ‘em up by adding your favorite clear or nude gloss on top. Read more…

5 EASY STEPS TO
AN EVEN SKIN TONE

Oh, to have perfect skin again… Wait, I’ve never had perfect skin. I’ve always wished I could just peel my head off the pillow in the morning, splash a little water on my face, tie my hair back into a ponytail and face the day with clear skin, bright eyes, my chubby cat and a smile.

I can handle the smile part by myself, but I need feline cooperation and makeup assistance for everything else.

Luckily, great looking natural skin tone doesn’t require hundreds of layers of foundation and every minute you can spare. Follow these five easy steps to an even skin tone.

1. Get Wet — Moisten a makeup sponge with water or a multi-purpose spray like MAC Fix+ ($19). It’ll thin out the liquid foundation we’re about to use it with and help it adhere evenly to your skin. Read more…

MAKEUP
FOR MEN

Yes.

Recently, I’ve turned three of my good friends, all male, onto makeup. Now, not full-on, dare-I-say, girly makeup, but simple, natural, corrective aesthetic enhancements.

Makeup has done more for my self-confidence than any amount of plastic-surgery, psychology, and good friends who lie really well could ever do. I don’t use it to change anything about myself, but to “correct” minor tarnishes to my ego — blemishes, spots, and the dreaded dark under-eye circles. Since converting them to my faith, these male friends have all thanked me profusely, saying they’ve gotten more attention from girls and just feel better about themselves around other people.

Mind you, these weren’t easy converts — I had to drag them kicking and screaming into Sephora and plunk them down in front of the Make Up For Ever aisle while I shopped for them before I got even a smidgen of cooperation — but you should see ‘em now!

Hooked.

Most men could benefit from three things: foundation, concealer, and blush or bronzer (depending on their skintone). I’ve found that Make Up For Ever is a great brand to get ‘em started on, as the packaging is relatively indiscrete, the products are easy to use and relatively foolproof (even the foundation), and the display is far from daunting. Read more…

BENEFIT BELLA
BAMBA FACE POWDER

Bus riding babes and y’all on-the-go lovelies, feast your eyes on this: the new Benefit Bella Bamba Face Powder ($28) promises to change the face of quick touchups this spring.

You know how Benefit’s boxed blushes have that unattached lid (see: Sugarbomb and Coralista)? Well, as much as I love the colors, I’m always afraid they’ll open in my bag. Once, while I was applying blush on the train to work, one of the lids got away from me and shot straight up in the air, OOPS! Luckily it landed in a cute boy’s lap, but I digress…

Bella Bamba comes with new improved flip-top cap that uses a magnet to stay shut. And that’s not all. It even has a mirror inside, so you can stare at your sassy self while you’re sweeping on this shimmery golden pink.

Benefit calls Bella Bamba a 3D, multi-dimensional pink face powder (what is this, Tron? LOL!), and it’s designed to brighten, sculpt and define.

I don’t know much about 3D, but I do like using this as a blush.

It applies as a neutral watermelon pink (even smells like watermelon, too!) with a generous amount of golden pearl. Sparkle-shy gals might want to go easy on the application here, because it is very, VERY shimmery. Read more…

URBAN DECAY 24/7 GLIDE-ON
EYE PENCIL 15-YEAR ANNIVERSARY SET

Girl, Urban Decay knows how to throw a party. They do it by releasing great stuff! Great stuff like the 15-Year Anniversary 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil Set ($92; 15 pigmented pencils; 15 heart palpitations, oy vey!).

Many makeup mavens consider these pigmented, long-wearing eyeliners, which also happen to be smoother than silk, some of the best and brightest in the biz, and seeing so many of them together in the same place is enough to drive me to drink…bourbon (my favorite one).

With the set, a limited edition release for spring, you get nine classic 24/7 colors in Baked, Binge, Bourbon, Electric, Mildew, Ransom, Rockstar, Stash and Zero, and six brand new shades — Asphyxia, Corrupt, Midnight Cow, Perversion, Stray Dog and Uzi. Purchased individually, the whole kit ‘n kaboodle would set you back a painful $255 (they’re regularly $17 apiece), but here they work out to just $6 each. Read more…

JK JEMMA KIDD
CATWALK I-KIT

Like the Dom Pérignon of drugstore makeup palettes, the $26 JK Jemma Kidd Catwalk I-Kit will set your holiday budget back, but you may not mind if you’re a lover of sheer shadows and/or the classic neutral colors across the way at MAC.

The kit comes with a single creamy eye primer, a pair of dual-tipped mini-brushes and eight shadows (two of them, the highlight shadows, share a single large pan), quite a few of which look like sheerer versions of staple MAC neutrals to me.

At least they picked great products to use for inspiration, right? 🙂

Shimmery taupe Editor reminds me of MAC Satin Taupe, shimmery golden beige Vintage of MAC All That Glitters and matte brown Vanity Fair reminds me of MAC Cork. Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Rise and shine, morning glory! Breakfast is served. 🙂 Come grab a seat at the table. There’s plenty to go around. We’re having Spam and rice with a fresh cut papaya and King’s Hawaiian Sweet Bread. So ono!

Howzit going this morning? What are you up to today? I’m just getting up now so everything’s still a little blurry (OOPS! Sorry Tabs. Mommy didn’t mean to step on your tail). I didn’t get in until 3 this morning because I met some friends for dancing in the city last night, and now I’m paying the price.

I seem to remember the process of extricating myself from bed after staying up late being a bit easier in prior decades, LOL! Oh, well… C’est la vie.

No big plans on my end for today. I would love to catch a movie, maybe Black Swan, Tangled or Unstoppable. Have you seen any of them yet?

Oh, what do you think about the guest posts that have been running here on the blog lately? Pretty great, right? I still can’t believe that Sam is only 17. What the hell’s up with that?!? I don’t remember being that together when I was 17… I just hope that when he makes it big he remembers his Aunty Karen, ha!

And guest blogger Olga is one of the best photographers I’ve come across in a while. I love how she uses textured fabrics in some of her product shot backgrounds. It takes everything up a notch, and she’s not afraid to put herself out there in closeups if it means helping you make more informed product decisions.

My girl Audrey — you remember her post from Friday that took us behind the scenes at a fashion shoot — isn’t just a successful freelance makeup artist here in the Bay Area. She’s also one of the friendliest people I know. I hope to hook up with her for lunch (and makeup recon) one of these days soon.

If you haven’t stopped by in a while, I encourage you to scan through the recent guest posts before you leave. You’re sure to find a new makeup tip or two.

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

6 FAST FIXES
FOR MAKEUP BOO BOOS

Do you ever have those “Doh!” moments when it comes to makeup? Those little hiccups from time to time? I sure do. Here are six that I encounter with some simple solutions for each.

Boo Boo #1: Glitter Fallout — I recently busted out my Urban Decay Naked palette and was in the process of applying the Sidecar shade across my lids when I saw them: tiny flecks of glitter. Grrrr… That’s definitely one of my makeup pet peeves, and although I did my best to tap off any excess from the brush before applying, there were still tiny flecks of glitter all over my cheeks. Read more…

MAKEUP MATH
YOUR FACE IS A GRID

Think of your face as a grid.

Draw an imaginary line vertically down through the center of your nose, and a horizontal line going across the tip of said nose. The more something interacts with these lines, the more noticeable it is. Following this logic, a small pimple on the very center of the nose is going to attract more attention than a larger one near the jawline, and the same concept applies to makeup.

A grid can help us figure out where to focus our efforts. Should we spend more product and effort covering up that blemish near our cheekbone (bingo!), or that one near our hairline? Or should we aim that concealer brush at that red mark on the center of our chin, or the port-wine stain near our earlobe?

But maybe concealing isn’t your problem. Maybe you want to enhance your bone structure instead. Read more…

URBAN DECAY SPRING 2011
24/7 GLIDE-ON SHADOW PENCILS

The new Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Shadow Pencils ($20) are the jam, but if you’re gonna do any blending you’ve gotta work hella fast.

“Run, Forest, run!”

New for spring 2011, these 12 creamy shadows in a stick are spin-offs of Urban Decay’s famed 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils. They’re just as smudge- and crease-proof as the originals with the same smoooove texture.

For all my ladies in the sisterhood of the perpetually 15 minutes late, the 24/7 Shadow Pencils should do you right, especially if you love wearing lid looks with a single shadow. One swipe draws solid, shimmery color — it’s like instant eyeshadow gratification in a stick. Read more…

A LOOK AT 3 FUSION BEAUTY
LIP PLUMPERS

Many beauty brands carry one lip plumper, if any, but not Fusion Beauty. Known for “fusing beauty with science” and their “tested on scientists, not animals” motto, the company carries many plumping lip products, like the three I recently got the chance to test thanks to a Sephora 500 point perk.

No. 1: LipFusion XL — Also known as 2x Micro Collagen + HA Advanced Lip Plump, XL is advertized as “a spearmint-flavored nighttime lip plumping therapy.” Despite the way they promote its use, my lips look their plumpy best within the first few hours of application (although the effect does last longer than that). This lip plump feels cool and tingly on my lips but doesn’t hurt like some of the other plumpers I’ve tried. If your lips are very sensitive, I recommend the less tingly LipFusion Infatuation (below), but overall LipFusion XL is the most effective lip plumper I have ever used. It’s clear and works equally well alone or over a lipstick or another gloss. It’s also hydrating and long lasting.

So what’s not to love? How about the price. I don’t see myself paying $50 for the full-size product any time soon, although it would make a great Christmas gift (wink-wink!). Read more…

THE ESSIE WINTER 2010
NAIL POLISHES

De ja vu — the feeling you are doing something you’ve done before.

De ja vu — the feeling you are doing something you’ve done before.

De ja vu — the feeling you are doing something you’ve done before.

De ja vu…

I started feeling kinda funny when I was swatching the new Essie Winter Collection, and I’m pretty sure it’s not because of jet lag (I’m back in the Bay, by the way… haha, I just made a rhyme).

About halfway through I figured out why the de ja vu had set in; the limited edition collection ($8 per bottle or $48 for a boxed set of six) kinda looks a little like their last one. Read more…

BALM HAWAII
PINEAPPLE LIP BALM

Yes, I made it out of the Land of Aloha with more than handmade, cold process soap! For starters, I brought home a bag of red coconut ball candy…

They look kinda scary, but trust me — these are great (if you like coconut). One could easily devour a bag in a single sitting. Um, not that I’d know.

Besides crazy technicolor sweets, I also brought home a tube of Pineapple Lip Balm ($3) from a local company called Hawaiian Bath & Body.

They’re a natural bath and body company from Oahu’s North Shore with an extensive product line of lip balms, handmade soaps (surprise!), bath salts, body washes, body mists, body oils, lotions and scrubs.

Pinapple’s one of six balms in Hawaiian Bath & Body’s Lip Balm line (there’s also Coconut, Sugar Cane, Ocean Mint and unscented Kukui Nut). Its light pineapple taste and scent are downright yummy, and the balm’s soft texture glides easily onto my lips.

To top it all off, it’s moisturizing as all heck! I wore it on the plane ride home yesterday (damn that dry, recycled air!) and my lips stayed hydrated the entire time. Read more…

5 WAYS TO BEAUTIFULLY
TRANSITION INTO WINTER

As the weather gets colder and that rosy glow pops into your cheeks every time you step outdoors, your beauty routine needs to follow suit. This winter has its own set of trends, as well as some general guidelines to help you switch from your fall face to a chillier complexion.

No. 1: Layering — And not just your sweaters. In winter, it really helps to layer your skincare and makeup products to protect your skin and your hard work. In cold locales, where the weather leeches moisture from your skin, try layering a serum under a heavier lotion to really lock in that moisture. Read more…

A MAKEUP ARTIST’S TAKE
ON A MAGAZINE FASHION SHOOT

Have you ever been curious about what goes on behind the scenes at a fashion shoot? Well you’re about to find out! I recently had the honor to be the makeup artist for the winter issue of Scene Magazine, a women’s style magazine based in northern California, and I’m going to take you behind the closed doors to get a peek on all the fun that was had!

The day started at 9AM where the hair and makeup team immediately got started on beautifying our two lovely models, Brooke and Gina, from Ford Models. Meanwhile, our talented photographer got to work on setting up the lights in the studio while the stylists were in a separate room getting all the looks together.

Before I went to work, I made sure to discuss the desired makeup look, a bold smoky eye, with the editor-in-chief, Katharine Fong, and the contributing fashion and beauty editor, Donna Kato. I also ran over to the styling room to see what ensembles the models would be wearing so I could have a complete vision of the entire look. Once I had that, I was ready to go! I did Gina’s makeup while the two hairstylists, Karie and Shayne from Aveda at Santana Row, styled Brooke’s hair and then we switched models. It probably took about an hour and a half to get them ready. Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

It’s a stormy day here in Kaneohe (pronounced khan-ay-oh-hey), but no one told the birds clamoring up a storm outside. Strangely, the neighborhood chickens have been relatively quiet this morning. I guess they don’t go in for singing in the rain like the other birds do.

Waking up to the pouring rain and birds singing outside are some of my favorite things about staying here at my in-laws’. Both are daily occurrences here in the jungle and make the giant mosquitos that much easier to bear.

Here’s what it sounds like during a break in the storm…

I really appreciate the extra guest posts submitted by Sam, Olga, Audrey and everyone else lately. Haven’t they been great? Seriously, this week I learned a new technique for matching my foundation, read some good ideas for ways to store my fragrances at home, found out about the Sally Beauty earth tone shadows, found out about a few interesting makeup sets recommended by a talented makeup artist and bunch of other cool stuff too.

I think the guest posts have been so great, in fact, that I’ve taken a little extra time for myself and my family on this trip, spending less time on the computer than I usually do. Once I got past the first few painful days of Internet withdrawal (I had the shakes real bad, LOL!), it got a lot easier.

How are things in your end of the jungle? Any peacock sightings or awesome new makeup to report?

A big congrats to Nancy for winning the bedazzled iPod Touch giveaway this week, and a thank you to Visine for sponsoring the prize. Stay tuned for more giveaways over the coming days, and be sure to enter any ongoing ones if you haven’t already. Good luck! 🙂

• Two Ways to Win a MAC Tartan Tale A Lady & Her Tricks Buff & Line Brush Collection Set
• Comment to Win a New Windows Phone 7, and Do More with Less

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

YES TO CUCUMBERS
FACIAL TOWELETTES

I experienced what can only be described as a euphoric scent-sory experience the other day with a Yes to Cucumbers Facial Towelette ($6 for a pack of 30). El Hub walked in on me while I was holding one of them up to my nose and breathing deeply (smells like those cucumber water drinks you get at a fancy shamncy spas). I must have looked like Gollum from Middle Earth, cradling my little precious…

These softer-than-soft wipes are the latest additions to the Yes To ______ line of organic eco-friendly skin and hair products.

I think the company’s pretty cool, especially when they release something I really like.

The biodegradable cloths say “yes to” removing face and eye makeup without the need for water, but with the help of skin softening cucumber, aloe vera and exfoliating minerals collected from the Dead Sea. Read more…

A $10 MAKEUP LOOK
TAUPE, BROWN & VIOLET EYES

How low can you go? (Sing it!) How lo-oh can you go? Okay, so I had a lot of fun last week trying to put together a makeup look for less than $10, and I think I did an okay job. The whole shebang came to a whopping $9.85, but I think I can do better.

I gave it another go, this time shooting for something 1) cheaper and 2) more dramatic. I paired smokey taupe/brown/violet eyes with lilac lips. Again, the products are all from N.Y.C New York Color because, obvs, they’re really inexpensive, cruelty-free, and altogether not half bad.

Since the eyes AND lips are pretty colorful in this look, I kept the cheeks bare (don’t want to overwhelm passers by, LOL!), but a nice blush probably wouldn’t have hurt.

If you decide to give something like this a try but feel that the lilac lips are way too much, you could swap ‘em out for something a little quieter, like perhaps a light peach gloss (maybe the $6 Sally Hansen Diamond 12-Hour Lip Treatment in Flawless?).

First, the eyes. Start by applying N.Y.C. New York Color Brow/Eye Liner Pencil in Jet Black ($1.14) on the lids and the crease as an eyeshadow base. Use a finger or a brush to smooth out the edges before patting the shimmery mauve eyeshadow from the Metro Quartet Eye Shadow in Chelsea Chic ($3.99) on the lid. Read more…

THE CLINIQUE
REDNESS SOLUTIONS LINE

Having suffered from mild rosacea for a few years, I am always on the lookout for products to conceal the redness on my face without making it look like it has been dipped in pancake mix. This time that search led me to two makeup products from the Redness Solutions line by Clinique: the Targeted Corrector and the Instant Relief Mineral Powder.

Despite the way these two are advertized (helps skin “keep its cool” and reduces redness on contact) they do not reduce redness (at least, not on my skin); they merely conceal it. Good enough for me, so let’s get on with the review.

This is a yellow concealer pen with a thick, pasty consistency. It’s pretty dry, so I would avoid using it on the undereye area (luckily, this is the only part of my face that never gets red and bumpy like the rest!). The best part about this corrector is the great coverage it provides — I have tried it both with and without foundation, and the redness was covered up pretty much completely in both cases. Read more…

THREE FUN MAKEUP
SETS FOR CHRISTMAS

I have such a weakness for makeup sets. They usually suck me in with cute packaging and then seal the deal by offering a good price.

During a recent visit to Sephora (ahem, purely for educational purposes), I discovered a bunch of fun makeup sets that tickled my fancy. Did I need any of them? No. But did I want them? Of course! And guess what? It’s that perfect time of year for frivolous expenses!

To help you write your letter to Santa (or be a gift-giving Santa yourself!), here are my top three favorite makeup kits this holiday season: Read more…

THE SALLY GIRL
EYE SHADOW CONNECTING COMPACTS – THE EARTH TONES

With the nude face being one of Fall 2010’s hottest trends, it would be easy for you to just turn to your favorite shimmery champagne shadow, swipe a bit over your lid, and run out of the house. Skin glowing and cheeks instantly tinted red by the late-autumn chill, you’re the image of ultimate chic. But if you feel the look is too plain — too bare — and you’re tempted to reach for that black liquid liner and slap on a thick cat eye, why not turn to your earth tones instead?

On one of my monthly trips to Sally’s a while back, I had just finished my hair product shopping and was waiting for my father to pick me up. Having already examined the aisles twice (I’m always convinced I’ve missed some new, revolutionary product that’s been quietly tucked in between the Cholesterol Masques and the clarifying shampoo), the only display left was the makeup.

I’ll admit it. I’m a makeup snob. Seeing price tags of $5.99, $2.99, and, it pains me to say, $0.99, I was more than skeptical of these modestly packaged beauty items. I reluctantly bowed my head down towards the bare-bones rack. Read more…

THE JOUER TRAIN CASE
MAKEUP ESSENTIALS KIT

Can’t get enough of NARS Orgasm? Do MAC Nymphette Lipglass and Power Surge Eye Kohl give you heart palpitations? If so, you may suffer from warm shade lust-alaria.

Don’t worry. It’s a treatable, albeit sometimes expensive condition, and one possible cure could be the new Jouer Train Case Makeup Essentials Kit ($200).

Jouer, an indie makeup line known for natural colors and their chic girl-about-town packaging, leans more toward the Clinique/Bobbi Brown end of the spectrum than the MAC/Illamasqua side, and it’s a very pretty place to be.

This adorable pink zip-up train case comes with makeup for your eyes, lips and cheeks, and a mini- blush brush.

In addition to the case and the brush you get Powder Eyeshadow in Caramel (a shimmery warm peachy gold), Eye Definer in Chocolat (a shimmery golden bronz), Powder Blush in Rose (a matte warm pink), Highlighter in Champagne (a shimmery peachy gold), Lipstick in Kiki (a shimmery peachy pink), Lipgloss in Glisten (a sheer, shimmery light peach with multi-colored glitter), Lip Definer in Rose Pale (a matte peachy pink)… Read more…

CHANTECAILLE LIP CHIC
IN TEA ROSE

Before you write off Chantecaille Lip Chic in Tea Rose because of its $30 price tag, take a moment to scroll…down.

Okay, yes, it’s very expensive, and, yes, the whole gloss/lipstick hybrid thing’s been totally done to death (see: Jemma Kidd Hi-Shine Glossticks, Avon Glazewears, MAC Slimshines, the Prescriptives LipShines, etc.), but OH, NELLY! It sure feels great on my cold-burned lips.

Tea Rose is one of 14 permanent shades in Chantecaille’s Lip Chics line of lipsticks designed to smooth, firm and plump puckers.

This shimmery rose has just a hint of red and buildable light-to-medium coverage with a shiny finish. Read more…

WHERE SHOULD YOU
MATCH YOUR FOUNDATION?

Ah, the age-old question: “Do I match my foundation to my neck, my jawline, my inner wrist, my…” Ok, stop right there.

There are many reasons why all of the above are less than ideal, so let’s go through some of them before we explore an even better way to match.

If you match to your…

Neck — Because of the shadow your face casts down upon your neck, it only makes sense that your neck is going to be one of the palest parts of your skin. It receives the least amount of sun, and contains much lower levels of pigment than many other parts of your skin. Match your foundation to your neck, and you run the risk of a washed-out, sickly looking face. Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Rise and shine, morning glory. That’s what my mother-in-law says to gently nudge people up in the morning. She quietly whispers, “rise and shine, morning glory.” It’s definitely a kinder sound to get up to than a bleeping alarm clock, am I right?

Other than continuing to get ready for our trip to Hawaii this week, I don’t have a lot planned for today, but it would be nice to go for a walk.

What’s shakin’ out yonder way, and how was your week? Did you get any good makeup or beauty stuff or learn something new? Let’s see… I asked a friend to bring me back a bottle of Chanel polish in Riva from Las Vegas, where she saw it on a family trip. Getting Riva was probably the beauty highlight of my week.

No, not probably — it WAS the beauty highlight of my week. 🙂

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

CHANEL RIVA
LE VERNIS NAIL COLOUR

Um, can you say swoon? I’ve been dying — DYING! — to see the new Chanel Nail Lacquer in Riva ($27) ever since it popped up on the runway at the Chanel Cruise fashion show last May. I’ve lusted over Riva more than I’ve lusted over the abs of the official “Sexiest Man Alive,” aka Ryan Reynolds. Needless to say, that’s, um, a lot of lust.

The limited edition shade just launched online and in select Chanel stores as part of the five-piece Chanel Cote D’Azur resort collection. Also included in the release are four Rouge Coco lipsticks in Sari Dore, Perle, Taffetas Rose and Chintz ($30 each). Read more…

$2 NYC ULTRA
LAST LIPSTICKS

I seriously cannot believe these NYC New York Color Ultra Last LipWear lipsticks are just $2. TWO DOLLARS!

Like Trader Joe’s Two-Buck Chuck, (I think) these are worth way more than their price implies. I’m talkin’ hidden drugstore gems.

I didn’t expect much from the three tubes I bought on a whim last weekend, but what a pleasant surprise. Opaque, pretty colors, a smooth texture, a hydrating formula and a high-shine finish? WOW!

Wear time’s been pretty good (about five hours), and they’ve been able to withstand gin-n-juice sips of water, but they don’t really tolerate meals.

Tabs gives ‘em two paws way up for being both drugstore AND cruelty-free, and I give them two thumbs up for not having an (ob)noxious taste or scent (I’m talking to YOU, NYX Beautiful).

To top it all off, they come in 20 shades! The perfectly named Berry Rich is my favorite of the three I got.

And it makes lips sing sonnets paired with purple eye looks. 🙂 Read more…

THE MUD
CARES PALETTE

Would you like to give a gift this year that really makes a difference in someone’s life? How about one that also happens to look as pretty as the new limited-edition MUD Cares Palette ($25)?

Every last cent (that’s 100%) from the sale of the new powder eyeshadow quad goes to the NextAid organization, a nonprofit assisting children in Africa who have been orphaned by AIDS.

Make-up Designory (MUD) stocked the palette with four warm, summery shades from their permanent line — Spanish Gold (a rich golden bronze), Dulce de Leche (an iridescent beige), Cashmere (a sparkling rosy beige) and Moss (a shimmery khaki green with golden undertones). Individually, the pans usually retail for $10 each, making $25 a great deal for the quad. Read more…

ULTRAFLESH
PANTHERA MASCARA

Take your seats, everyone, so we can call to order tonight’s meeting of the Feline Enthusiasts Club.

Okay, I won’t deny that the real reason I wanted to try the new Ultraflesh Panthera Mascara ($26) is because of tube. I don’t know if Ultraflesh designed it with cat ladies in mind, but it sure as heck worked on me.

The product is currently Ultraflesh’s (seriously, what’s up with that name?) one and only item, which I guess we could say recently “pounced” on the makeup scene, LOL! For now it’s available exclusively at Sephora. Read more…

CHANEL COTE D’AZUR
ROUGE COCO LIPSTICKS

I know it’s wrong and crazy, but it’s taking all of my willpower to resist painting Tabs’ claws with Chanel Riva Nail Colour.

And it’s a good thing cats don’t have lips…because if they did Tabs would already be wearing one of the four Rouge Coco Hydrating Lip Colours from the new Cote D’Azur Collection. 🙂

Despite the season, the small five-piece release (four lipsticks and the one polish) is actually a resort collection for Chanel, which explains why it feels so beachy and tropical.

Here are swatches of three of the four shades (I’m missing coral Sari Doré), Taffetas Rose (a shimmery magenta), Perle (a shimmery pinkish golden beige) and Chintz (a shimmery pinkish coral). All of them have the same smooth, moisturizing texture and plush pigments that define the Rouge Coco lipstick line. Read more…

MUD MAKE-UP DESIGNORY
ALL THAT SPARKLES HOLIDAY COLLECTION

Sometimes I don’t feel like going all out with my makeup. I don’t want to do anything with it — blend, shade, nada. I just want a look that’s simple and easy, and preferably still pretty.

That’s where the new MUD Make-Up Designory All That Sparkles Holiday Collection ($55) comes in.

MUD’s more than just a makeup line with cosmetics, tools and skin care in prices ranging from $10-30. It’s also a makeup school, which has been around for about 10 years, with branches in Los Angeles and New York.

So far I really like what I’ve seen from the brand. The sturdy, modern packaging isn’t fancy, but most of the colors are pretty suitable for everyday wear, unlike a lot of the really cra-zay-zay (but still very cool) colors over at Kryolan, another makeup school/line.

The limited edition All That Sparkles Holiday Collection, a set of products for eyes, lips and cheeks, comes in a palette of wearable pink, silver, violet, charcoal and beige that’s easy to dress up or dress down.

With the set, you also get a roomy, zip-up makeup bag. Read more…

$7 ALMAY INTENSE
I-COLOR TRIOS

Gosh, I haven’t worn any Almay makeup since — when was that? 1992?

I vaguely remember buying something from the line at a Thrifty’s where I cruised for makeup after school. There was something about the products looking kinda stiff and serious that I still remember today. It wasn’t the kind of makeup my friends and I were wearing to school. It was the stuff “grownups” were wearing to work in tall gray office buildings downtown.

But that was literally decades ago, and the line’s changed a lot over the past few years, becoming, dare I say, cooler. Or, maybe I’ve just gotten older, heh. 🙂

I like the new Almay’s easy, breezy vibe. Think Rite-Aid meets Trish McEvoy at the Bobbi Brown counter. It’s a “we take the guesswork out of it for ya!” approach to drugstore makeup, and apparently the line is also hypoallergenic and cruelty free, which Tabs describes as “hella dope” (his words). Read more…

BECCA BEACH TINT
HOLIDAY TRIO GIFT SET

Okay, so you know the Becca Beach Tints? Talk about makeup salvation for the lazy. They’re these multipurpose, oil-free, water-resistant creams for adding a hint of scented color to cheeks and lips. Not only are they easy to blend without streaks, but you can layer them beneath blushes, bronzers and lip gloss, too.

Tubes usually go for $25 a pop, but you can save a few bucks on them with the limited edition Becca Beach Tint Holiday Set ($63). It comes with three full-size Beach Tints in Watermelon (a pink from the permanent collection), Grapefruit (a coral from the permanent collection) and Apricot (a new limited edition peach).

And the scents are delicious! The Watermelon like watermelon, Grapefruit like grapefruit — you get the picture.

The Beach Tint Holiday Set’s expensive, but I could easily see these blushes becoming an every day staple because they’re so easy to apply and they stay on all day. If you’re the type of gal who’s always rushing out the door and you’re in the mood for a splurge, this could be the perfect excuse to treat yourself this holiday. Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Have you already planned out your Thanksgiving meal? If you still have room for another dish, there are dozens of delicious-sounding recipes in the comments on our T-giving recipe exchange (I had a dream about Jennifer’s pumpkin cheesecake).