weeklyroundup

OOH! I’m so excited because I just checked the UPS tracking online, and my Forever Lazy is supposed to arrive today…

Just kidding! Have you seen that commercial? I saw it a minute ago while watching Cheaters, which I watch sometimes for the commercials. Forever Lazy is “the one-piece lie around, lounge around, full body lazy wear that covers you from head to toe!” It puts the Snuggie, Slanket and Snazzy Napper to shame, and why wouldn’t it? No other adult footed pajama has Forever Lazy’s patented potty pockets — zippered holes cut into the front and bottom area for easy bathroom breaks.

Très classy. 🙂

But enough about Tabs’ fashion dreams come true — how are you doing today? I’m on my way out the door to meet my friends Jen and Cindy for a spa date that I’ve been looking forward to all week long.

I’ve got hella knots in my back right now… It’s like macramé up in there, and I plan to tell the masseuse to tenderize me like a side of beef!

Hope you have a great day today. I’ll see you soon.

A few beauty posts that caught my eye…

• Wearing Blush as an Eyeshadow — Makeup and Macaroons
• 35 Great Halloween Costume Ideas for Procrastinators — BellaSugar
• Nfu Oh 61 Nail Lacquer: Swatches & Review — Swatch and Learn
• Morgana Cryptoria Lipgloss Review and Swatches — The Pretty Exclusive
• What’s So Special About the Shu Uemura Hard Formula Brow Pencil That It Gets a Repeat Review? — My Women Stuff
• Annabelle Smoothie Eyeshadow Pencils: Review, Pictures and Swatches — theNotice
• My OCC Lip Tar collection and adventures in custom mixing — My Funny Valentine
• The One Where I Get My Boyfriend to Talk About Makeup — Lacquered, Painted, Polished
• A Purple and Bright Green Eye Pictorial Tutorial — Makeup Your Jangsara

The Weekly Roundup: MBB Posts You Might Have Missed

THE BEAUTY SOCIAL, OCT. 2011
WANT TO START YOUR OWN BEAUTY BRAND?

Marissa Shipman, founder of theBalm Cosmetics, says that starting theBalm was a very organic process, with the idea growing and evolving over time.

On how to get things off the ground with your own beauty brand, she says, “You just really need a good idea and a good place to start.” When she started talking about wanting to sell her own beauty line, her dad had concerns. “Get a job, get a job,” she remembers him saying, but she was determined, felt prepared and decided to just go for it.

Jenny Frankel, founder, co-creator and executive vice president of Cover FX, actually started out as a chemist working for MAC (she created Clear Lipglass!). “It was tremendous for me,” she says of her time at MAC, “because it was a great learning experience.” On starting your own line, she says the real secret is doing your homework. “Before you invest your money, do your homework. Test on your friends, and if it’s something you want to do as a business, do a business plan. Do a little homework.” Read more…

A MONDAY FACE OF THE DAY WITH THE NEW
LAURA MERCIER LUXE COLOUR PORTFOLIO FOR HOLIDAY 2011

Okay, so I haven’t figured out why the new $98 Laura Mercier Limited Edition Luxe Colour Portfolio palette comes in a faux snakeskin box, but I do think there’s something mysteriously luxurious about it.

Part of Laura’s new holiday collection, it combines the… Yeah, I’m drawing a blank on the snakeskin holiday thing, but nonetheless, here’s a super quick face of the day.

The palette comes with six non-venomous powder eyeshadows, three cake liners, three powder blushes and three eye brushes, and it’s available now at Laura Mercier counters and also online. Read more…

THE BEAUTY SOCIAL, OCT. 2011
HOW TO TURN BEAUTY BLOGGING INTO A CAREER

Even though I was a little nervous (blast you, Lloyd!) and blinded by the stage lights, I really enjoyed speaking on the blogging panel at The Beauty Social last weekend, and I wanted to share some of the highlights with you while they’re still fresh in my mind.

In hindsight, I wish I’d recorded the session, or covertly taken a few notes, but I do remember most of my answers (NOTE: these are paraphrased, because I can’t remember the exact quotes) and some tidbits from my fellow co-panelists, Christine Mielke of temptalia.com, Erika Valente of makeupbag.net and Romy Schorr of romyraves.com. Read more…

HOW FAR WOULD GULLIVER TRAVEL FOR THE LITTLE GLOSSES IN THE LAURA MERCIER
LIMITED EDITION MINI LIP GLACÉ SET?

Minis rule! — and I’m not just saying that as someone who’s usually the shortest person in the room (even in heels). The diminutive glosses in the new Laura Mercier Limited Edition Mini Lip Glacé Set may share my challenges with vertical stature, but that’s only one of the reasons I think they’re such a dang good deal.

At first glance, the $48 kit may seem expensive, but it makes pretty good sense if you do the math. The price on the set translates into big savings on what are arguably some of the most underrated glosses available on counters now. Read more…

YOU’LL SPARKLE FOR THE HOLIDAYS
WITH LES SCINTILLANCES DE CHANEL

With my in-laws visiting, I’ve been splitting my time this week among three adults and a demanding tabby. The adults I’ve been able to handle, but the tabby — oh, the tabby. While my father-in-law went to pick up the pizza we ordered for dinner, Tabs insisted that I take pictures of these pieces from Chanel’s holiday collection, Les Scintillances De Chanel.

He’s such a ho for Coco.

The collection has been sparkling on counters and computer monitors for a little while (it’s also available online). I have some reviews planned and a couple of looks lined up over the next few days. Read more…

MAC HOLIDAY 2011
GLITTER AND ICE, ICE PARADE AND DAZZLESPHERE PICS

Hey, buddy. Got pics for ya of some pieces from the new MAC Holiday 2011 collection.

The massive release (IT’S HUGE!) is broken up into several sub-collections: Glitter and Ice, Dazzlesphere, Ice Parade, Viva Glam and Kids Helping Kids. Find the whole shebang now on MAC counters, in stores and also online.

I’m not quite sure how I feel about this release yet, but I do know that it’s not one of my favorites of the year, at least from what I’ve seen so far. I wouldn’t say I’m disappointed, but I am getting the feeling from all of the frosty pieces that it’s not a perfect fit for me. Read more…

MAC HOLIDAY 2011
GLITTER AND ICE, ICE PARADE AND DAZZLESPHERE SWATCHES

More MAC Holiday 2011, love!

Swatches of the new MAC Holiday 2011 collection, available now. Lots of frosty shades for cool-toned ladies here.

Let me know if you see something you like. 🙂 Read more…

CHANEL HOLIDAY 2011 AND A GLAMOROUS
TRADER JOE’S/PETCO FACE OF THE DAY

Oh, Thank the Lord of the Rings for Chanel!

Not that I had a fab event to go to this afternoon, because the most exciting thing I’ve done today was stop by Trader Joe’s to get some Baked Cheese Crunchies, but everything’s better with Chanel…even quick trips to the grocery store.

As a side, I’ve been feeling awfully disheveled lately, and I imagine the crunchies aren’t helping. You know like when you can’t get your sh*t together, no matter how hard you try? That, combined with very little sleep this week, and I’ve been a fussy girl. Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The following events are based on a true story…

I slew a mighty beast last night, a beast that had been terrorizing the good people of Santa Monica for years, and to show their gratitude for my act of selfless heroism, the townsfolk brought me Pinkberry. 🙂

I was hired to hunt down the creature, which the children in the town referred to as the Vomiting Triceratops, after it built its nest on one of the region’s most sacred sites, a place known as the Pink Berry.

The stakes were high. The Pink Berry was the area’s only source of top quality yogurt, and without it, the people were getting weaker by the day…

I picked up the creature’s trail in a valley called the Third Street Promenade…a narrow gorge buffeted on both sides by steep Nike Stores and Asian fusion restaurants.

That’s when I saw it — standing as still as a statue on a small grassy knoll.

The Vomiting Triceratops.

The fearsome Vomiting Triceratops

I made my move!

With the creature defeated, the people rejoice…

Luckily, it was easier to defeat than I thought it would be because it didn’t move an inch. It just stood there, perhaps paralyzed with fear. 🙂

In other news, it’s Day 2 of The Beauty Social. Sorry I haven’t been able to post anything about the event yet, but I will. I’ve been taking lots of notes. I just haven’t had time to prep the pictures.

Wasn’t this a pretty good week for makeup and beauty? I liked the Tom Ford Beauty stuff, even though it seems needlessly expensive.

How about you and your week? What was your makeup/beauty highlight?

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

MAC UNSUNG HEROES
CRÉME IN YOUR COFFEE LIPSTICK

So maybe you’re tempted to try darker MAC lippies like Dubonnet and Paramount but haven’t worked up the courage? No worries. I totally get it. If you’re not accustomed to seeing yourself in dramatic lip colors, a bout with “transitional shades” could help. Somewhere between the bolder colors you eventually want to wear and the colors you’re already comfortable in, transitional shades can help you push your limits while easing you into something bold.

Say your game plan is to work your way up to fall’s darker browns, reds and plums. Crème in Your Coffee ($14.50) lipstick, today’s Unsung Hero, could be a great place to start. Read more…

CHINA GLAZE THINKS
WE SHOULD LET IT SNOW

Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but China Glaze is so delightful. And since we’ve no place to go, Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

You’ll have to set down that Halloween candy corn for a minute, though, but don’t worry. I have a holiday candy cane and a cup of eggnog for you instead. Yes, it’s time for another holiday collection, and this one’s from China Glaze.

Even though winter is still months away, I say Let It Snow — as in the new 12-piece collection of festive polishes coming soon from China Glaze (about $6 each). Read more…

A FEW FAB FOUNDATIONS FOR
FLAWLESS SKIN THIS FALL

As much as I love easy, breezy makeup and tinted moisturizers in summer, I always look forward to fuller coverage products, darker colors and matte textures each fall.

There’s a season for everything, and for me, fall means dressy, dramatic, and oh so much fun — like moody lipsticks, darker nail polishes, cozy fragrances and seductive smokey eyes.

Here are a few drugstore foundations to go with your fabulous formal makeup looks this fall. Read more…

I PINE FOR MORE TIME AND NARS
PONDEROSA CREAM EYESHADOW

I can’t even remember the last time I finished everything on my daily to-do list. Let’s see — when was that again? Maybe six months ago?

But no matter how poop-tacular it is to be as busy as we are, I try not to let it get my inner optimist down. Being busy, after all, is a good excuse to streamline your makeup routine, which can be a lot of fun, especially when it leads to products like the new NARS Podorosa Cream Eyeshadow ($23; from the Holiday 2011 collection).

After moseying through last weekend wearing this glossy, glittery golden brown shadow, I can safely say that it’s almost everything I’d want from a creamy brown. Read more…

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO GLOW QUIETLY WITH
NARS MISS LIBERTY HIGHLIGHTING BLUSH

Let’s band together, fellow makeup revolutionaries, and declare our freedom from big chunks of glitter! — because we, the blush lovers of the world, have a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of a subtle glow.

And this year, victory is ours! Demure, shimmery cheeks are just a NARS Miss Liberty Highlighting Blush ($27) away. After you don a few layers of this sheer, shimmery peach, don’t be surprised if you suddenly feel the urge to raise your fist, power-to-the-people style. I did (and then quickly lowered it when I remembered how long it’s been since I shaved my pits, whoops!). Read more…

THE TOM FORD BEAUTY SAHARA HAZE
EYE COLOR QUAD WOULD CATCH ANY SULTAN’S EYE

Today, like wavering rays of light on a distant desert dune, the Tom Ford Eye Color Quad in Sahara Haze made me doubt what I was seeing.

“Is it a mirage?” I wondered, sweeping the taupe shade into my crease. “Could it really be this good?”

At one point this afternoon I think my heart, which was booming like a timpani at both the beautiful quad and its exorbitant $78 price, actually did skip a beat. Few things in this world ever make me feel that way. Great makeup is one of them; glazed doughnuts are another.

Flawless, I tell you. Like a Krispy Kreme Original Glazed. So glowy. So pigmented. So melty and delicious. Read more…

BARE ESCENTUALS BAREMINERALS HOLIDAY 2011 SWATCHES
THIS BOX OF GEMS HAS THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GLOW

“Calgon, take me away…”

I had one of those moments today, but my escort away from drama wasn’t Calgon. It was Bare Escentuals, with their new bareMinerals holiday collection of bright, shimmery colors in kits with names like Things That Make You Glow.

Today was a little challenging. It got off to a good start, but when Tabs found out that I’m heading out of town this weekend, he went ballistic, unleashing a litany of diva demands, all of which he wants met by the time I leave on Friday.

I finished the easy ones — making arrangements for his favorite pet sitter, bringing one of the zinnia plants in the house, programming the Tivo to record Cats 101 — but then it got tough. He also wants an XXL kitty ascot (has to be silk) and a two-day supply of organic, gluten-free, non-GMO gravy. Read more…

TOM FORD BEAUTY VIOLET FATALE
LIPSTICK CALLS FOR A CELEBRATION

I’m a firm believer in the motivational might of makeup as a reward for a job well done, and drugstore mini-hauls after a hard day’s work are a favorite of mine, but sometimes, like after a really monumental achievement — graduation, a new job, reaching a long-term goal — you might want to go even bigger than that.

Big like Tom Ford Beauty’s pricey princess, Violet Fatale Lip Color ($48).

A vivid purplish pink, it makes me feel like a superhero version of myself — bolder, brighter, able to leap tall buildings with a single bound!

Okay, well, maybe not that last one…but I do feel a lot better with it on. Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

Yesterday I heard El Hub talking to another woman on the phone. Turned out to be this girl named Siri who works for Apple. I heard him say, “Siri, how much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?” And she replied, “It depends on whether you are talking about African or European woodchucks.”

Freaky! Have you heard about Siri? It’s a feature built into the new iPhone, and it’s the most amazing voice recognition/artificial intelligence I’ve ever seen in real life. It’s so unreal that it’s even more sci-fi than some of the talking computers in actual sci-fi movies.

You ask it questions in a normal speaking voice, like “Siri, what day of the week is Christmas this year?” And a woman’s voice instantly replies with the answer. “Christmas is on Sunday, December 25, 2011.” You don’t even have to speak slowly or more clearly than usual, and it even understands different sentence structures, so it knows that “What’s the weather like today?” is basically the same question as “Siri, what is the weather going to be like today?”

For some things, it’s quicker than doing a web search or using an app, like if you want to set a reminder to pick up mango bars at Trader Joe’s after work, just say, “Siri, remind me to pick up mango bars at Trader Joe’s after work.”

“When would you like me to remind you?” she responds.

“7pm”

“Here is your reminder for today at 7pm:” which is followed by a confirmation box showing the new reminder.

That’s it. Reminder set. Same thing goes for setting alarms, sending texts and emails, making notes — just say, “Make a note.” Siri replies, “What would you like the note to say?”

“Tabs loves gravy.”

“Got it.”

In other news, NARS! I’m still getting to know the new holiday stuff, but I see some really beautiful pieces like G-Spot and Joyous Red Lipstick. What do you think of the release so far? Spectacular or snooze?

THE BOBBI BROWN BLACK RUBY SPARKLE EYESHADOW
PALETTE TAKES IT EASY ON EYES AND GLITTER

Do you remember the last time you wore glitter? Hey now, your answer better not be, “I don’t do glitter.” And did I just see you roll your eyes?

Even if you’ve never been a glitter girl before, or if you have but just haven’t had the time lately to rock it often and well, Bobbi Brown’s new Black Ruby Sparkle Eye Palette ($45) contends that it doesn’t have to take a lot of time (or shimmer) to sparkle.

The limited edition eyeshadow palette hails from Bobbi’s new holiday collection and comes with glittery powder eyeshadows in shades of pink, silver, ruby and onyx. Read more…

FABULOUS FALL SKIN IN A FLASH
LOOK POLISHED AND PUT TOGETHER WITH THESE BEAUTY BARGAINS

There I was, just minding my own business in front of the house yesterday, enjoying a brief respite from the recent rains and daydreaming about some of my favorite fall noms, like candy corn, pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes (Mmm… gravy), when it hit me: CRAP! I have a ton of stuff to do this month.

Summer lulled me into a trap, and now I’m paying the price. I spent so much time lounging around, lapping up the sunshine and generally doing everything at a slightly slower pace that now I feel unprepared for fall. Read more…

GOOD THINGS COME IN SLIM PACKAGE WITH
THE PIXI ULTIMATE BEAUTY KIT

Despite it’s super slim profile, Pixi’s Ultimate Beauty Kit ($40) holds a ton of stuff! — 32 eyeshadows, 16 lip colors and eight blushes, in all, in a cute, streamlined case.

Now you may be saying, “Hrmpf! Why are the glosses so close to the powder blushes?” It’s annoying, I know. But if you can get past that, you’ll find a palette filled with pigmented eyeshadows (I think the metallics, pardon the pun, really shine) and radiant blushes. Read more…

A FLU SHOT FACE OF THE DAY WITH THE
BOBBI BROWN PARTY EYE PALETTE

Here’s a goofy-but-it-totally-works makeup trick from a big ol’ crybaby (that would be me).

Any time I do anything that involves doctors or needles, as was the case today for the flu shot I received, I’m guaranteed to shed a few tears…unless I plan ahead of time and wear a smokey eye. Sounds weird, I know, but when I’m wearing smokey eyes, the fear of streaky makeup helps me fight the urge to cry.

Today’s day-friendly smokey eye comes courtesy of the new Bobbi Brown Party Eye Palette ($45). It’s a more muted, neutral version of the purple look I wore last week. Read more…

$2 JORDANA EASYLINER
FOR EASY EYE COLOR CHEAPER THAN A CHAI LATTE

Leave it to a drugstore beauty bargain to flog a flu shot-induced malaise. I was feeling a little lethargic after getting my flu shot yesterday, but after swatching these Jordana Easyliner Retractable Pencils (just $2 each!), I immediately felt 100 times better.

Like Eggplant, the first shade I tried, and consequently the first of these I fell in love with, the rest of these pigmented liners skate across my skin without skipping and last for hours on both my lash and water lines.

Here’s a closer look at 11 of the 13 shades. Read more…

MAC UNSUNG HEROES
PARTY LINE LIPSTICK

Should you ever find yourself at a loss to locate a fabulous red lipstick for fall, dial 555-HOT-REDS, and kiss your lip grief goodbye.

Listen carefully to the menu because their options have changed. When you get to the part that starts, “If you like MAC Dubonnet but find it a touch too brown,” hit two followed by the pound key.

That should take you directly to today’s MAC Unsung Hero, which, incidentally, happens to be a Party Line ($14.50). Read more…

THE POWDERS IN THE BARE MINERALS
BAREESCENTUALS OH LA LUXE HOLIDAY KIT ARE ON THE LOOSE

Now, where’d I put my makeup brushes…?

Oh, I should have put them right there! — in the convenient little elastic slots built into the buxom makeup bag that comes with the new Bare Minerals bareEscentuals Oh La Luxe Holiday Kit ($79).

The silver carrying case is just the shiny icing on the cake, though, because inside are nine loose powder Eyecolors, three Blushes, two All Over Face Colors and one Liner Shadow (click here to see swatches of the whole shebang). Read more…

NARS HOLIDAY 2011 SWATCHES

I wish you could come over so we could swoon over swatches of the NARS Holiday 2011 collection and eat some Trader Joe’s Mango Bars (warm out here in Nor Cal today).

I guess a virtual visit will have to do. Come on in, but please take off your shoes first, and um, excuse the knife near the front door.

At first I wasn’t sure how the pieces would fit, but once I swatched it and put it on, the entire collection as a whole made more sense to me.

I’m especially loving the lighter shade in the Mandchourie Duo Eyeshadow, which applies as a shimmery golden dove gray with hints of blue. Gorgeous! Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

I would so wear these boots in pink…

Dang, I love those shrimp tacos on the SkinnyLicious Menu at the Cheesecake Factory… The only problems are the bread that comes before the meal, how impossible it is to refuse, and the cheesecake afterward (which I was actually able to resist, for once, yesterday).

Good morning, gorgeous. 🙂 How’s it going today? The end of another week. Hopefully yours went well.

Although I haven’t mentioned it yet, I was saddened to hear about the death of Steve Jobs. He was an iconic figure in the tech world we live in today. I grew up with Apples in school and got my tech feet wet on those early computers, but when I entered the corporate world after college, I transitioned to using Microsoft Windows PCs, because that’s pretty much the way things were done.

When I started blogging back in early 2007, I was also using Windows at home. I wasn’t a tech person by any means, and I was always struggling with one issue or another, like a printer that wouldn’t print, extra toolbars multiplying in my web browser (gah!), getting redirected to websites that I didn’t intend to go to, annoying popups from my antivirus software asking me if I wanted to “Allow this program that you can’t identify by its weird name, like image.ao.helper, to run third-party software on your computer?” Uh… no? But then after clicking “No” my scanner would stop working, or something like that.

Since then I started using Apple stuff at home, and for whatever reasons, I have way fewer weird computer problems overall.

Anywho, Steve Jobs, dude, thank you. You will be missed.

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

THE ESSIE COCKTAIL BLING COLLECTION AND
TV’S LATEST DANCE CRAZE

Watching The Jersey Shore is completely exhausting (but yet strangely hard to resist). And with all of the underwear flashing that’s been happening over the past few eps, it’s also been quite gross.

I want to stop, but I almost feel like I’ve already invested so much time in following these goofy characters that I can’t quit now. And, truth be told, I’m also weirdly fascinated by Ronnie’s unique outlook on dance.

He’s not the nicest boy in the world (that’s one way to put it), but I gotta give it up to the guy for taking his club moves so seriously.

Lately he’s been doing this one thing where he puts his hand in front of his face and wiggles it side to side really fast, like “Peek-a-boo!” Read more…

THE SONIA KASHUK TRAVEL DUFFEL
ROOMY ENOUGH FOR XXL TABBIES

Just how roomy is Sonia Kashuk’s new $39.99 limited edition Travel Duffle? Well, it’s big enough to bear the bare necessities for a three-day weekend (or maybe four, with a few packing tips and tricks).

It’s also big enough to comfortably fit one XXL 18-pound tabby.

Ya know…in case you were wondering.

You know how I am about overpacking (I can’t help it!), and this is a bag I can really sink my teeth into. I was able to fit a pair of shoes into it, a few outfits and enough makeup to last me three days. That’s not bad. Plus, I think the pattern looks good with my two favorite fall jackets (one black and one brown). Read more…

MAC UNSUNG HEROES
DUBONNET LIPSTICK

Am I way too easily amused for my own good? Survey says, “Probably.” For instance, I continue to get a huge kick out of mucking up names. Around here, Trader Joe’s is Traitor Joe’s, Target is Tar-ghay, and Whole Foods is affectionately (not) referred to as Whole Paycheck.

Lame? Yes. But also hilarious to moi.

And now I’m doing it with makeup, too. I’ve heard the peeps at a MAC counter pronounce today’s Unsung Hero, MAC Dubonnet Lipstick ($14.50), as “Doo-bow-nay,” but I like to call it “DEW-bonnet” instead.

Sorry! I can’t help it, even if I am messing with the moniker of one of the greatest reds in the MAC permanent line. Read more…

THE LIMITED EDITION L’OREAL COLORS TAKE FLIGHT
COLLECTION HAS A RATHER CHARMING COCKATOO

It’s been a Project Runway kind of day…

No, nothing big like running into Heidi at Sephora or kicking it with Tim Gunn at the DSW (I wish!).

Just a couple of small but cool brushes with my favorite reality TV show. The first one I noticed this morning, when the Tivo, a normally evil form of artificial intelligence hell bent on recording all of the shows I NEVER watch, actually did something useful for a change. It recorded the entire season four of Project Runway, from start to finish, without me having to program it. Read more…

A BOBBI BROWN PARTY TO GO
PALETTE FACE OF THE DAY

I feel so “all dressed up with nowhere to go” right now! And yes, I know you’re probably laughing at my hat. It looks exactly like the one I wore with my band uniform freshman (or was it sophomore?) year. To complete the illusion, I should have been holding my mellophone and standing at attention in these pics of me wearing Bobbi Brown’s new holiday palette, Party to Go ($25).

Try as I might, I’ll never be able to escape my band geek past.

Do you remember a while back when we talked how no two purple eyeshadows are created equal? And how some of them, depending on the specific color and the wearer’s skin tone, can make our eyes look bruised, tired (like I need any extra help with that, hello!) or like we’ve been crying? Read more…

3 TIPS FOR A FABULOUS
FACE THIS FALL

The leaves are falling! The leaves are falling! And, oh my — that brisk breeze that leaves cool kisses on your cheeks? Yep, it’s baaack.

Fall, that is. I actually like the idea of the seasons changing and the different colors everywhere and the leaves falling from the trees. But in practice, I just don’t like being anything but warm.

This “in-between” time is actually one of my favorite times of year. Not yet winter, and just barely into fall. Too bad I know it won’t last. Pretty soon we’ll be freezing our bums off! — but this time we’ll be prepared.

I’ve been conducting extensive “research” into knee-high boots. Read more…

I’VE FALLEN FOR THE
FERGIE FALLEN BOOT

Why, cruel world!? Why is it so much easier to gain the weight than it is to lose it?

Last month, as part of my latest quest to get healthier, I resorted to good old-fashioned bribery (whatever works, right?). I told myself that I could get a new pair of boots if I exercised at least 24 days during the month…

And I did it!

So, last weekend I stopped by the new Novato DSW to select my prize, and I walked away with this snazzy suede olive pair of, quite possibly, the greatest boots I’ve ever owned.

Oh, and here’s the kicker: they’re made by Fergie! — as in Fergilicious, her body stays vicious; she be up in the gym working on her fitness. Yes, THAT Fergie. Read more…

20 LIP SWATCHES WITH THE BOBBI BROWN 1991 LIP PALETTE
AND 20 THINGS I’VE DONE SINCE 1991

My tummy’s rumbling like crazy right now, and I should probably eat…but I can’t stop yet. No breaks until I finish swatching all 20 lipsticks in the new Bobbi Brown 1991 Lip Palette ($60).

You know how it is. Makeup comes first!

Released to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, the limited edition palette is available now at Bobbi Brown counters and also online, and it features 10 of the brown-based lipstick colors from Bobbi’s original launch way back in 1991, along with 10 bright new shades. Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Good mornin’, glory. 🙂 Hope you got a good night’s sleep. Mine wasn’t bad, even though I stayed up way past my bed time reading Gunn’s Golden Rules.

I love that man… He seems like such a genuinely good, kind person. I think I’m gonna send him a fan letter.

Very few signs received so far for The 2011 Breast Cancer Awareness Month Sign Project. I know you’re busy, but it only takes a minute if you have a camera phone (I’m just sayin’).

And yes, I do fully intend to keep prodding you (politely at first) about this over the next 29 days because I think it’s worth it. My mother-in-law is a breast cancer survivor (going on three years now), and I know how much seeing last year’s support signs meant to her and to the many women I’ve heard from about them. Plus, on top of your good deed, you’d be entered for a chance to win more than $1,100 in free makeup. You could even donate some of it if you won (again, I’m just sayin’).

In other news, MoneyBall! Or, as Tabs puts it, kitty balls! I watched it last night with El Hub, who isn’t a baseball fan, a fact he had to repeatedly remind me of before, during and after the movie. He liked it though. We both did. I grew up just a few miles away from Oakland Coliseum in the East Bay.

It was weird seeing Brad Pitt driving along the same freeways I use to visit my parents’ house… Dang, the life of an actor, right? One minute they’re in Oakland, California. Next minute they’re filming a zombie movie in Scotland. Freaky.

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

MAC UNSUNG HEROES
MELON PIGMENT

Here in Marin County — how should I put this? — tie-die is the new black. I joke, but this area is a mecca for different ways of thinking, and while my younger self probably would have giggled at some of the self-improvement techniques I’ve been trying lately, my older self has more of an open mind.

One of my new favorite things is to sit on my deck at sunset and mentally list all of the good things that happened that day. Some days the list is shorter than others, but I can usually come up with at least one or two things.

Plus, there’s a great side effect of catching a good sunset: makeup inspiration. Read more…

PACIFICA COLOR QUENCH LIP TINTS
PROVE THAT MAKEUP IS THE BEST MEDICINE

Imagine, if you will, that it’s Friday night, 7:57 p.m., in a sleepy little town called Novato.

The sun has set, and I have the cover of darkness now. I’m almost positive I’m going to get away with it. I slowly withdraw the keys to the car from a bowl sitting on a table by the hall. They barely make a sound. Just a quiet jingling, barely audible, and I think I’m safe.

I start toward the door, my eyes checking the corners for signs of movement. The coast is clear. I walk faster now, my sneakers all but silent on the tiled hallway floor.

Almost there. I reach the door and take the knob in my hand, turning slowly. I have one foot out the door when…

“Where ya headed?” Read more…

BUMBLE AND BUMBLE SHINE ON (AND ON)
FINISHING SPRAY IS DIVA KITTY APPROVED!

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to live with a creature so beautiful, so genetically blessed, that the mere sight of his silky fur fills supermodels with envy and makes stylists question their careers, let me tell ya, it ain’t easy.

Don’t get me wrong — I love Tabs’ shiny coat. It’s one of the reasons I fell in love with him. Even though he’d been living on the streets when we met, he had fur like a feline Adonis. Read more…

STAR LIGHT, STAR BRIGHT, THE BELLE DE NUIT HOLIDAY COLLECTION
FROM GUERLAIN GETS IT RIGHT

A few weeks ago I walked into an air-conditioned Williams-Sonoma store that had Christmas decorations up and a fancy holiday window display (complete with garland-covered pine tree flocked with fake snow).

In early September.

I’m just sayin’.

Funny thing is, when it comes to fashion and makeup, I actually like super early seasonal releases; they appeal to my inner princess — you know, the one who makes grabby hands at pretty products and says, “Gimme, gimme, gimme!” with big anime eyes. Read more…

3 LESSONS LEARNED
FROM GETTING BANGS

I’ve had other brushes with bangs, like the time my mom cut my hair into a lopsided Dorothy Hamill bowl cut, or the gravity defying ‘do I wore for a time in my hair bear teenage years (that thing ensnared more insects than a Venus Flytrap!), but none of them prepared me for the full-on blunt-cut bangs I embraced a few months ago.

And that’s because they weren’t just bangs. Dude. They were BANGS! — all caps, bold, with an exclamation mark.

I’ve liked having them these past months, but I gotta say — I wish I’d given more thought to what I was getting into before I took the plunge, because these real deal bangs have been a commitment. Read more…

THERE’S GLOSS AT THE HEART OF EVERY DOLCE & GABBANA
PASSION DUO GLOSS FUSION LIPSTICK

Dear Diary,

My list of the day? Makeup I’d Wear If I Were a Vampire.

But not just any vampire. Not one of those goody-two-shoes Cullens. I’d be more like Pam from True Blood, and I’d wear dark lipstick, skintight jumpsuits and leather. I’d hang out at all the coolest underground vampire techno clubs, too, because, as you know, vampires must techno.

Yeah, I’ve watched Blade one too many times…

Moody dark burgundy Dolce & Gabbana Passion Duo Gloss Fusion Lipstick in Intense ($34) would go right up at the top of my list. One of 20 gloss/lipstick hybrids in the recently launched Gloss Fusion Lipstick line, it’s perfect fare for creatures of the night! Read more…

WITH THE $22 JK JEMMA KIDD SMOKE IT UP I-KIT
YOU CAN SMOLDER FOR LESS

Each of the five powder eyeshadows in the new $22 JK Jemma Kidd Smoke It Up I-Kit are so easy to blend that they could have been made by KitchenAid! — and with loads of pigment, they look and perform just like Jemma’s fab fall full-size shadows (which usually run $16 apiece).

The result is an affordable palette able to produce some of the quickest, easiest smokey eyes I’ve seen this fall. With lesser shadows, blending out the edges and layering darker shades can take (me) forever, but with the I-Kit I can bang out a smokey look in less than 10 minutes. Read more…

MAC UNSUNG HEROES
MOCHA BLUSH

Instead of doing one of the millions of things I should have been doing this morning, like shaving my toes (those hairs pop up overnight!), figuring out what to do with the rest of my life, or assisting Tabs with his aromatherapy (by rubbing catnip leaves on his cheeks, which he loves), I lined up all of the dark MAC lippies I plan to wear in October.

Of course, some of the brand’s old-school baddies were there, like Russian Red, Dubonnet and Paramount, as were a few newer colors from Styledriven and Posh Paradise.

I was separating tubes by finish (obsessive much?) when an idea struck me like a wayward jar of Fluidline flying through the air. Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

It’s not fair! I was lured out of bed this morning with promises of breakfast. “Come downstairs,” he said, “and we can have breakfast.” That’s what El Hub leaned over and whispered into my ear a few minutes ago. I thought it meant that he made breakfast and it was waiting for me downstairs, but nope. What he meant to say was, “If you get out of bed now, I’ll take you to breakfast.”

Okay, I guess that’s better than nothing. 🙂

Rise and shine, morning glory! It’s…autumn.

So how’d you sleep? Did you do anything fun last night? We just stayed in, but it was great. I got to paint my nails and see a movie I really enjoyed on Netflix called The Winning Season, starring Sam Rockwell and Emma Roberts. It’s about a girl’s high school basketball team and their well-intentioned but hopelessly clueless coach. Sam Rockwell plays the coach. He’s a drunkard with a potty mouth, but he means well. The movie only got a 55% on rottentomatoes, but I’m gonna have to politely disagree with the critics this time. I think it deserved much better than that.

What do you have planned for today? Has it started cooling off where you are? It’s actually a little foggy and chilly out here in Marin this morning, and I read that it might even rain. Oh joy.

If you’re a new visitor to the blog or haven’t stopped by in a while (welcome!), here are links to some of my favorite posts of the week.

What did you think about the worlds of makeup and beauty last week (JK Jemma Kidd made some noise)? Or how about last summer overall? Did you think it was a good season for makeup, or has it been overshadowed by fall?

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

GET REAL (LOOKING)
MAC MATCHMASTER FOUNDATION EXCELS ON OILY SKIN

“Why, yes, Ryan Gosling, I am wearing something new. How nice of you to notice. It’s the new MAC Matchmaster Foundation ($32.50; available in 14 shades) in shade 5.0, and I’ve been wearing it for about a week…”

Okay, no, Ryan Gosling did not actually remark upon my makeup regimen, but I sure wish he had. I think he might find the technology behind MAC’s new liquid foundation almost as fascinating as I do.

Almost?

You see, it’s all about those spheres we talked about last week. For the new foundation, MAC encapsulated pigments in translucent spheres that they say allow Matchmaster to cover imperfections while still looking like real skin. Read more…

THE NEW FALL 2011 JK JEMMA KIDD EYESHADOWS
AND A HELPING OF LOVE YOURSELF SOUP

Hey, boo. You having a good Tuesday? I hope so. Before we take a look at the new JK Jemma Kidd eyeshadows for fall ($16 each), grab a spoon, and pull up a chair. I’m gonna fix you a bowl of my world famous Love Yourself Soup.

Yup, Love Yourself Soup. I know it sounds silly, but I’m convinced that after you have a bowl, you’ll feel that much better. And really, doesn’t “Love Yourself Soup” sound cooler than “Corn Soup with Tomatoes, Garlic and Basil”?

Oh, what’s that, you say? You’d like to help me in the kitchen? That’s so sweet! Read more…

SUBTLY SWEETENED
WITH PIXI BEAUTY BLUSH

With a name like Pixi, it’s gotta be sweet. Take these three new Beauty Blushes ($16 each). It’s like the mint green cases (complete with fairy logo), and the eminently agreeable pink and peach powders inside them, were specifically designed for that part of me that still, and always will, love girly things.

Sure, the price is a king’s ransom for a drugstore brand, but that’s not a big surprise. Pixi’s one of the “highest end” beauty lines available at Target. Still, $16 is getting close to a standard MAC blush.

At least Pixi wasn’t chintzy with the product. With these I feel like you do get more for your doubloons than usual for a drugstore brand blush, both in terms of quantity and quality. The packaging feels sturdier than most, and the blush itself is so soft that based on texture at least, I’d bet these could even pass for a pricier line like Shu. Read more…

JK JEMMA KIDD IS ROLLER BALLING OUT THE RED CARPET
WITH HER NEWEST LIP/CHEEK TINT & GLOSS

I find that even on my worst days, a dash of cheek/lip color always perks me up. I probably won’t be using these as cheek tints, but that’s because my lips want them all to themselves. 🙂 Mad props to JK Jemma Kidd for opening my eyes to the joy of lip products with roller-ball applicators. Dang, feels so good.

Methinks the unscented, unflavored liquid excels as a lip tint; it applies evenly all over my lips (and fades evenly, too). As a cheek tint, though, it applies patchy on me, emphasizing any dry flakes I might have, and it takes a while to blend on top of either bare skin or liquid foundation. The clear, non-drying gloss goes on smoothly and has a non-sticky, medium-weight texture that I like; it’s also unscented and unflavored. Read more…

THERE’S A PARTY IN EACH BOTTLE OF MARIAH CAREY
LOLLIPOP SPLASH THE REMIX PERFUME

I cross my heart and swear on my husky tabby’s low-hanging belly that I really, really tried not to mention Ryan Gosling in this review of the new Mariah Carey Lollipop Splash The Remix perfumes (available in three fragrances; $35 each).

But I failed (obviously), and I blame it on the poster for Ryan’s new movie, Drive.

You see, I’m a font freak — a “ho for Helvetica,” if you will — and the handwritten hot pink type on the poster and in the movie’s opening credits made me hyper aware of flamboyant fonts this week. Fonts like the one on boxes of Mariah’s new Lollipop Splash. Read more…

THE CHANEL OMBRES TISSÉES IRIDESCENT
EFFECTS EYES IN BEIGES AND YOUR INNER PRINCESS

I like to think that within every girl lives a princess, and this morning my princess demanded two things: shimmer and Chanel.

Loved and nurtured, the princess is all smiles, sweetness, sparkles and light. She exists solely to love, and to appreciate beautiful things. Instead of walking places, she frolics; instead of talking, she sings. And sometimes she has daydreams like black and white Fellini films, in which she meanders down cobblestone Roman boulevards wearing a white dress and red high heels.

Not wanting to disappoint the princess, today I introduced her to the new Ombres Tissées Iridescent Effects Eyes in Beiges ($75). Read more…

CRAZY PURPLE LIPS AND AN ILLAMASQUA
THEATER OF THE NAMELESS FACE OF THE DAY

I came across purple Kontrol a few weeks ago with Illamasqua’s fall collection, Theater of the Nameless, and even though it wasn’t quite like anything I’d ever worn before, I still really wanted to give it a try.

I wore it around the house today with a few other pieces from the collection. Something about Kontrol’s rich, dramatic take on purple speaks to me, but I think I might be too goody two-shoes to pull it off (am I wearing it, or is it wearing me?). Maybe if I had a brightly colored vintage tattoo on my shoulder and hot pink ombre highlights. Read more…

MAC UNSUNG HEROES
SUMPTUOUS OLIVE EYESHADOW

Adulthood isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. There are bills to be paid, work to be done and calories to count (lame). On top of everything else, it becomes harder to meet up with your friends. Getting together with my gal pals used to take a quick phone call (on a LAND line) or a five-minute walk. Now, lunch with the girls requires weeks and sometimes months of planning, eight e-mails, a few Twitter DMs, GPS (or Google Maps), babysitters and bridge tolls.

Yup.

But there are, of course, perks to getting older, like learning when and how to improvise. After stumbling and bumbling enough, you start getting better at rolling with the punches, and figuring out how to “make things work.” Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sawing logs. That’s what my friend Jen’s new baby boy was doing during our visit yesterday while I marveled at his tiny fingers and toes. He’s just about two weeks old now, so his primary pastimes involve sleeping, eating and posing for pictures (he takes after his Auntie Karen!).

Rise and shine, morning glory. 🙂 It’s going to be a beautiful day.

What have you been up to this weekend? If you’re a MAC fan, this was one heck of a week!

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

LOOKING FOR A DREAMY, CREAMY LIPSTICK THAT LASTS?
TRY THE NEW MAC PRO LONGWEAR LIPCREMES

Lovahs of long-wearing lipstick, prepare to park your pout in front of the new MAC Pro Longwear Lipcremes for a prolonged play session when the MAC Styledriven collection cruises onto counters in t-minus 10 days.

Available in 12 shades of long-wearing pink, plum, orange, red and purple, these pigmented pretties may cost a bit more than MAC’s regular lipsticks ($17 U.S./$20 CDN versus $14.50 U.S./$17.50 CDN), but if you like creamy, pigmented lipsticks that latch onto lips and won’t let go, they deliver that much and a whole lot more. Read more…

CHANEL LES JEANS DE CHANEL
AT LEAST THESE JEANS ALWAYS FIT

Creamy Blue Rebel, the darkest of the three limited edition blue nail polishes that comprise Les Jeans de Chanel, is my favorite of the three, and like its two siblings — Coco Blue (a sky blue with subtle shimmer) and Boy Blue (a creamy denim) — it dries to a lovely high-shine finish. I’ve been using three coats to achieve full opacity with Coco Blue and Boy Blue but only need two coats for full opacity with Blue Rebel.

All three of these shades speak to my soul, but the angels aren’t singing in the same way they did for Vendetta, Riva and Jade. Read more…

I’D LIKE TO KISS THE INVENTOR OF THESE
MAC PRO LONGWEAR LIP PENCILS

In the summer before my freshman year of high school, my friend Nancy taught me how to kiss.

I hadn’t had a boyfriend yet but figured I should probably prepare myself before school started, just in case. Nancy, having dated a boy earlier that year, was my closest friend with the appropriate experience, so on our breaks during the algebra class we took together that summer, Nancy dispensed various pearls of kissing wisdom like, 1) Eat grape lollipops before kissing to freshen the breath (according to Nancy, they worked better than breath mints), and 2) Observe proper gum etiquette (gum should not change owners during a make-out session). Read more…

GOING THE DISTANCE WITH THE
MAC STYLEDRIVEN PRO LONGWEAR EYE SHADOWS

Pigment. Like. Whoa.

I’m serious. These new MAC Pro Longwear Eye Shadows ($20 U.S./$24 CDN each) from the MAC Styledriven collection, like the Pro Longwear lip products we looked at last week, are built to throw down.

With potent pigments, a downy soft texture and an easy-to-blend formula, these powder eyeshadows look and feel to me like muscled up MAC permanent shadows in the Veluxe Pearl finish (picture Woodwinked but even cooler). Read more…

COMING SOON: THE NEW BARE ESCENTUALS BAREMINERALS
READY EYESHADOW 8.0 PALETTES IN THE COCKTAIL HOUR AND THE PLAYLIST

Calling all Bare Escentuals bareMinerals babes. Set your calendars for November 1, and title the reminder, “2 new BM eyeshadow palettes coming out today.”

The limited edition Ready Eyeshadow 8.0 Palettes in The Cocktail Hour and The Playlist ($40 apiece) promenade into Bare Escentuals Boutiques on November 1, each with eight new Bare Escentuals bareMinerals pressed eyeshadow shades. Read more…

MAC ART OF POWDER
PERFECTS THE ART OF SUBTLETY

How does that song go again — “These boots heels aren’t meant for walking, because that’s not what they do”?

Something like that… You know what kind of heels I’m talking about. Most of us have at least one pair in our closet. Heels that look great on the shelf but hurt like hell when you take more than a few steps in ‘em.

Don’t tell El Hub (shhh!), but I, uh, have a few heels like that in my closet. I call them my “look but don’t touch” shoes. Beautiful to look at, but they’re completely useless attached to a pair of feet. Read more…

THE MAC POSH PARADISE
PAINT POTS HAVE PIGMENT TO SPARE

Hark! Is that the herald angels singing or the sound of MAC Posh Paradise parading onto counters?

Huzzah! Huzzah! It’s the 20-piece Posh Paradise collection, and it officially arrives in stores and counters tomorrow (if you can’t wait, it is available now online).

The release features 10 Mattene Lipsticks, two Nail Lacquers and eight Paint Pots in luscious shades of red, pink, blue, plum, orange, bronze and gold. Read more…

MC K-DAWG ON THE MIC
SONIA KASHUK FALL 2011 NAIL COLOUR

Here’s a shout-out to Sonia K. Her new Nail Colours, I just gotta say, might be some of my fave fall colors, haaay! At $4.99, they don’t cost too much. Two coats will do you if you’re in a rush. The brush? So precise. Formula? Smoove as ice. The colors? Très glam, and ooh! — look at that price.

Sugar Rush, well, hey, yes, she’s a baby pink. Chocoholic is a dark reddish brown (so distinct!). Mauving on Up, I know I’ve seen before. Blank Slate’s bluish gray, I totally adore. Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Photo remixed from an original by Guillaume Cattiaux

I can’t believe it’s been 10 years already, but I can still remember the day like it was yesterday. Clear as a bell.

I remember thinking on the day it happened about something my high school history teacher used to say. He would always talk about the day President Kennedy was shot, and how it was just one of those things that was so traumatic, so frightening, that he remembered every single thing that happened to him that day. That’s how it is. I remember every single thing that happened to me on September 11; the day was etched into my memory forever.

I’ve been reading some of the stories of the families who lost loved ones, the children who lost parents and are now 10 years older, and although there’s deep sadness there, there’s also something remarkable about how people keep going, how they carry on, despite tragedy.

Wherever you are and whatever you’re doing today, I hope you feel safe, happy and loved. And if you feel like it, stop by and say hi in the comments.

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

MASSACHUSETTS TO MELBOURNE
BEAUTY DOWN UNDA’

Late last year my husband and I became American expats living abroad when we made the move to Australia from the U.S. for his new job. I knew about our big journey months in advance, so I did the best I could to prepare and studied anything and everything I could about the land down unda’ before we arrived; however, I made two fatal mistakes.

First, I never fully realized just how expensive things would be down here, and second, I was unprepared for how long I’d have to wait for makeup collections to make their big debuts here after being released in the States.

As a woman of substance, I have my needs. Among them: facial moisturizer, hair products (loads of ‘em), perfume, nail polish, and anything pertaining to MAC, Benefit, Clinique and Philosophy. Not long after moving, I was already hitting the bottom of my assorted elixirs and potions, wondering what I was going to do. Read more…

DOLCE & GABBANA SWEET TEMPTATIONS COLLECTION
CINNAMON, CANDIED AND GREEN ALMOND FEEL FRESH-FACED AND SWEET

Dolce & Gabbana’s epic eyeshadow quads are total limelight hogs that often steal the show in the brand’s seasonal makeup launches, but in this fall’s Sweet Temptations collection, the Smooth Eye Colour Duo in Cinnamon ($36) and Crayon Intense Eyeliners in Green Almond ($29) and Candied ($29) are giving the Smooth Eye Colour Quad in Cocoa ($59) a run for its money.

Nothing against Cocoa’s warm, cozy chocolate, cream and orange, but I’m liking the fresh, sweet glow I get from these pieces even more. Read more…

YOU’LL BE SPARKLING FOR HOURS
WITH THE NEW URBAN DECAY STARDUST SPARKLING LIP GLOSSES

I’m making the weekend last through Tuesday this week with Urban Decay’s new Stardust Sparkling Lip Glosses, because ooh-la-la, sis-boom-bah! — these sheer, sparkly glosses are just too much fun for regular weekends.

I’m still tracking down prices and availability on these and the other Urban Decay fall/holiday launches, but I think it’s safe to assume that these will cost around $16-19 each, right in line with the price of an average UD gloss.

Based on the three I’ve been getting to know since late last week — Space Cowboy (a shimmery champagne) Andromeda (a shimmery, peachy pinkish gold) and Glitter Rock (a shimmery magenta) — these are light on pigment but heavy on glitter and shine, and what I like most about them is the way they feel on my lips. There’s no grit to ‘em, as far as I can tell, unlike quite a few other glittery glosses on the market. Read more…

TEAM TAUPE TAKES HOME THE SILVER IN THE NEW
CHANEL OMBRE ESSENTIELLE SOFT TOUCH EYESHADOW IN FAUVE

Doth shimmery taupe eyeshadows make thy booty shake? If colors like MAC Satin Taupe make you want to drop it like it’s hot, better limber up, young lady, because Chanel Ombre Essentielle Soft Touch Eyeshadow in Fauve ($28.50) is going to ask you to dance.

Like Satin Taupe’s 21-year-old cousin, shimmery taupe Fauve is a bit of a party girl. Her fab flecks of silver glitter distinguish her from everyday workhorse shades, and when I swatched the shadow at the counter last week, I must have sounded like a hungry Homer Simpson when I spontaneously said, “Mmmmmm… glitter.” Read more…

THE LIP COLORS IN THE DOLCE & GABBANA SWEET TEMPTATIONS
COLLECTION ARE SPRINGING INTO FALL

For the first time in many moons, I felt a chill this morning when I stepped out of bed, and before making my way downstairs with Tabs, I bundled up with long pants a sweatshirt and robe.

Bluh…

It turned out to be sunny today, but the brisk kiss of crisp air that heralds fall never completely went away. Soon, the oak tree outside my window will lose its leaves, and the sun will set every afternoon before El Hub gets home from work.

Fall won’t wait just because we wish it would, but at least the springy new lip products in the Dolce & Gabbana Sweet Temptations collection aren’t all about fall. Read more…

BLONDES REALLY DO HAVE MORE FUN
WITH CHANEL INIMITABLE INTENSE MASCARA IN PURPLE

Truer words were never spoken — in reference to Chanel’s new Inimitable Intense Mascara in Purple ($30, part of the new Sophisticated Eye collection). The first time the wand graced the back of my hand and I got a good look at the swatch, I feared that the color of this brownish plum would be lost upon my dark fringe. But oh, how I wanted to believe!

The logical part of my brain said I shouldn’t expect much; it said I’d never be able to see the tint on my dark lashes, but the Coco-obsessed part of my brain kept telling me not to worry. “Trust in Coco, Karen. Everything will work out in the end.” Read more…

THE RICH COLOR EYESHADOWS IN THE BOBBI BROWN MARRAKESH CHIC COLLECTION
LOVE LADIES IN THEIR 30s, 40s, 50s AND BEYOND

Not gonna lie, Marrakesh Chic is probably the most excited I’ve been about a Bobbi Brown release in a while. The new Rich Color Eyeshadows, WHEW! Kind of amazing.

But before we dive in, let’s — beep, beep, beep! — back up a second. Bobbi recently launched this new fall collection for eyes, lips and cheeks at Bobbi Brown counters and also online. The Rich Color Eyeshadows ($24 each), a brand spankin’ new line of powder shadows, headline the launch.

I swatched the collection a couple weeks ago; right off the bat, I had a feeling that Bobbi’s Rich Color Eyeshadows would rock me down to Electric Avenue. And they did. Now, after having worn two of the eight shades, I’m itching to grab a few more. Read more…

THE MAC FALL COLOUR
COLLECTION MAKES IT EASY TO SMILE FOR THE CAMERA

Photography geek alert! Everyone please remain calm, but this is kind of a big deal, especially if you’re a fellow photography geek and/or major MAC fan.

When I heard a while back that acclaimed New York photographer Cindy Sherman was going to be taking pics for the new MAC Fall Colour collection, I nearly dropped my DSLR!

Sherman’s probably best known for her self-portraits, where she gets into a specific character and does the whole kit and caboodle herself — everything from her own makeup, to styling, to modeling for the shoots and, of course, taking her own pics — and her work often tackles topics like women in society, media and art. Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen