weeklyroundup

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

So what did you end up doing last night? Something fun, I hope. After cleaning the entire house from top to bottom, I rewarded myself with a Chipotle veggie burrito and a trip to the mall. At the MAC store I resupplied a few essentials that were running low — the Eyeshadows in Restrospeck (love it with Soba and Sable) and Concrete (my go-to brow filler), and Lipglass in Spite (been wearing it since the ’90s).

Then, back at the home, I took the Tabinator for a walk around the neighborhood and watched some weird French movie called Caché on TV. Juliette Binoche was in it, so I figured how bad can it be? In it, a family is being stalked by someone who keeps his/her identity hidden. The stalker videos the family going about their daily lives, even from inside their own home, and then sends copies of the tapes to them, as if to say, “Neener neener, I see you! And I’m totally crazy.”

I liked it, but I couldn’t relate to the main characters, especially the main husband dude. He’s weirdly passive about the whole thing for the longest time, like doopdadoo, we’re being stalked. What’s for dinner, hun?

Anywho, how are you doing? Was there a highlight of the week for you? Something good at work or school? Or maybe a nice break from the daily grind? How about with your hair or makeup? Did you try anything new? I’ve been playing a little more with some bolder eye looks lately, and that’s been a lot of fun.

Here’s one last look at a few of the things we dished about on the blog. Hope you have a great morning, and I’ll be back soon. Just gotta refill my coffee and finish watching The Millionaire Matchmaker with Tabs (he keeps rolling his eyes).

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

FOR THE PRICE, THESE $3.49 ESSENCE GEL EYELINERS
HAVE MAC FLUIDLINE WHIPPED

Essence continues to rock me like a hurricane (and take the drugstore makeup world by storm). What fab, little steals these pigmented, long-wearing Gel Eyeliners are! They come in three shades — matte black Midnight in Paris, shimmery taupe London Baby and shimmery purple Berlin Rocks — and cost a mere $3.49 each.

The fluffy texture of this shoestring wedding of whipped mousse and $15 MAC Fluidline doesn’t hold these back at all. In fact, with the Sonia Kashuk bent brush, I find them surprisingly easy to apply, and since they’re also quick drying — like, in less than a minute — I finish lining with them in less time than it takes to say, “Ben McKenzie is hot!”

Well, ya know. 🙂 Read more…

TIGI CATWALK SESSION SERIES SALT SPRAY
DELIVERS BEACHY WAVES FROM A BOTTLE

I must have been born a water baby because I could spend all day at the beach. I’m serious, get me in the ocean, and I’m a happy girl.

Rather, get me in a warm ocean, and I’m a happy girl.

I vividly remember the last time I was in the water at a warm beach because it was also the day I saw some of the best beachy waves I’ve ever seen. It was the day after Thanksgiving last November, and we were visiting El Hub’s parents in Hawaii. We spent quite a chunk of that trip chasing sea turtles, so to speak, flapping in our flippers and snorkels.

We’d just climbed out of the water to take a short break, which meant people watching and nomming on local snacks (coconut balls and Pass-o-Guava juice, anyone?). I was watching a group of kids build a giant sand castle on the shore, and one of the girls involved in its construction had a perfectly tousled, messy mop of pure, casual awesomeness on her head. She must’ve only been about seven or eight, but I remember thinking, “Hot damn! I wish my hair looked like that!” Read more…

MAC COLOURIZATIONS PRO PALETTE EYE SHADOW X 2
YOU CAN’T EASILY POP IN AND OUT OF THIS DOUBLE FEATURE

The very first time I walked up to a MAC eyeshadow display case, my eyes rolled back in my head. Not because of eyeshadow ecstasy, mind you; this was years ago, and at the time I didn’t know Soft Brown from chocolate delight. No, looking down at those rows of sleek, little pots, as beads of perspiration formed on my brow, I was utterly and completely overwhelmed.

What I could have used back then was something like the new MAC Pro Palette Eye Shadows X 2 ($25 each US; $30 in Canada). Designed to take the guesswork out of choosing which eyeshadows to pair by teaming two coordinating colors together in a cute lil’ palette (and eliminating what was a major source of makeup stress for me way back when), these eight duos dance onto MAC counters with the new Colourizations Collection August 4 in North America, and internationally, some time next month. Read more…

ESSENCE MULTI-COLOUR BLUSH
IS WEARING STRIPES TO THE PARTY BUT CAN’T STAY FOR LONG

If something has stripes, I’m usually totally into it, but when it comes to these $2.49 Essence Multi-Colour Blushes, well, let’s just say that their cute stripes and great price are just about the best things they have going for ‘em.

I give the two available shades, pale pink Fashionista and pale peach How Cute Is That, major points for looking cute on a budget, but their knees buckle beside the performance of rock stars from the Essence line, like the fantastic Gel Eyeliners.

I wore light pink Fashionista to the beach the other day, and even though I like the natural-looking cheek flush and subtle sheen it lends, the look just doesn’t last. The effect had all but vanished in less than three hours. Read more…

9 THINGS
SIMPLE PLEASURES (SUMMER AND OTHERWISE)

You know what they say, right? “It’s the simple things.” The simple pleasures, like sleeping in, an ice-cold Coca Cola on a hot day, a new tube of lipstick, a good hair day, a tender kiss, a comforting smile, a good hug, a stranger holding open the door, a few words of encouragement.

What are some of the simple pleasures you’ve been enjoying lately? Here are some of mine, in no particular order (I can’t wait to hear yours).

1. Lounging by the pool. My favorite part of last weekend wasn’t the plate of killer fries I had with that delicious veggie burger at the mall (although it was delicious). Nope, last weekend nirvana took the shape of my bum parked in a lounge chair by the neighborhood pool.

And I didn’t do any web surfing, blogging, tweeting or texting at all while I was there. Instead, I resisted the urge to plug in and just tried to focus on my thoughts for a while. Read more…

TARTE FOR TRUE BLOOD
EYE SEE VAMPS EVERYWHERE GOING CRAZY FOR THIS PALETTE

Well polish my coffin and pour me another cup of that True Blood, Team Tarte, because I’d like to raise my glass! Y’all obviously sunk your teeth into the new limited edition True Blood Palette ($52). I’d stake my life on that.

But seriously, the effort Tarte put into developing this palette shows in the clever little details, like the words “Open After Dark” scrawled across the cubby that conceals the mini primer, mascara and eyeliner, and the lace threading through the grommets on the cover (er, those better not be silver!).

Saucy!

A little drawer for a set of fake fangs would’ve been the icing on the cake. After all, undead wannabes wear makeup, too, but I guess you can’t appease all of the fangbangers all of the time… But you can appease some of them some of the time, especially when you arrange the shadows in a palette in a logical way. Read more…

TARTE FOR TRUE BLOOD LIPSURGENCE NATURAL LIP TINT
DELIVERS RED LIPS WITHOUT THE BITE

Vampires aren’t known for their flexibility (their restricted diet, won’t work daytime hours, religious intolerance, etc.), but the new Tarte for True Blood LipSurgence Natural Lip Tint ($24) is. It’s one of the most flexible reds I’ve come across in a really long time.

The crayon/pencil tip makes this medium-coverage, iridescent red a cinch to apply. The color’s easily buildable, too, making it workable in a variety of occasions and looks from demure to dramatic.

I haven’t figured out why Tarte chose to give it a faint minty flavor and scent (um, how does mint relate to vampires?), but I like the way they’re executed; I think both of them are refreshing (again, vampires?) like gum.

Now that I think about it, I can’t think of a more appropriate, better taste and scent… Garlic is certainly out. Read more…

MAC COLOURIZATIONS COLLECTION
THIS DRAMATIC DOUBLE FEATURE STARS A TEAL AND BROWN EYE

Okay, so you how when you’re in the mood to do a dramatic eyeshadow look, and you start with just a few colors, but the next thing you know you’ve got, like, 10 different shades all up on your lids?

Welcome to my world, chica.

I don’t know what it is, but when I see all of those lonely pans looking up at me hopefully, I can’t help myself. A little bit of this one here, a tiny bit of that one there. OOH! A dash of this one to accentuate everything else. 🙂

Sometimes I wonder if I have some kind of medical makeup condition that compels me to use four different browns in the crease. Read more…

DOLCE & GABBANA ITALIAN SUMMERTIME LIPSTICK
SWATCHES AND WORKING WITH DEMANDING CATS

Seriously, if I don’t start getting some recognition from my boss, I just might go apesh*t. Don’t get me wrong, I love working for Tabs. Being his executive assistant/gravy chef has been an amazing experience, but he refuses to acknowledge any boundaries between my work and personal life.

Last night I literally had one foot out the door when he stopped me.

“Meow!” he said, knowing full well that El Hub and I had reservations for dinner.

“But it’s our anniversary,” I replied. I pleaded with him, but he just stared back at me, expressionless, as if to say, “And?” He told me dinner would have to wait until I finished swatching these new lip products from the Dolce & Gabbana Italian Summertime Collection, available now at Saks stores and also online.

Apparently, he got an e-vite from Domenico and Stefano to spend the weekend at their villa on Lake Como in Italy, and he wanted the swatches to help him decide which lip colors he should wear for the trip. Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Good morning. Good morning. How did you sleep? 🙂 I probably could have slept a little more, but I wanted to get going, ya know? To attack the day! — and all that.

How was your night? Did you do anything fun? I swung by Target for dental floss on my way to Tuttimelon —

Which reminds me, I got another watermelon last night. Yup, this one from Target. I even used my phone in the store to look up “how to choose a good watermelon.” Apparently, it has nothing to do with knocking on them, she read, after she’d already knocked on about half of the melons in the store, or with weight, because a heavy melon can be juicy yet not sweet. The article I found said to look for a generally symmetrical shape (aren’t they always generally symmetrical?), vibrant green striping and a yellow, or yellowish orange, “crown” area, which indicates that the melon was allowed to sit and sweeten in the field for a good, long while.

I brought one home that met the aforementioned criteria (how official!), so we’ll see. I haven’t cracked it open yet, even though I desperately want to. I think I’ll save it for tomorrow and make it my Independence Day treat!

In makeup news, what did you think of the NARS Fall 2011 stuff we looked at this week? Interested, or on the fence? Looking back, I probably had the most fun with bright blue Outremer Eyeshadow. It’s statement makeup, for sure, although its intensity is easy to manage with layers, and I don’t always have a place to go where I can make that kind of statement, but it makes me want to think of something, you know, somewhere I can wear it, if that makes any sense.

That must mean I like it.

I’m looking at pics right now from last week of Outremer and that leopard-print dress, the Dolce & Gabbana Animalier Bronzer and MAC Impassioned Lipstick…

Just imagine all four of those together. Hello! Cat lady says what? 🙂

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

NARS FALL 2011: I’D SAIL THE SEVEN SEAS
FOR NARS OUTREMER EYESHADOW

Like a bold accent necklace or a fun, floral scarf, bright blue NARS Outremer Single Eyeshadow ($23) does add a certain something special to a makeup maven’s look.

That said, could I see myself wearing it every single day? No, probably not, because I don’t think it’s that kind of shade, which is not to say it isn’t flexible. Oh, no. It most certainly is.

NARS designed the mostly matte blue Outremer (see the tiny silver sparkles?), the French word for “overseas,” to contrast with the softer green, peach, taupe and rose eyeshadows in the fall collection. Read more…

TARTE FOR TRUE BLOOD
NATURAL CHEEK STAIN: Y’ALL RED-Y FOR THIS?

Remember the True Blood episode last season when Pam busted out the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil? I turned to El Hub on the couch and was like, “ZOMG! Did you see Pam with her NARS!? AAAHHHH!”

He just stared at me like I’d lost my mind…

Don’t you just love it when you recognize makeup on your favorite TV shows? I wonder if the new Tarte for True Blood Natural Cheek Stain ($30) will make an appearance on TV this year.

It’s an intensely pigmented red gel blush, recently launched with two other pieces in the new limited edition Tarte for True Blood collection, and it’s loaded with golden glitter. Read more…

NARS FALL 2011: APHRODITE HERSELF WOULD
CALL THE DELPHES TRIO EYESHADOW COOL

This trio is totally ruined! But wait — in this case, that’s a good thing.

The ruins at Delphi, where the ancient Greeks worshipped the god Apollo, inspired Delphes ($45; part of the Fall 2011 collection), the latest trio to emerge from the House of NARS.

Can you see the resemblance? — how the ruins, and the plants taking them over, influenced this cool-toned trio of sparkling, sheer peach, matte dove gray and frosty sage?

A few notes about the shade, like Sparkling Peach. This shade really shines thanks to large pieces of silver glitter, but I have to proceed with caution; otherwise, it ends up in my brows and on my cheeks. With Sparkling Peach, I get better results when I use firm, flat eyeshadow brushes than I get from brushes with softer bristles, and I keep my eye makeup remover close at hand to clean up any fallout. Read more…

IT’S NO ILLUSION; THIS SPARKLE IS REAL
ILLUSIONS D’OMBRES DE CHANEL COLLECTION FOR FALL

Metallics rule the new 21-piece Illusions D’Ombres De Chanel collection for fall flaunting eye-catching, shimmery finishes, but a solitary matte blush threatens to steal the crown!

Ooh! It’s like Game of Thrones up in here. 🙂

Well met, lords and ladies. Heya! How’s your hump day been? Mine got epically better this afternoon when I ran into the new Chanel Fall 2011 collection at Nordies after lunch. The limited edition release for eyes, lips and cheeks is available now at Chanel counters and also online, and if you like your makeup with major bling, feast your eyes upon this. Read more…

A MID-WEEK DATE NIGHT LOOK WITH
CHANEL, MAC AND NARS

When it started to look like cereal for dinner, El Hub and I decided at the last minute to go on a mid-week date last night (fish and chips, and beer… romantic, I know!). I went with this quick, sparkly look using a mix of new pieces from NARS, Chanel and MAC (and very little blending) and sprinkled it with some permanent products from Jouer, Hourglass, Buxom and Urban Decay.

Nothing much, but it only took a couple of minutes to do. Perfect for impromptu fried foods and beer.

Quick — say you only have 2 minutes to do your makeup before dinner. What do you do? Read more…

WHY, YES, I’M HAVING A SUMMER ROMANCE WITH THE ILLUSIONS
D’OMBRES DE CHANEL COLLECTION FOR FALL 2011

Fall makeup always makes me think of doing fall-ish things, like sipping hot cider (or maybe a little eggnog) by the fireplace or the wood-burning stove, carving pumpkins (which I’ve only done once or twice), or skipping down suburban sidewalks past huge piles of orange and yellow leaves, and kicking ‘em up (SWOOSH!) every once in a while with the tips of my thigh-high suede boots. 🙂

Since summer’s only just begun, however, I’ll have to wait a while before the eggnog shows up at Trader Joe’s, but I won’t have to wait to wear fall makeup, not with so many lines launching their limited edition fall stuff early. Seriously, next year we’ll be celebrating Christmas in July! Read more…

TAME HOUSE TABBY OR JUNGLE CAT?
THE DOLCE & GABBANA ANIMALIER BRONZER

Card carrying members of Team Cat Lady, whether you’re a a tame house tabby or a certified jungle cat, chances are you WILL meow when you see the leopard print on Dolce & Gabbana’s limited edition Animalier Bronzer ($50).

Isn’t it just the coolest thing since leopard-print heels? Too bad the pattern’s an overspray and not actually etched into the pan — or maybe that’s for the best. The first few times it’s used, as the colors in the overspray are mixed together, the product applies super dark (like a chocolate golden sheen), and it would probably make a fantastic eyeshadow totally perfect for sexy, smokey eyes.

But once the overspray gets worn away, out comes a sheer, orangey brown bronzer with tiny flecks of golden glitter. Mrow! It’s sheer, though. Too sheer for me as an NC42; on me it delivers a subtle warmth, yet while I sheer do like the glitter and how smooth it feels, there’s something a little off about how the color works with my skin, like some of the darker tones from the overspray are still milling about. Read more…

MAC UNSUNG HEROES MAC
IMPASSIONED LIPSTICK (AND WATERMELON)

It’s official: I am in food lust with watermelon. That one from the other day? Completely gone. And it was ginormous, too! — like bigger than Tabs, and I ate it all by myself in, like, two days. On the one hand (and I’m thrilled about this) I’m not having any, um, fiber issues, but on the other hand, I’m a little afraid I might be overdoing it.

So sweet, so juicy…

Gotta swing by Trader Joe’s to get another one ASAP.

I’m obsessed! I’ve got watermelon on the brain. It’s even creeping into my makeup. Just the other day, I was looking at Impassioned ($14.50), one of my favorite MAC Lipsticks, when it hit me…

No, not the watermelon, silly! It occurred to me that Impassioned is a perfect watermelon pink. Read more…

OUTFIT OF THE DAY, VOL. 3
CALL ME CAT LADY (AND A TRICK TO LOOK TALLER)

I’m pretty short at 5’1″, but in my mind I’m taller.

How much taller?

On a good day, at least 5’8″. Of course, the rest of the world disagrees.

Once, years ago when I worked in San Francisco, I was walking through China Town on my lunch break in four-inch heels when I found myself behind a group of middle school students on an historic tour of the neighborhood. I was heading to my favorite greasy spoon for lunch, a place in the same direction the group was heading, so I tagged along (hey, free tour!), listening to the group’s tour guide.

When I finally arrived at my lunch spot and broke away from the group, one of the volunteer moms started yelling.

“Get back with the group!” she barked, and I could hear her footsteps pounding behind me. Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Good morning, young lady. How did you sleep? Did you rage against the machine last night? I did, from the comfort of the couch. I watched I Am Number Four again, for a total of two times during the 48-hour rental window (take that, Amazon Instant Video!), eating popcorn and mango bars well past midnight. And why did I do it? Well, just because I can! she shouted, shaking her fist at the world.

How’s it going this morning? My visit to the museum yesterday was a lot of fun. There were two special exhibits, one featuring Pablo Picasso’s work, and the other a retrospective of fashion designer Cristóbal Balenciaga’s clothes from the ’40s – ’60s.

I can’t recall ever seeing any of Picasso’s work before in person, so it was neat to see the size of the canvases he worked on and the layering of his brush strokes in paintings that I’d ever only seen in books or on prints. I also never knew before yesterday that he was also a sculptor.

Balenciaga’s Spanish roots heavily influenced his designs, like the bolero jackets worn by matadors, the long skirts and capes worn by peasant women in the fields, the shawls worn by flamenco dancers, the detailing of the attire worn by Spanish royalty in the 16th and 17th centuries, and the influence of Catholicism throughout it all. Working in his fashion house was said to be like working in a monastery — everyone was required to work in silence.

Yeah, I would not have been able to deal. 🙂

I only wish I’d been able to take pictures of the exhibits, but the guards weren’t having it this time…

Thank you for the wonderful comments, tweets and emails about EvRev. I’m really glad to hear you like it. Oh, and cat/dog moms, if you want to take a pic of your pet with your tube, I won’t stop you (actually, I encourage you to do it!).

Here’s one last look back at what we talked about this week on the blog.

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

NARS UNSUNG HEROES
PRO-PRIME SMUDGE PROOF EYESHADOW BASE

When I finished my first tube of lightweight, colorless NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base ($24), the thought of not being able to reach for what I’d come to consider the best eye makeup primer currently on the market almost triggered a minor panic attack.

We’d been inseparable since we met last November, thanks to the Troublemaker Gift Set, and I was impressed from the start. Pro-Prime intensifies the color of products applied on top of it and extends wear time, too. It grips cream and powder shadows, eyeliners and brow pencils tighter than teeth on a night guard.

When I start with Pro-Prime in the morning, my eye makeup still looks fresh and crease-free at dinner, even on hot, muggy days. Read more…

JOUER SERVES UP COOL PINK LIPS
AND SHEER BRONZED SKIN FOR SUMMER 2011

I’ve heard about days like today — sunny days in San Francisco — but always thought they were myths or legends. 🙂 Just kidding, of course. San Francisco does get sunny days, despite the many postcard pics of the Golden Gate Bridge shrouded in fog, and today was one of them. It was so sunny and hot, in fact, that I probably could have fried a petrified dragon egg on the sidewalk (yes, I’m obsessed with Game of Thrones).

Not expecting it to be as warm as it was today, I did a full face of makeup for my meeting in the city, with foundation, concealer, powder, blush, eyeshadow, mascara, eye primer — the whole nine yards. Then, after the meeting, I started sweating on the short walk back to the car. The tiny trickle o’ perspiration that tickled its way down the side of my face got me thinking about simple summer makeup, and I couldn’t wait to get home so I could slip into some Jouer.

The high-end indie brand recently launched two new pieces for sweltering summer days, a Moisturizing Lip Gloss in Peony ($20) and an Oil-Free Sheer Bronzing Tint with SPF 15 ($32), both of them designed to be worn together for a simple yet polished summertime look. Read more…

IT’S GLOW TIME WITH THE PACIFICA ISLAND GLOW
BEAUTIFUL BODY KIT

When my eyes lighted upon the Pacifica Island Glow Beautiful Body Kit at Sephora last Sunday, I felt like a tourist browsing shops along a beach-side promenade. I was “just looking around” at the time (haha, we all know how that usually goes), and before I knew it, I was clutching the cute box in my hands!

The $24 kit comes with four of Pacifica’s newest products to buff, moisturize and make summer skin sparkle.

Par for the course when it comes to Pacifica, the products are also cruelty-free, which gets two paws up from MBB’s resident husky tabby/amateur golfer. Read more…

STAY WITH ME
ESSENCE LONGLASTING LIPGLOSS

Today, the first official day of summer, has been the hottest day of the year so far, yet shortly after it topped 92 °F this afternoon (33 °C) I exclaimed, “cool!”

Thanks to the shine-preventing power of powder (in this case MAC Blot), you may not be able to tell from these pics that my air conditioner is busted. I considered retreating with my water noodle to a pool, but then I would have had to wait before telling you about these bargain basement glosses from Essence.

Dang, right? Today has been all about the glosses.

The Essence line, an import from Germany, is still new to U.S. shores. Price-wise, it fits nicely next to other drugstore lines like NYC New York Color and Wet n Wild, and can be found at Ulta stores and also online. Read more…

OUTFIT OF THE DAY, VOL. 1
A BLUE SUMMER DRESS WITH YELLOW HEELS

I totally smurfed out today! — and since I’m a big fan of “outfit of the day” posts, I thought I’d smurf two birds with one stone 🙂 and take pics of myself from head to toe.

The dress (about $40) is from a brand called Lush, and, um, I found it on the Nordstrom website in the Juniors Department… Yes, I have no shame when it comes to wearing clothing made for teenagers, but shopping for those clothes actually inside a store beside girls born after I graduated from college kindasorta freaks me out.

It comes in the blue pictured here, as well as black.

Unfortunately, when I checked online for the dress again today, I wasn’t able to find it, so if you’re interested and live near a Nordstrom store, it might be worth a quick call or visit, especially if you live somewhere hot.

The dress itself is rayon and weighs next to nothing, almost like a lightweight linen, and the elastic waist adds a little definition to my shape without feeling too clingy. So comfy in the heat! Read more…

GO FROM DAY TO NIGHT IN A FLASH WITH THE
MAC BLOGGERS’ OBSESSIONS COLLECTION

Never work for a cat. I’m serious. Mine has me running around like a chicken with its head cut off this week, and I’ve been puting in some long 14-hour days, dashing from meetings with kitty modeling agency executives, to working lunches, to Petco on behalf of Tabs, who just broke another cat toy, and apparently replacing it is “the company’s top priority.” WHATEVER, DUDE!

What’s that old saying? When it rains it pours? I try to remember that this surge of stuff on my calendar is only temporary and something we all go through from time to time. We’re busy gals, after all, with places to go, pets to appease and shoes over which to obsess. Read more…

5 SUMMER STAPLES
EYE MAKEUP ESSENTIALS TO BEAT THE HEAT

Orange eyeshadow? Come to mama. Teal eyeliner? I’m all over it. You don’t have to ask me twice when it comes to trying trendy eye makeup. The answer is the same emphatic “Yes!” I’d give to an up-close-and-personal search from Detective Elliot Stabler on Law & Order: SVU.

But while outrageous eyes can be a blast, this girl’s gotta have her steady staples, too. Tried-and-true eye makeup essentials, like the five summer staples below, can keep your eyes fly when the temperature climbs. Read more…

IT COSTS 99 CENTS TO COLOUR & GO WITH
ESSENCE QUICK DRYING NAIL POLISH

One day, after cleaning my room back when I was in elementary school, I asked my mom for an allowance and tried to justify it as compensation for a job well done. Her reply? “When someone starts paying me for making dinner and washing clothes, then you get an allowance.”

Oh, snap! Score one for Team Mom.

I still managed to scrape together a few bucks here and there, like the one my grandma gave me for being cute. “You’re so cute!” she said. “Here’s a dollar!”

I strutted around with that dollar in my pocket for days, like I was some kind of third-grade baller.

Yes, those formative years probably have something to do with why I love bargain beauty deals so much. My newest cheap thrill: the 99-cent Essence Colour & Go Nail Polishes. Read more…

5 SUMMER STAPLES
SHOW SOME SKIN WITH THESE BODY CARE BASICS

Summer’s the season to show off a little skin, and to this I roar “Hallelujah!” After what felt like the longest, wettest, dreariest winter and spring in this century so far, I’m beyond ready to finally free myself from my cotton/polyester oppressors. So long, long pants, wool socks and turtleneck sweaters. Peace!

Summers in this part of Northern California can get pretty hot, but before I venture out in a summer dress or park my posterior poolside in a swimsuit, I like to do a bit of body beauty prep first (don’t want my hairy sasquatch legs to frighten the neighborhood kids, ya know?). For this I turn to body care basics like the fab five listed here. Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Good morning, young lady (and you, too, young sirs). Happy Father’s Day! To all the dads out there — and I hope you are out there, perhaps reading about the importance of sunscreen, discovering a new cologne, compiling a list of organic haircare products, researching gifts, entering giveaways, or just learning about makeup and beauty for any number of other reasons — we salute you! Today is all about the boys.

And to my dads (mine and El Hub’s), thank you both for everything you do. Today, the remote is yours, gentlemen! Feel free to watch all the bad science fiction and sports you want.

As for me, right now I’m just sitting here planning my day, which I hope includes plenty of time to relax. And reflect. I’ve been weirdly emotional lately. I feel a little better this morning after a couple of cupcakes and two hours of Sex and the City DVDs last night, but I’m still not 100%.

I’m sure it’s nothing… You know how it is.

Did you fall in love with any new makeup or beauty products this week? I’m still swooning over that $5 Goody tortoise-shell headband. Wish I could find one to fit Tabs. I think he’d look really cute.

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

THE LULULEMON ATHLETICA 50 REP BRA
THE BEST DAMN SPORTS BRA I’VE EVER WORN

Seeing as how I spent last weekend in Vancouver, the city where Lululemon Athletica was born, I figured I should give a shout-out to my favorite over-the-shoulder-boulder-holder, the 50 Rep Bra ($42).

I’ve tried gaggles of different sports bras over the years from more brands than I can remember — Champion, Nike, Adidas and Moving Comfort are a few that spring to mind — and by far my favorite so far has been the 50 Rep. It’s the most comfortable sports bra I’ve ever worn, for sure.

It comes in several prints (like the one I’m wearing here) and solid colors, from classic, sporty shades like black, white and gray, to spunkier shades like red and mint green. Read more…

3 LESSONS LEARNED
SUMMER HAIR MISHAPS

Yesterday I came to the shockingly wonderful realization that the official start of summer is less than one week away, and judging by the rising temps and lack of rain in the 10-day forecast, it looks like the weather has finally gotten with the program.

Ah, summer… Such great memories, but when I think back to the summers of my youth, I’m surprised I remember them at all. There were no far-flung adventures backpacking through Europe or sailing trips around the world. Nope, my childhood summers were much more mundane. I spent most of them hanging out at the local Thrifty drugstore, where you could get a free ice cream for returning a shopping cart to the store, and watching videos on MTV (back when MTV actually played videos). For the most part, I spent my summers doing absolutely nothing. Read more…

A BLAST FROM THE PAST, L’OCCITANE PIVOINE FLORA
BEAUTY CREAM BLOOMS LIKE A RETRO ROSE

Even though the scent of L’Occitane Pivoine Flora Beauty Cream ($36) reminds me of my ninang (the Tagalog word for godmother), I’m gonna assume the folks at L’Occitane weren’t shooting for eau de high maintenance Filipino godmother divas when they developed it. 🙂

I love the scent, which smells more to me like a mix of old school Oil of Olay (the one that came in the pink bottle), floral soaps and roses than the peonies it contains. I can picture something similar sitting on the dressing table of a young woman in the ’50s, or see it sitting on a shelf today in the home of an older woman who still remembers being that girl. While I think it suits girls of all ages, those who prefer scents on the mature side may like it more than, say, the fruity bubblegum body sprays that sparkle in most drugstores. Read more…

TOPSHOP CHEEKS IN LUMINESCENCE
IS STICKING IT TO MAC NYMPHETTE

If you’ve spent sleepless nights (LOL! I almost typed “knights.” Yeah, someone’s been obsessed with Game of Thrones lately.) tossing and turning over the need to find a cream blush version of MAC Nymphette Lipglass, as bizarre as that might sound, you wouldn’t be the only one.

I’m right there with ya, babe! 🙂 But get this: Topshop might finally have a cure for what ails us.

The line recently introduced three new creamy, multi-purpose sticks called Cheeks, $20 blush/highlighters designed to add shimmery color to faces, lips, bodies and — you guessed it — cheeks. Read more…

SHOULD YOU R.S.V.P. FOR TARTE’S AMAZONIAN
CLAY WATERPROOF CREAM SHADOW IN SEASHELL PINK?

It appears that Tarte RSVP’d for Benefit’s popular Creaseless Cream in R.S.V.P, and, while at the release party, stole the idea for the color, and ran with it all the way to the beach — or the Seashore, to be more precise.

Just how close is Tarte’s new Amazonian Clay Waterproof Cream Eyeshadow in Seashell Pink to Benefit Creaseless Cream in R.S.V.P.? The short answer: close.

Both shimmery pink cream eyeshadows look darn near like sisters in their pots and swatches, but I think if you look closely at both of them, you’ll see richer peach pigments in Seashell Pink. Read more…

MAC UNSUNG HEROES
THIS LIP PENCIL IS IN SYNCH

Can I tell you a secret? Okay, first, you have to promise not to tell. It’s not that I’m embarrassed or anything… Well, maybe a little, but here goes: sometimes, when I’m alone, I rock out to old ‘N Sync songs.

There, I said it.

Hey now, don’t judge! Their Celebrity album was actually pretty good.

Someone at MAC even named one of the company’s Lip Pencils after the band (well…), and it happens to be today’s Unsung Hero, In Synch ($13).

Fate is such a fickle mistress, isn’t she? I almost never met this yellowish pastel pink because for a long time I’d always just assumed it would be too light for my coloring (I’m usually more of a Subculture kinda gal). Then I decided to give it a try one day on a whim. Read more…

I’VE WAITED FOREVER TO MAKE THIS STATEMENT
I FINALLY FOUND A COMFORTABLE TORTOISE-SHELL HEADBAND (THANKS, GOODY!)

Let me tell you, it is NOT easy to find a comfortable tortoise-shell headband. Most are made out of stiff plastic that squeezes the life out of my noggin, giving me headaches. I do love how they look, though — so preppy and chic. So very J. Crew, which is why I keep trying to find a great one.

I never thought I’d actually find it for $5, but I think I have, in the form of the tortoise-shell headwrap from the Goody Statements collection (available exclusively at Target). I guess in a world where there can be a fourth season of a show like Jersey Shore, anything is possible.

Instead of a rigid band, it’s a soft, flexible plastic one with a tortoise-shell pattern and a loop of stretchy black elastic connecting the ends. It’s BEYOND comfy — shoot, maybe even more comfortable than stretchy pants, fluffy beds and Adidas shell-toe shoes. Read more…

TWO-BUCK CHIC
HAVE YOU TRIED $2 ESSENCE EYESHADOWS BEFORE?

And here I thought the most fun I could have for $2 would come from a bottle of Two-Buck Chuck.

Oh, but that was before I met these Essence Eyeshadows. They come in 18 colors across three different finishes (matte, shimmer and holographic), and each will set you back a mere $2.

The different finishes have varying levels of pigmentation, with the shimmer and holographic shades generally depositing more color than the mattes.

Here’s a quick look at six of them. Right now I’m on the fence about these, but I’m really interested to hear what you think. Read more…

MAC BLOGGERS’ OBSESSIONS COLLECTION
SWATCHES AND PICTURES

Super quick look at the upcoming MAC Bloggers’ Obsessions Collection, a nine-piece collection of MAC Eyeshadows and Lipglasses launching June 21, exclusively online. Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

[BIG YAWN!] Rise and shine, morning glory! It’s going to be a beautiful (albeit cloudy here) day. Tabs and I just finished watching an episode of How Do I Look. Host Jeannie Mai is starting to grow on me. At first I missed Finola Hughes, who always seemed so empathetic and supportive of the guests. They’re often down on their luck and going through difficult times in their lives, but Jeannie has some of that same compassion, too. I’m officially re-hooked on the show again.

What are you up to today? Doing anything fun? I hope it’s sunny and warming up where you are. Picnic weather. We’re having pretty unusual weather out here in Northern California for this time of year. I can’t recall the last time the forecast called for rain heading into the second week of June (we even had some hail on Friday). It would normally be breaking the 90s by now, but one nice thing about this weather is it keeps the plants lush leading up to summer.

This was a memorable week for me with the MAC Bloggers’ Obsessions Collection, and I’m just glad I was able to share it with you. Outside of my life with the blog, very few of my friends and family are into makeup (or blogging, for that matter), so this experience would not have been anywhere near as much fun without you. 🙂

Before we begin a new week together, here’s one last look back at the things we talked about this week. Whatever you do today, I hope you have a wonderful day.

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

THE MAC BLOGGERS’ OBSESSIONS COLLECTION
MAC EVOLUTION REVOLUTION LIPGLASS

I suppose the very first spark that led to MAC Evolution Revolution Lipglass ($14.50) ignited one day in Mrs. Mannah’s second-grade class. The year was 1982, and I’d just met Jen, who would quickly become one of my lifelong BFFs.

Evolution Revolution is the shade I created for the upcoming MAC Bloggers’ Obsessions Collection, a nine-piece collection of MAC Eyeshadows and Lipglasses launching June 21, exclusively online. It’s also the real reason for the secret squirrel trip I took to Toronto last April.

Jen and I still recall with frightening accuracy all of the cute boys in our second-grade class. “Remember Lee, with the missing tooth?” Jen will ask. “Oh, yeah,” I’ll reply. “Total hottie.”

Sometimes I find it hard to believe, but we’ve been obsessing over boys for nearly 27 years. Jen’s having a baby boy in the fall, and I can already tell he’s going to be the new object of our affections.

The next piece of the EvRev puzzle fell into place the very next year in Mrs. Hartunian’s third-grade class, which is when I met Cindy. She had long black hair, a talent for drawing graceful pictures of glamorous girls, and a great Granny Goose potato chip hookup (her dad worked there, so she would always bring a huge box of assorted chips to every class party). Read more…

12 WAYS TO WEAR
MAC EVOLUTION REVOLUTION LIPGLASS

When I imagined MAC Evolution Revolution Lipglass ($14.50), I really wanted it to be flexible — something that wouldn’t only look pretty on its own, but would also work with as many other products as possible.

Here are 12 possible pairings to spark some ideas (featuring some of my favorite peach, pink and coral MAC Lip Pencils, Cremestick Liners and Lipsticks). Oh, and please let me know in the comments if you can think of any other cool combos to try. Read more…

ACCORDING TO BARE MINERALS
JULY IS PRIME TIME FOR THESE NEW TINTED EYELID PRIMERS

Are you a bareMinerals fan who fiendishly craves metallic finishes and vivid colors? If you are, July just got a little more exciting. That’s when the brand plans to expand their Prime Time Eyelid Primer line by adding six new shades ($18 each).

The new colors, which, like the brand’s three existing primers, can be worn alone or as bases for cream or powder eyeshadows, promise to increase the wear time of powder and cream products layered on top. They’re designed to postpone creases and fading and should be particularly great for gals with oily skin. The brand’s existing primers include their Prime Time Eyelid Primer (similar to Too Faced Shadow Insurance); a version with a sheer, golden sheen called Prime Time Brightening Eyelid Primer; and an even lighter version, Prime Time Brightening Eyelid Primer in Brightening Pearl, which has an iridescent, pearly sheen. Read more…

MAC UNSUNG HEROES
MAC SUNBASQUE SHEERTONE SHIMMER BLUSH

At the top of the list of not-so-smart things I’ve done over the past few days: starting to watch a scary movie at 10:30 p.m. Yes, that’s when I cranked up Insidious the other night thinking I’d only watch “10 minutes of it” before going straight to bed.

Bad idea.

Of course I had to finish it, which was like watching Britney’s infamous breakdown (I couldn’t look away!), except with sudden loud noises, scary silhouettes seen through darkened windows, and creaky wooden floors. NOTE TO SELF: films featuring demon possession do not make for relaxing bedtime fare.

Luckily, I also managed to do something pretty smart this week, which almost balances things out. I remembered where I put my missing pan of MAC Sheertone Shimmer Blush in Sunbasque ($19.50), one of my summer faves for sunkissed cheeks, and arguably one of MAC’s user-friendliest (I don’t think that’s a real word…) blushes. Read more…

TURN AROUND, BRIGHT EYES
TARTE EMPHASEYES INNER RIM BRIGHTENER

Between good old-fashioned insomnia, the fear of demon possession and Tabs sprinting up and down the stairs at midnight like a crazypants, I’ve been averaging about four hours of sleep a night this week.

Yeah, the dark circles are in the mutha’ truckin’ house, and neither my normally reliable MAC Pro Longwear Concealer nor my trusty Smashbox Photo Op Under Eye Brightener are cutting it. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

While it’s not a concealer, soft beige Tarte emphasEYES Inner Rim Brightener ($18) is designed to deliver wide-awake eyes. The matte finish looks natural to me, and the product’s easy enough to use. Just twist the bottom to expose the tip, and guide it along the lower inner rim and inner corner of the eyes. It can also be used to highlight the brow bone to further define the shape of the brows. Read more…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BARE MINERALS!
I WISH YOU LOVE & HAPPINESS

I thought it was April showers that brought May flowers, but yet it rained today. What’s up with that? I was getting a little down about it, too, until I saw the colors in the new bareMinerals Love & Happiness Collection ($35). There they were, like a break in the clouds, these shimmery pastels and brights.

The collection is, more accurately, a kit released to commemorate the company’s 35th birthday (happy b-day, BM!). I’ve played with a few other bareMinerals kits before but was never really moved. In some cases, it just seemed like there was either something missing or off about those colors. These, however, look like a garden party (complete with knee-length dresses, fine china and cucumber sandwiches) in a pretty pink box. Read more…

MAC UNSUNG HEROES
MAC BOMBSHELL LIPSTICK

I’ve always loved the theatricality of makeup, and by that I mean more than just its ability to alter our appearance (the WHIZZ! BAM! POP!), but also how something as seemingly insignificant as a tube of lipstick can completely change the way we feel and how we see ourselves.

Take today’s Unsung Hero, the mighty MAC Lipstick in Bombshell ($14.50). One minute with it on, and I feel my inner Mary Ann turning into Ginger!

Sometimes this frosty golden pink gets typecast as a “Barbie pink,” and it’s not hard to see why. Like Barbs, she can be quite flirty and fun, but this Bombshell is also capable of playing other roles, like seductive siren/Bond girl. Read more…

ELIZABETH ARDEN HAS BEEN BUSY IN THE GARDEN MAKING BLACK VIOLET GROW
INTRODUCING THE SMOKY EYES POWDER PENCIL IN BLACK VIOLET

Ms. Elizabeth Arden has been busy in the garden again. Her Smoky Eyes Powder Pencil in Black Violet ($16), one of seven pieces in the new Bronze in Bloom Summer 2011 Collection, can’t wait to decorate your eyes.

It’s an easy-to-use, long-wearing cream pencil that dries to a soft, powdery finish in a pretty, purplish black. I have a feeling it’ll look lovely on lasses with lighter eyes, but I think brown-eyed beauties are really in luck.

It makes doing my eye makeup in the morning a blooming breeze — just line, smudge and go. Unfortunately, when I use it I do need a touch-up along my waterlines about half way through the day (it does last all day along my lash lines, though), but because I love the color, I really don’t mind. Read more…

5 WACKY BUT EXTREMELY
USEFUL BEAUTY TOOLS

Great things have been achieved with the simplest of inventions.

Like the wheel. And ink. And simple beauty tools that make life so much easier and happier. Imagine removing facial hair with a spring, pinning up your hair with Velcro, or using tape to reinforce or alter the shape of your eyelid.

If I were the manufacturer of our first tool, I’d have named it The EPICstick! — because the results I get from this little spring are nothing short of epic. Lodged between two rubber handles is a tightly coiled metal spring that works to remove those little hairs on your upper lip, cheeks, chins, and forehead. Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Wouldn’t it be fun to be ridiculously rich and be able to produce a big budget movie and have total control over everything, like what the story is about, who the actors are, the director, and even the songs for the soundtrack (or to be able to hire an orchestra to make an original score)? Oh, the possibilities… I wonder what kind of movie I’d want to make first. Maybe a book, but somebody already took The Hunger Games, so it’s too late for that.

Wow…that was pretty random, wasn’t it? LOL! As you can probably tell, I’m having a tough time focusing this morning. 🙂 I’m still waking up.

What are your plans for today? Doing anything fun for the Memorial Day weekend? Right now I’m just listening to Pandora while I surf the web. I’m shuffling through stations for Drake, Common, Kid Cudi, Wale, Katy Perry, U2, Lauryn Hill and John Legend.

Dang, I love Pandora…

Anywho. Tell me about your makeup and beauty adventures this week. Did you try anything new? Any new products or techniques? I was surprised by L’Occitane and Lush. Both of them really impressed me this week.

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

L’OCCITANE’S PETAL EYE QUARTET PAINTS A PASTEL
PICTURE OF A COOL-TONED, WATERCOLOR WORLD

I must admit, I giggled a little when I read the inspiration behind the new L’Occitane Pivoine Flora collection. They call it “a graceful peony which dances like a ballerina in the Mediterranean breeze.” Okay, I’m a card-carrying queen of cheese, and I live for Hallmark movies, but that might even be too much queso for me.

Well, that’s what I thought…until I set my eyes on the limited edition release. The delicate pastels, watercolor imagery and nubby texture on the compacts all paint a picture in my mind that lines up fairly well with the one L’Occitane describes. It’s a dainty (albeit cheesy) world filled with floating flowers and other things that are soft, sweet and feminine — very Paul & Joe meets old-school Stila — and it’s a gaw-geous visual feast for any packaging lover’s eyes. Read more…

LANCOME’S L’ABSOLU NU
LIPSTICK REALLY SHINES FOR A SPLIT SECOND

Whatever you do, keep flaky lips far, far away from the Lancôme L’Absolu Nu lipsticks ($29).

Lancôme’s new lippies come in 16 shiny, translucent shades that look and feel like they were influenced by the delectable $28 Dior Addicts, with a similarly slick, ultra-thin texture.

When I applied a layer of shimmery Coral Sand (the one with silver micro-glitter shown at the top) yesterday morning, I didn’t realize how dry my pucker was at the time, and Coral Sand was not forgiving at all. It latched on to every little flake, emphasizing the facts that 1) I really needed to exfoliate, and 2) I was probably more than a little dehydrated.

But after I scrubbed my lips with Lush Lip Scrub and had a glass of water, L’Absolu looked much better. No more flakes, and my kisser shined like freshly polished jewelry with a slight coral tint. Read more…

WITH THE NEW BECCA AUTOMATIC EYE PENCILS
THE EXTRAS MAKE THE WORLD GOA ROUND

Not gonna lie, after feasting my eyes on the delicious nail polishes and blushes from the Becca Halcyon Days collection, I didn’t have much of an appetite left for the Automatic Eye Pencils in Goa and Majorca ($23 each). The two twist-up makeup tools were way down at the bottom of my “I’m so excited, and I just can’t hide it!” list.

But then I noticed the value-added extras Becca thought to include, like the sponge-tip applicator, hidden pencil sharpener (sweet!), and effortless texture — so smooth that it would give any silk worm a complex. In this case, it was the extras that made me stop and take notice, and I figured, heck, with summer right around the corner, I can always use a couple of new long-wearing, waterproof eyeliner staples.

Becca kept both of these colors conservative, opting for basics to complement the coral, peach and pink shades from Halcyon Days. Goa, a shimmery golden brown, reminds me of a mellower MAC Teddy, and it sits in stark contrast to starless Majorca, a pitch black devoid of green or blue undertones. Read more…

IF PRESSED TO ANSWER, I’D SAY YES!
I CARE DEEPLY FOR THE MAC SURF BABY CAREBLEND PRESSED POWDERS

With MAC Surf Baby riding onto counters soon and already hanging ten online, I thought this might be a good time to wax our surfboards philosophic about two superstars from the limited edition collection, the Studio Careblend Pressed Powders in Lush-Light Bronze and Gold-Go-Lightly ($28 each).

I love the Careblends. Like really, really love them. MAC added the line of sheer-to-medium coverage face powders, arguably some of the company’s best face products to date, to their permanent line earlier this year.

Where some tinted face powders can look chalky and/or develop cracks and creases, the Careblends, with a finish just shy of a matte, look like flawless, real skin to me. Lightweight and smooth, they’re also a joy to blend, never irritating the combination dry/oily/acne-prone skin on my face. Read more…

ROSES ARE RED, VIOLETS ARE BLUE
I HOPE THE NEW BLISS POETIC WAXING STRIPS BODY KIT ALSO WORKS WELL FOR YOU

Three weeks. Probably TMI (so what else is new?), but that’s how long I went without shaving my legs to test the new Bliss Poetic Waxing Wax Strips Body kit ($36). 🙂

I’ve used similar kits from other brands like Sally Hansen before, but the strips included with this one are made of a loosely-woven cotton fabric called muslin, instead of cardboard or plastic. You get 36 pre-waxed strips and the tiniest, Grinch-who-stole-Christmas-sized bottle of soothing azulene oil to condition your skin and remove any remaining wax when you’re done. In addition to the muslin strips, which I find easier to grip than the smooth plastic ones that come with some other kits, the wax Bliss uses also feels slightly thicker than most.

Having tried so many waxing kits before on so many different parts of my bod, I expected the usual trubs — the strips missing a lot of hair, the wax being too sticky and hard to remove, or the kit not coming with enough strips. Basically, from kits like this one, I came to expect half-@ssed results. Read more…

SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING BLUE
DO I LIKE THE ESSIE WEDDING COLLECTION? YES, I DO
Another wedding season approaches, bringing with it a bevy of bachelorette parties, bridal showers, bridesmaid dresses — which they always say you can wear again (yeah, right!) — and, of course, rampaging bridezillas!

Honestly, I can’t blame brides for going cuckoo for Coco Puffs when there are so many details involed in getting hitched (especially when you’re doing the planning yourself). It’s hard to imagine just how frustrating a seating chart can be, how something so supposedly simple can make a gal simultaneously cry and foam at the mouth like a rabid chihuahua.

But some details don’t have to be hard. Why not make two of them, like what polish to wear on your fingers and toes, a little easier with Essie’s The Wedding Collection Nail Polish cube ($17)? Read more…

L’OCCITANE PIVOINE FLORA COLLECTION
LIPSTICK IN FUSCHIA IS PERFECT FOR CASUAL FRIDAYS

Of the products I’ve played with so far from the new limited edition L’Occitane Pivoine Flora collection, my favorite has to be the Lipstick in Fuschia ($15, one of four shades; yes, here Fuschia is spelled with an ‘s’ before the ‘chia’).

It gets the pigment just right, walking that fine line between mediocre pigmentation and high-maintenance, with a finish that still looks natural even with its subtle shine. Perfect for days when I want a casual lip look without the blinding bling of a gloss.

Wear time clocks in at around two and a half hours — pretty good considering how thin and slippery it feels. The rose scent and flavor are nice touches, too, although I do detect a hint of wax. Luckily, it dissipates within a few minutes. Read more…

MY MAC THURSDAY
SURF BABY FACE OF THE DAY

If you’d asked me 15 years ago (back when I was deep into my brown/pink eyeshadow phase) if I’d wear a yellow shadow like Sun Blonde, I probably would have said, “OH, HELL NAW!”

I was pretty conservative with my makeup back then and almost never ventured out of my comfort zone. That slowly changed over time. Now, when it comes to wearing bold eye makeup, I’m still not a Rainbow Brite girl, but I am more adventurous than I was.

When I find a color I really like, I’ll try to figure out ways to wear it that I know I’ll feel comfortable in — sometimes it’s a bright pop on the lids, a subtle wash in the crease or a sweep along my lower lash lines. I also like to balance my brights with neutrals, and for my makeup today I played with the yellow and teal shades from MAC Surf Baby, pairing them with browns and beige. Read more…

GUYS AND GALS GET CLEAN WITH DIRTY
LUSH’S LATEST LAUNCH

Never have I been so excited to get dirty! 🙂

Wait — did that sound pervy? I’m actually talking about a new line of unisex hair and body products from Lush.

Available now at Lush stores and also online, the four-piece Dirty collection features stuff to cleanse, smooth and style both you and your boo.

Lush had fun with these fragrances, creating for each product a unique scent that not only stands on its own, but also complements the others in the release. Since all four of the products are designed for guys AND gals, I roped El Hub into trying two of them (you’re such a good sport, sweetie!). Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Good morning, glory. 🙂 The other day I noticed a headline on a news site that said that Amazon.com now sells more e-books than printed ones. Isn’t that incredible? The times, young lady, they are a-changin’.

Considering the news, I’m almost a little embarrassed to admit this, but I’ve never read an e-book from start to finish. Not once. Sure, I’ve read some hella long emails on my phone before (LOL!), with word counts up in the short story/novella range, but no e-books in the stricter sense of the term.

I don’t know… I think I might be a little old fashioned when it comes to books. I can’t imagine not being able to flip through paper pages or feel the weight of a new hardcover in my hands. But then there’s also the space printed books take up, the stacks and stacks of them that with very few exceptions I rarely read more than once or twice.

I think I’d like to give e-books another try. Do you have any recommendations for e-book readers? What’s the Kindle like? I hear so many good things about that one.

So, what were the makeup and beauty (and fashion) highlights of your week? The very best things. Did you try any new looks, find any good deals or learn any new tips? Inquiring minds want to know.

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

SHOULD YOU SLIDE FOR $8 OR GLIDE FOR $17?
THE CHOICE BETWEEN THE NYX SLIDE-ON EYE LINERS AND URBAN DECAY 24/7 GLIDE-ON EYE PENCILS

I used to get really grumpy back in school when kids would copy my style. It’s not that I thought of myself as a fashion visionary or anything, but I took pride in my penchant for offbeat things and fancied myself as different. So when Angela showed up to band one day wearing a baby poo green plaid vest eerily similar to the one I’d been rockin’ for most of that fall, carrying her sheet music in a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles folder a lot like mine, I couldn’t help but feel a little annoyed.

I vented about it to my friend Cindy, expecting a sympathetic ear. “Just chill out and be flattered,” she said. It was only worth tripping about if things got creepy and Single White Female (which, thank goodness, they didn’t).

Cindy was right, of course. After all, I’d copied/borrowed a few ideas from other kids, too, and looking at it that way, I thought perhaps that old saying about imitation and flattery was true. Read more…

FLOWERCHILD, YOU’LL LOOK LIKE A FLY DAMSEL
IN THE NEW BECCA HALCYON DAYS MINERAL BLUSH

The more time I spend with the Becca Halcyon Days collection, the more I fall in love love. It’s fast becoming one of my favorite summer releases so far and OOH! — do you hear that? It sings sonnets — no, more like an epic volumes! — to my peach/coral/pink/gold-lovin’ heart.

If your skin turns a toasty brown over summer, or you’re just fond of the way you look in warm pinks, peaches and corals, don’t be surprised if you catch yourself making grabby motions in the air the first time you see the Halcyon Days Mineral Blushes ($32 each) up close, or when you open the sturdy compacts, with, what is that on the outside? A rubberized texture? How cool is that!? It keeps them from slipping out of my grubby little hands.

Flowerchild (a golden peachy pink) and Damselfly (a golden coral) deliver serious, hard-to-ignore pigmentation. One swirl around the pan from my powder blush brush grabs just enough color for one cheek — no layering necessary, unless I want a brighter look. Read more…

THE NEW BUXOM LIP TARNISH PLUMPING & MOISTURIZING LIP STAINS
WANT TO WOW YOU IN 4 DIFFERENT WAYS

I don’t remember much from my brief stint in community theater as Misc. Shark Girl #3 in West Side Story, but I do remember how during auditions people would whisper about the “triple threats,” and how it was, like, a big deal to be one.

Sounds thuggish, right? — a triple threat! In theater parlance, it’s what they call someone who can sing, dance and act. Of course, I was barely able to do one of the three (I could dance a little)…but I also had long black hair that from far away helped me pass for Puerto Rican. Score! 🙂

Like multi-talented stage stars, Buxom’s new Lip Tarnish Plumping & Moisturizing Lip Stains ($18) want to do it all. Blackmail (a blackberry truffle), Busted (a cherry red), Caught on Tape (a hot pink) and Wardrobe Malfunction (a candy pink) go on sale exclusively at Sephora this August, and they hope to lavish lips in not three but FOUR different ways, tinting like a lip stain, shining like a gloss, hydrating like a lip balm and plumping like…something that plumps. Read more…

NYC NEW YORK COLOR SMOOCH PROOF
16H LIP STAINS: DATE NIGHT APPROVED

They were just a blip on my drugstore radar screen a few months ago, but now I’m tracking NYC New York Color full time. Before I even knew about the company’s cruelty-free philosophy, I was impressed by their prices and interesting colors, and after their awesome Ultra Last Lipsticks and Liquid Lip Shines buzzed my tower, I assumed the Smooch Proof 16H Lip Stains ($4.99 each, available in 10 shades) would too.

These unflavored, lightly fruit punch scented liquid lip stains come in a tube with a stiff felt-tip applicator. The 16H in the name refers to 16 hours, which is how long they’re supposed to last. They apply wet but dry to a finish that resembles the way lips look after a Popsicle or a glass of Kool-Aid. I wouldn’t exactly call it matte because it isn’t full coverage or thick like a matte lipstick, but it’s not at all shiny either. One layer leaves a light stain; two or three, a brighter, richer color. Read more…

SHOULD YOU TAKE THE PLUNGE WITH
URBAN DECAY’S NEW CANNONBALL ULTRA WATERPROOF MASCARA

I wish I could say I field tested the new Urban Decay Cannonball Waterproof Mascara ($20) by leaping from the rock at Waimea Bay on Oahu, but the methodology I used was a little less glamorous than that.

To put the new lengthening, waterproof mascara to the test, I pit it against two super soaking challenges. First, I charged headlong into a downpour to run some errands without an umbrella-ella-ella. Then, I pushed a heavy vacuum around my house for more than an hour.

As soon as I applied two layers first thing last Saturday morning, I noticed a very cool doe-eyed effect. Not only does Cannonball dramatically lengthen and separate lashes, it also cures the curl from my Shu Uemura lash curler, locking it into place. It made my peepers look crazy big, like an anime puppy’s eyes when it begs for bacon. Read more…

EYE LOVE THE SUBTLE SHEEN OF THESE SATIN FINISHES
THE $3 NYC NEW YORK COLOR MONO EYESHADOWS

Thanks to NYC New York Color’s 10 new limited edition Mono Eye Shadows ($2.99 each), I’m a little less freaked out about my birthday next month (I’m turning 36, oy vey!). I’ve been on the market for eye makeup that doesn’t draw attention to my fine lines, so these comfort colors could not have come at a better time.

Most of them have this sophisticated, soft satin finish that’s one of the most attractive, forgiving satins I’ve ever seen from a drugstore line (there are also a couple of mattes and frosts).

In terms of shine, satiny shadows broadcast a subtle sheen that sits somewhere between shimmers (or frosts) and mattes, and unlike hi-shine shimmers, they don’t appear to actively seek out the tiny wrinkles on my lids.

I feel like NYC’s satin shades turn back the clock to a kinder, gentler time — let’s call it 26, LOL! — when my eyes looked all bright and glowy most of the time. Read more…

WILD ROSES COULDN’T KEEP ME AWAY FROM THE NEW
BURBERRY BEAUTY LIP MISTS

Burberry Beauty is making a move on the must-have category with a line of $30 luxury lipsticks that look almost like bargains in spite of the price.

As soon as I saw Burberry Beauty’s Lip Mists, I wondered if I was witnessing a case of corporate espionage aimed at Chanel. These nine shiny, hydrating lippies share more than a few characteristics in common with the Chanel Rouge Coco Shines ($32).

First, there’s the finish, which has a similar subtle shine — a dewy, creamy sheen that pairs perfectly with a summertime tan. The colors themselves are rich, lightweight, long-lasting and loaded with pigment, and like the Shines don’t look heavy like a matte. Both of these lippies tread a lovely line somewhere between slightly sheer and fully opaque, but Burberry bests Chanel here in a few key areas. Read more…

THE NEW BECCA HALCYON DAYS NAIL COLOURS
ARE ON LIKE DONKEY KONG, QUICK LIKE MARIO KART

Ten weeks. I’ve been salivating over the thought of the Becca Halcyon Days Nail Colours ($15 each) for roughly ten weeks.

From those first PR pics back in March — the warm, summery pink, peach and coral — I couldn’t wait to get these on my claws, and I’ve been drooling like Pavlov’s dog ever since.

As far as I know, this is Becca’s first foray into nails, but it seems like everything the boutique-y Aussie brand does is pretty much on like Donkey Kong, and, in this case, fast!

Manis and pedis with the three creamy shades take almost no time (well, very little) because the polishes apply and dry wicked fast. Not as fast as it takes to get my attention with shirtless pictures of Channing Tatum, but still. Fast. Read more…

KERASTASE CHROMA SENSITIVE CLEANSING BALM 3-MONTH FOLLOWUP
COLOR-TREATED GALS, THIS ONE’S A KEEPER

If I freak out a little when I realize I’m almost out of a product, it’s usually a pretty good indicator of how I feel about it. Yesterday in the shower when I reached for my hot pink bottle o’ Kerastase Chroma Sensitive Cleansing Balm ($42 for a 6.8-oz. bottle) and noticed how light the bottle felt, I let out a sad little mewl. “Noooo.”

It was almost gone. 🙁

I started using the stuff, a silicone-free, low-foam and low-friction cleanser for color-treated hair, back in March. Unlike regular shampoos designed for color-treated hair, it adds special deep conditioners to the mix of mild cleansing agents. The blend is 1/4 cleansing agent, 3/4 deep conditioner, and Kerastase claims the brew gently washes hair while preventing pigments from escaping, thereby keeping your color intact. Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

A little sleepy so far this morning, but I’m trying to get myself in gear. I have a warm mug of green tea beside me, and it sounds like the toaster just dinged with my toast, so that should help.

How are you doing this morning? Did you get enough sleep? I think I stayed up a little too late, and I’m paying for it now. I probably shouldn’t have started watching HBO’s Game of Thrones at 10. Bad idea. At midnight I still wasn’t tired at all.

Have you seen the show? I was fairly lost through the first episode (what’s a White Walker?), but I love the political dynamics and horror movie/sword & sorcery feel — like Legend of the Seeker if it mated with HBO’s Rome. 🙂

Did you have a good week? What was your favorite part?

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

DRUGSTORE LIPGLOSS NIRVANA FOR LESS THAN $3 WITH THE
NYC NEW YORK COLOR LIQUID LIPSHINES

Today El Hub found out about my affair.

It had been going on since way back in 2006. That’s when I met the Sally Hansen Diamond 12-Hour Lip Treatments while cruising the aisles at Walgreens one afternoon for a pick-me-up after a really tough day.

There they were, non-sticky and pigmented, with a wear time that lasted for hours and hours…

What can I say? It just happened. When I saw they were a mere $6, I was willing to throw everything away. They were the closest thing to drugstore lipgloss nirvana I had ever seen.

But I’m not going to say I would have done it all again. No way. What I should have done is hold out for the NYC New York Color Liquid Lipshines I met last week. Read more…

EOS SHAVE CREAM IN VANILLA BLISS
SHAVES HAIR AND A FEW MINUTES EVERY TIME

My BFF Cindy is a practical girl, and lawd she knows me well. Fed up with me arriving late to our homegirl dates, she gave me an ultimatem after the last time, threatening to take away my lipgloss if I ever did it again.

Got. My. Attention.

With horror like that hanging over my head, I was extra careful to set aside enough time to get ready last Friday before our ballet date.

I was ahead of schedule when I finished my hair and makeup, so I pulled up Google Images on my computer to take a really quick break. “shirtless channing tatum” [ENTER]

When I bolted back to consciousness 15 minutes later, I was, as usual, running late. “No problem,” I told myself in a soothing voice. “Lots of time.” And then I glanced down at my legs and noticed — WHOA! — a thicket of fur on my shins (enough to make a full-length coat). Read more…

MAC UNSUNG HEROES
TEDDY EYE KOHL

I firmly believe that life’s too short to waste it wearing boring brown eyeliners (or, on an unrelated note, wearing shoes in summertime).

Today’s inductee in the hallowed halls of MAC Unsung Heroics is called Teddy, and when it comes to boring, he’s anything but. Teddy’s a MAC Eye Kohl ($14.50) pencil, an intensely rich, dark bronzy brown with subtle golden shimmer, and it’s that shimmer that takes Teddy from the bored-room to the bedroom best room (haha! oops, bad pun).

I think I use Teddy almost as often as MAC Powersurge. It’s one of those colors that always seems appropriate, day or night, and it totally hits the spot when I want to draw extra attention to my eyes, but don’t feel like wearing basic black. Read more…

A NARS SUMMER 2011 FACE OF THE DAY
INSPIRED BY TABS THE CAT AND HIS PRETTY GREEN EYES

Tabs woke me up early this morning and then insisted that my makeup today pay homage to him (what a diva!). Refusing his requests usually leads to scratches, so I reached for one of his current collection crushes, NARS Summer 2011, and told him I would “see what I can do.”

I built the look with two things in mind — 1) Tabs’ pretty green eyes, and 2) the word “Mixey,” one of his many nicknames (a shortened version of Meow Mix).

Green crops up a few times throughout the NARS Summer 2011 collection, and I tried to really incorporate it into this look, mixing some different colors together.

Unlike my look last week using the Stila Stunning in Sayulita palette, the green here isn’t as obvious or BAM! It’s a subtler hint of green. Read more…

MAC SURF BABY COLLECTION
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

You asked some great questions in the comments on last week’s first MAC Surf Baby pictures post, and I thought it might be helpful to try and answer them here.

The collection breaks onto beaches makeup counters May 26 in North America (internationally, this month).

Q: How are the Skin Sheen Bronzer Sticks used?

A: Are you familiar with the NARS Multiples? These Skin Sheens are kinda like thicker, stickier versions of those (basically, like a cream bronzer). They’re more pigmented, though, so a little goes a really long way.

I generally use the non-shimmery shades, Billionaire Bronze and Tan-Tint, for contouring and to add a bit of color to my forehead and cheeks, which are parts of my face that tend to really darken when I tan. As for the shimmery color, Gilty Bronze, I like to use it as a highlighter, wearing it on my upper cheek bones, brow bones and down the bridge of my nose.

To apply the Skin Sheens, I usually swipe a synthetic skunk brush like the MAC 188 across the top of the stick and then apply the product to bare skin or atop a liquid foundation/tinted moisturizer. Fingers work great, too, but I find that a skunk brush deposits a great amount of color — neither too little nor too much — and blends the product well, so it doesn’t look obvious or streaky. Read more…

WELCOME TO THE OFFICES OF URBAN DECAY COSMETICS
WHERE WONDERLAND MEETS NEWPORT BEACH

At one point on my quick trip to Southern California this week, I must have taken my eyes off the sidewalk in front of me for a moment (oops!), because before I knew it, I’d fallen into a rabbit hole…

And this wasn’t just any rabbit hole. Nope, it was a magic one that transported me to Newport Beach and the offices of the largest independently owned color cosmetics company in the United States.

Despite appearances, this quiet, unassuming gray building nestled on a side street in Newport Beach isn’t an accountant’s office or a place that makes frames. It’s actually the offices of Urban Decay.

Sweet carnival of chroma, batgirl! The outside belies the pageantry of purple taking place inside these walls. The interior is a cornucopia of color (I never would have guessed it from the building’s facade). Read more…

MAC UNSUNG HEROES
MAC CLEAR LIPGLASS

Kissed by the same shining light that blessed that pair of Manolo Blahnik patent-leather Mary Jane heels you’ve been coveting since forever, MAC Clear Lipglass ($14.50) makes other clear glosses question their line of work.

With wear time I can only characterize as supernatural, MAC Clear Lipglass outlasts them all. I applied it once before a marathon shopping day at a four-level mall (I was looking for a new bikini… Lipgloss always seems to ease the pain of seeing myself jiggling from all angles in the fitting room), and six hours later it was still going strong. When it comes to longevity, this is one lipgloss that does not mess around.

It even feels serious on my lips (even through MAC’s trademark light vanilla taste and scent), like it came to throw down. The thick, sticky texture gives it great wear time, but it’s a turnoff for some (I kinda love it though).

MAC Clear Lipglass is my favorite clear gloss, and just like a pair of black patent-leather pumps, it works in so many ways. Read more…

THE LONG AND SHORT OF THE NEW BUXOM
AMPLIFIED LASH MASCARA

When the wands started oscillating, I thought I’d seen it all. After the whole vibrating/spinning mascara brush trend (so 2008!), what else could one possibly do with a basic mascara brush? Wait — I know. They could fashion one into the shape of a medieval flail, hi-ya!

But that wasn’t the end of innovation for the mighty mascara wand. Buxom’s Amplified Lash Mascara ($22), a Sephora exclusive, comes with a new twist (literally).

Available in just a single shade called Loud Black, it’s designed to thicken, lengthen and separate lashes. That’s all well and good, but I think the brush is what really sets it apart. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it before. By twisting a little knob on the end of the wand, right where you hold it, you can expand and contract the length of the brush part about a quarter of an inch. The different lengths, says Buxom, create different lash effects. Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen