Josie Maran Argan Blend Concealer in Suede, one of three shades in Josie’s new Argan Blend Concealer line ($28 each).
Josie Maran Argan Blend Concealer: New for Spring 2011
Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 130
It’s weird, but in the kitty modeling world, right after the Academy Awards, there’s always a lull that lasts about a week. Apparently, after all of the red carpet coverage and after parties, many of the top photographers in the biz take a few days off to recoup. It makes sense, I guess. But things are starting to pick up again, and Tabs had a few new jobs this week.
As a matter of fact, here’s a look at his portfolio of recent work. Oh — and if you think of any cool campaigns you think he should do, let him know in the comments. There’s a lot of competition out there, but he can pretty much get any job that he wants. 🙂
Who is Tabs the Cat? About three years ago I befriended a stray, flea-bitten tabby cat with a bad case of worms. I could see he’d fallen on hard times, but his profound knowledge of high fashion and department store cosmetics led me to believe that he was more than meets the eye. We became fast friends, and now he’s actually my boss (and a successful kitty model).
Does the Turbie Twist Super-Absorbent Hair Towel Cut Your Drying Time?
As far as life-changing beauty products go, the Aquis hair towel is high on my list. It’s one of my heavyweight holy grail products, like the Shu Uemura Lash Curler, T3 hairdryer and MAC Blot Powder, and it gets its own special place on my shelf (and in my heart).
The thing is like Bounty. It practically guzzles water, absorbing almost every drop of water from wet hair to significantly cut drying time, but I’ve still been trying to track down a cheaper alternative. Sure, $18 might not sound outrageous for something this great, but a cheaper version would mean being able to buy a spare, or two.
Enter the Turbie Twist Super-Absorbent Hair Towel. This lightweight, 100% cotton towel is basically supposed to do what the Aquis does, which is cut way down on your drying time, and it’s supposed to do it for about half the price. Wait — better than half. You get two towels for $10, versus the Aquis at $18 for one.
Being a towel, it’s pretty simple to operate. 🙂 Just place the oval-shaped Turbie Twist on your head, twist the towel with your hair inside, and then loop the towel through the attached elastic band in the back to keep it in place. Team Turbie says it works for both long and short hair (one size fits all).
The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed
Good mornin’, ladies. 🙂 I’m rising and shining a little later than usual today but rising and shining nonetheless. How did you sleep? Did all of your clocks spring forward like good little timepieces?
I stayed up way past my bedtime last night watching TV and movies, and now I’m quite sleepy. I streamed a wonderful movie on Netflix called Listen To Your Heart. It’s about a young musician who falls in love with a hearing-impaired girl from New York’s upper crust. The girl’s controlling mother, played by Cybill Shepherd (anyone here remember Moonlighting?), tries to keep them apart, so it’s one of those love-that-cannot-be stories but much better than usual. Even El Hub was quietly sobbing on the couch.
Do you have anything special planned today? I have a few chores to do, but after that I think I’ll take the tabby for a walk…
The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed
GIVENCHY ROUGE INTERDIT
LIPSTICK IN CANDIDE TANGERINE: A MODERN TWIST ON RETRO ORANGE
Um, did I really just spend 20 minutes dancing around my living room to Biggie’s Juicy?
Yes, I did (I suspect you aren’t surprised). And why did I do it? Givenchy! Candide Tangerine, their newest lipstick color, makes me REALLY wish I could rap. If I could, I’d spit a few bars about how downright juicy it is.
Imagine pieces of peeled tangerine dipped in concentrated Hawaiian Punch. THAT’s how intensely pigmented Candide Tangerine is.
I’m wearing two layers for opaque coverage in these pics; a single layer produces more of a stained look. Read more…
STRAIGHT TALK: THIS CURLY GIRL
ALSO LOVES STRAIGHT HAIR
Looking back, I realize now that holding a scalding hot laundry iron inches away from my face probably wasn’t the smartest thing I’d ever done, but I was a curious teenager, and I’d heard from my friend Jessica that the quickest way to get straight hair was to iron it.
(pause)
Okay, this was the early ’90s, and flat irons hadn’t quite made their way into every straight hair-challenged girl’s bathroom yet, so, one day, after pressing the wrinkles out of my favorite pair of Z. Cavariccis and my black-and-white polka-dot shirt (complete with sheer black sleeves!), I placed my long, wavy hair on the ironing board and…
(Seriously, do NOT try this at home.)
It didn’t take long to turn my unruly lion’s mane into a sleek curtain of straight hair. “Victory!” I roared. Adrenaline burned through my veins! — or I guess it could have been heat from the iron. Read more…
BENEFIT CREASELESS CREAM SHADOW
SWATCHES AND REMARKABLE SELF-RESTRAINT
G’morning and happy Tuesday, friend. I was feeling kinda blah yesterday afternoon (been cold and rainy here), so I stopped by Sephora for a little pick-me-up.
In a somewhat shocking display of self-restraint, I managed to make it out of the store with just one thing — Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Strut ($19), a shimmery charcoal gray.
I’ve been meaning to bring it home for a while but just never got around to it. I bet she’ll look cute (and we’ll know soon enough) worn with a couple of my favorite Creaseless Cream go-to girls, Skinny Jeans (a shimmery pewter) and Birthday Suit (a shimmery chrome). Read more…
DOES THE NEW KERASTASE PARIS CHROMA
SENSITIVE CLEANSING BALM PREVENT HAIR COLOR FROM FADING?
Good morning and happy hump day, babe. 🙂 Just a quick heads up for the cuties with color-treated hair and the silicone-free product enthusiasts out there.
Luxury line Kerastase Paris has come out with a pricey yet promising new shampoo. It’s called Chroma Sensitive Cleansing Balm ($42 for a 6.8-oz. bottle), a low-foam cleanser designed to gently clean without washing away hair color.
Kerastase claims, among other things, that their low-foam, low-friction “Color Protect System,” a mix of a mild cleansing agent (1/4 of the recipe) and a deep conditioning agent (the other 3/4), smoothes the surface of each hair, preventing color pigments from escaping.
They suggest using it for the first three shampoos following a color service, and then alternating every other wash with your regular shampoo. Read more…
NEXT STOP: NARS 413
BLEECKER STREET LIPSTICK
Well get my plaid shirt, hoop earrings and clunky Timberland boots, because the second I slipped on the new NARS 413 Bleecker Street Pure Matte Lipstick ($25), I felt like I’d just stepped out of a hot tub time machine set for 1995.
It was the Clueless decade, when Alicia Silverstone, Sugar Ray and little black backpacks were En Vogue (just like the group!). Colors like this matte rosy brown were all the rage. I remember wearing a similar shade to countless (boring) college lectures on organic chemistry and physics.
This new NARS shade (I’m trying to find out if it’s permanent or limited edition) was created exclusively for the recent opening of the company’s first flagship store in the West Village at 413 Bleecker Street in New York City, and, at least for now, the store is the only place you can get it. Read more…
THE GIVENCHY LE PRISME EYE QUAD
IN CANDIDE GARDEN: THANKSGIVING IN MARCH
Today an eye quad made me nervous. And hungry. For turkey?
The Givenchy Le Prisme Eye Quad in Candide Garden($56), the lone quad in the new Givenchy Naivement Couture Collection for Spring/Summer, made me a little nervous because of how sheer the colors looked swatched on the back of my hand. I tried not to write too much into it before getting them on my lids, but before I could talk myself down, a word popped into my head that worried me even more: Thanksgiving! That’s what the orange, yellow and brown shades reminded me of, and I contemplated putting the quad down right there…
Don’t get me wrong — I love the holiday. In fact I’ve always been a fan. I’m down with the colors of the harvest and falling leaves and those cute cartoon turkeys, too, but was I ready to wear those shades on my lids? In March?
Apparently, I was. 🙂 And I’m so glad. This wee little quad with its four powder shadows is actually pretty darn good (if not great, except for the price). Read more…
SMASHBOX SOFTBOX COLLECTION
FOR SUMMER 2011: DIFFUSE ME, PLEASE
Heads up, fellow Smashbox fans! The line’s just made their new Softbox Collection for Summer 2011 available online, and from the look of things, it’s right up my alley (and maybe yours).
Photographers use softboxes and specialized bulb umbrellas to diffuse bright light sources and eliminate harsh shadows, making the light that falls on their model appear softer and more natural.
It’s the same premise Smashbox applied to the products in their Softbox Studio collection. The three makeup sets for eyes, lips and cheeks mimic the qualities of natural light and embody the idea of effortless beauty.
Speaking as a practical person, I love these shades because I know I’ll be able to wear them. 🙂 Expect to see lots of neutral browns, beiges, pinks and taupes — colors equipped to take you straight from the office to dinner and drinks. Read more…
ESTEE LAUDER SAYS DAYWEAR DOES IT ALL,
YET THIS MOISTURIZING SHEER TINT WITH SPF15 COMES IN JUST A SINGLE SHADE
Okay, here’s a product name I may not be able to remember: Estee Lauder DayWear Sheer Tint Release Advanced Multi-Protection Anti-Oxidant Moisturizer.
Wow, 12 words? It could be a sentence if we squeezed in a verb.
Let’s try it!
Estee Lauder Likes DayWear Sheer Tint Release Advanced Multi-Protection Anti-Oxidant Moisturizer…
Tada! Let’s call it DayWear for short.
DayWear is a product I’d like to remember, because I think it has a few good things to offer fans of the barely-there makeup look. In a nutshell (I’ve always loved that phrase; I picture things in little nutshells), it’s a lightweight, super sheer tinted moisturizer that comes in just a single shade, and it’s designed to work on most skin tones, giving them a healthy, even-toned glow. Read more…
NYX HD STUDIO PHOTOGENIC GRINDING BLUSH
MAKES ME WANT TO TWIST AND SHOUT
Ah, to be a bored teen without wheels in the Easy Bay suburbs circa 1992 again… When you live in a town where the most exciting thing to do is get an ice cream cone at Thrifty’s, you figure out ways to amuse yourself.
On Friday nights my friends and I loved to watch The Grind on MTV. Remember that dance show? We’d crank up the volume and electric slide around the living room as the show’s host, Eric Nies, who was almost always shirtless for some reason, introduced the hits.
It wasn’t the most exciting way to start the weekend, but it was either that or ice cream at Thrifty’s…
We sure could have used something like these new NYX HD Studio Photogenic Grinding Blushes ($16.50 each; available in eight shades) back then. Dang if these things wouldn’t have kept us busy. Read more…
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Caught on Digital Film
Photographic evidence of the infamous low-hanging belly…
These Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Soleil Swatches Remind Me That Winter Won’t Last Forever
Yesterday I managed to squeeze in a visit to the Nordstrom beauty department, and the first thing I did was hit up the Estee Lauder counter to swatch the new Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Soleil summer collection. I’d only seen bits and pieces of the release before yesterday and had been itching to see the whole shebang in person.
Estee Lauder has been having fun with this theme for the past few years (here’s a look at what they did for it back in 2008, 2009 and 2010), and after seeing this year’s colors up close and personal, I can say I’m not tired of it yet.
Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Soleil Collection for Summer 2011: Swatches
For reference, I’m an NC35 in MAC foundations.
Bronze Goddess Island Oasis EyeShadow Palette ($42); for swatches of the palette on lighter skin, check out Gaia’s post over at The Non-Blonde
Shadow Stick Duo in Gold Bronze on left and Pink Teal on Right ($20 each)
From left: Bronze Goddess Soft Duo Bronzer in Amber Bronze Medium ($30), Bronze Goddess Soft Shimmer Bronzer ($30) and Bronze Goddess Sea Star Bronzing Blush ($34)
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Have You Checked Out Origins Before?
Written by Leah
Leah and Maximus dish about one of their favorite beauty brands in today’s guest post.
Maximus is partial to Origins eyeshadow
I’ve been using Origins products for many years, but I actually rarely shop at an Origins store. That’s because their website features free samples, and I often shop using coupon codes to get their DELUXE samples, while taking advantage of the free shipping deal (good on any order).
I think there’s a lot to like about Origins, but if you’re new to their products, here are some things I like about the brand.
Product Container Recycling and Samples
They offer a great product recycling program in their stores. Just bring in an empty container. They’ll recycle it for you, and give you a free sample of your choice in return. It’ll be one of their regular products in a sample jar (similar to Sephora’s little plastic sample jars).
To get even BIGGER samples, place your orders through their website. Some of the samples are amazing! It depends on their promotions and specials, but many are larger than the samples they give in the stores.
Natural Mission
The company’s mission is to “create high-performance natural skincare that is powered by nature and proven by science.” They use potent plants and organic ingredients and animal-friendly practices. All of their products are also formulated without parabens, phthalates, PABA, mineral oil, DEA (diethanolamine, a known carcinogen) and animal ingredients, and thanks to their Plant A Tree campaign, they’ve planted 93,000 trees so far.
Daily Moisturizer
I spend a lot of time outdoors (hiking, snowshoeing, skiing) and also use my sunroof a lot, despite the fact that I’m a New Englander, so a daily moisturizer with at least SPF 15 is a must.
I’m addicted to Have a Nice Day ($37.50 for a 1.7-oz. jar). It smells a little bit citrusy, and I think it’s just incredible. I haven’t been able to find anything similar at the drugstore, and mind you I’ve looked. It’s on the pricey side, but a jar does last me a very long time.
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Two Ways to Win $78 in Benefit Brow Products
- WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Catherine G! Congratulations, Catherine! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂
I can say with 100% certainty that the chances of you catching me without my brows filled in are slim to none. I never leave home without them…groomed. 🙂
The very thought of walking around town with wild brows sends shivers down my spine! Okay…maybe not shivers, but you get the idea. I’d no sooner forget my purse on a park bench than forget to tend to my brows. Even when I’m just leaving for a quick walk around the neighborhood with Tabs, my brows are always did.
Does my obsession sound familiar? Do you browbeat your brows fret about your brows too? If you feel like yours could use a little babying, maybe today’s giveaway can help. The prize is three (3) of my tried-and-true Benefit Brow favorites (a prize package worth $78).
- Instant Brow Pencil — Brows treated to this pencil look great in pictures. Get soft, natural-looking brows in less than a minute.
- High Brown Lifting Pencil — For adding definition and lift to your brow arch, which really opens up the eyes.
- Brows A-Go-Go — A go-to product for makeup looks that call for strong, early ’80s Brooke Shields brows.
Ready to brow down?
- One (1) Benefit Instant Brow Pencil in Light (a $20 value)
- One (1) Benefit High Brow Lifting Pencil (a $20 value)
- One (1) Benefit Brows a Go-Go Brow and Eye Shaping Kit (a $38 value)
- There are two ways to enter, and you can do both of them for two chances to win. First, you can enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post, a comment about anything at all, like, have you ever had to a terrible mishap with your brows? When did you start paying attention to your brows? What’s your idea brow look? You get the idea.
- Second, you can enter by following me on
Twitter @karenmbb and retweeting (RT) the following message:
- Follow @karenmbb and RT to Win $78 in Benefit Brow Products http://bit.ly/i1GNGs
- The deadline to enter is Sunday, March 13, 2011 at 11:59PM (PT).
- Entrants must enter using a valid email address and/or Twitter account to win.
- A maximum of two (2) entries per person — one within the comments at the bottom of this post, and a second entry via Twitter addressed to me @karenmbb.
- Contest is open to individuals of any country who have reached the age of majority according to their local laws (18 in the United States with these exceptions: Alabama and Nebraska, 19; Mississippi, 21).
- Tabs and I (heretofore referred to as “T-Money and K-Dawg”) will select one (1) winner at random from the entries either left in the comments at the bottom of this blog post or addressed to @karenmbb on Twitter.
- The winner will be announced here within 48 hours of the deadline.
- Void where prohibited by law.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
- WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Catherine G! Congratulations, Catherine! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂