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A beauty blog blooming with fresh makeup reviews, swatches and beauty tips from your friendly neighborhood beauty addict

Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Jan. 24

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  • You might be wondering, “So what the heck is this Monday Poll thing anyway?”
    Well, it isn’t much of a poll. It’s more just a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past three years, which I guess makes this somewhere around Vol. 154. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.
  1. Mood:

    2. A bit overwhelmed by a couple of big projects (stay tuned!), but they’re almost ready. Just have to remember to breathe. 🙂

  2. Are you a red lipstick kinda girl?

    3. Most definitely. I love red lipstick in all its incarnations (blueish reds, brick reds, orangey reds, pinkish reds, I’ll take ’em all), but my favorites are deep, rich mattes, a la MAC Russian Red. Throw in thick, black cat eyeliner and a pretty blush, and I feel ready for (almost) anything.

  3. Do you wear a watch?

    4. Yup, but it sho’ ain’t fancy. It’s a gray/black Timex Ironman… I know, not exactly fashion forward, but it’s easy to read, waterproof, has a timer and glows in the dark!

  4. What was the most cringe-worthy beauty moment of your teenage years?

    5. Where do I begin? Well, perhaps at the peak of my big hair phase, circa 1989. My bangs were beyond high, and I had side wings so wide that I probably looked like I was about to take to the air, LOL! I must have looked like a lion…with braces and acid-washed overalls.

  5. Have you ever purchased a beauty product from a vending machine?

    6. I actually have! There’s a ProActive machine at the mall by my house. I’ve picked up bottles of their Repairing Lotion many a time.

  6. Do you like where you live?

    7. Yes. Truthfully, I didn’t think I’d end up in the suburbs (I’ve always been more of a city girl), but the burbs have perks. It’s so much easier to do “life” things out here, like go grocery shopping, visit the Target (always a struggle when I lived in San Francisco), and here I rarely have to deal with bumper-to-bumper traffic. Plus, I have a garage now, which is a luxury I would have never been able to afford living in the city.

  7. Is there a movie you’ve been wanting to see?

    8. Yup. That cheesy-looking romcom with Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman, No Strings Attached. Predictable? Yeah, probably, but sometimes I just don’t want to have to think too hard, ya know?

  8. Where would you like to visit?

    9. I would love to go back to Kauai for a solo vacation. I went once back in 1999 and hiked all over the island, but I felt like I didn’t have the chance to really see and do everything I wanted to. I would love to be able to spend half the trip doing outdoorsy things, and the other half doing nothing but hanging out at the beach/pool/spa. Ah, someday, someday…

  9. What’s one thing you love about yourself?

    10. When the chips are down, I think I’m able to get things done. Mind you, I’ll have a breakdown or two, and tears will be spilled along the way, but the important stuff still seems to work itself out.

  10. Weekly goals:

    11. Stay calm, focus, and remember to take breaks throughout the day. Do the 30 Day Shred at least four times, and try not to freak out! 🙂

Hey, cutie pie. I think I’m gonna need your help this week! Can you spare any words of encouragement? I know you’re really busy, too, but how about taking a moment to touch base in the Monday Poll? Maybe we can momentarily distract each other with some chit-chat.

  • To complete the Monday Poll, just copy the following list, and paste it with your answers in the comments.



1. Mood:
2. Are you a red lipstick kinda girl?
3. Do you wear a watch?
4. What was the most cringe-worthy beauty moment of your teenage years?
5. Have you ever purchased a beauty product from a vending machine?
6. Do you like where you live?
7. Is there a movie you’ve been wanting to see?
8. Where would you like to visit?
9. What’s one thing you love about yourself?
10. Weekly goals:

I’m gathering my strength and throwing in a little extra to send to you this week, just in case you need a boost. 🙂

We can do this if we stick together!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 123

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Tabs must’ve been up late last night on the computer, because when I got up this morning I noticed some new bookmarks of kitties with lion cuts.


Photos via anyjazz65, brenbot and gina pina

Have you heard about this? Apparently, it’s the hottest thing in the feline modeling community.

He mentioned a few days ago that he wanted to change his look… I dunno, I like his fur the way it is.

Should Tabs get a lion cut?

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Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Mascara Comparison: Benefit Bad Gal Lash and Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash

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Jessica

Friend me on FacebookWritten by Jessica

The battle for lash supremacy continues! Blogger Jessica pits two powerhouses of the beauty world together in today’s guest post. Wimpy lashes better look out!

Oh, I’ve had my share of struggles with high-end mascaras, and I’m sure you have too. Are they worth paying a premium for when there are so many more affordable options out there? It depends, but for the past few months I have been using and loving Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash mascara. As a matter of fact, I named it my Holy Grail / Must-Have Product of 2010.

But because my mom has been raving about Benefit Bad Gal Lash for months, I decided to finally pit the two mascaras together in an ultimate battle of the brands.

Benefit Bad Gal Lash — $19 (Sephora)

Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash — $22 (Sephora)

The Packaging

I like the way both products are packaged, but I give the advantage to Bad Gal for its amazing brush. Super thick and substantially longer than the brush included with Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash, it’s just plain better in my opinion. Other than that, however, the packaging for both mascaras is fairly standard (tube and wand).

The Application

As covered in the video down below, Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash applies rather clumpy, but it thickens the heck out of lashes and does so better than Bad Gal. The formula’s also much darker, but Bad Gal applies like a dream, lengthening better with greater definition. As far as application, I’d call this one a tie.

The Lasting Power

Lasting power is extremely important to me. Some might say I put all of my eggs in one basket on this one, but overall I think that if a mascara doesn’t last through the night, beautiful or not, what’s the point?

Well, Benefit Bad Gal Lash really disappointed me here. Despite applying like dream, it just didn’t last, leaving my lashes dull and lifeless well before the end of the day, while Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash, despite its clumpy formula, lasted all day and night.

Seeing them in action

No Mascara


Not wearing any mascara


Not wearing any mascara

One coat of each


Wearing one coat of Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash on the left and one coat of Benefit Bad Gal Lash on the Right


Wearing one coat of Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash on the left and one coat of Benefit Bad Gal Lash on the Right
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The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

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The Makeup and Beauty Blog Weekly Roundup

Rise and shine, morning glory. Say it with me: “It’s going to be a beautiful day. It’s going to be a beautiful day. It’s going to be a beautiful day.” Maybe if all of us pull together, our combined powers of positive thinking can make it so no matter how cold it is outside. 🙂

Worth a shot, right?

Did you do anything fun last night? El Hub and I went to Chipotle for din-din and then to see The Dilemma, with Vince Vaughn, Jennifer Connelly, Winona Ryder and Kevin James.

Talk about dilemmas. Did I, or did I not, like The Dilemma? Hmm, that’s a toughie. I liked parts of it, like whenever they’d let Vince Vaughn cut loose (because that guy can TALK), but then it would get heavy for a while, and I’d sort of drift off into my popcorn…

Were there any highlights for you last week in the worlds of makeup and beauty? How about highlights of your week overall? Was it a good one? Mine wasn’t bad. No complaints over here.

I’m REALLY excited about MAC Wonder Woman. With the collection coming, I spent some time online surfing for info, but I actually got sidetracked by all of the great Wonder Woman comic art that’s out there.

I never collected any of the WW comics (I was more into the cartoons), but I can’t believe how much she’s changed over the years.


Wonder Woman circa 1942


Wonder Woman circa 2011

BAM! She looks so badass now…

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

Dolce & Gabbana Secret Garden SwatchesDOLCE & GABBANA SECRET
GARDEN SWATCHES

Greetings, young lady. I wanted to show some swatches of the Dolce & Gabbana Secret Garden collection this afternoon (lip, eye and face shots are coming soon).

About the lippies, there are just two lipsticks and glosses in the release. The coral-ish lip gloss seemed very out of place to me at first (straight out of Mad Men), but, um, after I thought about it a little, I think I can see what Dolce & Gabbana was going for. I like the way it contrasts with the pale pastels. As for the other gloss, the pale pinkish violet, it has micro bits of silver glitter that you have to look closely at to see. Read more…

Dolce & Gabbana Nail Lacquer in PlatinumDOLCE & GABBANA NAIL
LACQUER IN PLATINUM

Besides its top-shelf pigmentation and oodles of micro-glitter, Dolce & Gabbana’s Nail Lacquer in Platinum ($20) has a nice surprise that makes it stand out from all the other gray polishes showing up at department store counters this spring (see Estee Lauder Wild Violets and Dior Montaigne).

The sole nail color in the new Secret Garden Collection might look like your typical shimmery silver polish in the bottle, but on my nails Platinum subtly flashes from silver to gray to green to taupe depending on the light. Very cool!

I haven’t yet tested Platinum for durability since the bottle just came in, but if it’s anything like the Dolce & Gabbana polishes from the last few seasons it should resist chipping with a good base coat.

I applied two coats of Dolce & Gabbana Nail Polish in Midnight on my toes before leaving for a trip last fall (it’s one of my “good luck” nail polishes; do you have any of those?), and being the lazy @ss that I am, I didn’t paint my nails again for a good three weeks after. By the end of the third week, my polish showed a few chips, but the color was almost as vibrant as the first day I put it on. Read more…

The NYX 10 Color Palette in Bohemian RhapsodyTHE NYX 10 COLOR
PALETTE IN BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

Any way the wind blows, doesn’t really matter to me…because the NYX 10 Color Palette in Bohemian Rhapsody makes everything better. It comes with 10 of the line’s most wearable neutrals in shades of silver, taupe, brown, beige, gray, peach and black, all for an easily digestible $11 (and they even included a case!).

NYX tends to get a little repetitive with their 10-Color Palettes. I say, NYX tends to get a little repetitive with their 10-Color Palettes, but a variety of matte and shimmery finishes keeps this Bohemian Rhapsody from singing the same song twice.

Each and every time I open this thing I want to break into song! — like I’m a long lost Von Trapp child (who happens to be brown). Read more…

The Clarins Neo Pastels CollectionTHE CLARINS NEO
PASTELS COLLECTION

I wonder what would Neo from The Matrix would think about the new Clarins Neo Pastels Collection. Would he consider ditching his black cloak and brooding persona for its uplifting makeup in pink, purple and peach?

I highly doubt it, but ya never know…

Available now on counters and online at clarinsusa.com, the new Neo Pastels Collection features 21 new and repromoted items consisting of an eye palette, six blushes, 12 lipsticks, one mascara and a wrinkle-smoothing primer in a palette of primarily soft pinks, purples, peaches, with a sprinkling of neutral brown, beige and black thrown in for safe measure. To me the colors seem like typical (in a good way) spring/Easter shades. Read more…

The Cargo Cosmetics Collection for Spring 2011THE CARGO COSMETICS
COLLECTION FOR SPRING 2011

All aboard! The cosmetics captains at Cargo aimed to take us on a trip with their new spring 2011 collection, and I like the destination.

I took a long, leisurely look at the six piece collection today (aren’t the pouches cute?) and absolutely love the travel theme. Most of the color products lean warm, and I think they work well with my yellow undertones. If you like the way you look in warmer shades, you might like them too.

For what it’s worth, don’t miss the Voyages Safari collection/kit. I was surprised by how great the products looked on both darker and lighter skin tones.

Now I just need someplace to go! Read more…

Will You Wear 1 Million by Paco Rabanne?WILL YOU WEAR PACO RABANNE
OR WILL IT WEAR YOU?

1 Million by Paco Rabanne is all about power.

Notes of chilled grapefruit, blood mandarin, smooth peppermint, sweaty musk, dry cinnamon bark, aged leather, tonka bean, subtle patchouli, and amber ketal don’t just call for attention; they demand it.

1 Million begins with airy peppermint and sparkling blood mandarin. These two notes are rather distinct for the first five minutes or so, creating a refreshing blend that lends a sort of brightness and glow akin to that which accompanies a night with a lover. However, these soon begin to fade and give leave to more smoothly blended Middle Notes.

The Middle Notes mostly consist of dry cinnamon and a general spiciness. Here is where the power enters. At this stage, this scent is like someone whose mere touch is enough to make others bend to their will. It’s the power behind the throne, subtly pulling strings and directing the entire operation.

Within 30 minutes, 1 Million settles down into its Base Notes of leather and amber ketal (a synthetic variant of the naturally occurring ambergris). A sophisticated air takes hold, demanding a part in the hair and a steam-pressed coat. But a certain accord that can only be described as sweatiness hangs close to the skin. Perhaps this higher being is not as perfectly coiffed and buffed as his appearance suggests. Remove his jacket and you may see that his shirt was not fully tucked in the back. And wasn’t that part in his hair neater a minute ago? Ask around, and no one will mention having seen him. It makes one wonder. Read more…

Hello Kitty Sephora Beauty: Meow or Hiss?HAVE YOU SEEN THE HELLO KITTY
SEPHORA BEAUTY LINE?

Sephora is expanding into the kitty herding business, but I know at least one cat lady who isn’t furtastically impressed.

Their new Hello Kitty makeup line, called Hello Kitty Sephora Beauty, is available now in stores and online. Products range from $5-55, and the line covers makeup, fragrance, makeup brushes and accessories, too (there’s even a shower cap).

I caught a brief glimpse of two of the palettes and some of the fragrance items at my nearby Novato store the other day when the cute display caught my eye. Most of the makeup is packaged in white with silver accents. Read more…

The Lancome Ultra Lavande Collection for Spring 2011THE LANCOME ULTRA LAVANDE
COLLECTION FOR SPRING 2011

It’s time to bust out your lighter and sway back and forth, because Lancome’s new spring makeup collection is a regular Prince!

As in Purple Rain. 🙂

Just how much purple are we talking about here? Well, if you crammed a thousand Prince impersonators, all of them wearing sparkling purple suits with matching ruffled shirts, into one HUGE room, that would be less purple than Ultra Lavande, Lancome’s spring release of new and repromoted items for eyes, lips and cheeks. Read more…

I Feel Good About the New NARS Multi-Protect Pro PrimerI FEEL GOOD ABOUT
NARS MULTI-PROTECT PRO PRIMER

Look out! It’s a primer triple threat! From the fertile mind of Francois Nars, the new NARS Pro-Prime Multi-Protect Primer SPF 30 ($32) creates a smooth canvas for your makeup while it supposedly nourishes skin with a bevy of plant-based ingredients.

This newest member of the permanent NARS Pro Prime line has a colorless, lotion-like texture that feels light and fluffy to the touch. Oil-free, it totally reminds of Urban Decay’s Complexion Primers, absorbing quickly without leaving a greasy residue or white cast on my skin. Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Hate Makeup Hair Triggers? Try This Simple Tip to Waste Less

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I love love MAC Pro Longwear Concealer, but that dang pump dispenser’s hair trigger has given me trouble from day one.

Even when I carefully apply the slightest pressure it dispenses way more product than I need, which means I’m wasting, grr… Seriously, MAC, what happened to my doe foot? Anyone?

I’ve tried to remove the pump to no avail (thing’s securely fastened), and it looks like I’d have to crack the plastic to pull it off.

At the MAC counter the other day, I vented about it to one of the makeup artists, and she handed me an empty sample jar with a smile. 🙂
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3 Often Overlooked Beauty Tools

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Sam

Written by Sam

Some great beauty tools hide in the unlikeliest places. Today freelance makeup artist and blogger Sam shares three you might not have thought of before.

3 Often Overlooked Beauty Tools
“Do I look cray-cray?”

1. Lighter

If you’re a smoker, you may already have one of these in your purse, but if you’re not, dash on down to the drugstore, and pick yourself up a cheap, disposable lighter. These brightly colored, flame-producing confabulations are absolute wonders in the beauty world, and one so few casual artists seem to own.

These little wonders are absolute godsends with pencil eyeliners. Now, you might be thinking, “Gee, Sam, something about heat and my eye just doesn’t sound smart.” And you’d be right. Please, kind ladies and gentlemen, the lighter should not get anywhere near your actual eye with this (or any) trick.

Now, flick that little lever to get your lighter lit, and wave the tip of your favorite eyeliner right through the very top of the flame. One…two…three times.

At this point, your eyeliner is gonna look a little sad and…amorphous. No worries! If you want a fantastic kohl-like application, go straight ahead and draw that line (you may want to test it on the back of your hand first, without blotting, to make sure the tip isn’t too hot). Now, blot the tip on the back of your hand (I would suggest using a tissue, but you don’t want to pick up any fuzzies) to remove any excess and to test the heat level. If it feels too hot, keep it away from your eyes for another second or two, and test again on your hand (NOTE: this means you left it in the flame too long).

What you do next depends on the effect you want. If you want a gorgeous, crayon-like application that you plan to smudge a bit, let it set for 3-5 seconds, and then apply. If you simply want a longer lasting, precise application, blot off the rest, let it set for 5-10 seconds, and apply.

2. Butterfly Clips

I know that only a few of you are going to trust me on this one, but it really does work wonderfully, so I hope you give it a try.

For this tool to work effectively, you’ll want to blow dry your hair until it’s completely bone-dry, and hopefully with some sort of product in it (I’ve found a texturizing or setting lotion works best). Do you know those butterfly clips that people tend to keep in their kitchen drawer? The ones for closing unfinished bags of almond granola or sour cream and onion crisps? Grab an armful, and haul ‘em up into your bathroom. These are going to help you create a perfectly even and not-so-perfectly disheveled wave in your hair (you know, the kind that one of your friends has naturally, and it’s just not fair!).

Starting at eyelevel, take a clip (I like the medium-size ones) and a section of hair, and, using a finger, push this section up and into the clip (the “teeth” should be parallel to the floor and close to your scalp). Do this on the other side as well.

Next, do the same thing at jaw level on either side. Each of these should create a section roughly one-fifth of the total of your hair. Section out a fifth directly on the back of your head, and place one clip up near the crown of your head (remember to pull the section up and into the clip to avoid flatness) and one at about eyelevel.

At this point, you should have two “un-clipped” fifths left. Add a clip on both of these at the eyelevel line only to create a believable wave. This pattern is going to give you that slightly rough, modern look with a wave only through the mid-section.
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