Karen

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

6 FAST FIXES
FOR MAKEUP BOO BOOS

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

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

MAKEUP MATH
YOUR FACE IS A GRID

Think of your face as a grid.

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

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

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

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

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

“Run, Forest, run!”

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

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

A LOOK AT 3 FUSION BEAUTY
LIP PLUMPERS

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

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

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

THE ESSIE WINTER 2010
NAIL POLISHES

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

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

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

De ja vu…

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

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

BALM HAWAII
PINEAPPLE LIP BALM

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

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

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

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

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

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

5 WAYS TO BEAUTIFULLY
TRANSITION INTO WINTER

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

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

A MAKEUP ARTIST’S TAKE
ON A MAGAZINE FASHION SHOOT

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

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

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

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen