Karen

It’s Natural: Organic Beauty Still Going Strong

March 6th, 2010 by Karen 14 Comments

Despite 2009’s global economic slowdown, sales of natural cosmetics kept chugging along at a spirited pace, clocking in 14% growth worldwide, most of it in Europe and North America.

Earlier this year, almost a quarter of us thought (23%) natural/organic beauty would be 2010’s biggest beauty trend, and the move toward more organic beauty shows no signs of stopping.

My biggest pet peeves with the whole natural/organic beauty market have to do with standardization and certification. I mean, what does it really mean to say that a product’s natural or organic? Sometimes it’s hard to tell, right? And new certifications pop up all the time, like BDIH and Ecocert in Europe, and the USDA (for personal care items based on agricultural products) or brand new NSF/ANSI 305 “Made with Organic” logo here in the States.

I would LOVE to see just a single label or logo used to certify all organic beauty bona-fides. Wouldn’t that be nice?

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Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Saturday Surfing

March 6th, 2010 by Karen 16 Comments

Congratulations all around, ladies! We made it to Saturday. 🙂 I’ve been trying to ease up on my coffee intake lately (been on a tea kick), but I give myself a pass on Saturdays. It’s amazing how something as small as a latte can make the day feel special, like a reward for making it through the week in one piece.

Before I go get my Starbucks on, do you have time for a little Saturday surfing?

Random bright spots

WOW! Is that Jennifer Aniston I smell? — BellaSugar
I’d love to see Bobbi Brown’s Bonfire Palette on my vanity — Temptalia
Pretty pics of MAC’s Pret-a-Papier summer collection — Lushious Beauty
Sneak a peak at H&M’s spring clothes, shoes and accessories — Nitrolicious
My search for the perfect nude lip might end with these Julie Hewett lipsticks — We Heart This
LOVE this smokey green eye on Brittny Gastineau — Troy Jensen Online
Pretty! How to look healthy and glow — FashionFace.tv
NARS shows how to contour your skin — StlyeCaster
Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Gel Cream Liners (what a name!) come in three complementary colors — The Cut Blog
3 secrets to getting perfect skin — Super Kawaii Mama
Mena Suvari sports an, um, interesting hairstyle — The Girls in the Beauty Department
Hop down this rabbit hole into the wonderfully bizarre world of Victorian photocollage — Slate
These handmade German cat caves are ALL. KINDS. OF. AWESOME! — Modern Cat
How to use the semicolon; why it’s Earth’s most feared punctuation — The Oatmeal

New in beauty

Your ‘pits smell so — how can I put it? — amazingly graceful? Philosophy’s Amazing Grace Perfumed Deodorant ($12)
Eyes have to try Anastasia’s Cooling Eye Brightener ($21). She says it tones, softens and de-puffs, oh my!
Le Metier de Beaute’s Le Petit Poudrier Lip Kits ($36) fit a lot in atiny space
Jemma Kidd wants to perfect your pout with her Perfect Pout Exfoliating Lip Balm ($13)
I’ve never tried a purple primer before, but I’d give Boots No7 Colour Calming Primer in Lavendar ($10) a go
Is it wrong to want Guerlain’s Terracotta Teint d’Ailleurs solely because of the bottle?

I know this girl! Doesn’t she have a pretty voice? 🙂

Have you heard of Chat Roulette??

I’m getting the itch to travel (and skateboard)

What do ya got going on today? I’m basically running errands (post office, grocery store and Target)… Maybe I can squeeze in a run if the inspiration strikes.

Have a most excellent Saturday!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Anna Kendrick: Her Best Hair?

March 5th, 2010 by Karen 16 Comments

I wonder which movie’s gonna win the Academy Award for Best Makeup this year. Hmm… Seeing as Star Trek’s the only one of the three I’ve seen, I guess it gets my vote. 🙂

Do you go buck wild for awards shows? I do for the Oscars, and this year I was shocked to see a familiar face from Twilight among the list of nominees for Best Supporting Actress, the adorable Anna Kendrick, for Up in the Air (I STILL haven’t seen it but really want to).

The 24-year old stars opposite George Clooney in the film. I’ve been a fan of hers since 2007’s Rocket Science. Remember her in that? And homegirl’s been singing and acting in Broadway musicals since the age of 12, so she’s already got quite a resume, Oscar nod notwithstanding.

Anna’s going up against a few of my favorite actresses, though, namely Penelope Cruz and Maggie Gyllenhaal… I have no idea who’ll win, but I have a soft spot in my heart for young upstarts. Good luck, Anna! 🙂

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Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Four Quick Looks at New Face Products from MAC, Stila and Tarte

March 5th, 2010 by Karen 37 Comments

Can I get a HOLLA from my on-the-go girls? Why does it seem like there’s never enough time for, well, anything? If “summarize it” is your mantra, I got yo’ back, holmes. Here are four lickity split looks at new face products from MAC, Stila and Tarte.

MAC Mineralize SPF 15 Foundation ($32; available in 23 shades)

Shade: NC 35

I really wanted to love MAC Mineralize SPF 15, the company’s latest foundation. It blew me away with its creamy, weightless formula, soft focus finish and medium coverage. My combination dry/oily skin couldn’t wait to give it a try.

But, alas, it breaks me out like a mo’ fo’…

Some ladies love it, though, so I’d say it’s worth a try if your skin plays well with other MAC foundations. Performance-wise, it’s great stuff, offering buildable coverage that doesn’t settle into fine lines. Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B+

Tarte Smooth Operator Natural Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 20 ($36; 11 shades)

Shade: Agent 14

When Tarte re-packaged their oil-free Smooth Operator line, they were cool enough to spruce it up with five new shades.

I’ve been wearing sheer Agent 14 on the weekends (I love the names; they also have Agents 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 00). It’s a lightweight tinted moisturizer with just a hint of color, but it still manages to eliminate any redness I might have while evening out my skin tone.
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New in Beauty Mar. 5: Chantecaille’s Ode to Big Cats, and Givenchy Creates Custom Color

March 5th, 2010 by Karen 27 Comments

New in Beauty

For the craziest 😀 of cat ladies: Chantecaille’s $117 (!) Bengal Palette
Speaking o’ Chantecaille …Les Sorbets Lip Gloss Palette ($69) is making me HONGRAY!
Givenchy’s Hydra Sparkling Magic Lip & Cheek Balm ($30) creates a flush of color custom made for you
Hmm… Which Bobbi Brown Palette do you like best? Aquamarine($60) or Orchid ($60)?
Soap & Glory is going Solar Powder ($12)!
Although smokey eyes are more of a fall look for me, I’m intrigued by Pixi’s Smokey Eye Primer in Heather Quartz ($18)
Boots No7’s Natural Blush Cheek Color in Candy Pink ($9) just might make you blush
Look at ALL THE MAKEUP 🙂 that comes with LORAC’s Full Color Face Collection Kit ($25)!
Zits everywhere are dying to meet Clinique’s Anti-Blemish Solutions Liquid Makeup
Tool time: the Urban Decay 24/7 Duos With Grindhouse ($29) come with two eyeliners … and a sharpener
Essie claims their Ejuvenate collection ($19-25) will give you a (younger looking) hand
What’s your take on this Hanae Mori Butterfly Solid Perfume Ring ($39)?
I wouldn’t trust myself not to taste Cake’s Milk Made Smoothing Hand & Cuticle Buffer ($16)
Doesn’t this Caboodle Black Mini Pro Case ($15) look inspired by Chanel?

Morning, girls. 🙂 Yup, it’s that time again, another TGIF. I hope you find at least a few minutes to do something fun today (you deserve it!). And you know how the saying goes: “All work and no play…”

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Lime Green

March 4th, 2010 by Karen 10 Comments

I saw this lime tree when I was running errands today. Wouldn’t that green be a fun eyeshadow color?

Swatch Out! MAC Too Fabulous Lip Pencils and Cremesheen Glasses

March 4th, 2010 by Karen 56 Comments

Girls, can we talk for a sec about how MAC handles color? The line has a rep for bright, bold makeup, but every so often they’ll come out with a collection that kinda throws me for a loop.

Right now that collection’s Too Fabulous, with its darker Mineralized Blush colors, and delicately colored Lip Pencils ($13) and Cremesheen Glasses ($18).

Cremesheen Glasses in Partial to Pink, Just Superb, Loud & Lovely, Boy Bait, Fashion Scoop
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