I’m so over winter…
Hurry Up, Spring!

by Karen 5 Comments

I’m so over winter…
by Karen 14 Comments
Estee Lauder Love Your Lips Signature Lipstick in Cherry Kiss ($20, available in February).
by Karen 51 Comments

I was 8 when I watched cybernetic Ah-nold pop out his own eyeball in the first Terminator
movie, and ever since then I’ve harbored a not-so-secret obsession with science fiction.
Consequently, it probably comes as no surprise that I’m over the moon in love with the out-of-this-world glitter in Urban Decay’s new Stardust Eyeshadows.
—– RANDOM SCI-FI TRANSMISSION —– Are you watching Caprica, the new Battlestar Galactica spinoff?
In a nutshell, it precedes the near-extinction of humanity at the hands of man-made androids called Cylons.
Stay with me! 🙂
The show’s set 58 years before the events in Galactica, on a near future Earth-like planet that looks oddly like Vancouver, and even though Galactica seemed more shoot-em-up and space invaderish, there are still delightfully scary robots up in the mix (YAY!).
I don’t know if you liked BG, but you don’t have to have followed it to appreciate Caprica. If you like sci-fi, jump in! — and then let me what you think. 🙂
—– END RANDOM SCI-FI TRANSMISSION —– *BEEP* LOL!
Back to the shadows (ha!). The four cuties I talk about here — Atmosphere, Retrograde, Griffith and Diamond Dog ($20 each) — perform basically the same as the others I tried earlier this month. Like those, they apply with sheer pigmentation while packing of loads o’ glittery sparkle, and they stick to my skin with minimal fallout.

by Karen 73 Comments

Mellow, with a pinch of optimistic determination. 🙂
Snowboarding! We’re driving distance from Tahoe, and I’d love to give it a try, but only if there’s a way I can do it without being cold, ha!
The first man/woman to plunge a potato into a vat of boiling oil deserves a posthumous award of some kind. I’ve been craving fries like cra-zaaay lately! — criss-cut fries, curly fries, garlic fries, cheese fries, sweet potato fries… mmm, fries.
I’m going old school Monday with Classic Anna Sui, which was incidentally also my go-to scent in the winter of 2001.
Estee Lauder Michael Kors Very Hollywood Eyeshadow in Blonde Mink, Urban Decay Bourbon 24-7 Glide-On Eye Pencil, Chanel Khaki Dore liner and MAC Studio Fix Lash/Estee Lauder Love Your Lips Gloss in Coral Kiss/Estee Lauder Michael Kors Very Hollywood Blush in Sunset Coral topped with a sprinkling of EL Michael Kors Shimmering Loose Powder.
Two things: 1) supportive friends and 2) umbrellas (it’s raining again).
Tabs the Cat, Shauna the Wonder Dog (she’s more my dad’s dog now, but I feel like I raised her) and No-Name the Fish (a red and orange betta). Though, really, No-Name is more like the roommate I hardly ever see. He belongs to El Hub, who sequestered him to a Tabs-free zone in the house.
I’m looking forward to going out to dinner with the boy tonight. We’re trying to start the week off on a good note!
Jeans, a red v-neck sweater and brown Keds.
Get to bed early tonight (or at least tomorrow), straighten up my office, go for at least three 20-minute walks and smile pretty much constantly. 🙂
How’s your Monday coming along so far, beauties? Well, I hope.
Let me know how things are going on your end of the cosmos. You know how we do this. Just copy the list below, and paste it with your answers in the comments.
Le list
1. Mood:
2. A sport or physical activity you’d like to learn?
3. Guilty junk food craving?
4. Fragrance?
5. Eyes/lips/cheeks:
6. Something you’re grateful for today?
7. Names of your pet(s)?
8. What are you most looking forward to this week?
9. Outfit:
10. Weekly goals:
Keep holdin’ it down, ladies. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Heya, ladies. 🙂 Let’s start the week with a giveaway courtesy of the folks at Daily Makeover and Olay, WOOT-WOOT!
It’s a chance to win two of Olay’s newest anti-aging products. Dig this: they’re both for yer bod.

Anti-aging body products? To this I say, “Hell, yah!”
Back when I was in my teens and 20s (shortly after the dawn of time), I didn’t think much about anti-aging, but I do now. Everything’s changed (particularly on my hands, neck and feet!).
There may be no stopping the march of time, but that doesn’t mean I can’t try to slow it down.
Researchers in a recent University of Göttingen study in Germany found that people with well-maintained body skin were perceived to be up to 10 years younger than their actual age.

Since anti-aging skin care technology can benefit facial AND body skin, Olay’s worked to deliver some of those benefits in their new line of body care products.
Which leads us to today’s giveaway. 🙂
One lucky lady will win two bottles of Olay’s new Total Effects 7-in-1 Advanced Anti-Aging Body Wash (one each of the Deep Penetrating Moisture formula, and Exfoliate and Replenish) and be asked to give their opinion after trying them for two weeks (just shoot an email to me).

Olay targeted seven areas with the new stuff, designing the products to improve skin elasticity, to relieve dryness, to moisturize, brighten dull skin, even skin tone, smooth rough skin and minimize the appearance of fine lines.

I started using both of ’em this weekend, and I’ll follow up with you in two weeks for more detail, but first impressions first…
Entering is easy. Just leave a comment at the bottom of this post. In it, tell me one of your favorite Olay products and why you heart it.
A few months ago I discovered Olay’s In-Shower Body Lotion. It’s genius how it works in the shower! After rinsing and toweling off, I can moisturize my entire body in less than two minutes flat. 🙂
I’ll pick the winner at random from among the people who enter by 11:59 a.m. PST on Tuesday, January 26.
Nawguralek!!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
by Karen 14 Comments

What’s shakin’, turkey bacon? How’s it going, ladies? I’m bummed it’s already Sunday night. Tabs has to go back to work tomorrow (he had me iron his tie), and he’s none too pleased about it. Poor cat’s gotta earn his keep though. 🙂
In other news, I didn’t do much today, other than finish a whole mess of laundry, write a couple posts, watch the latest 30 Rock on Hulu (LOVE Julianne Moore’s Boston accent. It’s wicked cool!) and window-shop for clothes online (didn’t find anything).
…almost die and go to heaven when I came across this Barbie Edition of the T3 Featherweight Dryer ($200). It’s SUPER CUTE!
LORAC is going *sparkle motion* with the new Multiplex 3D Lip Gloss ($22).
I almost rose from my chair at the sight of this Korres Japanese Rose Showergel ($20).
Um, is anyone else strangely fascinated by Givenchy’s transparent Mister Eyebrow Fixing Pencil ($23)?
Have you been wondering what to do with an extra $1,600?
Got stress? I feel your pain, homie. Maybe we need Aveeno Stress Relief Foaming Bath ($6).
A new $20 eye primer from LORAC? Tell me more.
Tori Amos = AWESOMENESS. Tori Amos + Smashbox = AWESOMENESS DELUXE.
Who else is tempted to taste (NOTE: Probably not a good idea, BTW) Philosophy’s Butterscotch Bliss Shower Gel ($16)?
All aboard! YSL is jumping on the stick gloss bandwagon with Gloss Volupte ($30).
Enjoy the rest of your night. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
by Karen 15 Comments

Tabs does (what’s a dry shampoo?). Really, they’re all he ever uses. Matter of fact, I can’t remember the last time I saw him take a *real* shower, LOL! That cat is filthy. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
by Karen 54 Comments

Heya, ladies. 🙂 How’s it going? Question for you: how do you feel about makeup repair? When one of your favorite products gives up the ghost, do you let it go softly into that good night, or do you try to pull it back from the brink?
I’m like an American Gladiator when it comes to pulling! I HATE to throw salvageable makeup away, especially discontinued or limited edition stuff. I’d rather keep a busted pan of something precious than relegate it to the big makeup dump in the sky.
Thinner and nail polish remover (one containing acetone) work best (actually, thinner works best), but household rubbing alcohol (isopropyl 91%) will also work in a pinch (although not quite as well). Just add a few drops to a drying bottle of nail polish, shake for 2 minutes, and you should be good to go. A quick way to get at least a few more uses out of a polish you may have otherwise thrown away. 🙂
UPDATE: Thanks, ladies, for the comments about thinner vs. nail polish remover to salvage a trash-bound polish. I prefer thinner to either remover OR rubbing alcohol (it’s more of a long-term fix), and I only reach for the remover or rubbing alcohol when I DON’T have a bottle of thinner laying around. 🙂
–> I feel bad about this… but for the first time in three years of blogging, after 80,000 comments, I had to ban two people today for being overly aggressive. I’m totally cool with respectful disagreements in the comments, but let’s keep it friendly. No hostility please.
I’ve also read that regular old clear nail polish will work as a substitute for thinner or polish remover, but I haven’t given it a try.

There are quite a few variations on this one, some more complicated than others, but adding a few drops (3-5, depending on the size of the compact or pan) of rubbing alcohol to a cracked pan of eyeshadow and pressing with a spoon or a coin can make a broken powder product look like new again.
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