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Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup

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

Karen

Olay In-Shower Body Lotion Is Cutting Out the Middle Man

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olay-in-shower-body-lotion-1

Thank you, Olay In-Shower Age Defying Body Lotion ($7), for turning me into a well-oiled, lotion-applying machine.

A little beauty backstory

I have alligator skin. Consequently, I spend copious amounts of time applying body lotion. Once, I tried to figure out how much time I’ve spent at it over the course of my life, and it worked out to something like 52 days.

52 DAYS! That’s time I could’ve spent learning how to play the lute or drooling over Ry-Ry. 🙂

ryan-on-table-saying-haaay

Depending on how long I stick with creamy Olay In-Shower Body Lotion (I’m fickle when it comes to lotions), I could save hours over the rest of my life because it basically eliminates the five minutes I’d otherwise spend applying lotion after every shower.

Instead, after washing and rinsing off my regular body wash, I just rub it on (taking in the light apple-floral scent) while the water’s still running. The heat and humidity in the shower activate its moisturizing mojo.

Then, after all of my dry skin areas are sufficiently coated, I rinse and pat down with a towel.
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Jake Gyllenhaal: His Best Hair?

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Dear Jake,

Did you get the card I sent for turkey day (gobble gobble!)? I hope so. 🙂 Yours still hasn’t arrived, but I’m sure it’s on its way. The Post Office has been busy as of late…

I was surprised to read about you and Reese. Thank goodness the rumors were untrue, but I’m here if you ever need a shoulder.

Yours always,

Karen

In my frantic search to corroborate the breakup rumors, I couldn’t help but notice the breadth of Jake’s hairstyles over the years. He makes bangs look so very fetching!

If/when I earn that spot on Jeopardy! and “Jake Gyllenhaal’s hair” comes up as a topic, I think I’ll be prepared.

Jakeypoo factoids

  • Born Jacob Benjamin Gyllenhaal in Los Angeles (December 19, 1980)
  • Family has deep Hollywood ties. Dad’s a director, Mom’s a screenwriter, and big sis Maggie’s a star.
  • Enjoys woodworking and cooking
  • Acting debut was in the 1991 film City Slickers
  • Graduated from high school in 1998 and then went on to attend Columbia University, studying Eastern religions and Philosophy; dropped out to pursue film career.
  • Feature films include Brokeback Mountain, The Day After Tomorrow, Donnie Darko (my JG fave!) and more

P.S. Jake, I know you’re busy, but before I go, may I ask a favor? I’ve noticed you’ve been growing out your hair for Prince of Persia (due out next spring). Please, please condition at least once/week. Split ends = not cute. 🙂

Which of Jake's hairstyles do you like best?

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Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Bloggerati Spotlight

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The Beauty Bloggerati

Heya, ladies. How’s it going tonight? I’m kinda taking it easy. I’ve been guzzling de-stress tea and watching Law & Order: SVU reruns with Tabs. He was naughty earlier tonight (tried to eat my Trader Joe’s cookies), but he’s cool now.

While I eat another few dark chocolate stars and gaze longingly at Detective Stabler, take a minute to see what the ladies of Daily Makeover’s Beauty Bloggerati have been up to.

Have a good night! Don’t let the bed bugs bite. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Carmindy’s New Smoky Eye Kit Makes One Heck of a Stocking Stuffer

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Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Perfect Smokey Eyes box

Leave it to makeup artist Carmindy (of TLC’s What Not To Wear) to make smokey eyes even easier than flipping your hair (well, almost). 🙂

Her new Perfect Smoky Eyes Kit ($23, part of the Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy line) comes with three coordinating eye products perfect for creating understated, elegant, just plain pretty smokey eyes.

What ya get

  • Eye Shadow Palette in Storm: Three shimmery shades in gray, taupe and beige
  • Lift & Define Mascara in Jet Black: A lengthening, glossy black
  • Always Perfect Liquid Eye Liner in Black Onyx: A sheer liquid liner

Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Perfect Smokey Eyes products

Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Perfect Smokey Eyes swatches
Swatches from left to right: shimmery gray eyeshadow, shimmery taupe eyeshadow, shimmery beige eyeshadow, liquid liner, mascara
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Taking Care of Business: Lip Fusion Collection Glosses Wear Well at Work

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Lip Fusion Collection Review glosses

Back when I worked as a legal assistant in the city — what I like to call my cubicle days — I would take quick mental health breaks throughout the day, like whenever I overheard one of my attorneys say, “That shouldn’t take long. Karen will handle it.”

I’d hunker down behind my monitor and start applying lip gloss like a MAD WOMAN!

I think it kept me sane… Mostly, I liked my job, but it wasn’t always emotionally easy. Lip gloss helped me get through the day. 🙂

What kinds of lip gloss? It varied, of course, but I didn’t wear many high shine varieties (many were too sexy for the office). I was partial to work-friendly shades like the ones in Fusion Beauty’s Lip Fusion Collection ($40).

Lip Fusion Collection Review 3
Blush, a sheer and creamy baby pink

It’s a limited edition holiday set with six little Lip Fusion Color Shine Glosses in a mix of basic nude, pink and bronze.

Lip Fusion Collection Review 2
Bare, a shimmery and sheer nude

The colors look pretty work appropriate — noticeable yet subdued — and deliver medium shine.

Lip Fusion Collection Review 6
Goddess, a shimmery golden bronze
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How Often Do You Use Hot Rollers?

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hot rollers

Even though I think I’m pretty adventurous with hair products and tools (don’t get me started on how I used to flat iron my hair with a real deal IRON), I’ve never used a set of hot rollers.

No particular reason why, really. I just never got around to it.

But curling irons can take forever to use! I’ve been wearing my hair curly a lot lately, and I want to get back some of the time (20 minutes in some cases) it takes me to curl.

That’s why I picked up a set of Jilbere ($35) ceramic hot rollers at Sally Beauty last weekend.

Please, oh, PLEASE, beauty gods, save me from burning myself while I figure them out! 🙂

How Often Do You Use Hot Rollers?

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Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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