Karen

Subscribe to Makeup and Beauty Blog: Never Miss Another Post

November 15th, 2009 by Karen 2 Comments

Don’t let school or work get you down! Ease your way into each day with a little bit of makeup and beauty. 🙂

Each morning at around 11 o’clock my time (Pacific Standard), an email with my latest posts goes out to Makeup and Beauty Blog subscribers.

If you aren’t already subscribed, the emails can be a great way to start your day. I try to keep things interesting, alternating makeup and beauty news with giveaways, product reviews, photo posts, tutorials and tips. I’ll never share your address with anyone for anything. You’ll get just one email per day, delivered fresh and hot out the kitchen (not really, but you know what I mean).

Thanks for visiting.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. If you’re completely swamped with email, you can also subscribe by RSS feed or follow me on twitter or facebook.

What’s the Best Glittery Product You’ve Ever Used?

November 15th, 2009 by Karen 33 Comments

best-glitter-product

How do you feel about glitter? Do you wear it much? I don’t rock it 24/7, but I will reach for a glittery nail polish, lipgloss or eyeliner when I’m feeling spunky (happens from time to time). 🙂

Urban Decay’s Heavy Metal Liner in Midnight Cowboy kinda changed my outlook on glitter. It turned glitter from something I liked into something I love.

By adding just the faintest sparkle, it became one of my staples for fun nights out. I’ll wear it as a shimmery golden liner along my upper lash line (where it stays like a mo’ fo’). The fine particles give it a sophisticated golden sparkle that lights up my face, but not in a cheesy, you’re-trying-too-hard way.

Some women look at glitter like they look at mini skirts — after a certain age, you just don’t go there anymore.

I don’t think so. Women of any age can sparkle. 🙂

What’s the best glittery product you’ve ever used, and what makes it great?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 62

November 15th, 2009 by Karen 13 Comments

Ladies, can I ask a HUGE favor? Tabs got the cover of Vogue this month — I know! How cool is that? Well, I’d like some extra issues for keepsakes, but they’re sold out everywhere! 🙂 If you happen to see the issue on a newsstand, would you mind grabbing an extra copy for me? I’m just so proud…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

What Were Your Best and Worst Beauty Experiences of the Week?

November 15th, 2009 by Karen 34 Comments

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MY BEST:

Monday’s unusually great hair day! 🙂 Oh, and my skin finally cleared up after a two-week-long breakout.

MY WORST:

The moment of dead silence after I accidentally dropped my pan of MAC Blue Sorcery eyeshadow on the kitchen floor. It was like watching the Matrix, seeing the pan fall in slow motion, except that I was powerless to stop it… Poor thing didn’t stand a chance.

What were your best and worst beauty experiences of the week? Please share yours in the comments.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

My Movie Night Lip Look Starring Clinique Black Tie Violets

November 14th, 2009 by Karen 21 Comments

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Things I’m crushing on this weekend…

Ryan Reynolds
Toe socks (brr… it’s cold in here)
The Clinique Black Tie Violets collection!!!

That there at the top is the Black Tie lip combo I wore to the movies last night. 🙂

I went with Defining Liner for Lips in Pomegranate ($14) layered beneath Different Lipstick in Different Grape ($14), and for extra sparkle and shine I added Full Potential Lips Plump and Shine in Bloomberry ($18).

It made the movie easier to bear, LOL!

As far as the colors and finishes of the products I used (to dupe them with other things from your collection), the combo breaks down to…

A shimmery reddish blue lip liner
A creamy violet lipstick
A lipgloss in a shimmery pink

I’m picturing the look with thick black cat eyeliner. Wouldn’t that look hawt?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Did you do anything fun tonight? I just got back from pizza, and now I’m looking for a brainless movie on iTunes. Tabs says “meow.” He wants me to get The Ugly Truth. He loves those romantic comedies…

What a Broken Pan of MAC Blue Sorcery Looks Like

November 14th, 2009 by Karen 43 Comments

Whoop — there it is.

(It fell on the kitchen floor.)

Saturday Surfing

November 14th, 2009 by Karen 10 Comments

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Lovely. My stomach just growled at me for not having lunch ready yet. It’s even worse than Tabs, always clamoring for something to eat!

I sure hope it likes steamed artichokes and tomato soup…

What are you up to today? I spent some time e-surfing this morning and found a few choice pickings (beauty and otherwise). Hope you’re having a nice weekend so far. 🙂

Gwen’s Harajuku Lovers are rockin’ bikinis for spring, TOO CUTE! — Bella Sugar
Up your style with these November tips — Icing
G is for Glitter! Feed your inner glitter monster with China Glaze’s Meteor Shower — Temptalia
Um, can I eat these (soap nuts)? — The Notice
Let’s be better together with a week of slight improvements — Too Pretty For This
7 ways to avoid nail polish stains — All Lacquered Up
All the things you DON’T have to know — A Beautiful Ripple Effect
Kiehl’s Rare Earth Pore Minimizing collection keeps those pores in line — We Heart This
5 ways to fake healthy hair — Daily Beauty Reporter Blog
What’s the secret to becoming amazingly great at something? — Zen Habits
Why stress can kill your success or help your blog succeed — Pro Blogger

Amazing what some people accomplish in their spare time…

Found it!

If your kids ask you how babies are made…

I better get my booty in gear. This place ain’t gonna clean itself, LOL!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Urban Decay Show Pony Palette: What’s Your Favorite Shadow?

November 14th, 2009 by Karen 20 Comments

urban decay show pony palette open

Good morning, ladies. 🙂 How was your night? The only thing I did was go to the movies to see The Box, the new sci-fi thriller starring Cameron Diaz and cutie pie James Marsden, but the highlight was probably the popcorn.

I went expecting a lot since the movie’s based on a short story by one of my favorite horror writers, Richard Matheson (also wrote I am Legend, Stir of Echoes and Hell House), but I thought it was a little slow, confusing and disjointed at parts.

LOVED the ’70s-era styling, though, and left the theater wanting to feather my hair and find bellbottoms and a long silk scarf, fo’ reals!

What are you up to today? I’ve got some household chores (boo), but after those I plan to reward myself with some me time and Urban Decay’s Show Pony Palette ($30).

How do you feel about the packaging? The design’s by Kime Buzzelli, an artist, fashion designer and the owner of the Echo Park clothing boutique.

urban decay show pony 2

It’s limited edition but has been out for a few months already. I wish I’d gotten wind of it sooner because I’m kinda ga-ga over the shadows.

I can’t decide on a fave…

urban decay show pony swatches 1 thru 3

urban decay show pony swatches 4 thru 6

urban decay show pony swatches all

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The palette has six swoon-worthy, shimmery shadows; a travel-sized 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil (in Zero) and one of UD’s mini Eyeshadow Primer Potions, too.

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From left to right: 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero, Eyeshadow Primer Potion

If you have eyes for Show Pony (or something else from Team UD), here’s a great deal that’s going on now: Save a whopping 30% with Urban Decay’s online Friends and Family sale (valid through Nov. 20). Enter code “FNFW1” at checkout and hit “Redeem Coupon.” Hey, you’ve been good this year, right? Um, RIGHT? 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Karen

Which of the Urban Decay Show Pony Palette eyeshadows do you like best?