Karen, Author at Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup - Page 1603 of 1879

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

Tuesday Beauty Tips: 9 Things to Do on Your Next Trip to San Francisco

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Welcome to San Francisco

Ah, the things we do for Cupid…

After I met and fell in love with El Hub, I wanted to be closer to him, so I left my favorite city of San Francisco and moved the 10 miles north across the Golden Gate Bridge to the suburbs of Marin.

I like it here, but I’m a city girl at heart. I miss SF’s bustling beauty scene, and the city’s diversity, restaurants, museums and clubs.

081609-the-city-at-dusk-small
San Francisco at dusk

Which is why I love to visit. 🙂 If you’re planning a trip to San Francisco and looking for Bay Area adventure, you’ve come to the right place! Here are 9 of my favorite things to do in the city.
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What’s the WORST Beauty Decision You Ever Made?

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111009-worst-beauty-decision

Ah… so many to choose from! But my WORST ones involve bad hair.

Remember Dorothy Hamill?

At the tender age of five, I allowed my grandmother, bless her heart, to perm my hair. She was enrolled in beauty school at the time and got my mom’s permission to practice perming skills on me. Dorthy Hamill bowl cut + too tight perm = hair of horrors!!!

Finals destination

One time back in college I walked into a random $8 haircut chop shop on a whim and told the stylist to do “whatever she wanted” to my shoulder-length black hair. It was during finals; I was broke, sleep-deprived out of my mind, and convinced that my hair was weighing down my brain. I probably should’ve left when it occurred to me that the other people in the waiting area were screaming children and dudes who looked like they never showered, but I was already in the chair. 🙂 Fifteen minutes later, I had my brand new lopsided triangle haircut, way too short and puffed up at the sides, WHEE! It looked horrible and took months to grow out.

Brow beating

Do not — I repeat — DO NOT attempt to wax your eyebrows unless you’re wide awake and alert. I learned this lesson the hard way last summer…

Care to ‘fess up? Come on, don’t be shy. 🙂 What’s the WORST beauty decision you ever made?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Givenchy Holiday 2009: Pricey Precious Pearls

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Givenchy holiday 2009 top

What shimmery pearls of makeup wisdom can we derive from the eight pieces in Givenchy’s new pearl-inspired limited edition Holiday 2009 collection?

How about “less is more”?

These pearlescent shades of gray, pink and beige bring subtle back in a precious gemstone kinda way (read: expensive). I swatched five of the items today, and subtle was definitely *in the house*, particularly when it came to the lip colors.

Givenchy holiday 2009 gloss interdit
Gloss Interdit Ultra-Shiny Color Plumping Effect in 20 Tender Pearl (top) and 21 Elegant Pearl (bottom), each $25

givenchy holiday 2009 gloss interdit pearl shine
Rouge Interdit Shine Lipstick in 24 Pearl Shine, $27

givenchy holiday 2009 rouge interdit shine pearl shine packagaing
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LORAC Silver Screen Palette Warm Look Face of the Day

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lorac silver screen palette warm look 2

Today I felt like putting the lovely LORAC Silver Screen palette to work, specifically the warm eyeshadows from the first row, the matte rose blush and the Lip Polish, and I even followed the convenient tutorial on the back of the box (with some minor adjustments for added punch). 🙂

To the recipe on the back, I added a base of MAC Paint Pot in Painterly beneath the shadows and black liquid liner on my upper lash line.

lorac silver screen palette warm eye directions

lorac silver screen palette warm look side
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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Nov. 9

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sonia-kashuk-holiday-brushes

Sonia Kashuk Holiday 2009 brushes…review coming soon!

  1. Mood:

    2. Positively spunky! It’s gonna be a good week.

  2. Have you broken any bones?

    3. Nope. I sprained an ankle running sprints in track when I was 13 (swelled up like a grapefruit, gross!), but that’s the closest I’ve come, knock on wood.

  3. Do you have any piercings?

    4. Just my ears. Mum had them pierced at the hospital right after I was born (it’s a Filipino thing).

  4. Breakfast?

    5. Toaster waffles, a Morning Star veggie sausage patty and a big cup of coffee.

  5. Eyes/lips/cheeks:

    6. I’m being packaging efficient today with the LORAC Silver Screen Palette for all three.

  6. Name of your first pet?

    7. Suzy… She was a black and white guinea pig.

  7. Current favorite cream blush?

    8. I’ve been deeply obsessed with NARS the Multiple Duo in Orgasm/South Beach ($45) for months.

  8. Journey — Cool or cheesy (or both)?

    9. Hella cool! Don’t Stop Believing = one of my favorite songs, evah.

  9. Outfit:

    10. I’ve got my jeans set out for the day, but I’m still in my blue and green plaid jammy bottoms, oversize navy blue UC Davis T and gray zip-up sweatshirt. Sexy…

  10. Weekly goals:

    11. Maintain a positive outlook no matter what, snap some pictures of my new neighborhood, reach out to friends I haven’t chatted with in a long time, drag El Hub to my favorite Indian food restaurant (I’m craving a dosa, big time!).

Heya, ladies! Happy Monday. 😀

I’m halfway through my gigantic cup of coffee and feeling WHEEEEE! — overwhelming burst of caffeine-fueled joy!

How’s your morning? Before things get too crazy in your day, let me know how things are going on your end of the keyboard.

Le list

1. Mood:
2. Ever broken any bones?
3. Do you have any piercings?
4. Breakfast?
5. Eyes/lips/cheeks:
6. Name of your first pet?
7. Current favorite cream blush?
8. Journey — Cool or cheesy?
9. Outfit:
10. Weekly goals:

Talk to you soon! 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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