Karen

The Body Shop Presents: Moroccan Mystery

February 14th, 2009 by Karen 138 Comments

UPDATE: The giveaway is now closed, and the winner will be announced soon. Good luck! 🙂

Happy Valentine’s Day, girls!

Whether you’re partnered up or flying solo today (been there many times before), let The Body Shop brighten your day. Enter the Moroccan Mystery giveaway for a chance to win $170 in products from The Body Shop’s new Moroccan Rose line.

Click to follow the clue below the following list of products in the prize.

The Prize

Moroccan Rose Bath and Body Products
Moroccan Rose Eau de Toilette
Moroccan Rose Shower Gel
Moroccan Rose Bath & Massage Oil
Moroccan Rose Body Butter
Moroccan Rose Body Milk

Moroccan Rose Makeup
Roseflower Eyes Shade 01: Sunshine Gold
Roseflower Lips Shade 01: Soft Pink
Roseflower Blush Shade 02: Fuchsia
Radiance Stick Shade 01: Sheer Pink

There’s nothing like roses on Valentine’s day. 🙂

The Rules

Moroccan Mystery is an online scavenger hunt kindly sponsored by The Body Shop. The rules are easy.

Consider the following clue, and click the featured products link to go to the The Body Shop site.

The page lists a selection of products. Using the clue as your guide, identify which product the clue describes, and leave your guess here in the comments on this post. I’ll pick the winner at random from among the people who leave the correct answer by 11PM PST tonight! 🙂

The Clue

“A wash of pink makes your pucker bloom.”

Featured products link: click here!

Good luck!

Your friendly neighborhood beuaty addict,

Karen

P.S. Congrats to Jen for winning last week’s Smashbox giveaway!

Rhapsody in Blue with Clarins Wonder Blue Mascara

February 13th, 2009 by Karen 16 Comments

Remember last summer’s Teal Terror, aka Clarins Wonder Mint Mascara?

It was one of the best tinted mascaras I’d ever used, adding great volume, length, color AND separation.

Well, guess who’s at it again?

They say lightning never strikes the same place twice. I don’t know about that because Clarins’ latest tinted mascara sure shocked the heck out of me. Wonder Blue ($24) delivers an unmistakable denim blue tint to lashes, and, again, with great volume, length and separation.

Tinted mascaras tend to be more pomp than circumstance, rarely depositing much color at all. We saw it over and over again this past fall with a slew of disappointing plum-colored mascaras that basically looked black.

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Nars Shrinagar Lipstick: Berry Sexy!

February 13th, 2009 by Karen 18 Comments

Nars loves to go off the grid when it comes to their seasonal lip colors, breaking with tradition like it ain’t nothing but a thang. While lines like Chanel, Estee Lauder and Lancome are featuring full coverage pink and red lipsticks in their spring collections, Nars says “check it” with Shrinagar ($24), a semi-sheer berry that whispers sweet nothings to my soul.

Shrinagar is the only lipstick color in Nars’ spring release, a sheer wash of color much like fall’s Canaille lipstick.

But unlike Canaille’s bookish mahogany, which looked so quiet that I almost forgot it was there, Shirinagar turns up the heat.

It may not be as rich as the average spring lip color, but this deep, glossy raspberry with microscopic flecks of silver simply cannot be missed. It seems complex, even flashing purple at certain angles.

Picture hot librarians in nerdy chic glasses.

Texture-wise, Shrinigar feels like velvet on my lips, applying with a thin, creamy consistency that’s also moisturizing. Like other Nars lipsticks I’ve tried, it’s taste- and fragrance-free.

Nars Shrinagar Lipstick

Price: $24
Use: An unusual, semi-sheer berry lipstick for spring
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A+

I usually associate berry lip colors with fall, but that’s why I found this such a pleasant surprise. I want to try pairing it with Nars’ Hula Hula eyeshadow duo when the weather warms up a little.

I can’t wait to wear it with some dark jeans, a white tank top and pink cardigan… and I think I have a pair of librarian glasses around here somewhere. 🙂
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Cat Style on Makeup and Beauty Blog

February 13th, 2009 by Karen 2 Comments

leopard-smile-with-your-eyes

MAC’s Hello Kitty wasn’t the first time a fantastic feline stole my heart on the blog.

Here’s a quick blast from the past featuring a few of my all-time favorite cats!

chanel-leopard-rouge-hydrabase-144-lip-swatch

Lip Look: Chanel Rouge Hydrabase Leopard Lipstick

“This leopard deserves her big jungle cat name. She’s an awesome, semi-matte golden coral, and she makes me look and feel ready to pounce! Even though I’m looking pretty tow up right now in my stretchy pants (had to have ice cream after dinner) and oversized UC DAVIS ALUMNI t-shirt, with Leopard on my lips I still feel hot enough to stalk unsuspecting man prey.”

A Kryolan Makeover, aka Adventures in Theater Makeup

“I didn’t know what to expect, but I got a little suspicious when he glued a prosthetic cat nose to my face. That’s when it dawned on me: homie was probably not going to do a simple smokey eye.”

With Pop Beauty Cat Eyes Liners It’s Good to Be Catty

“OBSESSION ALERT! Pop Beauty Cat Eyes Liners ($16) make applying eyeliner easy and, well, kinda fun. Slanted like the tips of calligraphy pens, these three three highly pigmented pencil liners are built to hit the right angles for slick cat eyes (think Amy Winehouse pre-hot mess).”

Beauty Blog Mascot or Fussy Tabby: Who Is Tabs the Cat?

“International fashion icon and beauty diva Tabs (short for tabby cat) moonlights as my pet â€” or, more accurately, he allows me to moonlight as his person. Each Sunday afternoon Tabs shares photos from his portfolio. Here are 10 of the beauty and fashion modeling jobs that helped turn Tabs into the feline superstar that he is today.”

Happy Friday, ladies! Are ya’ll ready for the weekend?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Nars Says Aloha with the Hula Hula Eyeshadow Duo

February 12th, 2009 by Karen 37 Comments

This afternoon I tried to come up a clever rhyme befitting the NARS Hula Hula Eyeshadow Duo ($32), but the closest I came were “Spend that moolah on Nars Hula Hula” and “I start to drool-a when I see Nars Hula Hula.”

FYI: Not many words rhyme with hula. 🙂

My rhymes may not weave a sonnet, but this shimmery eyeshadow duo feels like poetry on my eyes.

One of two eyeshadow duos in the Nars spring 2009 collection, Hula Hula comes with two cool-toned eyeshadows, the first in shimmery strawberry pink and the other in gold.

Swatch of Hula Hula without flash

To all my glitter girls, take note. Both colors in the duo have bangin’ flakes of glitter — huge chunks like the glitter in Nars’ Super Orgasm Blush, BAM!

I usually equate big glitter with drag show makeup (which has its time and place, I might add), but for some reason it works for me in Hula Hula, I’m guessing because both the colors apply semi-sheer. The finish reminds me of the sheer MAC Beauty Powder blushes. The glitter adds a touch of glam that just stops short of gaudy.

With flash

I think if either of the shadows in this duo applied with the rich, shimmery pigmentation of something like a Shu Uemura eyeshadow or MAC Pigment, then the glitter in them would have taken these shadows on a three-hour tour to tranny-ville. Instead, they hit the glitter nail on the head.
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14 Pink Lip Colors for Valentine’s Day

February 12th, 2009 by Karen 32 Comments

There’s something about wearing pink lips on Valentine’s Day that just feels *right*!

If you’re looking for the perfect pink for your pout, consider one of these 14 pink lipsticks and glosses. 🙂

Bright pinks

Sometimes a bold, bright pink lip is the only way to go. Pair any of these dramatic lips with thick black cat eyeliner and some false lashes for a show-stopping look.

One of my favorites is MAC Hello Kitty Lipglass in Sweet Strawberry ($14), pictured above. Sweet and sexy at the same time!

Or, if you’re in the mood for something less shiny, how about Milani Velvet Lipstick Creamy Lipcolor in Royale ($5)?

For those who want to bring the bling, consider N.Y.C. New York Color Ultra Last Lip Wear in Blue Rose ($2).

Rosy pinks

Okay, so maybe a bold pink lip isn’t your thang; think about rose shades for a more conservative spin. I dig ’em with shimmery browns or pink shadows and blushes.

Budget lovin’ beauties might love Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy Comfort Lip Color in Pink Blossom($10)…

…or Sally Hansen Moist & Matte Liquid Color in Taffeta ($8).

If you’re in the mood to splurge, Givenchy Rouge Interdit in Maharani Rose ($27) could tickle you pink…

…as could Yves Saint Laurent Pur Gloss in Pure Fuschia ($29)!

Cool pinks

Perhaps you’re thinking about wearing something cool on your eyes. How about one of these cool pinks?

Clarins Joil Rouge Perfect Shine Sheer Lipstick in Pink Sugar($24) would look fab with gray smokey eyes or pale shimmery greens or blues.

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Beauty Snacks: Sites of the Day, Feb. 12

February 12th, 2009 by Karen 18 Comments

Hello Kitty: the obsession continues

Something tells me this Danger Kitty necklace would look lovely accompanying a MAC Hello Kitty haul. 🙂

Guyliner lives!

Don’t some of these celebrity dudes hella rock their mascara? Someone should tell them about MAC Blacktrack Fluidline. 🙂

About finding your Valentine on Craigslist: don’t

I thank the powers that be for sending El Hub; before I met him it wasn’t always smooth sailing in my dating life… Have I ever talked about the boyfriend I met on Craigslist? Here’s how I ended up breaking up with him.

Is Chris Brown the new Bobby Brown?

Is Chris Brown headed into the same downward spiral that plagued Bobby Brown? Say it ain’t so!

Sending love and prayers to the Aussies

My heart broke when I saw these pictures of koalas suffering from the intense heat of the deadly brush fires in Australia. My thoughts go out to everyone in Australia (man and animal alike) right now.

Science is frickin’ awesome

New technology makes it possible for people to control these prosthetic arms with their thoughts. Amazing!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Chanel Chance Eau Fraiche for the Bath? Yes, Please

February 11th, 2009 by Karen 31 Comments

Back in the 80s there were these “Calgon take me away” commercials with an overstressed lady who looked ready to pitch a fit.

As a kid, I didn’t understand those commercials — first, why the lady looked so stressed out, and then why she looked so happy in the bath.

But I get it now.

Lord, I get it now.

Enter Chanel’s new Chance Eau Fraiche Foaming Shower Gel ($47.50, 6.8-oz bottle) and Moisturizing Body Cream ($75, 7-oz. jar).

Both are inspired by Chanel’s Chance Eau Fraiche Perfume, a light citrusy floral with notes of lemon, jasmine and vetiver.

Getting ready for bed at the end of a bad day, these two little luxuries help to lift my spirits and push my cares away.

Eau Fraiche Foaming Shower Gel fills the tub with soothing bubbles and cleans from head to toe, adding light moisture to my perpetually parched skin. It’s definitely a splurge, but it’s a nice one, no doubt. Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B+

Chance Eau Fraiche Body Cream feels thick and rich to the touch (not greasy), offering light moisturization without leaving a noticeable film. If you have alligator legs and feet like moi, you might need something a little heavier. While related to the Chance Eau Fraiche scent, this version of the fragrance smells a little more like oranges and jasmine to me (still lovely) and lasts for hours after the bath. Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B+

Being Chanel, both products are on the expensive side, but if you’re in the mood for luxury and like citrusy scents like lemon, orange and grapefruit, you might give ’em a try.