Karen

Bienvenidos a Florida!

November 20th, 2008 by Karen 27 Comments

Hola, ladies! I just got into town (Boca Raton, to be exact) and wanted to say a quick hello. Surprisingly, I am still functional enough to type (LOL!) because travel always wears me out.

Guess who almost missed her flight this morning. I’ll give you one guess… 🙂

Note to file: running through airport terminals to catch a flight is SO NOT COOL!

But we’re here now, at the hotel in Boca. Jen’s wedding is the day after tomorrow.

Don’t let the view from the hotel room balcony deceive you; it’s friggin’ freezing up in here, Mr. Bigglesworth! Well, not exactly freezing, but it sho’ ain’t 85 and balmy.

For the record, hotel bathroom lighting isn’t conducive to good photography or to the proper application of concealer.

My first order of business is to find a place to get my nails done for the wedding. Hmm…

I’m bringing my bottle of NARS Bohemia Nail Polish (a shimmery pink with green pearl) with me.

I want to thank you guys for being so nice and supportive about my mother in law’s illness. She goes in for her second surgery tomorrow (to have another mastectomy, the other side).

El Hub ended up coming out here to Florida with me, although I know he really wanted to be in Hawaii to help. He’d only been back from Hawaii for three days when we learned that Mom had to go in for another operation.

We spoke with her today on the phone, though, and it was good to hear her voice. It’s hard going to something fun like a wedding knowing what she’s going through, but our hearts and minds are with her.

Anywho, I don’t mean to dampen your day or to bum you out. Just wanted to say thanks. Here’s to hoping you’re having a great Thursday! 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Are You Cool Enough for the Laura Mercier Black Tie Collection?

November 20th, 2008 by Karen 22 Comments

Laura Mercier wants you all smoked out for your black tie events, ladies, and to help us look the part she’s released the Black Tie Collection, a small offering of six eye, lip and nail products for the holidays.

You may not have known this about me … but I’m obsessed with makeup (LOL!). I go through phases, like my current obsession with blue eyeshadow.

Beyond my minor makeup infatuations, though, are my more serious addictions, i.e. the cravings that last longer than a few weeks. Smokey eyes fall into this category. I am totally obsessed with smokey eyes!

How do you feel about the Tuxedo Eye Colour Eye Colour Quad ($38) and the Gala and Soiree Lip Glace lipglosses ($22 each)?

Tuxedo Eye Colour Quad ($38)

This quad comes with four soft, finely milled eyeshadows (think Shu Uemura in terms of texture) in shades of black and white. I love the texture, but I’m not sold on the colors. The two lighter shades didn’t really sing for me (the lighter shades looked almost chalky on my skin tone), but I bet they’d work better on girls with cool-toned, lighter skin.

Shimmery grey-black
Matte cool black
Shimmery silver white
Matte white

The darker shades, on the other hand, totally worked for me. I’m going to get so much use out of both the shimmery black and matte black shadows. I can’t wait to layer them on top of a creamy black kohl pencil with different shades of blue and green shadows, oy!
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Have You Tried the Winners of the 2008 Perfumers’ Choice Awards?

November 20th, 2008 by Karen 13 Comments

Last week members of the American Society of Perfumers huddled around scented candles to honor the best and brightest in the fragrance biz and to celebrate the power of fragrance in everything from luxury perfumes to laundry detergents.

Do you recognize any of these scents? I can’t wait to try Bath and Body Works Velvet Tuberose!

Best Fine Fragrance Women’s Classic
Beautiful (Estee Lauder, IFF)

Best Fine Fragrance Men’s Classic
Fahrenheit (LVMH, Symrise)

Fine Fragrance Women’s Contemporary
Euphoria (Coty, IFF)

Fine Fragrance Men’s Contemporary
Polo Double Black (Ralph Lauren, Givaudan)

Best Baby/Children Fragrance
Johnson & Johnson Bedtime Bath (Johnson & Johnson, Givaudan)

Best Eco-Friendly/Natural Fragrances
Pure & Natural Pomegranate & Grapefruit Body Wash (Dial Corporation, Symrise)

Best Hair Care Fragrance Mass
Pantene Pro V Expressions (P&G)

Best Hair Care Fragrance Specialty
Botanical Daily Shampoo (Alba Botanica, Creative Concepts)

Best Bath and Shower Fragrance Mass
Axe Recovery Shower Gel (Unilever, IFF)

Best Bath and Shower Fragrance Specialty
Dancing Waters Shower Gel (Bath and Body Works, Givaudan)

Best Body Care Fragrance Women’s
Secret Clinical Light & Fresh Scent (P&G)

Best Body Care Fragrance Men’s
Old Spice After Hours Deodorant (P&G)

Best Body and Face Lotion Fragrance Mass
Neutrogena Oil Free Pink Facial (Neutrogena, Symrise)

Best Body and Face Lotion Specialty
Velvet Tuberose (Bath and Body Works, Givaudan)

Best Sunscreen/Self Tanner Fragrance
Aveeno Protection Sunblock Lotion “Continuous Protection” (Johnson & Johnson, Symrise)

Best Laundry Fabric Care Fragrance
Downy Simple Pleasures Lavender and Vanilla (P&G)

Best Laundry Detergent Fragrance
Ultra Tide with Febreze Meadows & Rain (P&G)

Best Household Cleaner Fragrance
Ultra Concentrated Dawn with Orange Eraser Fresh Orange (P&G)

Best Air Care Fragrance Mass
Febreze Noticeables Morning Walk and Cleansing Rain (P&G)

Best Air Care Fragrance Specialty
Lemon Verbena AirEssence (Agraria, Creative Concepts)

Best Candle Fragrance Mass
Juicy Nectarine (Bath and Body Works, Givaudan)

Best Candle Fragrance Specialty
Henri Bendel Fig (Henri Bendel, IFF)

Best Challenge Base Fragrance
Cascade Complete All in One (P&G)

Best Fragrance Line Extension Mass
The Herbal Essence Series (P&G)

Best Fragrance Line Extension Specialty
Bond No.9 Series (Bond No. 9)

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. You gonna hit up the MAC counter to check out the new Metal Urge collection today? I probably won’t make it until I get back from the wedding, so I need you to fill me in on the details! I don’t know what to think about the Liquidlast Liners or Glitters … but the Brushed Metal-X Eyeshadows look fab!

The $300 Vera Wang LOOK Perfume Giveaway!

November 19th, 2008 by Karen 165 Comments

UPDATE: Contest is closed. Congrats, Josephine!

Can I just say that Vera Wang rocks? She does. And with her newest scent, Vera Wang LOOK ($70 for a 1.7-oz bottle of eau de parfum), she gives us a much-appreciated break from all the fruity florals that dominated fragrance counters this summer and fall (*ahem,* Harajuku Lovers), huzzah!

Let me just come out and say it: I love Vera Wang LOOK.

First, I’ll start by saying what it’s not. LOOK is not the kind of celebrity, sugary-food-fruit-combo fragrance you might find on teenage girls at the mall. It smells all grown up — sexy and mature — but isn’t stuffy or matronly at all. It’s a light scent with a sparkling mix of citrus and freesia, and wearing it makes me feel like a young, sharp woman who finally has her sh*t together.

I can’t stop sniffing my wrists! On my skin, LOOK opens with a burst of mandarin orange and green, grassy notes. As the day wears on, strong freesia (with just a touch of jasmine) emerges. When LOOK finally winds down at the end of the day, it becomes a soft mix of musky vanilla.

Picture yourself making your entrance at a formal cocktail party. All eyes turn to you, the elegant woman wearing Vera Wang LOOK. You’re dressed to the nines in black with some killer Louboutin heels, but you’re also friendly, welcoming and intriguing to talk to!

Now’s Your Chance to Win Vera Wang LOOK

I’m giving away one $300 bottle (yup, this stuff is pricey). Enter by signing up to receive Makeup and Beauty Blog daily e-mail updates if you haven’t already.

If you have already signed up for the updates, you don’t have to do anything to be entered to win — you’re already entered — but you can double your odds of winning by also leaving a comment on this post (a comment about anything at all).

The Prize

The winner receives a 1 oz bottle of Vera Wang LOOK parfum elixir, personally signed by Vera Wang. Unlike a watered-down eau de toilette, a parfum elixir is highly concentrated, expensive and coveted for its purity of scent. Straight up: for a premier fragrance, you want the elixir. ‘Nuff said.

It’s limited edition and comes in an elegant flacon bottle with a cut crystal stopper.

How to Enter

There are two ways to enter the Vera Wang LOOK Perfume Giveaway, and you can do both to double your chances of winning.

If you haven’t already signed up to receive Makeup and Beauty Blog daily e-mail updates, then enter your e-mail in the pink box below (or click this link).

If you have already subscribed to the e-mail updates but want to double your chances of winning, add a brief comment at the bottom of this post (be sure to use a valid e-mail address).

I’ll choose the winners at random from among the people who enter by 11 PM PST on Saturday, November 22. GOOD LUCK!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Would You Ever Get Permanent Makeup?

November 19th, 2008 by Karen 44 Comments

When I was a kid, one of our neighbors had her eyebrows and eyeliner tattooed. I remember her coming out into her yard in the mornings to get the paper and thinking she always looked a bit off, like her makeup was too blue or something.

Today, permanent makeup (permanent pigmentation of the dermis) is more popular than ever. Some women do it for convenience (I admit — filling in my brows every day sure gets old), but others do it after illness, chemotherapy or injury to recreate eyebrows, disguise scars and white spots or to restore pigmentation to damaged skin.

Would you ever get permanent makeup?

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Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Simple Sensitive Skin Specialists Cleansing Facial Wipes Review

November 18th, 2008 by Karen 31 Comments

Dang, remember when seeing Boots at Target felt exotic? It seems more skin care and beauty brands from the UK are landing on US shores, yah? Case in point — Simple Sensitive Skin Specialists Cleansing Facial Wipes ($6 for 25 wipes), a UK cult beauty fave now available at Duane Reade drugstores.

I can see why Brits love this product. It’s oil- and alcohol-free and doesn’t contain any perfumes or dyes. The package is convenient, and the sticker closure stays firmly shut after opening (huge plus!).

I like that these wipes lift away foundation, powder, lipstick and most eye makeup without leaving a sticky film on my skin. However, the package says the wipes also lift waterproof mascara, but when I used the wipes to remove Shu Uemura Precise Volume Waterproof from my lashes, they left behind plenty of product. I also tried removing Chanel Exceptionnel, a non-waterproof mascara, and the results were the same. In both cases I ended up using Lancome Bi-Facil to finish the job.

One more thing — the wipes also felt scratchy and weren’t as soft as L’Oreal Skin Genesis Wet Cleansing Towelettes when I rubbed them against delicate areas like my lash line.
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JK Jemma Kidd Fashion Palette: Imagine Effortless Smokey Eyes and Nude Lips

November 18th, 2008 by Karen 31 Comments

Hustle that booty down to Tar-ghay, girlfriend, and pick yourself up a JK Jemma Kidd Fashion Palette ($36) ASAP!

A face of the day with the JK Jemma Kidd Fashion Palette

Fashion Palette appears low-key in the box, I know. But trust me, if you like effortless makeup that looks elegant and doesn’t require too much fuss, then you’ll love this palette.

The palette comes with five essential products to create a classic smokey eye and nude lip look: two large pans of eyeshadow, a mini-kohl liner and two medium-sized pans of nude lip glosses.

Shimmery beige eyeshadow
Shimmery cool dark brown eyeshadow with bronze pearl (amazing!)
Black pencil eyeliner with silver glitter
Creamy pink lipgloss
Shimmery beige lipgloss

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Retro Roundup: One Year Ago on Makeup and Beauty Blog

November 18th, 2008 by Karen 17 Comments

43 Things I’m Thankful For: The Non-Makeup Edition

“As much as I can go on and on about eye liner, there are other things in life that I also cherish. Here’s the non-makeup edition of my list.”

43 Things I’m Thankful For: The Makeup Edition

“Have you heard of 43 Things? It’s a website where people make lists of 43 goals they want to achieve — learning French, building a better mouse trap, reading War and Peace, etc. It’s pretty fun to read the different hopes and dreams that people have… Here’s my list of 43 makeup and beauty things I’m thankful for.”

The LeSportsac Tokidoki Campeggio Bag: A Perfect Holiday Gift for Ladies on the Go!

“But the LeSportsac Tokidoki Campeggio Bag has been a lifesaver. I swear, the day this bag came into my life the clouds parted and birds started singing. This bag is roomy, light, comfortable and holds everything AND the kitchen sink while still having a sleek silhouette.”

Chanel Glossimer Lip Gloss, A Makeup Addiction in the Making

“The sparkle factor is high on these glosses. It’s very grown-up glitter though! I love looking at the color and seeing the different flecks of gold, silver, pink and green.”

5 Makeup and Beauty Tips from Paris Hilton

“Paris is known for her dewy, glowy skin. She said her secret is a weekly facial at Kate Somerville, a spa located down the street from her house. She and Kate are homies, and Paris gets treatments with extractions at the spa when she isn’t too busy with work.”

Holiday Gift Ideas for $5.00 or Less: DHC Aroma Oils

“I love giving unusual, hard-to-find gifts as stocking stuffers. I especially love finding cool stuff for a good price. DHC’s Aroma Oils smell yummy, moisturize well and cost a mere $3.50! You’ll be able to stuff all of those stockings and still have a few rupees left over to snag a bottle for yourself.”

Clinique Zero Gravity Repairwear Lift, a Dreamy Anti-Aging Skin Cream

“One neck cream that I’ve been using lately is Clinique’s Zero Gravity Repairwear Lift ($52.50). It’s an anti-aging moisturizer with retinol. There are three versions: oily/combination skin, dry/combination skin and very dry skin.”

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen