Karen

Get Eyes That Pop: MAC Cream Color Base in Pearl

March 7th, 2008 by Karen 57 Comments

MAC’s Cream Color Base in Pearl ($16.50) makes colors really pop, taking eyeshadow to a brighter, bolder, and more diva-superstar level. With Cream Color Base, your eyeshadow is like an A-list celeb; without it, it’s like Jen Bunney from The Hills. It’s one of those products that every eyeshadow junkie needs to have in her makeup bag.

Pearl’s a soft, pale gold-colored product with just a touch of shimmer. Layered beneath powder eyeshadows, it intensifies color. To the touch, it feels like a cream blush. The picture below shows 1) MAC Parrot eyeshadow by itself and 2) applied on top of a layer of Pearl:

Pretty, yah? Pearl comes in a standard issue blush pan, so what I do is pick up the product from the pan with a synthetic flat brush like the MAC 239 and apply it directly onto the lid area (not the crease or the browbone), while trying to avoid applying too much. It’s easy to overdo it with Pearl. Too much can cause caking and lead to the product migrating around the eyelid.

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Accessible Luxury: Shu Uemura Knows Lashes Inside and Out

March 6th, 2008 by Karen 92 Comments

Genetics bestowed upon me wimpy, ho-hum lashes… and then made me so clumsy that I couldn’t apply false ones to save my life. Oh, the sweet eyelash irony!

Enter the Shu Uemura lash bar, aka false eyelash nirvana, where the lashes are affordable and the appointment booking process couldn’t be easier.

Whether you’re looking for a little lash extension, or you’re aching for crazy, over-the-top-lashes to overcompensate for many years of eyelash inadequacy (*ahem*), Shu’s got you covered.

Case in point:

Notice how fabulously non-wimpy these are. I done died and went to eyelash heaven, ladies!

Would you believe a trip to eyelash heaven is actually pretty darn affordable? From a Shu lash bar, all you do is purchase any pair of their false lashes, which run from $16 to about $50 a pair, and a Shu makeup artist will apply your new lashes (and answer any questions you might have about them) for free!

Gratis rules, but I know you work hard for your money, so to stretch those dolla-dolla-bills a wee bit further, here’s a great money saving tip I got from Jeccica, a Shu Uemura makeup artist and manager (and all around rad girl) at the San Francisco Fillmore store: buy a pair like False Eyelashes Luxe ($20) and ask the makeup artist to cut one of the lashes in half.

Ask the artist to apply each of the cut halves to your outer lashes only. It’s a simple way to get a sexy, yet natural-looking eyelash boost. Save that uncut lash for future use. Cut that bad boy in half and you’re good to go with a new pair. It’s like getting two sets of lashes for the price of one, yah?

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Face of the Day: A Pink and Blue Pastel Eye

March 5th, 2008 by Karen 79 Comments

Girfriend, I’m busy frolicking today, but you know I couldn’t leave you hangin’! Pastels aren’t usually my style, but today the makeup gods chose to bestow enough courage upon me to attempt this pink and blue eye, inspired by Shiseido’s spring makeup look.

Here’s the Shiseido version:

And here’s my attempt:

Excuse the big hair. It’s looking very ’80s Jersey shore, I know, but when I wear it wavy it has a mind of its own!

To get this look I used…

Lid and crease
– MAC Rollicking Paint Pot
– MAC Parrot eyeshadow

Brow bone and in the crease
– MAC Girl Friendly Paint Pot
– MAC Frisco eyeshadow
– MAC Fafi Quad 1 – Pink Venus eyeshadow

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Lip Look: Three Custom Color Specialists Dahlia Gloss

March 4th, 2008 by Karen 31 Comments

I’ve still got the fever!

Pink fever continues with Three Custom Color Specialists Dahlia Gloss. How do I love this blue based hot pink gloss?? Let me count the ways.

Color: Blue based tones work well with my coloring, and I love this pink’s vivid brightness. The glitter-free shade is highly pigmented and looks very, very, very pink on my lips… and I like it! It’s definitely not for the pink shy.

Product: Three Custom Color Specialists Dahlia Gloss
Price: $18.50
Use: As a lipgloss
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A

Shine: Typically, lipgloss formulas radiate a high shine when applied. Unlike MAC Lipglass’ high shine formulas, Three Custom Color Specialists Gloss has a subdued shine that’s less reflective than usual for a lipgloss, resulting in a finish more like a lipstick than a gloss.

I like its subtle shine because of how suitable it is for day wear. And if I want a sassier look for evenings out, I’ll just add a layer of MAC Clear Lipglass and then bam! Ready for a night out at the club with the girls.

Texture: As much as I loves me some gloss, I can’t stand it when my hair sticks to my lips. That doesn’t happen with Dahlia. It’s nonstick, light and long-lasting.

I’m really impressed with this gloss and intend to snag a few more shades. The Three Custom Color Specialists Web site breaks down the gloss colors into three families — warm, cool and neutral — to help you find the right shade. You can purchase your gloss online or from a store near you .

Ya’ll gotta bear with me as I work through this pink lip phase… Maybe one of these days I’ll be healed!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

9 Things: Share Your Happiness

March 4th, 2008 by Karen 28 Comments

Parking spots are hard to come by in San Francisco, so I maintain a list with a few choice parking garages in my favorite neighborhoods. When I went dancing last week, I parked in my favorite Chinatown parking garage, which is not only open 24 hours/day, but it’s also just across the street from a police station (safe). That, and there are fortunes painted in each stall, which I think is a nice touch. Here was mine:

Last night I got about two seconds of sleep and woke up this morning feeling super cranky. I needed something to snap me out of my funk, so I tried to think positively (so corny, I know, but it works). I thought about my parking garage fortune and wrote this little list. Slowly, but surely, the fog of grumpiness lifted…

9 Reasons Why I’m Happy Today

It’s sunny outside and warm enough to wear sandals.
The first song I heard today was Bizarre Love Triangle by New Order. It always puts a smile on my face.
I get to work on a really fun writing project later today in which I can write about makeup.
The cherry trees are blossoming on my street, blanketing the pavement with pretty pink petals.
MAC Girl Friendly Paint Pot!
Having El Hub, who woke up with me at 2:30AM and got out of bed to pour me a glass of water and rub my hair until I fell asleep.
Coffee.
Bookstore runs — I’m going after work to treat myself to a new book (I just finished and recommend Pretties by Scott Westerfeld).
My Shu Uemura at-home manicure still remains relatively chip free.

Now how about you? What happiness can you share with others today?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Just in case it makes you happy, too…

Alpha and Beta Hydroxy Acids: Which One Is Right for You?

March 3rd, 2008 by Karen 28 Comments

The list of beauty products containing either (or both) alpha or hydroxy acids (AHAs or BHAs) is longer than Flavor Flav’s quest for true love on reality television. (Sidenote: Seriously, when is it gonna end? I don’t think I could deal with a Flavor of Love 4.) I know I can’t be the only girl who’s stood in the skin care aisle scratching her head, wondering which hydroxy acid-containing product to snag. Their names may sound alike, but these two compounds work in different ways.

So, what’s the big difference between the two? Two words: lipid solubility, aka a substance’s ability to dissolve in oil. AHAs are water soluble, meaning they’re able to dissolve in water. BHAs, on the other hand, are lipid soluble, meaning they’re able to fully dissolve in oil (or fat). This distinction makes BHAs better at penetrating pores, pores chock full of oh-so-delicious oily sebum (ew!).

Do you have oily skin? Frequent blackheads or whiteheads? If so, take a look at products containing BHA. But if breakouts aren’t your big skin problem, and you’re looking for help dealing with sun damage, consider AHAs instead.

Got black heads and white heads? Try BHA products like…

Stridex Triple Action Acne Pads with Salicylic Acid (about $6)

Stridex Essential Care Triple Action Acne Pads with Salicylic Acid, Regular Strength ($4)

Clean & Clear Blackhead Clearing Daily Cleansing Pads ($5.29)

L’Oreal Pure Zone Tightening Astringent ($6.59)

Biore Triple Action Astringent ($7)

Clinique Mild Clarifying Lotion ($11)

DHC Salicylic Acne Toner ($14)

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control 3-in-1 Hydrating Acne Treatment ($7)

Paula’s Choice 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid Gel ($17.95)

DHC Salicylic Face milk ($19)

Got thickened, sun damaged skin without breakouts? Consider AHA products like…

Alpha Hydrox Oil-Free Formula ($10.99)

Gly Derm Lotion Plus with Glycolic Acid ($24)

Aqua Glycolic Toner ($11.69)

Kiss My Face Peaches & Creme Moisturizer with 8% Alpha Hydroxy Acids ($6.44)

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Face Lotion Night ($9.44)

Aveeno Active Naturals Positively Ageless Firming Night Cream ($19.99)

M.D. Forte Facial Lotion I ($45)

Peter Thomas Roth Glycolic Acid 10% Hydrating Gel ($48)

DDF Glycolic 10% Exfoliating Moisturizer ($46)

DDF Glycolic 10% Toning Complex ($32)

N. V. Perricone Advanced Face Firming Activator ($120)

How AHAs work

Both BHAs and AHAs make excellent exfoliants (removing dead skin cells), but AHAs work by reacting with the upper layer of the epidermis, weakening the binding properties of the lipids that hold dead skin cells together. This allows the outer skin to “dissolve,” revealing the underlying skin. Exfoliants jump-start the production of new skin cells, and we like new skin cells. AHAs are also believed to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, roughness and blotchy pigmentation, and may even stimulate the production of collagen and elastin in the skin.

As a general rule of thumb for AHA products, look for ones with alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) listed as the second or third product on the ingredient list. That way, the product is a little more likely to contain the recommended concentration of 5-8 percent AHA and a pH (acidity) of 3-4. To work their magic, AHAs must be absorbed into the skin, so you can probably skip cleansers containing AHAs that will be washed off or rinsed away before this absorption can occur.

There are several different kinds of AHAs, most derived from fruit and milk sugars. Five major types with common natural sources are…

glycolic acid – sugar cane
lactic acid – milk
malic acid – apples and pears
citric acid – oranges and lemons
tartaric acid – grapes

Glycolic acid and lactic acid penetrate skin a little better than the other varieties, so you’ll see these AHAs in products more often than you’ll see the others.

Unfortunately, AHAs have side effects (boo!), with the worst ones being skin irritation and increased sun sensitivity. Darker skinned folks may also experience a higher risk of scarring pigment changes.

Because of this increased sun sensitivity, sunscreen with at least an SPF of 15 is a must when using any AHA-containing products. Don’t be chintzy with the sunscreen, either! Experts suggest applying sunscreen liberally, every day, and using formulas with both UVA and UVB protection (look for avobenzone, titanium dioxide or zinc oxide for UVA protection).

How BHAs work

There’s really only one kind of BHA in widespread skin care use, and it’s salicylic acid. Like AHA, BHA works well as an exfoliant by penetrating deep into pores, sloughing off dead skin cells to make room for new ones. After six months of daily application, BHA is reported to decrease the appearance of wrinkles, roughness and mottled pigmentation caused by sun-damage. Dermatologists often prefer BHAs to AHAs because they’re generally less irritating.

Unlike products containing AHAs, in which you want the AHA to be listed in the top three ingredients, BHA does its best work at lower concentrations, so keep an eye out for products listing BHA (aka salicylic acid) in the middle or toward the bottom of the list of ingredients. BHA in skin care products generally works best at around 1-2 percent concentration, with a pH of 3-4.

Like AHAs, BHAs need to be absorbed into the skin to work their mojo, so skip cleansers with BHA and opt instead for toners, gels and lotions that won’t be washed off right away.

While beta hydroxy acid may be able to reverse some of the damage caused by photoaging (Eek! The sun!), it simultaneously makes skin more susceptible to photoaging. Weird, huh? In some people, this sun sensitivity can increase by as much as 50 percent.

If you’re going to use either type of hydroxy acid, be sure to wear sunscreen, and plenty of it. Don’t be shy about really laying it on, either. And don’t forget to use it on your neck!

For more information on AHAs and BHAs, visit Web MD or About.com.

How was your Monday, my friend? I was super busy at work (hence the late post), but I didn’t mind because it made the time pass. Tonight, I’m going to hip hop class to work it out. My dance teacher has us doing a routine with a lot of B-girl moves, and, um… I’m not as agile as I used to be. Now, I have to mentally prepare myself for any upcoming booty shaking, LOL. Trust me, being a 32-year-old wanna-be breakdancer is no easy task.

I hope your week is off to a faboolicious start!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

My Sunday Manicure: Nail News

March 2nd, 2008 by Karen 34 Comments

What’s up, everyone! Happy Sunday! I chilled out today and did a whole lot of nothing. I ran, watched a few movies, fed the neighbor’s cat, did some laundry and painted my nails for the first time since December.

Are you good about getting your nails done? I usually am not, but for the heck of it I put on two lovely coats of Shu Uemura Nail Enamel Supplement Mineral (um, say that fast five times) in Chocolate Brown ($16) while watching The Darjeeling Limited on DVD. Even without a base coat, the formula applies easily and dries quickly to a shiny finish. It’s great for clumsy gals like yours truly and makes doing a home manicure easy. Love ya, Shu!

Speaking of manicures, I caught up on my beauty reading today and read this interesting piece in the New York Times by Camille Sweeny about a growing trend in the beauty world. Manicure and makeover parties are all the rage — for young elementary school girls, holy crap!

One recent rainy afternoon, Eleanor LaFauci, 7, sat with her feet in open-toed foam slippers, admiring her toenails, freshly painted watermelon pink.

Eleanor was in the bubble-gum-colored pedicure lounge of Dashing Diva, the Upper West Side franchise of the international nail spa, with her 3 Â½-year-old sister and a half-dozen or so friends. The girls were celebrating her birthday with mani’s, pedi’s and mini-makeovers with light makeup and body art â€” glitter-applied stars, lightning bolts and, of course, hearts.

Traditionally, young girls have played with unattended M.A.C. eye shadow or Chanel foundation, hoping to capture a whiff of sophistication. In the recent past, young girls have also tagged along on beauty expeditions by their mothers and teenage sisters.

But today, cosmetic companies and retailers increasingly aim their sophisticated products and service packages squarely at 6- to 9-year-olds, who are being transformed into savvy beauty consumers before they’re out of elementary school.

Reality programming like “America’s Next Top Model” often hinges on the segment devoted to a hair and beauty transformation for the contestants, Ms. Skey said. On social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace, members’ intense self-focus and their attention to how they present themselves also affect 6- to 9-year-olds, even though technically, they aren’t allowed to set up profiles on the sites, she added. “We live in a culture of insta-celebrity,” Ms. Skey said. “Our little girls now grow up thinking they need to be ready for their close-up, lest the paparazzi arrive.”

Register with the New York Times (it’s free) to finish the story.

Back in my elementary school days, a party with your friends involved cake, ice cream and several rounds of pin the tail on the donkey — not cuticle removal! If you were lucky, perhaps a pinata or mini pony would be up in the mix.

What say you about this beauty trend? Do you think these makeover parties for young girls are harmless and fun? Or does it alarm you?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

I Dream of Dreamy, the New Laura Mercier Collection

March 1st, 2008 by Karen 29 Comments

It was love at first sight yesterday when I laid eyes on Laura Mercier’s newest spring color collection, Dreamy. With six new sheer lipsticks, four delicious pastel shimmer cream eye shadow duos and a highlighting shimmer bloc, the collection is sexy and effortless — my makeup style to the Nth degree!

I wish I had better product pics, but here’s a stalkery phone picture of the display until I can get better ones:

Remember the bout of makeup indecision I suffered last week, trying to decide between the spring NARS Shanghi Lily and Laura Mercier Seduction collections? Well, I experienced absolutely none of that with Dreamy. My heart literally skipped a beat when I saw the eye duos and lipsticks, and I worked out the makeup math (aka, trying to justify buying it all!) in my head, LOL.

Although Dreamy is a spring collection, I get a laid-back, beachy, vacation vibe from it. These are colors I’d wear on a tropical getaway. To finish the look, I’d need a shade of cream eye shadow on my lids and a pink sheer lipstick on my pucker. And a surfboard. And a margarita. LE SIGH!

Here’s the lowdown on Dreamy…

Eyes

Creme Eye Duo ($28 each)

Daydream – peach and bronze
Enchantment – yellow and green
Fairytale – pink and violet
Mesmerize – sand and silver

Each Creme Eye Duo contains two contrasting cream shades which blend and work well either together or separately. The colors are shimmery but don’t have giant chunks of glitter in them. While the pastels are subtle and light, they aren’t so light as to look stark or unwearable. I’m excited about Daydream, Enchantment and Fairytale. The sand and silver colors in Mesmerize didn’t really move me, though, so I’m skipping that one for now.

I swatched the shades with my finger at the counter. Each of the colors appeared sheer on my skin. I think that’s by design because the product marketing is all about the suggestion of sheer — not in your face — color. I did notice I could apply multiple layers of any shade to increase the intensity of a shadow, so, on days in which I’d want bolder looks, I’d have that option, too.

The formula is long wearing, non-greasy and crease resistant — I swatched my arm and after three hours the colors had barely budged!

Lips

Lip Colour – Sheer ($20 each)

Baby Lips – sheer warm pink
Bare Lips – sheer rose beige
Healthy Lips – sheer rose
Nude Lips – sheer neutral beige
Sexy Lips – sheer sangria rose
Tender Lips – sheer brown rose

Each of the new lipsticks in Dreamy’s Lip Colour – Sheer collection, the newest additions to the Laura Mercier lipstick family, have a sheer wash of color and a semi-matte finish. Each little pretty is supposed to hydrate, plump and condition lips. Laura Mercier used a long-wearing formula infused with a special lipstick technology they call Laura Mercier Lip Complex, which “delivers a soft wash of color in just one swipe.” I’m psyched about all these colors, but the ones that move me most are Bare Lips, Tender Lips and, of course, Sexy Lips.

I couldn’t get decent swatches of the new Orchid Mosaic Shimmer Bloc ($38). Here’s a shot from the Laura Mercier Web site:

Truthfully, Orchid Mosaic didn’t move me as much as the other new products did. It’s a highlighting powder with a pearl finish and four separate colors you can either use alone or together on your eyes, cheeks or body. The pinks were a little too sheer on my skin, and I’m afraid the color wouldn’t display unless I really laid it on thick. Unless I can get a Laura Mercier makeup artist to show me a secret way to get the most out of Orchid Mosaic, I’ll probably skip this one.

Sadly, the forces of makeup nature were aligned against me, and I wasn’t able to buy anything from the collection yesterday, boo. When I arrived at the Nordstrom counter, the Laura Mercier makeup artist had just left for her afternoon break, and, because the collection was so new, none of the makeup artists from other lines could find where the collection items were stashed. I’ll return later today with a few gift cards that’ve been burning holes in my pocket, wheeee!

How’s your Saturday coming along? I hope you’ve got plans to do some relaxin’ this weekend.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen