Karen

Drugstore Product Review – Vaseline Intensive Care Renewal Age Redefining Body Lotion

May 29th, 2007 by Karen 2 Comments

Product: Vaseline Intensive Care Renewal Age Redefining Body Lotion
Use: As a body moisturizer
Price: $5.00
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B

Why I bought it
I haven’t used Vaseline lotion since I was a teenager, when there was a seemingly neverending supply of super-sized yellow bottles of Intensive Care Lotion in the bathroom. I used it back then â€˜cause there was no other lotion option, and I never liked it. It had a weird plastic smell and was never moisturizing enough for my dry legs.

I surprised myself when I bought this purple bottle of Renewal Age Redefining Body Lotion on a whim while at Target a month ago. It contains alpha hydroxy acids and I’m on an AHA kick, so when I found this lotion on sale (my favorite excuse) I couldn’t pass it up.

What it’s supposed to do
Vaseline Renewal Age Redefining Body Lotion bottle says that the formula’s AHA’s accelerate the skin’s ability to renew itself. The product claims to immediately replenish lost moisture and combat dullness. It also claims to even skin tone and make skin more resilient in four weeks. The only active ingredient listed is octinoxate (1.25%), a sunscreen that blocks UVB rays.[Continue reading…]

MAC favorites from Allure Magazine Reader’s Choice Awards

May 24th, 2007 by Karen 5 Comments

I got my June Allure magazine in the mail yesterday and the first article I read was the Reader’s Choice Awards. I was not surprised to see that several MAC products were voted as favorites in several makeup catagories. Here’s a quick round-up of the MAC faves that Allure Magazine readers voted for:

Lipstick: Mac Viva Glam V. If you don’t have this yet, get it. It’s beautiful, universally flattering, and easy to apply even when you are in a hurry.

Lipgloss: MAC Lustreglass Lip Gloss in Pinkarat. I haven’t tried any Lustreglasses (I’m more of a Lipglass girl) but this is now on my list of upcoming MAC purchases.

Eye Shadow: MAC Eye Shadow in All That Glitters. I don’t have this, but the MAC website describes this “a mid-tone beige with gold reflects.” I will have to check this one out as well; it sounds like a pretty highlight color.

Eyeliner: MAC Fluidline Eye Liner Gel in Blacktrack. I love me some Fluidlines. However, blacktrack is *not* my favorite black. I prefer Blitz & Glitz, which is softer and has a little more dimension to it because of the gold flecks.

Concealer: MAC Select Moisturecover. I recently purchased MAC Select Moisturecover and after feeling just so-so about it for a few months I’ve decided that it’s one of my favorite concealers. It works well with my skintone and it doesn’t budge, even through dance class.

I am leaving for San Diego tomorrow and still have yet to pack. It’s a surf/spa trip, and I haven’t surfed since last July when I was in Hawaii. I dug out my surf wetsuit from the nether regions of my closet yesterday. I haven’t worn it since 2003 (the NorCal ocean is too damn cold to surf in!) so wish me luck – I’m gonna need tons of it when I attempt to squeeze into it.

Friday is right around the corner and I can’t wait. I hope you’re having a great day.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Face of the Day, Coral Colors – MAC Lychee Luxe Lipglass and MAC Fab Blush

May 23rd, 2007 by Karen 4 Comments

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Summer is just around the corner so I’m really feeling really inspired by bright colors from my summer wardrobe. Here’s a face of the day that I did with coral colors on the cheeks and lips. Unfortunately I was too lazy to use the super-good digital camera to get a better closeup of my eyes, but if you look closely you might be able to see the greens I used.

Face:
Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer in Almond
Laura Mercier Translucent Powder

Cheeks
MAC Fab Blush – This is from the Barbie Collection from a few months ago. There are rumors that the entire collection will be re-released this summer. If the whispers are true then snag this blush if you can. It’s fantastic!

Lips
MAC Lychee Luxe Lipglass

Eyes
MAC Bare Canvas Paint over entire eye (applied w/252)
MAC Fluidline in Sweet Sage over lid and slightly on crease (217), then on lower lashes (209)
MAC Eyeshadow in Swimming on lid and slightly into crease (275)
MAC Eyeshadow Vex on browbone (252)
Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Pencil in Jungle Green

Today is supposed to be a hot one here in NorCal. Don’t forget to slather on your sunscreen if you’re going out to enjoy the sunshine!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Drugstore Product Review – Neutrogena Visibly Even Foaming Cleanser

May 22nd, 2007 by Karen Leave a Comment

Product: Neutrogena Visibly Even Foaming Cleanser
Use: As a face cleanser and makeup remover
Price: $ 7.00 for a 5.1 fl oz tube
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B+

Why I bought it
I used to be a drugstore skin product snob, but within the past year I’ve re-discovered Neutrogena products. Their skin care line is affordable and almost everything I’ve tried from their various product lines work for me. I have sensitive, acne-prone skin that is beginning to show the first signs of aging. So I made a trip to Target and bought a couple products to target (ha ha ha) the recent changes in my skin.

One thing I’ve noticed is now I have freckles (hyperpigmentation) and my skin is not as glowy, which is why I picked up this tube of Neutrogena Visibly Even Foaming Cleanser.

What it’s supposed to do
Neutrogena Visibly Even Foaming Cleanser is an exfoliating cleanser that contains “Essential Soy” (which the company says in a natural skin brightener), gentle exfoliators and Vitamin C. This combination is supposed to removes dead skin cells, dirt, and oil; evens out skin tone; and helps improve radiance.

What I liked
One of the best features of this cleanser is the texture. A dime sized amount builds into a very dense and cushiony foam that feels good on your skin. Visibly Even Foaming Cleanser has a light sprinkle of exfoliating beads, which I suppose is just enough for every day gentle exfoliating. Other exfoliating cleansers I’ve tried – like ProActiv’s Cleanser and Beyond Belief’s ABH Pore Refining Exfoliating Scrub — have more exfoliating beads than Visibly Even, so if you’re looking for an intense exfoliator then this product might not be for you.

What I like most about Visibly Even Foaming Cleanser is that it doesn’t dry out my skin after I use it. Some cleansers, like Clean & Clear Sensitive Skin, leave my face feeling tight, but Visibly Even leaves it feeling comfortable yet still clean. The smell is the second thing I love about this product. Smell is a big thing for me, and this smells light and refreshing and I love using it on my face first thing in the morning because the smell instantly wakes me up. When I use it at night I’ve found that although this cleanser also takes off most of my makeup I still have to use a separate eye makeup remover.

What I didn’t like
Despite all of these plusses, I can’t give this product an A because I don’t know if my skin is significantly more “visibly even.” I suppose I could’ve been more scientific about it and taken comparison pictures over the period of 30 days … but damn, I barely have time to smudge my eyeliner, let alone turn this into a science experiment! I’ve noticed that my skin is a little glowier, but that could be because I’ve been using this cleanser in conjunction with a few other new products.

The final word
I think my expectations also may have been unrealistically high in terms of how my skin would change. However, this is a great cleanser for the price and a solid performer. I’d highly recommend this to anyone on a skincare budget who wants light exfoliation as well as a thorough gentle cleansing.

My new favorite thing to do lately is watch music videos on youtube, especially ones from Janet Jackson which I haven’t seen in years. In my youth I watched countless Janet Jackson vids, which I’d play over and over to learn the choreography. So it was kind of a coincidence that during last night’s hip hop class we actually did the butterfly, lololololozzzz, which I haven’t done that since 1994! I learned the butterfly from my fab friend Jen, and from watching the end of Janet Jackson’s “You Want This.” Enjoy this trip down memory lane, and just for fun, sneak in some butterflyin’ today!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Three Resources for Finding Spas Online

May 21st, 2007 by Karen Leave a Comment

I’m in charge of finding a spa for our girl’s surf/spa trip down to San Diego next weekend, so the other day I fished around online for some good websites with spa recommendations and reviews.

Spa Magazine has a great spa directory that covers most of the United Sates, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, Mexico, South and Central America and Asia. The featured spas are lush and indulgent so if you’re looking for serious pampering (and some serious money spending) then this is the site to explore.

The San Diego spas I found on this site looked pretty amazing. All were tied to big resorts and hotels and very chi-chi-foo-foo fancy. If I had access to unlimited amount o’ money I’d hit the spa at the beautiful Hotel Del Coronado in Del Mar. The spa has 21 treatment rooms, hydrotherapy, relaxation areas for men and women and steam rooms, and a newly opened private terrace that overlooks the hotel’s Windsor Lawn and the Pacific Ocean.

Del Mar is supposed to have a fun surf beach on 15th street and a nice promenade for post-surfing beers. My perfect day would include surfing all the morning, lunching on the promenade, then hit the spa afterward for a Deep Tissue Massage and a purifying facial.

Hotel Del Corondao Spa Whirlpool

Allure also has a good spa finder as well, although not as extensive.

ICE Spa lounge

Unfortunately my cup does not runneth over with the cash flow, so I headed on over to Yelp to find more budget minded options. I think we’re going to go the I.C.E. Spa, which looks totally cute and a bit more affordable.

I can’t wait to go. I haven’t had a good spa day since last July with my friend Christine in Hawaii. I am due for a good pummeling deep tissue massage.

This past weekend I finally got my license in the mail. Anything is better than my old license, where I’m full on squinting and looking confused (it’s the DMV picture guy’s fault cause I received no warning before he took the pic). The same DMV picture guy took this recent photo, and it is clearly evident that he hates what he’s doing, because he does nothing to make your pic all that it can be. Despite this, I have to say that my picture turned out pretty good. Before angry DMV picture guy snapped the pic, I tried to sneak in a body turn at the last second, and the result was a high-school senior-esque picture where I’m looking off into the distance at the bright future ahead, lol.

Hope you have some fun in the sun this Monday.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Three MAC Must-Haves for the Club – Makeup and Beauty Blog’s Guide to Smart Clubbing, Part 5

May 19th, 2007 by Karen 1 Comment

mac-must-haves-for-clubbing
When I hear music it makes me dance … I know you love that song by Debbie Deb! Anyway, when I hear music at the club I can’t help but dance. I can’t understood people who pay a cover and just sit around and bob their heads. The least you can do is shuffle your feet back and forth – it’s exercise, people! And the thing about dancing is that everyone looks silly doing it. We’re all in the same boat.

When I go dancing I get pretty damn sweaty, so I wear makeup that will make it through the night without disappearing. I have three MAC holy grail items that make it through a long night of dancing so, without further ado, here are three of my MAC must-haves for any clubbing night![Continue reading…]

Three Ways to Make Your Clubbing Experience Better -Makeup and Beauty Blog’s Guide to Smart Clubbing, Part 4

May 18th, 2007 by Karen 2 Comments

three-things-for-clubbing

Three Ways to Make Your Clubbing Experience Better

1. Put some makeup wipes or baby wipes in your car. Chances are after you leave the club you’ve got a layer of sweat caked on ya. I live out in the burbs, so if I go into the city and have to drive home I’ll wipe my face down before I leave. This instantly wakes me up for the ride home and saves me time when I get home and just want to go to bed. If you are carpooling with your girlfriends they will think you are a genius when you bust these out.

2. Bring a small snack, like a Special K meal replacement bar or a Pria Bar, for the after-clubbing munchies. Unfortunately I no longer have my 20s metabolism, so scarfing down a bucket of fries at 3:00 a.m. is not an option. I have to watch what I eat. =( To stay on track with my eating plan, I keep a meal bar in the car to eat on my way home. This gives me a 200-calorie fix, which is just enough food in my stomach to prevent me from stopping by the drive through Taco Bell.

3. Since we’re on the subject of food and drink, here’s another trick that I use to help me stay on track when I hit the club. If I’m going to drink, I order from a mental list of low calorie drinks, like white wine, which is about 120 calories per 6-ounce glass. I know it’s fun to drink and then get your dance on, but if you’re trying to lose weight then downing 3 margaritas at the club will not help your plight. Beer and mixed drinks are calorie heavy. For example pina coladas have 272 calories per serving, and beer, depending on the type, an average of 200 calories per serving. Knowing the calorie counts of what you’re drinking when you’re out can help you stay on track.

It’s Friday, woo hoo! I get to blissfully putter around the house today. I bought some tomato plants last week so I am going to attempt replant them today. I know nothing about tomatoes so this will be interesting. One of them actually has a small tomato growing on it so I hope I don’t kill it. I also get to help plan a trip down to San Diego for Memorial Day weekend. Do you have plans yet for the long weekend? Ya better get on it!

I hope you are having a FANTASTIC Friday.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

80s Makeup and Videos – Makeup and Beauty Blog’s Guide to Smart Clubbing, Part 3

May 17th, 2007 by Karen 1 Comment

This week Makeup and Beauty Blog is up in the club, giving you tips on how to make your makeup and beauty routine better for those late nights out.

Today we’re taking a break from the usual tips and product reviews to flash back to the 80s. These videos are some of the best club hits of the decade, and all are stellar examples of what 80s makeup and beauty was all about.

No matter what clubs you usually frequent – whether they be techno, hip hop, jungle – you have to go to at least one 80s night. You can’t beat dancing to cheesy music from your childhood!

Janet Jackson, When I Think Of You
How many legions of young people learned how to do the snake while watching this video? I know I did. While Janet has gone through many visual transformations, her look in this video is one of my favorites. The big spiral perm hair, the huge shoulder pads, the hoop earring with the key (… I actually did this after the video came out. I put my house key on my big silver hoops, LOLOLOLOLOL). It’s late-80s fashion and beauty at its finest.

Whitney Houston, I Wanna Dance With Somebody
“Ohhh … I wanna dance with somebody. I wanna feel the heat with somebody!” Don’t we all, Whitney. This song is like a battle cry for the masses! We all want to dance with somebody who loves us. And I loved me some Whitney – pre-Bobby Brown Whitney, that is. It’s no secret that the girl can’t dance to save her life but she somehow makes that purple dress and bad weave (why is it blatantly three shades too blonde?) look okay. Her makeup in this video is bold! She’s doesn’t shy away from a colorful palette of aquas and pinks. It bears a striking resemblance to the “Cultured” look from MAC’s Strange Hybrid collection.

Madonna, Lucky Star
I used to know the entire dance to this song. I’d dance around my parent’s living room with a big black bow around my head and pretend to have back up dancers. I was ten. My parents never said anything but in hindsight after watching this video I suspect that either they were 1.) totally blind or 2.) totally convinced I was doing Jazzercise.

Madonna rocks this vid with her classic 80s combo of fishnets, black bracelets, big hair and fingerless gloves. The black eyeliner and the magenta lip stick inspired droves of young girls at my elementary school to emulate the look with Wet & Wild products “borrowed” from older sisters and cousins.

Cyndi Lauper, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
While I am neither a fan of asymmetrical haircuts or burnt orange frocks Cyndi manages to make it work for her. There’s an Asian-looking girl in this video with really blue hair. Can you find her?

Prince, Kiss
This video showcases probably the best use of dark eye/pale lip on a man ever. While the midriff belly shirt is questionable, there is no doubt that Prince + Smudgy Eyeliner is equivalent to Chocolate + Peanut Butter. The combo is just right. You know when this plays in the club you can’t help but dance.

After I got home from hip hop class last night I indulged in my not-so-secret pastime of watching America’s Next Top Model. The marathon for cycle 8 was on this weekend on VH1 and I was rendered motionless on the couch after I started watching it. Last night’s finale was sort of anti-climactic; I knew Jaslene was going to be the winner after the episode where they go on all of the go-sees happened and all of the clients wanted to book her. Unfortunately I have suckered my husband into watching the show and now he keeps referring to his walk as “fierce.”

Anyway I hope you have a groovy Thursday and that something unexpectedly good happens to ya.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen